Limelight Photography

ABOUT MYSELF

I was born and raised just outside of our nation's capitol, and moved to St. Petersburg, FL in early 2018! I am a former collegiate and professional baseball player with The College of William and Mary and The Minnesota Twins, respectively. My background in sports allows me to be very comfortable in high pressure situations, such as weddings. I really enjoy the fast paced nature of weddings, and I take pride in my ability to slow that pace down in my mind and stay calm through adversity. In my time with the Twins, I learned Spanish and feel comfortable speaking it, but I wouldn't say I'm quite fluent...yet!

One of my favorite things to do when I’m not shooting weddings is to spend time with my Fiance! We enjoy any outside activity, particularly walks with our golden retriever Otis. I also have a fluffy white kitten named Charlotte who enjoys a photo shoot whenever I ask her to model for me.

MY MOTIVATION

I've been doing wedding photography at a high level for about 5 years now. They say that if you get 1% better every day, eventually you'll be near perfect. I try to take this mantra and apply it to every facet of my life. My main goal come wedding day is knowing that I accomplished every shot the Bride and Groom set out for me in our pre-wedding discussions and knowing I was able to be a part of what made their wedding day special and comfortable for them!

LIMELIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY

When I moved to Florida, I immediately went searching for the best of the best in the wedding industry. I was blessed to be offered a position with Limelight and have been having the time of my life shooting the wonderful couples that have chosen to allow me to be a part of their special day. I am so thankful for the opportunities I've been given in this life, and my time with Limelight is no different. I look forward to continuing to grow as not only a photographer but also as a person while I bask in the Limelight!

FUN FACTS

If you were curious to learn a little more about me, here are some fun facts!

• I graduated from The College of William and Mary with a degree in Film and Media Studies as well as Marketing. I chose to forego the MLB Draft my junior year to complete my education and was still lucky enough to go on to play professionally afterwards.

• My family is way cooler than me! My brother is quite literally a rocket scientist, my dad is a civil engineer, and my mother is a 3rd grade teacher (bless her). My sister just graduated college and will also follow in my mom's footsteps as a teacher. I like to think that my family set the bar for what I hope to accomplish in my life, and they set that bar high!

• I enjoy playing ball golf as well as disc golf in my free time! Anything active is fun for me because I get to try and relive the glory days a little bit 🙂.

• I am a graphic designer in addition to my work I do with Limelight Photography. Being creative is an outlet for me, so having two contrasting but also similar jobs is something that sharpens my eye for attention to detail and that I enjoy quite a lot!

• I am a type 1 diabetic, diagnosed a month after retiring from baseball. It's a bit new for me! I have a passion for spreading awareness about the disease so people don't necessarily go years of their life without knowing they may have it like I did. Now that I've been diagnosed I feel amazing! Sometimes finding out medical issues can be a blessing in disguise 🙂.

• My Fiancé Amanda is a resident pediatrician at John's Hopkins All Childrens Hospital in St. Pete, which is what brought me down to Florida in the first place. As I said earlier, I like to surround myself with people who can push me to be my best, and I am so lucky that Amanda chose to say yes to spending the rest of her life with me because she makes me the man I am today.

• I enjoy doing magic! Not pulling rabbits of a hat or anything, but I like doing card tricks for fun. My teammates from the Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Puerto Rico used to call me "Mago", which roughly translates to Wizard. So if you ever get nervous on wedding day, I can try and distract you a little bit if you'd like!

Born and raised in Tampa, I’m currently living the dream! I am a former cheerleader for my Alma Mater, the University of South Florida. I take that energy and enthusiasm with me on every wedding - especially when working to gather up a large group of family members or wedding parties! I’m very comfortable with so much family since I come from a large Spanish family myself. Moving here from Cuba at a young age, my parents taught me everything I know about determination and perseverance. I proudly speak Spanish.

One of my favorite things to do when I’m not shooting weddings is to travel! Getting to soak in and learn about another culture, as well as getting to photograph my adventures is something I will never tire of. No matter where I am my camera is never far. I am always shooting no matter the occasion! My favorite clients are definitely my sweet nephew and my Weiner dog.

MY MOTIVATION

It’s so exciting that I still learn something new EVERY time I pick up my cameras and get to know a new bride and groom. There is a certain level of comfort and understanding that has come through experience when getting to know and posing my couples. That’s definitely part of what keeps me inspired. I am extremely detail-oriented and I like to write everything down!! One of my favorite parts of the day is getting to cross off all the shots my couple wanted off of my checklist. I also love being able to capture candid moments throughout the day that may seem so small, but when looking back in the future you can truly feel and relive that emotion again.

LIMELIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY

The pictures and client experience with Limelight sets the bar in our industry and I am so proud to be part of such an accomplished team since 2016. I’ve always known the Limelight team was great, but being surrounded by everyone really made me realize this! It has truly been a blessing working with these talented photographers. Everyone is so welcoming and encouraging! I enjoy getting to work with each and every one of them as I continue my journey In The Limelight!

“You don’t make a photograph just with a camera.” Ansel Adams

I was born and raised in Saint Petersburg, Florida and I have a passion for photography. My love for photography started when I was 14 years old. I got a Canon Sure Shot for Christmas, and I took it with me everywhere I went. I took pictures of just about everything, concerts I went to, nature, my friends, architecture, etc. I quickly realized my love for photography, and knew I wanted to do something with it.

My mom had an old Nikon DSLR just sitting in one of our closets. I took the decade-old camera out and started using it. I would plan days with my friends to go around Downtown Saint Petersburg and take photos of each other, I would plan themed photoshoots in my backyard with props and everything, I took the camera to every local show I went to (which was a lot) until I started to build up a little following in the Saint Petersburg area, specifically the local music scene.

