We Can't Forget! Each Memorial Day and Veterans Day is more poignant to me as I get older. The world seems more complex and dangerous than ever before. Can you say you have a friend that would give the ultimate gift to you in a life and death situation.. someone that would willingly lay down his life for you? I can say maybe one or two possibly.Yet our soldiers do just that every day all … [Read more...]
About Improvising
When you have to figure out a way to make it work.Our group of six just returned after five intensive days in Haiti. While it's good to be back, part of me wishes I could stay to do more. Resources are few and needs are many.On our last night Melissa, one of the volunteers, asked me if I could shoot a portrait of her and Owens, a local boy who she has known and gotten close to over the years of … [Read more...]
Leaving for Haiti
It's almost 2:00 a.m. All showered and ready to go. My flight leaves at 6:00 a.m. With the news about the backups at TSA figured on getting there three hours ahead of time. I will be back on Sunday night. During my trip I hope that I can use my gift of photography to serve the people by documenting their needs, hopes for some better life, and of course see how they can influence some others in the … [Read more...]
Are You Attractive Enough For A Professional Portrait?
What do you think? Of course this is a silly question. But what's not so silly is this is that time and time again parents tell me they don't want to be in a portrait because of the way they look. "I need to lose 20 lbs. before I'd be in a photo" is a more typical response than you might think. Many people would give a lot now to have professional portraits of their parents, but it's too late. … [Read more...]
Goodbye Awards
As we go through life, a lot of things change. Not just our physical looks, but our attitudes about life and what is important. When I got started in this business, I belonged to several professional organizations. These organizations set certain standards; and one of them was to create our best work and compete with other photographers both locally and nationally. This was really fun for me … [Read more...]
Photo Enhancements: A Game Changer
When we consider retouching on a photograph, I see it differently that most clients and even other photographers. It's one of the things that separates me from the rest, good or bad. I was in conversation with another photographer from a different state recently. Looking on her website I noticed that her portraits looked a bit unfinished. Yes, the zits were gone, but other than that I could not … [Read more...]
Smiles Or No Smiles… What’s Better
The short answer is that one is not better than the other. Smiles are expected. No smiles are not. It just depends on what you want to say in the portrait. In a family group I think smiles are important otherwise people can look unfriendly or unhappy. However, if I'm going for a little attitude in that portrait I'll definitely go for NO smiles. The non-smiling portraits in these examples won … [Read more...]
How Digital Photography Has Changed What We Do… The Pros and Cons
In 2001 I told my partner Savannah that I think this digital thing is going to catch on. The time also coincided when the doctor report came back and found unsafe amounts of silver in my blood. The 20 plus years of printing black and white photographs had caught up with me. From that point on, the world as I knew it turned upside down. Some photographers didn't want to make the switch to … [Read more...]
In The Most Beautiful Homes
How to transform any house into a beautiful home "In the most beautiful homes" refers to the beauty a well designed and planned portrait can deliver. This portrait of the three kids helps to pull the room together in an emotional and personal way in which another piece of art might not be able to do. It helps make their house a home. … [Read more...]
Charity Endeavors
Efforts in Africa I feel my best use of personal resources is to tell the story in photographs that motivate others to help the cause. See the compelling photographs in this gallery.Big LifeWhile it would be difficult to personally be involved, this is an effort near and dear to my heart.Below are the organizations we work with along with a link to their website. Hands of HopeQuest … [Read more...]