What a perfect day and a perfect couple. I could've photographed Sheena and Nick all day. I'm so excited for the rest of 2014, but I'm already incredibly excited for Sheena and Nick's wedding at the Vinoy in 2015! There are so many more, but I thought I'd just share a snippet of this day filled with light and chemistry.
Kari + Cody :: Urban Engagement Session
Immediately following this shoot, I honestly texted a few friends about Kari and Cody... I'll chalk it up to branding and possibly good luck, but I just could not believe how great of a fit Kari and Cody were. Which is icing on the cake, because I was already excited about their beautiful wedding coming up this November at the Powel Crosley Estate. I was also really excited to get the opportunity to work with Courtney with Fabulously Chic Weddings again. Kari and Cody were hoping their engagement session would reflect their NYC lifestyle, so I scouted some of my favorite local urban environments. Fortunately, we had the best weather we could ask for, and how stinking cute is their dog Cali? Our love of Shih Tzu's are one of the many things we have in common!
Lilly Pulitzer Inspiration featured on Brides.com
This past summer, I was imagining fresh and fun ideas I could pursue that were outside of the traditional realm of wedding photography. At the top of my list :: A fun shoot with the bride and her bridesmaids at either a lunch or just a fun day at the beach. A few days later, I had coffee with Whitney of Tres Chic Southern Weddings, and we hit it off on so many topics. She mentioned her ideas of a Lilly Pulitzer inspired bachelorette weekend, and I was 100% in. Whitney planned and designed this shoot far better than I could've ever imagined. This shoot had so many layers, and so many gorgeous details. She truly knocked this one out of the park.
For more on this beautiful bachelorette editorial, please check out the feature on Brides.com.
Venue :: Loews Don Cesar HotelPlanning & Design :: Tres Chic Southern WeddingsDresses :: Lilly PulitzerFloral Design :: FH WeddingsLinens :: Wildflower LinensStationary :: Sprinkles DesignDishes and Glassware :: Dishie RentalsPaper Flowers :: Katie K. FranklinHair and Makeup :: Destiny & LightCookies :: Cookie Cousins
Print Features :: Winter 2013
Honored to be featured in the Knot National Magazine, the Knot Florida, and to have the cover image of Weddings Illustrated! And I just received confirmation that I'll have another cover soon! I'm so excited for my 2014 wedding season to start!
Avery :: Merida in Brave
In the world of Disney princesses, Merida is a breath of fresh air. She is brave, energetic, free-spirited, and often rebellious. She wants to do nothing more than to ride her horse, shoot her bow, and explore. I was thrilled when I first saw the trailer, and after seeing the movie I was reminded of one of my closest friends. From the beginning, my inspiration was collaborative with Avery, who is an amazing photographer herself, and someone I’ve become very close with over the last year and a half. Anyone that knows Avery, knows she has a penchant for adventure and superheros, and perhaps there is no movie character that better suits her. Besides the fact that Merida is a totally awesome redhead, Avery loved that Disney created a female heroin that is strong-willed, independent, and adventurous. Her favorite part was that for the first time Disney created a story showcasing a great mother-daugther relationship. I could not be more excited about how this shoot turned out. Thank you Avery for being an awesome model and friend! Special thanks to Stephanie with FH Weddings for creating the floral crown on her birthday and to Barrington Hill for the amazing venue and horse!
If you are not familiar with Brave, check out the trailer here.
Photographer notes: Cameras - Pentax 67, Contax 645, Canon EOS 3
Film - Fuji 400H, Fuji Pro400, Kodak Portra 400, Kodak 400CN
Emma + David :: Selby Gardens Engagement Session
When Emma and David left from the other coast of Florida for our engagement session, it was a comfortable 80 degrees. But when they got to Sarasota, it was right around 59 degrees with a heavy breeze. Even so, the light was beautiful, and they did an amazing job keeping each other warm. Honestly, without the strong wind, I would not have been able to get the amazing sunset shots that we did, so I'm grateful! I had so much fun capturing their love on film. I cannot wait for their beautiful wedding at the Boca Raton Resort this coming May!
