Black Friday is coming

So for the first time ever we are going to have some Black Friday Specials. This is going to be super exciting for everyone. This will give you the chance to save BIG on up coming photo sessions, give someone a gift they've always wanted plus a chance to win a FREE session.

I don't want to spoil all the fun of Black Friday but I do want to give you a little tease! Some of our Black Friday deals will include discounted print packages, discounted sessions and digital image deals. You don't want to miss out. Everyone that purchases a deal WILL be entered to win a FREE session.

So the only way this  is going to work is 1. everyone shares this great information with friends and family and 2. purchase one of our awesome deals! That easy.

Fall Sessions

Our last post highlighted one family that did a fall themed session with us; however other families took advantage of our fall mini special to capture their children and family in the fall season too.

Our first family has two adorable twin boys! Man are they full of exciting energy. I love twins for two reasons. One, my sister has two twin boys so naturally I relate to being around twins. And two- it's twice the fun! Plus did I mention they are adorable?!?

This was my second time capturing them. This year they were a little more understanding of camera and saying CHEESE really loud for me. We had fun at the pumpkin patch that day!

Then I had the fun of working with their cousins. These two sisters are so sweet. The get a long so nicely and are such a joy to work with too! (I really do have the best clients). We met at the park with my set up and got to capture this beautiful family.

And let's not forget our one of my FAVORITE little girls! She simply melts my heart every time we see each other. We had the pleasure of spending the day together at La Porte Farms for their Fall Family Days. It was a neat little Farm tucked away in the Sebastian area. They had tons of photo ops set up and fun for the kids- feeding animals, bounce house, pony ride, food and lots of animals to see.

It was a great fall season and I can't wait to see everyone again next year! :) Thank you!

Fall is in the air

Fall is the perfect time to gather your family together for pictures. It's right before the hustle and bustle of the holiday season and just after the hot summer. So the temperature is nice (most of the time in Fl.), the sun has a warm glow that makes your pictures look amazing and everyone is still a little stress free from the summer season.

I had the opportunity to capture a family session at Wickham Park (love this new location for shooting by the way) and it was simply perfect. There was not one complaint about how this shoot turned out.

The mom and dad were super cute- dad even worse a cowboy hat to go with the "fall-country" theme mom and I planned. Their son was a dream. He actually enjoyed having his picture taken. I love when kids are not afraid of the camera and get into it. He listened so well that by the end of it he knew where I wanted his hands without me telling him!

 

The location offered a lot of options for us and we didn't have to walk far to get them either. We had a dirt road, beautiful trees, and tall grass. It was the perfect setting for this shoot. 

 

What do I wear???

One of the biggest questions people ask when scheduling a shoot is: What should I wear??? There are many answers to this question. Today I am going to give you a few tips on deciding what to wear for your next shoot.

The firs thing you should realize is that a lot has changed over the years. The standard for a photo session was everyone matched. While this is a more classic look, it is not for everyone. Depending on your personality or your family, this look might not be for you and that is ok. This is a very simple and classic look that still a lot of families go for. It helps to avoid any distractions in the image. Other times you may see the white shirt with jeans. Another very classic look.

Nowadays families are trying to make everything unique and different from the last person. We all want our images to stand out and to be different. One of the easiest ways to do that is through our clothes. Clothes express us. So some families opt to not match in every detail but compliment one another. Some choose to have all the ladies wear one thing and guys wear another. Other times they keep a color scheme going and everyone sticks to that color. Another idea is to have a few solids with a pattern. Be care to have too many patterns and they cause the photo to be loud or busy.

Another thing to consider when choosing what to wear is to consider the location you are having your session at. If you are the beach and want to convey a more relaxed atmosphere, then you will want your outfit to do the same. If you are in the woods or a field you may want to convey a more rustic down to earth feel.

The idea is to choose something you are comfortable in, everyone compliments one another, and it goes with your location. At the end of the day you will be the subject of the image so you want it to be a reflection of you and your family. These are just a few tips that will help you out. For more ideas, you can always go to pinterest and find a ton of ideas there. Hope this helps. :)

Why I don't take photos at weddings

Yes you read the title correctly. I don't take photos at weddings and you shouldn't either!

Allow me to explain. This past weekend I was invited to attend the wedding of some very dear friends of ours. I was invited to be a guest! I cannot recall the last time I was a guest and not the photographer. It was a nice break from the regular run around and work hard to ensure every detail was captured. I was able to relax and enjoy the wedding. It was a lot of fun getting dressed up too. I love this times as an excuse to get the hubby dressed up. He is not quite as thrilled but he goes along with it.

