Karen Harrison Photography

I'm Retired

2009-02-19T12:15:00.003-05:00

Not me - LOL, I'm not THAT old... my blog. Yes, this blog is now retired, as I've outgrown it and moved on to one geared specifically toward professional photographers. Though I love my blogger blog, the new one allows for much larger photos, as well as some other features that are useful for photogs. So, if you have this blog saved as a favorite (and who wouldn't? j/k) remember to update the address. My new blog can be found here:

Karen's Awesomely Fabulous Shiny New Blog

Thanks for looking:-)

Pneumonia Strikes the Harrison Household

2009-02-17T14:57:00.005-05:00

Well, technically it didn't strike the entire household, just one of us. But his suffering was enough :-( On Saturday night we spent 4 hours in an urgent care pediatric clinic because Ryan's fever spiked to 105. Yes, 105. After much bloodwork, an IV of antibiotics, and no answers, we went home. Sunday morning he was clearly still very sick, and back to the doc we went. This time (different doctor) they realized he had pneumonia. So he got to lay in Mommy's bed and watch TV, which of course wasn't as cool as watching TV in the living room, because Mommy's TV doesn't have 32 episodes of Dora The Explorer tevo'd (is that a word?).

So... these pics were taken right after Sunday's doctor visit. He was so lethargic and just laid there looking like he was going to pass out any second, yet when he saw the camera, he still managed to cheese it up. Totally made me laugh, so I thought I'd share. Don't mind the horrible pics, all the lights were off in the room.

Elisa & Matt 02.07.09 | Tampa Wedding Photographer

2009-02-16T20:02:00.010-05:00

Elisa, Matt and their families made the trip to Florida from Kansas City, so they could have a beautiful beach wedding on Honeymoon Island. The wedding was small and intimate, with only family and close friends in attendance. Afterwards, they headed to a restaurant in Dunedin to enjoy each other's company.

Happy Valentine's Day

2009-02-14T23:46:00.001-05:00

Twins! | Tampa Newborn Photographer

2009-02-12T14:03:00.004-05:00

These little cuties were eight days old during their photos, and they were such dolls. They slept very well for us, so we were able to get a good variety of poses. I love incorporating mom and dad in newborn photos, and I had a blast with these!

Mom, Dad, and Grandma... enjoy your sneak peek!

4 Month Old Cutie! | Tampa Baby Photographer

2009-02-08T11:46:00.004-05:00

Baby "E" is 4 months old and such a cutie - I love his smile, his big eyes, and his adorable hair!

Mom and Dad, enjoy your sneak peek!

Patti & Matt 01.31.09 | Tampa Wedding Photographer

2009-02-03T15:31:00.010-05:00

My wonderful, fantastic and beautiful friend Patti tied the knot with her honey, Matt, on Saturday. They had a small family-only ceremony at Phillippe Park, and everyone went out to dinner to celebrate afterwards.

If anyone looks C-O-L-D in these photos, it's because they were! It was quite a chilly evening, but all went well and the ceremony was beautiful.

Lucky Me! | Tampa Newborn Photographer

2009-01-31T21:50:00.009-05:00

How lucky am I to have this cutie patootie as my neighbor? He's eight days old in these photos, and oh-so-cute!

Is Your Child America's Cutest Kid?

2009-01-29T11:48:00.004-05:00

Karen Harrison Photography is excited to be participating in the National Charity Model Search to select "America's Cutest Kid" and to raise funds for a wonderful charity.

We're looking for cute children ages 18 months to 14 years old to model for a portrait to be entered into the contest.

Model Search Special:

$50 entrance fee, which includes a 20-30 minute photo session and one image submitted to the national gallery.

Finalists are determined by online votes. Anyone may vote. Each vote is $1, and all proceeds from votes benefit the non-profit organization Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep (http://www.nilmdts.org/).

The grand prize winner will be determined from the 50 city finalists. Winners are selected by photography and modeling experts.

If your child is selected as the national winner, you'll receive many prizes, including a $5,000 US Savings Bond and a Canon PowerShot G10 digital camera.

If you're interested in entering your child(ren), please contact me at (813) 495-5135. For more information about the contest, you can go straight to the source at http://www.sandypucmodels.com/.

Karen Harrison Photography on "The Knot!"

2009-01-27T11:52:00.004-05:00

I'm thrilled to be part of The Knot community. If you're a bride looking for wedding planning assistance, this is the best resource out there! The Knot can help you with finding local wedding vendors and with any questions you might have regarding the wedding planning process. There is definately a wealth of information to be found there, so be sure to check it out!

Miss B. | Tampa Senior Photographer

2009-01-26T16:43:00.007-05:00

Friday I met and photographed this wonderful high school senior, Miss B. B is beautiful both inside and out... she loves to work with kids, and even volunteers as a Big Sister. We started at Howard Park, then went over to the beach to get some great sunset shots. It was pretty chilly out, and in between photos B was covered in a blanket, but she never complained!

Miss B. and family, enjoy your sneak peek!

Brrr... Proof!

2009-01-22T21:55:00.001-05:00

For my northern friends, here's some proof that it DOES get cold in Florida. Apparently I need to move further south!

Baby "A" | Tampa Newborn Photographer

2009-01-20T13:24:00.007-05:00

I had the pleasure of photographing Baby A and her family this week. Baby A was 18 days old, and still so teeny-tiny, weighing in at just over 5.5 pounds. She is by far the most alert baby I've ever photographed... she was awake (wide awake!) for the entire 4 hours!

To Baby A's parents... thanks for being such great sports, and for allowing me the opportunity to photography your beautiful family. Enjoy your sneak peak!

And the winner is...

2009-01-14T10:13:00.002-05:00

Thanks to all for the GREAT response to the "Best of 2008" image contest! Without further ado, I'd like to announce the winner...

#21 - Baby "L"... with a whopping 102 votes!!!

Baby L's family will receive an 11x14 canvas of their favorite image from her session.

Thanks to everyone who participated, and check the blog often as there will be more contests to come.

