So why is this the “Best Week Ever”?

Well, first of all – our Orlando Style editorial hit newsstands and I got to celebrate at dinner Tuesday night with some of my favorite people! I couldn’t have gotten through that shoot without the creativity and energy of April Dorsey, Lee Forrest, Molly Brown and Melanie Pace, and it was so much fun to just hang out, eat and relax! Seeing your efforts pay off in a beautiful print editorial is one of the most rewarding experiences, and I’m so happy to have shared that with them.

Images for a Cure 2010 is rocking hard, and I have an amazing group of dedicated photographers in Central Florida busting their behinds to make this the best it possibly can be! We’re working on our new branding and starting to get things lined up for an official June 1st Registration drive!

I was also asked to be a guest photographer at a Jacksonville shoot club run by makeup artist, Faythe Mesic, on June 1st. I’m really looking forward to meeting up with all the talented photographers in North Florida. They get together and shoot some fun fashion work every month – a nice break from my crazy wedding season. I’ll be speaking a little on Images for a Cure, and then just getting to help everyone out individually with their shoot! I can’t wait to see everyone there! (I believe it’s open to everyone – just contact Faythe on her website, or Facebook Page to get the details).

Moving right along, I finally started working on my office remodel project! I spend nearly 14 hours a day in my office (often more, rarely less) and have been dying to repaint, re-decorate and re-organize. We just built the house in July, but it’s already seen it’s 3 re-design, poor thing. But I’m fairly set on it this time (let’s hope!). There’s a LOT more to do, but I got most of the paint done and hung my photo-montage on the back wall! We still have to finish the curtains, paint the wall behind my desk (need help moving my desk first!), hang the crown molding and shelves, and then do the closet. The closet will probably take the longest…. but I can’t wait until that’s finished!

And to top off and already stellar week – I was featured on 2 blogs! Yesterday, Weddings Unveiled posted our “Greenhouse Effect” editorial on their blog, Completely Unveiled; and today, my studio interview with Collages.net went up! So if you ever wanted to know how I got my start in photography, what my biggest fear is, who I’d love to meet and what photographer I most admire – go check it out!

Rounding out my weekend, I get to shoot Christine and Micah’s amazing outdoor wedding tomorrow. I can’t wait for this one – it sounds heavenly Outdoors, backyard and on a lake. Perfection Hope everyone’s getting ready for an amazing weekend!

Christine and Micah from their amazing River engagement session

In February, I got together with some of the most talented vendors in Central Florida to produce a 6-page bridal editorial for Orlando Style Magazine. The issue just came out Thursday, so I finally get to blog about how awesome the shoot was, and how amazing everything looked!

Our theme was based on a “Green Wedding” – but with a little more modern interpretation. We went for more of a spacey-green, instead of your standard organic-green – accenting floral with vegetation and wiring – a little more of an industrial feel. We actually even had these amazing carnivorous plants (and it was really fun telling people that we needed to feed the bouquet)! Monkey tails, jeweled tarantulas and moss adorned the reception table. Dryer vents accented the modern decor, and our amazing black tiered cake was airbrushed in metallic and accented with artichoke.

I’m particularly proud of this editorial, because the original concept that Melanie and I had discussed truly blossomed from a creative brainstorm session with Lee, Anna and April. It’s so inspiring to watch everyone bring their best ideas to the day! The energy was wonderful and the shoot really surpassed my expectations!

And can we just talk about this location! I died when I found it – it’s a complete Hydroponic Greenhouse! Even cooler, it’s tucked away on the roof of the Roper Garden Building, which is adjacent to the Garden Theatre in downtown Winter Garden! The place was surreal – and such an integral part of bringing together our modern take on a “green” wedding!

The Roper Garden Building is the world’s first rooftop greenhouse showcasing sustainable urban food production of food and fish crops in a closed growing system, using environmentally friendly practices. The rooftop “Green Sky Growers” farm produces an abundance of fresh vegetables, herbs, and fish on an annual basis without the use of pesticides. The greenhouse use of environmentally friendly growing practices also includes the harvesting of rainwater that is recycled in the biodynamic growing systems.

You can view our editorial in the May 2010 issue of Orlando Style Magazine.

And to get a glimpse of our day, check out this amazing ‘Behind the Scenes’ video that Molly from Cinematique Films put together for us!

List of editorial credits:
Photography – Kristen Weaver
Retouching – Jennifer Scarola
Styling – Melanie Pace
Coordination – April Dorsey, The D-Tales
Floral – Lee Forrest, Lee Forrest Design
Cake – Anna Hightower, Anna Cakes
Videography – Molly Brown, Cinematique Films
Hair and Makeup – Jillian Caro

Models – Kristen Kleinsorge, Hope Roberts and Amber Freeman
Photo Assistants – Trista Hicks and Melissa Miranda

Shoes by Jimmy Choo, Christian Louboutin
Dresses from The Collection, Winter Park and Priscilla of Boston, Orlando
Showcasing gowns by Vera Wang, Monique Lhuillier, Melissa Sweet, Vineyard and Reverie by Melissa Sweet

Kristen K. started the shoot in the greenhouse with this amazing “Sunday Rose” Monique Lhuillier gown.

