Michelle Stoker Photography

Tampa Family Photographer

Stoker Adventures from August to November!

Michelle and David, Travel

You guys. It’s been more than three months since David and I left Florida! I’m experiencing COLD WEATHER all day, every day right now. It’s blowing my mind! Not hating it…. yet. We moved up to the NYC area in mid-August for David’s third rotation in his leadership program with Nielsen. We are so fortunate to be on this adventure and we have been taking advantage of being so close to so many beautiful sights. I wanted to share some of our highlights of trips, sight-seeing, and everyday living up here. We are here until the end of January and then back to Florida for two weeks and then our next adventure begins (and it’s a big one)!!!

*The photos below are all iPhone pictures — no fancy, professional pictures below. Just fun adventures. 🙂

Follow along on Instagram — click here! 

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Enjoying an adult beverage at MCO waiting for my flight, reunion with my hubs at the Newark airport, SO many buttons in the elevator in our building!

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Larin and William – Long Island Engagement

Engagement

The picture below was taken in the early 90’s with my older sister, my cousin, and me! My sister and I always loved visits from our cousin, Larin. Fast forward 20ish years later and I had the privilege of photographing a beautiful, grown up woman with her fiancé. It was such a joy to join Larin and William at Argyle Park on Long Island, the exact place where they got engaged and promised their futures to each other. We explored this beautiful park and then headed to the nearby beach for some sunset photos. Larin and William, congratulations on your engagement!! You are such a sweet couple and I know you will have a beautiful life together.

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Bri and Rémy – New York City Engagement

Engagement

David and I have been in NYC for almost two months and we are having such an amazing time exploring the city! While there is so much to see and do here, we were eager to get a taste of our life back in Tampa during Bri and Rémy’s engagement session!  Rémy is in the same leadership rotational class with David and they have built a strong friendship this past year working together. Rémy was also sent to NYC for this rotation but unfortunately, his lovely bride-to-be decided to stay back in Tampa to continue teaching high school Spanish. Yep, she’s a teacher, therefore I love her. We love spending time with this sweet couple and we were so honored to document their engagement photos while Bri was visiting Rémy in late September. Their love started while studying abroad in South America, has endured long-distance across America, created a life together in the Sunshine State, and is now in the exciting time of engagement. So excited for these two to become husband and wife next December!

Our session started at Gapstow Bridge in Central Park, then a cab ride through Times Square to Rémy’s apartment for an outfit change, then a subway ride under the Hudson River, to finish with the sunset at the Waterfront in Jersey City. It was a beautiful night!

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Married: Cait and Will – Anniversary

Tampa, Wedding

One year and one day ago, Cait and Will became husband and wife in a beautiful ceremony at St. Ignatius Church in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Reflecting back on their day, I still vividly remember the love and support that was given to this sweet couple. Their family and friends were all so excited to celebrate their new marriage. It was such a beautiful day! To celebrate their first anniversary, I asked the happy newlyweds to look back on their wedding pictures and pick a few that are most meaningful to them.


“Who can resist a momma’s boy? This picture is priceless. To see my sons face light up when he saw me and being willing to get into a tux? I thought he’d end up at the wedding in pjs if I was lucky. He melted my heart and has my heart. I love this picture of us it caught us in a beautiful moment only about a half hour before I walked down the aisle. There is nothing more special than a mothers love for her son and this picture makes me so happy!!”

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Elaine and Colin – Caldwell Bed and Breakfast Wedding – NY Wedding

Wedding

My photography business is rooted in Central Florida and all of my weddings have been held in the Sunshine State. When David and I were packing in Tampa and planning for our 6 month move up North, I was a little worried about expanding my photography reach. I was so sad at the thought of not shooting a wedding for 6 months! But, thanks to the internet, I met a super sweet couple named Elaine and Colin! And now, I am so excited to share with you our first New York wedding! Elaine and Colin had the most intimate, short and sweet wedding at the Caldwell Bed and Breakfast in Salisbury Mills, New York (about 90 minutes North of NYC). Their ceremony started at 11am, with photos immediately after and a lunch reception at 12pm with dancing, toasts, and cupcakes. It was all so relaxed, emotional, and beautiful. It was a such a privilege to document this wedding. I hope you enjoy the images!
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Stephanie and Jake – New York City Engagement

