Meet Stephanie Kotaniemi – Portland Photographer
We are so honored to introduce Stephanie Kotaniemi, the owner and lead photographer of SK photography in Portland/Hillsboro, Oregon. Her intimate and candid photos truly show the full beauty of the moment. We especially love her wedding photos and how she captures the unfiltered joy and happiness of the married couple. We recently partnered with Stephanie so you may see her photos in future blog posts and on the website. If you would like to see more, you can check out her site here.
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1) What is your favorite part about shooting weddings?
My favorite part about shooting weddings is getting to be a part of something so sacred and special. I get butterflies all the time when I think that my images will be shown to their children, grandchildren, and maybe even great grandchildren! I am preserving a day that two souls joined together to be one. To me, it is one of the greatest honors as a photographer.
2) How would you describe your photography style?
My photography style intimate, relaxed, and fun. I don’t like super “posed” images so my couples are generally guided through loving activities while I snap away. I want to capture true moments, and true emotion. I use natural light as much as physically possible to preserve the ambiance of the day.
3) What advice would you give to a newly-engaged couple who are looking for a wedding photographer?
While price and budget are always important in planning a wedding, the one thing that I always tell couples to “splurge” on is a photographer. You want someone that is going to “tell your story” not just “document” your day. The photos (and video) will be the only thing left after it’s all over. Yes, all of the beautiful decorations, gorgeous dresses, flowers, jewelry, tuxes, centerpieces…all will be gone after that day. You will want it captured in the most beautiful way possible so that when you look at your pictures you are taken right back to all the magic.
A great way to get access to tons of wedding photographers very quickly is instagram! If you live in Oregon for example you could search #oregonweddingphotographer and you would instantly get hundreds to thousands of images from photographers all over Oregon. Once you find some images that you LOVE, click on the photo and check out the photographer and their feed. It’s a great tool for photographer shopping and it doesn’t require a paid membership!
Josephine Guicciardi is the nom de plume of our creative Evermine blogger. With romantic connections to Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Immortal Beloved” love letters, it is in keeping with the blog’s themes of love and joy. The great composer writes the famous words “ever thine, ever mine, ever ours” to a woman who remains a mystery to this day. Two of the most likely objects of his adoration are Josephine Brunsvik and Guilietta Guicciardi, and it’s from these two women that Josephine Guicciardi draws her persona.
