David + Aimee are ENGAGED <3 Candy Kitchen Madeira Beach Engagement Photography – St. Petersburg Wedding Photographer

David + Aimee love sweets and baseball. They chose to relive the best date ever. David and Aimee went to Candy Kitchen for ice cream one evening. They then drove a few blocks down the beach to a beach access area right next to the John’s Pass Bridge. They walked on the path next to the water to an outlook area. That’s where David asked Aimee to be his wife! ❤ After we finished those two locations, we had just enough time for some fun. We visited a school baseball field where David coaches. I love when the locations are so personal. They help tell the love story. They wanted a fun save-the-date photo and we totally delivered!

 

Damien + Amanda are ENGAGED <3 Through the Looking Glass Engagement Photography – Jacksonville Wedding Photographer

The first time I spoke to Damien + Amanda they said they wanted a ‘different’ engagement session. Oh… I can do that! We spoke about what movies and books they liked and we discovered they are huge Tim Burton fans. For their Jacksonville engagement photo session I came up with an idea to do a Through the Looking Glass/Alice in Wonderland/Mad Hatter Tea Party inspired shoot. I picked up a few spectacular props at my local thrift store and raided my house for all things Burton-like. They came dressed to impress and brought a magic potion. Never before have I photographed Absinthe and dry ice in a forest setting. It was epic. The greens really popped. We found the perfect meadow for our big set up.  The photos came out hauntingly beautiful. Most credit must go to the gorgeous couple and their amazing chemistry. 🙂 We can not wait for the wedding… I know it will be breathtaking!

Dustin + Amber are ENGAGED <3 Emerson Point Preserve Engagement Photography – Palmetto Wedding Photographer

Dustin + Amber were looking for an e-session location with multiple backdrops, so we decided on Emerson Point Preserve in Palmetto. We made use of the natural light and the rustic fence in the entrance and moved through the park. We even got a few big smiles out of Dustin! 🙂 We took a few photos on the top of a hill overlooking the shore… it had a New England feel to it. Not something we come across often in flat Florida. We made it to the back shoreline just in time for the sunset. I think the last shot of the evening was my favorite. I loved the tall grasses by the shore and the dramatic sunset.

 

Jonathan + Renee are ENGAGED <3 Siesta Key Engagement Photography – Siesta Key Wedding Photographer

What’s better than a trip to Siesta Key? An e-session on Siesta Key!  I loved this session because the sun was just right. I get so excited when I get to be creative with light. I also wanted to copy her outfit! 🙂 But my FAVORITE thing about this couple… they can make each other laugh hysterically! I couldn’t help but smile watching them giggle. ❤

 

 

 

Ryan + Ami are ENGAGED <3 Ybor Engagement Photography – Ybor Wedding Photographer

Ybor is one of our favorite locations for engagement sessions. The architecture is urban but warm. The red brick and black steel are strong elements. The grand arches add an elegant touch to the otherwise harsh urban environment. The railroad tracks and trolley are throwbacks to historic Tampa. We incorporated their super cute save the date sign and made sure to avoid the stray roosters. It was an overcast day, so we played up the gray hues on the top of a garage. So fun for a height challenged individual like me. Fortunately for Ami she has perfect hair! I LOVED the bride and groom shirts… so cute. Maybe we will get coordinating shirts that say ‘photographer’. Ha. Don’t forget to have ‘Just Married’ shirts made for the honeymoon. ❤

Phillip + Briana are Engaged <3 Downtown St. Petersburg Engagement Photography – St. Petersburg Wedding Photographer

Phillip and Briana were such good sports in this downtown St. Pete engagement session. It was the Saturday morning after First Friday and we had some barricades to break through. That was no problem for this adventurous couple. They kept each other laughing through the whole shoot… makes it easy for us to capture genuine happiness. 🙂 Briana’s friend made the awesome black save-the-date sign. I LOVE typography! We had to do a touch-up since I kept bumping into the chalk sign… and Briana’s artistic side took over. She even gathered an audience… they all wanted to see what she was doing. Maybe next time she can wow us all with a chalk sketch of downtown St. Pete! 🙂

Paul + Kelly are Engaged <3 Cross Creek Ranch Engagement Photography – Tampa Wedding Photographer

This couple wanted a rustic, country feel to their engagement session. One of my favorite locations that says country is Cross Creek Ranch. Kelly and her tall drink of water had some laughs on the tractor and shared some kisses in front of the stables. The chemistry was off the charts!

Todd + Mary are Engaged <3 Downtown St. Petersburg Engagement Photography – St. Petersburg Wedding Photographer

Live every moment, laugh everyday, love beyond words…

I must admit I have a weakness for downtown St. Petersburg. I love it. There are so many nooks with amazing textured backgrounds, and they are just a few steps form each other. This couple kept us laughing. One word: ADORABLE. I love it when couples make each other laugh, it makes capturing genuine happiness a piece of cake. Mary found a few awesome props on etsy… love that place. They quickly warmed up to the cameras and the result was stunning. Some photos were used as decor in their rustic Cross Creek Ranch wedding. ❤

Carlos + Jen are Engaged <3 Hillsborough River State Park Engagement Photography- Thonotosassa Wedding Photographer

Carlos and Jen were planning a fall, harvest themed affair. She talked about burnt oranges and tying the knot under a big oak tree. One place that screams fall in Florida (not a huge season here) is Hillsborough River State Park. The park is huge and full of mature oak trees… a far cry from the typical tropical palm tree look. It also has an amazing suspension bridge that makes for great photos. But that wasn’t all they had in store for us. This artistic couple came up with the idea of showcasing their painting in their engagement session. So naturally, the only option was to have a paint fight!

JB + Kelly are ENGAGED <3 Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Engagement Photography- Sarasota Wedding Photography

We explored Marie Selby Botanical Gardens with this energetic couple. However, the highlight of this engagement session was going for a ride on their boat. This was our first time taking engagement photos on a boat… all Kelly’s idea… and it was awesome! It was a little challenging moving around on the boat, but they were patient while we lined up the photos. After this session, we really felt like we had known this couple for years.