November is the month for getting those updated family portraits done! Starting a couple of years ago Miriam (who is one of our lead photographers) and I made a little pact to practice what we preach and get our own annual family portraits done.

Probably the biggest question I get is “What do we wear?” so I’m going to give you my top tips and show you what we did this year!

Ellen and Dan’s day with us started with their first look (what a fun way to kick-off the day for us!). The aquatics-loving duo decided on the Florida Aquarium for their wedding day. The aquarium has some beautiful outdoor areas, so it was all the garden vibes, despite the location hinting otherwise!

Who doesn’t love a romantic picnic at the beach? A little champagne, charcuterie and fruit! I love this sweet little setup Lisette came up with for her and Michael’s engagement session at Fred Howard Park.

Every so often us wedding and event people get to get together and throw a pretty awesome party! This week we got to work with an amazing team of sponsors to photograph the October meeting for Suncoast Wedding & Event Leaders (SWEL) at The Pavilion at Mixon Farm and it did not disappoint!

Just a few weeks before little Mr. Wyatt was born I got to see Violet and Geoffrey for their maternity session! He is such a cutie and had some sweet little baby poses for us already. Violet and Geoffrey moved into a new house before he was born, and we used their neutral walls for this simple lifestyle look that is all about them as a family of 3.

Heather and Hunter’s intimate destination wedding was hosted at the Safety Harbor Resort. These two, and their families, came down from Missouri to celebrate the couple’s union. It was a very warm August day, but the sky was clear of clouds, which is always a blessing for a summer day in Florida! Although the festivities were indoors, we’re always hopeful for a no rain wedding day for our couples.

Logan and Kevin arehaving a coastal styled wedding at the Grand Hyatt in April next year. To compliment the theme and views of Tampa we did their engagement session at Ballast Point Park where there is the perfect view of downtown from the water front!

At the beginning of August, Sadie and Michael celebrated their much-anticipated wedding day in Safety Harbor, Florida. The couple and their families could not have been more thrilled for their joyous day, and the weather could not have been more ideal. Each of their days began at Harborside Chapel and continued at nearby Safety Harbor Resort and Spa, and both their ceremony and reception were beautiful. I cannot wait to share more!

Carissa and Anthony are getting married at Nova 535 in St. Pete next April and wanted a little bit of down town Tampa for their engagement session. Since they’re getting married in St. Pete and did their engagement session in Tampa, they get both sides of the bay! It doesn’t really get any more “Tampa” than university of Tampa, as it’s such an icon and there’s SO many gorgeous locations!

Last night was one of my personal favorite annual events because it’s so crazy, fun, and by far the best reason is that it’s a fundraiser to benefit the culinary school at Metropolitan Ministries. This was the 5th year for the Tampa Bay Food Fight, this year hosted at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino and Hotel. This event brings together all the best restaurants both both side of the bay and the best of the best battle it out for team Tampa and Team St. Pete. Team Tampa was led by captain Chef Taro Larrea, who is Executive Chef and partner at Eddie V’s Tampa. Team St. Pete was led by captain Chef Joshua Breen - Annata Wine Bar.

What could be a cooler setting for a sweet 16 than a rooftop in Tampa? It’s safe to say Lexi agreed! She was joined by her family and friends as she celebrated her milestone birthday at Armature Works’ Rooftop 220. The venue is highlighted by a downstairs public market, industrial style, and indoor-outdoor spaces, plus the views of the city, especially when it glows at night, cannot be beat.

I was thinking about the most asked question from our couples and it is “how much time do I need?” That my friend is kind of a loaded question but can be answered very easily with these 3 questions below:

All the people who plan the events actually do get together and have their own events! This month was a joint meeting of 2 of my favorite groups to attend in the Tampa Area - Association of Bridal Consultations (ABC) and National Association of Catering Executives (NACE).

Lauren and Zach are expecting a little girl arriving in November!! They wanted a pretty, outdoorsy location and Lake Park is one of my favorite hidden gems. Lauren had 2 dresses picked out and the blue looks stunning with all the greenery in the background and with Zach’s outfit.

Tiffania & Laurence's intimate wedding of 13 guests was hosted at the First United Methodist Church Dunedin, with a reception at the Fenway Hotel following their nuptials. Tiffania is a pastor, as are both of her parents. Her dad officiated a beautiful ceremony, which was incredible, as a photographer, to be able to capture!

We love a unique wedding venue, and the Yacht Starship sure delivers! There is something so quintessentially Clearwater about a wedding on the water and you can’t get much closer than a wedding on a yacht!