Tampa Photography Blog

Jenee and Alex are like most engaged couples. They're giddy, silly and don't mind kissing for photos.

I'm running this blog now in honor of their wedding this Saturday in Richmond, Virginia. Alex is my younger brother and we have teased him for years about not getting married, settling down, finding the right woman, etc. We know now why he waited so long--Jenee is fantastic!

We chose Ybor City for their engagement portraits while they were visiting us in Tampa. This is a place of endless textures, colors and architecture. I LOVE shooting there and find a new corner that’s perfect for portraits every time I go.

Photographing family can be tricky. For many photographers like me, there’s a work persona and a non-work persona I have when shooting. I’m not a completely different person but I do try to maintain some sort of professionalism on assignment while still having a really good time doing what I love. (As opposed to sitting around in my “PJs” on Christmas morning taking photos of my family opening gifts.)

The tricky part is that I ask clients to do all kinds of strange things when shooting their portraits. So, when I’m shooting portraits of my own brother, asking him to “make out” with his fiancé in a dark elevator is a bit bizarre.

However, I take great pride in photographing my own family—I’ve shot many family portraits, engagement portraits, business head shots and will possibly shoot boudoir portraits in the near future. (That’s about as close as a family can be!)

I am honored to be a bridesmaid in their wedding and have said on numerous occasions how blessed we are to add someone like Jenee to our family tree. Best wishes to the happy couple!

(And be sure to check out their wedding photos in a few months shot by an old friend and fabulous photographer Craig Mitchelldyer from Portland, Oregon.)