Four Seasons, Kona, Hawaii { Erik & Sara }

Who would know, 12 years ago, I played tennis with this guy, well, more accurately, I was beat at tennis playing this cool guy, Erik Darby. He was king of the courts. Last winter we connected on facebook and one thing led to another, and they asked me to have the honor of photographing their wedding. After we met up, and shot their casual portrait session in San Francisco, on the hottest day of the year, April twenty something. I knew after working with them that todays wedding was, well, nothing short of amazing. Weddings at the Four Seasons Hualalai on the Big Island are so beautiful.

We met earlier in the day and shot a few shots outside the Temple in Kona.

My new Iphone 3GS made for a great reflective surface.

Here was their save the dates that one of their friends made. I love it!

Sara picked out some sweet Martinez Valero shoes.

Tiffany & Co and Acqui Di Gio, more elements that are sweet, and sweet to shoot. Erik wrote her a lil love note with the fragrance. Erik impressed me all day with how much of a Man he is.

Her niece was so cute and sweet, giving her input for the hairstylist.

Later we headed over to Erik and the guys to get them getting ready.

The first time they met in a Lava field was pretty sweet. I cut my foot on the lava, but I would have done it again for shots like these. I'm always looking for unique and stellar backgrounds. This kind of stuff makes the shot.

Sara had a few minutes to relax before her girls were ready. Lit with window light from a soft window, which was like a big softbox, illuminated her up.

The usual camera toss was in full effect, borrowing my buddies lens, Jim Russi who was there to help shoot with me today. Thanks Jim! James was also there all the way over from Hilo! You guys were such blessings to shoot with.

So the story goes....

...all week I was warned about the jump-kick. Their practice paid off. They pulled off the most classy, high and sweet looking jump-kick. Who says grown men can't have fun.

Sara's dad was so proud! I had to sneak up almost underneath the pastor to get this shot. I love getting dirty in sand to get the shot, because many people would not go that far. If I ruin clothes, or get messy, its like an athlete sliding into home belly first, getting the game winning run. 100% worth it.

I guess Erik had practiced this shot, either way, he made it look easy!

The sky was stunning this evening! I loved how God made the dark cloud to the south, I was able to have a darker background behind my couple which made the shots turn out even better.

The coolest group of bridesmaids and groomsmen, little did we all know 10 years ago that most of us would be here at their wedding, many of them from Monte Vista High School where we grew up back in the day!

Erik owns GQ. At least the look of GQ. Windblown and classy.

Thanks guys, you are not only very sweet and amazing people, but it was a blast serving you on the first day of the rest of your life being married. Those 13 hours flew by SO fast!