Eli's Photography Blog

Nancy + Micah – Arkansas Engagement Portraits

This engagement session was so much fun! Nancy’s parents have land outside of Cabot, Arkansas. The setting for this engagement session was very unique, because Nancy’s grandfather hand planted each of the pine trees that  you see. Eli and I love when we can shoot engagement sessions in environments that are personal to the couple. We could have photographed these two all day, they are so photogenic. Nancy and Micah are such a sweet couple and we can’t wait for their wedding in July! Be sure to leave them some love!!
- Leslie





I thought her ring was gorgeous! Micah did a great job!







The sunset that night was incredible and we just couldn’t pass up shooting with some lights. I love the way they turned out!

Chris + Nancy – Newport Beach, California Wedding

Eli and I planned a trip to the West Coast for some sight seeing, networking, and learning at WPPI ( convention in Vegas for Wedding and Portrait Photographers) We knew we were going to have our friends Chris and Nancy accompany us on this journey. What we didn’t know, was that these two were planning a surprise wedding for friends and family. They knew they wanted something beachy and what better place to do it than Southern California in Newport Beach. We had to keep it on the down low, which was a little tough at times, but we made it happen. Chris and Nancy are awesome wedding photographers themselves, and we felt so honored that they asked us to be the ones to document their special day! What a compliment! They got married at Little Corona Beach and it was breathtaking! Shelby Nolan of Green Leaf Designs created the most beautiful bouquet and boutonniere for Chris and Nancy. If you ever need flowers for your wedding/event, be sure to check her out- she is wonderful!! Green Leaf Designs is located in Huntington Beach, California. It was a perfect wedding all around, I don’t think we could have asked for better weather that day. Chris and Nancy are a beautiful couple and we wish them many years of happiness together. Cheers to the happy couple!
- Leslie

WPPI – Epic West Coast Road Trip 2012

Today Leslie and I are leaving, headed out for our second annual 2 week Epic Road trip to the west coast. I’m not saying we are going to make a habit of this, but you may remember last years trip. This time we are going with two of our friends. Four photographers packed into a Prius with 4,000 miles of driving ahead of them. Our journey will take us to the Grand Canyon for two days. Then off to the coast. First in Laguna Beach, California for a couple more days, then up the Pacific Coast Highway to San Francisco, where we will stay in “Japan Town”. After a few days in San Fran we head to Las Vegas, Nevada for the largest convention for Wedding Photographers in the United States,  WPPI.  For the next two weeks we will be shooting, driving, blogging, tweeting, facebooking, eating, and some very little sleeping. Sometimes all at the same time, haha, but also soaking in the wonderfully beautiful country as we travel from one location to the next.

Sweet Love Bakery – Little Rock, AR

Kelli Marks is the owner and lead baker for Sweet Love, one of the newest and fastest growing bakeries here in Central Arkansas. I was so impressed with Kelli’s wonderful personality, how she runs her bake shop, and her crazy good baking skills, that I wanted to dedicate a blog to Sweet Love and share some photos with you guys. If you are bride-to-be in Arkansas and you are looking for a really unique, beautiful, or classic wedding cake, check out Sweet Love.

It’s pretty easy to see that Kelli loves her job. Making people happy baking sweet goodies.

I was super excited when I heard that Sweet Love was opening up a storefront on Cantrell. It’s wonderful to have another really great bakery  in Little Rock for brides to create custom wedding cakes. You can also sit down inside and enjoy a fun little cupcake date.



I may have just had a couple of these cookies when I was shooting the bakery, and yes, they’re even better than they look.

This is the Sweet Love mascot, “Wisk”. Make sure you say hi when you stop in.






With so many unique and creative ideas for wedding cakes, I’m really glad to know Kelli and can’t wait to see what she has in store for the 2012 wedding season.

Sweet Love is located at 8210 Cantrell Road in the Cantrell Heights shopping center. http://sweetlovebakes.com/

2012 Wedding Photography Giveaway

We are super excited to be giving away a free wedding package worth $3,450 to one lucky bride and groom getting married in 2012 or 2013.

