Indiana Weekend

Today I get to fly back to the Crossroads, good 'ol Indiana to be a part of a wonderful celebration. A beautiful friend of mine is marrying her best friend this weekend and I get to be a part of it! I fly out in just a few short hours to start the celebration!

I feel like my heart could pop right out of my chest as I am writing this as I am filled with the utmost excitement! Bring on a weekends of great friend and festivities!

I can't wait to see you friends!

And the icing on my cake is spending an entire day with my wonderful family. Cheers to a great weekend filled with some pretty stinkin' amazing people.
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Gall Family I Portraits

Family togetherness just makes my heart melt. To see a family let their personalities shine through as a family is priceless. The stories that were told had me belly laughing until it hurt. There were times when  I was practically rolling on the ground in sheer laughter. That's a good photo shoot if you ask me!

To see a family in that element gives you a whole new take on life and how it exists beyond your own walls. Each family is unique in its own. At that, meet the Gall Family...

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Shanna I Senior

I remember the day I walked into my dorm room on move in day my freshman year of college and the excitement that filled every inch of my body for what was ahead. That is the feeling I got when I met Shanna and we spent a couple of hours of just me and her walking around what would soon become her new stomping grounds, the campus of USF. I got butterflies just thinking about all of the new experiences and amazing new friends that will soon welcome her with open arms.

Just like any 18 year old high school senior, she is trying to figure out what her likes and dislikes are and put them into a career. I wish her all the very best in whatever degree she decides to graduate with. More than that, I hope and pray that she will remain true to herself and not change any detail of who she is for anyone or anything. College is a learning experience that trumps all.

Shanna is a beautiful girl inside and out and there is no doubt in my mind that her beauty will only continue to radiate as she continues to fall in love with the Lord and the woman He has made her to be. I wish you all the best, Shanna, and enjoy a ride that you will never forget with the people that will make it unforgettable.

You are beautiful my dear.
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April I Instagram

God has continued to amaze me as the month of April came, was, and is now gone. I am still adjusting to life as a Floridian (and whatever that looks like) and enjoying the ride along the way.
So this is what my April looked like in a photo nutshell...

Sleep overs – Sweet friends – Attempting to tackle the never ending “To Do” List – a new home for a week – Easter candy – After work car washes – Making the official switch to Florida (Plates for my car) – Pool time – Relaxing Sunday mornings – Easter cookout – Meetings – New accessories from my Birthday – Garage Sale finds – Yummy breakfasts – Missing my college girls –  Traffic (Ha) – Elizabeth play time – Davis Island – First Craig’s List purchase, Miss Panama – Target browsing – Anna Maria Island – Attempted productivity with friends
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Reflecting on such good times makes my heart smile. Now to say I am excited for May would be an understatement! Bring on the fun times and travel! WooooHoooo!

I hope your April was blessed and May is filled with great people and great times.


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Shanna I Coming Soon

Today, I spent time with one beautiful high school senior, Ms. Shanna Lynn Bland. We spent several hours on USF's campus taking her senior portraits for her upcoming graduation this spring. To say she is beautiful would be an understatement. I thoroughly enjoyed our time together and am anxious to show you what else I have stored on my end of the camera. Enjoy this beauty.

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Indiana Meets Florida

For me, this has been a week of reflection. Instead of holding it all in, I thought I would reflect out loud :) This way you can see where I have been and how the almost six months have become what they are.

I had no idea what my life would hold when I left Indiana in early November for a trail run in Florida. Since that November morning I have met some of the most amazing people, become involved in a church (http://aletheiatampa.com/) that is perfect for this stage in my life, landed a great job, progressed my photography business, and the list goes on and on.

According to Road to Well Being, my life should be a hot, stressful, mess. Ironically, the transition has been nothing of the sort. While yes, there have been tears and confusion and plenty of questioning, I survived without falling to pieces. I owe all of that to my Lord, Jesus Christ. No way is a transition like this possible without His love and protection. All of the right people were here to love on me when I stepped foot in Tampa. The job part took a little more patience, but all in His timing, I was able to find where He wanted me all along. And now photography is finally taking its steps. Ashlee Proffitt Design is in the process of branding Kortni Marie Photography, shoots are starting to appear, and wedding season is almost in bloom! This only reiterates God’s promise to prosper me and not to harm me (Jeremiah 29:11).

Just the other night, I was almost in tears talking to my Florida family about what God has given me in the past six months. To say that I am blessed is an understatement. To think where I have come in such a short time is simply astonishing. I thank everyone who has been a part of this process and has given me love and support along the way.

And in the month of April, I became an official, official Floridian. (it’s kind of fun to say that) I have a Florida driver’s license, Florida car insurance (which has terrible rates I might add), a new bank, an officially changed address, a new car title, and a Florida license plate. While these are just a few things, let me tell you how exhausting it was to get all of this handled. My parents would vouch for that. They got countless phone calls with me stressed to the point of tears over dang car insurance! Really!? Ha. Yes. It is true.

But now Indiana has officially met Florida and the view along the ride has been glorious. I challenge anyone who is contemplating a change to jump on it. While it has its rocky points, the ride is worth the jump. Simply put your trust in God and He will take care of the rest.
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Florida Days

I love Florida. Have I told you that lately :)

It's April and it's all sunshine here and it feels soooo goooood. I spent and evening with these beautiful children playing in the hose, washing the car, and just being kids. To say that we had a good night would be an understatement. Here are a few photos from our evening that I couldn't resist snapping and showing to you. Aren't they cute.!?

Oh the pure joy of children. Hope your weekend was wonderful and you start your week off on the right foot.
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Reminiscing I Wedding Photography

Well we have almost made  it to February! I will say, now living in sunny Florida, making it to February from November isn't nearly as painful. With spring on it's way though, that means WEDDING SEASON! First of all, as a friend, it brings great excitement in that I get to see some of my very best friends for the weekend and celebrate together. As a photographer it brings a whole new kind of jitters, excitement, and pure joy. This year I have the privilege of shooting THREE weddings! I am willing to go anywhere a bride wants me! In that, I have been reminiscing through the first wedding I did last year. My stomach fills with butterflies and I find myself wishing it was May already so that the fun could begin! Here are a few images that have been filling my eyes as I anxiously await the wedding season of 2012!

Ahhhhhh.... Weddings. They just fill my heart. To see a more full collection of this happy day click HERE. I am excited for what is ahead. Since I am a Tampa Photographer now, the next thing on my bucket list is a beach wedding. Who will be the first!? I hope you are just as excited for wedding season  as I am.
If you are interested in booking a wedding (or portrait session) feel free to e-mail me at kortni.photo@gmail.com and I will happily do what I can.
Enjoy this start to the week and remember, spring is just around the corner!

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Joyce I Portraits

My sweet, sweet grandmother hired me to take her photograph as fall was among us. She wanted to give every member of our family a photograph of herself for us to hold on to. When my grandfather passed away in 2001, she realized that she did not have an even descent photo of him for herself or anyone else to hold on to. Since that day, she has made a point to get a photograph of each of her family members so that she would not be kicking herself in the face again. This year, she was treated like a celebrity and we went out and captured her at her finest! Despite being a grandmother, she was popping hips and giving a sweet smile for the camera. Here is what I have been hiding!
Enjoy!

 Is she not the sweetest woman!? Love her with all of my heart. Have a blessed Wednesday and honor God in all you do.
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