Tampa Photography Blog

Every year, the Tampa Bay Heart Gallery asks local photographers to donate their time to photograph a child. Never has a photograph been so important.

None of these photos will win awards, be used in portfolios or be profited from in any way.

The photos are simply given to the gallery and are used on the organization's website and in a traveling exhibit to promote awareness about adoption. The hope is that someone will see the photos, hear the child's taped recording and fall in love with their personality.

The best case scenario is that the child is adopted by a loving family. At the very least, the word of adoption is being spread through the efforts of the gallery staff and maybe someone else will be inspired to volunteer.

I had the pleasure of photographing another child this year and due to privacy issues, I am asked not to display his photos. He is a lovely 12-yr-old with a quiet disposition and a sweet smile.

Thank you to Melissa Twomey and Jesse Miller for making this gallery happen every year. And thank you to Dan Weisberg for allowing me to use his photos of the session.

Javier Sola is a man with a knack for logos and an abundance of patience.

When I began my freelance business in Tampa in 2005, Javier helped me create a brand for the company with the design of my very first logo. We went through several drafts but he was determined to create something I fell in love with and could use for years to come.

I can admit I am not the easiest person to please when it comes to my business. I am very picky and want to ensure that my company’s image is perfect in my eyes.

Javier quickly realized this about me but he didn’t waiver. He just kept working.

At last, he created the logo that now graces my website, business cards and all marketing materials I distribute. I receive compliments on my cards every time I give them out. The only thing printed on the front is the logo he created.

He’s also designed a logo for a non-profit project I created called Tour of Thanks, which will be launching later this year. (The project will focus on offering free family portraits to active duty military families.)

Javier’s love for design began at an early age in Puerto Rico when he found he loved geometry. Javier said, “Through the years I found out that anything that would have to do with layout or design was meant to be my career in some shape or form.”

After having no luck finding a design school to pursue his dream, he left Puerto Rico as an adult and attended the Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts in Graphic Design.

Today, Javier lives in Tampa with his family and owns Rendered Visions Creative. The company focuses on logo/brand development and web design.

To see more of Javier’s work, please visit http://www.renderedvisions.com.

I recently had the pleasure of photographing one of the most expressive families I know...the Houses. We took a trip to Starkey Wilderness Park in New Port Richey to have some fun and take some great family portraits. With the exception of a few bug bites and some sibling rivalry, the portraits went off without a hitch. Thank you for allowing me into your lives and for being such accommodating subjects!

This blog entry has nothing to do with photography. The only connection it has to my work is that the person who wrote the following column helped me to become a better shooter. She is a writer, a runner, a mother, a wife, a friend and a brave soul.

I met this amazing woman at The Times in Shreveport, Louisiana and we worked on several projects together. Her work always made my work look better.

I've told Kym for years now that she is my hero. I'm not sure if she understands why but reading this column again, months later, it hits me that her strength is one of her best attributes. The struggles she's gone through in her life that are NOT in this column would shock you.

Please take a few minutes out of your day to read it. I hope it inspires you and maybe helps someone you know step forward about something that happened to them.

Thank you for sharing, Kym.

Please click here to read: 'My goal is to live'

Anyone who can make my hair look better than Carrie Underwood’s is on my A-list!

I met Holly in 2007 when I was planning my own wedding for the next year. I already hired a make-up artist so all I needed was a brilliant hair stylist. I had shoulder length hair at the time so naturally I gave Holly a photo of Carrie Underwood (with very long hair) and told her I wanted hair like hers on my wedding day. She didn’t flinch.

Holly not only exceeded my expectations but she also created amazing styles for my bridesmaids and Godmother. She exudes flawless professionalism and a unique talent for making you look better than you ever thought you could.

I was so impressed on my wedding day, I hired her to do my hair and m ake up for the 2009 Hearts of Fire Presidents’ Ball plus she’ll be styling me for my anniversary photo session with my husband this month.

We’ve worked together on private events, boudoir portrait photo sessions and Bras & Boas events. I feel confident partnering with her because I know she’ll represent herself well and I have nothing to worry about when Holly is on my team.

Holly attended Manhattan Hairstyling Academy and has been making women feel fabulous for ten years. Her services range from hair styling to make up application to manicures. She hopes to expand the business to include on-location massage therapy and tanning. Her events span generations and include young girl glamour parties, weddings and fashion shows.

To check out Holly’s work and learn about her team, please visit: www.inspirecollectivecreations.com.

(Photos - top to bottom:

*Holly on location with JLP for a boudoir portrait session - Photo by JLP.

*Jessica Leigh's wedding day - Photo by Karla Fountain.

