Eli's Photography Blog

Tuesdays with Eli – Photobooths!

Posted: November 2nd, 2010 | No Comments »

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!











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

Posted: October 24th, 2010 | 6 Comments »

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!

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To Grandma’s House We Go

Posted: February 12th, 2010 | 1 Comment »

So last weekend Leslie and I made the trip up to Nashville, TN to visit her Grandparents and have a birthday dinner for her older sister. Buford and Nell are will have been married for 60 years in July and have lived happily in there home for the last 37. While I was there Nell was determined to make sure that I left her home stuffed. I piled my plate full of some wonderful southern home cooking, but she still wanted to make sure that I had all that I could eat and then some, haha. Nell & Buford are wonderful host’s and I’m already looking forward to our next visit!  Also, I can check off #18 from my goals of 2010. I tried a southern red beet for the first time…”different.”

After dinner, we decided to go outside and grab a couple shots out in the snow. Enjoy the photos!

Brick Home

Brick Home

Kissing Grandparents

Kissing Grandparents

Grandparent Portrait

Grandparent Portrait

Backyard Snow

Backyard Snow

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Tuesday’s with Eli – Roadtrips

Posted: February 9th, 2010 | 1 Comment »

I have always loved road trips.  For one thing I do some of my best thinking on the road. All the distractions of the “day to day life” are taken away when you only have one simple task to do…Drive. Because I had dated Leslie for 3 years long distance, I got pretty used to long drives. I really only need a couple things to make me happy on a road trip: Plain sunflower seeds, bottle water, possibly a Rockstar Energy drink, and if it’s a really long drive… an audio book. These simple things make all the difference to me if I’m driving by myself. However, if I have a driving partner, that is something else. This weekend Leslie and I took a roadtrip to Nashville, Tennessee, her hometown. We we going there for her sister’s birthday dinner at her grandparent’ house. The weather was really nice the whole weekend, just a bit chilly, but made for a super pretty drive most the way. I was major excited to listen to my new audiobook “Never Eat Alone” by Keith Ferrazzi, and the 11 hour drive was a perfect fit. I’m glad Leslie didn’t mind either. As long as the narrator has a non-annoying voice we’re good, haha. It was a good book, I definitely recommend it to anyone wanting to get a little better at networking, and not in an artificial way, but in a genuine making friends and lasting connections kinda way. My friend Geoff Duncan recommended it to me, and I’m sure glad he did. Now I say pay it forward!

Here’s a quick little photos Leslie grabbed on the drive. Have a great week!

Eli

Road Trip Sunset

Road Trip Sunset

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Tuesdays with Eli – Fun in the Snow!

Posted: February 2nd, 2010 | 5 Comments »

Yesterday I blogged about the engagement portraits I took of Danielle & Jordan on Saturday. I told you guys that if they didn’t want to get out because of the weather, I was gonna be stupid and get out anyways just to shoot some portraits of Leslie & I in the snow. But because Danielle & Jordan were such awesome sports, they wanted to shoot their engagements, plus shoot some of Leslie and I too. I have to say, I really liked the idea because shooting my own portraits with a tripod and remote is not the easiest thing to do. I was a little reluctant at first though, I didn’t want to make my clients work for me, haha, but Leslie didn’t mind. She always wants great shots of the two of us. She thinks that we don’t have enough photos together because I’m always behind the camera.  So, after I did some photos of Danielle and Jordan, I showed them some of the basics on working my camera and they were ready to go! After I looked at a few of their photos, I was shocked. I better watch out, because Danielle & Jordan may be the next dream team photographers to take my job. Leslie was ecstatic, she couldn’t stop talking about how great the photos were. It was a lot of fun shooting in the snowy environment, but it sure was different letting my clients photograph me.
So there you go, my second “Tuesday’s with Eli” post and I’m already getting my clients to shoot for me, haha. Stick around, who knows what what craziness I’ll have next week.

These first few I shot of Leslie before we met up with Danielle & Jordan.

Arkansas Portrait Photographer

Arkansas Portrait Photographer

Arkansas snow portraits

Arkansas snow portraits

Eli Murray

Eli Murray

Couple Portraits

Couple Portraits

Snow Portraits

Snow Portraits

Happy couple

Happy couple

elimurray photography

elimurray photography

Seriously aren’t these great. Leave Danielle & Jordan some love and let them know what you think of their skills.

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