Elise Schreiner Photography

I've Moved!!!

2009-09-23T11:54:00.004-04:00

They say it's all about the real estate so I've moved into bigger and better digs! I'll be leaving this up for a while but to see what's going on head on over to www.blog.eliseschreiner.com.

I have tons and bunches of stuff to share so I can't wait to see you there!

Elise Schreiner is a wedding and portrait photographer in Tampa Bay Florida and is available for travel anywhere in the world! Visit me at Elise Schreiner Photography for more details!
Capture Love~Capture Laughter~Capture Life

{B is for Boys}

2009-06-14T15:24:00.006-04:00

How does that nursery rhyme go.... snips and snail, and puppy dog tails, that's what little boys are made of? I'm not sure about the snips and snails, but the Boggini brothers were definitely full of energy.

We got together for a "Family Session" and it was non-stop action... there was bike riding and skateboarding along with some football and a little golf. I had an absolute blast with these guys!

The light in the front entry of their home was beautiful and I couldn't help but take a few shots.

This is one of my favorites.

Heather - you have a beautiful family and I loved spending the afternoon with you. Thanks for trusting me to capture your boys personalities!

Elise Schreiner is a wedding and portrait photographer in Tampa Bay Florida and is available for travel anywhere in the world! Visit me at Elise Schreiner Photography for more details!

Capture Love~Capture Laughter~Capture Life

{Roadtrip}

2009-06-06T22:33:00.016-04:00

So I went to Alabama to shoot a wedding and stopped to see the sights on the way home. I have totally fallen in love with Apalachicola in the Florida panhandle. Here are a few of my favorite shots.

I had the best time in this cute, cute little town and I can't wait to go back.

Elise Schreiner is a wedding and portrait photographer in Tampa Bay Florida and is available for travel anywhere in the world! Visit me at Elise Schreiner Photography for more details!

Capture Love~Capture Laughter~Capture Life

{play date}

2009-04-08T20:37:00.013-04:00

My friends Trish and Juliette are new mommies and members of a great play group and they invited me to the park to play with them. All of the mommies were super nice and the babies adorable!!

Don't you agree?!?!?!

Elise Schreiner is a wedding and portrait photographer in Tampa Bay Florida and is available for travel anywhere in the world! Visit me at Elise Schreiner Photography for more details!

Capture Love~Capture Laughter~Capture Life

{gone racing}

2009-04-04T15:05:00.004-04:00

I'm going to be hard to get ahold of for the next few days. I'm shooting the St Pete Grand Prix .

I'll return all calls and emails on Monday.

Elise Schreiner is a wedding and portrait photographer in Tampa Bay Florida and is available for travel anywhere in the world! Visit me at Elise Schreiner Photography for more details!

Capture Love~Capture Laughter~Capture Life

{welcome baby k}

2009-03-22T11:51:00.016-04:00

I am please to introduce to you Miss Kennedy Gale. She was born Thursday afternoon and I must say the world is a more beautiful place with her in it. {The fact she is my newest niece has not influenced my opinion at all... I swear!}

There are a ton of pictures on this post. And more post coming soon!

I promise there will be more posts soon. I mean, really, how can you resist such a cute baby?!?!?! Besides the rest of my nieces and nephews are equally adorable and I have great pictures of them to post as well.

{Yes-I know things look a little different on this post. I'm in Albuquerque, New Mexico and I'm using my sisters computer.}

Elise Schreiner is a wedding and portrait photographer in Tampa Bay Florida and is available for travel anywhere in the world! Visit me at Elise Schreiner Photography for more details!

Capture Love~Capture Laughter~Capture Life

{two sisters = two times the cuteness}

2009-03-14T23:11:00.023-04:00

There is absolutely no denying how cute these sisters are!! And not only are they cute but they are a blast to hang out with. We met at the park and had a great time playing dress up and climbing trees.

They both have the most amazing eyes and beautiful smiles.

Case in point!

See what I mean about the eyes?

The little one was such a cutie in her tutu... she looked like she was sitting in a cloud of fluff.

However big sister quickly decided that a tutu wasn't the ideal tree climbing attire and was ready to change.

Climbing in this great ol' tree brought back that beautiful smile.

Thanks for bringing the girls out to play. They are sweet and beautiful and I had a great time with all of you.

Elise Schreiner is a wedding and portrait photographer in Tampa Bay Florida and is available for travel anywhere in the world! Visit me at Elise Schreiner Photography for more details!

Capture Love~Capture Laughter~Capture Life

{Jessi + Zack = beaming}

2009-03-01T01:17:00.033-05:00

I am lucky enough to live some place where I am surrounded by water and yet I haven't ever shot on the water... around the water yes... but on the water no. Until I met Jessi and Zack that is. They took me out on the water and showed me the beauty of sailing and the beauty of their love.

{get comfy... this is a long post....there are a lot of great pictures}

The weather couldn't have been any more perfect to go out on the water.

I love how she is looking at him in this picture. It's one of my faves.

Jessi was an awesome model.... dare I say Supermodel?!

Of course together they rocked it!

Aside from being rock star supermodels... these guys were also a lot of fun!

Jessi will be getting married barefoot... wearing cool beaded anklets like these.

As the sun was setting we brought... okay Zack brought the boat in...I had absolutely nothing do do with it... and took even more pictures.

Thanks for letting me capture your beauty and love. I can't wait for the wedding. It promises to be amazing!

{ps - I brought my good friend and fellow photographer Carolina along to help me with a project I'm working on. I can't wait to share it with you!!!}

Elise Schreiner is a wedding and portrait photographer in Tampa Bay Florida and is available for travel anywhere in the world! Visit me at Elise Schreiner Photography for more details!

Capture Love~Capture Laughter~Capture Life

{hint}

2009-02-22T22:10:00.006-05:00

I had the most amazing shoot today.
Here is a hint.
I can't wait to show you the rests!!! Soon I promise!!!

