MARRIED IN MAUI..SAY THAT 10 TIMES FAST.

Shooting directly into the sun...only with film can one pull off a shot like this

MARRIED IN MAUI
Chris and Sarah

About once a month, or maybe even less than that (I'm not really counting), I fly to the outer islands to perform a wedding. Maui is one of my favorite locations to head to because I already have a great minister I can work with there, so it's consequently cheaper for my wedding couples because they only have to fork over an extra $250 for my air and car travel to the outer islands.

On my favorite beaches in Maui is Po'olenalena beach. I used to perform weddings at Makena Cove, an extremely popular beach on Maui, but once I was found Po'olenalena, there was basically no turning back.

Love that water at Po'olenalena.



So this shot was taken from the opposite angle. Looks like a different beach right?


A generic pose, generic shot, but there's nothing generic about this picture

So a little about my Maui couple. They are extremely fun, have tons of kids together, and are planning to open an awesome bar in Seattle. If my memory serves me properly, they met about five years ago through friends, and there was basically no turning back from there.

Silhouettes...some photographer's claim they are easy to shoot. But in my opinion,
they are the most difficult shots to do. Positioning of limbs are extremely important, lighting, the sun.....

Sarah, to me, reminded me of a new age rock star woman. She had beautiful tattoos, a slender photogenic body, and a bubbly personality that made my day as a photographer very easy. Chris reminded of a bouncer, a tough businessman, but with a soft center...kinda like those expensive overpriced chocolates.

Performing the service....TINO!

Performing the ceremony was none other than my favorite Maui minister, Tino. I met Tino through a wedding I had photographed in Maui two years ago. My couple had found Tino online and I was sent over to Maui to photograph their wedding. I found Tino caring, warm, and professional, a quality found in the minsters I use at here in Oahu. Finding a great minister is very difficult. So once I found Tino, I knew I could use him for all of my Maui weddings. Unfortunately, I have not been able to find a great minister on the Big Island, or Kauai. I know some exist...I just haven't found one yet.

Looking out shots. Simple shot..but only can be done when the circumstances are perfect.


This shot was taken with a flash...


This shot was taken without a flash. You tell me which one was is better. I prefer the flash.
I always shoot with a flash. I find too many photographers these days shoot without a flash, therefore eliminating contrast from their pictures.

Chris and Sarah ordered the eloping package and 1 roll of film. Sarah brought her own video camera to tape her wedding ceremony. Unfortunately, the quality in video and sound was nowhere near to what I could have delivered. In a recent conversation with her, she told me her only regret is that she didn't get me to provide video coverage for her.

Chris, Sarah, I wish you my best. You two are awesome! Keep in touch....and good luck with that bar!



Steve Young
The Wedding Wonderguy...on MAUI "for a day"
http://www.dreamweddingshawaii.com/

Blogging to let you know I'm still alive...

Maui from the plane...looks...boring...haha

FROM DONUTS TO MOVIES, TO POLITICS
A blog completely not related to weddings...

It's currently 2:53am in the morning and I finally finished that really long wedding video that I was working on for the past 4 days. Now, the computer is rendering and I really don't want to touch it too much as I risk having it freeze up on me. My computer doesn't freeze often, but if it freezes now, I'll have to re render everything again! It takes approximately 6 hours to render HD video. So you know what that means...I have some free time on my hands.

So here is a blog about anything and everything. First topic...DONUTS

Oh yeah baby...

KRISPY KREME
My love affair...

I love Krispy Kreme. I think their donuts are awesome, sweet, delicate, and tasty. I don't care what other people say, it's my opinion and all those Atkin dieters can kiss my behind as they don't know what they are missing out on. When I head to Maui, the first stop on my way to the beach is their Krispy Kreme. We don't have one on Oahu, so when I travel to Maui, it's a treat!

Speaking about Maui. I'm going to start offering more Maui Wedding services. I have a great minister there that I use, so flying me to that outer island is still very affordable to most of my wedding couples. The trip there isn't too long for me either... It's about a 3o minute plane trip. Not to bad!

DA KITCHEN
Originally from Maui, now on Oahu

The world "DA" is Hawaiian slang for "the," and that's how this restaurant was intelligently named... "Da Kitchen." My Maui minister Maui recommended this restaurant to me on my last trip to his island. The food there was excellent. The Hawaiian food there was probably some of the best Hawaiian food I've tasted on the island.

Very recently, an Oahu location of "Da Kitchen" was opened in town. Their quality is close to the one found in Maui, not quite there. They are still great...but not as great. So here's my two cents. If you're travelling to Maui or Oahu, make sure you stop by "Da Kitchen" for some really great good.

CAPTAIN AMERICA
What a great patriotic movie!

I saw Captain America this past week. It was a great movie and now, I can't wait till the Avengers movie comes out. Captain America is definitely a "DVD BUY" if you get my drift. It's nice to see something pro-America coming out of Hollywood. Then again, most superhero movies are very patriotic. If you have the chance...catch this movie on the big screen before it heads to DVD.

