STUDIO FOUR | Blog

My New Blog is Live!!!

2008-09-29T12:51:00.008-04:00

I am so proud to announce that my new, custom designed blog is finally LIVE!!!

WWW.STUDIOFOURBLOG.COM

Of course this blog will stay up as an archive, but all future posts will be on the new blog, so be sure to update your bookmarks and rss feed. I'd also really appreciate if you wanted to post a link to the StudioFourBlog.com on your site/blog/facebook or website and of course tell your friends about it.

This simple Blogger blog has been great for the last three years but I needed a few additional features that are custom and wanted my own look and feel. So... CLICK HERE to jump on to the new blog and keep enjoying the amazing moments we capture for all our awesome couples.

Cheers!

H

Michelle + Manuel's Wedding!!

2008-08-23T17:22:00.006-04:00

Last weekend I shot Michelle and Manuel's wedding. They got married at the Mirror Lake Lyceum in St. Petersburg.
It was a great celebration with a cool couple, fun groomsmen and bridesmaids and a beautiful family.

Check out some of my favorite shots (and a slideshow below):

And the awesome slideshow! Click on the photo below to play it.

Hope you liked them!

Cheers!

H

My weekend just opened up! Can I shoot you?

2008-08-21T08:59:00.004-04:00

I just got a call from this weekend's couple and due to a family emergency, they need to postpone the wedding.

So, I know it's short notice, but if there are any couples out there that have not hired a photographer yet, give me a call so we can get something going. I was all pumped to shoot with some new toys and ideas for this weekend :)

Cheers!

H

I visited the Mothership!!

2008-08-09T14:08:00.003-04:00

We are having soooo much fun in San Francisco! I just love Family Time away from routine.

Yesterday we went to "1 Infinite Loop, Cupertino, CA". Apple Computer's Head Quarters. The don not allow photos in their property, but I guarantee you it is on of the coolest places I've been in the world.
Their store is the only one that sells Apple merchandise so I got a few shirts and Apple goodies... (I'm sooo geeky!)

Here are some photos to share. Check back in the next couple of days for photos and slideshow from a really cool wedding we shot before leaving!

Saratoga drive, really pretty.
Lavender is all over the place, it grows like weeds. The entire town smells awesome!We found a great coffee shop that sells organic coffee. Mmmm.... Cappuccino!
We found the "Six Sisters" right accorss the street from Alamo Park. It's a landmark of San Francisco.Dear Inbox: You can't beat me! :)

Gosh, I love this woman! Every single time I look at her or a photo of her I feel the same thing I did when I first met her. V. Sattui Winery in Napa. This would be an awesome place to shoot a wedding.

The winery has a great deli inside. We got tons of stuff and had a great picnic by the vineyards!

Italian salame anyone?

We got our tickets to Alcatraz for Monday at 9AM. I-CAN'T-WAIT!!! It's something I've wanted to do since I was a little kid.

There is an amazing Italian Coffee Shop in Union Square. They have true Italian pastry and mmmnmm... I we couldn't resist.

No, it's not a doughnut!!! (How dare you!?) More cappuccino!

Hope you liked them!

Cheers!

H

Having a great time in San Francisco!

2008-08-07T13:00:00.000-04:00

As soon as I arrived to the hotel and had my first official vacation dinner, I realized how much I needed this vacation.

We are having a great time relaxing and visiting places. Yesterday we drove to Chinatown, found parking by the piers and walked around for about 4 hours. It was great to play around with Matt and Kev, stopping at every spot we felt like without schedules, phone calls or meetings.

From Chinatown we drove to Chrissy Park and the Golden Gate Bridge. I found out it is the most photographed man made structure in the world! Very cool.

Today we went to Napa Valley and had a great time wine tasting and hiking around vineyards. Also today, we bought our tickets for the Alcatraz tour, which I've wanted to do ever since I was a little boy and watched Escape From Alcatraz with my Dad. It's going to be great!

Here are some photos, I hope you like them!:

I love to embarrass Kevin!
The Crab House at Fisherman's Wharf... Mmmmmm...
V found her favorite belgium chocolate in a little shop by the pier... There was no way to pry this off of her hands!

I just love this photo!

What's wrong with me you ask?... Uhh.. I don't know. :/

My inbox didn't take a vacation. I make stops every couple of hours to answer emails and return phone calls.

I loooove this photo of V and me!

More inbox purging! :)

Check back in a couple of days for more photos.

Cheers!

H

Sunday with friends

2008-08-07T02:28:00.003-04:00

We went to Caragiulos for dinner last Sunday night with our great friends Thomas, Dawn and Connor. Dawn's brother, Steve, and his wife Bryn were visiting from Virginia Beach and it made the evening just perfect!
I've said it before and I'll say it again... There should be more people like these in the world!

Here are some pics - Enjoy:

A little zoolander blue steel! (Kevin shot this pic... he's becoming a great photographer!)

Steven and I - Gosh my head is huge!

Steven and the beautiful Bryn

V, Thomas and Dawn

Check back for San Francisco photos tomorrow! We are having an amazing time in really cool weather.

Cheers!

H

Gwen + Jerry

2008-08-02T17:30:00.001-04:00

Veronica and I photographed Gwen and Jerry a couple of weeks ago and we had a total blast. The wedding party was so much fun and, even though the weather didn't cooperate and it rained a little, I wouldn't change a thing about it.

Check out this awesome slideshow:

The ceremony and reception were held at a private home in Siesta Key and everything was beautifully coordinated by the Sun Weddings. The DJ was the incredible Wayne Delair.

One more time.. I have the best job in the world!!!

Cheers!

H

The Francos are Going to Frisco!

2008-08-02T14:12:00.001-04:00

So we are leaving to San Francisco on Monday for another flippin' awesome Franco Vacation!!

I'll be posting updates and photos almost every night (not a promise :) so make sure to check often and send some love.

Whitney+Nelson e-Shoot in Gasparilla Island

2008-07-31T00:51:00.006-04:00

This is a delayed post, I've been meaning to drop it here for a while now.

I photographed Nelson and Whitney a few weeks ago in Gasparilla Island. Whitney's Dad picked me up on his boat at the Boca Grande marina and we all met at their summer house.

Gasparilla is an absolutely beautiful paradise. It was my first time there and I really felt like I was in a remote island, away from everything.

Whitney and Nelson are getting married on May 2009 and are totally in love. Check out the images and tell me what you think:

I love the mood on this one:

For this one, I converted it into a "Vogue" cover. Isn't it cool?!:

This one is on the ride back to the marina:

I hope you like them.

Cheers!

H

Christine+Tommy NYC e-Shoot

2008-07-26T00:16:00.009-04:00

I did it again! New York City engagement sessions are absolutely awesome.

This is how it works:
I meet the couple at Tampa International early in the morning (very early... 6'ish) and we hop on a Jet Blue flight to JFK. By 10AM we are sipping on Lavazza coffee at my favorite café in Little Italy, talking about the day ahead.

We shoot all day in Soho, Times Square, Subway, Grand Central and wherever else we feel like. By 8:30PM we are watching a movie on Jet Blue heading back home. Is that totally rad or what!!!??

I looooove NYC, it's my second home ;)

These are my favorite shots of Christine and Tommy's shoot. They are getting married on December 31st in St. Pete Beach. Thank you guys! I had an amazing time with you!

Hope you like them! Send me an email and let me know.

Cheers!

H

Working at home

2008-07-25T18:17:00.003-04:00

I absolutely love working at home.
There's no other place for me to be more creative and inspired than at my kitchen table. Today I processed an entire wedding, a totally awesome engagement session (favs coming soon) and caught up with my evil inbox. All while pumping Yellow Matter Custard (one of my favorite bands) into my headphones! What an awesome day!

As I work through the day, I get in touch with friends in Spain, England, Argentina and Australia via iChat. Veronica is home and the kids are playing outside with their friends. What else can I want from life? A beautiful family, awesome real friends around the world and the best job I could ever have.

Thank you Lord!

