74
Before I started writing this post, I made a promise to myself that I would keep it short. After yesterday's post (that read more like a novel), I'm afraid our blog is just going to shut down from my overwhelming long-windedness. Or my keyboard is going to start smoking. Either scenario seems pretty unfortunate.
Callie is my younger sister, and her husband, Adam, is Ben's best friend. We're like Lucy, Ricky, Ethel, and Fred - minus the constant shouting and monochromatic colors. We're like Wilma, Fred, Betty, and Barney - minus Bam-Bam, Pebbles, and Dino. We're like Rachel, Ross, Monica and Chandler - minus the New York apartment and Central Perk. We're best friends. We're family.
Needless to say, we have a ton of fun together. And we make them get in front of our camera - a lot. Callie doesn't complain (what girl doesn't love playing model for the day?!), but Adam has to be coaxed with lofty promises of dinner and new parts for his Jeep (I'm serious).
We recently decided to do some updated photos of the two of them (and their little addition :)). After a few frames (and a few minutes of being obnoxious with Ben), Adam became cooperative for the rest of the session, and we got some great shots. ;)
All joking aside, Callie and Adam are our favorite couple to photograph. Not only because we are comfortable with them (that's obvious) but because they are comfortable with each other. They aren't afraid to be affectionate or goofy - and they are always down for anything we ask them to do (which is usually a lot ;)).
Here's some new photos of our besties, with our little niece. ;)
Meet Bella.
She's super adorable...
...and occasionally a bit of a gremlin.
Their little family.
The image on the right is one of my favorites.
Christmas card potential.
I accused Ben of not contributing during the shoot (I mean, he was throwing rocks with Adam...what was I supposed to think?). He then proceeded to show me this image on his camera. I retracted my accusation.
LOVE these.
Callie - rocking the "serious" look like it's her job.
Another favorite. I love the colors. It kind of reminds me of an American Eagle ad. :)
Cuuuuute. ;)
If you're fabulous and you know it, clap your hands.
Ben's favorite. :)
I'm SO excited about these last two. I've been wanting to play around with different kinds of off-camera lighting for awhile now, so Callie and Adam were awesome enough to accommodate my wishes and let me grab a few shots while they hung out in front of car headlights. :)
My favorite from the day.
We love you guys! :)
(*Side note: I styled Callie's hair for the shoot, and applied her makeup. I'm not offering this information in hopes of getting a gold star ;) - I just wanted to throw it out there for future reference. Since I will be attending Aveda starting in April, I would love to continue to try out my skills in the cosmetology field. Any ladies who would like hair/makeup done for future shoots with us, or photographer's who need help styling models, or anyone who just needs a fresh "look" - please let me know! I'd love to work with you! :))
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adam, callie & bella : just because
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73
October was sort of like a revolving door for me. Actually, October was sort of like a revolving door that I got stuck in. Round and round and round - dizzying myself with moving into a new house, shoots, editing, being a wife, daughter, friend; never really sure when to make my move and jump out of the spinning cycle. But I did it. I jumped. And though I made a rather clumsy exit - stumbling and hitting myself with the edge of the door - I'm out of the proverbial rotation of craziness. November should be calmer. But just in case, I'm keeping my distance from merry-go-rounds and those teacup rides at Disney World.
***
One exciting part of the blur of October was Matt and Jamie's wedding. Let me back track for 2.5; I've known Matt for a long time. Like, "we go way back" definitely applies here. We've been great friends for years, and I've always known him to be a truly fantastic, down-to-earth guy. He is easygoing, charming, and considerate. A couple of months ago, I met Jamie. Jamie is laid-back, charismatic, and thoughtful. She is his perfect balance. It's absolutely apparent (even to someone like me who has only spent little time with the two of them together) that there is no better match for either of them than the other. Their love is filled to the brim with emotion and affection; a relationship that is grounded on a firm foundation of adoration and respect.
Before the day of the wedding, I spoke to Matt on the phone and he told me, "I'm not stressed. I'm just ready." Before the ceremony began, Jamie echoed his words - "I'm not stressing at all." After seeing them together, I can understand their calm. When something feels that right, apprehension and tension just sort of fade away, and anticipation takes the spotlight. :)
Matt and Jamie were married on the rooftop of the Star Tower in downtown Orlando. This venue is amazing (in every sense of the word). It has quickly found a place on my "favorite venues" list - near the very top. The weather was gorgeous, the details were phenomenal (photos of the decor will be in my next post! :)), and of course, the bride and groom were adorable. Matt and Jamie are extremely close to their families and friends, so the atmosphere on their wedding day was a mixture of excitement, admiration, and support. Laughter and hugs were in abundance, and there was a happy energy flowing through the air that cannot be explained - only experienced. And we're so glad that we were able to! :)
Matt and Jamie - You're day was nothing short of perfect. I hope you have an incredible time in London and Rome; we could not be more jealous of your trip! ;) Thank you for being so fabulous in every way. See you guys when you get back!
