Michelle Stoker Photography

Tampa Family Photographer

Anniversary traditions to start on your wedding day

Michelle and David, Wedding

Today’s blog is all about anniversaries in honor of my eight year anniversary with my sweet hubby today. We tied the knot eight years ago, at the Winter Park Farmer’s Market, at the young age of 21 and 22. We were fresh out of college and had spent the past four years at different colleges. We were more than ready to start our lives together. We spent so much time planning our wedding day and I look back on the day with such sweet memories. I’m so glad that we also prepared for our marriage during our engagement. We had deep conversations about our goals and dreams for the future, discussed our roles in our marriage partnership and completed a pre-martial course with our pastor. 

For those of you that are dating or engaged, I thought about planning for future anniversaries while wedding planning and I came up with a few ideas of traditions to start on your wedding day. The goal is to start a new tradition on your wedding day and then continue it every year on your anniversary. This will help you remember your sweet wedding day every year and keep you young!VIEW POST

Molly – Tampa Newborn Photography

Newborn, Tampa

Tampa Newborn Photography

Dear world, meet beautiful little Molly! Her parents, Kristen and Joel, are smitten with this beauty!! I was so, so excited when I got Kristen’s email shortly after Molly was born. I typically get my newborn clients from referrals, past clients, and google searches for Tampa newborn photographer. Kristen’s inquiry email was unique.

She wrote, “Hi there! I am interested in learning about your newborn portraits. I initially found your blog when I was googling frank breech csections since I found out our daughter was frank breech. She ended turning at the end so I could deliver her naturally but I loved reading your story, and hearing about your experience.”

Ah! I shared our birth story on my blog after James was born and I never thought I’d meet a new local friend/client because of it! It was so heart warming to talk to Kristen and share our experiences of trying to flip a breech baby (chiropractor, swimming, laying upside down on a stiff board, yep…). Her efforts were successful and she was able to deliver her sweet Molly. And sweet she is!! Look at this little lady. She SMILED when I took their family portrait! Adorable. Kristen and Joel, I am so excited for you two and am so thankful that you invited me in to capture this most special time in your family’s life. Molly is perfect! 

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Hannah’s Bridal Shower

Michelle and David, Personal

Luckily for me, when I married David, I also gained three new sisters. Our youngest sister, Hannah, is getting married in August! Hannah has such a kind, gentle spirit and it was so fun to celebrate her at her bridal shower brunch. It was hosted at our family friend Carol’s house and she has a screened in porch that fit everyone perfectly. We enjoyed mini quiches, baked brie, fresh fruit, Sprindrift water, prosciutto melon balls, and lots more. We played a word scramble game, estimated the number of mints in a jar (because Hannah and Mike are MINT to be!), and a fun game where we heard both the bride and groom’s responses to various questions and guessed who said it. Hannah opened all of the wonderful gifts that will bless their first home as a married couple. Then, our guys made an appearance! The ladies at the shower got to meet Mike and dote on my baby James. We ended the shower with some family photos on the porch. Hannah, we love you and are so excited for you and Mike! Can’t wait for August!

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Smoky Mountains 2019 Vacation

Baby James, Michelle and David, Personal

Bryson City family cabin view

David and I love the mountains. We love the calmness of going to a quiet cabin in the mountains with no visible neighbors, a vast night sky with countless stars, and a chance to get away. We have been going up to the Blue Ridge, Georgia area once a year since 2016. This was our fourth trip together (second with James) and we always stay in new cabins in new areas. This time, we ventured to Bryson City, North Carolina. Our cabin was tucked away high up on the top of a mountain. We enjoyed a beautiful view, the fire pit, hot tub, a porch swing and easy day trips to the Smoky Mountain National Park and to Asheville. I didn’t bring my big camera but I snapped a ton of iPhone photos. I wanted to share them on the blog as an opportunity to look back on this sweet trip. Love going on adventures with my boys! I’ll narrate the details of our trip below…