Beautiful Maternity | Tampa Maternity Photographer

2009-01-09T17:14:00.009-05:00

This week I had the pleasure of photographing T & R, a beautiful couple who's expecting a baby (gender unknown!) on February 19th. They were so fun to work with and obviously so excited about the baby... they're clearly going to be great parents!

T & R, enjoy your sneak peek!

A Great Start to 2009!

2009-01-02T15:47:00.006-05:00

The "Best of 2008" image contest is well underway (see below post for details), and the votes are pouring in. It's so exciting, I check every day to see how many votes have been cast, and there are many!

I have another fun and exciting announcement for 2009... I'm officially launching a website exclusively highlighting my wedding photography! I've been working on this for days and I'm so happy to finally be launching it. All of the weddings showcased on the site, with the exception of one, took place in 2008. I can't wait to add more from 2009! So without further ado, I invite you to come and visit my new wedding website!

And here is one of my favorite wedding photos... just because.

Happy 2009! :-)

Best of 2008 - Vote for your Fave!

2008-12-31T09:31:00.046-05:00

I'd like to take a moment to thank all of my clients, friends and family for a wonderful 2008. The support you've given me in my business endeavors is invaluable.

To wrap up the year, I've decided to run a fun little contest. I've chosen some of my favorite images from 2008 sessions, and I'd love for you to vote on your favorite.

The owner of the winning image will receive a FREE 11x14 GALLERY WRAPPED CANVAS of their favorite image from their session.

To vote, please go to the grey poll on the right-hand side of this blog. Click on the circle for the image # of your favorite photo, and click "vote". Please note that votes are limited to one per household. The # of each image is ABOVE that image. Please double check that you're voting for the correct image.

The contest ends at 11:59PM on Sunday, January 11, 2009. Make sure to get your votes in before then.

Happy voting, and happy new year!!!

#5#6
#7
#8#9
#10
#11
#12
#13
#14
#15
#16#17
#18
#19
#20
#21

Happy Holidays from Karen Harrison Photography!

2008-12-24T15:38:00.006-05:00

Best wishes to you, your families and loved ones this holiday season!

"Baby A" is no longer a baby! | Tampa Baby Photographer

2008-12-07T16:29:00.009-05:00

Wow... Angie is no longer a baby! This little one is one of my favorite supermodels. You can see her newborn photos at two days old by clicking here. She's now almost 14 months old - what a difference!

Little Miss "O" | Tampa Family Photographer

2008-12-02T11:35:00.007-05:00

Little Miss O just turned one, and she brought her family in for some fun Christmas photos. We did most of them in the studio, then headed outside to the Gazebo in downtown Safety Harbor for just a few more.

Don't you just love her red hair? Its gorgeous!

Sneak Peek - "Y" Family | Tampa Family Photographer

2008-12-02T08:46:00.006-05:00

This beautiful family hired me to come to the beach to take pics of their family and extended family. We headed out to Honeymoon Island in Dunedin for the session. There were 14 people total, 7 kids and 7 adults. The kids were all so cute and sweet! I still have a lot of proofing to do, but wanted to post just a few.

Enjoy the sneak peek!

Sneak Peek - "P" Family | Tampa Family Photographer

2008-12-01T11:04:00.006-05:00

I've known these guys for years and their kiddos are so cute. (The younger of the two is 5 days younger than my little man.) We headed out to Phillippe Park last weekend to get some holiday photos, and then got to play on the great playground!

Enjoy the sneak peek!

I HEART My Ugly Chair

2008-11-30T08:35:00.004-05:00

I picked up this new prop the other day, and I love it... despite its ugliness (I DO mean the chair, not the model - she's beautiful!). This is my friend's daugther, Miss "O" and we were just playing around with the ugly chair. Miss O is a great model, as you can see!

Sneak Peek - "H" Family | Tampa Family Photographer

2008-11-25T20:28:00.007-05:00

This was the first session from Sunday's double-header at Phillippe Park, or triple-header if you count the "Ugly Chair" fun session (details to come). The H family was a blast - really laid back and fun to photograph. Little "N" is ten and a half months old, and just about walking. He's so close! Worked out nicely for me, since he's not QUITE there yet, he couldn't run away from me! :-)

H family, thanks for a fun day. Enjoy your sneak peek!

The Coolest Gift EVER - Photo Necklaces!

2008-11-18T10:26:00.005-05:00

Looking for that perfect gift with an extra personal touch? Look no further! These photo pendant necklaces are so gorgeous... any mom would be thrilled to have one!!! They may look kind of silly on dads though :-)

I looked long and hard to find something simple and classy, and these pendants are exactly what I had in mind! Your memories are showcased in the crystal clear resin. There are no frames, just the brilliant color from your photo reflecting up and around the sides.

My photo does not do this necklace justice AT ALL. (Again, I'm not a product photographer for sure!). But I had to share it, and I am now offering these as part of my product line-up, so if you're interested, drop me a line.

Husbands, if you're looking for some major brownie points with the wife, this is the way to go! :-)

"L" Family - Sneak Peek | Tampa Family Photographer

2008-11-15T21:24:00.005-05:00

Big sister is almost 4, and little brother is only 8 weeks old. They were both so cute and well-behaved... um, maybe they could hang out with MY kid so some of that could rub off on him? :-)

Here are just a few from today's session... enjoy!

Sweet Baby Leeza - AKA "Baby Kaz" | Tampa Baby Photographer

2008-11-15T13:26:00.007-05:00

Finally! The long awaited and much anticipated arrival of Leeza Grace Serra has taken place! My fabulous friend Susan and her wonderful hubby Joe have finally brought their daughter "forever home". Leeza was born in Kazakhstan, where she spent the first year of her life. However, she is now officially a Florida baby! Joe, Susan, and big brother Sean made the loo-oo-oong trip to Kazakhstan and spent 11 weeks there adopting Leeza.

Just as the Serras are lucky to have Leeza, Leeza is lucky to have such wonderful parents, and also two great brothers and a great sister.

