Shining Moments Photography, LLC: Blog

Bleu & Levi | Hilliar, FL | Country Wedding | May 18, 2019 | Jacksonville Wedding Photographer

(Shining Moments Photography, LLC) — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 01:45:00 GMT

I grew up in the boondocks of Ohio. Growing up, I can remember waking up some mornings to find the cows from the neighboring farm in our back yard. It was a twenty minute drive to town, and a forty minute drive to anywhere else. So driving through farm country in Hilliard took me down memory lane as I drove out to Bleu & Levi's family properties to capture images of their big day. This young couple is so in love, it made my heart melt just watching them. They are real and down to earth, no-nonsense, no fluff, tell it like it is kind of people. I loved every minute of their big day! I even had a wedding first during their reception: a wedding water slide! It was awesome! Here are some of my favorites from their intimate, backyard, country wedding on May 18th.

Holiday Mini Sessions ~ $125

(Shining Moments Photography, LLC) — Sat, 10 Nov 2018 12:31:53 GMT

Holiday Mini Sessions

Holiday Mini Sessions are scheduled for November 17, 24, and 25. These sessions are thirty minutes in length and take place in our brand new Christmas Room, located at our Mandarin home studio. We have a whole room decorated for the holidays! The room includes five different areas for your little ones and family to be photographed in. This session is for all ages, from newborns to grandparents, and even the furry members of your family. The session is $125 (plus tax) and includes three digital files and ten custom holiday cards. Additional cards and prints are available at 10% off.

Class of 2018 | Diocese of St. Augustine | Ministry Formation Program

(Shining Moments Photography, LLC) — Wed, 20 Jun 2018 14:00:00 GMT

For the past few years, I've had the honor of photographing the closing liturgy for the Diocese of St. Augustine's Ministry Formation Program. This three year program prepares lay ministry leaders for service in their parishes. The closing liturgy is held at the Cathedral Basilica in St. Augustine, Florida. It is a wonderful service that may appear to be the closing of a long journey, but it is just the beginning of an even more rewarding one for the graduating participants.

Melissa & Aaron | Middleburg & Orange Park Wedding

(Shining Moments Photography, LLC) — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 16:39:35 GMT

Melissa and Aaron were an energetic couple, full of vitality. Ironically, I actually taught both of Melissa's sons art classes (as well as several of their friends who were in attendance). I loved how Melissa and Aaron intertwined their cultures with their Catholic faith. Melissa wore a traditional wedding saree and her bridesmaids dressed similarly. At the reception, Aaron stayed true to his Jewish roots by upholding the tradition of breaking a glass. Many of their decorations like the cake table and cake topper were custom made by friends. It was such a lovely wedding and I enjoyed seeing people I know joining together to celebrate it.

Ceremony: St. Luke Catholic Church | Middleburg

Reception: The Hilltop Club | Orange Park

Wedding Planner: Michelle Jarjoura | A Timeless Moment Wedding and Event Planning

DJ: Joey DeSena | Special Day Entertainment

Here are some of my favorite images from Melissa & Aaron's big day.

Coming Back to Work

(Shining Moments Photography, LLC) — Wed, 06 Jul 2016 19:32:29 GMT

It has been quite an adventurous year, having a second baby and putting SMP on hold while I adjusted to my new family life. It was a struggle though. I really suffered from post-partum depression that just wouldn't go away. After a long struggle and an amazing team of doctors, I'm overjoyed to say that I am back to being myself and ever so ready to get back to business. I have missed being a part of people's lives and capturing all their happy moments. My personal struggles have helped me to see just how much I love photography and how important it is to my life. I can't wait to see where the rest of 2016 leads me. I've already had the opportunity to spend wedding days with wonderful couples and can't wait to share those with you. Summer is High School Senior Season and I'm excited about several senior sessions I have coming up this month. I can't wait to start sharing all these great sessions and weddings with you again.

I still have openings for four 2016 weddings, and 2017 has started to book for the spring. I'll also be running a few portrait specials come October, November, and December so stay tuned for more details. Family sessions are so important. Have you updated yours lately? I celebrated my little family by having mine updated this past Mother's Day by a dear friend and photographer Alexis Molinaro of Kim Alexis Studios, LLC (www.kimalexisstudios.com). This is one of my favorite photos of me and my two boys, Louis and Clark (yes, I know, awesome names).

