Orlando Wedding Photographer

Photo Friday: Self-Indulgent Family Portraits

[shareaholic app=”share_buttons” id=”20872686″]

Prior to our family vacation to Orlando, my mom called saying she wanted to get some professional photos taken of all of us, considering we haven’t had family portraits since we were still members of First Baptist Church in the early 90’s. (She also wanted some “engagement shots” of SVV and me, though don’t worry, we won’t be those people who send them out on our save-the-dates.) Conveniently enough, I have a highly-talented photographer friend Lori who resides in the Orlando area and was more than happy to assume the task.

I thought they turned out pretty great. SVV, however, was disappointed in his performance. (When you ask him to pose, he plasters on this fake smile and juts out his chin, like he couldn’t be more uncomfortable. Why do dudes do that anyway?) He’s still getting used to this “life on camera” that comes with dating a Luna. Unlike me, he did not have an overenthusiastic mother who documented his every move 365 days a year on both 35mm film and video. (Oh wait, guess it must have rubbed off, as that’s exactly what I do now!)

(I still think he’s cute anyway. But I suppose I’m biased.)

It was hotter than Hades out—Orlando, outdoors in the height of summer is not ideal for trying to look pretty—so we were all sweating profusely and trying to stay un-shiny (it didn’t always work in my case). When Lori took my sister and me, we kept fighting to be on our “good side” (we both prefer the left), so we had to take the same pictures and then do a switcheroo. I’m sure Lori wasn’t at all fed up with us by the time the shoot was over!

Lori kept telling me my smile was “too plastic.” (That’s why I love her; she’s 1000% honest with me.) I suppose, but again, that’s also what comes with being trained to pull off a perfect photo or risking your mother posting every embarrassing shot of you across Tennessee.

To remedy that, my dad took it upon himself to make us laugh (he’d had a few beers in him, per the norm).

Kari and Nick were up next. Aren’t they darling?

And here’s us with The Shrimp; notice we had to bend down to all be in the same frame. (She’s barely over five feet tall!)

And the whole fam.

Still, my favorite one was this totally candid one of Kari and I with my dad. A keeper, for sure.

Brides-to-be, recent graduates, families, pet owners in Orlando, call Lori! She rocks!

COMMENTS
  • August 7, 2009

    Oooh, you and SVV are so pretty together! 🙂

  • August 7, 2009

    All my favorite pictures have always been completely accidental. There’s something so perfect and beautiful about a person when they’re being themselves naturally, especially if they’re laughing.
    In other news, you have a dress collection that I’d shank a bitch for. Seriously, you look amazing.

  • August 7, 2009

    My fav is the B&W candid with your Dad – your expressions and you and your sister’s hair just glows! I’m always drawn to people shots in B&W. They’re all great shots though – and a beautiful, happy family! And your Mom, my gosh, she definitely did not contribute the height gene!

  • August 7, 2009

    The pictures are beautiful! And tell your fiancee that he looks great – he has no reason to feel self-conscious! Love the one with your dad as well.

  • August 7, 2009

    My best side is my left too! Wow, hope no-one ever takes pictures of you, me, and Kari together — sounds like there’d be some fighting going on!

  • August 7, 2009

    So you’re not supposed to put an engagement photo on the save the date cards? Wow, then all my friends did it wrong.

    GREAT photos!

  • August 7, 2009
    karen

    great pictures! my sister does that big smile/chin jut thing for pics except when she does it it looks ridiculous in photos. I think SVV looks great! You too! Lovely family.

    I saw your tweet but my response was more than 140 characters:)
    We stayed at Hotel Solamar in the gaslamp district for the last week of December and loved it. We don’t have any pets but you can bring dogs with you if you like. You’d never know it though by how clean and nice smelling this place was…just saw some cute well behaved, leashed dogs at the registration area a few times.
    The rooms were nice and they give you as much wine as you care to drink in the lobby (you can take it back to your room too) every evening. good times! The lobby was extra nice in december with the fire going in the fireplace. Our room was overlooking the pool/outdoor bar area but it was really quiet…probably b/c it was December and gloomy and rained part of the time so of course there were only a handful of people that even went in the pool. Oh and besides the wine in the evenings they have delicious coffee and tea (soy milk too which I use and appreciated) in the lobby area in the mornings. Short walking distance to everything.
    http://www.hotelsolamar.com/

  • August 7, 2009

    I love your dress! Such a great color on you.

  • August 7, 2009

    Awesome pics!!! I agree with above. your dress colour looks good on you!

  • August 7, 2009

    These turned out so cute!

    My mom is also a shrimp. She fits nicely under my chin, and I rather like it that way.

  • August 7, 2009

    Fabulous photos! I love the black and white shot of you guys with your Dad, you look like you’re having so much fun!

  • August 7, 2009

    Y’all are way too cute!

  • August 7, 2009

    Wow, these are such beautiful pictures. The pic of you guys and your dad is so sweet!

  • August 7, 2009

    You guys are all so pretty! Uh, I mean the men are handsome. Handsome manly men!

  • August 7, 2009

    Nice shots. Lori did great.

  • August 8, 2009

    Aw, you are too sweet! And I totally have VPL in those shots! LOL!!

  • August 8, 2009

    Yes I think the relaxed and candid ones are best, but I’m sure you routinely gaze lovingly into each other’s eyes too.

  • August 8, 2009

    I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE that picture of you and your sis and your dad. it’s stunning!

  • August 8, 2009

    Great photos! I’m not even sure which is my best side – LOL!

  • August 9, 2009
    Bethany

    These photos are great. The candid one is definitely my favorite.

  • August 9, 2009

    I love it when you do family photos 🙂 You look gorgeous in those pics!

  • August 9, 2009

    Lovely photos. We are hoping to do some professional pics on the beach when we go to the Turks and Caicos next month.

  • August 9, 2009

    Love the candid photo with your dad! Note to self: more photos with my dad.

  • August 10, 2009

    I love the photo of you looking up at SVV and laughing. So natural and in love!

  • August 10, 2009

    that’s a hell of alot of beautiful people in your photo shoot.

  • August 12, 2009

    Great pictures! I love your solo picture. You looks so beautiful in that shot and blue is definitely your color.

  • April 14, 2016

    Grade A stuff. I’m unquestionably in your debt.

Leave a Comment