And on a side note, Leeza is less than 6 months younger than my little guy, so I see lots of fun playdates in our future.

Welcome home Leeza!

Sneak Peek - Portrait Party - Part Deux

2008-10-24T16:02:00.011-04:00

Part two of the Clearwater Cuties Portrait Party was last night and it was a blast! I photographed four families (five kiddos total) and they were ALL so well behaved. They were all so precious and smiled easily, and no one played "run away from the photographer" which is always a plus:-)

Below are a few from each session. To all the moms... your galleries will be posted very shortly!

Enjoy!

Jen & Chris 10.04.08 | Tampa Wedding Photographer

2008-10-22T22:24:00.014-04:00

Jen and Chris were married on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon at the St. Ignatius of Antioch Roman Catholic Church in Tarpon Springs. They had a break between the ceremony and the reception, where everyone went back to the (gorgeous!) house to relax and spend time together, before heading to the reception at Bon Appetit in Dunedin. Everything about the day was gorgeous, from the weather to the bridal party to the flowers (amazing job by Kikilis Florist). The DJ from Grant Hemond & Associates did a great job of keeping the party going, and photographer Dante' (the second shooter) did a fabulous impromptu electric slide dance lesson!

Best of luck to the newly married couple, Jen and Chris!

View Jen and Chris's wedding photography slideshow here!

Wedding shot for Alexis Photography & Video.

Sneak Peek - Portrait Party - Part I

2008-10-22T14:50:00.003-04:00

I love Portrait Parties! They're a fun way for several families to come together and have photos done, while sharing the cost so its less expensive for everyone involved. The photos below are from Part I of the two part Portrait Party that we're having for the Clearwater Cuties Mom's Group. I will post Part II in the next few days. Enjoy!

Courtney & Fred 09.12.08 | Tampa Wedding Photographer

2008-10-17T17:25:00.015-04:00

Courtney and Fred were married in September, so this isn't really a sneak peak at this point, but I still wanted to share. I was the second shooter on this wedding, and Moe with Alexis Photography and Video was the primary shooter. We got tons of gorgeous photos! Courtney and Fred were so cute and comfortable together... they definately made our jobs easy! They were married at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Tampa, and their reception was held at the gorgeous A La Carte Event Pavilion, also located in Tampa. Enjoy!

Holiday Cards and Photos

2008-10-14T10:55:00.005-04:00

Believe it or not, holiday portrait season is in full swing! So, if you want to get photos done in time for the holidays, you need to start thinking about it, um... NOW! My holiday deadline for prints and cards is December 5th (deadline for albums and books is November 5th).

Below are a few samples of the cards being offered this year. The entire collection can be found on my website... go to http://www.karenharrisonphotography.com/ and click on the "Galleries" tab. Then scroll down to the "2008 Holiday Card" Gallery to view all the different options. All cards are 5x7 and can be ordered as either flat, or folded, cards. They all come with envelopes so you don't have to do any extra shopping.

Call today to book your holiday session - don't wait until its too late!

Newborn Baby "M" | Tampa Newborn Photographer

2008-10-05T23:03:00.008-04:00

Adorable little newborn Baby M is only 4 days old in these photos. He is absolutely beautiful and he slept for our entire session, which made photographing him SO fun as I could curl him up into cute little baby poses with no trouble at all! For anyone contemplating newborn photos, I STRONGLY urge you to do them when your baby is as young as possible. This session is a great example... the younger the baby, the more they sleep, and the easier it is to get great photos!

On a side note, Baby M's big brother is 17 months old...he was born the exact same day as my little guy:-)

CLICK HERE TO VIEW NEWBORN BABY M'S SLIDESHOW!

Enjoy!

Miss "S" | Tampa Senior Photographer

2008-10-01T11:22:00.009-04:00

This was definitely one of my most fun photo sessions... S was up for anything. That would explain the fact that her mom and I had to coax her off the train tracks as a train was coming... she was prepared to stand there until the very last moment in order to get a cool photo (and I'm all about cool photos, but I have to admit it was freaking me out a little!). After the train tracks, we headed over to Phillippe Park for some more photos. S even got in the water at the end of the session!

S, enjoy your sneak peak!

And some vintage processing just for fun... thought it worked well with the train tracks...

Vote for Ryan!

2008-09-28T09:31:00.012-04:00

... okay maybe he's not running for president, but he IS in the running for the title of "Messiest Kid in Tampa Bay". If you'd like to vote, you can click HERE. You're allowed one vote per email address, and once you vote, you'll be sent an email confirmation that you must open and click on to finalize your vote. If you don't complete this step, your vote will not count! (AOL email addresses won't work, but all other addresses are accepted.)

Thanks for your support, and feel free to spread the word!!!

This is the photo I ended up choosing, based on everyone's feedback:

Help Me Choose!

2008-09-24T12:26:00.005-04:00

I'm entering Ryan's photo in a contest for... you guessed it... MESSY KIDS! The prize is a big lumpa cash-o-la, one that will buy Ryan LOTS of new shoes (or Power Socks, and for those of you who've witnessed the magic of the "Power Sock" first-hand, you know how important this is!). I have three similar photos, and can't decide which to enter. I need your help! Leave me a comment and let me know which one would be best. (Or send an email if you prefer - karen@karenharrisonphotography.com). The contest is based on the following criteria: camera-friendly nature of the subject, how messy the child is, originality and personality (of which my child clearly has none - yeah right!).

Option #1:

Option #2:
Option #3:
Would love to hear from you with your favorite!

My Boys

2008-09-23T22:55:00.004-04:00

A little father-son bonding at the beach this weekend... aren't they adorable?

Attention Brides! David's Bridal "One Love" Contest

2008-09-21T11:41:00.002-04:00

Getting married soon? You may be interested in this contest sponsored by David's Bridal. The winner will receive their dream wedding! To enter, you have to share the moment that you knew your guy was your One Love. Click the link below for details:

David's Bridal "One Love" Contest

This contest runs through October 20th, 2008. Good luck!

