Central Florida Weld and Fab

Jake Gingerich, the owner of this company and I go back to our middle school days...you know, those super awkward years. Though we were not in any classes together that I can recall, I knew of him because he was the new kid one year. Fast forward a couple years after graduation and he becomes engaged to Amanda Oliver, a fellow alumni that I loved hanging out with in class and knew since elementary school.

(Amanda and I at our junior prom in 2003)

In 2008, Jake and Amanda gave me the privilege of documenting their engagement photos and wedding day. They had a beautiful winter wedding, which wasn't as common in our Buffalo area at the time that we all lived in. Shortly after, they move to Florida. During one of our first trips there, my husband and I visited with them. My point here is that we have a long history. ;)

Fast forward again to 2022 and I now reside in Florida with my family about 45 minutes from Jake and Amanda. There is something soothing about spending time with people that you've known for over twenty years and with Amanda, over thirty (eek, we're old!). To all be hanging out in a different state well over a thousand miles from where we all grew up makes it even more so. We love talking about our Akron years and life in Florida as opposed to New York.

When Jake and Amanda heard that I was unexpectedly hired to do corporate photography work in our hometown and how well it had gone, they asked if I would be willing to come get some photos at the company that Jake recently took over in Orange City, Florida. They were immensely blessed with a big job and wanted to get some of it's progress documented. The plan is to return when it is complete and to get a cool photo of everyone in front of their largest project, too!

I love how God has been providing photography opportunities that allow me to still homeschool my boys. There have been times, like this one, where they have joined me on jobs and even got behind the camera to get a few shots. It's like on the job training and they don't even realize it yet. Eating $1.00 tacos afterwards to discuss how everything went and to be rewarded for handling themselves well, was also memorable for them.

(Photo of man holding pipe by Devin our eight year old and the still photo of the different metals by Liam, our twelve year old.)

I was so grateful to be hired to do another job in Florida. Doing photography work in Western New York is far easier because I had spent sixteen years photographing. I am a firm believer in word of mouth advertising. To me, it is worth whatever time it takes for people's positive experiences with me to spread in Central Florida.

It never occurred to me that this crossover of Jake and Amanda from Western New York hiring me in Central Florida is part of what is needed to help build my photography reputation here. Of course God thought of it and in His perfect timing, arranged it. Waiting on Him to move and work can be challenging, but I have learned in my thirty plus year relationship with Him that He can be trusted.

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

Ephesians 3:20-21