The Art of Life

Interview With a Photographer

2011-11-19T16:55:00.004-07:00

How pathetic that it has been over a year since I have posted on this blog. I guess I have been a little busy in shifting my business around this past year. I have climbed a few more mountains (literally and figuratively) ran a half-marathon (I think next year I will try a full, I seem to get crazier as I get older) had some back-to-back marathon weddings and traveled from Portland, Oregon to Portland, Maine this past summer (seriously).

I was emailed this week from a junior high school student who I photographed years ago with her mother. Brianna shared with me her love for photography and her desire to explore this art as a career. In a paper she has to write for class, she asked me a list of questions that I thought would make an excellent blog post.

The answers on some level reveal why I have been so negligent over here on the blog...enjoy.

1. Is Apex Images your personal business, did you found it?

Yes, it is listed as a sole proprietorship.

2. How long has it been in business?

I registered the trade name with the state of Colorado back in 1997

3. How many people work there altogether?

Myself and two contract assistants when I need them. My second shooter Scott has been with Apex Images since he was a senior in high school. So the process you are you are doing right now is a good start!

4. What did you do after high school? What did you major in?

After high school I went to a trade school for Fashion Design and became a certified pattern maker. I loved everything fashion and tried really hard to make it in that industry. Unfortunately, Colorado did not and still struggles to keep up with the fashion industry and at the time it was very difficult for Denverites to understand couture. The internet was not really an everyday experience yet. I do think having the internet available today brings the rest of the world to us and now there is a better understanding of the industry. It was photographing my clothing designs that led me to really uncover that I loved photography. And now I am currently in school finishing up a degree in Graphic Design and will be graduating in December.

5. How has your past influenced your present? (Professional photography, business, experience)

Wow, this is a good question. Your past always influences your present, especially when it comes to learning. I have always loved art, as an expression, as a vocabulary, as a voice; however, my view of art when I was younger was uneducated and unrefined and I do think that limited knowledge gives you a limited pallet to choose from. On the same hand it also gives you the freedom to explore and learn from trial and error, which is exactly how I started off in photography...trial and error and a whole lot of film.

I have been photographing people and weddings for over 20 years. I can look at images I took 20 years ago and see how certain aspects of my craft are dated...this influences how I shoot now. I use very little 'actions' and very little Photoshop, I want a classic, never-go-out-of-style, thought provoking composition, correctly exposed image. And I want that image to stand the test of time. If you study the early masters of photography, their images are timeless; just as beautiful today as when they were taken.

Business is a whole other animal. Looking back I see so many mistakes I have made as a business owner. Photography, the actual time spent behind the lens of the camera, is about 10% of the job. I went into business thinking I was going to be taking pictures all the time and it was a huge wake up call when that did not happen. When I left Macy's 6 years ago to pursue photography as a business full-time, I was not prepared. That is always my advice for those pursuing any career in the arts...understand the business side of your chosen medium, and if you don't, hire someone who does and listen to them. The art is such a small part of the business.

6. Do you have an additional occupation?

I have been starting work in the Graphic Design Field and I am shifting my photography into a more commercial direction. As I mentioned I am almost finished with my degree and want to be able to use my photography experience and mix it with graphic design.

7. How would an average day at work look for you?

I don't know that I have an average day and maybe this lack of structure is what led to me rethink my business...who knows, but I would describe them as hectic. People have a misunderstanding of self-employment if they have not experienced it for themselves, there is an assumption that you 'have the day off' or that 'you are not really working and have time to take care of ________"(fill in the blank). It is really quite the contrary, yes, I can take a day off in the middle of the week if I plan ahead...that is nice, but what is really there is, books need balancing, marketing plans need developing, customers need communication, website/blogs need maintaining, looking for new customers....and the list goes on. Most companies have separate departments for all of those tasks, but when you are a very small business owner, you do not have the funding for such overhead...you have to fill all of those shoes. During wedding season, I had days where I would work 15 hour days...till 2 or 3 in the morning.

8. How does the process work (booking a shoot, choosing location, charging it, etc)?

Most of the clients who call me for the first time are referrals from other clients so they have some kind of understanding of the process. I first have a phone interview with them and find out what kind of photography they are needing ie. wedding, maternity, senior pictures, corporate headshots, etc.. Once that is determined, we determine if the session is outdoors or indoors. I try to have them as involved in this process as possible, it allows them to design their session and 'buy' into the process. The more questions I ask the better the session goes, you have to know your clients in order to get the best image with the most personality.

I have many places that I like to photograph at in the Denver metro area and I am always on the lookout for new ones as well. As a photographer, I am always looking at everything through the lens of a camera and will 'see' locations. I always carry a sketch pad with me to write down locations that I see and have a file of places that I want to shoot. If I see a place that might be a bit too avant-guarde for a new client, I will have a 'model play session day' and test it out the location.

9. What are your prices?

This can be a touchy subject for photographers, I think I am in the lower middle range of pricing. If you price your self too low, you look inexperienced and it is impossible to make a living. Price yourself too high with out proper market research and you could price yourself right out of work. It is a balancing act. This is where some business acumen really helps. You have to determine who your target market is, what your level of experience is and price accordingly.

I had a business coach who broke everything down for me and gave me a wake up call to pricing. It is also one of the most misunderstood values, as you will start to see.

$3000 for a wedding to some people is expensive but after pricing out all of my expenses related to a typical wedding I would make $4.30 an hour! That is below minimum wage and way below poverty level. You have to start at $5000 for a wedding in order to start making a living as a wedding photographer. Mid-level consumers in general, are very much in-the-dark about photography prices. From JC Penny's to Craigslist, there are so many options for cheap photography now that there can be a misunderstanding of what a professional charges. We have to pay for insurance, marketing, web, equipment and computers, and don't forget self employment taxes and a plethora of other expenses. Most nonprofessional/hobbyists do not have those expenses and it becomes a problem when something goes wrong for the client who hired the nonprofessional, they have no recourse. These are just some of issues that have to be considered when establishing prices.

10. What is the most rewarding aspect of this job?

Being creative, having a client trust that you are the artist and allow you to work magic. I have had so many moments when a new mom sees the pictures from their newborn session and begins to cry, you cannot help being overjoyed with what you have created for them...a lifelong memory that will continue to have value for generations.

A while back I had a client contact me that her father had died and that her favorite picture of her and her father was an image I took at her wedding. I sent her the digital file so they could enlarge that image for the funeral. There are many moments like these that I am reminded of how powerful the medium of photography is and there is comfort in knowing that this art/medium will never go away.

