PhotoNotions Photography

WE MOVED!!!

2010-03-18T20:15:00.002-04:00

Please visit our new blog home at tjphotonotions.com/blog.

Thanks for visiting and we'll see you there ;-)

The Wedding of Thomas & Debbie

2009-12-12T02:28:00.006-05:00

On November 6, 2009 Tommy & Debbie tied the knot at Benvenuto Restaurant in Boynton Beach. These two are a beautiful couple inside and out and it was a pleasure capturing their special day. We want to wish Tommy and Debbie a wonderful marriage and a Merry Christmas!!! Click here or the image to view the slideshow .

Click Image To View Slideshow

Geri & Nestor's E-Session Movie

2009-12-04T05:48:00.005-05:00

This E-Session has turned out to be one of our all time favorites. Geraldine and Nestor are huge movie fans. When we first met, they informed us that they were having a Hollywood Movie themed wedding. We thought it would be a great idea to try recreating some movie posters during their engagement session. They loved the idea and before we knew it, the time to turn concept into reality was at hand. To say TJ was excited to work on this project would be an understatement (we too, love movies:-). She started brainstorming romantic movies with Geri and Nestor. After narrowing down the possible films, she sketched potential shots, including wardrobe, poses, accessories, and shoot locations. We knew this shoot was going to take a lot of time and plenty of work, but we never expected to have so much fun. We were all 100% committed, using silly movie lingo and getting into characters. After almost 11 hours of shooting, we left Geri's home very tired, but with a sense of accomplishment. We felt that we had created some unforgettable memories for all of us. Although post processing was extensive, the reaction of Nestor, Geri and her family to the final images made it all worthwhile. This is truly what drives us, creating unforgettable, happy memories for our clients. Geri and Nestor, you are an awesome couple. Thank you for trusting us with your "Lovumentary". We would also like to thank the members of "The Academy". To see a gallery of the mock movie posters we created for Geri and Nestor alongside the original versions, please click HERE. For the full engagement session slideshow please click on the image below. Enjoy!!!! …or should I say, Action!!!!

Click Image for slideshow

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

2009-11-30T18:15:00.002-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

We hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving and that all of your wishes come true this Holiday Season!!

PhotoNotions is on the cover of the Boca Raton Observer

2009-11-25T00:52:00.003-05:00

Click Image for Chef McInnis site

We can't believe it has been almost two years since we started working with Chef McInnis. After traveling together to NY and Puerto Rico on shooting assignments, we have become good friends with the cute chef from "Top Chef season 5". Last month we got a call from Scott at The Boca Raton Observer looking for images of the Chef for their November Food & Wine issue. Needless to say, we were very excited and sent him some images. Little did we know that one of our images would make the cover and that the article would feature some of our food photography :-D. This was our first venture into food photography and we must admit we love it. Thanks Jeff and we wish you many more magazine covers ;-)

Debbie & Tommy E-Session

2009-10-29T11:59:00.003-04:00

click image to view slide show

We met Tommy on facebook through a mutual friend. Debbie said "yes" when Tommy asked for her hand in marriage with the words "will you marry me" spelt out on cupcakes. Soon after, we met them in person for the first time and we knew we were a perfect match. Anyone who knows Tommy, knows how deep his feelings flow for Debbie. Capturing their love was effortless. We had a lovely day in Delray Beach that stretched into the night. Our "cherry on top" came in the form of a color changing wall under a bridge. Who knew!?! Enjoy their slide show.

The Wedding of Patricia & John

2009-10-13T13:22:00.003-04:00

After getting to know Patty & John during their Chicago engagement session we were very excited about their wedding day. John and Patty have dated since ninth grade and this wedding was a true celebration of love. We were just happy to be a part of it. I spent most of the early part of the day hanging out with John and the boys and what a blast it was, we had football on the flat screen, old school hip hop on the Ipod, a little Johnny Walker and a bunch of guys ready to party (I love being a guy, no hair & makeup for us ;-). Meanwhile TJ and Jennifer were busy capturing details while the girls got ready. Patty became our first bride not to break down at some point during prep (you go gurrrrl!!!). Although FL weather changed our shooting plans, we were still able to steal a quick "first look" at the Biltmore right before the ceremony. After all was said and done, their wedding day turned out to be an unforgettable experience. Their first dance was amazing. I had goosebumps and a smile during the whole song. This is one of those weddings where you plan one thing, South Florida weather changes your plans, and having great people to work with helps you make the best of the day. My advice for future brides is to plan your perfect day, but be ready to adapt and enjoy your wedding no matter what happens. CONGRATS PATTY & JOHN!!! We love you guys. To view the slideshow click here.

Click image to view slide show

Adriana's Sweet Sixteen photo shoot

2009-10-03T13:39:00.003-04:00

Click image to view slideshow

This photo shoot almost didn't happen. The rain started from the moment we arrived at Adriana's home to the end of the session. We've never had a session postponed by rain and we were determined to keep our streak alive. It was like some kind of torture, Adriana looked amazing, her dress was gorgeous and she was a natural in front of the camera, but we were all sitting in the car waiting for the rain to pass. After what felt like 2 hours of waiting we decided to start the shoot in the rain with a cute umbrella Elie brought. After we started there was no stopping us, we hopped from location to location running from the rain and shooting on the way. At the end of the day we couldn't believe the images we got on a day that seemed almost lost. To view the slideshow please click here. HAPPY BIRTHDAY ADRIANA!!!!!!

