Fall 2024 mini session locations

Scroll on to see a few samples of our mini session locations for fall of 2024!

Lettuce Lake Park

Lettuce Lake park is about a 15 minute drive from downtown/south Tampa. We love it because it has a very old Florida feel with gorgeous oak trees and areas with open grass for kiddos to run. It’s an expansive park, so you don’t have to worry about overcrowding or lots of distractions for your littles!

This year our Lettuce Lake Park sessions will take place in the afternoon of Saturday, October 5th. The address is 6920 E Fletcher Ave, Tampa, FL 33637. Keep in mind there will be a $2 entry fee- CASH ONLY.

Bright Indoor Studio

An indoor studio is a new addition for this year! We’re renting the space for the afternoon to add some variety- especially for those of you who have been with us for many years! Because it’s new we don’t have a ton of photos to show you the exact space, but picture all white, lots of light and a few neutral pieces of furniture to do some seated shots as well as standing combos. I love this idea as well because it’ll look great on just about any Christmas card design, and if it’s a rainy day it won’t mean a re-schedule. It’s super conveniently located in Ybor city.

(This year our Indoor studio sessions will take place mid-day on Sunday, October 6th. The address is 1718 E 7th Ave Tampa, FL 33604)

University of Tampa

University of Tampa is a great place for mini sessions because it’s located right in downtown Tampa, and offers a plethroa of greenery and grass, as well as a covered area with bricks and stairs if we need to add in some variety.

(This year our University of Tampa sessions will take place in the late afternoon on Sunday, October 6th. The address is 401 W Kennedy Blvd Tampa FL)

Marjorie Park

Marjorie Park is a green space located right on Davis Island. Kiddos love running around, and looking at the boats on the water after the session!

Our Marjorie Park sessions will take place in the later afternoon on Thursday, October 10th. The address is 115 Columbia Dr, Tampa, FL 33606.

Pic Nic Island

Pic Nic Island is convenient for those who live in Tampa. It has a more beachy feel with sea grapes and water views, but also offers wide open spaces with grass and trees. The playground is a great incentive for kiddos to run to right after the session ends!

This year our Pic Nic Island sessions will take place on the afternoon of Sunday, October 20th. The address is 7409 Picnic Island Blvd Tampa, FL.

There you have it- you can’t go wrong with any of this years mini session locations! Can’t wait to document your family this fall.

Five Tampa Bay Date Ideas

Whether you just met someone new, or you're married and you aren’t “dating” anymore (which doesn’t mean you shouldn’t date your fiancé or spouse!) this is the read for you.  Justin and I love to go out at least a few times per month on date nights! Read below for some of our absolute favorites. If you don’t live in Tampa: no excuses! You could easily steal some of these date ideas by Googling “cooking classes” or “dine in theatre” near you! Enjoy!

1) Bok Tower Gardens

Bok Tower is just a short drive away from Tampa in Lake Wales, FL! This place is not only where Justin captures a lot of his engagement sessions- but it’s the first place he realized he loved me- so it’s doubly special! :) Bok tower is a gorgeous, expansive garden that you could spend the entire afternoon at. Long walks through the flowers, lunch at the sweet café, and feeding the Koi fish are some of our favorite things to do there! We often bring a blanket and lay out near the clock tower while listening to the chimes and looking out over the rolling hills (Yes, hills! It does NOT feel like Florida!). Bok tower is one place you definitely have to go with your hunny.

2) Dinner and a movie at Cinebistro

My bridal shop job used to be nestled right in Hyde Park Village and Justin spent quite a few hours there flirting before he asked me out :) Cinebistro is super cool because not only is the location adorable, but you can do a dinner/movie combo! You’ll want to pick your seats prior to arrival because the specious, spread out seating is limited- but the smaller theaters are worth it! This place is 21 and up so no noisy kids, and you can have a glass of wine while you watch. You also get huge comfy chairs and the menu is actually delicious! I also always suggest getting there early to walk around Hyde Park, grab a coffee, or do some shopping. You could stay for hours!

