Clearwater Wedding Photographer

WHAT TO LOOK FOR AND WHERE TO LOOK Your girls. Your support system. Your “ride or dies.” The women standing next to you at the altar often represent some of the most important people in your life and there is no better way to honor them than by ensuring they look their best on your Big Day. No one wants to be stuck in some frumpy dress picked off the rack because it matched the tablecloth or flower scheme. Instead, opt for a more personalized approach that represents their individual personalities and styles. WHO?: It’s important to note that the term “bridesmaid” typically encompasses several important figures, including the maid of honor, matron of honor, and/or junior bridesmaid. The women standing at the front of that aisle often come from all stages in life and represent significant individuals in the bride’s life. Ideally, the bride should select dresses that represent who they are and the relationship they have forged over time. Not every dress...

We’ve all been there. Months of daydreaming, pinning items on Pinterest, and perusing Instagram for ideas……Countless “vision boards” primarily stored in your brain, but sometimes on your phone. You are gearing up for what is becoming a GREAT expectation – maybe it’s the perfect bridal shower or proposal or maybe it’s the wedding photos you’ve always dreamed of. The issue is that, for many people, what starts as GREAT expectations becomes an even greater disappointment. The good news is that it is avoidable. As a wedding photographer, one of my biggest pieces of advice is to communicate your photography needs up-front . Be clear. Be Honest. Provide Examples. The more your photographer understands your expectations – the better they will be able to meet them. Afterall, no one can achieve an “imaginary vision board.” Here are four ways I help brides define their vision: 1. Pre-Wedding Consultation The old adage ...

The life of a wedding photographer sounds pretty glamorous, right? Days upon days of weddings, cake, festivities….. And while a portion of my week does look like something out of Bride magazine, the majority of my week consists of pouring over my computer, editing. Take this week for example, I photographed two weddings and an engagement session – adding thousands of new images to review and edit. A large part of becoming a skilled photographer is learning how to edit efficiently and effectively. Here’s a small glimpse into my week (and my editing process): Culling To begin, I have to take the thousands of images obtained at a wedding and review them for focus, exposure, and color. Afterall, not every image taken is going to be one that you would want to hang on your wall. For instance, this week I have been working on culling and editing the Hodges wedding. I began with 1690 images which were reduced to 473 high-quality images, after careful review and culling. In tot...

Braving the winter ocean air, Chris and Marissa joined me at Honeymoon Island to commemorate their engagement in photos. In walking lengths of beach, I learned that the couple met approximately four and a half years ago and bonded over their shared alma mater, East Carolina University. They share an infectious laugh and a love for sarcasm. I’m looking forward to photographing their Big Day in September 2022. Congratulations Chris and Marissa!

Location. Location. Location. Aside from the photographer , the venue, or location that you choose to have your wedding, is one of the most important decisions to make in the wedding planning process. A good venue or location can be a catalyst for further inspiration or planning; whereas a bad location can be a burden that has to be “planned around.” In many ways, your venue is a canvas for the wedding masterpiece that you are creating. If you don’t have a good canvas, you likely will not have a good painting. I have been photographing weddings and elopements in the Tampa Bay area for approximately four years. During that time, I have had the honor of photographing at a variety of locations and I have developed a list of venues/locations that I believe provide the best “canvas” for your wedding. This list focuses on outdoor locations – beaches, parks, and all-inclusive venues. I will provide you my personal input, including their individual strength...

If you have been following my wedding advice blog, you have probably seen the plethora of equipment that comes with me on shoots. Every piece of equipment brings value and serves a unique purpose in creating high quality images. However, there is one piece of equipment that I could not do without – my Microsoft Surface Pro 7. Not only does it assist in the editing process, it also has become my go-to device when meeting with future brides/grooms. Here are a couple of Pros (pun intended) to consider: Highly portable Unlike standard laptops, the Microsoft Surface Pro is strategically designed to fit small spaces – measuring in at 11.5” x 7.9” x 0.33” and weighing a little over one pound. Despite it’s small size, it functions in all the same ways that a laptop would but is less cumbersome in a camera bag or backpack – leaving room for other equipment. When I am shooting weddings, I like to edit a couple of preview images using the Surface Pro. It is easy to s...

The sun setting gently in the distance. The sand sifting through your toes. The waves crashing slowly against the shore. These are the images that often come to mind when brides and grooms daydream of a beach wedding. And while there is a mystical sort of romanticism about the beach, there is also a harsh reality: nature. Thankfully, there are ways to prepare for nature and it’s challenges. Here are a few things to consider when planning your dream beach wedding: Wind Ironically, when one daydreams of the beach, they frequently leave out the gusts of wind – which are dramatically higher around water than other wedding settings. Brides, who have spent hours on their hair, and members of the wedding party, who have spent weeks preparing the DIY arch and wedding drapery, may be disappointed to find their hard work ripped away in a matter of minutes. However, there is a way to lessen the damage done by preparing ahead of time. Careful consideration should be given to all hair st...

The doors open and you enter the room. Music is drifting through the air and your hair gently flows back with the breeze. You lock eyes with the groom at the end of the aisle and, for a moment, everything feels perfect. This is what you were waiting for. The photographer is highly skilled and waiting at the end of the aisle to capture all of the beauty as it happens. You take one step and then another – hearing the sighs of awe from your guests – when suddenly your Aunt Jill steps loudly into the aisle with her cell phone in hand. She waves and says to tell Uncle Bob hello and shouts inaudible phases, something along the lines of you look beautiful. All the while, Aunt Jill is blocking the view of the professional photographer, who you hired to take photos. If this sounds something like your worst nightmare, I’m here to tell you that, for many brides, it becomes an unfortunate reality. In the days of technology, almost everyone including your four-year-old niece has so...