Sherry & Derek's Wedding

2009-07-17T21:17:00.002-04:00

Click Image for Slide Show

Congratulation Derek & Sherry on your June 27th wedding in Geneva, IL. We have become good friends with Derek and Sherry over the past few months and we couldn't wait for this day . We were very excited about the traditional Scottish attire and a break from the South Florida heat. We are thankful for the beautiful venue, the great details and the group of party animals who kept us busy the whole night. We especially loved all of the Scottish customs at the reception, the songs and dances were a joy to be apart of. We also were anticipating Derek & Sherry's first dance for which we can take a little bit of credit since we gave them their first swing dance lesson. They danced it beautifully and Derek stayed on beat, what more could you ask for, it was perfect. Here is the story of their wedding day. Enjoy.

Djrianna & Ralph: Meant 2 Be

2009-06-03T21:44:00.004-04:00

Please click image to view slide show

We wanted to thank Djrianna and Ralph for bringing so much personality and overall "FUNness" to their photo session . We had been thinking of a "bubbles and balloons" e-session for quite some time. As soon as Ralph and Dj booked us, we knew we had the right couple, so we waited with great anticipation for their day to arrive. We had to postpone our original shoot day, but it actually worked out for the better, since our new date was May 3rd, Dj's birthday. So the balloons were perfect! We were so excited about this session that we actually picked our slideshow song before the session. That never happens because we like to wait and get the feel for the session, but since we know these guys so well (we've known them for years - they're swing dancers), we knew the song we wanted to use for them and we were able to shoot for it. This is one of our favorite sessions, Dj tortured poor Ralph all through out the session, but you can tell he loves it and wouldn't have it any other way. Congratulations guys, we can't wait to shoot and dance like crazy at your wedding in 2-1/2 weeks. So, so close! Enjoy!

Sherry & Derek E-Session

2009-06-03T20:53:00.003-04:00

Click image to view slideshow

Congratulations to Derek & Sherry who will be tying the Knot on June 27th in Geneva, IL. We are so excited about this wedding, we can hardly wait. Our trip promises lots of adventure from our Thursday arrival in Chicago that includes swing dancing and a food festival to their wedding day in beautiful Geneva, IL. Derek is from Scotland so the guys will be wearing kilts and traditional Scottish attire. It's going to be super-cool. For this engagement session we wanted to capture Derek and Sherry doing some of the things they do for fun, like going down to Kingshead Pub and watching the Ranger's soccer match, or going to the park to play soccer. We are not big soccer fans, but I must admit that we really got into it when we were at the pub with the other Ranger's fans (who by the way did not use profanity at all during the match, they were like nuns ) Sorry to say that the Rangers lost, and now they all think we jinxed them and we are banished from the pub, so, go Celts!! jk .
The rest of the session was a blast, we did 3 locations and we even caught the space shuttle launch. Thanks guys for being so much fun and for risking life and limb climbing those beach rocks. Enjoy!!

Coral Springs Education Showcase

2009-05-26T22:21:00.004-04:00

Click image to view gallery

Last week we were invited to photograph The 2nd Annual Coral Springs Education Showcase. This event was put together by the Chamber of Commerce in honor of the teachers and volunteers in Coral Springs schools. We were very excited to be a part of this event. TJ and I believe that teachers have a tremendous impact on children and their success. We also have great respect for volunteers and people who invest their time to help others. Tracey & I volunteer every year for The Salvation Army and it fills our soul, we encourage everyone we know to find a charity they believe in and volunteer their time, the feeling is unmatched. I must admit one thing, we were not thrilled to be shooting at 7:00am :-( we are night owls and 7:00am is always too early. We have to give a lot of credit to the students that performed for us, they were all wonderful and the grand finale by the Coral Glades Show Choir was spectacular. Please visit our web gallery by clicking the image above.

Clara & Ibrain Caribbean E-Session

2009-05-08T22:31:00.002-04:00

Please click image for slideshow

This past April we were invited to photograph the wedding of Clara & Ibrain in the Dominican Republic. It was set out to be a packed weekend of shooting, and we kept a crazy pace indeed. We had 4 days of shooting ahead of us and this cool E-Session set a nice tone for the rest of the trip. Btw, kudos to American Airlines for leaving one of our bags in Miami, but recovering and delivering at our room the next day, which was awesome because we had our favorite jeans in there ;). Ok back to Clara, we have known Clarita for over 12 years and we love her dearly. She is a sweet special person and an absolute joy to be around, you are a lucky man Ibrain. Our plan for this engagement shoot was to pray for some kind of cool breeze in Santo Domingo and then shoot this couple in love all over the 400 year old Colonial City. We found some really nice spots and we loved some of the shots we got. Thank you Clara & Ibrain for being such nice, wonderful people and I hope you enjoy your slideshow.

Yamile & Daniel Wedding

2009-05-08T12:41:00.002-04:00

Please click image to view slideshow

Congratulations to Yami & Dany on their beautiful wedding at the Palmetto Bay Village. This wedding started out very interesting. The night before, Yami lost her voice due to a terrible cough and a really sore throat. We were "lovingly" joking with her that a nod or a thumbs up might do the trick at the altar. Nevertheless, she braved on without complaint and she was a stunning bride. As these two were standing at the altar, we could not help but notice the love they have for each other. Although relatively young it is easy to see that Yami was meant for Dany and Dany was meant for Yami. It's a beautiful thing to see, young people in love, making the ultimate commitment. Yami, thank you for braving the rain, the sore throat, and that crazy cough and still shining brighter than sunshine. Dany, we have a ring shot in the slideshow especially for you, let us know what you think ;) Enjoy!!!!

