Gina Leigh Photography | Web Journal

A Grand Re-Opening!

2009-11-28T13:02:00.014-05:00

My Dear Friends,

ave butterflies in my stomach. I am giddy with anticipation. With great excitement, I invite you to visit my new website and web journal. It seems as if my every extra moment over the course of several months has been devoted to this project. Countless hours and endless creative energy...and yet, all worth the effort.

have spend the past two years defining my own style as a photographer. In many ways, it has been a journey in discovering who I am as person. It has brought me back to my original love for film photography. In the end, I have found that my unique style as a photographer has everything to do with the things that matter most in life. It is real, it is natural. It is filled with tenderness and romance. It is soft and genuine. It is fine art.

Having said all this, it is was so very important to have a business brand that reflects my style. Thus, my re-branding project began! I started by making a list of the things that inspire me, and one of the predominant items on this list was the art of hand lettering...calligraphy. I believe this has much to do with my grandmother's faithfulness to handwritten letters. Isn't this part of an era that has almost passed us by?

I commissioned a true artist, Monica, from A Bit of Ink, to hand draw my new logo. Beautiful, yes? I then began the process of custom web design, through the talented team at BigFolio. Here is a link to the the final design:

Gina Leigh Photography

I am most excited to unveil A Pen for Pearl. A Pen for Pearl is a diary of sorts. A photography journal. It is dedicated to my grandmother, Gloria Pearl, in honor of her faithfulness to handwritten letters and her love for the beautiful things in life. I do hope that her legacy will carry on as I begin my next journey of corresponding with you daily...taking note especially of the loveliness that surrounds us!

A Pen for Pearl

I would love to hear from you! This project is very near to my heart, and it would make me so happy to know what you think. Please be sure to subscribe to A Pen for Pearl, and visit me often!

Many, many blessings,

Gina

My Dear Friends,

I can only begin to express my delight and excitement! Today, I am unveiling my new web journal, A Pen for Pearl, and my new website. It seems as if my every extra moment over the course of several months has been devoted to this project. Countless hours and endless amounts creative energy...and yet, all worth the effort.

I have spend the past two years defining my own style as a photographer. In many ways, it has been a journey in discovering who I am as a person. It has brought me back to my original love for film photography. In the end, I have found that my unique style as a photographer has everything to do with the things that matter most in life. It is real, it is natural. It is filled with tenderness and romance. It is soft and genuine. It is fine art.

Having said all this, it is important to have a business brand that reflects my style. My re-branding project began by making a list of the things that inspire me, and one of the predominant items on this list was the art of hand lettering...calligraphy. I believe this has much to do with my grandmother's faithfulness to handwritten letters. Isn't this part of an era that has almost passed us by?

I commissioned a true artist, Monica, from A Bit of Ink, to hand draw my new logo. Beautiful, yes? I then began the process of custom web design, through the amazingly talented team at BigFolio. Here is a link to the the final design:

Gina Leigh Photography

What is A Pen for Pearl? It is a diary of sorts. A photography journal. It is dedicated to my grandmother, Gloria Pearl, in honor of her faithfulness to handwritten letters and her love for the beautiful things in life. I hope that her legacy will carry on as I begin my next journey of corresponding with you daily...taking note especially of the loveliness that surrounds us!

I would love to hear from you! Please take a moment to leave me a comment on A Pen for Pearl. This project is very near to my heart, and it would make me so happy to know what you think. Also, please be sure to subscribe to A Pen for Pearl, and visit me often!

Many, many blessings,

Gina

2009-11-17T11:42:00.003-05:00

The Dressing Room in St. Petersburg is pleased to host for the first time a trunk show featuring Coren Moore. This designer, one of only a few that manufacture in New York City, will present wedding gowns as well as bridesmaid dresses. Fresh, clean, smart styles, all with quality workmanship and beautiful fabrics. And special discounts will be offered!

This Friday and Saturday, starting at 11AM till 7 PM, appointments are preferred.

2009-11-09T17:00:00.002-05:00

My dear friend, Judy, owner of the lovely bridal boutique, The Dressing Room, is introducing the entire collection of Simone Carvalli Wedding Gowns, on November 13 & 14 . A company representative will also be at her boutique to answer all your wedding and style questions, so this is a perfect opportunity to find your perfect dress!

This exquisite dress collection can be seen in Brides, InStyle Weddings, Martha Stewart Weddings and The Knot magazines. The Simone Carvalli Collection is known nationally for elegance, quality and fit. These gowns feature sophistication, romance, and glamour with a contemporary flair. Many with exquisite hand beaded work, accents of crystals, pearls and stones.

The new collection will be previewed all day Friday and Saturday, starting at 11 AM till 7 PM both days, appointments preferred.

Bridal fashion trends have moved away from each member looking identical, and The Dressing Room based its philosophy on this. The customization options available at The Dressing Room are endless and allow brides to be considerate of her bridesmaids and ensure a beautiful coordinated look.

The Dressing Room is located in St. Petersburg at 2430 Central Avenue. The phone number is (727) 323 – ROOM (7666). For additional information, visit The Dressing Room website.

The images above are a from a variety of opportunities that I have had to photograph the beautiful dresses and gowns that The Dressing Room has carried over the course of the past two years. The selection is always current, and always lovely.

Keep Film Alive

2009-09-24T19:47:00.008-04:00

Over the course of the past several months, I have found great inspiration from other film photographers such as Tanja Lippert. I am encouraged especially by her efforts to keep alive the love of film through education and inspiration. She has gathered a community of some of the worlds' best film photographers on her blog, Keep Film Alive, and provides encouragement to anyone who is a fan of film to wipe the dust off of those old cameras, pick up a roll, and start shooting.

It is a tremendous honor to have had Tanja ask me to share about my own return to film on Keep Film Alive. Please take a moment to visit, and learn why film is such an important part of my journey as a wedding photographer.

Published in Brides Florida Magazine!

2009-09-02T19:44:00.004-04:00

What a tremendous honor it is to have Betsy and John's lovely wedding chosen as a two page feature in the Fall/Winter 2009 issue of Brides Florida Magazine! I certainly must thank Shannon Wilson of Table 6 Productions for her amazing talent and style, and also the wonderful Botanica International Design Studio team for the beautiful florals. Be sure to pick up the latest copy on news stands within the next week!

Congratulations, Betsy and John!

The beautiful cover of Brides Florida...

Jennifer and Drew

2009-08-19T16:37:00.004-04:00

I am in love with the soft greens, creamy whites, chocolate browns, and unexpected hints of red in Jennifer and Drew's photographs. Their day was simply beautiful.

Thank you to Samara with Voila Events, who not only helped Jennifer pull together all of her amazing details, but absolutely outdid herself coordinating the many activities of this day and keeping everything running smoothly.

The gorgeous floral design was provided by the talented Grymes Cannon Floral Design team. Aren't the florals so soft and lovely?

More and more, I am finding myself firmly convinced that there is nothing quite like shooting with film. The look of photographs shot with film, especially medium format film, have such a soft, dreamy feel. It is entirely unlike anything a digital camera is capable of. I love shooting film! All of the photos below, and the photos in the slideshow were shot with my medium format Contax 645 or Nikon 35mm cameras.

Enjoy!

Denise and Thomas

2009-08-13T23:27:00.007-04:00

A few more photographs from Denise and Thomas' lovely wedding...

A special thank you to The Potting Shed for the beautiful florals, and of course to Lori from Simply Divine Events for all the wonderful planning. And, as always, thank you to Jaime for second shooting! Kudos to Jaime for the shoe shot above.

Filling Up for 2010!

2009-08-10T21:36:00.004-04:00

I am tremendously blessed to say that my calendar is now filled up with amazing weddings for amazing couples through May of 2010! I anticipate that the remainder of the year will also fill quickly, so be sure to contact me soon if you are considering commissioning me to photograph your special day in 2010.

Here is a little peak at Denise and Thomas' beautiful wedding, at the historic Tampa Yacht and Country Club. Many thanks to Lori, of Simply Divine Events, who planned this lovely day. All three of these photos were shot with medium format film using my Contax 645.

Beautiful Boys

2009-08-08T21:29:00.013-04:00

Aren't little boys amazing? Mine are. They cause my days to spill over with laughter and smiles. And lots of kisses.

Here are portraits of my own little guys...what a delight to capture their deep chocolate brown eyes and dimples. All of these photographs were shot on my medium format Contax 645 and Nikon 35mm cameras, using Fuji and Ilford film, processed at Richard Photo Lab.

Enjoy more in the slideshow below...

Ashley and Michael

2009-07-21T11:54:00.004-04:00

Ashley + Mike’s super 8mm e-session w/Gina Leigh Photography from Tampa Wonderworks Film and Video on Vimeo.

Ashley and Michael are a super fun couple, and I had a blast with them during their engagement session. They will be married next Spring at the gorgeous Powel Crosley Estate in Sarasota, and are planning a vintage 1920's style wedding...which fits them perfectly!

I shot this engagement session with film, primarily with my medium format Contax 645. Have I said it before? I love film.

Bryan and Tracey with Tampa Wonderworks also came along to shoot some amazing footage with vintage Super8 film! Unbelievable. I LOVE Super8!! I'm thrilled to have found Tampa Wonderworks because they are now specializing in this truly vintage film. They share the same love that I have for the authenticity of film...of course, they shoot a moving subject, and I shoot a still subject (no pun intended!)...but the love for this venue of art is very much the same.

Bryan was very thoughtful and got some footage of me during our photo shoot! He's put together the wonderful film, above, and I'm so excited to share it. Thanks so much Bryan!!

Thank you also to the beautiful and historic Don Vincente Inn in Ybor. We appreciate you!

Beth and Taylor | Married

2009-06-04T22:49:00.006-04:00

Congratulations, Beth and Taylor! What an absolutely beautiful wedding.

Earlier this afternoon, I received the images from my wonderful film lab in L.A, Richard Photo Lab, for Beth and Taylor's wedding. I'm excited to share these for two reasons. First, the wedding truly was stunning!! Second (drumroll, please)...these photos are all shot from my trusty FILM cameras. Yes, that's right. Film. As in, 35mm, 120, and 220 medium format F.I.L.M.

I've always been an old fashioned kinda gal, and I guess I'm returning to my roots. I just love the look of film! It is real. It is timeless. Truly classic. None of the photographs you are about to see are edited, and there is something exceptional about that kind of authenticity.

Before showing the photographs, I must thank Amy from Grassroots Flowers for the gorgeous florals! She always provides the most extra-ordinary displays, and this was no exception. Also, thank you to Erika from the beautiful Renaissance Vinoy for all of her hard work. And thanks to Southtown Fever for keeping the party movin', as they always do!

Enjoy!

Before I sign off, I must also mention the gorgeous dresses that Beth's bridesmaids wore! Judy, from The Dressing Room, provided these truly unique dresses, along with extraordinary service to all the girls. All of the photographs that I shot of the dresses were digital, and so I will be sure to post a photo or two soon as I am editing the digital images.

XOXO
Gina Leigh

The Dressing Room, Trunk Show

2009-03-25T15:03:00.002-04:00

Brides, it is my pleasure to make you aware of a very special event this coming Friday and Saturday, March 27th and 28th! My dear friend, Judy Ferrara, owner of The Dressing Room in St. Petersburg, is very excited to introduce the entire collection of Simone Carvalli Wedding Gowns. A company representative will be at The Dressing Room to answer all your wedding and style questions. This exquisite dress collection can be seen in Brides, InStyle Weddings, Martha Stewart Weddings and The Knot magazines.

The Simone Carvalli Collection is known nationally for elegance, quality and fit. These gowns feature sophistication, romance, and glamour with a contemporary flair. Many with exquisite hand beaded work, accents of crystals, pearls and stones. The new collection will be previewed all day Friday and Saturday, starting at 11 AM till 7 PM both days, appointments preferred.

In addition to great fashion, Judy brings a unique boutique experience to bridal parties. The Dressing Room is focused on edited styles, exceptional service and personal attention, all in a beautiful setting. Judy has designed her boutique so that bridal parties will experience shopping on a whole new level. The comfortable, exclusive atmosphere helps brides leave their wedding planning stress behind to enjoy shopping with friends. Judy provides individual attention by appointment only – offering private, intimate shopping.

The Dressing Room has something for every woman’s age, body type and special event. Styles include dresses that are sexy and strapless, some with classic polish, others featuring fabrics that are modern satin, flirty chiffon, deep V necklines, elegant subdued fabrics, rich jewel tones, gorgeous pastels and smart neutrals.

The Dressing Room is located in St. Petersburg at 2430 Central Avenue, and the phone number is (727) 323 – ROOM (7666). Don't miss this event!

Davis Island Garden Club Bridal Showcase

2009-02-23T20:49:00.003-05:00

The past several weeks I have been hard at work updating all my portfolio albums and getting ready for the upcoming Davis Island Garden Club Bridal Show. I'm very excited to be participating, as this is an exclusive bridal show for the Tampa area's upscale vendors. It's a honor to have been asked to be a part of the event! I don't usually take part in the bridal show circuit, but this is a very special showcase.

To all my brides (and future brides!), I hope to see you there! This is definitely and event that is not to be missed. AND, I happen to have VIP passes. That's right...get in the door free! Please be sure to contact me very soon if you'd like to attend, and I will be happy to provide you with one of these exclusive VIP passes.

