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Letter to the editor

Couples' photo finish

The county clerk's offices now offer newlyweds something to frame.

By TIFFANI SHERMAN, Times Correspondent
Published January 2, 2008

Chris Schauer and his bride, Melody, hold hands Friday at the wedding ceremony performed by Deputy Clerk Jill Grote at the county courthouse in Clearwater. They didn't buy a photo.
	[BILL SERNE | Times]

CLEARWATER

Go into a married couple's house and usually at least one photo of the wedding day is in a pretty frame somewhere.

But for people who get married at the county clerk's office, those quality pictures haven't been an option. At least until now.

The four Pinellas county clerk's offices now offer wedding photo services. Using a passport photo camera, new brides and grooms can pay $10 for a 4- by 6-inch photo in a commemorative folder.

"It makes it a little more special, I think," said Edda Zepeda, 57, senior records specialist in the recording department in Clearwater. "We have a nice camera and we do a pretty good job."

The money from the photos goes back into the recording department.

The idea came from an employee who saw the camera equipment and thought it could be used for more than just passport photos. Since the four clerk's offices perform about 1,800 weddings a year, it was a natural.

"The idea is so people have some sort of memento from their wedding," said Ken Burke, clerk of the circuit court. "It's what you would think you'd get from a photography studio when you get a professional picture."

So far, the clerk's office photographers have taken about 30 pictures.

Each office has a different setup for the ceremonies and the photos. Some of the ceremony rooms aren't big enough to get a good photo inside.

"We've taken to doing them outside against a wall," Zepeda said. "It's a posed photo."

Getting a license only takes a few minutes, and the ceremony can be even shorter.

"We try to make it as nice for them as we can," Zepeda said, and having a photo sometimes makes all the difference. Some of the weddings are planned in advance but others are last-minute and the couple and witnesses often forget a camera.

"They don't want to give up their parking space and leave (to get a camera)," she said. "It's a very good, convenient thing."

The ceremonies themselves bring energy to the employees at the four offices. They've all helped decorate the wedding rooms and now act as photographers.

"It has helped give a little warmth to the ceremonies," Burke said. "We try to put a real human face on the clerk's office."

Fast Facts

It's a snap

Wedding photos are available at the clerk's office recording services department locations: Clearwater Courthouse, 315 Court St., Room 150, Clearwater; North County Branch, 29582 U.S. 19 N., Clearwater; Tyrone Branch, 1800 66th St. N., St. Petersburg; and St. Petersburg Branch, 545 First Ave. N.

- For more information, call (727) 464-4876.

- Photos are $10 for one 4- by 6-inch print.

[Last modified January 2, 2008, 07:24:59]