Gina Leigh Photography | Web Journal

A Grand Re-Opening!

noreply@blogger.com (Gina Leigh) — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 18:02:00 +0000

My Dear Friends,

ave butterflies in my stomach. I am giddy with anticipation. With great excitement, I invite you to visit my new website and web journal. It seems as if my every extra moment over the course of several months has been devoted to this project. Countless hours and endless creative energy...and yet, all worth the effort.

have spend the past two years defining my own style as a photographer. In many ways, it has been a journey in discovering who I am as person. It has brought me back to my original love for film photography. In the end, I have found that my unique style as a photographer has everything to do with the things that matter most in life. It is real, it is natural. It is filled with tenderness and romance. It is soft and genuine. It is fine art.

Having said all this, it is was so very important to have a business brand that reflects my style. Thus, my re-branding project began! I started by making a list of the things that inspire me, and one of the predominant items on this list was the art of hand lettering...calligraphy. I believe this has much to do with my grandmother's faithfulness to handwritten letters. Isn't this part of an era that has almost passed us by?

I commissioned a true artist, Monica, from A Bit of Ink, to hand draw my new logo. Beautiful, yes? I then began the process of custom web design, through the talented team at BigFolio. Here is a link to the the final design:

Gina Leigh Photography

I am most excited to unveil A Pen for Pearl. A Pen for Pearl is a diary of sorts. A photography journal. It is dedicated to my grandmother, Gloria Pearl, in honor of her faithfulness to handwritten letters and her love for the beautiful things in life. I do hope that her legacy will carry on as I begin my next journey of corresponding with you daily...taking note especially of the loveliness that surrounds us!

A Pen for Pearl

I would love to hear from you! This project is very near to my heart, and it would make me so happy to know what you think. Please be sure to subscribe to A Pen for Pearl, and visit me often!

Many, many blessings,

Gina

My Dear Friends,

I can only begin to express my delight and excitement! Today, I am unveiling my new web journal, A Pen for Pearl, and my new website. It seems as if my every extra moment over the course of several months has been devoted to this project. Countless hours and endless amounts creative energy...and yet, all worth the effort.

I have spend the past two years defining my own style as a photographer. In many ways, it has been a journey in discovering who I am as a person. It has brought me back to my original love for film photography. In the end, I have found that my unique style as a photographer has everything to do with the things that matter most in life. It is real, it is natural. It is filled with tenderness and romance. It is soft and genuine. It is fine art.

Having said all this, it is important to have a business brand that reflects my style. My re-branding project began by making a list of the things that inspire me, and one of the predominant items on this list was the art of hand lettering...calligraphy. I believe this has much to do with my grandmother's faithfulness to handwritten letters. Isn't this part of an era that has almost passed us by?

I commissioned a true artist, Monica, from A Bit of Ink, to hand draw my new logo. Beautiful, yes? I then began the process of custom web design, through the amazingly talented team at BigFolio. Here is a link to the the final design:

Gina Leigh Photography

What is A Pen for Pearl? It is a diary of sorts. A photography journal. It is dedicated to my grandmother, Gloria Pearl, in honor of her faithfulness to handwritten letters and her love for the beautiful things in life. I hope that her legacy will carry on as I begin my next journey of corresponding with you daily...taking note especially of the loveliness that surrounds us!

I would love to hear from you! Please take a moment to leave me a comment on A Pen for Pearl. This project is very near to my heart, and it would make me so happy to know what you think. Also, please be sure to subscribe to A Pen for Pearl, and visit me often!

Many, many blessings,

Gina

noreply@blogger.com (Gina Leigh) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:42:00 +0000

The Dressing Room in St. Petersburg is pleased to host for the first time a trunk show featuring Coren Moore. This designer, one of only a few that manufacture in New York City, will present wedding gowns as well as bridesmaid dresses. Fresh, clean, smart styles, all with quality workmanship and beautiful fabrics. And special discounts will be offered!

This Friday and Saturday, starting at 11AM till 7 PM, appointments are preferred.

noreply@blogger.com (Gina Leigh) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:00:00 +0000

My dear friend, Judy, owner of the lovely bridal boutique, The Dressing Room, is introducing the entire collection of Simone Carvalli Wedding Gowns, on November 13 & 14 . A company representative will also be at her boutique to answer all your wedding and style questions, so this is a perfect opportunity to find your perfect dress!

This exquisite dress collection can be seen in Brides, InStyle Weddings, Martha Stewart Weddings and The Knot magazines. The Simone Carvalli Collection is known nationally for elegance, quality and fit. These gowns feature sophistication, romance, and glamour with a contemporary flair. Many with exquisite hand beaded work, accents of crystals, pearls and stones.

The new collection will be previewed all day Friday and Saturday, starting at 11 AM till 7 PM both days, appointments preferred.

