Puppy Power

These puppies were bred to be sold by the owners. But once they saw the lone golden pup, they had to keep him for themselves. They wanted photos to help sell the puppies, but they also wanted a special keepsake to have long after they've moved on to new homes.

It took some wrangling, but we managed to get them all in the basket and looking in the same direction for this image.

In addition to the group shots, I made some individual portaits of each puppy.

Maybe she sees her reflection in the lens.

They named this fella "Longo" after Tampa Bay Rays star Alex Longoria so we had to incorporate some baseball elements into his photos.

A wider view.

"What are you doing?"

Awww. We managed to squeeze one in before he toppled over.

The puppies were in constant motion to escape from the basket. OK, we're done - you can all go back to sleep. Good dogs.

Cousins Portrait Session

A few months ago I took these photos for a family that had a cousin in town from overseas. That doesn't happen often, so they wanted to make sure to get some good shots of the girls all together. These images are to be used as Christmas cards this year as a surprise.

The girls pose by the water and just have some fun.

Walking to the next location even made a nice image.

Some intermittent rain forced us to find shelter a few times. An old fence panel underneath the building made a nice simple background where there was really nice light coming in.

The sisters pose for a few by themselves.

The little one steals the show.

Too adorable.

The sisters pose in front of a beautiful sky. You can see the rain coming in from the left here.

One more shot while we waited out the rain.

These sisters/cousins were so photogenic and it was great to know that I was capturing family members together who don't get to see each other very often. As usual, rain causes some problems, but it always brings nice skies and beautiful light!

Family Portrait, Tradewinds Resort, St. Pete Beach

Headed down to the Tradewinds Resort not too long ago for this family portrait session. The family was down from Ohio on vacation and thought it would be a great opportunity for some family shots. We took advantage of all the great scenery around the property for lots of different settings.

Sandpearl Resort - Tampa Photo Wedding, Kylie and Pete

Kylie and Pete were married at the Sandpearl Resort in Clearwater, FL. This venue always offers so many photographic opportunities. I was second-shooting for Kevin, so these only represent a portion of the final image set provided by Tampa Photo.

This couch is actually what we moved out of the picture. Kylie rested against it while Kevin set up his next shot and everything came together.

Pete and his best man pose for some portraits in an upstairs hallway. I love balancing cool ambient light with dramatic flash. The window provides a great side light and a zoomed flash highlights Pete.

All natural light from some big windows in the reception room.

Kylie is escorted as the ceremony begins.

Before the ceremony ended I was able to run upstairs for a wide view of the Sandpearl property, while Kevin shot the sand ceremony.

A small window helps the details pop.

Shot this off-axis from Kevin while he was zoomed in close for portraits.

A few relaxed portraits of the couple after the ceremony.

Some light and bright cake details.

A sweet moment during the first dance.

As the second shooter, I was able to go for the more artistic shots knowing Kevin was covering the direct "safe" angles.

The direct sun coming through the windows made things tough so I just went with it.

Kylie and Pete were great sports and ran downstairs at dusk.

A final parting shot from the happy couple.

Congratulations to Kylie and Pete! You guys made great models and you make a wonderful couple. Good luck and thanks for having Tampa Photo cover your wedding at the Sandpearl.

Julia and Eric, A La Carte Event Pavilion, Tampa Photo Wedding

Julia and Eric were married at the A La Carte Event Pavilion in Tampa in May. Tampa Photo covered the event with two shooters. I was backing Kevin up. You can check out their engagement photos on the Tampa Photo blog, shot by Kevin in Ybor.

We began the day at the Marriott Waterside where the bridal party was getting ready. Julia pauses for a moment after getting her dress on.

I enjoy second-shooting, but it can be tough to find a unique shot when the lead is setting things up. I strive to find an interesting angle or unique lighting setup to give the bride and groom a diverse collection of photos. It can be easy to fall into the habit of just shooting the same thing as the lead shooter from a slightly different angle.

A benefit of having two shooters is that I can work with the subject while Kevin plans and sets up his next shot - no wasted time!

Eric takes a moment before his "first look" of Julia.

The hotel lobby is always great for photos. We usually don't shoot in this area because it's always full of people. I got lucky with this shot.

The staff at the A La Carte always does a great job with decorations.

Big windows on the other side of the room provide a soft yet directional light source for this portrait of Julia.

Group hug immediately after the ceremony. I always love images taken just a few moments after the ceremony when the bridal party is tucked away in some room and everyone is very emotional. Again, with two shooters, one person can stay at the ceremony and finish the recessional shots while the other follows the bride and groom into seclusion for those first real photos as a married couple.

The rain broke long enough for us to head out onto the dock for a few portraits.

Back inside, Julia and her mother share a very special moment during a song performed by a loved one.

I'm always a sucker for cool sky shots.

I love it when I leave a venue at that perfect time to snap a great location shot.

Congratulations Julia and Eric! You guys were good sports as we shot at more than three locations! Thanks for choosing Tampa Photo to be there to cover your special day.