Starks Photography : The Blog.

The break-up.

2009-04-10T11:00:00.006-04:00

Today will mark the end of this blog.

I'm no good with farewells, so we'll just keep it simple.

Dear blog,

You and I have had a fantastic relationship. Though there were minor moments of html frustration, and one day in particular when I called you that not-very-nice name because you "accidentally" deleted my massive post, we've experienced some good times together. I appreciate your loyalty, and your ability to showcase my ramblings to the internet world.

But blog-sy, sometimes, you have to let a good thing go. And that's where I am in my life. It's not you, it's me....well, and this other blog that I've been seeing recently. I don't want to hurt you, but it's best that you hear it from me - I'm posting elsewhere. I feel terrible, but what can I do? I have to be honest with myself, and my feelings. I hope we can still be pals.

Hugs,

Amy

***

That's right, friends! Starks Photography is stoked to announce the launch of our brand-spanking-new blog!

I'm getting all antsy (and a little uncomfortable since I'm hanging around my ex-blog right now), so let's head over there and continue our excitement!

(*This blog will stick around for a little while for the purpose of referencing old posts, and because he's kind of clingy.)

Diane & Derek : Sneak Peek!

2009-04-07T00:14:00.003-04:00

I'm behind. I'm trying to get ahead, but I'm behind. I've got photos to edit, a house to clean, a dog to bathe, and laundry to wash. Sometimes I think that I can just sit on my couch with an open bag of Reese's Easter candy and squint really hard at everything I have to get done in hopes that it will just do itself.

I'm progressing. Tonight's post will be highlighting Diane and Derek's gorgeous beach wedding which was held on Anna Maria Island. Tomorrow, I plan on making another post. And the next day. And the next. Until I'm totally caught up. And then maybe just one more for kicks. (*P.s. The big announcement has not been forgotten - it's still in the works and it's going to be ultra fabulous! :))

On to the awesomeness that is Diane and Derek:

Double the cuteness.

The groomsmen filing in.

I love this shot of the bridesmaids watching Diane walk up.

:).

Beautiful bride.

Stay tuned for many more photos from this incredible day!

What You've Been Waiting for...

2009-04-03T09:02:00.004-04:00

I have written, deleted, rewritten, deleted again, and scowled at this post for the last 15 minutes.

It's not easy to make a big announcement.

That's right - today is the day! Well, today is actually just one of the days - there will be several of these spectacular moments of excitement over the next week or two!

I think I'm having a bit of writer's block because I didn't actually know that today was going to be "the day."

I feel a little like I did back in college when I woke up at 7:42 for my 8:00 class - and I lived off campus. Scrambling, I would attempt to throw on a sweatshirt and jeans (my I'm-ridiculously-late go-to outfit), get my books packed, wash my face, and brush my teeth - at the same time. Unprepared, scattered, and let's not even talk about my hair. I was a mess.

That's a little like today.

I woke up to Ben working on part of our big announcement number one. Slowly, it began to register through my foggy, I-just-woke-up thought process. Immediately, my feelings were a mixture of excitement and "oh crap." I'm unprepared, scattered, and let's not even talk about my hair. I'm a mess.

Since that initial shock factor earlier, I have had a little time to pull myself together. I found a brush, and my feelings have shifted into total, full-blown enthusiasm.

Even though I know you all just love my random ramblings, let's digress.

The big announcement. Ok. I'm back to square one with this. Should I use a witty metaphor? Build it up with tons of exclamatory sentences? Type in all caps?<--(this last one drives me absolutely insane)

You know what? I'm just going to keep it simple. Let's let the announcement speak for itself.

Here are your instructions:

-Open a new window or tab.

-Type www.starksphotography.com.

-Get really stoked.

-Click "Blog"

-Hey, you're back here!

Ok, so that's not much, but it's a start, right? We're hoping to have our new site launched over the next couple of days, so be sure to stay tuned!

To highlight just how excited we really are, Ben and I are working up a fabulous contest today, complete with several prizes that will up for grabs for some of our loyal followers (or just a random person who happened to stop by at the right time). Tell your friends! Tell your family! Tell your neighbors! Tell your co-workers! (Here we go with the exclamatory sentences...I should have some sort of screen that pops up to warn me when I'm reaching the point of excessiveness).

We're pumped about the future, and we're so glad that we get to share our journey with you guys - thanks for being such an awesome support system!

Amy & Chad : Sneak Peek!

2009-03-31T23:58:00.004-04:00

Let me tell you a little something about vacation. It's a lot like ice cream. You allow yourself to indulge - nothing too crazy, just a little scoop or two - and it's heaven. You are suddenly taken to a place where nothing else matters but brownie fudge chunks and swirls of caramel.

And then it hits.

That after-effect of your dessert satisfaction (ok, so maybe it was more like 3 or 4 scoops) where you start to contemplate exactly how many calories of creamy goodness are currently finding their way to your thighs.

Don't you hate that reality check? It's like, why can't I just be back in naive Ben and Jerry's bliss for a few more minutes?

So, vacation is a lot like ice cream. You partake, you indulge, you enjoy, and then your regular life punishes you for taking a break by offering responsibility and an inbox full of 78 e-mails upon your arrival home. Return the carton to the freezer and hop on the treadmill - hey, it was good while it lasted.

I didn't write this post to simply detail a silly metaphor - purpose is well on it's way.

We had the privilege of photographing not one, but two beautiful weddings this past weekend (and had the opportunity to bask in the aforementioned vacation time).

The first was Amy and Chad's wedding.

Amy and Chad were married at the The Tavern in the Gardens in Port Orange, FL. (Note to future brides - this place is fabulous!) The day was absolutely gorgeous, and Ben and I truly enjoyed every minute we were there. Since this is a sneak peek, I won't let myself get too wordy - check out these five that we pulled from the bunch. More to come soon!

The girl knows how to work the camera. Seriously.

Walking her down the aisle. One of my favorite moments at a wedding.

During the ceremony. This moment was so intimate and sweet.

Congrats you guys! Hope you are enjoying your honeymoon! :)

Freshen Up!

2009-03-25T19:59:00.003-04:00

Today was a grey sweatpants day for me.

Do you ever have days when, as soon as you get up, you know exactly what item of clothing you're reaching for in your closet? In college, I had a pair of blue sweatpants that I referred to as my "paper-writing pants." Whenever I came out of my room wearing the blue pants, Ben knew I was going to be hunched over my laptop, chewing my nails, trying to figure out how to stretch my margins in a way that would look inconspicuous to my professor, but lengthen my assignment by half a page.

My grey sweatpants are saved for days when I know I'm going to be in over my head with photography-related tasks.

Ironically, my grey sweatpants and my blue sweatpants are both accompanied by my no-makeup face, glasses-covered eyes, and messy-bun hair. Interesting.

So, in hopes of fulfilling their purpose, my grey sweatpants instilled some motivation in me to be business-focused.

You may have noticed my absence around here recently (or maybe not. Meanie.), and there's good reason for that. Other than having a life outside blogging-world (Gasp! Whaaaaat??!), Ben and I have been busy configuring new plans for our photog biz. There's going to be a whole lotta freshness around these parts pretty soon, so make sure you stay tuned for all the fabulousness to ensue!

And since we're super thrilled about the future announcements, we may just have to throw in a cool prize, deal or contest to emphasize our excitement! So if my intriguing, elusive info above didn't hook you, the chance to score free stuff should!

Here's a little peek at one of the recently developed changes....

Brand-spanking-new logo!

