Tioga Times Magazine asked me to help out and do a quick shoot with the Banks family for one of their issues.  Kelly is a nurse and you may know Nick from Frontstreet Realty, commercial realty company here in Gainesville.  It was a pleasure to work Kelly and Nick and their kids for this shoot!  They did great.  We started on the little red bridge in Tioga where Kelly and Nick were married :)

Want more family photos? Check out Kate and Katie's Maternity Session!

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Tall Paul's in downtown Gainesville is a combination bar and brewery.  The building has huge windows across the front that are wide open on comfortable afternoons and evenings, giving the very open space an even more spacious feel.  Several times I've been sitting inside and seen friends go by and been able to have a little chat through the open windows.  The bar serves a variety of craft brews, as local as the in-house brewery, to other Gainesville breweries, as well as Florida breweries and beyond.  Their own brew is the Aligator Ale Brewing Company.  They will frequently make one-time specialty beers that you may never see again - my all-time favorite was a bourbon barrel maple porter.  Incredible.  Tall Paul's also has plenty of games to keep you entertained - ranging from giant connect four, to darts, to bar shuffleboard and more.  

Tall Paul's tends to be frequented by folks ranging from their late twenties to their early 40s in the evenings.  If you're not into beer, they also have a full bar.  I've really only had a few of the very nice whiskeys and bourbons when I wasn't drinking beer - of which they do have a small but good selection.  The bar tends to be pretty open during late afternoon and right after work, but it gets packed on Friday and Saturday nights.  Live music happens on the small stage in the back - everything from bluegrass to 80s hits to rock.  You never know what kind of night it will be! If you haven't been there, it's worth coming downtown to check it out.  If you have been there, I'm sure I'll see you there sooner or later, so come by and say hi. :)

Want more? Check out Date Night Idea #2 - A walk on the La Chua Trail!

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Keeping it clean with Tommy and Colleen!  Where can I even start with these two?  I loved them as soon as I heard about their bib idea for the barbeque they would be having at their wedding.  A picture of the Swedish Chef with that wonderful little catch phrase.  They live out on the left coast but came back to Gainesville for an intimate wedding at Colleen's mother's house.  We had a bit of rain during dinner, but it definitely didn't put a damper on the day.  It was sweet, fun, joyful, and totally full of love.  Colleen and Tommy are truly a perfect match and it was an honor to be a part of their day. <3

Want more? It's Lorrie and Victor's first anniversary! See their wedding photos here!

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Well, maybe not date night, but I had to stick with the title :)

If you haven't been to the La Chua trail, you definitely need to check it out.  It's on the southeast side of town and is the northernmost part of Payne's Prairie.  The 2-3 mile trail starts near the Hawthorne trail, crosses under a segmet of old railroad, and then works its way through the old stables.  It then opens up onto the prairie at the head of a spring-fed river.  The path follows the river down to a lookout point where you can see the wide expanse of the prairie to the south.  When I first moved here (2007), the water was low, but there was water everywhere and gators all over the place.  Everywhere.  Now, the water level is higher and right up next to the trail, but there is more vegetation in it, so there is less open water.  It's interesting to see how it changes over time - the landscape is a little bit different every time I go.  For those of you who are into nerdy things, it's a karstic area, so the formation and erosion of the limestone bedrock is what affects the water levels.  There is plenty of wildlife to see on the trail - from ladybugs to a variety of birds to gators to wild horses and hogs.  Definitely worth a visit!

http://floridahikes.com/paynes-prairie-lachua

Want more? Check out Sweet Dreams Ice Cream for Date Night Idea #1!

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Ah, Courtney. So cute, so sweet, and so beautiful.  Among other things, she teaches dance here in Gainesville and has a deep, caring relationship with her husband, Ryan.  It's clear that they're truly devoted to each other. :)  They just got married two weeks ago in St Lucia, so she brought her gown to the shoot and we did a few shots of her in it before her wedding!  Congratulations, Courtney, it was a joy getting to know you!

Want more? To see Teresa's Real Women Session click here!

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