what to wear fall edition | westchase family photographer

Look at me! Two blog posts in less than a month?!? I’m totally on a roll.

I’m an excellent opinion giver.  All the time, but especially if you ask.  And lots of people are asking.  WHAT SHOULD WE WEAR for our family photos?!?!?!? It’s stressful. I get it.  And I was stressed (cause even photographers need family photos–so they can be in the picture!) in a big way about what my family would wear.  So, here’s what I did.

First I complained.

Then I got to work.  Shopping is work.

1. Consider the setting.  Where are we shooting?  In a field?  In the concrete jungle?  A park?  The setting should be your first consideration.  You don’t want to be in some fabulous stilettos in a field with knee high weeds.  Not only is that dangerous but you won’t match your surroundings.  Consider fun cowboy boots or a more (gasp) sensible (which is NOT synonymous with ugly, contrary to popular belief) flat.  On the other hand, if we’re going to be hanging out in a more urban setting (The University of Tampa or Ybor city, for example) you can be fancier.  Wear the fab shoes.

2. Pick colors.  A neutral or two and a pop of color or two if you’re really brave and an excellent coordinator.  We are doing our family photos in Ybor city (super urban, concrete jungle) so I went with a black, grey and red palette.  Blacks and greys and jeans being our neutrals and red, the POP of color.

3.  Pick your outfit first.  You know I’m a firm believer in mom being in the picture.  If you missed that post you can find it here and another one here.  And there is no doubt in my mind that for every mom reading this, you are the hardest one to find the perfect outfit for.  You want it to be flattering and make you look 10 pounds thinner and fit perfectly.  PICK YOUR OUTFIT FIRST.  Build everyone else’s around you.  I went with a ruffly (yes it’s a word) black top from Loft (I love Loft for great casual but not too casual wear at a reasonable price and they are ALWAYS having a sale), some grey skinnies and my VERY VERY FAVORITE red shoes.

4.  There’s no particular order after you get your outfit.  Husband and kids can all be lumped together.  I went with my kids first.  Grabbed a cute plaid long sleeved button down in the black/ grey/ red combo for my 5 year old and a cute red tie.  Throw on some jeans and some urban sneaks (I may put some red laces in them) and he’s set.

My little girl is going to be our POP of color which, if you know her, is totally appropriate.  She’s wearing red.  A bright red dress with black patent leather shoes (that I have yet to find) and a black bow.  I was going to put her in a polka dot number then my bestie (yes, I ask for advice/ opinions too) reminded me we wouldn’t have a strong color pop if I did that.

And the husband.  He’s got great jeans.  And black shoes for days.  I grabbed a grey button down from Express (where I haven’t shopped in easily at least a decade… ) and a tie.  But he may even wear a tie he already has, not sure.  Husbands always get the shaft when it comes to new clothes don’t they?!?

5.  Now, you may be saying ‘ties’? Really Corey?  Ties?  Don’t worry.  We’re not tucking in.  We’re rolling up sleeves, and we’re not buttoning top buttons.  The perfect balance of an accessory that works but doesn’t look like we’re trying too hard.  Accessories are so important in photos.  They draw the eye in.  Layers are great too.  Only we live in Florida, it’s hot and I sweat like a pig.  So we’re skipping layers.  Hair bows, necklaces, ties, fabulous earrings, pick the shoes with the details on them instead of the plain ones.

And so, without further adieu.  An iphone picture of our outfits, laid out on my unmade bed.  I’m fancy.

 

And I’m spent. 🙂

There’s another post I wrote on what to wear, here. Check it out 🙂

Happy Thursday y’all!

 

let them be little | westchase family photographer

There’s an overload of perfect, amazing, adorable children below.  You’ve been warned.  Oh and they’re mine.

I try to take my kids pictures every year around their birthdays (one in September and one in October).  Then I print them and hang one of each kiddo and one of them together below my three dining room windows (see, can’t have another child, not enough windows).  Usually I’m lucky to get a few good shots between whining and cheesy smiles.  This year was different though.  We checked out a new shoot location (which I’m in love with) and had an adventure.  We explored.  We brought chairs from home (one of which was my Grandparents which I love) and we had a blast.  Just the three of us and my camera.  And the images we got, I’m obsessed with.  The light.  The smiles.  My kids.  Just as they are.

