New blog :: Please update your links!

We've moved, please visit the new blog :: Orlando Wedding Photographer Lori Barbely
I won't be posting here any more and all the old posts are imported over there, so please go check it out (it's shiny, I promise!)

Pet portrait mini-sessions are here!

A shameless plea for votes!

I've entered a contest with a great prize - the winner gets $50,000 to document their dream photography assignment. Please read my entry by clicking the link below and - if you're so inclined - vote for me! Thanks! :)

Fun, fun, fun, 'till somebody takes my computer away!

I'm brewing up some AWESOME changes here at the ol' blog. But you'll have to wait just a leetle bit longer until all the kinks are worked out. I'm such a tease, aren't I?

Laura

Did some portraits of the lovely Laura Saturday. The light was beautiful and we had so much fun wandering around the park. More to come!

Wow, March. The first two months of 2009 have just blown by. It's always an odd time of year for me. Shooting slows down and the not-so-fun work that comes with running your own business picks up. The big T-word, taxes, occupies a ton of my time. But aside from that not-so-fun stuff, these early months of the year give me someone wonderful time to reflect on the past year and plan for the upcoming year.

I've met and talked with some wonderful new clients in the past few weeks - booking weddings, maternity photos, newborn portrait sessions, and even boudoir sessions - and without fail, each client has either directly or indirectly mentioned the emotion captured in my photos. And that, my friends, makes me happy.

My philosophy on photography has always been to capture moments, maybe those that you didn't even see happen, during the hustle and bustle of your wedding day or the joyful emotion of a pregnancy. Being part of my client's lives, becoming their friends - that's what makes this possible. Not only possible, but wonderfully enjoyable.

2009 is shaping up to be an amazing ride filled with old friends and new. Stay tuned and join us, won't you?

Souvenirs from Down Under

I can't believe I never blogged my favorite souvenir from Australia - a kangaroo scrotum coin pouch! Yup, it's real. Kangaroo meat is common in Australia, so why let other, erm, parts, go to waste? Supposedly the pouch is good luck (though not so much for the 'roo!) and those that possess one are assured long life and happiness.

Brain dump

more animals

I've been a bad blogger lately and have lots of randomness to thrust upon you. I mean, seriously - where did February go?

Leverage season finale - so much goodness. I'm glad season 2 starts this summer!

We just bought a new mattress. Best. Thing. Ever. Why did we not do this sooner? It's amazing how much better we're both sleeping and feel overall.

My new favorite place in the world - The Cheese Shop on Park. We're such cheese heads - I swear we have like 6 different kinds of cheese in the fridge right now. I'm also loving Infusion Tea. So peaceful when you compare it to places like Starbucks!

Hello 2010 brides! Hard to believe it's that time already, but yep, I'm already starting to meet with clients and book for 2010. The hard part? Having to wait so long to work with those awesome clients!

The Jim Henson exhibit at the Orange County Regional History Center? Amazing!

Fighting off a spring cold - blah. Not helping that the pollen counts have been off the charts! But I'm seeing a new allergist and things are looking up. Heck, I've even discovered that I'm not allergic to pecans as previously diagnosed.

Lost becomes infinitely more confusing after 1/2 a bottle of wine. I'm just sayin'.

We have a 3 year-old cat named Cooper. He needs one of these. Though, if he got a gallery show before me, no catnip for him! LOL

Taxes. The bane of my existence right now. 'nuff said?

Design your own bridesmaids dresses - where were these when I was getting married?

Yay, No Doubt is going to appear on Gossip Girl!

In the planning stages - pet portrait mini-sessions and a spring boudoir bash.

Boudoir Basics - tips for getting the most out of your boudoir session

I shoot a lot of boudoir sessions - most of which you'll never see, out of respect for my client's privacy. To help these lovely ladies get the most from their shoots, I've created a tip sheet to help them prepare. Here are a few highlights!

PREPARE
- Take care of any hair removal prior to the shoot.
- Avoid the sun for a few days before the shoot (sun burn is not a flattering look for anyone!) If you want that sun kissed look, use a self tanner or get a spray tan.
- For great looking skin,do a full body exfoliation and follow up with a good moisturizer.
- Get a mani and pedi so your fingers and toes look extra pretty.
- Drink plenty of water, both on the day of the shoot and the day before.
- Leave yourself plenty of time to get to the shoot. If you’re running late and feeling stressed, it shows on your face!
- Have a light snack prior ot the shoot to avoid the crankies, but don't eat a big meal.
- Make sure all your clothing and props are clean and in good condition. Clothing should fit well and flatter your figure. Remove all the tags so they don’t show in the photos.
- Come with clean hair and a clean face to give the stylist a blank canvas. She’ll discuss your style with you and come up with a look that’s sexy and flattering.

