“Ah, summer, what power you have to make us suffer and like it.” – Russel Baker

I have had the great fun of being able to second shoot for Justin DeMutiis twice now, and I am glad to finally be sharing some of the images with you. It was such a happy day of capturing Pierre and Errin, who were wonderfully care-free, say “I do” surrounded by the beauty of Selby Gardens. You can find Justin’s fantastic photos from their wedding here.

“Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them.” – A.A. Milne

This past Wednesday Brie and I attended a Tampa Photoclub meeting hosted by Divine Light Wedding Photography. It was my first time going to one of their get-togethers and I hope it won’t be my last – what fun it was! This month’s focus was on photographing children. We all went to a playground down the road from the DL Studio, and once there, the little models were free to play and run, and we to run after them with our cameras. These are some of my photos from the day.

I’d like to take a moment and share with you some of the photographers whose work I really really admire. These people don’t know it but they have been incredibly influential in the development of my photography over the past 6 months. Though I am confident that I am learning to master a style of my very own, I would not be where I am right now without the inspiration of these talented artists. I admire each one of these photographers for different reasons and I think they each have a unique artistry. Check ‘em out and let me know what you think.

http://www.gabrielryan.net

http://www.jamiedelaineblog.com

http://wwww.jessicakettle.com

http://wwww.amelialyon.net

http://www.michellemooreblog.com

http://wwww.wearethebloggers.com

http://www.jessicaclaire.net

http://www.tarawhitney.com

Each month Brie and I will be posting a style board we’ve made in Photoshop or on Polyvore.com. We’ll be sharing what has recently caught our eye, the things we have and the things we would like to have – basically, whatever we think is neat and would like to show you! So, I am a bit new to making Polyvore boards, and I will admit, my first creation makes that clear. But they’ll get spicier, I promise.

Here is a display of items I will use in decorating my room this year. Some of them I already have (or something comparable) and other things I will need to buy.

I’ve always been a collector. Stamps, rocks, keys, stickers, beads, old and foreign coins. Really, the list could go on, and on. However, I have managed to narrow down those collections over the years, and what I am left with I still love – antique skeleton keys and old glass buttons like the ones you see above. I want to display them somehow in a jar or in a shadow box, or maybe by some method I’ve yet to read in Real Simple magazine.

As of yesterday, I have a record player (twenty dollars at a yard sale). Yay! It isn’t as schnazzy as the phonograph, but it does the job of playing vinyls which is great. In fact, it is serenading me as I type.

Items that I have yet to obtain are: A platform bed; they always look so inviting, nice and low, just right to collapse onto at the end of a long day. Various shelves, to house my numerous books, and a comfy reading chair, to house me. Also, a pretty lighting fixture of some sort; isn’t that chandelier cool? Oh, and I don’t have that Vincent Van Gogh painting – shucks. I think I’d have to pull a museum heist for that one.

Can you tell I like brown? I do, I do. That, and a soft oatmeal color will most likely be two colors of choice.