3) Fort De Soto

Another engagement session favorite of ours :) We really do take our couples to our favorite places! Whenever we go to Fort De Soto we try to make it a weekday a few hours before sunset. We aren’t huge 100 degree weather people, so our favorite times to go are November through March funny enough! We like to bring a blanket and some snacks and find a cozy spot under the trees to watch the sunset- it’s not to be missed! Our secret spot: Park at the North beach and when you get down to the sand, turn left. Walk for a few minutes and you’ll be rewarded with a cluster of trees you can cozy up under to get some shade and privacy!

4) Cooking classes at Sur La Table

Another Hyde Park gem! Sur La Table offers cooking classes every week that are worth every penny. Not only do you get a lesson from a local chef, but you also get to eat the delicious food after all your hard work! They also give you the recipes so after you learn to cook it, you can execute at home. Pro tip: Bring your own bottle of wine! They will open it for ya and you can enjoy a glass while you slave away in the kitchen ;)

5) Walking or Bike Riding on Bayshore Boulevard

You simply can’t go wrong with this Tampa date classic. Bayshore is definitely a favorite road of ours in Tampa because the huge sidewalk allows for biking and jogging alike all while gazing at beautiful downtown Tampa over the water! If we are biking, we love to ride down to the park at the end and get a cup of ice cream while strolling around. If we walk, we actually like to mix it up and peek through the beautiful side streets along Bayshore and pretend house shop :) There are so many historic homes and it’s super cool to see how they’ve been updated over the years!  

There you have it! We hope these five favorite dates of ours will have you feeling inspired to try something new and fun with your partner. If you need more date inspiration, check out our top five Rainy Day Dates here!

Florence Engagement Session Inspiration

We’ve heard it said that Florence, Italy is a city of love. After this Florence photoshoot, we couldn’t agree more!Though this is truly amazing inspiration for Florence engagement photos, Jill and Grady were actually having these photos taken on their Italian honeymoon! Jill works for the amazing Along Came Stephanie and happened to be in Italy the same time we were, so it was truly fate to work together on this beautiful session. We felt so inspired by the architecture, the weather, and the sights around the city- it was a place unlike any we’d ever been... We couldn't help but photograph this session 100% on film!It would be such a unique destination engagement location for those who like the hustle of a big city, but the feeling of old world architecture and history! This sweet historical town was definitely crowded on a Saturday, but keep on scrolling to see the magic that can happen, even in a bustling city like Florence.

Thank you, Jill and Grady, for trusting us with such special images! (And for not laughing at the evil eyes we got from Italians waiting as we stood in the street to take the perfect pictures...)Next time you’re in search for a Florence photographer, look no further! We can’t wait to make it back to this beautiful country and photograph more couples in love for an Italian engagement session, wedding or honeymoon.In need of more destination engagement session inspiration? Check out this sunrise NYC session here. It's forever a favorite!

Fall 2021 Mini Session Locations

Scroll on to see a few samples of our mini session locations for fall of 2021!

PICNIC ISLAND- 7409 Picnic Island Blvd, Tampa, FL 33616

Picnic Island is a gorgeous park in South Tampa that features some mature, lush trees and greenery as well as a beautiful white shell walkway. Please note- we do not photograph on the beaches at this park. We’ve found they’re crowded and less photogenic than the areas with greenery!

KAPOK PARK- 2950 Glen Oak Ave N, Clearwater, FL 33759

Kapok Park is a favorite because it’s never crowded! This is a simple park with manicured grasses and trees. It’s perfect for smaller kids who are easily distracted since there’s never too much hustle and bustle happening close by.

HYDE PARK VILLAGE- 1602 W Snow Ave, Tampa, FL 33606

Hyde Park Village is a city feel that offers a variety of photo backdrops. From the fountain, to the brick walls, to the benches and grassy areas, we will always take advantage of the areas with the best light when we photograph your family here. (Morning sessions are all we suggest in this location to avoid crowds)

SWANN CIRCLE PARK- 4428 S Swann Cir, Tampa, FL 33609

Swann Circle Park is conveniently located in the heart of South Tampa! It’s a simple park but photographs well with gorgeous trees and a unique bamboo area.