11. What would you recommend to aspiring photographers?

1. Learn film first. All the young, sorry :) creatives who are entering into photography do not understand the value of learning film first before moving onto digital. Learning to properly expose an image is the most valuable tool in photography. I see far too many aspiring photographers who use photoshop as their 'coverup' for not understanding exposure or using 'actions' because they do not have a deeper understanding of photography and how much of that post-production work could be accomplished in the camera.

2. Work with a professional, assist, carry gear, whatever it takes. I especially recommend doing this before spending a lot of money on gear or choosing this as your major. I have had many aspiring photographers tag along on sessions or weddings to get a feel for the profession. Most do not choose weddings, they have a hard time making it through the reception. Many do not realize how physical the job is. My average wedding client pays me for 8 hours of coverage...some weddings last 10+ hours. Standing on your feet, running from here to there always with gear in your hands, strapped around your waist, around your neck, etc. In addition you have to be ready at all times for THE shot and if you are good, there are many more than just that one, so you are always on your toes having to pay attention. On the portrait side of the business, many do not realize how difficult it is to get a two year old to 'sit still and smile for the camera.'

3. Be yourself and be confident. Find your own creative voice and take pictures that no one else is taking. Do not be afraid to take risks when creating an image. Know that when you have something great, someone will copy you; do not get angry, be flattered and raise your bar.

Grays Peak

2010-06-20T22:57:00.009-06:00

So I finally got perfect weather on Saturday for the hike I have been planning for awhile. My first 14er, Grays Peak. I went with My son Zachary, his friend Brandon and a friend of mine Mark accompanied by his dog Konig. Zachary's friend Brandon has done over 20 of Colorado's 54 peaks and it is his goal to climb every one by the time he turns 21! Pretty inspiring.

We started off at a little past 6:00 a.m. Zachary and Brandon took off and were clearly going to be at a pace way beyond my ability to keep up with them. Luckily Mr. Marathon aka Mark agreed to patiently hang with Ms. Slow Poke aka me. Given Mark's athletic abilities, I am sure that was somewhat painful :) About half way up, Konig slipped and injured his back hind paw and Mark had to take him back to the truck. I must at this point mention that Konig is part wolf...a hell of a dog! Mark encouraged me to keep going and reach the peak. So I climbed the rest of it on my own; however, this mountain was loaded with other hikers, and I met many friendly people along the way.
I finally made it to the top, and was greeted by my son and his friend who said that they had been waiting almost an hour...wow, really? Well this was my first, I will work on the pacing and try another in July :) The view from the top is remarkable and the sky was so blue! Oh yeah, did I mention a Corgie (a little stumpy dog) greeted me at the peak too? How the hell did that dog make it up?

On my way back down, maybe 1/4 of the way down...there is Mark! Are you kidding me...this guy took the dog back to the car and hiked back up again! Wow! He did not go up to the top, but he most certainly hiked just as far (actually longer!) as the rest of us.

Here are a few of the images that I took, keep in mind I only brought the little POS camera with me :)This was the image I saw arriving in the morning ( I was silently thinking I might be out of my mind at this point)

This is Mark with Konig at the beginning of the trail. At this point I am thinking, "No problem, I can do this!" So optimistic at this point...

There was still quite a bit of snow up there. This guy really has my kind of thinking for the way down. Skis!!

This was the toughest part for me...it kicked my butt! If I had any doubts along the way...this is where I had them.

Here is all three of us at the top

This is my favorite image, Zachary and I at the top. I can not wait to do this again in July!

Dr. Richard Warner

2010-06-18T16:26:00.007-06:00

A few weeks ago I was in New York to visit Dr. Richard Warner and photograph him in his office with a few of his patients. The Carcinoid Cancer Foundation hired me to take some images for the new website they are about to launch as well as some of their literature. I also had the experience of flying to New Hampshire in his plane! Yup, 82 years old and not only is he still practicing medicine but he is still flying planes!! How awesome is that?! And yes, as usual, I was a complete wreck...well maybe not all that bad.Take a look at their web site, learn more about carcinoid, and donate to a great foundation!
http://www.carcinoid.org/
Here are a few of the images from the session...

New Art

2010-03-22T10:33:00.008-06:00

I have been very busy with all the portrait work that I spend little time over here. I am thinking I just might turn this blog into the art blog :)

Well it is spring break and I like to have a break to shoot just for me, the artsy stuff that I really love. This past weekend I was in Canon City with some friends and had the opportunity to photograph this terrific building. Kevin, a friend of mine owns a hotel building that was built in the late 1800's and he is in the process of restoring the upper floors into apartments. I did not photograph the rooms that he has restored (shame on me, because he does beautiful work and the rooms are are just beautiful) but when I saw these other rooms a few weeks back, I had to ask if I could come down and shoot inside the building. I spent time photographing with medium format slide film and I am very anxious to get those back. But here is a start to the series that I am working on (these ones are with the digital camera)I will add more as this little series progresses...

Red Velvet Chair Sessions

2009-10-01T23:01:00.004-06:00

Wow, I guess I have been a little busy over in the www.droolphoto.com side of my world! I have not written a post here since June! I guess you could say the kids keep me busy!

Read more about our 2009 holiday portrait special on the drool blog http://droolphoto.wordpress.com/
(Unfortunately the images here can not get any bigger than this.)

Give us a call to set up your appointment, they are limited and this Saturday is already booked!

303.880.8481
or
303.960.3690

Energy Release Sessions

2009-06-25T23:45:00.008-06:00

Thursday I was the lucky recipient of an energy release session. I had not been aware of this type of work until I met Kai, a few years ago. I met up with Kai to take some pictures for her website, which turned out so nice! All the rain that we have had over the last month has made for some very green backgrounds! As a matter of fact some of these images are taken on the edge of a parking lot! Amazing what you can find! Also to note: it was in Boulder, dare you to find a bad place in Boulder!
OK, I digress, back to the energy release sessions. Check out Kai's website at www.wellbeingalignment.com for more information on this process, I highly recommend it!

David & Adriana's Wedding

2009-03-28T12:40:00.011-06:00

What a crazy last few days it has been! I photographed a beautiful wedding in Vail yesterday. Getting there was a whole other story. We had already planned on staying in Vail on Thursday night because we knew how Colorado's weather can be so unpredictable in March. Scott and I started at 11 a.m. with what I wanted to be a quick stop downtown and then up the mountain. Hahaha...We were going nowhere fast! Here is a great shot by my co-pilot Scott while we were sitting on the 6th Ave. ramp to get on to I-70....as you can see, if you had a 2wheel drive, you were not going to make it.