Elise Schreiner is a wedding and portrait photographer in Tampa Bay Florida and is available for travel anywhere in the world! Visit me at Elise Schreiner Photography for more details!

Capture Love~Capture Laughter~Capture Life

Officially Mrs. M.

2009-02-16T00:02:00.013-05:00

They were in love... beautifully in love. They were also a little sneaky.
And with only a few days notice to family and friends they joined their hearts and their lives forever.

Absolutely stunning!

She had on the cutest shoes... and you know how I'm a sucker for cute shoes!

The church had this beautiful stained glass up in the balcony and with the setting sun it made the perfect backdrop.

Congratulations guys. Thanks for letting me in on your little secret!

Elise Schreiner is a wedding and portrait photographer in Tampa Bay Florida and is available for travel anywhere in the world! Visit me at Elise Schreiner Photography for more details!

Capture Love~Capture Laughter~Capture Life

The Waiting Game

2009-02-14T23:27:00.008-05:00

Have you ever heard the expression that time flies?? Well not when you're waiting for a baby.

Of course when you look this good pregnant it makes the waiting a little more bearable.

It doesn't hurt that you "make" kids that are this cute!

I can't wait to meet baby Liam. I'm sure he will fit into this wonderful family just beautifully.

Elise Schreiner is a wedding and portrait photographer in Tampa Bay Florida and is available for travel anywhere in the world! Visit me at Elise Schreiner Photography for more details!

Capture Love~Capture Laughter~Capture Life

{showcase}

2009-01-15T21:27:00.007-05:00

I wanted to share with you the amazing way my friend Tiffany is showcasing her kids' portrait from our holiday session. When you walk into her house this is what you see. (I'm going to sneak in and take a picture of it hanging... it looks even better.)

I love gallery wrapped canvas... so simple and so beautiful. Stretched over a thick wooden frame and ready to hang there is no fuss-no muss with a wrapped canvas. But the impact is amazing.

I love the texture of this canvas. I think it fits the textures and action in the picture.

This canvas measures 30 inches across and is 44 inches tall. When it comes to Canvas bigger is always better. Tiff - You have amazing taste!

Elise Schreiner is a wedding and portrait photographer in Tampa Bay Florida and is available for travel anywhere in the world! Visit me at Elise Schreiner Photography for more details!

Capture Love~Capture Laughter~Capture Life

"V" is for Very Pretty!

2009-01-10T16:37:00.006-05:00

Ms. Victoria is very photogenic and a natural in front of the camera. She wanted some non-traditional pictures so we ventured out to Ft. Desoto... there are so many amazing places to shoot. I think you'll agree it was time well spent.

Thanks for a great morning!

If you're looking for some non-traditional pictures... something that highlights your personality give me a call or drop me an email.

Elise Schreiner is a wedding and portrait photographer in Tampa Bay Florida and is available for travel anywhere in the world! Visit me at Elise Schreiner Photography for more details!

Capture Love~Capture Laughter~Capture Life

Colorful Confusion

2009-01-05T23:35:00.006-05:00

I'll give you one guess who dressed herself...

I posted the cutest ever picture of my kids from Christmas morning here. Lu-Lu jumped up into her brother's arms and gave him a big thank you hug for the awesome princess pencil bag and eraser he gave her. (And picked out all by himself I should add.) She was really into Christmas this year and was constantly singing Christmas carols. Santa Clause is Coming to Town and I Want to Wish You a Merry Christmas were two of her favorites.

But our holidays wouldn't have been complete with out Lu-Lu's award-winning holiday performance at her preschool... her Jewish preschool where she sang about lighting the Menorah on Hanukkah.... all the while dressed like Pippy Longstocking. Bless her little heart.

Please make note of the Princess necklace around her neck. It's made up of pearls and a blue shoe that says "I'm Cinderella." when you push it.

I think she is the most perfectest princess I have ever seen.

Elise Schreiner is a wedding and portrait photographer in Tampa Bay Florida and is available for travel anywhere in the world! Visit me at Elise Schreiner Photography for more details!

Capture Love~Capture Laughter~Capture Life

Ft Desoto

2009-01-03T23:24:00.009-05:00

So I met some of my awesome "friends" at Ft Desoto this morning and we had a blast exploring the fort and the pier. They spent most of the time laughing... at each other and at me... which I didn't mind cuz as you can see it made for some super cute pictures. They said they wanted their pictures to look different from your normal "wegottogetherandposedforsomepictures" pictures. Well Amanda and Michael... here's a little different.

Elise Schreiner is a wedding and portrait photographer in Tampa Bay Florida and is available for travel anywhere in the world! Visit me at Elise Schreiner Photography for more details!

Capture Love~Capture Laughter~Capture Life

Ooh La La!

2009-01-03T00:48:00.008-05:00

Love is in the Air!

And it's sizzling hot!

A boudoir marathon has been planned for Saturday January 17th & Sunday January 18, 2009. The specific locations are under wraps until you book your session - then the details will be released. I've sent out an email to all previous inquirers to get a head start on booking, and I’ve booked up several spots already.

These spots are going to go FAST, and when they’re gone, they’re gone! I won’t be having another marathon until this summer, so you definitely want to get in on this one because it’s just in time for VALENTINE’S DAY GIFTS.

So whether you are looking for something soft and sexy or something a little racy there’s nothing better than seeing their reaction when they open your extra special gift!

I have put together several packages and will have someone on location to help you get ready and look your best. To find out more information, or to book your session, please shoot me an email at elise@eliseschreiner.com. Once you decide on your package, you’ll receive an invoice for half down to reserve your session Once that’s completed, more details will be given, and a welcome letter will be sent in the week prior to the event, to let you know what to expect!

Don’t miss this chance! So many people missed out on the last marathon because they waited too late! I’m adding a free 8×10 art print if you book before Wednesday, January 7th.