How to Make the Perfect Tea :: Editorial
In just over a year of business, the Oxford Exchange has set the bar in Tampa. Their restaurant is booming for breakfast and lunch during the week, and might just be the most popular choice for brunch on the weekends. They also have the most fantastic shop, bookstore, offices, and coffee shop, but perhaps those will be saved for another SMP Living post. On the weekends, between 3-5 they offer Afternoon Tea. We decided to take it up a notch and add whimsical mismatched vintage plates and glassware, and a touch of florals. A special shout out to Courtney with Dishie Rentals for the lovely teacups, plates, and flatware, and Abigail with TeBella Tea for the delicious tea.
For a how-to on how to make a Salted Caramel Latte and a Lavender fog, please check out the feature on Style Me Pretty Living.
Top 10 of 2013
At this time last year, I was optimistic yet reticent. Unbeknownst to me, the Winds of Change were blowing. Not in photographic style, business model, or brand, but in life. For the first time, my goals going in to the new year are tied to what matters, and centered around doing what fires me up. Tracking my progress and setting goals for 2014 has me brimming with optimism, but before I move forward, this retrospective post is a reminder of a great year that has flown by all too fast.
Redwood National Park
There is something so wonderful and primal about being amongst the tallest trees in the world. Old growth forests with many trees exceeding 1000 – 2000 years old. A place where ferns are easily taller than you, and where you get the chilling feeling that either an Ewok or a dinosaur are watching you. If you’ve never had the impulse to literally hug a tree, you might among the Redwoods. I will find any excuse to visit this primeval forest again. For another favorite from this trip, click here.
"Come to the woods, for here is rest. There is no repose like that of the deep green woods." - John Muir
Columbia River Gorge
Since Seattle is my favorite city and I love everything about the Pacific Northwest, visiting Portland and the Columbia River Gorge seemed like a no brainer. When I was 12 and I first saw images of the foggy, wet, and waterfall filled region, I have dreamt of the day I would visit. Starting in March, I felt totally and completely compelled to just go... Having now seen the first three seasons of Portlandia since my trip in June, I feel I must revisit the weirdness that is Portland. For more from this amazing shoot at Elowah Falls, please click here.
"I only went out for a walk, and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out I found, was really going in." - John Muir
Bok Tower Gardens Inspiration and Cover Image on Weddings Illustrated
What started as an low-key earthy and organic shoot, blossomed in to a wonderfully complete green and white editorial. I knew from the beginning that there was no better location in Florida than Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales, which we timed perfectly with the peak of the Azalea blooms. Not only was this a bucket list type shoot on so many stylistic levels, but it also became a feature on Ruffled Blog and the cover image to one of the most recent print issues of Weddings Illustrated.
Teaching at The Experience
At the beginning of March, I had the honor and privilege of speaking at an amazing workshop in Las Vegas called The Experience 2013. A panel of wedding bloggers and photographers came together to educate a small group of photographers on the benefits of being published, how to shoot wedding details, and ultimately how to get published. Let me just say, I expected everything to be amazing, but from start to finish, I’m not sure there could be a better workshop. I even felt like I learned a few things, and we had the best group of panel members of attendees possible. Here is just one from the last part of the Experience, from the Nelson Nevada Ghost Town.
The Oxford Exchange
Ok, this sounds like a shameless plug, but the OE is simply my favorite place in Tampa. The Oxford Exchange is a restaurant, shop, commerce club, and book store among other things, and home to Tebella Tea and Buddy Brew coffee. Most of all, it is a company that is real, authentic, exudes craftsmanship, and is all around incredible. It is a place I feel inspired, and the place where many new ideas have been generated. It is where I have had meetings with wedding vendors and friends alike (many times they're one in the same), and it is where I had my New Years Day Brunch with my closest friends. While they sit unchallenged at the top in my opinion, they are constantly improving and continually inspiring me.