One may ask, what was wrong with your old logo? Well, in short, nothing. We loved our logo. It served us well over the last year. However, since we're heading in a new direction (there's that word again!), we wanted something funky-fresh. We think it's really important to define our style in all aspects of our business, and we feel that this new logo screams "us." It's modern, a little edgy, chic, and brings an element of contrast - and we'd like to believe that our photography style embodies all of these things!

Kimberly & Kyle : Engagement Session

2009-03-13T15:57:00.005-04:00

I love a good love story. I could quote lines from chick flicks like The Holiday and Pretty Woman. And the Twilight series? Don't even get me started. I'm a sucker for romance, so I guess I'm in the right career field. :)

Kimberly and Kyle's love story is classic. They've been friends since grade school, high school sweethearts, and they - "finally," in Kimberly's words :) - got engaged after 6.5 years of dating. They have a history of loving each other, and you can tell. Their romance is comfortable and bona fide - devoid of any insecurity or uneasiness. They're friends who fell in love, and that, in my opinion, is the best kind of story (not that I'm biased ;)).

Kimberly and Kyle have decided to have a long engagement as Kimberly is in Graduate school finishing up her Master's in Architecture. She and Kyle will be married in May of 2010, and Ben and I cannot wait to be a part of their big day!

We photographed Kimberly and Kyle's engagement session at the University of Florida, where Kimberly attends. The campus is massive and a photographer would be hard-pressed to find a lackluster location while shooting there. From gorgeous, historic brick buildings, to canopies of trees, to the Gator stadium itself - we gathered inspiration from all directions. It also didn't hurt that we had two good-looking subjects who were down for anything we asked them to do. Taking direction from us - "Lay on this table thing," "Dance in this field," "Now just have fun! Interact with each other..." - can be a little ridiculous sometimes, but Kimberly and Kyle were insanely easy to work with. And that just makes us super happy. :)

Kimberly and Kyle - thank you for allowing us to capture your beautiful relationship. We appreciate your laid back personalities and inspiring love story. We only have one issue - we wish you were getting married sooner because we are dying to hang out again! ;)

Check out a few highlights from the day:

That black and white shot is one of my absolute favorites.

Precious!

How awesome is that wall?

You guys can definitely "dip." :)

Quick outfit change!

I think this takes the cake as my favorite from the day.

Kimberly & Kyle : Sneak Peek!

2009-03-12T16:25:00.004-04:00

Yesterday, Ben and I had the pleasure of photographing Kimberly and Kyle's engagement session on the beautiful University of Florida campus. I have a problem with patience - which is bad for slow people on I-4, but good for all of you blog readers - so I started uploading photos right when we got back home. Here's a little peek at the awesomeness that is Kimberly and Kyle:

Check back in the next day or two for more photos of this fabulous couple, and details of our day spent together! :)

Happy Birthday Putter!

2009-03-05T10:46:00.003-05:00

Since I'm an honest person, I'm going to admit something that may make me susceptible to judgment. Today is not actually Putter's birthday. His birthday was on February 15. Well, sort of. Seven months ago we brought Putter home from the Orange County Animal Shelter, and they told us that he was about 5 months old. We chose a random date for his birthday based on that assumption. So basically, today could be Putter's birthday, but that just sounds like my lame attempt at justification for my neglecting to announce his big day a couple of weeks ago. I hope this isn't a glimpse into motherhood - I'll be blogging about my kid's 2nd birthday when he or she is like, 14.

Annnnyway, we did celebrate on Putter's actual birthday. He did get a monstrous bone (which he promptly destroyed), extra food in his bowl, and a whole lot of hugs and kisses. Putter makes our little family complete, and we couldn't imagine life without him in it. Check out his awesome b-day photo below:

(Any real birthday hat wouldn't have stood a chance on his head.)

Online Ordering

2009-02-27T14:43:00.003-05:00

Today is a good day. I'm still unshowered in sweatpants and a t-shirt at 2:45 p.m. which would suggest that today is actually a gross day, but really - it's a good day. Clothes are being washed, floors are being vacuumed, bathrooms are being scrubbed. Don't get me wrong - I despise cleaning days more than most things in life (with the exception of hot dogs, heelies, and clowns) - but I know that after it's all done, life will feel more put together, and that makes me happy. So, again - it's a good day.

I'm breaking from tub-scouring for a few minutes to write this post. This particular blog entry was prompted by a conversation I had with my sister yesterday (the lovely brunette featured in the previous entry). She wants to order photos from her Spotlight session with her husband, Adam, so I started explaining the process to making an online order. There are a couple of things you should know about my sister before I proceed: One, if she isn't interested in understanding something (like math, directions, or how to make a print order), she goes into a momentary lapse of concentration. Two, while she loves many, many things in life, one of those things is not technology; she is the worst Facebooker I've ever met. So as soon as I started into this explanation, both of those facts collided and she stopped me from wasting my breath by interjecting, "I'm just going to call you when I want to order prints."

Therefore, I am writing this post to counteract that need for a phone call (which would most likely end in me making the order for her), and for any other client who encounters similar issues. So, all thanks can go to Callie for the motivation to put this info out there. Gracias, sis. Your contempt for technology has been put to good use. :)

I've made screen grabs of our online gallery, and posted notes on each with step-by-step instructions on how to make an order. I love my sister, and I love our clients, so I hope this provides some useful info to anyone who needs it:

Step one:

Step two:

Step three:

Step four:

Step 5:

Step 6:

Step 7:

Step 8:

Step 9:

Step 10:

Step 11:

Step 12:

Step 13:

Step 14:

In all seriousness - though our ordering system is efficient, it can be a bit confusing at times,

so if you have any questions (or a strong disdain for tech-y tasks), feel free to shoot us

an e-mail. We'd be more than happy to help! :)

Callie & Adam : Spotlight Session

2009-02-25T22:04:00.005-05:00

This is a very exciting post for me. You see, not only are we featuring two extremely special people in our lives, we're also introducing a brand new Starks Photography session option! It's like two fabulous worlds colliding. Like the day I found an unspent IKEA gift card and ate Chick-fil-A french fries that were the perfect amount of crispiness. It's pure bliss.

So what exactly is this Spotlight session, Amy? Well, my friends, I'm glad you asked. A Spotlight session is a Starks Photography original - straight from the combined brains of me and Ben. (Combined brains? That sounded better in my head. You know what I mean.)

Here's the low down: A Spotlight session is quite simply described in it's title - it's meant to "spotlight" a couple, and the personalities that make up both halves. In these very personal sessions, the couple runs the show - what do you like to do together? Sing karaoke? Go cart race? Run marathons? (<--...we may have to figure out some kind of alternative transportation for me if this is the case). Whatever it is, we want to capture it in your photos. You (the client) choose the day, the place, and the concept. The only requirement - wear your wedding attire! That's what really makes this session super unique. Fun, personality-driven photos with a combined feeling of nostalgia from being able to rock your wedding day get-up. We just show up and take photos of the two of you doing what you love to do together!

Enough babble. If you're diggin' the Spotlight session and want some more info, shoot an e-mail our way! We'd love to set something up with you!

Highlighting this new session wouldn't be nearly as fun without some example photos (seriously, how boring would it be to just read my writing?), and we have Callie and Adam to thank for providing us with some.

I need a whole separate blog post to accurately depict the relationship we have with Adam and Callie. Ok, maybe more like 6. However, since I'd like to maintain some sort of following on this thing, I will make an attempt to be brief.

Callie is my sister, and more importantly, my best friend. You can't choose your family (though I would have handpicked mine anyway), but you can choose your best friends. So it just kind of worked out that Callie and I grew up in the same house.