Elise Schreiner is a wedding and portrait photographer in Tampa Bay Florida and is available for travel anywhere in the world! Visit me at Elise Schreiner Photography for more details!

Capture Love~Capture Laughter~Capture Life

A Beautiful Sight

2008-12-28T11:00:00.002-05:00

I hope something similar to this greeting you on Christmas morning!

Elise Schreiner is a wedding and portrait photographer in Tampa Bay Florida and is available for travel anywhere in the world! Visit me at Elise Schreiner Photography for more details!

Capture Love~Capture Laughter~Capture Life

A Shoot Like None Other!

2008-11-30T22:13:00.008-05:00

Okay, okay, okay! I give in already. I usually love a challenge. You know... a kid who doesn't want anything to do with having their picture taken... with a mom who is always saying "cheese" just when you get said kid to crack a smile? Or the newborn baby who would rather cry and fuss than coo for the camera? But an entire family that would rather have their spleens cut out than have a camera around????

So I gave in, laughed a lot and got this!

Of course there were a few bright spots. Like these two cute (and cooperative) subjects.

Okay... maybe it wasn't all that bad and they weren't really all that camera-phonic. It was a grand adventure and well worth the laughs.

Thanks for a great day!

Elise Schreiner is a wedding and portrait photographer in Tampa Bay Florida and is available for travel anywhere in the world! Visit me at Elise Schreiner Photography for more details!

Capture Love~Capture Laughter~Capture Life

Introducing the Walker Quads

2008-11-23T22:59:00.016-05:00

Warning! This is just the first of many long posts of exceptionally beautiful babies & their amazing family.

It started as as most relationships do... the simple attraction between a beautiful girl and a handsome young man & it blossomed into love. As their love grew so did their desire to have a baby. They got their wish... times four. Four perfectly beautiful babies: Jillian, Cameron, Cash and Jack. I went to their home to meet the little ones and capture this special time in their lives. Here is a glimpse of what their day is like.

They call their living room "Baby Island" and it is. Everywhere you look there are babies and baby stuff .

These are the amazing parents.

Who are very much in love with each other.

They are also in love with their children. You can see it on their faces when they think of the babies, hear it in their voices when they talk to the little ones and feel it as soon as you walk into their home.
Dad is amazingly comfortable and gentle with the little ones.

I am sure that the babies feel safe and secure in his strong hands.

Mom is beautiful inside and out. She is so calm and relaxed... quite a feat with so many babies demanding her time and attention.

We took advantage of their building's big lobby which has a lot of light and space.

This is one of my favorites.

Like I said this is just the first of several posts staring the Walker Quads. (I had way too many favorites... but in my defense there are four of them!)
To read more about their story click here.

Elise Schreiner is a wedding and portrait photographer in Tampa Bay Florida and is available for travel anywhere in the world! Visit me at Elise Schreiner Photography for more details!

Capture Love~Capture Laughter~Capture Life

Her Best Face Forward

2008-11-22T17:10:00.009-05:00

I know, I know! I say I have the best job in the world ALL the time. But that's because it's true. Take shooting Danielle for example... sweet & beautiful, playful and smart. Who wouldn't want to spend time with her? We spent some time together this week to capture her inner and outer beauty.

The pictures were for her yearbook so I designed a page that fits her personality.

Danielle - thanks for trusting me to capture your pretty face and beautiful heart. I'm thrilled you like your page. (And thanks mom for trusting me with your "baby". She rocked it didn't she?!?!)

Elise Schreiner is a wedding and portrait photographer in Tampa Bay Florida and is available for travel anywhere in the world! Visit me at Elise Schreiner Photography for more details!

Capture Love~Capture Laughter~Capture Life

{ J } is for Jewel

2008-11-02T22:42:00.009-05:00

I had the most amazing time with Baby J, his Mom and his Grandmother. This little man is full of personality and determination and he is surrounded by love. We went to his favorite "secret" park and he played and played and played. And then he played some more.

When we were finished playing we went back to their house and the light was so beautiful I just had to take a few more pictures.

I'm usually a full color gal but I decided to play around with black and white conversions on a few of them.

There is this awesome picture in his room and I just had to get a shot.

Thanks for letting me spend some time with you. You are one very cute little guy and I can't wait to play with you again.

Elise Schreiner is a wedding and portrait photographer in Tampa Bay Florida and is available for travel anywhere in the world! Visit me at Elise Schreiner Photography for more details!

Capture Love~Capture Laughter~Capture Life

It's Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas!

2008-10-26T21:28:00.010-04:00

Holiday shoots are a blast. This one was fun and creative. I love it when the kids go along with the crazy ideas I come up with. Especially when they are as cute as these two.

Of course we want to keep the actual Christmas Card a surprise... but I can't resist giving a sneak peek.

Of course this is my absolutely, positively, no question about it favorite picture of the day... I mean how can you not love this?!?!?! Look how pretty she is and could he be any cuter?!?!?!?!?!

Be nice... you definitely want to be on their Christmas Card list!

Elise Schreiner is a wedding and portrait photographer in Tampa Bay Florida and is available for travel anywhere in the world! Visit me at Elise Schreiner Photography for more details!

Capture Love~Capture Laughter~Capture Life

Not Fall But Still Beautiful

2008-10-25T18:57:00.021-04:00

I loved going back home and shooting in the parks I played in as a child. I had hoped for it to look a little more fall-ish but the leaves didn't look like they had even thought about turning colors. So the background was more spring-ish but it was still a beautiful place to shoot.
And check out this good looking couple! Meet my Dad and Stepmom.

See?!?!? I told you they were good looking.
It was great to see you! We had a fantastic time and can't wait for you to come visit us.

Elise Schreiner is a wedding and portrait photographer in Tampa Bay Florida and is available for travel anywhere in the world! Visit me at Elise Schreiner Photography for more details!

Capture Love~Capture Laughter~Capture Life

One Fine Day!