I can't wait to see you all there! Please be sure to stop by to say "hi" and see my work in print.

Emily and Cory

2009-02-12T18:38:00.009-05:00

Emily and Cory. The unwritten rules of wedding photographer blogging says that I'm supposed to start by writing about how much they love each other. Which they do. But first, allow me please to share about how much I love them.

I knew how great they were within five minutes of our first meeting. Emily and Cory came with Emily's mom, Joy, and her sister. Not only was I delighted that they were all there together, but grateful for the warmth with which they greeted me. We chatted for a little while, and I smiled inside as I noticed how often Emily and Cory glanced at each other, and more so how Emily's eyes would brighten every time! I learned that Cory was specifically looking for a photographer with an unobtrusive style, which is important to me. And here was the clincher...Emily cried while viewing my slideshow. Real tears. She cried real tears. It was such a genuine expression of appreciation for my work, and I was humbled. Which made me cry too. It was then that I knew just how much I wanted to have the privilege of documenting their special day!

Emily has a smile that can infuse a whole room with joy, and Cory visibly adores her. The truth is that they share a love for each other that is incredibly special, and it was indeed a great honor to be by their very side during this day that they committed to love each other for a lifetime. Congratulations, Emily and Cory. And thanks for being so wonderful!

As an interesting side note, Emily and Cory were married at the First United Methodist Church in St. Petersburg, which is the same church that Governor Crist was recently married in. Their reception was held at the The Renaissance Vinoy's beautiful Sunset Ballroom. The gorgeous floral design was by KaBloom.

Emily and Cory chose to see each other before the ceremony, which gave us opportunity to capture some beautiful portraits.

More vintage goodness:

Thank you, Jaime, for second shooting and for the beautiful images you contributed! Here is one of my favorites that Jaime captured:

The next two photos are also from Jaime's lens:

Quite the stunning bride, isn't she?

Cocktail hour at The Vinoy's beautiful Sunset Ballroom, from Jaime:

The room details were amazing!

Quite an amazing day, wasn't it?

Fillin' Up Fast - 2009!

2009-02-06T16:02:00.004-05:00

In the midst of the exciting news I shared yesterday (see below), I neglected to mention that I am almost completely booked for 2009! I have only four openings remaining, and I am currently booking for 2010. What a tremendous year of growth it has been!

For those of you who are considering commissioning me for your wedding, I hope that you are one of my next clients! Please be sure to contact me soon as I anticipate that these remaining dates will soon be taken. You can reach me directly at 727-539-9414, and I would be happy to meet with you personally.

And since no blog post is really complete without a photo, here is a little vintage goodness:

It's February, already.?

2009-02-05T19:21:00.004-05:00

Really? February. So much has happened since my last blog post, and I hardly know where to begin. The truth is that life has been very, very busy, and my blog has taken a back burner. Pardon the cliche. The past several months have been filled with wonderful time with my family, a delightful Thanksgiving and Christmas, holiday parties, church ministry, amazing portrait sessions and weddings, and lots of editing and album designing.

Through all this, my business has taken quite an exciting turn. Allow me to share a part of what's been happening...

1. Every photographer experiences their "ah ha" moment. It's that moment when you suddenly know what you love, and I've had my "ah ha" moment. Up until now, I've sort of floated around with many different styles of photography, but I've now found my niche. My niche is...Vintage. Timeless, classic, vintage. There is something about a photograph that is reminiscent of older days that reaches me unlike any other. Not super saturated blue skies. Not bright vivid reds. My husband, on the other hand, thinks that a photograph finds it's beginning and end with blue and red. He can't get enough color. Not me. I love dark wood, a fire in the fireplace, and an old crystal chandelier overhead. I've had an affair with hunting antiques since the first year I was married, which was twelve years ago. I love the vintage black Remington Rand typewriter that sits boastfully in my living room. And the scratchy sound of old vinyl records. Old, old books. I love dark and romantic. This is me.

You've perhaps been noticing some changes around here. For example, Nat King Cole's soft voice on my website. You'll be seeing more changes soon, and a whole lot more vintage. It's all in the works...so stay tuned.

While you are waiting, please enjoy this image of Emily with the love of her life, Cory. I'll have a full post of their incredible wedding in the next few days.

2. Betsy and John's beautiful wedding has been selected as a featured "real wedding" in the upcoming Fall/Winter issue of Bride's Florida magazine!! This is an incredible honor, and I really can't say how thrilled I am. Shannon Wilson of Table 6 Productions did a wonderful job of seeing Betsy's vision for her wedding and making it happen, and Ian Prosser of Botanica International Design Studio contributed tremendously with his simple, chic floral design. Thank you to both of you! And thank you to the Brides Florida team!

Here is one of my favorite images from their special day.

I know it's been quite awhile since you've heard from me. I probably don't deserve much in the way of blog love, but I'd love to hear from you if you're in a forgiving mood. I've been missing all of my blog friends! Many blessings to you all.

Jaime and Phil

2008-11-23T23:21:00.020-05:00

Jaime, my amazingly gifted second shooter, and my dear friend Phil were married Saturday, November 15. Their wedding was incredibly special to me! It was such a privilege to not only be apart of nearly every moment of this tremendous day, but also to preserve it through my lens.

Phil's parents, Joyce and Dave, have played such important role in the life of my own family. Truly, they have been like family to us. My boys know every nook of Joyce and Dave's home, and have spent countless hours in their pool, playing with Lincoln Logs on their living room floor, and watching "Max and Ruby" while snuggled on Joyce's lap.

Jaime, as I have come to know her over the course of the past six months or so, has become a blessing and a friend in many ways too. I knew her first as Phil's bride. And then as MY bride...photographically speaking, of course. And then as I began to understand her own great talent as a photographer, I came to know her professionally. I was beyond delighted when she accepted my offer to begin working regularly with me as my second photographer at weddings! She is a true artist, and a whole lot of fun on top of all that! I love the way she interacts with other brides and families, and I love the way she and I fit each other so perfectly as a team. We just fit.

More importantly, Jaime and Phil....just fit. Here is a blurb from their wedding ceremony program that describes their love for each other, and God's blessing in it, much better than I ever could:

"Who would have thought a rough and tumble girl from Las Vegas, NV would be marrying an Eagle Scout from Clearwater, FL? They are different in every way...she's a little messy and he's always clean. She's a risk taker and he is a researcher. He's a little on the quiet side and she's a lot on the loud side. Yet God put them together for such a time as this. So different, but so perfect. The Lord knows how to make the best matches. He knows how to pick the perfect time, and he knows how to make the perfect plans. Jaime and Phillip know this day was ordained by the Lord and they are so glad He loves them enough to put them together."

Before moving along to the images, I must thank both Phillip Lloyd and Erin Harvey for the time and talent they gave second shooting. Erin helped captured the "groom's perspective" during Jaime and Phil's pre-ceremony "first look" in the morning. And Phillip jumped in around noon and helped for the rest of the day!

Location: Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo, FL, Floral Design: Amy Fretto with Grassroots Flowers, Cinematography: Marty with Voila Cinematic

The pre-cermony First Look, which Jaime and Phil opted to do early enough in the day so that they could enjoy some time together.

As captured by Erin's lens:

It threatened to rain all morning, but the skies broke free of the cloud cover and the rest of the day was beautiful!

Yes, yes, yes. This photo was indeed taken at Starbucks!! Jaime and Phil's first date was at Starbucks...and a blind date, no less. What fun! The barista snapped a polaroid and gave the happy couple drinks on the house.

Jaime is having a serious love affair with textures, so in honor of her, here's a little texture goodness.

Phillip snapped a couple of me. Here I'm chattin it up with a darling, but somewhat reluctant ring bearer. He did in fact end up displaying a bit o' charm for the group shot!

Love that vintage feel with the sepia and texture. The laughs aren't so bad either.

This is Peter, Phil's brother, who is currently serving our country in Iraq. We were all very thankful he was given permission to take a quick trip home for the wedding.

Yummy color.

Restless boys during the ceremony. Gotta love boys.

Jaime and Phil had a beautiful time of worship in their ceremony.

This shot is one of my favorites from the day, captured by Phillip.

Jaime's mom. I love the emotion in this shot.

I think this is my very favorite shot of the day. A real moment of gratitude.

Phil and Jaime, I hope you both have had a wonderful time in Jamaica! I can't wait to see you when you get back. For all the rest of you, don't forget to leave either me or Jaime and Phil a little blog love in the comments!!

A Note of Thanks

2008-11-22T08:22:00.003-05:00

A simple "thank you." Why is it that the words "thank you" hold such power?

The Monday after a wedding is always one of my very favorite days. This is the day that I get to look through all the images we've captured and begin the work of turning the "art" within the images into "fine art." I love these Mondays! It's as if every photograph, every real moment captured, is a little present waiting to be opened!

Apart from the personal artistic expression I enjoy on these Monday's, and of course the experience of shooting on the wedding day itself, the most rewarding part of my job is the day I receive feedback from my brides and grooms. I really cannot say how much my heart soars when I know that they have been blessed by our work.

Yesterday I received the most encouraging note from Betsy. This little note held within it the power to lift my spirit high for the whole day, and I woke up this morning smiling as I thought of Betsy's thoughtful words.

I asked Betsy for her permission to share her sweet note, and she kindly gave me her blessing. So, here are the very words that brought me such delight:

"Hi Gina,

John and I just got back from our honeymoon on Sunday and it's taken us a bit to unwind and get back into the swing of things, so I'm a little late in writing to you. And I have to say, I don't know where to begin. I'm so overwhelmed. These photos are absolutely astounding!! They are beautifully shot, have gorgeous light and treatments and the composition of them is fantastic! You and Jaime did such an amazing job. I can't tell you how happy we are with these. We had people at the reception asking us who our photographer was, because they'd stopped by the laptop and had seen some photos and thought they were gorgeous. I saw some of those photos that night and saw how great they were, but my attention was drawn in so many different directions that I wasn't able to look at them for very long. It wasn't until we got back and went through all of them that we realized just how amazing they are. John and I couldn't be happier.

And I also wanted to say thank you so much for getting these done so quickly. I know John's mom was really appreciative and was delighted to have a photo to use for the Richmond paper.

Anyway, I can't thank you enough. We never get tired of looking at them. I had such a great time working with you--you made that day so easy and really captured some fantastic candid moments.

Hope you had a great time at the wedding. I can't believe it's all over. It goes by so fast. I keep looking at all the photos to try and recapture the night. : ) They're pretty funny juxtaposed with our honeymoon photos which, shall we say, weren't exactly glamorous (or nearly as professional)--particularly the shots of water buffalo and donkeys wandering by our trekking lodges. : )

Hope you're doing well. Speak to you soon.

XO, Betsy"

Thank you, Betsy, for blessing me!

Big Time Congrats to Shannon!

2008-11-19T15:22:00.003-05:00

Shannon Wilson of Table 6 Productions is not only a fabulous wedding planner, but also an all around sweetheart! I really can't say how much I've enjoyed getting to know her through our work together.

She has recently been given some incredible recognition for her work! She has been nominated for an Event-Solutions Spotlight Award for "Event Planner of the Year"!! After the playing field was narrowed from thousands of nominees to just seven finalists, Table 6 Productions was named as one of the elite finalists. The winner is chosen by the public… so please take a moment to vote. Here's how:

1. Go to http://www.event-solutions.com/
2. Click the Event Solutions animated icon (found in the upper left-hand corner)
3. Enter your email address
4. Scroll down until you see “Event Planer of the Year – East” (it is the 10th category)
5. Vote for Shannon Wilson
6. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click “save/submit”

In honor of all this, Shannon was in need of some amazing headshots...which was not AT ALL hard to accomplish. Said simply, she's stunning. Here's the proof:

A few favorites for our shoot:

And how about these killer shoes?!

Please take a moment to leave a little note of congratulations to Shannon in the comments below...AND VOTE!!

Becky and Ken

2008-11-11T00:34:00.003-05:00

It has been so much fun for me to get to know Becky and Ken! Truly, through a smattering of emails...always laced with a good bit of humor...I can honestly say Becky has become a friend. It was my privilege to document their marriage on November 1.

Thank you also to Jackie Ross from Table 6 Productions for her tremendous planning efforts! The details were perfect, which was of course, no surprise.

We started the day at The Met in Sarasota for hair and make-up. The hair stylists and make-up artists did a fabulous job...and even I felt pampered!

Thanks to my super talented second shooter, Jaime, for snagging this shot of Becky driving while we were driving to Lakewood Ranch Country Club!

Ken with his two boys, Bob and Jake:

Hello. Gorgeous.

Becky's ceremony dress. Yes...ceremony dress. She wore another smashing dress for the reception...which you'll see later. Gator.

Becky and Ken opted for a pre-ceremony "first look" which I loved!

The next three shots are from Jaime's lens:

Alexa, Becky's daughter:

During the ceremony:

Following dinner the guest enjoyed specialty coffee, with their choice of flavor. Gotta love those special touches!

The first dance...

...which was soon joined by Alexa (captured with the long lens by Jaime).

I love this sweet moment during the father/daughter dance, captured by Jaime:

Another fun shot that Jaime captured during the mother/daughter dance:

As promised, a shot of Becky in her reception dress. I love this photo of her dancing!

