Monday, December 23, 2013

Holiday Portraits with Christmas Lights | South Florida Photographer

I was reminded back in May that I hadn't posted these holiday portraits from LAST YEAR. I know...I know...but, I couldn't very well post holiday portraits around Mother's Day. So, I was reminded again recently to get them up.

This was very last minute last year. One of my older girls asked if I could do a group portrait with her and her friends. Problem was they all worked crazy hours and the only time she could get everyone together was at 10:30PM!!

WHAT was I going to do with that??! Hmmm...

Holiday lights and a Ryobi power lamp. Wa-laaahhh! The very coolest holiday portrait EV-ER!

Better late than never.
Enjoy!
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Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Holiday Vintage at the Train Station | South Florida Photographer

It's not often that you measure your success on someone crying.

Our family has always said "If you can get Mom to cry with a gift, then it's a winner." As a result, my family is always trying to get someone to cry. It means you did good and it made someone happy.

My favorite part of what I do is putting the story together. Sure, you want the photos for the cards, canvases and for sharing. But, putting the story together...seeing the story, is what you remember. I approach each session with a bit of story telling. I've been told, "I love the order you put the pictures in. I can't wait to put them in an album." or "I just keep watching the slideshow you put together over and over again. I tear up every time."

Some of you have seen a few of the slideshows I've put together. These are typically because I love you all so much and I want to make you cry.  ;) They've been a bonus and haven't been an integral part of what I offer with a session. Just for grins, giggles and happy tears. Well....next year both produced video slideshows & albums are going to be offered as options. So grab a hankie for 2014!!!
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Now on to this beautiful session.
I've said it before. Let me say again...things happen for a reason.

This holiday session changed concepts, changed locations, changed clothing AND changed days. I kept telling Mom, "No problem. Don't worry." Remember...for a reason. The weather finally cooperated. Mom coordinated a fantastic "what to wear". Little Man NEVER took the hat off. It all paid off...I'm in love with this session!

Sometimes you hear the typical phrasing "lovely family, so much fun...blah...blah...blah." Seriously, these guys crack me up. Mom and Dad are so much in love...and they LAUGH and giggle. The kids...sweetness. Pure sweetness. I wanted to throw them in my camera bag and take them home. (And I already have a mess of kids!  ;)

Enjoy the images and the slideshow! And yes...I made Mom cry. (patting myself on the back)

CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO SLIDESHOW!!!




















Monday, November 25, 2013

Today's Senior Pictures - Sarah's Magical Session

Think back to high school. Do you remember your senior pictures being taken at some dark studio out in West Broward? Go ahead...raise your hand...we were all there.

Do you remember the black cloth drape and the powder blue drape with the feather edging? Some of you might have picked the red feather one. (You know who you are.)

I remember. I even considered posting that blue feather number here to illustrate my point.

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I was BLOWN AWAY recently when I received a Facebook message from an old high school friend. She wanted me to take HER daughter's high school senior pictures. (Process that for a minute.)

In today's creative and Pinterest inspired world, senior pictures have jumped out of the studio and taken the shape of editorial magazine spreads. They have become creative opportunities for the seniors to step out and away from those bygone days of cheesy drapes. Today's senior pictures can be whimsical or...something right out of a country music video.

I am SO fortunate to be a part of Sarah's dream of beautiful senior pictures. Truly, I'm the lucky one to have captured this stunning young woman at this very special time in her life.

Enjoy!

(and my thanks to Erin Cogdill for the beautiful make-up...and running as my assistant on the shoot.
"mmwwaah!"  www.facebook.com/pages/Erin-Cogdill-Makeup-Artist  )















Monday, October 28, 2013

Halloween Inspiration Photo Session

Who says Halloween pictures need to be taken on your front porch with a pumpkin? Or with bales of hay at a Pumpkin patch? Or with a backdrop at the local mall?

Not me.

I took four adorable munchkins out for a walk amongst the trees and down to the water's edge. My princesses and pirate were right at home.

A few weeks ago I saw a flyer for JCPenney advertising Disney costumes. I knew that I wanted to gather a bunch of kids & these costumes...and get out and about. Three moms jumped at the chance!!

So, on a muggy South Florida morning we flitted about in a leafy forest, walked down a tree lined path, stood our ground on a distant shore, then gathered coconuts and even considered diving in the cool water.

As I was photographing that morning, I wondered how much fun it would be to have a dress up playdate...in character!! I actually believed Tinkerbell was sitting there trying to get her lantern home to open up and Jake the Pirate would burst into the Aw Coconuts song.

