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First Communion Photography at St. Paul Catholic Church Tampa Florida with Juliana

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First communion for Juliana at St. Paul Catholic Church in Tampa Florida - Nikon D300 Nikkor 80-200mm @ f/7.1 ISO 200 1/125th - Strobist: SB-800 in brolly & SB-600 in shoot-through-umbrellaI first photographed Juliana and her family in 2010 for her 7th birthday party.  This past weekend I photographed her first communion at St. Paul Catholic Church in Tampa, Florida.  I have now photographed her and her family a total of four times.  It is always great to work with past clients, and there is no family I have been with longer than Juliana's.  Thankfully, since day one, Juliana has been a natural in front of the camera!  The above shot will for sure be one of my five favorites of 2014.  I heard that Juliana's mom cried when she saw this photo.

I first photographed Juliana at her 7th birthday party, now her first communion - Nikon D300 Nikkor 80-200mm @ f/7.1 ISO 200 1/125th - Strobist: SB-800 in brolly & SB-600 in shoot-through-umbrellaI met Juliana about an hour before the first communion ceremony would begin.  The church had a great mosaic pavilion in a quiet garden that we used as a background for several portraits.  No one was around and there was no wind, so I had not trouble setting up two speedlights on light stands for making strobist (off camera flash) portraits.

While I was setting up another shot, I saw Juliana lean back with her feet up & said hold that pose! - Nikon D300 Nikkor 80-200mm @ f/7.1 ISO 200 1/250th - Strobist: SB-800 in brolly & SB-600 in shoot-through-umbrellaJuliana almost needs no instruction when I photograph her as she just naturally has an ability to be creative.  While I was moving the light stands I noticed her sitting back and putting her feet into the air and I thought that looked great.  I said hold that and it turned out to be one of her family's favorite shots of the morning.  I may never have thought of it on my own, so creativity of the person in front of the lens is also very important.

Just before the ceremony starts in St. Paul Catholic Church Tampa Florida first communion photography - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/8 ISO 200 1/60th - Strobist: SB-800 in brolly & SB-600 in shoot-through-umbrellaThere was not much time to shoot inside the church itself, so I quickly carried in my lights and tried to frame the best shot I could.  After this solo one of Juliana, a few family members joined her before we got the sign to wrap it up!

Speaking in front of the whole church Juliana was calm and articulate - Nikon D300 Nikkor 80-200mm @ f/4 ISO 1000 1/100th on monopodDuring the first communion ceremony I was not allowed to use flash or move around at all.  So I sat in a pew on the other side of the church, cranked up the ISO, put my Nikon on a monopod for extra stability (and to absorb the weight during the hour I was sitting) and looked for candid photograph opportunities.  To my surprise the priest asked Juliana to get up in front of the whole church (several hundred people) and give a little talk!  She did not know she would be talking either, but did great.  I was impressed with her answers and articulate responses.

Mother & daughter share a warm embrace after her first communion ceremony in Tampa Florida - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/9 ISO 200 1/250th SB-800 hotshoe mountedAfter the ceremony there was a celebration at a restaurant.  I followed them to the second location where it was time for a few warm embraces and then cake!

Deep in thought on her first communion at St. Paul Catholic Church Tampa Florida - Nikon D300 Nikkor 80-200mm @ f/7.1 ISO 200 1/125th - Strobist: SB-800 in brolly & SB-600 in shoot-through-umbrellaI always like to make a photograph of someone thinking, especially on important occasions such that 20 years from now when they look at the photo again they may remember what they were thinking, thus giving the photograph extra meaning only to them.

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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    • Inside Sacred Heart Church Tampa Florida Wedding HDR

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    The interior of Sacred Heart Church in Tampa Florida during a wedding - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/11 ISO 200 7-exposure HDRWith all the news this week coming out of Rome regarding the Catholic Church and a new pope, I dug into my unedited archives for these HDR images of Sacred Heart Church in downtown Tampa, Florida.  These images are from a wedding I photographed in the church back in May 2012.  The exterior of the church is very beautiful and elaborate, and as you can see the inside is even more so.

    View from the balcony in Sacred Heart Church in Tampa Florida during a wedding - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/11 ISO 200 7-exposure HDRI was up in the balcony for all these photographs gettings a bird's eye view of the wedding ceremony.  When I see such architecture and detail I always think about how much work must go into building and creating something like this.  How much planning ahead of time is needed??

    Stained glass windows of Sacred Heart Church in Tampa Florida during a wedding - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/11 ISO 200 7-exposure HDRThese windows are high up and in the back of the church.  Only up from up in the balcony with binoculars could one get a good view of them.