Traditional Indonesian Wedding Photography in Bali

Bonny & Derrick’s Bali Wedding was featured on Junebug Weddings today!!! WAHOO!!! Big congrats to every vendor who made this beautiful wedding happen!! This is a personal milestone for me as this is my first-ever national real wedding feature!!! Something that we forgot to mention in the article is that Kayumanis Nusa Dua Bali held the traditional Muslim wedding ceremony on a floating stage over their pool for the first time. Also a very first, the photographer was a woman, including her assistant— this is uncommon in Indonesia … The photographer was me!

Bunn Salarzon - indonesian wedding photography


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  • Mary Marantz - Congrats Bunn! That is so awesome girl!! xoxo, M:)11/21/2011 – 4:49 AMReplyCancel

  • Kham - Great job my love! Amazing as always!!!11/09/2011 – 10:52 AMReplyCancel

  • Jen-Jen - Well deserved publication for the phenomenal work you did! Congratulations, Sisay!!! Love you!10/20/2011 – 1:07 AMReplyCancel

  • Derrick - Woohoo! That is awesome!10/06/2011 – 8:14 PMReplyCancel

Kristen & Shadi’s Glamorous Wedding Photos at Crown Ballroom

If you know Kristen, then she may have already given you a nickname or two. They range anywhere from your name shortened then pronounced twice, like Ne-Ne, or what sounds like kisses. Mwah-Mwah? That’s how she makes you feel … Like you’re a part of what makes her smile. A big part of what makes Kristen smile is Shadi … (She makes him smile, too!) When Kristen’s happy, Shadi’s happy. Kristen & Shadi: I hope you two have a fab-fab time on your FABULOUS honeymoon in Bora Bora!!!

Bunn Salarzon - bride walking down stairs

Wedding Photographer: Bunn Salarzon | Venue: The Crown Ballroom (Portland, OR) | Catering: Connor Catering at The Crown | Wedding Favors: Voila Favors | Cake: Wright Berry Cakes | Florals: Crystal Lilies Florist | Hair: Stacey Ford (Prima Salon) | Makeup: Whitney Stassi | Bride’s Dress: Vera Wang at Divine Designs Bridal | Veil: August Veils | MOH’s Dress: Liana’s Boutique | Officiant: A Beautiful Ceremony NW | Videographer: Shields Films | Special Lighting: Phuong Pham

Bunn Salarzon - bridesmaids sees bride in dressBunn Salarzon - beautiful bride smilingBunn Salarzon - glamorous wedding photos of bridesmaids dressesBunn Salarzon - beautiful white bouquet with feathersBunn Salarzon - bride in vera wang dress and jimmy choo shoesBunn Salarzon - elegant four tier wedding cakeBunn Salarzon - bride and groom embracing

A Day After Wedding Photoshoot in Bali

In Bali, the sun quickly starts to set after 5PM then it gets pitch black on the island; the Indonesian Wedding Ceremony for Bonny & Derrick’s wedding began around 4PM which gave us very little time for portraits after their hour-long ceremony. But, we were not too worried as the newlyweds had already pre-scheduled a Day After session with me because they knew they wanted portraits when they could relax and feel more themselves. But, during their bridal photo shoot at Kayumanis Nusa Dua Bali, Derrick was still not comfortable showing his teeth when he smiled. He never shows teeth (as he puts it); he doesn’t know how to smile. He’s worn metal braces for some years and prematurely removed them to surprise his beautiful Indonesian bride on their wedding day … But, he still would smile with tight lips only. No teeth. I asked him to smile bigger to get some variance for their wedding album, but it didn’t make much difference. When I asked him to kiss his new wife, he smiled. With teeth. Finally!!

(See Part 1 for more images from their wedding.)

Bunn Salarzon - wedding photoshoot in bali

Wedding Photographer: Bunn Salarzon | Venue/Florals: Kayumanis Nusa Dua Private Villas & Spa (Bali, Indonesia) | Wedding Favors: Garnis Silver Jogjakarta | Dresses: Inca Rosalyn Boutique | Hair+Makeup: Momiji Makeup Artist & Co | Men’s Wear: Suits from Diamon Wedding | Cupcakes: Sanischa Arbi | Cinematographer: Phoeben Teocson Cinema

