Everyone is ok here, Annie and James are fine.  Amber continues to work hard as ever and is in a plane way too often, but that’s life for now.

Being a Destin Photographer gives me the ability to shoot photography I wouldn’t normally get to shoot if I didn’t live on or near the water.  I love the sunsets, the brown pelicans, all the different kinds of boats and I just love Destin Harbor.  Anyhow, that’s what I’ve been doing.

Now, as a Destin Photographer I am always talking with my clients about where they’re staying, how long they are going to be in the area, have they been here before, what kind of food do they prefer, etc…I always like to let people know where the good spots are in my opinion.  I am typically not a franchise kind of guy and I have actually blogged about this spot before, but it’s been awhile and it’s totally worth bringing up again, so drum roll please…  McGuire’s Irish Pub makes Capture Destin for the second time.  I’ll tell you why shortly.   McGuire’s has some amazing burgers and a great appetizer called “boxties.” They are mashed potatoes with bits of cheese in them rolled in panko bread crumbs in small balls and then deep fried.  They are typically served with three dipping sauces salsa, guacamole, and horseradish.  It’s yummy!!  They also have an amazingly good hickory smoked prime rib that’s out of this world.  Want more?  They have a house drink called an Irish Wake, must have Irish Wake, also yummy!  Don’t drink and drive you might hit a bump and spill your drink.  No, seriously it’s strong and you need to make sure you’re the passenger if you partake.  Oh, I almost forgot one more of the great things about McGuire’s.  They have an upstairs seating area that is perfect for sunset and great views of the east pass and Crab Island.  Now for the why I am writing about McGuire’s again.  They have added a pizza place outside with the same bar drinks and great microbrewery beers as the main restaurant.  I have actually not tried it yet, but everyone that I have talked to about it has nothing but great things to say.  How bad could a pizza be with prime rib on it, right?

So, there you have it.  When you plan your trip, don’t forget to book your photography with TheDestinPhotographer.com or call me at 850-499-2213 to book your session.

Most of the last few days have been spent cleaning up Christmas and playing with my web sites Thedestinphotographer.com PerceptionsByMayer.com and my blog site CaptureDestin.com.  Being a Destin Photographer I am pretty much able to make my own schedule and get all the “stuff” done that needs attention on a daily basis, things like getting the kids out of bed and ready for school, dinner, laundry, Annie’s Piano, James weekly shot, groceries, playing with the doggies Blue and Lucy.  Even as the owner of my own business, there never seems to be enough time in the day to get everything done.  I do a fair amount of business in Destin and Panama City Beach with vacation rental photography but with the weather not being the greatest over the past month or so things have backed up a bit.  Over the past week I have been able to get back on track and I am feeling much better about where I am with the business.  Last year was my 5^th year and my best.  Thanks to all my current clients in the vacation rental industry and thanks to all my summer beach vacationers as well.  Hope to see some of you again this summer.

Me and my Bride

It sounds so cliché, but it seems like a month ago that Amber said to me, “You know your stuff if pretty good, how come you have never thought about doing this full time?”  She was talking about my photography and for a while every time we talked about it I would just shrug it off and say, “I could never make a living being a Destin Photographer.”  It  just didn’t seem real to me at all.  Well after many conversations about it, I of course took the leap and started my own business.  Amber is such a big part of why I am very comfortable in my business today.  I love her so much.  I call her my office manager because she takes care of all things computer and money and everything that makes the business run …then I just take calls and do what I love to do.  Beach Photography in Destin is booming and whether you are after studio portraits or just casual candid shots you have those options in Destin.   People from all over the country come to the Emerald Coast to enjoy our beautiful white sand beaches and there are plenty of reasons they come year after year.  They are the same reasons I took the leap.  The Destin area is full of fun things to do like fishing trips, water parks, music events, and sailing, jet skis the list goes on and on.  We have some of the best sun sets around and our food and some of our restaurants are award winning.  So if you have thought about coming to Destin FL and just haven’t taken the leap yet, let me encourage you.  Take the leap you will be very glad you did, it won’t be just a vacation – it will be a tradition.  See you soon!

Family

Joe and I both believe that things happen for a reason.  Last week one of our dear friends lost his beloved wife.  Talk about putting tragedy in perspective.  Our friend’s wife, Misty was truly a testiment to being an “inspiration”.  Throughout her battle with colon cancer at the young age of 32, she was upbeat, postive and always such a warm and charitable soul.  In her last days, she was still inspiring all of us to make sure that we focus on what is most important and get past the “little things” that are not.  Obviously, none of us will ever understand why such a bright and glorious soul was taken from her family and friends at such a young age, but according to Misty – God had a plan and she wasn’t going to question it.  We’ve decided that we wont either.

