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You know the story - boy meets girl at summer camp. Boy and girl become friends. Boy and girl hold hands. Boy and girl are in lovvvvve. Boy and girl bid a tearful goodbye when their parents come to pick them up, but promise to call "5 times a day" and visit "every weekend (if my mom says it's cool)." Boy and girl go back to normal life. Boy and girl drift apart. Boy and girl break up on MySpace. Boy and girl's Summer fling has come to an end.
But what if the story had a different spin?
Boy meets girl at summer camp. Boy and girl become friends. Boy and girl hold hands. Boy and girl are in lovvvvve. Boy asks girl to marry him. Boy and girl become husband and wife. Boy and girl don't have to visit "every weekend" because boy and girl share a life together.
Meet Josh and Hannah (a.k.a. boy and girl :)). Indeed, they met at summer camp, but they defied the cliche - holding strong long after the "fling" phase passed.
Ben and I absolutely love these two. They are a couple of our greatest friends, and a total blast to be around. They have maintained a friendship at the foundation of their marriage, and I think that has a lot to do with how comfortable they are together. Jokes and laughter are consistent, as well as love and admiration. A beautiful blend. :)
Hannah won this session in our blog contest months ago, and we've been waiting for cooler weather to make it happen. It's November in Florida, so 65-70 is about as cool as we're going to get. :)
We were super stoked to photograph them together (especially knowing that they celebrated their 3 year anniversary in May and haven't had any updated photos since their wedding day!). The shoot was held at the place where their love began - Lake Aurora. :) This has become a frequent photo spot for us, so we tried to stretch our creativity by using some different scenery and ideas. Hannah and Josh made it outrageously easy with their willingness to do anything we asked, and their fabulous photogenic-ness (yep, photogenic-ness. It's a word. Really.).
Hannah and Josh - we love you both times 1000. You guys know how awesome we think you are. We hope you absolutely love these photos as much as we do - you are adorable together. :) (p.s. Josh, I was happy to see hardly any Chandler-esque moments when I scanned the batch. Well done. ;))
Laughter...I told you. :)
Ben snagged this fabulousness. It's in the running for my favorite of the day.
...annnnnd this one is up there too. :)
Um, hello - gorgeous.
I couldn't decide which one to post from these next two - I love both of them. So I posted both of them. :)
A little orange grove love. Being supermodels like it's their job.
:)
Amazing sky. Amazing field. Amazing couple.
Grabbing every last bit of gorgeous Florida sunlight.
You guys are the best! :)
**Don't forget about Love Through the Lens! We have several sessions booked so far, but there are a few left! Help us out by posting our link on Facebook and Twitter, tell your friends, purchase a gift certificate, surprise your family by booking a session - we would love for you to partner with us in this awesome cause! :) Check out the LTTL post for details about session times and locations, and e-mail us to get set up!
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hannah & josh : just because
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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! :))
Tyler Lemmel:
umm... why are you guys so incredibly stinkin' awesome!?
(10.28.09)
Nana:
Love every one of the pictures!! Great work with great subjects!
(10.28.09)
Anonymous:
AMAZING!!!
(10.28.09)
Mike/Dad:
Uh Adam, you need to check your left hand in that last photo
(10.28.09)
Ben and Amy:
haha. Dad, can you really bust on him if they're married? ;)
(10.28.09)
Blair:
I love all of these photos! and w little bells, so cute!
yeah.. dang Adam, watch the hand, it's just a pic man :)
Tammy Sheppard:
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)
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adam, callie & bella : just because
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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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50
It's midnight. My vision is a little blurred, and I keep seeing flashes of my pillow every time I blink. It's time for sleep. But! This post just couldn't wait until morning.
The Todd family consists of some of the coolest people I've ever had the pleasure of hanging out with. And I'm not just saying that. :) They are easygoing, refreshing, and absolutely hysterical. So obviously, they were more than enjoyable to photograph. Bottom line: The Todds rock. I'm a fan.
Check out a few from their shoot at uptown Altamonte (more to come soon!):
Sisterly lovin'. Probably two of the most photographic chicks ever. Kinda makes you sick, right? ;)
Awesomeness. :)
Precious!