The wedding package includes the following:
-Complete wedding day coverage
-Personal online proofing gallery
-Engagement portrait session with Eli Murray
-All images on disc with personal copyright release
ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS:
- STOP BY THE BOOTH AND LET US TAKE YOUR PHOTO
- LIKE US ON FACEBOOK
- TAG YOURSELF IN THE FACEBOOK ALBUM
- LEAVE A COMMENT ON OUR BLOG (right here)

OFFICIAL RULES
NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. INTERNET ACCESS AND A FACEBOOK ACCOUNT ARE REQUIRED TO ENTER THE PROMOTION
HOW TO ENTER: Beginning 12:29:01 p.m. CT on January 15, 2012 through 11:59:59 p.m. CT on January 31, 2012 (“Promotion Period”), enter the ELIMURRAY WEDDINGS “Wedding Giveaway”, by completing the following rules:
1. Attend the 2012 Arkansas Democrat Gazette Bridal Fair.
2. Stop by the ELI MURRAY PHOTOGRAPHY vendor booth # 117,100 and take a photo of yourself inside the ELI MURRAY PHOTOBOOTH.
3. Go to the ELI MURRAY PHOTOGRAPHY Page on Facebook (www.facebook.com/elimurrayphotography). You must “Like” the ELI MURRAY PHOTOGRAPHY Page on Facebook for a chance to win. This Promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with, Facebook.
4. “Tag” yourself in the Facebook photo of the “2012 Arkansas Democrat Gazette ELI MURRAY PHOTOBOOTH”.
5. Visit ELI MURRAY’s BLOG (www.elimurray.com/blog/2012-wedding-photography-giveaway) and leave a comment on the blog.
ELIGIBILITY: The Promotion is open to legal residents of the 50 United States and D.C., 18 years of age or older who have attended the 2012 Arkansas Democrat Gazette Bridal Fair in Little Rock, AR and who have completed the contest rules.
PRIZES/ODDS OF WINNING: Odds of winning the wedding package depend on the total number of eligible entries received for the wedding give-a-way. The winner will be chosen at random and their wedding date must not conflict with any current bookings of ELI MURRAY WEDDINGS. No prize substitutions permitted, except by Eli Murray, who may substitute a prize of equal or greater value. Prize is non-transferable.
REGULATIONS: The winner of the Wedding Givaway must cover the cost of travel to any wedding location outside of Central Arkansas.
ALL GIVEAWAY RULES MUST BE COMPLETED BY FEB 1st 2012 IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE TO WIN.

Ashley + Alfredo – Riverside California Wedding Teaser

I know it’s been a while since my last blog post. Between shooting weddings, traveling to shoot weddings, engagements, family sessions, spending time with my family, editing, delivering albums and prints to brides, I’ve let some blogs slip past me. 2011 was a really great year. Leslie and I are super blessed to have such wonderful clients and to be a part of so many lovely weddings. We’re already looking forward to 2012. We’re flying back to Little Rock right now from Los Angeles as I’m writing this blog. I just couldn’t wait to show off a few images from Ashley and Alfredo’s wedding in Riverside, California. These are just a few of my favorites. Stay tuned for more images from their Southern California wedding. Enjoy!

Haley Heath – Arkansas Bridal Portraits

Saturday was Chris and Haley’s big day! I had such a great time at their wedding and I cannot wait to share some images. In the meantime enjoy a few of my favorite photos from Haley’s Bridal Portrait session that we shot a couple weeks earlier. Also I want to give a big thanks to Arkansas’s daily wedding blog, The Wedding Post, for featuring Haley’s Bridals on their blog yesterday and for constantly bring wonderful content to all of our Arkansas brides.

Lara + Alan – Arkansas Engagement Photos

Yesterday I met up with Lara and Alan at the Arkansas River Trail near The Big Dam Bridge in North Little Rock. I brought a camera and a couple bicycles, they brought the love. Aren’t they just awesome together? I cannot wait for their wedding in October!
Here’s a quick teaser of a few of my favorite images we got yesterday. Enjoy!

The Wedding Post – Arkansas Wedding Blog

If you haven’t yet discovered or if you’re not already following the brand new Arkansas Wedding Blog – The Wedding Post, then you should be.
They blog daily, all things wedding. Primarily focused on Southern and Arkansas Weddings. Perfect resource for all you Arkansas brides. They recently featured some engagement photos that I took of one of my super awesome couples getting married this year. I’m really excited about their wedding, I’ll be working along side some of the Arkansas’ wedding industry greats like Finishing Touch Event Design, Wedding Videography Services, and Designs by Tanarah. Make sure you guys swing by and check out The Wedding Post for the latest in Arkansas Weddings.

Tuesdays with Eli – Laguna Beach California

Here are just a few more of my favorite photos from Leslie and I’s trip to Southern California. These photos were all taken in the city of Laguna Beach. Enjoy!