LanierStar Photography Blog | Amelia Island, Jacksonville, St. Augustine, FL wedding & portrait photographers bio picture

Love. Laughs. Photographs.

Hello! My name is Kristen Morgan- a girl in her 30's (I swear I don't know when that happened!) and a laugh enthusiast (see exhibit A to your left), who's world revolves around my "sonshine", Jett (owner of the cute smile in exhibit A). I love anything made of paper, Mexican food with margaritas, flip-flop weather and iPhone-tography. I also love "real" cameras, which is where this website comes in to play. I'm the owner of LanierStar Photography and a full-time photographer based in the St. Augustine/Jacksonville, FL area.

LanierStar photographs Weddings and Portraits throughout NE Florida and SE Georgia. I'm also available for travel. My personality is fun and laid back, which helps people feel comfortable around me. At the same time my years spent managing businesses ensures that your experience will be positive and professional. My photography style is candid, using photojournalism to capture you in real life. Then I combine that with artistic portraiture.

Please scroll down to read the blog, which is updated much more frequently than the websites! Primarily I use it to showcase the latest sessions, but hopefully you can get a feel for who I am, too. I'd also love to connect with you on Facebook and Twitter, so feel free to click those gray tabs in the upper left! I'd love to start planning your portrait session or hear about your wedding, so use the Contact tab up top, call 904.639.5960, or email me at info@lanierstar.com.

Talk soon!
Kristen

Garret & Niki : Urban Engagement | Downtown Jacksonville, FL Session

05.11.10 Posted in engagement session 38 comments

Last year I photographed Niki’s friend’s wedding (Hi Rachel!) at Winterbourne on the St. John’s River in Orange Park, FL. Niki was the “Day Of” Coordinator, so she and I had the chance to chat and hang out a bit. During this time she told me that she was also planning her St. Augustine, FL wedding and needed a photographer. She loved Rachel’s engagement session photography that I did, so we made plans to meet up. Fast forward a few weeks to the Starbucks at Roosevelt Square where I met with Niki and one of her bridesmaids, Jonnica. We had the most rocking time in said Starbucks. I’m surprised we didn’t get kicked out for having too much fun! I’m happy to say that Niki and her fiance, Garrett, decided to hire LanierStar for their wedding photography. Niki had some great ideas for the engagement session and we were so excited to get going in it. Just one small problem. Garrett works out of town and usually doesn’t know until the last minute that he is going to be home. So from January through April I would get an email from Niki letting me know if this would be a “Garrett weekend” or not, and then I’d let her know if I had any openings. Finally on April 2 the stars aligned and we made it happen.

I work with my couples beforehand using a survey so that the session reflects their style, their loves and their personalities. Niki really wanted to incorporate balloons into the shoot. Unfortunately Garrett wasn’t feeling the balloon love so much, but he stuck with it to make Niki happy. Awwwwwwwww. Now that, my friends, is love.

Here are some photographs from their Engagement Session that we photographed all around areas of downtown Jacksonville, FL. We covered most of the urban core and had a blast doing it. You guys are awesome!

Look for another session featuring Niki coming very soon. ;)

Niki and Garrett- I am looking forward to being your St. Augustine, FL wedding photographer in November! :) Kristen

38 comments

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Niki - 01.22.10 - 9:53 PM

I love that you can really see my lack of jumping skills. I cant jump but I sure can frolic!

Rachel - 01.22.10 - 10:23 PM

My two favorite people partaking in my favorite photographer’s shoot in my favorite little city! Niki I enjoyed your frolick session and frolicking with you always!

lydia - 01.22.10 - 7:52 AM

i LOVE these pictures. they are so niki. great pics!!

Jack Potts - 01.22.10 - 8:07 AM

These pics are beautiful. The one overlooking the river is stewiependous. My favorite is the upskirt through the grating of the stairs. You two make a beautiful couple and the pictures perfectly illustrate the glee you feel for one anouther.

Gypsy - 01.22.10 - 9:59 AM

Wow they are really beautiful ! I love Urban backdrops ! So you guys ! Cant wait to see the wedding pics !

Jordan - 01.22.10 - 10:10 AM

I’m glad Garrett went with the balloon idea because I think they were used awesomely! The picture where it looks like he is checking her out is greatness! Cute couple, cute pictures. So Niki.

Michelle Neal - 01.22.10 - 11:01 AM

These pictures are great! My favorites are of you guys on the riverfront and on the white stairs. LOVE THEM and you guys!!!

Renae Stewart - 01.22.10 - 6:28 PM

I love the pictures you guys! And Nikki the idea of the ballons was great!! I hope to see an invitation soon!