Bridal fashion trends have moved away from each member looking identical, and The Dressing Room based its philosophy on this. The customization options available at The Dressing Room are endless and allow brides to be considerate of her bridesmaids and ensure a beautiful coordinated look.

The Dressing Room is located in St. Petersburg at 2430 Central Avenue. The phone number is (727) 323 – ROOM (7666). For additional information, visit The Dressing Room website.

The images above are a from a variety of opportunities that I have had to photograph the beautiful dresses and gowns that The Dressing Room has carried over the course of the past two years. The selection is always current, and always lovely.

Keep Film Alive

noreply@blogger.com (Gina Leigh) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 23:47:00 +0000

Over the course of the past several months, I have found great inspiration from other film photographers such as Tanja Lippert. I am encouraged especially by her efforts to keep alive the love of film through education and inspiration. She has gathered a community of some of the worlds' best film photographers on her blog, Keep Film Alive, and provides encouragement to anyone who is a fan of film to wipe the dust off of those old cameras, pick up a roll, and start shooting.

It is a tremendous honor to have had Tanja ask me to share about my own return to film on Keep Film Alive. Please take a moment to visit, and learn why film is such an important part of my journey as a wedding photographer.

Published in Brides Florida Magazine!

noreply@blogger.com (Gina Leigh) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 23:44:00 +0000

What a tremendous honor it is to have Betsy and John's lovely wedding chosen as a two page feature in the Fall/Winter 2009 issue of Brides Florida Magazine! I certainly must thank Shannon Wilson of Table 6 Productions for her amazing talent and style, and also the wonderful Botanica International Design Studio team for the beautiful florals. Be sure to pick up the latest copy on news stands within the next week!

Congratulations, Betsy and John!

The beautiful cover of Brides Florida...

Jennifer and Drew

noreply@blogger.com (Gina Leigh) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 20:37:00 +0000

I am in love with the soft greens, creamy whites, chocolate browns, and unexpected hints of red in Jennifer and Drew's photographs. Their day was simply beautiful.

Thank you to Samara with Voila Events, who not only helped Jennifer pull together all of her amazing details, but absolutely outdid herself coordinating the many activities of this day and keeping everything running smoothly.

The gorgeous floral design was provided by the talented Grymes Cannon Floral Design team. Aren't the florals so soft and lovely?

More and more, I am finding myself firmly convinced that there is nothing quite like shooting with film. The look of photographs shot with film, especially medium format film, have such a soft, dreamy feel. It is entirely unlike anything a digital camera is capable of. I love shooting film! All of the photos below, and the photos in the slideshow were shot with my medium format Contax 645 or Nikon 35mm cameras.

Enjoy!

Denise and Thomas

noreply@blogger.com (Gina Leigh) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 03:27:00 +0000

A few more photographs from Denise and Thomas' lovely wedding...

A special thank you to The Potting Shed for the beautiful florals, and of course to Lori from Simply Divine Events for all the wonderful planning. And, as always, thank you to Jaime for second shooting! Kudos to Jaime for the shoe shot above.

Filling Up for 2010!

noreply@blogger.com (Gina Leigh) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 01:36:00 +0000

I am tremendously blessed to say that my calendar is now filled up with amazing weddings for amazing couples through May of 2010! I anticipate that the remainder of the year will also fill quickly, so be sure to contact me soon if you are considering commissioning me to photograph your special day in 2010.

Here is a little peak at Denise and Thomas' beautiful wedding, at the historic Tampa Yacht and Country Club. Many thanks to Lori, of Simply Divine Events, who planned this lovely day. All three of these photos were shot with medium format film using my Contax 645.

Beautiful Boys

noreply@blogger.com (Gina Leigh) — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 01:29:00 +0000

Aren't little boys amazing? Mine are. They cause my days to spill over with laughter and smiles. And lots of kisses.

Here are portraits of my own little guys...what a delight to capture their deep chocolate brown eyes and dimples. All of these photographs were shot on my medium format Contax 645 and Nikon 35mm cameras, using Fuji and Ilford film, processed at Richard Photo Lab.

Enjoy more in the slideshow below...

Ashley and Michael

noreply@blogger.com (Gina Leigh) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 15:54:00 +0000

Ashley + Mike’s super 8mm e-session w/Gina Leigh Photography from Tampa Wonderworks Film and Video on Vimeo.

Ashley and Michael are a super fun couple, and I had a blast with them during their engagement session. They will be married next Spring at the gorgeous Powel Crosley Estate in Sarasota, and are planning a vintage 1920's style wedding...which fits them perfectly!

I shot this engagement session with film, primarily with my medium format Contax 645. Have I said it before? I love film.

Bryan and Tracey with Tampa Wonderworks also came along to shoot some amazing footage with vintage Super8 film! Unbelievable. I LOVE Super8!! I'm thrilled to have found Tampa Wonderworks because they are now specializing in this truly vintage film. They share the same love that I have for the authenticity of film...of course, they shoot a moving subject, and I shoot a still subject (no pun intended!)...but the love for this venue of art is very much the same.

