Jeff Mason Wedding and Portrait Photographer » Wedding Photography

Elizabeth+Adam | St. Pete Beach Wedding Photography

Jeff Mason | Tampa Wedding & Senior Photographer — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 05:12:13 +0000

Elizabeth and Adam were married June 13, 2010 on St. Petersburg Beach, FL at the Sirata Beach Resort. Many couples come to Florida for their destination weddings which sometimes makes it difficult for family and friends to attend. For Elizabeth and Adam’s wedding it didn’t seem to be an issue. Even though they came to Florida from Albuquerque they had friends and family from 14 states come to share in their day. That’s pretty impressive!

It was another scorcher of a day but it didn’t bother Elizabeth or Adam. Actually, I think Elizabeth is used to staying cool in the heat and under pressure. Not only has she been planning for her wedding but she was also studying to take the bar exam…which she recently passed on the first attempt!

Congratulations to the two of you; I wish you many happy and healthy years together.

Here are a few images from their day.

Audra+Michael | Weddings in Florida

Jeff Mason | Tampa Wedding & Senior Photographer — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 22:55:13 +0000

Audra and Michael were married this weekend at The Home Place in Dover, Florida. Audra was in her cousin’s wedding that I photographed in 2008 so I knew many of her friends and family. I love it when that happens. A few months ago I photographed their engagement session and I could tell that the wedding was going to be huge fun. Mikey is one of the funniest people I have met, add to that his brother Wesley as the best man and the rest of the guys in the wedding party…and well…you just had to be there. For the guys pictures with the bride they all put blackout under their eyes. Audra didn’t notice because they had on sunglasses until after a few of the pictures. It was just another funny moment in a long list of moments.

Once again, I want to thank Stephanie from Stephanie Humphrey Photography for shooting this wedding with me. Stephanie is an amazing photographer and I highly recommend her. I also want to thank Stephanie from The Home Place for having such a great venue for holding events and for being so organized to keep things running smoothly. The Home Place doesn’t have an official website yet but I can tell you that it is a premier wedding and reception location. Lastly, thank you to my good buddy Wade, owner of Tampa Bay Mobile DJ for keepin’ ‘em movin’.

Here are a few of Audra and Mikey’s pictures from their day. I will add a slideshow set to music in a few days.

Rachel+Gordon | Garden Club Wedding in Tampa

Jeff Mason | Tampa Wedding & Senior Photographer — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 00:26:42 +0000

Rachel and Gordon were married March 21, 2010 at the Davis Island Garden Club in Tampa. They live in the Baltimore area and I really was looking forward to seeing them again since we has such a good time during their engagement session. The original plan was for them to take the water taxi from the Embassy Suites Downtown to the Garden Club which is also on the water. On this day the weather didn’t completely cooperate so the water taxi was a no-go.

Rachel and Gordon are a neat couple. She is an FBI field agent but she couldn’t really tell me what she did and I think I’m glad because I sure she could have hurt me. Gordon has just been selected to do his medical residency at John Hopkins. He decided to leave a job on Wall Street to go back to medical school. Of course all this was great ammunition for the best man and matron of honor to use in their toasts.

March 21st is a special day not only because it’s Rachel+Gordon’s wedding day but it was also Gordon’s parents’ wedding anniversary. I think it’s cool they planned it to be the same day.

Their event was coordinated by Staci Mandikas of Unique Event Design. Staci is a preferred event planner for the Davis Island Garden Club and did an excellent job, as usual. Thanks, Staci for your help with everything. Video was by Jacques from Studios76 and music was provided by DJ extraordinaire James King from Grant Hemond & Associates.

Rachel and Gordon, it was wonderful working with you during your engagement and wedding. Nancy and I wish the two of you many happy and healthy years together.

Here are a few of my favorite images.

Here is a slideshow of their day set to music. Give it a few minutes to load, it’s HQ and well worth the wait!

Wedding Guest Signature Books-with a Twist | Tampa Wedding Photographer

Jeff Mason | Tampa Wedding & Senior Photographer — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 03:35:51 +0000

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.

The Secrets for Many Years of Marriage.

Jeff Mason | Tampa Wedding & Senior Photographer — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 23:19:35 +0000

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+Ed | St. Petersburg Sunken Gardens Wedding

Jeff Mason | Tampa Wedding & Senior Photographer — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 03:14:37 +0000

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+Alex | Hilton Clearwater Beach Florida Wedding

Jeff Mason | Tampa Wedding & Senior Photographer — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 15:47:22 +0000

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

Kimberly+David | Hard Rock Hotel Tampa Wedding

Jeff Mason | Tampa Wedding & Senior Photographer — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 21:12:26 +0000

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.

Kristen+Mark

Jeff Mason | Tampa Wedding & Senior Photographer — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 01:55:26 +0000

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.

Classic Film Noir and Hollywood Glamour photography

Jeff Mason | Tampa Wedding & Senior Photographer — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 17:43:04 +0000

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!”