My family has been vacationing in St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands for the past twenty years. I always wanted to get married there. So, when the time finally came, there was no doubt in my mind that St. Thomas would be the place to get married. We invited only family and close friends, about thirty people, to this three day event. In addition to our quaint, intimate wedding in St. Thomas, we also decided to have a celebration in New York with about 300 friends and family.
While interviewing for our photographer, we looked for flexibility, reliability, uniqueness, willingness to travel (and work with our crazy guests), and, most important, photographers that could take a typical, everyday scene and capture it in a way that takes your breath away. Alan and Jose from Déjà Vu Studios did just that.
Since we were so familiar with St. Thomas, we decided to use some of the less obvious areas of the island for our photographs. Our engagement shoot was done the day before the wedding on one of the beautiful beaches of St. Thomas. As we traveled from the beach to the church for the rehearsal, Alan and Jose would ask the taxi driver to pull over because there were exquisite overlooks that created backdrops for some of our photographs. While we were rehearsing at the church, they were familiarizing themselves with the surroundings of the church for the next day. Even at the rehearsal dinner, Alan and Jose took pictures of our friends and family and took us for another round of the engagement shoot. They saw simple things, such as a row boat, and turned it into a spectacular photograph. They used the lightning of the marina to create images that captured the beauty of the area.
Alan and Jose documented every important part of our day, and so much more. As we were getting ready, they worked hard to capture the feelings and expressions of excitement that we felt. They even came in the cars with us to the church.  After the church, we ventured through the capital of Charlotte Amalie, where we visited jewelry stores, walked through the cobble stone side roads, posed by fountains and benches, and even found a taxi with heart shaped windows. At sunset, we visited one of the local beaches where Alan and Jose directed us to pose near palm trees and the water. Then we headed to The Old Stone Farmhouse for our reception dinner. Here, Alan and Jose used the décor of the restaurant to create photographs that had a completely different feel from earlier in the day. They used the wine cellar to create a feeling of passion. They used the curve of the stairs to create a feeling of romance in the photographs.
In New York, we decided to have our pictures taken in our backyard. Yet again, Alan and Jose were able to use the surroundings to create amazing photographs. Using items and scenery that were important to us, the photographs that they took were a true reflection of our lives. Photographs were taken of Mike, his father, and brother incorporating trucks used in the family business. Photographs from inside our home showed the importance of Christmas and family. Alan and Jose used natural light to capture the colors and shadows of the barn and farm in the background. They used various angles and lines to enhance the views of the farm. We even used horses in some of the pictures.
The photo journalistic talent that Alan and Jose have is incredible. Every time we look at our wedding pictures or video, it takes our breath away. The celebration was documented so thoroughly and vividly. The important aspects of our lives were captured. Alan and Jose used their talent and our personalities to create photographs that are a true expression of who are as we began our life together.