H

Natalie + Matt e-Shoot

2008-07-09T00:13:00.000-04:00

I had a great time photographing Natalie and Matt in Clearwater Beach. They spend a lot of time on their cool flat bottom boat, so we decided to get on it and hop around to different places while shooting some cool images.

Anthony + Regina Wedding

2008-07-07T23:40:00.004-04:00

Hans and I photographed this wedding a few weeks ago in Bradenton and we had a great time!

The church was very dark and we were not allowed to use flash but the images turned out just perfect. Nothing like fast lenses for low lighting situations.

The ceremony was at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church and the reception was at the Bradenton Yacht Club in Palmetto.

Check out the slide show and tell me what you think!

Cheers!

H

Cool video of my last trash the dress seshhh

2008-07-06T13:15:00.006-04:00

Check out this great video that my friend Mike Fuhrman from Artistic Media Productions shot.
If any of my current or past brides, or even brides whose weddings I didn't shoot, want to do this, give me a call or drop me an email so we can bounce some ideas off each other to come up with the most unique session possible.

Let's have fun!!

Cheers!

H

It's almost here!!

2008-06-08T23:50:00.004-04:00

Can you guess what this is?:
It's a little preview of my new website. I've been working on it for a long time with my team of programmers and designers and it's looking just perfect! It will have the blog embedded on it as well as videos and a full page option to view the portfolio like a movie (a la YouTube :)

Only one more week, and it will be unveiled... Can't wait!

Cheers!

H

I want one!!

2008-05-18T21:24:00.006-04:00

I am a BMW fanatic, those of you who know me are VERY AWARE of it ;)
For the last 2 years I've been talking a lot about how I dislike the new BMW designs. I can't stand the new round styles... until I saw the X6!

Check out the video below:

I L-O-V-E this car, it's a little pricey for me ($53K) but I'll be looking for a "low miles" one next year. Check out the photos HERE.
Anyway, I just wanted to say that :)

Cheers!

H

Follow Me on Twitter!

2008-05-17T12:29:00.002-04:00

Although I've been technically signed up for Twitter for awhile now, it hasn't been until the last couple of weeks or so that I've actually been using it.
For those of you that don't know, Twitter is basically a means of mini-blogging--just posting a sentence or two about what you're up to that people can see in real time. I've been updating mine about twice a day with whatever I'm doing, and although I may not keep it up forever, it is kind of fun!

If you are on twitter and you want to see what I'm up to during the day, you can "follow me". CLICK HERE to sign up :)

Cheers!

H

Happy Mother's Day Babe!!

2008-05-11T10:30:00.001-04:00

I want to wish HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to the love of my life and mother of my two little monsters, Veronica.

Sometimes I snap out of it and wonder why did God decide to bless me with such an amazing woman. I certainly don't deserve the patience, care, patience, love, more patience and unconditional dedication that Veronica gives me.

Not only is she a beautiful person inside but she's also beautiful in the outside. Every once in a while I look at her and all of a sudden I feel the same thing I felt the first time I laid eyes on her! I know this sounds sooooo cheesy, but it's absolutely true!

So, from the bottom of our hearts V, we love you and will do everything possible so you have an amazing day.

H, Kev and Matt.... and Lola (our greyhound)

Taking a few days "off"... but I'm bringing my laptop

2008-05-09T22:54:00.004-04:00

Veronica and I are taking the kids to Captiva Island for 3 days. We'll be staying at the South Seas Island Resort. It's a beautiful place about 3 hours south from our home with white sandy beaches and long drinks with "islandy" names.

I'll be checking my emails and working a little bit from there and the studio phone will forward to our Skype phones. So you will still be able to get in touch with us.

Check here for fun photos in the next few days.

Cheers!

H

Trash the Dress Sesshhhhh....

2008-05-09T20:47:00.013-04:00

Hello there party people!
I shot the most amazing trash the dress session the other day at the old Parrish train station.

Rosanna is absolutely gorgeous and feels so comfortable in front of the camera that there is no way to shoot a bad picture of her.

Check out some of my favorites:The boot looks just too cool with the dress!

Mmmmm... tasty light! I'm using a lot of these textures lately. I like the "grunge look".

Mike came later on and we were able to get some shots of him too. Don't they look amazing?

What a great relaxed portrait!

More relaxed portraits...

Tell me this doesn't deserve a huge print!
I hop you liked them. I will be offering a FREE TRASH THE DRESS SESSIONS shortly. If you are one of my brides, call me or email me and let's set it up! I got a ton of ideas :)

Cheers!

H

Wedding at the Florida Aquarium

2008-04-15T23:03:00.010-04:00

Rosanna and Mike's wedding was absolutely perfect! We met the couple at the Hilton in Downtown Tampa to shoot some getting ready shots. From there we headed out to the Florida Aquarium for a very unique party.
Everything was absolutely perfect. Lori and Jessica from Simply Divine Events took care of all the details and did an amazing job.

Click on the image below to see the slideshow: Here are some of my favorite images. Hope you like them!
The bride getting ready

Mmmmmm hot hot hot!

Sweet "buttery" window light. I love these shots with my 85mm f1.2 lens! Only the eye lashes are in focus!

Awesome shot at the aquarium. It's a real challenge to shoot in front of the huge fish tank. Lots of backlit shots. Doesn't it look great?

More hot shots! Rosanna should model, no doubt.

Lot's of mood here...

Tasty black and white headshot.

I loved the cake, the top looked like an octopus... very unique!

Cheers!

H

I feel the love!!!!

2008-04-10T15:30:00.006-04:00

Today I received an unexpected package at the studio. It was an award for "2008 The Knot - Best of Weddings" engraved in glass with our name on it. How cool!!!!!

Along with the award came the following letter:
"The Knot conducted a survey of over 20,000 recent brides to gather detailed feedback on every business that couples hired for their wedding celebration.
Gulf Coast newlyweds submitted their raves and reviews on the area's wedding professionals. They were asked to rate their vendors on multiple criteria, from creativity to professionalism, and to comment on their experiences. The resulting ratings –and detailed feedback- were aggregated by the editors of The Knot to create this one-of-a-kind publication highlighting the best wedding resources in each region according to local brides."

I just cannot tell you how happy that made me! I've won a number of awards throughout the years, mostly for images I submitted to magazines or contests. However, I've never been "voted" by past customers and rewarded with such a great surprise.

This is a good day :)
Do you feel the love....? I DO have the best job in the world!!

Cheers!

H

Rosanna and Mike's e-Shoot

2008-04-01T16:36:00.011-04:00

Rosanna and Mike have such a unique sense of style that it is impossible to capture an ordinary image of them. Take a look at these photos from their engagement session at The Harborage... just too hot!
Their wedding is in a couple of days at the Florida Aquarium in Tampa, check back soon to see my favorite shots from the wedding.

I hope you liked them - Their wedding is going to be just amazing... I can't wait!!

Cheers!

H

Jenn and Greg's E-Shoot

2008-02-17T09:56:00.004-05:00

Jenn and Greg are getting married in April. I can't wait to photograph their wedding, they are both beautiful and are totally in love.
Greg has a really cool company providing a very interesting service to people worldwide. Check it out by clicking HERE. I've been telling all my friends and family overseas about it.

Check out some of my favorite images from yesterday. I photographed them at the preserve behind our studio. The light is just amazing, I love shooting there. Don't they look amazing?

Hope you liked them.

Cheers!

H

Get Ready to Laugh!

2008-02-10T10:41:00.000-05:00

I was surfing the web in PJs while having my morning cup of coffee and found this link. Somebody posted the "Best of The Worse" Olan Mills photos. You have got to check this out, it is hilarious!
Not only the images are funny, the captions tie everything together.

Please check it out by CLICKING HERE, you won't regret it.

Cheers!

H

Kerrie and Matt's Wedding

2008-01-27T12:11:00.000-05:00

Kerrie and Matt's was a Jewish wedding with lots of flavor. From the moments leading up to the ceremony to the signing of the ketubah, everything had joy and special meaning.

