i met russell and jayme elsevier of harvest moon photography back in 2009 when the mister and i hired them to photograph our wedding. it’s been so fun since then to watch them grow and develop as artists and business people. these days, i love that i get to call them allies, if you will, in this crazy business of gettin’ hitched.
we get to work together again this june and i can’t wait to see how they capture the day! take it away, you crazy kids…
a: how did you first get interested in photography?
russell: My love affair with photography started as a freshman in high school. My father surprised me with a trip to Egypt when I was only 15. I had less then 24 hours notice before leaving the country! I knew that this trip was going to be an absolute eye opener. If I wasn’t surprised about the trip I would have brought my mother’s Pentax MESuper 35 Film Camera, but I didn’t know in advance. I am pretty sure that my Dad knew that if I knew, my Mom would find out and the trip would be canceled. So having very little time I went to Pay-Less Drugstore and bought a cheap Minolta point and shoot and 10 rolls of film. Needless to say on the third day standing amongst the Pyramids and the Great Sphinx my camera stopped working. I was pissed! It was in the mid day sun that I made a promise to myself. When I returned home I would enroll in a photography class and buy my own camera. And that is exactly what I did and how it all started. By the time I was a Junior in High School I was regularly being published in our local newspaper.
a: where do you turn for creative inspiration?
russell: Pre-internet days (that really dates me dosen’t it?) I used to spend lots of time at the local libraries pouring over photography books. The work of Cartier Bresson, W. Eugene Smith, Annie Liebovitz, David Doubilet, Joe McNally, Sam Abell, the list could go on and on! Now the internet brings everyone and everything to your doorstep. Flickr is an amazing community for sharing creative work!
jayme: We do spend alot of time on Flickr. :) I also love to look at my favorite wedding blogs for insperation. Some of my faves are Oncewed, Style Me Pretty , and Moment Junkie.
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| how adorable is this couple!? |
a: how would you describe your style to somebody who doesn’t know a lot about photography?
russell: My style is evolving. For many many years I primarily enjoyed candid photography. A real hands off approach to moment capturing. I want to be forgotten and just shoot pictures in the background. See what I could capture from what is going on around me. Now I am starting to learn more about using artificial light to create portraits and mood. The absolute wonderful thing about photography is it’s diversity. There is so much to learn. I think that is why I enjoy it so much.
jayme: Our photography is about capturing the “moment”. The first time you see your groom as you are walking down the aisle. The first time you dance together as Husband and Wife. The emotion. The happiness. Those are the moments that you can’t set up or create. We love finding those moments and capturing them for you to show your future children and grandchildren exactly how you fealt on your wedding day.
a: aside from taking amazing pictures, how do you like to spend your time?
russell:A few years ago we planted our first garden. I learned to love the tomato. A fruit I couldn’t stomach for years. Store bought tomatoes taste nothing like home grown. We love gardening and eating our own home grown food.
jayme: Pretty much anything to do with outside! We love to go for walks/hikes. We love to camp in the summer and sometimes when it’s rainy we just jump in the car and go hunting for the sun. :)
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| ohay, that’s me. hi dad! |
a: what music is currently playing in your car or on your compy?
jayme:Pandora. At this very moment Apocalyptica. Yesterday it was Broadway musicals. My tastes change wildly depending on my mood. :)
russell: I just listen to whatever Jayme is listening to. I know better that to change the station. :)
a: what’s your best piece of advice for brides?
in perfect unison: Make sure you like the images your wedding photographer produces. Narrow down your choices by styles of photography that resonate with you. Choose from that group. There is no one right style of photography only what is right for you. At this moment there have never been more photographers on the planet to choose from. A total win for you!
Make sure you “click” with your wedding photographer. He/she or they will be with you and around you all day. Personality is extremely important!
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