Lauren & Justin

2009-05-05T13:51:00.002-04:00

Click image for slideshow

Lauren and Justin are at a good place in their lives. They are happily married and they are expecting a baby girl later this year. Lauren & Justin thought it would be fun to do a lifestyle session before they had the baby, and boy were they right. We ran around Delray looking for cool little spots to photograph and having a ton of fun on the way. The camera loves Lauren and their playful relationship kept us shooting all day. We always joke that a photo session is not complete until you get kicked out of someplace and in this case it was Starbucks (who knew?) TJ got 2 warnings, we tried to be incognito but the D700 shutter click is extremely loud. All in all it was a beautiful day and we hope to do this again. Next time there will be 3 in the family: Justin, Lauren, and Baby.........

Coral Springs Chamber Awards Gala 09'

2009-04-27T18:57:00.005-04:00

Click image for gallery

We wanted to thank the members of the Coral Springs Chamber of Commerce for having such a nice luncheon this past Friday. We were invited to shoot this event by one of the members of the Chamber who had actually watched us perform at a charity event in March. After speaking to her briefly and letting her know that we only swing dance for fun and for charities, she kept us in mind for the Coral Springs Chamber's Award Gala, who's theme happened to be the roaring 20's. The music performed by the kids from The Coral Springs High School Jazz Band was fantastic and the decorations by Oma's Garden were beautiful. The mood was fun and lively and we felt that although this was a business networking group, that they really care about each other and that most of them are close friends. It was great to be a part of this event and we hope to work with the Chamber in the future. Who knows, we are even considering membership. To visit the online gallery please click this link www.photonotions.zenfolio.com/cschamber

Yamile &Daniel Engagement Session

2009-03-06T23:27:00.006-05:00

Click image to view slideshow

Here is the e-session for Yamile and Daniel our youngest couple to date. It's good to see that in this day and age people can still commit to love. We applaud them for that and after spending the day with them we feel that they are ready to take the next step and we can't wait until the 21st of March :) The day started like any other e-session, by getting kicked out of somewhere, this time it was Merrick Park Shopping Mall. I would like to thank that cool security guard who kicked us out and then disappeared so that we could do our thing stealthily (is that a word). We managed to sneak away with some cool shots as we casually walked away from the mall. It was a blast to shoot Yami & Dany, they were fun, sweet, and good looking. On top of that, they brought along the entourage of Lissette (mom) Yadira (sis) and Eli (friend) who were a blast and who I thought were having way too much fun. Thanks guys and we'll see you on your wedding day ;)

Mariel & Clark New Year's Day Wedding

2009-02-23T23:55:00.009-05:00

click image to view slide show

This was a great start to 2009. We had a lot of fun this New Year's day thanks to Mariel and Clark and both of their families. Can you say dance machines? These guys danced all night. They gave us all we could ask for, a couple truly in love, great family and friends who treated us like part of the family, and lots and lots of dancing. Plus Clark sang to Mariel :) which is always cool. I only wish I could sing :( but at least I can dance.
Thanks again Mariel and Clark, I wanna say you ROCK but you also SALSA!! :)

Enjoy!

Mike & Gisela's Wedding Day

2009-01-07T22:08:00.002-05:00

Click image to view slideshow

If you remember our April slideshow with Mike's proposal to Gisela in NY, then you remember what a cute couple these two are. Mike & Gisela are close friends of ours and we had anticipated their wedding since that day. Their wedding was as expected a beautiful sentimental affair, full of love, laughs, tears, and a whole lot of people gettin' down on the dance floor. Gisela looked amazing and Mike looked straight out of a GQ magazine. In the end Tracey-Ann was in Photographer's Heaven, a beautiful couple in love, awesome light, and cool locations, yup she went shoot crazy like her name was Mike Meyer and finished all of her CF cards, lucky for us it was very close to the end and we were able to get some awesome shots at the Ritz. In all it was an amazing day that we will never forget. Congratulations Mike & G. and we'll see you when you get back. Please click image to view the slideshow.

E-session with Mariel & Clark

2009-01-06T22:51:00.009-05:00

click image to view slideshow

When we met Mariel and Clark back in November we knew that we were going to have some fun with these two. Our personalities clicked right away and they are just a gorgeous couple. Mariel's father shot an engagement session for them prior to our meeting so our session was just for fun and an opportunity for us to get to know each other better. We started in Coconut Creek in the backwoodsy of a neighborhood were the light was just heavenly and these two were game for anything. Everything was going great, except for the part when we parked by a power plant and the police were out looking for us, but we explained it was all in the name of love and they let us go "un-ticketed" (I just made up that word). We finished the night at the Goldcoast Ballroom where Mariel and Clark used to dance every Sunday before they said goodbye and he went back home to Port St. Lucie :( Mariel & Clark set the ballroom floor on fire and TJ and I got a chance to sneak in a couple of swing dances :) We also had a great time at their New Years Day wedding. You may pre-register at www.pictage.com/584628

Alexandra & David's Wedding Day

2008-11-22T18:40:00.005-05:00

Click image to view slides how

We had a lot of fun with Alexandra and David on their engagement session, they were game for everything we wanted including a small carnival and sneaking into a cool church with Spanish moss hanging from the trees. David is our kind of guy, very romantic and on top of that he's a Sinatra fan (you gotta love him for that). Their wedding day was beautiful and the families were happy and fun loving. We felt the love and we were happy to be a part of that special day. Enjoy the slideshows. Please click here for the E-Session slideshow.