The ceremony was at Ybor City Park with lots of character and amazing light filtered by the trees.
Check out the slideshow by clicking on the image below:

Here are some of my favs:

I love photos of real moments!

The boys looking pretty sharp
One of the witnesses going over his Hebrew spelling before signing the ketubah
Another real moment

Ybor City has such character!

Such and awesome wedding! God bless you guys!

Cheers!

H

Blogging FROM a wedding!

2008-01-26T17:37:00.000-05:00

I am shooting Lauren & Andy's wedding at Christ Episcopal Church in Bradenton.

They are having a "full mass" and they asked not to shoot during communion so I thought I could try blogging from the iPhone while I wait.

I can't wait to photograph them after the ceremony. Some relaxed portraits and real moments will be fun to shoot.

This is such a beautiful church! Check out this photo shot with my iPhone.

I'll post some images of the wedding later this week.

Cheers!

Beautiful Words from a Beautiful Couple

2008-01-13T21:50:00.000-05:00

I received this email from Leah and Les, the couple Hans and I photographed over new year's eve and I blogged about a few days ago. Once again... Do I have the best job in the world or what?!

Hi Horatio (and Hans)... I am speechless... I can't tell you how much we love the photos.

In my mind, I thought I had a rough idea of the photos that were taken... I was wrong... you captured SO MUCH more! I can't stop watching the slide-show and sharing it with anyone willing to watch. I have to admit that I haven't made it through one showing without shedding a couple of tears, because I truly see our love for one another in every shot.

Whether in the goofy or serious poses... it IS Les and I. A real tear-jerker for me is the shot of just our hands... I didn't realize it was taken, but it is perfect and will be finding it's way into a frame in our home very soon. Anyone who sees the slide-show reiterates the same sentiments... that we look amazing (thanks for that) and that the images are the best wedding pictures they have ever seen.

You must hear this often, but you are truly gifted. Not only do you take 'good' pictures, but you mange to capture raw emotion and precious moments! This is not to mention the fact that we had a blast working with you and getting to know you. I was a bit nervous booking a photographer I had never met in a place I had never been. You managed to calm my fears the moment we met with your easy-going and charming personality.

We were a bit sad that we weren't able to spend more time with you and Hans. We feel blessed that our paths have crossed and feel like we've made a new friend.

Thank you for this incredible gift and for sharing your vision with us!

-Leah and Les :)

Leah and Les,
It was a true pleasure to photograph you. Thank you for choosing me!

Cheers!

H

Photographing Rudy Giuliani

2008-01-12T21:25:00.000-05:00

I was asked by a friend to photograph Rudy Giuliani's visit to Bradenton. It was really good, I got press passes and was rubbing shoulders with news photographers from all over the country.
It was great to shoot something different than the usual and experience the competition that exists in a press booth. Everybody fights with elbows and shoves for the best shot.

At one point, a little kid right in front of me raised his hand to ask the Mayor a question. All the photographers jumped to get a shot of him pushing me out of the way... I pushed them back harder and they all fell back holding their cameras high to avoid crushing their lenses... So I got the best shot of the kid raising his hand. It reminded me of my rugby days years ago. They stayed cleared of me after that ;)

All of a sudden I realized how great it is that I don't have to compete with anybody when shooting weddings. Another reason to looooove what I do!

Here are a couple of my favorite images from today:

Hope you liked them!

Cheers!

H

Pete & Alana's Pre Wedding Photos

2008-01-10T16:04:00.000-05:00

Meet Pete and Alana... an insanely cool couple.
I met them last year, when they came to my studio and spent 4 hours just talking about stuff. It was great, they are so much fun and I'm stoked that they chose me to photograph their wedding in March.

Check out some of the images:

Alana doesn't think she's photogenic.... Yeah, RIGHT!...

Cheers!

H

Leah & Les: Totally in love after 10 years!

2008-01-10T12:07:00.000-05:00

Leah and Les live in Canada and decided to renew their wedding vows in beautiful Sarasota. It was a beautiful, intimate ceremony with just Les' parents.

Hans and I met them at Ana Molinari Salon and Spa in downtown Sarasota, we shot some photos there and then walked around the area finding cool fun spots for images. Check out the shot of the police officer with the bouquet in her mouth! Priceless!!

They are so in love, it's unreal. You can see it in their eyes.... Click on the frame below to see the slideshow:
And here are some of my favorite shots. Enjoy!!

Leah getting ready at the salon...
Les arriving, with styling Dolce shades...

Awesome 1.2 portraits. This is shot with my sweet Canon 85mm f1.2L II lens. Mmm... buttery window light...
Shouldn't this be on the cover of a bridal magazine? She looked gorgeous!
My tax dollars at work ;)

A couple of relaxed portraits at the beach, right before the ceremony...

The ceremony...

Leah's funny face when she spilled a little sand...

Hope you liked them.

Cheers!

H

Kay & Chad Storybook

2007-12-11T23:14:00.000-05:00

Veronica just finished designing Kay and Chad's storybook and it looks absolutely beautiful. She designs so incredibly good!

Take a look at the proofs... Isn't it awesome? Click on the photo below or HERE to view the slideshow of page spreads.
Cheers!

H

Desha & Launey at The Renaissance Hotel

2007-12-11T21:49:00.000-05:00

I photographed Desha & Launey's special day last week. It was a nice small and intimate wedding with lots of details, romance and genuine passion.
There was such a relaxed mood throughout the whole event...
Check out some of my favorite shots and a quick slideshow below:

(a quick note about the photo frames. I decided not to use the big gradient backgrounds on my pro photos anymore. It takes too much valuable space that I rather use for the image).

The groom getting ready

Her ring was just beautiful!

Desha was all emotional before while getting ready

The preacher getting ready for the ceremony as well

And this is one of my typical "1.2" shots. I love my Canon 85mm ƒ1.2 lens Shweeeet!

Awesome photos! :)

Cheers!

H

Happy Thanksgiving Everybody!

2007-11-22T09:57:00.000-05:00

My gosh.... There is so much I am thankful for!
So many people and experiences have touched my life in the past year that it's hard to believe. This is an amazing time to stop and reflect on who and what spiced our lives in the last year.

To my incredible clients: Thank you for trusting me with your special "one in a lifetime" moments. I am truly honored and touched being a part of them.
I love my job so much! I am so lucky and blessed to have clients as amazing and special as you. Love, success and much happiness to you all!

To my incredible family: There are no words to describe what you mean to me.
What can I say about Veronica... God must have been showing off when he made her. She is the most unbelievable mother, the most loving, understanding, patient and caring wife and partner. The most compassionate, brilliant and intelligent woman I know. Oh... and she's also HOT! ;)

Kevin and Matthew are incredible sons, they add so much to our lives and make us complete. We've been blessed beyond expectation!

We have the most unique group of friends all over the world. I can't list them all, but to you all: Thanks for being a part of my life, I love you!!!

Let's enjoy every single minute we have with everybody and everything around us. That's the way we're designed to live. Do good, be good and squeeze the most out of everything.

Happy Thanksgiving and God Bless you all!

Cheers!

H

Say Hello to Lola!

2007-11-18T16:34:00.000-05:00

After waiting for over a year after loosing Sandy to bone cancer, we decided to adopt a new retired greyhound.
This is Lola, our new family member. She's been with us for almost 2 weeks and we've fallen in love with her. She's six years old and had a full racing career at the St. Pete track.

If anybody is thinking about getting a pet, a greyhound is a perfect choice. They are great companions, very docile, loving and grateful.

Call 727-595-7852. I promise you will not regret it!

Cheers!

H

Jacqueline & Lloyd at Selby Gardens

2007-11-18T09:11:00.000-05:00

What an awesome day!
Jacqueline and Lloyd got married at Selby Gardens in Sarasota last Saturday and it was just perrrrfect! Beautiful weather, amazing people and loads of fun.

The DJ was my friend, Wayne Delair and everything was coordinated by the always fabulous Maria Brady from Choreographed Events. Make up and hair was done by Linda from A Victorian Bride. I totally recommend her!

Check out the slideshow by clicking on the photo below:

Their last name is Pepper, so they had these cool buttons made.