Baby G's Crazy Birth Story | Tampa Newborn Photographer

2008-09-12T10:05:00.009-04:00

Yesterday I photographed 6 pounds of newborn yumminess. Baby "G" is 10 days old, and so cute! According to mom, she's never awake for more than 30 minutes at a time, but she managed to stay awake for about an hour and a half during our session!

I'm amazed by the story of Baby G's birth... and since Mom gave me permission to share, here goes. Mom's contractions started at 7:15, and were about 4 minutes apart. She knew they didn't have much time, and that the baby was coming fast. Mom and Dad jumped in the car to go to the hospital, but they didn't make it. At 7:46, Baby G arrived in this world, in the car, in the parking lot of 7-11. That's right, she was born In. The. Car. Her mom is so brave - I think she deserves a medal for staying calm in that situation!!!

Thanks Baby G, Mom and Grandma, you guys were great!!!

View a few sneak peaks below, or CLICK HERE TO SEE NEWBORN BABY G'S SLIDESHOW!

New Website is LIVE!

2008-09-03T09:34:00.009-04:00

Its official... woot woot! I am so excited to launch my new website at http://www.karenharrisonphotography.com/! This has been a long time in the making, and its finally complete. Its so much nicer than the last site. Please check it out and bookmark it - I'll be changing the info and specials often. I'd love to hear what you think, so please leave a comment and let me know!

I think I should say a special "thank you" to my Mom, who was patient enough to spend endless hours watching my son while I was working on this site. Ryan managed to get lots of Grammie lovin' during this process!

And since I simply cannot post without a photo, here's a shot of Ryan getting loved on by Grammie and Grandpa at their house in N.H.

Kathy & David 08.30.08 | Tampa Wedding Photography

2008-09-02T09:57:00.022-04:00

Kathy and David’s Jewish ceremony took place on Saturday at the beautiful Davis Island Garden Club in Tampa. We first met at the Marriott Waterside in downtown Tampa for some cool getting ready shots, and then we all braved the rain to head over to the Garden Club. Despite the yucky weather, it ended up being a beautiful day. Kathy and David were so much fun, and so clearly in love with each other and their beautiful one year old son… this just showed through in everything they did on their special day. Kathy and David, congratulations!!!

Wedding photographed for Alexis Photography & Video.

Product Showcase - Coffee Table Album

2008-08-12T14:07:00.023-04:00

I recently put together this newborn coffee table album and I L-O-V-E the result! These books are available in a few different sizes (my favorite is the 10x10 version). The books are very elegant... they come with a printed book jacket and a black case. The pages are a varnish finish and there is white vellum placed in front of the first page.

Front and back cover (wraps around the book): Pages 2 & 3:
Pages 4 & 5:
Pages 6 & 7:
Pages 8 & 9:
Pages 10 & 11:
Pages 12 & 13:

Pages 14 & 15:
Pages 16 & 17:
Pages 18 & 19:
Page 20 (last page):

Colleen & Jon's Engagement | Tampa Photographer

2008-08-12T12:44:00.010-04:00

My "little" brother-in-law Jon and his fiance' Colleen are getting married next August, and we took engagement photos this weekend at Taylor Mill in Derry, NH. We were lucky to get a few minutes of sunshine in, considering its been raining EVERY day during my vacation up here... grrr. Apparently Jon's not a fan of having photos taken, but because I'm his ~~only~~ FAVORITE sister-in-law, he tolerated it. LOL!

Field Trip!

2008-08-06T21:08:00.009-04:00

Yesterday I had the opportunity to get together with several photographers from the NH and MA areas. These people were all so talented, and it was great to be able to talk about my geeky passion with others who share the interest. I'm pretty sure my husband is quite sick of hearing me talk about apertures and f-stops. K, C, T, E and L, it was great meeting you all, I had a blast! Below are a few photos we took of "A" who is going to be a senior this year. She was such a great model... patient for literally hours while all of us took TONS of pics of her.

Product Showcase - Fine Art Canvas

2008-08-04T19:42:00.006-04:00

Many of us are visual people, and don’t feel comfortable purchasing something sight unseen. So, I’ve decided to start doing the occasional “product showcase” where I’ll post some photos of products I offer. Hopefully it will help you to visualize what we can do with YOUR photos, and to decide whether the particular product is a good fit for you.

So, without further ado, here is my first product showcase. This is a 16x24 inch canvas, and it’s BEE-YOO-TI-FUL! It is currently hanging in the front entryway of my home.

These canvas works of art are available in numerous of sizes, starting at 16x20. You can choose either a “Thin Gallery Wrap” which is .75 inches thick, or a “Thick Gallery Wrap” which is 1.5 inches thick. The photos below are of the Thick Gallery Wrap, but they are both equally gorgeous. The canvas is wrapped around a sturdy wooden stretcher frame, and they come will all of the hardware necessary to hang them (except the hammer, nails, and handyman / handywoman). My mother and I hung mine, so if WE can do it, YOU can do it!

These would be gorgeous above a sofa, a bed, or a fireplace. You could also make a collection of several smaller ones to really add to the WOW-factor! They’re available in square sizes as well, so we can custom design your very own portrait wall if you’d like.

Enjoy, and feel free to leave any questions or comments!

Senior Reps Needed - Class of '09!

2008-07-26T13:03:00.006-04:00

Calling all high school seniors! Karen Harrison Photography is seeking outgoing high school seniors in Clearwater and Palm Harbor to help promote our studio! What's in it for you? If you're chosen as a rep, you will receive a FREE photo session ($150 session fee is waived), a CD of web-sized images for uploading to Myspace, Facebook, etc., and 10% off your print order. You can also earn FREE PRINTS by referring your friends... for each friend who completes a paid session, you'll receive a $40 print credit! We'll give you referral cards, all you need to do is hand them out!

We're offering tons of cool new products exclusively for seniors, including hardcover brag books, 411 cards, graduation announcements/invitations, and more!

If you're interested, please contact me via email at karen@karenharrisonphotography.com or by phone at (813) 495-5135. Rep spaces are limited, so please contact us asap.

