Azul Photography

AZUL PHOTOGRAPHY'S NEW BLOG

2011-01-09T13:43:00.000-08:00

Azul Photography's blog has moved! Come visit our new site at:

www.azulphotography.com/blog

Azul Photography is an award-winning group of North Carolina Wedding Photographers, who specialize in documentary-style weddings and creative portraiture. In addition to covering events in the Raleigh and surrounding North Carolina area, we are available for travel worldwide. Please visit our website at www.azulphotography.com for more information or call us at 919.270.4310. You can also keep up with Azul via Facebook & Twitter!

INTERNATIONAL AWARDS WON

2010-06-11T12:05:00.000-07:00

I am always interested in seeing the results of the International Society of Professional Wedding Photographers (ISPWP) quarterly contests. This group represents some of the best wedding photographers in the world. The association announced it's Spring winners and there I was. I placed 17th overall in this associations talented international field with a first in "Framing the Subject," and placing fifth in the "First Dance" category.

Below are the photos which placed for the quarter.

This image was from Tara & Tom's wedding. I spotted this immediately and had to take advantage of the proximity of the cake, couple and dinosaur. How often do you get to incorporate a dinosaur at a wedding....really.

I really love this photo and the energy it shows. This was Megan & Paul's first dance and everything fell into place this day for myself and the cool couple.

Thank you for taking the time to look at some photos.

CHAT WITH AZUL AND FRIENDS

2010-05-27T11:02:00.000-07:00

Come join the fun with Azul and friends. We will be at The Grand Marquise Ballroom along with coordinator Shawn with Your Special Day Weddings and Special Events getting to see this amazing venue up close. Who is invited? All engaged couples are welcome to spend the evening with us Thursday, June 10, 2010 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. The evening will feature a tour of the facility, hors d'oeuvres and dessert, and the opportunity to talk with some of the area's leading vendors.

Featured Vendors Include:
The Grand Marquis Ballroom
Your Special Day Weddings and Special Events
We Cook for You
Premiere Catering
Azul Photography ( you know me :)
Swank Photo Studio
Beth Jarvah Photography
Fresh Affairs
The Green Kangaroo
Sweet Memories Bakery
Seasound Studio and Entertainment
Classic Party Rentals
Blue Diamond Limo
Enchanting Moments
Heart and Style Collections by Joanie Edge

We look forward to seeing you there!

KATIE & VANCE GET MARRIED

2010-05-12T13:01:00.000-07:00

Katie and Vance's wedding was a day we have been looking forward to since the first time we met. They are a couple who thoroughly enjoy photography and had a high priority on selecting a photographer to document their wedding. Lucky for us, Tracy Adams with Tracy Adams and Events sent them our way.

The day started off smoothly with a cool breeze and a timely arrival of the bridal party at the church. Flower balls from Fleurtations Weddings & Events lined the aisle along with pink bows attached to the pews.

As guests were filtering into the church, Kathleen was busy documenting Katie and the bridesmaids getting ready, while I was with Vance and groomsmen.

As Arioso Strings played, Katie stood next to her father wiping tears away moments before she walked down the aisle. The congregation stood and snapped pictures as she made her entrance. The ceremony was beautiful and 40 minutes later Vance kissed his bride.

After the ceremony, we headed to a nearby park to create portraits of the bridal party and the amazing couple. Meanwhile, Tracy Adams and Jeff Simpson with Simpsound were transforming the church's basketball gym into a beautiful ballroom. Cinda was there as well (Cinda's Creative Cakes), preparing her amazing looking cake and candy bar.

Upon entering the pink lit foyer, guests found their places on a seating scroll created by Maria Scheel. Beautiful table cards and menus were also created by Maria.

From the first dance to the playing of "Freebird," Lenny Fritz kept the party rocking! Bubbles filled the route to the car as Katie and Vance made their escape.

Congrats Katie & Vance and thank you for allowing us to document your wedding!

MEGAN & PAUL IN B&W

2010-04-30T11:57:00.000-07:00

I first met Megan at a bridal show and she was thrilled with our work. She completely understood our style and knew what she wanted...something different and fresh. This is why I wanted to show her wedding in all B&W on or blog.

Megan has a smile like no other. She was smiling the whole day from when I started documenting the wedding until the end of the night. I noticed the smile when I arrived at her parents home. Megan was receiving the finishing touches on her hair and make-up by Margo with Belloviso, Inc. All of her bridesmaids were there and they were in great spirits.

We had a perfect sunny day for the wedding at Sacred Heart. Hydrangeas lined the pews while bridesmaids held onto their beautiful lily filled bouquets created by Lyn, with Fresh Affairs. The ceremony was filled with laughter due to the wonderful homily by Father Sal .

After the ceremony we headed to Pullen Park for some quick portraits of the bridal party and then headed over to the reception at the Renaissance Raleigh North Hills.

Below is what Megan & Paul had to say about their favorite photo from the day.

We love the image of the wedding party under the trees in Pullen Park. It reminds us of Raleigh and having a blast with our cousins over the wedding weekend. The lighting, shadows, and depth-of-field makes it look so unique and perfectly captured the fun we had taking the portraits with you.

