WEDDING SHOOT: HAILEY and DEREK

i've known Hailey and Derek for a few years and was honored to be selected as their photographer for their wedding day.  they are a really fun couple with a great sense of humor and i knew this would be a can't miss event.  in a time where online dating, speed dating and other non-traditional ways of meeting people are becoming a social norm, it is still unique to think that these two met on twitter.  yes - twitter. Derek is very active in the social media world and as it turns out, he had posted something which caught Hailey's attention.  after following each other on twitter, it became apparent that they had more in common than just the social issues they were passionate about.  from that point, it didn't take very long for them to start dating which then built into a long lasting relationship and the marriage they are enjoying to this day. #winning indeed.

i always include an engagement shoot in my wedding packages because it is important for me to know how the couple interacts with each other as well as understand what cues i can use to make them feel comfortable around me.  it is essential to build a "photographer rapport" with my clients to build their trust and let them know that my goal is to not be intrusive while capturing both the formal poses but more importantly the genuine moments...the moments as if no one was watching.  those for me are my favorite images because that is where i believe true beauty lies.

so on an october afternoon we set out to capture images of Hailey and Derek hanging out in the city they love and spending a chill afternoon as they would normally do.  here is a sample of what we accomplished that autumn day:

to celebrate their one year wedding anniversary, i'd like to share with you some of the memorable images of their special day.  you might not notice it, but it was a cold february afternoon and respect to both bride and groom (and the bridal party) for being brave enough to take direction from me on a day when you could see your breath outside.  their positive and eager attitude was worth it as i believe we captured memories that looked effortless and will undoubtedly last a lifetime.

when all is said and done, all we have is our memories and whether they are good or bad, they are uniquely ours and help tell the story of what we've done and where we came from.  as a photographer, i'm thankful that i'm able to document these memories for wonderful people like Hailey and Derek and i'm humbled to be allowed in to share these moments with them as well.

congrats and best wishes on the little one coming soon!

de jesus. #blessed #out.

WEDDING SHOOT: ALLISON and RYAN

i have been very fortunate to work with such amazing couples and families in my short career and i'm very grateful of the time they have shared with me, often times allowing me to see a side of them not many people even their closest friends get to see.  make no mistake about it, i'm the hired help - someone my clients chose because i'm able to capture genuine moments without need to fabricate the emotion.  i'm simply the person behind the camera - the real beauty of the images you see are because of the wonderful people i work with who open themselves up and allow me to see vulnerabilty, joy and happiness in its natural state, the way it would look when the cameras aren't around.

Allison and Ryan are a perfect example of what i'm talking about.  they chose to break tradition and made arrangements to see each other for the first time on their wedding day before the ceremony and chose their home as the place of their meeting.  i was fortunate enough to be the third person in the room when they first met and there is no way to explain in words the genuine excitement both Allison and Ryan felt when they first laid eyes on each other.  i was able to witness that uniquely private moment with the happy couple and i can honestly say it remains to be one of my favorite moments as a wedding photographer. thank you Allison and Ryan for allowing me to capture that moment and share my vision with you and your family and friends.



authenticity is about soul.  and soul is about finding the things in life that are real and pure.  authenticity and soul is what enables me to share great images with you and i hope you enjoy them.

de jesus. out.