Madison ***Sneak Peek***

LOVE this girl!! 

Many more to come!! :)

<3 Leigh

Sneak Peek: Rachel and Joey

We are still in the process of going through the photos from Rachel and Joey's Wedding from last week but I just love this photo so I HAD to share. :) I'm shooting for next week to have their full blog post up  so hang in there!! Thank you again Rachel and Joey for allowing us to share such a special day with you. You guys are such a passionate couple,  it was inspiring! 

              <3 Leigh

Rachel & Joey's Engagement Book

I could hardly wait to give them their Engagement Guest Book, and now that I have, I couldn't wait to share it with ya!  During the day, I am a graphic designer for the UCF newspaper and publications are my specialty.  We are nice and busy editing Rachel & Joey's wedding photos, but I took a break to share!  ENJOY!

Open publication - Free publishing - More photographer

Personal Photo Mondays!: Lollipops and Sunshine

Ok so technically it's Tuesday but I had a busy day yesterday and found myself in bed by 9! I NEVER go to bed at 9! I was wiped out! We had a very busy weekend that started off with a beautiful wedding which I cannot wait to post pics of very soon. :) Saturday and Sunday was full of family and lots of sunshine! Spring is definitely on its way and its gorgeous! I love this weather and am looking forward to everything turning green and colorful again. Winter doesn't really make very pretty pictures here in Florida. Everything just turns brown and there aren't any snowflakes or people with colorful hats and scarves to photograph. We Floridians don't really get into winter style considering it doesn't usually last that long and it seems to be the way we like it! 

 Before Mark was teaching our son to "fly" I just sat out in the sun for a few just watching them play! :) My boys love the outdoors as much as I do. Being outside in the nature is good for your soul. <3

I hope you all take some time out this week to enjoy this beautiful weather and soak up some sun!!

   <3 Leigh

Leigh and Atticus obviously had a good time during Valentine's Day.  I came home from work with a huge potted geranium and thought that I did pretty good for Leigh, but then I opened the door and I thought I was in the "Tunnel of Love" fair ride. 

Paper hearts with some of our favorite songs/quotes were all over the walls and hanging from the arches separating our living room/dinning room/kitchen.  Leigh and I aren't the "drinking" type these days, no time for it, but Leigh made a delicious Sugar-rimmed Blood Orange Martini.

Every year since we began going out, Leigh and I have stayed in on Valentine's day and we always cook a homemade pizza.  Every year we cook either a Mexican or Mediterranean Pizza.  This year it just happened to be a Mediterranean Year.  A typical start for a pizza followed by peperoncini, olives, tomatoes, pepperoni, salami, and lots of FETA CHEESE!  After some pizza, we couldn't pass up such a perfect Florida February Night so we went out for some coffee and a cookies.  Atticus was elated to drink his orange juice from a big-people straw!

HAPPY POST VALENTINE'S DAY LEIGH!

UCF v Philadelphia Union - 2/13/2011

I am a huge soccer fan, as well as a huge UCF fan so when I was told their was a friendly exhibition match between UCF and an MLS team it wasn't a question that I would be in attendance with my camera ready:

 A brisk 50 degrees in Florida saw the beginning of a friendly between UCF Soccer and the Major League Soccer's Philadelphia Union.  As the sun came up, it seemed as if it loosened the joints and the game got heated.

 It was a close fought match between the teams, both with good shots on goal, solid defense, and equal ball control.

 Set piece after set piece saw the ball knocking at the door as neither team was able to put it into the net in the first half of regulation.

 Without even a hint as to the intentions of one of the Union's midfields, he reared back and struck a knuckle ball goal that was even too quick and masked for my camera to capture.

With the game still 0-1, UCF began to really apply the pressure which included a very physical challenge netting, not a goal, but a straight red card at the midway point of the second half.  This game was no longer a friendly.

Both teams had chances late but in the end it was the Union's goalkeeper that kept the game in his teams favor and ultimately sealed the victory with multiple close range saves!

All in all it was a great game!

Beloved: Photos for couples in pre and post-wedding years

                I wanted to share an article with you that I read in Professional Photographer magazine a few months ago that really touched me. You can read the full article HERE or just keep reading to hear what I have to say about it! :) It is about a photographer who left a high end wedding business to begin shooting just couples. Dating couples, engaged couples, couples who have been married for five, twenty-five, and fifty years! He calls his photography "experiential photography." He invites his clients to relax and break down their barriers and to take an hour or two to celebrate and renew their relationship. I will never forget Mark and I's engagement session and how close I felt to him after that! We aren't really strong on the PDA front so the idea of us parading around downtown Orlando sucking face and and getting snuggly in front of tons of strangers seemed mighty intimidating!! Not to mention having our photographer catch all of it on film(eh.... memory card :) It was a bit awkward at first but within just a few short minutes it was magic and SO much fun! Now that we are on the other end of the camera I always come away from an engagement/couples session feeling so good and loving my husband so much more! Love really is contagious! 

Photography by: Root Photography      www.rootweddings.com         <3 Them! :)  

 Photography sessions are also very therapeutic for most people. For however the amount of time it lasts it's all about YOU! Not many people get that type of focused attention regularly. It also helps that I tell you how great you're doing and how beautiful you look throughout the session!!! :) Now who couldn't use some of that!! As a couple these sessions are all about your relationship and the all the amazing things that make you love one another. The photographer in this article says, "These sessions offer a chance for couples to break down those barriers that build up between them over time. I believe if couples regularly celebrated their relationship, we'll see a dent in the divorce rate." I LOVE that and could not agree more. Mark and I have 3 anniversaries and we celebrate them all. May 4th: He held my hand for the very first time in public and confirmed our boyfriend/girlfriend status. November 10th: Our wedding. And November 4th: Our half year anniversary. :) You may think that's a little much but I don't think that you can ever have too much celebration! 

"Single Mind: 

If I love you with all my heart, she said, what will you give me? & then she stopped & said I didn't have to answer that because she was going to do it anyway." -----Brian Andreas

                  I scheduled a couples session for Mark and I with my Best Friend Megan and her hubby of Shimer Photography as a gift for Mark for Valentine's Day. (He already knows, surprise not ruined :) This past year since our son has been born I dont think we have a single photo of just the two of us. Of course I loooooove my son dearly and think his face is just about the most beautiful thing i've ever seen BUT i'm ready to celebrate Mark and I again and I know our relationship and family will be better for it! I would feel honored to photograph your relationship in whatever stage it happens to be in! In a world where divorce and separation are the norm let me help you be the exception! 

<3

Leigh