The holidays are near with family fun and cheer! We are just a week away from Thanksgiving and 1 month away from Christmas. With the busy holiday season just around the corner, we have a mental checklist to send out Holiday Cards. And the thought of having family photos on the cards comes to mind! What to wear, where to get the photos taken are thoughts that cross your mind. Then contacting your local photographer to find out they are booked with Weddings, Events and Holiday Minis! 

Yes, November and December are the busiest months for photographers. We've had families contact us for the most festive holiday portraits and other families contact us for some great modern portraits that can double as a year round family portrait and also be used in Christmas cards. 

This year we had some Outdoor Family Mini Sessions at Santa's Christmas Tree Farm  in Eustis, FL.  The Madorin's elected to wear vibrant primary colors red and blue with a hint of cream. 

A lot of times when I'm photographing a Quince session, bystanders are in awe of the gorgeous dress. And if its a young girl, she thinks its a Disney princess! A Quinceanera is the celebration of a girls 15th Birthday, highlighting and marking  the transformation to a Woman.

These portrait sessions are becoming more common and the extravagant reception dinners are now substituted for a family vacation or a new vehicle for the birthday girl. 

Janel's mom contacted me months before the session to collaborate on a Quinceanera theme. I found out Janel had the rode horses for a few years and had a strong affinity towards  these majestic animals. This gave me an idea! What about a horse photo session? She also wanted to have portraits with lots of greenery and what better place than Kraft Azalea Garden. Janel's dress was customized by Minerva's Bridal, they did an amazing job with the bodice of the dress. It was adorned with gems and sparkled at every angle she turned. I recommended having pictures taken in a casual and then the gown because a horse can be very unpredictable in photos. 
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In the midst of my daily routine, my sister contacts me and asks me to visit her in Colorado Springs. I thought to myself, wow, I've always wanted to see the mountains and what better reason than to secretly get away with a valid reason! To Colorado Springs within 2 days! I absolutely could not wait for the trip. I purchased a coat with a lining and packed with just a carry on. Half of my suitcase was for my camera equipment. 

In Colorado the mountains are an orange clay color. Garden of the Gods is a National Natural Landmark.  I've always had a dream of taking photos with a mountain backdrop. And lucky me, we had a family portrait session at Garden of the Gods.

The Stewarts are just a lovely couple and their children were just full of energy and excited for the photos!