Brandon and Serena: Save the Date!

Wrapping up the gallery for these two gorgeous people as they prep for their upcoming wedding--dealing with an unexpected temperature drop above the surface and the chill below the water with them for their engagement portraits was so very cold but so much fun, and they were absolute troopers despite the challenges Florida threw their way. Totally worth it for a session this awesome!







Congrats to this beautiful, fun, happy, intrepid couple. Thanks for letting me be a part of your story!

Photos Matter

My dear sweet mama shared this photo a few weeks back and I had to snag it from her page, because it rings very true to me for a lot of reasons.

I know, I know, there are times when it feels like as a society, we take too many photos, or that we're taking a lot of photos that don't have substance. Social media and smart phones have made this pretty easy for us so sometimes we all tend to get carried away. People often times are so worried about getting a photo that they might get in the way at an important event (*cough* wedding guests who worry more about taking cell phone photos than enjoying the moment and end up blocking shots and getting in the way *cough*). We all like to tease people who post a ton of selfies or take a zillion pictures of their lunches (hashtag YUM). Yes, it's fun to joke with people who take like 50 photos in a row of their cat or dog doing something cute (I totally do this and I refuse to apologize because LOOK HE'S WEARING A LITTLE HAT AND SITTING IN A BOX), and sometimes you might find yourself semi-exasperated at a friend who posts hourly photos of their kids or who overshares a bit sometimes. I get it, and we're all guilty of this stuff now and then. But here's my thought for all of us: just take the photos.

Seriously.

Take. The. Photos.

Even if you only take them for yourselves and never post or share them. Even if you're just taking a quick shot with your phone. Even if you have a decent camera but don't know for sure how to use it--just give it a shot (ha ha, camera pun) and see what happens because you might be surprised. Even if you feel like you're having a bad hair day. Just do it. And I'm not just saying this because I'm a photographer--I'm saying it as a person who appreciates pictures of all kinds, a person who lives and breathes this industry and knows the value in having the perfect photo, and a person who knows the devastation in wishing you had just a few more photos to look at after a day is done, an event is over, or a person is no longer in this plane of existence. There are going to be years when you are able to have professional portraits, and there are going to be years where you can't or don't want to do that. And that's okay. I had a client this year who was booked for holiday portraits but ended up not being able to keep her session, and she was sad about this and worried I'd be upset with her when she called to cancel. I said to her what I always say when something like this comes up: "I love being able to photograph your family and I'll be happy to do that whenever you need and want me to, but sometimes it just doesn't work out, and that's cool. I'm not going anywhere so whenever you want to do a session again, you know how to find me, but just make sure you take some photos this year, even if you just have someone take one of you guys with your phone. I care less about being the one to take the photo than I do about the idea that the photo exists to begin with. Your kids are only little for so long so take some good shots of them, and I can't wait to see what you get."

My dear sweet crazy Grandma Sandy passed away this year after a battle with cancer. She was funny and quirky and beautiful, and it's still really weird to me that she's gone. We didn't know she was sick until early in the year, and if there's a silver lining in the situation, it's that she didn't suffer long--she died in early April with my grandpa right there by her side. I miss her every day. Had I known that she was going to get sick and pass away, I would have done a better job of getting photos of just her and I together a few years ago when I was shooting my brother's wedding in Colorado, but as I was working and running around like a woman possessed the way I always do at weddings (my brides and grooms can vouch for this), I didn't manage to have a photo taken of just the two of us. Thankfully I have a photo of the whole family that I'm in, but I didn't get any of just me and her, and I should have. That is something I can't change, but if anything, it's hopefully a lesson that might permeate my pea-brain about never assuming you have more time with a person, because sometimes, you just don't.

Take the photos. Use your cameras and your phones. Take your selfies, photograph your sandwiches, share those baby and wedding and cat and dog photos to your heart's content, and don't let anyone tell you to do otherwise. Don't let yourself come to a point where you wish you had and the opportunity is gone. And if you've given me the opportunity to photograph you at any point, please know that I truly consider it an honor and I am grateful, so I thank you.