Ben and Adam are (now) brothers. They have known each other since elementary school, and have had a tight bond ever since. They like to tell people that it was their plan all along to marry sisters so that they could be family. There are definitely times that I wonder if this is, in fact, the case.

Adam and I met several years ago at Lake Aurora, and we've developed a friendship that has truly helped define our brother/sister-in-law relationship today.

This is the really weird thing - none of these relationships were formed because of another. In other words, I didn't meet Ben through Adam, and Callie didn't meet Adam through me. It all happened by chance, and ended up being the most perfect situation anyone could ask for.

That story just ties itself up with a cute, red bow, right? :) We'll eventually live down the street from each other and our kids will be best friends. It'll be like Saved By The Bell - The Grown Up Years or something.

Anyway, Callie and Adam just so happen to be fabulous models on top of being fabulous friends, so they were totally up for spending a day in front of our cameras.

Callie and Adam met at Lake Aurora as well, so their session took place there. We "spotlighted" their love for fishing, riding bikes, and...oranges. Ok, the last part was our idea, but it's cohesive. :)

I promised you the longest post to date, so whether or not you actually wanted that to happen, it is. Check out the ridiculous amount of photos below:

Precious!

A little Jessica Simpson shoe love. Another spotlight of Callie's personality. Not Adam's.

:).

I took one for the team and got in the water to snap this shot.

Fierrrrrrce.

Callie, don't ever tell me you can't do the "serious" face again. Liar.

Sunlight love. <3

Love these two.

Doesn't get much more romantic than dancing in the groves.

Such an appropriate ending! :)

Callie and Adam - you know we love you both tremendously. Thanks for being so

stinkin' fantastic!

Callie & Adam : Spotlight Session - Sneak Peek!

2009-02-24T19:19:00.003-05:00

I have chicken and yellow rice burning on the stove, and I'm posting a blog. Clearly, my priorities are straight.

This is going to be the shortest post to date, because tomorrow, I am going to make the longest post to date; It's all about balance.

Callie and Adam are two of our most favorite people in the entire world. BFF doesn't even begin to describe our bond. More on them tomorrow. I am literally about to burn our house down.

Here's one of the many favorites from their spotlight session (*details coming tomorrow! :)):

LWHS Cheerleading Squads.

2009-02-17T17:48:00.005-05:00

Six years ago (yes, I just counted on my fingers) I was a Senior at Lake Wales High School, and captain of our Varsity Cheerleading squad. So not only does this blog post make me feel old, but it also stirs up a disturbing urge to find my old uniform, try it on, and - if it fits - prance around our house reciting chants and turning back handsprings. For the sake of my muscles, my self-esteem, and the questioning of my sanity, I will refrain.

We photographed the JV and Varsity squads (along with their "little sisters") last month at Lake Aurora. The experience was out-of-the-ordinary for us, as we are more used to running around snapping candids versus standing in one area for posed photos. Nevertheless, we had fun and the cheerleaders were super easy to work with. And by "we had fun" I mean "I had fun, and Ben was slightly overwhelmed and out of his element." :)

Here's a few team shots from the day:

Junior Varsity

Being silly. :)

Varsity

Another ode to ridiculousness.

A Proposal.

2009-02-14T12:49:00.006-05:00

Here at Starks Photography, we strive to stay in touch with what's going on in our world. I'd consider myself to be politically informed (well, if you count People magazine as a reputable news source), so I felt a strong urgency to write a blog post detailing my thoughts on the current state of our fiscal lows and woes.

Ok, not really.

But I do have a proposition (and a super cute, colorful chart!) that coincides with the ever popular dinner table conversation topic - the economic crisis.

First, let me make one thing perfectly clear - I am well aware that the recession is no laughing matter. We are in the middle of extremely trying times, and lots of lives are being affected along the way. That being said, I refuse to sulk underneath a gloomy rain cloud while we're in a rut. There's a little sunlight that wants to peek her head out, and I'm going to allow it to happen. There's not much worse than sporting a pouty lip in an already somber circumstance, so I'm plastering a smile on my face for the sake of optimism. I'm not naive, nor running for the Suzie Sunshine award, but I am making a choice to remain hopeful.

Did I promise not to detail my thoughts? I got a little carried away for a minute. Back to the point, here.

Since President Obama has implemented a new stimulus package for the economy, we felt like it would only be appropriate if we offered a little "boost" of our own. Regardless of your opinions on President Obama's plan (*re-read above paragraph if you're feeling pessimistic :)), we're hoping that there won't be much opposition to ours:

Please try to stay neutral when reading over our plan - no matter what side of the fence you stand on. The proposal has already passed in the House(hold), and Putter's Kennel - unanimously. We're hoping that this plan will provide some relief to the hardworking, photogenic people living in our country. Thanks for tuning in.

Feel free to e-mail us with questions regarding the above info! We look forward to hearing from you! :)

(Um, p.s. Happy Valentine's Day! I keep forgetting it's today.)

Neglectful.

2009-02-07T19:42:00.006-05:00

Lately, the blog has been reminiscent of a child waiting to be picked up from school; Sitting on the curb, Power Ranger backpack in tow, frantically glancing up and down the street in search of the familiar family minivan. Dread overcomes him as he slowly realizes that he is experiencing a kindergartner's worst nightmare - being forgotten.

I'm a neglectful parent.

So here I am - driving 90 and rounding corners on two wheels to make up for lost time. I'm hoping that my blog child doesn't hate me too much, and that, perhaps, a McDonald's ice cream cone will make up for my carelessness.

(This is an extra from Brittney and Austin's wedding - recently, I've been getting into using textures while editing).

***

I'm setting a realistic goal for myself - 2 to 3 blog posts per week. However, it would be nice to have something to hold me accountable - like gold stars, or twenty dollar bills.

Writer's Block.

2009-01-25T19:48:00.003-05:00

Lately, I've had the itch to write. I think it was prompted by me finishing the Twilight saga today - Stephanie Meyer definitely sucked me into her world of vampires and romance (*pun intended ;)).

Writing has always been a means of expression for me. I tend to believe that my words on paper are actually much more eloquent than my spoken words. However, over the course of the last few years, writing became more of an obligation than a pleasure; school assignments numbed the enjoyment. It's kind of ironic that a degree in Creative Writing would actually dull my love for writing rather than enhance it. Don't get me wrong - while in college, I learned a lot from my professors and sharpened my craft immensely. For that, I am grateful. But there's something about writing without being prompted by deadlines or grades - I suppose I would call it raw writing (maybe freestyle is the more accurate terminology, but raw seems appropriate :)). It unleashes my imagination and allows my fingertips to lead the way into expressive freedom.

I miss it.

I've decided that I need to get back on the saddle; get the proverbial ball rolling once again. Loosen up the screws, and get the writing juices flowing. And apparently, utilize a lot of cliches in the process. ;)

I'm not planning on becoming a billionaire overnight by creating a wildly successful series about gorgeous vampires or wizards and muggles - my writing will merely be another means of creative expression - but hey, I guess a girl can dream, right? :)

Since some people read this blog for the photos and not for my random babbling, here's a couple of Ben and I. We took these while waiting to do a shoot for the Lake Wales High School Cheerleaders (which I will probably blog about later this week):

I know I'm a little partial, but isn't my husband such a stud? ;)

Andrea & John : Just Because Family Session

2009-01-21T18:45:00.003-05:00

You know the feeling you get after being sick? That, ok-now-that-I'm-physically-better-how-do-I-get-back-into-the-swing-of-things feeling? Yeah. That's where I'm at. Photos are waiting to be edited, a refrigerator is dying to be filled, and laundry....you are my Everest.

