Starks Photography Blog

111

07.19.10

*Alternate title for this post: 'Our Last Wedding' or 'The First Day of the Rest of our Lives' or 'The End of an Era'...depending on how dramatic I'm feeling. :)

In all seriousness, I couldn't think of a better note to have ended on. Kimberly and Kyle's wedding had been a long time coming (they booked us over a year in advance!) so we were thrilled when the date finally arrived!

Something you should know about the bride: she's a blogger. Like, a really fantastic one. She blogged all about her wedding, and now she's blogging all about her marriage. And she's got an Etsy shop, where she sells super adorable wedding-related things. And she just graduated from UF with a Master's in Architecture. She's kind of like Superwoman, but without the cape or spandex.

Since Kim blogged her planning process religiously, I got to be informed about all the details before the actual big day! This was a huge treat, because it allowed me to start brainstorming photo ideas ahead of time. Hellooooo waves of creativity.

Kim and Kyle put in a lot of hard work into their big day, paying attention to all of the little details. Their efforts certainly paid off - the entire event was beyond gorgeous.

Aside from the aesthetics, Kim and Kyle's wedding was a true reflection of their relationship. There was so much joy and support shared between family and friends - all coming together to celebrate the love that Kim and Kyle have been growing for 7 years. It was beautiful. And I'm certain that their marriage is nothing short of that. :)

This is THE longest post EVER. But I'm completely ok with that. Because it's my blog and I do what I want. ;)

Enjoy the trail of images from this gorgeous wedding:

Let's start with the essentials - dress. Shoes. :)

But clearly, the dress looks better on.

Half of the super good-looking wedding party...

...and the even prettier half. :)

Kimberly and Kyle opted to do a 'first look' before the ceremony, and we LOVE them for it. It gave us plenty of time to take photos before the craziness of the wedding began. *Sidenote: I know we're no longer photographing weddings, but I'd still like to strongly urge brides and grooms to do this! Talk to your photographer about it. It's a decision I promise you won't regret. :)

So precious. :)

My view...

...and Ben's! (I'm kind of jealous of his view because he got to be closer...)

And then it was off to take all those photos I was talking about. :) This one makes me swooooon.

Kim and Kyle, you're so adorable, it kind of makes me want to puke. And I mean that in the best way EVER. ;)

The sunshine was AMAZING that day.

Oh you didn't hear me? I said THE SUNSHINE WAS AMAZING THAT DAY.

So Kimberly brought along bubbles as props for their photos. The bubbles look innocent enough here...

...but this was the real situation. Terrifying bubbles. (Kyle - you get major awesome points for that face.)

Thanks to Kimberly's blog, I knew that she and Kyle were iPhone-ers. :) So of course, they had to make their way into the pictures.

Kimberly, you are gorgeous.

Cutest brother/sister ring bearer and flower girl EVER.

No. Seriously. EV-ER.

The ceremony was super sweet.

I feel like this happens a lot. :) And let's chalk another one up for Kyle's amazing face.

Escaping in style. :)

After the ceremony, we were able to snag some family and bridal party shots...plus a few more of the bride and groom. :)

LOVING Kimberly's long veil.

The ridiculously cute water bottles. Every time I see this picture it makes me thirsty.

Some of my favorite shots of the day are from the golf course. I posted a few others on the sneak peek, if you're curious. :)

Then the party started. :) The first dance was choreographed and adorable.

One of my favorite images from the day. It's completely unprompted, and I love the simplicity and sweetness of it.

So Kimberly is a Gator. And Kyle is a Knight. And they had these holy-crap-so-freaking-cute cake toppers custom made to rep both of their alma maters. I probably took about 47 photos of these things. I can't get over the cuteness. The gator is wearing a veil. I mean, COME ON.

Oh, and the rings are really pretty too. :)

Father/daughter. Mother/son.

SUCCESS. (You knew orange and blue would have to pop up somewhere in here again :)).

So all the single dudes lined up to grab for the garter. Moments before, the guy in the middle's girlfriend had caught the bouquet. Just in case you aren't sure of who he is, he's the one being POINTED AT.

And yeah. He caught it. :)

During the reception, Kyle dedicated a special song to his grandparents. I LOVE sentimental moments like this.

Another favorite!

When we left, the party was still going. :)

WHOA. That was kind of huge.

I have a bunch of details I want to share, but I'm pretty sure my blog may start smoking or just shut down from this post. So I'll save that for later this week. :)

Congrats Kimberly and Kyle!

