Tampa Photographer: 2021 Year in Review - Family, Maternity, Newborn, Engagement, Senior Portraits and more!

When:

Here we are! It’s the end of another year, and like most years, the last few months seem to have flown by. Perhaps this is due to the hustle and bustle of the holidays or maybe 2021 felt especially rushed because we were all attempting to resume some normalcy in the aftermath of 2020. Regardless of the reason for this “fly by the seat of our pants” year, in the end, we find ourselves contemplating the past 12 months.

Reflection is important. It gives our minds and souls the opportunity to breathe amid the chaos. The culmination of these past 12 months can feel a bit crushing and taking time to consider and unravel your thoughts can be a freeing experience, especially if you’re sorting out your goals for the coming year. Ah, goals. We all have them. But we’ll talk about goals a bit later. First, we’d like to take you on a little trip and share some of our highlights from this year!

Where:

We all know the top priority in booking your photo session is finding that perfect location. We may be a bit biased but Florida, especially the Tampa/Clearwater areas, have some of the most beautiful, picturesque, areas in the state. In our October blog, we shared some of our favorite locations, but we would be remiss if we didn’t mention just a few more. From Tarpon Springs to Tampa to St. Pete to Anna Maria Island, as far as locations go, 2021 has been a blast!

The Secret Garden: Located in St. Pete Beach, the Secret Garden is behind Envoy Point and right on the beach. It is a perfect location for a romantic engagement or couple photo session or, for that matter, really any type of photo session. Want to propose? You just can’t beat The Secret Garden and St. Pete Beach for a magical proposal session. You can stroll through the sandy paths filled with lush, green plants and flowers. There are also lovely wooden arches, a small boardwalk, and benches. So many picturesque moments in a relatively small area, and then we head to the beach as the sun is setting for some spectacular golden hour photos. Come and marvel at the beauty and then be blown away by your gorgeous photos that will be smiles to your faces for many years to come.  

Tarpon Springs: This one may be a bit unexpected but really, those are the best kind of locations. Tarpon Springs (named for the fish that live there) runs along the Gulf of Mexico and is about 45 minutes north of St. Petersburg. Immersed in Greek culture due to the sponge divers that settled there, Tarpon Springs is 51 miles of waterfront charm. This city has an abundance of parks, beaches, historic district, art, and outdoor recreation; Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks, Anderson Park, and Howard Park Beach just to name a few.

Anna Maria Island: Another best kept secret here in Florida? We think so! Anna Maria Island is a barrier island on Florida's Gulf Coast. It’s home to miles of white sand beach so fine, you’d swear you were looking at granulated sugar! The Island itself has quite an intriguing history that features pirates, Hollywood starlets, million dollar cookies, and much more! If the white sands alone are not enough to convince you to shoot here, the “year round” perfect weather, and vast array of sea and wildlife will (one word- dolphins)!

Who:

Who? You! That’s who! Angela Clifton Photography was established in 2009. Though we’ve been shooting as ACP for over 12 years, we’ve been photographers for 30 years - yes, it’s hard for us to believe, too! During this amazing journey, we’ve shot over 3,500 photography sessions across hundreds of locations. We’ve had the honor of capturing some of our families from their engagement shoot, to wedding portraits, to maternity photos, newborn sessions, and family pictures (Adams Family, we’re looking at you! 8th session complete!). We feel so honored to be capturing Moments that Last a Lifetime for so many, and we consider it a privilege to watch your families and children grow. We, of course, are looking forward to shooting those same kiddos’ senior photo sessions. Having traveled across this gorgeous Tampa Bay Area has also allowed us to find all those magical locations to make your portraits stand out above the rest. Without our incredible clients, we would not be considered one of the top-rated photographers in the Tampa Bay/Clearwater/St. Pete Areas. And for this, we are ever humbled and truly thankful. 

Let's Celebrate! Would you like a peek at some of the many memories we’ve captured over our years as Angela Clifton Photography? Click here and be whisked away to our compilation “10 Years and Over 3,500 Photo Sessions!

Why:

Not too long ago, I (Dawn), had a conversation with another photographer about the importance of photography. Occasionally, she would come across those that argued “people need to live in the moment” and while she did agree, she also followed up with what people don’t always think about, photographs bring a memory back to life so you can enjoy it again and again - in the present moment. Also, you really recognize the importance of a photograph when you need one. We need them most when we lose the ones we love.

What struck me about this conversation was that many years ago I was given this photo of a distant relative, Beatrice Foretich. The photo was taken around 1915 and was incredibly well preserved. I was a little shocked as we also bear a striking resemblance to one another. Not only is it fascinating to see your face in someone else 100 years ago, but this photo was kept all these years because it was important to someone, Beatrice was important to someone. She was important to many. And now she is proudly displayed on our wall.

These two stories also happen to be our why. Photography adds a very specific value to our lives. They are our tangible memories of people, places, and special events. They teach us about the lives of others and give us perspective on our own lives. They make us laugh and cry (happy tears and fond memory tears). They offer comfort when we need it most. There is no greater feeling than being able to provide this service to our clients.

“Brent and Dawn of Angela Clifton Photography were wonderful to work with! We used them for both our engagement shoot in Fred Howard Park, and for our wedding on St Pete Beach. Brent was great in making us feel comfortable and capturing the most beautiful shots using natural light techniques. Brent arrived early with a shot list, and was great in capturing life long memories of us and our families. I cannot stress enough how beautiful the pictures are!” -Paige S.

“Brent, you really did a wonderful job, and the experience was so fun and natural… Everyone left in a great mood that transcended into an even more beautiful evening with my family. Thank you for that.” -Andrea W.

“Truly, such a memorable occasion. And several of these women have never had professional photos taken of themselves before… and I really think this session did wonders for boosting confidence and letting friends kick back and laugh it up. That is priceless.” Alexandra N.

“Krie could give me any piece of jewelry or take me on any trip but the best present he gives me are the amazing photos that you guys take!!” -Shannon B.

“I've sat for numerous photos, and the three times I've used Angela Clifton are the best. From professional headshots, family photos, and our son's high school senior pictures, we simply have been wow'd with how these have turned out.” -Scott W.

Side Note: Speaking of well-preserved photos: Check out our blog post on “The Best Way to Store Your Photos”. Who knows, 100 years from now, someone might hang one of yours on their wall.

What:

What’s next? As we head into 2022, we think it’s about time we shake things up a bit. You know what we’re talking about… (wait for it) … “Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes”. We told you… we love us some David Bowie! But seriously, change is good, and we are ready! After all, change allows us to move forward and experience new and exciting things. It allows us to find out who we really are or who we are meant to be. Without it, life would become stale and stagnant. As far as our goals? We will still be here for you and cover the entire life spectrum: engagement, wedding, maternity, newborn, family and senior portraits. And don’t forget, we also photograph all types of events. So, stay tuned! We’ll be sharing this exciting news soon. There’s nothing better than getting better! Cheers!

End your year with a bang! We’d love to chat with you today! Let’s book your Photography Session Phone Consultation!

Additional questions? It never hurts to ask. Send us a message or give us a call - 727-946-8129. You can also check out our Tampa Portrait Photographer Frequently Asked Questions guide.

Looking forward to seeing your smiling faces in 2022!