Holy moly ya’ll. I am so freakin OBSESSED with this shoot!

Every single year I try to do something somewhat cool/special with my seniors for the very first group shoot, this year was no different. Lately I’ve been trying to just dig a little deeper in my business and my brand and really just figuring out what kind of example I want to set and what kind of voice I want to have for my girls! Every year I have a team of anywhere from 15-20 teenage girls, and they spend the entire year with me! It’s super important to me to encourage them to be leaders and examples in their schools to not just be social but to be KIND and to be encouraging to their fellow friends and classmates because I believe there can never be too much of that in the world!! Luckily my girls fell the same way and are ALL about spreading the love and I couldn’t be happier with these photos and what they stand for.

Shoutout to The Orlo for hosting us and for being the most gorgeous backdrop for this shoot! I can’t imagine these photos anywhere else and that gorgeous historic front porch really made them most magical backdrop! It made me super excited because I know they are also a wedding venue so fingers crossed I get to photograph another wedding there soon!

When the girls got to the location, I was frantically ripping apart flower petals to make flower confetti…it was a very successful idea (you’ll see those photos down below!) and then I handed out some cards and had each girl write down some kind words or an encouraging quote, whatever they wanted!

This resulted in some of my favorite photos to date with an extra special meaning behind them and that makes all the difference!

If you’re reading this please take a moment to read each and every one of these sweet messages and take them to heart! You deserve to be kind to yourself too!

After we take all of our photos as a group I always pull each girl aside to have a little one on one mini session with me! I’m going to share those photos down below for you guys too!

Jaiden

Carmen

Mae

Karlene

Shelbie

Samantha

Allie

Christy

Alyssa

Taryn

Chloe

Kaylie

Julia

Meghan

Wow guys!! I cannot believe Class of 2020 is already here and I am just SO stoked and excited to have each and every one of these girls on the team!! We were unfortunately missing a couple of my babes from this shoot, but we have a few other shoots planned for this year so you will get to see their gorgeous faces soon!

As always, thank you so much for stopping by the blog and for your support! I love my seniors so much and am so thankful for each and every one of my girls!!

Can’t wait for our next shoot together!

-Sam

My oh my when Raven & Antonio got out of the car I literally yelled at them “OH MY GOODNESS YOU GUYS ARE SO CUTE” haha… Sorry if I scared you guys 🙂 But seriously, spending the afternoon with these two was so much fun and we couldn’t stop laughing!! Raven & Antonio are one of my 2020 couples, and I already just adore them so dang much. I just couldn’t help but share a few of their giggle and slay filled engagement photos. Peep the goodness below 🙂

I am SO excited to have these two on board and cannot WAIT for their wedding next year! Thank you guys so much for stopping by the blog!

Have an incredible rest of your week babe!

-Sam

OH MY GOODNESS!!! What can I even say about these two (three*)?! Ari & Thomas (and their pup Vegas) are just the most adorable things I think I have ever seen. When Ari told me over the phone that she thought it might be fun to include their new puppy Vegas (which is where Thomas actually proposed!) I’m pretty sure I quite literally got up from my desk and jumped for joy.

You see.. I have a slight** golden retriever obsession. I have loved them with my whole heart since I was little and we also have a golden babe of our own, so while I love ALL DOGS – Goldens have a very special place in my heart! They named their sweet girl Vegas after one of their favorite places and where Thomas proposed! When they told me that my heart just exploded.

Anyways, I just had to blog these because I just shot their WEDDING this past weekend and I can’t wait to share that with you guys!

Not only are they just an adorable couple in general, they are truly best friends, and I can’t wait to see where life and their marriage takes them! Ari & Thomas, I just adore you both so much and I can’t wait to share more images from your WEDDING day!!

All my love,

-Sam

Victoria // Class of 2019

Pass a Grille Beach, Florida

Hair and Makeup – Style Hair and Makeup

OH MY GOODNESS! I absolutely just adore this sweet girl. Victoria was one of my Class of 2019 senior reps and these are her favorite images from her own senior session. After getting her hair and makeup done, we headed over to downtown St. Pete and Pass-a-grille beach for all the colorful walls, and scenery that just reflect her bubbly personality perfectly! Victoria is also a swimmer – so we just had to get her in the ocean!

Liz & Dave // Cuban Club Tampa

Wow guys, I am SO excited to share these images with you! I wanted to wait until my new website launch (can’t wait for that!) but I just can’t wait any longer to share these images with you!! Liz and Dave’s Cuban Club wedding was absolutely amazing with so many sweet details! The cuban club is one of my new favorite venues of all time – and for good reason! This wedding was also packed FULL with incredible local Tampa vendors who made all the difference. I will link all their information below down at the bottom of this blog 🙂

VENDORS

Venue // Our Lady Perpetual Catholic Church & The Tampa Cuban Club

Coordinator // Ash Mcbride Events

Flowers // Jason’s Creations

Dress // Morilee by Madeline Gardner, purchased at Ivory and Lace Bridal Boutique

Orchestra // Orquestra Infinidad

Cakes // Publix & Riverside Heights Rumcakes

Food // Olympia Catering

Hand Rolled Cigars // Long Ash Cigars

Laura & Zane

Bok Tower Gardens

First off let me start by saying I have been meaning to blog this session FOREVER. I am really trying to get better at these blogs guys… REALLY trying haha. Business has been so crazy and even though I wouldn’t change that for the world It leaves me really wishing there were two of me! One to shoot the sessions and then one at home doing all the computer work… lol. This wedding took place last year but I realized I have NO weddings on the actual blog so…. here I am.. head between my hands and my metaphorical tail between my legs. Laura and Zane’s wedding at Bok Tower Gardens was one of my favorites! I Absolutely adore them, and their wedding was in a word “classy” and just amazing to photograph.

