Jennifer Mitchell and Jeremy Denney July 4th 2008

JULIE DREELIN'S BEACH PRODUCTIONS RECEIVES THE 2008 READERS CHOICE AWARD

The Bride's Book Announces 2008 Readers Choice Awards
"The Bride's Book" readers award top wedding service providers for 2008
About "The Readers Choice Awards":
The annual Readers Choice Award is an annual award recognizing Carolina businesses that offer superior customer service and excellent quality as defined by local brides. Each year "The Bride's Book" magazine and TheBridesBook.com both based in Chapel Hill, NC ask their readers to nominate their preferred wedding vendors. This year more than 5000 brides nominated businesses throughout the Carolinas via mail-in forms, faxed forms, phone calls and general email messages. The votes were hand tallied and sorted by region after the close date of June 1st.The nominations are solicited in each issue of The Bride's Book magazine, on the website and thru quarterly email newsletters to the magazine's subscription base. All winners will be listed in the 2008 Fall/Winter edition of "The Bride's Book" magazine on sale Oct 1st, thru March 31st. Venues will be "spotlighted". Winners will also be listed on www.TheBridesBook.com by region.

Aly and Rob - June 28th 2008

Thanks for you part in a marvelous series of events topped off by a remarkable wedding ceremony on the beach behind our Corolla Light home! I loved the pictures you had on display at the reception -- and so did the entire group there to celebrate my daughter Alysson's wedding on Saturday. You were always there, showing both creativity and the right kind of needed direction to a group of 175.

The success of the event can be described in many ways, but the one most meaningful to me was the Sunday morning call from my daughter thanking me and telling me that the day had been perfect! Exactly my goal.
Derrick Crandall, father of the bride wrote:
"It has been fun over the past two days as those who watched the ceremony as gawkers have now approached me to say that the event has inspired them -- that they want to know whether they should encourage children and friends to consider Corolla for weddings of their families and friends. I'm sure you can imagine that my answer is a solid yes. The decision to do a destination wedding here made it possible to gather most of our wedding-goers for a solid week, and we had non-stop events ranging from "clan gatherings" at various homes on Corolla Light to a surprise birthday party with an entertainer on the deck of the Corolla Light oceanfront complex to a wonderful rehearsal dinner at the Currituck Club --- and then brunch for 100 (!) at our home on Sunday morning, I had dear friends -- including a former Member of Congress and other worldly folks -- tell me that this was the most fun and most memorable of all their many wedding experiences. And my extended family was ecstatic about the role the wedding played in achieving a long-overdue family reunion."

June 23rd 2008 Wedding

Flying

Going flying above the Outer Banks is always a treat - what a great way to entertain your guests while they are here! Also, my husband there on the right fly's banners for wedding ceremonies up and down the beach all summer. This was just a couple of local jokers and use having a fun afternoon spin -

Lana and Steve's Wedding Day - June 7th 2008

Lana and Steve's wedding was at the Saltaire in Duck on June 7th. We just love the uniform Steve! Lana and Steve used our favorite DJ in town not only for his dedication and personality but he just does a great job every single time, Don from Soundwavz.
They also used Blooms and Jay Bowman - funny, my assistant asked if "Do you ever do weddings with anybody else"-well of course, but they are the best!
As the heat of June fell into evening, the colors of the sky turned a magnificent color of blue right after sunset. We suggested having the dance right at this time for the primo dusk photos, they turned out wonderfully.
Congrats Lana and Steve!
Good luck on your magazine submission-

Suzanne and Marc - June 7th 2008

This was a great wedding but boy was it hot! Remember, June-August on the Outer Banks can be a scorcer. The best time for weddings is very early morning(6:30am) or around sunset (5pm). This wedding was at 10:45am in June. Minister Jay Bowman pulled through again at this wedding and made sure they had a great time anyway. Suzanne had to take a cool break before going to the reception. Although sunburnt and hot, everything turned out ok - Congrats Suzy and Marc!

Hilary and Joel June 4th 2008

H & J Wedding was a small elopement in Nags Head this week. The sunset was fast approaching on us so we had to work quick to get family beach portraits as well as our signature wedding photography! Funny, Joel was into the ring on the toes and running shots, Hilary wanted nothing but candids-we can do that! They had been going together for 10 years, and still this day was like a new beginning. Congratulations on your successful beach wedding H & J!