- Megan & Paul

The ballroom was filled with amazing table arrangements by Fresh Affairs. Candlelight illuminated the tables and lite a pathway to the dance floor for Megan & Paul's first.

The band kept the night alive and the dance floor packed all night. The surf & turf main entree looked amazing and the hand decorated cake was delicious.

There were so many great memories which I will carry away from the wedding. Like, Megan's father crying during their dance, Paul's jam session for the crowd, the handmade glass cake topper, a tumbling groomsmen and I will never forget the bride who could not stop smiling on her wedding day.

Congratulations Megan and Paul!

If you would like to see more images from Megan & Paul's wedding please visit our online gallery.

SEE US AT THE BRIDAL SHOW

2010-04-13T20:23:00.000-07:00

Come visit our booth at the Southern Bridal Show & Expo on Sunday, April 18th! We would love to see you there and chat more about your wedding.

This is where you can grab your tickets to "The After Party," at Midtown Place. The event is scheduled three days after the bridal show on April 21st from 5-8 p.m. We will have champagne, wine and hors d'oeuvres here for you enjoy along with great converstion.

P.S.
Guess who shot the cover for the poster.

ERICA & STEVEN ENGAGEMENT SESSION

2010-02-03T20:43:00.000-08:00

Erica wanted her portrait session to be at the same location which Steven proposed to her. So, we traveled over to Yates Mill Pond Park to create some dynamic images. It was a cloudy day and with a slight chill in the air.

We walked from one side of the park to the other while talking. Steven explained to me how nervous he was before he proposed and that his quiet spot was not so quiet anymore. A festival at the park threw a wrench in his plans. "I was going to propose to her at the water falls but there were too many people," said Steven, "I had to find another spot."

Erica added that she knew he was acting differently but didn't know why until he proposed. Obviously she said yes.

Congratulations Erica and Steven. We look forward to documenting your wedding at the Hudson Manor.

If you would like to view more images from the engagement session please visit our online gallery.

CAROLINA INN BRIDAL FAIR

2010-02-02T22:32:00.001-08:00

We are proud to announce that we will be at the The Carolina Inn Bridal Fair in Chapel Hill. Select members of the wedding industry are invited to this annual event to help brides plan their big day. This is the region's most exclusive bridal showcase and we are honored to be a part of it.

The date for the show is on February 7, 2010 and doors will open at 1 p.m. and close at 4 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $10 or you can visit our studio to pick up a pair. We will be located in the Hill Ballroom in between Alexia's Bridal Boutique and wedding planner Tracey Adams.

We look forward to seeing you there!

MORE AWARDS.....WOW!

2010-01-15T20:32:00.000-08:00

I recently joined the International Society of Professional Wedding Photographers and entered their quarterly contest. I entered three images and can you believe it, they all placed. I really like it when that happens.

The image below is of Sarah getting ready on the big day at the The Carolina Inn in Chapel Hill. I opted to focus on the dress in the background instead of the bride. I am always looking for an image which places you in the space.

2nd | The Wedding Dress

Below is Sarah, once again, four weeks prior to her wedding at The Carolina Inn in Chapel Hill. She was looking for something unique and traditional while inside the hotel. I found this spot in one of the ballrooms which made for a dramatic image. Thank you Sarah!

4th | Bridal Portrait

I love the chaos in this next image. All hands are on the bride which makes you feel the energy of the moment. This was one of my favorite images of the year.

13th | The Wedding Dress

VICTORIA & STEVE

2010-01-06T21:42:00.000-08:00

I love to travel, so when Victoria and Steve asked me to document their wedding, I was thrilled. Their Myrtle Beach wedding gave me an opportunity to take a short drive to South Carolina.

I arrived a day early (just in case) and woke up relaxed and ready for a wedding. I met Victoria in her busy room, while the finishing touches were being placed on a frowning flower girl. Victoria's dress was beautiful and fit perfectly.

After a short time with Victoria, I headed over to hang out with Steve, the groom. While driving, I caught the guys walking from their hotel rooms to the reception area. They were en route to have their boutonnieres pinned on by Joy with A Joyful Occasion.

Next we headed to St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church, which was filled with beautiful murals and had huge windows all around, which spread white light throughout the sanctuary. Steve was nervous, but he had his groomsmen with him to put him at ease.

The ceremony began with priests walking down the aisle chanting as Victoria and Steve followed. I have never experienced a ceremony quite like this one and it made for remarkable images.

Post-ceremony, we headed back to Premier Resorts at Barefoot Resort for the reception. The bride and groom were the first to see the table arrangements and displays created by Kelly Odom and the custom decorated cake by Judy Boddie. After viewing the room, the bridal party enjoyed a secluded cocktail hour.

Lots of dancing and full glasses kept the party going. Kevin Majoros with KMJ DJ Company, kept the night alive until the very end.

Thank you Victoria and Steve for allowing me to document your wedding. Congratulations!

If you would like to see more images from Victoria & Steve's wedding please visit our online gallery.

