Photographed in Gulf Breeze, FL: CrossFit Gulf Breeze
Squats. Power cleans. Puppies.
Just another night at CrossFit Gulf Breeze.
If you follow me on social media, chances are that you have seen my growing involvement/fascination with CrossFit over the last five months.
I've always enjoyed physical activity. After ten years of training in Yoshukai karate and weightlifting for the past five years, giving CrossFit a shot was the next logical step in my ongoing search for novelty and fitness.
I joined CrossFit Gulf Breeze because of its reputation for the safest and most technically sound coaching in the area. I also knew a few people who trained there. Within two training sessions, I was addicted.
CrossFit is extreme by most standards, but that's why I'm there; I love the challenge. It's why people talk about it so much. Intense training self-selects participants who are naturally competitive and ambitious, which is one reason I think people label it as a cult. CrossFit doesn't instill that in people, it simply brings out and amplifies driven personalities.
Coach Jarrett Venn purchased CFGB from founding owner Andrew Tucker over the summer, just before I joined in June. In addition to intensifying the programming to a heavy emphasis on competition-style conditioning, JV has been gradually upgrading the equipment and marketing ever since. He didn't have a large library of content on hand for flyers and social media, so I offered to step in and lend a hand.
I chose to go with a gritty, Spartan style of imagery for the class that I shot. I came in on a Friday afternoon that was positively serendipitous with its very visual and intense workout, good crowd and presence of an adorable husky pup who I am fairly certain will become the resident Box Dog.
CrossFit Gulf Breeze
3106 Gulf Breeze Pkwy
Gulf Breeze, FL 32563
www.crossfitgulfbreeze.com
850-203-1798
Married in Pensacola, FL: Dillon and Jennifer
Backtracking to recap the weddings I covered over the summer. Read on for full recap of Dillon and Jennifer's beautiful wedding in Pensacola.
Dillon and Jennifer, wed June 6, 2015.
Dillon and Jennifer contacted me early in the year. This wedding was special in that their decision to engage me as their photographer based on the missions work in my portfolio. Jennifer has also experienced missions in India, and that shared experience turned out to be the deciding factor in their choice of photographer. Pretty cool.
With Dillon in school at West Point, the guests came from all over the map, many of them cadets in school with Dillon. I love shooting military weddings. In addition to the clean symmetry and fun traditions that dress uniforms and close brotherhoods lend to a wedding, military guys are just fun to shoot and tend to pick up on most of my Monty Python references.
That kind of closeness was also visible in Jennifer and bridesmaids. The cheers for Jennifer as she emerged from the dressing room in her dress for the first time was heartwarming. As an individual who finds it difficult to maintain consistent contact with more than two or three friends a quarter, I respect and am amazed when I see large groups of friends exhibit similar intimacy.
Dillon's father, Pastor Chris Aiken, officiated the service with the sly wit that only a father can dish out to his son. The ceremony included communion and music provided by one of Dillon's classmates on the violin. The reception convened with the requisite food and cake, plus an ice cream sundae bar.
Festivities concluded with Dillon and Jennifer exiting through a sword arch. All in all, a fantastic day.
This wedding took place at Calvary Baptist Church in Pensacola and officiated by Pastor Chris Aiken. Catering was provided by the family.
Married in Pensacola Beach, FL: Josh and Beka
Photography becomes easy when a beautiful couple decides to get married at one of the most picturesque locations in the entire area.
Sunset dreaming...
Josh and Beka, wed 9/12/2015.
Photography becomes easy when a beautiful couple decides to get married at one of the most picturesque locations in the entire area. Recreate any of these wedding photos with pen and ink and Josh and Beka's sunset wedding is completely Disney-ready.
I've worked alongside Rebekah at Levin-Rinke Resort Realty for about two years now, and throughout that time I've seen hers and Josh's relationship grow from a tenuous flirtation to a full-scale romance that went all the way to the altar. Annie and I have had the privilege to get to know them better and better over the last year, and this past summer they did me the ultimate honor of asking me to photograph both their engagement photos and their wedding.
Josh and Beka's wedding invitation... delivered to guests inside a film canister!
A better day could not have been designed. From the first look to the final exit, the entire day was picture-perfect. The ceremony took place aboard the Portofino I Dolphin Cruiser as the sunset sank to meet the horizon. Cool breezes prevailed and every guest was soon dancing aboard the boat as it circled Santa Rosa Sound.
I love this couple and I love the photos we made that day.
Ceremony officiated by Jack Kale. Catering provided by Terracotta at Portofino.
And, as a bonus round for those of you who read to the end, here is a shot from Halloween, when Josh and I competed in a costume contest as Deathstroke and Arrow.
Bruce and Rebekah - Pensacola Beach Wedding
