Paradise Pictures

2011 Finale Lindquist Beach, St. Thomas

EjsPhotos — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:38:54 +0000

2011 was a terrific year filled with wonderful weddings. Seriously, I have such a great job. I am blessed to be given the opportunity to work with so many beautiful people and be a part of their special day. I Love my job. Their love, their anticipation, their excitement, their joy: That’s what I love about it. That and creating beautiful images that will keep people smiling beyond the end of time.

Like I said, 2011 was a terrific year that ended on a special note. Michael and Jeanine were my last wedding of the year and their’s is, as all are, a beautiful story. Their’s, however, is something out of a movie script. I can already hear the voice over of the movie trailer. “Star Crossed Lovers, kept apart by circumstance, break the bonds of destiny to finally unite on a sun soaked Caribbean Beach” Wow, I’m going see that. Seriously, Michael & Jeanine, so the story begins, first met more than 25 years ago but career circumstance and commitment kept them apart. As time passed, their lives took completely dissimilar paths, different coasts even. It wasn’t until recently that their planets finally aligned allowing them to bring their love together on Lindquist Beach, St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands. Isn’t that awesome? Can’t you just feel the Love?

Michael and Jeanine: Your excitement is contagious. Thank you for letting me be a small part of your Love’s long journey…… a small part of your movie script, so to speak. Hey, don’t forget to list me in the credits.

Of course, the movie credits will also mention Bill Arnet Minister, Todd Hecht Videographer, Leslie Dawson and Celestina Carey of Perfect Weddings of St. Thomas. All the Best to you Both. Thanks for ending our 2011 on a special note. –Eric

All photos by Eric Johnson & Paradise Pictures, © Ej 2011, www.paradisepictures.vi

Overflowing excitement

WOW!

Love the Anticipation! Love the Veil!

What a Gorgeous Day!

"I Do!" "I Do!"

Finally!

All photos by Eric Johnson & Paradise Pictures, © Ej 2011, www.paradisepictures.vi

Hawksnest Beach, St. John, Virgin Islands

EjsPhotos — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 20:58:00 +0000

I know in my last blog, I raved about Trunk Bay Beach, St. John. It’s true: Trunk Bay is magical and wonderful late in the day. Sure, it is a beautiful beach all day long but there can be so many tourist on Trunk you shouldn’t have high expectations of privacy or intimacy until late in the afternoon. Hawksnest Beach, however, my other favorite beach on St. John, is perfect if you want those rockin’ Caribbean, what I call “Corona” (like the beer commercial) colors. 10:00 a.m. is the perfect time. There is rarely anyone there at that hour and when the sun is out, the colors pop. I guarantee friends and family will say “Wow!”

I get a lot of inquiries saying “it’s just the two of us and we’re on a budget.” I understand. Things are tight these days and that’s why I reply, “It’s a once in a lifetime experience. It’s the most wonderful experience you’ll ever have outside of having children. Remember, it’s not about 1 day of photos, or 1 hour even, it’s about a lifetime of memories. If you want those memories to be smiles, how can you not afford to hire me?”

Congratulations to Kristina & Cyril! I Love the joy and spontaneity. No one cared about the sudden downpour. By cloud and by wave, for these beautiful images, I didn’t mind getting wet. –Eric

All photos by Eric Johnson & Paradise Pictures © Ej 2011 www.paradisepictures.vi

Hawksnest is Beautiful!

Making Cyril Smile

And Here Comes the Rain!

Love it!

All photos by Eric Johnson & Paradise Pictures © Ej 2011 www.paradisepictures.vi

Cara & Josh Trunk Bay, St. John, Virgin Islands

EjsPhotos — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 18:36:31 +0000

I Love Trunk Bay Beach on St. John. For those few of you who don’t know, Trunk Bay, St. John, in the U.S. Virgin Islands is world famous. It is 2nd only to Magens Beach on St. Thomas as the most visited and most photographed beach in the Caribbean. It has been on the cover of numerous magazines & web-sites around the world and I am confident that it has been the subject of every artist who has ever visited St. John. You will find a picture of Trunk Bay on anything and everything promoting this little island as it has become a symbol of, or should I say, synonymous with St. John.

It is a beautiful place and it deserves the rep. Although during the day, it can become overrun by locals and tourists. In the late afternoon, when the crowds have returned to their ship or villa, it becomes a beautiful, almost magical, place for a wedding. The mid-day saturated Caribbean colors become muted but not dark. The water sparkles, in my camera anyway, with a magical cyan that isn’t seen anywhere else.

That is exactly what Bostonians Cara and Josh wanted. After dating for 7 years, they shared their experience of a lifetime with 25 friends and family on a near empty Trunk Bay Beach before celebrating at Coral Oasis Villa atop Bordeaux Mountain. It was truly a special experience and I was glad to be a part of it.

