Category Archives: Behind The Scenes

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All that stuff you don’t normally get to see. It isn’t always glamorous but it’s usually pretty funny!

Sneak Peek { Slices of Life } | Natural Portraits In Lush Naples Gardens

First of all I want to thank all of the wonderful families who joined me at the beautiful secret garden in Naples last week. It was pretty hot and sticky out but I have to say, the Slices of Life mini sessions were a fantastic success! Proofs will be online by October 10th unless we’ve made other arrangements. We had so much fun and captured so many fantastic images, I’ll be popping in to share sneak peeks throughout the next week, keep checking the blog for yours!

I have to share a little secret with you all, when I schedule a day of mini sessions like this I get so incredibly nervous before the big day. I worry that I’ll have a major camera malfunction right before the first client shows up or maybe all of the sudden neither of my cameras will turn on! Oh gosh, maybe I’ll run out of funny things to say or worse yet my brain will suddenly stop functioning altogether and I’ll have a creative meltdown with no ideas flowing between my head and my camera. I know, I know, it sounds silly but having so many different little personalities to work with during such a short time, one right after the other… *whew* it’s scary! Of course the moment I pick up my camera and start playing around with the children all of that fades away. I think that’s how I know I’m doing what I was meant to do, being a photographer I mean. I absolutely love being in the moment, making little faces light up and capturing those perfect moments in time.

I’d also like to take a moment to publicly thank Kelly, my wonderful assistant. GIRL, YOU ROCK! Thank you SO much for all your help! She was right beside me the entire time – melting in the heat, grabbing gear as needed, holding massive scrims over her head to keep the sunlight hitting where I wanted it to be and not where I didn’t. Not to mention having to be my comedic side kick for a few of the tougher nuts to crack. <grin>

When I wasn’t barking orders and making her hold large awkward things over her head for extended periods of time I let her play with my back up camera a little bit to capture some of the behind the scenes fun. I thought you might get a kick out of some of the strange spots I end up in trying to get ‘the shot’.

…like in the middle of a stream on a 12 inch rock…lifexpressions photography family portrait session, fort myers florida, on location photographer, naples beach photographer, naples newborn photography, sibling portraits, sanibel beach portraits

… or peeking out from behind the bushes to surprise you (yeah, I’m tricky like that sometimes) …

lifexpressions photography family portrait session, fort myers florida, on location photographer, naples beach photographer, naples newborn photography, sibling portraits, sanibel beach portraits

… I think the end result is worth it though …

lifexpressions photography family portrait session, fort myers florida, on location photographer, naples beach photographer, naples newborn photography, sibling portraits, sanibel beach portraitslifexpressions photography family portrait session, fort myers florida, on location photographer, naples beach photographer, naples newborn photography, sibling portraits, sanibel beach portraits

… some little ones just show up to the party full of smiles and ready to go …

lifexpressions photography family portrait session, fort myers florida, on location photographer, naples beach photographer, naples newborn photography, sibling portraits, sanibel beach portraits

lifexpressions photography family portrait session, fort myers florida, on location photographer, naples beach photographer, naples newborn photography, sibling portraits, sanibel beach portraits

Don’t I have the most beautiful clients? <sigh> Stay tuned to the blog, more sneak peeks are coming soon!


lifeXpressions photography voted The Best of Fort Myers 2009

*toot* *toot*

We’d like to interrupt your regularly scheduled blog surfing for a little tooting of our own horn…

lifeXpressions photography best of ft myers award

Lifexpressions Photography has been selected for the 2009 Best of Fort Myers Award in the Photography category by the U.S. Commerce Association (USCA).

The USCA “Best of Local Business” Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USCA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.


THANK YOU! I am honored.

Sneak Peek { Prayers for a Very Special Family } | Lifestyle Portraits in Naples

Lifestyle portraits, yes, I think that would be an appropriate term for this session. I have been photographing this wonderful family since before baby number one {Austin, 3 yrs old} was born. Almost exactly one year later I was called to help them celebrate the arrival of number two {Mason, 2 years old}. Then, our session last fall, marked my fifth time working with this family and I have to admit, they just get cuter every year! Needless to say, when Mom called me announcing the impending arrival of baby #3 I was beyond thrilled!

