Michelle and Mark, Florida Aquarium Wedding

Michelle and Mark recently tied the knot at the Florida Aquarium. I always love shooting there because it presents so many opportunities along with the challenges of shooting inside a tough environment.

We started out with the girls getting ready at their hotel. We were so busy looking at room numbers, I almost missed the giant "THE BRIDAL SUITE" sign.

Michelle stops for a few quick shots in the cool hotel lobby.

I wish we had more time (like always). There are tons of cool side lobbies and sitting areas to use as shooting locations.

We caught up with Mark once we got to the aquarium.

In addition to the typical aquarium scenery, this place has lots of cool lighting and colorful displays that convinced us to stop even though we were already running behind. It was totally worth it!

The ceremony took place in front of the huge main tank.

They definitely had one of the coolest wedding cakes I had ever seen.

Mark gets some attention on the dance floor (they always seem to pay more attention once you're taken, huh Mark?).

All roads lead to Michelle and Mark's future together.

Congratulations Michelle and Mark! Any wedding blessed by a sea turtle is sure to be full of good fortune and happiness. Best of luck from Tampa Photo!

Lindsey and Greg

Lindsey and Greg were married last week at the Bilmar Resort on Treasure Island. These two were loads of fun and definitely in love! It was bright and windy on the beach but we managed to find lots of cool spots to make some photos.

Here's Lindsey and Greg hanging out before the ceremony. Seeing each other beforehand have me a lot more flexibility and time for making nice images.

OK, from the beginning...
A quick peek in on mom fixing Lindsey's flowers.

All about the shoes...

Gorgeous! I love it when my job is easy.

Give me a window and a wall and I could shoot for hours!

I LOVED this cool ocean mural in the hotel's beach bar for some fun portraits.

The guys hang out before the ceremony.

The ladies take a turn striking a pose.

Lindsey shows off that beautiful dress.

Greg is a fun-loving guy but he sure knows how to turn on the "serious."

Not a bad spot to say your vows.

The couple enjoys a stroll on the beach as newlyweds.

Nuzzling under the setting sun.

We spun around for a few shots with a blue sky background to change it up a little bit.

Wow, what a toast. Not a dry eye in the house.

A tender moment caught amidst a crazy party.

One last parting shot of the bride and groom posing in front of a classic Gulf Coast sunset.

Congratulations Lindsey and Greg! You guys were a blast and I had a great time making images of your special day. Have fun on your honeymoon!

Lauren and Christopher, Palm Harbor White Chapel Wedding

Lauren and Christopher had their ceremony and reception at the Palm Harbor White Chapel. It's a very cool and historic location for a wedding. They had a lovely day and a lively reception!

Introducing the newlyweds...

I get dressed with a little help from my friends...

Christopher pauses for a moment of reflection before walking down the aisle.

Lauren pauses for a simple and elegant portrait.

The girls ham it up for the camera.

We strolled around the church taking advantage of all the cool architecture.

The sun peaks out from behind the White Chapel.

Three boys wait to do their part for the ceremony.

Lauren and Christopher join hands at the altar.

We ran out of light after the ceremony, so I got creative and mixed flash with the streetlights and the little bit of light left in the sky to make a few dynamic portraits.

I tried to squeeze every drop of light left in the evening sky for the last few shots.

Congratulations Lauren and Christopher! I had a great time covering your day and I wish you the best of luck in your new life together!

Christine and Tobin, Tampa Bay History Center Wedding

Christine and Tobin got married amidst the NEC college basketball tournament and Ybor's St. Patrick's Day parade. Even with everything else going on, they were the stars of the day. The reception was held at the brand new Tampa Bay History Center. I was second shooting for Kevin.

While Kevin spent some time with the ladies, I met Tobin and the boys at the church for some photos. The old church provided a great location and background.

Moments before the ceremony, Tobin relaxes in the back room of the church.

Tobin's best man prevents him from making a big mistake...

After the ceremony, we headed downtown Tampa for some shots of the bridal party. The County building provides a cool blue background for Christine.

Kevin was playing with her reflection a little bit, so I shot from a slightly different angle and used a flash for some pop.

Christine and Tobin sneak outside for a few sunset shots

The newlyweds share a dance (and a kiss).

Balancing my warm flash with the moody wall lights creates a nice balanced image of the cake.

The facility is all glass facing the water and makes for a great evening shot. It was a lovely night for some of the River Walk visitors to stop for a bite at the Columbia Cafe, operated by the famous Columbia Restaurant.

The Tampa Bay History Center is built with sustainability in mind, so it was only fitting that the DJ was using energy conserving LED lights as decorations.

Congratulations Christine and Tobin! Kevin and I had a great time making images of your special day. And I didn't mind my private limo ride through Ybor either! Remember Tampa Photo for all of your future photo needs!

Charlene and Joe, Sandpearl Resort Wedding

Charlene and Joe recently tied the knot at the Sandpearl Resort in Clearwater. We had the usual delays and schedule changes, but they went with the flow and we came away with some great images.

The Sandpearl is a fantastic location for shooting. There are many grand lobbies with huge art pieces and wall hangings all over the place, not to mention the beach! And yet here I am on the 5th floor in a random corner next to a small window. Go figure. But I just loved the light coming in and since Joe's groomsmen were still finishing up in the room we paused for a few quick portraits.

OK, now I'll take advantage of some of that great Sandpearl scenery. This cavernous stairway allowed for several unique shots of Joe. Tampa Photo also provided the video for this event, so I asked one of the guys to shine his video light on Joe for some added interest.

The bartenders and some guests were gracious enough to let us take over a whole section of the restaurant for some group shots.

Now it was time to focus on Charlene while the guys relaxed. This was the view from her room! She could look right outside and see where her ceremony was going to be in just a few moments.

The setting sun shines on Charlene as she is escorted down the aisle.

The couple squeezes a few last moments out of the fading light.

What a happy couple!

The girls "bring it" for a fun photo.

With the clock ticking we worked hard to get some quality portraits in before the reception.

The couple shares dances with Charlene's parents. It's always tough to frame a shot when two couples are dancing. Charlene's spin move allowed me to fill the frame while including all four dancers.

Congratulations Charlene and Joe! I hope you enjoyed your paparazzi experience (two photographers and two videographers can make anyone feel famous!). Thanks for being easy to work with and I hope you enjoy looking at the images as much as I enjoyed making them!

100th Blog Post!

I just realized that the previous post was #100 for this blog! Yeaahh!