Root Photography

We've Moved!!!!!! :)

2010-04-30T10:56:00.000-04:00

What are you doing here?! Hurry over and check out our beautiful, new website!!

And please make sure you update your bookmarks to our new blog address- http://www.rootweddings.com/blog

Michelle & Chris : Wedding

2010-04-27T04:52:00.002-04:00

Surely you remember Michelle and Chris from their adorable engagement shoot, one of my favorites from last year. :)

Michelle was friends with Nathan long before Root Photography came about. In college, Nate refused to shoot people, but he did one group photo of Michelle and her roommates (which he's kinda embarrassed of and hopes never sees the light of day!) The first time I met Michelle was at a Halloween party we went to when Nate and I were first dating... I'm pretty sure she was dressed up as a sexy fire-woman. ;)

We were so excited when Michelle and Christopher contacted us to shoot their big day, we knew she'd be such a fun bride. Luckily for us, Michelle didn't disappoint! :)

You may remember Michelle is just under 5 feet tall... She brought in the troops for her big day!
Love this photo of Michelle and Mom.
Teary dads make me happy, too. Random fact: Michelle's parents used to be wedding photographers. :)

Michelle's note to Chris before the ceremony- "Will you marry me? Circle YES or NO."

My favorite thing about shooting friends' weddings- Knowing some of the guests!

Fierce.

Beautiful Michelle.

Since their reception was at Church Street, there were plenty of places to play.

Their first dance was to Sarah McLachlan's "Ice Cream."

Faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaavorite.

Michelle played teleprompter while Chris delivered his speech. (That's an iPhone in her hands.)

One of our favorite DJs ever, MJ of Junction 88. We love him so much he was gonna do our wedding! :)
Nathan's friend Danielle and her sister. :)

The end! :)

Amanda & Justin : Wedding

2010-04-25T16:02:00.000-04:00

It was about 9 years ago. Amanda and Justin were 20 when they went to a staff party and Justin went to Amanda and asked, "Do you like me? I like you." She thought he was sweet, and the rest was history. :) These Canadians were married at Disney World, a decision that for once, was made by the groom! Both loved Disney, and neither had been to the World... They loved the idea of being able to have a unique wedding with characters and fireworks. :) We're happy they did, or else we never would have met!

We started the day right away with a first look, our favorite. But you probably know that already. :)

I loooooove this scene. :)

Favorite. :)

We love working at Sea Breeze Point...

Just after the ceremony, it started pouring.

First dance love!
Easily my favorite detail of the wedding- Their Wii cake toppers! They also had some made for their groomsmen gifts. :) If you're curious, they had them made from Paul Pape Designs.
So cute. :)

Then some special guests showed up!
The Boardwalk at night is magical. :)

Amanda and Justin, thanks for letting us be a part of your big day!!

Sarah & Jared : Wedding

2010-04-24T00:15:00.001-04:00

Sarah and Jared's Ritz Carlton wedding was coordinated by the fabulous Michele Butler this past December. I'm late, I know.. :)

LOVE when brides aren't afraid of a little color...
Sarah, you were a stunning bride.
Sarah & Jared saw each other before the ceremony so we could get photos out of the way before their sunset ceremony. Thank goodness, since the light would been all gone!

Their sunset ceremony quickly turned to an evening one.

Sarah put so much effort into making her wedding day special. Instead of a table of place cards, Sarah and Jared's guests picked a vintage key off of a tree. *Swoooooooooon!*

My next favorite detail- Sarah hand made ornaments for each guest as a favor! If that wasn't cute enough, guests replaced their ornament with well wishes for the bride and groom (more on that later.)

The uber classy Buzzcats played during the reception with Maria Shafer dj-ing in the breaks.
When they danced their first dance to Chantal Kreviazuk's "Feels Like Home," I'm pretty sure there wasn't a dry eye to be found.
The best man's speech. :)
The flower girl taking her favor and leaving some love.
See? :)

Congrats, Sarah and Jared!

Megan & Kevin : Wedding

2010-04-22T13:54:00.001-04:00

Megan and Kevin were high school sweethearts who were engaged Christmas morning. They actually found us because Megan's sister was a bridesmaid in Jenny and Steve's wedding years ago- I love it! Megan and Kevin's wedding took place at New Smyrna Beach during bike week. While I was secretly hoping for some bride and groom portraits with a big group of biker guys, it was probably for the best that there were no run-ins. ;)

I love this shot Nathan got of Kevin reading a sweet note from his bride-to-be:

Their sweet first look. :)

You can't tell by looking at Megan, but their wedding was during Florida's unseasonably cold winter. Typically, a March wedding on the beach would be perfect cool weather, but their wedding day was freezing and the wind was out of control. Megan was every bit poised and calm through it all, and never once complained about the temperature. I love our brides. :)

I LOVE how excited Megan was to get married. :)

Probably my favorite wedding moment ever. So, after the ceremony instead of having a petal toss, Megan and Kevin opted to have a beach ball toss! The ushers handed a ball out to each guest that came in. During the ceremony, this flower girl grabbed a beach ball...
... And decided the ring exchange was the perfect time to give one to the bride. :)
Success!
A first for us- Beach ball toss! :)
Pictures were a huge priority for Megan, and she scheduled in plenty of time for 'just married' photos.

