Scroll down for tips, recent work, and planning ideas from this Key West photographer!
HIRING A PHOTOGRAPHER 101 • PLANNING YOUR SESSION • POSING AND BEAUTY TIPS
Gretchen and Bobby were supposed to have their dream Florida Keys wedding when the pandemic hit and everything got put on hold. Come summer of 2021, it was time to make the magic happen, so we made the drive up to the beautiful Cheeca Lodge in Islamorada, where we would capture not only their beautiful seaside ceremony, but a family portrait session and a Trash the Dress all in one day!
Read MoreThere’s a stretch of sandy beach in Key West, where the palm trees are tall and plentiful, the surroundings spacious, and the sounds as tranquil as a summer breeze - save for the occasional sniffles, giggles, and smooches coming from those gathered for a romantic wedding ceremony. The location is Smathers Beach, and the couple? None other than my bride and groom, Regan and David.
Read MoreIt was a warm and sunny day in Key West as Danielle and David brought together their two families. Celebrating with their three children in a joyful and tear-jerking ceremony, the couple said “We Do” together as they embarked on their new lives as not only husband and wife, but as a young new family.
Read MoreThe first time Juliana met Bobby, she told him to “buzz off”. Thankfully, he tried again. A few casual first dates turned into a few years, a few adventures, and a few adorable fur-babies, finally landing with them deciding to tie the knot with the picturesque tropical landscape of the Southernmost City as the setting for their perfect summer soiree. Check out their gorgeous Fort Zachary Taylor State Park wedding and Key West Garden Club (West Martello Tower) reception.
Read MoreYou just never know what a little persistence can do when planning the perfect wedding. Amanda and Joe had reached out to me a while back about photographing their Key West wedding, but when scheduling conflicts mixed with COVID19 threatened to postpone their wedding, we were excited to finally get the go-ahead, and I was so glad I got to be part of this amazing couple’s big day!
Read MoreIt was a small but intimate event, surrounded by their closest friends, at one of the most beautiful venues in Key West, Florida. Check out Sue-Lynn and David’s romantic seaside wedding on the dock of the Southernmost House, with the waves of the Atlantic splashing up around them, the sound of seagulls cawing overhead, and the warmth of the tropical sunshine adding a loving glow to their nuptials.
Read MoreHow do you get your girlfriend not only to a floating tiki hut hotel room on the water without her getting suspicious that “something is up”, but also have a photographer there to capture the moment when you propose as well!? You tell her you booked a surprise maternity shoot - “that’s right…we’re going to take photos of the baby bump, honey!” - and make said proposal spot the “second location” of the photo shoot! Check out Sean and Brittney’s epic on-the-water sunset proposal in Key West!
Read MoreWhen life throws a curve ball - like a global shutdown just months before your wedding - at you, the only way to respond is to make sure you knock it out of the park. Such was the result of the absolutely STUNNING wedding of Jill and Mark, as they said “I Do” on the beautiful dock of the Reach Resort in Key West. It may have taking place one full year after their original wedding date, but that wasn’t going to stop them from having a night to remember!
Read MoreWhat’s the perfect prescription for when two doctors fall in love? A little bit of Vitamin Sea! This is what Jennifer and Benjamin found when they brought their wedding plans to the little island town of Key West, Florida, to celebrate with their closest family and friends in a beachfront ceremony by the ocean.
Read MoreGotta love a clever proposal story! Ryan had created a scavenger hunt for his girlfriend, laying clues for her to find all around the islands of the Lower Keys…some nearby, some accessible only by jetski….and they would spend the day looking for them. The most exciting part would come at the end, when the final stop would reveal none other than the Engagement Ring that Ryan had been keeping a secret all along!
Read MoreThey say you should never “race” into a relationship, but when Christopher first met Katelyn at a national awards banquet in Los Angeles, it was “racing” that brought them together….hydroplane racing, that is! The pair are both professionals in the sport, and quickly discovered that their love of the sport was matched only by their attraction to each other.
Read MoreThe first time Nicole saw William, they were both sitting at the same table in a Thayer Hall classroom located on West Point, NY at the United States Military Academy. Not too long after that first interaction, Will and Nicole became friends, and was by her side ever since. After she came home one day to find him on one knee, they planned their big day in Key West and celebrated with a small but sumptuous wedding at the Hemingway Home and Museum.
Read MoreWhen considering Key West for your elopement or micro wedding, a picturesque and slightly traditional option is to get married at the Monroe County Florida Courthouse in downtown Key West. That’s exactly what Eva and Howard decided to do, bringing their 10 closest family for a remarkable but intimate event in the southernmost city.
Read MoreI met Donna and Grant, as they reached out because they were going to elope to Key West and wanted to celebrate with some fun photos not just of the ceremony, but of them enjoying the island as well. Check it out!
Read MoreA typical week for Jay and Deepali would normally involve work days and time with families, adventurous activities, or a day inside doing creative projects or going on a bike ride. But for their visit to Key West, Jay had something completely new planned!
Read MoreBreanna and Chris love Key West, so when they scheduled their vacation to the Southernmost Point of the United States, they reached out to schedule their Engagement Session at the same time. Check out some featured images from their photo shoot with me at Fort Zachary Taylor State Park and Beach.
Read MoreAny new business owner will tell you that one of the most important things when you’re opening up is getting the word out there. For Kirby, owner of Kirby’s Closet in Key West, Florida, part of that strategy had originally included foot traffic going by her downtown location. When COVID-19 hit shortly after signing her lease, she realized that it would take some creativity and social media content to spread the message that not only was she open, but what it would be like once you arrived. For that, she booked a Personal Branding shoot, and a few weeks later we were on set putting her vision into practice.
Read MoreThere's a reason you do business with places where you know and like the person running it. Whether you actually know that person in your everyday life, or you simply have built up a personal connection over time coming into their shop, the point is you feel you know them, and regardless of what their competitors are doing, you’ll often default to their business out of respect and loyalty to that person. In effect, they have earned your business through their Personal Brand!
Read MoreWhen you are your brand, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is as much an exercise in business development as writing a new marketing plan or hiring a new employee. You can’t operate at your best in your personal brand if the person - aka “you” - are struggling with your quality of life. But making your life better requires focus and planning. Here’s a quick digest into how.
Read MoreI knew Tammy would be a fun bride to work with when, in response to one of my pre-planning emails, she instantly got the reference to one of my favorite musical theater shows. The connection got even better when I found out Joe raises reptiles, something my own husband and daughter are fond of! I was so honored then to be part of their big day which began at Island City House and continued with Around Key West Photos, culminating in a ceremony and reception at Roof Top Cafe.
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