Blood In, Blood Out (aka Happy Halloween)

My very first Halloween shoot was pretty epic if I do say so myself. Up to that point I had never done one and had been plotting just the right setting and subject. I ended up getting a lot of help from my good friend Summer. She was not only able to be the perfect model, but also styled the shoot to make sure the theme was right on point. It was a vampiress theme that looked like something straight from a Hollywood film if I do say so myself. The only thing we were missing was the blood. That was an unintentional omission on both our parts because we definitely meant to include it.

Now I knew that I would catch a little flack from some of my more conservative churchgoing fans. Maybe even some family members that were definitely more religious than I. What I didn't anticipate was that some folks would go to the extreme of deleting me for what they deemed sacrilege. All due to the fact I was 'celebrating' the Halloween 'holiday' with a photo shoot. And that was with no blood at all.

Well I've always tried to been one to march to my own drum. At least as it pertains to artistic freedom. If I have a certain vision in mind, I'm not going to cow-tail to someone else's expectations because they may be offended. Not when I know that the end result will produce some excellent images. They should consider themselves lucky that it happened when I was older. The high school me would have snapped back with an actual revolting shoot. I mean I am a horror film junkie so the possibilities were limitless. But I didn't go there.

Fast forward to 3-4 years later and I still had not done another Halloween shoot. Part of it may have been because I subliminally thought it would be hard to top that first one. Most of it was just because every time I had an idea, I never had anyone to help make it come to fruition. Schedule conflicts and commitments always prevented it from happening. Fortunately, that wasn't the case this year.

I happened to catch a post from a local MUA (makeup artist) where she had used some horns on a model for a shoot she was doing. I had been wanting to do a horned model shoot every since watching "Face Off" on Syfy. I just never knew anyone who had the horns available. I lucked up because the shoot she was planning to use them for didn't pan out. Struck lightning twice when I hit her up and she was just as down to shoot the concept as I was.

The model was a young lady I have shot with a few times. I immediately had her in mind because she has got the smeyes thing down. For those who aren't up on Tyra Banks and "Ameirca's Next Top Model" it means smiling with the eyes. The really good models got it down pat. It was essiecial for this shoot so that the model could sell that dark temptress look I was going for.

So then we come full circle to the whole blood thing again. I made sure it happened this time. It had to in order to sell the story of the shoot. She was a vampire queen patiently awaiting her prey. She finds it. She makes a slow first strike. Then an all out feeding that brings us to this photo. Now to be fair, I still found myself self-censoring a bit as it pertains to this image. There was a more intense next portion that I could have showed you. But again, I know there are some conservative folks out there. They can't handle full throttle. However, I'm still rather feeling this pedal to the metal.

Follow Me

For as long as I can remember I have been extremely competitive. From the days of elementary school when I didn't want that kid's coloring assignment being better than mine to high school when I made EVERYTHING a challenge to now as it pertains to my photography. I realize I may not be the best out there, but I will keep striving to be the best I know I can be.

I know photography can be a cutthroat business. Of course it will be when everyone with a digital camera is a photographer these days. So when someone reaches out to me for a quote and/or an inquiry, I know they're shopping around elsewhere. I have no doubt my work will speak for itself. I know I cannot make them choose me. But I also know if they don't, my competitive fire inside will make sure that next shoot I do will be more proof to them of what they are missing out on.

It's a rather LONG way to get to this latest shoot. However, the backstory needed to be told and this session was the best way to get it across. I try to go out of my way to giver every session my very best effort. It just so happens that when a shoot comes on the heels of a rejection, there's just a little fire ignited under me that serves as a turbo boost of sorts.

This engagement session with Marta and Rene could not have went any better. It got off to a rocky start initially because my plans for an assistant fell through. That was just a minor setback though. I've been shooting solo for 97% of my shoots for the past several years so it was no obstacle for me. The three of us were able to work together to get some amazing images.

This one here turned out to be personal favorite. It was a concept I have been wanting to do ever since that whole 'follow me' craze went viral some time ago. I always knew it would make a perfect engagement photo. Especially if I could get the capitol city in the background. It tells the perfect story of how we begin that journey into marriage. The man may be intended to be the head of the household, but we all know it's the woman who calls the shots.

I was very grateful that Marta and Rene chose me to capture their images. They could have very easily chosen some local cat like so many other folks do and have done. Marta told me she really wanted me to do their photos though. That was an additional incentive for me to make sure the photos turned out amazing. I may not get every job that I want, but the ones I do get will be glad they chose to follow me.

Walking on Sunshine

Every now and then, I get to do photos for someone that has an incredible story to share. I'm sure everyone has their own testimony of one fashion or another. However, it's not often that I'm aware of them. Even less often when the person is someone where I've known most of the family since I was a little kid. So being able to take the family photos for Kim was pretty special to me.