My favorite of the day. Megan, you're adorable.
Their first dance was to "Everything," by Lifehouse. And there were bubbles involved.
I love it. :)

Congratulations, Megan and Kevin!!!

Julia & Jared : Engagement

2010-04-21T10:32:00.000-04:00

These lovebirds hailed to us from Indiana. We shot their engagement photos around Disney's Port Orleans Riverside resort. Enjoy!

Julia laughing at something Nate said. ;)

Love what Nathan got from up above!
Autumn finally hit Florida! Granted, it was 4 months behind the rest of the world..

Thank you, Julia & Jared!

Courtenay & Justin : Preview

2010-04-19T23:25:00.003-04:00

Courtenay and Justin were married this weekend at the beautiful Jeckyll Island, GA. While it wasn't as daunting as the name leads on, the island was full of man-eating tumbleweeds and Tim Burton trees (as I prefer to call them.)

Courtenay was absolutely stunning, looking like she just stepped out of pages from a fairy tale.

Nate grabbed this gorgeous shot of the bride and her daddy walking down the aisle.
Those Tim Burton trees I was telling you about. :)
Even the reception tent was stunning!
Courtenay and Justin, have a wonderful honeymoon! Can't wait to share the rest with you. :)

Courtenay & Justin : Engagement

2010-04-18T15:27:00.000-04:00

Happy wedding day, Courtenay & Justin!

Christine & Eric : Wedding

2010-04-16T03:20:00.000-04:00

Christine and Eric were married at Downtown Baptist Church of Orlando, which is also where her parents were married. :)

We started the day with some getting ready photos:

I love this. :)

Christine and Eric opted for the first look, (thank goodness), because we would have had no time to shoot the two of them until after their reception was over!
Christine wanted the first look to take place with her walking the aisle and their family watching from the balcony above. Their two friends who sang during the ceremony sang during this moment, and the whole thing was really sweet. :)

Praying together before Christine gets tucked away... The only moment they had to themselves until after the reception. She said it was her favorite moment of the day!
I think this shot is my favorite from the day. Christine's view of coming down the aisle. :)

Bubbles! After the reception was finished, we followed them to the Waldorf Astoria for some shots of just the two of them.
This lobby is my favorite. :)

So stinkin' cute.

Congrats, Christine and Eric!

Happy Birthday, Lorie!

2010-04-13T13:52:00.004-04:00

5 things we love about Lorie

1- I only had the strength to move to FL because she came with me.
2- For a rookie bed-jumper, she's pretty darn good!
3- With her as a sister figure in my life, I get her Mom as my 2nd Mom. :)
4- She has the loudest laugh ever.
5- She's been the biggest cheerleader for our business since day 1.
*Bonus - Her fiance isn't too bad, either. ;)

We love you, L! Happy birthday!!!!

Adrianna & Zach : Preview

2010-04-11T04:03:00.000-04:00

Adrianna and Zach were married the day before Easter, and their wedding was bursting with Spring colors. I was in love!

Meet Mia, their adorable daughter. :)

18 days until our new brand blooms! :)

Adrianna & Zach : Engagement

2010-04-08T20:22:00.003-04:00

We met Adrianna and Zach at the Maitland Art Center to start off their engagement session. Adrianna was so nervous to have her photo taken, but you'd never know it after going through their photos! :)

We then headed to Kraft Azalea Gardens to get the most out of that yummy golden light!

And then Nathan got to climb a tree, so all was right with the world. :)

Sarah & Michael : Preview

2010-04-04T22:42:00.002-04:00

Happy Easter, friends! I know I don't post previews from our engagements too often, but I just had to share my favorites from our latest shoot with Sarah & Michael! They were able to get us access into the Tampa forum, where we got to play a bit. :)
This was my first time back on ice since I quit skating years ago... Now I can't wait to get back on it (perhaps wearing skates this time, not Converse!)
Sarah, you're seriously gonna be a stunning bride. So excited!

Yay! More to come soon! :)

New Leaf.

2010-04-02T12:43:00.001-04:00

03.31.10 : Preview Day!

2010-03-31T14:04:00.003-04:00

It's a busy week for us, and I know I've been neglecting the blog, so here are my favorites from the two shoots we did yesterday. :)

You might remember we don't do many family sessions. Weddings keep us so busy and we rarely have space in our schedule to shoot families, so first priority for these shoots go to past clients and our family or friends. Brittany and Sean fall in the friends category, and after a year of trying to schedule a shoot with them, we were so glad to finally meet Keelan!