ANN MARIE & MARK

2009-12-25T09:00:00.000-08:00

I arrived at the Marriott downtown to document Ann Marie and Mark getting ready for their big day. Mark was sitting on the bed, nervously waiting with his groomsmen for the limo to arrive. While Ann Marie's room was in party mode, complete with music, food, toasting and plenty of dancing.

After getting ready, the ladies hopped in the limo and headed over to Sacred Heart Cathedral. Upon their arrival, they found their bouquets sitting in a row waiting for them outside the church. Lyn, with Fresh Affairs, created the beautiful arrangements.

There were wonderful moments during the ceremony when Mark would look over at Ann Marie just to make her laugh. I grinned every time I saw this and I captured a few nice frames of it as well.

Rain forced us to think of a new location to shoot portraits....a parking garage. Now, Ann Marie is the type of girl who believes in destiny. A person who believes that everything happens for a reason, good or bad. Her original wedding date was changed to book her photographer, her dream location did not meet the construction deadline, a festival caused parking issues, and not to mention the rain. Normally this would drive brides crazy, but not Ann Marie. "I can't believe everything and how it is working out. I think the theme of my wedding is, if it's meant to happen, then it will." she said. How did Mark handle it? Just like any other guy would, by embracing it.

After our amazing portrait shoot, we headed over to the reception site at Sitti in downtown Raleigh. This was my first time documenting a reception here and their first as a reception location. Sitti is a Lebanese restaurant with delicious food and a great staff.

Ann Marie and Mark arrived to a packed restaurant filled with flowers and glasses of wine. Cheers echoed through the room as they walked into the space to start the night with their first dance. The evening rolled quickly and time flew by due to the fun we were having.

Now, I must give Cara with A Southern Soiree a lot of love. Coordination of a wedding is a lot of work and Cara's team made the night perfect for Ann Marie and Mark.

The other vendors who made the day pass smoothly were ,Classic Party Rentals, Blue Moon Bakery and the band, The Entertainers. It was a blast and the zombies were pretty cool too (that's another story).

Congratulations guys!

If you would like to see more images from Ann Marie & Mark's wedding please visit our online gallery.

WPJA CONTEST WINNERS

2009-12-23T23:19:00.000-08:00

I consider winning in the Wedding Photojournalist Association's quarterly contest a New Year's gift for myself. Wins are more difficult to get since the WPJA's international membership has exploded. I have been a part of this organization since 2004 and really enjoy being a member.

The judges are extremely accomplished photojournalists whose work I have admired over the years. I am honored to have them look at and consider my work as one of the best in the world.

The image below won first place in its category. The photograph is of Donna Ford and her assistant with Sweet Memories delivering a cake. The other two images placed in the top 20 in their respective categories.

JUDGES COMMENTS: A very nice silhouette balanced perfectly. It is a very hard subject to get a nice picture of and you could tell the photographer worked very hard on this.

JUDGES COMMENTS: Wonderful composition. B&W works well with the graphic elements. Nice job.

JUDGES COMMENTS: One of the great aspects of telling the full story of the wedding day with a journalistic approach is being there to show things that the wedding couple would not be able to see. Let's face it, setting up tables is dull. The photographer edits all of those dull hours with his or her eyes and offers the peak moments. This is one of those moments worth seeing.

JUDGES COMMENTS: Nice job of capturing the moment just before the cake is placed on the table. The framing is well-done and the backlight highlights the forms beautifully.

JUDGES COMMENTS: Interesting use of the reflection to represent the crowded reception while at the same time emphasizing the quiet escape of the three men at the table. Did they retire to that table to escape the noise, or better to observe what was going on? The question is posed by the picture but not answered.

You can see more award winning images by visiting the WPJA's website.

TARA & TOM

2009-12-23T15:13:00.000-08:00

Tara was excited as she exited the car filled with bridesmaids upon her arrival at the United Methodist Church in Raleigh. A whoop was yelled and arms flung upward as she crossed the street to the church. It was a great day for a wedding and everyone was ready.

Tara was greeted by her father as she opened the church's tall oak doors. The bouquets were perfect, along with the boutonnieres, created by Lyn with Fresh Affairs. They all sat in a row waiting to be picked up by the bride and her maids.

The ceremony site was illuminated with soft warm light spilling through the stained glass windows. Tara was escorted down the red carpeted aisle to a smiling Tom. After the wedding ceremony, everyone headed downtown to the reception at the Museum of Natural Sciences. I was amazed how Lyn and Cara with A Southern Soiree transformed the space with flowers and design.

Guests walked into cocktail hour surrounded with history and science. They were able to experience several exhibits while their food was being prepared and plated by Triangle Catering.

The party got started with a roar. Dinosaurs loomed over Tara & Tom during the first dance. Mitch, with Joe Bunn DJ Company, kept the dance floor packed and hopping through out the night. This was a wedding to remember and one which I will personally enjoy looking at over and over again.

Thank you for allowing me to be there to document your wedding. Congrats Tara & Tom!

If you would like to see more images from Tom & Tara's wedding please visit our online gallery.

KATIE & VANCE

2009-11-17T12:39:00.001-08:00

We had an amazing day to work with during Katie & Vance's engagement portrait session. Leaves were turning and mild weather helped ease us through the the day. The images were created in Greensboro at The Tanger Family Bicentennial Garden. If you have not been there...well, you should.

