I don’t care what anyone says. Golden hour will always be prime time to get photos like these.

Photographers have been predicting trends for 2025 and among them are the death of shallow depth of field with creamy bokeh in favor of shots with everything in focus and golden hour is apparently out too. I can get on board with pumping up those f/stops but you will. not. take. my. golden. hour.

I think golden hour can go a couple of different ways. It can be utilized as a way to get dreamy sunbeams and light leaks or, like in this set of photos, it can be used to create hard shadows and edge. That’s how I like to use golden hour.

couple getting married and saying their vows under the trees with university of tampa in the background

Forgive the reference to a shady movie, but a line in Boogie Nights really speaks to me. The director of photography, Kurt, is on set is obsessing about the shadows. He says, “I got a couple of tough shadows here” and the Jack says, “There’s shadows in life, baby”. I need to let go of the drive to make everything even and creamy and let the shadows just exist.

Something folks definitely won’t know about me is that I have OCD and asymmetry fucks. my. shit. up. Along with crooked lines or competing lines that I can’t fix. These things take my breath away until I fix them. Like I actually hold my breath until they’re fixed.

I just NEED things to be symmetrical. I exorcise these demons in my work and sometimes, I’m able to resist the compulsion to photoshop my work to oblivion. This is one of those times! I’m so proud of myself for being restrained and letting go of the obsession to make everything what I consider to be “perfect” and instead partnering with the light rather than trying to control it.

newly married couple posing during their micro wedding in downtown tampa

Anyway, meet Floriane and Greg! They booked me at the last minute and I’m so pleased I was able to make it all work because this session was good for my soul.

Because of the amount of courthouse weddings that I do, unless it’s the winter when it gets dark early, I really don’t get these early evening bookings. I was so psyched when they chose this time for their little elopement at Malios Prime Steakhouse in Tampa.

Just as the sun was getting low and the shadows long, they were married by their minister, Reverend Rick, in the courtyard and then we spent 30ish minutes galavanting around town shooting some of my favorite photos I’ve ever created.

wedding couple in a suit and wedding dress running across the road in downtown tampa

I really can’t believe that I got so many great captures in such a short period of time. It was all made possible by energetic clients who were up for all of my suggestions and threw themselves into it, sometimes literally.

There’s something about Tampa that I can’t find in Orlando. And I can only describe it as…bright white light. There’s so much white in Tampa. So much fresh brightness and the light hits different for me.

This is a spot just outside of the restaurant which (and I can’t understand why) we were yelled at for shooting in. A disembodied voice on a loud speaker was shouting about it being private property and I was like…yea duh…that’s why they booked their wedding here. Specifically so we could take photos these photos. Doesn’t this spot feel like some kind of sci-fi planet? Luscious.

Floriane was super annoyed that her veil was being taken on a ride by the wind but I LOVE LOVE LOVE it. There’s so much movement and forward motion in their photos and I think that fits them so perfectly as a couple who were full speed ahead once they knew they were in love.

We were to blessed to have been invited to stay for a feast with their two friends and my goodness did Malios put on a spread. Delicious. It also gave me a chance to capture some great candids in B&W the likes of which are really only possible when they’re truly candid and I’m in the middle of the action. That’s right folks, you too can have candids like those if you feed me a steak dinner! 😝

One more thing before I go—I’m so happy they added video to their session. This would have been one of those times where I grieved the lost opportunity to capture video if they hadn’t opted for my videographer to be with us. I think it really is the cherry on top of a very sweet evening.

Thank you for having us, Floriane and Greg, it was truly my pleasure 📸 💛