Later on we met up with Jenn and Alan for their engagement shoot. Alan is the brother of our past groom, Jason. We love it when that happens. :)

03.24.10

2010-03-24T03:17:00.000-04:00

My favorite photo from my lovely birthday last week. :)

Christine & Eric : Preview

2010-03-22T09:20:00.001-04:00

Favorites from Christine & Eric's Orlando wedding this past Saturday. :)

Right after their first look, Christine and Eric took a second to pray together.
Bubble love!
We followed them to their hotel afterward for some more portrait time. The lobby felt so Peter Pan-esc. :)

Yay! Enjoy your honeymoon!!

Nicole & Evan : Honeymoon

2010-03-19T09:40:00.000-04:00

You'll be able to see Nicole and Evan's gorgeous wedding once our new website and blog go live, so until then, here are some favorites from a session we did with them a couple days after their wedding. :)

Starting off with my favorite..
I really do love shooting in Celebration. :)

:)

Happy Birthday, Darling

2010-03-17T08:13:00.005-04:00

Happy Birthday, Jenseylove! You deserve more of these per year than I would know what to do with. So at least for today, I'm going to try to remind you how incredibly appreciated and wonderful you are! :)

Even though she's still sick today, we're all going to do our best to make it an absolutely wonderful day for her. (And by we, I mean we're all going to make sure she gets more blog post loving than she can handle! *inspired cheering sound!*)

Oh hello, birthday girl!

Megan & Kevin : Preview

2010-03-16T03:06:00.000-04:00

Enjoy some favorites from Megan & Kevin's New Smyrna wedding last week!
Another cold and windy day (and the beach winds were crazy!) but Megan and Kevin were great sports!

I think this one's my favorite. :)

Can't wait to share the rest! :)

Megan & Kevin : Engagement

2010-03-15T08:00:00.001-04:00

We took Megan and Kevin around Rollins campus for their engagement shoot. :) I loved that Megan picked such a bold color to wear in her photos!

Nate's favorite. :)

My favorite. Nate will climb something at some point during your session!

My favorite!

Coming soon: Megan & Kevin's wedding preview!

Happy Birthday, Monkey!

2010-03-12T08:19:00.002-05:00

I love you to the moon and back, Nathanial. :)

Everyone leave Nathan some birthday love and tell him how great he is!! <3

Christine & Eric : Engagement

2010-03-10T09:38:00.000-05:00

Christine & Eric are getting married the end of this month! We took them around Winter Park for some engagement photos on the coldest day ever- It was just above 30º! They braved the cold like champs, and if nothing else, it made them extra cuddly. :) A couple things about the couple- Eric is a cop, and Christine has hair like girls in shampoo commercials!
I have a new crush on early morning light.

Favorite. :)

Christine's request!

Yay! We'll see you guys SOON! :)

Amanda & Eric : Preview

2010-03-05T03:05:00.001-05:00

Here are my quick favorites from Amanda & Eric's wedding a couple days ago. :)It was so cold and windy, but Amanda was a total champ when it came to photo time!

A little just married monorail love...

Yay! Happy honeymooning, you guys, and we'll be in touch soon! :)

Lauren & Christian : Engagement

2010-03-04T08:35:00.002-05:00

Here are some favorites from Lauren & Christian's beach shoot a couple months ago!
Favorite. :)

Gantry & Michael : Preview

2010-03-01T09:45:00.000-05:00

I'm so excited to share some teasers from Gantry & Michael's wedding this past weekend! The wedding was our first at the beautiful Omni Hotel in Champions Gate, and it was coordinated by the ever wonderful Tracy Marini of Eventfully Yours.

This is what I call a good lookin' couple! :)

Gantry & Michael, have a wonderful honeymoon!!

Jenni : Channeling Gwen

2010-02-23T08:30:00.001-05:00

One of my new years resolutions was to do more shoots for us. Really flex our creative muscles and shoot outside our comfort zone. As soon as Jenni's passion for all things Gwen Stefani came into conversation during their engagement session, I've been itching to do a Gwen-inspired shoot with her. Jenni was excited as we were to channel her favorite celeb! :)
Special thanks to another past bride, Kalie Drake of About Face, for the amazing hair & makeup job!

More to come soon! :)

Cassie & JB : Cruise Preview

2010-02-19T10:00:00.000-05:00

Instead of a traditional reception, Cass and JB opted to send their guests on a kick-ass cruise to prolong the love. We were lucky enough to be brought along for the adventure! Here's just a teaser of more fun to come:

(Yes, that's the bride & groom!)