Bryan was very thoughtful and got some footage of me during our photo shoot! He's put together the wonderful film, above, and I'm so excited to share it. Thanks so much Bryan!!

Thank you also to the beautiful and historic Don Vincente Inn in Ybor. We appreciate you!

Beth and Taylor | Married

noreply@blogger.com (Gina Leigh) — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 02:49:00 +0000

Congratulations, Beth and Taylor! What an absolutely beautiful wedding.

Earlier this afternoon, I received the images from my wonderful film lab in L.A, Richard Photo Lab, for Beth and Taylor's wedding. I'm excited to share these for two reasons. First, the wedding truly was stunning!! Second (drumroll, please)...these photos are all shot from my trusty FILM cameras. Yes, that's right. Film. As in, 35mm, 120, and 220 medium format F.I.L.M.

I've always been an old fashioned kinda gal, and I guess I'm returning to my roots. I just love the look of film! It is real. It is timeless. Truly classic. None of the photographs you are about to see are edited, and there is something exceptional about that kind of authenticity.

Before showing the photographs, I must thank Amy from Grassroots Flowers for the gorgeous florals! She always provides the most extra-ordinary displays, and this was no exception. Also, thank you to Erika from the beautiful Renaissance Vinoy for all of her hard work. And thanks to Southtown Fever for keeping the party movin', as they always do!

Enjoy!

Before I sign off, I must also mention the gorgeous dresses that Beth's bridesmaids wore! Judy, from The Dressing Room, provided these truly unique dresses, along with extraordinary service to all the girls. All of the photographs that I shot of the dresses were digital, and so I will be sure to post a photo or two soon as I am editing the digital images.

XOXO
Gina Leigh

The Dressing Room, Trunk Show

noreply@blogger.com (Gina Leigh) — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 19:03:00 +0000

Brides, it is my pleasure to make you aware of a very special event this coming Friday and Saturday, March 27th and 28th! My dear friend, Judy Ferrara, owner of The Dressing Room in St. Petersburg, is very excited to introduce the entire collection of Simone Carvalli Wedding Gowns. A company representative will be at The Dressing Room to answer all your wedding and style questions. This exquisite dress collection can be seen in Brides, InStyle Weddings, Martha Stewart Weddings and The Knot magazines.

The Simone Carvalli Collection is known nationally for elegance, quality and fit. These gowns feature sophistication, romance, and glamour with a contemporary flair. Many with exquisite hand beaded work, accents of crystals, pearls and stones. The new collection will be previewed all day Friday and Saturday, starting at 11 AM till 7 PM both days, appointments preferred.

In addition to great fashion, Judy brings a unique boutique experience to bridal parties. The Dressing Room is focused on edited styles, exceptional service and personal attention, all in a beautiful setting. Judy has designed her boutique so that bridal parties will experience shopping on a whole new level. The comfortable, exclusive atmosphere helps brides leave their wedding planning stress behind to enjoy shopping with friends. Judy provides individual attention by appointment only – offering private, intimate shopping.

The Dressing Room has something for every woman’s age, body type and special event. Styles include dresses that are sexy and strapless, some with classic polish, others featuring fabrics that are modern satin, flirty chiffon, deep V necklines, elegant subdued fabrics, rich jewel tones, gorgeous pastels and smart neutrals.

The Dressing Room is located in St. Petersburg at 2430 Central Avenue, and the phone number is (727) 323 – ROOM (7666). Don't miss this event!

Davis Island Garden Club Bridal Showcase

noreply@blogger.com (Gina Leigh) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 01:49:00 +0000

The past several weeks I have been hard at work updating all my portfolio albums and getting ready for the upcoming Davis Island Garden Club Bridal Show. I'm very excited to be participating, as this is an exclusive bridal show for the Tampa area's upscale vendors. It's a honor to have been asked to be a part of the event! I don't usually take part in the bridal show circuit, but this is a very special showcase.

To all my brides (and future brides!), I hope to see you there! This is definitely and event that is not to be missed. AND, I happen to have VIP passes. That's right...get in the door free! Please be sure to contact me very soon if you'd like to attend, and I will be happy to provide you with one of these exclusive VIP passes.

I can't wait to see you all there! Please be sure to stop by to say "hi" and see my work in print.

Emily and Cory

noreply@blogger.com (Gina Leigh) — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 23:38:00 +0000

Emily and Cory. The unwritten rules of wedding photographer blogging says that I'm supposed to start by writing about how much they love each other. Which they do. But first, allow me please to share about how much I love them.

