Before things got extra crazy with all things Covid down here in sunny Florida, I had the pleasure of hanging with a few families for some social distance photo shoots. With all the negative in the world these days, there’s nothing like a little laughter and a whole lotta smiles to turn things around!
What do you get when you combine adults in Togas, sad hockey fans with haircut mishaps, Disney pirates, ballroom dancers, kids flying through the air, family handstands, dogs reading magazines, kids posing in trees, superheroes in disguise and a whole lotta smiles? One hilariously awesome weekend!!
After an amazing visit to London and Scotland, a 14 self quarantine as a result and a “safer at home” order that closed my office the day I came back, I was about 5 weeks into working from home when I decided that I not only needed to work my trigger finger again, I also desperately needed to interact with humans without using an app. So, I posted a little something on Facebook on a Friday afternoon asking if anyone might be interested in joining me for a socially distant Front Yard Project that same weekend. I threw it out there that I would text upon arrival, wear a mask if requested and bring my long lens so that we could chat from a social distance while snapping away. The response was overwhelmingly amazing! Within hours I had 9 shoots scheduled over the course of those two weekend days and I honestly couldn’t have has a better time! As it turns out, I wasn’t the only one needing to break up the monotony of what had become our new normal. Here are just a few of my faves!
Once again I find myself wondering where the time has gone! Prior to the world shutting down in mid-March, I was here, there and everyone covering races, basketball, football and NCAA softball games, corporate events, family photo fun and doing a little vacationing. I’m amazed by what has changed since then but here’s a little snippet of some pre-quarantine fun from the wide world of sports.
Just about a year ago, I met David and Katie over at Curtis Nixon Park in Tampa for their engagement session. At the time, what we didn’t know was that there also happened to be a huge holiday celebration, complete with parade happening at that very park. Roads closed, hundreds of people roaming around the area, Santa in route - not exactly an ideal backdrop for engagement photos but we laughed it off and made it work. Needless to say, I knew from that moment that I was going to have a blast working with these two!
Fast forward to November 2nd. I knew that it was going to be a fun day since Katie and David are such cool people but I had no idea just how fun it was going to be. I started the day hanging with Katie and her 11 bridesmaids as they were relaxing and being pampered while David spent the morning at the pool relaxing with his groomsmen. I did a little back and forth action between the girls suite and the guys suite before the future Mr. & Mrs. put the finishing touches on their fancy duds and met on the beach for their first look. They had their super sweet moment alone together (well, “alone” but with me and some well wishing strangers) and from there the fun really started. The wedding party all got together for some pre-ceremony pics then we all walked down for their beach-side ceremony. There was a little chill in the air (it is November after all) but once the wedding party started to walk down the aisle the breeze became nonexistent. Grandparents, parents, groomsmen, bridesmaids, a ring bearer (there were actually 2 but one feel asleep on the job), the groom’s grandmother as the flower girl (the cutest thing ever!) and then the bride herself, escorted by her teary-eyed dad. The ceremony was intimate and adorable with a beautiful backdrop and the bride and groom couldn’t stop smiling throughout. From there, after all sorts of photos and cocktail hour apps, it was time for the reception. When I say it was the best wedding reception I have ever been to, I am not exaggerating. First there was the happy couple’s expertly choreographed first dance, then Katie danced with her dad and David soon followed with a sweet dance with his mom. After that, the band started. For just under 4 hours, they entertained everyone within ear shot (I say that because there were definitely random hotel guests roaming the hallway to check them out) and the wedding guests were on their feet from start to finish! Overall, if I were to review this event like one of those wedding shows on TLC, I would say this wedding was a 10 out of 10 for sure! The people, the outfits, the location, the food, the party - I can’t think of anything that could have possibly made it a better day!
Congratulations again to David & Katie! You two couldn’t be more perfect for each other and I am honored to have been given the opportunity to capture all the fun from your big day! What a blast!
Cooler temps, matching colors, smiles from start to finish and a 6 year old sporting a bow tie - what more could I ask for when planning the perfect fall photo shoot? This was second time I’ve had the pleasure of capturing the cuteness of this family and although I took these photos while protesting how grown up the kids have gotten (protesting because it obviously means I’m getting older too), I had such a fun time! What a great afternoon at the park with Peyton the gymnast, Trenton the future GQ model and their amazing mom & dad!
Earlier this month I had the privilege of shooting one of my favorite weddings of all time. Naturally, since I had such a blast, I wanted to share some of the photo fun so I logged onto my website…only to realize that it has been far too long since I’ve added to my blog. It is quite hard to believe that it has been several months since my last post and that alone may have you believing that I haven’t been doing much but, it has actually been the opposite. Between shooting for my own company and working as a subcontractor for several different sports photography companies (hence the watermarks), my weekends have been pretty packed with fun. Since April, I have been lucky enough to photograph the Boston Marathon, Boston’s Run to Remember, back to back weekends of Camp Gladiator’s CG Games prelims, the Peachtree 10K in Atlanta on the 4th of July, a series of 3 triathlons at Ft. DeSoto, the Chicago Marathon, the Marine Corp Marathon in DC, the First Watch 10k in Sarasota, the Miami Man 70.3, the 2 day St. Pete Run Fest, a 50th high school reunion, a wedding reception, a 50th Anniversary celebration turned vow renewal, my favorite wedding of all time and several portraits sessions. Sure the struggle has been real each and every Monday morning but I’ve been having a blast so it’s totally worth the sleep deprivation! :)
Here’s a little sampling of what I’ve been able to capture in the sports world here, there and everywhere!