I love so many images from their wedding I could just post them all. Short of that what I decided to feature with this blog is sequential images and show how they tell a story. As a photo journalist, I try to tell the story of the day, your story, with beautiful individual and unique images. Sometimes the story, however, is told in a sequence of shots. Notice in the following series of images, as Cara and Josh walk the beach after their wedding, how the images flow beautifully together to tell their story of Love and Friendship. Yet also notice how each and every one is in itself a unique and beautiful image standing alone to tell that story. I LOVE IT! If had to pick one, I couldn’t.

Cara & Josh: Blessings and Thank You! To your Dad Cara: That was an awfully long walk Dad and we could all feel your emotions as you walked her down the “aisle”. I was with you and you did great!

All photos by Eric Johnson & Paradise Pictures. © Ej 2011 www.paradisepictures.vi

I Love the alternative process with this image. It works!

Love & Laughter

Laughter & Friendship!

Beautiful

That was a long but beautiful "aisle"

Yahoooo! They're Married!

"We're Married!" Bubbles anyone?

Love the Parasols!

The look of Love!

Again, a great series!

Coral Oasis Villa, St. John, Virgin Islands

Congratulations!

(Now for a promotional moment: Josh and his crew wore killer fedora hats from Salmagundi in Boston. Awesome! I want one. Apparently, it’s Josh’s new favorite place to shop. Let me also mention Cara was very happy with all the specialty items: programs, bubble wands, place cards, napkins, coasters, match books, key chains, tote bags and parasols she purchased at www.foryourparty.com.)

All photos by Eric Johnson & Paradise Pictures. © Ej 2011 www.paradisepictures.vi

Peterborg Wedding / Villa Jamie, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands

EjsPhotos — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 21:26:54 +0000

A common misconception is that all weddings in the Virgin Islands are done on the beach, or else as the follow up question begs, “why get married on a Caribbean Island?” True, beaches are a wonderful natural asset here in the VI but we have other other natural beauty too that can contribute to the making of beautiful breath taking images. Kristen & Martin’s late afternoon wedding at Villa Jamie, with their sunset portrait shoot at the end of Peterborg Peninsula, is a perfect example. These images rock! (Pardon the pun.) And don’t worry, they got their beach photos. We did those a few days after before they left for their honeymoon on another island. Which Island? I’m not telling.

Congratulations Kristen & Martin!

All photos by Eric Johnson & Paradise Pictures © Ej 2011 www.paradisepictures.vi

Photographer's Favorite

Love the rocks on the point

Kristen & Martin

Selenium Toned

Dad & DaughterKristen getting ready

Kristen getting ready

Beautiful Bride

Poolside ceremony at Villa Jamie

"You May Kiss the Bride..."

Beautiful Sunset

Kristen & Martin at Lindquist Beach!

All photos by Eric Johnson & Paradise Pictures © Ej 2011 www.paradisepictures.vi

When you are with the one you Love

EjsPhotos — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 18:59:43 +0000

Here’s to September’s Tropical Storm Irene.

I know the dangers of hurricanes are obvious to most everyone; except radical surfers and weather channel reporters, but I have lived here in the Virgin Islands long enough to know you also take seriously the potential dangers of heavy winds and rain that are a Tropical Storm. Not Ken & Jody, however. Since Saturday the 10th was very important to them, they were going to get married that day no matter what. Me? I really didn’t want to get wet but, more importantly, I wanted to give them beautiful sunny Caribbean wedding photos. Despite all the worries, it turned out to be the best time of that day to get married at Bolongo Bay Beach Resort. It was sunny and clear and so beautiful, in fact, that as I pulled up to the resort I found myself saying “Irene who? What Tropical Storm?”. Needless to say, but I will anyway, the wedding was sunny and beautiful and we got out of there just in time. Well, almost anyway. I took that last shot with a long lens from under cover at Iggies as they smiled and kissed oblivious to the deluge. Which supports one of my many theories: ”It doesn’t really matter where you are when you are with the one you love.” I then ran to my truck, getting as soaked as I had expected, because I was in a hurry to get home to the one I love.

Cheers to Ken & Jody

All photos by Eric Johnson & Paradise Pictures © Ej 2011 www.paradisepictures.vi

Ken & Jody at Bolongo Bay

A Beautiful Bride!

Bride & Groom Portraits. Ken: You Rock

Love B&W

On a Sunny Caribbean Beach

The Uninvited guest arrives. "Say Goodnight Irene"

All photos by Eric Johnson & Paradise Pictures © Ej 2011 www.paradisepictures.vi

ABC’s Extreme Makeover Home Edition

EjsPhotos — Tue, 10 May 2011 20:06:35 +0000

Recently, I had the blessed opportunity to participate and contribute to ABC’s Extreme Makeover Home Edition. The episode I was involved in, Season 8 episode 21, aired this past weekend on Mother’s Day. It was a heart warming story about a wonderfully inspiring family. While their new home was being built in Florida, they spent a week on St. Thomas at the Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort where we did a family portrait shoot. Although they did film the photo shoot, it looks as though my acting talents shall yet remain undiscovered as all footage from the shoot ended up on the cutting room floor. Ha Ha! C’est La Vie! Seriously, it was really cool and I give thanks for the opportunity to give back and share my talents

Happy Mother’s Day to Carrie & the whole Prewitt-Brewer family. Have a Great Year and come back soon. – Eric

Magens Beach May Day

EjsPhotos — Thu, 05 May 2011 15:13:11 +0000

May is here and wedding season is upon us. My first wedding this month was May 1 at Magens Beach. Lisa & Jabri are a wonderful couple that are so happy and in love they could not quit smiling. And their smiles are contagious. In post-production, I kept finding myself grinning back at the monitor. It was fantastic. They had a steel pan player, they jumped the broom, and family & friends, many from California, joined their celebration and everyone had a great time as they raised their glasses to the newlyweds.

