I've been SKYPED!

We had the pleasure of a SKYPE video meeting just the other day with a new client in Nashville. Since we are located in Orlando, Florida it made it very easy to show the client album options as well as actually meeting face to face. Technology certainly has it's benefits and SKYPE is free and works on Mac or PC.

Merry Christmas!

We just want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous New Year filled with good health.

Obama's Wedding pictures

Barack and Michelle Obama's wedding pics as well as the wedding of the singing group ABBA were not photographed by Abba Photography however we do offer exquisite wedding photography in the Central Florida area. Based in Longwood just outside of Orlando we are ideally located to go North, South, East or West to capture most weddings statewide without exorbitant travel fees added on to your package. We look forward to providing you with a great quote followed by great service.

Best Wedding Photography Deals in Orlando, Florida

If you're having a wedding in the Orlando, Florida or central Florida area in the month of January or February 2010, take advantage of our incredible wedding photography packages. How can we afford to do this? Simply because we have some key dates that we would like to see booked rather than open. We are offering packages that include the master disk with high res digital files and copyrights and you can modify the package to include the most beautiful collage style coffee table albums if you like. Check our date availability from our website today while some prime dates are still available.
Abba Photography 407-672-1121

"The Bridal Show" in Orlando, FL

Watch for information on "The Bridal Show" coming soon courtesy of Abba Photography. Free and no cost to you. Contact our office for details to highlight your service in the Orlando, Florida area.
Contact: Gary at 407-672-1121.

January 2010 Orlando Wedding Photography Sale

Thank you for reading today's blog post and for taking the time to visit our website.

We have a Special Package Offer available for certain dates that include:
No picture limits, up to 6 hours coverage, 2 photographer(s) at ceremony and reception, an engagement portrait session or one 11x14 wall portrait from the wedding day selections, all of the color and contrast corrected images on the Master Disk including copyrights, password protected on-line viewing and secure online web ordering and a 24 page 12x12 collage style Lay-flat coffee table album.

Your special price is $1500.00. (Reg price $3000.00)
SAVE $1500.00 with our 50% off sale if contracted by January 30, 2010.

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You can adjust your package price to meet your personal needs by adding or subtracting coverage times or albums from the coverage if you like.
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Please let me know what else I can do to help you with your wedding plans. We make day or evening appointments at our studio for your convenience.
We can also meet online through SKYPE if that makes it easier for you.
I look forward to hearing from you anytime.
Gary

Gary & Marti Davids - Abba Photography
Office: 407-672-1121
Cell: 407-617-5622

gary@abbaphotography.com

www.abbaphotography.com
Members of Professional Photographers of America
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Engagement portrait sessions in Orlando, Florida

We include engagement portrait sessions with most packages at Abba Photography. We like our sessions to be informal and fun. We usually do these sessions at our private lake front outdoor studio however we can make arrangements to go on location.

Wonderful people

This month I have been blessed with meeting with several new and wonderful couples and even their mom's. We have conducted some online meetings using Skype. We would like to thank those for instilling family values in their children while growing up into young adults. We look forward to working with you on your upcoming events and we thank you for trusting us and choosing us to capture this for you.

SKYPE me.

More and more people are realizing that a SKYPE conference cuts down on stress related to gas and time expenses yet allows a one on one personal appointment from the comfort of your home. Check our date availability from our website and request an online video conference. We look forward to SEEING you.
Orlando Florida's most trusted wedding photographers!
Abba Photography

Celebration brings Hope!

It is apparent to all that there are many things going on everywhere, every day such as debt, employment issues, friend and family distances and differences that could put a damper on our attitudes if we allow it to. The benefits of celebrating and laughing in times like these cannot be understated. It is clinically proven that cheerful hearts heal you physically and spiritually while bringing hope to you and those around you. Make a difference in your life and those you encounter today by starting with a smile rather than the energy needed to purposely attempt to avoid eye contact and a greeting. You will most likely find that you actually enjoyed it.

Todays wedding...

We had the pleasure of photographing Josh and Laney today at the Secret Garden for their ceremony and then off to Charlies Steakhouse for their dinner reception with family.