HOLLY & BRIAN IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

2009-05-22T15:22:00.000-07:00

Holly & Brian wanted something different, unique and fun for their wedding, so they opted to head to the Dominican Republic for a destination wedding.

Kathleen and I left Raleigh's rain-filled clouds for Punta Cana's sunshine skies and sandy beaches. As we approached the terminal, music greeted us from a live band while ladies dressed in traditional attire lured us into a photo opportunity. (This made Kathleen and I laugh). We grabbed our luggage and hopped into a cab heading towards Punta Cana's five star resort Pardisus Palma Real.

When we arrived Holly and Brian gave us hugs and looked very excited. "So, what do you think?" Holly said referring to the resort. "WOW! You were looking for WOW and you got it," I said. The Pardisus Palma Real is a stunning property with amazing architecture, beautiful gardens and of course, white sand beaches.

Samantha with Emma Grace Designs was the lead coordinator for the wedding.Each day we were there she was consulting the guests, bridal party and the bride with ease.

On the wedding day I was in awe. Holly looked stunning in her dress with jewelry given to her by Brain. A brief cocktail hour started before the ceremony due to the minister running on "island time" but no one was complaining. Strong winds greeted the guests as they sat on a white marble porch. Rain danced off the rocks and tropical fauna which served as our ceremony site backdrop.

Holly could not stop smiling as she walked down the aisle to meet Brain. The ceremony was spoken in Spanish which was translated to English for the congregation. Cheers from the guests and bridal party filled the air as they kissed and began the processional.

Kathleen and I had an amazing time and will never forget the wedding. So many things happened: I met another Chris Perez, lost luggage, dancing until 3 a.m., gambling and a little drinking. Congratulations Holly & Brian and thank you so much for allowing us to document your wedding. We look forward to seeing you soon at the studio for our viewing party!

APRIL'S PHOTO OF THE MONTH WINNER

2009-05-06T10:18:00.000-07:00

We are starting something new on our blog for our amazing clients. It is a photography print contest and the members of the Azul Photography team are the judges. The winner will receive a $75 gift certificate to apply to any of our products at Azul! Yes, that means canvas prints, album images, storyboard and additional portrait sessions. Pretty cool...right?

So without further adieu the winner for the month of April is (drum roll) Adena & Bev! Congratulations guys you have won a $75 credit towards any product we have at Azul. Give us a call to claim your prize.

Also, if members of Adena or Bev's family leave 20 comments they will receive an extra $75. That makes a total of $150 gift certificate goodness!

The photo that won is of Adena's brother changing his son's diaper. I'm sure this classic photo will be a constant topic at many great family gatherings. Enjoy!

OPEN HOUSE AT MIDTOWN PLACE - BRIDAL PORTRAIT DRAWING

2009-05-05T17:26:00.000-07:00

We want to officially invite you to our open house at Midtwown Place on May 13th, 2009. Several members of the Azul team will be there to chat about your wedding. We will also be giving away a bridal portrait session for one lucky bride who comes the open house.

Please register with us so we can know if you are attending.

At the last open house Misty York won the complementary bridal portrait session at Midtown Place with me. Included in the session was a free bridal bouquet from the amazing Lyn with Fresh Affairs.

Misty picked a beautiful day that had blue skies, a brisk breeze and the Midtown Place courtyard. This was the first bride to have her portrait session at Midtown Place and she was the perfect model.

Her is what Misty had to say about her experience with us:

"I absolutely love my photos...and I am someone who thinks I never take a good photo! I fell in love with Azul Photography from the very beginning. Christobal was so easy to talk to and really listened to what I want. He took the time to get to know me and was able to capture that in my photos. I'm positive there is no better photographer in Raleigh."

See you at the next drawing at Midtown Place on May 13!

THE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY

2009-02-19T05:36:00.000-08:00

A new photographic group is born and I wanted to share it with everyone.

The Wedding Photographic Society (WPS) - a network of professional photographers who share ideas, thoughts and information to help raise the artistic, technical and business level in our profession. Membership in The WPS offers many professional & personal growth opportunities through educational opportunities, networking, critiques and camaraderie. The WPS meetings, forums and web pages are open to any and all professional wedding photographers across the world.

This all started with a handful of photographers meeting at a coffee house talking shop in 2005. Four years later the core of WPS was born. Martha Manning, Shane Snider, Robin Lin, Brian Mullins, Stacy Borelli and myself, Christobal Perez participate in bringing information to help the growth of photographers across the country. Everyone is invited to help and donate their time so The WPS grow into a international organization.

The WPS was created to help build relationships, share knowledge amongst peers and help create a competitive yet supportive photographic community. Leaders & Members of The WPS donate their time in order to help find guest speakers, topic discussions and provide advice, guidance and information sharing freely without compensation.

With that goal in mind, The WPS launched their website, forums & blogs to bring together the professional wedding photographic community.

You can visit us by going to The Wedding Photographic Society's website/blog.