Regardless of what is in front of us, Joe and I know that the most important thing is to get through it together.  That can be tough sometimes when life is so busy that you’re running in a million directions!  No one ever warns you how much work kids can be when they reach the “social years”.  I was always reassured that things got easier when they grew up – but whatever!  Now they have social engagements, birthday parties, tea parties, just because parties, karate every single day of the week, music lessons, recitals, concerts, plays – they grow out of shoes every other week and their pants are above their ankles within a month of purchase.  Easier?  Puhlease and I’ll gladly trade a bag of diapers a week for their “activity and social needs costs!”.  Not to mention feeding them – our son eats more than a pack of wolves!

Yet, what would life be like without our mini-me’s!  Joe is not the biological father of James (our son) but most people can’t even tell.  They have the same mannerisms, wear similar clothes, walk the same way, talk the same way and whistle just alike.  It is uncanny how similar they are – unfortunately, they even have the same taste in expensive cars.

I know it’s taking me a while to get there, but the point of this post is to reiterate that life is really all about family and friends.  It is so easy to forget about what really matters when life throws its punches, but I guarantee there is no bank account balance, no bill, no diploma or job that can replace a simple dinner with friends, family and laughter – and the satisfaction that ensues. 

No wonder so many people that flock to our gorgeous beaches contact us for Destin Beach Portraits – what’s better than capturing a moment in time where everyone is so happy and in such a beautiful place.  Joe is lucky to be a Destin Photographer, and I am so lucky that he is my wonderful husband and such an outstanding father.

Our new Home

I finally bought my first home.  After almost two years of torture – Joe and I have closed on a new home in the Bluewater Bay area.  Due to all of the previous last minute disappointments, I never really wrote a blog or posted anything about the house until we had the key in hand.  To be precise, we have the key in hand and we have painted 5 of the rooms so far.  Wow – the work ahead of us to finish this home and get it ready to move in is a little overwhelming!

Oh, did I forget to mention that we bought a foreclosure?  In the past, every time a house deal fell through for no apparent reason – Joe and I always reassured each other that there was a “reason” it didn’t work out and there was something else waiting for us out there.  Our new home was once the dream of a growing family that spent their sweat, tears and hard earned money to completely renovate a 1979 build and more than double the square feet with an addition.  80 percent of the way through – on the homestretch, they ran out of money and lost their home.  It really does make it difficult to celebrate our “windfall”. 

In the master bathroom, there is a door that has height markings for each of their children over the years.  We haven’t painted over it yet.  I’m not sure I want to.  It’s a great reminder that in the midst of our blessing there is a broken hearted family out there trying to rebuild their life, find a new home and work on a new dream.

The kids are on spring break so I took three days off this week.  Its not easy stepping away from the phone and the computer – I had no idea what a workaholic I’ve turned into!  I helped paint a little bit and then spent the majority of the afternoon filling in nail holes along all of the baseboard in the living room and dining room.  My goodness the contractor who put up the floorboard must have been taking out his/her aggression with the nail gun – that floorboard is never coming off!  I cleaned the window sills and all of the windows on the inside (poor Joe is going to need a ton of help keeping this house clean!).  It was quite cathartic to be able to do manual labor for the day, sweat a little – my mind wandered away from work long enough to notice that my daughter makes all of my same facial expressions when she is annoyed with someone (which is often), that my son is getting taller and has all of Joe’s mannerisms and copies everything he does (just ask Tina about the limp!). 

We will post photos as the house progresses.  Our goal is to be moved in within 45 days … (keep your fingers crossed!).

Paint n Place Baytown Location

Since I married the world’s most balanced beach photographer, I am no longer allowed to have any of the normal vices like excessive drinking, smoking or gambling.  We do not own a swimming pool or hot tub, and my gym membership is more torture than relaxation.  Having the gym access pass on my keychain stresses me out – it’s like every time I start my car I feel like a failure. 

Yes people, that truly means no glass of wine during dinner to wind down the day, no cold beers on the weekend to sweat out the frustrations of the week.  Compound this with a strict diabetic diet (no carbs, no sugar, no chocolate)…. and I’m not sure how I have managed to stay sane.  So I have been on a quest to find something that could distract me long enough to help me rejuvinate before heading back to the trenches every Monday morning.

