St. Pete Beach

Baptism Photography at St. John Vianney Catholic Church in St. Pete Beach Florida

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Young baby being baptized at St. John Vianney Catholic Church in St. Pete Beach Florida - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/3.2 1/80th ISO 1600This past weekend I photographed a baptism for the first time.  I was referrred to the parents by repeat photography client Vanessa...thank you!  This was also my first time to shoot with significant flash restrictions, which is why you will see in the exif data under some photos ISO 1600.  Fortunately, the windows behind the baptism area were large and facing the noon sun to at least provide back light and some fill light.  I had no idea so much water was used during a baptism as seen in the large pitcher in the photo above!

Proud parents before their baby boy is baptized in St. Pete Beach Florida - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/5.6 ISO 640 1/60th SB-800 @ 1/4 power hotshoe mountedBefore the actual baptism ceremony there were a few quick minutes I could use flash and photograph the parents with their baby boy.  Baby Oscar was a very good smiler.  

Baptism inside St. John Vianney Catholic Church St. Pete Beach Florida - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/5.6 ISO 800 1/60th SB-800 @ 1/4 power hotshoe mountedI used significant lens distortion correction in this shot to make the mosaic appear as straight as it really was.  I also decided to split the parents allowing for a more balanced composition to the shot instead of both on one side of the flowers, or even blocking the flowers.

Mom and newly baptized baby at Don Cesar Hotel - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/9 ISO 200 1/250th - Strobist: SB-800 to frame left & SB-600 to frame right rearThe reception for the baptism was at the Don Cesar Hotel where I have photographed many past events.  It was a covered outdoor spot giving us still a peak at the water.  Here I could setup my speedlights on light stands for my preferred strobist style portraits.

Dad and newly baptized baby at Don Cesar Hotel - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/9 ISO 200 1/250th - Strobist: SB-800 to frame left & SB-600 to frame right rearThis is Dad's turn with baby Oscar having fun at the baptism reception at the Don Cesar Resort.  It was a pleasant spring Sunday out on the beach.

Parents in thought during child's baptism in St. Pete Beach - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/3.5 ISO 1600 1/60thI am always pleased when I have the opportunity to make a candid photo like this one showing the subjects in thought reflecting their emotion.  Baby Oscar knew what I was up to though!
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    • Patrick's Bayside Grill St. Pete Beach Commercial Restaurant Photography

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    Patrick's Bayside Grill of St. Pete Beach owner Patrick Abulone - commercial restaurant photographyI went on assignment this morning for OceanFront Magazine to Patrick's Bayside Grill of St. Pete Beach to photography the eponymous owner and his restaurant.  Having never been to this restaurant I did not know what to expect, but as always I arrive prepared for whatever shooting conditions there might be.  The place was cozy and not yet open for business, so I had just enough room to shoot with my preferred portrait lens, the Nikkor AF ED 80-200mm f/2.8D (above shot).  

    Patrick's Bayside Grill interior - 5-bracket HDR - Commercial Restaurant Photography St. PetersburgOne interesting piece decorating Patrick's Bayside Grill can be seen under the left-most TV in the above shot, an eye exam chart.  Patrick told me it was given to the restaurant by a friend of his, a former eye doctor.  I bet it is a great conversation piece and has no doubt resulted in many boastful challenges of eyesight prowess.  

    Patrick's Bayside Grill - 5-bracket HDR - Commercial Restaurant Photography St. Petersburg BeachThe parking lot is not large and has some peculiar angles, so if you do not have to drive the Chevy Suburban there I would consider taking a smaller vehicle.  Patrick is also a real estate agent so perhaps I will see him again soon to photograph some of his listings.  

    Tradewinds on St. Pete Beach Sunset Wedding

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    Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 @ f/8 ISO 200 1/160th Nikon SB-800 Speedlight hotshoe mountedWhen photographing a wedding on a beach, such as this one at Tradewinds St. Pete Beach, there are many factor's out of the photographer's control.  First and foremost of course is the sun, and how bright or not bright it is that afternoon, as well as the number of beach-goers wondering around in the background.  So it is not too often that everything comes together as perfectly as can be reasonably expected as it did for Jennifer and John's beach wedding, i.e. brilliant but manageable sunlight and a near empty beach.

    Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 @ f/11 ISO 200 1/250th Strobist: SB-800 to frame left & SB-600 to frame rightThe Tradewinds Resort is also a good beach wedding location because of its nearby sea grass-covered sand dune, which is my preferred background for the after-ceremony formal portraits, as at that time the sun is usually still too powerfully backlighting the water.  

    Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 @ f/11 ISO 200 1/250thJennifer and John had a very above average number of guests for a beach wedding, which made the big group shot a particular challenge.  I am actually not entirely satisfied with how this shot come out.  There was no point in using my two strobes as they could not light such a long line of people, so I had to rely on the sun to help me out.  People's instinct in group shots is to curl themselves into a semi-circle.  My want was for a very straight, if not slightly convex line to be formed.  This would allow sunlight to evenly light all the people.  Despite several minutes of asking everyone to keep backing up and trying to put them in place, I apparently was not strong enough in my prodding as the people on the right side of the shot are still too much in cross-shadow.  I tried!  That would be the Don Cesar Resort in the far background.

    Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 @ f/8 ISO 200 1/200th Strobist: SB-800 to left & SB-600 to rightAfter the big group shot and the many wedding party shots, at last it was just Jennifer, John and I along with the sun and Gulf of Mexico.  There were not gale force winds that evening, the veil is being held by a bridesmaid (photo secret).  

    Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 @ f/8 ISO 200 1/200th Strobist: SB-800 off camera to left & SB-600 to rightThe blues were very vidid that sunset, and there were just enough clouds to make the sky interesting.  To me, I think a kissing portrait looks best when the couple is not actually quite kissing.  An actual kiss squishes faces in an unflattering way.  That's why I ask couples to keep their lips slightly apart or only just touching.  Jennifer and John did a great job with their almost-kissing form.

    Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 @ f/6.3 ISO 200 1/100th Strobist: SB-800 to left and SB-600 to rightJennifer really like the lacy bamboo canopy setup for their wedding ceremony, requesting a shot of her alongside what I hope is an artificial (or previously long-lived) starfish.  This was a bit tricky to light as she was in shadow under the canopy and the sunset was dancing on her shoulder.  This is where experience counts as I was able to properly position my two strobes (one on a light stand the other a tripod) in time as the sunset is on its own timetable.  

    Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 @ f/5.6 ISO 400 1/60th Strobist: SB-800 to frame right & SB-600 to frame left this timeI had already packed up nearly all of my photo gear.  Jennifer and John were strolling back toward the Tradewinds.  Then I noticed the fantastical violet and reds of the twilight sky that had formed after the sunset.  My arranged photography time was finished and fulfilled.  I had no more official photography duties.  However, I knew as a photographer I could not pass up such a background and beckoned for J & J to come back pointing at the sky.  I quickly got my gear back out and setup before the sky had time to change its mind, and was able to produce the above shot, and got the moon overhead as well.  See that empty beach?  Such a shame to have such few witnesses to a wonderful Florida evening. 

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