This Florida vacation had the coldest Florida weather I have ever experienced in my life! My husband and I woke up at 8:00 am to head to Bowditch Point Park for a photoshoot with our new, soon-to-be friends, Luis and Juliet. It was 45 degrees! Although it was cold, it was still warmer than our hometown of Traverse City, Michigan during this time of year. There was sunshine and we were going to the beach, so no complaints over here!
Once our Uber driver finally found us, we were on our way! During this drive, we saw a lot of damage that Hurricane Ian had left. Usually when we go to Fort Myers, we stay on Estero Island. The last time we were here was February 2022. Hurricane Ian struck September 2022. Seeing all that was destroyed on TV is heartbreaking, seeing it in person is absolutely devastating. Estero Island looks very different now, but it is obvious the community has come together, and they are supporting each other as they rebuild their homes, stores, and favorite restaurants. Below you can see the difference between February 2022 vs. January 2024.
A photoshoot swap
Since Luis owns LionStar Photography in Fort Myers, Florida, we thought it would be fun to do a photoshoot swap. After my husband and I were done with our session, it was my turn to document this cold, sunny morning with Luis and his wife, Juliet.
Luis and Juliet are extremely fun-loving, adventurous, and sweet together. Their energy matches and it is obvious how comfortable they are together, and how in love they are. A couple like this makes for such a joyful session!
Sunshine and football
It warmed up around noon and we walked to La Ola Surfside Restaurant for some lunch and rum runners by the beach. After the hurricane, the only thing left of La Ola was the elevator shaft. It stands tall, while the re-created restaurant is still buzzing around it. There was live music by Stephen Clark. Stephen Clark is a retired TV journalist and news anchor from the Metro-Detroit area, where I grew up! Such a small world! He sang like Kenny Chesney and rocked his Lion’s attire. The rest of the day consisted of enjoying the sunshine, getting ready to watch the Lions game, watching the Lions game, and freaking out the rest of the night because the Lions beat the Rams! It was a wonderful Sunday!