Joe and I decided we’d try pottery.  Stop laughing.  We didn’t “make” the pottery, we just painted it and then the shop glazed and fired it.  Although the scene from GHOST still inspires me to try and get my hands dirty, especially if some hot hunky shirtless man wanted to sit behind me while I was molding my latest creation.  Of course, in my fantasy, this hot hunky shirtless man looks very similar to my husband.  Ahem, sorry… I got distracted.  Anyway, we chose the Paint-N-Place located on the Harbor at Harborwalk since it would have the best view of all of the other locations.  There is also one in Sandestin (we took the kids there for their birthday and they had a blast!), and a new location at Pier Park in Panama City Beach, Florida.

We both chose large items, Joe – a large bowl for mixing and I chose a large serving platter.  It is funny how one’s personality is so vivid when you put a paintbrush in their hands.  Joe’s bowl has clean lines, three main colors and looks just like something he would love in a store.  My platter has many colors (although there is a theme), and freestyle handpainted flowers with vines that disrupt the very orderly patterns on the edge of the platter.  Sound familiar?

The next day when we went to pick up the pieces at the shop, we were greeted by a very nice couple.  Of course, they complimented our pieces and then we sat and chatted for a while.  Come to find out – they owned the shop.  Nice to know that you can still get such personal service from people who care so much about the product that they sell.

The whole experience was fabulous and we intend on making it a monthly outing – with or without the kids.  We highly recommend the activity to locals and tourists alike.  It is a perfect afternoon or morning treat for the whole family and will help preserve your beach vacation memories for a lifetime. 

Paint n Place perfect family outing

Obviously, with all the construction and store in a total disarray, I quickly scanned the grocery list and cut it in half to ensure I’d be able to pick up the children on time.  Nothing was in the place that it was the last time that I was in the store – not one item.  Where the baskets were – there were now halmark cards, where the sausage and bacon use to live – there was beer and wine.  I started to laugh, then cut the list down to the bare minimums – milk and eggs.  As I was cutting back through produce trying to find milk – a very aggravated middle aged female was huffing and puffing and using a louder than normal voice saying “I just want a bag of onions.  Surely, there is a bag of onions in this place!  I mean – does Winn Dixie have nothing better to do than to move everything around so that you can’t find anything!?”.  Clearly beyond her point of no return, I pointed to the bag of onions on the other side of the aisle, smiled and watched her storm through the rest of the hazard zone.

In reality – my guess is that Winn-Dixie is giving the store a facelift truly and simply because … it was time.  I am sure that someone very experienced in the Grocery Store Satisfaction Index Association of Grocery People consulted with Winn Dixie and convinced them that putting the Ziplock bags next to the pickles would increase the likelihood of a shopper purchasing both the vinegar saturated cucumbers and the handy dandy plastic baggies.  Whatever – at the end of the day, there were a lot of people working, getting paid, making a living, and the store will look great when it is finished.  I am not sure what was going on in the frusted customer’s life, but I hope that she has a really good friend that she can vent to that will wait until she is finished complaining about the onions being moved and then calmly look at her and say, “Honey, it’s just onions”.

Mt. Sophris CO.

Ok, this is my second time writing the blog and I have a feeling you guys may have to adjust to a totally different writing style hope you all like it.  Since the last blog we have been all over the country.  We had just gotten back from Vegas and then I am sure Amber had been somewhere before we headed for Co on the 18^th of Dec.  We stayed there a week and were supposed to be home on the 25^th.  So, we drove to a town called Grand Junction the night before our 6:30am flight to come home on Christmas day and as we were settling in for the evening Amber checks our flight status and finds out all flight out of Grand Junction, Denver and Vail had all been cancelled for the 25^th.  What there was to eat and open on Christmas Eve in Grand Junction was an Applebee’s so that’s what we had for dinner.  The 25^th we spent in the room of the Country Wine Inn, it was fine just not where I or Amber wanted to be on Christmas Day.  The flight home on the 26^th was uneventful and we were so glad to sleep in our own bed after 8 days away.  Next was Orlando, Amber had some business with Imagine Vacation Homes and our annual passes to Disney had 8 days to the expiration date so we loaded the kids in Caesar and headed south.  While there Amber worked and the kids and I headed to Animal Kingdom to let James ride Mt. Everest.  I thought I was ok with it and Annie was willing but hesitant.  First went through the tree of life with flick and then headed to the Everest Coaster.  We got on and while the coaster was moving forward I was fine then it climbed a steep hill and stopped.  Then came the backward part and it was all over for me.  We got off the ride and Annie shouted let’s do it again as I was trying not to vomit.  I guess she got over her fear of Space Mountain from a short year prior.    I didn’t share that the weekend was really overcast and rainy so after I almost lost my stomach we went back to the rental home that imagine vacation provided for us. The night before we left to come home Ambers clients and our family went to Arabian Nights a great dinner show that is perfect for families with kids.  We had a great time with our family friends Mike and Adam and we even brought some friends from Destin with us, it really was a great long weekend.   Ok we finished the Orlando trip got home Sunday evening and then we were home for 4 days and off to Dollywood yep you heard right, Amber has a client in Dollywood.  This time it was just her and I.   Uncle Rory and Aunt Lisa help us all the time, they are great and they helped out with the gremlins for a couple days before they were off to AL. with their Dad. In Dollywood Amber worked for 3 days straight and we had a day with David, Amber’s brother and Aleda his wife on Sat.  Then back in the plane we go come home Amber has a day to breath and then off to CO. she should be home Friday the 23^rd at 3:30pm but there is really bad weather in Vail the airport she has to leave from so hopefully things will be ok for her.  Vail is about an hour from Basalt where she is working so everybody cross your fingers.   