So excited to share the rest! Cassie & JB- Y'all rock my face off! :)

Cassie & JB : Wedding Preview

2010-02-16T09:44:00.000-05:00

Enjoy my favorites from Cassie & JB's jaw-droppingly gorgeous wedding a couple weeks ago! :)

FAVORITE times infinity. Plus ten.

Stay tuned for a teaser post from their reception cruise! Yes, I said cruise. :)

Less than Three!

2010-02-14T00:24:00.001-05:00

Happy Love Day, Nerds! :)

Emily & Stephen : Preview

2010-02-11T14:43:00.000-05:00

Enjoy my quick picks from Emily & Stephen's wedding this past weekend! :)

FAVORITE!

More previews to come next week! :)

Ashley & Jay : Wedding

2010-02-08T12:32:00.000-05:00

Ashley and Jay's Howey-in-the-Hills wedding was fabulous! Here are my favorite shots from the day:

Buttons on wedding gowns win!

Another teary first look... :)
Ashley belongs in a wedding magazine. :)

Ashley gave each of her guests a fan with their program, which was perfect on such a hot day!
The bridesmaids were lined up watching guests trickle in...
Jay's niece and nephews are triplets and made for the cutest ring bearer and flower girls. :)

One of the ring bearers running down the aisle during the ceremony. :)

FAAAAAAAVORITE! It makes me want a sucker. :)
Ashley and Jay were announced to the theme from Top Gun. :)

Love this. :)

I just loved all the detailing on their cake!

Our first wedding to ever have karaoke! So much fun!
I'm changing my favorite to this one. :)

How cute was their getaway car?!

Their exit was extra emotional as Jay and Ashley moved to Hawaii immediately following the wedding.

Congrats, Ashley and Jay! :)

02.05.10

2010-02-05T09:56:00.000-05:00

Last personal post for a little bit. :)

Our New Years Eve celebration came after one of the most hectic times of the year for us. I was running on empty, starting the year with a million things on my to-do list, and feeling just completely burnt out. The best medicine for me was taking New Years Eve off and having a calm, refreshing night off with my best friends. We had pizza, hung out, and drove to our secret spot to launch some fireworks. It ended up honestly being the best new years eve I can remember, and I owe it all to the best friends ever.

Lorie Marie. :)
Jonathan!
:)
Nathanial, my love.

I know I'm a little behind, but I hope you all had a wonderful start to 2010, as well. I have pretty darn high hopes for this year, and so far, so good!

02.03.10

2010-02-03T09:00:00.002-05:00

Shortly after Christmas, some of the family came up to stay at a real dude ranch not to far from us, so we got to meet up for an afternoon.

Once I found out they were staying at a dude ranch, my mind was racing with hopes of being a part of a real-life version from Hey Dude. :)

Not surprisingly, it was quite different from the tv show, and it was more of a glorified cabin rental place with horseback riding, fishing, and archery thrown in. Anyway, the kids had a blast, and this is what we were greeted with as we were driving in- our 3 sisters hanging on a fence in Twilight shirts. It made me crazy happy (minus the Twilight shirts.)

While the gentlemen fished...
... We ladies chatted. :)
I was never raised with grandparents, and one of my favorite things about getting married was adopting such a great group of grandparents that love me like they've known me my whole life. :) This is Al, Nate's step-grandfather, whom I just adore.
Kat. :)
Austen being Austen. :)
This picture officially makes me miss being a kid.
Nate and his brothers & sisters. :) (And no, we didn't pose this...)
Next up: A really quick New Year's post, promise. :)

02.01.10

2010-02-01T10:41:00.000-05:00

So right after Jessie's Graduation, we headed home to photograph Sarah & Aaron's wedding, and then back down to South FL to celebrate Christmas with the in-laws. It was a really crazy, stressful time, but it was great to spend so much time with family.

We're so incredibly blessed to have a dog that loves car rides. :)
Things kicked off with Jessie's graduation party!
I love the family I got when I married Nate, and a lot of that has to do with this little munchkin, another beautiful sister-in-law. :)

Don't we have the cutest siblings?! Seriously. The only thing cuter than ridiculously adorable triplets-in-law is throwing Huck Finn into the mix. :)
Speaking of... He had quite the adventure while we were away- One of his birthday gifts was a life vest! We take him to the beach on occasion, and I'm so afraid a tiny wave will come and sweep him away. We threw it on for a test drive in Nate's Dad's pool...
... Huck was not at all excited about this decision.
But he eventually figured things out and swam like a champ!
I like to think it gave him a little more confidence than he had before. :)
This year, we decided to get Nate's family one big gift, instead of shopping separately for the 5 kids + Mom and Dad. We got them Rock Band, and like I suspected, the box was the biggest hit at first!