One of my favorites of the night...Becky hugging Ken's parents:

As a side note, I wanted to highlight in this post the tremendous benefit it is to have two photographers documenting your wedding day. You can see the variety of angles and perspectives that Jaime and I are able to achieve as a team. When I'm using a wide angle lens, she's got on her long lens. I love the way we work together, and I am so thankful for her talent and hard work!

Becky and Ken, congratulations!! Love ya both.

Betsy and John

2008-10-28T16:00:00.004-04:00

Betsy and John...a beautiful couple from New York City. They were married this Saturday in Clearwater, Florida, and it was an amazing wedding! I was especially touched by the closeness of their family. Shannon Wilson from Table 6 Productions planned the event, and so...of course...everything was spectacular. Betsy and John wanted a very organic feel to all their details, which Shannon, along with Botanica International Design Studio, orchestrated perfectly.

Guess what is making a "come-back"? Check out the length of the flowers!

This AMAZING shot was captured by my talented second photographer, Jaime.

OK, let's back track a little to the beginning of the day...here are some "getting ready" shots:

This little sweetie was such a show stopper. Betsy, I must confess she stole the spotlight a bit! We just couldn't keep our cameras away.

I mean, come on...

Moving along to the guys...here is John and his IDENTICAL twin brother:

And his sister:

And another little doll. Seriously, can we get enough "adorable" in one day? These next two shots were from Jaime:

Here are a few favorites of Betsy and the bridesmaids:

From Jaime's perspective, with the long lens:

I caught this fun shot while Jaime was lining up the young ring bearers in the background:

This was shortly before the ceremony:

Oh, my.

One of my favorites of the day:

After the ceremony, we took a boat to the Carlouel Yacht Club.

Gotta love that backlighting and grab a bit o' flare:

Grabbing s'more flare:

How about this unbelievable shot that Jaime got?!

The gorgeous details from Botanica and Table 6 Productions:

And the beautiful cake by Chantilly Cakes:

From Jaime's lens:

A little rear end grabage:

The Table 6 gals:

This bunch knew how to dance...I mean, they KNEW how to dance...and South Town Fever kept the party rockin.

What a great day! Give me some blog love, ya'll. :)

Let's Eat Cake!

2008-10-19T11:23:00.006-04:00

One of my favorite things about being a wedding photographer is that I get to meet all kinds of wonderful wedding professionals. Case in point...Melissa Margarita-DiStefano, owner of MasterpieceWeddings. Melissa is not only one of the warmest wedding planners I've ever met, but she was also named the #1 Wedding Consultant in North America in 2001!!! It has been such a pleasure to become friends with Melissa and her wonderful assistant, Kristin. These gals are seriously amazing!

MasterPiece Weddings is located in Gainesville, FL - very near the University of Florida campus. Go Gators! It's a bit of a drive for me from Tampa, but I enjoy traveling, and working with Melissa and Kristin is very worth the hike. I suppose what I have enjoyed most is more than just the level of professionalism I've seen from both of them, but that they are very interested in what matters most to their brides/couples.

Melissa is a cancer survivor, and I am honored to participate in her incredibly unique fundraising effort for St. Jude's Childrens Research Hospital...Let's Eat Cake!

Check this out...it's a wedding cake competition, featuring Wedding Cake confections from all over the United States, and the proceeds go directly to a wonderful organization dedicated to treating children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. Be sure the visit the Let's Eat Cake! blog to seek out more information. I am personally thrilled to donate a portrait session as a prize for the competition!

Also, many of you will enjoy the MasterPiece Wedding daily blog for tons of wedding inspiration. She is always posting great tips and ideas for wedding planning and has tons of great links to other fabulous sites and blogs too!

Blessed

2008-10-10T09:01:00.002-04:00

I am so thankful for my family. Could one women be more blessed? There are times when it is hard for me to comprehend how wonderful God is, but the truth is that He has poured out good things on my life...abundantly. And I am thankful.

This week I had the privilege of speaking to a group of women at Bayside Community Church. They asked me to come and share some tips on creating great photos of their kids and families. I was thrilled that they wanted to learn more about capturing "real" moments. It was fun!

In the process of preparing, I decided not to show all kinds of photos of my clients, but rather I put together a slideshow of some of my favorite photos of my own family. I worked on the slideshow late Tuesday night, and stayed up until about 1:00 in the morning. Not so much because there was tons of work to do, but simply because I got lost in my own world of reminiscing. It is amazing how much emotion is involved with a single still image. Truly, I was brought to tears.

As a side note, the fine upstanding gentlemen with all the tattoos, whom I am hugging at the end of the slideshow is my beloved brother from Ohio. Not my husband. I had a little chat with Eric (my husband) last night about how few photographs I have of him. Actually, he was the one who brought up the subject. This will change, he promised. :)

Fours Years and Counting

2008-09-29T17:08:00.007-04:00

Joshua is four years old. Andrew is 23 months old. For the moment, I have complete control over their bedroom. I dictate every detail...the sweet basket plumped full of animal friends, the little red wagon with Eric's old blocks, and the large necked giraffe that protects my baby while he sleeps. Everything. I am not, however, naive to the fact that in a very short time this will all change. Darling blue and chocolate colored ribbons will soon be replaced by red and blue Cubs pendants, baseballs, and race cars.

For now, I'm cherishing the moment. And for when I am overrun by boys that are taller than I and my memory of these days is clouded, I will be grateful for my trusty Nikon. Each of these images have a particular sentiment to them. They all make my heart sing a little song. Allow me to elaborate...

Here is an overall view of the room, from the doorway:

Andrew's crib. Notice the hand painted wooden sign above the bed - a gift from a special friend, Holly, who cuts Joshua and Andrew's hair:

Joshua's sign, given by the same special friend...so that Joshua wouldn't feel left out when his new baby brother was born. :)

Joshua's bed, with Daddy's little friend, Monk. Monk is tattered and loved....mostly by Eric and not by Joshua.

The boys' shared dresser. The photo in the frame is of Andrew when he was eleven days old. My favorite part of the photograph is his umbilical cord, which is still attached. Forever a memory of his young and tiny body. The set of Peter Rabbit books is another gift from a dear friend, Jane. Jane stayed in our home for four days and three nights after Andrew was born to help me in the first few days of caring for my new baby, along with an energetic two-year old Joshua. I'm thankful for the many cups of tea my sweet British friend placed in my hands during those days.

This is a ceramic train that held a plant, given to my mother in law, Marion, after the birth of one of her children. It may have been when Eric was born, but she isn't certain. Nevertheless, it is a bit of family history. Inside the train is a small piece of Eric's baby blanket, held up by just shreds of smooth satin trim.

The next two photos are of a little mirror hung on a ribbon - given as a gift to me when Joshua was born. It's always been one of my favorite things about his room.

Joshua found this red wagon in an antique store when he was two years old. I was pregnant with Andrew at the time...nearly about to deliver, and I was looking for a few things for their bedroom. I think it may have been the actual week before Andrew was born. My belly was humongous! Seriously, I'm a pretty tiny gal, and I gained 45 pounds! In any case, Joshua loved this little wagon, so I bought it and we filled it with wooden blocks that were Eric's when he was a baby.

When we moved into our home two years ago, I was pregnant..about eight months along. I had many wonderful friends from church who helped me unpack and hang pictures on the walls. Joe and Karen helped me hang these wooden painted pictures and the curtain rod. It looks as if it would have been easy enough, but truly, it was not! We struggled for hours to get these up correctly. My friend Joe passed away earlier this year due to a sudden heart attack. I think of him every time I look at these silly paintings! He was a tremendous encouragement to Eric and I in our ministry at the church.

I do not place much value in material things. The blue and brown ribbons and lovely curtains are one thing. But the memories that are attached...ahhh. I've become such a sucker for sentiment. I suppose this is why I love photography so much. There is something about capturing a moment in time, and holding it forever in a still image, that cannot be marked with a price.

Priorities and Practicality

2008-09-26T23:06:00.004-04:00

It is September, and I live in Florida. So, it's time for spring cleaning!

After wrapping up several large work related projects at the beginning of the week, I gave myself a few needed days off to get my home in order. I've been re-organizing my boys' bedrooms for about three weeks now, and it was more than time for this item to get crossed off my "To Do" list. In a nutshell, here's what I've accomplished:

1. Joshua's bed was moved into Andrew's room. (Thank you, Eric!) They now share a bedroom.

2. The closet in their bedroom has been gutted. Every box pulled out, sorted, clothes re-packed or donated. This closet is seriously clean! The boys' bedroom is now only for sleeping and getting dressed.

3. The extra bedroom (previously Joshua's) has been turned into a play room. This has been NO SMALL TASK! I doubt you'd be interested in the minutia of detail regarding the number of toys I've collected from the garage, patio, blah, blah, blah...that have been scrubbed and sorted.

4. The closet in the new play room has also been torn apart, sorted through, and re-organized.

5. I enlisted the help of a few friends. My super-great friend, Kristen, happens to be an expert at everything pertaining to children and "age appropriate play." Kristen came over yesterday to help me organize the toys in such a way that my kiddos could benefit from structured play. Also, Joyce and Bonnie (whom Joshua and Andrew ADORE), both came over at separate times during this project to help keep little pre-school hands out of my big mess!

I am now enjoying the great satisfaction of this completed project!

Before I sign off on this blog post, I want to take just a moment to explain my thought process. Why all this craziness??

My family is more important to me than anything in this world. It is my tremendous privilege to have a job that I not only love and am entirely passionate about, but that allows me to be at home with my children and the primary source of influence in their lives. My most important work is teaching and training these two little gifts that God has entrusted to me.

Having said that, I must also say that I firmly believe it is GOOD for my children to learn to be independent. It is important that they learn to use their young minds - to imagine, to play, to explore, to discover. It is not my job to entertain them.

What's my point? I spend a good bit of time during each day working on everything that pertains to Gina Leigh Photography. I am protective of my time, and I make every effort to use it well. It would be very easy to allow my business to become more important that my family. But, I have found that with the right amount of structure, my business and my family can both be given the attention they need. Thus, the need for "age appropriate play."

More so, I can see easily where my expertise ends. I know the in's and out's of shutter speeds and f-stops on my dearly loved Nikon. And I know how to give hugs and kisses when my little guys take a tumble. But, I know very little about "age appropriate play." I knew I needed assistance, and so I called for help. This project would never have come to fruition if I had tried to take it all on myself!

In summary, if I have any encouragement to pass on, it is this...prioritize what is most important, find practical ways to make it happen, and reach out for help when you can't do it on your own!

This is a photograph of Joshua enjoying a newly discovered toy!

If I have a chance tomorrow, I'll put up a photo or two of Joshua and Andrew's new room. Very darling. :)

I'd love to hear from some of you whom I know are in similar situations as I am - I know there are lots of you who are also tackling the job of parenting and photography (or other work) at the same time. Tell me a little about how you make it happen!

Family Story Board

2008-09-12T08:58:00.008-04:00

Life is busy right now. A good kind of busy. The curve ball is that my life is divided. I'm pretty insistent on protecting my time, but the elements that make up any given day right now are so very different.

Before I became a mother, I was the director of a student accounting office for Trinity International University in Deerfield, IL (Chicago area). I loved my work. I wore a black suit and carried my black portfolio sized Franklin Planner with me. The Planner went everywhere I went. To work, to church, to the grocery store. Apart from my husband, it was my best friend. I felt a tremendous sense of satisfaction, unlike anything I had experienced prior to that time. Each morning that I woke up to go to work, I knew that what I was about to do would make a difference. My team in student accounting helped to reshape the university's registration procedures, moving it from a pen and paper system to an online system. We worked closely with the other administrative offices on campus, developing relationships and a greater sense of "team" in order to serve our students better. I loved it! Yet, when my belly was protruding 3 feet out and I could no longer see the red paint on my toes, I was ready for a change. I moved from being a Franklin Planner junkie to being a nurturer and caregiver...a mother. My schedule meant nothing. I woke up caring about nothing more than looking into the eyes of my beautiful baby boy and hearing his giggle.

For the past four years, I have resisted any hint of a routine. I'm talking about serious heal digging...deep, deep, deep into the ground. While most mothers I knew survived by their schedule, I might as well have run to the opposite end of the earth. I continued to stay busy - every day has been filled with activity, but "spontaneity" has trumped "plan." Always. Creativity, relationships, love, snuggles, fun...that has been the name of my game.

Enter today. Here are my divides:

-Wife: encourager, supporter, sweetheart, and all time biggest fan of my husband

-Mother: teacher, playmate, food preparer, discipliner, snuggler, boo-boo kisser, bed-time tucker inner, tickler, love giver

-Child of God and Pastor's Wife: (betcha didn't see that one coming!), follower of Jesus Christ and lover of his church, partner, shoulder to lean on, college student mentor/college ministry leader

-Wedding Photographer and owner of Gina Leigh Photography: artist, friend, CEO, editor, bookkeeper, vision setter, decision maker, investor, communicator, blogger, oh, where should I stop?