LISA & GERARD

2009-02-17T10:10:00.000-08:00

Pink + Perfect + Waffle House = Gerard and Lisa's wedding day

We had sunny skies, 65 degree temperatures, and not a speck of rain (which was forecasted). Gerard is a master of perfecting smiles in North Raleigh. Lisa is a vivacious soul, who loves the color pink and every shade of it known in the universe.

Lisa and Gerard, also know as Dr. Hottie, were married at Christ United Methodist Church in Southern Village, Chapel Hill. I have never been to this church and it had beautiful stained glass windows and architecture.

After a sparkler exit from the church, we headed over to the reception at the Carolina Inn. The flowers were simply amazing and I am always in awe of Lyn's talent from Fresh Affairs. A framed canvas bridal portrait greeted guests, along with a wonderful cocktail hour. The menu on the buffet was crab cakes, vegetable spring rolls, tortellini, pasta, beef wellington and my personal favorite at the Carolina Inn, shrimp & grits.

The bride and groom entered the pink filled room and were introduced by Ken Holmes with Joe Bunn DJ's. The couple grabbed the mic and thanked everyone for coming to the wedding and then broke into a song from from Disney's Enchanted. The song was "That's How You Know" and they sounded great! The room was full of smiles, laughter and flashes capturing the moment.

After some dancing, conversation and great food it was time for cake (which was created by Sweet Memories). It was a four-tier cake, intricately decorated and topped with a glamour "M." Each level was a unique flavor and everyone had seconds. The groom's cake was in the shape of a tooth coupled with a toothbrush.

The closing song was "Last Dance" by Donna Summer, but the night was not over. Lisa and Gerard wanted to visit Waffle House at 12:30 a.m. The staff there, along with the patrons, were amazed. They were congratulated by the staff as soon as they walked into the door and were given the royal treatment. After documenting the moment, I joined them and feasted on grilled cheese and enjoyed great conversation until 1:30 a.m.

What a great night and what a wonderful couple. Congratulations Lisa and Dr. Hottie!

JANE & SCOTT

2008-08-29T10:13:00.000-07:00

Another amazing wedding at Fearrington. Jane and Scott were the lucky couple whom I had the honor of documenting on their wedding day.

On the way to the Red Room (groom's dressing area), I caught Scott carrying his tux while wearing kaki shorts with dress shoes and black socks. I later informed Jane of her future husband's dress attire and she said laughingly, "That's my man."

The ceremony was coordinated by Fearrington's Gilda McDaniel, Special Events Manager, and her associate, Barbara Yates, who were wonderful to work with. Jane and Scott were married under the shade of crabapple trees and the sky was Carolina blue with big fluffy white clouds.

They almost sprinted down the aisle after the ceremony, but saved their energy for a race later. You see, Jane and Scott like to run, so they had a little race after the portraits and I hate to say it Jane... Scott won. After the race, they still had enough energy to jump and click their heels. Well, really just because they could.

The reception was kicked off with a solo entrance by the bride and groom, which led into their first dance. Kevin with No Regret Productions got the party started and never let up. The dance floor was packed the whole night due to a great job by Kevin. The exit was lit with sparklers and a surprise fireworks display.

Jane and Scott are a wonderful couple with great souls and if you ever meet them, you will understand why. Congratulations Jane and Scott!

OLYMPICS

2008-08-14T10:18:00.000-07:00

I was documenting a wedding last weekend on 08.08.08 and while walking with the bride and her bridesmaids for portraits, the bride made a comment to her friends on how just four years ago I was covering the summer Olympics in Greece. I looked over to them and said "I could be there right now if I wasn't a wedding photographer." Then the maid of honor said something which made me think, "Well, if you were in Beijing covering the Olympics, you would not be here taking pictures of this wonderful wedding."

You know... she was right.

Four years ago, while in Greece, I provided the Houston Chronicle my two weeks notice. I was leaving the newspaper to start a new business with my wife (Kathleen). I was very nervous and scared when I left the paper and had no idea what to expect. Now I know this is where I belong and everything I have ever done has brought me to this stage in my life. I am very thankful for the experiences of my past and I look forward to future ones.

Thank you Becca for enlightening me on that I should be in the USA and not in China. You are absolutely right.

Below are images from the Olympics in Greece I shot for the Houston Chronicle in 2004.

JACKIE & JOHN: PUBLISHED IN THE KNOT

2008-08-12T06:18:00.000-07:00

Wow! We are published in The Knot.

Jackie and John's wedding was an event to remember. I always say any time the police visit a reception... well that's a party! The ceremony was held in Jackie's parents' backyard and portraits were shot on a stairwell which was specifically designed for this day. Grace with Grace Leisure Events pulled it all together with her amazing skills as a planner. The reception was underneath a circus sized tent, which housed great food, a candy bar, wonderful flowers by Tre Bella and amazing music. Their wedding also helped me win a couple of awards from the Wedding Photojournalist Association. I like it when that happens.

BRIDAL SHOW

2008-08-11T11:03:00.000-07:00

Come meet us at the Southern Bridal Show and Expo at the N.C. State Fairgrounds in Raleigh this upcoming Sunday, August 17th. We will be there from 12 pm to 5 pm and would love to see you. Tickets can be purchased at the door or online at www.foreverbridal.net. If you can't make it out to the bridal show on Sunday, we will be having an open house for brides at Midtown Place three weeks after the show. Stay tuned to our blog for a specific time and date. See you soon!

