I love it when clients can think outside the box and have faith in our ability to do the same. These are both collaborative efforts with the Kent Family and the Schnurr Family to create an interesting Christmas card. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy Kwanzaa to all!

Well friends, the fruits of our 15th annual Toys for Tots campaign were delivered today to the Marine Corps Toys for Tots distribution center. Over 120 toys were generously donated by our friends, clients, neighbors and business associates. Thank you to everyone who participated in making the holiday’s a little brighter for those in need. You’re the best!

I had family in for Thanksgiving. First, my brother and his family of six, followed by my sister and her family of five – all from Atlanta. I had the pleasure of doing senior pictures for my niece, Ally. She wanted an “urban” look so we hit the pavement in Ybor City. Here’s a slideshow of some of her favorite images.

My brother Brian, his wife Kim, and their four kids, Zachary, Savannah, Maria and Joshua made a quick visit from Atlanta this week. As is customary, I’m the family photographer… here’s a few images from their family session…

I’d never attended a triathlon before so when I found I had three friends competing as a relay team I jumped at the chance to cover the event. The mini triathlon held at Ft DeSoto October 24 was a huge event. My dentist, Dr Juliet Bulnes of Westchase Esthetic Dentistry, is a celebrated triathlete having competed for Team USA in Australia earlier this year. She kicked off the relay with a 1/3 mile swim followed by a transition run of about 200 yards. She passed off to Jamie Heggedal of Carrollwood Massage Therapy who biked a blistering 10 miles. He then passed off to Mike Trevor of Mike’s Auto Detailing who flew through a fast 5K. They turned in a time of 57:56 and crushed the next closest relay team by nearly SEVEN minutes!

What an awesome team effort. Congratulations guys! You’re an inspiration to us all.

In late August a very good friend of ours, Debbie Alcorn, was elected President of the Florida Professional Photographers. In late September, less than a month later, her 31-year-old daughter, Stephanie King suffered a brain aneurysm and spent 3 weeks in intensive care. A seminar to raise funds for expenses has been organized by a group of local professional photographers for November 15th at the Doubletree Hotel on Cypress here in Tampa.

Bruce Wilson, a second generation photographer from Kissimmee will be presenting information on high school senior portraiture; Alycia Alvarez from Brandon will be speaking on infant portraiture, and Cindy Strickland from Tallahassee will be covering children’s portraiture. These three one-hour seminars will be followed by a roundtable panel discussion on the photography industry consisting of Bruce Evensen of St Pete, Eve Sanz of Brandon, and Kevin Newsome of Tampa and moderated by Al Audleman of Brandon.

To attend, you may send your cash or check (made payable to The Stephanie King Fund) for $50 to Newsome’s Studio at 13910 N. Dale Mabry Hwy, Suite 6, Tampa, FL 33618. If you cannot attend the seminar but would still like to make a donation, you may send your check to Newsome’s Studio.

It is amazing how quickly life’s roller coaster can change course and how draining that can be with your emotions. Kaye & I have known Stephanie since she was about 15 years old. She is now married and has a 3-year-old son. Her husband was laid off of work a while back (another casualty of today’s economy) and there’s a very difficult road ahead for her. This seminar is but a small token of our love for Stephanie, and her mother, Debbie.

Thank you to the Doubletree Hotel for working with us and providing a wonderful venue for next to nothing, and to Regions Bank for their assistance in setting up The Stephanie King Fund. Additionally, all the speakers, panelists, moderators, and mentors being auctioned off have all graciously donated their time and energy to make this seminar happen.

If you’d like additional information on how you might be able to help, please contact Kaye Newsome at 813-968-2810.

This morning Kaye & I made a trip to Riverview to photograph a pair of absolutely beautiful children.  We’re receiving more requests for outdoor sessions of kids being kids and getting out of the studio is always a treat.

Jenna and Katie

We purposely asked for brightly colored clothing and selected a playground that was painted in primary colors, then timed it for mid-morning so the kids would be in a good mood and full of energy.

Katie with a beaming smile

Jenna and Katie were true professional models for us and had some of the most beautiful blue eyes you’ll ever see.

Jenna being coy

Wow. Been a busy month. I just returned from Orlando where I presented a seminar on children’s portraiture. What a fantastic group to work with. The Florida Professional Photographers annual convention had a sold out Trade Show, a beautiful print competition and display, and about a dozen nationally recognized speakers giving programs.

The many faces of Ellie Salmons.

I spoke early Sunday morning and mixed my three hour seminar between preaching from the soapbox (Fixer Inhalers vs Pixel Pixies) and encouraging these two industries to recombine into one again, then working with infants, toddlers, and tweens. The best part was getting to photograph a handful of models and doing demonstrations on lighting and posing (or anti-posing as I like to think of it).

Young Keller, The Lady Killer

The images attached to this post are from those taken during the seminar. A HUGE thank you go out to Ellie, Susanna & Diego, and Keller, who all put up with me like true professionals.  Love you guys!

Diego giving the look that will melt mom's heart.

Susanna beaming with personality and body language.

Selena Einwechter's Bed & Breakfast on Tiffany Hill

While vacationing in the NC mts last week, Kaye & I dropped in on a former classmate of mine. Selena Einwechter left Tampa for greener pastures and certainly seems to have found one. After decades of dreaming and years of planning, Selena’s dream of opening a Bed and Breakfast has finally come true.

Perched atop seven beautifully landscaped acres and nestled on the edge of the Pisgah National Forest in Mills River south of Ashville, B&B on Tiffany Hill has set a new standard for the Bed and Breakfast world.

Built from the ground up and incredibly decorated with attention to detail evident everywhere you turn, Tiffany Hill offers five bedrooms – each with their own bath - a large breakfast table to seat 12, a library, a sitting room with fireplaces, wi-fi throughout, a walking trail with several points of interest offering views to sooth the soul and Selena herself as your host, cook, and knowledgeable reference library for the surrounding area.

Anyone wishing more info on this wonderful opportunity for escape can visit www.bbontiffanyhill.com. Please tell Selena we said “Hello”.

10 year old Madison caught dinner!

I do a lot of traveling and have logged quite a few frequent flyer miles already this year, but up till now it has always been work related. For the first time this year I was able to pack a bag and not bring the big guns (cameras) to shoot with.

Kaye and I were presented with an offer we couldn’t refuse – four days and four nights staying at a friend’s second home in the beautiful NC mountains. No agenda, no timetable, just a quiet little slice of heaven with a few good friends, a bit of trout fishing, and great food.

This is the largest trout I’ve ever seen in person, landed by 10 year old Madison shown here with her proud dad, Alan Eckelman.

Thank you to Jay & Barb Sinsley for sharing your home and hospitality, and thank you to Alan, Ellen, and Madison for showing Kaye & I such good times.