Merilee and Tony {Tampa Photographer}

I have something to say to my family. This is very difficult and I'm not sure quite how to put it.

I think I'm becoming a Bucs fan.

This is not to say of course, that all those years spent watching Packers games meant nothing, and I love  my home state, Wisconsin. It's just that I've been living in Florida for most of my life.  The thing that put me over the edge, though, was meeting and hanging out with Merilee and Tony.

You see, Tony is a college scout for the Buccaneers, so it wasn't a big deal for him to pull a few strings and get access to the Raymond James Stadium for part of their e–session.  As we walked around and grabbed a shot here, found some good light there, and talked all the while, I couldn't help but be impressed with how kind and down to earth and just generally nice to be around Merilee and Tony are.

Merilee has to share Tony with the Bucs, he travels so much, but she doesn't seem to mind. She has this way of looking at Tony, and I couldn't help but smile and comment about it towards the end of their session, it's this mixture of adoration and pride and pure unconditional love in her eyes. It was a really beautiful thing to see.

Kristen and Josh {Clearwater Wedding Photographer}

“It was the scariest thing I’ve ever had to face”, he said and cracked a wry smile. 

Josh was not talking about his recent tour in Afghanistan, nor was he talking about the time that he threw himself over a grenade to protect his fellow soldiers (that bravery later got him decorated).

No, in fact Josh was talking about picking out a wedding ring for Kristen. He had been deployed in Afghanistan for a very long time and he missed her incredibly, picking out just the right ring became paramount.

As we walked ahead of them to the next shot I turned to Casey with my ‘can you believe that!’ eyes.  She smiled, “A woman will bring a man to his knees”. 

Kristen is just that type of woman too. She’s clearly very beautiful, very kind, and hilarious to be around. She and her family were just awesome. Kristen had this happy, feminine, and unflappable quality about her.

Josh knew what he had. When he later spoke his vows to her, his eyes brimming, it was with everything he had, all of him. 

Ceremony and Dinner hosted by Wendy Barrata of the gorgeous Hilton Carillon in St Pete.

Floral by Redman Steele

Makeup by MAC Store Countryside

Entertainment by Jude of Grant Hemmond

Hair by Jessica Auclair of Salon Lofts

Fran and Vic {St Petersburg Wedding Photographer}

Vic, Fran's soon to be husband, has been stuck on the bridge on his way, along with more than half of the bridal party, for a long, long time. There was an accident and it's stopped all traffic and he just can't get around it, he's in a parking lot, powerless. He left plenty early of course, but all the extra time is draining away like water out of a bathtub.

Fran's face, all smiles and glittering eyes up to that point, moves under a shadow as she hangs up with Vic. It hurt to watch.

Tizza, Fran's maid of honor, has a plan. "I'm going to do it! I'm going to do the crazy walk if you don't stop!"

Not satisfied that Fran was not going to stop, starting to cry that is, she gets up and starts leaning waaaay back and walking while throwing her limbs around like she's having a slow motion seizure.

You know you have good friends when they aren't afraid to make themselves look like crazy people to keep you from crying.

And it wasn't just her maid of honor, everybody that came out to witness Fran and Vic's vows were in love with them. They are just those kinds of people, magnetic, and you never regret being around them.

The crazy walk does the trick. Fran can't help but laugh and she's laughing with tears in her eyes. The traffic gods smile on Vic and the rest and they arrive just a few minutes late. Fran's glow comes back, the wedding, hosted by the Grand Plaza on St Pete Beach, was breath taking, and we got to make some great photos.


Planning by the very capable Katie Shepherd at the Grand Plaza Hotel

Hair and Makeup by Jacqueline's Day Spa and Salon

Cake: Cakes by Carolynn

Entertainment by Eladio Linarte of Delight Entertainment

Floral by Kathy Gilbert of Northside Florists

In demand!

I'm very happy and humbled by the fact that a wedding I did recently was picked up to be published by not one, but two national wedding blogs; Grace Ormonde and Style me Pretty. But, since I had to pick one, we went with Style me Pretty this time. 

This wedding had it all. A beautiful couple, great details, and a jaw dropping story. See for yourself:

Lindsey and Scott {Tampa Wedding Photographer}

If you’re a girl (and in all likely hood if you read my blog, you are in fact a girl), you should never balk at playing wingman for your girlfriend when she wants to meet that guy across the way. Good things can happen.

They did for Lindsey. That’s how she meet Scott, an Astronaut-Mike-Dexter of a guy (been watching a lot of 30Rock lately, can you tell?). They went up to him, chatted, and as it turns out, he went after Lindsey instead. One thing leads to another and fast forward a couple years and here they are with me, trotting around downtown Tampa, making some very memorable engagement photos. 

All because she didn’t mind flying as wingman.

Lindsey and Scott’s wedding is next year, and I honestly can’t wait, their chemistry was inexhaustible and undeniable. From the very first moment I met Lindsey and her mom, Nina, on our consult, she was bubbling over with brown eyed smiles and cool ideas. She’s a planner, she has great taste, and most importantly, she is very, very in love with Scott, and he with her. The photos will jump of the screen.