An Engagement Session on a Horse Farm in Riverview

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engagement session in riverview, engagement session with horses, Florida, horse farm, riverview

When Lauren emailed me saying she was debating between a photo session with horses or on Grandma’s orange orchard, I was secretly hoping she’d go with the horses. And she did! However, there was a 30% chance of precipitation on the morning of, and I was tossing and turning all night prior, anxious that the rain would ruin the day I was long awaiting.

I trekked on that morning, getting ready with barely any sleep, downing coffee while packing my camera gear, and driving to the sound of David Crowder Band on Pandora. As I normally do behind the steering wheel prior to meeting clients, I prayed that God would guide me and bless me through this photo shoot.

As I entered Lauren and Matt’s driveway, the clouds gave up on me and poured out rain. I ran to the door, cradling my camera like a newborn.

Inside, we talked about their wedding plans and about Matt’s fraternity and how one of their dogs bit their other dog over a ball… when finally, the sun slowly escaped cover from the clouds. I packed and hurried Lauren and Matt out the door. It was time!  (If you’re wondering whether I’m always this dramatic, answer is, yes, specifically when I’m sleep-deprived!  This session took place Sunday morning and it is now Sunday night, but I was so excited to post these images, I worked on them all day long.)

God was with us this morning and the day couldn’t have been any more perfect. It was filled with kisses and sweet, tender love. Even Tigger, Lauren’s horse, was feeling touchy-feely. He gave Matt a a little smooch in one of the pictures above.  I’m so grateful to be able to photograph the cutest couple of the year!

It is so time for me to hit the sack now!  I don’t even know what I’m typing anymore.

To view a slideshow of Laura and Matt’s engagement session, click here.

Ali, Eric, and the Sunrise at Clearwater Beach

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Ali and Eric, Clearwater Beach, engagement session, Love, Magic, photographer, tampa

It was a chilly morning by the salty water of Clearwater Beach. Few cars were on the road and early morning joggers were out before the sun came up to wave its beautiful colors on the sandy shore. Even the seagulls and pelicans were quiet, most likely nestled in their cozy nests along with the rest of the residents of Tampa Bay.

Not Ali and Eric. They were very much awake and ready to flash their love in front of the open water.

And in that young and early morning, magic happened.

It was the magic of love witnessed by a rising sun.  It was the magic of sea grass dancing while kisses were exhanged…

…the gentle noise of water, softly splashing on the boats below.

And the magic of laughter and giddiness that only love could produce.

Ali and Eric have a love as beautiful and pure as a the sun rising in the horizon. As time passes, it only glows brighter to fill the world with its warmth and light.

To view a slideshow of this engagement session, please click here.

The song on this slideshow is by Regina Spektor.

The Magic Hour

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attention whore, beach, Clearwater, engagement session, iPhone, magic hour, photography, sunrise, wordpress app

After I came home and looked through the pictures of this morning’s engagement session, I saw this and just had to post it ASAP.

This is a small sneak peek of Ali and Eric’s pre-wedding shoot.  I had to post it in great urgency for 3 reasons:  1.  I’m gloating,  2.  I finally witnessed a sunrise on the beach for the first time ever,  and 3.  I’m gloating.

Almost every photographer has a portfolio with a picture of the sunrise/ sunset nestled in between two people. Every time I see this on the web, I cringe with envy. That kind of magic is to die for.

And finally, because Ali and Eric are troopers and agreed to wake up at 6 in the morning to do this photo shoot with me, I finally got to photograph in the magic hour, the time when dreams and wishes really come true.

More pictures of this engagement session will be posted soon.

Oh yeah, and if anyone is curious about the previous blog post, that was all my one year old son’s doing. I gave him my iPhone to quiet him in the car (I know, what a mom, huh?) and somehow, he got into the wordpress app and posted a picture of himself on this blog. I swear to God it was all him. I gave birth to an attention whore.

Natassa and Alberto in Ybor City

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auto show, engagement session, fried chicken, natassa and alberto, tampa, wedding photography, ybor city

Alberto first met Natassa at an auto show several years ago.  The car engines on display weren’t the only things that sparked that day.

