International Wedding & Portrait Photographer
These guys are awesome! After exchanging some email, we finally met for their beach engagement photo session in Derin’s aunt home, right on the beach of Yalikavak bay. Collin and Derin coming all the way from New York and planing to get married in Bodrum next year.
Arrived to Bozburun following my GPS, that was taking me to KariaBel hotel. Ended up parking a car at the end of the road, where I could not see the hotel. So I called them, and they told me they are coming to pick me up with a boat 🙂 Whaaat? How romantic is that? I knew this wedding is going to be different and beautiful. So I picked up all my gear from the car to board a little boat that will take me to the main hotel building. While moving on a boat to the hotel, wind blew my hat away, cause I did not worry for my hat as much as I did for my gear, not to get wet 🙂 luckily the man who drove a boat, did not get lost and went back to pick it up. So far the day was going smooth.
Next stop was bride room. And guess what, I had to take another boat trip to get there 🙂 Finally I met my beautiful bride Kerry. She was getting ready and helping her niece and sister to get their make up done. They had plenty of time to just enjoy each others company before it gets busy. I left the ladies to do the final touch ups and left to look for groom. Michel room was just few rooms away from Kerry. I was told the groom has identical twin 🙂 I was all stressed out, so that I do not mixed them up 🙂 But once the twin brother of the groom showed up, it was sure I would never get them confused. You will see why, in the images below. These guys are super funny, could not stop smiling all day long. You could not feel any wedding stress there.
We could not ask for any better day for such a beautiful wedding!
Thank you for having me and let me document your day!
James got in touch with me last February, with the idea to do a surprise proposal and an engagement session on a beach 🙂 Isn’t that romantic? Guys taking notes? During those months we kept emailing back and forward regarding flowers and dates. Finally we decided on a date and when they arrived to Turgutreis for their holiday, mother nature wasn’t very friendly. It was supposed to be very windy on the day we planned to do a photo shoot. Especially Turgutreis is veryyy windy. So I checked the weather forecast and the best time to shoot outside was 6am 🙂 That’s what we did, we met early in the morning to spend few hours on a empty beach. To be honest it was the best decisions. I know it’s hard to wake up, but trust me, it is worth it. See it for yourself 🙂
James and Grace were so cute 🙂 We walked from their hotel along the beach towards Turgutreis center with stops to snap an image. I would like to congratulate this sweet couple and I wish them to have a wedding of their dreams!
I met Lina and Giovanni 10 years ago, while working on cruise ships. Then they were one of the best looking couples on board the ship, today nothing has changed 😉 They are still happy and fun. After 10 years I met Lina in Tuscany, while spending my winter there. World is so small sometimes. First you meet a person across the ocean, later in Europe. I still get amazed by that. So this time we met and they were getting married. Lucky me 🙂 she asked me if I could shoot their wedding. So just before I left Tuscany, I attended their small gathering of the nearest people to them, who witnessed their long lasting love to become one! After the ceremony in Marina di Carrara, we all went to a restaurant near Lerici to enjoy the rest of the day in this beautiful place!
This was my first Tuscany wedding! Hopefully not the last 🙂
Congratulations to you guys once again!
During these years shooting weddings I notice many things that could be enhanced or amended for better photos!
So this is why I will be sharing some tips, that you might not think off and it could make a big difference how you pictures look.
This post will be for my dear future brides. Of course these are just from my point of view, but in any case you should discuss it with your photographer, make up artist or hair stylist for best final option for that moment.
Here is a list of tips for brides to consider for your big day:
1. Couple photo session 1.5h before sunset. How you get that even and soft light in the image? It’s because it has been shot an 1.5-1h before sunset. So if you want your images to look soft, choose photo session sunset time. Or if your wedding is abroad or you have a busy wedding day schedule the next suggestion is for you.
2. Do the photo session different day than your wedding. This way will be no stress for being late. You can just get ready and enjoy the photo session, just you and your future husband. In this case you can take pictures in couple of different places, that you like, that might be a little further.
3. Keep the room tidy. This one is very important, because all the clutter and mess in the room will be captured 🙂 just assign someone to keep the room tidy where you will be getting ready. Dresses hanged, shoes nicely put together, clothing in the wardrobe, make up on the make up table, no empty bottles of water and so on.
4. Bride wearing silk bathrobe or anything that will look flattering in the image during the time of getting ready. Please, do not wear bulky hotel robe. Unless its something made out of sheer material, that is looking feminine.
5. Test try your make up and hair before wedding. I’ve seen situations when bride is not happy and need to redo the hair or make up and this cuts the time from the photo session. Which does not help a photographer at all. And if you planned a photo session in away from the reception, it might not happen, because you might be running out of time. And you don’t want to be late for your ceremony 🙂
Also if you still think that you might need more time, add an extra hour to your hair and make up timing. Means meeting earlier for it. And giving them strict time frame.
6. More make up! Even if you do not use lots of make up everyday, wedding day is the day when you need a little more of it., because camera loves contrast. I do not suggest overdoing it. If your make up artist is professional, he/she will know how to make you look flawless for photos! Of course, always stick to your style.