*Jessica Leigh's bridesmaid - Photo by Karla Fountain.)

My pet peeve about direct sales consultants is that they can come off a little pushy or they don’t understand when you say you simply don’t need their product.

Not so with Kim Fish of Cookie Lee Jewelry.

I’ve attended numerous shows and held my own private party with Kim and she is not only laid back about her sales but her personality brings every event to a whole new level. I’ve never felt like I “had” to buy a piece from her show and she’s constantly rewarding loyal customers with discounts.

Kim also knows how to let her products sell themselves. She has a great fashion sense and wears the jewelry in different ways so others can see how to dress up their own outfits.

I think people are drawn to Kim because she’s easy to get along with, fun and stylish. Plus, she manages a home, husband and three great kids in addition to running this business full-time for four years. I admire her for being able to juggle it all and still look great doing it!

We’ve worked together in BLAB and for Bras & Boas events. I feel confident partnering with her because I know she’ll represent herself well and I have nothing to worry about.

To check out Kim’s jewelry please visit http://www.cookielee.biz/esuite/home/kimberlyfish.

*Photo by JLP*

I had no idea what poor shape my back was in until I made an appointment with Dr. Carrie Oleston and Dr. Cindy Perkins at Back in Health Wellness in Lutz, Florida.

As photographers, we accept that with the job comes lower back pain, neck pain and general muscle soreness due to all the weird positions we get in to shoot photos and all the heavy gear we lift.

However, I didn’t know there was a way to manage the pain and feel good until I met ‘Dr. Carrie’ and ‘Dr. Cindy’ in a networking group called Business Ladies Advancing Business (BLAB). These ladies do so much more than chiropractic care. I’ve received adjustments from them as well as acupuncture and massage therapy. All of which have helped me do my job better and I have a shorter recovery period (if any) after a very long photo session.

They also helped me after I was involved in a minor car accident. I didn’t have any major physical damage but my neck and back did not fare well after the crash. So, they made a plan for me to heal and a few months later, I was back to normal.

At Back in Health, the staff is friendly and helpful, which makes going to the doctor that much easier. I have benefited from pharmaceutical-grade multivitamins, Biofreeze and back and head pillows purchased at the office. All of the services and products they provide truly do inspire a ‘complete health treatment’ for your body.

To learn more about these lovely ladies, please visit their site: www.backinhealthwellness.com.

*Photos by JLP*

Toyota executives apologized today for the problems concerning sudden acceleration in some of their vehicles while continuing to deny that the problems are related to electromagnetic interference (EMI). However, others like United Kingdom-based EMI expert Keith Armstrong believe that the acceleration problem is linked to EMI and that the tests performed were not comprehensive enough to decide the root of the problem.

I photographed Armstrong for a USA Today story and while only one of his portraits was published inside the Money Section today, I thought I’d share a few of them that I liked.

Armstrong was photographed at a hotel in Brooksville, Florida while he was visiting the U.S. on business.

Fitness trainer helped Tampa photographer Jessica Leigh get fit and healthy in boot camp.

When it comes to exercise, I quit everything. I’ll try a kickboxing class, buy a Tae Bo DVD or join a gym and within a few months, I have wasted my time and money.

That all changed when I met Carrie Kukuda in 2009. We met as members of a networking group called BLAB, Business Ladies Advancing Business. She pitched herself as a life coach, a nutrition expert and a fitness trainer. Kukuda backed up all of her credentials with results.

I have been in her boot camp for approximately five months, attending a session at least twice a week. For exercise enthusiasts, that may not sound like dedication. But I can now admit I am completely addicted to Carrie’s boot camp and have no intention of quitting.

I schedule clients and personal appointments around boot camp. If I have to miss one, I work hard to fit in a “make up camp” as soon as possible. When I go on vacation, I do similar work outs so I don’t get off track when I return. I make better food choices and look forward to the “high” I get after I’m done with a session.

Since I lift heavy gear and end up in strange positions for my job as a photographer, I always have back pain and muscle soreness after shoots. Being active in boot camp has helped me gain muscle strength and stamina while I’m on my feet for hours.

Kukuda’s classes are different because I never know what to expect each day I come to camp. And I not only have accountability with Carrie but also with the other people I’ve bonded with in camp. If someone misses a day, we all ask where they are and what their excuse is for missing.

I asked Carrie to explain why she does what she does. She said, “I do what I do because I am passionate about helping people. I have a gift I can offer them to help them change their lives. It is not a job to me, it is who I am. It is what gets me up in the morning at 4am and it's what makes me happy when I go to bed at night. People should live their best life and I am happy to share the tools for them to make it happen.”

To find out more about Carrie, visit www.thesomedaycoach.com.