What Do We Do At The Beach?

I had a great session with the Burke family at a wonderful beach in Captiva Florida and answered the age old question: "What Do We Do At The Beach?

The Burke children new the first rule of beach goers everywhere ~ You must be rested and relaxed ~ lounge around preferably in a hammock before going on to the beach.
If you have to pose for a picture ~ relax and do it like this ~ you all did great!
Look for shells ~ and if you find one be proud and show it off to your family and friends like this:
Did you realize that if you push hard enough on the sand you can make the beach tilt ~ depending on how strong you are . . . Most af all have fun with the people you are with ~ we surely did!

When the Cold Wind Blows in Captiva ~ brrrrrrrrrrr!

It has been a while since I added to the blog ~ I have been busy working towards meeting my publishers deadline (which is swiftly approaching) for the book of my Sanibel and Captiva's images due out in January. You can view and purchase prints of most of the images that will be in my book, on the Fine Arts section of my site.

Here is an image from the book. It is of the beach in Captiva during one of those very windy days around hurricane Charlie.
Yes every so often (but not very) the wind on the beach blows a bit more and the chill bites us a little more than we would like here in SW Florida.
The Millers and family's six wonderful children did great even while the wind blew sand in their eyes and cold in their bones.
One truth I have adopted as a goal is that wonderful grandparents make wonderful families.

Though you may not know it by the image we almost did not get the beach walk ~ but the children stuck in their for one last cold windy walk down the beach.

Amy & Drew's Amazing Wedding

Well!!! I had such a hard time deciding my favorite images to share here on the blog, I love so many of them!

We had the best time at Amy & Drew's wedding!

Amy & Drew make the best couple. I can see them 50 years from now after spending a warm happy life together, still enjoying life and each other.

Amy & Drew had conceptualize the feel and look they were after with Drew purchasing an 18th century coat an top hat & Amy adorned in a beautiful wedding gown and veil that achieve a trip back it style that it so fun to photograph. I love these hats!

Drew was bringing down this very cool mirror from his dressing room and Amy graciously posed in it for us.

Kellen the maid of honor and Kris the best man dressed & took steps back in time to season the wedding day to Amy's and Drew's taste.

After the ceremony we took some beautiful images of Amy.


On their way out to the reception they were showered with peaces of sugar that looked like rice and was safe for the birds & fun for them.

When I saw Amy's mom in the background I new I will feel just like she looks, when I see my daughters walk away from their wedding hand in hand with their new husband! I will feel happy & proud, & for a second I might see their lives from a baby until now flash before me seeing them off on their journey, enjoying the memories we have made together.

Amy & Drew had their wedding carriage (car) designed for their wedding ride to the reception.




At the reception Drew was a little hungry but we had a great time. I enjoyed meeting and speaking with all their family & friends.

I feel so lucky to have met & been able to take images for Amy & Drew.

I feel that their love will touch many throughout the lives.

Love & best wishes,

TheodorePaul

Families that play together - Stay happy!

The Milanis are a happy family here in beautiful SW Florida on vacation - searching for shells, sun, para-sailing, dolphin jumping, ocean swimming, fish-catching(with their hands no doubt)


It is nice to see brothers & a sister that get along so well. I know that family siblings can be best friends that last a lifetime!

A Mother & Daughter's Love

There is nothing stronger than the bond between a mother and daughter & in my session with Marcy & Flori. It was very apparent that they fill a warm space in each other's heart, caring and loving for one another like only a child & mother can.

This sand castle we found with pink flowers that match Flori's dress seems to have been made to order!

Sasé & Pearl - JMASSK - Beautiful Spirited People

I love how beautiful spirited people attract the same!

I finished up a headshot session with an extra amazing musician and friend Sasé and her equally happening band mates a few days ago, and have had the hardest time editing out their images. I love them all!

Sasé is a great singer who performs the world over with different musicians, including going on tour with the classic band "The Platters". I was lucky to enjoy performing with her for years (in my alter musician life) at the Ritz in Naples, Florida, where she still performs regularly. She writes music and lyrics from her heart and has such a warm stage presence that she gains loyal fans were ever she performs.

The trio "JMASSK" includes Sasé - Vocals, Pearl - bass guitar & vocals, and Alan - Lead guitar & Vocals.

Sasé and Pearl also perform as a duo. If you would like to sneak out to see them or JMASSK , they are performing a wide variety of music in SW Florida at:

The Big "M" Casino
Visani
Sneaky Petes.

For information regarding dates of performance visit http://www.jmassk.com
Phone number for bookings: 1(866)574-2035

We had so much fun taking these promotional images, thanks!

If you would like to see all their images in a gallery ( In our two hour session they got 138 images to choose from) click on this link Below:
(If you enjoy the music, it is from a CD of mine called "Under The Sun" - it was the only piece of music I could find to fit this slide show!)

Stand Still & Life Will Come To You

Sometimes if we stand still long enough, life will come to us, not always, but when things are just right, it is a a natural treat.

On this familys' portrait session on a Sanibel beach standing still for this young girl Navi gave her the opportunity to have her portrait taken with this usually camera shy white heron.

Wising you the best in natural treats.

The Pirate Ghost Cloud

While taking family portraiture on Sanibel & Captiva I often tell the true pirate history of these Islands.

On Sanibel & Captiva there were 2 pirates that lived here - Gasbar on Captiva and Ceasar on Sanibel.
Their treasure cashes have yet to be discovered.

Well I got home from this wonderful families portrait session and looked at their images and low and behold in the background of theirs sons images, taken right when I was telling them about the pirates history, was a pirates scull and cross bones in the clouds in the sky behind him. I just thought this was amazing! See the images below and let me know what you think!
Here is a link to some local Sanibel & Captiva pirate history.
http://www.littlebarrestaurant.com/lb50_treasure.html

Casa Rio Estate Images

I am always excited when I get to create images of a home for McMurray & Nette VIP Realty Group, Inc.
Mike and Trevor work the way I love to work, giving 100 percent of themselves to achieving their clients vision and goals.

The "Casa Rio Estate" is "FOR SALE"- It is quite an amazing home built in 1926 by inventor CW Stribley who perfected the process of making Wax Paper. It has a circular protected docking area that goes out to the river which the first dredge was created and used for. This beautiful historically preserved estate is right next to the Henry Ford estate on McGregor Boulevard, looking out over the Caloosahatchee River. If you would like to read more about the Casa Rios' history you can find an article at this link: Casa Rio

It's a New Day!

I am soooo happy to be writing this blog today!

Having run my own web-design and marketing company for five years I had no idea that it would take three years to find the time to create this website.




I have been happily busy, meeting great people
from all around the country and world.

My clients are great people that live here in SW Florida or come here to visit Florida, and while here they give me the privilege of documenting their families with portraiture. I will add some of my destination wedding adventures to future blog posts.