Mmmmm... tasty window light!

The kids, very well behaved, waiting for the bride.

Lloyd's sister made this beautiful bag for the cake serving utensils and also decorated them.

Lloyd's relaxed portrait!

I love this shot in the bridal room!

She looked radiant!

Lloyd anxiously waiting for her

I love this shot!

a little bit of flare never hurts ;)

and another relaxed portrait.

Cheers!

H

Shanna & Brian's Wedding - Absolutely Marvelous!

2007-11-09T23:27:00.001-05:00

Veronica and I just shot a beautifull wedding at the Venice Yacht Club. Shanna was absolutely radiant. A Victorian Bride did hair and makeup (I totally recommend them, they are awesome) and Sigrid from Sun Weddings put the entire event together with class, romance and glamour (as usual).

We had such an amazing time shooting, their family and friends are just wonderful and they had a great time at the party. Take a look at the slideshow (click on the photo):

Here are some of my favorites:
I love window light!

Mother in laws all excited!

The boys at the church, looking sharp.

Arriving at the church

My favorite at the beach with gorgeous tasty light!

Girls just want to have fun, right?

... and my absolute favorite shot of all night. Great mood with the warmth of the video light.

Mimi's Belly

2007-11-09T20:20:00.000-05:00

Our friends Mimi and Dave are pregnant... very pregnant. I had the opportunity of photographing them and the shots turned out absolutely gorgeous. Check out some of the images below.

Cheers!

[hƒ]

Amanda & Josh's E-Shoot in Busch Gardens

2007-08-29T21:16:00.000-04:00

Last Monday I shot Amanda & Josh's engagement photos at Busch Gardens.
We had a fantastic time and the photos turned out awesome. They are getting married next month and I can tell it's going to be an amazing celebration. The minute you see them together, you can tell they are totally in love.

Take a look at some of the pics!

Cheers!

[Hƒ]

Ooooohhhh... The iPhone!

2007-08-23T21:15:00.000-04:00

Anybody that knows me, is aware that I am a sucker for "techie stuff". And when it's Apple related... Well, I can't hold myself.

My T-Mobile contract FINALLY expired and I joined AT&T so I can get an iPhone. This is just so cool! I miss my Blackberry, but the interface, iPod video features and design are totally worth it.

If you are thinking about getting one... DO IT! You won't regret it.

Cheers!

[hƒ]

Beautiful New Books

2007-08-21T21:48:00.000-04:00

We are introducing a new series of books and they are just beautiful!
Here are some photos I shot of our first order. They look awesome, the color saturation is great and the craftsmanship is superb.

Veronica does a tremendous job with the design and layout of the books. If you want to see the entire book, CLICK HERE.

Cheers!

[Hƒ]

Kay & Chad - Awesome Wedding!

2007-08-05T23:12:00.000-04:00

I photographed Kay & Chad's wedding yesterday and I had a blast! They both looked beautiful and had an amazing group of friends and family to share their special day with. It was at one of my favorite spots in Sarasota, The Powel Crosley estate.

Chad and Kay are just the sweetest and I felt truly honored to be part of their wonderful day.

You can view the slideshow by CLICKING HERE, and some of the images are below:

New Blog Coming Soon!!!

2007-08-02T00:04:00.000-04:00

We are working on a new custom blog design. It will be extremely cool and very stylish.
I know a lot of you subscribe to this blog, so make a note of the address: http://www.studiofourblog.com. The old blog (this one) will remain active for a long time at the following address: http://horatiofranco.blogspot.com/

Cheers!

[hƒ]

We are Simpsonized!

2007-08-01T23:59:00.000-04:00

I just found this cool site where you can upload your photo and it converts it to a Simpsons character. Here's our family (I wish I had that much hair!)

Click here to get yours done!

Cheers!

[hƒ]

One of the best times of our lives!

2007-07-31T21:22:00.000-04:00

I have to apologize for not posting photos as promised. We've been on vacation since the 21st, having so much fun that by the time I get to my laptop at the hotel I barely stay awake to respond to emails.

Here are some of my favorite shots. If you want to see a slideshow of more photos, CLICK HERE.

The Mojave Desert was surreal, it is so beautiful and peaceful! It was between 105F and 112F but very dry. It felt like 90F in Florida.

Beverly Hills and Hollywood was fun, we loved "walking the stars" and sightseeing.

Driving the Pacific Coast Highway was truly awesome, we stopped in a little town called Cambria which is one of the most charming places I've been in my life. I'd love to shoot a wedding there.

And then... The Sequoias... What can I say, God must have been showing off when he created them.

Overall, we had amazing days and the best family time ever. I must be the luckiest guy in the world! Veronica is incredible in every way: as a mother, a partner, a wife and "my girl".
Kev and Matt are the coolest kids, we have such a unique connection... I cannot picture my life without them in it.

Cheers!

[hƒ]

The Great Southwest Road Trip '07

2007-07-17T12:11:00.000-04:00

We are taking a few days off, from July 21st to August 2nd after an unbelievably busy season.

We are flying into Las Vegas only to spend the night there, leaving to the Mojave Desert for a couple of days into Barstow, which is an old mining ghost town. I've always wanted to go to the desert and after doing some research and reading a couple of tour guides I realized that there is a lot to do.

One of the things I am really looking forward to, is the Mojave Airplane Graveyard, hopefully I'll be able to find it and shoot some cool photos.

After that we will head west to Santa Barbara and follow the PCH north (Pacific Coast Highway 1) bordering the ocean to Carmel Valley. This is supposed to be one of the most scenic coastal roads in the world, we cant wait!
After a couple of days in Carmel Valley, we will head east to Sequoia National Park for a few days and continue east through Death Valley National Park, back to Las Vegas to head back home.

I will be posting a lot of photos throughout the trip, so make sure to check here for fun images of the crazy Franco family.

I feel so blessed having this family! There is nothing in the world more important to me than Veronica, Matt (aka Cheeky Monkey) and Kev, and getting to spend these days uninterrupted with them will be truly awesome.

As soon as we return, we'll continue shooting more beautiful weddings and some cool new equipment that we will have fun with.

So remember, check here often for fun images and make sure to leave comments :)

Cheers!

[hƒ]

Shanti & Kerry

2007-06-24T00:51:00.000-04:00

We just returned from photographing Shanti & Kerry's wedding. What a blast!
We had a beautiful slideshow during the reception and Kerry cried throught the entire thing. They are such a cool couple and their wedding was absolutely perfect!

Here's a shot of both families together.... Lotolove :)

Cheers!

[hƒ]

Volver | The Movie, and The Song

2007-06-22T13:06:00.002-04:00

If you haven't watched Volver, by Pedro Almodóvar... You must!
I think it's the best roll Penélope Cruz has ever played, it reminded me of one of those old classic performances by Anna Magnani the Italian Diva.
Almodóvar uses very unconventional camera angles breaking the usual straight forward storytelling that we are so used to in Hollywood.

You must watch it, there's a little bit of dark comedy, but even death has an intricate roll in this film. You can watch the trailer by clicking HERE.

Now, to the song... "Volver" is an old Argentine tango, but in this movie they gave it a flamenco/zarzuela touch that absolutely moved me. If you want to listen to it and read the translated lyrics, click HERE. I absolutely recommend it!

Cheers!

[hƒ]

Hans is arriving today... Yaaaayyyyyyy!!!!!!

2007-06-22T09:53:00.000-04:00

My nephew Hans is arriving from Minneapolis today and will stay for about 3 weeks. He's 18 and has a great eye for photography. We'll be shooting a couple of weddings together, so some of you will get to meet him.

He likes beamers, flying and macs.... (uncle H's influence). We have a lot of things planned to do with V and the kids, so check back for fun photos!

Cheers!

[hƒ]

Desktop / Wallpaper Photos

2007-06-20T00:36:00.000-04:00

I was going through a whole bunch of "loose photos" today while backing up my Closet Hard Drive when I realized that some of them would be great to use as desktop or walpaper images. So I decided to start posting them every month or so to share with everybody.

