Yes it is true!  I am officially on facebook!  What fun.  Join me there.  I am mildly addicted.  My web world just opened up bigger!  What fun - CJ

Enclosure

For those of you who have been so close to me you always ask why I don't put pics of Riley online... Well here she is.  Just a quick snapshot the other day. She just turned 4. Enjoy - CJ

 

One of my fabulous wedding coordinators featured me on her amazing blog for wedding professionals and brides!  Check out the article and learn a little more about me and Melissa from Masterpiece weddings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today, I bring you a good friend of mine, Caroline Johnson. Her funky, artsy qualities, and stylish approach to her portraits keep brides coming back for more! Her personality shines through in all she touches. I love working with Caroline, she scouts out the best places for great images, check out her blog for more fun stuff!

 

How did you get into Wedding Photography?


Sort of by chance! I always had a passion for documenting events and people. After graduating from College with a degree in Business and Communications I worked as a pharmaceuticals rep for 7 years and somewhere down that path I decided to study photography at the Photographic Center Northwest in Seattle, WA. I absolutely knew that this was for me. I would find myself heading into the darkroom early in the day and heading out when it was pitch black. I could lose myself in the process and forget about anything else and just be in the moment! I loved this feeling. My first brides came to me through friends of friends. And next thing you know I was heading off to over 15 states in the U.S. and then to remote wedding destinations in Italy, Belize, Costa Rica, and Canada.

I still need someone to pinch me because I can't believe that this is really my job. Not only have I unleashed my passion but I have clients who genuinely appreciate my gifts and encourage me and inevitably have become some of my dearest friends. Life could not be any sweeter when you find what it is that you were meant to be doing. One of my favorite quotes is "Take life one dream at a time". If you are still searching for you passion live by these words and explore and the more you dream the more you will discover what it is that you were meant to do!

What do you consider your style of photography to be?

Editorial with a splash of Photojournalism. I take a modern approach to design and capture.

If you could offer one piece of advice to a bride, and only one, what would it be?

Hire a wedding coordinator!!!! As a photographer I seriously appreciate all of the wonderful things that Wedding Coordinators do for the bride and their families on the day of the wedding. When a wedding is well planned and executed my brides and grooms are more relaxed which allows me to capture images that are amazing. When a bride acts as the wedding coordinator I have found that they tend to not be in the moment and people will constantly ask them questions which pulls them mentally in different directions. From my standpoint it is really challenging to take away these distractions and continue to get killer images that document their day in a fashionable manner.

Also, I want to recommend that brides and grooms consider seeing each other before a wedding. I know... this totally breaks tradition, but today's brides are not about having traditional weddings. In fact I find that they are wanting to do almost anything they can do to break tradition and make their weddings uniquely theirs. I have found that when this is done that my clients get far more amazing images than they could possibly imagine and with a greater variety of locations.

Also, everyone tends to be more relaxed by the time the ceremony takes place. Now you certainly don't have to take this approach but you can't expect to get great images when you are crunched for time trying to rush to the reception or cocktail hour and trying to get all of your family shoots in along with entire wedding party and then images of the the two of you. The choice always sits with my couples but remember how much of an investment you are making in hiring a professional photographer. Collaborate with your photographer and come up with a plan that works for you both.

What’s the most rewarding part of your job?

There are so many things that I love about wedding photography. I seriously get a rush when I capture images. When I know that I nailed a shoot my clients may get a glimpse of what I call "the happy dance". It is so silly! Then there the moments when you are sitting behind your computer and processing pictures and I'll suddenly see a shoot just jump off the screen with pure beauty. These unexpected images give me a total rush. When a client hires me and trusts me to capture one of the most important days of their lives. When a client picks up their album. When I see the bride’s father seeing her for the first time. When the groom toast his new wife. When everyone tells me how much fun they are having the day of the wedding. The first kiss as husband and wife. The gitty little gleam that the happy couple has as they are walking down the aisle. How could someone not love being a part of this happy time. Traveling to locations that I never dreamed of visiting let alone working. These really are just a few of the many things. There are so many things that keep me addicted to wedding photography.

 

 

I had so much fun shooting Lillian Masie the other week... There is no doubt that she has "IT".  I am so excited to see where she is heading on her path for fame.  This is a great glimpse at how I capture the magic in my images.  I love finding the most random places to shoot!  Here are a few pics that her mom took of me in action.   Lillian's mom has a blog check it out!

Enjoy - CJ

   

Today only all Canvas prints are 25% off!  This is the finest way to display your favorite images!  Get ready.... It starts NOW at 8am-5pm.  ONE DAY ONLY!!!!  When you e-mail Please send me your contact info, along with your image(s) that you are considering for the Canvas.  In the e-mail text put "ONE DAY SALE" and I'll call you right back so we can discuss the best image size for your space.  Happy Shopping.... Go to www.cjclients.com for images!

Happy shopping!!! 

I have been slaving away getting images up on cjclients.com and posting like a crazy woman.  Here are a few pics form the wedding of Katy and Josh who got married in Placencia, Belize.  What an absolutely amazing adventure.  Expect to see many more pics on the way! - CJ

        

This is a chic wedding inviation that was custom designed for Ashley and Flint.  It is going to be a trifold.  You may have to invision the layout.  There is a front, a front flap, a spread, and the back.  Enjoy! - CJ

     

Well it is official.... I got my copy sent from the Knot a few weeks back and now I have the files to share with you!  Amber and Chad's wedding was selected to be featured in the latest issue of the Knot Florida.  This couple is truly amazing!  They planned for over a year putting so much thought into the details.  With the help of Allison Bender at Haile Plantation Country Club their wedding was flawless and color schemes perfectly executed.  The cake was done by the amazing Kathy from KB Kake Kreations - She is amazing... If you are looking at getting a cake for your wedding you simply need to call her!  Enjoy the amazing spread Amber and Chad... I loved being a part of this amazing time in your lives.         

This has been the most amazing wedding season to date.  Travels have taken me all over from Belize back to several destinations in Florida then off to Wisconsin.  It has been months of amazing weddings back to back.  Now it is time to get all the production parts of the business in full swing.  I have so many weddings to post and tons to blog.  This means that keep checking daily and you will see tons heading your way! 

Most importantly... in an effort to get posting pics and getting albums out I have to stay  focused and get a ton of work done.  So if you call the studio please be patient.  I will get your orders and images posted but I need to step away from the phones for a few days to get work done!  I am not taking a real vacation.... But rather a working retreat without distractions.  You can reach me via cell if it is an emergency or if you are wanting to book as well as by e-mail.  This is really an exciting time of year and your eyes will be filled with some of the hottest weddings at Caroline Johnson Photography.  Enjoy the daily posts as I am committed to bringing you back into Life with Caroline!  You will agree it has been quite a whirl wind as you enjoy the pics!  - CJ

I absolutely love seeing my brides and grooms published.  This amazing couple was recently selected to be featured in The Knot this spring/summer 09.  Getting you wedding published is something that I always strive for.  I can tell you that magazines are looking for the weddings that truly have their own personal flair and remarkable details.  What this really means is don't skimp on the details.  Details don't necessiarllly cost a ton of money but they do require that you plan and think carefully about how you will execute a remarkable color scheme.  Check out how Natalie and Matt put their personal flair on their wedding.  Oh... one more thing.... It doesn't hurt to have a great sense of humor!  I adore this couple! - CJ

Cake :        KB Kake Kreations

Flowers:    Prangs 

Location:   Sweetwater - Gainesville, FL