BRING
- A comfy robe to wear during hair & make-up. This will also prevent unflattering marks on your skin from more fitted clothing.
- A great pair of heels (or a few!) Heels give you better posture, so bring at least one pair of basic black and, if you like, a few colorful pairs to go with some of our outfits. Boots are also a fun option!
- Your wardrobe choices (see the suggestions below).
- A good body moisturizer.
- Any photos you might want to emulate.
- Most importantly, your sassy self-confidence!

CLOTHING SUGGESTIONS
* His favorite team sweatshirt or jersey
* His favorite shirt (and necktie)
* An evening dress
* An off the shoulder top
* Fuzzy sweater
* Hats and gloves
* Stockings
* Anything sheer, transparent, or clingy
* Boy Shorts
* Colorful panties and bra
* short shorts
* Lingerie
* Anything that he gave you - guys love to see that you love their gifts!
* colorful bath towel (to wrap you in!)
* fitted tank tops or tiny t-shirts
* Leather anything
* Mini Skirt
* Scarves (as an outfit!)
* Boxer shorts
* Something funny or a special Halloween costume
* Flowers/flower petals
* Sun glasses
* Strands of beads or pearls
* jewelry to dress up your looks
* hats
* feather boas
* bubble bath if you want to do a tub shot

Be creative! Think about it from his perspective as you make your decisions. After all, this is a present for him, so imagine what he would prefer as you go through the closet.

In Print: ISLANDS Magazine March 2009

Happy Tuesday! Just got a copy of the March 2009 issue of ISLANDS Magazine with some of my photos from Ko Samui, Thailand. Boy, what I wouldn't give to be back on that gorgeous island right now!

SCPA of Orlando's Paws in the Park fundraising walk at Lake Eola

The day started out dreary and gray, but the sun quickly broke through and the pups (and humans) were all smiles at the SPCA's Paws in the Park walk Saturday at Lake Eola. There were tons of great vendors, costume contests, pet trick contests and dogs of all shapes and sizes (I wanted to take each and every one of them home with me)! Here are a few of my favorites from the day!

LOVE the tongue!




Who you callin' chicken?


Brave cats!




You thought I was kidding about the rat?


and the clowns?












See more cute pups in the gallery.

Congrats to Lizeth R and her pet Max who were the winners of my drawing!

Valentine's Day is for the dogs at Orlando's Paws in the Park dog walk!

The hubby and I spent Valentine's Day at the SPCA's Paws in the Park dog walk down at Lake Eola. A little unconventional to be sure, but while I played roving photographer, he manned my booth. Now if that's not love, I don't know what is! Happy Valentine's Day, honey!

Check back Monday for more cute pups (and cats, clowns, and pet RATS!) from the event.

Brag Books are here!

And let me tell you, with a ton of yummy fabric choices for the cover, these things are like candy!





See more fabric samples in the boutique!

Tullie for The Legacy Magazine

I love shooting new and different things so when The Legacy newsletter contacted me to photograph one of their alumni, I was happy to oblige! Tullie and her husband, Hector, are both residents at Winnie Palmer Hospital. When they finish their residency in June they're moving to Puerto Rico to join Hector's father's practice. We did some fun shots of Tullie with Hector and their dog Winston, then headed inside to snap of a few of her in one of the ultrasound rooms.

OpLove: The D Family

Another session from the "to blog" folder! The D family and I had a great time shooting at Wekiwa Springs State Park! The kids had a lot of energy (which kept me on my toes!) yet they were so well behaved! Aren't they a gorgeous family?

Ali and Todd's engagment photo session at Blue Jacket Park

I had a blast photographing Ali and Todd's engagement session in Baldwin Park. The weather couldn't have been more perfect and the couple couldn't have been more fun!

OpLove Reunited: Bianca's session at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida

I'm sloooooly getting caught up on my "to blog" folder. This was actually a session that I couldn't blog until just recently because it was a surprise! Bianca's boyfriend, Matt, is deployed and before the holidays we did an OpLove session for him. He only recently received the photos as an anniversary gift, so now I can share the shots! Matt's coming home soon, so keep an eye out for shots from his homecoming session!

In Print: ISLANDS Magazine January/February 2009

Hitting the road and looking for a romantic dining spot? Check out the Jan/Feb 2009 issue of ISLANDS Magazine which includes The Best Tables for Two. My shot (& story) from Humuhumunukunukuapua'a (betcha can't say that 5 times fast!) at Maui's Grand Wailea is included in the mix.

Happy news for a slightly dreary Tuesday morning! I received an email that I was honored in WeddingWire's Brides Choice Awards! Talk about unexpected! I would like to thank my past brides for their kind words and reviews! I love what I do and the fabulous clients I work with. It means so much to me that you gals (and guys!) love my work and have given me this honor!