(3) Comments Leave comment Send to a friend

Whitney F.:

I am so sad to see this "end of an era/new chapter of life" but this was the way to go out with a bang. Amy and Ben, your way of capturing life's biggest moments is beautiful and simplistic, edgy and creative and just well, amazing. Beautiful couple and beautiful ceremony. Thanks for letting your fans be along for the ride and best wishes for what the future holds for you two!

(07.20.10)

Kyle Farris:

By far, my favorite post ever on this blog! :-)

(07.20.10)

Theresa Howard:

Fantastic Job! Thank you so very much!
--aunt of the bride

(07.21.10)

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110

mallory & david : engaged [sneak peek]

06.23.10

As I was editing the photos from Mallory and David's Winter Park engagement shoot, I realized that I'm going to miss photography. This thought isn't monumental - I knew I would have moments like this. And it didn't make me sad - I'm excited and confident about our decision, and our future. It just made me feel nostalgic. I know I've already said it, but we've had so many incredible experiences with so many unbelievable people during our journey with photography, and it's good to remind myself of how blessed we've been over the last couple of years with our business. I never want to forget that feeling. :)

Mallory and David are the kind of people you want to be friends with. They're easygoing, fun, and down-to-earth - and I happen to really love people like that. ;) Their relationship is comfortable and their chemistry is obvious - which makes it super easy to translate their love into images.

The day of their shoot was a typical Florida summer day...HOT and HUMID. But they rolled with the weather, and laughed through the sticky foreheads and sweaty embraces. That's true love, my friends. ;) We're bummed to miss their wedding next year, but SO glad that we got the chance to photograph them during this really awesome time in their lives.

Here's a few favorites from the day:

Florida, you are living up to your nickname with that sun flare. :)

Mallory - you're gorgeous. :)

Their hands and the tree sort of make a heart here. It was unintentional, and I love it. :)

Probably my favorite from the day. :)

LOVE these two. There's a sweet simplicity about them that feels really relaxed to me. :)

Annnnnnnd these 2. There's just no way to choose a favorite, ok? :)

Congrats you guys! :)

(5) Comments Leave comment Send to a friend

megan:

and of course, you loved mal's skinny jeans and boots. (;

(06.23.10)

Ben and Amy:

Haha. Well, duh. ;)

(06.23.10)

Mallory and David:

We ABSOLUTELY LOVE THEM Amy!!! I think my favorite ones are the casual outfit ones! I LOVE the one that you did with us peeking out from the column!! CANNOT WAIT to see the rest of them!! thank you so much!

(06.23.10)

Ben and Amy:

Yayyyy! I'm so glad you love them! You guys were SO much fun to photograph! I'm excited for you to see the rest! :)

(06.23.10)

Whitney F.:

Gorgeous as usual! I love the locations you two shot in and wow, nothing less than stellar : )

(06.24.10)

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109

sneak peek on steroids.

05.19.10

It's been over a month since I wrote the last entry on here. But I think that's a good thing. After announcing our retirement from photography (it sounds so much more dramatic to call it a 'retirement'), the blogging break was needed.

Lots of things have happened since then; I started school. We got a new couch. I got a new tattoo. But more on all of that excitement later (because I know you all are just dying to hear about our new couch). Today, I will be posting a sneak peek that trumps all other sneak peeks in it's enormousness - 4 different sessions combined into one massive, photo-filled post. It's like killing 4 birds with one stone, except I like animals.

I've posted 21 photos below - 5 'peeks' per session. Enjoy. And come back often - we'll hang out more. I promise. :)

First up: Andy, Stacey, Tristan and William. A.K.A. The cutest little family ever. ;)

They're adorable!

Next: Marina and Ken. We did their session in the neighborhood of the little island they live on. Gorgeous place, gorgeous couple.

Third in line: Hallie and Melody. Hallie contacted us about doing this shoot with her and her mom, Melody, for mother's day. Such a cute gift idea! Hallie and Melody are awesome, and kept us laughing throughout the whole shoot. My mom, my sister and I are extremely close too, so this session was an especially fun one for me to be a part of. :)

Hello super cute shoes!

Cupcakes make everything better. :)

They incorporated a lot of personal things into their shoot, and reading was one of those things. :)

And last (but certainly not least): Kim and Kyle; the amazing Mr. and Mrs. from our very last wedding! Kim and Kyle's wedding was seriously incredible, and there will be LOTS of photos from the whole day, but these 5 were shot at sunset. Golden light = lovvvvvvve.