Eventually everyone got into it, and we've heard it's still a hit! :)
Whew! Still reading? :) Then we headed over to Nate's Mom's house for Christmas with that side of the family.
This is Tara the cat, whom I've lovingly re-named Pinwheel. She's a bobtail cat, which means she has a really short tail, and it just kinda flops around in a circle like a pinwheel. :) She gave us all quite a scare when she snuck out the front door while we were visiting, causing us to go on a great rescue to find her. After a few hours of searching, she ended up being under the air conditioning vent right outside the whole time. It was a Christmas miracle! ;)

Nate had fun putting bows on unsuspecting family members...

Gotta love gift reactions. :)

We gave his aunt & grandma little copies of our wedding album, which was a huge hit. Here's Aunt Ann realizing what her gift was-
And Grandma. :)
After that, we were pooped and headed home to enjoy a quiet anniversary & Christmas. :)

01.29.10

2010-01-29T09:29:00.000-05:00

So the next 4 posts are dedicated to what we did over the holidays. I know, I know, it's a little behind schedule, but better late than never, right? :)

To kick things off, we headed down to Miami for my smart, gorgeous sister-in-law's college graduation. If this photo doesn't sum up Nate and Jess, nothing will! :)
Sissy-in-law & Mom-in-law.
Jessie was beaming!
I looooove that their guest speaker was The Rock. Random fact- There are only 2 degrees of separation between us and him!

Jessie & her handsome boyfriend. I thought it was precious that they got to sit next to each other during the ceremony. :)

Congrats, Sissy! We're so proud of you! :)

Nicole & Michael : Wedding

2010-01-27T10:15:00.000-05:00

Typically when our couples book us, it's because the bride-to-be's friend used us, or maybe she found us online... This time, however, it was the groom who was insistent on asking us to photograph their day! Michael and Nathan attended UCF together and Michael was actually a pretty big influence for Nathan to get into photography. Michael's an amazing photographer himself, and we're selfishly hoping to bring him over to the dark side and have him start assisting us at weddings soon!

These guys had an A-List team of vendors, from Flourish to Joe Magic to us! We knew the day would be amazing. :)

Nicole was stunning. And I do mean stunning!

Recognize this girl? It's Kalie! Our past bride, Kalie, works as a makeup artist at About Face, and did a phenomenal job on Nicole's hair and makeup! :)

Probably my favorite groom portrait ever. :)

Nicole and Mike were married in October, right in the middle of a chain of couples that opted for the 'first look.' With these guys, we were able to do all the family photos before the ceremony and take just the two of them out for sunset photos.

I look sooooo akward, but I had to post this, because it was our 2nd time to ever be on the couple's family shot list! :)
Nicole chose to go with one of our all time favorite florists- Flourish! The guys did an amazing job transforming my favorite Orlando venue, Casa Feliz, into an even more beautiful venue. :)

Their tent outside was jaw-droppingly gorgeous.
Nicole and her bridesmaids were sneaking a peek at the guests arriving. :)
Their ceremony was officiated by the always charming Kevin Knox.
*sigh.* I love this place...

Fist bump at the altar after the kiss. Amazing. :)

Nicole and Michael, clearly, were up for anything. I think this is my favorite from the day. :)

I've always loved her unique pearl engagement ring! :)

I love you guys!!!

Yeah...

One of our favorite DJs, Joe Magic, kept the place packed all night long. :)

We followed these guys to their hotel, the Grand Floridian, for a few more relaxed portraits.

Random fact: I used to work for Basin! :)
I'm loving mirror shots with our couples. :)

Nicole and Michael, we wish you guys the happiest of ever afters! We hope to see you again soon! :)

Karin & Peter : Preview

2010-01-25T09:29:00.000-05:00

Karin and Peter were married at our favorite venue, Casa Feliz. :)

Karin made sure every detail had a vintage feel to it, mainly based around her wedding gown, which was a replica of her Mom's dress. :)

Oh, and there were some ridiculously good looking kids at this wedding, bursting with personality. Love it!
More to come soon, guys! Enjoy your amazing honeymoon!!

Amanda & Justin : Preview

2010-01-23T11:21:00.000-05:00

My quick picks from Amanda and Justin's wedding last Thursday. :)

We had fun shooting at the entrance for the first time- We've never seen it without a huge bus in front!
They looked amazing together. :)

First dance epic-ness.

Happy honeymooning in NYC! Have some Max Brenner for me! :)

Amanda & Justin : Engagement

2010-01-21T12:50:00.000-05:00

These were my favorites from Canadian cuties Amanda and Justin's engagement session! :)

It was so refreshing to shoot downtown again. :)

See that yellow tree in the back? Autumn has finally arrived in Florida!

Favorite. :)

Happy wedding day, you two! :)

01.20.10

2010-01-20T00:13:00.002-05:00

Who has 2 thumbs, was born 28 years ago today, and is gonna be my best friend in-law on July 4th? THIS GUY!