I knew how great they were within five minutes of our first meeting. Emily and Cory came with Emily's mom, Joy, and her sister. Not only was I delighted that they were all there together, but grateful for the warmth with which they greeted me. We chatted for a little while, and I smiled inside as I noticed how often Emily and Cory glanced at each other, and more so how Emily's eyes would brighten every time! I learned that Cory was specifically looking for a photographer with an unobtrusive style, which is important to me. And here was the clincher...Emily cried while viewing my slideshow. Real tears. She cried real tears. It was such a genuine expression of appreciation for my work, and I was humbled. Which made me cry too. It was then that I knew just how much I wanted to have the privilege of documenting their special day!

Emily has a smile that can infuse a whole room with joy, and Cory visibly adores her. The truth is that they share a love for each other that is incredibly special, and it was indeed a great honor to be by their very side during this day that they committed to love each other for a lifetime. Congratulations, Emily and Cory. And thanks for being so wonderful!

As an interesting side note, Emily and Cory were married at the First United Methodist Church in St. Petersburg, which is the same church that Governor Crist was recently married in. Their reception was held at the The Renaissance Vinoy's beautiful Sunset Ballroom. The gorgeous floral design was by KaBloom.

Emily and Cory chose to see each other before the ceremony, which gave us opportunity to capture some beautiful portraits.

More vintage goodness:

Thank you, Jaime, for second shooting and for the beautiful images you contributed! Here is one of my favorites that Jaime captured:

The next two photos are also from Jaime's lens:

Quite the stunning bride, isn't she?

Cocktail hour at The Vinoy's beautiful Sunset Ballroom, from Jaime:

The room details were amazing!

Quite an amazing day, wasn't it?

Fillin' Up Fast - 2009!

noreply@blogger.com (Gina Leigh) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 21:02:00 +0000

In the midst of the exciting news I shared yesterday (see below), I neglected to mention that I am almost completely booked for 2009! I have only four openings remaining, and I am currently booking for 2010. What a tremendous year of growth it has been!

For those of you who are considering commissioning me for your wedding, I hope that you are one of my next clients! Please be sure to contact me soon as I anticipate that these remaining dates will soon be taken. You can reach me directly at 727-539-9414, and I would be happy to meet with you personally.

And since no blog post is really complete without a photo, here is a little vintage goodness:

It's February, already.?

noreply@blogger.com (Gina Leigh) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:21:00 +0000

Really? February. So much has happened since my last blog post, and I hardly know where to begin. The truth is that life has been very, very busy, and my blog has taken a back burner. Pardon the cliche. The past several months have been filled with wonderful time with my family, a delightful Thanksgiving and Christmas, holiday parties, church ministry, amazing portrait sessions and weddings, and lots of editing and album designing.

Through all this, my business has taken quite an exciting turn. Allow me to share a part of what's been happening...

1. Every photographer experiences their "ah ha" moment. It's that moment when you suddenly know what you love, and I've had my "ah ha" moment. Up until now, I've sort of floated around with many different styles of photography, but I've now found my niche. My niche is...Vintage. Timeless, classic, vintage. There is something about a photograph that is reminiscent of older days that reaches me unlike any other. Not super saturated blue skies. Not bright vivid reds. My husband, on the other hand, thinks that a photograph finds it's beginning and end with blue and red. He can't get enough color. Not me. I love dark wood, a fire in the fireplace, and an old crystal chandelier overhead. I've had an affair with hunting antiques since the first year I was married, which was twelve years ago. I love the vintage black Remington Rand typewriter that sits boastfully in my living room. And the scratchy sound of old vinyl records. Old, old books. I love dark and romantic. This is me.

You've perhaps been noticing some changes around here. For example, Nat King Cole's soft voice on my website. You'll be seeing more changes soon, and a whole lot more vintage. It's all in the works...so stay tuned.

While you are waiting, please enjoy this image of Emily with the love of her life, Cory. I'll have a full post of their incredible wedding in the next few days.

2. Betsy and John's beautiful wedding has been selected as a featured "real wedding" in the upcoming Fall/Winter issue of Bride's Florida magazine!! This is an incredible honor, and I really can't say how thrilled I am. Shannon Wilson of Table 6 Productions did a wonderful job of seeing Betsy's vision for her wedding and making it happen, and Ian Prosser of Botanica International Design Studio contributed tremendously with his simple, chic floral design. Thank you to both of you! And thank you to the Brides Florida team!

Here is one of my favorite images from their special day.

I know it's been quite awhile since you've heard from me. I probably don't deserve much in the way of blog love, but I'd love to hear from you if you're in a forgiving mood. I've been missing all of my blog friends! Many blessings to you all.

Jaime and Phil

noreply@blogger.com (Gina Leigh) — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 04:21:00 +0000

Jaime, my amazingly gifted second shooter, and my dear friend Phil were married Saturday, November 15. Their wedding was incredibly special to me! It was such a privilege to not only be apart of nearly every moment of this tremendous day, but also to preserve it through my lens.