Alberto’s heart raced for Natassa’s affection long after that first meeting, and from what I hear, it was one hard chase. But who can blame him? That girl has more spunk than anyone I’ve ever met. I think her killer shoes says it all.

Time, patience, and dedication proved to Natassa that Alberto’s feelings were genuine. Like seriously, the two are so into each other.  I didn’t even have to pose them once for any of these “get a room” pictures.

Well now I’m just being a hater. But who wouldn’t be jealous of their love and affection towards one another?

I had such a good time hanging out with Natassa and Alberto, I could’ve photographed them all day long if our stomachs didn’t start growling. The lighting was perfect in every nook and cranny of Ybor City and my two lovebird models were absolutely wonderful.

Speaking of birds, we witnessed the strangest thing that afternoon. Well first, we heard a very loud chicken’s croak behind one of the dark alleyways and hidden buildings of Ybor.  It sounded like this chicken was screaming violently for the fight of his life.  Then later, as we hiked the railroad track towards our car, we saw at least a dozen wild chicken and roosters running around the neighborhood in a flock.  That’s not the weirdest part.

Right after we left the flock of chicken, which was very near the proximity of the violent chicken squawk we heard earlier, we caught this huge whiff of delicious fried chicken in the air.  It was all so weird and strange.

But I’ll admit to everyone here, I was probably hungry enough to eat whatever I was smelling at that moment, be it a brother or sister of one those wild chicken or not.  It smelled really, really good so don’t judge me here.  Natassa and Alberto are my witnesses as to how good it smelled.

To see a slideshow of Natassa and Alberto’s engagement session click here.

Cindy and Zaylon at the Park

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banker, cindy and zaylon, engagement session, firefighter, john chestnut park, palm harbor, photography

John Chestnut Park is a quaint attraction located in a quaint town called Palm Harbor, FL.  It’s also where I met Cindy and Zaylon for the first time in person.

Zaylon is a firefighter and Cindy is a banker.  So it’s no coincidence that Cindy adds love and spunk to the relationship while Zaylon lays down his heart and gives his life to her.

Is it also no coincidence that the two met at a bar yet are both non-drinkers? Couldn’t tell ya.  But I can say, they both make a very good-looking couple and my camera probably agrees.

I’ve come to learn that unexpected things will always happen at my photo sessions, including, but not limited to, tree climbing and costume soirees. It’s a wonderful thing.

Here’s something new I’m gonna try doing for all of my future sessions. This is a slideshow I created of Cindy and Zaylon, inspired by a wonderful wedding photographer named Jasmine Star. Click here to view and please enjoy.

Judy and Hai

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engagement session, judy and hai, photography, sigma psi zeta, sorority sisters, tampa

Judy is my sorority sister from Umass, Amherst.  I graduated before she was a freshman but our paths would intertwine later through sorority emails, functions, facebook, and finally, in Orlando, FL where Judy resides now.  Thank God for a Sigma Psi Zeta sister down in Florida!

Judy is such a sweet girl. I’ve been so out of the loop with current sorority happenings and the hundreds of new sorority sisters who I may never get to meet, really because of laziness than any other reason.  Years have passed since I responded to anything sorority related.  But, what finally caught my attention was when Judy asked for my donation in honor of one of our sisters who passed away from cancer.  I was touched to see her dedication for this charity and cancer awareness event and gladly pledged the little I could to help out. That’s where my interest in Judy really began. It’s been a warm, fuzzy love ever since.

I met Hai today for the first time during their visit to Tampa. He’s a really, really sweet guy! I don’t know whose sweeter, Judy or Hai. My day was surrounded with so much sweetness from the two of them that I think I may need to carry around some insulin with me whenever I see them again.

But I didn’t turn hyperglycemic. Actually, I ended up being comatose after dinner, which was really fine by me.

Good company, great photos, and a feast of a dinner.  It was Sigma-licious!  (Haha)