Any how, we were guests of this wedding. When we got the invitation I was so happy for the person they hired to be the photographer. In the invitation the couple stated: We respectfully ask all guests to refrain from excessively using cell phones or other mobile devices at the event.

This is really two folds WOW. The first being, you are at a wedding, get off your cell phone, mingle with people around you and enjoy the party. You can play on FaceBook later. The second part that get's me really excited is that they are kindly pointing out that they HIRED a (get this) PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER to take their photos! They are simply asking that you allow the photographer the chance to get the BEST photos without distractions from other flashes, eyes looking the wrong way or best yet someone in the photographers way.

The ceremony especially is a very intimate time for any couple to take their vows before God and before their guests. The guests should remain in their seat and watch as this beautiful time unfolds. The photographer was hired to get all the good shots and give them the memories they are looking for. Not only is it rude to a photographer to stand up and get "that shot" with your cell phone, it is rude to the other guests too. Now you have just blocked them from viewing the couple and you have basically become a distraction.

After the ceremony, this is the time that should be really focused on getting those photos that you hired your photographer for. They usually involve immediate family, the bridal party and the bride and groom. (bride make sure you plan enough time between the ceremony and the reception for this). Nothing is more distracting for a photographer then trying to get everyone together for this, getting everyone who doesn't belong away and having zero distractions from other cameras. Many photographers have an online gallery where you can buy their images (hint hint) so you don't have to take your own. Not to mention the longer it takes for the photographer to get these images- the ones the bride really wants and is paying for- the longer it takes for the reception to begin and the food to be served!

Once you are in the reception and the party has began this is your time if you want to grab a picture, go for it. There are not many posed shots going on and the photographer is capture the moment as it happens. However, I just want to add that during any special moments- first dance, cake cutting, and toasts- that the photographer should not be fighting for the best view of the bridge and groom. Respect the bride and groom and the photographer and allow for room.

Many times during the reception the bride and groom walk around and say hi to everyone. You will get your chance to take a photo then. Also some photographers do the same. They go table to table to get pictures of each guest. If you are at a wedding, don't by shy when the photographer does this. In fact, go up and ask them to take your picture. It makes their job a little easier.

My whole point is that when I attend a wedding as a guest I don't take pictures. The ones you see here are the ones we took. We did this long after the ceremony and we didn't distract anyone. Everyone wants to have beautiful photos from their wedding, that's why they hire photographers. If we can just control ourselves during the event, then our bride and grooms will get that without their photographer having to work twice as hard to get around all the other guest.

Weddings are such a special time and you can't ever get this time back. I love photographing weddings because it gives the couple such a wonderful memory of their special day. Those a memories they will get to cherish forever. So next time you attend a wedding, kindly refrain from taking photos. The bride and groom will be extremely grateful!

Specials!

Are you taking advantage of our specials??? We have a few going on right now:

Interested? Book Today! Call or Text 321-863-6034

Up to speed

Well 2014 started off slower than I had expected. I went in for arm surgery in December. Hoping it was quick and simple and I would be behind the camera lickity-split; unfortunately not the case. I was out of commission for over 6 weeks! UGH. No camera, no photography almost makes me sick. What else does one do with their time?? I would try to hold the camera but it was way too heavy and my arm was way weak. So I had no choice to let it heal. Thankfully once it did I as back in the saddle. :) I had some spring mini sessions. They were adorable as we had baby "chicks" for the kiddos to play with. It was a lot of fun. I can't wait to do it again next year. In April I got to meet Jeff and Crystal. They are the cutest couple ever and boy can they make you sweat during a workout! We had a lot of fun on their shoot and the wedding in May was even better!

In May, my life was changed! I attended a workshop. It was the best investment I have made yet. I learned the art of posing newborns....safety is key. (Please choose a photographer who understands this and is trained. Cheaper is not always better here.) I also learned the business side of photography. But most importantly I learned I can do this! I finally got the motivation I needed. So I've been doing a lot of behind the scenes stuff to get ready to go FULL TIME! I cannot wait. I hope you will continue to join me. Here are some of the shots from that workshop:

The last few months have been busy. Thank you so much. I love being busy. I love capturing people's and I love taking a moment in time and making it a memory that will last forever! So here are some of the things I've been busy with these last few months! A little bit of this and that but a whole lot of wonderful moments!

and that my friends is where we are now. Hopefully the blog will stay up to date going forward. :)