This weekend, Greg, the kids and I traveled over to my mom’s house in Apopka to celebrate the birthday’s of my grandparents.   My grandparents were both celebrating together– like they have for over 65 years– since there birthdays are within the same week.  My gramma Joyce turned 89 and my grandpa Les turned 90!!  They met on a blind date almost 70 years ago– and have been together ever since.  I can remember stories about how they were engaged at the top of a ferris wheel!  They are a true inspiration for love and marriage– and every time the going gets tough– it’s easy to look to them for advise.   Together, Les & Joycie had five children (they were busy!)– and when all my aunts and uncles get together with their kids– it’s really a special time.  I am always reminded by the smile on my grandmother’s face just how lucky we all are to have each other.   It’s not everyday that I am able to see them or spend time, but when we do get together– there are many laughs… many, many laughs.  Lots of good times.  That’s what is so special about your family– they know who you are from the inside-out.  They know your triumphs, your defeats, and all of the moments in between.  Without the support of our families– life just wouldn’t be the same.

For this blog entry, we welcome a new family to Details for “A Day in the Life” Session.  The Jeffries!!  As I looked through their film from their shoot with Greg, it reminded me of my own grandparents and the times of raising small children all close in age.  For just a moment, I’ve glimpsed that same smile and laughter that lingers behind my grandmother’s eyes in Mom, Carolyn.   And it’s as though I’ve stepped back in time to see my grandmother’s same joy of spending time with her kids.   What a great day!  What a great family!  What great times await each of you, and many years ahead of laughter, joy, celebration and life.  It’s a true gift for us to stop time with a photograph and capture the happiness that exists in each of you.  These are treasured moments for us too.

To our new friends the Jeffries– welcome to the family!

As you all know- Greg, like most men I know, is obsessed with sports. Mainly baseball, but he follows just about everything. A man’s man to the core– he can blab on for hours about how to throw a curve ball or catch a pass with his eyes closed. It’s obnoxious! Most recently he’s been doing some type of “fantasy” operation that he’s dragged my brother into– will the endless talk about homeruns, tags at the plate, and diving catches ever cease? As soon as one sports season has ended, another season has begun… the list goes on and on. When he became the manager of his local “semi-pro” baseball team a couple of years ago, that’s when I nearly lost it. Arrrggg! No more sports! (I will admit that I did contribute as team mom only once, and provided some delicious lemonade and pistaschios for all the guys. I have to get them to like me somehow!!)

His passion for sports is his weakness, but also his love. My Aiden already loves his baseball and can palm it with one hand… Greg is very proud! In honor of his endless love and spirit for the game, here are some recent pictures that Greg did for a local youth league. I will admit, just this once, that it was a pretty cool shoot that the kids all really loved! Enjoy!

Over the last couple of years, the term “Trash the Dress” has come up on numerous occasions- in Martha Stewart Magazine, theknot.com, and across numerous photo blogs. When I mentioned it in my studio a few weeks ago, I got that look. You know, the look (especially from the Mother of the Bride)– like a cartoon bubble that is hanging over her head, “You must be crazy if you think I’m letting that fabulous gown get trashed! HA!”

I think “Trash the Dress” is a really bad term. I’ve decided to completely remove it from my vocabulary and replace it with an idea– “One Last Dance”. If most brides are like me, my wedding dress was a favorite part of the entire wedding day. And just like our mothers before us, we want to save our treasured gown for our daughters. It’s part of our story. Our wedding history. We certainly can’t trash it– the dress is a treasure. Our keepsake of those moments– the smells, the sounds, the love.

I have to admit that since my wedding day, my gown has sat sadly in a box… preserved…waiting for me. I’ve looked at it a few times… but today, it is still sitting in that box, tucked away in my attic. I suppose it will stay sealed there for a very long time– at least 20 more years! Until a day when my girls will ask me to pull it on because they’d like to see if it fits. I’m looking forward to that. But I have to say, that I never once thought to put my dress back on after I took it off. And with that reflection– I say, WHAT A MISTAKE!! Eight years ago, when Greg and I were married, it wasn’t even a thought that we could do a post wedding session. Today is a different story all together. We’ve recently been promoting our “One Last Dance” sessions to our couples and they are loving it! It’s like a VOGUE photo shoot without any wedding day stress or jitters! We usually suggest a completely different location and head out for a less informal “recapturing” of the mood. And they dance.

After all the guests have gone home– the honeymoon is but a distant memory and life has welcomed you back to normal everyday life– it is that time that we welcome our post “One Last Dance” session. These are priceless times to get one last twirl in your gown before you box it up. For those of you still waiting, come have one last dance with us…it will be a great way to remember your wedding night all over again. Angie and Jason just did…

Happy birthday baby!! The Blackman Family wanted to do a portrait session in honor of their darling Brady’s first birthday. We were very excited to go to some of their favorite locations in Ormond Beach to do this. Jennifer & I became fast friends after working together on her and Mark’s wedding over three years ago now. Wow~ Time flies! We were thrilled late 2007 year when we found out we would be having our boys nearly on the same day the following Spring. Brady came a few weeks before Aiden made his debut– but we’re thrilled that they will get to grow up being buddies. Here are a few of our favorite portraits of our favorite family– and of course– Happy Birthday Brady!

In the weeks prior to Tiffany’s wedding to Anthony, she really wanted to do a shoot with Greg in her gown.  Here’s a few of those images, that we’ve only released now to keep Anthony’s prying eyes from seeing his bride before their big day.  Enjoy!

The Veirs family came into the studio to shoot a family portrait for the holidays! Levy is an absolute doll! Very serious– but very sweet. These are some of our favorites from the day! Happy Holidays to all! Enjoy!

What a beautiful bride!  Greg spent a beautiful October morning with Katie and her parents to capture these beautiful pictures of her in her gown.  These sessions are a really great way to do a pre-wedding day run-through, break in your shoes, and get excited about the fesitivities about to take place.  Her are a few pictures from the shoot that we loved.  Katie– you are a beautiful bride! 

Cheryl & Mike brought their 3 beautiful girls along for the photo shoot at the Main Street Pier. They happened to have their photo shoot scheduled at the same time as the most recent shuttle lift off. Here are a few of our fav’s…