-Caretaker for our Home: cook (my family wishes I was a good cook), cleaner, launderer (although he is really great at helping out, my husband wishes he wouldn't have to often remind me that he is almost out of clean socks), straightener, organizer, closet cleaner, planner, pace setter

-Pre-School parent: child waker-upper and breakfast giver, dropper-offer and picker-upper, daily parent reminder letter reader, photo collage creator, tennis shoe purchaser, meeting attender, education enthusiast

Up until that last divide (pre-school parent) hit my life two weeks ago, I was still functioning without a need for a schedule. All that has changed. Alas, I have given in. My alarm clock gets set every night for 7:15 a.m. I am committing myself to a bedtime of 11:15 on school nights. This is the beginning and end of each day. Everything in between now beats helplessly to the command of a clock.

Truthfully, it feels good to tap into the strength of preparation that governed my life before children. I am enjoying the balance I've found somewhere in the middle of rigidity and impulsivity. I live a very blessed life. I love all the elements that divide me. I love being my husband's best friend, training my children in the ways of the Lord, ministering to the body of Christ, befriending brides and grooms and experiencing the joy of one of the most important days of their lives, and supporting my son's early education.

God has been tremendously good to me. And I pray that even when my days are marked with tears or pain, that I will still bow before the Creator of the universe and recognize his goodness.

Earlier this week, Joshua's teachers handed out an assignment. I was given a green piece of construction paper and instructions to make a collage of family photos that they would laminate. Ironically, this was a difficult assignment for me. While I have many photos of our family, I do not have prints. Isn't there something about the shoemaker and his kids with no shoes? Rather than making lots of prints and cutting them up to fit on the construction paper, I decided to make a family photo story board. I had so much fun going through all our photos and reminiscing! I also realized that I need to make it a priority to take more photos of our family - there are several important family members for whom I could find no photos! Nevertheless, here is the photo story board that I created:

I would love to hear from you! Be sure to give me a little shout back. :)

Rays Win!

2008-08-30T22:16:00.006-04:00

Baseball games are all about the food. At least for me. My husband gives me the "eat as much as you want" pass, and life is grand for at least 3 hours. A chili dog, nachos, Dr. Pepper, ice cream, cotton candy. It's ALL good. Yep, that was my dinner. Really, baseball games are all about the food. However, the bottom of the ninth tonight changed all that. Tied at 9-9, and a game winning hit...I caught the adrenaline rush. So THIS is why Americans love baseball?! Go RAYS!

I snagged this shot while gathering the supply of eating necessities:

And another after I finished eating and started getting a little bored around the fourth inning:

Still a bit bored, but happy. This is the dome. Baseball under a dome? Must be a Florida thing:

Ok, so the truth is, this game has been packed with runs. For anyone who loves baseball, it was a great game. But now things REALLY start heating up. We're going into the bottom of the ninth, it's tied 9-9, Rays are up to bat, and they bring out John Belushi to get us all revved up.

Pena gets a walk. Then Baldelli gets a hit to left field - you can see the ball bouncing off the dirt to the left in this shot:

Pena rounds three bases to get the game winning run! How AWESOME is all THIS?!

Now listen, I'm fully aware of my lack of baseball lingo. I've done my very best to get the ball talk right, so humor me. Besides, I'm mostly a Cubs fan anyway. Cheering on the RAYS is a new phenomenon in my life. But they rocked the world of baseball tonight!

Give me a shout back, ya'll!

Seth: A View of the Gulf, and Beans

2008-08-29T14:43:00.006-04:00

All three of my brothers have visited me this year! It might be on account of the fact that I live a few miles from the Gulf of Mexico. But, I like to think that they just love me.

Seth came to visit and we spent a little time at the beach. I took him to Fred Howard Park first, which is technically the Gulf, but it sure doesn't showcase the powder white sand and turquoise waters the way a few other beaches do. Nevertheless, it was such a joy for me to stand back and watch my little boys fall in love with their uncle.

We went home and I fixed a yummy, yummy batch of black beans and rice. Andrew licked his bowl clean...

We decided it just wouldn't be proper to only allow Seth to see drab blue water. This was his first visit to the Gulf, so we made a trek down to Siesta Key Beach. It's about 2 hours away, but well worth the drive! The sand is literally the softest in the nation, and the water in unreal.

While we were there we met a great couple! This is Pete and Elle. Elle also happens to be a photographer!

We found sea urchins! This was a first for me. Very weird...all the little spiky things move around.

Seth, thanks for taking a week to come see your sister in Florida! I love you lots. And your nephews miss you. :)

So, how about it? How often do you get to see water that is such an amazing shade of aqua? Give me a shout back, ya'll!

Goodbye, But Just For Now?

2008-08-26T16:55:00.006-04:00

Dale Mace. What can I say? This is the guy who has an unending supply of love for kids...specifically Junior High kids. When no one else understands, Dale gets it. And as if it is possible to have more love for ANYTHING or ANYONE, Dale loves God more. This guy is incredible. Yet, it is time for "goodbye."

My friend is in short time taking an indefinite trip overseas. To England. And guess who will now have the blessing of his seemingly unending supply of love? Our own military kids. Dale is going to minister on an American military base in England...to B.R.A.T.S. Truly, I am so proud of him.

Dale needed to have a photograph for his newsletters, "pray for me" refrigerator magnets, etc. But not your average fridge magnet. No, Dale oozes personality. We needed something with a little more...hmm...rockstar atttached. Here's what we came up with...

Go look up Genesis 1:27. It'll then make sense...

Dale spotted this sign hanging up high in the old warehouse we were shooting in. Since the warehouse was being cleared out, he asked the guys who were working if he could take it home. They got up on a big contraption of some sort to get it down for him....

...notice any delight?

I absolutely couldn't choose a favorite from this shoot. Your thoughts, ya'll?

We love you Dale! You will be missed.

Grand Opening: Table 6 Productions and Paper Presence!

2008-08-23T10:56:00.012-04:00

Last night I had the pleasure of attending the grand opening celebration for Table 6 Productions and Paper Presence. Table 6 Productions specializes in wedding and event planning, and these girls are seriously amazing! Shannon Wilson of Table 6 Productions, along with Jackie Ross, are two of the sweetest, hardest working, and imaginative gals I've ever met. And Andrea McMahon of Paper Presence is unbelievably creative. Her custom stationery and wedding invitations will absolutely knock your socks off.

I also enjoyed paling around with my super talented friend, Phillip, of Phillip Lloyd Photography. We had fun swapping cameras and lenses...which is better than candy to photographers. He was the "official" photographer for the evening, and I'm sure he'll be putting up photographs on his blog soon, so be sure to check them out too!

Frank and Lynn from Concept BAIT were at grand opening as well. Please take a moment to check out their unbelievable website! Their services include out-of-this-world stretch decor, lighting, florals, sound, staging, draping, and entertainment, and have been used by the Donald Trump Organization and the Ritz Carlton Hotel Group among many others.

Diane Dempsey's work was also featured at the grand opening. She is a designer/illustrator, and her company is What's Buzzin'? She specializes in very cool, retro-centric greeting cards, graphics, and custom art. Very fun!

Ok, I won't delay any further...here are the photos!

Here is the gorgeous Shannon Wilson...and notice Phillip Lloyd and Lynn from Concept BAIT in the background.

Of course, I have to throw in a black and white! Although, with all the gorgeous color, I didn't feel inclined to strip it out in very many of the shots!

Shannon gave out these fabulous pink pinwheel lollipops. Yummy fun!

2435 Central, St. Peterburg.

Notice the raindrops...it was indeed a very wet evening.

Thank you Shannon and Andrea for a wonderful evening!

Melissa Jill

2008-08-18T11:31:00.005-04:00

One of my favorite things to do every day is to visit Melissa Jill's photography blog. She is an amazing photographer in Arizona, and has been a tremendous inspiration to me. Today she posted a photograph she captured in Ireland that I just have to share with you! Isn't this absolutely incredible?

I remember a few months ago I was riding in the car with my little Joshua. It was storming over in Tampa, but the sun was signing brilliantly over the gulf about an hour before sunset. It caused the most spectacular rainbow! Joshua studied the sky for awhile, silently. Then he said to me "God is very big, isn't He?"

"Yes, Joshua," I replied. "Our God is bigger than you can possibly imagine. As big as He is, that is how much he loves you. And his plans for your life are perfect. Isn't that wonderful?"

It is true. What wisdom from a four-year old little boy...God is so big.

My Brother: Married

2008-08-16T02:17:00.008-04:00

Get ready, folks. Get a cup of coffee and settle in for a nice long post. This one's about MY brother.

I can still hardly believe it really happened. Joseph got married. Hannah is Joseph's WIFE! Truly, even as I sit here (at 2:00 in the morning!) preparing their slideshow, I'm finding that there is no end to the number of times my eyes spring forth with tears. I'm just so happy for them! As I look through the images, my own emotions are right on the surface...this is my family. And I am so blessed!

Joseph and Hannah decided to see each other in the morning, around 9:00, in order to take advantage of the breathtaking views from Mt.Jeez at Malabar Farm in Ohio. Joseph is a head cook for a fine dining restaurant located at Malabar Farm - it is in a fabulous colonial style inn, built in the 1800's. The Malabar Farm Restaurant was logically the location for Joseph and Hannah's reception, and I must thank Chef Dan for his exceptional service and delicious cuisine.

Here are photographs from the special time we shared early in the day. This first amazing shot was captured by my talented second shooter, Eric...my husband. Great job, Babe!

This shot of Hannah's eyes makes me just about split at the seams. Those eyes are killer!

As always, the shoes and dress:

Joseph's ring, held by one of my other brothers, Christian:

Captured by Eric:

My mom, Joseph, and Christian:

My mom and my littlest brother, Seth:

Eric managed to grab a shot of me, with my face plastered on the concrete. Anything for the shot, right?!

Moving on to the girls...

Again...those eyes.

Here are two more from Eric:

If you look closely, you'll notice a bridesmaid at the wheel! In fact, the entire wedding party was inside the bus, though they only stayed there for approximated 20 seconds...not being Floridians (as I am) they just couldn't hack the heat.

The final moments before the ceremony:

5:59 p.m....Mr. and Mrs.

This shot of the inn was captured by my Uncle Nelson, who served as another shooter during the ceremony and reception. Such fun shooting with my family! Thanks, Uncle Nelson...great capture.

There are so many more to see! I had such a hard time choosing these 30 something favorites, so please take a moment to view a few more in Joseph and Hannah's slideshow....

As always, give a shout back ya'll!

Phil and Jaime: Part Two

2008-08-01T07:12:00.005-04:00

My anxious little girl (oops, bride) has finally received her long awaited (oh, right...only one and a half weeks) slideshow! If you recall, Jaime and Phil had their engagement session recently and Jaime could hardly contain herself while she was waiting to see the images...so I posted just two shots to help her contain her anxiousness. I knew it was a gamble. It would either give her something to hold her off, or it would only stir up her desire to see more! I think the latter was true.

Truth be told, I love Jaime to no end! She and Phil are both fabulous and I enjoy giving her a hard time. Not only so, but Jaime also has a love for the art of photography. She has quite a great eye and she'll be doing some second shooting with me soon! I am thrilled about partnering with her as she joins the Gina Leigh Photography team and is becoming an expert Tampa area wedding photojournalist!

And now, (drum roll, please)....the much anticipated photos and slideshow! Enjoy...

Gotta grab that sun flare!

For all you interested photographers, I stopped down on this one to about f14. And I also overexpose slightly when using sun flare.

Before viewing the slideshow, you must know that I chose "Green Eyes" by Coldplay because Jaime's eye's are the most fabulous shade of green! And, of course, it fits them perfectly....

To see the slideshow, CLICK HERE!

Phil and Jaime are getting married in November at the Tampa Botanical Gardens and I am super excited about this wedding! I just love them both so much.

Give me a shout back, ya'll!

Jackie and Sean

2008-07-28T22:11:00.002-04:00

This Saturday I was FINALLY able to meet Courtney Fries, my super great blogging buddy, and photographer extraordinaire! Believe it or not, we met for the first time at one of her weddings, and I had the joy of second shooting for her. It was a blast, even amidst humidity that can only be described as "soup." Courtney is not only an exceptionally talented photographer, but also a women and mother I have the highest respect for. I'm so thankful for the friendships I have had the opportunity to build with other photographers, and Courtney is certainly no exception.

Jackie and Sean were married at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in downtown Tampa, which is such a gorgeous location for a wedding! Their ceremony was beautiful. Here are photos from the start of the day at Sacred Heart:

How darling are these two girls?

After the ceremony and family shots, the whole wedding party went to the University of Tampa for a little more photography fun:

One of my favorite shots of the day...Jackie running along to the limo:

The reception was at A La Carte Pavilion, candle lit and gorgeous! Here are a few detail shots:

Two quick shots before the bridal party entered:

What a great day! Courtney, thanks again for all the fun!

Be sure to give me a shout back...you know how much I love to hear from ya'll!

Move On Over, Hannah Montana

2008-07-24T23:09:00.003-04:00

I am telling you, Hannah has met her match. Her name is Jessica, and this girl can deliver a monologue unlike any I've heard. We met in downtown Safety Harbor and after grabbing a quick coffee we headed outside for our shoot. Before we officially started, Jessica had to pick my jaw up off the ground after her riveting performance! This photo shoot with hopefully help propel her acting career to an altogether new place...which is where it deserves to be!