Amanda & Linton aka JR aka Agent12

2008-10-21T22:44:00.000-04:00

Click Image for Slideshow

We wanted to thank Amanda and JR for being a rockin' fun couple and giving us the opportunity to shoot their upcoming Halloween wedding on the 31st (also Tracey's Birthday). Don't be fooled by their Superbad look, these two are sweethearts and the coolest people you're ever going to meet. JR is a gifted artist and creator of SlushBox and Amanda is the owner of House of Sweets together with Michelle from House of Vintage. Amanda & JR had an idea to shoot a circus theme/ringmaster conquers stablehand kinda shoot. We all brainstormed and on the day of the shoot it came down to shooting in their home, a circus theme. We weren't sure how it was going to work, but Amanda provided the background and we brought the hay. We also got the chance to finish up the session with one of JR's awesome vintage cars. Please click on the image to see a slideshow their session.

Sweet Little Emily

2008-08-28T18:52:00.022-04:00

Click here for slideshow

Even though we don't have any children of our own, we consider ourselves big kids at heart and we always enjoy photographing babies. Emily is 6 months old and she is the sweetest baby you will ever meet. To say the least she had us at hello. Taly and Evan are blessed to have such a cutie-wootie baby.
Martin

Laura & Carlos

2008-07-01T20:21:00.003-04:00

(Click Photo For Slide Show)

Laura and Carlos had an April wedding, but were still really wanting to do a fun bridal session. We were so excited when we got the call, because we love doing these after wedding shoots. We get more relaxed, free time with the couple without the time restraints of the wedding day. It was a rainy day, but we are weather-optimists, and we headed out to shoot anyway. They are such a sweet and caring couple. It was a pleasure being with them and having the chance to tell their love story through photographs. Thank you Laura and Carlos for being AWESOME!!!!

Register to view Jacelyn & Alex's Wedding Online

2008-06-29T10:11:00.004-04:00

We were happy to share a very memorable evening with the Mock's and the Almanzar's in Coral Gables. A special thank you to Mr. and Mrs. Mock for all your kind words. We had a lot of inquiries last night from friends and family who were eager to see the wedding photographs. Here is the link to the online site were the engagement images are now available with the wedding soon to follow. If you register now, you will receive an email notification as soon as the wedding images are online. You may click on the link below or the image above to go directly to the online proofing website and register now: www.pictage.com/437929. You may also email us with any questions you may have.

Monica & Curtis E-Session

2008-06-11T13:01:00.013-04:00

Click on image to view slideshow

Ok, I was going to write a little something about Monica & Curtis who were friends for 8 years before their relationship turned into love, but instead I am going to post Curtis' proposal letter to Monica. Curtis enlisted the help of Monica's boss to call a lunch meeting. None of her co-workers were aware of the plan only her boss. Then Curtis came out of a back room with a bunch of his friends and in front of everyone he said:

"My dearest Monica, your laughter warms the hearts of us all. Your compassionate heart is an inspiration to us. Your wit and wisdom is esteemed among man. Your generosity and kindness is unmatched. My sweet love, The Lord has given me an adoration for you deep in my heart. Your eyes are jewels in the midst of a sea of beauty. Your smile is an elegant gift of grace. What sheer bliss it is to merely be beside you! Being with you brings peace deep into my inner being. A holy peace that flows through us into the lives of those around us. Love, I have never known such sweet, tender love. A love so full of life, full of spirit, full of harmony and joy. I have been blessed to taste a love so much more than I could ask, think or imagine. A love so full of the splendor of God’s glory, I am overwhelmed with happiness! Our families delight in our affection for each other. For in it, they see the hope and power of Christ’s redeeming love. Our friends are encouraged by our love because it is passionate and unconditional. Mi amor, the Lord has brought us together, and we know it warms His heart to see us side-by-side. Since before the foundation of the world, He intended us to be together. Looking across the span of history, he paused to notice us and He smiled. The Lord has woven our lives and our hearts together for His glory. Monica, my love, mi amor, mi vida, life without you would have no full meaning. We are crafted for each other. You are the greatest gift I have ever had, the most wonderful friend I could ever hope for and the most beautiful of all women. Monica Rios, will you honor and bless me by becoming my wife?"

Please click on image to view the slideshow.

Marina & Omar Maternity Shoot

2008-05-27T22:17:00.007-04:00

(Click on image for slideshow)

This post is a little late since Maddox is already born, but nevertheless this session was great and we wanted to share it with you. Marina is a model originally from Russia and Omar is from The Dominican Republic like my husband Martin. This session started early in the morning and we were surprised how ready for action these two were. Although Marina is the professional model, Omar held his own and was very comfortable in front of the camera. Marina was definitely surprised. Thank you guys for being yourselves and Happy Birthday Maddox!