Corporate Photos | Tampa Corporate Photographer

2008-07-24T21:42:00.006-04:00

This morning I took corporate photos for a company in Tampa. Such a different experience from chasing toddlers around... we didn't even have to break for cheerios! :-)

Baby A's Beach Session | Tampa Baby Photography

2008-07-23T22:07:00.006-04:00

Baby A loved the beach, until we tried to put her near the water. She was NOT happy about the wet sand. Luckily we got some cute shots before trying that!

Sneak Peek Miss "B" | Tampa Senior Photography

2008-07-20T20:54:00.018-04:00

Fellow photographer Stacey and I shot Miss B's senior photos this week on behalf of Alexis Photography. B and her family were so much fun! They aren't from this area, but were visiting, and B wanted senior pics Florida style! She came up with the lawnchair idea herself, and her mom and grandmother lugged that thing all over the beach for her. We had a great time, and B knew how to work the camera! :-)

Ryan's Camera Face

2008-07-07T22:03:00.006-04:00

Remember that movie Zoolander where has-been supermodel Ben Stiller’s signature look is called “Blue Steel”? Well, I’m now introducing the new and improved version… BABY STEEL! Ryan makes this face EVERY time someone points a camera at him now. I have NO idea how he became such a ham:-)

Leza & Pete 06.28.08 | Tampa Wedding Photography

2008-07-01T08:58:00.023-04:00

What a great wedding… Leza and Pete were such a fun-loving and personable couple! Stacey (another Alexis Photographer) and I met the bride at her parents’ house for the preshots. She was such a good sport, and more than willing to go outside, despite the fact that it was H-O-T! She didn’t even mind the spider that decided to befriend her and hang out on her dress!

Leza and Pete’s ceremony was a full traditional Greek ceremony at the beautiful St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Tarpon Springs. The plan was to leave a good amount of time for some wedding party photos before heading to the reception. We hit a little snafu, though, when the limo driver locked the keys in the limo! That meant that yours truly drove the newly wedded couple to their reception. Lucky for them, I had driven my husband’s car, and not mine, so they weren’t forced to share the backseat with a carseat and squished cheerios. :-)

The reception was a great time. It was held at the gorgeous Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club. We stopped and took some photos on the grounds of the resort, and then headed over to the reception, which featured TWO bands (one playing traditional Greek music) and lots of Greek dancing.

Leza and Pete… we had fun with you guys… hope you have fun in HAWAII!

Wedding photographed for Alexis Photography & Video.

Mia & Eric 06.14.08 | Tampa Wedding Photography

2008-06-18T09:50:00.006-04:00

Mia and Eric were married on Saturday at the Orlando Florida Temple. Their ceremony was followed by a creative reception - karaoke style! Mia and Eric kicked off the karaoke by dedicating a song to each other... Mia sang "Lay Down Sally", and Eric performed a wonderful (cough cough!) rendition of "I Say a Little Prayer". Recording contracts may be in the near future!

Baby "A" Sneak Peek | Tampa Baby Photography

2008-06-11T09:01:00.005-04:00

My favorite supermodel... and go Red Sox!

Portrait Party - Clearwater Cuties!

2008-06-03T22:40:00.010-04:00

This was the first portrait party I've photographed, and it was a blast! We had five sessions, starting at 5:30 and shooting until sunset (about 8:15). I really want to thank all of the families for being on time (a few minutes early as requested), prepared, and FUN! The sneak peek below contains one photo from each family's session...

Jodi Durrow, an awesome black-and-white photographer, also shot this Portrait Party. You can view more photos on her blog by clicking here.

On a side note, if anyone local is looking for a cool Mom's Group to join, check out the Clearwater Cuties by clicking here... this great group of moms and kiddos offers tons of fun activities!

Christine & Robert 04.19.08 | Tampa Wedding Photography

2008-06-03T22:03:00.013-04:00

Christine and Robert were married at the end of April (yes, I'm behind in posting!) at the Davis Island Garden Club. It was an absolutely beautiful day for an outdoor ceremony, and the reception was a blast.

Wedding photographed for Alexis Photography & Video.

Contest Winners!

2008-05-20T20:40:00.005-04:00

Yes, I said winners because I decided to choose two of the nominations. Congratulations to Carmen Goodwin and Karen Kerns... you each win a free photo session and an 8x10 enlargement! I will be contacting you directly via email to set up the details. Thanks to everyone for all of the great nominations :-)

The “My Little Guy Turned One!” Contest – WIN A FREE SESSION

2008-05-03T11:41:00.005-04:00

Wow, time flies, and my little monster (said most affectionately, of course!) just turned ONE. What does this mean? It means he just started daycare, and THAT means I have more time to devote to photo sessions. I'm now booking sessions on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, as well as the occasional weekend.

In honor of this exciting development, I’m offering a blog contest where you can win a FREE photo session and an 8x10 print. Simply email me at karen@karenharrisonphotography.com and tell me why you deserve a free photo session. You can also nominate someone you know… same rules apply, just tell me why that person or family deserves a free session.

Entries must be received by midnight EST on May 15th. The prize is a one hour photo session at a local park or beach (exact details to be decided) for 1-4 people. (A different location may be chosen for newborn or maternity photos.) The winner will also receive an 8x10 print from their session. (Please note, any additional prints or a CD/DVD of images can be purchased at 10% off the regular prices, but no purchase is required).

Winners will be announced on the blog no later than May 20th. Good luck!

Beautiful "C"... | Tampa Photographer

2008-04-23T20:57:00.004-04:00

This gorgeous gal is interested in modeling, for obvious reasons! Our session this morning was a blast, she was such a good sport, despite the fact that her cheek muscles were getting so tired they were twitching! :-)

Mia & Eric's Engagement | Tampa Photographer

2008-04-15T22:53:00.007-04:00

Congratulations to Mia and Eric who will be getting married in June. They're such good sports… we braved the COLD and WINDY weather the other day at Honeymoon Island to get these photos, and the 36MPH winds (yes, I really checked weather.com) didn’t dampen their spirits at all.