Excessive delivery times

We meet with so many clients and over the years the biggest complaint I've heard that people have with so many photographers is the excessive wait time for proofs, master disks, prints and albums to be ready. We have always put our clients first and we are proud to say that our online viewing and master disks are always ready within 5 days guaranteed and in many cases within 3 days after your event. This is because this is our full time business. We know no-one likes to wait to see the images after an exciting event. We all want to see them right away and that includes us as well.

New Reception location

We would like to congratulate Chef Henry's for re-opening in Longwood on SR 434. They used to be in Casselberry and have absolutely GREAT food at GREAT prices. The ambiance is perfect and they can accommodate 35 to 45 seated guests in one room for your dinner reception following an intimate wedding ceremony at The Secret Garden. Call for information.

Tis the season...

Not only is it the holiday season with Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Years just around the corner but the busy proposal time of year is approaching. We have already seen an increase in the amount of inquiries. Best wishes to all of the newly engaged couples.

New Venue within one mile of The Secret Garden

Seats between 80 to 125 guests. Contact us for details.

New plantings in the Garden

We have had a very warm fall so far which is good because we have just recently re-sodded the garden area as well. Should grow in nicely now. Can't have weeds here.

New look at The Secret Garden

Today we made some new changes to the look at The Secret Garden. We have increased the seating area at the gazebo to accommodate more people. Come see us and book your wedding at a beautiful outdoor lake view garden.

Sarah and Lewis got married.

Congratulations to Sarah and Lewis. They were married on 11/8/09 at the Winter Park Civic Center.

The Secret Garden Wedding

Congratulations to Sarah and Jose who were married 11/7/09 at The Secret Garden. An all inclusive package offered exclusively by Abba Photography.

Dubsdread Country Club Wedding

Last night we had the pleasure of photographing Emily and Thomas at a church in Winter Park followed by a reception at Dubsdread Country Club. Congratulations Emily and Thomas!
Gary and Marti of Abba Photography

Busy Summer

We would like to thank all of the wedding vendors for referring us and keeping us busy as you have for so many years. We have been so busy that finding time to update our blog daily was not a priority but we will try to keep you informed of the latest trends to help you in your Florida wedding planning.

Congratulations to Carolyn and Damian

A manor in Kissimmee, Florida was the location chosen by this couple from England today for their intimate wedding amongst family and friends. The weather held out through the ceremony and started a light sprinkle during group photos but all went well and the pool side reception continued as planned. What a beautiful day for a beautiful couple, Ceremony officiant was Rev. Gary Davids.

Ken and Rochelle marry at Kraft Azalea Park

The wedding of Ken and Rochelle took place at Kraft Azalea Park on Saturday July 18th. This park has been a long time favorite location for our engagement portrait sessions and the weather was perfect too. It was a small, intimate gathering and it was a pleasure to work with this fine couple. We wish them all the success and happiness for years to come. The ceremony was officiated by Rev. Gary.

Church Street Station Wedding Reception

Kellee and Brett married on this past Wednesday. There ceremony took place at St Lukes Methodist Church and the reception was held at Church Street Station in downtown Orlando. Jay Edwards provided the music and Seth Cohen was the videographer. Congratulations to a fabulous bride and groom who are not only easy to work with but also know how to treat vendors.
Orlando Wedding Photographers - Gary and Marti

Congratulations Kristen and Matt!

What a great wedding day and couple. This bride and groom and all of their guests were so much fun. They were courteous and a pleasure to work with. The reception was held at Timacuan Country Club and Marc Burgess was the DJ/MC. We would like to thank you for treating us like friends and family and showing your appreciation the day of. We look forward to working together in the future.