New Direction

(Shining Moments Photography, LLC) — Sat, 31 Jan 2015 23:32:10 GMT

So much has happened in the past year and so much more is going to happen in 2015. To begin the year, I am expecting my second baby in just three short weeks. The growth of my family has caused me to think more about this company and the direction I want it to go in. So once I have come back from a self-imposed maternity leave, I will be concentrating on maternity, newborn, and family portraits. I will still take weddings, but the number will be limited to just 10 per year. With that being said, I only have 4 wedding spaces left for 2015 and 8 left for 2016. So if you're interested in having us preserve your big day, please get in touch with us soon.

Ever So Busy

(Shining Moments Photography, LLC) — Thu, 20 Feb 2014 03:37:17 GMT

Things in the SMP family have been very busy indeed. So busy, that I have not had a chance to give as much attention as I should to this blog. Since my last post in 2012, much has happened.

2012 turned out to be a wonderful wedding year with 18 weddings on our calendar. We also got to help several families preserve other important memories and milestones through portrait sessions.

2012 brought a happy addition to our own family as well. My son, Louis, was born on September 12, 2012. I took a few months off for maternity leave, and decided to limit the number of weddings I did in 2013 to one per month so that I could spend more time with my son. As you can see, his adorable little self is worth it.

I had several lovely weddings in 2013 and I hope to share them with you soon. I also continued offering portrait sessions. My last wedding of 2013 was a wedding in Ohio in the middle of October. I consider all my weddings to be special, but this one was particularly endearing to me because the bride and I have been friends since the 3rd grade. I am very excited to share their images soon because I just love all the fall colors.

2014 is turning out to be a wonderful year as well. In addition to running this business, I am teaching art to middle school and elementary school children. I love every day of it just as much as I love photographing weddings and portraits. Due to this additional endeavor, I am only taking one wedding per month during the school year (summer months excluded) so that I can ensure my clients still receive wonderful customer service from me.

Outdoor Fun | Jacksonville Photographer | Shining Moments Photography

(Shining Moments Photography, LLC) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:24:00 GMT

As most Jacksonville residents know, this morning started out very chilly. Thankfully, it warmed up enough this afternoon for me to get some play time in with Koufax and Reba (not that they would have minded either way - they have fur coats). Little did we know that we were being watched.

We had so much fun just running around the yard. As dark drew near, we heard a very interesting sound coming from the trees above. This fellow was spying on us the whole time. :)

Lillian & Yu are Married | Florida Wedding Photographer | Shining Moments Photography

(Shining Moments Photography, LLC) — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 16:49:00 GMT

Lillian & Yu had a traditional Coptic Orthodox wedding in Jacksonville on June 11, 2011. Lillian was such a sweet bride and Yu was a character of a groom. Many happy years to the two of you!

How Does Your Garden Grow?

(Shining Moments Photography, LLC) — Mon, 23 May 2011 05:55:00 GMT

Yesterday, I took some time away from my editing schedule to tend to the little 4' x 6' garden my husband and I had planted earlier this year. And boy, did it need it. As I sat there, pulling weeds, harvesting green beans, and cutting lettuce, I thought a great deal about my grandfather.

He was the one who first taught me about vegetable gardens. I can remember spending the summers with him. We would go for a four mile walk, have a breakfast of beagles with honey, and then spend all day tending to his garden, which was about half as wide as a football field and about thirty yards long. He would teach me about planting, weeding, watering, everything to make the plants grow. And when they were ready for harvesting, we would go through and he would show me why each vegetable was ready and how you could tell it was ready to be picked. :) He used to scold me for eating all the peas as I picked them, telling me that others couldn't enjoy them too if I kept them all to myself. I learned about plants I had never heard of before, like Kohlrabi, as well as ones I had grown up despising (cooked peas, go figure I loved them when they were raw). As I learned about vegetables and making them grow, he would teach me about other things. We would have long discussions about the ways of the world. He was the one person who never sugar coated anything. He has this saying about wishes, which is a little inappropriate so I won't repeat it here, but it boiled down to you've got nothing if you keep wishing. You have to go out and make those wishes come true.