God bless, girl! You've got big things ahead...

My Life

2008-07-22T11:26:00.002-04:00

This morning I am wrapping up a few emails, hoping to finish somewhat quicky because my intention is to spend the day with my boys and clean the house. As I'm typing away, Joshua comes in to announce that it is "Telescope Day" at "School." Showing very little interest in his pretend game, I nod my head and say something like "Uh-huh." He comes again, repeating the same words. This time I notice that he is holding an empty paper towel roll...it's his "telescope." Still not thinking much of it, I continue to type. Around the time that I'm finishing my last email, I begin to wonder where the empty roll came from. Hmm....

I get up, walk into the living room, and this is what I see:

In case you are wondering, this is what three rolls of paper towels looks like when folded up:

It's my life, and I wouldn't have it any other way...

This One's For You, Girlfriend

2008-07-21T21:35:00.002-04:00

She's just so excited, she is about ready to bust down my door. Phil, Jaime, and I had many, many laughs on Saturday night during their engagement session. I'm mean seriously good times. And I'm not sure if this is going to tame her appetite or just serve as a teaser, but nevertheless, I've gotta put up just a couple for Jaime.

She worked hard for this "serious" look. This was one quick moment between a multitude of laughs.

This one is much more true to character! Always smiling...

Many more to come! Give me a shout back, ya'll. :)

Becky and Ken - Engagement

2008-07-19T11:12:00.009-04:00

Two weeks ago on Sunday I was watching the skies most of the morning and afternoon. It was almost certain to rain....big thunderheads and lots of rumbles above. Ugh. I live in Palm Harbor and was planning to make an hour and a half drive to Sarasota for Becky and Ken's engagement session. Being the risk taker that I am, I went ahead and made the venture. Becky and Ken were already in Sarasota at their beach condo. They were on a little mini vacation over the weekend, and it was super convenient to do the session while they were already there. We met for their engagement session at Tommy Bahama's Restaurant in St. Armand's Circle. Miraculously the sun was shining and it was looking like the storms had passed!

We decided to have a little dinner first at Tommy B's. Great food, great conversation. It turns out that Ken is quite a photography buff. I was a little taken aback, and completely thrilled when he started whipping out terms like "depth of field!" Apparently it's been years since he has really done much photography, but ya know...once you get it in your blood...the love never dies. Right? In any case, Becky was also completely surprised to find all this out! She sat between us while we babbled on about f-stops and ISO's. Then Becky and I chatted about important wedding details like her very couture veil.

Ironically, as we finished dinner and went outside to start the shoot, the sun hid itself behind a big black cloud. And then it started to sprinkle. The sprinkle turned to rain. Go figure, right?!

Nevertheless, we found a few great spots that kept Becky and Ken dry. And I, quite frankly, could care less about getting a little wet. So, here are the first few shots...the happy couple nice and dry. And me, unseen, soaking wet. :)

My favorite shot of the entire shoot-

One rockin' ring-

We then decided to get out of the rain and make our way to Becky's condo at Siesta Key Beach. It rained buckets the entire drive. I mean buckets. Like, "I can barely see the road" buckets. Becky and Ken made a quick clothing change, and when we walked outside, this is what we saw:

Pretty sweet, eh? Ok, so the rain cleared and the sun made it's reappearance. We headed on out to the sand and water...

Gotta grab some sun flare!

My second favorite shot of the day-

Love that rainbow!

Becky and Ken, I had such a great time getting to know you both! Thanks again for the privilege of photographing this special time in your lives - both your engagement and your wedding to come!

To see more photos of this shoot and enjoy a little music, CLICK HERE!

Have a great weekend!

My Very Own Ralphie

2008-07-16T22:28:00.015-04:00

You know, Ralphie. From The Christmas Story. Remember the secret Orphan Annie decoder ring he waited so anxiously for?

Well, insert Joshua. My Joshua.

Here's the beginning of the story. Back up 5 months. It's February. Joshua is one month away from his four year old birthday. And he STILL is not potty trained. For the life of me, I cannot convince him that it's better to do what he needs to do IN the potty. Then one blessed day, we run out of pull-ups. There is not a single pull-up in the house. In order to go get more pull-ups, Joshua must put on his "big boy" underwear. After a half-hour long crying, moping, thrashing fit, Joshua concedes. He puts on the big boy underwear. And guess what? By the time we get to Target, he decides he likes them. That was the first day of successful potty training.

In the next several weeks to follow, Joshua makes tremendous progress doing what he needs to do where he needs to do it. Every now and then he has a little accident, but I am out-of-my-mind delighted at his success. And I'm conjuring up any method of motivation humanly possible. M&M's, a new backpack for pre-school in the fall...I even pretend that a Kevin Kubota "Get Action" luggage tag says "Potty Power!" and use it as a bribe.

I happen to convey all this to my brother Christian in Ohio, and he makes Joshua an offer. If Joshua can make it 5 days with NO ACCIDENTS, Christian will send him something special in the mail. Joshua is very excited. And in true Blue's Clues fashion, we spend the next week talking about Uncle Christian's "message." (For those of you who know Blue's Clues..."we just got a message, we just got a message...")

Uncle Christian is trying to figure out what he will send Joshua that will be special enough for his high expectations. Once he hears that it is not just "mail," but is now a "message," an idea begins to form. Christian and his girlfriend, Emma, come up with an elaborate secret message, complete with a decoder. And Joshua succeeds at his goal! 5 days with no accidents!

Despite all the enthusiasm, Uncle Christian has a hard time getting it in the mail. I completely understand - it's one of those things that somehow just keeps getting put off. Fast forward to May. I make a trip to Ohio, and Christian gives me the message to bring home to Joshua. I have intentions of putting it in an envelope and sticking it in the mail box, but just like Uncle Christian, it gets buried under a mile long "to do" list. Joshua has long since given up on ever receiving his message.

And then finally, I manage to get the two pieces of paper into the mailbox! Eric and I make a big "hurrah" about it, and you would think that my boy had just been given a pet pony! I sat with him ALL afternoon decoding the message. Breaking for lunch and for the potty was tumultuous!

Here are the photos of Joshua, Secret Decoder Man, Andrew, and me (with no makeup, ugh), taken by Eric.

Where's my message?

Here's are photos of Christian and Emma earlier this year when they visited Florida in January. I love you, little brother!

Because You Mean So Much

2008-07-16T21:33:00.004-04:00

My clients matter to me. I love and value the opportunity that I have to participate in the important times in their lives. It is a tremendous privilege to document their treasured moments and memories as a Tampa area wedding photographer. And I am so thankful for their friendship too! Having said all this, you'll understand what I mean when I say that I want to make them feel special when they receive anything from Gina Leigh Photography. This is why the LITTLE things are sometimes just as important as the BIG things. The little things like a chocolate brown and ivory polka dotted ribbon...

This week I had fun redesigning my wedding DVD case. All of my couples receive a disk of full-resolution images from their wedding, no matter what package they choose....because they matter to me. If I were a bride or groom, I would want to have reproduction rights to my photographs. And if it's want I would want, than it's what I'm going to give! Complete with a polka dotted ribbon.

People Shooting, Session 2

2008-07-15T08:43:00.007-04:00

Yesterday I received an email from Joy, who had another great question. Her question pertained to indoor photography. Here is what she asked:

"Ryan and I are doing research for a new digital camera purchase. I know you are all about outdoor pix. I have actually done mostly outdoor pix recently, because our current camera simply doesn't take very good pictures indoors. BUT, our goal is to have a camera that will take good pictures indoors (especially since it's too cold to photoshoot outside at least 6 months out of the year). So, I wanted to see if you have any suggestions for us. We have looked at the Nikon Coolpix 10.1 megapixel and also researched the Canon Rebel."

It goes without saying that camera equipment and lenses can be inordinately expensive, and Joy is not looking to spend tons. She just wants to get great shots of her family indoors. I emailed her back, and this is my response:

Hmmm. Great question. For your situation, I would HIGHLY recommend the Canon Rebel XTi (aka 400D). Rather than getting the "kit lens" with it, purchase it as a "body only," and buy a 50mm prime f1.8 lens instead. Here are a couple links you might find helpful-

Camera Body
50mm 1.8 Lens

Let me explain why...

If you want to do indoor photography, and you want natural looking light (rather than harsh flash which creates ugly shadows, etc.), you need a lens that will let in LOTS of light. The only way to do this is with a lens with a wide aperture. "Aperture" is the hole that the light comes through in the lens. A 50mm lens is a pretty standard focal length - good for portraits and just general photography, but it is a PRIME lens, which means you can't zoom in and out. If you want to crop in closer on your subject, you actually have to move your own body to get closer. (As a side note, I kinda like working with prime lenses, not just because of the wide apertures, but because it forces me to move around. I can't be lazy about what I'm doing, and it causes me to find more creative angles.)

You will find nothing even close to the pleasing light that you can gather from a prime lens with a 1.8 aperture. (Unless you go for a 1.4 or 1.2, which is MUCH more expensive, and I'll think you'll get great results with the 1.8 so you don't need to spend the extra.) This will allow you to turn off your flash indoors when you are getting soft window light...not direct light by a window (in other words, not when the sunlight is streaming in), but when the area near a window is just a little brighter than the other parts of the room. Make sense?

I would avoid using a flash at all costs if possible, unless you want to invest in a flash that you can mount on the top of the camera. You would want to get a flash that has a rotating head so that you can point it up to a ceiling or point it to a wall and "bounce" the light off of the surface it is hitting. This will add to the "ambient" light in the room, rather than lighting the subject directly...which is very harsh, uneven, and causes disgusting shadows.

Oh, I should also mention that when you shoot at wide apertures (like f1.8) you get that awesome background blur (sometimes called "bokeh"). It takes time and practice to learn how to control the focus, but once you get it down.....well, it's just amazing!

By the way, the portrait session that I did recently with little baby Peyton, was indoors. I use a 50mm 1.8 for the entire shoot, and I didn't use my flash at all!

Here's one example:

Ok, so to sum up, you will find the creative possibilities with a this camera and lens to be endless. And, you'll be able to add on other lenses or a flash when you are ready.

Oh, one more thing, if you decide to get the Rebel and 50mm lens, be sure to talk with whomever you purchase it through to double check the compatibility. I'm not as familiar with Canon as I am Nikon, so I would just want to make sure this camera and lens can be used together. I'd be surprised if they can't, but always best to double check...

~ I hope that you all, my blog family, will find this helpful! Let me know what you think, or if you have questions. Happy Tuesday!

Energy - Lots of It

2008-07-10T22:14:00.006-04:00

I love kids. I mean, I really love kids. And oh, how I wish I had their energy! Alexa was no exception. This girl is full of life! Here are a few favorites from my super fun shoot with a super fun four year old girl!

This shot cracks me up. In a nutshell..."I'd really rather not have my picture taken, thank you."

Oh, but then we started having FUN. I think this might be one of my top favorites...I just love her playfulness...and that tongue sticking out!

Alexa's mom, Becky, chasing her down-

Although perhaps it might be easily overlooked, I think this is my very favorite of the day. The look on Alexa's face just does something to me. It's all in the eyes.

Laughing at mom-

Is there any other time a four year old can get away with jumping on mom's bed?

Becky and Alexa, thanks for a delightful morning! And I most certainly need to mention that Becky is engaged to be married in November and I have the joy of photographing her special day. Engagement shots are coming soon...

As a side note, what do ya'll think of the fancy new borders I've created for my blog photos?

People Shooting

2008-07-01T22:10:00.004-04:00

Allow me to attempt the title again... PHOTOGRAPHING PEOPLE. I received a very sweet comment from Carla Flocken, and she asked me to provide a few tips for getting great shots of people. I started to reply directly, but then thought this might be helpful for many of my faithful blog readers! So, here's what I've got:

1. Turn off your flash and go outside.

2. Find a shady area with no speckled sun spots.

3. Be more concerned with finding even lighting than finding a good background. Lighting is ALWAYS more important. I would rather photograph a person in front of a dumpster (actually, I've DONE THAT!) than in front of gorgeous flowers with harsh or uneven sun.

4. If you are looking for a great headshot, position yourself slightly above your subject. Have them look up slightly toward you. This is a perspective that is almost always very flattering.

5. Or, scratch #4 and just have fun with your subject. Especially if you are working with children! When they are relaxed and having fun, you'll get great shots!

6. If you have a greater level of interest, learn how to use an SLR camera manually so that you can control the exposure. Once you've gotten the "shady area photography" down, and you are comfortable metering light manually, then try shooting in the sun! If you know how to use it, the sun can make for amazing photographs, but it takes lots of practice. When you first start shooting in the sun, try one hour before sundown or one hour after sunrise.

7. To be more specific...in general, unless you are in the shade, it's not a good idea to try to photograph in the middle of the day when the sun is harsh. Especially if you are photographing a person...you'll end up with harsh shadows under the eyes. This is not a hard and fast rule, but mid-day sun is very challenging.

8. For those of you who know how to shoot manually already, or who are learning to shoot manually, I love to shoot at wide open apertures. I LOVE the great background blur (or "bokeh") that I get when I'm wide open, especially with a long lens or with a prime lens (50mm) at f1.4 or 1.8. For portraiture, this is especially helpful because the shallow "depth of field" (or blurry background) helps add focus to the subject...the person being photographed! Here's an example:

Of course, I have to give modeling credit to my little Joshua...sand, beach, evening sun, and a rock. Life's good.