Busy wedding season in Florida

I am happy to say that Abba Photography has been covering wedding clients for 19 plus years now and I am thankful that we are still busy in spite of a turned down economy. Brides and grooms are still getting married and they are still choosing and trusting our studio to capture these one time events. Recapping the past weddings we have photographed Jennifer and Dan at First Baptist Church Orlando and Leu Gardens, Brenna and Andrew at Faith Fellowship Church in Melbourne, Ben and Jessica at St Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Oviedo, Nick and Nicole at Mead Gardens in Winter Park, Chris and Vickie at Lake Mary Events Center in Lake Mary, Jeremiah and Jessica at The Grand Bohemian in Orlando, Fred and Leila at The Secret Garden in Longwood and Kellee and Brett at St Luke's Methodist United Church in Windermere. Congratulations and thanks to all of our couples that give us the honor of being a part of their special memories.
Gary at Abba Photography

Rosen Center Wedding in Orlando

Lisa and Antwan got married on Sunday the 24th of May at this fabulous facility. The music was provided by Andres of Miami Pro DJ's and the video team were Al and Dan of Megapixel Pro. This wedding really showed how true professionals work as a team with each other and gives the client the best wedding products and services available.
Gary and Marti

Congrats to Alex and Emily!

Alex and Emily were married this past Saturday at The English Gardens followed by a reception at Holy Trinity Banquet Hall located in the Maitland/Altamonte Springs area. Brian Scott of Weddings Only provided the music and emcee.
Orlando Wedding Photographers - Gary and Marti

Mark and Amy married on 5/23/09

The rains have finally subsided after a week of record breaking rainfall but now the sun is shining again and so are the faces of this bride and groom. Congratulations to Mark and Amy who were married at the Winter Garden First United Methodist Church followed by a reception at Stoneybrook West.
Gary and Marti of Abba Photography

Larissa and Caleb at The English Gardens

Today was one of the wettest days in central Florida history but that did not show in this bride and grooms attitudes. Larissa and Caleb were married by Rev. Tim Herring at The English Gardens and the music was provided by John with About Town Sounds. Congratulations to a fabulous couple.
Gary and Marti

Congratulations to Jason and Renee!

Jason and Renee married on 5/16/09 at the beautiful Lake Mary Events Center. The music was provided by DJ Carl. River City Catering did a fantastic job on catering this event. The ceremony officiant was Rev. Gary of OrlandoCeremony.com. Congratulations to the bride and groom and their families.
Abba Photography - Gary and Marti

Wedding photographer search on Google

Searching for "best wedding photographers" in your local area on Google is certainly a time consuming task considering the fact that those keywords will bring up an average of over one million results in most major cities and as high as 9 million in a city like NYC. Referral lists from vendors and friends not only can cut down on the amount of time spent on the internet but can also provide you with testimonials that can provide you with peace of mind in your selection process.
Gary and Marti Abba Photography

Budget wedding photography in Orlando, Florida

We often hear "We are on a budget and are looking for a great photographer under $xxxx". Rest assured there is no shame in making this claim. The truth is everyone is on a budget with each and every purchase whether it is wedding related or not. The only difference is "the budget amount". We have always tried to give our clients what they are looking for in a wedding photography package in central Florida and at a price that is affordable without sacrificing quality. We will never send subcontracted photographers to achieve this end. What we do is try to find out where we can save you money for example in the amount of time you need covered or the type of album, if you are choosing one. We run sales on albums and certain available dates all the time so a phone call is the best advice we can give you. We look forward to providing you with budget conscious wedding photography in Orlando, Florida.
Husband and wife photographers- Gary and Marti

Knowles Chapel Wedding

Congratulations to Morgan and Erik who had the perfect wedding at Rollins College Knowles Chapel on 5/2/09 followed by a reception at the Downtown Marriott Hotel. Brian Scott of Weddings Only was the DJ and the crowd danced the night away.
Gary and Marti - Abba Photography

English Gardens Wedding

Congratulations to Bruce and Robin who were married at the English Gardens in Orlando, FL on 4/25/09. Everyone was a pleasure to be with and we got some great pictures. We hope the happy couple are enjoying the memories of a fantastic cruise honeymoon.
Gary and Marti - Abba Photography

Jenny and Alam got married!

Congratulations to Jenny and Alam who celebrated their wedding on Sunday at the Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, Florida. Catering manager Jen Rosenthal hosted this perfect event and always takes great care of her clients. Frank of White Rose Entertainment is always a pleasure to work with and makes sure the event flows smoothly between all of the contracted vendors as well as letting the guests know their music requests are welcomed.
Thank you to our bride and groom who were a pleasure to work with and for choosing so many true professionals to work with.
Gary and Marti - Orlando, Florida Wedding Photographers

Jason and Jamie, Congratulations!

