Flashback Friday

Here’s the scoop: Each Friday I’ll randomly select one photo from two different sessions from the lifeXpressions archives to share here on the blog. The featured family will be eligible to win a free 8×10 of the image showcased on the blog AND a $50 gift certificate towards a future session which they may use for themselves or pass on to a friend.

Flashback Friday Contest

So what’s the catch? The flashback image could be as recent as this past January or as far back as 2004, names of the clients will not be given so you’ll just have to make sure you’re checking the blog every Friday to see if your session is featured. If it is, you have just one week to claim the prize so you better act quickly! Are you ready?!? Here we gooooo….If one of these totally cute kiddos belongs to you, contact us at info@lifexpressions.net to claim your prize by midnight eastern time on Thursday February 25th.

Have a great weekend everyone! :)

Around Town

For those of you here in town, this is the big parade weekend!  The Edison Festival of Lights Grand Parade to be exact.  Because so many of us who live here make this an annual tradition and have for many, many, many years – it will be the focus of this weeks’ Around Town Post.  Read on for more information:

72nd Edison Festival of Lights Grand Parade, Saturday, February 20th at 7:00 p.m. – Downtown Fort Myers

This weekend, we will be celebrating the Innovation of Thomas Alva Edison and the Quality of Life of Southwest Florida in the 72nd Edison Festival of Lights Parade.  This parade has been named One of North America’s Top 100 Events and One of the Top 20 Events in the Southeast.  The Grand Parade is a two-hour extravaganza featuring national & local marching bands, floats, local government and law enforcement officials, a famous Grand Marshall and more. The parade brings the entire Southwest Florida community out in celebration of the life and achievements of our local winter resident, Thomas Edison. This event is free to the public.  For a complete route map, click here.

There are many great places to view the Grand Parade. If you would like reserved seating you can purchase Street Seat tickets which are sold by local non-profit groups and set up all along the parade route. A list of participating organizations will be located here at the website under Tickets as the time approaches. Otherwise arrive early with your chairs and blankets and pick a great spot by consulting the parade route map here at the website under About Us/General Information.

The Main Street Garage is located at the corner of Jackson and Main Street with the entrance on Main Street.  The City of Palms Garage is located at the corner of Bay and Monroe with the entrance on Monroe.  Parkers will have until 5:00 pm to enter the City of Palms Garage at the Monroe entrance.   The Monroe entrance will close at 5:00 pm and parkers will have to use the Main Street Garage or find parking elsewhere.   The garage entrance closes (does so every year) because of the parade route and the pedestrian traffic.  There is a pay on entry event fee charge of $4 when entering the garages.    Parkers may park at the meters and in the Zip Zone at no charge.  Parkers are subject to being towed for parking in privately owned parking lots.

History of the Parade

In 1885, Thomas Alva Edison built his winter home in Fort Myers, Florida on the Caloosahatchee River. Throughout the 50 years Edison wintered in Fort Myers, he dedicated time in support of local charities and projects. He died in 1931, having successfully received over 1,000 patents for his inventions.

The idea of a celebration to commemorate Edison’s life of achievement evolved into the Edison Pageant of Light in 1938, with a Coronation Ball, a parade, a band concert and a memorial service, which began following Edison’s death. The successful three-day event needed to accommodate a growing series of events, which later increased to a week-long festival, then ten days, and finally to two full weeks.

In 1988, demand for more public events was great, but the pageant membership available to provide volunteer leadership for more activities was limited. The choices were to limit the growth of the public events of the Pageant so they could be handled by Pageant volunteers, or create a new public corporation to assume the responsibility for all events open to the public.

In a unanimous vote, the board of directors of the pageant elected to turn over all the public events of the Edison pageant of Light to the new non-profit corporation, the Edison Festival of Light. This paved the road to the possibilities of civic celebration in which the entire community could participate. In 1989, the new organization, the Edison Festival of Light, Inc. officially assumed responsibility for all of the Pageant’s public events.

There’s something for all ages! Come and join in celebrating the spirit of Edison, during Southwest Florida’s greatest family tradition, The Edison Festival of Light!

edisonfront

Welcome to the 72nd Edison Festival of Light
“Celebrating the Innovation of Thomas Alva Edison and the Quality of Life of Southwest Florida”

Warm Your Heart Mini Sessions

warm-your-heartBaby it’s cold outside! What better way to warm your heart than with some fresh photographs of that special little someone in your life? The Warm Your Heart mini session offers the perfect opportunity to capture a few great shots- whether you would simply like to document a new milestone or create a few updated portraits between full sessions. Now is the perfect time to break out those super cute hats and colorful scarves, how often do we get to wear them in Florida anyway?

Sessions are quite limited and as such will be scheduled on a first come – first serve basis. The Warm Your Heart session fee of $75.00 is required to reserve your time. Fair warning, these sessions will book fast! We recommend calling early to ensure availability of your preferred time.