That's all I've got for now. If you find this helpful, let me know and I'll try to give some more tips from time to time! Feel free to ask questions too.

Happy Tuesday!
...........................................

As an addendum, here is a photo from my shoot in front of a dumpster!

I love the contrast -a beautiful bride in front of, well...trash. I'm tellin' ya...find the right light. Everything else can be made to "work."

Detestable Hornet

2008-06-30T18:02:00.002-04:00

This is the heinous creature....

...that caused my darlin' Andrew's foot to look like this-

OK., so it doesn't look all that swollen in the photo. Please trust me though when I say my little 20 month old experienced what can only be described as 20 minutes of hysteria after the sting. Poor little guy...

Rebecca's Getting Married!

2008-06-29T21:39:00.003-04:00

Dustin is the greatest guy. Our whole church just loves him. I think nearly every married woman in the church has tried to set him up with someone...their niece, or their friend from out-of-state, etc., etc. He's just that great. Alas, he has met the women God has intended for him, and these two aren't waiting around. I'm talking super short engagement! It kinda melts my heart a little - they just want to be together!!

Rebecca met Dustin while he was in Pennsylvania. Dustin lives in Florida, and so Rebecca is making a BIG TIME move all the way down to the Sunshine State. As a way of welcoming her, the women in our church wanted to give her a whole bunch of love in the form of a bridal shower. My favorite part of the day was Rebecca's expressions! She is just so very full of life!

We started with a very yummy brunch-

(OK, this one wasn't really a part of the brunch, but what photographer can pass up chocolate covered strawberries?)

Rebecca's great expressions-

CHECK OUT this cake!

The gifts-

Some gifts were...let's say "humorous."

And how about these guest favors?!

Rebecca's gorgeous ring-

Congratulations, kids! Rebecca, I can't wait to spend more time with you. Let's do coffee, kay? Or, if you're brave, come hang out at the Bargerhuff home.

Sweet Baby Peyton

2008-06-24T20:52:00.002-04:00

Oh, sweet girl. She's finally here. Little Peyton is absolutely the most gorgeous 6 day old little girl you can possibly imagine, and I am so very thankful for the time I was given to capture this most precious time in her darling life. Congratulations Josh and Kari!

In Josh's guitar case!

Happy Tuesday!

He Swims!

2008-06-23T15:04:00.002-04:00

"Joshua, I promise you! I won't let you go. You don't need the floaties," I've uttered I don't know how many times, with little positive result.

We spent the afternoon with our good friends, John, Michele, and their three boys. It was a day of beach and pool fun. Early in the afternoon Michele said something along the lines of "We'll have him swimming by the end of the day."

I nodded a bit and said "Okay, great!"

"You don't know how stubborn he is," was what I was thinking.

Midway through the afternoon I went upstairs to make a phone call. 5 minutes. I was gone no longer than 5 minutes. I came back down and THIS is what I saw:

No floaties. No sputtering. No sinking to the bottom. By the end of the day Joshua was jumping off the side of the pool and swimming half way across the width of the pool! I'm so proud of him! And SO VERY THANKFUL to my dear friends for helping him to be brave.

Here are some more photos of our fun day:

Michele and Austin-

Dalton-

John and Austin-

Colson-

Austin shows me a very cool rock-

Andrew helps himself to a drink of water...direct from the hose-

On a different note, I decided to seek out a little help in getting myself caught up with all of life's demands. I hired someone to clean my house! This is the first time I have ever, ever done this. Now I'm not sure why I waited so long. Not only so, but my sweet hubby took advantage of our rainy Florida weekend and worked through the mound of laundry that had taken over our closet floor. I woke up this morning feeling as if I could actually accomplish what needed to be done today! I am thankful to start the week off with a clean slate. Whew!

Happy Monday!

Michael and Megan: 1st Anniversary

2008-06-19T00:03:00.005-04:00

It's been one year since they were married, and it blessed my heart beyond measure to see how they love each other. Michael and Megan's lives are a true testimony that love does indeed grow sweeter with time.

We had a fantastic evening together, first meeting at Mr. Souvlaki's Greek Restaurant around 6:00, meandering over to the Tarpon Spring Sponge Docks, and finally making our way out to Fred Howard Park Beach at sunset which was around 8:30. These two were troopers! They let me do all kinds of crazy things. Case in point...

On our way to the beach I eyed a gorgeous spot to stop at. Great light, great setting. We pulled over and parked in a little motel lot. We waited for a nearby traffic light to turn red and proceeded to sprint out to the middle of a beautiful, old brick road. Michael swung Megan around again and again while I lay belly down on the road with my camera resting on the brick. As soon as the light turned green, Michael gave me the signal, and we went on our way. This characterized much of the evening...and I didn't get a single complaint from either of them!

Here are a some photographs, but more importantly be sure to check out the slideshow - CLICK HERE!

Don't forget that I love the blog love! Be sure to leave me a comment. Favorites? And don't forget the slideshow...CLICK HERE!

Email Difficulties

2008-06-16T23:30:00.004-04:00

Greetings friends!

It has come to my attention this evening that I am experiencing technical issues with my website server, and thus I have not been receiving emails over the course of the past two to three days. Unfortunately, I do not believe that I will be able to retrieve any of the emails that I didn't receive. Thankfully, my email is now functioning correctly. If you have made an effort to contact me and I have not responded, please try again. I do apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you.

Thank you kindly for your patience and understanding!

Remembering Home

2008-06-16T18:45:00.004-04:00

Today I came across a few photographs I took while I was home in Ohio several weeks ago. I forgot that I had taken these, and I am very excited (and feeling a bit sentimental) that I found them. So, I thought I would share. As the lives of my immediate familly members are changing, my homestead is also changing. This is all very normal, but to a certain extent it makes me sad.

I'll share a little more as I show you the photos:

I grew up on four and a half acres, including a little apple orchard. My family took great pride in caring for the apple trees, picking apples when they were ripe, and storing them in our cellar. I can't begin to say how many hours I spent climbing those trees. Apple trees are the perfect trees for climbing - long thick branches and low enough to the ground to easily get up on! I loved the time of year when the apples were ripe, and I could walk outside and snap one off the tree any ol' time I wanted. I hated eating apples in December. By this time, the apples felt a little too much like prunes, although my parents did everything they could to convince me that they were good.

This is a photo of a shed down by the apple orchard, which has fallen into ruin. We've been saying for years now that we'll tear it down, but it still remains. I'm not exactly sure why, but I'm kind of glad it still is standing, if only on broken legs.

And a few closeup shots of the rusty hinges and battered wood:

My grandparents' yard connects to our yard at the very back end of the acreage, and so we spent a lot of time walking back and forth through the years. It was special to live so close and be able to go see Grandma and Grandpa anytime we wanted. My grandparents still spend hours and hours everyday out in the yard caring for the plants and landscaping. It's a love for them, the same way photography is a love for me.

Here are a few shots from their yard. My intention was to capture things that reminded me of them.

Shortly after I arrived in Ohio, my grandpa and I went to grab a few groceries. My grandpa always keeps me laughing. Here's a little from our trip to Aldi's.

This last set of photographs is exceptionally special to me....

Deep in the dungeon of our basement lives a trunk. The trunk is old. The trunk tells a story. The story is of my dad. My dad passed away two years ago last February to cancer, and this is the first time we've given the trunk room to tell it's tale.

A recipe book my dad made for his mother when he was very young, as evidenced by the sweet handwriting...

I confess that I have tears in my eyes even now as I remember him. I would love to hear of your own childhood memories. What was special to you about your home during your "growing up" years?

Bowling

2008-06-14T14:27:00.003-04:00

I don't think I can remember the last time I went bowling. Really. It may have been 9 years ago when I lived in a little tiny farm town (populaton 1,000...maximum) in Illinois. I can't remember the year exactly, but what I do remember is that we were groovin' to Brittany Spears' "Hit Me Baby One More Time." Lovely.

I'm actually not that terrible a bowler...not good, but not terrible either. Moving on to more important things, we went bowling as a family! And, oh my goodness, you cannot possibly imagine how excited my boys were.

Here's the evidence:

Me and Andrew-

Joshua on the run-

Will it hit?

Eric and Andrew-

That's my baby doll...

How about that red shirt and matching red shoes?

So, I want to hear about your funny bowling experiences. Hit Me, Baby...give me some good stories.

My Little Brother

2008-06-01T16:20:00.004-04:00

He graduated. Really. My littlest brother survived high school, and I'm so proud of him. Wasn't it just a day ago that I was sitting on the couch with a little boy who jabbered away about all his little boy adventures, as if these were the most important events of his life? Very much in Chris Farley fashion:

"You know what's really cool?"

"What's really cool, Seth?" I'd reply.

"I got all the way to the top of the big tree by the driveway," he'd announce.

Now he's all grown up. Or at least he thinks he's all grown up. Here are a variety of photos from my fun weekend in Ohio, in honor of Seth...my grown up little brother.

Seth working at Papa Johns-

My other brother Christian working at Friendly's - shot through an ice cream service window-

Me and Christian-

And my other brother Joseph with his fiance Hannah. Yes, he is pretending to stick his finger up his nose-

Seth and his cake-

Graduation at the high school stadium. The "A" is for Ashland-

Emabarrasingly enough, I screamed his name as loudly as possible from the very top of the stadium. He heard, turned to look at the obnoxious person yelling his name, and spotted me immediately.

Christian and girlfriend Emma-

My brothers keep me laughing. Always.

A sweet moment between Seth and his girlfriend Lisa-

We went out to dinner afterward. It's just Mexican soda-

Give me a shout back ya'll! I love the blog love.

Memorial Day Weekend

2008-05-28T09:48:00.005-04:00

This Memorial Day my family and I enjoyed spending the day with a very special family from our church. Their own son is currently serving our country in Iraq. Being with them on this important day brought new meaning in my own heart to the freedom I enjoy every day. Their family has experienced a range of emotions I have never dealt with, but instead of allowing their lives to be characterized by fear or worry, they have shown an abundance of faith. They know that the Lord will indeed work out his good purposes and plans through the life of their son, whatever that might mean. I am thankful.

Here is a smattering of photos of my own boys from the weekend:

Late Monday morning, "helping" Daddy in the garage-

These eyes just kill me-

Later on Monday at Dave and Joyce's home. Andrew is very proud that he has his own chair and his own bowl of goldfish-

Moving on to watermelon-

Last night Eric played ball in the backyard with the boys. Check out the little hand reaching up to get the ball-

How does a mom survive such love?

Enjoy! And give me a shout back...come on, make my day! :)

Miss Emma

2008-05-27T15:46:00.002-04:00

As promised, here are photos from my dear friend Emma's visit. What a treat...a great visit with a sweet friend, and a few snapshots of me with my boys! And of course, I managed to snag a few of Miss Emma (as Joshua affectionately calls her) too.

These were taken at the International Plaza in Tampa.

Aren't my boys a riot?! I love them so much...

Congratulations, Love Birds!

2008-05-22T23:08:00.006-04:00

It all started when he pursued her persistently. At first she declined his request, and then she declined again. And then she declined again. Somewhere along the line, she became swayed be his vigilance. And she accepted his offer of a date. She didn't, however, expect to be swept away. And yet, she was.

That was the beginning, and now Jay and Heather have committed to love each other for a lifetime. It was a beautiful day! And I am very thankful to have been a part of this special time in their lives. Of course, I probably wouldn't have declined if they offered to take me along to Italy. I'm sure there would have been plenty of photo opportunities... vineyards, old brick, aaahhh.

Nevertheless, Jay and Heather, if you happen to have found some internet connection over on the other side of the world, congratulations!

The ceremony and reception were at Michael's on East in Sarasota, and the gorgeous florals were by Victorian Garden Florist.

On a different note, I was so very blessed to shoot this wedding with a dear friend from Chicago, Emma Larssen. I knew Emma a long time ago, and never in a million years would have guessed that we would both end up in the business of wedding photojournalism. She is incredibly talented and I am tremendously thankful for her friendship. More pictures to come of our time together this week...

Here are a few images from the wedding day. If you'd like to see more, there is a slideshow to view at the very bottom! And for Heather and Jay's friends and family, I will have lots and lots more to see soon in their online viewing gallery on my website.

As always, give me a shout back... I love to hear from you!

The first three were taken by Emma during the preparation-

Heather's first look at the gorgeous ballroom-

Taken by Emma-

Emma caught this sweet moment. Notice the little man looking at the KISS!

Jay's fraternity brothers making a little trouble, also taken by Emma-

To view the slideshow, CLICK HERE!

It's almost that time....

2008-05-15T23:15:00.005-04:00

Heather and Jay are about to get married! I have had such a great time getting to know them. We even braved the rain and the fog together during their engagement shoot! I absolutely cannot say how excited I am to photograph their wedding on Saturday. It is going to be gorgeous. Of course, Heather is gorgeous, so this goes without saying, right? The ceremony and reception will be held at Michael's On East in Sarasota, and I can only imagine the number of twinkle lights that will be lighting the beautiful venue.

