What a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon! Kristi and I have been trying to get together for this photo shoot for a few months now, but heat, schedule conflicts and wardrobe malfunctions kept getting in the way. Well we finally got it-the perfect location, perfect day, perfect weather, and the perfect wardrobe! Ok so we trespassed a little bit to get a few of these shots. It was just a little-a few steps, a few feet…whose counting! Anyways, you have already met Kristi’s babies…I photographed Mav & Tara a few months back. Now meet Kristi. I actually met Kristi myself a little over three years ago when we were both working at the same place. She did not work there long but we have kept in touch and I am grateful for that, and grateful that we were able to share our trespassing experience together. Kristi and her husband Jere have been happily married for three years, are avid supporters of pet rescue (they rescued both of their dogs) and are very spirited UCF Knight fans and attend all of the home football games. On the day of our photo shoot Kristi was especially thrilled because UCF had just, for the first time in their short history, beat a ranked team. Like I said…it all came together, perfectly (and no one was arrested!)

Those eyes! You cannot help but melt when you see Christian’s big blue innocent eyes. Christian is the 1-year old son of Michael and Lissette Cruz. Lissette is my oh so fun and funky hairdresser and the owner of Headlines Salon with locations in Orlando (right across from UCF) and Oviedo. When I met Lissette she had just found out she was pregnant so every time I went to get my hair done I was a witness to the life growing inside of her. Now when I sit in her chair we share motherhood stories; albeit a little different seeing as my son is 16, but also the same. We are mothers and treasure every moment with our children. I was thrilled to be able to provide Lissette and her husband with some of those moments. I had a ball letting Christian do his thing as I followed him around and “caught him in the act” of being one. And…those eyes!

Tracy and John are from Texas…I live in Florida…so we went ahead and met up in Alabama for our photo shoot. We were actually all planning on being in Alabama for the Flow Tour National Championships, which is the final competition of the flowboarding Flow Tour. Tracy is a bodyboarder from Galveston, Texas and has been competing for a few years. My husband and son both compete in flowboarding and bodyboarding, which is how I came to the privilege of meeting Tracy and her husband John. Tracy and John’s love story is definitely a special one and I enjoyed learning about their courtship while walking on the beautiful beach in Gulf Shores, Alabama. We could not have been blessed with a more beautiful day to take photos of a beautiful couple-inside and out. Tracy’s husband wanted a few of just her, so I, of course obliged…

When Melissa called to ask if I could do a photo shoot with her and her sister I was extremely excited to say the least. I have a sister so this session was pretty special to me. We had to cancel once due to those darn Orlando thunderstorms, but finally got a session in on a beautiful, but very hot Sunday. We drove to two separate locations and had a great time. There is something very special about the relationship between sisters and it was evident how close Melissa and Melanie are. I did photo shoots with my little sister when we were younger…you know those old Olan Mills studio shots-Mom and Dad would dress us in matching outfits (most likely ones that my mom made!) and we would pose in those uncomfortable positions! This photo shoot made me think of that, but these girls are in their 20′s relishing a relationship that is special to them and I was honored to be a part of that.

Ariel James is an aerial artist from California. She was in town visiting a friend and working on her promotional materials to prepare to launch her entertainment career. My husband helped to arrange a photo shoot with her and I was thrilled. She mainly needed headshots for business cards and postcards, so we had a great time walking around Lake Eola and shooting different shots for her promo pack. Ariel has since moved here to Orlando and has been training at a local club and teaching an aerial silks class at the Orlando Circus Arts School but best of all we have become friends. You can find out more information about what Ariel does at www.arielrose.info (that’s her Facebook Fan Page!) Ariel radiates beauty and came alive in front of the camera-every shot was great, it was really hard to just pick a few! For now enjoy these.