I was slightly productive today - some photos were edited, hence, this blog post is being written. Tomorrow, I will face my giants.

Andrea e-mailed us about photographing her family after hearing about our work from her co-worker, Chad. Side note: I just love how that part of this business works; people talking to people talking to people. It makes me super happy. :)

Anyway, so Andrea and I set a date for a Just Because family session.

On the day of the shoot, we met Andrea, her husband, John, and their two boys, Timothy and Jonathan, at Church Street Station (hello favorite shoot spot! :)). After the initial handshake, I immediately felt totally comfortable. There's something extremely disarming about Andrea, John, and the boys; they are warm and easygoing, and I vibe well with those personality types.

Following the very first click, Ben and I exchanged a silent high five - not only is this family good-natured, they're photogenic and relaxed in front of a camera as well. Score. :)

Andrea and John, we truly enjoyed every second we got to spend with your family. We appreciate people like you guys - photographing the love that you all have for one another is a reminder of why we love what we do. Thanks for making our job ridiculously easy. :)

Check out a few highlights from the day:

The fam.

A little one-on-one time.

Timothy and Jonathan.

My favorite group shot of the day. :)

I wish I could carry these stairs and that wall with me to every shoot.

No, seriously. I do.

The ~~boys~~ studs again. :)

Warm sunlight love. <3

Ok, so this last one was literally one of the first photos we took. See what I mean about being relaxed in front of the lens?!

Victoria & Luke : Married!

2009-01-17T14:17:00.003-05:00

I've been a slacker blogger lately. I promise to do better. For reals.

Victoria and Luke contacted us after hearing about our work from my cousin, Ashley. The wedding was planned in record time, as Victoria is leaving to join the military on January 20. I have no idea how they pulled it off, but Victoria and Luke's big day was nothing short of beautiful.

The ceremony was emotional and touching, and it truly captured the love shared between the couple. The couple was surrounded by their closest friends and relatives, which gave the entire day an intimate and special vibe.

No matter the distance, I'm certain that Victoria and Luke's marriage will flourish with every year that passes. To the newlyweds - thank you for allowing us to be a part of your memorable wedding. And Victoria, thank you for selflessly serving our country - you will be in our prayers! :)

Here's a few more from the day:

The gorgeous bride getting ready.

I love this shot that Ben captured of Victoria at the alter with her father and Luke.

<3.

A favorite of mine.

The Mr. and Mrs. ;)

A little nostalgia.

2009-01-11T16:58:00.004-05:00

This will not be a whine session, but I do need to note: I have been cooped up (or quarantined, if you will) at home for the past couple of days. My enemy goes by "Sinus Infection" and his methods are ruthless. From snatching away my vocal cords, to pressurizing my nasal cavities, stomping around behind my eyes, to instigating a constant need for Kleenex. He shows no concern for my plunging physical state.

A bit dramatic, maybe, but the I needed to make a point.

I'm sure part of my ailment has been brought on by my unwillingness to allow myself to breathe. I suppose this was God's way of saying "Helllllo....what the crap are you doing? S.L.O.W. D.O.W.N." But I'm sure God is a bit more eloquent and tactful. I never realized how hard it would be to just take it easy; I guess when you've grown accustomed to life whipping down the highway at 105mph, it's hard to hit the brakes.

Anyway, I have slowed down (even if by force), and it's been nice. I've watched countless hours of House on DVD, slathered myself with Vick's, finished Twilight (!!!), and spent time (trying to chat without a chatter) with Ben. I've also taken some time to be productive.

Ahh, here we go - you knew I'd get to the point of this post eventually. :)

We've been meaning to clean-up our iMac for awhile now, to free up some space on the hard drive. So I decided to knock it out, and 90 bajillion photos later, we have a much tidier computer. While I was sorting through the events in iPhoto, I couldn't help but linger on some. There were photos from our first shoots about a year ago, when we had just started our business.

When we were first starting out, we photographed anyone who would step in front of our cameras. We needed material for our website, so if you were around us for even 10 minutes, chances were, you were getting your photo taken. I loved glancing through old images, and the whole ordeal brought forth a twinge of nostalgia. It's really cool to look back and see how far we've come in under a year. It gives me a sense of motivation for the future - I truly can't wait to see what's in store.

I pulled some of my favorites into a folder, and gave them a "fresh" editing look. Some of these photos are still up there on my omg-I-love-that-shot list. Starks Photography, kickin' it old school:

Elisha. A photographer's dream subject.

Shirl. This photo rocks my world.

Callie and Adam. They will grace this post a few times, as they were our "guinea pig" subjects quite often. :) The one on the left still holds down a spot on our website.

Ben. We had to practice on each other a lot too.

Shirl, again. I left this photo as it was originally edited - it was my first time messing with texture and a more "artsy" effect on an image (*tear!*).

Callie and Adam, again. This photo will be hard to knock out of my top 5.

Me. Yikes. I hesitated posting this because, well, it's me, but this was from an impromptu shoot Ben and I did at our apartment. It was kind of silly (I mean, check out that make-up), but really fun at the same time.

Shirl. Alright, alright - it looks like we really liked the images from her shoot a lot.

Callie and Adam. There's something about this one that feels like comfort to me; it invites you in.

Callie and Adam (last one). The only shoot we've ever done at sunrise. And that light was well worth the hours of sleep I missed out on.

So I wanted to post some others, but a) a few of the shoots were previously moved off of our computer and burned to discs or our external hard drive, and b) I think I may have surpassed the point of "overwhelming" on here.

I want to do this every year - sort of like a "check point" for our business. Hopefully by next year I will have learned how to keep it short and sweet. Right. :)

Victoria & Luke : Sneak Peek!

2009-01-10T10:52:00.004-05:00

We had the privilege of photographing Victoria and Luke's beautiful, intimate wedding yesterday in Spring Hill. There will be a bigger post in a couple of days, but here's a sneak peek:

My absolute favorite.

So sweet.

More to come! :)

And that's that.

2009-01-07T18:27:00.004-05:00

Though it's quite obvious who came out victorious in this internet battle, I'm not going to brag....

(I WON!!!!!!)

So there you have it - a second puppy is in our future, and I have all of you to thank (well, not all of you - 38% of you are still on my "super lame" list.... ;)). So thank you for voting! Ben has been a decent loser - he's not sulking around the house or demanding a recount. In fact, we reached a decision that makes us both happy (because, let's face it - I like winning, but I also like being in agreement with my hubby :)): We will visit the animal shelter after March, and come home with a friend for Putter! As much as I'd like to go grab a furry little ball of cuteness tomorrow, we have a very busy schedule for the next couple of months, and we're going to need some time to ease the new addition into our family. After March, our calendar clears up a bit, so we will be able to truly invest some time.

Now, maybe I should take a poll on ideas for puppy names...

The Ultimate Poll.

2009-01-05T22:20:00.005-05:00

Ok. So let me break this down.

A couple of days ago, I mentioned to Ben how cool it would be to adopt a second puppy from the shelter. I have a totally logical argument for this seemingly crazy thought, and I have mapped it out below:

Putter needs a friend to play with. A furry, energetic friend.

Animals from the shelter need lots of love.

Puppy eyes are just irresistable.

A second dog is easier than a first kid at this point.

Pretty please.

I think my points are quite reasonable, and fully comprehensible. From what I understand, this is Ben's counter-argument:

No.

B.o.r.i.n.g. What kind of rationalization is that?!

Since we are completely sensible individuals, we are doing what two completely sensible individuals would do in a situation like this: we're leaving it up to all of you. That's right. A life decision - all in your hands. Take 5 seconds to fill out our poll below, and help us end this ridiculous disagreement once and for all.