Well, that concludes my rant for tonight....or this morning. Hope you enjoyed it. I'll make sure to rant about something more relevant next time.


Steve Young
The Midnight Oil Wedding Guy

Just got back from maui!

Just a quick post. It's 5:40 am and I'm about to go to sleep. I was burning the usual midnight oil editing wedding videos. Almost all done with this one....it's a biggie.....45 minutes long!  I have both the ceremony and the reception to edit. Nevertheless! I'm about 80% done!

So here is a photo that I snapped of a historic hawaiian airlines photo that was displayed in the lobby. Is it just me, but these are some very good looking stewardesses? Their suits are a lot better too.

Anyway, I'm gonna head to bed. I just have to wake up by 1 pm for my sunset test shoot. (testing out the new kodak film! )

Steve Young

Blogging from my phone!

I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU...ARRESTED?

Ever saw a bridal mug shot? Now you have.

MARRIED AND JAILED

Here's something I just grabbed off the headlines. Tammy Lee Hinton was arrested by authorities minutes after her wedding. She is accused of all things, identity theft. Her mug shot was taken with her full bridal gown and veil on. Hmm... I wonder if the police photographer fulled her dress for the shot. As you can see from the pictures, Tammy doesn't look too happy.

Here is the article on the Smoking Gun

Hinton's bail was freed shortly after being booked at the jail. I wonder if she returned to her reception after that.....


Steve Young
The Wedding Guy

THIS JUST IN...A VOW RENEWAL

Do you remember the old Toyota commercials? "Oh What a Feeling?"
Rey and his son have some hops on them by the way...

INSPIRED GOLFER MAKES 10 YEARS

I just shot these pictures yesterday! Rey and his wife Annie celebrated 10 years of marriage yesterday at Keiki Beach. According to Annie, Rey stalked her in high school, then stalked her in Singapore, and then they got married. Then 10 years later, Rey stalked me through my blog, and booked me. Hey I'm not complaining, Rey made me $800 richer. And as for Annie, she's not complaining either. She's happily married and they have three wonderful children together.

The moral of the story. Stalking works and stalking is very expensive.

Family shot here...

Rey's son found this awesome piece of coral...wow!

I like this shot...

One thing I love about Keiki Beach....this shot....

I had a lot of fun with Rey and Annie. Not to mention their kids. They do a lot of fun things in front of the camera which makes my life as a photographer, very easy. Rey and Annie have a vow renewal video in the works, but it's not done yet. (Hey, I just finished their vow renewal yetersday! I'm not that fast!) Plus, the Tour De France is on...I'm refuse to work with the Tour is on... Just kidding.

Walking on the beach...

On a personal note, I love doing vow renewals. Vow renewals always prove to me that love always preservers, and never fails. They also tell me that you need a really good sense of humor in order to make a marriage work...haha.

Rey, Annie, congrats on 10 years. And I'd like to quote the famous Buzz Lightyear now and tell you "TO INFINITY....AND BEYOND!"



Steve Young
The Hawaii Wedding Guy

MULTI-TASKING...AT 3AM

Editing wedding videos, surfing the net, watching the tour..all at the same time...

I'M A NIGHT OWL. ARE YOU?

...especially now since since "The Tour" is on...

It's about 3am in the morning and I'm not going to head to bed till about 5 or 6am in the morning? Why? Well, for one reason is that I don't have a real job, and two...The Tour De France is on!

I still work while watching the tour though. I edit videos, answer emails, blog. You name it, I do it. I've been burning the midnight oil ever since I could remember. Since my days in high school, to when I lived my life as a screenwriter, till now...I've always stayed up late. Is it an artist thing? Who knows.

Anyway...I'm back off to work...to watch the tour...and to blog, and to answer email...and to.....


Steve

Fuji 400H film and cake on a stick!

Shot on the FUJI 400H. Nice fashion effect!

FILM AND CAKE? YES, FILM AND CAKE
and they don't go together...wait a minute, they do, but not in this article.

A few weeks ago my local photography shop ran out of my preferred film stock, KODAK PORTRA. KODAK PORTRA is known for creating realistic skin tones and great warm colors. I had no other choice but to purchase the next best available roll of film, FUJI 400H. Fuji film was the choice film of the photographer who trained me. And for a long while, I shot many of my fashion pictures on this brand of film. When I switched to Kodak, I fell in love with the look, and just really never switched back. I was looking forward to using the new FUJI 400H to see what type of shots I would get....and I was pleasantly surprised.

The new FUJI film is a very artistic type of film. It's nothing like Kodak, as Kodak film gives a very neutral, wholesome look, which I think is perfect for weddings. Fuji film, well...400H to be exact, gives a very "fashion" or "editorial" style look. Colors are bold and contrasty. Skin tones are not accurately reproduced, but that doesn't matter because the look is very very artistic. When you're dealing with art, you never reproduce colors accurately. Here are a few shots from the last three weddings that I shot on this new film.