Jacelyn & Alex E-Session

2008-05-19T19:44:00.003-04:00

We started in Hollywood and made our way to South Beach. Jacelyn and Alex were so much fun and such an awesome couple. We loved the time we shared with them and are anxiously awaiting their June wedding in Coral Gables. Click on the image above to view their slide show.

Mike & Gisela

2008-05-12T13:42:00.007-04:00

(click on image for slideshow)

It was awesome! We were so blessed to be asked by our friend Mike Meyer to be the paparazzi for his marriage proposal to Gisela in Central Park, NYC. It was a total and wonderful surprise for Gisela. The Park is almost magical in the spring with those heavenly Cherry Blossoms and the biggest tulips I've ever seen. And of course photographing such a gorgeous couple in that magical setting was like a dream. We shared lots of laughs and it was almost effortless to capture the beauty, passion and love that Mike and Gisela share. We were all blessed indeed with a lovely day filled with memories to last a lifetime. This experience has left us wanting for more Proposal Sessions and we look forward to doing more of them in the future. Please click the image above and enjoy the slide show.

Coco Plum Bridal Show

2008-04-15T14:13:00.003-04:00

Last month we were invited by Mike Meyer to shoot with him at the Coco Plum Woman's Club bridal show. We had a ton of fun shooting the event especially when we got the chance to shoot some of the models in the Moroccan setting presented by Berber Events. We would like to thank Mike, Rosy, and everyone who worked hard to make this event a success. To view the web gallery please click on the image above and feel free to leave us a comment.

Dilido Beach Club

2008-04-15T13:25:00.001-04:00

Remember we posted an entry about the Starchef 08 awards? Well, Chef McInnis of The DiLido Beach Club invited us over to his restaurant to sample some of his special dishes. Needless to say we were super excited and went down to the Ritz Carlton on South Beach with our friend Mike Meyer with cameras in hand. Chef McInnis and his staff gave us a warm welcome and we were treated to the most delicious foods you can imagine. We had an unforgettable experience and we want to thank Chef McInnis, Michelle and the rest of his staff for making us feel special and giving us the opportunity to photograph some of his creations. Click on the image above to view an image gallery of some of the dishes.

An Awesome Mother's Day Gift!

2008-04-03T15:43:00.006-04:00

Any Mother you know would cherish the gift of photography. It can be photographs of her children or a fun and glamorous day of portraiture for Mom herself. How awesome would Mom feel with her own personal paparazzi strolling about town for a few glorious hours of personal "just for me" time. We specialize in all day "fun-ness" and this would be a great opportunity to photograph Mom looking her best in magazine style portraits. The best part is, if your session (or Mom's session) is done before April 27th, you can have a priceless musical slide show on DVD to play for her on Mother's Day (May 11th). Of course, I can only do a limited amount of these sessions, so this will be on a first come first serve basis. Please call me at 786-374-3135 to reserve the date for your session. Click on the image above to see the slide show three lovely daughters had made for their Mom. Yes, she cried....and so did the girls.

Makeup Show 08 Webgallery

2008-03-25T14:24:00.004-04:00

We have completed the web gallery for the Miami Makeup Show 08. Feel free to click on the image above to browse through our images from the show.

Ms. Laura Cotton

2008-03-20T13:39:00.005-04:00

Last week we did a portrait session for our good friend and fellow Lindy Hopper Laura Cotton. This session was a blast and Laura was a perfect model. Laura handles public relations for an airline company and spends most of her time in Antigua, so we always cherish the time we spend with her when she is home. Last weekend we went to see 10,000 b.c. at the drive-in theater (terrible movie by the way, save your money) but the drive-in theater experience is always fun. To view the webshow, please click on the image.

Starchef 2008 Awards

2008-03-20T12:31:00.006-04:00

Early this month we were hired by Starchefs Magazine to cover their Rising Stars Review being held at the Trump International Golf Club. Martin and I love food and we were very excited about this event. Many of South Florida's top chefs were in attendance sharing their favorite dishes with the guests. As part of our agreement with Starchefs we were able to put the camera down and enjoy the food tasting. It was a night to remember and we look forward to next year. To view the web gallery for this event please click the image.

Ralph "Poppi" 70th Birthday

2008-03-20T11:34:00.006-04:00

Last month we had the privilege to share with the Basso family the 70th birthday of Ralph "Poppi" Basso. We feel blessed to be entrusted to capture these special moments and provide the family a record of their special day. Every family shares a special bond and we love being a part of that. There were 11 grandchildren who we spent most of the day chasing, pleading with and bribing. We had a blast with the kids and in the end I think we got great images of the kids being kids, as well as the adults being kids. The Basso family was full of love and we want to thank them for making us feel welcomed. Please click the image to view the slideshow.

How Cool is That!!?

2008-02-27T20:37:00.004-05:00

We spent some time at the Makeup Show Miami on Sunday and Monday. It was held in the Miami Beach Convention Center. There were lots of vendors with cool displays and models being painted or airbrushed by very talented artists right before our eyes. This is just a teaser. Check back soon for the finished look of this model (by Make Up For Ever) and much more from other artists. A special "thank you" to Kiley and Terrence at Big Girl Cosmetics for their invitation to this event.