Oh and yes, that is my boyfriend Tedy Bruschi and yes, he did waive to ME during the Run 2 Remember in May! :)
From boots and belt buckles, corn hole to cows (wandering amongst the cars in the parking lot) - the “rustic barn wedding” that Minyon & Derrel planned for their big day could not have been more perfect! The S bar S barn Ranch in Lakeland served as the backdrop and Mother Nature added nothing but sunshine to a beautiful April day. We started the day with a little hair and make up over lunch before the bride put on her gorgeous dress (made by her mother!) and the groom took his mark outside for their “first look”. It may have been 137 degrees outside but the moment Derrel turned to see his bride in her wedding dress for the first time, it was if time stopped! From that moment on, this happy couple could not keep their eyes off each other and the smiles never left their faces. These two could not be more perfect for each other and I was honored to capture their special day from hair and make up to their sparkler exit and everything in between!
When mom and dad show up for family photos in outfits that coordinate perfectly with 4 boys who match top to bottom, you know you’re in for some serious cuteness! We started with a evening with a little fun at the park and ended up splashing away on the beach at sunset. I’m so glad Mother Nature cooperated and gave us such a beautiful night!
It all started in July of 2017 when this adorable couple invited me to capture their cuteness with engagement photos and then an intimate family wedding ceremony in St. Pete. From there, the Bailies announced that a new addition to their family would be arriving in October of 2018 so I had the pleasure of setting up a photoshoot before they welcomed Baby Bailie into the world. Joanna Kristine arrived and just a few weeks later, we were all off to Ireland for a wedding reception over a year in the making! 30+ family members and friends of the Bailies took over the Belle Isle Castle in Lisbellaw, Northern Ireland. To say it was the trip of a lifetime would be an understatement! We had a portrait session with the happy couple, a family photo shoot with Baby Joanna by the fireplace, a fun filled evening with a murder mystery masquerade ball and a wedding reception the following night that most people can only dream of! Mother Nature didn’t exactly want to cooperative on wedding day but that didn’t stop the Bailies from heading outside, ditching their umbrellas and embracing the pouring rain…because they were in front of their castle! What an amazing couple of days to say the least!
Even though their big day is almost a year away, the future bride and I couldn’t wait to set up this adorable couple’s engagement session. Weeks and weeks ago we narrowed down the date, finalized the location and time and we were good to go. Who would have thought that we would have picked the exact date, time and location of a holiday parade and festival that closed half the roads in downtown Tampa? Not to worry though, Mother Nature cooperated and our wonderful assistant brought along flats for the future bride so we walked here, there and everywhere and had a blast doing it! These two are just too cute and I already can’t wait for their big day!
I’ve been lucky enough to capture all sorts of memories over the years. Whether major life events like weddings or maternity sessions or major sporting events like the Boston Marathon, I cover each and every event with a big smile on my face. This event however, this one just made me giggle from start to finish. Seriously, could this girlie (or her big brother Zach) be any cuter? Happy 1st Birthday Miss Rylie!!
What do you do when you want to take “fall like” photos but you live in Florida? You throw on some flannel and you fake it! With these smiles, you’d never guess that temps in the 90 aren’t flannel wearing weather. These guys were troopers to say the least!
From engagement photos to wedding day to now getting ready to meet Baby Bailie - I can’t say enough about how excited I am to have been asked to capture it all! These two are just the cutest! I can’t wait for Baby Joanna’s first photo shoot at home…and her second in Ireland in December!
Despite Mother Nature’s best efforts to dampen our day, there were nothing but smiles at Philippe Park this past weekend! The Bluniers are just the sweetest family and these two girls - they couldn’t be any cuter!
When your beautiful cousin reaches out to ask if you can take her senior pictures, you hop on a plane and make it happen! Such a fun time on the farm with Miss Mia!
I just can't get enough of these smiling faces! I'm a bit biased since the two little ones are my "niece" and "nephew" but seriously, could they be any cuter?
I had the pleasure of meeting this adorable couple at their wedding rehearsal 2 years ago...and now they're welcoming a new little Kuhlman to the world! Congratulations Anne Marie & Kelsey! I can't wait to meet Baby Coco!
I'm slightly biased since I've been friends with the bride for about 11 years now but these two are just too cute! Despite heading the beach under overcast skies and popping over to the Botanical Gardens with the threat of rain, these two welcomed my silly ideas with smiles on their faces.
I've had the pleasure of photographing all sorts of weddings over the years but this one was definitely one of my favorites! Sure I'll admit that I was sort of "cheating" a bit on this one since I've known the bride and groom and their families for years but that only made this night more special. There truly are few things better then watching two people who couldn't be more perfect for each other exchange vows with smiles on their faces and happy tears in their eyes! An amazing couple, some adorable kiddos, two incredible families coming together and a wedding party that'll keep you laughing for days - talk about the perfect combination! Congratulations Shannons!!
With their big day right around the corner, why not share a few pics from our recent engagement/ family photo session with their little ones. This family is just the cutest! I can't wait to see them all dolled up and fancy for the big day!