Phil's parents, Joyce and Dave, have played such important role in the life of my own family. Truly, they have been like family to us. My boys know every nook of Joyce and Dave's home, and have spent countless hours in their pool, playing with Lincoln Logs on their living room floor, and watching "Max and Ruby" while snuggled on Joyce's lap.

Jaime, as I have come to know her over the course of the past six months or so, has become a blessing and a friend in many ways too. I knew her first as Phil's bride. And then as MY bride...photographically speaking, of course. And then as I began to understand her own great talent as a photographer, I came to know her professionally. I was beyond delighted when she accepted my offer to begin working regularly with me as my second photographer at weddings! She is a true artist, and a whole lot of fun on top of all that! I love the way she interacts with other brides and families, and I love the way she and I fit each other so perfectly as a team. We just fit.

More importantly, Jaime and Phil....just fit. Here is a blurb from their wedding ceremony program that describes their love for each other, and God's blessing in it, much better than I ever could:

"Who would have thought a rough and tumble girl from Las Vegas, NV would be marrying an Eagle Scout from Clearwater, FL? They are different in every way...she's a little messy and he's always clean. She's a risk taker and he is a researcher. He's a little on the quiet side and she's a lot on the loud side. Yet God put them together for such a time as this. So different, but so perfect. The Lord knows how to make the best matches. He knows how to pick the perfect time, and he knows how to make the perfect plans. Jaime and Phillip know this day was ordained by the Lord and they are so glad He loves them enough to put them together."

Before moving along to the images, I must thank both Phillip Lloyd and Erin Harvey for the time and talent they gave second shooting. Erin helped captured the "groom's perspective" during Jaime and Phil's pre-ceremony "first look" in the morning. And Phillip jumped in around noon and helped for the rest of the day!

Location: Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo, FL, Floral Design: Amy Fretto with Grassroots Flowers, Cinematography: Marty with Voila Cinematic

The pre-cermony First Look, which Jaime and Phil opted to do early enough in the day so that they could enjoy some time together.

As captured by Erin's lens:

It threatened to rain all morning, but the skies broke free of the cloud cover and the rest of the day was beautiful!

Yes, yes, yes. This photo was indeed taken at Starbucks!! Jaime and Phil's first date was at Starbucks...and a blind date, no less. What fun! The barista snapped a polaroid and gave the happy couple drinks on the house.

Jaime is having a serious love affair with textures, so in honor of her, here's a little texture goodness.

Phillip snapped a couple of me. Here I'm chattin it up with a darling, but somewhat reluctant ring bearer. He did in fact end up displaying a bit o' charm for the group shot!

Love that vintage feel with the sepia and texture. The laughs aren't so bad either.

This is Peter, Phil's brother, who is currently serving our country in Iraq. We were all very thankful he was given permission to take a quick trip home for the wedding.

Yummy color.

Restless boys during the ceremony. Gotta love boys.

Jaime and Phil had a beautiful time of worship in their ceremony.

This shot is one of my favorites from the day, captured by Phillip.

Jaime's mom. I love the emotion in this shot.

I think this is my very favorite shot of the day. A real moment of gratitude.

Phil and Jaime, I hope you both have had a wonderful time in Jamaica! I can't wait to see you when you get back. For all the rest of you, don't forget to leave either me or Jaime and Phil a little blog love in the comments!!

A Note of Thanks

noreply@blogger.com (Gina Leigh) — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 13:22:00 +0000

A simple "thank you." Why is it that the words "thank you" hold such power?

The Monday after a wedding is always one of my very favorite days. This is the day that I get to look through all the images we've captured and begin the work of turning the "art" within the images into "fine art." I love these Mondays! It's as if every photograph, every real moment captured, is a little present waiting to be opened!

Apart from the personal artistic expression I enjoy on these Monday's, and of course the experience of shooting on the wedding day itself, the most rewarding part of my job is the day I receive feedback from my brides and grooms. I really cannot say how much my heart soars when I know that they have been blessed by our work.

Yesterday I received the most encouraging note from Betsy. This little note held within it the power to lift my spirit high for the whole day, and I woke up this morning smiling as I thought of Betsy's thoughtful words.

I asked Betsy for her permission to share her sweet note, and she kindly gave me her blessing. So, here are the very words that brought me such delight:

"Hi Gina,

John and I just got back from our honeymoon on Sunday and it's taken us a bit to unwind and get back into the swing of things, so I'm a little late in writing to you. And I have to say, I don't know where to begin. I'm so overwhelmed. These photos are absolutely astounding!! They are beautifully shot, have gorgeous light and treatments and the composition of them is fantastic! You and Jaime did such an amazing job. I can't tell you how happy we are with these. We had people at the reception asking us who our photographer was, because they'd stopped by the laptop and had seen some photos and thought they were gorgeous. I saw some of those photos that night and saw how great they were, but my attention was drawn in so many different directions that I wasn't able to look at them for very long. It wasn't until we got back and went through all of them that we realized just how amazing they are. John and I couldn't be happier.

