. christina watkins photography

I first met Stephanie and Brad when I was 19 years old in Winter Park, Florida.  Stephanie is actually my husbands cousin.   Stephanie in my mind has always been a friend to me because I was just dating my husband when we first met and ever since then we’ve remained friends through social media, phone calls or constant texting.  If I’m having a bad day or if I’m overly excited because I just bought a bright orange sweater that nobody else will probably appreciate, I will usually go to her for a quick mood boost!  She is the ying to my yang.   She is witty, gorgeous, and beautiful inside and out!!  Brad & Stephanie got married in Winter Park ten years ago and it was perfect timing for photos.  As soon as they arrived, I wasted no time getting some shots in before the sun went completely down and then we ate at an awesome restaurant (eek, I forgot the name) right in the heart of the park.  The light was awesome that day and I’m convinced that Orlando is just an amazing place to photograph in general all year long!  I could have spent two days with them just shooting and shooting.  Unfortunately, I went back to New Jersey that very next day and of course I put my winter boots back on.    Here’s some cute captures from our evening together……

I just got back from Orlando, Florida to attend Images for a Cure Workshop (IFAC) .   It was a great couple days learning and listening to how I can be a better photographer!  As if my arm had to be twisted to leave the colder days of New Jersey to head to the sunshine state, I was honored that I received sponsorship from one of my favorite east coast photographers, Kristen Weaver!  As soon as I found out that I was picked, I was determined to book my ticket right away!!!  IFAC is an Orlando based charity that has raised over $28,000 to benefit The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.  It was awesome to finally meet the creators behind this great charity! To find out more about how you can help through Images for a Cure, check out more here or contact me at itsjustchristina@gmail.com !

Check out photos from the candy bar set up at the workshop!  Yum!  I think I have ten more pounds to lose from the workshop alone!  I also loved the decor at The Mezz, which is in downtown Orlando and it’s an awesome location to have a conference!  I highly recommend the workshop for all levels of photography!  I walked away with new friends and a great new appreciation for those in the industry helping others to succeed!

(Image Courtesy of Images for a Cure)

Left to Right:  Innovative Memories Wendy Dixon, Laken E-Photography, Britanie Wagner Photography, Christina Watkins Photography

I was super excited to attend the Fall Styled Shoot in South Jersey a week ago. I just adore Mary Meghan who set up the whole day and couldn’t wait to meet more talented professional photographers in New Jersey! I can’t say enough about this group! They have been so welcoming to a girl who isn’t from North or South Jersey! I’m just this short little lady who happens to share the same passion and love for photography. We were so excited to get started but we were truly racing against the remainder of daylight. We split into groups with different models and photographed them until it was time to switch up. Some of the models I had worked with before and they were just as awesome! Everyone looked ridiculously amazing thanks to Andrea’s mad skills from Make-Up by Andrea! She’s not only gorgeous herself but she can make others look gorgeous as well! Here’s just a few of the photos that I loved without going overboard on this shoot ( because that would be easy to do) I am so looking forward to the next one and I hope it involves snow because if it’s anything like last year, we are bound to get lots of it! Take a look at my day behind the camera…..

Doesn’t it look like so much fun? Thanks to everybody who made this such a huge success!!! Of course to Mary who always welcomes me to these gigs. All of my photographer friends (enter your name here) and the rest of you sweet sweet folks who made us love what we do even more!!! Thank You. Thank You. I hope you leave my site inspired for the next one!!! xoxoxoxo

Organizer/Hair/Photographer – Mary Meghan
Make-Up Artist – Andrea C. Figueredo
Bouquet & Hairpiece Designs – Angela Lynn ‘Perino’ Miller / http://www.etsy.com/shop/aperino
Models:
Katrina Tapper (not seen)
Sue Davis
Patrick Veterano
Annie Batt
Keith Anderson (not seen)
Elizabeth Anderson
Julia Miliaresis
Theresa Berenato

Elisabeth and I didn’t meet until the day of the wedding.  We wrote and exchanged many emails living in two different states and far from each other.  It was a risk she was willing to take and I will be forever grateful for that kind of trust.  Elisabeth is the kind of friend that I would do anything for!  She’s just amazing!  I’m so happy to call her a new friend and I’m so honored to have been a part of their wedding day!  I just loved them!  They totally deserve to be featured on a site and I couldn’t be more happy for them!  It was super exciting to see my photos on a very popular Charleston Wedding site like Wedding Row and I can’t wait to show more! Here’s a few of their photos until my own blog post!  Go check it out!

This vintage prairie themed photo shoot was a part of a stylized shoot that I’ve been planning to attend for a while now!  I had never actually been to a stylized shoot where vendors donate their products and everything is setup to photograph!  However, I am always looking for ways to better my photographs and reinvest in myself so that my clients feel more secure about investing in me!!  I absolutely love the fact that I’m continuously learning about my craft.  This shoot allowed me to practice angles and to think outside the box without the pressures of an actual event!  The details were amazingly thought out and I had no idea how much work goes into something like this but it kind of reminded me again of how much work brides do to plan out their wedding day and how all those small details make a difference!  Not only did I get to attend this great setup but I was able to meet a great group of girls (and guys) who were so very patient through all that heat and humidity!  I was so impressed with my fellow photographers who were so helpful and gracious to extend their ideas to me!  You were all so so very sweet!  I am so glad that I did this!  I HIGHLY recommend being a part of a stylized shoot if you are working on your photography skills!   Its a fantastic opportunity to get great portfolio shots and practice with other photographers! A big thanks to Mary Veterano for setting all of this up and allowing me to be a part of it!




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Thank You to our vendor for the handmade pieces donated by Oh Burst! Check them out !