Once we got past all the craziness in Denver, the mountains were not to bad, we even made it up in time for the rehearsal.

David and Adriana were in great spirits and Thursday was a beautiful sunny day, perfect for their wedding. Here are a few of the images we captured...

I love this funny moment with Adriana and her bridesmaids..

How cool are the Uggs!?! I thought thease were so great. I am sure the girls thought they were nice too!

This is such a sweet moment with her Dad...
Here a few of Scott's images...turining into a great second shooter. He photographed all of the guys images for this wedding.

Look at those gorgeous blue skies!

A few of Scott's images of the couple

I love this shot of the rings...

A moment during their first dance...

Scott's great shot of the Donovan Pavilion..

Thank you David and Adriana for choosing Apex Images for your wedding photography...you guys were so much fun and such a beautiful couple. I can not wait to share the rest with you both.
Thanks Scott, for bare knuckling the drive with me and for all your hard work! Your images are getting so good and I am honored to have you second shooting with me!

Carl, Marvinna & Gabriel

2009-02-23T10:40:00.010-07:00

My Saturday afternoon session was so much fun! This was a multi-purpose session. Engagement images, family images, child session, and business portraits all in one. Carl is also a photographer, he owns Line of Sight Photography in Westminster. As photographers, we never have images of ourselves included in the family portraits, or images of us for business purposes, so we decided to do a trade. I chickened out. Not really, I was unable to get my two boys together and I really want a picture with them both. So we concentrated on Carl and his fiancee Marvinna and their son Gabe.
Gabe is full of energy and so adorable, I could have followed him around everywhere and photographed him all day...check him out below and you will see what I mean. The fact that he wanted me to hold his hand on the walk back to the car totaly warmed my heart...awww.
Carl and Marvinna are getting married this November in Napa Valley, California so we did a few pictures of them together alone...to use for engagement pictures. They are so cute together, Marvinna has this electric smile that lights up an entire room and puts everyone at ease. She is going to be a fun bride to photograph...I can not wait!!
We ended the session with images of Carl alone for his website and various other business stuff. I realized that we as photographers are a tougher breed to photograph. First, there is a bit of added pressure for the one taking the picture to create a great image. Second, we are our own worst critique when it comes to pictures of ourselves. Third, we are so used to being on the other side of the camera that we just freeze when we are in front of the lens. Carl, however did a super job and made me feel right at ease taking his picture..and I think we got some real good ones!

Danielle & Travis

2009-02-21T18:06:00.007-07:00

This morning I headed off to Morrison to photograph a maternity session with Danielle and her husband Travis. Danielle's parents joined us for the session, complete with video camera and all. Can you blame them?! This is the first grand baby and Danielle is an only child. Can you say "spoiled baby" :) These guys almost had me in tears...it was so sweet. There is no question that this is going to be one lucky baby...so much love around!
Danielle and Travis have these incredible and infectious smiles...very photogenic! Take a look...

Jennifer The Brave!

2009-02-20T20:57:00.008-07:00

As an artist, I imagine and create ideas in my head all the time. This is exactly what I did while driving on highway 93 from Boulder to Littleton, a route that I drive every Wednesday to pick up my son Zach. Eventually there is a sign along that stretch that reads, "gusty winds likely" and I know that every time I have driven along that road, it has been windy. The first time I passed it, I thought it was a beautiful and scenic spot. The second time passing, I recalled that it was windy just like the time before. Alas, the third time, the idea struck me. How pretty it would look to photograph a woman wrapped in sheer material standing there with the wind whipping the fabric into a frenzy...how about a maternity session!
Brilliant idea. Now, how do I get a pregnant woman half dressed to stand in the freezing cold wind in the middle of February? That is where Jennifer comes in...I told her about this idea and she volunteered to brave the weather conditions.
I normally do not want to fight the wind for portraits, but the wind was an essential part for today's shoot. But this kind of wind???? Were we crazy? There were wind gusts of up to 81 mph recorded today in Boulder.

And that is why Jennifer has earned the name 'Jennifer the Brave'

I might add she is a beautiful subject to photograph, and the idea was exactly how I envisioned it...gotta love it when an idea comes together!

Thanks Jennifer...you truly were a trooper out there! I was freezing and I had a coat on!! Can't wait to meet the little one!

London

2009-02-02T22:32:00.000-07:00

Saturday morning I photographed London's six month session. London is more adorable every time I see her if that is even possible. Nicole (London's mom) makes these flower bands and hats that are to die for cute. London is wearing a few of these in the images and they just photograph so well, I love them!

This is Korry getting the smiles from his 6 month old!
And here is an impromptu image of everyone except Maybelline the chihuahua who was to afraid to be in front of the camera

Congratulations!

2009-01-28T13:49:00.000-07:00

I have to shout quick congratulations to my friends Vynnette and Rick who just had their little baby boy Tyler James Peevy who was born this morning at 11:28 and weighed 6 lbs 13 oz. Congratulations, I am so happy for you both and I can not wait to meet him!

Little Adam

2009-01-28T13:19:00.000-07:00

It has only been 3 months since I photographed Adam but he has grown so much in that time. It always surprises me to see how quickly they develop new facial expressions. One of my favorite ages to photograph is this 6 month stage because you really get to see their personalities in the images. I had to put a little panoramic facial expressions picture together to show just how expressive Adam is. He is so adorable...

This is image makes me laugh...he was so finished at the end, he made sure to let me know!

Vynnette's Maternity Session

2009-01-14T12:31:00.000-07:00

Monday afternoon I got to photograph Vynnette's belly :)

This was a treat for me as Vynnette and I have been friends for a long time. Her husband Rick remodeled their spare room into a nursery that I thought was so cute and fun for a little boy. Congratulations you two, I can't wait to see the little guy!

Mrs. Tiffany Kassab

2009-01-11T02:43:00.000-07:00

Tiffany knew when I photographed her wedding back in November that she wanted to do a 'Day After' session. As these are some of my favorite sessions, there was no hesitation on my part. We decided to wait till after the holidays for her session. We spent our day up in Boulder and froze our butts off! It was very windy and cold, but we made the most of it. We did have great light and it made for some pretty spectacular images...

Here she is taking a moment to warm up.

Tiffany, I had great fun yesterday, thanks for such a great attitude! If you decide to change career paths, I think you have a good shot at modeling...you look spectacular in these images!