GRETA & JASON

2007-12-21T15:57:00.001-08:00

Here are some photographs from Greta and Jason's wedding, which took place at Fearrington. I (Kathleen) had the honor of documenting their big day, which was amazing. Enjoy!

WELCOME MARLEY KATE!

2007-11-14T18:01:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to our friends, Melissa and Chris, (of the Green Kangaroo) on the birth of their beautiful baby girl! Marley was born November 13, 2007 at 7:48pm. She weighed in at 8lbs, 12oz. and measured 20 inches long. Mother and baby are doing great! We are so happy for you guys! Almost makes me want another. :)

CONGRATULATIONS CHRISTOBAL!

2007-09-21T10:58:00.000-07:00

The 2nd Quarter Wedding Photojournalist Association (WPJA) Contest results are in and while I did not snag a win this time, Christobal did. In fact, he won several, including a 1st place in the Reception category, 4th place in Dancing and a 12th in Cake Cutting. This makes him number one in the standings for this quarter. Great job Christobal, you rock!

AMY & ADAM

2007-09-02T05:17:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Amy and Adam who were married at Duke Chapel in Durham, NC. Their reception took place at the Carolina Inn in Chapel Hill, NC. Christobal and I (Kathleen) were both on hand to document their wedding, which was beautiful, despite the heat!

TRISH & JAKE

2007-08-18T11:39:00.001-07:00

Congratulations to Trish and Jake whose wedding I (Kathleen) had the privilege of photographing. They were married at St. Thomas More in Chapel Hill, NC and had their reception at the Carolina Inn. It was a beautiful wedding and kudos to Fresh Affairs for the amazing arrangements!

GINNY & JUSTIN

2007-08-18T10:19:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Ginny and Justin whose wedding Travis documented at the Longview Poe House in Raleigh, NC. Here are some highlights of the big day. Thanks you guys and enjoy!

JACKIE & JOHN

2007-08-16T10:27:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Jackie and John who were married at Jackie's home in Raleigh, NC. Christobal had the pleasure of photographing their big day. It was an spectacular event (according to Christobal, who kept talking about it all week afterward). Grace Beason, of Grace Leisure Events, coorinated the event and Tre Bella gets kudos for the flowers. Chris also raved about the band they had, Spare Change. Enjoy the images guys!

JENNIFER & ANDREW

2007-08-15T11:13:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Jennifer and Andrew whose wedding Christobal and Megan documented. The ceremony took place at St. Francis of Assisi in Raleigh and the reception was held at the Hilton RTP. Best of luck to you guys!

PUBLISHED IN THE KNOT

2007-08-14T10:29:00.000-07:00

Andrea and Rich's wedding, which Christobal and I (Kathleen) shot last October, was recently published in The Knot magazine. It was a beautiful wedding at Highgrove Estate and Andrea enjoyed planning it so much that she's started her own wedding and event planning business, Bustles and Blooms, with her partner, Sherrie. Good luck you guys, we know you'll do very well!

QUAD UPDATE

2007-08-06T09:48:00.000-07:00

Here are some recent images of Melanie and Luke's quads. They are all doing great and were released from the hospital last week. We hope to photograph them again in the next few weeks and of course we'll share more images with you....

EMILY CAROLINE

2007-08-02T11:03:00.000-07:00

I love photographing babies, but this one is very special to me. She's the daughter of one of my closest friends and I've been so excited to meet her. Emily Caroline entered the world on Monday, July 30th weighing 6lbs, 12oz. Congratulations to Kathleen and Vern on their new bundle of joy and welcome to the world of parenthood - you'll never be the same. :)

AGWPJA CONTEST RESULTS

2007-07-24T10:20:00.000-07:00

There's always a little friendly competition around our house at contest time and this time Christobal beat me (just a little). He won an 8th place award in the latest contest of the Artistic Guild of the Wedding Photojouranlist Association. It's a great shot from Kathleen and Bill's wedding. The other image is one I shot from Candance & Kurt's wedding in Texas a few months back, which won 13th place in the ceremony category.

WPJA CONTEST RESULTS

2007-07-21T11:34:00.000-07:00

So the results are in (actually they have been for a few weeks) and one of my photographs placed in the Emotion category of the latest WPJA contest. This is an image I shot right before the ceremony at Kathleen and Bill's wedding. When I told her about the contest results, Kathleen said, "Every time I see that picture I get a flutter of the nerves I was feeling at that very moment."

KATHLEEN & BILL

2007-07-14T12:36:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Kathleen and Bill who were married at St. Michael's in Cary, NC. Christobal and I (Kathleen) had a great time photographing their big day. Their reception was held at Highgrove Estate, in Fuquay Varina, NC and Tracy Adams of Adams and Events did a great job keeping everything running smoothly.