(**Edit: The poll will end on Tuesday, December 6, at 10:30PM.)

Don't let anything sway your decision - vote with your heart...

(Oh, don't judge me - it's called strategy.)

View Poll |View Results

Website Polls PoweredBy MicroPoll

Cami and Clinton: Personality Box

2009-01-04T13:09:00.004-05:00

Somehow, this was forgotten in the post from Cami and Clinton's session:

Their personality box! Better late than never, right?

(*Note to potential clients: I'm becoming quite obsessed with these, so be prepared if you book us for a shoot! :))

Happy New Year and Flashbacks.

2009-01-01T11:16:00.005-05:00

I have a good feeling about 2009. 2008 is going to be a hard year to top, but I have a feeling that 2009 will be giving it a run for it's money.

We'd like to wish all of you a super happy new year - here's to actually accomplishing resolutions...right? :)

While we were visiting Ben's parents over the holidays (*which I am still planning on blogging about), we took a little trip down nostalgic photography lane. After flipping out a little over how adorable little Ben was, I was ecstatic to see that Ben had dug up some examples of "old school" Starks Photography. Ben's dad, Jerry, (I know, I know - "Ben and Jerry") has dabbled in a little snapping and shooting himself over the years! We scanned a few to throw onto this post, so check out the flashback below:

A couple of glamorous model poses from Ben's mom, Kathe. How sweet are those shades?

And because I know all of you are dying to see "little Ben," here's a glimpse into his past:

How adorable is that face? From what I understand, he was quite the handful as a kid, so I guess it was a good thing he was so cute.

I can't get over the cuteness. Even if he does look like he doesn't want to have anything to do with this picture. :) (and can we take a second to commemorate the "walkman" that Ben's brother, Andrew is rockin'?!)

So there you have it - ringing in the new year with a blast from the past. Maybe next year I'll be posting photos of a little Ben junior....? (just kidding, babe! ;))

Cami & Clinton : Just Because Session

2008-12-30T21:25:00.007-05:00

Talk about being M.I.A. from the B.L.O.G. lately! The holiday season was good to us, and we were able to spend some much needed time with our families, friends, each other...and our pillows. We will post a blog recounting the whole delightful experience, but for now, our focus is on Cami and Clinton.

I'm not sure why I labeled this session as "Just Because"; I suppose it sort of is, but it goes a little further than that. I should have a tag called "Just Because...we're having a baby" or something. I guess "Maternity" would suffice also, but that word kind of makes me shudder for some reason. Anyway, that's neither here nor there. :)

It's hard to put into words the union that is Cami and Clinton. And I mean that in the most loving way. They are two unique individuals, so together, they are quite the remarkable pair. Cami is one of my closest girl friends, and I can truly say that our relationship has withstood several peaks and valleys. Through the course of our friendship, I've watched Cami morph into the person that she is today - and I happen to like that person a whole lot. :)

Cami and Clinton's marriage has recently become a testament of trust, acceptance and support as Clinton enlisted in the Navy this past Fall. They now live in South Carolina, where Clinton will finish his training. With a baby on the way, it wasn't the easiest move, but through this situation, Cami's devotion and encouragement for her husband has been both strong and admirable.

Stories like Cami and Clinton's make me giddy. :) Here is a husband who loves his family and proves it by making a decision that will provide a comfortable lifestyle for them. And here is a wife who stands by her man and appreciates his dedication and love. Doesn't it just make you feel all warm and fuzzy?

Enough of the babble. Cami and Clinton - you guys are fantastic, and I loved being able to photograph your love, and your little nameless child. :) I hope you enjoy these images; I have rewarded your patience with a few extra on the post. ;)

Check out a few from our shoot at beautiful Lake Aurora:

The sun and I were BFF this day.

Told you.

Can this much cuteness fit into one frame?

The spiders were abundant here, but this shot made it all worth it.

The pregnant "glow!"

Ben's favorites.

<3.

I just love this.

Cams, you look fierce.

The giddiness is taking over a bit.

There's something extremely serene about this image.

I don't think I could actually choose a favorite from the day, but let's say that these last 2 are in my top 5.

Giving is Awesome announcement!

2008-12-24T15:00:00.004-05:00

I can honestly say, without blinking an eye, that choosing a Giving is Awesome candidate was one of the hardest decisions that we've ever had to make.

After announcing our participation in Giving is Awesome, it didn't take long for nominations to start pouring in. I guess I wasn't quite expecting the impact that this opportunity would make in my own life. In the beginning, I saw Giving is Awesome as an extension of provision to someone else - the possibility of an internal affect never even crossed my mind. Oooh, but that quickly changed.

There were many nights that I sat in front of our computer in my sweats, tears plopping onto my keyboard. I didn't merely cry out of sympathy - I cried out of humility. I cried because I take my "basic" blessings for granted on a daily basis. I cried because I live a life of comfort and satisfaction, but I still have selfish moments of griping.

And I smiled. I smiled because of the amount of love that was dripping off of every story written in. These are real people, writing about real people - people who deserve jobs, money, food, love, support, shelter. Emotion ran deep through each nomination, and I was taken aback by the amount of sheer compassion extended through these e-mails. I smiled because I have hope for our world.

Ben and I spent a lot of time reading and re-reading each nomination. I found it exceptionally challenging to remain objective in this type of situation - how can we choose just one when everyone is so deserving? After countless conversations and a few more emotional moments, we've reached a decision:

Nominated by Kenny Backhaus, the Gilmer family - consisting of Sarah (wife and mom), Dan (husband and dad), Chloe (oldest daughter and sister), and Claire (youngest daughter and sister) seems to be quite the amazing bunch. Kenny is Sarah's step-brother, and he had a lot of truly heartfelt, incredible things to say about his sister and her family. Due to the personal nature of the Gilmer's story, I will not be posting it on the blog. However, I would like to share a little of what Kenny wrote about their family:

Read over the highlighted section - talk about a powerful couple of lines! After the Gilmer's situation was brought to our attention, I started thinking about how I would cope given similar circumstances. In all honesty, I'm not sure I'd be able to say with complete confidence that I'd be as strong as they have been. And that factor - remaining resilient and dedicated amid intense trials - is why Ben and I would be honored to offer a complimentary photography session (complete with all the goodies previously mentioned) to the Gilmer family.

We would be extremely remiss to exclude this info:

To all individuals who have written in nominations - we will personally contact each of you after Christmas. Thank you for influencing our lives through your love. We admire your compassion more than we could ever describe.

Have a wonderful Christmas! :)

Much love,

Ben and Amy

Cami & Clinton : Sneak Peek!

2008-12-24T02:53:00.007-05:00

This is going to be the shortest blog post ever, for a couple of reasons. One, it's 3:00 in the morning. Seriously - what am I thinking? Two, I just got finished uploading these fabulous photos, and they haven't been touched as far as editing is concerned. Well, except for one:

Uber suspense, right?! I had a blast with these two today, and their session will be so much fun to post in a day or two (*Cams, I know the patience factor is killing you! :)) Ok. That's that. You know it's time for bed when you start using words like "uber."

(*One more thing - make sure to check back tomorrow as we will be announcing the Giving is Awesome winner!)

Brittney & Austin : Married!

2008-12-21T16:58:00.005-05:00

"I'm nervous." Yesterday, this was my frequently used phrase on the way to Brittney and Austin's wedding in Winter Springs. Ben's ultra-sensitive response? "You just gotta get in the zone, babe." Ugh. His cool-as-a-cucumber attitude annoys me a little. I think it stems from jealousy. I know he's right, but I always get a little anxious before I photograph any kind of event or session. Fortunately, as we pull up to the shoot location, the nervousness almost immediately subsides as giddiness sets in. I really do love my job so much.

