Hope all of my readers are doing well   I have been absent from my blog for far too long.  Just traveling so much and always behind in computer work!  EEK!!

My goal (I said this once before)  is to catch up blogging all of my work I have done this year.  A lot of exciting and beautiful images and experiences to share.  I cannot wait to share them all with you.

Hope you all enjoy the new blog!  It’s still in a state of flux (design).  But, please keep checking back for new posts every week!

Take care everyone,

Karla

Abby and Graham – well, it just does not get any better then these two.  Abby, besides being so beautiful, embraces and has a deep appreciation for art.  So, she and I were a match from day one!  Graham – wow – so TALL and handsome   They have so much fun together.  I could just tell that they were in complete sync with one another during our shoot.  They brought their SO CUTE doggy, Duke with them!  So cute and fuzzy   I am always thrilled when couples want to incorporate their furry family in the sessions.  Love it!

I loved this session and this day.  It was more than I could have ever hoped for.  And am thrilled that they love their photographs!

This image is profound to me in many ways.  Well, beside it being a gorgeous Tiger named China Doll   I feel sad looking at it sometimes.  Sad that this gorgeous Tiger was removed from her home and went through who knows what to have to be ‘rescued’.  It comes down to this – how selfish and entitled people feel.  It is still surprising to me to come across people like this.  I mean this is the extreme act of selfishness – capturing a Tiger and feeling entitled to do what he/she wants to…….  But, it’s sad that there are MANY people out there that are just like them.  Selfish and entitled.  Who think of themselves above all else.  Imagine what life would be if everyone was NOT like that….  But, so far it’s an unrealistic dream of mine.

This photo as I said was photographed a few years ago.  It’s one of my all time favorite photographs I have ever taken.  I remember that it was so early in the morning.  The sun was just rising.  And then China Doll lifted her head to let the sun fall on her face.  Just a WOW moment for a photographer.  The feeling of capturing that moment is indescribable.  I treasure this image.  I treasure it for the photograph itself; for being lucky enough to be at that moment in time to capture it; AND for it to remind me not to be selfish or feel entitled about anything.

For this image I shot film!  Yes, film!  I shot that day with a B/W slide film.  This is a work in progress….  Only in B/W or versions etc…  So, I am going to keep working on the image – maybe in the course of this mini-project I will find that the image needs no further ‘working’.  We’ll see!

Would love to have thoughts about the image – as a work in progress.  As I keep working the image as artists say I will keep posting the different versions.  I really want to have honest opinions on which particular version you love the most and why.

Without further ado – meet the Tigress China Doll.

Edited to add:   A side note:  When I posted this image I then heard about the Tiger summit in Russia.  I encourage you all to read this  article on the 2010 Summit to save the endangered tigers held in St. Petersburg, Russia.  There are many more articles on the web to learn about the summit.

It’s so incredibly hard to think that on 2 to 3 years the less than 3,000 tigers in the wild will be gone.

In all honesty I wish there were something I could do to help.  Their near extinction in the wild breaks my heart and soul.

Here are just a few….  These were shot in 2003 on Moorea….  I shot all film

Here is a wedding I have been wanting to blog wedding for a long time

All I can say is WOW!  Maarit and Kristen contacted me about photographing their wedding in Miami Beach at the famous National Hotel a while ago.  They do not live in Florida so we never had a chance to meet in person before the wedding. But, we all immediately ‘clicked’.  Such a great feeling to feel a real connection to a couple.

It turns out that Kristen is also a wedding photographer!! – so I was all the more honored that they had contacted me…  But, all the nerve wracked when photographing their wedding!  But, they both put me immediately at ease and put their complete faith in me as their photographer.  It’s actually very rare for a couple to let a photographer really do the photographer’s true vision.  By this I mean I was given no ‘instruction’ about anything at all.  They wanted my unadulterated photographic vision of their wedding.

Such gorgeous ladies inside and out.  Their love for one another was overwhelming to be honest. Kristen seeing Maarit coming down the aisle brought tears to my eyes!  You could just see how her love was literally beaming from her….  And that is an understatement.

Their taste in everything for the wedding was impeccable!  Everything from Maarit’s gown to the cigar bar they set up at the reception.  They thought of everything.

They also had an awesome day of wedding coordinator, Bernadette Coveney Smith from 14 Stories

I love love love this wedding and feel so thrilled that I was part of it   Not sure if anyone has noticed but Maarit is also one of my blog fans!  She is so sweet and posts comments and compliments on posts all the time.

There are a ton of photos in this blog post – just could not edit it down more   So, please do take time to look at all the photos to see all the love, fun and style of their wedding in Miami Beach.

Hope you enjoy the images and as always please visit my site: www.karlafountain.com.

The wedding posts that will be coming up:  Erin & Vinnie shot in Ohio (this was up but got lost)…   Maarit & Kristen – shot in Miami Beach…  Sarah & Tyler – Orlando…  Jacqui & Randy – Orlando…  Amy & Brian – Winter Park….  Julia & Robby – Long Boat Key (Sarasota)….  Rebecca & Scott – Daytona

Engagement sessions:  Jacqui & Randy’s….  Stephanie & Jeff….  Rebecca & Scott – St. Augustine…

Portrait sessions:  Kyle & José & Family…. Janna King & Family in Melbourne beach…  Heather Lively & Family… Malissa & Mike & Family (pending permission)…

There are more posts upcoming then the ones listed above…  I just don’t want my clients to think they are not going to be on the blog! 

Hugs to all

So, the blog was offline all of last week.  Not exactly sure why….  But, my wonderful web designers got it back online.  But, it’s finally up and running again.  Thank God!  There are a bunch of missing posts from this whole huge mess – but will do my best to get them back online ASAP.

Sorry if your post is one of the missing posts but I am working to get them back online…

Hugs everyone!

Karla

Rebecca (the bride) and I have been friends for a while and it was jut SO much fun to photograph them.  Scott is amazing and perfect for her.  SO happy to see them together…  Smokin’ hot photographs!

Hope you enjoy the images and as always please visit my site: karlafountain.com

P.S. this engagement session was posted already but was lost on my blog internet server change…

I am still catching up on weddings, engagements and portrait sessions here on the blog…..  Stay tuned!

In the meantime here is a gorgeous wedding of Katie and Matt at the amazing Maison Jardin in Lake Mary, Fl.  It was a gorgeous sunny day  – a little hot but it’s Florida

Katie was so gorgeous – her gown was regal, and implied elegance that is Katie.  She is such a sweet and genuine person – so an elegant dress was certainly fitting for her

The wedding was wonderful!  Taking place outside on the Maison Jardin lawn just outside their gorgeous garden.  All I can say about the cake and the decor is gorgeous!  It fit the wedding and the location.  A lot of forethought went into all the details of this wedding

Hope you enjoy the images and as always please visit my site: Karla Fountain Photography and my blog: Karla Fountain’s Blog