Their wedding was on a golf course, which was the perfect setting for images like this. :)

This one is in the running for my favorite of the day...but it's still too early to tell. :)

A special request from the bride. :)

I don't know about you, but I'm feeling pretty accomplished after all of that. I'm going to reward myself with ice cream and Grey's Anatomy re-runs. Stay tuned for more blogging in the near future! :)

(3) Comments Leave comment Send to a friend

hallie:

Amy! i love the pictures! i can't wait to see the rest!! :)

(05.19.10)

Kimberly and Kyle:

Thank you so much for this preview!! We were at the beach when we got the e-mail and were freaking out because our phones were loading the pics so slow! lol. Can't wait to see more. Y'all are fabulous!

(05.19.10)

marina Parker:

wow...i am flabbergasted!! the pics of ken and i are marvelous but the one's of the wedding are unbelievable!! amazing!! i am a very happy mother :-)
can't wait to see the rest!

(05.19.10)

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108

fulfillment.

04.10.10

This post has been a long time coming. I just wasn't fully aware of it's necessity until recently.

Let me speak on experiences for a moment.

Experiencing life is the only way to truly live it, if you ask me. Sometimes, you jump right in - unconcerned about risk. Other times, you dip your toes to test the temperature. I think you need a healthy balance of both; a blend of spontaneousness and caution.

Many of my big experiences have been pretty carefully thought through; love, college, my first tattoo, hair school, etc. But photography is one that required some risk. We didn't really have time to 'dip our toes' - it all happened rather quickly, much like taking a deep breath and plunging into a mysterious - yet intriguing - body of water.

Photography has been such a thrill for us. It has opened doors that we would have never even thought to try out, challenged and pushed our creativity, brought us closer as a couple, introduced us to beautiful, inspiring people, and taught us the necessary lessons of failure and success. To describe it as a passion would be accurate, but I love to also think of it as an ongoing experience. We are experiencing life from behind a camera; watching moments unfold and freezing them so they can be relived all over again long after. It's an overwhelming privilege - this career of capturing memories.

I'd like to digress, but without taking anything away from what I just wrote. Everything mentioned above is exactly how I've felt, and continue to feel about photography.

I'm entering a new world.

After being accepted into the Aveda Institute last Fall, my life has been slowly transforming. I'm molding myself to be ready for a new phase - a new chapter - a new experience. The cosmetology industry is something that I've been waiting to be a part of for awhile now - I was just waiting on the when? question to be answered. And now it is. This month I will begin my journey and I couldn't be more excited about what this means for my future.

I need to note that something happened about a month ago that sort of instilled a greater amount of anticipation in me about my upcoming opportunity at Aveda.

I entered their annual 'natural talent' scholarship, was selected as a finalist, competed, and - much to my amazement - won. This means a lot of different things for me: one, it means that Ben and I can feel less strain financially because my school investment will be completely paid for. Before i even entered the competition, we knew that we would make it work - whatever we had to do. But we don't have money growing on trees, so this investment was going to be pretty heavy for us. The scholarship is a huge, monumental blessing, and I think Ben may even be more thrilled about this aspect than I am. :)

Two (and possibly even more important on a different level), it confirms that this is what I should be doing. There are a LOT of talented people that are entering the Institute. To be selected among a group of my talented future peers as having natural potential is an extremely rewarding feeling. I would never, ever want to seem like I'm high-fiving myself, but it feels good to know I'm going in the right direction. It feels good to know that I have found my niche. For the first time in my life, I have found an outlet where my passions, abilities, and motivation can collide. It's immensely fulfilling.

So a decision was on the horizon. And as the self-proclaimed Queen of Indecisionland, I promptly ignored the irritating thing for as long as I could. :)

But much like Crocs, it just wouldn't go away.

So, here we are.

Ben and I have made the decision to completely step away from photography as a career.

I felt like I should just let it be out there on it's own, and that it needed to be said it quickly and plainly - like ripping off a band-aid.

Now I can explain a little more.

Originally, we thought we'd just step away from weddings (you can read all about my first attempt at getting my life figured out HERE :)). This is what seemed to fit best with our schedule, and seemed like the appropriate decision at the time. But looking back now, I think we both knew that wasn't completely right. Here's why - when we are involved in something, we want to be in it all the way. 110%. We give our blood, sweat, tears, and passion, and we push ourselves. Hard. I think this is how you should do things in life. Otherwise, some things are only getting little bits and pieces of you (30% here....54% there....).