Brittney and Austin got hitched at Metro Church. The day was filled to the brim with love, laughter, and a whole lotta dancin'; quite the recipe for a good time, in my book. It was truly enjoyable to watch Brittney and Austin spend time with their closest friends and family. I can't count how many kind words were spoken about the lovely newlyweds, and to me, that says a lot about Brittney and Austin as a couple. It's very apparent that they have made a major impact on many people through the course of their dating relationship, and I have no doubt that this will carry into their beautiful marriage.

Here's a ~~few~~ plethora from the day :) :

A shot of the gorgeous bouquet:

Another look...

Getting reading for the ceremony.

Two of my favorites from the day...

Boys will be boys. :)

Triple the cuteness!

Hello gorgeous! :)

Father/Daughter. First Dance. Mother/Son.

Pink and black. Artsy design. CAKE. I'm in love.

Note to any boyfriends who attended the wedding: Check out the following to see how excited/aggressive your girlfriend looks about the bouquet toss. :)

This day wasn't short on dancing...

....or singing! Austin's sisters are extremely talented.

<3.

Snow in Florida? For this Winter Wonderland affair, indeed.

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Green! And enjoy your first Christmas together as husband and wife! :)

Baby Love.

2008-12-18T14:43:00.003-05:00

It seems that I can never be around Madi and not snap a few photos. She's just too outrageously adorable. I'm talking, I-just-want-to-pinch-your-cheeks adorable.

Madi and I had a play date the other day while Amy (her mommy) ran some errands. In the midst of dancing to Yo Gabba Gabba and munching on Cheerios, I grabbed my camera to capture some of the cuteness in action. Either I'm a baby whisperer, or Madi is destined to be the next Heidi Klum. All things considered, I think the latter is more realistic. The girl can definitely "work" those angles, and she's got the "blue steel" look down to a science:

As a sidenote - I am LOVING the 5D, and the 50mm 1.4 lens that I used to shoot this photo! :)

A sidenote...to a sidenote - Don't forget to send in your Giving is Awesome nominations! Only 6 more days until we announce a winner! We've received quite a few so far, and it's going to be such a tough decision. It's been really amazing to see people expressing such love and compassion through the nominations - you guys rock!

Overload.

2008-12-11T19:07:00.007-05:00

This is the fourth blog entry that I've geared toward Christmas. Fourth. Did I mention that I'm obsessed with this holiday? Ugh. I irritate myself. Poor Ben.

My great aunt Nyle has created homemade Christmas ornaments for as long as I can remember. Each family member on my dad's side receives one, and no ornament is ever the same as the previous year. For 22 years my ornaments hung on my parent's tree. When Ben and I got married, those ornaments came with us, and graced the branches of Doug (our beloved first Christmas tree). I appreciate these pieces of my past so much more now that I'm older. Each decorative trinket is unique and signifies a specific year in my life. When I look at our tree, completely embellished, I feel like I am scanning through a mini-slideshow of my past; I love the thought of something so small generating such an impact on my emotions.

Below, I've highlighted a few holiday decorations in our home. (Just in case some of it is hard to decipher, here's the breakdown, from left to right, top to bottom - A "new home" ornament from my Nana given after we purchased our house, "Meet Me Under the Mistletoe" ornament, green cone and white "button" Christmas tree ornaments made by Aunt Nyle, Mistletoe!, Star tree topper, angel ornament by Aunt Nyle, Putter (obviously :)), Santa and Snowman, and a little bit of nostalgia -"Our First Christmas Together" ornament from '07:

On another note, the photos above were taken with our incredible new Canon 5D's! We have been wanting to make the switch from Nikon to Canon for awhile now, but we've been waiting for the right timing, the right deal, the right amount of money in our bank account. I can't say that we were completely on point with that last stipulation, but sometimes, in order to make progress, you just have to bite the bullet. :)

We are such satisfied customers and truly feel that we will be able to take our photography to the next level with our upgraded equipment. An added bonus to this purchase? I got to cross another goal off of my 30 before 30 list! So the count is - 2 down, 28 more to go! :)

It just keeps getting better.

2008-12-10T01:11:00.004-05:00

We just can't help ourselves. We love to share. We love to give. Giving is awesome.

We're happy to announce our second (and even more exciting) holiday special offer. We'd love to take credit for this ingenious idea below, but we actually swiped it from Pennsylvania-based photographer, Kristen Kalp. Kristen is the founder of Giving is Awesome - a worldwide photography effort to "give back" to our communities. Like we said, ingenious. We feel so fortunate to have a career in photography - something that we are so passionate about. And now we feel equally fortunate to be able to take part in this opportunity to contribute to a truly worthy, charitable cause.

Here's the 411:

You know someone. You know someone who's experienced a tragedy, is struggling to stay afloat, is raising kids while holding down more than one job, or is volunteering selflessly despite extenuating personal circumstances. You know someone who can't afford custom photography, but who would cherish it this holiday season. You know someone who deserves captured memories.

You know someone. We guarantee it.

We want to know who they are, and we want to give them the chance to experience complimentary custom photography -- $500 worth, to be exact. The recipient will receive their choice of one of our various photography sessions (Engagement, Just Because, Trash the Dress, or Spotlight), a $100 print credit, and a beautiful 11x14 canvas print. It's in your power to give them the opportunity that they deserve this holiday season.

Icing on the cake? The person who nominates the winner receives a Just Because session with us, and a $50 print credit. All you have to do is show some love. It's that simple.

The rules:

* You cannot nominate yourself, and the person nominated must sincerely be incapable of purchasing our services. (Being unable to make mortgage payments for a two-million-dollar-vacation-home in Paris does not qualify as sincere financial need :)).

* The nominee must reside in Florida. Tell us who you know, what they're experiencing, and why they deserve our services. Please include a way to contact both your nominee and yourself as well.

* You must e-mail us the full story.

The winner will be announced on Christmas Eve -- so start nominating! We cannot wait to hear your stories, and we feel so humbled to be participating in this experience.

Open your heart to someone this holiday season -- and thanks for giving us the opportunity to open ours.

Lots of love,

Ben and Amy <3

You've been good this year!

2008-12-09T00:26:00.006-05:00

As the holiday season rolls in, we are feeling especially generous and want to extend some special love to our clients - you guys are awesome! Check out the deal below* (complete with corny holiday humor) and e-mail us with any questions! Have yourself a very wonderful Christmas and fabulous new year! :)

*Offer only applies to standard prints; canvas prints and standouts are not included.

*Offer may be utilized with print credit

*Orders must be placed before December 31, 2008

Ugly Sweaters.

2008-12-07T16:05:00.003-05:00

Standing in the middle of Lowes, I gave Ben my best "you-have-got-to-be-kidding-me" look. He was trying, unsuccessfully, to convince me that we should purchase the tiny, chincy-looking Christmas tree on display that was "only 40 bucks." His bargain-based argument may have worked on another day, another issue. But not today. And not when we're talking about Christmas trees.

Christmas is a big deal to me. Ok, that may be a slight understatement. I'm annoyingly obsessed. The decoration, cheerful attitudes, special songs, gift wrapping - it's my happy place.