JULIE & JOHN

2007-07-14T12:01:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Julie and John, whose wedding Christobal and I (Kathleen) had the joy of photographing. The wedding took place at the Van Landingham Estate in Charlotte, NC. What a great day and what a wonderful couple! Thanks guys!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

2007-07-11T18:16:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to our friends, the Osbornes, on the birth of their four baby girls: Sophie (4 lbs, 6 ounces), Willow (3 lbs, 13 ounces), Kaidan (4 lbs, 8 ounces) and Bella (4 lbs, 2 ounces). Melanie made it 33 weeks and went in for a scheduled C-section this morning. The quads are doing great! Welcome to the world little ones! Check back to see more images soon....

CLICK HERE TO VIEW MELANIE'S BLOG

AIMEE & MATT

2007-07-03T18:07:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Aimee & Matt, who were married at the Matthews House in Cary, NC. Christobal and I (Kathleen) photographed their big day. Thanks guys, we wish you the best!

AMY & MATT

2007-06-23T06:51:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Amy and Matt, whose wedding Christobal photographed on April 21, 2007 at Haywood Hall in Raleigh, NC. Christobal had a great time with you guys and thank you for choosing Azul!

BABIES, BABIES & MORE BABIES

2007-06-07T08:48:00.000-07:00

It seems like so many people we know are having babies this summer, but one of our friends (and clients), Melanie has a very unique situation happening... She's having quadruplets. Yup, four babies and they are ALL girls!!! ABC 11 has been following her story and they've set up a blog to follow her through the last trimester of her pregnancy. Christobal and I can't wait to photograph the babies once they arrive!! Below are some images we shot before she went on bedrest of Melanie, and her adorable daughter, Allaura.

CLICK HERE TO SEE MELANIE'S BLOG

BETH & SHAWN

2007-06-07T06:45:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Beth and Shawn, who were married on April 14, 2007 at Highgrove Estate in Fuquay Varina, NC. Christobal had the privilege of photographing their big day!

PRUDENCE & MICHAEL

2007-06-02T09:25:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Prudence and Michael, whose wedding Christine and Travis documented on April 21, 2007 at Hope Lutheran Church in Wake Forest, NC. The reception was held at Wakefield Country Club. Thanks for choosing Azul, you guys rock!!

SHERRY & CHRIS

2007-06-01T12:51:00.000-07:00

Sherry and Chris were married on April 21, 2007 at Trinity Baptist Church in Raleigh, NC. Their reception was held at the Matthews House in Cary, NC. I (Kathleen) had the privledge of documenting this wonderful wedding and wish them the very best!

CATRON & WYATT

2007-05-23T08:01:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Catron and Wyatt whose wedding I (Kathleen) documented on April 14, 2007. Their ceremony was at New Hope Baptist Church in Raleigh, NC and the reception was at the new NC State Alumni Center, which is very cool. Thanks for choosing me to be your photographer. It was a great day!

JENNIFER & LEO

2007-05-15T19:49:00.000-07:00

Travis documented the wedding of Jennifer and Leo on April 7, 2007 at the Hilton RTP in Durham, NC. Congratulations you guys! We wish you the best.

RENEE & KEVIN

2007-05-09T19:54:00.000-07:00

On April 1, 2007 we had the honor of photographing Renee and Kevin's wedding at Paradise Cove in O'ahu, Hawaii. Kevin is a staff photojournalist at the Houston Chroicle (where Christobal used to work) and a good friend of ours. We are so happy that he found someone as wonderful as Renee to share his life with.

Of course we had a blast in Hawaii, which is a truly amazing place. After the wedding, Chris and I vacationed in the islands and toured Maui, Hawaii and Kauai as well. I even got Christobal to scuba dive with me for the first time. :)

If you are planning a wedding in Hawaii or another destination, contact us for a customized wedding photography quote. We love to travel!

Mahalo!

RACHEL & BRIAN

2007-05-01T18:07:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Rachel and Brian whose wedding Travis documented on March 31, 2007. Their ceremony was at Lake Benson Park and the reception was at Victory Fellowship Church in Garner, NC.

CANDACE & KURT

2007-04-30T19:30:00.000-07:00

Christobal and I had a wonderful time in the small town of Llano, Texas documenting the wedding of Candace and Kurt on March 24, 2007. Although we frequently photograph weddings in the Houston, Galveston and Austin areas, it was a nice change of scenery being out in the hill country. Of course we also had a chance to see Christobal's family and a bunch of our friends too!

RAVEN & SCOTT

2007-04-30T18:46:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Raven and Scott whose wedding Christobal photographed on March 17, 2007 at Duke Chapel in Durham, NC. Their reception was held at the Carolina Inn in Chapel Hill, NC.

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: CHRISTOBAL PEREZ

2007-04-10T15:14:00.000-07:00

This month's WedPix magazine has a great article about Christobal, check it out...

CLICK HERE TO READ ARTICLE

NEW WEBSITE

2007-03-19T08:34:00.000-07:00

Our new website is finally up and running! Of course, we'll be adding more to it in the months ahead, but check it out at www.azulphotography.com and let us know what you think!