2008-10-19T20:52:00.021-04:00

It was a beautiful morning. There was a slight chill in the air - ok I admit it wasn't even really brisk - but by Florida standards it was Fall-ish. The sun was soft and gentle and there was a slight breeze. And I had the pleasure of sharing this first Fall morning with the Fine family. I have enjoyed watching these kids grow and capturing their bright personalities. For the past several years their family portraits have been taken at the beach or on their dock. This year they wanted something different. I think we accomplished that and we even found some water.

Thanks for letting me spend the first morning of Fall with you.
{And good luck picking your favorite. As you can tell I couldn't pick just one!}

Elise Schreiner is a wedding and portrait photographer in Tampa Bay Florida and is available for travel anywhere in the world! Visit me at Elise Schreiner Photography for more details!

Capture Love~Capture Laughter~Capture Life

The Many Faces of Lu-Lu.

2008-10-16T09:32:00.009-04:00

I have a ton of work that I should be doing but I couldn't help myself...

Elise Schreiner is a wedding and portrait photographer in Tampa Bay Florida and is available for travel anywhere in the world! Visit me at Elise Schreiner Photography for more details!

Capture Love~Capture Laughter~Capture Life

I'm Back!

2008-10-15T20:55:00.020-04:00

It was a whirl wind trip to Tulsa, Oklahoma for my Nana's 89th birthday party this past weekend. She had a great party with a lot of family and friends. I also got to shoot several Holiday Sessions - a couple in the park where I had my senior pictures taken. (How's that for full circle?!) And even though we didn't have the feeling and look of Fall it was a beautiful backdrop.

My mom is a volunteer curator of the Linnaeus Teaching Gardens and she gave me and my lil' Lu-Lu a guided tour. It is an absolutely amazingly gorgeous place... with waterfalls and lotus plants, cobblestone walkways and cotton plants, flowering annuals and festive perennials. If you find yourself in T-town stop by for a look around. I promise you won't be disappointed.

Through the doors of this cute little barn lays the most splendid garden. Lets take a look shall we?

I loved watching my mom show her favorite granddaughter (sorry sis) around the gardens. My mom has an amazing green thumb and this garden is proof of her knowledge and hard work.

See I told you it was an amazing place!

I have lots and lots and lots and lots of pictures from the trip to post so check back soon.

Elise Schreiner is a wedding and portrait photographer in Tampa Bay Florida and is available for travel anywhere in the world! Visit me at Elise Schreiner Photography for more details!

Capture Love~Capture Laughter~Capture Life

Eat Your Heart Out!

2008-10-07T23:22:00.004-04:00

This was my "date" this afternoon. Isn't he beautiful?
I have tons and tons of equally amazing pictures of this beautiful little boy and I promise to post more later but this one caught my eye and I had to post it.
Thanks mom I had a great time with all of you.

Elise Schreiner is a wedding and portrait photographer in Tampa Bay Florida and is available for travel anywhere in the world! Visit me at Elise Schreiner Photography for more details!

Capture Love~Capture Laughter~Capture Life

Just One Word...Gorgeous!

2008-10-07T11:55:00.013-04:00

I love what I do and when the weather is nice, the light is beautiful and the family is as gorgeous as this one I love it even more. We met up at the beach to shoot their Holiday Mini Session and we got a ton of fabulous shots. I had a hard time narrowing it down but here are my favorites.

On the way back to the car we spotted this awesome old fire truck and I just had to get a few snaps in before the light totally faded.

If you still want to book your Holiday Mini Session contact me soon.

Elise Schreiner is a wedding and portrait photographer in Tampa Bay Florida and is available for travel anywhere in the world! Visit me at Elise Schreiner Photography for more details!

Capture Love~Capture Laughter~Capture Life

So Close and Yet So Far Away

2008-10-03T15:57:00.006-04:00

And more than a little bit sad......

Although I enjoy and respect the work of many photographers I love the work of Millie Holloman. I have been block stalking her for as long as I can remember. So imagine my excitement when I discovered that Millie and three other equally talented (and now equally loved) photographers had teamed up to host a workshop to help photographers like me not only take their photography skills to the next level but their business skills as well. AND if that wasn't enough... these kind and saintly women help the workshop attendees find balance in their lives with the juggling of work, friends, community and family.

Last year's workshop was on Bald Head Island in North Carolina which isn't too far from Florida... I could probably hitch hike there in a couple of days.... three at most. So I waited and waited for the announcement of this year's workshop. When it came it was a doozy. It was across the country in San Diego. And it was out of reach.

The dark cloud of disappointment hung over my head for what seemed like an eternity. My husband and friends tried to cheer me up but to no avail. Nothing worked. Nothing, that is, until I saw that the saintly women of Love Affair were going to award a scholarship to the most creative submission. So I racked my brain... I beat it against the wall... and I tried to come up with a creative submission that would scream "pick me, pick me" too loudly to be ignored.

And I came up with nothing... nadda... zip. I had a creative block the size of Mount Rushmore. My husband didn't understand my disapointment... he could have cared less. Or so I thought.

Imagine my surprise when I logged on to the Love Affair site and saw this:

(copied from LoveAffairWorkshop.com)

SCHOLARSHIP RUNNERS UP...

Posted on Tuesday, September 30, 2008 by Millie

I blogged yesterday about how we got sooooo many amazing entires and how hard it was to decide! We really wanted ALOT of people to be able to come but as you know that would not have been possible!

Here are four that we really LOVED and although they are not the final winning selection, they very well could have been! These people went the extra mile with creativity and something about their submission shined!

We wanted to be able to give something to those of you who won runner up because we know you put lots of fun energy and effort into your submission. So... we are offering these four runner ups $500 off the November 2008 San Diego Workshop. Just give us a call or go onto the blog to register to claim your discount by this Friday! (This offer is only available while there is still space available so hurry up and register to secure your spot).

SO DRUMROLL PLEASE.... here they are!