Little secret – Kristen K. is wearing my engagement ring in this photo below. It looks so pretty with that dress…hmmm….
And because I like to brag, it’s a platinum set, not-quite-2 carat diamond solitaire. Simple and timeless.

I loved the way Melanie accessorized this “Maldives” gown by Reverie by Melissa Sweet. Vintage jeweled headbands are the new birdcage veil.

Probably my favorite dress of the day was this “Morgan” ballgown by Vineyard. It has pockets! And did Lee not impress on this bouquet?!

One of my favorite images from the day. Kristen was rocking this champagne “Diedre” gown from the Spring 2010 Vera Wang Collection.

April found this jeweled spider ring box from Z Gallerie. It was one of my favorite accents from the table!

Hope is wearing a Tea-Length Melissa Sweet dress, “Billie”.

Jillian did some amazing hair and makeup work, and I loved the simplicity of adding lime green cymbidium orchid and anthurium to her style.

April pulled this moss-styled shag rug from Pier 1 Imports, and accented it with green floral Gerbera daisy pieces.

April found so many unique pieces for the table! I couldn’t even begin to start listing them…
but I love how the utensils match the Monkeytail fern that Lee brought in!

Huge thanks to Z Gallerie on Twitter for putting together a link of all of their amazing items April used for the table !
Ah, I love social networking!

Buy the items used in our shoot at Z Gallerie online!

I also have a special little connection with this little guy: a jeweled lizard box from Z Gallerie!
Lee’s centerpiece was striking. I loved how original it was. Simple, but made a huge statement!

Monkeytail fern galore!

Our rooftop table scape. Table and chairs were provided by the amazing Unique Options!

Anna’s cake was seriously amazing. She accented her metallic airbrushed design with artichoke and braided palm leaves, wiring and greenery.

Amber wore a cocktail length Priscilla of Boston Platinum Collection dress.  The skirt hem is accented with Chiffon, Tulle and Ostrich feather.

Shoes are from Christian Louboutin, Neiman Marcus and Jimmy Choo.
Patent and Lace Christian Louboutin
Platform Peep-Toe heels – “Clue” by Jimmy Choo

Miami. Remember that trip?

I was down there shooting some editorials for the amazingly sweet and silky Dujour Magazine! A gorgeous fashion magazine with the slogan “Fashion with Sprinkles on Top!” You can’t go wrong with that, right?!

Anyways – they’re having their annual Cover Contest to have their readers vote on the next gorgeous cover of Dujour! And guess what else? 2 of my shots of the incredible Courtney are up for contention!

So you, my loyal blog readers, need to help me by voting and spreading the word for others to vote!

I mean, could you not DIE at how amazing Courtney looks? She’s only 12 and 5’10″ – and if you ask me – this girl MUST be on their cover!

And I wanted to mention that this shot is unedited (straight off the camera). Since the whole shoot is part of an editorial, we haven’t released the stunning edits yet So I can promise you that if one of my shots of Courtney wins, it will be fantastically gorg with an extra touch of wow.

So go vote for me (pretty please, with pretty pink sprinkles on top!)

Vote for Cover Option #4 or #5 here: http://dujourmag.com/blog/dujour-magazine-cover-contest-the-____-issue/

My project is in full swing, and after 5 shoots this week, I’m ready to post the finished images If you are one of my Facebook Fans, you’ve probably already seen them, but leave a comment if you stop by so I know you were here! Thanks, and enjoy!

Hollie

Lacey

Tiffany and Tibor

Although there’s a pretty solid argument for this shot of Tiffany alone (minus the confusing hairy arm. I guess I’m the only one digging the confusion

Zoe

Jasmyne

Feminine and soft, pink and luscious – this fashion boudoir shoot was a last minute throw-together of some uber talented artists. Rocking out in lingerie and Jimmy Choo, Megan was an inspiration to shoot (and fun, too!).

This blog entry doesn’t require much chit chat. So I’d just like to say that I named this “Little Miss Amazing”, because I have the coolest team of girls. Ever.

They’ve been patiently waiting for these images – so, here we go!

Model: Megan Henderson
Hair & Makeup: Jillian Caro
Wardrobe: Melanie Pace
Editing: Jennifer Frances Retouching

Yay for my grandma’s hat, circa 1930′s.

Sigh… Jimmy Choo, how I love thee. I’m not gonna lie, I tried them on.