And I also wanted to say thank you so much for getting these done so quickly. I know John's mom was really appreciative and was delighted to have a photo to use for the Richmond paper.

Anyway, I can't thank you enough. We never get tired of looking at them. I had such a great time working with you--you made that day so easy and really captured some fantastic candid moments.

Hope you had a great time at the wedding. I can't believe it's all over. It goes by so fast. I keep looking at all the photos to try and recapture the night. : ) They're pretty funny juxtaposed with our honeymoon photos which, shall we say, weren't exactly glamorous (or nearly as professional)--particularly the shots of water buffalo and donkeys wandering by our trekking lodges. : )

Hope you're doing well. Speak to you soon.

XO, Betsy"

Thank you, Betsy, for blessing me!

Big Time Congrats to Shannon!

noreply@blogger.com (Gina Leigh) — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:22:00 +0000

Shannon Wilson of Table 6 Productions is not only a fabulous wedding planner, but also an all around sweetheart! I really can't say how much I've enjoyed getting to know her through our work together.

She has recently been given some incredible recognition for her work! She has been nominated for an Event-Solutions Spotlight Award for "Event Planner of the Year"!! After the playing field was narrowed from thousands of nominees to just seven finalists, Table 6 Productions was named as one of the elite finalists. The winner is chosen by the public… so please take a moment to vote. Here's how:

1. Go to http://www.event-solutions.com/
2. Click the Event Solutions animated icon (found in the upper left-hand corner)
3. Enter your email address
4. Scroll down until you see “Event Planer of the Year – East” (it is the 10th category)
5. Vote for Shannon Wilson
6. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click “save/submit”

In honor of all this, Shannon was in need of some amazing headshots...which was not AT ALL hard to accomplish. Said simply, she's stunning. Here's the proof:

A few favorites for our shoot:

And how about these killer shoes?!

Please take a moment to leave a little note of congratulations to Shannon in the comments below...AND VOTE!!

Becky and Ken

noreply@blogger.com (Gina Leigh) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 05:34:00 +0000

It has been so much fun for me to get to know Becky and Ken! Truly, through a smattering of emails...always laced with a good bit of humor...I can honestly say Becky has become a friend. It was my privilege to document their marriage on November 1.

Thank you also to Jackie Ross from Table 6 Productions for her tremendous planning efforts! The details were perfect, which was of course, no surprise.

We started the day at The Met in Sarasota for hair and make-up. The hair stylists and make-up artists did a fabulous job...and even I felt pampered!

Thanks to my super talented second shooter, Jaime, for snagging this shot of Becky driving while we were driving to Lakewood Ranch Country Club!

Ken with his two boys, Bob and Jake:

Hello. Gorgeous.

Becky's ceremony dress. Yes...ceremony dress. She wore another smashing dress for the reception...which you'll see later. Gator.

Becky and Ken opted for a pre-ceremony "first look" which I loved!

The next three shots are from Jaime's lens:

Alexa, Becky's daughter:

During the ceremony:

Following dinner the guest enjoyed specialty coffee, with their choice of flavor. Gotta love those special touches!

The first dance...

...which was soon joined by Alexa (captured with the long lens by Jaime).

I love this sweet moment during the father/daughter dance, captured by Jaime:

Another fun shot that Jaime captured during the mother/daughter dance:

As promised, a shot of Becky in her reception dress. I love this photo of her dancing!

One of my favorites of the night...Becky hugging Ken's parents:

As a side note, I wanted to highlight in this post the tremendous benefit it is to have two photographers documenting your wedding day. You can see the variety of angles and perspectives that Jaime and I are able to achieve as a team. When I'm using a wide angle lens, she's got on her long lens. I love the way we work together, and I am so thankful for her talent and hard work!

Becky and Ken, congratulations!! Love ya both.

Betsy and John

noreply@blogger.com (Gina Leigh) — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 20:00:00 +0000

Betsy and John...a beautiful couple from New York City. They were married this Saturday in Clearwater, Florida, and it was an amazing wedding! I was especially touched by the closeness of their family. Shannon Wilson from Table 6 Productions planned the event, and so...of course...everything was spectacular. Betsy and John wanted a very organic feel to all their details, which Shannon, along with Botanica International Design Studio, orchestrated perfectly.

Guess what is making a "come-back"? Check out the length of the flowers!

This AMAZING shot was captured by my talented second photographer, Jaime.

OK, let's back track a little to the beginning of the day...here are some "getting ready" shots:

This little sweetie was such a show stopper. Betsy, I must confess she stole the spotlight a bit! We just couldn't keep our cameras away.

I mean, come on...

Moving along to the guys...here is John and his IDENTICAL twin brother:

And his sister:

And another little doll. Seriously, can we get enough "adorable" in one day? These next two shots were from Jaime:

Here are a few favorites of Betsy and the bridesmaids:

From Jaime's perspective, with the long lens:

I caught this fun shot while Jaime was lining up the young ring bearers in the background:

This was shortly before the ceremony:

Oh, my.

