Machel and Chris Wedding-Ko Olina

Still trying to play catch up...today was my productive day off and I think I made a lot of headway. I got derailed a little by some phone calls that took a long time and a lot of energy...but here are some photos from the last October wedding. It was a small, intimate wedding with just three witnesses (one being the proud mama of the bride). This couple was fun. When they were left to their own devices, they were doing these fun crazy poses that I always wanted to photograph but most couples are too shy to try. He picked her up...she even tried to pick him up...well, she did kind of piggy-back him. They were totally carefree and I think they were completely relaxed the entire day. Here are some of my favorite pictures from the day.

For a glimpse of the entire album, go to www.keaosphotography.instaproofs.com

Erin and Anthony's Wedding- Oct 11 at Ko Olina

I smell like the ash at the bottom of a firepit at camp. Last night at my other job, otherwise known as "the not-as-fun" job, I had to go to the scene of a fire at the preschool at Central Union Church on Punahou Street. It was overnight so no one was present at the time of the fire. Apparently it took about forty firemen and two oceans of water to put it out because there was a nice lake in the rooms when I got there. I wear crappy shoes to work and they are pretty absorbent so they sucked in all the ashy water and I was squishing around while I took photographs. We're supposed to be issued galoshes for this reason but they never issued 'em to me. My shoes dried out but they still smell like the remnants of a campfire. Not a horrible smell so I guess it will just fade away. When I got there, there was tons of firemen roaming around rolling up their hoses and cleaning up. Someone joked "Hey, Keao, look at all these young strapping men here for you to look at." I replied "No way!!! I'm married. I can't look.......too slowly. Just a few quick looks and that's it." None of them can compare to Scottie!!!

Here are photos from my third wedding this past weekend working with Moana from A Treasured Moment Weddings. This one was at Ko Olina...I had absolutely no clue that if you walk to the right when facing the lagoon, you would find these beaches that people use for weddings. Apparently, everyone else on Oahu knows because during this wedding, there was another wedding going on, two brides/grooms and their photog shadows were clambering on the rocks behind us as well as two more couples having their photographs taken for what I assume are their engagement sessions. Crazy. No wonder because it was absolutely beautiful...it epitomizes what you may dream up of as an island paradise. The sun was going down towards the end and created this eerie blue cast in the photos which I actually really dug. And Moana sets up such beautiful environments for the ceremony and moments.

the maid of honor

I should crop the following in more...but I do love these bouquet shots

Oh, she started to tear up during her vows...so touching. It reminded me of Scott bawling his eyes out during our wedding....aaaahhh

The following is probably my favorite shot...like ever.

For more photos, you can view the entire album at http://www.keaosphotography.instaproofs.com/ and clicking on Erin and Anthony.

Shannon and Robert's Wedding-October 20th 2008 at Ko Olina

Trying to catch up...when you pray for rain...better be happy when it pours. Here I've been struggling to find work and practice for my photography and photoshop processing skills. And, the month of October has offered multiple weddings with A Treasured Moment Hawaiian Weddings. As soon as I finished with one wedding, it's already time for the next one.

I had an assistant for this wedding, I corraled Joy Pishcura into accompanying me and second shooting. It was awesome because we could get different perspectives at the same time. i hope that one day we can go into business together, I've heard a lot of wedding photography businesses are married couples, but Scott is pretty happy in his pastoral job. I think Joy and I could come up with a business name like "Joyful Light Photography" or "Joy and Light Photography." (My name means light in case you were wondering). This couple was Shannon and Robert from Alaska. Hey, I've been to Alaska. I joked with them that I'm from Hawaii and went to Alaska for my honeymoon and they did the exact opposite. Shannon gave me these beautiful moments when she laughed and I caught her giving this look right at the camera. Looking at the pictures, it made you feel so included in their intimate ceremony. There was also this adorable little boy Carter with striking blue eyes (rare here in these islands) and I saw my assistant a little distracted as she must have taken like fifteen frames just with him.

This ceremony had a dove release and a butterfly release. I've never seen the butterfly release before and I loved it. They seemed to want to take their time dancing around before landing on leaves nearby.

I don't know what she whispered to the bridesmaids but I'm still curious

A hawaiian lei ceremony.

What? Is it picnic time already? I think there might be something else in there.

They also released two butterflies that flittered around and landed nearby. So beautiful.

there's that over the shoulder glances that made me feel like she was sharing a secret with me.

The friends and family of Shannon and Robert, married October 20th 2008 at Ko Olina.

To see more images and information on how you may purchase prints, visit www.keaosphotography.instaproofs.com. You will need to input your email in order to view the album, the email will only be used to notify you when the album is taken off-line. Prints can be purchased directly from the site and will be delivered to your residence. Digital images may be purchased from the photographer through email (simply provide the image title and description) to keaosphotography@gmail.com

L and N-Waialae Hawaiian Wedding

I mentioned in my earlier post that I had three weddings in two days. This was the second wedding on that Friday at Waialae Beach. The couple was so photogenic She had beautiful skin and this red hair that was gorgeous. I wonder if she ever dressed up as the Little Mermaid. The groom was such a ham and kept pulling faces that reminded me of Ben Stiller's Zoolander movie. They even had a dove release in their ceremony and I made sure to up my shutter speed super high to catch the birds. It caught them perfectly still...I almost wish I could play around with the shutter speed so that I could get a little blur on the wings to show movement. hmmm, maybe i can convince Smy hubbie...Scott to catch me some birds and then practice releasing them one at a time.

I finally got to try out the urban bride look

check out http://www.keaosphotography.instaproofs.com/ for more photos

Next time: Pics from E and A's wedding

Mario and Sabina- October 10th Wedding

So, while trying to drum up business for my hunky hubbie, who is a licensed wedding officiant (it's hard times, got to work everything you have), I inadvertently got myself a part-time gig with a local wedding business, A Treasured Moment. They help with planning Hawaiian Weddings. It's a great opportunity for me to get more experience and build my portfolio. And I had to jump in this past weekend by doing three weddings this past weekend.

The first two weddings were at Waialae Beach which I've never been to. Apparently, I drove past it maybe twice in my life. I was real excited about it because when I've looked up beautiful sites for weddings and/or photography sessions, Waialae Beach kept popping up. It was raining that morning so I was a little worried but it cleared up beautifully by the afternoon. I had no idea this place was such a hotbed of weddings. I got there a little early and as I was waiting on a picnic bench, I sneakily took some shots of the wedding party as they relaxed under the pavilion. Only to find out later, that wasn't our couple. There were at least three other bridal parties that walked by. Our first couple was from Germany and they had such cool accents. The groom, Mario, had these amazing blue eyes and he had this beaming smile. Of course, I was mainly focused on the bride, Sabina, who was pretty radiant herself.

With This Ring, I Thee Wed

These are just a few of my favorites. They also took pictures perched on their motorcycle...that was new to me...so cool.

Next to come: Liz and Noel's Wedding at Waialae Beach