I can still remember seeing photos of Kim's daughter Bailey when she was much younger. Kim was always sharing the stories of their latest challenges as Bailey continued to battle Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. What stood out to me the most as I read those posts was how Bailey looked. Not the fact that she had no hair due to the chemo. It was how she had the BIGGEST smile. Here was this little girl in the fight for her life and she really appeared to have the most incredible, positive attitude.

The first time I met her in person was at the Black and Gold Ball a couple of years ago. Her hair had sprung back and she had grown. I'm never good with names, but pretty good with faces. Soon as I saw that smile, I knew who that little girl was. The entire evening, she exhibited the same outstanding vibe that she conveyed in all her photos.

So when Kim was looking to get some updated family pictures done, I was felt extremely honored she askedme. I was really looking forward to capturing Bailey's essence now that she was cancer free and in remission with no signs in the past 3+ years. I had not seen her since that Black and Gold Ball a couple of years back so didn't know quite what to expect. What I ended up getting was a jovial teenager who could not have been more pleasant.

What started out as a family shoot, really morphed into a session revolving around Bailey. Oh don't get me wrong...we definitely got some good family shots, but Bailey's photos stood out the most. Years after having moments where it was touch and go, she had blossomed into a beautiful young lady excelling in sports AND an honor student. No, you can't see all that in the pictures. What you can see is that same ray of light whose infectious positive attitude rubs off on everyone she meets.

Head of the Class

Every now and then I get asked the question what is the one thing I like shooting the most. You would probably think I would say models because my port has so many of them in there. That's not the case though. Don't get me wrong...I do really enjoy those. Many models know how to pose so it makes the shoot go smooth. However, it's not my favorite. That honor would have to go to high school senior sessions.

There is just something about being able to capture the images of a young adult as they are just preparing to officially enter adulthood. Their formative schooling years are coming to a close and they are beginning to face entirely new challenges. Hopefully, they are challenges for which his/her parent(s) have been preparing them for all their life. Then I get the special honor of making them a superstar for one shining moment no matter how much and/or little of a star they may be in their own high school.

Unfortunately, I have been leaning very heavy on senior sessions that are out of state. Mainly folks from back home in Iowa. Those contacts are still around so I still get requests for those shoots. Of course I'm not going to say no. Then what ends up happening is I get more interest from folks seeing those images. From more folks that are still out of state.

I'm hoping to change that pattern by engaging more folks locally in the DFW area. I know it's a little difficult to do when I don't particularly like leaving the house during the hot weather, but I still try to find ways to alter that. Like connecting with coworkers that have seniors that need photos. They have friends that will need photos too so hopefully it will start a domino effect of sorts.

I'm a little partial towards the senior sessions where the student is active in some type of extra-curricular activity. It just allows much more flexibility with being creative with the editing. Especially the sport ones. I've done baseball and even soccer, but still no basketball. And boy do I have some ideas for a high school senior basketball session.

So if any of you folks out there have relatives who need senior photos done, please direct them to me. I promise I will give them some images that they will remember and cherish for the rest of their lives. I promise I will make their young adult feel like they are king or queen for the day. And if you know a basketball senior that needs their photos, make sure to get them to me ASAP.

Surprise Surprise

I've been shooting going on 7 years now but there are still some sessions I haven't done that I've always wanted to do. My wish-list shoots, if you will. One of them was a surprise proposal. I almost had one booked a few years ago with some friends of mine but the timing didn't work out. The opportunity finally surfaced again recently and I wasn't about to pass it up.

I had known Rose for a few years now. I had done a couple of fashion shoots for her and even connected with friends of hers to do the same. Although I was able to meet her boyfriend on our last shoot, we didn't really get a chance to talk much. That's why I was rather surprised when I got a call from a number that I didn't recognize and it was him. He wanted to propose to Rose and wanted me to shoot it.

The location he chose was a wide open spot at Grapevine Lake in north Dallas. We scouted the area beforehand to discover that there was really no good location for me to hide to get good shots. In order for it to work, it essentially required him to lead Rose out to a cliff setting and somehow keep her looking ahead the entire time. I would be hiding in a brush area in dark clothes. Because it was the fall and NO foliage on the trees, we had to hope she wouldn't look back while I had enough time to line up for some good pics.

I was following the forecast the day of the the proposal because the weather wasn't looking good. It was overcast with a 40% chance of rain. In fact, as I was driving out to the location, it was sprinkling. I asked Garrett if it was still on and he confirmed. The proposal gods were smiling down on them that day because just minutes before go-time, there was no sprinkling and the skies even opened up a bit. It was cold as all get out (which was uncommon for us that time of year) but no rain.