David & Adriana

2009-01-05T11:01:00.000-07:00

What a great way to start off the new year! I met up with David and Adriana on Sunday afternoon for their engagement pictures. They are getting married this March in Vail so we thought snow and cold temperatures would be great practice. Even with cold temperatures we had a good time and found some fun areas to for them to photograph at. As you can see, they are a beautiful couple, they made my job way too easy!

Thanksgiving

2008-11-27T23:00:00.000-07:00

With a very full belly (VERY full) I am sitting down to blog my thanks to those who made this year possible.

To all that chose and trusted me to their precious memories this year, a very deep and heart felt thanks. With out you there would be no Apex Images and for that I am truly thankful.

To my children whom are so patient with all my work, I love you and I am thankful for your presence in my life.

To my love and my friend, Keith, you truly are the light that helps guide my way, thank you.

And as always, Ande. There really are no words that can express my gratitude. I will always remain in debt to your greatness and generosity, many thanks.

Happy Thanksgiving All!

Diane

Kailey

2008-11-22T16:22:00.000-07:00

Friday afternoon I photographed Kailey the granddaughter of friends of mine John & Anet. I photographed her in the hopes of being able to use some of her images for a project that I am working on right now. After spending only 1/2 hour with her, I now have way too many to choose from...look how cute she is. An infectious smile and eyes so blue!

Here is Anet enjoying some time with her granddaughter.

Osama & Tiffany 11.15.08

2008-11-19T00:16:00.001-07:00

I had the honor this past weekend of photographing Tiffany and Osama's wedding at the Westin downtown. Wow. Wow is an understatement to this incredible affair. A beautiful multi-cultural affair complete with belly dancers...which were so much fun to photograph as well as watch! Check out some of these incredible photos!

This is the first wedding where I had Scott photograph the groom and his guys on his own, I would have to say GREAT job Scott, looking slick!

This was a funny shot that Scott took of me trying to get the attention of 5, yes 5, ring bearers and 3 flower girls.

They are so cute!!

Fun group shot at night!

Thanks for everything Sam and Tiffany, you were such a treat to work with and I can't wait to show you the rest!

Coming Soon...

2008-11-16T18:40:00.000-07:00

I can't wait to share with everyone what I have been working on lately!
Keep checking back...

Dress Redeux - Andrea

2008-11-03T11:56:00.000-07:00

I am a big advocate of these day after sessions, why, you ask? Because you get all the time in the world to play around with ideas and lighting, so the images are just to die for...check out some of these images of Andrea, just stunning!

What is so great about these sessions is that there is no pressure to hurry up and you can go anywhere, as you can see in some of these images we are in an alley. It is also very rewarding to hear her saying...'oh my, I can't believe that is me...they look like they should be in a magazine'

Thanks Andrea...that session was so much fun, it could have been almost illegal :)

Adam at 3 Months

2008-11-03T11:47:00.000-07:00

We did Adam's 3 month old session last week, boy is he getting big. I am surprised by how much hair he still has...he is just adorable. I also have to credit him with a huge business choice I have been contemplating lately, which I will tell you about soon...so stay tuned! In the meantime check out these sweet images of Adam.

Maybe not the best technical picture...but he was almost laughing which makes it really cute to me :)

Baby London

2008-10-11T15:48:00.001-06:00

I am pretty certain that no one has a better job than me. I guess that sounds pretty biased, but wait till you see these pictures of London. There is no feeling more rewarding to me than to look through the viewfinder and see this little bundle so small, so cute, so innocent and just so perfect in every way.
You would not have guessed that today was our first really cold rainy day of fall, you see London and your heart just gets warm all over and you forget all about outside.

Congratulations Nicole and Korry, she is absolutely gorgeous!

Dr. Halima Bashir

2008-10-01T22:09:00.000-06:00

For those of you who read this blog on occasion ( I really would not know who that is except clients) and for those of you who know me very well, know that I am the 'skeptic' of the bunch. This is really a trait that has been handed down in the gene pool, what can I say. This leads me to something that I just need to share with anyone who is willing to read for a moment. You will always know me for being the friend who does not forward the chain letters via email or for bugging everyone with a must do. But this is a must do....

I just finished reading Dr. Halima Bashir's memoir
Tears of the Desert A Memoir of Survival in Darfur

I am not lending my copy to anyone...this sounds selfish, but for a good reason. You really need to buy a copy of this book. If you are even somewhat unclear as to what is happening in Darfur, this is a must read.
Dr. Bashir starts her book telling us of her childhood in such rich detail that you feel as if you were there. She shares of her family and their love for one another and all the neighbors in their village. She continues on with her education and becomes the doctor her father dreamed of. She then begins to experience the horrific crimes that the war brings to not only the places that she works but eventually to her own village. This book is heart wrenching, courageous, and will have forever changed me. However, how this book changed me is in no comparison to the way Dr. Bashir's life changed. This is why you need to purchase this book, not only for the exceptional real life account being told that is so engaging to read, but because monies from the book are going to programs aimed at helping Darfuri survivors.

This book also, on some level, helped me put our financial disaster into some perspective. What we are beginning to call a crisis and disaster will feel like a walk in the park in comparison to what is happening in Sudan as well as other countries.

I also find it quite ironic that spell check continues to highlight Darfur as an unknown/miss-spelled word as I write this. Kind of makes you go hmmmmm.

Find out more

www.aegistrust.com
www.fund4darfur.org

Ty's Senior Pictures

2008-09-21T20:21:00.000-06:00

I have to chalk this session up to being one of my favorites all year. But it requires a bit of history in order for it to make sense. Tami (Ty's mom) and I are long lost friends from high school who called me a few weeks back to see if I was still into photography. She mentioned that her son was in need of senior pictures, we set up a date for me to come out and take Ty's pictures. So, after twenty years, Tami and I were able to hang out this afternoon, catch up and photograph her son. What a great family, all her kids are just beautiful and I had so much fun with Ty, he was up for anything, he even agreed to jump on the trampoline for a few shots.

This bug distracted me in the middle of the shoot...so of course, in true Diane fashion I had to take its picture.

How cool is this shot for a senior picture...

Thanks guys, I had a lot of fun. Tami, it was awesome to see you again, and truly enjoyed meeting your family thanks so much for thinking of me and calling!

Pat, Jennifer and Jack

2008-09-21T15:18:00.000-06:00

I photographed Pat and Jen's wedding about 5 (maybe 6) years ago. I did their family session last year about this time before little Jack was walking. What a treat to meet up with them Saturday morning for their family session at Chatfield and see how much Jack has grown! He is a little mover now, I had a lot of fun chasing him about trying to get him in the frame :) Here are a few of my favorites...