Outer Banks Limousine

Katie and Rich May 30th 2008

How fun was this couple! We've always been known for starting the documentary wedding revolution here on the Outer Banks-just remember, you saw these "poses"-NOT! at Beach Productions first:)
This wedding took place at the brides parents home on Ocean Blvd. in Southern Shores, NC. The reception was at Duck Woods Country Club, one of my favorite places to photograph. The lighting coming in the large windows in the evening gave the wedding a perfect glow.

New Kent Winery Opening

Finally, the New Kent Winery opened this last weekend. The project has been ongoing with Kitty Hawk Land Company for 8 years. The unveiling was a black tie affair and we were hired to document it. What a fantastic event for some fantastic wine. Kitty Hawk Land Company's investors, Bodie Noell Enterprises was there for the unveiling as well as the New Kent media.
Visit the web video here

Laura and Justin's Wedding Day

Laura and Justin's wedding was at Sea Turn Drive in Duck, NC in a big yellow house right on the water. Laura put a lot of thought into her details which I love as a photographer. She didn't even notice me for most of the day, she couldn't take her eyes off Justin.

Arlington Place Shoot

Thanks Mickey, Alison, Step, Becca, Blair and the rest of the crew at Kitty Hawk Land and the Currituck Club for hiring us to come to the opening of your newest development - Arlington Place near New Bern, NC.
Click here to visit the video show-

Natalie and Matthew May 17th 2008

Some Kids are just plain cute!

Jennifer McKinley Portrait Shoot

Meighan and Scott's Wedding Day

This wedding on May 2nd was so simple yet gorgeous. Our favorite Rev. Jay Bowman
was the officiant. Jay is so professional with an "island twist"-he really loosened up the ceremony to the point that everybody was having a fantastic time. It was truly romantic. Congrats you two!

Melissa and Dave - May 4th 2008

Congratulations Melissa and Dave! Melissa was so excited about her wedding dress that I just had to get a great shot to do it justice. This was a fantastic wedding shoot, thanks M and D for being such great models.

For those brides that I've meet with in the last couple months, THIS is what I'm talking about when I say . . .when the bride is happy, everybody is happy! Have you ever seen such a love inspiring couple? They MADE me want to express their love through photography.
Congrats again M & D-
Julie Dreelin

Lauren and Jamie's Wedding Day May 3rd 2008

It was such a beautiful day that we knew the images would really pop with our Tiffen polarizing lens. Last time we did this we were on the cover of two magazines! A couple of these photographs would definitely be in contention. Lauren and Jamie, you were great to work with!
Congratulations Lauren and Jamie
3rd May 2008

Beach Productions marketing materials receive Rave Review

Why making a superior end and marketing product is so important.
Just as we do with our Outer Banks beach photographs, we love to offer the most unique, interesting and eye catching end products from around the world. Inspired by our recent most popular and busy year ever here in Kitty Hawk, we spent some time putting together a fun little brochure for our brides and we won the photo on our print company's site.
Thank you Millerslab.com, one of our favorite labs, for choosing our marketing materials to demonstrate your products. View their beautiful products:
www.millerslab.com

Finally, Photos from the Sumbawa Trip!

The Most Important Thing to Remember At Your Wedding

A quote from my favorite book, Atlas Shrugged by Ann Rand, "Lights, colors, flowers, music are the things that make life beautiful, do people expect those things to make them romantic, not the other way around?"  Time and again I've seen from afar the bride and the groom, their moods, gaiety, relationship, intelligence and beautiful spirit are what make the best weddings. 

Trip to Sumbawa, Indonesia

Step back 100 years in time, when horse drawn carriages ruled the streets and open markets vendors fight for the right to sell you a simple days food.  We have been on a different island called Sumbawa where the sunsets rule the sky, and the ocean and the land hold no pollution.   