So as we were leaving Lowes with our (much more respectable) Christmas tree, I turned to Ben and made a guarantee - "You'll thank me." He rolled his eyes, but I definitely caught the glimpse of excitement in his eyes later that night when we hung the last ornament and flipped the light:

***

In other holiday news, we attended a Journey staff Christmas party a few days ago. The theme was "Ugly Sweater" and a prize was at stake for the worst (or best?) of the group. I'm proud to announce that my knitted gem (which was lovingly referred to as "Florida Christmas") helped me take home the title of runner-up! Smelling like mothballs was well worth the bragging rights. Here's a glance at our stylish group:

I'm on the right; the one donning crocheted fish along the hem of my sweater. I was beat out by the guy in the center with the red, homemade threads. A worthy competitor, for sure.

And here's a little bonus:

He totally rocked that floral print. And by "totally rocked," I mean "totally creeped me out."

Chandra & Andrew : Just Because Session

2008-11-30T11:02:00.005-05:00

My nose was stuffy. My sinuses were throbbing. My voice sounded a bit man-ish. I spent most of yesterday in my sweats, under a blanket, placing balled-up tissues in a pile next to me on the couch. The expression "I feel like I've been hit by a truck" rang true for me--I was miserably, pathetically, self-pityingly sick.

As I began getting ready for our shoot that day, I remember thinking, "Just get through this without passing out." And I did. In fact, I forgot all about being sick while hanging out with, and snapping photos of Chandra and Andrew. Apparently, doing what I love, with the man that I love, while spending time with an insanely awesome couple was just what I needed.

We've known Chandra and Andrew for some time, but through this session, I feel like we really connected. We wish they lived closer, because they are the kind of couple who you want living next door to you. They're easy to talk to, hysterical, super fun and energetic, and completely down-to-earth. They have perfect chemistry, which translates into amazing photos. Interaction in front of a camera is sometimes awkward for couples, but Chandra and Andrew were comfortable from the first click. They aren't afraid to be silly, or romantic, and they totally allow their true personalities to shine through. And that is more than we could ever ask for from our clients. :)

We had a chance to grab Starbucks with Chandra and Andrew after the shoot, and chat about tattoos, life, and photography. :) Chandra is an aspiring photographer, and she wanted to ask us a few questions about how we got into the biz. It was so cool to have a conversation with someone who shares our passion. When we were starting out, we relied on experienced photographers to help us learn the ropes. So we were more than happy to be able to extend the same support to Chandra. We have no doubt that she'll have tons of success in the photog business. :)

Chandra and Andrew, you guys are fabulous. Thank you for being the medicine that I needed. :) Call us up if you're ever in town!

We had such a hard time choosing favorites, but here's a few from the shoot:

My favorite from the day.

Ben's fave.

Hello fantastic red shoes! :)

Super cute.

Fierce.

Who knew that a busted van seat would make such a great prop?!

Ok, I am so excited to post this last one. This is something that Ben and I have wanted to do for awhile now -- a "Personality Box." We told Chandra and Andrew what we were looking for, and they completely unleashed. We were practically in tears from laughing so hard while trying to choose 9 for the box. Thank you guys for setting the bar really, really high for future Personality Boxes. :)

The forgotten holiday.

2008-11-27T17:40:00.007-05:00

My mom and I were at the mall the other day, and we started noticing all the Christmas decor. Standing tall at the front entrance is one of the biggest, most lavishly decorated trees I've ever seen. The Santa set-up is near the center, and the big guy is surrounded by huge candy canes, snow men, and adults dressed like elves (which always creeps me out a little). As we were taking it all in, my mom said, "It bothers me that everyone forgets about Thanksgiving." Isn't it true? We get so caught up in the spectacle that is Christmas, that we forget about Thanksgiving. Don't get me wrong -- I love Christmas just as much as anyone else, but Thanksgiving is sort of treated like a snot-nosed, redheaded stepchild. And that's just not fair.

It starts happening right after Halloween -- stores bring in the red and green, and everyone begins to form their "wish lists." Before we know it, we're a week away from Thanksgiving, but we're already singing "Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer!" So this blog is for you Thanksgiving; what you stand for, and the joy that you bring to our lives. Today, Christmas holds no candle to you.

We are thankful for...

Our God. Simply put, we couldn't imagine journeying through life without having Him to direct us.

Our marriage. We were best friends before we started dating, and we're best friends today. We sometimes say to one another, "I couldn't possibly love you more than I love you right now." But then we start a new day, and prove ourselves wrong.

Our family. From both sides, we are surrounded by people who truly love us, support us, and accept us. We have learned some of life's greatest lessons from our family members, and for that, we are forever indebted to them. There aren't enough words to express our gratitude and love for our family, so we'll stop here. :)

Our friends. For sharing in our ridiculousness, for always having our backs, for encouraging words, for inside jokes, for words of wisdom, for compassion -- we appreciate each and every one of you.

Our puppy. Oh Putter, our lovable lab. You have become a barking, slobbery, playful ray of sunshine in our life. We can replace our couch cushion (and our flip flops, and our laptop charger, and our pillow, and your leash...) but we could never replace you.

Our passion. Photography has become so much more than a job for us. It is a creative outlet, a shared passion, and an exciting challenge. We love what we do, and we love the people we get to meet and interact with. Our clients are some of the coolest girls and guys ever, and we feel extremely lucky to be a (small) part of their lives.

Amy's "guilty pleasures": Chick-fil-A waffle fries, sweet potato casserole, House marathons, Jason's Deli, Aveda hair products, sweet tea, gossip magazines, boots, Facebook, and IKEA

Ben's "guilty pleasures": Porkies' BBQ, anything Mac, House marathons, Arnold Palmers, key lime pie, the Golf Channel, and Tijuana Flats. It may seem a little trivial to acknowledge our "guilty pleasures," but why pass up the chance to thank the burrito rollers at Tijuana or the creators of Facebook?!

We take our blessings for granted far too often, and we are glad to be able to use today as a reminder of just how fortunate we really are.

Reality Check and Putterific.

2008-11-25T11:42:00.005-05:00

We are back on land, and back to reality. In fact, reality slapped me in the face fairly hard yesterday when I saw 37 e-mails in my inbox, 9 voicemails on my phone, and approximately 13 piles of laundry looming on our bedroom floor. When is our next vacation again?

I plan on blogging about our cruising adventures, but haven't had a chance to upload the photos yet (must be that reality thing). Until then, I think it's time for a Putter update. Our little bundle of fur has been with us for about 4 months now, and we adore him. And when I say little, I mean 65 lbs. of slobbering, playful, flip-flop chewing love. He brings a whole lot of laughter and entertainment into our family, and we can't get enough of his cute, puppy personality. Even when he thinks he's a lap dog.

Here he is, with his beloved red Kong toy:

Bon Voyage.

2008-11-18T13:57:00.005-05:00

Today, we are officially on vacation. No cell phones, no computer, no stress. Just total relaxation and lots of sunny weather. Too bad a paycheck doesn't come along with it. :)

Since we'll be neglecting the blog for a few days, we're leaving you with something a little out of the ordinary; photos of us!

We did a photo swap with the always incredible Ashley McCormick and her hubby, Zach. Ben and I needed some updated photos, and Ashley and Zach were in the same boat. It's so nice to have a friend in the photog biz. :) We heart Ashley so much, and her mad skills. Check it:

We're cruuuuising...later!

Amy & Chad : Engagement Session

2008-11-17T20:13:00.009-05:00

Stop. Before you read any further you need to know something -- the couple featured below takes cuteness to a whole new level. I'm talking super-attractive-give-Angelina-and-Brad-a-run-for-their-money kind of cute. So if you're prone to jealousy, you may want to steer clear of this blog post because the green monster could definitely rear his ugly head if you see these photos.