A big thank you and congratulations goes out to our most recent newly weds, Jason and Jamie. What a perfect day! This event was held at the Ritz/Carlton this past Saturday and the staff were and always are top notch. Rev. Tim Herring officiated the ceremony on the outside patio area. DJ Frankie C provided an excellent backdrop of music and atmosphere for a fun reception.
Gary and Marti - Orlando Wedding Photographers

Highland Manor in Apopka

I would just like to take a moment to say thank you to Christian Pendleton and Toni Curlin of Highland Manor for hosting a great party last night celebrating the grand opening of this new wedding venue. I have worked at this same property over the last 14 years under two previously named and managed entities however the changes here now are nothing short of stunning. The room is bright, bigger and the staff servers were very friendly and attentive to the guests needs. This place has always been a photographers dream location for a wedding but is better than ever. It was also great getting to see so many familiar friends/vendors at this gathering. We wish you all a great 2009 and beyond.
Gary and Marti - Orlando Wedding Photographers

A Beautiful Leu Gardens Wedding

Congratulations to the newly weds Kelly and Eric who were married on the lawn at beautiful Leu Gardens this past Sunday. Jody Bower of Grant Hemond and Assoc. provided the music for the ceremony and reception and the weather was absolutely perfect. Levan's Catering provided great cuisine and service as they always do.
Gary and Marti - Orlando Wedding Photographers

Jill and Mario's Maitland wedding

Congratulations to Jill and Mario. The wedding took place the 28th at the King of Kings Lutheran Church in Maitland followed by a reception at the Lake Buena Vista Resort Best Western. DJ, Bobby Deese provided the music and has achieved a reputation as an outstanding coordinator between all vendors in attendance (Banquet Manager, Caterers, Photographers, Videographer ) by ensuring that they are all on the same page with a pre-established flow of events that you want facilitated at your reception.
Gary and Marti - Orlando Wedding Photographers

Beth and Scott @ Ventura

Congratulations to Beth and Scott who were married at The Ventura Country Club this past weekend. What a great couple! This was such a nice wedding and we had the pleasure of seeing Linda Calderaro of Creative Elegance perform the ceremony and Chuck from Classic DJ's taking care of the entertainment for the reception as well as the ceremony music outside at the gazebo. Thanks to everyone for making this day perfect.
Gary and Marti - Orlando Wedding Photography

Redtail Country Club Wedding

This past Saturday Abba Photography had the pleasure of working with PJ and Monica of Atomic Entertainment DJ's for the wedding of Samantha and Adam. Everything went off as planned and the day was beautiful. We had time to get some great bridal party photos at the bridge on property.
Gary and Marti - Orlando Wedding Photography

Jennifer and Arty

What a beautiful day for a wedding this past Saturday and such nice people to work with. Congratulations to Arty and Jennifer. We hope you are enjoying your honeymoon as you may be reading this now. We photographed the ceremony at Annunciation Catholic Church in Altamonte Springs and the reception was held at the beautiful and ALWAYS a pleasure to work at Maison Jardin. The entire staff is wonderful. This was a pleasant and memorable day especially with the "jeep on two wheels" departure.
Gary and Marti - Orlando Wedding Photography

Congratulations Michael and Sarah!

Michael and Sarah were married yesterday and had their reception at the Orlando Airport Marriott. The weather was absolutely perfect. The pacing was smooth as we expected it would be and the families were so easy to work with. We wish you a fantastic honeymoon and look forward to seeing you when you return.
Gary and Marti - Orlando Wedding Photographer Team

All inclusive weddings in Florida

At Abba Photography, we offer all inclusive wedding packages for intimate and destination weddings. They include: Lakeside ceremony site with gazebo, brides dressing room, a wedding officiant, a small cake and a bottle of sparkling cider, chairs, free use of flowers for bride and groom, music, photography and the master disk including copyrights. Photos are also placed online with password protected viewing and ordering. We are happy to offer this wedding package in an economic time of scaling down while still having a wonderful wedding in the Orlando, Florida area. Since we do not get involved with on site catering or very large groups we are happy to suggest some great venues nearby for dining options or alternate venues.

