We are currently booking weddings into 2011, so if you are interested, please contact the studio at andi@andidiamond.com or 813-503-5056 for a complimentary consultation.

I hope this makes you both smile, from Tampa to Virginia!  Andi

On a side note, the re-branding process for Andi Diamond Photography was just completed, thanks to Manta Creative.  A quick peak of some of the new elements are above.  My wedding website, portrait website, and high school senior website (coming soon), Facebook fan page, and blog will all be getting launched with the new artwork, design, and logo.  I am super excited to share it with you, so keep your eyes peeled!

Every detail was accounted for, starting with fab custom stationery from Tie That Binds.  After Nadiah and her bridesmaids got their hair and makeup done by Maria Zepeda and Ramona Torres, we headed to St.John’s Episcopal Church in Hyde Park for their beautiful ceremony.After the ceremony, we headed back to the Westin where the party was amazing.  Every guest was dressed to the nines and ready to celebrate Ray and Nadiah’s nuptials in style!  Jonathan A Cortez provided the most amazing vocal performances.  Jackie Ross of Table 6 Productions made sure every detail was in place while Melina Forla of the Westin Harbour Island made sure the night was perfect! (and it was!)  Events in Bloom created beautiful decor with their flowers.  Inspire Entertainment created a beautiful ambiance with fab lighting (I am such a fan of uplighting!) It is no secret that I am also a big fan of sweets.  Ok- a HUGE fan.  And I knew the sweets would be abundant at this wedding.  You see, Ray works for Ghiraredlli, so the cake (by A Piece of Cake) and the chocolate fountain (by Lous Chocolate Fountains) had some extra yumminess!

I will wrap this up with my favorite image of the evening.  I just love how Ray and Nadiah are looking at each other, and I especially love the delicious light!Ray and Nadiah, thank you for choosing Andi Diamond Photography to capture this amazing day in the start of your new lives together!  I wish you so much happiness and joy!  Have an amazing honeymoon.  I can’t wait for you to see all of your wedding photographs!  To all of Ray and Nadiah’s friends and family, please share your well wishes for the happy couple by clicking “Add a Comment”.

1.  BLEND, BLEND, BLEND.  You can use your everyday makeup, but use more than your normally use every day.  Many makeup professionals use airbrush makeup, the method of choice for high-definition TV, because it is lightweight, waterproof and gives flawless coverage.

2.  SOMETIMES LESS IS MORE.  Use less makeup for a day wedding and slightly more for an evening wedding.  You can get dramatic with eye makeup, but remember that we want to see YOU and your BEAUTY, not have you hidden by your make-up.  I am a HUGE fan of fake eyelashes, provided they are professionally applied and you cannot see the black line at their base.  As for eye shadow, make sure the colors go well with your flesh tones.  Stay away from ultra bright, super vibrant colors and opt for subtle hues, earth tones, and a natural beauty.  In terms of eye liner, try to avoid extremely dark liquid eye liners as they tend to hide and over-power your eyes making them look deep set.  Instead opt for “smokey” grays and browns (earth tones).  Again, we want to see your eyes “pop” and not be hidden by extremely dark eye make-up.

3.  DON’T SKIMP ON CONCEALER.  Use a moisturized concealer on the thin, sensitive skin under the eyes.  If your concealer isn’t moisturizing, blend it with a skin cream.  For blemishes, first treat them with a natural or over-the-counter anti-inflammatory, then cover with concealer.

4.  DO A MAKEUP TRIAL RUN.  Use a professional makeup artist.  It’s the only sure-fire, stress-free way to make certain your makeup will look beautiful.  (Trust me on this one….I came home from my makeup trial run and Pete said ‘Ummmm, Baby, you look like a clown”, and I sorta agreed! ha!  Needless to say, I went back to the salon and we got it all squared away before my wedding day.)

5.  NOT ALL MINERAL MAKEUP IS CREATED EQUAL.  Titanium dioxide, a chemical used in sun block, can reflect flash, giving the bride a ghostly appearance.  In 2009 makeup artist Annie May launched a line of mineral makeup especially formulated for photography called Advanced Mineral Makeup.  May promises it won’t white-out the bride under flash.