In essence, my grandfather taught me to recognize a lot of things about life through those simple hours in the garden. Things that only now as an adult I have a true understanding of. Those lessons in the garden have taught me how to tend to many things in life, including my business. A business may not need water and sunlight to grow, but it needs time, effort, lots of TLC, to be known by the outside world, the list goes on. And the only way to make the dreams and wishes of a business come true is to get out there and make them come true. There is no sitting and waiting.

As my business grows each day, I look forward to the new fruits it will bring, the new people I will meet, and the lives I will touch through it. I have my grandfather to thank for many things, but mainly, for teaching me how to tend my daily life as I tend to a garden. Giving it the things it needs to blossom and keeping it safe from the things that would hinder it. And so, I leave you with this final thought, "How does your 'garden' grow?"

Branching Out | Wedding Photography Special | Shining Moments Photography

(Shining Moments Photography, LLC) — Fri, 06 May 2011 21:11:00 GMT

Today, I learned how to maximize my marketing potential. In previous years, I had only concentrated my efforts on online advertising at sites like Wedding Wire and SnapKnot. Yesterday, I branched into bridal shows by registering for one in August. I also joined The Knot and my new ads will be up on June 2nd. Today, I branched into print and even more online advertising with the Perfect Wedding Guide. With all of these new advertising opportunities, I decided it was time for new business cards, post cards, and a small banner. So what am I doing while waiting for all these great opportunities to begin? I'm offering all of the brides out there a great opportunity. Book your wedding with Shining Moments Photography by June 1st and receive a free upgrade from a Basic HD Slideshow to a Deluxe HD Slideshow with any collection purchased. That's 150 images in your slideshow instead of only 50. Hurry in, this deal will only last the next 24 days!

Andrea & Terry are Married! | Ponte Vedra Wedding Photographer | Shining Moments Photography

(Shining Moments Photography, LLC) — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 22:07:00 GMT

Today (4/16/2011), Shining Moments Photography was there to preserve the memories as two wonderful people joined their lives together. Andrea & Terry were married at the Crosswater Hall at Nocatee in the Ponta Vedra Beach area. It was a beautiful day for a beautiful ceremony and reception. Our prayers that the rain would hold off were answered. Here are a few images from Andrea and Terry's 1930's inspired wedding. Andrea and Terry, I wish you all the best and many many happy years together!

New Look | Jacksonville Photographer | Shining Moments Photography

(Shining Moments Photography, LLC) — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 22:03:00 GMT

If you've been to the SMP website in the last few day, you'll notice we're looking a little blue...that's because in our Facebook poll, the new blue logo was preferred over our old yellow one 8:1. So, considering that blue is my favorite color, we've decided to change our logo and website colors to blue. This transition will take a few days to iron out all the changes, so please bear with us if you see yellow font anywhere that hasn't been switched over yet. Thank you to everyone who have their opinion on the new logo!

I Got Married!

(Shining Moments Photography, LLC) — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 17:10:00 GMT

I have some very exciting news, that may be a little old for some of you out there, but things have finally calmed down enough now that the holidays are over, that I have a few free moments to post this. I GOT MARRIED! :)

On November 20, 2010 I married my best friend Jason at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Jacksonville, FL. It was a beautiful ceremony and the reception was so much fun! We loved that so many of our family and friends came to share the special day with us!

A very special thank you to all our vendors, especially our photographer and friend Olis Garber.

We want your opinion!

(Shining Moments Photography, LLC) — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 16:56:00 GMT

So I was playing around with the Shining Moments Photography logo and came up with an alternate version that I think happens to be very pretty. Now, I don't know which logo I like better; the original in yellow, or the pretty blue one I came up with. As a result, they are both posted below. Which do you prefer? The Yellow or the Blue?

We Were Featured in the Snapknot Blog! | Florida Engagement Photographer | Shining Moments Phot

(Shining Moments Photography, LLC) — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 20:54:00 GMT

Great news! We were featured in the Snapknot Blog yesterday! Take a look at Amy & Elijah's Engagement Session at Talbot Island and the great things Snapknot said about the shoot at the link below.

http://snapknot.com/blog/

The Knot Throws a Great Party!