I knew the session would be a challenge given the ages of the boys and the lack of duct tape in my camera bag. Luckily this Mom & Dad are two of the most wonderfully patient, calm, take-it-as-it-comes type of parents I have ever met. They don’t need, or necessarily want, some unattainable “perfect” family portrait. You know the kind where everyone sits like little angels and smiles for the camera on cue. That’s fiction! Life with two toddlers (soon to be three) is messy! They’re loud, they don’t stay in one place for more than a millisecond, and <gasp> dare I say it, they’re sometimes whiny. But oh gosh are they ever cute and if you take a deep breath, let them be who they are and let me capture that for you – you might just find yourself with a true portrait of a family in love. I’d like to dedicate the first two shots I’m sharing to wonderfully patient Mommy and those of you who email me thinking I just walk in the room and everything magically comes to order and the scene practically sets itself. Trust me, it ain’t always easy – but it sure is funny! ;)

ifexpressions photography family portrait session, fort myers florida, on location photographer, naples beach photographer, naples newborn photography, sibling portraits, sanibel beach portraits

lifexpressions photography family portrait session, fort myers florida, on location photographer, naples beach photographer, naples newborn photography, sibling portraits, sanibel beach portraits

lifexpressions photography family portrait session, fort myers florida, on location photographer, naples beach photographer, naples newborn photography, sibling portraits, sanibel beach portraits

lifexpressions photography family portrait session, fort myers florida, on location photographer, naples beach photographer, naples newborn photography, sibling portraits, sanibel beach portraits

Mom and Dad seem to understand that with love, laughter and occasionally suffering through The Doodlebops together, they can survive all things.

lifexpressions photography family portrait session, fort myers florida, on location photographer, naples beach photographer, naples newborn photography, sibling portraits, sanibel beach portraits

It was just one week after our session together this family was dealt one of life’s most difficult hands. Their unborn child has been diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a very rare type of congenital heart disease which will require several surgeries throughout his young life, the first of which he will undergo at just one week old. Now that you’ve learned a little about this very special family, please take a moment to stop by their blog to offer your prayers and support as they make their way through this very difficult time.

lifexpressions photography family portrait session, fort myers florida, on location photographer, naples beach photographer, naples newborn photography, sibling portraits, sanibel beach portraits

Edison Festival of Lights Parade | Downtown Fort Myers Photography

lifexpressions photography family portrait session, fort myers florida, on location photographer

Happy Sunday! We had such a fabulous time during the Festival of Lights celebration in downtown Fort Myers last night. The photo series above was taken while we waited (sometimes not so) patiently for the parade to start. It seems my daughter has entered a ‘Take my picture Mommy!” phase which, after 3 years of bribing and whining, is totally ok with me. Heck, even her silly cheeseball faces are welcomed and encouraged!

The 5K runners were seriously impressive. I was crouched down near the finish line watching the runners round their final corner, I admire their stamina, I don’t think I could do it!

lifexpressions photography family portrait session, fort myers florida, on location photographer

lifexpressions photography family portrait session, fort myers florida, on location photographer

Runner 261, you look entirely too happy to have just ran 4+K, I’m thinking maybe that smile is because you see the finish line over my head. *giggle* Lookin’ good ladies and gentlemen, congratulations to all! Don’t worry, somehow I managed to avoid getting run over.

Little Livie spent much of her time stuck to Papa like glue. Everyone who knows me, knows that I’m an emotional person, I think you almost have to be to do what I do. But seeing my Daddy hold my baby girl always makes me mushy.

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lifexpressions photography family portrait session, fort myers florida, on location photographer

After some exploration of the local crafts being sold and displayed it was (in the words of my 8 yr old) FINALLY time for the parade to start. It really wasn’t that long but at 8 years old 20 minutes seems like a lifetime!

lifexpressions photography family portrait session, fort myers florida, on location photographer

lifexpressions photography family portrait session, fort myers florida, on location photographer

The police motorcycle stunts were amazing! You could feel the wind from the bikes brush against you as they criss crossed and made their way down the street. Great show guys! I wish I had more photos of your stunts but you were just too fast to focus on in the dark! I did however catch this dare devil coasting down the street. You sir, seriously impressed my youngest boy – shame on you! That child does not need any encouragement! *giggle*I added a little vintage touch to the image, it looks like something right out of an old newspaper.

