Celebration, FL.

Can I just take a quick second and brag about how I seriously have the most gorgeous couples that ask me to take their photos? I think I’m the luckiest photographer in Orlando! When you get couples like Faye and Derek, it’s not too difficult to catch the sweetest little moments! I’m really glad they chose Celebration for their session, because there’s so many adorable little nooks and crannies. I think this may have been my fourth couples session that I’ve shot there, so I had to steer clear of some of the usual suspects and give them some original places that they can call their own…. and that they did! I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone make mulch look so good

And PS – I really do have pictures where they’re not making out …. but those sweet little romantic moments are always my favorite to capture! They’re just too cute together!

Here are the teasers from Faye and Derek’s Celebration, FL couples session!

After a couple quick shots outside, we decided to jump over to the Celebration Hotel.

Gotta love a sexy elevator moment…

Yay, yay, yay!! Heather only has about 5 weeks to go before sweet little Aislynn gets here! If you missed her 6 month session, be sure to check it out here – and look how much she’s grown!

I can’t wait to see Aislynn for her newborn session next month

Here’s a quick teaser from yesterday’s session with Heather and Jason!

So how did you get your start in photography?

The long, and the short, answer to this is – Heather Johnson.

As the story goes, I had an assignment in my graphic design class to design a magazine cover. The assignment was to use an internet image for the cover (the focus was more on the text, design and layout). Searching random google images turned up a whole lot of nothing, when I thought to myself, ‘Even I could shoot a better cover shot than this!’. So I grabbed my little film Canon Rebel, and my best friend (who was also my Kappa Delta pledge sister and an experienced pageant princess), Heather. We went out to the Hollis Gardens near campus and shot my very first “fashion” magazine cover.

Which, come to think of it…. was 8 years ago. I can’t believe how fast time has gone. (!!!!) And that reminds me… don’t be too critical of these blast from the past photos. We all had to start somewhere!

The year was 2001, and I was shooting film. Thanks to Walmart for processing this for me.

Once everyone saw the pictures… my first stab at photography became a full blown business. I was booked 8 hours a day by sorority sisters, couples, parents, you name it. My fee? You buy the film, you pay for the printing, and I get the doubles! In case any of my previous “clients/sorority sisters” are reading this… yes, I still have the albums of ALL those pictures.

When it came to Heather, I had one rule when we shot together: I always get to wear the crown. Heather, being her humble, gracious self, always obliged

I went on to … well, to do what I do. Meanwhile, Heather went on to become Miss Tampa and Miss Central Florida…

2006, and I wish someone had taught me to edit back then…

and after countless shoots together…

Her engagement in 2006 to Jason Brooks

Feb. 2007 (when she introduced me to Model Mayhem… and a fashion photographer was born)

Aug. 2007

Nov. 2007 (I had just found the wonders that are Katie Russo, Nicole Beth and Jennifer Frances)

…her wedding in March of 2008….

…and her mom’s wedding in December of 2008…..

… I’m finally shooting her beautiful maternity photos (soon to be followed by beautiful newborn photos, and beautiful children photos, and beautiful family photos…. you get the idea)! My little Heather J is all grown up and having babies!

Heather is about 6 months along and still looks as radiant as ever. One thing is certain, their little one (name TBD)  is coming in to a loving family, with amazing parents, who have prayed for her and will love her with every inch of their soul. She will be absolutely perfect, in every way, and I can’t wait to meet her!

Favorite alert.

Thank you, Heather (and Jason), for the amazing journey you’ve taken me on. I can’t wait to meet your precious little one!

I’m the funniest person in the world.

No, really…. I am. At least according to my girl, Lacey. She came out to Disney yesterday with Chris to model for a “couples fashion not-quite-engagement session” (did you catch all that?) that I hosted. Who says you have to be engaged to have a good time and look great for a few photographers?

I really want to talk about the workshop, about how cool Khristen, Mariana and Khaled were, about how much fun we had and about how awesome Lacey and Chris were to work with – but I’ll leave that for another day! Tonight, I just really want to post a few of the amazing images I grabbed yesterday and let everyone see what they missed out on

This special Disney workshop session may become an annual holiday event, complete with a night out at The Boardwalk! I can’t wait to post all about it!

Come have fun with me, and learn lots! To schedule your own Photographer’s workshop session, email me at kristen@kristenweaver.com.

Favorite warning…. below.

I reminded Lacey that I’m the funniest person in the world. See? It works!

I’m a little behind on some editing, so coming up this week I’ll be blogging an awesome maternity session preview, full wedding and a couple portrait session teasers. Stay tuned!

Have you ever met someone and knew from that minute that you’d be friends? That was kind of what happened when I met Jenn and Mitch this summer to talk about their wedding! They hadn’t hired me yet, but I believe we sat in a Daytona Beach Panera for close to 2 hours just talking about everything! I was totally psyched to hear they were hiring me the next day! Not only are they fun and totally awesome, but their wedding will be absolutely gorgeous and I can’t wait to see them on their special day!

And speaking of special days – they’re getting married on one of the biggest wedding days next year, October 9, 2010, down at the Royal Crest Room. I think I’ve had about 3 more emails for that date since they hired me!

We had such an awesome day exploring the nooks and crannies of beautiful St. Augustine (special thanks to Melanie from La Dolce Vita Studio for giving me a great starting point there!). We snuck down a few side streets, got chased by a few random cats, and had lunch at the Santa Maria Restaurant where we could feed the fish right from a little port-hole at our table! My personal highlight of the day was exploring the little antique mall and getting some gorgeous shots there. Oh, how I heart St. Augustine!

I loved it so much, I serenaded Anthony to Garth Brooks the entire 2 hour drive home (after a quick stop at Chick-Fil-A for some sweet tea, of course).

I have a ton of great photos I’m working on for the full post – but wanted to get a few teasers up before Anthony and I head out to Shogun for dinner!