Sam & Tiffany

2008-09-20T22:09:00.000-06:00

I am going to spend a bit of time catching up on blog posts this evening. I am going to start with Tiffany and Sam who I photographed this evening. I can not wait until their wedding this November. These two are so photogenic, I could have taken pictures all night with these guys! We had a blast, starting off in Washington park we then moved onto the downtown area by the art museum.

Joel & Kay-Tee

2008-09-14T20:28:00.000-06:00

Saturday I was in the Dells in Wisconsin at the Chula Vista Resort for Joel & Kay-Tee's wedding. They are a beautiful couple with a wonderful family. They really know how to throw a party! They had a great live band who kept every one dancing all night long!

Busy Busy!

2008-09-10T19:51:00.000-06:00

So I have been crazy busy and have neglected the blog as of late. I am heading to the upper mid-west this week for some family sessions in Minnesota and then I am headed to the Dells in Wisconsin for Kay-Tee and Joel's wedding...I promise to update with everything as soon as I am back.

Veggie Art

2008-08-06T13:45:00.000-06:00

So this really comes as no surprise to most, but I was playing around with the images from the veggies that I picked from the garden. Not only are the veggies tasting good in salsa and salads but they are going to be adorning my walls here soon too...check these out. Talk about multi-use :)

Eric Class of 2009

2008-08-02T11:21:00.000-06:00

Whew, busy week this last week. I ended Friday with a senior session with Eric. He is graduating from Mountain Range High School. This is actually the first graduating class from Mountain Range... so congrats guys! His friend Zach came with as you will see on the post below, we had a great time and got some nice shots. Congratulations Eric, I hear through the grapevine that you are an excellent student and destined for greatness...keep it up, the world needs a few more people like you!

Zach Class of '09

2008-08-02T11:12:00.000-06:00

It is that time of year for the seniors of class 2009 to have their pictures taken. Friday afternoon I met with Zach and hung out for a senior photo session. Zach is graduating from Mountain Range High School this next year, congratulations Zach...and my best wishes to you for fun and remembrance this upcoming year

New Love in the Beaty Home

2008-08-01T15:42:00.000-06:00

I have been so lucky this summer with so many photo sessions of Kids, Maternity and Families. It has really brought me back to my roots as a photographer, my original passion of capturing the innocence and love of childhood. I really got to revisit this feeling today.
I photographed Adrianne and Joe's wedding 5 years ago and got a call last week that they just had Adam. I am so grateful that I have had such wonderful clients over the years and I am honored that they ask me to capture the most important moments of their lives for them.
I always forget just how tiny newborns are, and actually Adam was pretty good size, born just over 8 pounds three weeks ago. Look how precious little Adam is...and two very proud parents!

Eric & Moriah

2008-07-31T16:26:00.001-06:00

On Sunday I spent a few hours in Ft. Collins photographing an engagement session for a couple who are getting married next year. What made these guys so fun was the fact that they are both wedding photographers. So pretty much any idea I had they were totally up for and willing to try.
I had them bring a prop that would visually describe or define their relationship and they brought their camera, which I thought was a great idea.

Thanks you two, I feel pretty honored to have been chosen by you guys to shoot your wedding!
Here are a few shots from that session...

Leslie and Myer

2008-07-29T16:21:00.000-06:00

I photographed Leslie's maternity session today and got to take pictures of Myer too! What a doll and pretty darn smart too! He does not like to be in any one position for any amount of time. (like over 60 seconds...waaaay to long) One of my favorite images so far from this session is this first one, where we ask him "where's the baby?" He was so quick to respond I barely caught this one...

Armen & Jameela...with baby on the way

2008-07-26T18:56:00.000-06:00

There is no better feeling than being able to photograph previous clients. I photographed Armen & Jameela's incredibly beautiful wedding last year. When I heard that they were expecting I was so excited to do a session with them. They are both so gorgeous, many of you have seen images of Jameela, due to the fact that I used a lot of them for my marketing this year.

Look familiar?Or how about this?
That was then, this is them now... more beautiful than ever and oh so photogenic!

Thanks you guys! Jameela, you are just radiant...absolutely one of the most beautiful mothers to be. Congratulations to you both, I am so happy for you. I can't wait to meet the baby!

Watch the Garden Grow

2008-07-26T17:59:00.000-06:00

So I converted the backyard this year to a garden...in the hopes of providing yummy salads and veggies for myself and others. For those of you who know me well, and know my mother, you may not be surprised at all.
However let me state right now I claim no knowledge like my mother when it comes to gardening, food production, organics or anything in that category, as a matter of fact, I am calling her several times a week with what I am sure to her sounds like very novice questions. She runs a 65 member CSA all by herself (ok, a little bit of help packing veggies) but the growing is all her!
All this being said, I am pretty darn proud of my little tiny garden that IS producing more veggies than I can possibly eat by myself. And the taste? I am sorry, argue all you want, there is no contest to flavor when it comes out of your back yard, not to mention the multitude of other benefits that stem from planting your own food from seed.
You get some interesting shapes out of the garden too....
Can you blame me for taking a picture of this crazy looking carrot? I am sure by summers end I will have all sorts of artsy veggie pictures...haha

Check out my mother's book "A Field Guide to Buying Organic" by Luddene Perry & Dan Schultz. You will see what I mean by she has way more info on all this!

Howard Family

2008-07-25T12:22:00.000-06:00

Today I photographed Jessica, her husband Clancy and their adorable 2 (but hold up all five fingers...hehe) year old daughter Mia and her soon to arrive brother. What a gorgeous family! I had a load of fun with little Mia...who I am going to nickname 'Repeat' because she is in that stage of two's that she repeats every word you say. I had skin envy when I saw Jessica, she has the most flawless perfect skin as you can see below...I love how their pictures turned out. Thanks again Jessica and Clancy, congratulations!

Marci & Derek

2008-07-22T23:58:00.000-06:00

Marci and Derek are both teachers whom have been dating for about two years. They are getting married in July 2009, but we took this opportunity to take some engagement pictures today. We met at the art museum downtown and walked around a bit and found some really great areas for pictures. Congratulations Derek & Marci!

Ruby & Tula

2008-07-22T15:01:00.000-06:00

I consider myself pretty fortunate to have had the opportunity to photograph Ruby and Tula. These two sisters are just stunning! They both have the biggest eyes and they just make you melt...I can't wait to play with their images for the website. Check back in a few weeks, I will have a few on the gallery!