This video was sent in by "Shriner" who went on air to talk about the scholarship and submit an entry for his wife. How sweet is he?!

I have to agree... how sweet is he?!?!?!?!?!!?! I was in shock and awe of what he had done. And that he had been able to keep it a secret from me. I can usually tell when he is up to something but not this time. I had no idea.

Unfortunately the generous discount that comes with being runner up isn't enough to get me there. I've spent the last couple of days frantically trying to figure out how to make it work financially. Maybe if I didn't eat for the next 567 days and we learned to live without electricity we could afford it. Or if I sold my husbands car - sorry honey, but I really need mine and you do have a really nice bike. I even thought about selling one of the kids - they're both cute. But an attorney friend of mine said the law kind of frowns on selling your kids or your organs for a profit.

So the Love Affair Workshop will have to wait. Unless someone wants to donate $3,000 to a very worthy cause.

Elise Schreiner is a wedding and portrait photographer in Tampa Bay Florida and is available for travel anywhere in the world! Visit me at Elise Schreiner Photography for more details!

Capture Love~Capture Laughter~Capture Life

Rays Days

2008-10-03T13:21:00.005-04:00

Every one is going crazy for the Rays. My son's school has proclaimed today "Rays Day" and all of the kids were encouraged to show their spirit. It was a sea of blue and white! One teacher even turned her room into Tropicana Field!

Isn't he one of the cutest ticket holders you've ever seen?!?!?!?!

This one could so be a bat boy for the Rays.

Love the hair!

Go Rays!
ps - sorry for the lack of postings lately. I've been so busy shooting. If you haven't scheduled your holiday session yet contact me soon.

Elise Schreiner is a wedding and portrait photographer in Tampa Bay Florida and is available for travel anywhere in the world! Visit me at Elise Schreiner Photography for more details!
Capture Love~Capture Laughter~Capture Life

On the Cover of the Rolling Stone

2008-09-24T21:02:00.012-04:00

Sometimes you're in the right place at the right time. And this past Friday night not only was I in the right place at the right time but I also had my camera with me. I went to Caddy's down on the beach to meet up with some friends after a shoot. I thought we'd sit on the sand and watch our kids run around and maybe get a bite to eat. But we got so much more than that.

This is Austin. And he rocks!

Austin has been playing for three years. This is his guitar teacher. You'll just have to believe me when I say he's a really good teacher. Really, really good. This 12 year old rocked out like someone twice his age.

Playing in front of the crowd didn't phase him... but I don't think he liked being in front of my camera.

His little sister was so proud of her big brother. We all were.

When he's a famous rock star these pictures will be worth a lot of money!!!

Elise Schreiner is a wedding and portrait photographer in Tampa Bay Florida and is available for travel anywhere in the world! Visit me at Elise Schreiner Photography for more details!
Capture Love~Capture Laughter~Capture Life

A Sneak Peek of the Amazing Mr. A.

2008-09-23T22:00:00.006-04:00

I usually wait until I've at least seen all of the pictures from a shoot before I start posting things here... but as I was downloading images from a session this morning two pictures just jumped out at me and screamed "look at me, look at me". I couldn't stop myself from posting a quick sneak peek of Mr. A for his mom.
I love, love, love this first one. Mr. A's mom said he was being a bit clingy and fussy and wouldn't stand (or is that lay?) for being put down. But he nestled right into this pose as if Mother Nature herself was cradling him.

And he was equally content on my new orange chair.

What a beautiful little man. I can't wait to watch him grow up.

{PS - yes mom I AM the baby whisperer!}

Love & Laughter & A Guest Blogger

2008-09-22T23:09:00.002-04:00

Some people never cease to amaze me. People who live and love fully. Lee & Gil are those kind of people. I had the absolute pleasure of shooting an engagement session for them. They were fun and flirty, hot and steamy and a blast to work with. It's not always easy being a rock star model on the streets of downtown St Pete but these two pulled it off like pros. This is my favorite shot of the day.

I think this one is hot too.

Of course I think Lee is positively beaming. I believe people could actually feel her happiness from a block away.

(Did you see the heart in the picture above?)

I just love this picture... it pretty much sums up their relationship!

Fast forward to a few days later... Gil sends me a link to his blog which has the most shocking recount of our time together.

Well..... shocking may be taking it a little far...... maybe you should just read it for yourself.

What a Poser - by Gil

I think everyone likes attention. Sure, there are varying degrees of attention one can receive and depending on the amount, the slide on the scale of personal comfort can easily move from reinforcing flattery to hot-under-the-collar uneasiness. So there I found myself last Friday evening, the center of another woman’s attention. She couldn’t take her eyes off of me. Her words were full of both adulation and instruction at the same time. She was telling me what to do, and we were both enjoying every minute of it. Now before you have a ‘WTF?’ moment, I need to divulge that Lee was very aware of what was going on. In fact, she was part of the whole scenario.

*dramatic pause*

To clarify, Lee and I met up with our friend Elise who agreed to shoot our engagement photographs. Elise is a very talented photographer and had a great idea for taking the pictures Lee and I will use to commemorate our engagement.
We met up with Elise in St. Petersburg (Florida, because the flight to Russia would have set up back a bit) and the posing and smiling began. Since Lee and I are very laid back by nature, and our destination wedding will be in the Caribbean, the idea was to dress in sunny and beachy attire and juxtapose us against the urban and hip feel of downtown St. Pete. So there I was in my khakis and sky-blue, Guayabera style shirt leaning up against the red-brick wall outside Café Alma. There was Lee, in her beautiful blue-green dress, posing so elegantly in front of the medieval looking wooden door that serves as the entrance to the Vintage Ultra Lounge. The whole experience was so much fun, and it was the first time Lee and I had ever posed for photos outside a photography studio environment. I will admit there were times when it was a bit embarrassing to be out in public watching others watch us as Elise clicked away with her array of cameras and lenses. It was also a bit tiring. Even though it was early evening in the middle of September, the Florida sun was in full blaze and left us all calling for water breaks and taking refuge in the shade. The evening concluded with a quick wardrobe change and some more relaxed pictures in front of the beautiful Kapok tree at the Museum of Fine Arts. Before we lost all our light, Lee and I threw on some solid t-shirts and ball caps, walked across the street to Soreno Park, and took some pictures to represent our mutual love of college football. Through it all, Elise was so much fun to work with. She was open to the ideas Lee and I had, and was never restrictive in her photo taking. It was all about capturing the fun and the love Lee and I share on a daily basis.

