This time of year, it is a great time for outdoor newborn photo sessions. I loved meeting this sweet family in their neighborhood up in Odessa. The light at the park was just perfect, and although it definitely warmed up quickly. Still, it was still bearable in the early morning hours just as the sun came up. Since these guys are used to being up early with littles and a new baby, getting your newborn pictures done in the morning is usually a great idea! If you are currently pregnant, don’t forget to set up your newborn photo session before baby arrives for the most scheduling flexibility, too!

I met up with this gorgeous family a few weeks ago on the most amazing night weather and light wise in a long time. We had the absolutely perfect weather for their springtime family pictures in Tampa. I loved their wardrobe choices and the location really helped set off their rich details against the greenery and blacks. I always get nervous when clients say “we are all wearing black” as a photographer who loves colors, but this time the all black outfits absolutely worked. The little bits of sparkle, the details and rich snippets of color among the black really worked so perfectly. Also, Hillsborough River State Park is now officially back open, so I absolutely recommend making a spring day of it here soon. You don’t need to do photos, just pack a water bottle, maybe some snacks and a sense of adventure and you can really explore a great park in the Tampa Bay area.

This gorgeous girl is such a fireball of energy and happiness. I am so glad I was able to document this huge milestone for her and her darling family. We met at the perfect rustic inspired location for her senior photo session and even squeezed in a few family photos for them, too. I loved the Spanish moss, glowing light and field of longer grasses to play with all the different light for a dynamic gallery of images. I love a good safe senior portrait but also incorporating movement, play and light into some more creative photos to document each senior’s style a bit more, too.

Spring and into summer is the perfect time for some outdoor newborn pictures in Plant City or around Tampa Bay!

I loved the colorful outdoor photos, especially with their neutral palette for the wardrobe, but there is something so timeless about black and white images. This session had more than it’s fair share of black and white newborn photos with mom’s dress in a toile fabric for sure. The dress and it’s pattern will always inspired me to create black and white versions. If you are expecting, this is a great time of year for outdoor newborn photos. The mornings work great for newborns, since they are usually happier in the morning, and it isn’t quite as hot or rainy here in Florida in the mornings, too. If you are expecting and want to do a laid back newborn photo session from the comfort of your home, I can usually find a little spot to create outdoor magic, too. 99% of the time anyway! Even if you think it wont’ look great, I can find where the light usually works best and at least give you a few options for family photos that will continue to blend together with future family photos in our gorgeous backdrops around Tampa Bay.

I don’t know if gets better than a flower field session. There is just something a little more extra special about wildflower fields, am I right? This sweet senior happened to contact me at the exact right time. The weather was still gorgeous and I knew this field was just about done for the season. I am usually lucky enough to get a few photos here each spring, between February and March. The flower field typically gets mowed at least once and the second time growing usually is dependant on the weather if it is lush or just reblooms a little bit. This year was perfect right before spring break, and it is always more magical in the morning. The light is so golden and the tree line helps give that added bokeh effect. This day we had a tiny sliver of fog run through for a few minutes and it was still cool enough that we could see her breath for a few shots in the sun.

This sweet family came all the way from Green Bay for their vacation and for family vacation beach pictures on Indian Rocks Beach. Of course, being from Green Bay, I was thrilled to have someone from my old home town pick me to document their family while visiting the area! We ended up having some people we knew and even went to the same high school. Although, I was there years earlier! It was so fun to document their time together and I loved each of the girls’ personalities that come through so well in the photos and their connection with each other shines in these as well. The night was colder than normal but being Wisconsinites they took it in stride and the light was so perfect and glowy!

BeachFt DeSoto Beachcoupleswhat to wear beach photosvacation beach pictures

Mar 21

Written By Brooke Hamilton

I no longer do wedding photography, but I do love couples portraits. Especially if you add a sweet toddler to the mis. It is even more amazing, right? This vacation beach photo session on Fort DeSoto Beach was taken just after the beach fully reopened. Thankfully it is just as lovely as ever after two hurricanes ravaged this coast last year. This family took a vacation and brought their wedding dress along for fun vacation beach pictures that are wedding inspired and still centered around their sweet family. I loved the light and how sweet and happy they all were together. It was worth the travel to Fort DeSoto for sure for that sandy expanse, less people and gorgeous greenery to work with, too.

These lovely ladies came into our lives through swimming and I am so glad we had at least a few years swimming with them on the same club. Their parents are the sweetest and so are they. I can’t believe they are almost graduating and then they will be off to college soon. How fun is it for them that they are heading off together, too? Our twins are planning on the same university as well, so hopefully it works out well for these ladies! Or if you are twins and looking for some senior photo inspiration for when you graduate, you came to the right spot!

I love this location and if you have been following me for a while you will definitely know that since it is a location I use so much. The light just never disappoints at Medard Park in Plant City. This lovely couple I met a few years back at an extended family photo session on Davis Island while they were all visiting. Now they are living in the area and welcoming their first baby soon. I was thrilled to help document this milestone for them. They are truly the sweetest and most laid back couple to work with.

This lovely family came down at the perfect time. The weather was perfect, no rain, no cold, just right. They had a few days of sea fog, but the sunsets were hazy, cotton candy skies. Which worked perfectly with the soft neutral color pallet. Neutral does not mean everybody is in white or cream, you can do neturals with khakis, brown, light blues and pinks sprinkled in as well. They didn’t have any big prints so everything just melded together perfectly with softness perfect for the beach! If you are heading down to Indian Rocks Beach on a family vacation with grandparents, cousins, or siblings you just don’t get to see nearly often enough, a family beach photo session is a great way to remember the fun you had. I promise it will be fun and the only stress will be if you stress. I will be here to guide you every step of the way and then the night of the session, help keep you relaxed with mom-jokes and animal noises to keep everyone entertained for the hour or hour and a half we spend together at sunset! Contact me today if you are already booked for your vacation. I am mostly booked for March but have a few spots open, particularly weekdays and the same goes for April.

I just adore this family. I am so glad they moved back to the area after a few year and a few kiddos! I was lucky enough to document their oldest child at her newborn photos and now here I am photographing their latest baby. Their bookends <3 Here is a few of my favorites from their petite newborn and family photo session in Fishhawk Ranch. The petite offering for newborns allows for an hour together, with baby safe in their family’s arms for most of the session. Near the end, we wrapped up with a few simple and timeless newborn photos indoors, too.

It is that time of year where I get a lot of inquiries for senior photo sessions. I love it! Senior portraits are some of my favorite photo sessions. Each senior brings their unique style and personality to these sessions and that can be so fun and creatively freeing for me as a photographer. Letting you be you is so important! So, if you are a free spirit, or maybe more of a book worm, or maybe a sport fanatic, let’s document you as you are! What do you want to remember as you hit this high school completion and milestone? That can help me with not only style guidance for the best photos to stand out amongst the crowd, but also give you the best ideas for photo locations around Tampa Bay!