lifexpressions photography family portrait session, fort myers florida, on location photographer

Being the impatient mother that I am, I finally got tired of sitting there waiting to see my own son come marching down the street so I did what any other mother would do. I tracked him down and embarassed him by taking his picture in front of all of his friends. *giggle* I know, I’m evil aren’t I? Even though this is his 5th year in band, this was his first time joining in with the marching band and he looked so handsome, so ya see, I just had to! Totally justified if I do say so myself.

lifexpressions photography family portrait session, fort myers florida, on location photographerlifexpressions photography family portrait session, fort myers florida, on location photographer

lifexpressions photography family portrait session, fort myers florida, on location photographer

One final note for my photographer friends, the 5D Mark II totally rocked my world last night! All the parade images were captured long after sunset using just my trusty 5D markII, my 50mm 1.4, and the available street lighting. For referance, the image of my son in uniform was shot at 1/125@f2.8 ISO 6400 with just one street light behind me to illuminate his face a bit. Rock on Canon, you know I love you!!

Sneak Peek { Kaitlyn & Kenzie } – Sanibel Island Family Photography

It was certainly beautiful on Sanibel today, I couldn’t help but pull out the camera and snap off a few shots before my clients arrived. I think the planets aligned just perfectly for this family. When I arrived on the island it was hot and oh so bright. Just look at that big beautiful blue sky surrounding the old Sanibel Lighthouse….

The sun managed to make it’s way behind a few clouds as I was shooting which opened up a rare opportunity for me to capture a few shots of the family with the old lighthouse in the background. Normally the sun is right next to the lighthouse and much to bright to be suitable for portraits (unless of course I was working with a team of assistants and had those portable strobes I’ve been eying *hint*hint*). ;) Today I had the pleasure of working with a very a lovely family vacationing all the way from Canada. While we were chatting I learned that tomorrow is actually Mom’s birthday!! So, happy birthday Mom! I hope you enjoy this little sneak peek into our session, the girls were delightful! I can’t wait to share the rest of the images with you all! :)

Munchin’ on Sand on Naples Beach

Just going to pop in and post one or two, really quickly. I’m a little backed up and bouncing off walls just thinking of everything I need to do but my computer doesn’t move as quickly as my brain does so instead of crossing things off here I sit, waiting, working, waiting, working, waiting. Oye! I really need to find a way be in two places at once…seriously. It would make life so much easier! ha ha

So, I’m sharing a quick one today, this little guy is Adrian. He recently visited the Naples area for his first birthday. Now obviously he brought the family along with him, but I’ll share more of them later. Mom swears up and down this little guy wasn’t enjoying the beach at all in the days prior to our session. In fact, if I remember correctly there was mention of tears and meltdowns as soon as the toes hit the sand. Well, let’s just say that was NOT the case when I arrived that day. In fact, I’d say this little man thought the sand was de·li·cious! *snicker*

This is one of those shots that when you first look at it you can’t help but to giggle out loud. You know, the kind of giggle that sneaks up on you and makes you snort when you laugh. Yea, that kind of funny!

Ok, just one more because he’s so stinkin’ cute! I need a caption for this one. Something that reads, “Who me? I didn’t eat the sand, honest!”

Beach + Fisheye = Fun

Considering these images are from this morning’s session on Wiggins Pass in Naples, this is also a bit of a sneak peek for little Miss Berklie and her family. Berklie LOVES the beach and the water so what better place to document her sweet personality at one year old? :)

I purchased this fun little Sigma 15mm fisheye lens back in December (tax write off ya know) and I hadn’t had a chance to play with it even once until today. Some of my friends might even call that lens neglect and call in the CPS (Camera Protective Services). ha ha I have to admit, I’ve been spoiled by my Canon L glass to this point so I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from the Sigma line and the fisheye aspect was totally new to me. New toys are great for pushing me to try new perspectives and reaching a bit farther artistically. They challenge me to look at the setting in a new way and I love a good challenge!!

I’ll start with these lively, slightly distorted and completely adorable shots of the little water baby…

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It’s a big, big world little girl!

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And a more traditional style image of sweet Berkly for Mommy and Daddy…

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