We capped off the evening with dinner at local Mexican restaurant and wonderful conversation with Elise and her husband Kurt. I always make references to how blessed Lee and I are to be surrounded by such loving and giving friends, and last Friday night was no exception. It was a great experience, and I never knew having a woman other than Lee tell me what to do could be so much fun!

Least you think I wrote that here is the link to Gil's blog - http://danacreative.blogspot.com

A Beautiful Family

2008-09-21T23:59:00.012-04:00

I had the pleasure of spending the afternoon with Ms. C. and her Mom and Dad. Ms. C. was quite the model - she could be a professional - and was a breeze to shoot. She has an beautiful smile and a sweet personality. And talk about photogenic... I think you'll agree she's a natural.

Ms. C. is sitting in my newest find and I have to admit I absolutely love it. This chair was the perfect accessory to our shoot. It's bright colors and bold lines matched her personality. And it's comfortable too!

So here is where Ms. C. gets her good looks from! Mom and Dad were almost as much fun to shoot as their daughter. They make a beautiful family.This is my favorite shot of the day. I love the intimacy being shared by Mom and Dad as they hold hands while their four year old peaks out from behind the tree.She was such a trooper and I had such a great time we ended the day with Popsicles. Thanks for letting me spend the day with you. You are a beautiful family and where a joy to shoot! I set your sneak peek to music... you can check it out here!
If you want a new family picture for holiday cards and gifts contact me soon... holiday shoots like this one are booking up fast!

The Beauty of a Community

2008-08-27T15:55:00.005-04:00

Nothing warms my heart more than watch others embrace my children. We are blessed to have found a community that has not only pledged to cherish my youngest but has welcomed the whole family into their caring world. Here a just a few of the bright faces that share their day with my daughter.

Enjoy your day. I know Lu-Lu does!

Retro Boys

2008-08-21T23:55:00.008-04:00

The first day of school was a raging success! Both of my boys (well one's mine and the other is his best friend and constant companion) rocked their first day of first grade. They won the teacher lottery this year getting into the same class with first grade's most awesome teacher. She has been teaching long enough that nothing phases her. Her slogan is "been there, done that". She's known for setting the bar high and helping all her students reach or exceed the high expectations. I'm going to be able to spend some time volunteering at the school this year and I can't wait to watch her work her magic in the classroom.

In celebration of this milestone, I took some pictures of my big boys working their rock star attitudes with one of our vintage VW vans. I think you'll agree that they were "fierce".

If they can rock First Grade with the same style it will be an awesome year!

The First Day of First Grade

2008-08-20T10:42:00.004-04:00

Here is my little man on his way to the first day of school. He is so excited for First Grade.

There are several of his friends from Kindergarten in his class this year as well as his friend from down the street. It's going to be a great year!

Worth A Thousand Words

2008-08-16T23:56:00.005-04:00

I love what I do and I could go on and on about how blessed I am to be able to spend my time doing what I love. I could go on and on... but why? If a picture is worth a thousand words then these speak volumes.

Thanks for letting me spend the evening with you!

D+C=Too Darn Cute!

2008-08-14T14:20:00.003-04:00

I don't think there is anything more flattering than having a photographer you admire call and ask you to take pictures of them. Throw in the fact that she's beautiful and her son is just too darn cute and you get a great shoot! These are just two of my favorites.

We used their neighborhood as the backdrop for the shoot and there were several awesome places. Just goes to show that you don't need to go some where exotic to get great shots.

Dawn - thanks for inviting me up to spend a little time with your family.

Beth & Bill Sneak Peek

2008-08-08T11:42:00.007-04:00

It was one of the most passionate, spiritual and beautiful weddings I have ever seen. Beth & Bill basked in the love of their family and friends. How could you not love this couple?!?!?! Here is one of my favorites....

Enjoy your honeymoon you two!

The Measure of a Man

2008-08-05T12:35:00.012-04:00

If you want to know what kind of life you have lived, take a look around you at your 80th Birthday Party. Your life can be measured by the amount of love and respect that surrounds you. The love and respect that surrounded Bill absolutely filled the room.

Check out this wall sized poster "snap shot" of Bill's life.

This is Bill with his son Bobby. (He's a chip off the ol' block.)

And these are Bill's grandsons.

And this lovely lady is Bill's wife.

Bill's party was held at the fabulous Island Way Grill in Clearwater. The food and the view were fantastic. And so were all of Bill's friends.

This is my absolute favorite shot. Check out their moves!

Happy Birthday Bill. Thanks for letting be share it with you!

Lu-Lu Turns 3 (Or They Grow Up So Fast!)

2008-07-28T12:35:00.018-04:00

Oh my! Oh my! How fast they grow. Our little Lu-Lu is now 3! I remember bringing her home from the hospital, this little tiny bundle of perfectness, helpless and totally dependent on us for her every need. This is her at just a few days old.

Look at her now!

We had a Princess and Pirate pool party at her grandparents' house and her two best friends came. This darling girl is Sadie.

And this handsome little devil is Wyatt.

We were joined by family and friends.

This is Lu-Lu's newest cousin. Isn't she adorable?!?! I just want to squeeze those cheeks!

She spent the afternoon just chillin'.

Our little princess wanted to have a princess party and be Cinderella and have a Cinderella cake. Can you see the resemblance?