Bunn Salarzon - indonesian bride putting on makeupBunn Salarzon - indonesian groom putting on jacketBunn Salarzon - indonesian groom kissing his brideBunn Salarzon - wedding photoshoot in baliBunn Salarzon - wedding photoshoot in baliBunn Salarzon - bride and groom posing against wallBunn Salarzon - indonesian groom looking at his brideBunn Salarzon - indonesian newlyweds posing at kayumanisBunn Salarzon - indonesian bride hair and makeupBunn Salarzon - indonesian groom happily marriedBunn Salarzon - beautiful indonesian bride smilingBunn Salarzon - indonesian bride and groom first danceBunn Salarzon - indonesian bride and groom laughing together

  • Deyla Huss Photography - These are lovely Bunn!09/21/2011 – 10:19 AMReplyCancel

  • Amy Isabella - Oh my goodness… of course I already thought these two were the most beautiful couple ever, but seriously you brought out every ounce of beauty and made me feel like I actually got to be there. Much love Derrick and Bonny to you today, and forever.09/11/2011 – 3:55 PMReplyCancel

  • Anna Kim - Oh girl, this is SO SO gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!09/09/2011 – 10:04 AMReplyCancel

Traditional Indonesia Wedding Photography with a Modern Day Love Story

A year after they flew me overseas for their Bali Engagement Photos, Bonny made her way down the long narrow tunnel at Kayumanis Nusa Dua Private Villas & Spa, but careful not to overstep her floor-length Inca Rosalyn kebaya dress. Her brand new ALDO shoes didn’t even make a sound as she approached the man patiently waiting for her at the end of the tunnel. Under the humid July sky in Bali, he wiped his forehead dry for maybe the third time anticipating the familiar touch of the woman he had met there just three years ago … It would be his first look today of that same woman, but it would be completely different: Today, he would get to call her his wife.

Bunn Salarzon - indonesian wedding photography first look

Wedding Photographer: Bunn Salarzon | Venue/Florals: Kayumanis Nusa Dua Private Villas & Spa (Bali, Indonesia) | Wedding Favors: Garnis Silver Jogjakarta | Dresses: Inca Rosalyn Boutique | Hair+Makeup: Momiji Makeup Artist & Co | Men’s Wear: Suits from Diamon Wedding | Cupcakes: Sanischa Arbi | Cinematographer: Phoeben Teocson Cinema

Bunn Salarzon - traditional balinese dancers at weddingBunn Salarzon - traditional balinese instrumentsBunn Salarzon - indonesian bride and groom on wedding dayBunn Salarzon - beautiful indonesian bride hair and makeupBunn Salarzon - indonesian groom walks with his familyBunn Salarzon - stunning white kebaya wedding dressBunn Salarzon - indonesian groom kiss bride on foreheadBunn Salarzon - indonesian wedding photographyBunn Salarzon - indonesian bride and groom greeting guestsBunn Salarzon - indonesian bride and groom blessed by wedding guestsBunn Salarzon - indonesian groom hugs brotherBunn Salarzon - indonesian wedding coupleBunn Salarzon - indonesian bride and groom greeting guestsBunn Salarzon - indonesian bride and groom

  • Ira - I love it! Beautiful couple!08/06/2011 – 11:21 PMReplyCancel

  • Anne - Seriously Bunn. You are so talented! Love it!08/06/2011 – 10:54 PMReplyCancel

  • Rachel K - These pictures are amazing08/06/2011 – 10:26 PMReplyCancel

  • Karen Weigel - Breathtaking Bunn!! I found my eyes welling up with tears once again over your photos. This is the most beautiful couple I’ve ever seen.08/01/2011 – 12:31 PMReplyCancel

  • Derrick and Bonny - We can’t stop looking at the photos. With Bim and Gen on the videos and you on the pictures, we are so blessed. Thank you Bunn. Both families love the photos and can’t stop showing them to everyone.07/24/2011 – 5:04 AMReplyCancel

  • Lori Baker - Wow…Bunn, you did an incredible job capturing the beauty of the gorgeous bride & groom and their beautiful wedding. Really amazing work!07/23/2011 – 7:39 AMReplyCancel

  • Jen-Jen - Gorgeous, Gorgeous, GORGEOUS! Bonny looks breathtaking! Derrick is one lucky man! Pictures are perfect and priceless! <307/22/2011 – 11:09 PMReplyCancel

  • Shelley Millspaugh - Derrick and Bonny, I am so happy for you two! Your wedding looked amazing! These pictures are unbelievable! Can’t wait to see the both of you soon! Ingats at mahal kita. -Shelley07/22/2011 – 6:38 AMReplyCancel

  • Derrick and Bonny - Words are not enough to express how we feel seeing these pictures. Brings us back to moment getting ready, the ceremony and reception which all seemed to have gone by so fast. Wish the day never ended. Thank you so much for the amazing pictures Bunn!07/21/2011 – 3:07 PMReplyCancel