Onto the photos:
Jamie's awesome Ralph Lauren heels...
...stunning Priscilla of Boston dress...
...and the bling. ;)
Matt specifically requested shots of Jamie getting ready since that would be the one thing he wouldn't get to experience with her. Super cute, right? I happily obliged. :) (Just FYI: Jamie is freaking gorgeous.)
Reading the card that Matt gave her before opening his gift. (P.s. it was a key necklace from Tiffany's. ;))
Putting on the dress, with a little sisterly assistance.
The gorgeous bouquet. Flowers and arrangements were created by Lee Forrest Design. (Ben and I used him for our wedding as well! He's insanely talented.)
Beautiful bride.
While I was with the girls, Ben was hanging out near Lake Eola with the guys. Good looking group, right? :)
LOVE this.
Jamie and her bridesmaids got ready in a suite at the Star Tower. The place was pretty much empty, and it provided some killer lighting. Check out the super chic bridesmaids' dresses and their individualized accessories and shoes. :)
I think quoting Tyra is appropriate here - "Fierce."
:)
Most photogenic couple of the year.
Matt got a little choked up when he saw Jamie walking down the aisle. The moment was so emotional that I had to force myself to get it together from behind my camera. I'm such a sucker for the sentimental.
I love being able to feel something through an image. It makes the shot so much more tangible.
MARRIED! :)
Matt and Jamie exited to Dirty Dancing's "The Time of My Life," and their bridal party busted out a few moves as they made their way down the aisle. :)
These next few portraits are some of my favorites to date. Matt and Jamie are so ridiculously easy to photograph - I barely had to give any direction. They're naturals. :)
This one is in the running for my favorite of the day. The beauty of shooting on a rooftop? Raw, golden sunshine. :)
LOVE.
Um, Vogue called and they want their models back.
First dance.
This next one happened by accident; my flash hadn't recycled before I clicked again, and this was the result. I love how it's a little grainy and dark.
A glimpse into the awesomeness of the reception. :)
More to come soon!
Ben:
This wedding was SICK!!! I loved getting to shoot on the rooftop as well!
(10.27.09)
Callie:
Aaaaaaaamazing pictures guys! Looks like this wedding was absolutely beautiful and you captured it wonderfully!
(10.27.09)
Kristin:
Heck yeah! THey are awesome!!! I loved looking at ALL of them!!
(10.27.09)
Ashley McCormick Photography:
Amy & Ben: I think this is your best wedding to date!! They are a gorgeous couple and you did an absolutely amazing job :) Maybe they'd be willing to model for all of us sometime?? They are fabulous!
(10.27.09)
tina.morrow:
beautiful pictures! beautiful couple. :)
(10.27.09)
Whitney F.:
Beautiful, gorgeous, amazing, the list goes on and on. You guys captured this wedding ins such a beautiful manner, the bride and groom were fantastic and you guys did such a great job (as usual)!
(10.27.09)
Amy:
Thank you all so much for your encouraging words! :)
(10.27.09)
Jim Todd:
Thank you both for such wonderful memories captured...Looking forward to seeing the rest...another great session...love to you
(10.30.09)
Jerry and Lori Miller:
Ben & Amy - You guys did a wonderful job. Lori and I are looking at the pics for the first time this morning. Lori was crying and she had to go call her friends to get them to the website. Awesome job - every picture. What a great couple of days and thanks for capturing it in a way that we can relive it over and over and over.
(11.01.09)
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jamie & matt : married - part 1
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72
This past Saturday, Alex and Chris were married at Nativity Catholic Church in Longwood, with a beautiful reception that followed at Timacuan Golf Club.
You may remember this fabulous couple from their recent engagement shoot at Kraft Azalea Park. In that post, I wrote - "It's so easy to capture two people who are as in love as they are." I can't reiterate that sentence enough. From sharing a silent moment of happiness during their ceremony, to letting loose on the dance floor together, Alex and Chris allow their adoration for one another to overflow into every interaction. Their love is genuine, relaxed, and completely unforced. It's beautifully sincere, which translates into honest, natural images.
Alex and Chris - we have absolutely loved every second of being around you guys. Thank you for allowing us to document your gorgeous day, and your gorgeous relationship! :)
Alex and Chris had a full Catholic Mass as part of their wedding ceremony. During the liturgy, they were able to sit together. I loved these little looks they gave each other throughout the service.
Lighting the unity candle.
One of my favorites. The priest asked everyone to extend their hands as he prayed for the blessing of Alex and Chris' marriage. I think it's so representative of the support and love Alex and Chris have from their friends and family.
