Carolina Araujo: Tampa Bay Wedding, Portrait, and Boudoir Photographer

Crickets, Crickets
Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Helllooooooooo.....

Is anyone still out there????......

WOW! Has it really been over 3 months since I last blogged? I'm so sad that I have neglected my poor little blog for so long :-( I promise it's definitely not because of a lack of material, it simply boils down to a lack of time! Since launching Room 3307, to say it's been hectic is an understatement. We never expected to have such an overwhelming response to our Boudoir business and we are so incredibly grateful to each and every girl that has graced our lenses!!

I've also had some fabulous weddings that I can't wait to share..some local, some out of town, one out of the country! Add to that a handful of fun engagement sessions, newborns, maternities...I have so much to share!

Wait, there's more...In the coming months, there are going to be some changes around here. I'm super excited but can't let the cat out of the bag just yet. Shaking things up and keeping them interesting!!

There's no way I can leave you without a couple of shots! Here's 2 from Monica and Gil's engagement session a couple of weeks ago.

Posted byCarolina Araujo at 5:30 PM

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Labels: Personal, Weddings

Huge Announcement!
Thursday, July 23, 2009

Hi everyone!

I have a HUGE announcement to make that's been a long time coming! I have teamed up with Zekeshem Parsons of Blue Lane Photography to create a brand new company called Room 3307, dedicated exclusively to boudoir photography!!

Don't worry, I will still be shooting weddings and portraits under Carolina Araujo | photographer but all boudoir inquiries should be sent to reservations@Room3307.com.

Months in the making, we are thrilled to finally announce the launch of our website, blog, and first boudoir marathon, which will be taking place on August 22nd in Tampa, FL.

Haven't heard of boudoir photography? Learn all about it by checking out our website at www.Room3307.com. Become a fan of our page on Facebook and keep up with all the latest news on our blog! (http://www.room3307blog.com)

We're super excited to be bringing this service to women not only in Tampa, but all over FL and even nationwide! Be sure to contact us if you'd like more information, or just want to know more about what we're doing. We look forward to hearing from you, and appreciate your support and love as we launch our new business! Spread the word!! A couple samples are below, but you'll find MUCH more on our website!

Also, check out our slideshow promo:

I know that I've been away for a little bit and but now you know why! We've been busy bees dotting all our i's and crossing all our t's for our boudoir site launch. I'll be back soon with a couple of engagement sessions and some cutie patootie children!

Posted byCarolina Araujo at 7:42 PM

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Labels: The Business Side, Weddings

Kirby | Maternity
Saturday, June 27, 2009

I knew this was going to be a great session when I arrived at Kirby's home and Kaitlyn, her 2 year old, opened the door with a big smile on her face and asked me if I was there to take her pictures! Awesome! Kirby told me that she wanted to shoot at a ranch close to their home, so I was very excited about this session.

I rode over to the ranch with Scotty, Kirby and Kaitlyn. One thing I learned about myself was that I stink at climbing into a lifted truck. Kirby, who is thisclose to having a baby, did a little hop and made it look super easy to get into Scotty's car. Not so much for me. I won't go into details, but it wasn't pretty!

Little miss personality!

We found this really cool tree next to a pond on the property. In the pond was a "little" alligator (according to Scotty) poking it's head out. Only about 8 feet, he says....sounds huge to me!!

I can't even begin to tell you how adorable Kaitlyn is. She's a little character!

:-) Love this family portrait!

Kirby's request and I happy obliged. I love this shot!

Posted byCarolina Araujo at 3:55 PM

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Labels: Maternity

Robyn & Adam | Engagement
Monday, June 22, 2009

I love engagement sessions! Not only are they super fun, but it's also a chance for to work together and get to know each other a little better before the wedding. I think they are very important and I include them in all of my wedding packages. Robyn and Adam are getting married in February 2010 and I can't wait!! I had a blast hanging out with them last Saturday.

I'm beginning to think I'm a hot-couple-magnet!

Yay! Robyn's going to be a beautiful bride!

Posted byCarolina Araujo at 7:42 PM

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Labels: Engagement

Jaime & Chris | Day After
Saturday, June 20, 2009

I think I profess my love for Facebook on my blog at least one a month. Here I go again. I *heart* Facebook. If you book me and you are on Facebook...expect a request from me. I especially love "meeting" new people on FB. Take Jamie, for example! Jaime sent me a friend request months after she saw pictures that I shot of a friends maternity. She asked me a little bit about what equipment I use and we went back and forth a little bit via FB messages. Jaime automatically came to mind when my good friend Shem and I started cooking up some ideas for a super fun Day After session. Shem and I scouted out some new locations and Jaime was all for it. SCORE!!