(Shining Moments Photography, LLC) — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 20:47:00 GMT

A few weeks ago, I was invited by The Knot to join them and several other vendors for a wedding networking night tonight at the Sawgrass Marriott. I met so many great people there and I really look forward to working with them in the future! We had cocktails, lots of great food, and amazing desserts! The only thing I'm really really bummed about is that I didn't get a gift bag (shame on the vendors who took more than one). I was looking forward to the spa certificate in there too since my wedding is only 30 days away! OMG! 30 days and that's it! In 30 day's I'll have to change all my profile stuff. Looks like I'll need to print up some more business cards too.

Lauren & Greg are Married | Destination Wedding Photographer | Shining Moments Photography

(Shining Moments Photography, LLC) — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 21:52:00 GMT

I'm 200 images away from completing the edit of Greg and Lauren's wedding and I just couldn't wait to share this shot with everyone. They are so cute together and I love how the flare shoots down right on top of them in this image. More will come once I've finished editing those last 200.

Great Offer for Photographers!

(Shining Moments Photography, LLC) — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 14:31:00 GMT

Fellow photographers, ever want to go to seminars or conventions and for one reason or another, not have been able to? Not a pro photographer, but want to learn more about turning you hobby into a professional business? If your answer is "yes" to either of these questions, you'll want to check out Photovision. I've been receiving the Photovision DVDs for the last two years & they have SO much information in them! You will see photographers on actual shoots, lighting techniques, great composition ideas, & tons more! They cover everything from studio, on location, children's portraiture, maternity and newborns, seniors, weddings, printing and products, business techniques, marketing ideas, and the list of topics keeps going on and on and on! You'll learn what other pros are doing that's helping them survive this tough economy. It really is one of the best investments I've made as a pro photographer. Click on this link http://fansof.photovisionvideo.com/Sarah/044541 & use the code PVFAN to get a full year for only $39 (regularly $149)! It's like having a personal photographer trainer on demand, any time of day because the DVDs are yours to keep and watch any time you like. Feel free to share this great offer with everyone you know! They'll thank you for it!

The Last Roll

(Shining Moments Photography, LLC) — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 20:54:00 GMT

Still have Kodachrome film lying around? Think you know a little bit (or a lot) about photography? Watch this video.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Helping America's Hardest Working Father

(Shining Moments Photography, LLC) — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 20:18:00 GMT

Everyone knows someone in their life who is a hard worker. The person that gets up every morning and goes to a job that may not be that great, that sticks with that job for more than ten, fifteen, twenty years. The person that gets home from that job, eats dinner, and then heads off to their second job, which pays less than the first, then comes home, gets a few hours of sleep, and wakes up the next morning to do it all over again. That's my uncle Mark.

Despite all his hard work, he always made time for his loving wife and three kids. He was always there for his family. No matter how tired he was, he always wore a smile. And in the early stages of his cancer diagnosis (which was caused by his work), that is what he continued to do.

My cousin Andy has created a video about my uncle and entered it into a contest for a chance to win $100,000. This is money that is desperately needed to help him with his cancer treatments. Please, take two minutes of your time to view the video and cast your vote, and know that in doing so, you are giving a family hope.

http://einawccxukm.mitchumhardestworking.com/

Help the Gulf Coast | Fine Art Photographer | Shining Moments Photography

(Shining Moments Photography, LLC) — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 18:55:00 GMT

We here at Shining Moments Photography are just as appalled with the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico as the next person. I can't even look at images of the spill anymore because it breaks my heart. Before I found photography, I wanted to be a Marine Scientist. I love everything about the ocean and when I see things like this oil spill, I want to go out and rescue all the creatures affected. Unfortunately, no one person can do it all lone, and as we've all seen, even together, we can't save all the creatures that call the gulf home.

We're not just going to sit idly by an do nothing though. We may not be able to go out to the gulf and help clean things up, but we can certainly help by providing funding for the resources to do so. That's why we're offering a very special limited edition print. Deadly Beauty was captured in Nassau, Bahamas in January 2010. Only 100 prints are available and 100% of proceeds will be donated to the National Parks Foundation Disaster Recovery Fund, which will be sent directly to the parks along the gulf coast. So show your support of the National Parks' efforts and get your limited edition print today! They're available in three sizes: 8x10 ($40); 11x14 ($60); and 16x20 ($75). Signed prints include a white mat and certificate of authenticity.