Katelyn & Logan

2008-07-21T22:14:00.000-06:00

Katelyn and Logan are in Boulder visiting from Missouri. When Marcia told me her grandkids would be in town we decided to do a little photo shoot with them. Marcia's home lends itself to some really awesome backgrounds and just great overall photo opportunities. It was short but definitely sweet! Take a look...

The Montel Family

2008-07-16T00:27:00.000-06:00

I had the privilege of photographing Ian, Michelle and their 9 month old Noah on Sunday. Beautiful sunshine and one happy smiley kid and two terrific parents...how can you go wrong with that combination?!

Megan, Quinn and Sean

2008-07-16T00:08:00.000-06:00

I did a maternity session last Tuesday and got a bonus when I saw Sean and Quinn. Megan is pregnant with boy #3 and due very soon. I decided to give these two boys some face time before their new brother arrives.

Independance Day

2008-07-15T23:19:00.000-06:00

Ok, so I am a little behind in my blog posts. This was too fun a weekend for me not to post about it! We spent the 4th of July weekend down south in the Durango area, on Lake Navajo. Of course I brought my camera with me and got some really fun images to post here. Keith and I stayed with his childhood buddy Chris and Carol, his girlfriend on one of his house boats. We stuffed ourselves on great food and had a blast in the water, including surfing. I was unaware that you could surf behind a boat and even I tried it! (thankfully my camera ran out of space for any more images when it was my turn)

This is Chris

This is Carol learning to surf.

This is Chris' daughter Nicole who is very good at this 'surfing'

This is Chris' other daughter Jenna, relaxing.

This is Jenna's boyfriend Jared... who as you can tell is a great wake boarder!

Here is Keith making a nice turn!

This is Kevin our Master surfer/teacher

This is Mary, Kevin's wife, soaking up some sun!

This is Kevin & Mary's very spoiled pug :)

Here is a shot of Kevin showing us all how surfing is done, the wake from the boat will continue to pull you behind the boat with out holding on to a rope, it is there just to keep you from going to far out.

Yup, here I am. Very sun burnt. It is not very often that I am on this side of the camera.

Thanks Chris for having us down, we had a blast!

Testing....

2008-07-08T20:10:00.000-06:00

We are checking out how to make our images bigger on the blog....

This is only a test :)

Daniel

2008-07-01T22:59:00.000-06:00

This past weekend I was fortunate to photograph this cute little tyke, Daniel. I forget what busy little beavers this age brings...and we still managed to get some great shots! So many in fact, that it was tough to choose which to add to the blog. We will be adding some of these to the kids gallery soon!

Brian, Jen and Maizey too

2008-06-30T20:13:00.000-06:00

I spent some time with Jen, her husband Brian and their very cute daughter Maizey on Saturday for a maternity session. I just love her images...and Maizey just adds to the overall beauty of these images.

Nicole & Korry

2008-06-30T19:52:00.000-06:00

I had a blast this past weekend with Nicole and Korry. Nicole is due in less than two weeks and she was so good about allowing me to move, mold, and put her in to poses. I love how fun, sexy and fashion forward these images turned out. Not usually words that describe a maternity session, but take a look at some of these images and I am sure you will agree...

Thanks again Nicole and Korry...I can't wait to see baby London!

Dress ReDeux

2008-06-24T00:31:00.000-06:00

Otherwise known in the wedding photography industry as 'Trash The Dress'. I personally do not like the choice of those words. It is really an opportunity to have all those great fashion oriented images that you see in all the magazines with out the worry of your dress being dirty for the day of your wedding, so it is done after. For these images of Jerri, it was much after. We had a blast and she was able to get images with her horses as she wanted. She was such a sport when I asked if she would jump into a public fountain! And she did!

Check out some of these great images...

Ok, maybe a little dirty...

Thanks Jerri...it was so much fun, wait till you see the rest!!

Carmen & Evan

2008-06-21T23:57:00.000-06:00

I had the privilege of photographing Carmen for a maternity session last week. Her little boy Evan (who is just the cutest!) joined in also and we got some great shots...thanks guys! Enjoy...

Dhirendra & Meghan

2008-05-28T14:55:00.000-06:00

I met Dhirendra and Meghan last September when they hired me to photograph their wedding. They shared with me that they were being married in Nepal in December (2007) and would also be having a ceremony in Colorado in May. Tuesday's ceremony was at Gold Lake Resort and Spa in Ward, Colorado. If you have never been, it is a must go! The staff, the cabins, the spa, the hot pools, the grounds... lets just say everything was amazing because I could go on and on about this place!
Having spent a few days with both families prior to the wedding, I was able to hear so many stories of these two amazing people who found love continents away. Stories of their childhood, of their family and their friends. I realize now how fortunate I am to have been a part of such an incredible day.
Dhirendra and Meghan, thank you for including and treating me as family. You both have such generous hearts and the love that you share with each other is also felt by those around you. I admire the work that you are putting forth in this world and the contribution the two of you make. Till our paths meet again...many wishes for a beautiful marriage.

Happy Birthday Zachary

2008-05-22T20:03:00.000-06:00

Zach my youngest son turned 14! Oh yes and he's all teenager. Text message fingers, video gamer, plays the electric guitar, flirts with the girls, and sleeps till noon on Saturdays, oh yes, he is all teenager. Zach, honey, I love you dearly and cherish the time that we spend together!

Bridal Palooza

2008-05-22T19:48:00.000-06:00

Last Saturday I was invited to participate in Bridal Palooza as a vendor. This was the first event of its type for Bellezza Bridal Boutique in Denver. It was a great time for all, models wearing the latest fashions, K. Schell Designs doing all the hot styles in make-up and hair trends. Chocolate treats by Dipping Good Times (of course this booth was right across from me and I could not help but sample all day long (good stuff!) Music by DJ Dangerous Dan and to top it off Slumber Parties by Kelly! Whew...here are a few pics from the day.

The Bug Run

2008-05-22T19:21:00.000-06:00

I was asked to photograph this event last year, it was so much fun that of course I had to do it again this year. I am always invited to ride along with them (which would make some VERY cool shots) but each time, I have had another event I have had to be at. Bummer :( Next year guys!
So a bug run is such a fun concept, you buy as many targets as you wish or that you can tape on to your motorcycle, go for a great scenic ride and when you get back, the person with the most bugs on their target (and closest to the center) wins the $. Here are a few highlights from them getting ready.