Wedding Discounts in Orlando, Florida

At Abba Photography we believe in rewarding those who provide services to our community and one of the ways that we can do that is by giving great deals on wedding photography to brides and grooms in Central Florida. Some of the employment categories are military, teachers, law enforcement, fire department and health care workers. We just want to say thank you.

Robin and Bob at The English Gardens

We worked at The English Gardens this weekend for Robin and Bob's wedding. It was chilly but everyone had a good time and the staff did an excellent job again.

Congrats to Brett and JoyEl

Well yesterday we photographed Brett and JoyEl at their wedding in Winter Garden at the Methodist Church. We have worked at this church many times and the photos always turn out beautiful at this location. Great hallways to work available light in. The reception was held at The Mission Inn located in Howey In The Hills. Another great location for photo ops. What made this day so nice was photographing a bride and groom that really shine their light just as the pastor had said during his ceremony. This event was coordinated by Deb Kettler of Special Touches by Deb and the DJ was Paul with Junction 88.

Ashley and Eddie at Buena Vista Palace

Congratulations to Ashley and Eddie on their wedding yesterday. The wedding was held at St. Lukes Methodist Church in Windermere and the reception was at The Buena Vista Palace. Angela provided a beautiful backdrop to another successful event. We had the pleasure of working with Chrystal Feldman of Sunsational Weddings, Jay Edwards of Liquid Entertainment and Dane with the Photo Booth. This bride and groom took advantage of the playground for some fun pictures with their bridal party as well as the other beautiful picture locations near the bridge and gazebo.

Rollins Chapel and Longwood Community Building

Today we had the pleasure of working at Knowles Chapel at Rollins and then off to the Longwood Community Building for a festive reception. The event was catered by Levan's Catering and as always, the food service was great. Deenice Productions provided the video coverage and they were team players which makes for a great working relationship. Congratulations to Sean and Melissa on their marriage today.

Wedding Assistance

There is no way to really rehearse the planning of your wedding unless you are in or know someone in the business. Many professional wedding vendors whether it be florists, DJ's or photographers just to mention a few, do not mind at all helping you to find the right vendors for you. It is true that some will only share their lists with you after you have contracted their services but there are many like us who believe that what goes around comes around. If you need help in planning your wedding in Orlando, Florida please do not hesitate to contact us. We wish you the most beautiful wedding memories.

Time spent together.

I recently had the opportunity to spend quality time with friends in the business without having to answer a phone or an email for a couple of hours and it is something that I do not do enough of. We get so caught up in the busyness of the day every day and it becomes a habit. Take a moment to tell a friend or family member how much they mean to you. It is healthy for everyone.

Heathrow Country Club

Today I met up with so many great wedding professionals at Heathrow Country Club hosted by Sheila and Linda for the Perfect Wedding Guide monthly luncheon meetup. The food as always was excellent and it was a great 2 hours of vendor networking.

Inauguration Day

Today is inauguration day and we receive our new president. Whether you voted democrat or republican there are two very important things to remember. First, that you exercised your right to vote no matter who you voted for and second, that we should all show support for our new president. We should all be proud to be Americans, support our troops and try to continue improving this country and personally making a positive difference in the lives around us. The economy will no doubt turn around as everything goes through cycles. Life is full of change and how we deal with change is what matters. I think it was Monk who said "I don't mind change, I just don't like being there when it happens". Funny as that may sound we all probably feel that way so today, try to welcome change and look at it in a positive light.

What a day!

It is 9:30 PM and the day is finally winding down. Yes, today was a busy day to say the least. If today is any indication of how 2009 will be it should be a great year. It was one appointment after the other and couples are back into reserving dates in full force. We thank all of you for contacting Abba Photography and placing your trust in us to capture such an important day - your wedding.