Caleb's mom - 01.22.10 - 8:07 PM

I really like the b&w pic of you niki…where u can see the library. Time to set up a session for Caleb! And the pic of you and G by the water is the ultimate skinny!

Cory - 01.22.10 - 8:10 PM

my wife would not let me say what I really wanted to about those balloons!

Jonnica - 01.22.10 - 9:11 PM

AAWW Niki you look beautiful!!! too beautiful… vampire.

Stephen - 01.22.10 - 9:13 PM

These pictures are great! very cool … unique i like it.

Pheonix - 01.22.10 - 9:19 PM

amazing .. you guy remind me of salt and pepper shakers. perfect match and well seasoned.

Mike McCormick - 01.22.10 - 12:34 PM

These are the coolest engagement photos. They’re so much better than the cliched, seemingly obligatory beach photos that most couples do.

Thor - 01.22.10 - 5:43 PM

Hey what’s up with this Pheonix person’s comment about you guys being like salt and pepper? I don’t know what that person is talking about. If anything, you guys are more like Tarragon and Paprika. You don’t work well with anything and I don’t like either one of you. Oh and nice pics by the way.

Lori Cossaboom - 01.22.10 - 7:33 PM

Beautiful pictures!!! Love you guys!!

Dennis Cossaboom - 01.22.10 - 7:34 PM

Pictures look great!

Sonja - 01.22.10 - 10:22 AM

Very nice Photos, love how the color is brought out. Very nice.

Petra - 01.22.10 - 12:44 PM

Love these pics!! Especially the ones in the coffeeshop and by the bridge

Chris Slayton - 01.22.10 - 2:22 PM

Garrett’s looking fine!

Karen - 01.22.10 - 2:26 PM

Wow! I had no idea you were so beautiful together! What a blessing you are to our family. I am counting the days until I can call Garrett family!

Dear Ol' Dad - 01.22.10 - 4:29 PM

Interesting…. Remember some of those tiles at the old Hayden Burns building. I was at the grand opening of that place and now it is closed. I look forward to the festivities in November!

Jenna - 01.22.10 - 4:58 PM

The pictures came out wicked good!!!! I love them all

Tanner - 01.22.10 - 8:39 PM

cute pix.. i <3 the balloons!

josh - 01.22.10 - 8:40 PM

awesome pictures!

kyle - 01.22.10 - 8:41 PM

they turned out great i love the urban vibe

Avery - 01.22.10 - 8:42 PM

Niki, you look beautiful! Can’t wait until the wedding in November

Kyle Bielefeldt - 01.22.10 - 8:44 PM

Cool pictures, they came out really great.

Amy Carroll - 01.22.10 - 8:48 PM

I love your pictures! You guys look so cute.

addison young - 01.22.10 - 8:50 PM

Great pictures love you guys!

leah lopez - 01.22.10 - 8:56 PM

Love your engagement pics

Aunt Narda - 01.22.10 - 9:42 PM

Garrett, you are so handsome, and your bride-to-be is beautiful!

Glenda - 01.22.10 - 10:35 AM

Great shots so creative

Zach - 01.22.10 - 5:44 PM

These Pics are great you guys look great together

John Miller - 01.22.10 - 1:32 PM

I’m glad to see you so happy Garret. I really like the pics with the ballon’s

Engaged: a session with softball, the water and love. Fleming Island, FL » LanierStar Photography Blog | Amelia Island, Jacksonville, St. Augustine, FL wedding & portrait photographers - 01.22.10 - 2:58 PM

[...] at Winterbourne Inn of Club Continental. Chad married Rachel who is a good friend of Niki. Niki was featured on the blog last week (scroll down). So, you can see we have some family ties going [...]

“I’m With The Bride!” A Bridesmaid’s Session before the wedding. » LanierStar Photography Blog | Amelia Island, Jacksonville, St. Augustine, FL wedding & portrait photographers - 01.22.10 - 9:42 PM

[...] it, what size do they wear? Well, Niki (check out she and Garret’s urban engagement session here) decided to do something different and gift her bridesmaids a portrait session! This was a fun [...]

Garrett & Niki at The Sanchez House | St. Augustine, FL Wedding Photography Slideshow » LanierStar Photography Blog | Amelia Island, Jacksonville, St. Augustine, FL wedding & portrait photographers - 01.22.10 - 3:23 PM

[...] is a quick peek into the wedding of Niki and Garrett. In November they married at The Sanchez House in St. Augustine, FL. Loved loved loved this [...]