Heather and Jay decided to include a custom designed guest signing book in their package, which is a wonderful way to display the images from their engagement session in a coffee table book and have their guests give them a few words of wisdom or encouragement too. It was so fun to see how much they loved it when I delivered it to them this week!

The following slideshow is of their guest book design. As you will see, there is plenty of empty space around the photos for guests to write in. And keep in mind that the size is much larger in real life - 8.5x11 inches. The fog definitely provided some unique shots! CLICK HERE to see it, and be sure to give me a shout back! I'll be posting more from their wedding a little later on...

Sara and Bernard

2008-05-14T01:50:00.003-04:00

Sara and Bernard are a delightful couple who celebrated their wedding two weekends ago. The ceremony was a Crystal Beach Community Church and the reception was a the Countryside Country Club. I had the pleasure (again!) of second shooting with Alexis Photography. Thanks again, Moe! It's been fun.

Here are a few shots I snagged during the course of the day. It's your turn now...give me a shout back and let me know which are your favs! You know I love to hear from you. :)

My favorite shots are almost always during the preparation for the ceremony. I love the anticipation!

Details, details...

The First Dance

Sara shares a very special relationship with her grandfather. They prepared a slideshow that was dedicated to him, and this sweet photograph is of the two of them laughing and crying together as they watched it. I found myself hunting for a Kleenex!

After the first slice of cake is cut...

Nicole and James

2008-04-24T22:51:00.003-04:00

Last Saturday I had the pleasure of 2nd shooting a wedding with Alexis Photography. Nicole and James, the bride and groom, were such a fun couple! They had a blast on their special day, and so did the rest of their family and friends. The wedding was on Clearwater Beach at the absolutely gorgeous SanPearl Resort! I had a great time getting to know Moe, Steve, and Lea from Alexis Photography too. Here are a few images I shot. Enjoy!

Oh, and hey, don't forget to leave me a comment. Let me know which are your fav's and why! I love to hear from you. :)

The gorgeous make-up artist, and I wish I remembered her name!

You are about to see SEVERAL shots of this sweet girl. What a doll. Really, doesn't she look just like a doll? I had my camera on her half of the day!

A shot of Moe and Lea hard at work!

Remember to give me a little "shout" back. Your thoughts always brighten my day!

Blessed Words

2008-04-22T13:09:00.003-04:00

I have said many times that being a mother is a long road with many ups and downs. It's really very true. Often daily life feels very monotonous...changing diapers, feeding hungry mouthes, playing with train tracks, changing diapers, feeding hungry mouthes, playing with train tracks, you get the point. However, every now and then God uses small moments to remind me that this is the most important job for me in all the world. Today, he gave me an overwhelming dose of grace through the words of my precious Joshua.

After finishing a somewhat monotonous lunch of peanut butter sandwiches, I hunted for Andrew's Sheep (yes, that is his name) and laid both Andrew and Sheep in their crib. I then made my way into Joshua's room to tuck him into his bed. In his most darling voice, Joshua pleaded "Mommy, will you please snuggle for a few minutes?"

"Yes, sweet boy," I replied as I covered his little arm with a big cozy blanket. And I snuggled in close.

A moment or two later, Joshua stretched his arm out from the warm space of the blanket and put his chubby little hand on my cheek. "Mommy?" he asked.

"No talking, Joshua," I replied.

After another moment or two, Joshua tried again. "Mommy?" he asked.

"Yes, Joshua?" I conceded.

Still with his pudgy hand resting on my face, he said "Mommy, I love your cheek."

Then he took the tip of his finger, gently pressed down on my nose, and continued "And I love your nose. And your eyes, and your eyebrows, and your hair."

You see, I have myself gone through this whole scenario many, many times with him. "Joshua, I love your nose...."

But this time, in much the same way as I have done to him, he said to me "I love every part of Mommy."

THIS is what makes my heart sing! Even in the midst of monotony, I LOVE being a mommy.

Bunnies, Boys, and Blog Love

2008-04-18T19:13:00.004-04:00

I have so many random thoughts to journal today, but I've narrowed it down to two.

First, I sometimes wonder about what makes up a little boy's mind. Yesterday was a case in point. I'll start from the beginning...

I have new friend at church. Marianne is a dear women who loves and serves the Lord faithfully. She is an artist and so we have many similar interests. Yesterday, Marianne loved and cared for my little boys for almost 7 hours! What a gift! I enjoyed an afternoon of taking photographs (none to post yet, but soon) and then a dinner with Eric. I love my children dearly. My family is the most important thing to me on this earth. But every now and then, I need "mommy time."

Around 8:00 p.m. I arrived to pick up the boys. Joshua was having a stupendous time (by the way, "stupendous" is his new favorite word) in the garage with their pet, Bunny. Bunny has the run of the garage. He's even "paper-in-the corner" trained! No need for a cage if your bunny knows where go when it really counts, right? Joshua said a quick "Hi, Mommy" and made his way back to the garage. Marianne, her sweet daughter Morgan, and I were chatting away, oblivious to what what was happening in the garage. Like a true mom, I began to feel a little uneasy after a little time had past. My thoughts were something along the lines of "What is Joshua so occupied with?" It's always when they are quiet that a mom should be suspicious, right? Imagine my horror when I peaked around the corner into the garage...and saw my little boy, my dear sweet Joshua, BEATING poor Bunny with a badminton raquet! Apparently, Bunny had run in fear to the smallest little crevice he could find, and in the mind of a four-year-old, the best way to get Bunny to come out was to pound on him without mercy. Thankfully, Marianne has raised a boy herself, and she handled it much more gracefully than I did. I won't trouble you with the nature of our conversation on the way home.

Later last night, Eric admitted to me that as a little boy he buried his sister's turtle. Alive. He buried a turtle ALIVE. Which then caused me to recall a story he confessed several years ago regarding a certain bunny who lost its life to a be-be gun in the hands of a twelve year old boy.

Interestingly, it wasn't too long ago that I found Joshua on the back patio pulling a lizard apart limb by limb and watching it slowly cease movement. So, here's my question. Is this something all boys do?? PLEASE, enlighten me. Help me understand.

By the way, Marianne was very kind to email me this morning to assure me that Bunny is just fine. Whew! Marianne, thanks again so much for your time and care for our family.

Second, let me tell you how much I have ENJOYED hearing from some of you. Blogging is so much fun when communication goes "both ways!" And since I genuinely desire to make my little corner of the world wide web a place you look forward to visiting regularly, I have a few questions for all of you. Please, please, please take a moment to respond. I want to know more about what makes each of you "tick."

1. What do you enjoy most - photographs or stories?

2. If your above answer is photographs, what type? Professional or personal?

3. Would you visit more often if you knew you would find a new entry every day?

4. Which has been your favorite entry so far?

You don't need to answer all the questions, but just take a moment to give me a little feedback! And, as always, thank you for taking a moment of your day to pay me an online visit!

Headshots!

2008-04-16T09:03:00.005-04:00

I have been reminded any number of times that it is exceptionally important for a photographer to have a fabulous headshot for their website and marketing materials. But, I have not been altogether enthused about the idea of placing myself IN FRONT of the camera. I know, it's very silly. How many times have I encouraged others to relax and have fun when being photographed? Yet it's still hard for me to do the same! The last time I purposefully put myself behind a camera was back in December at the CVS drugstore for a passport photo. And let me just say, it was not a pleasing experience to see my face orange and pixelated and even a little distorted on the final print.

Last Friday, my new photographer friend, Theresa Marie, was kind enough to give up an evening of her time to take headshots of me, despite my fears. And in truth, it was actually a blast! I mean real, true FUN. Theresa is exceptionally talented, very kind, and I am so thankful for this gift she's given me.

Here are a good variety...fun, silly, and serious. So, now I need YOUR feedback. Leave me a comment and tell me which ones are your fav's so I can decide which to use on my site!

Making Improvements!

2008-04-13T23:52:00.007-04:00

This evening I enjoyed spending time with some other great photographers. And thanks to Chris and Erin, I've figured out a few little tricks to make my blog bigger and snazzier! You guys are great and I had a wonderful time...thanks again for treating to pizza.

The image above I am posting just simply as a test to see if it sizes correctly. Of course, I never pass up an opportunity to admire my little Andrew. This shot was taken at Indian Rocks Beach with my brother from Ohio, Christian.

Tomorrow I'll be updating the header at the top of the page! For now, this girl is off to bed. It's way past my bedtime.

Calling for Comments!

2008-04-10T20:17:00.008-04:00

Hey friends!

You know, it's interesting... I have this nifty little tool that allows me a little peak at how many visitors I have to my web blog everyday. It's very fun. I get to look at all kinds of great data and charts. For example, today I saw that I had a visitor from Montreal, and a few days ago a visitor from Spain! I love it! Of course, my information is limited, and I have no idea WHO is visiting. So, I guess what I'm saying is that I'd be tickled pink if I heard from you! For those of you who drop me an email every now and then... thanks for brightening my day.

Now there is the very real possibility that the whole idea of leaving "comments" is new to many of you, and Blogger doesn't make it exceptionally obvious, so let me give a little education. If you scroll down to the bottom of today's entry you'll notice that it says "Posted by Gina Leigh at 8:45 p.m." (or whatever time it happens to be). Right next to this it says "0 comments." How about if we CHANGE that number?! All you have to do is move your mouse over the word "comments" and you'll be able to click on it. Then a new window will pop up and you can talk to me and the rest of the community of bloggers who have taken an interest in Gina Leigh Photography! Great fun, eh? You may need to create an account, which is very easy and completely safe. Just follow the instructions and it should be pretty simple. If you have any trouble, send me an email (gina@ginaleighphotography.com) and I'll help you out.

And if you still feel a little shy, no worries. I still love that you care enough to pay me an online visit now and then. :)

On a different note, I was peaking at the photos from our cruise again today. Hmmm. Doesn't this just look yummy? All that pampering was good for my soul. It'd be nice to be right there... white sand, turquoise waters, and a kayak.

Closer to the Equator

2008-04-05T09:53:00.010-04:00

I've been hearing rumblings that I have not yet posted photos from our vacation. My apologies for the delay. Better late than never?

Everyone said we would not be disappointed. And after our first cruise, we're sold. We're true Americans... we love lots of food. And isn't that what cruising is all about? You'd think I'd have a palethura of shots of the buffet displays, but in truth, when it came time to eat I didn't think much about my camera. So, here's what I do have, in no particular order....

Nassau, Bahamas -

Coco Cay, Bahamas -

Nassau -

This gentleman obliged me with a portrait, only then to ask for "a little tip, pretty lady?"

The Majesty of the Seas, from our ferry -

Coco Cay, my feet -

Key West -

Our stateroom attendant left a little surprise -
Key West, again-
A self portrait, from the balcony of the Crowne Plaza, Key West-

Isn't this a funny little man?
Eric at the Southermost Point of the U.S., in Key West-
This was the image in my mind's eye of Key West prior to visiting. I found it in real life -
We has such a great time, were waited on hand and foot, and came back refreshed. So, when's the next cruise?

Joseph

2008-03-13T23:08:00.010-04:00

When Joseph was two years old, I acted very much like the evil step-sister's did to Cinderella. Not that my brother will take kindly to be compared to a Disney Princess. But really, I was a mean, awful, big sister. As he got older, I don't believe I became any kinder.

I have been given several gifts in my lifetime that have been especially meaningful. One is the digital camera my husband bought me several years ago. It was a special gift for several reasons. First, because we couldn't afford it. Second, because the purchase was a tangible way that Eric showed me his support for my love of photography.

Joseph gave me one of the other meaningful gifts. He had just started working at the local movie theatre behind the candy counter. He was still very young, but was earning his own money. At this time in our lives we knew very little about each other. I was already married and living two states away in Illinois and he was probably not even in high school. But he knew that we shared an interest in antiques. Although I happened to be visiting my family on my birthday, I had no expectation of receiving a gift from any of my brothers. It simply wasn't a tradition in our family. Nonetheless, at the very end of the day, in a bashful sort of way, Joseph handed me a small gold box. Inside was a beautiful antique broach. He had picked out a gift he knew I would love, a gift that was unique and lovely, and he had paid for it with his own earnings. I tell you, I did not deserve this act of love. This was for me a defining moment in our relationship as brother and sister. Joseph was no longer a little brother that I picked on mercilessly, but a brother who loved me in spite of my failings.

Joseph is quiet. He is strong. He is loyal. He loves God with all his heart. And he is about to become a wonderful husband to a very lovely young women. Hannah, my dear, I am so glad that you will soon be my sister.

And Joseph, thank you for spending your spring break with me and my family. I know how little your time is, what with running a fine dining establishment and going to school full-time, and carrying a 4.0 all the while. You have blessed me with two gifts - the first in a little gold box, and the second of your time and presence. I love you!

A few memories:

For the Love of a Toilet

2008-03-09T21:51:00.006-04:00

True Story:

Today starts out as a fairly normal Sunday morning, even despite the loss of an hour due to the time change. I'm rushing the boys around getting them ready for church. Breakfast, check. Joshua dressed, check. My shower, check. Makeup on and hair dried, check. Andrew dressed, check. We are nearing the final departure. I'm sitting on the bedroom floor putting on Andrew's shoes. He's doing everything possible to keep me from succeeding. "Andrew, sit still!" One shoe on, good. AND THEN, I look up.

