Ottosen Photography

We're Not In Kansas Anymore....

2008-06-04T10:02:00.001-07:00

.... But we were.

We just returned from a week in Wichita visiting some of Matt's family. It was a great trip. We stayed with Matt's brother Darral, his wife Becky and their beautiful new baby boy, Daniel. Naturally, I took advantage of having such a sweet little family at my disposal!

We did some stormchasing while we were there, hoping to get some tornado photos (which we never got) and we drove up into Missouri and Illinois and did some sightseeing. It was a fun week, and saying goodbye was hard. Matt and I both believe that family is so important, so being far away from loved ones is never easy.

On the way home, we stopped in Oklahoma City and visitied the Memorial there. What an experience! Words can't really describe it. It was definitely worth stopping to see.

Now we're home for two days, and then we're off to San Diego for the weekend to shoot Karen and Chuy's wedding, and to spend a day at Seaworld! Should be fun....

Robyn and Eze

2008-05-11T22:30:00.002-07:00

Robyn and Eze are from San Francisco, and we are thrilled to be hotting their July wedding here in Phoenix. They came into town for the weekend and we did their Engagement Shoot at the Desert Botanical Gardens, where their wedding and reception will be.

I wish every couple we worked with was this cool. We met them at the DBG and spent some time talking with them about their wedding. They're so laid back and fun to be around, and we were immediately comfortable with each other. They were really cute together, very much in love.

The Engagement shoot was a lot of fun, and we are so excited to be shooting their wedding. I just know it's going to be a lot of fun. See you soon, you guys!

Erin & Rob

2008-05-11T10:22:00.004-07:00

Yesterday we shot Erin and Rob's wedding at the Arizona Grand Resort. What a day! Erin and Rob are from Illionois, and they were originally planning to get married in Mexico. But an illness in Erin's family changed their plans, and they chose Arizona as the new location. They had so many people came from the Midwest to be a part of their special day. I was deeply moved by the love and support of their friends and family.

The Arizona Grand is such a great place for a wedding. The grounds are beuatiful and the accommodations are outstanding. The ceremony took place outside in the Palm court with a cocktail hour and reception after the ceremony taking place at Latitude 30, the on-site restaurant that the resort uses for private events.

It was a warm day, and the guys wore linen suits. Erin's gown was simple and elegant. She's one of those natural beauties, and photographing her was a treat.

After the ceremony, we spent some time taking pictures in front of the Main Fountain. The sun set and the lights around the fountain came on, providing a beautiful backdrop.

Once we lost our light for portraits, Erin and rob joined their guests at the cocktail hour. After dinner was served, the party moved out onto the patio. It was a beautiful night, and the reception was so much fun, I was disappointed when our time was up.

It was such a pleasure being a part of Erin & Rob's day. It was very evident that they are very much in love, and we wish them many happy years together.

Albums Coming Soon!!

2008-05-05T13:34:00.007-07:00

We're so excited to announce that we have found an amazing company that prints absolutely gorgeous albums, and later this year we will be offering Custom Flush-mount Wedding Albums as part of our Wedding Packages.

Have I mentioned these albums are gorgeous?! The covers are made of soft Italian Leather, the binding is built to last, the pages are thick (2 mm!) and printed using the finest in materials, giving you a Wedding Album you will be proud to display prominently in your new home.

Albums will be available in three sizes: 8"x8", 10"x10" and 12"x12". Flush mounted means that the photos are printed on actual photo paper, taking up entire 2-page spreads:

As soon as we receive our Designing Software, we'll begin putting together a sample album, and of course we will post photos of it here, so keep watching for more about this exciting addition to our services!

Trinity Church

2008-04-28T22:10:00.001-07:00

trinity church
Originally uploaded by MatthewPHX

Melenie and I spent a morning in lower Manhattan back on September 12, 2007. We were just passing through on our way back to Phoenix after visiting Melenie's Father. We didn't have much time, but we were able to see Battery Park and Ground Zero, and take the Staten Island Ferry. Yesterday, this photo was added to the Schmap - East Coast Guide.

Trinity Church, at 74 Trinity Place in New York City, is a historic full service parish church in the Episcopal Diocese of New York. Trinity Church is located at the intersection of Broadway and Wall Street in downtown Manhattan.

When the church was consecrated on Ascension Day May 1, 1846, its soaring Neo-Gothic spire, surmounted by a gilded cross, dominated the skyline of lower Manhattan. Trinity was a welcoming beacon for ships sailing into New York Harbor.

Though skyscrapers have risen all around it, Trinity Church still stands as a significant statement of spiritual values in the heart of downtown Manhattan and serves as a center for contemplation, worship, and Christian community.
--Wikipedia.org

Jene & Keola

2008-04-06T10:00:00.006-07:00

Yesterday we shot the wedding of Jene and Keola at Highlands Church in North Scottsdale. It was a beautiful ceremony. The chapel was lit by candles, with a single spotlight shining on the bride and groom as they exchanged their vows.

Jene & Keola making it "official"

After the ceremony, we took some posed shots of the newlyweds before the Island-themed reception. The couple and their guests were entertained by Polynesian Dancers while they ate, and after dinner, Jene's Dad and Brother sang.

Polynesian Dancers

It was a true celebration of the love Jene and Keola have for each other, and we felt blessed to be a part of it!

Marshall & Karen

2008-04-05T10:00:00.001-07:00

We shot a small, intimate ceremony lastnight at Papago Park in Phoenix. Marshall and Karen were married with family and close friends attending. It was a non-traditional wedding... she wore a sundress and he dressed in a nice suit, Tommy Bahama style! They exchanged vows and rings and did a blending of sands. It was fun to be part of their special day, and we wish them many years of happiness together!