The Warm Your Heart Sessions are scheduled to take place at the beautiful Koreshan State Park in Estero on Thursday March 4th and Friday March 5th. The Warm Your Heart session includes:

- 20 minute session for up to three siblings

- 10-15 images presented in a private online gallery

- Special Xpressive Collections starting at $250.00

- Exclusive keepsakes and promotional albums

- 48 hour online ordering period

Love the idea of a mini session but need a different date? Take a peek at what our Slices of Life Sessions have to offer!

Flashback Friday

Here’s the scoop: Each Friday I’ll randomly select one photo from two different sessions from the lifeXpressions archives to share here on the blog. The featured family will be eligible to win a free 8×10 of the image showcased on the blog AND a $50 gift certificate towards a future session which they may use for themselves or pass on to a friend.

Flashback Friday ContestSo what’s the catch? The flashback image could be as recent as this past January or as far back as 2004, names of the clients will not be given so you’ll just have to make sure you’re checking the blog every Friday to see if your session is featured. If it is, you have just one week to claim the prize so you better act quickly! Are you ready?!? Here we gooooo….If one of these totally cute kiddos belongs to you, contact us at info@lifexpressions.net to claim your prize by midnight eastern time on Thursday February 18th.

Have a great weekend everyone! :)

Around Town

Looking for something to do this weekend?  Well, as usual, you’ve come to the right place – lifeXpressions’ blog!  We’re your one stop shop…find out what’s trendy on Tuesdays, get sneak peeks of fabulous sessions with fabulous clients, be the first to know about all the fun stuff we have planned this year, and lots more!  Win-win, right?!

Below are are few quick glances at what’s going on Around Town this weekend.  If you don’t see something that knocks your socks off, then click here for more, more, more!  As always, make it a great weekend, and be safe!

Friday, February 12 6:00 p.m., Night Vision at the Naples Zoo

Join Zoo Director David Tetzlaff after night falls for a private guided tour of Naples Zoo. Through the lens of a night vision scope, you’ll see the nocturnal activities of rare animals in the dark including Malayan tigers and the new fosas from Madagascar. Tetzlaff and staff lead you in the darkness for over two hours. Along the way, you will also meet animals up close, interact with natural artifacts, engage in a behind-the-scenes experience, and board a night cruise through islands of primates. $69.95 per person for non-members/$59.95 for members. To learn more, visit the website www.napleszoo.org or call (239) 262-5409. Located at 1590 Goodlette Frank Road, Naples

Saturday, February 13 10:00 a.m. – Fourth Annual Coconut Point Art Festival

Fine art, music and more will occupy the streets for two fun-filled days at Coconut Point Mall. Grab your sunscreen and walking shoes to stroll amidst life-size sculptures, spectacular paintings, one-of-a-kind jewels, photography, ceramics, and much more. Coconut Point is located on U.S. 41 between Corkscrew Road and Coconut Road in Estero. 

Saturday, February 13 11:00 a.m. Beautifully Outdoors, Children’s Museum of Naples

Join the Children’s Museum of Naples (C’mon) as we explore the world around us through hands-on activities at Waterside. Plus, get a sneak peak at some of the exciting exhibits that will be in C’mon when we open in 2010! Study the difference between native and non-native plants, then plant a seed to take home. All activities are weather permitting.Waterside 5415 Tamiami Trail N. Naples, Florida. 


Fine art, music and more will occupy the streets for two fun-filled days at Coconut Point Mall. Grab your sunscreen and walking shoes to stroll amidst life-size sculptures, spectacular paintings, one-of-a-kind jewels, photography, ceramics, and much more. Coconut Point is located on U.S. 41 between Corkscrew Road and Coconut Road in Estero.

Trendy Tuesday | Spring Style

I have been saving this great idea for months, waiting for my Spring sessions to begin. I just couldn’t wait any longer to share. One of my avid Trendy Tuesday readers and fashionista herself, turned me on to this new line of clothing called Belle Parish. My clients know I am a sucker for adorable dresses! *grin* So when I saw these dresses I knew my young clients visiting the secret garden or an Easter Egg hunt would be well dressed in something from Belle Parish.

Today’s Trendy Tuesday clothes are designed by celebrity Ali Landry, a true southern bell bringing you pretty and traditional Southern clothing. Check out the adorable outfits on these girls. Perfect for any Easter or Spring photos. I just love the girl licking the cake, her dress and the cake look so delicious. I can even see a brother join the photo in a seersucker suit from Crew Cuts from Jcrew, how adorable.

Belle Parish is new to the market this Spring so keep checking belleparish.com for a retailer near you.

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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

Sneak Peek { Sydney & Sienna } | Naples Family Portraits In The Secret Garden

lifeXpressions photography family portraits in the secret gardenToday’s sneak peek features a very special family I’ve had the pleasure of working with for several years now. It’s always such a joy to see them each year and see how much the girls have grown and changed. I know Mom is just on pins and needles waiting to see all the beautiful photos we captured that day so I’m hoping this little sneak peek will tide her over until I get their custom slideshow ready. ;)

Pssst Between you and me…I think she’s going to have a tough time narrowing down her favorites. These are two seriously adorable little ladies!

lifeXpressions photography family portraits in the secret gardenlifeXpressions photography family portraits in the secret garden