It was an Island Bliss Weddings production with rum punch, champagne, and their signature “shoes optional” basket.

All images © Ej 2011 www.paradisepictures.vi

Love those Smiles of Happiness

"Here Comes the Bride"

The Beautiful Magens Beach

It Looks like LOVE

Jumping the Broom

"Cheers!"

Precious

Congratulations Lisa & Jabri. Keep on Smiling! — Eric

All images © Ej 2011 www.paradisepictures.vi

Oceana in Frenchtown

EjsPhotos — Mon, 02 May 2011 23:06:21 +0000

It was great to finally meet Devon and Daniel since they booked me over a year in advance. Devon said photos were very important to her so she wanted to book me before anything else. Other details she hadn’t yet worked out as evident in the ceremony location changing a few times. Eventually, she settled on Oceana where they were hosting their reception. Oceana is a wonderful old world styled restaurant on the edge of the harbor tucked away in the back corner of Frenchtown. Classic wood shutters frame the bars’ tall narrow windows and, in my imagination, somehow, I always expect to meet old man Hemingway working a tired Mojito and smoking a contraband cigar. I know I’ve painted a romantically classic picture here but the groom added fabulous modern contrast sporting a cool pair of sneakers. It was a beautiful ceremony, the food was fantastic and photos? Oh, the photos turned out great.

All images © Ej 2011 www.paradisepictures.vi

"Love"

The Ring Bearer

Congratulations Devon and Daniel. Have a Blessed life together. –Eric

Mrs. U.S. Virgin Islands Pageant 2011

EjsPhotos — Sun, 01 May 2011 18:38:34 +0000

Beauty pageants aren’t just for the single ladies. The Mrs. U.S. Virgin Islands Pageant 2011 is Sunday, May 29, 5:00 pm at the UVI Sports & Fitness Center.

Recently, I had the opportunity to shoot 5 very lovely ladies in and around my studio in down town Charlotte Amalie. It was hectic but a lot of fun as professional make-up artist Kristina Pearsall and her crew did their thing, each model went through several costume changes and, when not in front of my camera, did interviews for the on set video crew. The results? Fantastic!

As you can see, the contestants are all beautiful and Miss U.S. Virgin Islands 2007 Renata Christian is the director so it is going to be a great show. Mark your calendar and then order your tickets on-line. Go to www.paypal.com and enter mrsusvirginislands@gmail.com. Tickets are $25.00

When you are ready for your photo shoot, call Paradise Pictures @ 340.998.6313 and book your own professional session.

Limetree 2&3 Rose Petals & Parasols

EjsPhotos — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 09:13:17 +0000

As I mentioned previously, often times it seems like things do come in threes; like weddings at Limetree Beach. Soon after Lindsy & John’s wedding, which I already posted, I returned to Limetree for April & Marco’s wedding. A couple weeks later, I was back for Jennifer & J.L.’s. Both weddings were beautiful productions by Leslie Dawson & her crew at Perfect Weddings of St. Thomas. The arches were draped in linen and the aisle’s were lined with rose pedals and conch shells. April & Marco even had green parasols to accent their outdoor “cathedral”. Of course, the weather was perfect and both couples look wonderfully in Love.

Making "footprints in the sand"

Congratulations April & Marco!

A relaxing game of chess before the wedding

The Palm lined "Cathedral" at Limetree Beach

Parasols & palm trees..... Beautiful

Rose petals & bare feet.... we're not in Quebec anymore

Congratulations April & Marco.... You're Married!

Champagne to celebrate

A Champagne Kiss

Making "footprints in the sand"

Again Congratulations to April & Marco.

A couple weeks later I returned to Limetree for Jennifer & J.L.’s ceremony. I was there for an additional hour which was great since they wanted to not feel rushed and Mom wanted couple shots of everyone who attended.

Love it!

Congratulations Jennifer & J.L. I Love this image. Jen caught J.L. by surprise in a spontaneous moment plus the sun hit the flowers perfectly to make them pop off the page.

Alternative process version..... Love it!

Going to the Chapel and we're ......

The bridal entourage

Dad is the formal escort (selenium toned)

Beautiful aisle

Congratulations!

Beautiful

Cutting the cake

It's all about the Love

Love on the Beach

Congratulations Jen & J.L.

J.L.: These eyes are for you

Jen & J.L.: Congratulations again! Thanks for letting me a part of your day. Eric