Class of 2008

2008-05-08T21:21:00.000-06:00

Congratulations class of 2008! To all the seniors who trusted me with their images this year, I thank you. I leave you with one of my favorite writings for you to ponder as you venture out in to this crazy world of ours.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask our selves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God/Goddess that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

-Marianne Williamson-

Robert

Kelly

David
Chris
Lucas

Tanoah & Bibi 4.20.08

2008-04-24T11:25:00.000-06:00

It was a busy weekend for Apex Images. Tanoah and Bibi were married on Sunday under perfect weather! It was a very sweet and intimate wedding with a collection of close friends and family from all over the world. Bibi is from Germany and this wedding has been in the works for a long time with many postponements due to the government and the many obstacles they have put them through.

So it is with great pleasure that I get to say congratulations, I am so happy to see the both of you finally tie the knot! It was such a joy to photograph your wedding and see all the love and fun you two have for each other and your family.

Roman & Rebecca 4.19.08

2008-04-20T20:33:00.000-06:00

Saturdays wedding was beyond words...truly a dream wedding. The ceremony was held at St. Paul's Lutheran cathedral in downtown Denver with their reception following at the University Club.
I was so glad to have Denny Fenbers (www.fenbers.net) and Scott's help with this wedding, and when you see the size of their wedding party you will understand...25! Yes, 25 + the Bride and Groom! I should add that in my many years of photographing weddings this was the largest party I have had yet! Enjoy these few images, as you can see, Roman and Rebecca look like they need to be on a cover of a magazine, they are that gorgeous!

Thanks Roman & Rebecca, you both, along with your families were amazing to work with. I can't wait to share the rest of the images with you!

Happy Birthday Michael

2008-04-17T15:44:00.000-06:00

Where does the time go? It seems like only yesterday that Michael was learning how to walk. Today he turns 20! Yes, my son is now 20 years old.

Michael, I love that little boy who was and is so quiet, courteous, and well mannered. And I am truly honored to be the mother of the young man you have become. You have had to learn some hard lessons this last year. Education is the basis for knowledge, by either experience or classroom, you gain strength and grow. I am both amazed and proud of the knowledge you have acquired this past year and hope for nothing less than amazing for you. I love you.

Senior Pictures

2008-04-14T22:04:00.000-06:00

It is almost time for the graduating class of 2008 to say farewell to their high schools. With that in mind, the orders are starting to come in for wallets and small prints for their announcements. These should be ordered as soon as possible in order to get everything out in the mail in time. Also to note are the little extras that make the image stand out from the rest, from sloppy borders to text, anything goes today. We have even started to offer contact cards. These look just like wallets only they are a press printed product (like business cards) so that you can print another image on the back or phone numbers, addresses...your imagination is the limit. Ask us about some of these new ideas before placing your order.

To give you an idea how differently we can change the look of an image here are just a few examples of what can be done:

Spring Family Session

2008-04-07T23:00:00.000-06:00

You never can tell what the weather is going to be like for an outdoor session this time of year. We wake up to snow on the ground and then by noon we are pulling out the shorts. Bob called me the morning of their family session to see if we should reschedule. We decided we would wait a few hours and see what the weather looked like and sure enough by 3:30 the sun was out and the snow that covered the lawn that morning was but a distant memory.
I love photographing families, especially when little kids are involved! I have photographed these two little tykes before....Lanie and Calvin. I am pretty sure they were sleeping in the car before arriving at the park, not exactly excited to be having their picture taken.
This family was so much fun and it is so evident when you see the images with the kids, I love how non-traditional the look is. Having to quickly shoot with out order to have such great expressions really gives these images that reportage style.

Jill's Maternity Session

2008-03-30T20:27:00.000-06:00

I had a lot of fun photographing this maternity session. Jill was up for anything, a week from her due date she was having contractions towards the end of our session. I really thought I was going to be photographing a new born too! I did find out 2 days later that she was in fact not in labor...those darn false labor pains. Soon Jill, very soon...

Spring Break

2008-03-25T00:04:00.000-06:00

So what do you do when your 13 (almost 14) year old says "it's spring break, I don't want to go to bed yet"

That means you get to play guinea pig and let Mom play with lighting...here are a few images of Zach wanting the "cool lighting"

I am sure before the week is over we will have some others to add.

Sisters Becoming Mothers

2008-03-14T17:09:00.000-06:00

Our first maternity session was today. Two maternity sessions! A little background might be in order...

Diane (great name, don't you think?!) responded to my plea for maternity sessions, and shared with me that her sister is pregnant too, a month difference. I was overjoyed, and we agreed that doing them at the same time would be a lot of fun. The first image is of Diane and Michelle

Next we have Michelle with her 3 year old daughter.

These next images of Chuck and Diane I think are just beautiful

Kevin & Penny 3-07-08

2008-03-08T12:42:00.000-07:00

I had the privilege yesterday of photographing Penny & Kevin from Lake Charles, Louisiana. So many couples who seek out beautiful Colorado as a destination for their wedding may not always get to meet their vendors prior to their wedding day. This was the case for Penny and Kevin, both registered nurses, who chose Breckenridge for their intimate wedding destination. What a treat it was to finally meet them both and just have this instant camaraderie and comfort. It shows up in their pictures...which are gorgeous, it of course helps when the people being photographed are so good looking too! What an experience it was to photograph a wedding with no guests, wedding party or family. I was able to stand right there and take pictures, I was even their witness on their licence, it was awesome! Despite the winter temperatures, the actual ceremony weather was warm and perfect. We then set off from the Lodge and Spa @ Breckenridge to take more pictures in town. As the sun started to lower so did the temperatures, but I must say I was with a couple who were in great spirits and were up for anything! Penny was such a trooper in that sleeveless dress.

Thank you Kevin and Penny for such a wonderful experience and allowing me to share in such an intimate day with you both. I wish you both love and joy as your new adventure in life together begins.

Bumps

2008-03-06T18:40:00.000-07:00

As much as I would like to say I am referring to moguls on a ski run, I am just as excited to share a new line-up in the services we are starting to offer. Maternity sessions. I have several cards out there floating around in hopes of adding a new gallery to our portfolio. So if you or anyone you know is pregnant, give me a call @ 303.880.8481.
I will be offering complimentary maternity sessions until we have a good gallery posted.

Ande as Art

2008-02-26T15:12:00.000-07:00

So often I have those moments where I see something and I am lucky enough to have my camera with me and I have to just hop out of the car and 'snap, snap, snap' (it actually goes on for much longer than that I am sure) This is always the case when I am on a road trip with Andrea...my good friend.