Visit our website to get yours today!

Wedding Season | Florida Wedding Photographer | Shining Moments Photography

(Shining Moments Photography, LLC) — Wed, 19 May 2010 21:43:00 GMT

It's wedding season! And this year, our owner Sarah is planning one of her own! Being a wedding vendor herself, she's got the inside scoop on where to compromise, where to cut corners, and where to splurge. So periodically, you'll see her post some little tid-bit. She's also offering you the opportunity to pick her brain on all things wedding! Whether you've got questions about photography, other vendors, how to squeeze every last dime out of your budget without going over...send them her way. You can post here, send her an email directly, or visit her personal wedding website at www.mywedding.com/jasonandsarah112010. So without hesitation, here is Sarah's first tip:

After announcing your engagement, you will be bombarded by vendors. One thing I've done to stay organized is create a list in Microsoft Excel with the vendor's name, contact info, and any notes about packages or pricing. I've also included whether or not they fit within my budget instead of just deleting them. This way, every time I'm contacted by a vendor, I don't have to try and remember if I've looked at their stuff before or if they're budget friendly. You could also set up a separate email address just for wedding stuff so your regular email isn't hit like the target at a police firing range.

Brides, what are some things you've done to stay organized?

Amy & Elijah are Engaged | Florida Engagement Photographer | Shining Moments Photography

(Shining Moments Photography, LLC) — Thu, 13 May 2010 22:50:00 GMT

Some much overdue images from Amy & Elijah's engagement shoot at Big Talbot Island in Jacksonville, FL. We did this session just before a storm rolled in, and still managed to get over 400 images (more than I've ever shot during an engagement session).

Class of 2011 Models Wanted | High School Senior Photographer | Shining Moments Photography

(Shining Moments Photography, LLC) — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 20:55:00 GMT

The search is on for our Class of 2011 Senior Models! Are you currently a Junior in high school? Then you qualify to be one of our Senior Models! Senior Models get a super deal! To start, you get a complimentary session and 25% off your Senior Package! That's a savings of over $200!

What do you have to do to earn this awesome deal? It's simple. Contact us to see if we have met our model quota for your school (two guys, two girls). If we haven't, all you need to do is book your session by April 25th. We'll choose your best image and send you 48 wallets imprinted with our studio logo. All you have to do is pass them out to your friends at school by the end of the school year.

Now here's the really cool part...if your friends book a session with us over the summer and bring your studio wallet to their session, you get a FREE print (up to 8x10)! That's up to 48 FREE pictures! What would make this deal even better? You get 3 FREE Facebook Photos (a $75 value)! Don't delay! Contact us today to see if you can take advantage of these amazing savings, valued well over $400!

New Website | Jacksonville Photographer | Shining Moments Photography

(Shining Moments Photography, LLC) — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 20:43:00 GMT

Shining Moments Photography recently launched a new website. A new hosting service is the reason for the launch. The website has received more than just a face lift. It's received a whole new design! While some bits and pieces are still in the works, the basic framework is there. Now all that's left to do is fill it all in. It may take a week or two before the site is finalized, but when it is it's going to be better than ever, and easier to navigate! Take a look around and let us know what you think of it. We value your feedback!

Paul & Katrina are Married | Atlantic Beach Wedding Photographer

(Shining Moments Photography, LLC) — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 23:15:00 GMT

Congratulations to Paul & Katrina who tied the knot on April 3, 2010. They had a beautiful ceremony at a small church in Atlantic Beach, with a fun filled reception at Selva Marina Country Club. To view more sneak peak images, visit our Facebook album at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=173294&id=100161392306 .

Pascual/Evers Wedding Pascual/Evers Wedding Pascual/Evers Wedding Pascual/Evers Wedding Pascual/Evers Wedding Pascual/Evers Wedding Pascual/Evers Wedding Pascual/Evers Wedding Pascual/Evers Wedding Pascual/Evers Wedding Pascual/Evers Wedding

Shannon & Justin are Married | St. Augustine Wedding Photographer

(Shining Moments Photography, LLC) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 14:45:00 GMT

Shannon and Justin were married in October in St. Augustine. They traveled up from Orlando for their historic themed wedding at the Cathedral Basilica and Casa Monica Hotel. Watch their slideshow below.