It is really eye opening to see such a place.  The main source of income is rice, everywhere you see people stomping with dirty feet on rice drying on mats on the street, finishing in filling up large bags that you would see in any supermarket back home.  I think of rice a little differently now.  Salt farming . . .hmm, I never knew exactly where our salt came from.  Indonesia contains some of the best salt farms in the world.  I did not believe this until I had a margarita here with salt on the glass.  It was wonderful, and I don't even like salt!  Down every side street hangs a rainbow of drying clothes and naked kids running about, their white smiling teeth sticking out from their brown skinned bodies.  One thing is more prevalent that any other, there are a lot of people just "hanging out".  Apparently, there are not many jobs in these parts because nobody was in a rush to go anywhere fast.  The only time that we had the honor of being engulfed in the true society besides the surf camp was a visit to the ATM machine.  Did we stick out like sore thumbs!  Eric is twice as tall as the tallest Indonesian, and blond. Our Muslim driver friend said it was ok that I did not wear the Muslim head scarf, my highlighted hair drew quite a stir as well.  The camera attached to my neck is worth a life's savings to the people that surrounded me, but they were not interested in it at all, they just wanted to practice their English with the strange looking people.  I could not let the opportunity pass to take a photo of the approaching school kids dressed in uniform or the old lady begging Eric for money.  Eric only had American money and tried to give her a dollar.  It was quite a scene, finally a nice lady in the line tried to explain in broken English that the lady would not even know what to do with it, these are remote parts!  I am not able to upload photographs for this post at this time, check the next post for photographs from this story

Uga Uga Festival, Bali, Indonesia

Celebrity Make-Up Artist moves to the Outer Banks

Outer Banks Makeup artist

Our suggested person for beach wedding make-up, Deborah Hess of Deborah's Make-up Inc. has worked with celebrities for over 15 years including clients in Vogue, Newsweek, and Life Magazines.  She has been the key make-up artist for Good Morning America in Washington, D.C. for 10 years.  We welcome Deborah to the Outer Banks, thank you for your tips to make brides look great on their wedding day!

Tips for beach makeup:

To view Outer Banks makeup tips exclusively from Deborah, she has listed them in the 2008 Wedding Guide to the Outer Banks which says:

Deborah Hess of Deborah's make-up, Inc., specializes in make-up that makes the skin look flawless and natural. "I try to capture the essence of the person," say Hess.  She recommends brides choose a classic look for their make-up and that they meet with their make-up artist for a trail run at least once before their wedding day.  In addition, Hess suggests that brides use oil-free products and less moisturizer to combat shine and humidity.

With wedding day packages starting at $300 to look your best in your wedding photographs, I would grab this opportunity in a heartbeat!

Assignment:WEDDING DRESS MAGAZINE SHOOT-ULU'S,INDONESIA

You don't have to be a Spanish beauty to make large earrings work with your beach wedding dress!  

Portraits, Hindu Festivals, and Rice Fields

There is a saying that I learned in Hawaii, Aloha Kai, "love the water, love the land"

Taking the opportunity to respect these aspects of life and the world encompasses a soul to a fuller life, a fuller understanding of surroundings.  This said, the wave swell never came, or at least, isn't here yet.  What a great opportunity to visit the rice fields of Seminyak, Bali and go to a Hindu offering.  The rice fields feel like 110 degrees F. with 99% humidity.  All of the people that live in these areas show wrinkles of age aching for rest.  There is none.  Our driver said that if some of these people don't harvest rice or sell to chance visiting westerners, they don't eat.

At the Hindu temple, the children giggle and giggle at the thought of getting their photographs taken.  After every one, they want to see their faces on the back of my large digital camera screen.  The ladies here all introduce themselves to me, just as the book I just read - Eat, Pray Love - there are only 5 names in all of Bali.  The first that comes out, male or female is named Wayane, the second . . .etc.  Needless to say, it's easy to remember names around here.  Some develop nicknames, one lady was named "peanut" because she is always feeding peanuts to the monkeys, a guy we met was named "hero" but I couldn't quite figure out why through the language barrier.  I have decided, though that I love this name and I ever have a son his name will be Hero.

Surfing Indonesia

Surfing every single day in Indonesia sure does get you into tip top shape!  Walking on live reef during low tide out to the break wasn't as bad as we anticipated, no booties necessary.  We met up with the hot couple Matt S. and Kelly, Justin, Barry Jr. and Ashley Heath from the Outer Banks for an Ulu's evening session.  Waves, barely overhead but glassy.  We are waiting for the 8 foot big swell to come like last week to the Nusa Dua break.  Swell.com is predicting a great week.  Barry Jr. leaves tonight to head back to work at Whalebone, thanks for the surfing tips, Barry!