Mia and Eric, you guys make such a cute couple… I can’t wait to photograph the wedding!

Elaine & Amir 04.05.08 | Tampa Wedding Photography

2008-04-08T15:14:00.007-04:00

This wedding was a photographer's dream! Elaine and Amir made sure to leave several HOURS in between the ceremony and the reception, allowing for tons of great photos. We did the formals at the church (Espiritu Santo Catholic Church in Safety Harbor), then we did some fun photos at Philippe Park, and finally we finished at the reception site - the beautiful Safety Harbor Resort & Spa. Enjoy!

Wedding photographed for Alexis Photography & Video. (http://www.alexisphoto.com/)

Samantha & Shawn 03.29.08 | Tampa Wedding Photography

2008-04-05T23:02:00.008-04:00

Samantha was totally laid back and fun… her goal was to enjoy her day and not sweat the small stuff. She told us that what she wanted in her photos was for “everyone to be having fun”! We had plenty of time for great creative photos before the ceremony, and we were lucky to hit the beach for fun group shots and sunset bride and groom photos afterwards.

The ceremony was held at Heritage United Methodist in Clearwater, and the reception was at the Sandpearl Resort on Clearwater Beach. A beautiful couple and a gorgeous sunset made for some fantastic photos!

Wedding photographed for Alexis Photography & Video. (http://www.alexisphoto.com/)

Gabriele & Nathan 02.23.08 | Tampa Wedding Photography

2008-04-05T22:48:00.005-04:00

Despite the torrential downpour that threatened to create some major challenges, this turned into a beautiful day and a beautiful wedding. We met the bride at the Best Western in Dunedin for the pre- ceremony shots. Gabe and her eight bridesmaids, junior bridesmaid, and two flower girls all looked beautiful. The ceremony was held at St. Brendan Catholic Church in Clearwater, and the reception was at Bon Apetit in Dunedin.

Wedding photographed for Alexis Photography & Video. (http://www.alexisphoto.com/)

Back in Action!

2008-04-05T22:32:00.003-04:00

So far you've seen mostly children and families on my blog, but I'm happy to announce that I am "officially" photographing weddings again! I did this a few years back, but took a two year hiatus to get my MBA and have a baby... and I am now back in action! So in addition to seeing my family sessions posted on the blog, you'll now see a few photos from each of the weddings I shoot. In fact, I'm already behind and will be posting a few weddings in the next few days.

In the meantime, here is one of my old wedding favorites, from back in the day.

Enjoy!

The Gift of Freedom

2008-03-10T15:16:00.015-04:00

I recently became the photographer for a great organization in Palmetto – Southeastern Guide Dogs, Inc. Since its inception in 1982, SEGD has provided more than 2,270 dogs to visually impaired men and women throughout the United States. Many people don’t realize the time and effort involved in this process… it takes almost two years and $40,000 to prepare a successful guide dog team!

Guide dogs start training as young puppies. “Puppy raiser” families take the nine week old puppies into their home, and teach them basic obedience, good manners, and socialization. The puppies live with the family until about 14 to 20 months of age, at which time they return to Southeastern to begin the more formal training process of becoming a guide dog.

Upon returning to Southeastern, the dogs undergo a strict selection process. They are trained by professional trainers for 4 to 6 months, and learn over 40 commands. Once the dogs are fully trained, they’re matched with visually impaired recipients in a 26 day training program. During this time, the person and dog learn to work as a team, and they develop the bond of trust, love and devotion that is necessary to the success of a guide dog team.

I am lucky enough to witness this process on the days that I volunteer to take photographs at SEGD. It’s so impressive to see these people and their dogs working together. Below are some photos from recent “Puppy Raiser Days”… these days allow the puppy raiser families to meet the visually impaired recipient of the puppy they raised, and to view the puppies (now fully trained) and recipients in a working environment. It’s an emotional day for the puppy raisers, as they’ve obviously formed a strong bond with their puppy. The Puppy Raiser Day allows them to see firsthand that all of their hard work has paid off.

If anyone is interested in volunteering for (or donating to) Southeastern Guide Dogs, please contact them at (941) 729-5665 or check out their website at http://www.guidedogs.org/.

Snowball Fight! | Tampa Children's Photographer

2008-03-02T20:04:00.005-05:00

After risking my life and dodging numerous snowballs, as demonstrated here:

I got some adorable shots of "A", which you can see here:

:-)

Life Is Good | Tampa Family Photography

2008-02-17T17:14:00.007-05:00

Beautiful day, beautiful baby, beautiful family. Life is good.

Awww! | Tampa Baby Photography

2008-02-09T19:58:00.003-05:00

Country Boy | Tampa Baby Photography

2008-01-30T20:51:00.002-05:00

It seems like just yesterday that we were doing this little guy's birth announcement, and somehow he's already four and a half months old!

He may be a city boy, but his grandparents have 30 acres in the country, and that's where these photos were taken. We had a blast visiting... riding the 4-wheelers, checking out the horses, and just hanging out.

Can't wait to see you again, baby "L"!

"Be My Valentine" Sessions on Feb. 2nd!

2008-01-24T21:22:00.000-05:00

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner… wouldn’t it be great to surprise your loved ones with some new photos? Karen Harrison Photography is offering special Valentine’s sessions on February 3rd. For $125 you will receive a 30 minute photo session (up to 5 people), a custom “LOVE” storyboard with 4 images, and 10 Valentine’s Day cards to send to your family and friends. Examples of the storyboards are below. Space is limited, so call or email karen@karenharrisonphotography.com to book your session today.

These storyboards are 12 inches x 12 inches, and are mounted on styrene. They look great framed or displayed on decorative easels.

Urban, Baby!

