Jeff Mason Wedding and Portrait Photographer

When a bride calls Jeff Mason Photography inquiring about wedding photography one of the first things I ask her is if they are considering a engagement photo session.  Engagement photo sessions are meant to be fun, relaxed and casual.  It’s a good time to get pictures of the couple just being themselves and showing their love for one another.  Another benefit of the engagement session is that the couple and I get to know each other and they get a chance to become comfortable with me and being in front of my camera.  This is important because on their wedding day, one of the biggest days in their lives, I am going to be right there with them.  After the engagement photo session I’m not just some guy with a camera in their faces, I’m a friend.

One of the most popular products from the engagement session is our Wedding Guest Signature Book.  This book goes beyond the typical guest book.  Not only does it have 20 pages of awesome pictures from the engagement session but I put questions on the pages that prompt the guests to write more than just their names.  Questions such as “When did you know that Rachel and Gordon were in Love”, or “Give us an idea for a date night”.  I have seen some really fun responses from guests.  These are books that the bride and groom can read and get enjoyment from for years to come.

Here is one of the books that I created for Rachel+Gorden who are going to be married on March 21.

I ran across these by accident but they are awesome video testimonials from couples who have been married for 50+ years.  I always make it a point to ask brides who contact me, “Where did you and your fiance meet?”.   More than a few have said that they met when they were in grade school or the groom-to-be visited his grandparents who lived across the street every summer.  Really wonderful stories.  These little videos hit home because they are the same kinds of stories.  I feel so fortunate that Jeff Mason Photography can be there to photograph each of our new couples as they start their lives together.  Video by Gillian Laub

Macon and Jim – Married 51 years

Betty and Lou – Married 60 years

Imogene and Elmer – Married 55 years

Aren’t these wonderful!

Chrissy and Ed were married on 4/18/2009 at St. Petersburg Sunken Gardens.  It’s a beautiful botanical garden and they had their ceremony near the butterfly garden.  Their reception was at the Marriott Pinellas Park.  Both of their families were a lot of fun and there was a lot of dancing during the reception but one thing that really stuck in my mind was what Ed’s brother, Pete,  said during his toast.  He said that Ed has always been one to do things his own way and that when Ed told him that he cared, truly cared, for Chrissy that was when Pete knew they were meant for each other.  Chrissy and Ed, I wish you many years of health and happiness together.  Here is a slideshow with a few images from their day.

Karyn and Alex were married March 29 at the Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort in Florida.  They live in Manhattan and made the trip down here with about 60 of their family and friends for a destination wedding on our wonderful beach.  It’s obvious that they are loved by many since guests came from as far away as Seattle, TX, TN, and upstate NY.

The weather was a bit sketchy in the morning but by the time the ceremony started it was nothing but blue skys and sunshine!  Here is a video with a few of my favorite pics from the day.  Congratulations, you guys!  -Jeff

Saturday was my last wedding for 2008 and it was a good one to end with. Kimberly and David were married and had their reception at the Hard Rock Casino in Tampa and rockin’ they did! They hired Bella Pictures to handle the photography. I’ve mentioned in previous posts that I am a Bella photographer when I have open dates. I’m glad that Nov. 22 was open because Kimberly, David, the bridal party, and both families were wonderful to work with.

I shot a handful of weddings in 2008 for Bella and so far it has been a good experience. I would much rather have my own weddings fill 2-3 weekends every month but when I don’t it gives me an opportunity to stay behind the camera and to meet wonderful people. Their wedding was no different.

Kimberly and David, I wish a happy and healthy life together. Enjoy Aruba and then the cruise with your family. Stay in touch. Here is a video and pictures of some of my favorite images.

Occasionally I photography weddings for Bella Pictures…like Kristen and Mark’s this past weekend.  I started talking to Kristen on the phone a little over a month ago. I could tell right away that we were going to get along great and that it was going to be a fun wedding.  When I shoot for Bella I don’t get to personally meet the brides ahead of time so I try to get to know as much as I can about the bride and groom during our phone conversations.  

Kristen and Mark met several years back while they were on a house boating trip with several other friends, in fact there were two large house boats.  They didn’t really meet each other until the last day.  Mark dropped all of his CDs and as Kristen helped him pick them up they realized that they had the same taste in music.   Well, it was a good start but it wasn’t until several years and a couple of states later that friends again brought them together.  This time it was for good.  Their wedding was on Clearwater Beach at the Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort.  

It was great to meet you and your families.  Have an awesome time in Jamaica, mon.  Let me hear how it was when you get back.

Here is a fun little slideshow…see the images in more detail below.

I really like the look of the black and white Film Noir Portraiture and Hollywood Glamour Photography that came out during the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s.  The high contrast of light and shadows convey such emotion.  Photographers like George Hurrell, who was the master, in my opinion, were so incredibly talented and adept at painting and shaping with light.  Today Jim Ferreira continues to shoot in this style for portraits and promotions.  

The photojournalistic style that is pervasive in wedding photography today is cool and now but classic portraiture will never die.  I attended one of the last seminars by the legend Monte Zucker and he said something that stuck with me.  He said, “Everyone is taking pictures of the bride’s shoes, dress and the wedding party jumping in the air, what is that?.  No one is taking classic portraits anymore.”  He told this room full of photographers, “Bridal portraits are what you should be doing.  It will set your businesses apart BECAUSE NO ONE ELSE IS DOING THEM!”

Ashley and Marc were married at the SandPearl Resort on Clearwater Beach, Florida.  Many of their friends and family came down from Virginia to share in their celebration.  Marc and his groomsmen were all graduates from Virginia Tech as were many of the guests based on the reaction to the VT fight song that the DJ played!  I didn’t get a chance to ask Ashley were she went to school but when the DJ played the Florida Gator’s fight song she was doing a big gator chomp with her arms.  Ashley and her bridesmaids are featured in a previous post with Laura Lee Designs Bridal Bags.  I photographed this wedding on behalf of Bella Pictures along with Cristiana Garcia and I am looking forward to working with her again, she is a fantastic photographer and a lot of fun to work with.

Ashley and Marc, thank you for inviting me to photograph your special day and I wish the two of you many happy and healthy years together.  Here are a few of my favorite images.

I’ve known Cassie for a long time and was VERY excited when she asked me to photograph their wedding.  Chris has been working in Iraq for the past couple of years and is finally home.  I want to thank Theresa Marie from Theresa Marie Photography for helping me.  Holy cow, Theresa, your images are awesome!  Cassie and Chris, I look forward to seeing you all again soon.  Here are a few of their images.

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On June 28 we photographed Stephanie & Matthew’s wedding for my good friends at Sky Photo Group.  The wedding was in Daytona so my wife, Nancy, went along to be my 2nd photographer.  We live in Tampa and haven’t been to the east coast in a while so we were especially looking forward to being somewhere different for a change.  

We started by taking some photos of the Stephanie and the girls getting ready.  Stephanie was a stunning bride!  After the ceremony and the formal pictures with the family and bridal party we went over to the beach to get some pictures of just Stephanie and Matthew.  The beach can be a challenging place for photos, especially in mid-afternoon when the sun is so bright but we found a place outside the hotel where they were staying that provided the shade we needed.  The ceremony was at the Palmetto Club and this is when things got REALLY fun.  Stephanie, Matthew, and friends definitely celebrated their wedding!  

Stephanie and Matthew, Nancy and I were honored to be able to photograph your wedding and the start of your lives together.  We wish you many years of happiness!  

Oh, yeah, enjoy snowboarding in Chile…we’re so jealous. 

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