Photos matter; I can't wait to see yours.

2016 Portrait Giveaway!

Okay, happy new year, y'all! I hope you're all happy and healthy and enjoying January so far. We're gearing up for a huge year, but wanted to start 2016 (yes, I know we are halfway through the month, it's been a crazy few weeks, okay? Jeez!) off right with a contest. I teased it a couple of weeks ago on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/rachelsullivanphotography), but finally, I'm happy to reveal our first portrait giveaway of the new year!

To celebrate the start of 2016, we are giving away a portrait session to one lucky family; the winner will receive a two hour portrait session including approximately 25 high resolution photos from their session via digital download. This contest is open to families, couples, or individuals. To enter, simply leave a quick comment on our Facebook

wall telling us why you want to win; you only need enter once (duplicate entries or multiple entries per household/family will not increase your odds of winning). Additionally, if you have a friend or family member who you'd like to see win, you're welcome to nominate them in your comment instead of entering for yourself. 

The legal mumbo-jumbo:

--No purchase is necessary to enter this contest. Simply comment on our Facebook wall telling us if it's you or a friend you're entering, and you're good to go!

--The free session can be used for families, kids, babies, couples, pets, or individuals; the only things it cannot be used for are boudoir sessions, wedding photography/engagement sessions, and promotionally priced or discounted sessions. 

--Limit one entry per household/family; multiple entries will not be considered. 

--Employees of Rachel Sullivan Photography LLC and their immediate families are ineligible for this contest, but are still eligible for high fives, handshakes, and hugs from me at no charge. 

--Free session must be photographed by December 31st, 2016, and will be scheduled with deference to pre-booked events and sessions. Location of session is TBD. Location and session date details will be chosen with the contest winner after the contest concludes and a winner is chosen. 

--Contest winner will be selected at random on Monday, February 1st. Entries into the contest must be in no later than 11:59pm EST on Sunday, January 31st to be considered for the random drawing. 

More questions? Feel free to drop me a line. Good luck, and we can't wait to see who our first contest winner of 2016 will be!

Coiling Up for Spring

Oh yes. You see what I did there? Coiling up? Ha! I slay me. But in all seriousness, the year is flying by, and as such, spring 2015 is on my doorstep.

Yeah, I'm aware it's only February, but in Florida, February means we're jusssst about out of the season where we might have to think about legitimately cold weather, and we're jusssst about into spring. I'm glad. And intimidated. Because spring is going to be so super busy that I think I can't quite fathom it yet. In 1.5 months of time, I'll have 6 weddings, 10 portrait sessions, 3 events, 2 sets of visitors coming in from out of town, and a handful of social things on my calendar, and that's just what I have scheduled as of right now. February has been (deliberately!) pretty calm, aside from a few portraits and some pre-session and pre-wedding planning stuff, along with a week up in Chicago to visit some clients and some of the most beloved people in my world, but otherwise, month #2 of this year has been serene. I've reacquainted myself with my house. My dogs remember what I look like when not in a flurry of motion to get out the door. I've had time for baking and trying some new recipes. I've even had time for some gardening. (I know. Whaaaaaat?) I would be lying if I said I wasn't enjoying the calm before the storm, so I've been trying to take advantage of this brief period of semi-tranquility before I get hit in the face with my second busiest time of the year. (Second busiest, of course, because let's be honest, nothing will ever come close the mania that is my fall season. Whoa.)

Am I complaining? Not for a second. I remain, as always, grateful that I get to do this for a living and I know how very lucky I am. But I would be dumb to not be a little bit intimidated by my calendar for the next few months. I think that the best way to describe what I'm feeling is this: you know when you're about to go under the water and swim for a bit without surfacing, and you're taking a few big cleansing breaths to get yourself ready, and then you take that one big final gulp of air in anticipation of the plunge? That's where I am right now. I'm enjoying my (relatively) quiet last days of February, taking a few big deep breaths, and prepping myself for the proverbial plunge.

Here we go...deep breath in, and I'm ready. Almost. There are a few more days before the season gets underway and my garden isn't going to tend itself.