Jon, we love you to the moon, and we're so happy you're in our lives. And down the street. :) Let's all move somewhere cool together, ok?

- The Roots!

Carly & Aaron : Wedding

2010-01-18T09:07:00.000-05:00

I'm so excited to share Carly & Aaron's wedding day with you guys! You might remember them from their killer engagement session. You know, the one with the appearance by Mount Rushmore! Well, Carly and Aaron were married at Disney's Shades of Green resort at Walt Disney World!

Meet Carly's Mom, who I'm convinced is my Mom's twin separated at birth!

Simply gorgeous. :)

Their "first look." :)

I love this. :)

Favorite!

Carly, I love you!!
Seriously, I can't express how strange it is to see your Mom's face on another person! :)

How cute is their cake?

Last dance love. :)

Carly & Aaron- We hope you're loving life in the desert! Call us when you're back in the area! :)

01.16.10

2010-01-16T19:56:00.002-05:00

Huck's Great Belated Birthday Adventure.

I love this kid. More to come soon. :)

Victoria & Jack : Engagement

2010-01-15T10:37:00.000-05:00

Victoria and Jack are an adorable couple planning their Disney wedding all the way from the UK. We had the chance to shoot with them around the resorts on a rainy day a few months ago. :)

One of the benefits of having a rainy-day engagement session!
My favorite. Victoria, I love your giggle face! :)

Victoria, you're one of the cutest brides we've ever had! :)

In front of their ceremony venue, the one and only Wedding Pavilion!

I always say how the ladies are gonna be such beautiful brides, and of course that applies to Victoria as well, but Jack, you're gonna make one handsome groom!

Victoria's favorite. :)
Thanks, guys, and we'll see you soooooooon!

Jillian : Family Session

2010-01-11T08:04:00.000-05:00

Adam and Jenn have been a huge part of our Root Photography history. :) They were the first "official" booking we made (or, I should say Nathan made at that time) as they were a referral through his very first wedding, the only one I didn't shoot with him! Their engagement session was the first session I ever came along on as Nathan's assistant, and it was that session that made us realize I had a knack for this photography thing! We never shot apart after that, so I will always hold a soft spot for these two.

After shooting their wedding, we became friends and kept in touch, and we even lived in a couple of their rental properties after a while. They were one of the first of our clients to have a baby, and we've really enjoyed watching little Jillian grow up. She is every bit her parents' child, with Jenn's good looks and Adam's affinity to Apple products. ;) I was so excited to meet up with these guys, and we were able to do their would-have-been-rained-out session at the Gaylord Palms, instead. :)

Pretty sure families don't get better looking than this!

Faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaavorite! :)

Love this, too. :)

Jillian and the love of her life- Adam's iPhone. :)

Adam, Jennifer, and Jillian- We love you guys!!!!!!! :)

Kelly & Gregg : Just Married!

2010-01-10T12:29:00.001-05:00

Kelly and Gregg contacted us back in May to shoot some photos of them at the Boardwalk during their honeymoon. This was right in the beginning of Orlando's rainy season, so unfortunately, the shoot was postponed. Luckily they came back to visit again and we were able to make something happen! :)

How cute are these lovebirds? :)

Kelly said she starts every morning by kissing Gregg's forehead...

Gotta break out the wedding Mouse Ears!

Gregg's a deputy, so they also brought along some handcuffs!

Kelly and Gregg, congrats, and enjoy being newlyweds! :)

Karin & Peter : Engagement

2010-01-07T10:43:00.000-05:00

We actually photographed this session the same afternoon as Gantry and Michael's. :) Karin and Peter's session started off on their front stoop, which I think is just adorable!

Then we headed to the main park area of Baldwin Park...
I can't look at this fountain without immediately thinking of this shot. :)

I love these next two...

Still my favorite. :)

Thanks, you guys!!

Nicole & Evan : Preview

2010-01-03T15:16:00.002-05:00

Just a quick preview of the magic that was Nicole & Evan's wedding last week:

More to come soon! :)

Gantry & Michael : Engagement

2010-01-02T09:47:00.001-05:00

We had been so excited to photograph the stunning Gantry and Michael since the day we met them!

Seriously... How good looking are these two?!

One of my favorites:
And another:

I love this one, too... :)

There's no telling what they were lying on, but they were total troopers!

Gantry requested some cowboy hat photos because they try to go to a Texas rodeo every year. :)
Super fierce! ;)

We're really excited for your wedding day this year! :)

Meg & Rob : Wedding

2009-12-28T12:55:00.002-05:00

Starting off the wedding day how we know best...

Meg got ready at Disney's Port Orleans Hotel, aka where I spent many vacations with my Mom and sister growing up. :) Meg had her hair and make-up done by the magical Patricia LeJeune. I love this shot Nathan grabbed of Meg's junior bridesmaid watching her get ready. :)
Tell me this isn't the cutest flower girl ever. :)
One of my favorites!