6.  USE WATERPROOF MAKEUP WITH STAYING POWER.  You don’t want to spend your reception in the bathroom reapplying your makeup.  Foundation, eyeliner and mascara all should be waterproof.  And in case you cry (and you probably will), have a tissue or handkerchief handy to gently blot your tears right at the eye.

7.  KEEP YOUR LIPS MOISTURIZED AND COLORED.  Dry lips look dreadful in photos.  Have someone carry your lipstick for you and touch up often.  Matte and glass lipstick both photograph well (though I am a HUGE fan of MAC lipglass), and be sure to use blended lip liner for enhanced definition.  You can either go for a subtle lip color or a color with some “pop”, but again, avoid ultra bright as we do not want your lip color to deter from the beauty of your face.

8.  DON’T FORGET THE GROOM.  If the groom is red faced due to too much sun (or drinking), a little powder can help.  That goes for shiny heads, too.  And it’s a good idea to slip a tube of Chapstick in the groom’s pocket for his dry lips, as well as a handkerchief to dab well-wishers’ makeup smudges off.

9.  DON’T SPRINKLE ON GLITTER.  Just DON’T do it.  In photographs, it tends to look like little white spots, as if there is something wrong with the camera.

10.  REMEMBER to apply foundation and powder to your neck, shoulders, and decolletage- you want your head to look like it belongs to your body!

11.  SAY NO TO TANNING BOOTHS and SPRAY TANS.  Especially right before the wedding, avoid tanning booth, spray tans, and fake tan lotions.  It tends to look orange in photographs.

Here are two recent FAB brides who really rocked their makeup.  Jessie has an amazing pallet to start with, and her makeup artist really accentuated her high cheekbones and blended everything together so beautifully:I love the colors that Alina’s makeup artist used.  They really brought out her gorgeous eyes!  Subtle, soft hues were used on her eye shadows.

I am always available to help with referrals to talented wedding make-up artists who I trust.  Wedding season is upon us and is in full swing.  I hope this diary entry gives my brides some helpful tips in their wedding make-up.  On a side note, lots of fun changes coming to my blog (aka- Andi’s Diary).  Look over to the left at the little tabs to download the iDiamond Photo app for your iPhone, add yourself to my monthly newsletter, or go to my Facebook fan page.  Have a great week!  A

Work it, Blue Steel……ha!I adore Camie’s laugh!Keep your eyes peeled to the blog next week for Camie and Bubba’s Trash the Dress session.  I have loved getting to know you both and I was thrilled I got to be a part of such a wonderful time in your lives, Camie and Bubba!  I hope you had a blast in Key West (so jealous!)  I have really enjoyed all of our time together!

Special thanks to Josh Walther from Inspire Entertainment for making the reception so fun and to Denny Gay and his team from Passage in Time for their videography.  Great working with you all!

In other exciting Andi Diamond Photography news…..I moved into a new studio in South Tampa last week!  I have been keeping it under wraps because I did not want to jinx anything.  But now that I have officially had a few sessions there, I feel safe to let the cat out of the bag!  It is fantastic.  Of course, there are a few things that I still want to do, but it will all come together!  I would love for my clients to stop by and say hello!

And even more exciting news….. Andi Diamond Photography has a new team member….Brittany E!  She will be helping me with marketing and PR!  Keep your eyes peeled to my blog- her “initiation” shoot teaser images will be coming soon!  She rocks!  So excited for you all to meet her

We were lucky enough to catch a little bit of the sunset once it stopped raining!

What a beautiful/handsome bridal party!  And do these people know how to party??!!  WOW- it was like a night club at that reception!   DJ Jerry from 1st Class DJ Service really helped, too.   I wanted to put down my camera and dance!  Randy from Celebrations of Tampa Bay captured all the emotions on video!

Not only do Laura and Bruno know how to dance and party- the food was fabulous!  5 course dinner.  The cake was from Chantilly Cakes.  Check out some of the yummy treats!

Thanks Laura and Bruno for letting me share in your amazing day.  I wish you all the best in love and happiness!

Andi