Wedding Professionals

2008-02-27T17:15:00.005-05:00

We have met some really nice wedding pros along the way and have been meaning to mention them. Bobby at Petals Panache is amazingly talented and a pleasure to work with. Sira at Sira D'Pion offers gorgeous gowns at her bridal boutique in Miami. Nuran at A Dance to Remember is one of our first swing dance teachers. She specializes in dance lessons and choreographing "first dances" for wedding couples. We enjoy working with them, value their talent and recommend them to all of our couples. We'll post more later...

Laurie

2008-02-27T14:09:00.002-05:00

We had the pleasure of doing a session with the model Laurie while she was here in SoFla last week. Even though Laurie was very sick that day and there was rain in the forecast,we still had a good time and made some great shots. The awesome makeup was done by make up artist JessicaG. Great artist, very pleasant and easy to work with. Some of you might also recognize our furry child Savoy in one of these images. He was a really good sport and got along with Laurie very well. I'm looking forward to more sessions like this.

SoFLex 2008

2008-02-27T13:39:00.004-05:00

F-U-N!!!! We had a great time at the SoFLex (South Florida Lindy Exchange) this year. We had so much fun that we got super sick afterwards, but it was all worth it. We danced about 32 hours from Thursday to Sunday night. Lindy Hop heaven indeed. With all the dancing, we totally missed all the photo-ops, so we have no pics to post. But here is the link to a YouTube clip one of the dancers posted: SoFLex 08 Video The clip shows dancers at Beach Place in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday afternoon. There are no routines, just people getting together and dancing their hearts out. Did I say fun?!

Imaging USA

2008-02-27T13:13:00.003-05:00

Yeah...it's been a while...a long while, but we're ready to blog. We have some catching up to do. We took a road trip up to Tampa for Imaging USA with our friend Mike Meyer. It was a blast. We had lots of laughs and learned some new things both from each other and at the expo. We are now looking forward to incorporating all our new plans and ideas for 2008.

Anne & Matt's Wedding

2008-01-05T02:47:00.000-05:00

I love Christmas and I love weddings. A Christmas Wedding !? What could be finer? It was so great. We are happy to have been a part of this wonderful event. It was good to meet Anne and Matt's family. Such nice people one and all. This slide show is just a short/sweet version of this lovely story. Enjoy.

Happy New Year!!!!

2008-01-04T22:20:00.000-05:00

We wish all of you a wonderful New Year filled with love, peace, health and prosperity. We appreciate all of you who stop by on a regular basis to see what we're up to. We are looking forward to a great New Year of making memories together and the continued success of PhotoNotions, Inc. I am blessed everyday to do what I love for a living. Always follow your dreams. There are great things in-store for all of us. "Just don't give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don't think you can go wrong." ~Ella Fitzgerald

Our New Website!!!

2007-11-25T22:59:00.000-05:00

Finally! Our new and improved website is online. Check it out when you get a chance at www.photonotions.net. It's at the same address but it's filled with new images and music and best of all it's totally us. You can let us know what you think by leaving a comment on this post or sending us an email.

Anne & Matt

2007-11-21T20:29:00.001-05:00

Anne and Matt are the sweetest most fun loving couple. We had a great time even at the first session which was totally rained out. We made up for it with a second session at Vizcaya. The day turned out perfect. Even on the rainiest day, this couples' spirits were not dampened. Their wedding, three days before Christmas will be a dream I am sure. I am so looking forward to it. Click on the image above to see their slide show.

The Bells

2007-11-21T19:14:00.000-05:00

I just LOVE when it's time for the Bell family session. Trevor and Tanner are so awesome. They have grown and are a regular pair of models now. We had a blast in the studio session at their home and the time we spent at the park was icing on the cake. What a beautiful day. Click on the image above to see their slide show.

Elisa

2007-11-13T04:28:00.000-05:00

Elisa's maternity session was the third part of our photo shoot in the Colonial City in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Hard to believe she's due in December with such a cute little tummy. What a lovely lady. We had a bit of a language barrier but nothing that my husband (Martin) couldn't handle. Lots of fun as usual. The rest of this entry will be in Spanish for Elisa. Gracias Elisa por ser tan buen modelo y ser tan paciente con nosotros. Finalmente puedes dejar de llamar a Clara, aqui esta el Slideshow. Click en la foto.

Francheska

2007-11-02T20:22:00.001-04:00

Francheska is a little lady with lots of personality. The way she talks, you forget she's just eleven. She's a beautiful girl inside and out. We had a blast doing this session, also in the old Colonial City in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Hopefully we'll see Francheska again in December, when she's in Florida to visit Disney World. Please click on her image above to view her slide show.

Clara and Yadiris

2007-10-23T19:18:00.000-04:00

Congratulations Clara and Yadiris on your graduation. We went out to the old Colonial City in Santo Domingo, D.R. Great morning! Sweet girls! Lots of laughs!!! Chulisimo!Click on the image above to see their slide show.

Attention Fellow Photographers!