I don't usually like to post formal family or bridal party shots, but the following 2 are a couple of my favorite group images to date. The guys and girls in Alex and Chris' wedding party were so amazing and easy to work with - each couple even chose their own pose in the second shot. They're naturals. :)
Two things I love about Alex; one, she wore flats to her wedding. Comfy and chic. Smart girl. Two, she had double the shoe cuteness - a classy white pair for the ceremony, and a fun, fabulous red pair for the reception.
Alex and Chris gave us plenty of time for portraits after the ceremony. Have I mentioned that I adore a couple who prioritizes photo time? Oh, I have? Well, not to be redundant, but I adore a couple who prioritizes photo time. :)
Love this.
A slightly different angle. :)
First dance. They are precious.
Father/daughter & mother/son dances. Alex and her father danced to "Butterfly Kisses," which is the same song my dad and I danced to at my wedding. I'm such a sap; it gets me every time.
Hands down - my favorite garter shot ever. That's skill, my friends.
Ladies, look closely. These are the faces of some guys who are eager to get hitched.
Near the end of the night. I just can't get over how adorable they are.
And did I mention that there was dancing? Oh - there was some serious dancing.
Becka @Studio222 Photography:
LOVE the candle shot during the ceremony. And the garter one made me laugh!
(10.22.09)
tina.morrow:
love these pics! beautiful lighting.
(10.24.09)
Shirley :
These might be my favorite wedding pictures you guys have taken. They are amazing. My favorites are her red shoes, the garter shot for sure! and the dancing-i can almost feel how much fun they were having so you did a perfect job capturing it.
(10.26.09)
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alex & chris : married
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71
There's a reason Ben and I are a team in this photography business. I can relate to the girls we photograph; fix hair out of place, chat about wedding dresses, appreciate super adorable outfits, capture flattering angles. And Ben can relate to the guys;....you know, guy stuff (see? I have no idea). Our partnership approach works well because we balance each other out. We are two different people (in more ways than just male and female) so we are able to bring two unique perspectives to the table. I appreciate working alongside someone who can offer something different than what I can offer. Especially when that someone is my witty, adorable husband. :)
I was definitely aware of how much I value Ben's "guy" point-of-view this past week when I was asked to take senior photos for Everett. Ben and I had decided awhile back that I would start taking on more portrait sessions alone because it makes sense with the way that our schedules play out (I run the business and editing end of Starks Photography, and he has a separate full-time job as the head of the music and creative arts area of our church). So Everett's shoot was going to fall into the "I'm-flying-solo" category. Photograph a guy? By myself? Yikes. What if I make him look too...girly?
Fortunately, I've known Everett (and most of the rest of his clan :)) for a few years now, so it wasn't quite as stressful as I imagined. Plus, I may or may not have looked at Gap and Urban Outfitters ads for inspiration beforehand. Just sayin'.
Everett's shoot at Lake Aurora was every bit as hilarious and fun as he is. He's quite the pose-master, and I'm fairly sure that he may have missed his calling as a male model. Maybe one day ANTM will have a guys casting.
Everett, thanks for being awesome and up-for-anything. I had a blast at your shoot, and I hope you love your images as much as I do! :) Congrats on graduating, Mr. 2010.
Those blue eyes are not retouched. I have deemed that color "Nunnally blue" for the representation amongst the whole bunch of them. :)
I typed "handsome young man" and decided that I sounded like his great aunt, and then I typed "so cute" and decided that I sounded creepy. So, we'll just leave it at: This is a fantastic picture.
I could shoot in the orange groves all day. I love it.
It's been M.I.A. for awhile now, but we're bringing it back...The Box of Personality. Or, PB, for short. The PB is supposed to showcase your personality (or, if you're a couple, your personalities). You make faces, we click away. The result? A square of fabulousness. Behold - the many sides of Everett (you'll see Zoolander's Blue Steel make an appearance in a few of these shots):
(Clients - if you'd like your very own PB, just ask! We heart these types of photos)
**As a sidenote: I had such a good time photographing Everett's senior session (and Carolann's, a few months ago :)), that I want these types of shoots to make their way into our schedule more frequently! High school seniors - if you're looking for unique, modern, fun images to celebrate your graduating year, shoot us an e-mail! Our sessions are $200* and include 1-2 hours of photography, up to 3 outfit changes, and a disc with a batch of the best images from your session. If you book us before January 1, 2010, I'll throw in an 8x10 and 5 4x6 prints of your favorite photo from the shoot! That's a pretty sweet deal. Just be sure to type "SENIOR PROMO" in the subject line of your e-mail. Let's hang out soon. :)
(*a travel fee may apply if the session location is more than 30 miles from Lake Wales, FL)
Kimberly:
Totally Love the PB at the end (okay.. I'm lame.. what is a PB?). Whatever that last set of pictures were. Can we please have them toooo!?!?!! :-)
Once again. Love the work!