After a while I realized I needed to upgrade, so on black Friday in 2017 I finally saved up and upgraded to a Canon Rebel and the rest was history. I started shooting shows in the photo pit, I started getting paid for my craft, and people wanted to book me to take pictures of them. It was amazing and everything I had ever dreamt of. Over the past 5 years I have gained a lot of experience with all different forms of photography.

In 2020, right before the world changed forever I shot my first wedding, and it was one of the greatest days of my life! Being able to capture true love on camera is a feeling like no other. The emotion on people’s faces, the happiness in the air, the sweet moments you get to capture forever, it really is so special. Shooting this first wedding made me realize my love for wedding photography specifically…because trust me, each form of photography is different in its own way! I enjoy finding creative solutions to problems and making the best out of any situation.

I am thankful to be part of a team that is passionate, creative and ambitious. I love creating something that not only will make someone happy but they will treasure for a lifetime. I absolutely LOVE photographing weddings! I love getting to meet so many interesting people, and getting to be with people as they experience the happiest day of their lives. I love capturing the love that radiates throughout the entire wedding day. I am so excited for the many weddings to come, I can’t wait to see the sweet memories I capture forever and ever.

I was born in Los Angeles, California, and was raised locally here in Tampa, Florida. I am outgoing, friendly, and a big adventurer. Additionally, I am a big foodie, who is willing to travel to new places to learn about different cultures and try out different types of foods. I have been to 10 different states so far and would love to visit each one because I believe every state has a unique and beautiful personality.

When it is rainy, I love to stay in and enjoy the weather with a movie or a good book. If I were to recommend a book, I would suggest Operation Hail Mary by Andy Weir. My favorite movie to recommend is Interstellar! With any other free time I have, you can find me at the beach, going on dates with my significant other, or just simply playing video games.

My love for photography began in high school while taking photos for the school yearbook and newspaper. Since then, my love for photography has grown into the passion that it is now! I love to capture special moments that tell a story. My goal is to reflect my personality into my work so that every picture I take is a personal representation of my passion.

Outside of the Limelight, I am a student at Keiser University majoring in Diagnostic Medical Sonography. My specialty interests include cardiac and vascular sonography. I like to think myself as creative and tech savvy, and always up for an artistic problem-solving challenge.

I strive to depict every special moment so that you can reflect on these beautiful moments with a smile! As a trained wedding photographer, I have learned that no matter who you are, you can find love anywhere and a desire for anything.I enjoy being around people and having an open, curious mind. When you see my work, I hope you feel the moment, the expression, love and over-all passion.

It has always been a desire of mine to provide people with outstanding, emotionally captivating work along with great care and service. The feeling of being taken care of, being in the right hands and providing work that truly has a great value to every client is my ultimate motivation that pushes me every day in this artistically expressive field.

Photography is an art, a passion, and a lifestyle to me. I take photos to capture a moment that is otherwise gone so one can look back at the photos and remember those amazing times. I love being able to bring happy memories back to people!

I was born and raise in Arkansas. Growing up on a lake, I was always outdoors. This sparked my love for nature and then in turn, my love for nature photography. For my 17th birthday I got a DSLR camera. I fell in love with taking portraits, concert photography, and abstract photography. The inspiration and motivation I gained from that experience has certainly followed me and will continue to follow me for years to come.

My formal schooling in photography is from St. Petersburg College! I love capturing your memories through my photography career at Limelight Photography as an Associate Photographer!

Facts about me:

1. I love trying out new art forms. Some of my favorites are painting, collages, ceramics, and wearable art sculptures.

2. I love vintage/ vintage inspired clothes.

3. I love going to concerts. I used to go to a least two per week.

4. I played softball from 2nd grade to 10th grade.

5. I clean and home organize for fun.

6. I am a homebody and an introvert. When you get to know me, I do not stop talking.

7. I love watching Pixar movies and cheesy romantic movies.

8. I bring a 35mm film camera with me everywhere I go.

Hey everyone! I’m Miranda and I have a passion for photography and social media marketing! I was born and raised in Florida and grew up with a love for Jesus, my family, and life. I was homeschooled all the way up through high-school and loved every moment of learning not only through textbooks, but also from people, places, and life. My love for photography began when I was eleven years old. A gentleman in my church who was a retired school teacher and professional photographer saw that I had an interest in and natural talent for photography and videography. He began to mentor me and I had the opportunity to shoot several weddings and photography sessions. In addition, I began learning how to edit photos and videos. Each day I grow more in my skill and I’m so thankful for every opportunity I have to capture life’s beautiful moments.

My family and I are Full-time RVers and we began our journey in August of 2020. Since then we have traveled to seventeen states and counting. Traveling this great Land of ours and seeing God’s beautiful creation has been such a blessing! From capturing moments on the beaches of Florida to the Grand Teton Mountains to the Grand Canyon, I’ve have had the opportunity of photographing amazing places such as The Badlands in South Dakota, Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, and Arches National Park in Moab, Utah. Being able to travel and see our beautiful country has taught me that life is so precious and each day is truly a gift.

It is an absolute joy to work from the road for Limelight Photography as their Social Media Engagement Specialist and Content Creator. I love being able to create engaging content that is fun, helpful, and tells your love story. Being able to connect on social media and build relationships with soon-to-be brides and grooms, family members, and vendors is so important to me. It is my top priority and joy to make you feel at home and at ease while you find your perfect wedding photographer. I look forward to getting to know and learn your story!