Models in New Orleans

Wow, what an experience! I can’t tell you how amazed and thankful that I am able to be part of it and teach along side some of the greatest photographers in the country. I couldn’t have dreamed up a more action packed, star studded unbelievable educational photography experience. From Pete Wright’s trash the dress session in the same warehouse as they filmed The Expendables to watching as Jen Hillenga, the goddess of posing, posed and light models in the back alleys of New Orleans. Listening as Mike Fulton, Cody Clinton & Jordan Chan displayed their off camera lighting prowess. Hearing Martin Grahame-Dunn spewing knowledge like a prophet. Seeing legends like Fuzzy Dunkel and rising superstar Dan McClanahan show off why they are so amazing as they photographed in the French Quarter. Watching JuliAnne Jonker the greatest Adobe guru in the history of gurus teach lessons on Photoshop and Lightroom. The craziest most fun night session I could ever dream of photographing in neon lit alleyways and texture filled rooms of the House of Blues along side the likes of Kevin Jairaj, James Hayes, Chuck Arlund, Steve Ragland, Dan Davis, and Pete Wright – amazing photographers that you basically would normally have to get in a line to even get an autograph from if you were at any other convention. Then coming back to photograph on the roof of the hotel 17 stories up overlooking New Orleans as George Kuchler painted models with light using glow sticks and flashes. Watching in awe the creations of fashion photographer extraordinaire Lou Freeman and her assistants as they turned models into scenes that can best be described as Alice in Wonderland meets Vogue covered in feathers. All this was happening and lots more! There were so many things going on from amazing mentors that I can’t list them all and my mind is reeling from the opportunities. Travis Gugelman, Clark Martin, Kurk Voclain Larry PetersEddieTapLorieNordstromPeterHolcombebrycoxdonchickkenkneringermikeridingerwenmcnally....ahhhhhhhhhh! wow!

If you missed New Orleans you probably missed one of the greatest educational events you could ever be a part of, and yet AD seems to somehow get more amazing every time. And from what I hear for what they have planned in Vegas it will yet again be the place to be.

After Dark

Every year we take a few weeks off to study with the very best photographers in the country. We travel all around the United States to learn new techniques and get new ideas. The very best opportunity that we have found is AfterDark. AfterDark has the very best of everything. It is a hands on learning experience where photographers have the opportunity to shoot along side of the countrys leading experts in almost every area from lighting and posing, to photoshop, fine art, and marketing. You don't simply just sit in a lecture hall and listen to them you actually are taking models out and working side by side or sitting on a couch with them as they show and discuss their post processing techniques and marketing ideas.


This fall we had the opportunity to help out at AfterDark in Austin Texas. Austin's city theme is "keep Austin wierd" and there was definitely some very cool opportunities. Each night at AfterDark was a different modeling theme. One night it was bikers and ballerinas, the next was bands and street performers, another night was photographing models with amazing tattoos.

Very soon we will be heading down to Miami to learn more and help out again. It is going to be another amazing opportunity and I can't wait to hang out with all our photog friends again.


Here are a few images from AfterDark Austin

Beautiful Maternity

Take a look at the video above! Just an idea of what is possible if you are willing to step outside the relm of average everyday portraits. Melissa was ready to try something different and I think we definitely succeded in creating some amazing pieces of art for her from her maternity session. A maternity session in the snow is certainly a creative and fun way to capture some amazing portraits. I can't wait to meet the newest baby Coss - he should be here in a week or two. Keep an eye out for some amazing portraits of him very soon.

Light Pro - Model Shoot

Our Florida trip was amazing. We left on a Sunday morning, and the night before I had a wedding and was up till about midnight. There was also a bad snowstorm that night so we got up extra early (2:30am) to make sure we got to the airport in time so we didn't get much sleep. Spent most of the day lugging around 5 suitcases a bunch of carry-ons, two kids, a stroller and car seats. The transition from 6 inches of heavy snow to sun and palm trees was almost surreal.

Sunday night I got a little more sleep, but still not enough. If you're a photographer and come down to Light Pro don't expect to get much sleep. Most nights models and photographers were shooting well into the night, I had a few 4:00 am mornings before I called it quits. There was so much to do that it was hard to stop... amazing models everywhere, world class photographers and tons of fountains, pools, waterfalls, palm trees, beaches and everything else you could possibly ask for. Sunrise shooting started around 6:30 but I didn't make it to too many of those.

At the end of the week they have a banquet and a print competition. For me entering something into the competition is kind of difficult. I didn't want to take time out from shooting and networking to sit at a computer and process images. Both last year and this year I waited untill the last possible minute to even look at the images I had captured there. Another thing that makes it difficult for me is that on my studio computer I have spent alot of extra time and money making sure that the images on the screen will print out exactly how I want them to - on the laptop that I brought I haven't done that. I had around 10 minutes left before the deadline to pick out an image and correctly tone and process it. I chose an image that was somewhat unique and simply turned it to black and white to save myself time, burnt it to a disk and turned it in. Turns out that my choice was fairly good, I ended up wining 3rd place and getting a bunch of cool prizes.