Oh my patient friend (Andy as I call her) who will do the ridiculous when I ask, all for the sake of art. Ande who will postpone the arrival time by hours because I convince her by saying "oooh, stop for just a sec" (which is never a second...just for the record) so that I can get my fix...my vision recorded.

This is one of my many...."I know you don't have make-up on, that's good, this is going to be cool"

Thanks for the art Ande!

John & Deborah February 16, 2008

2008-02-26T14:49:00.000-07:00

Our first wedding of the year was beautiful! Beautiful couple, beautiful family and a beautiful venue. John and Deborah are such a great couple and it was truly an honor to be able to photograph their wedding. The day started off pretty early the Saturday after Valentines Day at the new Ritz-Carlton in Denver. Their wedding was really unique, from the seating arrangement to the band. Speaking of the band it was Deborah's son Brandon and his band 'The Pandamen' who played several songs.

When it came time for them to dance, everyone ( and I mean everyone) watched with amazement, it was like watching 'Dancing With the Stars' Every move was graceful and elegant.

Thanks to Scott (our new assistant) we captured some very beautiful moments...enjoy!

Photo Shoot With Natalie

2008-01-10T15:45:00.000-07:00

So I started off the year with a fun photo shoot with Scott, who is going to be working with us this year as an intern/assistant. Natalie, who was our model for the shoot, has a great figure, intense eyes, and a tattooed somewhat Gothic look. She made this shoot so fun and creative, we found some of the most unusual places to photograph, and the pictures turned out great.

New Year

2008-01-03T17:24:00.000-07:00

Happy New Year! We have all sorts of newness this year! New products, new staff, new marketing and a new website due this month. Keep checking back for all the goodies...lots to look forward to.

Happy Holidays!

2007-12-25T09:39:00.000-07:00

I can really say Happy Holidays this year, because it is the first year in over 20 years that I have not been in retail this time of year. I want to acknowledge everyone who I photographed this year, that made that dream a reality for me. I am looking forward to this next year, many of you whom I will be photographing. Most of all I wanted to be sure and wish everyone a wonderful holiday season. To thank all of you who made this year possible...a special word of thanks to Keith and Andrea for your generous support and faith in me.

Steve & Sandy

2007-12-07T14:58:00.000-07:00

Steve and Sandy are both friends of mine and were married earlier this year (much earlier) but wanted to share some of their pictures and the story behind some of the images.

As a photographer, it can be very difficult to photograph a friends' wedding. I usually would have an assistant shoot much of the event and I provide fill in and shoot the artsy stuff. This is due to the photographer (me) wanting to hang out with and chat with all the friends that I have not seen in awhile...and take pictures of all the people I know...you get the idea.

So imagine if you will, photographing your ex-husbands wedding! Yup, that would be Steve. There were so many responses from people as to me shooting Steve and Sandy's wedding, most of which I was surprised by, so I feel the need to share that experince.

First, let me start by saying how honored I really felt to be asked by them to photograph their wedding, wow, what a compliment. Second, I consider them friends, friends who are raising Zachary (our 13 year old son) along with Sandy's two boys; Josh and Zack (yes, two Zach's in the same house!)

It was a beautiful and intimate wedding, shared with close friends and family. I did not have to remember a lot of names of family members for this one, as I am sure you can guess why. This one wedding I will remember always, it was a challange in many ways most are not.

Thanks to Steve and Sandy for trusting, accepting and allowing me to be a part of your day.

While in Minnesota...

2007-11-30T11:43:00.000-07:00

I get to go to many places in my travel of photography, one that I frequent often is Minnesota.

I have to post this image of a baby cow that I took, mostly because I find it so humorous...

Meet Nick

2007-11-30T11:28:00.000-07:00

This is Nicholas...

Nicholas does not want his picture taken...

Aunt Diane (yes, this is my stinkin' cute nephew) wants to take your picture Nick...

Tis the Season

2007-11-30T11:07:00.001-07:00

It is that time of year again...holiday photos.

I always try to encourage parents to allow for unposed, fun, 'let kids be kids' pictures. There is something that is so authentic about these types of images. I think they are the ones that you (and her) will look back on and remember. A smile will be instant and and your heart will fill with joy. Tis the season indeed.

I was given that allowance when

photographing Sarah. We had a

blast, and it shows! There is a little bit of everything...from the "cute and sweet" as well as the "let loose and be the great kid you are" images....and how can you go wrong with those eyes!!!

Minnesota Family Session

2007-11-30T09:57:00.000-07:00

So I realize that my New Year resolution needs to be more frequent blogs...that is the reason for it to be there, right? So today I am going to post several. The first is a family Minnesota that I photographed back in September.

This was every photographers dream for a family session; Fun ages, incredibly well behaved children (I have never had the experience of 4 kids all paying attention to me, and letting me take their picture)and the entire family is gorgeous! One of my favorites from this session was of Kristi who is pregnant with Kaia (whom she just gave birth to!) There is an almost angelic look to her in this image as she is watching her children on the playground.

There were so many images that I liked from this session...one that makes me laugh every time I see it is the whole family. I gave an instruction (more for the kids) "Give me your funniest faces" And the image you see is the first result...gotta love it!

Congrats on your newest arrival, thank you so much for the honor of photographing your family, it was such a treat!

Robert's Senior Pictures

2007-10-23T23:38:00.000-06:00

I love photographing senior pictures. I love it even more when I have known the subject since they were very little! Which was such the case with Robert. He is graduating in 2008 from Hinkley High School, which coincidentally I attended in 1984-86...yikes, do I dare share that!? Robert is one of those quiet, reserved, well mannered kind of guys. Who also happens to be incredibly smart! I am proud of you Robert, and wish you all the success in your future! I feel pretty honored to have been asked to take his picture...he is college bound, School of Mines or CU, I am pretty sure he gets to choose!

Yes, a blog...

2007-10-03T10:39:00.000-06:00

After much debate, I have decided it was time to share my thoughts for whom ever wanted to read. Actually, in my adventures of photographing the art of peoples lives, I have had the pleasure of meeting some of the most amazing people. I have had the honor of capturing their stories, joyful weddings, miraculous new births, engagement pictures of couples who have met half a world away. To the tearful family portraits the day before their father leaves for yet another tour in Iraq. All of these stories become so much more apparent in the images they let me capture. As a photographic artist, I would like to think that I create... I observe. These families, children, couples, they create... I am just the fortunate soul who was asked to be there for a short while.
As I get permission from my clients, I will share some of these stories and their pictures and hope that you all enjoy!
And thank goodness this thing has spell check!