I just have to say that Jaime and Chris were troopers. They didn't complain ONCE and had to deal with the crazy heat, crazier mosquitoes...and of course, 2 goofy photographers!

We started off at this cool junkyard location. Junkyard + wedding dress...it just makes sense right?

I love this blue car. This is one of my faves :-)

and then the mosquitoes attacked...so we were outta there!

So...Chris, Jamie..what's it like to be really really incredibly good looking? Just wonderin'..

Hello legs!

Jamie brought cowboy boots....love her!

Another one of my faves...

Look how happy Jaime is...It's cause Shem and I are so much fun..duh!

These sessions are so awesome!! To book a Day After session, shoot me an email at Carolina@CarolinaAraujo.com

Posted byCarolina Araujo at 10:27 AM

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Labels: Day After, Weddings

Stephanie & Chad | Wedding
Friday, June 19, 2009

What is up with this weather?!?! This morning was ridiculously h-o-t-t and early in the afternoon it rained cats and dogs! I was driving home when the downpour started and it was so sooo bad I almost pulled over because I couldn't see 10ft in front of my car. True story. I think it's my duty as a Floridian (I've been here over 20 years, I've earned the title!) to complain about the weather. It's either too hot, too humid, too rainy, too dry...I could go on and on, it's what we do - we complain, but we love it. I wouldn't give up wearing shorts on New Years!!

Enough with my rant, on to a lovely wedding that took place on a gorgeous summer day a couple of weeks ago. Another lovely wedding shot with the equally lovely Dawn Haas.

Chad and his groomsmen were awesome! Hanging out with the boys in one of my favorite parts of second shooting - so much fun!

Teehee hee - told you they were fun!

He cleaned them out..

Had a little time to hang out with the very cute girls..

Stephanie and Chad were married at St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Tampa. This was my first Greek wedding and I loved it! The ceremony was filled with so much symbolism and traditions. The priest personally wrote a letter to Stephanie and Chad which he read out loud and was so incredibly heartfelt. I'm not going to lie, I was thisclose to crying.

I love this shot of Chad anxiously waiting for Stephanie to make an entrance.

There she is! Simply stunning!

A couple of the Greek traditions are shown below: The crowns are joined by a thin white ribbon which have been blessed by the priest. The ribbon symbolizes their unity.

I'm about to show my age! Remember that episode of Full House when Uncle Jesse's old girlfriend from Greece came to visit and it turns out that they were married because when they where young they "walked around a table 3 times" (those crazy kids!)?? This is known as the ceremonial walk and I just love how happy Stephanie was taking her first steps with Chad towards marriage!

A few moments after the ceremony:

Stephanie and Chad's reception took place at the Lion's Eye Institute in Ybor City. Now I have to be honest, I drive past this place every single day and I never knew it was a wedding venue! It's actually a restored old cigar factory from the early 1900s. The exposed brick and piping really give the venue a historic feel. I really loved their venue choice.

And I loved their choice of yummy cake!

Stephanie and Chad kept it authentic and had a cigar roller during the cocktail hour and part of the reception

*sigh* First dance

Stephanie and Chad were awesome in allowing us some some time during dinner to stroll around Ybor a little bit for some awesome bridal portraits.

They are going to have beautiful babies!

Rusty nail + Shiny Rings = Suh-weeet!

The rest of the night was dancing and laughing! Love it!

Yay! Happy Friday everyone! The next blog entry will be an awesome Day After session of a certain young lady who is currently in Australia craving Mexican food!

Posted byCarolina Araujo at 3:02 PM

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Labels: Weddings

Amy & Griffin | Day After
Wednesday, June 17, 2009

The last couple in our whirlwind day of shooting were Amy and Griffin. Shawna of Flawless Occasions actually sent them over our way. Shawna was their wedding coordinator on their big day which took place just 3 weeks before our session! Amy & Griffin were just a blast and really up for anything. Thanks Shawna for sending them our way! The LeLe Photography girls really wanted to shoot at beach - so that's what we gave them!

EDIT: So I blogged this late last night and totally forgot about the funniest part of this session. We shot this around sunset on a beautiful *non-rainy* day. The beach was ab-so-lu-tely PACKED with tourists. We sure gave them a treat. Once Amy and Griffin started splashing water at each other, we had a ton of people watching our every move. Random people were walking up and talking picture of Amy & Griffin on their point and shoots and someone even asked one of the LeLe girls if Amy was wearing a "real wedding dress". So it just makes me LOL that Amy and Griffin are in showing up in a lot of people's vacation pictures!