Photography is so much more then a job to me. It's a passion that has consumed my life for as long as I can remember. I have always felt a commitment to capturing the beauty in this world, and it is the people who surround me that make this world so beautiful!
When I'm not taking pictures I am spending time with my husband enjoying all that living in the tropics has to offer, hiking through rainforests, swimming in waterfalls and scuba diving with Kaimana Divers. I spend lot's of time trying to think up new ways to green up my company and household, learning new ways to cook (and eat) healthy and growing tomatos in my backyard garden. I believe that it's possible to build any dream into a reality. And that belief is what has gotten me to where I am today, doing what I absolutely love, in paradise.
Destination weddings are awesome. It is often a small group of people who are undoubtedly the very nearest and dearest friends, and everyone is on vacation and ready to have a fantastic time! The wedding of this gorgeous couple out from Colorado is a perfect example. I was excited to shoot at The Waterfront at Aloha Tower Marketplace. This is a very unique location for Hawaii. It is at the foot of historic Aloha Tower overlooking Honolulu Harbor. This was my first time shooting here, and with it’s great architecture and beautiful harbor views it is definitely a new favorite location. Christine and Kevin got married earlier and had me out for sunset photos and the reception. First an incredibly delicious dinner by Chai’s Island Bistro, then an even more decadent dessert, followed by lot’s of drinking and dancing. Beautiful setting, beautiful people, awesome food and a great party!
Local fishermen passing by during our sunset session had a few words for the bride and groom
May 24, 2010 - 3:40 pmChristine & Kevin Destination Wedding Honolulu Hawaii » Destination Inspirations - [...] Tower Marketplace in Honolulu Hawaii overlooking the harbor. You can see from the stunning views in Christine and Kevin’s pictures what a beautiful location this harbor made. What really got me excited about this [...]
A dream wedding. I LOVE shooting at Loulu Palms Estate , a gorgeous beachfront estate on the North Shore of Oahu. With it’s perfectly manicured garden overlooking a secluded tropical beach it is pretty much the epitome of Paradise. Add to that an awesome couple, beautiful decor, delicious food and family and friends ready to party and you just can’t go wrong. I just love my job!
May 24, 2010 - 6:38 amCarrie McLanahan Golish - Working with Michelle was amazing, this coming from a person who is terrified of taking photos, I had the best time and had no doubt in my mind that everything would be perfect!! Michelle thank you for all your hard work and dedication to us and our wedding. We truly were blessed to find you and love the work you did.
We hope to see you again in the future,
Adam and Carrie Golish
I had this idea, that for every new union that I get to be a part of (every wedding I photograph) I could give the happy couple a tree to plant. What a beautiful and perfect metaphor for beginning a new life together! Unfortunately, giving a real live tree might be a little inconvenient for some. So I’ve found the solution, and what better day to announce it then today!
For every wedding that I Do Believe Photography photographs in this year I will have 10 trees planted in honor of the happy new couple. The Arbor Day Foundation will be my co-conspirator in this little quest to save the world. Happy Earth Day!!
So congratulations to Adam and Carrie, who joined their lives together in a beautiful wedding ceremony last weekend! May your love continue to grow through the years just like the trees that will be planted in your name.
I can’t wait to shoot Carrie and Adam’s wedding! They are such a cool couple, and Carrie with those incredible blue eyes, wow! No wonder Adam fell head over heals! The engagement session was awesome and their big event up at Loulu Palms Estate next month promises to be a blast…
Imagine waking up at the break of dawn on the morning of your wedding, a day that you have hoped and dreamed for all your life, that you have spent the better part of the past year planning, to the sound of air raid sirens and tsunami warnings! This is the story of Michele and Sal. I got a call around 7:30am from Michele who was of course, fairly upset. The wedding, which was meant to take place at 2pm on the Big Island of Hawaii, would not be taking place today as roads were closed, evacuations were being organized, and we didn’t know what sort of destruction awaited us. All of Hawaii moved to higher ground for the morning, with our ears to the emergency news reports, our bottles of water, canned food, beloved possessions and household pets in tow.
The tsunami story ended happily for Hawaii. The massive wave that we were all fearing never appeared. While all the excitement made for an anti-climatic morning, no one could be anything but relieved that we didn’t end up facing a real disaster. Thankfully, Michele and Sal’s story has a happy ending as well! The all clear was called at around 2pm, just as Michele should have been walking down the aisle. A quick phone call to the would be bride and I learned that the big day was to happen the NEXT day – and can I PLEASE still be there to photograph it? As luck would have it, not only me, but all of Michele’s carefully chosen vendors were able to reschedule!
Just one day late, Michele and Sal were able to join as husband and wife in the presence of family and friends on the shores of Holoholokai Beach, followed by a fantastic party at Keauhou Beach Resort. It was almost as if nothing had happened, but for a special feeling that we all shared that day of relief and absolute appreciation for the fact that we could all be together, sharing the love of this happy couple. And no where was that joy and relief more apparent then on Michele’s ecstatic face! This is a wedding that no one will ever forget. But which day will they count as their anniversary?
And they lived happily ever after…
Ceremony location: Holoholokai Beach Park, Waikoloa, Hawaii
I recently started an organization called Don’t Trash the Dress. As luck would have it, my first official DTTD session involved the very beautiful Tiffany with her horse, Striker. We spent a couple of hours in the afternoon sunshine at Sycamore Trails Stables in California. Thanks Striker, for putting up with my camera and a big puffy wedding dress. This was quite a challenge, but a great new experience for me as a photographer. We had a lot of fun and we also took some breathtaking photographs. Thank you Tiffany, for the donation of your beautiful wedding dress to Brides Against Breast Cancer. For more information about Don’t Trash the Dress click here
Location: San Juan Capistrano, California
Hair & Makeup: Susan Hwang
March 9, 2010 - 10:01 pmTiffany Hammon - O wow! I love these! At some points it was so difficult to get him to stay still, but the results turned out amazing! It was a wonderful relaxing experience just focusing on Striker and I's relationship. You captured some wonderful moments and emotions that wrap up my love for my horse. I can't wait to see the rest! This was an amazing experience that I am so grateful I could help out and take part in. The best part is I was able to donate my dress to a great cause! Thanks Michelle!!!!
Courtlin and Truc will be having three weddings in total! The first took place in my backyard under the tangerine trees where my husband acted as “Rev” and paperwork was signed and sealed. Below is a selection from wedding number two, where the presence of family, close friends, music, minister and vows made their union truly official. It was a true East meets West, meets Hawaii event. Courtlin is from the mainland and Truc is from Vietnam. Parents from each respective part of the world were in attendance. The minister and his wife and partner brought both families together in a beautiful Hawaiian ceremony while standing in the Japanese gardens at Foster Botanical Garden. Truc wore a beautiful Vietnamese wedding outfit, the ao dai, and Courtlin, in a touching show of love and cultural acceptance, wore the traditional Vietnamese clothing as well. With just 10 people in attendance, this intimate wedding was so special and so beautiful. My favorite part was when Courtlin lovingly wiped the tears from Truc’s cheeks… The third and final wedding takes place in beautiful Vietnam! I’m ready for it Mr and Mrs Holt!
Local fishermen passing by during our sunset session had a few words for the bride and groom
by Michelle Scotti
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