I had to post this one. "You're a tiger!" haha. :)
Plus 2. :)
Who wouldn't want to hang out with them?
Probably my favorite group shot from the day.
Lovebirds. ;) Can't wait until their wedding!
Nana:
Beautiful family --beautiful pictures. Looks like a fun shoot!
(07.19.09)
Jane:
Know them - love them - everybody who meets them does! What cool pictures!
(07.20.09)
Charlie:
Looks like the Cuz is hammin' it up again.. nice feel 39 when your 58... Great shots of the handsome Todd Clan:)
(07.21.09)
Jaime:
The Todd Family does Rock!! They are what every family should be like!
(07.29.09)
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todd family : sneak peek!
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42
*Testing....testing...is this thing on?*
I have a pretty legit excuse for being a bit M.I.A. lately. Have you ever actually seen a chicken with it's head cut off? That would be outrageously disturbing and even more outrageously repulsive, but it definitely screams "chaos," right?
Well, here I am - flapping my wings frantically and running in circles like an idiot.
Even though I'm on overload to the 103rd degree, I'm going to make a serious effort to be more consistent on here. In fact, I plan on blogging at least 3 times a week for the rest of Summer. Pinky swear.
I digress.
I think it's kind of ironic that I'm posting this blog tonight, because just 2 days ago, I had a dream that I was pregnant and had a baby. All in the course of 8 hours. Could you even imagine if that were how things really were? It'd be like "oh yeah, I just found out I was pregnant - I'm due in 6 hours and 43 minutes." WHAAAT?!
I know some people believe that dreams can be interpreted as glimpses into the future, but I'm not one of those people. My nightly mind adventures are a far escape from reality, and I'd like to keep them that way. I mean, I once dreamed that I was a miniature person jumping on a king-kong sized trampoline with giant versions of television cartoon characters. My REM world is a bizarre place, my friends.
I digress again.
I posted precious little Kaylee's sneak peek awhile ago, and I'm super thrilled to be showcasing her gorgeous baby face on the blog once more. Yanelys and Randy - you definitely know how to make an insanely beautiful child:
Yanelys:
OMG OMG OMG!!!!!!!! THANK YOU AGAIN... (and yes, i would have to agree with you on the "insanely beautiful child" part...LOL) I AM SOOOOOO IN LOVE!!! I can't get enough of these pictures, your blogs leave me DESPERATELY waiting for more... I can't wait for your complete work of art all done with OUR "work of art", KAYLEE.
(06.17.09)
Sandy Acosta:
Amy... You have done it once again. Brilliant amazing wonderfully heartwarming work. Granted it is not possible to make my niece any more precious than she already is in all her baby splendor! But you have the ability to capture her awe inspiring beauty. Thank you!!! You're hired... idk for what yet, But you are sooo hired!!! ♥♥♥
(06.17.09)
Maddy Benito:
The Pictures are AMAZING!! I Love Every one of them, cant just pick one. Can't wait to see more!!!! My Munchichi looks BEAUTIFUL. Tia Maddy Loves YOU!!!
(06.18.09)
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baby kaylee : just because
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i love all of you. esp. the hot pair in these photos. hannah i can actually hear your laughter.. oh wait maybe that was me.. anyways. amy i want you to do some of me and my boyfriend.. oh wait..
(11.30.09)I love them all...very good job...you can see the love!
(11.30.09)Ohh the Flower pictures are my favorite! I love fun new pictures. I promise, Kyle and I will be willing to take ANY picture on our wedding day (even if it gets my dress slightly dirty... I don't care!). haha. Once again, can't wait. All these pictures just builds up the anticipation even more! Ya'll are awesome.
(11.30.09)Great subjects -- wonderful pictures! You guys look so 'natural' in all of them and the setting is perfect!
(12.01.09)Beautiful!! These turned out so fantastic you guys! Looove them all! :)
(12.01.09)Umm...hello amazing photos! You guys are fabulous photographers and the couple you shot are stunning.
(12.01.09)