Costello Family Portraits

Last month, I stepped out of my wedding comfort zone to shoot some family portraits. Ok, maybe thats a bit of a stretch, but shooting portraits one on one with no other distractions (except for a park full of on-lookers) is definately different than shooting weddings. None the less, I love doing it.

Now that I think about it, there is at least one striking similarity; families coming together and having their photos taken as one big group. Most families havent had everyone together for a big photo in either a long time and some never have. I hear that statement a lot at weddings, too!!

The Costello family and I met at Lake Eola park to get photos of their daughter wearing the dress she wore for her 16th birthday. While we were at it, they invited the rest of their family too. So here is a hidden secret for those that have read this post and didnt skip to photos.... the daughters of the family are the official babysitter(s) for our son. All of them have watched him at one time or another!





Here is the extended family...



Here is mom and dad... they told me that when they got married they had shots done under this weeping willow. I decided there wasnt a better place to shoot them!!



And the 4 kids...






A fun family shot...



And the final of the day...



Hope everyone has a Happy Holiday...

Amazon.com's Wedding Photographer Has Advice

Ryan Brenizer has been a wedding photographer that I have long followed. You see, photography and specifically wedding photography is full of established, successful photographers parting knowledge all over the internet and through seminars. Both professionals and amateurs alike can gain tons of additional knowledge by subscribing to blogs and websites from all over our globe and attending affordable seminars. This, of course, never will replace true experience which Ryan talks about in today's Amazon Photography blog...

The best line ever reads, "If commercial photography is a scientist in the lab, then wedding photography is an episode of McGuyver -- it's not about what you can do, it's about what you can do in 30 seconds with the weather, location, and subjects possibly working against you and no second chances."

I couldnt agree more with this statement. I have not had a wedding yet that didnt involve some sort of troubleshooting. Lighting, environments, guests, alcohol, and equipment issues are just some of the scenarios I have had to think my way out of. So, when someone asks me what they need to shoot a wedding, my line is, "A dozen weddings working as a second for real world experience.". Of course, thats usually not what that person wants to hear but its really the best advice. As my brother used to say all the time, "Sh** happends; learning how to deal with it is what life is about."

Leu Gardens & Orange County History Center Wedding

Here is another wedding I shot as a 2nd with Robert McClory of WeddingsbyRobert.com. We actually started shooting the guys at the hotel, then moved to the front of the History Center for the bride and groom reveal before the ceremony. Once that was done we spent the next hour in downtown Orlando shooting "urban scenes". We then went to Leu Gardens for a wedding on the Lawn and finally moved back to History Center for the reception. I had a blast, the weather was great and it really was an awesome experience. Here a few shots that I took...



The guys before a wedding are always so much more calm. It really is interesting the difference...

















The bridal part was watching Robert set up a shot. I loved the way this looked and took the picture. No posing and manipulation at all... just a true moment!













The place cards were all hung from a tree and organized by last name. The concept and outcome was awesome.