Had the chance to work with Kelly over the past month, getting him some headshots for his acting career. Kelly is in middle school, and yeah, he has an acting career. Right now, he’s playing Mark in Rent. I am not the theater type and even I know that’s a big deal. Really cool stuff.

We shot a couple of different looks, trying some studio sets first and deciding they weren’t right for him, so we ventured outside and did a re-shoot at a local church. Surprising choice of locations? Not really – the church had all sorts of great, shaded areas, filled with different colors and textures, and we were able to make several different setups all within a few steps of each other.

As a photographer, it’s always great to work with someone who is used to being the center of attention. Kelly is used to people watching him, so being on front of the camera wasn’t as nerve-racking for him. He played it cool and we got some great shots.

His favorite photo is at the printer’s right now. He needed 8x10s on heavier paper stock, which is something that the photo labs I use don’t offer. (Not sure why…) But we were able to find a local print shop that was able to handle it, and in another day or two I’ll be able to pickup the finished prints and deliver them. Which is always a great moment, seeing the full circle of a gig, from shooting to prints!

Here’s one last photo. Although we were shooting headshots, I grabbed a full-length portrait at one point, just because he looked good. It didn’t make the final cut for printing, but I still like it.

Nick is a freshman Wildlife Management major. He’s also an avid rock climber, a competition archer, and an all-around nature lover who is definitely at home in the outdoors. He can start a fire and setup a tent and, I think, knows something about hatchet throwing. Without a doubt the sort of guy you want along on your next camping trip. He’s also my brother, which is probably the only reason that he agreed to don his coonskin cap, grab his bow, and trek out into the woods for a portrait shoot.

Like most guys, Nick isn’t wild about having his picture taken. We’ve worked together a few times before, for his senior portraits and some sports/band shots. It’s one of the perks of having a photographer in the family; the photos experience was more fun for him, and mom got off cheap! But even so, there was always mom in the background. She’s the client because she’s (in theory at least) the one paying for the session, and therefore calling the shots.

This time was different. I wanted the photos for a personal project, but also for the sheer coolness factor of what I had in mind. Which was great, because it meant that there was no one to answer to; so long as Nick and I were both having fun, the shoot was a success, and he was free to just be himself. No traditional poses, no collar shirts – just him in the woods with his gear, looking badass.

So that’s exactly what we did. And it was a LOT of fun! We drove up to Lefferts Pond and hiked about twenty feet into the woods, with Nick on one side of a frozen creek and me and the lights on the other. And I made photos while Nick stalked imaginary game through the woods and shot arrows into the ice in, you know, my general direction. (NOT something I’d agree to with most models!) The we switched sides and let Nick climb up onto a rock, while I shot from below.

Totally badass stuff, and nobody was there telling him to smile, or look at the camera. I let him do his thing because he’s the wilderness guy, he knows how he should look. And the photos came out great because of it. I’ve got some awesome portfolio shots, Nick has some very cool portraits for Facebook, and mom has prints on order to frame and hang at home. Can’t beat that!

In addition to the country look, we rocked a few glamour style shots as well.  This was a bit of an experiment for both of us, but definitely shows potential.

Kristen is an artist and an equestrian, the quiet one in the family who every now and then cuts loose with a real zinger.  When she asked about senior portraits, I was psyched, and immediately thought of having her a field in her prom dress near sunset.  It’s the perfect look for her, and she rocked it for the camera.

Then she took it a step further and asked if we could include her horse, Si, in some of the shots.  I’d never worked with horses before, but it’s such an important part of her life, and such a cool idea, that my answer was: absolutely!

We’re shooting part two of her session on Saturday – different look, but just as cool.
More to come!

Lauren, who worked with me on some cheerleading photos on a very cold and windy day last spring, is back in front of the camera, this time for her senior portraits! This is part one of a two for Lauren, and we started by hitting up one of the nearby parks for some shots near the waterfalls, before moving up to the lakeside to finish.

We had a great shoot and were able to branch out and try a few different ideas, like the jumping shots. We’d tried something similar back in the spring; it hadn’t worked out then, but it definitely did this time. So well, in fact, that we got her older sister, Devon, into the shots as well.

As much as I’d like to claim full-credit for the car shots, the idea was really Lauren’s. She’s in love with her little Kia, and after she told me about it, we knew we had to find a way to work it in. Putting them both on the lakeside with some edgy lighting made for a pretty badass shot, especially with Lauren showing some attitude!

We’ll be shooting part two in another week or so, once the autumn colors pick up a little. Be sure to check back soon!

Jesse has been my best friend since Kindergarten. We grew up together, learned to drive together, got ready for Proms together, and although we eventually went to college in different states, we’ve remained close in the years since leaving home. Now Jess has made the big leap and gotten married to Allison, who is simply wonderful and compliments him perfectly.

His wedding was a dual honor for me – not only was I able to serve as a groomsman and hand him the rings while he made his vows, but I was able to photograph the reception afterwards for him. (I offered to cover the whole wedding, but we decided that it would be difficult for me to be at the alter with him, and taking photos at the same time!)

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Allison’s family hosted the reception outdoors at their home, and it was noting short of stunning. A great crowd of guests, a delicious dinner, and dancing long into the night – I can only hope that when I get married someday, my own reception is as much of a success as theirs.

Seeing the two of them together on their wedding day, there’s no doubt in my mind that they’re going to have a long, happy marriage together. Jesse and Allison, all of my best to you!

Sara is a real joy to work with, full of energy and enthusiasm (not to mention a bit of impishness). While we had a few ideas in mind, such as the bubble shot above, we were mostly taking opportunities as they came, working with the light and the setting as it changed. The last few hours of daylight are the most dynamic from a photography perspective, and it can be difficult to keep up, conditions changing minute by minute. But it’s hands-down the best time to be making portraits.

Aside from the change of seasons, we switched up the photographic technique for this shoot and left the strobes at home, using only natural light. It’s a technique I sometimes like to use; while the lack of strobe light does limit some options, it also lets us emphasize the natural lighting and scenery. It also lets us travel light and cover more ground during a shoot, which can be a big plus.

There’s a lot of summer left and you can definitely expect to see more of Sara – I’ve got a couple of neat ideas in the work, it’s just a matter of finding the right day, the right weather, and making them happen!

And really that’s how it all started – the annual bar-b-que at a friend’s house, burgers on the grill, lounge chairs on the lawn, and ice cream for dessert.  It sounds like the perfect way to spend a sunny, summer afternoon.  And it was.  So where’s the mayhem?

The annual water gun fight!  Over the past few years we’ve collected an arsenal of water guns, everything from dollar store shooters to classic Super Soakers.  Armed to the teeth, the front lawn suddenly looks like Dodge City on a Friday night, to borrow the old Western comparison.

These are the moments that really shine in photos.  No one pays any attention to the photographer; they’re too busy running, dodging water shots, firing back.  The emotions are genuine, the fun is real, and from my perspective, it’s a blast.

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Of course it was a party, so I couldn’t spend all my time behind the lens.  There aren’t any photos after I joined in; there was no one left to take them.  I got as well as I gave.  We were all nearly drenched when we finished.  It was the perfect end to a great afternoon.