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welcome to the

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if you’re going to hire someone in Raleigh to do your wedding hair and/or makeup, below are some awesome hair and makeup artists I love

Elyssa Explains

Booking wedding makeup and wedding hair stylists in Raleigh

February 27, 2024

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Here are seven amazing Raleigh DJs for you to check out if you want to have a fantastic wedding in Raleigh, North Carolina

Elyssa Explains

Who are the best Raleigh DJs for your wedding?

February 20, 2024

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The Raleigh Wedding Planners you should hire I am organized and knowledgable and love helping my couples get ready for their wedding day, but I cannot be both the photographer and the point person for logistics on the wedding day itself. That’s why I love when couples work with one of the below Raleigh wedding […]

Stephanie from Beauty & The Budget sits on a red velvet couch at The Matthews House. Beauty & The Budget Events is one of the best Raleigh Wedding Planners. | photo by Kivus & Camera

Elyssa Explains

Top 8 Raleigh Wedding Planners

January 28, 2024

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Tips for group portraits on your wedding day Let’s talk about wedding group portraits! You may also hear them called “formals.” And when we photographers say formals or group portraits, we don’t mean unsmiling and stuffy. (Well, that’s definitely not what I mean, but I guess I can’t speak for every wedding photographer). When I’m […]

Tips for group portraits on the wedding day

Elyssa Explains

Tips for wedding group portraits

August 24, 2022

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7 Things to Consider for Wedding Timelines (from a photography perspective) Wedding timelines can seem really daunting! You want to have fun with all your people, but you also want to make sure you’re doing everything you planned, and you want to make sure you don’t feel rushed or stressed.  It’s a lot.  But I’m […]

Raleigh wedding photographer behind the scenes

Elyssa Explains

Wedding Timelines – Important Considerations

June 5, 2021

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Two photographers: worth it? A lot of people look at wedding photography offerings and ask “why do I need two photographers at my wedding?” A lot of couples are planning a wedding for the first time, and the idea of having two photographers is a new concept. BUT it is a game changer. Even if […]

If you have 2 photographers at your wedding, you can get both angles of the first look and the walk down the aisle - here, one photographer has captured the groom's reaction as the bride walks down the aisle. The other photographer photographed the bride walking in

Elyssa Explains

Do I need two photographers at my wedding?

May 27, 2021

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 Top 3 Reasons you should do a First Look on Your Wedding Day We’re big fans of the first look on your wedding day. And I could probably list a dozen reasons why, but today I wanted to focus on the top 3 reasons you should at least consider doing a first look. Here […]

Couple shares a first look on their wedding day

Elyssa Explains

Top 3 Reasons you should do a First Look on Your Wedding Day

March 23, 2021

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Why wedding photography is so important to me: A brain surgery story & the WHY behind Kivus & Camera Watch my awkward video up there! Talking about my experience with the diagnosis and surgery that changed my life (spoiler alert: for the better). Today is the 7 year anniversary of my surgery and I wanted […]

why wedding photography is so important to me

Elyssa Explains, The Kivii Life

Why wedding photography is so important to me

March 3, 2021

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Everything you need to know about North Carolina elopements and small weddings Hi! I’ve been loving all the small weddings and North Carolina elopements we’ve had in the last year or so. I know a lot of it was spurred by COVID, but I do think smaller weddings (and elopements) are going to be a […]

Tips for Wedding Day Timelines

Elyssa Explains

North Carolina Elopements

February 4, 2021

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Kivus & Camera answers the frequently asked question: How should I back up my wedding photos? Instructions for cloud backups and hardware backups.

Bride and groom share their first dance under a chandelier

Elyssa Explains

FAQ: How should I back up my wedding photos?

April 27, 2020