2007-10-04T17:57:00.001-04:00

TYE Studios will be having their Open House this Friday and Saturday. We will definitely be there on Friday. TYE is a state of the art rental studio for professional photographers. TYE is well equipped for any photographic assignment or artistic vision. All you pros and enthusiasts out there really need to visit . The staff is friendly and the atmosphere is relaxed. They also have models and make-up artists on call. The super cool founder Donna Peplin is the best. Open house hours are Friday, October 5th 5:00pm-9:00pm and Saturday, October 6th 10:00am-6:00pm If you need more information please call them at: 954-327-3447 or you can Email: info@tyestudios.com

Expecting

2007-08-25T04:05:00.000-04:00

Monika and Ian are expecting their first baby. They are both anxious for her arrival and look forward to all that their new life with her will bring. She's a lucky baby because she has a beautiful and creative Mom and a smart and funny Dad. This shoot was a lot of fun because these two are very much in love. Click photo above to view slideshow.
P.S. Martin says "keep representing Babushka!" ;-)

What's New

2007-08-09T21:07:00.001-04:00

I've been busy with album designing for the past month. Everything is on it's way to Italy now for production. Now it's time to focus on updating our website. Our webmaster Chris will be working with us on the new site development. If all goes well, the site will be up and running by the end of the summer. Recently, a new photography studio has opened up in the Fort Lauderdale area. Donna, the owner of TYE Studios, is super cool. The place is like a photographer's dream come true, with state-of-the-art equipment to die for. The grand opening party was a blast with models, make-up artists, photographers and lots of music - awesome party. I have posted a few images here. Looking forward to doing some great sessions in that studio. Will post again real soon.

Happy Independence Day

2007-07-05T15:20:00.000-04:00

We hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable holiday. The weather here was very wet and humid, but we fared far better than those who experienced flooding or fires. So, we are thankful. I made this image on the campus of the local Community College. The fireworks show was short but enjoyable. In the works: We have a new website in progress. Stay tuned for up coming slide shows and updates.

Shalonda & Carlton

2007-06-22T14:40:00.001-04:00

Here is the slide show with some of the images from Shalonda and Carlton's lovely wedding. It was a great event. A special thank you to Mrs. Inniss (Mother of the Groom). We are happy to have met such a sweet lady. We were glad to have the opportunity to do some portraits with the bride & groom alone before the reception. It turned out great. Just click on the image above to view the slide show.

Sharon & Todd Wedding

2007-06-01T12:53:00.000-04:00

Wonderful! Perfect! We had a grand time at the wedding of Sharon and Todd. It was total excitement from beginning to end. Their personal vows were a perfect highlight to the evening. We were all blessed to be a part of all this love. The party was great with lots of dancing. I can't wait to see the video. A perfect and beautiful wedding for a perfect and beautiful couple. We love you Sharodd! CLICK PHOTO TO SEE SLIDE SHOW.

Swinging with George Gee & Friends

2007-04-11T11:20:00.000-04:00

Martin and I can't begin to explain how much fun we had this night(but I think this photo Frank took sums it up). Six of us performed at the European Stock Exchange late night party at the Boca Resort. George Gee (who rocks) brought in Barbara Morrison (her voice makes you wanna' shake something) and they jammed. And as if that wasn't enough, we also had Levay Smith and her Red Hot Skillets Lickers. Can we say, "Lindy Hop Heaven"? We had a ball dancing with Jay & Megan, Frank & Laura and all the folks from the Stock Exchange. It will be a cherished memory always.

Jennifer & Rick's Wedding Day

2007-04-05T17:27:00.000-04:00

Can we say beautiful!?! Everyone was so sweet. We had a great time photographing this wedding event. Here is a very small sampling of the many images we created that day. Click on image above to view the slide show..
FYI!!! The online proofs will be available at www.pictage.com/297047 Sorry for the inconvenience.

Jennifer & Rick

2007-03-20T20:57:00.000-04:00

We had a lot of laughs hanging out with Rick and Jen. We look forward to the wedding coming up in just a couple of weeks. We want to thank Rick for giving us face cramps from laughing too much. Rick a.k.a. Tom Cruise's cousin ;-)
Click Image above to view slide show.

Sharon & Todd E-Session

2007-03-14T00:46:00.000-04:00

Here is the sweetest couple you'll ever want to meet. Sharon is a good friend we met swing dancing and Todd is her very cool fiance. We are happy to be given the honor of being their wedding photographer. Here is the slide show of their E-Session. Click on the Image above to view.

Mayra & Yves

2007-03-01T14:16:00.000-05:00

A nice event at the Eagle Trace Country Club. These two families became one and it was all so perfect. Everyone was great. There was so much love and so many beautiful people. Martin , Jenni and I were happy to be a part of this event. Enjoy the slide show. CLICK HERE TO VIEW SLIDE SHOW.

We're Back

2007-03-01T13:55:00.000-05:00

Okay. It's time get back into the swing of things. We've been neglecting our blog duties trying to get the business up to speed for the New Year. I'm back now and will post as often as possible. We have some exciting events coming up, so stay tuned for the gorgeous slideshows to come. A special Thank You to all our wonderful clients/friends for your support and raves over the last few months.

The Bell Family

2006-11-26T21:01:00.000-05:00

Last Sunday was a blast in the Bell's backyard. It was great fun and the kids enjoyed themselves. It's always fun capturing kids when they are in their element. Trevor and Tanner were awesome. Bobby and Lori have two gorgeous boys. CLICK HERE TO VIEW SLIDESHOW.

Chazulle Family

2006-11-22T21:54:00.000-05:00

Samson, Evelyn, Daniel and Jordyn were loads of fun at this session last Thursday. The mall was something new, but fitting for the holiday theme. The beach was beautiful and the tide was high so we had a blast trying to get away from the waves. Enjoy the Slideshow.

