© Spellbound Images by Wendy - All Rights Reserved
Last Sunday I was up early and off to check out the Botanical Gardens in Largo. At first sight I didn't think it was going to work for my portrait session that evening. It actually just looked like an overgrown tropical landscape, with palms and marshy areas. There were a couple different ways to walk into the gardens, one was near, or through the gift ship (which was closed on Sunday), and the other was across a nicely constructed wooden bridge. I found out later there were many other ways to enter the gardens from the back and sides. After strolling along the bridge and taking in the water filled with giant lily pads I realized there was much more to this little paradise (not so little really), than what meets the eye from the parking lot. I glanced down the sides of pond to see large wooden lawn chairs painted white sprinkled along the grass where visitors could relax and enjoy the weather, the nature, and the wild life. Once you have crossed the bridge you enter the Wedding Garden which is vast with blooming flowers and topiary, as well as several different arches for Matrimonial ceremonies. I moved to the Fruit Garden, and on to the Palm area. I didn't have time to visit the Butterfly Garden but did cruise through the cactus garden, and wandered down the tropical walk. Yes! This was going to work nicely!
At 5:00 sharp I met with my client Nicole, a High School Senior visiting from Pennsylvania. Her mother had contacted me by email the week prior and requested portraits that could be used in Nicole's year book, but also something that could be hung on the wall at home... something artsy... that would last forever... but didn't say “High School Portrait.” Nicole is also a cheerleader, but wanted something that didn't say cheerleader... since the school does enough of those types of photo's already! Her mother also wanted to work in one spot where we could capture everything... the beauty of her daughter combined with the beauty of Florida! Nicole is very conservative... not your typical teenager. Her mother was worried we would have a hard time... I explained that I have 4 daughters of my own, and most of their friends have been hanging out at my house for years... I knew I wasn't going to have a problem connecting with 17 year old Nicole. As a back up... I took one of my daughters along on the shoot. She came up with some great poses, so I told her “she was the boss for the entire session.” :)
We took a relaxing walk through the Wedding Gardens, stopping to capture images on benches, in trees, and yes, even the wall. We found stained glass, and scrolled doors that begged to be photographed. We found water fountains, and unique plants that called out to us. We used tropical flowers, and lily pad back drops. It turned out to be a great experience for both photographer and client!
Over the next couple of days I worked on post editing, giving Nicole's portraits a little touch of what High School Seniors like to see these days, but without over doing it for her parents sake. I put her photo's on my site so they could look at them after they returned home to PA. The next day I received an email from Nicole's mother that said this, “Hi Wendy – The pictures are BEAUTIFUL. I am so glad we decided to have them taken while we were on vacation and I found you – my absolute favorite is #609 but there are quite a few that I really like. Thanks for making this such a pleasant experience for Nicole and something she will remember forever. I will get back to you soon on what we would like to order including the pictures that are part of the package.“
Another satisfied Client... makes for a happy Photographer!
Love, Laughs, and Photographs,
Wendy
All images captured with the Olympus E500 on Lexar digital media with the Zuiko 14-54 wide angle zoom lens
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