One of my favorites of the day:

After the ceremony, we took a boat to the Carlouel Yacht Club.

Gotta love that backlighting and grab a bit o' flare:

Grabbing s'more flare:

How about this unbelievable shot that Jaime got?!

The gorgeous details from Botanica and Table 6 Productions:

And the beautiful cake by Chantilly Cakes:

From Jaime's lens:

A little rear end grabage:

The Table 6 gals:

This bunch knew how to dance...I mean, they KNEW how to dance...and South Town Fever kept the party rockin.

What a great day! Give me some blog love, ya'll. :)

Let's Eat Cake!

noreply@blogger.com (Gina Leigh) — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 15:23:00 +0000

One of my favorite things about being a wedding photographer is that I get to meet all kinds of wonderful wedding professionals. Case in point...Melissa Margarita-DiStefano, owner of MasterpieceWeddings. Melissa is not only one of the warmest wedding planners I've ever met, but she was also named the #1 Wedding Consultant in North America in 2001!!! It has been such a pleasure to become friends with Melissa and her wonderful assistant, Kristin. These gals are seriously amazing!

MasterPiece Weddings is located in Gainesville, FL - very near the University of Florida campus. Go Gators! It's a bit of a drive for me from Tampa, but I enjoy traveling, and working with Melissa and Kristin is very worth the hike. I suppose what I have enjoyed most is more than just the level of professionalism I've seen from both of them, but that they are very interested in what matters most to their brides/couples.

Melissa is a cancer survivor, and I am honored to participate in her incredibly unique fundraising effort for St. Jude's Childrens Research Hospital...Let's Eat Cake!

Check this out...it's a wedding cake competition, featuring Wedding Cake confections from all over the United States, and the proceeds go directly to a wonderful organization dedicated to treating children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. Be sure the visit the Let's Eat Cake! blog to seek out more information. I am personally thrilled to donate a portrait session as a prize for the competition!

Also, many of you will enjoy the MasterPiece Wedding daily blog for tons of wedding inspiration. She is always posting great tips and ideas for wedding planning and has tons of great links to other fabulous sites and blogs too!

Blessed

noreply@blogger.com (Gina Leigh) — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 13:01:00 +0000

I am so thankful for my family. Could one women be more blessed? There are times when it is hard for me to comprehend how wonderful God is, but the truth is that He has poured out good things on my life...abundantly. And I am thankful.

This week I had the privilege of speaking to a group of women at Bayside Community Church. They asked me to come and share some tips on creating great photos of their kids and families. I was thrilled that they wanted to learn more about capturing "real" moments. It was fun!

In the process of preparing, I decided not to show all kinds of photos of my clients, but rather I put together a slideshow of some of my favorite photos of my own family. I worked on the slideshow late Tuesday night, and stayed up until about 1:00 in the morning. Not so much because there was tons of work to do, but simply because I got lost in my own world of reminiscing. It is amazing how much emotion is involved with a single still image. Truly, I was brought to tears.

As a side note, the fine upstanding gentlemen with all the tattoos, whom I am hugging at the end of the slideshow is my beloved brother from Ohio. Not my husband. I had a little chat with Eric (my husband) last night about how few photographs I have of him. Actually, he was the one who brought up the subject. This will change, he promised. :)

Fours Years and Counting

noreply@blogger.com (Gina Leigh) — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 21:08:00 +0000

Joshua is four years old. Andrew is 23 months old. For the moment, I have complete control over their bedroom. I dictate every detail...the sweet basket plumped full of animal friends, the little red wagon with Eric's old blocks, and the large necked giraffe that protects my baby while he sleeps. Everything. I am not, however, naive to the fact that in a very short time this will all change. Darling blue and chocolate colored ribbons will soon be replaced by red and blue Cubs pendants, baseballs, and race cars.

For now, I'm cherishing the moment. And for when I am overrun by boys that are taller than I and my memory of these days is clouded, I will be grateful for my trusty Nikon. Each of these images have a particular sentiment to them. They all make my heart sing a little song. Allow me to elaborate...

Here is an overall view of the room, from the doorway:

Andrew's crib. Notice the hand painted wooden sign above the bed - a gift from a special friend, Holly, who cuts Joshua and Andrew's hair:

Joshua's sign, given by the same special friend...so that Joshua wouldn't feel left out when his new baby brother was born. :)

Joshua's bed, with Daddy's little friend, Monk. Monk is tattered and loved....mostly by Eric and not by Joshua.

The boys' shared dresser. The photo in the frame is of Andrew when he was eleven days old. My favorite part of the photograph is his umbilical cord, which is still attached. Forever a memory of his young and tiny body. The set of Peter Rabbit books is another gift from a dear friend, Jane. Jane stayed in our home for four days and three nights after Andrew was born to help me in the first few days of caring for my new baby, along with an energetic two-year old Joshua. I'm thankful for the many cups of tea my sweet British friend placed in my hands during those days.