There you have it- you can’t go wrong with any of this years mini session locations! Can’t wait to document your family this fall.

Click here to book now!

Three Rainy Day Date Ideas

There’s nothing worse than planning out a beautiful date on a warm summer day, only to have your plans ruined by RAIN! (Especially in Tampa… it’s raining as I write this! Welcome, summer!)

If a rain out happens- Don’t scrap the day, just turn it into a rainy day date! See below for three of our favorite date ideas to do when skies are grey.

1) Sur La Table

To be honest, we’d suggest Sur La Table rain or shine- it’s great for a date night any time!

The building is nestled right in the middle of Hyde Park Village, which is an adorable shopping center you could explore for a whole afternoon. The shop is a full cooking supply store with a kitchen in the back for their classes, and weather you like to cook or not it’s easy to get lost in here! Though you have to park in a garage or the street when you go to the village, they have the cutest umbrella baskets floating around so you can snag one to keep dry!

Once inside you can begin your class with some wine (BYOB) and usually a snack, and then they’ll dive into the prepping! They walk you through the meal step by step and at the end, of course, get to munch on all you’ve created! They also send you home with the recipes and a discount you can purchase supplies in the shop with. The perfect (yummy) indoor date!

2) Oxford Exchange

Oxford Exchange is truly a Tampa gem. Any time we take someone new here, they ALWAYS fall in love with the diverse options and unique aesthetic. In the building you'll find a coffee bar, tea bar, full restaurant, bookstore, and shop- making it the perfect rainy day hangout. Usually we’ll start an OE date with brunch in the restaurant (if avocado toast is on the menu, you can never go wrong). Then we head to the bookstore and each pick out a new read! (Easier said than done because they have so many amazing options). From there we usually grab a coffee from their buddy brew bar and cozy up on one of their leather chairs or comfy couches to read together. It’s easy to spend hours cozied up in this downtown Tampa favorite- no sunshine no problem!

3) The Dali Museum

The Dali museum is located in downtown St. Pete and is always one of our go to date spots! Between the artwork, rotating exhibits, and snack bar, you can wait out the rain in this uniquely shaped space. We always love seeing Dali’s take on oil paintings- they are unique and always seem to spark a good conversation between us as we peruse them! Highly recommend. 

There you have it- three rainy day date ideas! This summer when the drizzle (inevitably) happens, we hope you’ll remember our favorite local spots and give them a try for date day! A rainy day date is ALWAYS better than no date at all!

Want to dream of sunny days? Click here to see Eric and Katie's outdoor LA engagement session!

Lilly Pulitzer Themed Bachelorette (or bridal shower) weekend!

We’re here to give you proof that Lilly Pulitzer does not go out of style!

Due to the popularity of any and every Pinterest pin we seem to post from this shoot (if you don’t follow us, check out our Pinterest profile here) , we’ve decided to re-blog a favorite past photo shoot of ours!

Whitney, the owner of Tres Chic Weddings, approached us with this Lilly Pulitzer inspired bachelorette weekend that would take place at The Don Cesar beach resort (it would also be such a unique, colorful, and tropical bridal shower theme!) and we needed no convincing. See some of our favorite shots from this shoot below! 

See the original feature on brides.com here.

Hope you enjoyed re-living the details on this throwback shoot as much as we did! For more beachy inspiration, why not check out Eric and Nicole's wedding on the private island of Mustique?! Click here to see more! 

Venue: Don Cesar | Planning: Whitney with Tres Chic | Florals: FH Weddings | Linens: Wildflower Linens | Stationary: Sprinkles Design | Dishes: Dishie Rentals | Paper Flowers: Katie Franklin | Hair and Makeup: Destiny and Light | Cookies: Cookie Cousins

Grooms: 3 Ways to Help your Bride Wedding Plan

Over the years I’ve met quite a few grooms! Whether clients, many of my friends, and even being a groom myself just a few short years ago- I feel like I’ve got the inside scoop to the grooms perspective on wedding planning. Many of these guys have expressed feeling at a loss for what to do to help when their bride-to-be seems so overwhelmed! It’s why I want to share three tips that can help any groom step up to the plate while navigating planning a wedding.