TARA & TIM

2007-03-14T14:41:00.000-07:00

I documented the wedding of Tara and Tim on March 10th at Mordecai Historic Park's St. Mark's Chapel. After a beautiful ceremony, the couple rode by carriage to their reception at the nearby Tucker House. Congratulations you guys and thanks for letting me share in the big day!

EILEEN & ED

2007-03-14T14:25:00.001-07:00

Christobal had the pleasure of documenting the wedding of Eileen and Ed on March 3, 2007 at the Longview Center in Raleigh, NC. Their reception took place at the nearby Cardinal Club. Best of luck to you guys!

ALL SMILES

2007-03-08T08:58:00.000-08:00

Kathleen has been all smiles this week for a great reason. On Saturday the WPJA announced their Winter 2006 Contest results and guess who won? Kathleen! Yep, she placed third in the Scene Setter category. Her image went up against the best wedding photojournalists across the globe and to place in a competition like this is a great honor. She was surprised, but I wasn't. The image is beautiful and I knew it was a winner when she entered it. I am very proud of my multi-talented better-half and couldn't live without her. Wow, great job!

KIRSTEN & TIM

2007-02-27T13:41:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Kirsten and Tim, who were married on February 25th in Fletcher, NC. Their ceremony was held at the Fletcher SDA Church with a reception following at the Lelia Patterson Center. We wish them the very best!

A FEW OF MY FAVORITES

2007-02-20T17:31:00.000-08:00

I've been busy sorting through images for our new website (which should be up in the next week or two) and wanted to share some of my favorites from 2006. Christobal has been getting too much love on the blog, so it's time for some Kathleen pics. :)

FEATURED IN WEDPIX MAGAZINE

2007-02-09T05:52:00.000-08:00

Christobal was interviewed for the latest edition of WedPix Magazine, an online publication of the Wedding Photojournalist Association (WPJA) discussing purism in wedding photojouranlism, an interesting topic for those of us who started our careers as journalists. Below is an excerpt:

WEDDING PHOTOJOURNALISM PURISM
How pure are you? When it comes to wedding photojournalism, purism is a good thing, which is why the WPJA strives to recognize and award purists.

Yet purism isn’t some religion; it’s about results.

So what is pure wedding photojournalism, and how does it impact the pursuit of good shots, as well as “giving the clients what they want”? We solicited expert perspectives from three successful WPJA members—all acclaimed contest winners who came to wedding photography with photojournalism backgrounds.

BEING A TRUE BELIEVER
During his 15 years as a Pulitzer Prize nominated photojournalist, Christobal Perez worked on staff for the Houston Chronicle, The News and Observer in Raleigh, NC and the Shreveport Times. Now he covers weddings with his wife Kathleen (also a WPJA member) at Azul Photography in Raleigh, NC.

“I approach weddings in the same way I used to approach my assignments at a newspaper,” he says. “I don’t direct, I don’t tell people what to do. I’m there to observe and absorb the environment and document it as it is. Just like you don’t want to lie to the public when you publish an image in the paper, I don’t want to do that at a wedding.”

CLICK HERE TO READ FULL ARTICLE

PUBLISHED IN THE KNOT

2007-01-30T06:04:00.000-08:00

Heath and Terri's wedding was published in the most recent issue of The Knot Texas. They were married March 25, 2006 at the Michael B. Menard House in Galeveston, TX.

As many of you know Christobal is a native Houstonian and former staff photojournalist at The Houston Chronicle. He loves any chance he can get to return home. We photograph several weddings each year in the Houston, Galveston and Austin, TX areas and love the opportunity it gives us to see our friends and family in the Lone Star State. We'll be down there again in March to document a wedding in Austin.

“What impressed us about Chris was that he used his photojournalism background to think outside the box with photography and pursued more candid shots,” Terri says.

MATERNITY SHOOT

2007-01-24T09:01:00.000-08:00

One of our favorite couples from 2006 is expecting! Christobal had the joy of shooting Jenni's maternity pictures a few weeks ago and although it was his first real maternity shoot (aside from when I was pregnant), I think he did an okay job. ;) We plan to document the birth too! We are very excited for Jennifer and Robert and wish them the very best in what is truly one of life's greatest experiences.

PHOTOGRAPHY, FUN & KARAOKE

2007-01-24T06:42:00.000-08:00

Christobal and I want to thank everyone for coming to Photography Night last night. We had a great turnout and met a lot of new photographers! We're excited that our vision to bring the photographic community together in a positive and supportive way is really taking hold. As we continue, please let us know if you have suggestions for future events! We're all ears....

Also, if you left prior to us heading to the bar you missed some incredible karoke performed by none other than our guest speaker, Matt McGraw. Who knew he has so much talent? :)

Have a wonderful week and we look forward to seeing everyone again soon!

PHOTOGRAPHY NIGHT 1/23/07

2007-01-20T12:48:00.000-08:00

Fellow Photographers,
Join us January 23, 2007 at Hi-5 at 510 Glenwood Ave for our next photography night! The ever so amazing Matt McGraw,www.mattmcgrawphotography.com, will be our guest speaker. He's coming all the way from Wilmington to share his thoughts and images with us. So bring a friend or just yourself and come see a plethora of super-groovy-cool images. Come early or stay late and have a beer with us!