To get it, just click on the link underneath the photo and download it in large format.(Click HERE to download the file)

Cheers!!

[hƒ]

Matt's Gift

2007-06-19T15:51:00.000-04:00

My youngest son, Matthew (aka "Cheeky Monkey") gave me this drawing for Father's Day. I also got a gift certificate for Jones Aviation and a rugby jersey from England.
Lot of love from my family... I adore them!

Cheers!

[hƒ]

..." You made me feel like a beautiful model!"

2007-06-12T15:25:00.000-04:00

I received this email from Tonya & Hernan (May 5 wedding - see the post and slideshow by clicking here).

I mentioned to Tonya that it would be great if she left a comment on the blog. Instead I received this awesome letter.

What a beautiful couple and family!!

Dear Horatio...

I just wanted to take a few minutes to thank you for
doing such an amazing job photographing our wedding!!
You met and exceeded our every expectation from start
to finish.

Hernan and I really appreciate how open you were to
our ideas. When we first met you (the day before our
wedding), we felt like we could tell you what we liked
and what we didn't and you really listened. You
showed us several wedding albums that you had done and
we got to really talk about what style we liked best
and what we envisioned for our wedding. I know that
meeting with you to talk about that the day before is
really last minute, but you had no problem with that
and you were still more than ready the day of.

Everything was so perfect on our wedding day! I was
so nervous about the time and running late, but I
shouldn't have been because you showed up a little
early. But the thing I remember most is how you made
me feel like a beautiful model!!! You really made me
feel comfortable in front of the camera (which is
something i ususally never am) and told me to do this,
do that, but it was still natural and not posed, and
it was just a lot of fun! All my pictures turned out
just like I wanted: some happy, smiling, laughing,
some sexy, and a lot of action shots with my sisters,
mom and me that really capture the moment and show how
much fun we all have together.

The ceremony pictures were just as good as the getting
ready pictures. I especially appreciate the shots of
the crowd beforehand - you got some great pictures of
my grandmother laughing which I don't think I've ever
seen such good pictures of her. You also got some
really cool shots of family and friends watching the
ceremony that are so sweet. The pictures of the
procession before I came in were wonderful, because I
didn't get to see that part of the ceremony! And just
like the rest of the photos, those really told the
story. Not to mention the pictures you took of hernan
and me during the ceremony....they really captured the
moments and everyone that has seen them comments on
the look in our eyes as we looked at each other. Some
shots close up, some far away, they were all
fantastic.

The post-ceremony pics with the bridal party were a
blast! So many good shots of the beach, and even
though it was crowded you somehow managed to not have
any people in the background!!

The reception pictures were so good too...I didn't
realize how many you got of our guests but I am so
glad that you did. Everyone looked happy and like
they were having a good time. The stills you took of
the tables, the rings, the cake, the food, were all
creative in the angles and placements you did, and
they were all different and interesting. Many of our
friends have commented how nice the photographer was,
and one was so excited because you showed him things
on his camera he didn't know was there!

Your work did not stop with the wedding - the
slideshow you put together is amazing! I have watched
it over and over, and it has gotten emailed to friends
of friends & family - people I don't even know. I am
getting reports back of tears in everyone's eyes that
watch it, even from the people I don't know! Wow!
Now that's a great slideshow!

I wish I could use you over and over for every event
that I ever have!! You go way beyond what is
expected, and most of all you take amazing pictures.
Thank you again for helping to make our wedding day so
very special, and now it is captured in a beautiful
way that we will have forever!

Love,
Tonya & Hernan Hernandez

Cheers!

[hƒ]

Beautiful Day at Egmont Key

2007-06-08T23:02:00.000-04:00

We took the day off today and went snorkeling to Egmont Key. What a great time we had! While snorkeling, a manatee showed up and we got to pet him.... SO COOL! (hmmmm... is that illegal? If it is, then we didn't, it was a rock ;)
Check out some of the photos by clicking here, they turned out great!

All the images (except for the map -Thanks Google!), were shot with my new point and shoot Canon SD800. It is the best prosumer camera in the market. It has ISO from 80 to 1600, a wide angle lens (28mm to 105mm), a very sharp Canon lens and face detection.

I have a wedding on Saturday and one with Veronica on Sunday. It's going to be a lot of fun, and will have some images posted early next week.

Cheers!

[hƒ]

Did I mention I L-O-V-E what I do?!!!

2007-06-07T15:55:00.000-04:00

I just received this card and photo from Jenn and Lucas (see this post from a couple of months ago). It really touched my heart... THANK YOU!

This truly isn't just a job, it's our passion!

God Bless You Guys!
Cheers!

[hƒ]

Corey & Jessica.... a Photographer's Dream!

2007-06-05T23:21:00.000-04:00

Corey and Jessica's wedding was at the Boca Grande Club, right on Gasparilla Island. They were absolutely AWESOME! Totally in love, with great sense of style and an amazing family.

They were such a delight to photograph, Veronica got amazing shots of the bride while I photographed the groom. We asked them to do a bunch of silly things and they were game every time.

The guys at Artistic Media were in charge of the videography and I can't wait to see the DVD. They do great work!

CLICK HERE to see the slideshow and check out the images below.

Cheers!

[hƒ]

Kelly & Bryan

2007-06-03T12:43:00.000-04:00

Veronica and I shot Kelly and Bryan's special day yesterday. The ceremony was beautiful, at The First Baptist Church of Osprey and the reception at The Oaks Country Club. Wayne Delair (aka "The Man") from Delair Entertainment filled the church with amazing music playing the piano and later DJed at the reception.

The bride looked absolutely gorgeous and the groom cleaned up pretty good too! ;)

Check out some of the photos... Do you think there's any chance their kids will have red hair and freckles?

Cheers! [hƒ]

Old, New, Borrowed, Blue

2007-05-30T21:45:00.000-04:00

Did you know...

The saying, "Something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue” is a popular rhyme that has been used since Victorian times. The "something old" represents the bond to the bride's family and her old life; "something new" represents the couple's new life together and their future hope for happiness, prosperity and success; "something borrowed" from a happily married woman is meant to impart similar happiness to the bride; and "something blue" represents fidelity and constancy.

Cheers!

[hƒ]

Henry and Helena at the Crosley... Just Beautiful!

2007-05-21T20:28:00.000-04:00

What a great time I had photographing this wedding!
This was one of the boldest weddings I've been to in my life. Henry (aka "The Man") is totally in love with Helena. She's just too gorgeous and looooooves the camera.

I uploaded a slideshow, CLICK HERE TO SEE IT.

Cheers!

[hƒ]

Shawna & Brandon

2007-05-19T00:03:00.000-04:00

Shawna & Brandon got married on the Starlight Majesty at Clearwater Beach. Very cool wedding, just a few friends and family kept the mood nice and intimate.
Shawna looked uber hot and Brandon... well, check out his sexy pose on the photo below.

I uploaded an awesome slideshow - CLICK HERE to play it.

Cheers!

[hƒ]

What would you like me to blog about?

2007-05-09T21:33:00.000-04:00

Hey everybody! OK, I keep receiving emails from friends and customers telling me that they want me to blog more often. So I decided to post a poll to find out what you want me to blog about. :)

Cheers!

[Hƒ]

Tonya & Hernan

2007-05-07T21:25:00.000-04:00

I shot an awesome wedding on Saturday at Siesta Beach. Tonya and Hernan had a beautiful ceremony with a small group of friends and family. The couple and most guests came from Texas and overseas, we met in person only the day before the ceremony but we "clicked" right away and hit it off real well.

The Coordinator was Charity from A Charmed Event, everything was just perfect! It was my first wedding working with her and am looking forward to many more.

CLICK HERE to see a really cool slideshow.

Cheers!