What could make you even more jealous is how ridiculously nice and genuine Amy and Chad are. So they've got the looks, and they've got the personalities. Shouldn't that be illegal? :)

A little background...I've known Amy (hello name twin! :)) for years. Over the last few years we haven't been in touch due to distance, but we met way back-in-the-day when her family lived in Lake Wales. We even cheered together on a competition squad, and Amy brought back a ton of nostalgia when she rolled up to the engagement session yesterday with her old Cheer Elite duffle bag in tow! :)

Amy reconnected with me through our mutual friend Denise (who also hooked us up with Amy's older sister Tara ...so basically, we should be paying Denise some kind of percentage of our profits for advertisement. We love you Denise!).

Amy and her fiance, Chad, hired Ben and I to photograph their wedding in March which will be held at Chapel in the Gardens. After having a blast at their engagement session, we couldn't be more thrilled about being given the honor of being a part of their big day!

Amy and Chad, you guys are so much fun and it was awesome to spend time with you both. We loved laughing with you guys, and watching you interact together. Your compatibility is so on point, and there is no doubt in my mind that your marriage will be overflowing with true, passionate, endearing love. There are always conflicting opinions about the idea of having a "soul mate," but I truly believe that you two defy the skepticism, and prove that indeed, your relationship is meant-to-be. And no matter how hard we try not to be, that just makes the rest of us a tiny bit jealous. ;)

As promised, here's a few to hold you guys over until we're back from the cruise:

Adorable.

This is one of my faves.

Seriously. Was I right about the cuteness?!

Outfit change! :)

In the words of Tyra Banks: Fierce.

:).

This wall was a great surprise find.

Gorgeous! :)

The Scheers : Family Session

2008-11-16T23:18:00.006-05:00

Honestly, this may be the most difficult blog post I've had to write to date. What can be said about the Scheer family? They are quite the unique bunch, and I'm not sure that I'd be able to take on the task of describing them all by myself. So Ben and I are going to tag team it. That's right; one blog post, two bloggers. The Scheer family is just that special.

I'll go first...since I'm already typing.

There are 5 parts that make up the Scheer family as a whole; Bill (Dad and Hubby), Letty (Mom and Wifey), Shanai (Oldest Daughter and Sister), Brianna (Youngest Daughter and Sister), and Seth (Son and The "Baby" - but don't even think about calling him that).

At the risk of sounding cliche, Bill and Letty are two of the greatest people I've ever met. No really, I'm not just saying that. Individually, they are each truly fantastic. Together, they are an unstoppable force. Like X-Men. Or peanut butter and jelly.

On a more serious note, Bill and Letty are incredible friends to Ben and I, and a couple that we look up to in the marriage department. Their shared love for God is overwhelmingly evident, and that seeps into their sincere love and devotion for each other, and for other people.

I get so sentimental on this thing. :)

Bill and Letty have raised three fabulous children - each with a different personality, but the same love and respect for God, their family, and others. Ben and I pray every night that we will have children who are half as awesome as Shanai, Brianna, and Seth. I'm almost certain that the odds are against us from hearing stories about Ben as a kid, but we can dream, right? :)

I think I have to leave room for Ben somewhere on here, so I should stop. I'm a rambler in every form of communication. Yes, this means that I am that person who leaves 5 minute long voicemails and writes unnecessarily long-winded e-mails. Somebody should really be monitoring me on this thing or I'll just type for days. See? It's like an obsession. Ok. I'm done.

***

Yo. Ben here, and let me first start by letting you know that Amy has dropped the mouse under the couch three times in the last 20 minutes. You might be wondering how that's possible. Me too.

Anyway, allow me to say a couple quick things about the outrageousness that is so mildly represented in the photos below.

Bill, Letty, Nai, Bri and Seth; you guys are an absolute riot. You are the family that everyone wants to hang out with. Maybe it's the Rican flavor to the home cooking or the fact that you're sure to depart with sore abdominal muscles from excessive laughter. Or maybe it's that you guys actually care about people. Whatever the reason, just know that your company is in high demand, so thanks for letting us share so much time with your crew.

If I were to try my best to describe this family, I would have to employ a familiar tool; the metaphor...

The Scheer family is exactly like a good tank. You've seen them; the kind with the arm holes that stretch all the way down to the hips. Arms are free to move and sway as they were intended and each part of the upper body unrestricted for whatever it takes to "lift heavy." In a word, total "comfort."

That's what you feel around these guys. Comfort. And it's a truly refreshing experience.

Here's some from the family shoot we did with the Scheer's:

Shanai.

Brianna.

Seth.

Letty and Bill.

:).

Hot mama! (*p.s. this is Amy again. That could have gotten a little weird and creepy.)

The whole gang.

Pretty accurate. :)

Megan : Just Because Session

2008-11-12T23:55:00.003-05:00

There are some people you just click with. They get you, you get them. Personalities mesh, and a bond is formed. Ben and I click, so I married him. Megan and I click, so I was totally thrilled when she asked us to photograph her.

Megan e-mailed us a couple of months ago, inquiring about a Senior portrait session. After receiving her message, I recall saying to Ben, "I like this chick." She's creative and quirky; a dynamite combination (and I'm not just saying that because I feel like I share similar qualities...;)) From coining the ridiculous phrase "photographying" to swapping witty comments with me on Facebook, Megan won me over. I'm a fan.

Megan, we had such a blast getting to know you, and photographying your Senior session. Thanks for sharing in our outrageousness - we click with you, and we love that. :)

Pretty lady. :)

Hello, awesome wall.

Winter Park has some fabulous scenery.

I believe this was when Megan suggested that Ben "lay on the ground." Nice advice.

My favorite from the shoot.

A close second.

Converse love. <3

Gabby & Andrew : Engagement Session

2008-11-11T15:35:00.005-05:00

I have a confession to make - I get really anxious about blogging engagement sessions. Sometimes I feel like I may not depict a relationship perfectly through my words, and as a result, leave cyber-world void of an accurate portrayal of a couple and their bond. It's a daunting task to describe the love shared between two people. Every love story is unique, and it is important (to me, at least) to illustrate each with eloquence and finess. I suppose that I am admitting this so that our clients will have a disclaimer. In other words, if you feel misrepresented by my words, at least you can gain some satisfaction in knowing that I apprehensively chewed off every single one of my fingernails while giving it my best attempt. :)

Gabby and Andrew's story doesn't bring me relief in the anxiety department. Their relationship is extra special, and their bond is inspirational. How am I supposed to translate that through a couple of paragraphs?! Well, my cuticles are shredded, so here goes nothing...

The first, and most important thing that you should know about Gabby and Andrew isn't that he is deaf, and she is majoring in Interpretive Studies. It isn't that they've been dating for over two years, or that they are waiting until they both graduate college to get married. You see, while all of these things are true, the most important thing that you should know is that they are absolutely head-over-heels in love. This is not the kind of love that diminishes over time; this is the kind of love that offers compassion, support, encouragement, and unconditional respect and admiration. This is the kind of love that erases any insecurity and leaves comfort, confidence and stability in it's place. This is the kind of love that makes saps (like me) feel all warm and fuzzy. :)

From my observation, Gabby and Andrew are two of the most down-to-earth, easygoing people I have ever encountered. Their engagement session on USF campus (where they both attend) made me remember why I love photography. Their chemistry is unquestionable and their sweet interaction is effortless and natural. Anyone in a relationship should take note - this is the kind of love to strive for. :)

Happiness. :)

This textured wall rocked my world.

Can't you just feel the love from bursting through your computer screen? :)

This was almost my favorite from the day...

...but this one beat it out.

Gabby's eyes pierce through the lens.

"I love you."