This is a ceramic train that held a plant, given to my mother in law, Marion, after the birth of one of her children. It may have been when Eric was born, but she isn't certain. Nevertheless, it is a bit of family history. Inside the train is a small piece of Eric's baby blanket, held up by just shreds of smooth satin trim.

The next two photos are of a little mirror hung on a ribbon - given as a gift to me when Joshua was born. It's always been one of my favorite things about his room.

Joshua found this red wagon in an antique store when he was two years old. I was pregnant with Andrew at the time...nearly about to deliver, and I was looking for a few things for their bedroom. I think it may have been the actual week before Andrew was born. My belly was humongous! Seriously, I'm a pretty tiny gal, and I gained 45 pounds! In any case, Joshua loved this little wagon, so I bought it and we filled it with wooden blocks that were Eric's when he was a baby.

When we moved into our home two years ago, I was pregnant..about eight months along. I had many wonderful friends from church who helped me unpack and hang pictures on the walls. Joe and Karen helped me hang these wooden painted pictures and the curtain rod. It looks as if it would have been easy enough, but truly, it was not! We struggled for hours to get these up correctly. My friend Joe passed away earlier this year due to a sudden heart attack. I think of him every time I look at these silly paintings! He was a tremendous encouragement to Eric and I in our ministry at the church.

I do not place much value in material things. The blue and brown ribbons and lovely curtains are one thing. But the memories that are attached...ahhh. I've become such a sucker for sentiment. I suppose this is why I love photography so much. There is something about capturing a moment in time, and holding it forever in a still image, that cannot be marked with a price.

Priorities and Practicality

noreply@blogger.com (Gina Leigh) — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 03:06:00 +0000

It is September, and I live in Florida. So, it's time for spring cleaning!

After wrapping up several large work related projects at the beginning of the week, I gave myself a few needed days off to get my home in order. I've been re-organizing my boys' bedrooms for about three weeks now, and it was more than time for this item to get crossed off my "To Do" list. In a nutshell, here's what I've accomplished:

1. Joshua's bed was moved into Andrew's room. (Thank you, Eric!) They now share a bedroom.

2. The closet in their bedroom has been gutted. Every box pulled out, sorted, clothes re-packed or donated. This closet is seriously clean! The boys' bedroom is now only for sleeping and getting dressed.

3. The extra bedroom (previously Joshua's) has been turned into a play room. This has been NO SMALL TASK! I doubt you'd be interested in the minutia of detail regarding the number of toys I've collected from the garage, patio, blah, blah, blah...that have been scrubbed and sorted.

4. The closet in the new play room has also been torn apart, sorted through, and re-organized.

5. I enlisted the help of a few friends. My super-great friend, Kristen, happens to be an expert at everything pertaining to children and "age appropriate play." Kristen came over yesterday to help me organize the toys in such a way that my kiddos could benefit from structured play. Also, Joyce and Bonnie (whom Joshua and Andrew ADORE), both came over at separate times during this project to help keep little pre-school hands out of my big mess!

I am now enjoying the great satisfaction of this completed project!

Before I sign off on this blog post, I want to take just a moment to explain my thought process. Why all this craziness??

My family is more important to me than anything in this world. It is my tremendous privilege to have a job that I not only love and am entirely passionate about, but that allows me to be at home with my children and the primary source of influence in their lives. My most important work is teaching and training these two little gifts that God has entrusted to me.

Having said that, I must also say that I firmly believe it is GOOD for my children to learn to be independent. It is important that they learn to use their young minds - to imagine, to play, to explore, to discover. It is not my job to entertain them.

What's my point? I spend a good bit of time during each day working on everything that pertains to Gina Leigh Photography. I am protective of my time, and I make every effort to use it well. It would be very easy to allow my business to become more important that my family. But, I have found that with the right amount of structure, my business and my family can both be given the attention they need. Thus, the need for "age appropriate play."

More so, I can see easily where my expertise ends. I know the in's and out's of shutter speeds and f-stops on my dearly loved Nikon. And I know how to give hugs and kisses when my little guys take a tumble. But, I know very little about "age appropriate play." I knew I needed assistance, and so I called for help. This project would never have come to fruition if I had tried to take it all on myself!

In summary, if I have any encouragement to pass on, it is this...prioritize what is most important, find practical ways to make it happen, and reach out for help when you can't do it on your own!

This is a photograph of Joshua enjoying a newly discovered toy!

If I have a chance tomorrow, I'll put up a photo or two of Joshua and Andrew's new room. Very darling. :)

I'd love to hear from some of you whom I know are in similar situations as I am - I know there are lots of you who are also tackling the job of parenting and photography (or other work) at the same time. Tell me a little about how you make it happen!