I’ve got to mention a particular couple that I photographed while I was in Tampa for the Imaging USA photography convention. Fred put me up for a few days and we spent the time reminiscing.
Fred and I go waaay back. He’s one of those friends that, despite the amount of time since you last saw each other, you can always just jump right back into a comfortable place. He’s completely welcoming and one of the friendliest people I’ve ever known. I’ve known Fred since high school and we were pretty close til college rolled around and whisked me away to North Carolina and him to Hawaii (I guess we know who won that one!). Actually, I’ve known Fred for so long that I can’t help but call him by his nickname, Derf (Fred backwards), that I don’t think anyone else uses anymore.
Fred is on the far right. I’m the curly haired one who will never wear a linen dress again.
Anyway, enough with memory lane. Introducing Fred and Sam…
Fred was the one to come up with the idea of going to this spectacular park. We went to John Chesnut Sr. Park in Palm Harbor and it was simply beautiful. Despite the great locations that the San Francisco Bay area has to offer, I was envious that we have nothing like this!
We took the bridge and a short path to a small forest of these huge trees all around. We went around golden hour and the light streaming through the trees and Spanish moss was stunning. It was the perfect place for s session. The scenery screamed color; the mood was totally black and white. See what I mean?
Fred is not a serious guy and he brings it out in Sam too. They were both full of giggles the entire time. I just had to set them up somewhere and let them go. They were both so fun and relaxed and real.
I know Fred to be totally playful and brought along some bubbles. Sam became preoccupied with the swingset for a little while. You might wonder if this is a children’s shoot or a couples shoot. There was a healthy dose of both that day.
Fred and Sam sat together to watch the last minutes of the sunset at this spectacular location with a marsh and tall grasses. There were so totally at ease and totally in love. And the sunset was unbelievable.
Thank you guys so much for putting me up and putting up with my photographic whims. You two make a great couple. You’ll always have a place to crash when you get out to the west coast!
Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen hard. Practice wellness. Play with abandon. Laugh. Choose with no regret. Continue to learn. Appreciate your friends. Do what you love. Live as if this is all there is.
– Mary Anne Radmacher
(I love that quote. It’s easily one of my favorites)
