805-564-4995
EDEEOLSON@HOTMAIL.COM
SANTA BARBARA, CA
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| I love love. Until several years ago, it never actually dawned on me that I could build a career around it. I always said my dream job would be working for National Geographic, traveling the far reaches of the world as a nomadic photojournalist. But, happily, life took me in an unpredicted direction. I had my own fairytale love story and wedding, and a year after, a little bonus – a baby boy. Up to then, I had been spreading myself thin photographing for all kinds of publications, organizations and people. When we married, my fore-thinking husband encouraged me to focus all of my energy on one area of photography. He knew I loved shooting weddings when I had assisted two wedding photographers because the wedding atmosphere is an unbeatable workplace. Love, laughter, warmth, joy, music, decor…what could be better than getting paid to capture one of the most meaningful days in a couple’s life! Upon his suggestion I dove headfirst. I shot weddings consistently and before I knew it I was no longer dwelling on photo- journalism, I had become a wedding photographer. Life couldn’t have turned out better and because I have a family, leaving them for months on end to go off and photograph Bedouins in the Sahara or insects in Central America wouldn’t make sense. (Maybe in ten or 20 years!) Today I thank God for what I am doing because I never thought of it years ago and yet I was led to my comfortable niche. |
| As a photographer, my aim is to capture the best images of your event that my technology and ability permit. I try to shoot a wedding in the way that I’d want my wedding to be shot. My preference is to be as unobtrusive as possible. I generally use several cameras and lenses in order to get overall scenes as well as close-ups at the same time. I love when a couple gets their photos back and didn’t even notice that I was right nearby getting some great moments. I tend to keep a quiet rapport and avoid becoming the director of your day. Aside from taking the formal family shots, I document what happens naturally rather than stage the event. Price-wise, I want you to get as much out of your money as I would want if I were the bride. You get all the photos I take for your own use within a week or two after the wedding. That means you can make enlargements and albums without having to wait for them to be made or pay additional costs to me. (Locally, I recommend Samy’s Camera.) The only thing I keep is a duplicate of the CD so that I can use the photos for my website and advertising materials. I do not make albums simply because I am a full-time Mom and my weekdays leave little time for additional work. |
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To give you a sense of who I am as a person, here is a little background. I am 33 years old and grew up in Richardson, Texas, and Cambria, California. I love life, the outdoors, traveling, learning about peoples’ lives, and daydreaming about the future (living and photographing weddings in Italy, being Larry King’s replacement, being an interviewer on 60 Minutes, doing the TransRockies Run, to name a few). I have always wanted to do everything, see everything and experience the most I can in life. I’ve taken one class in photography, which was in high school. I loved it and have pursued work in it ever since. I graduated with honors from UC Santa Barbara in 1996 with a BA in Cultural Anthropology. After dabbling in bike-tour leading, river guiding, writing, editing, and world travel (all the while taking photographs), I decided to put my energy into local photography opportunities. I’ve freelanced for or been published in almost every publication in Santa Barbara. Professionally, most of my energy now goes toward wedding photography and co-hosting a radio program. Personally, my top priorities are my husband and little boy. Aside from wanting to equip him with countless intellectual and physical skills and expose him to the world’s languages, cultures, and music, I would be ecstatic if our son grew up to be a combination of Ernest Shackleton, Bear Grylls (Man vs. Wild on Discovery Channel), CS Lewis, and Mother Teresa! I hope that our future experiences will teach him that life for most people around the world is much harder; that there is a higher purpose to live for and many people who need our help. I am grateful for every day that we get to live here in Santa Barbara, though I look forward to a more rural life someday. |
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