Congratulations Joey and Rachel

Last night we had the great pleasure of photographing Joey and Rachel at The Courtyard of Lake Lucerne. It was a little brisk outside but it was still a great time for all. Darrin from Fun Factory DJ's did a fantastic job as he always does. Meiner's Catering provided a beautiful food setup that was described as delicious by the guests in their conversations with each other. All of the guests enjoyed their time from my perspective and this venue certainly provides a great location for an intimate wedding event. The photo ops are endless. The cake provided by Cut The Cake was beautiful and the design was custom to the bride and grooms request.

Year in review

Abba Photography would like to take this opportunity to thank so many of the Orlando and Central Florida venues and wedding vendors for making our working experience a great one. They are as follows: Embassy suites Hotel - Downtown Orlando, Embassy Suites Hotel - Altamonte, Winter Park Raquet Club, Marriott Lake Mary, Courtyard of Lake Lucerne, I.W. Phillips and Dr. Phillips House, Lake Mary Events Center, Altamonte Chapel, St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church of Winter Park, St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church of Maitland, Holy Trinty Greek Orthodox Church, Orlando History Center, Citrus Club, Wyndham Resort on Sand Lake Road, The Palace of Buena Vista, Casa Feliz, Rosen Plaza, Rosen Center, Tuskawilla Country Club, Timacuan Country Club, Leu Gardens, Windermere Country Club, Nativity Catholic Church of Longwood, Longwood Community Building, Mission Inn of Howie in the Hills, Tanner Auditorium, Maison Jardin, Weston Grand Bohemian Hotel - Orlando, Renaissance Hotel Sea World, Disney Wedding Pavilion and Grand Floridian Hotel, Shades of Green, ORLANDO VIDEO ARTISTRY, PRO ONE VIDEO PRODS., TREASURED MOMENTS, REV. JIMMY JOHNSON, DONNAKAY & CASANDRA, REV. KEVIN KNOX, TINA ROBINSON, LINDA CALDERARO, CHRISTINE MACPHAIL, CATHERINE WAY, JEFF SCOTT, HORIZON ENTERTAINMENT, DAZIGNS, INC., CREATIVE ELEGANCE, VINTAGE VINES, SPECIAL TOUCHES BY DEB, CARLY ANES, PEDDLES WEDDING FLOWERS, WHITE ROSE DJ'S, JUNCTION 88 PRODS., FUN FACTORY ENTERTAIN., CRYSTAL LAKE DJ PRODS., MARC BURGESS PRODS.,SILVA ENTERTAINMENT, WEDDINGS ONLY, LEVAN'S CATERING, PUFF 'N STUFF CATERING, JOHN MICHAEL EVENTS, Arthurs Catering, BAKE ME A CAKE, SPRINKLES cakes. The list goes on and we know it is possible your name may have been overlooked here and we apologize if that is the case. We thank you all and look forward to working with you well into the future.

Bride Wars !

Don't let an uncertain economy dash your dreams of a perfect wedding this year. You can still have a wedding ceremony in a smaller more intimate capacity. You can also host smaller gatherings at popular restaurant locations that often offer private rooms for these medium sized gatherings. We have seen this trend in our own travels and it seems to be well received. Why not throw an anniversary party celebration at a later time when finances are better rather than putting the wedding plans on hold. The Secret Garden is our exclusive location that fits this bill perfectly and there are numerous excellent restaurants in the immediate vicinity that would love your business in these unique times. All inclusive packages are available as seen on our web page titled "The Secret Garden". Call 407-617-5622 for details.

New Years Eve Wedding

We had the pleasure of working with Hadley and Brandon on 12/31/08. We captured images of this wonderful couple at the Downtown Orlando Marriott. The ceremony and reception went like clockwork and the reception room was beautifully decorated. The ceremony took place outside on the outdoor terrace overlooking a twilight lit downtown backdrop. The music was provided by Marc Burgess of Marc Burgess Productions which always insures the wedded couple with the finest music and emcee'd event. Rev. Kevin Knox officiated the ceremony with his warm personality. Laura Ball with the Marriott as always took care of every detail of the event.

Happy New Year

Well 2008 was certainly an interesting year in the news. Choosing to look at everything optimistically is certainly a choice and one that makes every day better than the last. We have all experienced growth in some way or another and we look forward to another great year ahead and wish you the same.