Here's the press release:

WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, just announced that Lori Barbely Photography has won the 2009 Bride’s Choice Awards! In its inaugural year, the Bride’s Choice Awards recognizes and honors vendors from the WeddingWire Network that demonstrate excellent quality of service, responsiveness, professionalism, value of cost and flexibility. This year’s recipients represent the top three percent of WeddingWire’s vendor community, which includes over 100,000 wedding vendors from across the US. That means Lori Barbely Photography is one of the very best photographers in the US.

Unlike other awards in which winners are selected by the company, the Bride’s Choice Awards are determined exclusively by recent newlyweds through surveys and reviews.

“We are excited to launch this annual award program to honor high-performing vendors based solely on the experiences of our WeddingWire community,” according to Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “This year’s recipients have set the bar high, exhibiting excellent service and expertise in the wedding industry.”

February 14, 2009 the SPCA of Central Florida's Annual Paws in the Park Fundraising Walk

Show your love of animals this Valentine's Day! I'll be there shooting the event and I'll also have a vendor table. Click here for more details.

Australia Part IV - Brisbane

A city? What the?? After several days of island hopping, it was strange to return to a city. With only one night in Brisbane, there was much to do and little time to do it. First up? Shopping. Then? Drinks. Followed by? Dinner. To make the most of what little time we had, I took an early morning stroll the next day before we departed. I ended up on the South Bank, where Expo '88 (the world expo) had been held. Sadly, the ferris wheel wasn't running that early in the day, but I managed a few cool shots before packing my bags and heading home.





The trip home felt like it took a million years and it was so great to get home and see my family! My sleep patterns are screwy beyond belief as I cope with the jet lag, but in the end it was so worth it!

A good day in the office

I'll never be known as a pulled together kind of gal. I'll happily sacrifice fashion for comfort. In particular, when I travel to the tropics, all bets are off. Sweat, sunscreen, blotchy red skin, bug spray, hair sticking up in every direction...you get the idea. Inevitably, a well-meaning travel companion will send me photos of myself after a trip. Each time those emails land in my inbox, I cringe.

So I was pleasantly surprised when this shot, from my new friend Kristin, landed in my inbox.

It's not the most fashion forward look ever, but from afar, you can't tell how salt, sand, and sweat crusted I am. Definitely a good day in the office.

Australia Part III - Fitzroy Island

Sadly it was time to leave Lizard, which would be my favorite of the tree islands we visited. Random factoid - the Great Barrier Reef has 600+ islands. Which obviously means I need to start planning my next trip!



We flew from back to Cairns and from there, hopped a ferry to Fitzroy Island, and island which we would sadly be on for less than 24 hours. But we packed a lot in, lemme tell ya!


The tropics are so... tropical.

First stop? Nudey Beach. Get your mind out of the gutter; it's not a clothing optional beach. It is, however, blessed with great snorkeling. It was here that I was thrilled to see my first - an only - sea turtle on this trip. After stripping off our snorkel suits, we headed to the next logical place - the pool bar!



After a few sun-soaked hours, I headed off to my room for a shower and a nap. I emerged just in time for sunset, dinner, and drinks. Is my timing impeccible or what?

All too soon it was morning and we ferried back to the mainland and headed to our final destination - Brisbane.

Australia Part II - Lizard Island

Early the next morning (and I do mean early!) we were airborne again, en route to Lizard Island. As we were heading North, the cyclone was heading South, so we flew into gorgeous weather. From this point on, it was nothing but sunny skies.



Lizard Island is home to two things - a high end resort and a research station. The research station focuses on reef studies and we were sadly unable to visit it during this trip. No worries though, we just suffered through more time at the resort. Suffering at Lizard Island Resort consists of cocktails, massages, and long walks on the beach.

Me? A mere 30 minutes after arriving on the island I was off and shooting. Always on the search for a better angle, I was climbing some rocks which divided two of the island's 24 beaches. WHAM! Down I went. No bones and, more importantly, no cameras were broken. I did, however, end up with a bruise that oddly resembles the continent of Australia. Hmm. Dinner involved some self-medicating at the bar and, miraculously I felt almost perfect the next day!


Maybe it was the massage. Or the snorkeling. Or both. Can a day really get any better than that? Somehow I doubt it. Water visability was still a bit cloudy and choppy (residual affects from the cyclone) and this was my first time shooting underwater. I'm less than stoked with the results, but had to show you the giant clam. These things are unbelievable!


After snorkeling it was off to shoot the chef. No, dinner wasn't bad! Food photography and portraits of the chef were on my afternoon agenda. Can you believe their chef - who's certainly easy on the eyes - is only 20 years old! And the food, well, it was out of this world!




After dinner we may or may not have invaded the staff bar and played slightly tipsy darts much to the amusement of the staff. And, if photographic evidence of this evening exists, well, it won't be appearing on the blog any time soon.


Lizard Island's namesake

Coming soon, Part III in which I may have shed a tear while leaving Lizard Island.

Random shots from around Lizard Island









My humble abode on Lizard Island


Am I the only one who sees a profile of a human face in the reef?