Meet the Kivii
Behind the cameras, you’ll find Elyssa & John Kivus (collectively, The Kivii), a couple of adorable nerds.
I was a divorce attorney.
I had brain surgery.
I became a wedding photographer
I still have the same brain, just minus a tumor.
That sort of thing resets a person’s priorities, and it solidified my desire to stop practicing law and return to my roots as a photojournalist, this time documenting the pure magic and joy of love stories.
Here are some things I really love:
ASOIAF, Carolina basketball, chocolate, the Cosmere, dresses (bonus points for pockets), gin drinks, John Kivus, movies, naps, photography, potatoes in any form, puppies, Raleigh, shady spots on sunny days, Star Wars, thunderstorms, TV, weddings.
Oh, and alphabetical lists ;-)
I’m the tech support
I take photos too, but Elyssa literally went to school for that, and I started as a hobbyist, so on the wedding day, she’s in charge. My full time job is as a software and intellectual property attorney. And yes, that does come in handy for running the small business that is Kivus & Camera.
I’m originally from Maine, so I come by my Patriots and Red Sox fandoms honestly. I then went to Clemson for undergrad before working as a programmer and eventually ending up at UNC Law, where Elyssa and I met. Thus the enthusiasm for the Clemson Tigers and UNC Tar Heels.
Elyssa insists I include fun facts, so:
I do in fact like coffee, but the number of people I like is at least ten.
I’m always happy to talk about video games.
My favorite movie is The Two Towers.
I run Rope Drop [dot] Net.
I collect fountain pens.
Things we love the most
Beer & Running
Craft beer is DELICIOUS, but not nutritious.
Running is TERRIBLE, but it’s great cardio.
Beer + Running = Balance
*It’s okay if you’re not a beer person or if you actually enjoy running, we can still be friends!
College Sports
Elyssa is a double Tar Heel. John is a Clemson Tiger but cheers for UNC too (his grad school) because otherwise Elyssa would be sad.
Don’t worry, we’ve happily (and peacefully) photographed weddings for rival fans. Everyone deserves beautiful images!
Being Fans
Fandom = being super passionate about some particular thing. There are movie fans, wine fans, football fans, Broadway fans, etc.
We’re fans of lots of things, especially of being nerdy wedding photographers, and we love hearing other people get excited about their fandom(s).
We’re enthusiastic about
Our Clients
Y’all are awesome and beautiful!!
Every one of you is lovely and it brings us so much joy to capture that beauty in photographic form. We love being Raleigh wedding photographers (& Durham wedding photographers, & Chapel Hill wedding photographers, etc. etc.! We love NC weddings)
Kind Words
“They are so much fun to work with,
Elyssa’s not only a consummate professional who takes her craft and art seriously, she is also warm, thoughtful and extremely dedicated to making sure she photographs every single moment seamlessly.”
Sonia + Vinay
“Our pictures turned out amazing
my husband and I kept crying every time we looked at them. We can’t recommend them enough, both for the amazing photography and for how easy they were to work with.”
Dale + Jake
“Not only does she deliver on her photos,
Elyssa is extremely organized and has her process well defined… When I felt like I was drowning in wedding prep, this process and efficiency really made all the difference.”
Shu + James
“The image quality is amazing.
They embrace light and color in my favorite ways. Elyssa and John were so easy-going and they encouraged me with my wildest ideas.”
Sarah + Monty
“Working with them was the best decision we could have made.
The pictures capture the fun and joy of the day beautifully, and Elyssa’s use of color and creativity is second to none. Many of our pictures stand alone as works of art in my mind. So many of our friends and family have commented on the beauty of our pictures.”
Katy + Monica
