Island Celebrates Mothers

Bunnies were fabulous!!!

Some images from bunnies sessions. Our bunny wrangling days are over for another year.

Cloudy & Windy days are pretty too!!!

When we schedule a family portrait out doors we are always at the mercy of the weather. This session was no different. The Anselme family came all the way from Illinois to vacation here and wanted us to do their family portraits at the beach. The weather turned out to be windy and cloudy, but their images turned out to look amazing.

Melisa and Susan Jones-Mannino Reconnect!!!!!!

OK! How fun is this?!?! Yesterday we were busy photographing a popular local actress/teacher/traveler and woman of distinction. Melisa kept saying I know I know her. Turns out our client was a teacher at Booker High School when Melisa was a student there. While they were in different areas of the school, Melisa persisted. Ah ha!!! She remembered!!! That’s Ms Mannino!!! When the connection was made, the fun really began… “Oh yes, and remember dot dot dot??” “Oh my gosh, I haven’t seen her in years…” And so it went for about two hours. A major reunion, for sure.

Susan is busy acting in films, just did a one-woman show at Osolo, and is about to be in production of a new film. Susan’s character woman in the photograph is none other than Angelina Emily Grimké Weld. Never heard of her? Well I hadn’t either but she is a fascinating 19th century Southern Abolitionist, strong public speaker, and women’s rights advocate. Susan’s portrayal of her is just awesome. I got to hear a lot of the dialogue while we were photographing. We did the character image and then, of course, a terrific head shot for Susan’s portfolio.

Susan is wise to know the value of a great image of herself. For that matter everyone in business should have a ready and recent likeness of himself or herself. It is often your first introduction to other people. Opinions are formed based on this image. But that’s a whole ‘nother blog!!!

Thank you Susan. It was fun to photograph you and Ms Weld!

Learning, Learning, Learning…that’s just what we do!!!

Yesterday was a very long but great day. Melisa and I left the studio at 3PM to attend an incredible seminar in Tampa. The event was presented by one of the very best nationally known photographers both in the field of wedding photography and family events. He is amazing! By midnight we were exhausted and dealing with exploding brains!

Nonetheless, we feel that continuing to update our skills and hear about new ideas is what keeps us on the top of our game and on the cutting edge of new trends as well as continuing great traditions. We have been in this business 20+ years and without this constant attention to education, I do not think we would be nearly as successful as you have helped make us.

We studied new equipment, new techniques, new products, and connected with lots of old and new friends. Come see us so we can play with some of our new ideas and try out some of our new ‘stuff’!

Bunnies are Coming!!!

OMG I am on the other side of the fence – The Mother-of-the-Groom!

Who knew what it is like to have your only child, a son, getting married and you, his Mom, is a photographer, and the wedding is taking place in another state, and you are NOT in charge. WOW!

The great part is that his new bride, Angelle, is wonderful, her family is terrific, and they are joyously happy. A Flock of Florida Friends arrived in Lafayette, Louisiana on Thursday of Mardi Gras weekend. We had a splendid dinner Thursday night at Randol’s Seafood house.

Friday, Angelle’s family hosted a true Louisiana crawfish boil with caldrons of crawfish, boiled corn, carrots, and potatoes, boudin, and other mysteriously marvelous Cajun seasonings. So fun to have the Louisianas teach us Floridians how to eat our supper. T’was truly a great mixer! Then, after we’d had bazillions of crawfish, we learned that crawfish etouffeé was next on the menu. And what a phenomenal treat Brenda’s etouffeé is! For that, we did not need eating instructions!

Saturday I ‘hostessed’ the Rehearsal Luncheon at Landry’s Cajun Seafood Restaurant in Breaux Bridge, LA. The theme was Wedding + Mardi Gras complete with lots of beads, masks, flowers and the traditional Mardi Gras King Cake. Saturday night was lots of rain, the Krewe of Bonaparte Mardi Gras parade, and globs of bead mongering!

The wedding was on Sunday at a lovely southern Victorian style home called Sunny Meade in Scott, LA. It was a chilly but bright breezy day. Angelle was a gorgeous bride, and her groom was, well, a very fine handsome guy. (Said without an ounce of prejudice!) Lots of you know James’s Best Man who was ‘our’ Melisa’s husband, Andy. I must say, the wedding was so incredible and I almost made it through without shedding too many tears. It was a joyous occasion for sure.

Now, many of you have asked if I photographed the wedding. The answer is a resounding NO, I did not! The beauty of having been a photographer for lots of years, and having been active in many Professional Organizations throughout the state, and having acquired lots of really good photographer friends, is that I, well, I got the best of the best!

I also got paid back in spades. You know how sometimes, after a session, you’ve said to
me, “Kate! There are soooooooo many good pictures here – how am I ever going to choose?” Well guess what. I have approximately 4,000 awesome images to play with!

Let me just say, “I feel your pain.”