[hƒ]

Email from Lindsay's Mom (see post below)

2007-04-15T14:08:00.000-04:00

I just received an email from Lindsay's Mom (see previous post). I don't know what's wrong with me, every time I get one of these emails I get all teary-eyed... Here's the email:

Hello Horatio,

I just wanted to send a quick note to say "thank you." Although I haven't seen the wedding photos yet, I know they will be amazing. But far beyond that you brought a sense of calm to Lindsay and Tony's wedding and made them, and all of us, feel so comfortable. As they planned their wedding, you were one of the main aspects they were happy about.

Thank you again for your efforts in making this a very special day for two very special people that deserve only the happiest future together.

Sincerely,
Marjy Lasita (proud mother-of-the-bride)

Lindsay & Tony

2007-04-15T10:54:00.000-04:00

I photographed Lindsay's wedding with Jose, a new photographer that is joining our team.

They had such an awesome wedding! She's gorgeous with eyes that can light up a room. He's got a cool smile, awesome style and bold passion for her.

Here are a few shots from their day, click here to see a slideshow.

Congratulations guys! Thank you for making us feel a part of the family.

Cheers!

[hƒ]

Totally Awesome People!

2007-04-03T00:13:00.000-04:00

Annette and Christian had such a beautiful wedding...! Veronica and I photographed it and were touched seeing how much they love each other.
Check out the slideshow by clicking here.

Cheers!

[hƒ]

Did I mention I love my job!

2007-03-24T11:04:00.000-04:00

I just received this email from Jenn's mom (my February 17 bride) and it really touched me.
It is such an amazing feeling to be able to touch someone's heart with my work.

Hello Horatio:

I can't believe a month has gone by... seems just yesterday I was in awe of what a beautiful woman Jenn has become and now she is a wife!!

Your slideshow is INCREDIBLE!!! Don't be surprised if you start receiving calls from West Palm Beach. I actually had one of my student's mom start crying while viewing.

Thank you for adding something special to my daughter's special day! We were blessed to have found you. With everlasting gratitude, Debbie

Thank you Debbie!

Cheers!

[hƒ]

"Do You Only Shoot Gorgeous Brides?"

2007-02-25T17:10:00.000-05:00

A friend asked me the other day: "Do you only shoot gorgeous brides?" I said YES!
All my brides are totally unique and beautiful.

Solange and Trevor got married at St. Martha's in Downtown Sarasota and the reception was at Selby Gardens. Nellie's did the catering and Wayne DelAir was the DJ... Could it be any more perfect?

Veronica has such an eye for sexy shots... Take a look at the slideshow by clicking here.

Also, here are some of the photos, click on them for a larger preview.

Cheers!

[hƒ]

Jenn and Lucas... What a Cool Wedding!

2007-02-19T23:46:00.000-05:00

This weekend we had two weddings. Jenn and Lucas was the first one and it was just beautiful. They were both very photogenic and were up to any odd thing I proposed. The wedding party was also great fun and all had a tremendous time at the reception.

Everything was incredibly coordinated by Tina and Christina from Florida Sun Weddings.

Here are some of the shots and a slideshow... Email me some comments!!

Cheers!

[hƒ]

Jill & Scott | Lange Farm, Dade City

2007-02-15T00:22:00.000-05:00

Jill and Scott,

Stuart and I had such a good time photographing your special day!
Lange Farm is an awesome place to get married, the weather could not have been better and you two could not be more in love....

Please click HERE to view a quick slideshow I put together for you and some of my favorites shots.

Hope you like it!

Veronica

Thank You Susan!

2007-02-09T14:41:00.000-05:00

I received this email from Susan and Ian, the couple whose slideshow I a couple of days ago (scroll down to see below). This is what they had to say:

“Horatio and Veronica are the best! The photographs they captured from our wedding are extraordinary. They are not just pictures, they are portraits! Horatio took the time to get to know us, to understand what was important to us and then he and Veronica set out to capture the special moments, emotions, and environment that reflected who we are and what we wanted to remember from our special day. There are so many fabulous photos we want them all! Thank you so very much. Susan and Ian"

We DO have the best job in the world!!!

Thank you Susan and Ian! It was an honor to be a part of your special day.

Cheers!

[Hƒ]

Jenn & Lucas e-Shoot

2007-02-09T08:58:00.000-05:00

Jenn and Lucas are getting married on February 17th. It'll be a beach wedding in North Lido and the reception will be at the Sarasota Garden Club.

We shot these photos right by the bay, they look so cool! Click on the images to see a larger preview.

Check them out...

Cheers!

[hƒ]

Susan & Ian's Wedding

2007-02-06T09:23:00.000-05:00

This wedding was awesome!
We had such a great time photographing it, all the perfect components were present: lots of love from family and friends, old traditions, beautiful location, the perfect DJ (my bud Wayne DeLair), delishhhh catering from Mattisons's and great coordination from Maria at LTM's.

Check out the slideshow!

Cheers!

[Hƒ]

Moving Soon to a New (awesome) Studio

2007-01-08T14:58:00.000-05:00

We are moving to ComCenters Bradenton in Downtown. It's a brand new building across the street from Manatee Memorial Hospital and next to the Braden River.

ComCenters is a great concept, we have state of the art meeting facilities, executive secretaries, fiber optic internet connection, top of the line phone systems, e-voicemail and e-fax services.

I will post photos and a little tour as soon as we settle in. In the meantime, take a look at some photos I shot.

Cheers!

[hƒ]

Theresa & John's e-shoot

2007-01-07T10:35:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago I shot Theresa and John's engagement photos at the Don Cesar and while working on some of them yesterday I realized they should be posted.

They look awesome in this photos and they are totally in love. This is a great looking couple, V and I can't wait to photograph their wedding.

Enjoy the photos - Cheers!

[hƒ]

Tameka & Lamar's Wedding

2006-12-05T16:06:00.000-05:00

We photographed this wedding and it was great! Tameka is super fan and very expressive, they are totally in love and have great friends. Here are some photos:

I lover her!

2006-12-05T14:24:00.000-05:00

Every time I look at Veronica I fall in love with her all over again. There is something in her smile that fills me up and blasts with light any problem, concern or worry that I may have, making everything fine. She's the most beautiful woman I've ever seen.

We were photographing a wedding together over the weekend and I took this photo of her while she was shooting.

I love you V, there is nothing in the world that can change that.

[hƒ]

Happy Thanksgiving!

2006-11-24T15:52:00.000-05:00

We are now in our favorite time of the year. Lots of Family, Friends, Love, Food and Parties! It's so important to take time to ENJOY everything we have been blessed with. The days go by so quickly, that I know I forget to pause and reflect. I have been making more of an effort to 'Stop and Smell the Roses'. It is amazing how much you can miss when you don't take this time.

Here are a few photos from yesterday, we prepared the turkey, salads and pies with V and the kids, played some football outside, played FIFA 2006 on the X Box (Kev keeps beating me senseless at it) and ate non stop.

Saturday we have a really cool wedding we are gearing up for, I'm looking forward to it.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!! Please don't forget to take time to enjoy yourselves and be Thankful for all you have.

God Bless!

[hƒ]

Savannah & Travis

2006-11-23T15:25:00.000-05:00

We had a blast photographing Savannah & Travis. They are totally in love and it shows.
The ceremony was at Selby Botanical Gardens and it was truly beautiful.

Check out some of the pics:

I just received this from a client from last year

2006-10-11T14:01:00.000-04:00

We photographed Camile's wedding a little over a year ago and she sent me this email today:

Dear H - This is a bit random, but I just felt the overwhelming need to express how much we enjoyed working with you and Veronica, and how wonderfully easy going you were-- I think my appreciation quadrupled this week a whole year in retrospect, and I wish I could figure out how to better articulate it.

Chris' sister is getting married next week, and they are absolutely traumatized by their photographer. Apparently the original price of the contract has now tripled with extras that "they absolutely have to have", and the family is just shocked, because the woman will not back down and refuses to change her agenda. It is as though she knew when they would be the most stressed out, and moved in for the kill. Whereas, I still remember meeting you and walking through the contract, with you telling me straight up "what you see is what you get--no hidden costs"--and that was certainly the case. The only discrepancy between what we were promised and what we received, was the free additional storybook you printed for my grandmother. Not to mention, we never felt as though you treated us with anything but the utmost respect, regardless of which package we chose or photos we purchased.