Following the ceremony, a delicious dinner was provided by Heidi's Events and Catering. They did an outstanding job. It was our first experience with them, and we were very impressed with the quality of both food and service.

Springtime in Arizona

2008-03-26T18:18:00.012-07:00

March was a quiet month for us. We took advantage the "down time" and ventured out into the desert in hopes of capturing the beauty of springtime in Arizona!

On March 10th, we went out to Lost Dutchman State Park to photograph wildflowers. The abundance of rain we saw over the winter months has brought the desert to life! The dry, brown landscape has been transformed into beautiful, lush green as far as the eye can see. We found hundreds upon hundreds of Mexican Gold Poppies, interspersed with Lupine and other wildflowers. It was absolutely gorgeous!

We wanted to go back out the following week and shoot them when they reached their peak, but we weren't able to get back out to the park until Easter weekend. The poppies were past their peak for the most part, and they were just starting to wilt. Still, we weren't disappointed... Brittlebush was just starting to blossom, carpeting the desert in bright yellow flowers. The lupine was still beautiful, and Blue Dick was also just starting to blossom, so we were provided with lots of fantastic photo opportunities!

April is going to be a busy month for us with three weddings in the first half of April, including Eli and Sawana, and several couples meeting with us as well. We're looking forward a great month. Here's to Springtime in Arizona!!

CAF: Arizona Wing

2008-03-22T19:35:00.000-07:00

north american b-25j mitchell
Originally uploaded by MatthewPHX

"Maid in the Shade"

Flying out of Serraggia in Corsica during 1944 and 1945 with the 319th Bomb Group, this B-25 flew 15 combat missions against the Axis in Italy. Restoration is very extensive due to the condition of the aircraft but when the Arizona Wing finishes this B-25J, it will be restored to its 1944 configuration.

For the past 25 years the B-25J Maid in the Shade has been under restoration at the Commemorative Air Force: Arizona Wing.

On July 19, 2006 I was able to watch the Arizona Wing conduct the first engine test since the project began. The engine that they were testing hadn't been run in 20 years. Unfortunately, they had to shut it down early due to a clogged oil line and fluctuating oil pressure. Since then they have conducted many successful engine tests, and one day soon this amazing aircraft will be flying again.

I am happy to report that Maid in the Shade's restoration is complete. The FAA has checked her over, and is now in the process of going over all her paperwork. As soon as the paperwork is approved by the FAA she'll begin her flight testing.

As a member of the CAF: Arizona Wing, the Wing Leader has put me in charge of her photography. We'll be putting together some portrait, high-speed taxi, and (once she is flying) aerial photography shoots. It'll be a lot of fun, and the Arizona Wing of the Commemorative Air Force is very excited to get her flying!

--Matt

Karen & Chuy's Engagement Shoot

2008-02-29T20:00:00.003-07:00

Today we did an Engagement Shoot for Karen and Chuy at Papago Park in Phoenix. This was our first shoot at Papago Park. The rain we've had the last couple of months has turned our normally-dry desert landscape lush and green, so it was a pretty place for portraits.

Karen and Chuy were looking for more traditional photos. Here are some of my favorites:

We're thrilled that they have asked us to shoot their San Diego wedding in June. Our first destination wedding. WOOHOO!!

We've got lots of weddings coming up over the next few weeks, so check back regularly for updates!

Renaissance Wedding

2008-02-16T23:00:00.004-07:00

Kaylie and Mike's Renaissance Wedding at the King's Courtyard in Phoenix was such a blast! We had so much fun shooting this wedding. Kaylie's family was so fun to work with. Her mom made all the costumes by hand, and everbody looked great.

We arrived at the King's Courtyard an hour before the ceremony. Everyone arrived ready to go. I spent a few minutes photographing Kaylie getting some "finishing touches" while Matt captured guests arriving and mingling.

Kaylie was a little nervous...

The ceremony included a hand-fasting and a Unity Candle. Everyone working at the wedding and many of the guests were dressed up in full renaissance attire.

Kaylie with her Matron of Honor and Bridesmaids

Mike with his Best Man and Groomsmen

After dinner, there was plenty of dancing, and of course, the cutting of the cake and the bouquet and garter tosses. Mike contemplated cutting the cake with his sword, but in the end, they decided less barbaric was better.

When it came time to cut the cake,
Mike didn't mess around!

It was a fun-filled evening with a really great group of people... by the end of the night, the entrie wedding party felt more like close friends than clients. We wish Mike and Kaylie all the best in their new life together. HUZZAH!!

Eli & Sawana's Engagement Shoot

2008-01-13T20:00:00.003-07:00

We met Sawana in October while shooting a wedding in which she was a bridesmaid. She contacted us in December about her upcoming wedding to Eli. We are thrilled that they decided to use us as their official photographers!

We did their Engagement Session today at Scottsdale Civic Center. Sawana was excited about the LOVE statue there, because they had seen the one in Philadelphia together.

Unbeknownst to us, there was a big Art Show going on and there were people everywhere. Sawana and Eli were so cool and fun, they didn't seem to mind at all that people were watching us!

We went over to the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art and photographed them at "Knight Rise" inside the museum. I managed to capture this shot of them acting goofy, and it's one of my favorite shots from the day. I laugh out loud every time I look at it...

After the shoot, the four of us went and had dinner together, which was great. It gave us a chance to talk about the wedding and get to know each other better.

Sawana and Eli are a really great couple. We had a blast with them, and we're really looking forward to shooting their wedding in April.

--Melenie