Archive for the ‘engagements’ Category

Monday, January 11, 2010

Fancy Camera Workshop

Posted in engagements | photography

Cristi Owen

This last Saturday I had my first official Fancy Camera Workshop and I feel like I am still recovering from it. The whole day felt like things were moving 10x times faster than normal life speed. I’ve taught many community college classes before, provided countless nutrition presentations for a variety of groups, from children to elderly, from 5 people in the audience to 500. I thought I was more than ready for the workshop, but this was completely different than anything I’ve ever done before.

I packed a whole lot of information in one day and trying to create images while answering questions and trying to make sure every important piece of information is covered can certainly make your head spin. But I have to say I am soo happy with how things turned out. Some of the attendees had literally just bought their cameras the week of the workshop and walked away shooting perfectly exposed and very well composed images on manual setting! In just one day!

Four our photo shoot location, I thought it would be great to show everyone that you can create some really great images in really terrible places. So after the lecture part of the day we just literally walked out to the hotel’s parking lot where the workshop took place and used that as our photo shoot location. I was really impressed with what everyone was able to create.

I also need to give my best friends, Tom and Trisha, a lot of credit for being so adorable and patient with us. I love you guys! Here are some images of my favorite couple:

I think this series is just so cute:

It’s always fun to practice a little panning, and with sunflare it’s even better!

After the shoot we went back inside and talked a little bit about post-processing and had a great critique of everyone’s images. Here are a couple of images processed a little differently just for fun:

Thank you so much to everyone who came. It was wonderful meeting all of you. Please stay in touch as I can’t wait to see what else you will create! For some behind the scenes images, click here.

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Thursday, November 12, 2009

Nicole and Chris *Engaged*

Posted in engagements

Cristi Owen

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I kinda fell in love with these two at first sight. We met at a coffee shop just two months ago and as we talked their connection and love for each other was so apparent, I secretly hoped and prayed they liked me as much as I liked them. I was beyond excited when they announced they were set on having me as their wedding photographer. We celebrated with chocolate chip cookies and iced tea and I’ve been looking forward to their engagement session ever since.

LOVE this. I wish I could bottle up Nicole’s laugh, it’s really that great!

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This is what happened when I asked for a serious face…

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But then we got it. Well, kinda… ;)

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Nicole is absolutely beautiful!

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This location was Chris’s idea and he asked to get some credit on the blog. Great job, Chris!

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It doesn’t get any more adorable than this:

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Can’t you feel the love here?! It’s my favorite image of the day:

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After the hugs and hellos, one of the first things I said was how much I liked Nicole’s shoes. Her reply:  “Aww, thanks, I knew from reading your blog I needed some killer shoes for the photos”. Love you, Nicole!

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Nicole and Chris wanted to incorporate some desert shots into their session, so into the desert we went:

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Sooo pretty:

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I could not love this shot anymore:

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Nicole and Chris, thank you, thank you, and thank you! You have no idea how much fun I had with you yesterday. I hope you love your images :)

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    1. Shannon Scarborough

      Absolutely beautiful–yall look very happy
      you deserve it Chris!

      Thursday, November 12, 2009 5:51 pm

    2. Loretta Colby

      Great pictures!!!Can’t wait to meet Nicole
      Love Loretta

      Thursday, November 12, 2009 6:04 pm

    3. Kari

      Love the pictures! Ya’ll look great together! Can’t wait to see the wedding pictures!

      Thursday, November 12, 2009 6:19 pm

    4. Michele Hiner

      You guys do look so HAPPY together! I am so happy and excited for the both of you and I cannot wait to meet Nicole too!!
      Love you!!

      Thursday, November 12, 2009 8:04 pm

    5. Linda Diehnelt

      Looks like ya’ll had fun with these shots.
      Turned out great!!

      Friday, November 13, 2009 6:38 am

    6. Franda

      I can tell you had a great time! The pictures are fabulous! Can’t wait to see the rest! We love you two!!