At any rate, it had been a pleasure working with you from day 1, but I certainly have a new, enhanced perspective about how fortunate we were!

best, Camile

Isn't that nice? It made my day and got me all tear-eyed. Did I mention I love this job?!

Cheers!

[hƒ]

Rebecca & Dany | e-Shoot

2006-10-10T12:00:00.000-04:00

We went to Ybor City for engagement portraits with Rebecca & Dany. They are getting married in March of next year. We had a great time, totally easy photo shoot, they are so much fun...!

Here are some photos, enjoy!

Cheers!

[h]

Tameka & Lamar | e-Shoot

2006-10-10T09:31:00.000-04:00

Last week I shot Tameka and Lamar's e-photo session at Fort DeSoto in St. Pete. Their wedding date is November 25. Tameka is absolutely beautiful with a great personality, she should be a model. Lamar is "Tha-man", very cool, very romantic and totally in love.

Here are some photos from our session. Enjoy!

Cheers!

[hƒ]

Catching Up

2006-10-08T23:27:00.000-04:00

Hi Everybody! I haven't posted anything here for a couple of weeks now...

The truth is, I've been absolutely swamped. I had albums to design and print, meetings with brides to be and brides I've recently photographed, I've had weddings out of town, engagement portrait sessions, passed my biannual FAA flight examination (I hate to study weather systems), replaced my computer (more on this later) and went on a fun trip to Miami for a couple of days with our friends Dawn & Thomas (truly awesome people... there should be more like them in this world!).

My schedule seems to be going back to normal this week...But I can't complaint, I love to be busy!!!

A few days ago I accidentally dropped my beloved MacBook Pro in my garage floor, stepping out of my car. I went to the Apple Store to see what the repair cost would be and as I walked in, I saw the new 17" MacBook Pro 2.16 Ghz. She was looking straight at me, flirting with her screen open displaying a slideshow of images. (LOL) I could not stop myself, she trapped me and forced me in love with her... I am so weak!

So after talking to the sales guy, I walked out of there with my 15" 'ex' and my new 17" MBP fully loaded with 2 gigabytes of RAM and 7200 RPM hard Drive. I think we are made for each other ;)

[h]

Congratulations to Ashlee & Garrick!

2006-08-16T15:03:00.000-04:00

What an incredible wedding to be a part of and to shoot! It was a beautiful Saturday... hot, sunny, hot and bright... and hot :-)
Here are some photos...

Cheers!

[Hƒ]

Kasey & Matt's Wedding

2006-08-16T11:58:00.000-04:00

On July 23rd Veronica and I shot Kasey and Matt's wedding and all I can say is that this is one of my all time favorites!

The location was great, the family was out of this world and the party was awesome! Tina, from Florida Sun Weddings was the coordinator and everything was just impeccable and on time, she is excellent.

At the end of the reception, the last song was The End, from The Beatles which, as many of you know, is my favorite band. The whole family was singing with arms around each other in a circle. I walked around them shooting and singing along with tears in my eyes. It was just a really strong moment. Specially at the end of the song goes: "... and in the end the love you take is equal to the love you make..." So true!

Here is a slideshow I put together for them. The photos are not edited, but they still look awesome. Click here to see it (please allow the browser to load the movie).

Yesterday Keith, the father of the bride, voluntarily posted a message about us that made me very happy. It is such an honor to photograph someone's special day and get to touch their hearts with the images.

He posted:
I may be one of the few fathers of a bride who was entrusted to preview all of the available photographers for a daughter's special day. I can sum up our ultimate experience with Studio Four by sharing the most glaring difference I witnessed during our initial meeting. While previewing each studio's portfolios, each photographer took time to explain a picture's composition, or their special effects, or their lightning etc.. Except Horatio, who interrupted my viewing of his portfolio to share the story behind each person in every shot! His passion for the people in the pictures captured the very spirit of our family's special day. We didn't just contract with Studio Four, we fell in love with Horatio, Veronica and the monumental gift they gave us all!!!

I love my job!!

Cheers!

[h]

On The Road Again!

2006-08-01T12:39:00.000-04:00

Hey Everyone! Sorry I dropped off the face of the earth for a couple weeks! I've been working hard, shooting, and spending time with my family. Life is good!

I must confess I am addicted to my MacBookPro. I love this thing, it is so convenient and so fast that I don't even use the Mac G5 any more, I just hook up the MacBookPro to the large screen and a keyboard and am able to work at the studio as if it was a desktop unit.

We had to shoot in Miami this weekend and I processed an entire wedding in the car while Veronica was driving!

I'll be posting some new slideshows and collages from recent weddings in a couple of days.

Cheers!

[h]

iPod Video With Your Wedding Photos

2006-06-28T22:18:00.000-04:00

IS THIS COOL OR WHAT!

Now, at the end of your reception, you can have a Video iPod with a selection of the best photos of your Special Day, bride and groom's names and wedding date engraved on the back with a great selection of music to enjoy during your honey moon.

It comes as part of Package 6 or you can add it to any package for $350.00!!!!

Click HERE to see a little video.

So Blessed!!

2006-06-28T19:03:00.000-04:00

The responsibility of a wedding photographer never ceases to amaze me. After spending a handful of years in this business I have gained complete respect and admiration for brides and grooms that put a huge emphasis and value in photography. And it's those individuals that we most often attract as clients.

We are so blessed. We're blessed to be able to do what we love, providing beautiful photographs, but we're also blessed to have the opportunity to get to know such wonderful families and spend time with them during one of the most significant experiences of their lives.

What a beautiful feeling it is to see a bride and her father press their heads together before the doors swing open and he walks her down the aisle to meet her groom and make the biggest commitment of her life. And watching a handful of groomsmen surround the groom as they kneel in prayer before the wedding is something that really sticks with you. This weekend I was particularly struck by the look on the face of the bride's mother as her husband and daughter shared their dance at the reception. Now a parent myself, I can imagine her emotions of happiness and pride mixed with thoughts of 'how can this be happening so soon?' Her expression told the story of love and pride and faith and relief. For the most part, dad kept his eyes closed as he danced with his daughter, while 25 years of memories must have been racing through his head.

Weddings are filled with moments like that, and our job is to find them, record them, and make them last a lifetime.

Today we received an email from the father of a bride we photographed 7 months ago, and let me tell you, it filled us with joy and inspiration. Here's the email:

"I am speechless and near tears as I relive the wedding, frame by frame. You have an extraordinary, God-given talent and captured our special day with such timing and interpretation. What a blessing you are to us!"
Mikeal R. (Father of the Bride)

Cheers!

[H]

This is why I love to shoot weddings

2006-06-26T00:03:00.000-04:00

I just photographed Marin & Jared's wedding in the Bradenton/Sarasota area. The ceremony was at Saint Barbara Greek Orthodox Church on Lockwood Ridge Road and the reception was at Lakewood Ranch Country Club.

I can't begin to tell you how beautiful everything and everybody was. When I first met with Marin and her mom it was very clear that this was a special wedding, but I never thought I would enjoy it so much. We were all very emotional, when the bride danced with her dad... it was just too strong.

During the reception, I projected a slideshow with photos from the wedding. While it was playing, I turned around and saw how everyone was touched by the images they were seeing and I felt so blessed...! People were coming to congratulate me and asking for my card. It is such an honor when a couple trusts you with the most important day in their relationship.

Here are a couple of photos from the wedding, I hope you like them.

Cheers!

[h]

Tia & Tony

2006-06-09T00:12:00.000-04:00

I photographed Tia & Tony's wedding last Saturday and when the arrived at the reception hall I snapped this picture of them in the limo. It seems that I get this shot in every wedding, it's becoming my "signature shot" (ha-ha).
T&T: I had a great time with you... Congratulations!

Cheers!

[H]

True Joy!

