Just a little peek into this incredible wedding at the Renaissance Vinoy in St. Petersburg. So much more to come from the amazng (ah.mazing.) reception later this weekend! stay tuned!
Archive for August, 2011
So, we’re still kind of on a high about the whole Canon Imagin8ion Project. We’re honored, amazed, and bewildered by the media attention. And now this… Ron Howard talking about the decision process and the reason they selected my photograph. I really dont know what else to say other than Thank You (again!) to Canon, Bryce, and Ron Howard. Words can not even describe how I am feeling right now, so i will just let the video play and leave you with that. (dude…. Ron Howard just said my name…)
baby Collins! (tampa family photographer)
August 8, 2011I can hardly believe that these sweet cheeks are the same as these- it feels like i just photographed her beautiful home birth. she is more and more beautiful just like her mama.
Baby Collins is part of our Baby Plan series, where we document maternity through the first year in photographs. I can not wait for our final session at her first birthday… i’m going to start brainstorming some fabulous ideas for this family. :-)
slowing it down…
August 5, 2011
With all the excitement of today i just wanted to slow down a bit and remember exactly why i do what i do. For shots like these. Taken of a guest at my most recent wedding- the full post to come soon.
cheers and love,
Lexia
WE WON! Canon’s project imagin8ion with Ron Howard!
August 4, 2011I dont even know how to really write this post… i’ve been waiting so long to tell everyone about it, and now that the big reveal has been made i’m left speechless!
Remember the Canon Imagin8ion Project that we entered about a month ago? well……
WE WON!!!!!!
The Huffington Post released the article today announcing the winners which gave us permission to finally announce it to our fans, friends and family, clients and readers! ahhhh! I’m trying so hard to keep my composure! The contest had just under 100,000 entries, and Ron Howard (director of A Beautiful Mind and Apollo 13 amongst many others) and Canon teamed up to pick just 8 photos from 8 different categories (setting, time, character, mood, relationship, goal, obstacle, and the unknown) to inspire his next hollywood production. i mean, this is insane… right? is this for real? They are flying us to NY to see the premiere, meet Ron and his daughter Bryce Howard who is also directing this film. Some of my favorite photographers are also among the winners, and i am tickled pink to meet them as well!
A HUGE thanks to my amazing 11 year old nephew, Chet Kruse (who is super talented as well…), who was the one to send me the link to the contest. he said he thought i should submit some of my photography, and after i watched the trailer for the project I was definitely on board. i’ve never entered a contest before in my life, so to have won is beyond belief.
The winning photograph is of my good friend Ali McCormick who is in the midst of labor. in the article on the huffington post they mentioned they were in ‘mourning’ but it was really quite the opposite. Ali persevered with her wish to have a natural childbirth, and her husband Dusty is supporting her through a tough contraction. her doula, Alli, stands by to help assist. you can see the full gallery of her birth on my <a href=”http://www.sugarleafphotography.com”>main website </a> under ‘portraits’ and then ‘birth photojournalism’. It was an incredible day- i flew across the country to Wisconsin when Ali called to tell me labor had begun. Luckily for me, labor was long, and i was able to capture the entire process of her beautiful baby girl, Rowan, be born.
As an artist, our goal is to communicate feelings and stories through visual media. It’s not just a ‘goal’… it’s a passion. Winning is great, that’s cool, but the biggest honor is that someone else (many people) saw the beauty in what i was trying to say. As artists, we just want to be heard, to tell our story. To know that i translated that story through just one photograph is literally what i live for- what my passion is. i could not think of any grander compliment than the one that Canon and Ron and Bryce Howard have given me.
Be sure to head over to the Huffington Post to read about what Ron and Bryce are up to with this film, and see the other 7 winners! We, of course, will be keeping you up to date on any other publicity and of course the film when it is released!
We’re so excited, so so so beyond excited, i’m practically bouncing off the walls/cant concentrate/dont know what to do with my shaky self. thank you Ron and Bryce Howard and Canon for giving us all this opportunity to collaborate with other creatives, and thank you to those who have followed this project and got involved with voting!
with a happy heart- thank you :)
balancing work and life
August 3, 2011I love what i do. i am so incredibly fortunate to be making my living doing what would otherwise be my hobby. but, with two small children at home, things can sometimes get tough to juggle! I just wrote this article for Newlyweds Dish about how in the world we juggle raising two kids, two wild dogs, two businesses, and somehow keep our marriage and sanity together. Its definitely not easy, and makes for some late nights and early mornings, but we think it’s definitely worth it to do what we love, and be with our kids. but we definitely never expected it to really be this hard. When we went into this business, our oldest was just a tiny baby, and i thought “well… how hard can it be? i mean, i just do some work on the computer… dont kids… like… play and stuff? and sleep? this should be simple!” little did we know how truly hands on parenting is, how physical, verbal, and mentally hands on it is. but, at the end of the day, I get to do what i love- photograph and parent. when the going gets rough, i have to remember that all i can do is only all i can do, and that is good enough.
Read more HERE!
After Dark workshop discount code!
August 2, 2011
Continuing education is one of the most important things for an advanced, or just emerging photographer. I’ve always learned an insane amount about business, shooting, lighting, and everything in between when i’ve attended After Dark Education. So much so, that they’ve given us our own discount code to share with our readers!
Past attendees have told us time and again that After Dark is by far the best education experience they’ve had in the photography world.
With 72 hours of hands-on, small group learning interaction with over 30 of the industries top mentors, After Dark Education is an insane talent, creative inspiration, and networking opportunities, all in one place!
10 studio bay, 10 business/production work pods, on location sessions, and topics ranging from: photographing, maternity & newborns; babies, children & families; high school seniors; weddings; and fashion to building a strong business foundation, fundamentals to advance lighting and posing concepts; creative inspiration; client interaction and studio management; marketing and networking; pricing and sales; workflow; and so much more.
September 26-28 2011
Charlotte NC
Register by Aug. 10 2011 with the discount code “LEXIA” and save $40 off registration. Hoping you all have an incredible experience!