 

It was a good day.  They don’t always happen this way.  They might not ever happen this way again.  So I was stumped.  What do I do with these images?  Print them and dutifully file into an album, obviously.  Then what?  So I just ordered a bunch of them in a bunch of different sizes.  I’ll put them in frames for Dad’s desk at work and for grandparents.  I ordered a giant canvas of them kissing (obviously).  And who knows what else I will do with them.  I just know I want to have the images to hold in my hands.  To save as frozen moments in time.

Let them be little. ❤

Happy Thursday y’all!  Holiday minis are almost booked up so if you’re waiting to schedule one, don’t. 🙂

Remember that time I blogged? | Tampa family photographer

Everyone has an M.O..  That’s police lingo AND Latin for Modus Operandi.  My blogging M.O. is that I’m awesome at it for a month or so, then I suck.  And I forget that I have it or I forget to do it.  And then my M.O. is that I write a post promising to blog more and it doesn’t happen.  I’m not making any promises today.

A lot has happened since I blogged last.  Lots of shoots.  Summer is here.  I have a Goddaughter now, there’s a lot going on!  And I could go back and upload all of the adorably perfect and amazing families and babies and kiddos who I have taken pictures of in the last few months.  But I’m not going to.  Instead you should just ‘like’ my Facebook page and make sure I show up in your newsfeed so you can see the preciousness.

A few random thoughts.  Summer is more than halfway over.  That means fall is coming.  I have a few fall sessions booked already and am booking into September now.  If you want a prime spot for your holiday photos, now is the time to start thinking about it.  Just putting that out there.

Also, I talk a lot about memories.  Capturing them.  Holding onto them.  Laughing at them.  This sweet girl was an angelic newborn for me last summer.  She’s one now.  And is just as perfect.  But sometimes, even your own personal cake isn’t enough to bring out a smile.  But I know for years to come, her family will have some good chuckles over this image.  Happy Wednesday y’all!!

here come the headshots! | Tampa Head Shot Photographer

I don’t want to sit still.  I don’t want to be stagnant.  I want to grow.  And learn.  And evolve.  So I’m excited to share with you that I’ve started to offer head shots!

Need new shots for your website?  A company directory?  Just want to update your current headshots?  I’ve got you covered!

Or if you have something a little less ‘corporate’ in mind, perhaps for a Linkedin profile?  Facebook page?  Website?  I’ve still got you covered!

So, help me spread the word!  Feel free to pass out my information at work, the grocery store, the bus stop, the bar, the playground, wherever!

Thanks for the support!  Have a great Wednesday!

tip tuesday | it’s ok. i swear. | Westchase family photographer

I was on such a Tip Tuesday roll.  And then I wasn’t.  But I didn’t forget. I just got busy! I have so many sessions to share, I don’t know where to start.  But if you’re dying to see them, you can always go to my facebook page and check out the sneak peeks!  Feel free to ‘like’ my page while you’re there! I’d ‘love’ that!

Anyway….

Between finding the right photographer, figuring out the perfect balance of color and the right outfits, selecting the perfect location, and ensuring that everyone is happy before the shoot, the pre-photo shoot can be very stressful.  So it’s really important to me that the photo shoot itself is NOT stressful.  At all.

I have kids.  I know what they’re like.  I mean aside from being perfect, they have short attention spans, they want to do their own thing, they listen about 50% of the time, and sometimes they drive parents absolutely NUTS.  This kind of behavior in my own children makes me all sweaty and anxious.  So I get it.  Which is why you have to get into the right frame of mind before the shoot.  Cause sweaty and anxious in a photo just don’t look right.  And this kind of behavior in other people’s children, makes me laugh.  Makes me work harder.  Helps me bring my a-game to ensure your images are stellar.  And I love it.  I wouldn’t do this if I was deterred by a flower picking three year old, or a snotty nosed kid who absolutely refuses to do anything I ask.

Here’s proof that even kids making crazy faces, laughing at each other or you, and bringing their ‘deter the photographer a-game’ won’t scare me away.  And it’s my own kids this time.

100+ shots.  10 minutes.  No shoes.  Sweaty Mommy.  And these.  Making it worth every single second.

And finally, this one.  There’s already a canvas on the way.

So here’s my tip for Tuesday.  Don’t worry about it.  Unless your kids spit on me, punch me in the face, or call me names (and they’d have to be bad names to really deter me), don’t apologize.  This is what I do.  I capture moments.  And personality.  And I work hard for it. And I love it.  Every. Single. Second.  So it’s OK.  I swear.  Don’t worry about it!