Once Aveda became a reality, photography slowly, but surely, began taking a back seat. I should have known that this would happen. And like I said - I think I kind of did. But it's hard to break away from something that you've been so invested in. And sometimes, I want to foolishly convince myself that I can have 37 irons in my fire and give that 110% to all of them. That's....4,070%. And that's just a scary number.

I started feeling disconnected to photography. I was losing my motivation - my drive. NOT because I don't love it - I do! But because I was wearing myself so thin and I felt it becoming more like a job, and less like a passion.

So I began doing some soul-searching. Isn't that such a horrifying (but, at the same time, completely refreshing) thing? What I discovered is that I'm an over-committer. And a bit of a people-pleaser. And that I'm not as happy in everything that I'm doing as I'd like to pretend that I am.

Here's my current reality:

-The cosmetology industry is my future - and I want to push myself to be an absolutely exceptional cosmetologist.

-Photography will always be a part of my life (and a passion), but I don't want it to be my career.

-I want to be a better wife, friend, sister, daughter, grand-daughter, niece, etc.

-I want to spend more time with Ben, and have 'date nights' again.

-I want to hang out more with my family, and my friends.

-I want to take days off.

-I want to rediscover old hobbies, and explore new ones.

-I want to spend less time at my computer.

-I want to be a better listener.

-I want to learn how to say 'no' more often.

-I want to do more charity work.

-I want to spend more time outside with Putter.

-I want to have kids....at some point. :)

-I want to laugh more.

-I want to have quiet time.

-I need more time - period - to do all of the above-mentioned things.

-I want to be completely fulfilled.

This being said, we have a lot to do in the way of changes. What you need to know about these changes:

This blog will not be shutting down - I have a lot to say, and I think Ben needs me to have somewhere else to say some of it. :) It will simply transition into a more personal endeavor. It will still have stories, photos, and experiences. Lots of experiences. :)

We will still be open to doing shoots every now and then, but it won't be for money, and it will be selective (based on what we can, and want to take on at the time).

For our previous clients: Thank you. I wish I had better words to express our appreciation for you, but I suppose the only thing I can say is 'thank you.' Times a million. You have inspired us to laugh more, and love deeper. At the risk of sounding extremely cliche - we are truly better people for having met (and spent time with) each of you. :)

For our current/potential clients: We will not be making any major shifts until we have completed all of the jobs (and pending jobs) on our books. We're SO excited about working with you. Please do not let this upcoming change make you think we feel any differently about that. In fact, we are even more excited about being a part of your experience because we are in a happy, fulfilling place! We seriously cannot wait to hang out with you, and capture moments for you. :)

For all of you: Thank you for going on our life journey with us. I know it's been a combination of testing the waters and jumping in without hesitation, but without balance, the whole ordeal would be pretty lopsided. :) I hope you are able to appreciate our transparency throughout our experiences as we always want to remain open and honest about the different obstacles and excitements life throws our way. From all of this, I'd like to offer a small, nugget of advice (that you most certainly may take or leave :)) - find fulfillment in your life. Soul search, if needed. But discover fulfillment. It is the most incredible thing you can do for yourself.

Stick with us - we have lots more experiencing to do. :)

The best day of your life is the one on which you decide that your life is your own...The gift is yours - it is an amazing journey - and you alone are responsible for the quality of it. This is the day your life really begins. -Bob Moawad

(**if you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail us)

(11) Comments Leave comment Send to a friend

Shannon:

This post was altogether inspiring and I really can't say how much I admire your courage. Just as hard as it was for you to jump into the unknown depths of the photography business, so you leave on a new adventure. You are most assuredly inspiring others to follow their happiness. Keep it up!

(04.10.10)

Ben and Amy:

@ Shannon: Thank you for that - It's a little scary to get vulnerable. I was sort of hiding behind my fingers, peeking through to see what people would say. :) I truly appreciate your encouragement!

(04.10.10)

Jill Wright:

Amy- Thanks for posting this! It sounds like this decision has come from a lot of thought and prayer, and as a fellow "indecisive" person, I completely understand! : ) We'll keep you guys in our prayers as you make this change in your life and try something new! -

(04.10.10)

Mom:

Amy Lee and Ben - We are so proud of you both - as individuals and as a couple. We know where your hearts are and how big this decision has been. You are a centered couple who keeps God and each other as your focal point - and because of that, you will continue moving forward with blessings and fulfillment! We are looking forward to sharing everything that the future has in store for you both (as individuals and as a couple). We love you!