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Jayme – Teach Talk Inspire – Tampa Branding

Branding, Tampa

Jayme Teach Talk Inspire Blog

I am so excited to introduce you to my friend, Jayme!! We met at a play date in our moms club last year. Her daughter and my son are less than one month apart! Jayme and I are both former teachers. I taught Kindergarten for five years and Jayme spent her teaching time in 1st grade. She creates helpful and creative products for teachers on her Teachers Pay Teachers site (she has over 120 products!). Since transitioning from being in the classroom to a SAHM, she shares helpful tips on motherhood, home life and classroom ideas on her blog – Teach Talk Inspire. I recently had the opportunity to capture some updated head shots and lifestyle branding images for this sweet mama. James and I had such a great morning with Jayme and her Little Miss. Scroll to the bottom for a few cute photos of the kiddos. If you’re a teacher and/or a toddler mama, I know you’ll love following Jayme! Her instagram stories are my favorite!

You can follow Jayme on her Teach Talk Inspire Blog and on her Teachers Pay Teachers site and on Instagram. 

Jayme Teach Talk Inspire BlogVIEW POST

Noah – Tampa Newborn Photography

Newborn, Tampa

Lutz Newborn Session

Welcome to the world, baby Noah! Ohhh, this newborn session was such a treat! I photographed Lisa and Brandon’s wedding last May and less than a year later, I was in their new home, photographing their brand new baby boy! I love photographing growing families! I’m so thankful for every opportunity to have my clients in front of my camera again.

Congratulations, Lisa and Brandon. Noah is perfect!! 

Lutz Newborn PhotosVIEW POST

Taylor Family – Tampa Westchase Photography

Family, Tampa

Meet the Taylor kids! These four teenagers are part of the sweetest family. Their Mom is a wonderful Kindergarten teacher and their Dad is the pastor at Westtown Church. David and I have been attending Westtown for a few years and we love it. God is definitely at work there! Westtown is located near Westchase on Race Track Road. If you ever want to visit, you can sit with us! 

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Brandt Family – Orlando Photography

Family, Orlando

Lake Eola Family Session

Meet the Brandt family! I first met Stephanie (the pretty lady on the left) in 2013 when David and I moved to Tampa. They were co-workers and quick friends. I got to photograph Stephanie and Jake’s engagement session in NYC in 2014! It was pretty epic and forever one of my favorites. We also had the opportunity to travel around Europe with Steph when we were living in Italy and she was in London for work. One of my favorite trips was to Ireland! We got together with Steph and her family after Christmas in Orlando. It was a great session at Lake Eola!

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Calvin – Tampa Newborn Photography

Newborn, Tampa

Tampa newborn sessionLauren and Jarrod welcomed the sweetest baby boy a few weeks ago. Welcome to the world, Calvin! I was so eager to meet this little man after photographing his parent’s maternity session in November. At the time, they didn’t know if their growing baby was a little boy or girl. Once Calvin made his entrance, they were so excited to hear IT’S A BOY! I went over to Lauren and Jarrod’s house for Calvin’s newborn session when he was just seven days old and he slept the entire time! Calvin was a dream baby to photograph. So excited for this sweet family!Ybor City newborn sessionVIEW POST

Ashley and Devin – Tampa Maternity Photography

Maternity, Tampa

Philippe Park Maternity Session

Ashley and Devin are expecting a sweet baby boy in March! I am SO excited for them! I met Ashley on the first day of pre-planning at an elementary school in Tampa in 2015. After a quick introduction and small talk, we realized that we were both new to the school, both went to UCF, and live in the same area of Tampa! Instant friends. I loved getting to know Ashley over the school year and was so excited to hear about her first dates with a new special guy, Devin. Their love story is so sweet. They got married last June in a gorgeous beach ceremony with their closest friends and family. Now, they are anticipating the arrival of their first child. We met at Phillippe Park in Safety Harbor for their maternity session and the light was perfect!! 

Navy Blue floral maternity dressVIEW POST

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