Happy tip tuesday y’all!

Tampa Family Photographer | s-man is one!

When I first met little Sidney he was just a few days old.  Well, technically he wasn’t born yet and his mom let me put post-it notes all over her belly (see below) but when we met for real he was a sweet tiny bundle.

One of the real joys of my job is watching people’s families grow.  Watching their kids change.  Watching them grow into a family.  And capturing it all for them.  Little man is one now and we had a great time playing for his first birthday shoot!  Bubbles, red highchair, and all! 🙂

 

Happy birthday sweet boy!

zackary’s Bar Mitzvah | Tampa Event Photographer

I am so lucky.  Not everyone gets to find a passion and a second career in the same thing.  And I’m not sure I can think of anyone who gets to share in life’s joys on a regular basis like I do.  People invite me into their lives to capture it, and somewhere in there, in those moments I get to celebrate with them.  I get to be a part of the joy from behind the camera.  It’s magic for me.

Last weekend I witnessed a rite of passage for a local teenager.  The Simon family celebrated their oldest child’s Bar Mitzvah.  It’s a ceremony steeped in tradition.  It’s powerful.  And lovely.  And it was an honor to capture it for the Simon family.

I mentioned that Zack is the oldest child but what I didn’t mention is that he’s the oldest of six beautiful children and he’s the ONLY boy.  He’s going to make a fabulous husband some day because of these beautiful girls in his life and because his Mom is nothing short of a rockstar.

My favorite part of the ceremony was when Zackary’s non-Jewish (and Jewish) relatives recited prayers for Zackh in Hebrew.  It was obvious how hard they all worked to make sure their Hebrew was up to par and they did it for Zackary.  It was really wonderful.  And also entertaining 🙂

And who doesn’t love a celebration where you get to throw things at the Man of the Hour?  Just soft chewy candies but still.  Pretty awesome.

Mazel tov, Zackary!  Thank you Simon family for inviting me to be a part of Zack’s big day.

Happy Tuesday y’all!

tiny miracles | bryn and ayla

There are things you can prepare yourself for.  And there are things you can’t.  Say hello to Bryn and Ayla.

These beautiful sisters were born at 28 weeks.  Each weighing less than 2 1/2 pounds.  And they’re perfect.

The grace, courage, and strength with which their parents carry themselves is amazing.  It was truly my honor to get to photograph these girls at All Children’s Hospital in St. Pete.  Ayla is home with Mom and Dad now.  She went home on her due date.  Bryn is getting closer everyday. She’s a fighter.  And so are Mom and Dad.

The next time I see these sweet girls, it will be in the comfort of their own home.  When they’re together as a family of 4.

 

 

See you soon sweet girls!

 

Easter Perfection | Westchase Family Photographer

Every parent has their favorite ages and stages.  For me, after the sweet, cuddly, sleepy newborn is 6 months old.  When they’re just learning to sit up, and figuring out that they might, just might be able to get into stuff someday.

This is Isla Rose.

She is the sweetest, most easy going, quiet and peaceful little girl you’ll ever meet.  She was so content to check out my blankets, play with some bunnies and even chill in her Easter basket (wonder if we will be able to squeeze her into it next Easter!).

And she didn’t come alone.  Love a family shot with real smiles.  Makes ALL the difference.

And some of Isla’s cousins came along too!  Such a fun group.  And I even squeezed a few smiles out of 2 year old Ciara!

Happy weekend y’all!

Spring Minis | Westchase Family Photographer

No tips today. I’m still recovering from a long holiday weekend.  And for the record we DID have pizza for dinner on Easter Sunday.  Know what?  It was amazing.

I’m a bit behind on my session posting so here are a few spring mini highlights from a couple weeks ago.

This is Will.  The last time you saw him he was covered in Christmas ornaments.  He might have remembered that.  Cause we fought hard for that smile.  I know next time we meet he will think I’m much funnier 🙂

 

And this sweet girl.  Her name’s Kayla and she’s got the perfect amount of sass and sweet.  Loved hanging with these gorgeous blue eyed ladies!

 

 

And some brotherly love from these two.  They left big sister at home.  Love them.

 

 

And last but certainly not least three of my favorite kiddos.  They were my very first real clients and they’ve stuck around.  I’m so glad they have.  Look at this gorgeousness.

 

Happy Tuesday y’all!  Lots of good stuff going on over here so come back soon!