Haynes Family Session

2006-11-04T19:42:00.000-05:00

Just a fun afternoon with this family. Thanks Aaron, Kelly and Savannah for lots of love and never ending motion. Savannah, nicknamed "Hot Rod" by Dad and "Constant Motion" by Mom, was a bundle of one year old energy. View Slideshow.

Italy Slideshow

2006-11-04T19:34:00.000-05:00

Without further ado, here are the photos from our trip to Italy. Photographs were taken by Martin and I (even the ones of us together clicking our heels in Venice and Rome). The only exception is the one of us in the restaurant, which was taken by one of the photographers who attended the workshop from Portugal. View Slideshow.

Photography Workshop in Venice

2006-10-12T10:34:00.000-04:00

Unfortunately, I missed most of the workshop because I had problems with my Visa, but we made it eventually. Venice is the most beautiful city I have ever seen. It was like a dream. Rome to me, is like NYC with Monuments. The Colloseum is amazing! It was heart-breaking to miss the workshop but I did get to see Italy and I took lots of pictures. Be on the look-out for the slideshow coming soon.

Marlene & Andrew

2006-10-03T14:01:00.000-04:00

We had so much fun shooting this e-session at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel. Andrew & Marlene will be married in Jamaica at the end of October. It will be a beautiful affair. Congratulations to both of you. We wish you all the best. Thank you guys for a great time and a great shoot. View Slideshow

Connor & Ryan

2006-09-27T19:11:00.001-04:00

Connor and his baby brother Ryan, had a fun time during their photo session. It was a lot of work because Connor is two years old and Ryan is six months. But everything turned out great and everyone had a good time. Josie (their Mother) was a sweetheart and also a lot of help trying to get some great shots. View Slideshow

Finally!

2006-09-09T04:31:00.001-04:00

Here is the exciting results of the 3 photo-sessions we did with Terry. We definately achieved some good variety and had great fun in the process. I love shooting like this. My wish is to have some adventurous brides do sessions like these. It's all about the fantasy. Models do it all the time. Why not you? Who would you like to be today? What a big surprise for your significant other ;-) Terry was a great sport. It was hard work but she had the "time of her life" and was very into anything I could think of. She also had some ideas of her own and did her own hair and make-up. She Rocks! Very special thanks to SanKyle Couture Accessories. The designer allowed us to use the unusual suede cord top, gorgeous shell necklace and stunning red coral necklace you see Terry wearing in the forest scene. Without further ado, here is the SLIDESHOW.

Cara

2006-08-30T15:04:00.001-04:00

I had a blast doing this studio and on location shoot. Cara is a beautiful model. Terry did a great job on make-up for us and Cara's boyfriend Joel would make a great photo-stylist (plenty of ideas in his head). The session ran late because of another rainy day in S. Fla. but we still had a great time. I should mention there are a few partial nudes at the end (nothing serious). Just don't want to catch anyone by surprise. Enjoy!
View Slideshow

Huascar & Salma

2006-08-29T00:24:00.000-04:00

This e-session was great fun. Thanks guys for choosing us to do your engagement photos. May God always bless you and your relationship. Take a look at the slideshow.
View Slideshow

Terry Photo Shoot

2006-08-16T15:49:00.001-04:00

We are currently in the middle of an exciting 3 day high-fashion shoot with this gorgeous model (who also happens to be my cousin's wife). Our goal is different/funky/sexy looks. When I'm done, I will post a slideshow. You'll want to see this, so stay tune. Here is one of my favorites so far.

To All My Weblog Guest

2006-08-15T12:46:00.000-04:00

Hey guys, thank you for all the compliments I have received by phone (keep 'em comin' - never get tired of hearing them ;-) I would really love to see some comments from the viewers of this weblog. Please feel free to click the "comment" link below each entry and tell me what you think, how you feel or any ideas you may have. When I get the chance, I'll post some photographs as well. Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Joe

2006-08-14T23:57:00.000-04:00

Joe needed new pix for his portfolio. He was referred to us by a mutual friend. We spent the day at his place in Bal Harbour doing some lifestyle and fashion shots. He is the nicest guy you ever want to meet - so we put a little slideshow together to showcase his photos. Enjoy!
View Slideshow

Christina & Anthony

2006-08-08T03:47:00.000-04:00

We had a great time shooting this wedding at the Signature Grand. It was both fun and sentimental. One of the highlights was when Anthony gave Adriana (his stepdaughter) a ring at the end of the ceremony. She couldn't hold back the tears and neither could anyone else. So sweet! Here is the slideshow for all to enjoy.
View Slideshow

Nkeruka & Christopher

2006-08-06T16:03:00.000-04:00

I had the pleasure of being the photographer at this lovely morning wedding. Martin and Jennifer were my efficient assistants. It rained everyday for the previous three weeks but the morning of the wedding turned out beautiful (hot, but beautiful). I hope you all enjoy this slideshow and share it with anyone who couldn't be there to enjoy this blessed day.
View Slideshow

The Man

2006-07-25T14:26:00.000-04:00

I guess I should start my blog by introducing this man.

This very "Cool Cat" is my husband Martin.
He is also my business partner, so you'll hardly see us without each other. As an integral part of PhotoNotions, Inc. he keeps us on the cutting edge of photographic technology. All cameras, equipment and digital darkroom gear are procured through his research and marketing. This image was taken in Austin, TX in January(2006) while we were there to attend Imaging USA
(a major industry event for photographers). You'll see more, about and from Martin a.k.a MP in the future.