Nakai Photography gets Married!

The Wedding photographer gets married!

Last April, Ruth and I were married at the River East Arts Center in Chicago, IL! We were thankful to have so many friends and family members come out to support us! From all over the world!!! THANK YOU! And as a wedding professional myself, we are especially thankful to all the wedding professionals who helped make our day so memorable!

In case you didn’t know…we both met at our church in Logan Square. New Community Covenant Church – and we met in our community group…and it didn’t take long before I realized just how special Ruth is. =)

I attend weddings all the time. It’s my job. And so when Ruth and I first started wedding planning, we talked about making our wedding unique so I wouldn’t feel like I was at someone else’s wedding that I had photographed…but that it was distinctly ours! =) We fell in love with the River East Arts Center (thank you Marley for being a great help!) and we were so thankful all our first choice wedding professionals were available!

The question I got asked the most often: Who does a wedding photographer ask to shoot his own wedding?

My answer: They have to be good people, someone I like personally…and then…of course…phenomenal photography…in a clean/modern & timeless fashion look.

So it was a no brainer to ask two really amazing photographers who I call friends. The best in Miami: Ray Santana from Ray Santana Photography and celebrity photographer Bob Davis from Bob & Dawn Davis Photography! I’m always in awe of their imagery and I really enjoy being around them as people…and on your wedding day…you want to be with people you enjoy being around!

Now if you know anything about Bob and Ray…you know that they have so much in common but yet they are so different. Both are clean and modern with a timeless look. Not a lot of photoshop. Both are extremely talented photographers with their cameras. Bob shoots Canon and Ray shoots Nikon. Bob Davis teaches on how to utillize your flashes – and Ray Santana teaches about natural light and color accuracy! You can see more of Bob’s photos from our wedding at their blog post – and you can see more of Ray’s photos from our wedding at his blog post! I’ve attended both of their workshops and they have been so influential in my own growth as a professional! In fact Bob is having a Flash workshop in Indianpolis next week!

And thank you to Kenny Kim for being such a connector in my life! You introduced me to soooo many people…including Bob & Dawn and Ray Santana! I wouldn’t be a wedding photographer if it wasn’t for you! There’s a reason you were one my groomsmen!

Some more shout outs:
-Grace from Vale of Enna: She simply transformed the River East Arts Center into something so elegant with her ceremony decor and her centerpieces! And the bouquets were PERFECT!
-Sonia Roselli from Sonia Roselli Esthetique for Ruth’s makeup – she is the best in Chicago! I’ve worked with her & her team on a few weddings and she always does a phenomenal job!
-Laura from Ryan Alexander Events for helping to coordinate our day and pull all the little details together and worrying about everything for us!!! We love your energy and passion!
-Roberto from Monastero Entertainment – he has DJ’d so many of my close friend’s weddings as well as my clients…there’s a reason – b/c he’s just that good! He also provided the uplighting created such a great ambiance! Thanks Roberto!
–Chris and Oliver Cinema – The only videographer we considered hiring. Their wedding films speak for themselves!
–Livia Caporale for Ruth’s hair. The best hair stylist in Chicago and the hair Livia styles always look good in photographs!
-Cupcakes: Truffleberry Market! FREAKING AMAZING cupcakes! people raved about them! I’m so glad there were leftovers! So much love and attention given them!
–Twisted Oak Food – creating a unique menu for us – Asian Fusion – just our style! We love Tripp!
-Kenneth & Carla from VWidon for creating Ruth’s wedding dress! I loved it!
–Smilebooth– why have a photobooth when you can fit more people in with a smilebooth?!
–Veronica Hinojosa for coming out to assist and be a third shooter!

And now…what you’ve been waiting for: THE WEDDING PHOTOS! Be sure to see the Chris and Oliver video below the photos!

Here is the SAME DAY EDIT video that Chris and Oliver Cinema put together for us to watch AT OUR WEDDING RECEPTION! Freaking amazing! You can read more about our wedding from their perspective at their blog post!

Thank you so much to everyone for helping Ruth and I celebrate our wedding day! It was truly memorable in sooooo many ways- and we are thankful for you all! And we are thankful to our God who brought us together in His time and in these seasons of our lives.

with love,

Kenny + Ruth