Sarasota's Premier Senior & Headshot Photographer

Capturing Joy | The Waxler Family | Lakewood Ranch Family Photography

Capturing joy is my favorite thing to do. Seriously. You can keep your staid, posed, boring, cheesey-grinned photographs. That might be fine for some people. But not for me. And definitely not for this family.

Give me joy. Unabashed, bursting from within, can’t hold it inside JOY. This is what I see each and every time I have the immense pleasure of hanging with the Waxler’s. Whether it’s out on Sarasota Bay skiing with the world famous Skiarees, leading the charge on decorations for the Night With the Stars special needs prom or deciding on a Wednesday to host a crab boil for 100 of their closest friends on Friday, Adam, Tanya, and Levi are living life full out with joy.

 

Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.

          ~ William Arthur Ward

 

I met Tanya nearly 2 years ago when we decided to start looking for homes in Sarasota. Tanya and Adam are THE power couple and driving force behind UKeepComission Real Estate. Buying a house when you live clear across the country is no small feat, but Tanya kept us calm and sane and in line throughout the process and look! Here we are in Sarasota! And if young Levi looks familiar, you may recognize him from his frequent appearances signing our National Anthem for the Tampa Bay Rays. Believe me, this is one cool kid.

This is a family who celebrates each other in every possible way. They love each other, of course, but what is super cool is that they really and truly LIKE each other. They are a real testament to what a family should be, and I was honored to photograph them a few months ago. I received the best compliment possible from Adam afterward. “That wasn’t bad at all. In fact, it was sort of fun!” Yes, Adam, it was a LOT of fun. We should do it again sometime.

capturing joy with a family photo session what to wear in shades of blue by Ristaino Photography of Sarasota FLcapturing joy and what to wear for a family photo session with teen boy in Lakewood Ranch by Ristaino Photography of Sarasota FL

capturing joy as a family shares a special moment as dad tells son how proud he is in Lakewood Ranch by Ristaino Photography of Sarasota FL

how to capture joy and keep a couple looking natural during a photography session in Lakewood Ranch by Ristaino Photography of Sarasota FL

capturing joy as teen boy in blue shirt stands near a tree in Lakewood Ranch by Ristaino Photography of Sarasota FLcapturing joy as a teen boy in blue jeans and blue shirt watches the sunset in Lakewood Ranch by Ristaino Photography of Sarasota FL

Thanks Tanya, Adam, and Levi for spending the afternoon with me. You are one awesome family.

be joyful,

michaela

I am now booking clients for family sessions in Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch. Contact me today to reserve your session!

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    Senior Year. (gulp) Nobody claps for the mom who's holding it together while her kid gets ready to leave.

So I will.

This season is a lot. The pride and the grief show up in the same breath, and that's not something people talk about enough. If you're in it right now, I see you.

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    That thing where you're just scrolling, minding your own business, and suddenly you're wrecked over a photo of them missing their two front teeth?

Yeah. Senior year does that. Every time.

Be honest, how many times has this happened to you this month? 👇

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    This is what it looks like when a session actually goes somewhere.
Not four poses. Not a checklist.
Four real moments from one afternoon with a real teenager who showed up a little unsure and left feeling like herself.
That’s the whole goal, every single time.
If you’re starting to think about senior photos for fall, I’d love to talk about your daughter before anything else. Not a booking link, not a checkout page. Just a real conversation about who she is.
That’s where the good photos start. Link in bio if you want to grab a fall date before they’re gone 🌾
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    Michaela Ristaino Photography
    michaela@ristainophotography.com | 941-957-8088 | Sarasota FL