I do believe we had the prettiest princess at our party!

And some awesome pirates!

Here is our beautiful motley crew!

Oh yes they grow up so fast. Capture the all the special moments and the daily events filled with the love and laughter that make up their life.
Thanks to everyone for coming to our party and helping our princess turn 3.

A Big Success (Thank You!)

2008-07-23T14:00:00.014-04:00

I must, must, must thank all of my friends and family who came to my launch party. So many of you showed up to support me and I am still floating on cloud nine from all of the nice things you said about my work and my websites. My buddy Gary at FastSign of St Petersburg loaned me this great space to throw my party and it worked out better than I ever imagined.
Take a look around!

I had planned on taking pictures of everyone but I was way too busy talking to all of you. Thank goodness my friend Colleen came and took the following pictures.
This is me and Col.

This is one of my dearest friends Nadia. We just had to pose in front of the picture of her baby. Isn't he cute?!?!?!!?!

Thanks again for coming. I had a blast!
PS - I still have one more project I'm working on.

Ride Along

2008-07-14T23:43:00.009-04:00

I recently got to spend an afternoon at a local riding stable with the darling Ms. M. Don't be fooled by her small stature... there is a powerhouse with a huge heart packed into this tiny package.

I love this million dollar smile!

At this stable Ms. M. gets to help take care of the horse she rides - from getting the horse saddled up to cooling it down after the ride.

We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful afternoon. It totally matched her bubbly personality and infectious smile.

I had a blast on this shoot. Thanks for letting me tag along.

An Island in the Storm

2008-07-08T23:20:00.017-04:00

One of the most devastating things a parent can hear is that their child has cancer. It is a diagnosis that often leaves parents feeling lost and alone, unsure of what to expect and how to best help their kids. Children can be overwhelmed and scared. Luckily there is a save haven for these families... the Children's Cancer Center.
Founded in 1974, the Children's Cancer Center's mission is to provide children who have cancer or chronic blood disorders and their families in the Tampa area with the emotional, financial and educational support necessary to cope with their life-threatening illnesses.

The Center offers programs and support groups for the entire family as they battle this disease. There are programs aimed at alleviating some of the initial anxiety experienced by newly diagnosed patients and families, programs that address the unique issues facing teenage patients who are too old to benefit from children's programs and yet too young to participate in adult programs. There is a Big Buddy Mentoring program that pairs 2nd year med students with the brothers and sisters of patients. This program gives siblings special one-on-one time and attention and teaches them to cope with the the issues their brother or sister if facing while providing valuable hands on experience to the 2nd year med students on how an illness affects the entire family.

The Center has a large rec room currently decked out in a groovy 70's theme for camp.

They have painted the walls with chalkboard paint where the kids can write messages to each other.

Families can meet with each other to share experiences and support each other.

There are video games and movies and a huge closet full of dress up clothes.

The place is full of children - patients and their siblings - just being kids.

This beautiful girl is Abby.

She has a twin brother named Noah. Noah is a survivor.

The Children's Cancer Center has made a difference in both of their lives.

This amazingly adorable little girl is Maddie. She is full of life with a sweet smile and a gentle nurturing personality.

Shawn is your typical little boy who likes to play games.

Maya is one of the many siblings that comes to the center.

The Children's Cancer Center is a place of refuge and hope for the whole family and Shriner from WMTX 100.7 (my darling husband) and I are proud to support this amazing organization.
From more information on how you can help log on to www.childrenscancercenter.org.

Happy 4th of July

2008-07-05T17:52:00.023-04:00

I've been so busy working on special projects and client shoots (which I promise to post soon) that I haven't had the time to shoot the people I love - my family and friends. We spent the 4th with friends down at the Beach. They were so great to open their place and their hearts to us. Thank you Mary Robin, Kim and Joey for a wonderful time. Here are a few shots of the kids, cupcakes, the dancing and the sparklers.

I was lucky enough to shoot Ms. M and Ms. L and will post my favorites soon. And I've still got one more big project I'm putting the finishing touches on. It means great things for Elise Schreiner Photography and all of my clients!

You Spin Me Round Round Baby Round Round

2008-07-05T10:09:00.002-04:00

You may remember this super cute couple from their engagement shoot a while back. I just discovered these pictures that I thought I had posted but hadn't. Better late than never I guess.

We're Live!

2008-06-25T11:04:00.001-04:00

The official launch is Thursday but I am thrilled to announce that my new websites are live! I have two sites - one for Children & Families and one for Weddings & Events but you can get to both of them via http://www.eliseschreiner.com/. The buttons in the left hand column will take you to Children & Families while the buttons in the center column will whisk you away to Weddings & Events. And the ones on the right will bring you right back here. It was a lot of hard work.... on my family and friends that is. I must thank:

Chuck Vosburgh - a friend and advisor - for previewing my many drafts and giving me honest feedback,

Nadia Watts - one of the most amazing and giving friends I've ever had - for painstakingly editing all of my text and giving me solid direction with a gentle heart,

Lisa Wikholm - I don't know anyone with more patience - for listening to me whine, vent, brag and boast for the past many weeks and giving me a swift kick in the tush when I needed it,

Debbie Shenkman - an extraordinary businesswoman and unselfish friend - for all of the time spent brainstorming and the amazing ideas she led me to,

And to everyone else I ask "What do you think of this?" over and over again, I say thank you!

To my wonderful husband Kurt and my children - thank you for giving me your unconditional support and the time I needed to concentrate on this project. Without your love and understanding this wouldn't have been possible. I love you!

PS - I'll have another big announcement very soon.

I'm Soooooo Excited!

2008-06-23T13:30:00.001-04:00

I know I said I've been very busy and truly I have. I just got back from Nashville where I witnessed the most wonderful (and hysterical) union of two wonderful people and their amazing families.