Bok Tower Gardens is one of my absolute favorite places EVER. Like, I am in Tampa and will willingly drive almost two hours to this place upon request because it is THAT gorgeous. So already I was just so happy to be there and obsessed with their day. These two were so relaxed and excited to get married. They got married underneath the oak trees and Spanish moss in one of the most beautiful places in Florida.

Laura and Zane had the cutest cocktail hour and reception in a Tent right in the gardens! Their band was AMAZING and I cannot recommend them enough.

Laura & Zane’s wedding day was SO magical and such a joy to be a part of, I am so thankful they chose me to be a part of their wedding day and tell the story of the day. It is never lost on me how insanely important this job is and how amazing my couples are!

ps. I promise I’ll be better about blogging more weddings soon!!

p.s.s. In the meantime if you ever want to see full wedding galleries please feel free to message me and I will of course send some over your way!

Have an amazing day, and thank you so much for stopping by the blog!

-Sam

Jordan Jacobs // Class of 2019

Tampa, Fl

JORDAN!!! AHH!! Jordan’s senior session took place in Downtown Plant City, and came out SO cute. A vintage theatre, amazing outfits, and professional hair and makeup by Style Hair and Makeup, SAY NO MORE. These are some of Jordan’s favorites from her session, and I could not love what she picked out more. I just had to share her final selects here for you guys. I am as of now fully booked for Class of 2019, but if you are a 2020 senior please feel free to email me asap to get on the wait list for Class of 2020 Grad Sessions!!

I am so thankful to have the best girls in the world!

We ended her session in a little patch of wildflowers and If I could end every senior session that way I would be one happy gal <3 Jordan – it was such a joy having you this year and I could not be more thankful for your joyful, kind, goofy presence on the team this year!!!

I can’t believe graduation is almost here!!

GAH!

Sarasota Senior Session // Raelynn // Tampa Portrait Photographer

HMUA: Style Hair and Makeup

Raelynn where do I begin!!! This girl is one of my Class of2019 Senior reps and I just love her!! She is a southern loving, extrovert, country girl who can do a mean baton toss (if only you could see her families arsenal of trophies.. it’s crazy!) and always shows up with something a little creativity up her sleeve! Her senior session was so unique and SO. MUCH. FUN. this is Sarasota Jungle Gardens in Sarasota, Fl! They have flamingoes running around all over the place too – and you can feed them by hand at any given time! It’s pretty amazing and I can’t wait to go back and drag my husband there with me (lol)!!! It’s also full of greenery and flowers which is pretty much my favorite thing ever. I’m obsessed! Raelyn brought the cutest outfits and came to slay (as usual), and she was just glowing for her senior session! So proud of her!!

Ok let’s get back to the pictures lol!

Raelyn it was such a joy to have you and I am so thankful to have you as one of my Class of 219 senior reps!!!

Thank you guys for stopping by the blog!! I hope you guys have an amazing day!

-Sam

Picnic Island Park Engagement Session

Joe & Lisa

Tampa, Florida

Wow guys where do I even begin with these two!! We had so much fun on this cold morning last month!! Joe and Lisa hold a near and dear place in my heart because they are two very important people to one of my friends and favorite boss lady over at @style hair and makeup Anna! Anna contacted me wanting me to do her best friends engagement session on her as a gift! (HOW SWEET IS THAT!?) and of course I was so excited because the drove here all the way from Jacksonville for their engagement session with me!! I mean I was blown away and so ecstatic to have them for the morning. Joe and Lisa are two of the nicest and down-to-earth humans I have met in a while and our morning flowed so nice and wonderful I somehow convinced Lisa to bring me to the island with them this summer for their wedding! hahaha (CAN”T WAIT BOO!) and I am SO excited to be there with them and tell their story in just a few months! Definitely keep an eye out for that wedding guys! It’s going to be AMAZING.

But Anna raved so much about them I just couldn’t wait to meet them in person!! They’re pretty much the most adorable humans you’ve ever seen, and love each other so much it makes you a little sappy no matter who you are! haha

Example A:

I am so excited to go with them to St. John in a few months and capture their wedding day with just their closest friends and family! This morning was a dream and I just have the best couples in the world! So thankful for you guys!!

– Sam

David & Stephanie

Engaged // Tampa, Fl

YA’LL. These humans are two of my favorites for a lot of reasons. Stephanie is one of the kindest, bubbliest, and just sweetest humans I have ever met! When I met with her for the first time I felt like we could have talked for hours and I just knew god was responsible for bringing an amazing human into my life. I met David at their engagement session a few weeks later – and I have to say he is just as much a favorite… haha He looks at Steph like she’s a queen and you can just see all over his face how much he loves her. We had a sunrise session and started on their property where their wedding will be in just a few months! It was foggy and gorgeous and full of that dewy morning goodness that you can only find before the sun is up.

After we explored their property we headed over to Weeki Wachee state park and explored until we found a good private spot in the freshwater spring! It was amazing and such a cool way to end their session! I’m about two hours from Weeki Wachee but I would honestly drive here any day for a session because it’s just amazing and one of Florida’s pure treasures! I had so much fun with these two and we were all soaking wet by the end of this little adventure.. but it was so worth it!! Keep scrolling to see some of my favorites from this day <3

I hope you guys love these as much as I do and it inspires you to think outside the box! I’m always down to get a little crazy and have some fun with ALL of my sessions and this was definitely no exception. Can’t wait to go kayaking with these two soon!!!

Hope you guys are all having an amazing week!!

-Sam