2008-01-24T11:21:00.002-05:00

Recently, I've been scouting out new session locations. Today was my lucky day, as I found one by accident! This morning Ryan and I headed to the library, and of course I *JUST HAPPENED* to have my camera with me. As we were driving downtown I thought it would be fun to do some sessions there. So, my ever-so-willing model and I set out to see what we could get. We (well, I) had a blast! Check out our experience below. I will admit it's tough to do "urban" with a model who doesn't even walk yet, but we got by. Of course, Mister Serious wouldn't smile for me, but every time a stranger walked by, he'd start cracking up. So I was recruiting the locals to get him to smile. So, thanks to the Starbucks guy, the man in the truck, and the cute couple on the bench :-)

New Year and New Products!

2008-01-16T19:29:00.000-05:00

First off, a belated happy New Year to everyone! I am excited to announce a few new products for 2008. In addition to gift portraits, wall portraits (enlargements that are mounted and sprayed for protection) and greeting cards, I am now offering session albums, storyboards and gallery mounts! I plan on taking some photos of each of these so you can see the end result, but in the meantime, if you'd like any additional info on these products, please click here. I am especially excited about the gallery mounts, and in fact, I am in the process of ordering three huge ones of my son for the entryway in our house. I can't wait to get them!

And since I simply can't post an entry without photos, here are a few more shots of my little cutie. This is probably the last time you'll see his toothless grin... he just cut two teeth this week. Everyone says their kiddos look SO different when they get teeth, so I decided I needed one last photo shoot before he looks all grown up. :-)

My Own Precious Little One...

2007-12-13T22:45:00.002-05:00

I have been so busy photographing other people's children that I've hardly taken any pics of my own little guy. (Probably much to his relief, and the relief of my husband as well!) In any case, we did a quick little mini-session at the park the other day while waiting for Brody and his family, so here are a few of Ryan at 7 months old :-)

Sneak Peek Brody! | Tampa Baby Photography

2007-12-12T22:23:00.003-05:00

There's no point calling him "Baby B" since his name is now plastered all over this blog, so take a look at Brody's nine month photos. Note the new Stride Rite kicks, because he is RUNNING all over the place... at nine months!

Sneak Peek "F" Family | Tampa Family Photography

2007-12-12T21:21:00.003-05:00

This weekend we did family pics for the "F" family. Cute little "H" is two, and his adorable new baby brother is one month old.

Sneak Peek "K" Family | Tampa Family Photography

2007-12-06T22:22:00.003-05:00

We braved the 40 something degree weather the other day to do this family photo shoot (yes that's cold for Florida!), and although I am only showing a few indoor shots of the kids, I give major kudos to these guys for standing on the beach with no shoes on when it was F-R-E-E-Z-I-N-G. Still working on the proofs, but here are a few sneak peaks. Little "L" is a new big sister to Baby "L" who is about 8 weeks old.

Don't drink the water! | Tampa Newborn Photography

2007-11-28T00:39:00.003-05:00

Unless you want a baby too! Newborns are everywhere right now. Here is a sneak peak for Miss "S"... two weeks old and quite a beauty!

Practice Makes Perfect | Tampa Children's Photography

2007-11-25T22:24:00.002-05:00

I've been photographing these guys for years, and we have it down to a science. The first shot from today is *probably* the one that will end up on their holiday cards this year. So, again, I am going to keep the family pics a secret, and only post a few of the kids. Enjoy!

Sisters | Tampa Children's Photography

2007-11-25T20:38:00.002-05:00

This weekend I photographed the "U" family... one of the two winners from the October contest. They were such a blast, and the two little girls are absolutely beautiful. I am keeping the family pics top secret, but couldn't resist posting a few of the kiddos. The first three are from the photo session, and the last two were when we were "playing" at the playground (which, of course, really means... more photos!). So, here is your sneak peak!

Round Two - Cast Your Vote!

2007-11-19T08:47:00.001-05:00

Brody made it to round two, and is now competing against 32 other cute babies for the Baby Idol title! You can place your vote for Brody by clicking on the link below. He is "Brodie 2" (yes, they spelled his name wrong)... You must place your vote by Friday, November 23rd!

Edited to add: I just looked again, and now it looks like his name is correct as "Brody". Either way, you know which one he is! :-)

http://www.wmtx.com/pages/babyidol2_voting.html?feed=228930&article=2913138

Go Brody!

And, since I simply cannot post without a photo, here is yet another cute one of this little superstar!

Vote for Brody!

2007-11-12T19:34:00.002-05:00

Remember cute little Baby "B" from my first blog entry? Well, this adorable child is in the running for the title of the "Mix 100.7 Baby Idol". So... all of you Brody fans, make sure you get out there and vote! Just click here to submit your vote. You must submit your vote by November 16th. The photo you are looking for is not the one in my first blog entry... instead, you are looking for this one:

And here is another one, just so you can really get a feel for how cute he is!

Good luck Brody!

Sweet Baby "L"...

2007-11-07T23:35:00.001-05:00

Here is sweet baby "L"... he is so well behaved! He did NOT want to be swaddled for photos, but he ended up cooperating and falling asleep instead. It's a rough life being a supermodel!

Winners are Announced!

2007-11-01T22:30:00.002-04:00

Congratulations to Michelle U. and Kari G. who have won the free photo session and holiday cards! I will be contacting you directly to set up your sessions:-)

New York City, Baby!

2007-11-01T19:52:00.005-04:00

I am thrilled to announce that one of my photos has been chosen as Kodak's Picture of the Day, and will be displayed on the Kodak Times Square Gallery in New York City! The photo will be displayed on November 12th, in honor of Veteran's Day. Here is a paragraph from the email I received from the Kodak representative:

"I'm writing to say congratulations! "My Daddy, My Hero" has been selected to be our Picture of the Day on November 12, 2007. It will be displayed on Kodak's website, and every few minutes on the Kodak Times Square Gallery in New York City. Your picture will be wonderful for Veteran's Day, and a tribute to all who have fought and died for our country and for our freedom."

This photo is special to me and is one of my favorites. I am so excited to have it displayed on Veteran's Day.