Engagement

David and I have the incredible opportunity to experience life in NYC for 6 months due to his job, a rotational leadership program.  Stephanie, the beautiful blondie you’re about to see, is one of David’s co-workers who is also in the rotational program. When she asked me to photograph her and Jake in New York City, I was SO excited! I had butterflies all day leading up their session. Me, shooting in Central Park??? I couldn’t believe it! Our session in the city was everything I hoped for… crazy, full of tourists, lots of walking, a cab ride, and of course, SO much fun! Stephanie and Jake are perfect together. Such a sweet and fun couple! They were so patient and accommodating when our plans had to change due to an out of service subway. We made it work and we created some beautiful images! Happy engagement, Stephanie and Jake! I hope you all enjoy these photos, they are some of my favorites!   VIEW POST

100 Days of Real Food Book Review + GIVEAWAY!

Personal


Today’s blog post is going to be a little different than usual. You won’t see pretty, romantic images today. Instead, I’m going to share a little more about one of my other passions: real food!! Real food is natural, unprocessed, whole food. My diet has changed drastically over the past few years as I’ve transitioned into eating more real food. When David and I first got married, you would have found hot dogs, brightly colored fruit snacks, frozen skillet meals, sugary cereals, and cheap burger patties in our kitchen. We shopped for convenience and on a budget and didn’t think much about what we ate. Now, we are eating a pescatarian diet with mostly real food and no fast food or soda. I used to look at nutrition labels to decide if I wanted to buy the product but now I focus on the ingredients. If it has some weird name that I can’t read, I don’t buy it. And unfortunately, most grocery products have a crazy long list of unknown ingredients. Yes, it’s been a challenge and it is slightly more expensive but we feel SO much better than before. I have more energy, great digestion, and no stomach issues.VIEW POST

Emily and Matt – Kraft Azalea Gardens, Orlando Engagement

Engagement, Orlando

As I photographed and edited Emily and Matt’s engagement session, I kept thinking “this couple is so classy and romantic!!”. I love their style and their matching personalities. Emily and Matt fit together and compliment each other so nicely. They are going to be a great husband and wife team! We are so excited to document their wedding day in February… only a few more months y’all! Enjoy these engagement photos at one of my favorite Orlando/Winter Park locations: Kraft Azalea Gardens.

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Lindsay and Jake – Park Avenue, Winter Park Engagement

Engagement, Orlando

I recently blogged about my beautiful friends and parents-to-be, Amy and Danny, and started their blog post with some throwback pictures. I’m going to do the same on this post about that sweet little blondie that I met my sophomore year at UCF…

As an eager and anxious sophomore in college, looking to make some quality girlfriends, I was so excited to meet Lindsay at Phi Lamb rush week. This girl has such a sweet and inviting spirit and a bubbly personality that draws you in with her stories. I could listen to Lindsay all day. She uses her hands in the most adorable way!! You know it’s true, Linds. Lindsay is my “twin” in our sorority, which means we share the same Big (who you have seen on the blog: click here to meet Paige). We also served together as officers of our sorority and grew so much together as sisters and friends. Lindsay was right by my side as David and I got engaged and married and I’m SO excited for her as she starts her journey with her love, Jake. They are perfect together and I know they are going to have such a sweet, fun marriage. I hope you enjoy these engagement photos. It was such a joy to capture these for you, twinny.

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Chelsea and Ron- Kraft Azalea Gardens, Orlando Engagement

Engagement, Orlando

Have you ever met someone and thought “why weren’t we friends before?!”. That’s how I felt when I started talking to Chelsea to schedule  their engagement session. Chelsea and I both attended the same high school and college (different years), both studied Elementary Education at UCF, birthdays in August, same middle name, same wedding colors, and the list goes on and on! Chelsea has such a sweet heart and spirit and she just radiates when she is around Ron. They are such a sweet couple! Photographing this engagement session was a breeze because these two were smiling and laughing the whole time. I also loved all of their fun props that they brought! My favorite was the coke cans: “Share a Coke with your Soulmate”. Enjoy Chelsea and Ron’s engagement session at Kraft Azalea Gardens!

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THEME BY ECLAIR DESIGNS