      Friday, November 13, 2009 9:57 pm

    7. Amelia Strauss

      My faves are the second to last, and the tight shot of her sweet smile! They seem like a great couple. I love how genuine these images are!

      Sunday, November 15, 2009 6:39 am

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Sunday, September 27, 2009

Colleen and Brad *Engaged*

Posted in engagements

Cristi Owen

Colleen&Brad089For all of you romantics out there, go and grab a big box of tissues… When I first heard Colleen and Brad’s story I sure wish they had warned me just how cute, made-for-the movies, make-Cristi-cry it was going to be…

Brad had just finished his first year in law school and had decided to go to London and Paris for the summer to study International Law. On his last day in Phoenix, as Colleen was helping him pack, he said he had a present for her and gave her a giant cardboard box. The box was filled to the brim with huge manila envelopes – each one dated for a day that he would be gone. Below the envelopes were gifts all wrapped up – again, each one dated. He had written letters for Colleen to read every night and small presents for her to open each morning. Just a way for him to be there, even though he was gone. They made plans for Colleen to go visit him in Paris at the end of his program. The last letter Colleen read in Phoenix said that her final gift was waiting for her in Paris. Her first few days there with him were spent sightseeing, traveling and enjoying time together. On the last day – Brad took Colleen to the Luxembourg Gardens for their final picnic of the trip. There he reminded her of his last letter and the gift that was waiting for her arrival. He pulled out the ring got down on one knee… and she said yes!

Aren’t you glad I told you to get some tissues first?

They are just soo cute together!Colleen&Brad067

We of course had to re-enact their picnic:Colleen&Brad031

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Colleen&Brad22222Colleen and Brad, thanks for enduring the heat, the ant bites and the outspoken bystanders :) I hope it was worth it!

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    1. Vanessa

      o.m.g…. that is such a great story!! they are so sweet together, adorable couple :) Great pics as always Cristi! Great pics!

      Sunday, September 27, 2009 10:20 pm

    2. Emily Abril

      This session is sweeet! ;) And also I love the new blog!!! Take care over there!

      Wednesday, September 30, 2009 11:41 pm

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Monday, August 17, 2009

Irma & Braden

Posted in engagements

Cristi Owen

You can’t meet Irma and not fall in love with her. She so sincere and kind. She’s a hard worker and she’s laid back. Irma and I worked together for a few months (as dietitians) and I would often forget my lunch. I know, I know, how hard is it to remember your lunch, but I was juggling a full-time photography business and a part-time job downtown Phoenix. Irma barely knew me, but she would often share her lunch with me. Her lunch that she had cooked with Braden the night before and that Braden had prepared for her. She would always say with a smile: “…really, Braden always packs so much food for me we can definitely share”.

From things like this to other little glimpses I’d get about their relationship, I knew they were perfect together. And I was right.

When Curt and I were at the airport in Philadelphia coming back from Italy, I got a text message from Irma. She had gotten engaged! I called her back and we chatted a little. It was the 4th of July. Irma found out we were taking a cab from the airport in Phoenix to our house. Guess who showed up at the airport at 10 o’clock at night on the 4th of July? Irma and Braden. Braden is equally amazing and kind. Besides going totally out of their way to pick us up and take us home, they even brought us bottles of water! I am just in awe of what wonderful people they are individually and I am so happy that they will be spending forever together.

When they hired me as their wedding photographer I was beyond thrilled and honored.

We had so much fun yesterday during their session. And even though it was really really hot, they just smiled and laughed the whole time.


Irma has the best smile. Not only because it’s beautiful but because it’s always so genuine:



After a few fancy shots around town we drove to the desert. More precisely we drove to the exact spot where they went on their first official date together. They went hiking here:
I love it that their wedding colors are turquoise and coral. Check out Irma’s necklace:





You two are amazing! Thank you for a fun session and a fun dinner.

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    1. Gretchen Knoblock

      beautiful session Cristi!