(10.15.09)
Cami:
Oh Baby Nunnally is all grown up!
(10.15.09)
Cora:
Amy - You did a great job! Everett is a great model - very photogenic!
(10.15.09)
Ben and Amy:
Kimberly, PB = Personality Box. I probably didn't clarify that too well. haha. And of course you guys can have one! We'll do it at the wedding - so much fun! :)
(10.15.09)
Brianna Phelan:
Great shots - sexy and sophisticated - great mix. Love the mixed series at the end with the laughter :)
(11.02.09)
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everett: senior shoot
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70
It's been an embarrassing 10 days since my last blog post. However, I have a very valid excuse; we've been moving houses, and living in the dark ages for the last several days. No internet. No cable. I do have my iPhone, but I absolutely refuse to upload photos and type out an entire blog with that thing. I would end up throwing it across the living room in a fit of frustration. Not that I'm speaking from experience or anything...
In other, [insert intense sarcastic tone here] completely unrelated news, I have accomplished more work than ever in the last several days. Shoots have been edited, housework has been done, laundry has been washed, dinners have been cooked. So in short, I guess it is possible to function without the almighty worldwide web. But I'd rather not. :)
Blogworld, I feel like I have so much to catch you up on. It's like I'm meeting up with a best friend for coffee after not hanging out for weeks - there's so much to say I'm afraid I'm going to end up babbling on rapidly like an auctioneer at an antiques roadshow.
But the life updates will have to wait for another day. This post is being written for the purpose of highlighting two great friends of ours - Nick and Sami - and their fabulous relationship.
I'll keep this brief because I know most of you have already scrolled past my rambling to the photos ;); Nick and Sami really are perfect together. And I'm not just saying that. Their personalities mesh in a way that only two people who are truly meant to be together can mesh. We've known Nick for awhile, and we met Sami once they started dating. Our session with them was appropriately representative of their relationship; full of laughter and comfort and affection.
Their session took place in downtown Ft. Myers (hello Ben's old stomping grounds and awesome new shoot spot!) and I am thrilled with the outcome. Some of these images are now a part of my "all-time favorites" club. We're so happy that we were able to capture this part of their life together, and we are super excited about their beach wedding in December. :)
Here's part one of their shoot:
The wind gave us a few issues along the way, but I think it really worked with us for this shot.
Palm trees are in abundance. So is sunshine. Thank you Florida. :) P.s. Doesn't Sami look totally gorgeous in that shot to the right?
LOVE. THIS.
I told Nick to lean in like he was telling her a secret...so he did...and then he realized he didn't have to actually tell her a secret. ;)
Stairwell kissing is definitely a photo-worthy moment. ;)
Give me an empty rooftop parking garage, skyscrapers, sunset lighting, and a super photogenic couple and I am one completely thrilled photographer.
FAVORITE. I cannot describe how much I love this photo without making lots of fast, excited gestures with my hands.
Oh, and Nick, this is for you. Haha. :)
Ashley McCormick Photography:
Love the rooftop photos too! And the "secret" one :) Amazing as usual!
(10.11.09)
Sami Hughes:
thank you soooo much you 2 are the best!!!!
(10.11.09)
Cora:
Great job Amy and Ben...You did a great job with Nick and Sami!
(10.11.09)
Kimberly:
Love all of these pictures! Amazing! Especially the one of them on the top of the parking garage. Ahhh... Awesome.
(10.12.09)
LIZ:
They are absolutely beautiful.. You look really good together. love the pictures, especially the squirrel.
(10.12.09)
Nana:
your roof top favorite is mine too! Great looking couple, great photos!
You guys are good!
Love you bunches!
Callie:
I love these! Way to be super photogenic Nick & Sami!! AL & Ben - these are some of my favorite pictures you guys have ever taken! Seriously! Awesome!
(10.12.09)
Jen:
WOW, I always knew Sammy was pretty, but Nick cleans up pretty good too. Such a beautiful couple! You did good Nick...you did good.
(10.15.09)
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry:
sami & nick : engaged - part 1
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umm... why are you guys so incredibly stinkin' awesome!?
(10.28.09)Love every one of the pictures!! Great work with great subjects!
(10.28.09)AMAZING!!!
(10.28.09)Uh Adam, you need to check your left hand in that last photo
(10.28.09)haha. Dad, can you really bust on him if they're married? ;)
(10.28.09)Wow, that girl looks like miley cyrus!
(10.29.09)I love all of these photos! and w little bells, so cute!
(10.29.09)yeah.. dang Adam, watch the hand, it's just a pic man :)
love her outfit.
(10.30.09)these are awsome and soo cute
Callie & Adam are beautiful and just compliment Ben & Amy's work!! I LOVE to look at these pics! And yes, Dad CAN still say something about Adam's hand! :)
(12.05.09)