  • Phoeben and Gen Teocson - Wow nice set bunn!:) bonny looked divine! It was so much fun working with you. Please dont hesitate to contact us if you’re visiting manila. :)07/21/2011 – 2:47 PMReplyCancel

  • Amy Isabella - I can’t say i didn’t already know these would be beautiful, but you outdid yourself Bunn. Thank you. Not being able to be there with you all was hard, but I knew that your pictures would help me feel closer. :D You truly are a Photographer Extraordinaire! XOXO07/21/2011 – 10:53 AMReplyCancel

  • KAtie - Absolutely INCREDIBLE! You just keep getting better and better. Bravo, Bunn!07/21/2011 – 10:34 AMReplyCancel

  • Mona Panyanouvath - Aww.. such beautiful photos! Congrats to Derrick and Bonny!07/21/2011 – 9:57 AMReplyCancel

  • Ira - beautiful!07/21/2011 – 9:45 AMReplyCancel

  • Anna Kim - You are killing it, my friend! What a beautiful wedding & you documented it so well.07/21/2011 – 9:45 AMReplyCancel

Tips on Starting a Photography Business

DISCLAIMER: I am not an expert. But, I am a believer that sharing is caring!
Really, I am not an expert by any means … Honestly, I have such a long way to go and sometimes feel like I haven’t accomplished anything. But, when I look back on my old blog posts then I do see just how far I have come — though, I may not be where I want to be today. That’s okay, we all have to start somewhere! I write these tips mainly for myself not because I think I know everything… When I first got started, I was ignored by so many professionals who didn’t make time to help me with some questions I had. I’ve since found those answers and I share them with you here, just in case you are at a place where I once was and have some questions of your own.

Bunn Salarzon - sexy woman lying on shower floor

Register Your Business & Open a Business Bank Account.

It was important for me to be legit, though, I would not feel comfortable charging anyone for a long time … Register your business name with the Secretary of State ($50). For Oregon: www.filinginoregon.com/business. For Washington: www.sos.wa.gov/corps. When you receive your official document, then you can open a business bank account and get a credit/debit card with your business name on it. It gives you pimp status. Trust me. haha!

Get a Legit Domain. Set Up a Nice Website. Start Blogging.

I’ve heard many times of newcomers who are waiting to start a blog or website. I’m not exactly sure what the wait is for, but there are many options out there to start a blog/website for free. When I first started my blog, I used Blogspot that was linked to my Gmail account. Yes, free. It did its job, helped me get my name out there— again, for free. But, don’t leave your blog static. UPDATE IT. POST OFTEN. SHARE YOUR WORK. SHARE YOUR LIFE. There are prospective clients out there!

Network & Share with Local Vendors.

Along with my blog, I used social networking to introduce my new business: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and MySpace. There are so many more networks out there, but I’m quite selective of which I use because of my target market. Hence, why I no longer use MySpace. It was not the right fit for me. I also participated in local events and organizations to meet other professionals who I got to work with even after the party. And if it wasn’t for meeting local photographers who were just like me: either starting out, 1-3 years already in business, or 5+ years successful, I wouldn’t have come as far as I have. Us women formed a fabulous group where we share everything we’ve learned; we teach and inspire each other. If you haven’t found one, maybe blog about starting one. They will come. (That’s how us girls got started.)

Get Good Business Cards.

There are so many marketing materials that I still need but, again, baby steps! However, the first thing you should get is a business card that will help get you into the right hands. Literally. Oh, if you’ve seen any of my earlier card designs, please don’t hold them against me. Yes, they were so bad! Hey, at least they weren’t templates or those really cheap paper materials that falls apart when it rains. My new cards are a-comin’ and I can’t wait to show them off! Like, BAM! Check out PremiumCards.net (there are many other sites, too); they are affordable and there are options for better quality above the cheap templates. I would suggest that you avoid those at all cost. Yes, pun intended.

Find Your Value— and charge!

Figure out what your base price is (what it costs you to do a photo shoot, including gas to and from shoot location plus any meeting with clients that require usage of your vehicle, electricity you use to start and finish processing images, cost of Internet usage to upload images to clients and corresponding emails, land line and/or cellular phone usage with clients, daycare fee for your children when you have to meet clients, etc.) … NOTE: Never step out of your home to work a photo shoot if you’re not getting a minimum of your base price. This is very important or else you’ll always go out of pocket. Add value for your time and talent, if you don’t then no one else will.


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