      Monday, August 17, 2009 1:43 pm

    2. robyn

      Tres Belle! I LOVE your work! So bright and crisp.

      Monday, August 17, 2009 2:16 pm

    3. Lisette Price Photography

      She is beautiful!! I love the colors and of course the shot with the cactus. I wish we had those to work with here! :)

      Monday, August 17, 2009 7:05 pm

    4. Stephanie

      What a cute couple! They both have great eyes – and you captured their happiness so well.

      stephanie@metropolitanmama.net

      Monday, August 17, 2009 11:12 pm

    5. Live.Love. Photography

      What?? A dietician who forgets lunch?!?! =)

      Beautiful, beautiful! What a cute couple. love the one of her hugging him from behind.

      Wednesday, August 19, 2009 11:09 am

    6. Vanessa vharo20

      Aww! Gabe & I totally have to have a second session with you! haha… I love the desert pics! & I see now what you meant Cristi! the one where she's hugging him from behind is so cute! :) Great work! They are a super cute couple, very beautiful eyes!

      Take care!

      Wednesday, August 26, 2009 11:16 pm

    7. Katina

      Oh my…these are gorgeous! Beautiful couple and stunning images:)

      Thursday, August 27, 2009 4:55 pm

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Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Vanessa & Gabriel – Engaged!

Posted in engagements

Cristi Owen

Yesterday I drove to Tucson to meet Vanessa and Gabriel for their engagement session.  I arrived in Tucson a few hours early and met a past client of mine at La Encantada for lunch to catch up and see her now 4-month old baby Ian. Thanks for meeting me Vivi (and for reading my blog :) ).
Hi Vanessa… Hi Gabriel… It’s so nice to meet you! Can I please put my leftovers in your frigde?
Good thing Vanessa and Gabriel are so easy-going or they might have fired me right there and then. What photographer puts their left-over sandwich in their client’s refrigerator?! Apparently I do.
The first location they chose was this really cool fast food place called Pat’s. Both their grandparents live around this area so they grew up going there and have tons of good memories from this place. I LOVED it!
Oh, and how could I forget? This ball of energy is their baby Oliver :)
Vanessa is so incredibly beautiful!




They are so much fun!!
Dear Vanessa, you are beautiful.





You two are seriously amazing. Thank you so much for your kindness and for the great dinner. I am looking forward to some more fun times in Tucson in a couple of months :)

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    1. Stephanie

      I love the backdrop of these photos – so bright and vibrant.

      And you're right – Vanessa is so pretty. Great hair, great eyes.

      P.S. How fun that you got to see Vivi while you were here! I need to give her a call.

      stephanie@metropolitanmama.net

      Tuesday, August 11, 2009 3:05 pm

    2. vharo20@yahoo.com

      Cristi, you truly are AMAZING!! Thank you so much, I can't tell you how much it means to us to have you apart of something that is so incredibly special to us! I look foward to many MANY more opportunities to get to work with you again & again!

      p.s. "Thanks for the sandwhich!" ;D

      Tuesday, August 11, 2009 5:59 pm

    3. Samantha Warren Weddings

      Of course I am partial to Jack Russells, but even without Oliver, you totally rocked this shoot! Awesome work. Wish you lived closer too shoot me and my hubby and hounds.

      Wednesday, August 12, 2009 5:04 am

    4. Lisette Price Photography

      I loving the colors in this session! Your exposure is spot on girl!

      Wednesday, August 12, 2009 6:33 am

    5. brenda

      beautiful! i love the brightness!

      Tuesday, August 18, 2009 8:52 pm

    6. Cristi Owen Photography » Vanessa & Gabriel *Wedding at the Tucson Art Museum*

      [...] wedding . I was really excited for this day ever since I met Vanessa and Gabe during their engagement session. They are such warm and welcoming people. I just knew their wedding would be filled with love, [...]

      Tuesday, November 10, 2009 6:47 pm

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Cristi Owen Photography » engagements