If I sat down & thought about it, I really couldn’t remember how I had discovered CeFloFePhos (Central Florida Female Photographers), but I can tell you how lucky I feel that I have!  This amazing group of girls have taught me so much about myself & photography.  They are the apitomy of what our photography industry should stand for – friendship, loyalty, teaching & fun!  The group gets together twice a year for retreats thanks to our leader Sarah Bray & we travel to destination where we talk, share, have fun and photograph.  I love every second of it, and these girls have become the people I look up to, my sisters, the people I ask for advice, the girls I can talk to about anything with.  These girls are what is rare in life and I am so thankful to get to be apart of something so great.

This past weekend we ventured out to Westgate River Ranch in South Florida for a Fashion Shoot.  River Ranch is the largest Dude Ranch in the United States, and the people here are where the term southern hospitality orginated & cowboys were born and bred.  From the country accents and the polite tip of the hat, I felt transported to another world.

Everything about this place was beautifully untouched and I was sad to only be able to stay for the day but happy to be able to photograph in such an amazing location!

Special Thanks:

• Models: Sarita & our impromptu Male Model Zach
• Westgate River Ranch & all the nice people there.
• And ofcourse the CeFlo Girls for making every moment memorable!

This post is a little…OK! ALOT past due, but I’m slowly catching up with the world.

I feel so blessed an honored to have been able to attend this workshop. The week before Kristen Weaver with Images for a Cure did a Twitter and Facebook giveaway for some seats to the workshop.  I got on my knees, prayed, then hit send about a million times overloading her twitter.  Thankfully it paid off & the next week I was sitting in a chair surrounding by an amazing group of photographers and getting the opportunity to listen to some amazing speakers who I adore and thoroughly envy for their talent!

The next day we got the once in a lifetime opportunity to break up into groups with one of our favorite photographers and do a mini workshop with them.  I was so lucky to get my first choice Kristen Weaver.  Kristen is a international Wedding & Fashion photographer and let me tell you her work is to die for!

A special thanks you to Kristen Weaver for putting this whole thing together and giving this amazing opportunity!

Special Thanks to the Speakers:

And Special Thanks to the Vendors, Model & People that made this Workshop & Shoot Possible:

Models:  Hope Roberts, Kristen Johnson, Rachel Willems and Melissa Diep

Gowns were all provided by the sweet Amanda Caraker:  Something Blue Bridal Salon

Hair & Makeup done by the Fabulous Luisa V: Luisa V Bridal

All Florals were provided by the amazingly talented Lee Forrest:  Lee Forest Design

Here are my photos from the day:

I had the amazing opportunity a few weekends ago to attend a photographer’s workshop given by an amazing Orlando Photographer Tabitha McCausland.  I love going to any photography/business workshop as it keep me growing not only as a photographer but as a person and business owner.

When I heard that there was going to be a photoshoot following the workshop, and it was to included Brides & Horses, I was salivating like a dog at the dinner table.  I was so excited for the day to come, that when it finally did I forgot about the fact that I am deadly allergic to horses.  Oh yes people, we are talking my whole body broke in hives, eye swollen almost shut and uncontrollable itching to the point that I left bruises on my skin.

But to say it was all worth it would be a understatment!

Here are some pictures that I took from the workshop.

I’m so excited to launch my new blog & branding today!  I’ve wanted for so long something that will truely represent me and I feel like I’ve finally found it.  If you’ve met me or I’ve had the honor to become your friend you’ve probably seen my obsession with my body art, and by that I mean Tattoos.  I love every single tattoo on my body and when people ask my why do I get them, my answer is always the same:  “This is my art.  It’s an outer expression of who I am.  It’s me wearing my heart on my sleeve and my inner most thoughts for all the world to see.”

So when I decided to re-do my logo it was so important to me that it truely represented who I am.  I have this exact bird tattooed on my wrist surrounded by a peonies flower.  To me it represents to much in my life from the fact that I’m taking a risk going into photography and pursuing my passion – I’m jumping from the nest and spreading my wings, I’m not looking down and praying I hit the ground with a large and unpleasant splat.  It also represent the blooming of my business and the person I’m becoming.  But on the most important meanings of this bird is that it’s a Swallow and if you’ve ever done any research on them you should know that it’s said they mate for life.  So this is my symbol of my ever lasting love and devotion to my mate for life; my husband.

I hope you love it as much as I do. 

To Celebrate the launch of my new logo & blog I’m giving away a $10 gift card to Starbucks.  

To Enter:  Leave a Comment on this post until Friday May 6th @ 5pm. EST telling me your thoughts on the new blog.

I’ll be randomly drawing a winner on Monday May 9th.

Good luck to everyone & watch for some new posts coming soon!

I tried to keep both arts alive, but the camera won. I found that while the camera does not express the soul, perhaps a photograph can!
Ansel Adams