Great Cabin in Dollywood TN.

I have been trying to keep our home clean.  1284 sq ft is just way too small for our family at this point.  The office at Destin Commons is finally finished and I am planning on having it somewhat decorated before Amber gets home and I haven’t started.  I am so excited for Amber the business is really going well, things are hectic but everything will be fine.

On the photography front my phone has been ringing way sooner this year than last.  I already have about a week of photography booked for July.  The Destin Photographer is going to be busy this year.  As always I brought my camera with me on all the above mentioned trips so there will be a couple attached to the blog entry.   I have been doing more condo photography and HD videos as well so I may need some help this year.

We announced everything  with very short notice thinking that no one would be able to make it, but either everyone has just been waiting with baited breath hoping Joe would get married some day, or our friends and family do love us as much as we hoped because everyone has been able to find a way to the beach in order to celebrate with us.  Surrounded by my father, Joe’s mother and both of our siblings and their family – with both of our best friends standing beside us (Rory for Joe and Oliver for Me) … we’ll seal our fate as husband and wife.  Although we’re going for a casual atmosphere, the wedding has taken on a life of its own with outdoor speakers, bamboo walkways and arbors and a waterfall of cala lillies (my favorite).  I originally requested a wedding with jeans and a white tshirt but Joe swore he wouldn’t kiss me unless I wore a dress – so yes, I’ve got plans to become one with the tanning bed so that the guests are not blinded by my slight affinity to Casper, the friendly ghost!  Oliver will make a fantastic Maid of Honor – or is there a term for when the Bride is supported by a male instead of a female?  I’m going to google it – hold on….. “Man of Honor”… if any of you know Oliver then you know how ironic and funny that title is!

We have the most amazing friends who have graciously offered their Destin Vacation Rental home for us so that our entire family can stay in one place for a few days and have the rare experience of being together (I’m in the business – so I could have stayed anywhere, but this home is fantastic for a large family vacation and my favorite rental in Destin so if you’re still trying to decide, check it out – and no, they didn’t pay me to say that… I really just love the house).  My father from Houston;  Joe’s mama from Philly;  Joe’s sister Tina, Robert and the boys from Bedias, Texas (yes, no blinking or you’ll miss it); my brother David, his wife Alida and their son little David from Nashville; Oliver and his beautiful fiance Angie from Houston and more friends and family from all over.  There will just be two important faces missing from the crowd and I’ve been wondering how to honor their memories.  Joseph’s father passed away about ten years ago, and my mother a little over two years ago.  I never met Joe Sr. and Joe never met my mother – but he did speak to her once on the phone, and she saw a photo of us about a year before she died on MySpace and left us a foreshadowing comment… “That guy sure is handsome beside you.”  Even then, just freshly divorced and certain that I’d maintain my single status for the rest of my life – my mother told me I’d spend my life with Joe – and she hadn’t even met him yet. 

James and Annie are estatic about their wedding roles (and of course Annie is thrilled with her new dress).  Joe is an amazing father and the children adore him.  I’m a handful on my own – ask anyone who deals with me on a regular basis!  But Joe is marrying me and the children – and only a very special man has room in his heart and energy in his soul for such a big task. 

I’m sure there will be several more updates as we experience our own wedding journey.  Thank you all for your business and support this past year and we hope to continue as your Destin Photographer for many years to come.