Dotuns Blog » Weddings

Nafisa and Ori Wedding – Lagos Nigeria

Dotun — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 20:35:16 +0000

Ok blog stalkers, I hear your cry I can imagine how many times you’ve been back here only to be welcomed by my last post. Well, change has come Let me start of by saying Happy New Year and I hope this blog post was worth the wait.

Nafisa and Ori got married last June in Lagos. Out of curiosity, I asked Ori to send me a few pics from the e-shoot they did in his home state California. Everything about the shots he sent to me was couture, so that was my first hint of the type of couple they are. Ori mentioned that he would like some of their shots on the wedding day to look similar so indirectly telling me to pull out my fashion photography sense. But I wasn’t sure if they could pull off such a wedding in Nigeria…boy was I wrong! I arrived in Lagos and Nafisa told me Ori went to church to do a sound check! I mean who has time for sound check in Nigeria, again I underestimated! It’s one thing for a couple to want a unique wedding and it’s another for the couple to do their home work to back it up – Ori and Nafisa did their homework for sure. Wedding was well planned, locations were great starting from hotel to reception, bridal party – just 4, first look was done and also a last look at the hotel after the reception(must see). Did I also mention that no other photogs were allowed at the event except me and my team? Ok, I will stop talking and let you enjoy this wedding.

Also worth mentioning, I shot this wedding with my “Charlie’s Angel photographers”- Jummy and Yinka. I’m so grateful to this two amazing photogs for their excellent coverage especially for a wedding far from the DMV area, some of you may remember them from previous wedding post. I will update other vendor links tomorrow.

Make-up Artist – Banke Meshida

Reception – The Civic Center – Lagos

Church – The Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos

Planning – Funke Bucknor-Obruthe – Zapphaire events

Decor – Sarao Decor

I will start off by Ori’s customized stuffs.

Some fashion lighting in motion!…love it!

Yes! meet the entire bridal party.

Their reception entry was truly unique, it felt like a red carpet entry with opera-like music and lighting to match!

You have to blame it on the alcohol

And the last look….

Lola and Dola – A New Jersey Wedding – Ariana’s Grand

Dotun — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 22:22:50 +0000

Another awesome wedding I shot April this year. I always poke fun that I can’t live in Jersey but I love going out there to shoot weddings This event was beautiful from the planning, to the bridal party, to the decor, to the reception party – all were just on point. Did I also mention that it rained heavily that day but that did not stop us from getting our shots. As a matter of fact the rain helped us and I will tell you why. Normally couples want to go off site to shoot and for the most part these locations might not offer much from a photography point of view. Also couples don’t know how a 2-hr window can easily used up for formal pictures and travel to the off site location. So we did our shots in church and the others in the driveway of the reception and we got just what we needed.

I was assisted by 2 awesome photogs – Jummy and Yinka, thank you!

Vendors

Makeup Artist -Bisi from Cryztal Eyes |Reception Decor -BCG Events| Reception – Ariana’s grand

When a getting-ready location is nice I can pull off shots like these with the dress(a tip for future brides)

My version of “behind the scene”

Bisi(makeup artist) getting her shot…Great job Bisi, brides Makeup looks really nice

Another shout out to Lola’s no-drama bridesmaids, and trust me I’ve had some bridesmaids try to run things at some weddings.

Loved her colors, I think shades of blue was “the color” this year

Shot this while standing in the rain, talk about desperation

Needed some background for a ring shot, I used the center piece above to get the shot below

Remember this shot from our shoot?

My favorite part of the reception was the bouquet and garter toss, I will do a rare full series on it..take a look

Now that’s how you jump! Both feet off the ground and hands fully extended You would think the MOH will catch the bouquet.

Or you would think the lady in red will get the bouquet….wrong! Bridesmaid far left did! And don’t ask me how

And sometimes I take a break to take pics with friends and family

Party was coming to an end but I needed to do so some portraits, the closest thing to me was the bar so we used it.

Yemisi and Ayo’s Wedding – Gaithersburg, MD

Dotun — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 17:41:58 +0000

Before I retire Yemisi and Ayo from the blog, here is a summary of their wedding day. It was truly another beautiful event I was happy to be a part of. Thanks to Wale and Paosin for the excellent coverage, with these 2 guys on my team it felt like a slam dunk coverage. Also check out their site at the end of the post, finally a site that can display images the way they should be.

I had so much fun shooting their getting ready. Ayo and Yemisi’s room were right next to each other and they still didn’t see themselves before the ceremony(but I’m still in favor of first looks). I couldn’t have asked for any better coordination on a wedding day as a photographer. Future brides take note

This time I had the ladies dress the guys

The guys show up to make sure she’s well touched up

Not sure the happy kid were listening

So Ayo’s brother (Niyi) came out to give his best man speech, and what started off as a tough speech ended up being the most emotional I’ve heard this year.

Visit their site here – www.ayoandyemisi.com

Melanie & Sam Wedding – Newton Mansion Wedding

Dotun — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 20:44:37 +0000

I can’t believe the year is coming to an end already! Melanie and Sam’s wedding was my first this year in March and it feels like it just happened yesterday. But like I always say, beautiful weddings are timeless, so posting this now just reminds the couple of how beautiful their day was. Melanie and Sam was another easy going couple I was fortunate to work it and I’m sure you will love their images!

Thanks to Wale for second shooting this wedding with me, you rock dude! Also thanks to Amra for assisting as well. I will be posting more weddings shot earlier this year so stay tuned.

Wedding Planner – Schaun Morgan – Affordable Splendor Wedding & Event Consultants

Reception – Newton White Mansion

Makeup Artist – Theresa Atchinson

Adeola and Akin – A Tappan Hill NY Wedding

Dotun — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 19:53:34 +0000

I didn’t meet Adeola and Akin before they booked me for their wedding but we had been going back and forth on email and phone for weeks. I know you will say I always have good things to say about all my brides or maybe I’m just lucky to work with awesome brides Adeola is one of loveliest brides I’ve ever worked with, especially knowing the fact that we never met before the wedding. From our phone conversation I could tell I was going to have fun shooting them. So I packed my bags and off to New York I went. This was my first time in Upstate New York and is that place beautiful or what? Like they say it’s all about location, location and location! Met up with an amazing planner Priscilla and onsite coordinator Kathy at Tappan Hill Mansion – These two ladies are one of the best I’ve ever worked with! And not to forget, kudos to Yinka from Chocolate Photography NYC, who came from downtown NY to assist me, I couldn’t have asked for a better coverage. Thanks again to the couple for entrusting their special day to me, not for once during the whole process did they doubt the work…and that too me means a lot.

I blogged the guys weeks ago here.

Reception – Tappan Hill Mansion

Planning and Co-ordination – Priscilla of Cillaholloway events.

Makeup – Khuraira Musa

Hair – Tammi Robinson