(04.10.10)

Michelle Guzman:

You are so talented. That will show in other areas, too. Hope the best for your new adventure!!! :) :)

(04.11.10)

Stephanie Sanderson:

As I was reading this, I was really sad to know you guys won't be doing photography anymore because I think you guys are amazing. I wish I had half the talent you did but as I continued to read, I realized that if I were in your shoes, I would make the same decision. You've certainly inspired me and I am sure many others as well. Good luck with everything :)

(04.11.10)

abby zachritz:

...good for you! We love you both!

(04.11.10)

Whitney F.:

Well, I am seriously bummed about the no photography thing anymore because I really wanted you guys to photograph my wedding next summer but I am so happy for you two. What a wonderful feeling to know what you want to be doing with your lives and to find your passions! I am really happy for you Ben and Amy and pray that God continues to bless you both in this next chapter of your lives. P.S. Your photography is absolutely breathtaking and amazing!

(04.11.10)

Ashley McCormick Photography:

I'm not gonna lie... I got a little teary eyed reading this. Not only am I loosing an amazing friend in the industry, but who will I have to assist me when I need help? :( I know that this new chapter in your life will be absolutely amazing, and I am jealous that you won't be sitting in front of a computer all day ;) This post really made me think about my own life and how I want to change it for the better. Make more time for myself and Zach. (and to take days off!! yes!!) I love you both so much and I cannot wait to see where this path takes you. Hurry up and finish school so I can have my first haircut! ;) Congratulations!

(04.11.10)

Ben and Amy:

@Jill - thank you! :)

@Mom - you guys are the best. Thanks for always being the most supportive parents we could ask for!

@Michelle - thank you so much! We appreciate that!

@Stephanie - that's such a nice compliment - thank you for what you said about our work, and about our decision. The encouragement is huge for us! :)

@Abby - thank you! We love you guys too. :)

@Whitney - that makes me sad too! :( I'm sure your wedding will be absolutely beautiful. I really appreciate your support about the decision! :)

@Ashley - you have been such a HUGE part of our business from day one - thank you for showing us the ropes, and always supporting us! We gained a pretty awesome friendship from this, and I'm so thankful for that. :) We don't have to be done working together! You know I'll be making my way into the 'hair' side of the wedding industry! haha. And you can always call me if you need an assistant. I'd be willing to break out the gear for that. ;) Thanks for being so amazing - we love you!

Thanks to everyone for your kind words and encouragement! This post was not easy to write, but your comments have been so uplifting. We love all of you! :)

(04.13.10)

Parker:

Dear Amy,
I just today read your blog and your philosophy and way of living your life is so right! It took me 40 years to figure that out and I am a much better, and hopefully a bit more interesting, person than I was prior. I want to thank you for the fantastic job you and Ben did for Kyle and Kim, can't wait to see the wedding photos :-) As for Ken and I's shoot, you made us feel so comfortable that we didn't feel the least bit nervous, it all felt so right. You must have some good karma lady! I wish you and Ben the very best in life and will think of you every time I look at the pics! Live with NO regrets...
peace
marina

(05.16.10)

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107

deana & guy : married

04.05.10

Woah.

It's been awhile since I've been on this thing. And SO much has happened since then! But that's for another day, another post. :)

For today, we're focusing on Deana and Guy's beautiful wedding in Jacksonville.

The day was bright and sunny - beautiful for a rooftop ceremony. There was a slight breeze that made the Florida heat bearable, and a truly excited, relaxed mood that made me feel certain that the wedding was going to be nothing short of great. And I was not disappointed. :)

The whole day was filled with lots of love and laughter, and Ben and I left the venue that night feeling like we had made a huge group of new friends. In the world of photography, that's one of the the best feelings. :)

Enough chit-chat - on to the photos!

It was obvious that Deana is extremely close to her bridesmaids. She gave a little heartfelt speech before toasting her girls for being so awesome. :)

Let's throw some guys in the mix. :)

The ceremony was intimate and emotion-filled.

I love this - spending a few moments relaxing together after the ceremony.

LOVE and LOVE.

Favorite(s). :)

Deana, you were a gorgeous bride.

I really adore this first dance shot that Ben grabbed with the bridal party in the background. :)

Enjoying one of the many toasts given by family and friends. :)

THIS is how you're supposed to eat wedding cake.

This one jumped out at me while I was editing. So sweet! :)

And I'll leave you with the following series:

A toast...

A chug...

And a brave bride. :)

Congrats Deana and Guy!

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