Colors are not accurlately reproduced, but the look is awesome.
Purple sky? It works fine to me....

I swear I can post these in some fashion magazine...love the extra contrast....

Washed out shots, but perfect feeling of brightness.

This can go in a magazine too I think...sunrise at Lanikai. I love the look, the feel,
but I believe that Kodak 160 Portra will do a better job at capturing true sunrise/sunset colors.

Very dramatic shot. FUJI 400H kinda lost the natural blue's, but it honestly doesn't matter.
KODAK 160 will capture more natural colors. FUJI looks more artistic, KODAK is more natural.

Will I use this type of film again? Probably...only if the circumstances are right. For sunrises or sunset shots, I still prefer Kodak. If I have blue skies and an energetic couple who is looking for more artsy type of shots...I'll definitely have to break out this film. I think this film would work great in overcast days where colors are just bland.

This week, I'll also be shooting a new line of Kodak film that I'm really looking forward too. The film is KODAK's new PORTRA 160 line. Many professional film photographers around the world are celebrating it as the best film of the millennium, as the grain is extraordinarily fine, and the latitude of exposure is amazing. This means it's exactly opposite of FUJI 400H...it's not contrasty, and more suited for sunset shots.

My weapons of choice...not pictured, KODAK 160.

AND NOW...

....CAKE ON A STICK!

Okay, now onto the cake the week news. Hey just kidding everyone. Do you think I cake news happens every week? NOT! I can't believe they make TV shows about cakes...seesh.

I attended my cousin's graduation party this past week and I ate the best Red Velvet cake in my life. And, here's the kicker, it was on a stick! Now I'm going to say this is great for your wedding, but isn't it cool? I have no idea who made this, or if it's even a feasible idea for a beach wedding. But I'm thinking here....wedding cakes at beaches are not that great. I mean, all the cutting, the serving, the plates blowing everywhere because of the wind.... Wouldn't it just be a lot easier and cooler if you have your regular cake cutting ceremony, then serve all your guest cake on a stick for the time being...and then service your cake at the restaurant? Just an idea!

Probably the best Red Velvet cake I've tasted...

Alright people...my brides...fellow stalkers. I'm outta here. Time for me to watch THE TOUR DE FRANCE.


Steve Young

Wedding Guru, Wedding Guy, All-Around Bestest Wedding Person in the World.

Video video video

MISSY AND STEPHEN

I realize it's been an age old tradition to address couples with the men's name coming first, but to me it just feels weird because the bride is usually my client. So, from now on, I'm just going to throw this tradition out the window, and put whomever name I feel should be first.....first!

So this is my latest wedding video to roll off the editing press. Hope you enjoy it!

Steve

Confused about religion?

CONFUSED ABOUT WHICH RELIGION IS FOR YOU?

I just got this email in from my father. Funny. Crazy, but it actually works! Haha. If you're wondering what type of ceremony you want for your wedding, I have three that most people choose from.

1) Christian ceremony - Where we mention Jesus. 1 Corinthians 13, the definition of love, and a small prayer. Not overly religious.

2) Non-denominational ceremony - Same as the Christian wedding basically, but we don't define who God is. This is great for people who believe in a higher power, but honestly don't know who it is.

3) Civil - no mention of a god whatsoever.

Within each wedding ceremony, we can throw in Hawaiian traditions as well! It's important to note that any of our ceremonies are not overly religious. If they were, I wouldn't be there as well!

If you're wondering what religion I am? I'm just a plain boring ol Christian!

Okay, so I am off to work for today. Delivering lots of wedding photos to the post office.

Steve

NEW VIDEO! ROBERTO AND DAWN

ROBERTO AND DAWN!
...fresh off the editing line....

Roberto and Dawn tied the knot in December of 2010. Dawn and Roberto were not able to email their growing up pictures, so Dawn made the executive decision to finish up their video without the beginning slide show pictures. Here's what I came up with! Their video is awesome!

Well, I'm headed to bed now...early. It's 9:03pm, and this is extremely early for me. I have two weddings tomorrow, one at sunrise and one at sunset. I find it rather ironic that people are getting married on "Independence Day...." get it...haha. Anyway I'm outta here.


Steve

Happy 4th of July weekend!

STILL WORKING THIS WEEKEND AND ON THE 4TH!

I don't have a regular job, so any day that I don't have a wedding is technically, my day off. So weekends don't really feel like they did in high school, and holidays don't feel the same way either. With that said, owning my own business, I'm really never off. I always carry around my two cell phones and I can answer any inquiry that comes in via phone or email, if I'm available to do so :)

What does that mean? Hey, if you're lounging around your computer today, or even the 4th, and you happen to pop on my site, and you want more info about a possible wedding...give me an email or call! More than likely I'll answer!

On the 4th though, I do have two weddings! One at sunrise, and one around sunset! I honestly never had a 4th of July wedding before, and now...I have two on the same day! There's always a first for everything right?


Anyway, I'm off to bed!


Steve Young
http://www.dreamweddingshawaii.com/