Y'all know how I feel about my first look couples...

Meg made a special request to be a part of a mirror shot with us... Have I mentioned how much I love her yet? :)

I was in love. :)
Meg looking radiant...

Alright... This was by FAR the most random thing to ever happen to us at a wedding: Here I am, shooting at the Boardwalk Resort when I take a double look at a guest walking by, only to realize she's my first grade teacher from Tennessee!! Mrs. Connell even remembered me, which made my day, and she hasn't changed one bit in 20 years. I could not stop laughing. :)
Know what's weird? I totally remember seeing sketches of this place before it was built. :)
We headed over to Seabreeze Point to get some detail shots of the ceremony site.

Before you just skim over the next picture, take a closer look at what the ring bearer is holding, aside from the pillow! So stinkin' cute. :)

One of my many favorites... I just love that this is the first time we've ever seen a couple overflow their sand. :)
Meg and Rob exited to REM's Shiny Happy People as they skipped down the aisle. I don't think we've ever seen a happier exit! :)
Here's a closer look at the ring bearer's assistant:

Rocking the Chicken Dance in front of their reception location like they did during their engagement session. :)
Another favorite- Meg and Rob waiting to be announced into their reception hall. :)

I had to throw in at least one more. :)

Meg's favorite moment of her whole entire wedding day, which only makes me love her more! :)
Love her.
She was a bear and I was a reindeer!
My favorite ring shots to date!

Meg and Rob, thank you so very much for letting us be a part of your big day! We love you guys and can't wait to see you again! :)

Sarah & Aaron : Preview

2009-12-26T11:14:00.003-05:00

Just a few teasers from Sarah and Aaron's gorgeous wedding this past week. :)

Probably my favorite altar kiss of all time! :)
Guys, I hope you're enjoying your European tour! Can't wait to see the photos! :)

12.25.09

2009-12-25T00:25:00.001-05:00

"And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more." - Dr. Seuss

Wishing you all the merriest of Christmases!

Love,
Jensey, Nathan, and Huckleberry Finn.

Christmas Eve <3

2009-12-24T00:24:00.000-05:00

Christmas Eve has always been my favorite day of the year. Always. Which only makes it perfect that two years ago today, Nathanial and I eloped in the snow and were married by our very best friend/ photographer/ mentor, Brian Adams. :)

In case you ever wanted to know, this is what I looked like as a bride.

The most handsome groom that ever was.

Perfect. Perfect, perfect, perfect. :)

Trying to keep warm with handwarmers on our ears. :)
Happy anniversary, Love. I'm so happy to be 2 with you now! :)

Erin & Aaron : Just Married

2009-12-21T00:40:00.000-05:00

You guys just read about Erin and Aaron's crazy awesome wedding a few days ago, so here are the photos from their "Day After" session in Celebration:

FAVORITE!

Erin and Aaron, thank you both for everything! Let us know the next time you're in town!!! :)

Erin & Aaron : Wedding

2009-12-18T12:19:00.000-05:00

Ready for another gorgeous Disney wedding? :)

Let's kick things off with some awfully cute Roots in our traditional mirror shot... ;)

This was the view from Erin's room as she got ready at the Contemporary. I was just a little bit jealous...
Here's Erin looking fabulous before even putting on the dress... Our favorite make-up artist, Patricia LeJeune, did a magical job as always bringing out Erin's natural beauty. :)

I love this one of Aaron getting ready. And yes, these guys really are Aaron and Erin. I LOVE it.
Yet again, this couple rocked my face off by opting for the "first look!"

I love watching couples practice their first dance. :)

Without any prompting, Aaron clicked his heels...
... And then Erin tried to, as well, but apparently ended up flying, instead. ;)

One of my favorite pictures of one of my favorite structures. :)
I was in looooooove with Erin's ceremony details:

Erin, I love your laugh! :)

Their reception was held here. Well... Not *in* here, though I guess that'd be cool, too...

Disney cakes, you WIN.

Their choreographed first dance was to an instrumental song from Ratatouille.
Erin's Mom stepped up to the mic to present her gift to the couple...
... This amazing, amazing quilt she spent months months on! I believe she picked this pattern because it made her think of fireworks, and Erin and Aaron ended their reception with Epcot's Illuminations. So cute! Erin's mom made US a quilt, as well, which was even Christmas themed, 'cause apparently I'm not shy about the fact I'm a little obsessed... I cried, and I think she wins the "Root Mom of 2009" award. Oh, man, we should TOTALLY give awards like that every year. :)
Then these wedding crashers arrived...
I love this one of me & Erin testing Nate's lighting. I really wanna start taking more photos of me and my beautiful brides!
And what are mouse pictures without a little cheese? ;)

This was our 1st photo ever with Mickey, Minnie, the bride, and groom!!!! I requested we all make mouse ears, just incase you were wondering. ;)

I love this location when random scuba divers drop by to say hello...
How cute is this?!
So, this is where Erin just hands down wins. She had a photo shoot in the parks scheduled the morning after her wedding. Then another photo shoot with us afterwards in Celebration! So she wasn't gonna let a little bit of rain ruin her big day. And by a little bit of rain, I mean a complete hurricane-like torrential downpour. It was raining so hard, I was holding an umbrella over Nate so he could shoot, and he and our camera equipment got completely drenched anyway. I love their 100% genuine smiles here. :)

FAVORITE!