"Joshua, why is your head all wet?" I ask.

"Because I put it in the toilet," Joshua replied.

LONG PAUSE.

"Why did you put it in the toilet?" I ask.

"Because I wanted to see where the water comes from when I flush," Joshua replied, logically.

This photograph above is evidence.

The Docks

2008-03-09T19:34:00.013-04:00

Eric and I are fairly-well ecstatic about a cruise we are planning for the end of March. We have been "earning" cruise points through our Royal Caribbean Visa for over two years now. Yes...that is correct! CRUISE points, not airline miles. Pretty sweet, eh? This will be the very first time I've been away from my little Andrew for any extended period of time. No worries though... my boys will be spoiled to no end by Grandma, Aunt Millie, and Uncle Bill.

As if I wasn't anxious enough already, I was given a bit of a precursor this week when I took Aunt Nora to the docks in Tampa for her own cruise. I do think I just might have folded my self up into a neat little pancake like shape and stole away into a suitcase, if it had not been for the fact that I was responsible for my two little boys.

Aunt Nora met her two beautiful sisters Millie and Marion (Grandma) and Millie's husband Bill, at the docks. The boys and I waved "goodbye" and headed for home. Joshua jabbered on and on about how he REALLY wanted to go on the big ship and had a very hard time understanding why he only had a quick moment with Grandma.

Here's the good news. Grandma is coming to stay very soon! And - please read this with a little "sing song" - I'M GOING ON A CRUISE.

Joshua chats with Aunt Nora while we wait for the sisters to arrive.
"Is that them???"
"Yes! I see them!"
Sweet Grandma. She's here for a moment... and then she's gone!
We can't wait to see ya'll again soon!

Aunt Nora

2008-03-02T19:36:00.008-05:00

This weekend we have enjoyed a visit from Aunt Nora (we affectionately call her "Aunt Norm"). Aunt Nora lived for many years in New Orleans until devastating Hurricane Katrina. She now is settled into her beautiful home in Mississippi. We are soaking up every moment that we have with her! Unfortunately I ended up catching some kind of flu bug, so we didn't do a lot a "site seeing," but I was pretty determined to get a least a few good shots of sweet Aunt Nora. These photos were taken late this afternoon at John Chesnut Park after a I woke up from a nice long nap. On our way home we drove out to the causeway to watch the sun set. I snapped the last image while we were waiting for the draw bridge to close. I loved the warm light reflecting off the yellow metal.

Aunt Norm, thank you, my dear, for the gift of your visit! And hopefully I will soon shake off this lingering sore throat and get back to living life! Wasn't it just a few months ago that I was saying the same thing?

The Dressing Room

2008-03-01T21:01:00.006-05:00

Let me first start by saying how much FUN I had photographing Christina, who was truly extraordinarily beautiful, not to mention a natural in front of the camera! Christina is the daughter-in-law of Judy Ferrara, owner of The Dressing Room. The Dressing Room is a very, very special bridal boutique in downtown St. Petersburg. Judy carries the most phenomenal dresses I have ever seen, and she works with only a small handful of dress designers...AND she is the only bridal boutique owner in the state of Florida to carry these designers. So, keep your eyes pealed when you read the next issue of "Town and Country" or "Martha Stewart Weddings." When you see the gorgeous dresses by designers like "Coren Moore," "Jenny Yoo," or "Thread," just know that if you absolutely must have one, then you absolutely must go see Judy!

Also, I would be remise not to include a special "thank you" to Zulu, our talented show dog. His kennel name is Champion Ipon "Zulu" Engwenya, and his classification is "White Bull Terrier." A most unusual and beautiful animal, wouldn't you say? What a pleasure too!

Lastly, Amy Fretto from Grassroots Flowers was kind enough to provide the gorgeous floral arrangements. We were specifically looking for elegant and simple... and as usual Amy came through for us! It was as if she already knew our "vision!"

Get that boy a haircut!

2008-02-23T13:58:00.007-05:00

I have been promising my hubby for two weeks that Joshua would soon get a haircut. The last few cuts have been done near the bathroom sink by yours' truly. When my brother came to visit, it took him only a few moments to ask me something along the lines of "So, Gina, why are YOU cutting his hair?"

Please keep in mind, I had not previously told my brother who had been cutting his hair. Enough said? So, this time I took him to my dear friend, Holly, at the Cottage Salon in Dunedin. Holly, thanks for rescuing me from the perils of bad haircuts!

Joshua LOVES to visit "Miss Holly!"

"Look! It's my 'rinoculars'!" (translation..."binoculars")

Since the blow dryer wasn't actually making any noise, Joshua added his own sound effects. "DRSHHHHHHHHH..."
Outside of the Cottage Salon, a three year old can find all kinds of fun...a tire swing, a big wooden bench swing, and a great big climbing tree!

Dirt

2008-02-22T14:06:00.006-05:00

We've broken into a new habit. Every morning after breakfast (today was eggs and ham), Joshua runs off to put his shoes on, and Andrew starts squawking and pointing to the sliding glass doors that lead to the back yard. The pitter patter of their little heart strings now revolves almost entirely around playing outside in the DIRT. My boys love dirt! This is nothing new as far as Joshua is concerned, but it's most definitely a recently discovered phenomenon for Andrew.

I must say that my own heart has found a new beat watching them learn to play together. Tuesday morning, Joshua said to me "Mommy, may I go outside and play now, and can Andrew come with me SO THAT I CAN HAVE FUN?" You have no idea how long I have waited for Joshua to be excited about playing with his little brother!

On a different note, how about that lunar eclipse Wednesday night?

A Grand Event!

2008-02-19T12:31:00.009-05:00

Last night I had the honor of participating in the exclusive Safety Harbor Resort and Spa Bridal Show. It was fabulous...not only are the facilities amazing, but the event was complete with a live band, champagne, and appetizers. Of course, I didn't have even a single bite because I was too busy chatting with brides and grooms!

The bridal show kicks off a special I am offering for the next three weeks! Brides and grooms, book your wedding date with Gina Leigh Photography and purchase either a Platinum or Slice of Life photography package, and I will give you 100 custom designed thank you cards ($300 value)! The cards are absolutely gorgeous - they are press printed on fine quality pearl card stock with parchment envelopes. I will personally design your card using the images from your wedding or engagement sessions. Please take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to give your guests an extra special "thank you" for their kindness to you.

My availability is very limited, and I anticipate a large response to yesterday's bridal show, so please don't wait!

Here are a few shots from the show:

These bouquets are from the amazing Amy Fretto from Grassroots Flowers. We partnered together for the evening by sharing a table. I have had such a great time working with Amy over the past several weeks. Be sure to check her out for your floral design!

I had the pleasure of meeting Chef Michael of Let Them Eat Cake. I can honestly say that I have never witnessed a wedding cake in process, but Chef Michael's talent did indeed come to fruition before my eyes. Absolutely amazing!

Baby Girl and Baby Boy

2008-02-19T10:30:00.006-05:00

Last week sometime we went to the causeway to watch the sun set as a family. We negotiated heavily with our good friends, Josh and Kari, until they decided it might be worth it to join us in our adventure. In truth, we forced them to stop their painting madness (what is it with pregnant women, nurseries, and paint??) by showing up at their front door. On the way we stopped to get food...hot dogs and fries. Life is good, eh?

The first photo is of darling Kari...who is very obviously expecting a little one. It's a girl! After promising my hubby that I wouldn't spend all evening with my camera in front of my eyeball, I made Kari toss my sweet Andrew in the air for a quick shot. I couldn't resist the combination of the sun, my gorgeous boy, and her growing belly.

The second shot was taken from the window of our truck as we were moving along down the causeway.

My boys have been happily playing outside in the backyard for about a half hour, but they are now showing very clear signs that the contentment has ended....so, I'm off to my most important job.

Movement

2008-02-06T21:15:00.001-05:00

This past Monday, I spent a little more time at Grassroots Flowers taking some photographs of Amy's floral designs. I've been working the past couple days editing these images, along with the images from the Great Bridal Expo...for which Amy from Grassroots was the featured florist.

As I've been working through the shots, these two images both struck me. They show a sense of movement. The shot of the bride in the dress is fast. Rythmic. The lillies are soothing. Calm. Both have a dance to them though - can you see the grace of a ballerina's arm when you look at the long stem of the lillies? Ah, these are the odd ways my mind works...

If you'd like to see a few more shots from the Expo and Grassroots, I've added a small handful to the slideshow on the home page of my website - Gina Leigh Photography. Feel free to drop me a line...I'd love to hear your thoughts!

The Art of It All

2008-02-04T08:53:00.000-05:00

Today's blog is all about Grassroots Flowers. Amy Fretto is the owner and creative mind behind the floral design, and this girl is amazing! Her work is absolutely gorgoeus and completely unique. She was the featured florist for the Tampa Great Bridal Expo yesterday. She provided all the bridal bouquets for the fashion show, along with the beautiful floral arrangements in the doorways to the convention. Grassroots celebrated their successful grand opening last weekend. They are truly kickin their first year off with fervor!

Brides...book your wedding floral design with Grassroots Flowers and mention that you were referred to them through Gina Leigh Photography, and Amy might just "throw in" a complimentary tossing bouquet!

Grassroots Flowers and Gina Leigh Photography are together thrilled to be serving the Tampa area with fresh ideas in floral design and the art of wedding photojournalism.

Indian Rocks Beach with the Family

2008-01-26T18:38:00.000-05:00

Day Four of The Great Adventure. That is, my week with my brother. He's just stellar. As is his girlie, Emma. And just for the record, he doesn't subscribe to any kind of communist belief system...he just likes the red star on his shirt.

These photos were taken at Indian Rocks Beach. Our friends, John and Michele, gave us their condo on the beach for a couple days...what a great time! Thanks so much, you two! It really was great.

My Bro and His Girl

2008-01-24T23:06:00.001-05:00

I have enjoyed and amazing week with my brother, Christian, and his sweet girlfriend, Emma. What a huge treat for me! They flew down from Ohio on Monday and it's been good times since. These images were taken Monday afternoon shortly after their plane landed. They left -2 degree weather in Ohio, so I couldn't pass up the opportunity to take them directly to the beach.

I can't say enough how much I miss my brother. It's been years since we've spent this kind of time together. This week has been a true blessing. And, Emma, you're quite a gem yourself, girlie.

Heather and Jay, continued

2008-01-19T22:32:00.000-05:00

I thought I'd put up just a few more of my favorite engagement shots now that I've finished editing them all. Wow, I really had a blast working on these!

Toddle, Toddle

2008-01-19T22:19:00.000-05:00

It's official. He's walking. I had been waiting and waiting for THE DAY...you know, the one you write in the baby book. "Andrew started walking on ________."

It just didn't happen like that. He took a few steps. And then a few steps more, now and then. I believe it was last weekend that Eric and I looked at each other and agreed together..."He is definitely walking."

Now, one week later, he has gotten into the sugar, dumped the Comet cleanser all over the kitchen floor (yes, I plan to do more baby proofing), and spread the ash from the fire place all over himself. What is it about walking and adventure? Somehow these two things seem to be inseparable. Fun times!

Fog on the Beach

2008-01-16T13:40:00.001-05:00

Sunday night I had the privilege of spending the afternoon and evening with a super fun couple, Jay and Heather, and Heather's sister, Jena. We did an engagement session on the beach at Siesta Key. Our intention was of course blue skies and turquoise water. Instead, we got fog. And this was no ordinary fog. We did the photo shoot in a literal cloud. The visibility was probably less than 15 feet.

Heather and Jay were great, nonetheless. Not only were they terrific about dealing with the weather, but they were naturals in front of the camera! I happen to think that the fog gave us an opportunity for very creative, unique shots. Here a few of my favorites...

Heather and Jay, thanks for a great day. I had a blast with ya'll, and I can't wait to shoot your wedding.

This One's for the Boy Who Has No Band Named After Him

2008-01-11T22:30:00.000-05:00

You most likely will not understand the title. My apologies for the "inside joke." I'll try not to let it happen again. :)

Today, Andrew got a much needed haircut. Look at my handsome little man. Ah, such a heartbreaker...
And, while I was on the phone with my brother, Joshua had egobs of fun in our groovy meditation garden. It's quite a neat little niche in our home...right beside the bathroom. More specifically, right beside the toilet. The zen-like fountain goes very well with the 80's appeal of the house. We like it.

Joshua stuck leaves and rocks in the spouts of the fountain, trying to make the water stop running. He wasn't successful, but it accounted for about a half hour worth of "creative play."

This afternoon, I found myself looking down the barrel of a point and shoot camera. I was the one being shot at. I didn't like it. There is a reason I have choosen to spend much of my time behind the camera, not in front of it. And the passport photo from the CVS photo lab is my case in point. No, you do not get to see the passport photo.

We didn't get to the Pinellas County Government Building before 4:58, and thus we only accomplished half our mission, which was of course to get a passport. I'm blaming the traffic. Particularly the snow birds. Ah, I suppose I can't do that, but someone else surely is to blame.

In any case, this is my sweet Joshua watching the traffic and listening to "Boys' Songs," which is his own little name for a mix of children's praise and worship music given to him by his aunt, uncle, and cousins in Boston.

Happy Friday!