Baptism
This blog post in it's entirety is merely highlighting a few of the many blessings I've had this year, but starting at the beginning of this year, the blessings of my entire life became abundantly clear, and so did the path before me. This was the biggest transformation of the year, and one of the biggest of my life. While I rarely post anything personal, I would no doubt be remiss if I didn't mention this major milestone. When I look back on what worked this last year, almost all of them are tied to my new faith and to church. This year I learned to set boundaries, and learned to finally take at least one full day off a week. Away from social media and email, and filled with worship and praise, and followed by lunch with close friends and often yoga in the park. I can't wait to become a bigger part of Gulf Coast Community Church and to continue to grow as a Christian.
Wolf Pack
If we're friends on Facebook, then you might recognize these faces. On our epic cabin trip this past August, we became known as "The Wolf Pack". One of the biggest influences in my walk are the new friendships I've made this year. I'm so fortunate to have remained best friends with the same guys I've been close with since elementary, middle school, and high school, but I love the influence of this group and so many of my new friends at church.
"Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm." - Proverbs 13:20
Zion National Park
Ultimately, this trip was far from my first adventure with my oldest friends, but it was our first in the great American Southwest. It was an escape from the heat and humidity of Florida, to a desert landscape of the most epic proportions. It was a place where we felt whimsy, freedom, and above all comaraderie.
“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop like autumn leaves.” – John Muir
Renee
Right at the beginning of 2013, I set goals to have an extremely fast turn around for clients and vendors. I worked my hardest at the beginning of the year, but it wasn't until I brought Renee along that I was able to really make this happen. She has been instrumental in the office, and with her help, I can set even bigger goals and continue to improve turn around time for images and album designs for 2014.
Business
As Steve Jobs once said, "The only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work, and the only way to do great work is to love what you do". Thankfully, I can honestly say running my business this year has been almost as fun as the photography... Almost... That may sound crazy, but for the first time, in almost 5 years of being a full-time wedding photographer, I am finally starting to see the long work hours paying off. I've been humbled this year by the most amazing clients I could ask for, and I've had the opportunity to work at so many bucket list venues, and with so many incredibly talented vendors. Engagement season has only just begun, but I can already say that the weddings I have booked for this year will be my best ever. I can't wait to see who I'll meet and get to work with in 2014 and beyond.
When we fearlessly fight for what we believe in and remain hopelessly optimistic about life, love, and the future, we create an authentic connection with all in our path. Most importantly with ourself. - Gary Friedman
This letterpress print sits just above my desk and is a constant inspiration. This beauty from the Lara Casey shop, along with my Powersheets, and a journal from Twine Bindery, I am prepared to make big things happen in 2014.
Elise + Stephen :: Vinoy Grand Ballroom Wedding
The longer I shoot, the more I am aware of my responsibility to create something timeless. On this day, Elise and Stephen's impeccable style and classic venue made my job was easy. I can honestly say I will never tire of gorgeous light and authentic emotion. The tears and emotions started with the amazing gift exchange between Elise and Stephen, continued with an absolutely amazing first look and incredible father/daughter first look, and continued throughout the evening. Elise and Stephen weren't sure about the first look during the planning process and even doubted whether they wanted to do it in the week leading up to the wedding, but immediately after the first look and the ceremony, they both expressed how thankful they were that they did. After witnessing it and now going through all the images, I have to say I could not be happier that they did. I can't wait to tell this story in their wedding album. Just a side note, Elise is the third bride I've had from the Delta Zeta sorority at UF, and I sincerely hope I get the opportunity to work with many more! Special shout out to Aaron Lockwood for second shooting, and my studio manager Renee for assisting and shooting.
For more images of this elegant wedding, please check out their feature on Elizabeth Anne Designs Blog.
If you love their wedding, you might also love their engagement session.
Gown Boutique :: Malindy Elene - Couture for the Bride
Ceremony and Reception Venue :: Vinoy
Hair and Makeup :: KyleLynn Weddings
Coordination :: Flawless Occasions
Florals :: MMD Events