Continually in Awe

...I find myself constantly gobsmacked, glad, and grateful that I am able to do what I love and that I'm able to be with people on their most important days. I am finishing up a wedding right now, loving the results, and feeling just so darn happy that I got to be with James and Valerie as they became Mr. and Mrs. Fadool in Tallahassee during their gorgeous winter wedding. Can't wait to share their full album with them; lovely, sweet, funny, silly, meaningful, and beautiful. I sometimes get mired and even bogged down in the planning, business, and technical sides of my job, but then just when I need it, the Universe lands in the middle of me and reminds me that I am truly a lucky lady to be able to get to say to people that, yes, this is what I do for a living. And for that, I am so thankful. I am thankful for every single little moment of my life and my work.

Setting up for a super busy spring, feeling glad to be able to do what a lot of people wish they could, counting my blessings, and enjoying a peaceful Friday after a really long week that tested me. Thank you to the new Mr. and Mrs. Fadool, and as always, thank you to all of my clients. Thanks for your continued faith, patronage, support, and love. You all are my world and I'm glad to know every single one of you.

Happy weekend to you all, friends!

Quick Summer Update!

Holy jeez, how did we get to the end of July already? Since it's super hot out and we're all about to melt, I'll make this quick so you can get back into the pool or back by the fan or however you're keeping yourselves from combusting this summer. Here are a couple of quick updates from the world of RSP!

First, we're setting up for the early fall portrait season. As always, October is tough because of that little Halloween thing I do that takes up most of my time, so if you're in need of portrait or event photography this fall, please get your requests in ASAP! I am limited on the number of appointments I have left and it's first come first served, so the longer you wait, the less options there will be available for you.

While we're on the topic of fall portraits, I'm strongly leaning toward doing a 3rd annual Halloween Mini-session event day. This would be taking place in late September; stay tuned here and to our Facebook page for more info, date possibilities, and booking specifics. This will be an extremely limited engagement; usually I only take six appointments for this event, so if you think you want one, drop me a line and I'll keep you in the loop.

To those of you who took advantage of our July Print Special, your packages are shipping this week! You'll receive the tracking info in your e-mail confirmation once your prints are on their way to you! For those of you who missed out on this promotion, well...I said I wouldn't do another sale during 2014, but maybe if I'm feeling generous I'll toss one out there during the holidays. We shall see.

Speaking of the holiday season, I have several early-birdies who have already snapped up their appointments for holiday portraits. It's never too early to secure your date, so even though it's roughly 8 billion degrees outside and it's hard to imagine that it will ever get cooler outside, we can get into the Christmas spirit by planning your session well in advance. There are still appointments left in December and a few left in November, so talk to me soon if you want to check what's left and get yours reserved!

As always, you can keep up with us here on the blog, through our facebook page (www.facebook.com/rachelsullivanphotography), and of course on the website at www.rachelsullivanphotography.com. We'll keep you up to date on the latest news, events, promotions, and exciting things as we roll on through the back half of 2014. And as always, we're so appreciative of our ever-growing family of clients and for the continued word of mouth and positive recommendations. You are all so wonderful!

Stay cool out there, and don't hesitate to drop us a line for questions and booking!

Falling Through Fall

I say this every year, when I hit my high stress levels as fall gets deeper and deeper into its crazy throes, that I shouldn't shoot weddings in the Autumn. Never, never again, I tell myself, and then every year I have a fit of amnesia and forget how hard it is to try and post-process a wedding in a timely and efficient manner while also dealing with HHN, portraits, and the pre-holiday rush, and I do it all again. This year I double-whammied myself with one wedding in September and then another one less than three weeks after that in early October. Add those to my Horror Nights shot load and various other things and toss in an early November wedding that I just photographed, and I'm just about at my max right now...and I still have the Horror Nights party circuit to assist with planning and execution of. Yeesh. At least I'm conditioned for low amounts of sleep...that's my saving grace. 

So I say it here, committing it to digital paper: never, never again. Until next year when I inevitably forget. 

Even still, check out some of these beauties from my recent weddings. They ARE quite pretty...I suppose that makes it all okay.