2006-06-04T18:58:00.000-04:00

Our lab, Pictage, emailed me this comment that a bride left in the forum:
"I absolutely am thrilled with my photos! After seeing them, I am completely satisfied with my choice of photographers. Horatio and his beautiful wife, Veronica, are very passionate about what they do and it shows in the pictures. They are not photographers, they are "moment-catchers". They caught so many moments that I would have otherwise forgotten on our special day. I have never felt comfortable in front of photographers, but I felt like I was being photographed by friends. I have, and will recommend them to anyone."

Veronica and I photographed Megan and Dan a few weeks back. It was a very intimate and beautiful wedding with a few friends and family.
The second I met Megan I felt like I've known her forever. It was so easy to photograph her and Dan. She looked "naturally" gorgeous... the Julia Roberts type of beauty.
When I received the email my eyes filled up with tears. It is such an amazing feeling to be able to touch someone doing what we love. Thank you Megan :)

Cheers!

[H]

Sophisticated Elegance with Spanish Passion..... A Perfect Combination!

2006-05-01T00:11:00.000-04:00

Yesterday we photographed Kristen and Angel's wedding. What a cool celebration this was!

They could not stop looking into each other's eyes, you could feel romantic just by looking at them together. Kristen has the softness and delicacy every bride wishes for. Angel is passionate and emotional... Perfect formula for the rest of their lives.

The DJ was Wayne DeLair from DeLair Entertainment. Everybody that has worked with him has nothing but great things to say. Fantastic service, beautiful, sincere personality, awesome music library, and top quality equipment. But what I like the most about him is that he is madly in love with his wife Alice, and it shows. He knows the true meaning of a wedding and enjoys them as much as we do.

Cheers!

[Hƒ]

She said: "Today I am marrying the most wonderful man in the world!"

2006-04-27T10:11:00.000-04:00

Amy and Kelly's wedding was absolutely beautiful. They met through match.com and fell completely in love at first sight. She was looking for a southern gentleman, he was looking for the perfect gal that God had reserved for him.

Click here to see proof that this is a perfect "match"!

Congratulations guys, I was really touched by your celebration and sincerity. Did I mention I love my job!!!? :)

Cheers!

[H]

The Love of My Life

2006-04-10T09:53:00.000-04:00

We were in the middle of the ceremony on Saturday and I turned around to see Veronica next to me.

I was completely blown away by the love I feel for this woman. The urge to run over and kiss her was unreal. I immediately pointed my camera at her and captured this image.

She truly is The Love Of My Life, I can't even begin to imagine existing without her.

This morning I was driving to the office and had the CDs playing in "random" when Here There and Everywhere from The Beatles started playing. This song is perfect, it's like written for us! It's a beautiful poem, as most songs from The Beatles.

You can click on this link to listen to it. Here are the lyrics:

To lead a better life I need my love to be here...

Here, making each day of the year
Changing my life with a wave of her hand
Nobody can deny that there's something there

There, running my hands through her hair
Both of us thinking how good it can be
Someone is speaking but she doesn't know he's there

I want her everywhere and if she's beside me
I know I need never care
But to love her is to need her everywhere
Knowing that love is to share

Each one believing that love never dies
Watching her eyes and hoping I'm always there

I want her everywhere and if she's beside me
I know I need never care
But to love her is to need her everywhere
Knowing that love is to share

Each one believing that love never dies
Watching her eyes and hoping I'm always there

To be there and everywhere
Here, there and everywhere

It is great to be able to photograph a couple's most purest commitment... next to her.
Look into her eyes, it's me there! :)

[h]

New Digital Infrared - This Stuff Rocks!!

2006-04-10T09:16:00.000-04:00

We are testing our new Digital Infrared camera.

We had an older model Nikon Coolpix 995
converted to infrared by installing a color gel in front of its sensor chip. This distorts the light waves when they enter the lens and you end up with pretty cool infrared-like images. It was funny to see the guests' expressions when I put down my big Canon cameras and I started shooting with this little, older camera.

This weekend was the first test drive at a wedding and it looks pretty funky, although it still needs a few adjustments.

Here are a few sample shots. Enjoy!

[h]

Debbie and John's Wedding

2006-04-10T00:37:00.000-04:00

Yesterday we photographed Debbie and John' wedding at Tampa Palms. I love that place, it really makes a great setting for photos.

John and Debbie were great and so easy to shoot!

Here are a couple of photos.

Cheers!

[hƒ]

Friday at The Crossley Mansion

2006-03-21T08:45:00.000-05:00

Last Friday we photographed Stephanie and Bill's wedding at the Crossley Mansion in Sarasota.

We had such a great time! The DJ was Wayne DeLair from DeLair Entertainment and Nellie's was in charge of the catering.

Take a look at this link to see some quick previews. We are processing the photos next week and can't wait to upload them to Pictage.

Thank you for making us feel like a part of the family. God Bless You, Guys!

Cheers!

[h]

Stephanie & Bill's Pre Wedding Shots

2006-03-17T12:23:00.000-05:00

We had such an enjoyable time with Stephanie and Bill, just walking around New College in Sarasota and enjoying the awesome spring weather.

They are obviously in love, and so excited about their wedding day. I can't wait for that day, it will be at the Crossley Mansion... I love that place!

[h]

What a Great Wedding!

2006-03-12T17:37:00.000-05:00

Yesterday Veronica and I had the honor to photograph Chris and Yolanda's Wedding. I cannot begin to tell you what a beautiful event this was. I had to hold my tears a couple of times.

Yolanda was about 13 when we met her at our church and we watched her growing up into a beautiful person. She used to "babysit" Matt and Kev and all the sudden she's got a carrier, a busy life and is getting married!

The wedding was absolutely perfect. The ceremony was full of laughter and tears, her dad was trying to keep it together, her mom was speechless with joy, Chris was so overwhelmed he couldn't find the right finger to place the ring, I was trying to focus the camera with my eyes full of tears and the kiss was the best one I've ever photographed.

Chris was the perfect groom, there wasn't a single time that he would look at her and not smile. During our slideshow presentation you could see absolute passion and love in him. It was great to see him touched by the images we took... What can I say, these are the kind of people you feel like hugging all the time.

They remind me of Veronica and I, there is something different about them, totally committed and in love with each other. You can sense it a mile away. Someone once said "You breath to live... and you live for the moments that take your breath away". This is the perfect example of that.

I hope God blesses you immensely, he has already started.

Cheers!

[H]

Family Photos

2006-03-02T21:55:00.000-05:00

We were "chimping around" (as Matthew calls it) with Veronica and the kids the other day, and a friend or ours shot these pictures.

With all the craziness in the world lately I find myself truly appreciating the life I have. While there is much Ive done wrong, the things Ive done right are the ones that count. I am blessed to be married to the most beautiful woman in the world and get daily kisses and hugs from Kev and Matt

I love you guys!

Cheers!

[Hƒ]

Lots of new things!

2006-03-02T16:47:00.000-05:00

I am soooo excited! Our new website should be released soon and it's looking great.
(YAYY!)

Lots of things are changing. We are offering new packages with great prices. Every package includes a Storybook! Some packages include a pre-wedding photo session and one of them even includes an iPod Video engraved with the couple's name, delivered at your wedding with a great selection of your wedding photos.... That same day! (How cool is that!?)

Also, we are now offering storybooks from one of the best manufacturers in the world. GraphiStudio, from Italy, is one of the best book printing and binding companies in the industry and we are very happy to offer their products now.

We are also partnering with Pictage for all our printing and order fulfillment. They offer top quality printing and finishing services.

Another new thing is our new Monthly Newsletter. We will be sending via email every month with tons of tips, articles, special offers and photos. You'll soon be able to subscribe online.

Cheers!

[Hƒ]

Congratulations Lisa & Justin!

2006-02-20T13:17:00.000-05:00

We photographed Lisa & Justin's wedding this Saturday. It was absolutely beautiful!
We tested some new equipment and techniques and everything turned out perfect.

Incredible weather, romantic ceremony, great family, sincere guests, fun wedding party, and awesome reception.
I wish all weddings were like this one.

Thanks for sharing Your Day with us!

Click here to see a quick preview of the photos we shot.

Cheers!

[H]