(Before we dive in, I’m going to give you the obvious tip of all tips which is: If she asks you to do something, do it! Bonus points if you have a smile.)

1) Be prepared

Nothing can stress a bride-to-be out quite like a groom who wants to wait until the last minute on everything. From choosing groomsmen, wrangling the family guest list on your side, having everything ready for your tux, or getting your vows done early, being as prepared as you can with your basic responsibilities will make a huge difference. (Tip- you’ll also want to purchase a gift for your groomsmen- don’t make your bride shoulder that task too! Try a custom Yeti like these or a pre-packaged classy gift from Fox Blossom like these. Or search Etsy for personalized gifts like this one)

2) Be patient

think almost every bride can admit: there are times when they are going to feel stressed, emotional, or down-right overwhelmed. Planning for a wedding comes with a lot of checklists, decision making, and thoughtful planning. That said, I think everyone in that scenario deserves a free pass or two! If she’s too tired to go on date night, or seems short one day- don’t make a big deal out of it. In fact- why not treat her to a day off from planning when she seems especially bogged down? Volunteer to be the one who swings by the post office to double check the invite postage, or returns Aunt Sue’s four phone calls about the attire, and drop her off at the spa for an afternoon of relaxation. (If you’re a Tampa native, Ashley likes this one, Spa Jardin.)

3) Have a good attitude

This is a simple tip, but one of the most important in my opinion. Guys- you are going to have to do things you don’t want to as you wedding plan. I REPEAT: you are going to HAVE to do some things you don’t want to do! Dance lessons, seating chart planning, getting fitted for a tux, food and cake tastings (alright.. this one is pretty good). Most importantly: Posing for photos without getting annoyed. I don’t know many guys who love being in front of the camera, picking out complimentary outfits, etc. But guess what? To most of my brides, pictures are one of the most important parts of their planning.From the engagement session to the wedding day- this is all you have left from this time in your lives. Try to put a smile on and have a little fun with it! Who knows- you might even leave saying it was fun after all. (Bonus points- why not surprise your bride to be on the wedding day by gifting her an album of your engagement photos? Click here to contact us and get one ordered today!)

There you have it- three tips for any groom-to-be! I hope you found this helpful and will use it as you navigate planning with your beautiful bride. Even with all the stress of planning I can confidently say from the other said- it is so worth it. Your wedding day truly will be one of the best of your life, and marriage is just plain awesome!  Justin P.S.- If you loved this blog, check out this one from Leah and Chris' wedding day. He was such a good example of a groom who kept a smile and a good attitude all day long!

5 Valentine's Day Gift Ideas

Valentine’s day is TOMORROW, and some of you may be scrambling to find the perfect gift! Never fear- we wanted to share some easy ideas that will help you plan something special in the nick of time.

We are huge fans of the 5 love languages test (find it here) because it helps you to understand and connect with your fiancé/spouse on an even deeper level! If you haven’t taken it, we highly suggest it. Then scroll below to find the perfect Valentine’s idea for your hunny based on how they best receive love.

1) Valentine’s ideas for “Acts of Service”

This is always a high scoring love language for me (Ashley) and Justin definitely loves me well in it! Some things he has done for me in the past that would make great gifts-

-  Taking the car to get detailed

- Breakfast in bed

- Cleaning the entire house (OR gifting a service to do it- two love languages for one!)