When my youngest was 3, she wouldn't take her Tinkerbell costume off for weeks. I gave in and we went to Target, the grocery store and finally the park. She had THE best time running around being Tink. (And yes...I did take pictures. ;) After Halloween consider letting the kids go out and about in costume. It's fun...and what else are you going to do with those costumes after Halloween????

Enjoy and have a Happy Halloween!



  











Sunday, October 13, 2013

Photographing the Ordinary

Kids...pool....water...camera. Ordinary? Ordinary for me.

A rather ordinary thing...an afternoon hanging out by the pool. (Well, OK...I was actually hanging out much further away on the deck and enjoying the lack of humidity recently.) The kids were in the pool yellin' and splashin'. Ordinary.

I've enjoyed capturing moments of my girls and focusing on finding my own vision of those ordinary moments. Whether it's been my "bookworm" reading under a tree, my whimsical child jumping in the setting sun, my impish one asking me to take her picture "just because" or my younger three walking across a wide open beach.

Someone asked me recently, "Can you just come over and hang out at my house for the day with your camera?" At first I chuckled. Then later I realized, "Hmmm...portraits are portraits." Put some of those ordinary moments on a wall. They show how life really is.

Enjoy these ordinary moments.
And if you'd like me to hang out at your house for the day, let me know.  J

Enjoy!
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I LOVE this one...and check out my reflection in her eye!!


This one REALLY surprised me...the water moving completely changed her face. It looks like 3 different kids.




Friday, September 20, 2013

Happy Friday - Find Beautiful Light

Finding the magic, beautiful golden light and chasing it down...happiness.

Don't smile and say cheese. Be quiet. Be thoughtful. Be still. Be yourself. Be light.

Go find some magic light this weekend.

Enjoy!
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Monday, September 9, 2013

Boys Will Be Boys - Urban Pre Teen Session

Go ahead...say it...They are some insanely handsome young men!

But, Logan and Wyatt are also seriously sweet and very funny young men. They have aspirations of acting and modeling. I have a sneaking suspicion they will do well, very well.

When Mom and Dad said they wanted some photos of their twin 10 year olds, my instincts said "Go Urban." While trying not get too dirty, we wandered around an nearby industrial area. Tires, loading docks and even struck gold with some vintage cars!! It suited the boys perfectly!

I'll be honest, I had a really hard time narrowing down my picks from this session. They were awesome to work with and gave me so many great images to choose from!

My absolute favorites are at the bottom of the post. These were the ones where they goofed a bit and their personalities really came through.

Enjoy!
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My personal faves!

Friday, September 6, 2013

Happy Friday - "Mom!! Get Your Camera!"

Like many South Floridians we have sliding glass doors. Over the years, I've learned that the way the those doors open tells a lot about what is going to come out of someone's mouth next. Usually someone's been whacked by a swing or a ball or a sister. Not this time.

"Mom! Get your camera....you won't believe what's in our backyard!!"

A few winters ago we had several VERY, VERY frigid days. It killed off large numbers of a significant iguana population in South Florida. As a result, we haven't seen many of them the last few years.

Well....let me tell you...they're back! This guy was cutting through yards via the top of our wooden fence. I didn't have the zoom lens on and made my way ever so slowly. He was about 4 feet long, including his tail. I was AMAZED he let me get SO close. Only then did I see how long and sharp his talons were.

In the process of me edging closer and closer, he made his way into the play structure and eventually the tree. ("Fantastic." I said to myself.)

Be thankful he wasn't in your backyard.

Enjoy!
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Saturday, August 31, 2013

Cara & Tom - Right Place, Right Time

You all know I'm a big believer of being at the right place at the right time...

I was on a hot air balloon earlier this summer with my best friend for her birthday. A crew of us were put in this oversized basket floating above Orlando. We're enjoying the view and I'm taking a gazillion photos.

There was a couple in front of us and the guy leans back and is tapping me. I think, "OK, we're just bumping and it's accidental." He KEEPS doing it. I think "Yeesh."

THEN, I look down and see he is showing me a ring box!!! Oh, good night...he's trying to propose over Orlando. (I'm a dork.)

He handed me their video camera and I helped record the whole thing. Yep, she cried.

As soon as he was done, I started snapping unscripted photos. The video is what they are going to cherish forever. But, I was so fortunate to be there. I caught some moments.

Being at the right place at the right time.

Congratulations Cara & Tom!

Enjoy!
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