Updated to add: My wonderful parents (and therefore the proud grandparents of the beautiful subject in this photo) made the trip to NYC to view it live. Below are some pictures and a video clip that they took of our day of fame:-)

Baby Love | Tampa Newborn Photography

2007-10-27T09:31:00.002-04:00

Baby "A" had so much fun at her first session in the hospital that she BEGGED me to come back and do a second session. OK, or maybe I begged her to let me... I'll never tell:-) Here she is at 7 days old.

Welcome to the World Baby "A"

2007-10-20T19:37:00.001-04:00

Baby "A" is less than TWO DAYS OLD, and SUCH a cutie! She snuggled right up and relaxed to have her photos done. She didn't cry or make a peep the whole time. These pics were taken in the hospital, as you can see by the ankle id bracelets. She is just so adorable!!!

Contest Contest Contest!!!

2007-10-17T22:04:00.002-04:00

To "officially" launch my new website and blog, I am offering a contest. The prize is a FREE photo shoot AND 25 holiday cards (a $185 value)!!! Just leave me a comment (or if you aren't blog-savvy or don't feel like leaving a comment, just send an email with "Contest Contest Contest!" in the title to karen@karenharrisonphotography.com) and you will be entered to win. How am I going to choose the winner? Very scientifically. I am going to write all the names on little pieces of paper, and my super-smart six month old (almost six month old, I should say) is going to choose the winner. Please leave your comment or send your email by 11:59pm on October 31st, and the winner will be announced on November 1st. Make sure you include contact info so I can reach you if you win! :-)

Lil Sis

2007-10-14T14:22:00.002-04:00

During my whirlwind trip to New England this week I was lucky enough to take some pics of my sister and her boyfriend.There is NO mistaking that she's my sister! :-)

KHP's Wicked Awesome Holiday Cards

2007-10-11T22:00:00.000-04:00

Yes, I did say “wicked awesome”, it’s the New Englander in me coming out. And for those of you not from New England, people there really do say “wicked” ALL the time. I am so excited about these new holiday cards that I felt it was appropriate! There are 8 different cards to choose from, with customizable text so you can change the message if you so choose! The cards cost $55 per 25 cards (must order a minimum of 25) and can be paid for by either cash or check at the time of your order. If you prefer to use an image from a recent session with Karen Harrison Photography, I can pull those images to create the cards, just let me know. :-)

OR, think creatively… if you like the cards and want to use them for another purpose, that’s possible as well. The Aqua Swirls would make a cute boy’s birth announcement, or we could add some pink to the Choco Swirls for an adorable baby girl announcement!

So call now to book your session and get some WICKED great holiday cards to share with friends and fam! Call (813) 495-5135 or email karen@karenharrisonphotography.com.

(And for anyone who’s interested, that absolutely beautiful, Gerber-baby looking supermodel in the samples would be the son of yours truly! Except for the Red Dot and Simple Red cards… those would be other adorable supermodels.) :-)

Red Swirls

Simple Red

Aqua Swirls

Choco Swirls

Green Dots

Red Dots

Sage Dots

Fancy Holiday

Pastel Holiday

Holiday Mini Sessions 2007

2007-10-10T15:35:00.000-04:00

HO HO HO!!!

I am excited to be offering Holiday Mini Sessions for 2007! These sessions are perfect for those who are simply looking for a few great photos to use on their Holiday cards and/or as gifts. There are two dates only... Saturday, November 10th and Saturday, November 24th. The sessions will be held at the BEAUTIFUL Phillippe Park in Safety Harbor.

What's Included:

- 15-20 minute photo session for 1-4 people

- 8-10 proofs posted in an online gallery for 7 days

- 1 8x10 gift portrait from the photo of your choice

- 10% discount on Holiday Card orders placed within 7 days

- 10% discount on prints ordered within 7 days

ONLY $75!!! This is a $50 discount off of the regular session.

Limited appointments are available. Please contact me asap to book your time. Your session fee is due 5 days prior to the session in order to hold your slot, and is payable by either cash or check.

Contact Info:
karen@karenharrisonphotography.com
www.karenharrisonphotography.com
(813) 495-5135

I am also offering some gorgeous new holiday cards... my website and blog will be updated shortly with samples, be sure to check back soon!

More Jen | Tampa Maternity Photography

2007-09-12T22:34:00.002-04:00

We had so much fun that we decided to do more! We could not have been luckier... the sunset was beautiful. And of course, Jen still looks wonderful. There was a little girl at the beach with her family, and she told her mother that she thought Jen was a princess. Then she got very shy when Jen said hi to her. It was too cute!

Official "OpLove" Photographer

2007-09-10T23:57:00.001-04:00

I'm excited to announce that I am now an official OpLove photographer. "What is OpLove?" you ask...

Operation: Love ReUnited is an organization of professional photographers supporting US Military families by offering free photo sessions before, during, and immediately following deployments. Often the OpLove photographer will accompany the family to the soldier's homecoming to document this amazing experience.

So... I haven't quite finalized my offering yet. OpLove photographers are required to provide a complimentary 4x6 album to the family, free of charge of course. However, we can add any additional offerings as we see fit, and I am trying to decide exactly what I'd like to offer.

I am looking forward to this - I think it will be an amazing experience, and with MacDill AFB being so close, I would think there is certainly a demand for this service.

For more info, visit http://www.oplove.org/.

Hot Mama Sneak Peek | Tampa Maternity Photographer

2007-09-02T18:37:00.002-04:00

Yesterday was Jennifer's maternity session... she is 34 weeks along and looks fabulous. She has a lot more will power than I have because she's not finding out whether it's a boy or girl. I can't wait to find out!!!

Introducing Mr. "B"! | Tampa Baby Photography

2007-08-29T07:42:00.004-04:00

Yesterday I photographed baby "B" and he was just adorable. Almost six months old and full of smiles. He was such a good sport. He never got tired of having his picture taken... Hmm, a little celebrity in the making? The best was when his mom pulled out his lobster Halloween costume - we couldn't stop laughing! Here is one sneak peek photo, and the rest will be posted in his gallery for his family to view.