- In home spa day complete with a pedicure and massage (I think I speak for every girl when I say make sure to get the good polish, I like this brand)

2) Valentine’s ideas for “Physical touch”

Physical touch is a big one for a lot of people, including Justin! Some of the best gifts and dates you can give to someone with this as a love language are-

-A dance class (For those of you who live in Tampa, we did swing dancing at this studio)

-A snuggly stargazing date (Justin’s personal favorite! Complete with a late night snack basket and wine)

-A couple’s massage (Try the spa at the Epicurean, a personal favorite of ours)

3) Valentine’s ideas for “Words of affirmation”

Justin and I both score high on words of affirmation, so we have personally used the ideas below and love them-

-Letters to my husband (I used these and gifted them to Justin on our wedding day)

-Love Jar or Love Balloons- write out as many reasons why you love your fiancé/spouse as you can think of on slips of paper. Then put them in balloons for your love to pop or in a jar so they can reach in and read one anytime!

-A poem or song (I wrote one for Justin on our wedding day as well! It definitely wasn’t fancy or overly clever… but he loved it because I put in effort. The thought is what counts!)

4) Valentine’s ideas for “Quality time”

This is one of the easiest love languages to gift for because all you need (mostly) is YOURSELF! If your fiancé/spouse really resonates with quality time, simply plan a date, and you are set. Here are some of our favorite ideas-

-Date night box (we have purchased this one before and like it!)

-Painting class, or painting pottery

-Cooking class (Try Sur la Table , it’s phenomenal! Pro tip: bring your own bottle of wine!)

-Renting bikes and riding along the water or in a park

5) Valentine’s ideas for “Receiving gifts”

This is the most difficult to give advice on, because gifting thoughtfully requires a lot of effort on the gifters part- you have to listen as much as you can! Justin is so thoughtful, and whenever he hears me mention something I like or want, he makes a note on his phone! That way when an occasion comes along to get a gift, he has a whole list of ideas. We’ll try to provide some inspiration to get you started below-

- Does your fiancé/spouse like wine or whiskey? Pick up their favorite bottle or visit a winery/distillery and choose a bottle together!

-Any coffee fans out there? You can’t go wrong gifting local beans, or even a new accessory! I bought Justin the Nespresso (see them here) and it’s been a big hit!

-Justin gifted me a t-shirt quilt from Project Repat and I LOVED it because it helped me clear up space in my dresser without parting with some fun memories. (Find them here)

 We hope these ideas have helped inspire you this Valentine’s day! We’d love to hear if you used any of them- pay us a visit on instagram (@justindemutiis) and let us know what you thought! 

XO Ashley

Want even more gift ideas? Try our blog 7 ideas for gifting experiences for additional inspiration!

5 questions to ask your grandparents

 The older I get, the more I realize just how blessed I am to have all four of my grandparents still here. Not only that- but I get the opportunity to see them at least once a month, and speak to them often! I always say I had six parents growing up- one set of grandparents worked at my elementary school, and the other set lived a block away from me. I understand time with every single loved one is finite, and I want to be more intentional with getting to know even my closest family members and friends as we move into 2019!

Here are some of the best questions I’ve asked my own grandparents recently (the answers were SO good!) and I hope they’ll serve you as well as they did me.

(Please note- you can also ask most of these questions to people other than your grandparents to get to know them better too!)

1) What has been the happiest day of your life so far, and why? (Answers aren’t always what you think! And it’s pretty hilarious to watch your grandma give grandpa the side eye if he says something OTHER than the wedding day- lol!)

2) What are some of the mischievous things mom did as a kid? (Or dad of course… this one is GREAT! Learning all the dirt on your parents :) )

3) Tell me a story from your childhood- can you remember a day when you were really happy? (Unexpectedly a tear jerker to watch someone in their 80’s reminisce about getting a tricycle or sinking the winning basket at a high school game)

4) How did you know grandma (or grandpa) was the person you wanted to marry? (This story turned into a series of questions where I learned my own grandma wore a pink pant suit at her own wedding when she was 20… can we say QUEEN?!)

5) And finally my personal favorite… Have you ever been arrested? (Don’t know about your family, but my own had some pretty hilarious and unexpected stories come out of this one!)

So there you go- some of the best questions I’ve ever asked my grandparents! I encourage you to take them with you over the holidays and ask them when you can- then just sit back and enjoy amazing stories and conversation! We wish you a blessed Christmas with your loved ones, and a Happy New year!

 XO

Ashley