I've also been working on this. And now it's done. Well almost done. I've done my part, now my website gurus have to do theirs. They should be done any day.... or sooner they tell me. But I just couldn't wait any longer so I had to give you a sneak peek.

As soon as my guys (and gals) have finished with their part I'll you know where you can find this and what to do with it!

Just Keep Swimming.

2008-06-17T12:53:00.000-04:00

My son had his very first swim meet this week. He competed in the freestyle, breaststroke and backstroke.

A friend's son was on the opposing team. Check out this great start.

And his super smooth, nearly splashless stroke.

He pushed it hard all the way to the wall for a very strong finish.

Here is one of our teammates...

swimming strong...

and checking out to see where he placed.

We all cheered for the other team during their races. This is the 25 yard breaststroke.

Perfect form.

Here's the start of my son's breaststroke race.

He had great form for someone who only learned the stroke last week.

Here he is getting ready for the start of the 25 yard backstroke race. Check out that concentration.

It's a clean start...

and a strong finish.

(Again, not bad for someone who couldn't swim on his back two weeks ago.)

Here's my friend's son during his backstroke race... again with the perfectly smooth stroke.

He's great to watch.

So our grand total for the day was a first in the backstroke and a third in the breaststroke and a ribbon for freestyle.

All in all everyone did fantastic and had a great time!

PS - I know it has been a while since I've posted any pictures but I've been really busy. Really, really, really busy. Like getting ready to launch a big project or two busy. And we're almost ready. Almost, but not quite.

But trust me... you'll be the first to know!

Introducing Mr. B.

2008-06-02T10:37:00.000-04:00

Remember this tummy? It belonged to Christie & Blake, one of the nicest couples I've had the pleasure of spending time with.

Meet the adorable Mr. B!

He is just 6 days old and one sweet little laid back man.

Here is a picture with their new baby and their first "baby."

Mr. B's grandfather made this cradle and for now he's sleeping in his parents' room...

...but he has a very cool room of his own to move into when he gets a little bigger.

Did I mention he was big? Big and sweet and laid back. Thanks for hanging with me Mr. B. and congratulations Christie & Blake. I can't wait to capture him as he grows.

Beaming...

2008-05-28T15:47:00.000-04:00

If I had to pick one word to describe this couple it would be beaming. Theirs is fairy tale, love-at-first-sight kind of story that is written all over their faces. The love Bill has for Beth is obvious and Beth basks in his glow. Neither of them are camera shy and they both have a great sense of humor which made this shoot so much fun (and so easy) for me. All I had to do was kick back and capture their love as we explored the waterfront in St Petersburg.

I love the wonderful, warm back light in this picture.

As we were waiting to see if the sun was going to turn the sky pink or just fade to dark, Beth and Bill started dancing on the sea wall and I just had to take a few pictures. I can only imagine what their first dance at their wedding will be like!

As it turned out, the sun only gave us a hint of pink as it set.

Congratulations you two and thanks for letting me spend some time basking in your love and excitement. I can't wait to shoot your wedding in August.

GTG Part Deux

2008-05-19T13:23:00.000-04:00

One of the nice things about having a GTG with other photographers is having new headshots taken. Where else are you going to have 5-12 top notch photographers at your disposal?

Meet Dawn. Dawn is an awesome person and a talented photographer. (And she's not a bad model either!!!)

Tampa GTG

2008-05-19T07:30:00.000-04:00

Meet Amanda and Jordan. They are young and cute and in love. I met up with some other photographers from the area for a Get Together (GTG) in Ybor to take some fun pictures of Amanda and Jordan using the historic area as a backdrop.

Did I mention they are in love? I must have a kazillion pictures of them doing "this". Or almost doing "this". Or getting ready to do "this". Or looking like they wished they were doing "this".

When I said they they were cute I meant they were cute together, as a couple. As you can see, Amanda is gorgeous.

She has a beautiful smile and a personality to match.

Here is some more of them doing "this". Did I already mention how much of "this" was going on? A lot.

Ybor is a wonderful place to shoot with all sorts of cool architecture to use as a backdrop.

I've got to give a big shout out to all of the other photographers who there. It was great to meet all of you and I can't wait to GTG again!

Some Are Blessed...

2008-05-14T01:10:00.001-04:00

Every now and then you meet someone that you like instantly. Someone that makes you smile just by being around them. Where you can feel the good radiating from them.

Meet Christie and Blake. They are those kind of someone. And they are going to be parents. Parents to one very lucky little someone.

Meet the soon-to-be new addition to their family.

They can't wait to meet him. I can't wait to meet him. He is going to be surrounded by love and goodness. What a blessing to be born into this family.

Thank you for letting me spend some time with you, allowing me to bask in you goodness and to capture this very special moment in your lives.

I can't wait to meet the little one.

Rockin' it Urban Style...

2008-05-06T11:31:00.000-04:00

I love finding new and different places to shoot. Places you wouldn't necessarily look at and say "hey that would be a cool place to shoot some pictures." Places that may be a little little hard to get to and a little dirty. Someplace with an urban edge.

Websters Dictionary defines Urban as: of, relating to, characteristic of, or constituting a city. I just call it cool.

Check out Luke E. rockin' it urban style!

We found this great mural driving through the backstreets of KC trying to find an abandon railroad line. We just had to stop and take a few shoots.

He has the perfect combination of good looks and typical teenage disinterest.

Next we found this old abandon warehouse with a great loading dock and some graffiti.

We couldn't quite figure out what this building use to be used for, but whatever it was, they left behind these cool gears.

We were surrounded by these exposed rock walls that made for a great background.

Again with the perfect combination of good looks and disinterest.

This graffiti wall was awesome!

Luke was a natural model, totally comfortable in front of the camera.

We finally made it to the railroad line we were looking for and our timing was perfect. As we were shooting on an abandon line or spur a train passed right behind us on the active line.

Here is the perfect shot to end our day. Thanks for going Urban with me Luke.