It was such an intense, wonderful ending to our last shoot in Epcot since new rules don't allow non-Disney photographers to photograph in the park anymore. I'll be crossing my fingers that they end up changing that soon enough, but if not, we've had such a great time working with amazing couples in my favorite location ever. We didn't know at the time of the wedding, but we were able to make it back to Epcot for one more approved shoot, which ended up being my favorite engagement session of the year. What a way to end that chapter. :)

12.15.09 - Huck Finn's 5th Birthday

2009-12-15T08:11:00.005-05:00

Huckleberry Elias Finn, it is your birthday today. Your fifth one at that.

I know you don't know what that means, but today you'll feel extra loved. We'll slip treats to you throughout the day and take you for a long car ride through the neighborhood. I'll even let you bark at people out the window. :)

Thank you for loving us and filling our boring every day lives with ridiculous amounts of happiness. Thank you for turning me into a crazy dog lover. Thank you for letting me put you in silly little outfits, and for being as snuggly as you are. I know this year has been rough on the family... We haven't spent as much time with you as you deserve, and in return, you let your anger out on the kitchen floor. Let's make a pact for '10- We walk you 4 times a week, and in return, there are no surprise puddles for my bare feet to find first thing in the morning. =(

Huckleberry Finn, you're one of a kind, and I can't imagine you with any other family, nor us with any other dog. You're our boy and we love you. Let's make the next 5 years even better, ok?

"In the whole history of the world there is but one thing that money can not buy... to wit the wag of a dog's tail." - Josh Billings

WDW Day! :)

2009-12-11T08:00:00.000-05:00

In honor of Nate and I taking a mini-vacation to Disney World this weekend, here are some quick favorites from our last park outing! We went with my little sister and my two favorite Non-Nate guys in the world- Bradley & Brian! :)

Probably my all time favorite photo of me & my gorgeous little sister. :)

It's my mother-in-law! *Ba dum dum!*

I don't know what we were high-fiving to, but I love it anyway. ;)

Lights, Motors, Action! We totally saw a minor accident during the show and they had to stop it and everything! I'll make Nate upload it later. :)

We were about to play Toy Story Mania! I totally won, by the way.

One of the most random moments ever... We were walking by the American Idol Experience and they were live-streaming the show inside. The next girl to sing was the little sister of one of Nate's good friends from college! Small world. ;)

Only my husband can get a shot like this from riding the Monorail.

Hello, old friend.

My favorite princess!

Right when we were exiting Splash Mountain, Wishes started! The photo on the right is from the Splash queue. It's a shame it's a permanent queue, because I think it'd make the cutest reception location! :)

Amelia reminding me of Charlie Brown's Lucy. :)

'Cause we had to! :)
Eek! Now I'm extra excited about this week. :)

Julie & Christopher : Preview

2009-12-09T11:45:00.000-05:00

Julie and Christopher were married in the US Virgin Islands (St. Thomas) this past weekend. I do believe we rocked the face off this wedding, if I may say so myself! :) Here's a quick peek of my favorites so far:

Julie & Christopher, I haven't been this excited to edit a wedding in a long time! Can't wait to share the rest with you guys- Enjoy your cruise!!!

Sarah & Jared : Preview

2009-12-08T13:50:00.003-05:00

Happy holidays, you guys!

On a personal note before I jump into some preview photos, I'd just like to let you all know Nathan and I are officially on our holiday vacation from here to after Christmas. It pretty much means while we'll still be in slight contact with the outside world, please be patient as we may take a while to return those phone calls and emails. We're taking a "home vacation" this week which I couldn't be more excited for, and I plan on as much time away from the computer as possible. We hope you all understand and we look forward to getting back on our normal schedule the end of the month. :)

These are my quick favorites from Sarah and Jared's amazing vintage wedding held at the Ritz Carlton here in Orlando. :)
You all should remember their cuteness from their engagement session I posted last week. :)
Their candlelit ceremony was a challenge to shoot, but I love the feel of this one!
Michele of Michele Butler Events was on hand to make sure every detail was perfect. My favorite was the 'Key Tree' that was a tree full of vintage keys, which served as place cards for their guests to find their tables.
First dance love. :)
So many more to come soon! :)