Eli's Photography Blog

Epic West Coast Road Trip

For the last couple months Leslie and I have been preparing for one crazy awesome two week road trip out West. Leslie and I are certainly not new to the idea of making long drives. We’ve both made our fair share of day trips behind the wheel. I think we’ve made enough tracks on the highway to earn the title “Road Warriors”. When we were  dating and living in separate states, if we wanted to see each other we  had to drive. I never really thought to much about it. I just knew that I wanted to see my girl, so I drove…..This drive though, is different. This road trip we make together, not to just get a chance to see each other, but to see each other in new exciting places. To grow together, laugh together, experience together, and spend a whole lot of time together in our little car, haha. Leslie knows that I have always had a love for the West. I’ve been dying to take her there since we first started dating.
The whole trip is a combination of lots of different stops. We’re taking two weeks to make this trip and I can tell you it will be non-stop action. We’ll leave from Little Rock February 12th. Our first stop is Albuquerque New Mexico, after that we’re headed strait for the coast. I will be meeting with a super cool couple that has booked me for their wedding in Temecula, California in May. We actually haven’t met each other in person yet, so I’m really excited to finally meet them both! While we’re there, we’ll shoot their engagement photos in Costa Mesa and Laguna Beach. We’ll spend a couple nights there before leaving for Palm Springs. There are so many amazing locations, I wish we could make them all, but we have to pick and choose.

After Palm Springs we are headed up I62 and stopping in Joshua Tree and Twentynine Palms. Taking photos along the way, we’ll make our way to Mohave Vally and then stay a few days with my brother. I visited him around this same time last year. I came to visit my brother and also attend WPPI, which will be Leslie and I’s next stop. WPPI is a huge convention for wedding and portrait photographers. It’s a pretty huge deal for lots of photographers. I know, last year I got a lot from it, so I made it my goal to make it again this year.  Our last stop, on the way back is gonna be the Grand Canyon. This is one of those things that I’ve always wanted to see and I feel extremely blessed to have the opportunity. I’m super excited about this trip, I can’t wait to share some images with you guys!

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”             -Mark Twain

Tuesdays with Eli – Holiday Traditions

‘Tis the season! This is our first Christmas as a married couple together and we are excited. After having Thanksgiving dinner with my parents, grandma, and sister, Leslie and I decided that we wanted to start our own family tradition of picking out and cutting down our own tree. We made a trip to Motley’s Tree Farm for the day and this is what happened. Enjoy and Happy Holidays!!

Tuesdays with Eli – Photobooths!

Leslie and I decided to set up a photobooth at our reception last weekend. I have never done one of these before so I wasn’t sure what I was in for or what to expect. It tuned out to be one of my most favorite things that we did. I still need to perfect the set up, but I’m still super happy with all the funny photos we got from it! Maybe I’ll should start offering this with my wedding packages, huh? Here are just a few of my favorites, there were so many great ones! If you don’t see a photo that you took please check here. You can also download a copy of the images there.
Also huge thanks to the staff at Next Level Events! These guys were super awesome at our wedding reception, they took care of everything for us and had the best service!

Our Wedding Video!! – St. Thomas, Virgin Islands

When Leslie and I came back from our wedding in the Virgin Islands we were so crazy anxious to see our photos and video; we knew that our guys Collin Hughes, Matt Brue, and Spencer Combs had a real challenge on their hands with the weather. What should have been a super easy, beautiful beach wedding… turned out to be a monsoon on an island, haha. But we still couldn’t wait to see em’ and expected very rainy wedding video/photos. Of course would have loved it all the same, because it was our wedding, no matter how much rain there was it was beautiful to us….. However, when Matt sent us the trailer to our video, Leslie and I were completely blown away!!! I dimmed the lights, cranked up the volume on my computer, and Leslie sat in my lap. We waited for the video to fully download and then pressed play. From the very first frame, our jaws were on the floor.  We must have watched it like 50 times that night!!! I can honestly say that I am still in shock, can’t believe that it turned out to be that cool. I really can’t explain how Matt made this happen, all I know is if you need a wedding video, he’s your man!

Eli + Leslie // St. Thomas, VI from capture studios on Vimeo.

After our mind was completely blown by the video, then the photos started rolling in. Leslie and I were THRILLED!! Can’t tell you guys how happy we were to have picked photographers that we were comfortable with. My only advice that I have for new brides-to-be out there is to find the photographer that matches you. There are lots of super talented photographers out there. I personally know several, but the best decision that we made for our wedding was picking a photographer(s) that we had fun with. They made us feel at ease and worked their butts off the whole time. I have tons of respect for all of my brides and I promise to give you my all on your wedding day. I want you to feel the same way that Leslie and I did on ours. I vow to do everything I can to make your photos beautiful and unforgettable. We have so many photos that we absolutely love, but here are just a couple for you guys!! Enjoy! Don’t I have a beautiful bride!
The top two photos are from the incredible Spencer Combs!


These bottom two are from the amazing Collin Hughes!

Tuesdays with Eli – I’m Married!!

Well, I’m a married man now! Leslie and I got back from our honeymoon early Sunday morning about 2am. I’m sure most of you guys saw my Facebook post about the weather in St. Thomas. We planned for a beautiful, sunny, warm Island wedding and honeymoon, but apparently the weather had other plans. The locals on the island said that they have not received that much rain in 30 years. We were in the middle of some kind of record or something.  I’m telling you all of this not because I want everyone to feel sorry for us, haha. We did have 1 and a half days of sun, haha!
Leslie and I made the best of it. We rolled with the punches and got a little wet. To me, one of the most exciting things about photographing weddings is the unpredictability. Sometimes good, sometimes bad, but one thing is for sure, no matter how much you plan… things happen. It’s really just a great reminder that the wedding is not just about the plans and preparations. Weddings should be about the people and love. The time that you and your new bride or groom spend together and the experiences that you share.
I can tell you for sure that our wedding was definitely an experience, haha, but it was beautiful and I wouldn’t change a thing. Leslie and I so thankful to our families who could make it to the wedding and all of their help with everything. We are also super thankful for our photographers who had a bit of a challenge with all the rain. They stayed positive the whole time and worked hard to give us exactly what we were looking for. We cannot wait to see the images!
Until then, here are a few from my camera. I didn’t do a whole lot of shooting because I had people doing it for me, haha, but here’s a couple of my favorites! Also sorry for the cheesy/depressing videos, I only made them because I thought you guys would get a kick out of them, haha. Enjoy!

Our Honeymoon! from Eli Murray on Vimeo.