I wondered what was going through Rose's head as Garrett was driving her out to almost the middle of nowhere. Then also while he walked her out to the cliff. That required a LOT of trust in him on her part. I had watched enough "Snapped" shows to know similar situations with a shaky relationship don't end well. Sure enough, she revealed later that she was jokingly thinking "Is he going to try to kill me?"

Everything worked out perfect though. She never saw me until after he had gotten down one knee to pop the question. That's when I came out of hiding to get better shots of the two of them enjoying the moment while their feelings were still raw. The location turned out to be the perfect setting for the proposal. I don't know how many other surprise proposals I may get to nab, but this first one will remain a favorite.

Cleveland

If someone would have told me that Cleveland would have been a hot spot that I must visit, I would have told them they were crazy. It doesn't even have anything to do with my not being a huge Lebron fan. It's just that when I think of cities that are big tourist destinations, Cleveland would not even crack the top ten. And now after only two trips there, I stand corrected. I find myself looking forward to my next trip back there.

My first visit there was due to a senior shoot with for the daughter of one of my former classmates. She was so impressed by my work that she offered to fly me out and put me up in a hotel for the weekend so I could do senior pics for her daughter. In Cleveland. Well I'm not turning down an all-expenses paid shoot regardless of where it is. That particular trip ended up being us spending the whole Saturday shooting. Because I had to be anal and capture just the right sunset angles. That resulted in time to really enjoy the city. That didn't happen the second time around.

Amy invited me back a couple of years later to capture senior moments for her second daughter. Again, of course I'm not saying no. This time I asked Gabe (my youngest son, for those of you who don't know). He turned down the offer initially since he knew it meant helping out on a shoot. Then he thought about being in Cleveland around a lot of other Lebron fans and he acquiesced. Even moreso since it resulted in his first plane ride ever. That could be another post altogether so we won't get into all that.

The shoot itself went great. Of course. Amy's girls are just so naturally photogenic. Brigit really made my job so easy. Then she made it even better when she said she didn't want to be shooting that long. She had certain looks she wanted, we nailed them and we were done. With enough time for me and my son to see what Cleveland was all about.

The first thing that made it worthwhile was the Uber drivers we had. The first one being the best. Felicia was her name. She could not have been nicer. This sista even gave us a couple of great referrals for restaurants. Naturally, the best part was when she dropped us off and I got to FINALLY use that epic phrase that I've never been able to use in real life. I'm sure she's heard it a million times, but she legit looked amused when I said anyway. Gold star for Felicia.

The restaurant she recommended was this place called Mabel's BBQ. It was in the heart of what appeared to be Cleveland's own little mini-Beale Street. Now having never been to Beale Street OR New Orleans, I'm just assuming that this little area was the mini-equivalent. Just being there seemed to uplift one's spirits. A big plus was the fact that that barbecue was some of the best I have EVER had. Who would have ever figured Cleveland could rock barbecue like that?

Of course we had to see 'The Q' (Quicken Loans Arena) where the Cavs play. It was just a short walk away from the eatery. It was just too bad that we got there just minutes after the official team store closed. That may have been a blessing in disguise though. I can just imagine what the prices were on some of that official NBA merchandise. Except for the Kyie jerseys which I'm sure were discounted after his announcement of wanting out of Cleveland. The best part of that area though was the huge Lebron mural. This pic really doesn't do it justice. It was actually quite impressive in person.

Our last two Uber drivers were very cordial but definitely no Felicia. They served their purpose of getting us to the Dick's to get Gabe's souvenir and then to the hotel. And it was at the hotel where that last stop was the icing on the cake. A little ice cream shop right next to the hotel called Mitchell's Ice Cream. Amy had told me about it my last trip yet I didn't get a chance to try it out. We did this time and holy COW was that some incredible ice cream. All this time I thought no one could ever top Blue Bell. Again, I stand corrected.

So I have now managed to droll on for 8 paragraphs. About Cleveland. And I sill didn't ecapsulate the full greatness of what an awesome time we had. Maybe it was the fact that it was a father/son getaway. Maybe it was the fact that I was able to see him enjoy his first plane experience. Maybe it really was the city. However, even Gabe wants to go back again so that's saying something.

Be My Little Baby...

You know you would think from looking at these blog posts that I haven't done anything for over a year. Not a thing, in fact, since Mom passed away. Nothing could be further from the truth. I did take a self-imposed hiatus after that, but then I started getting back to it. Probably what it was was I got so busy that I never had a chance to blog like I wanted to.

The intent was to get out an entry coinciding with shoots. Not necessarily for EVERY shoot. That would be near impossible. But at least for a few of them so you could kind of get a look behind the curtain at the method to my madness. Better late than never so I guess this entry will be one of those.

The Manuels have been long-time loyal clients of mine going back to when I did a family shoot for them when I was still known as XL-Images. Since then, we've done a professional shoot for them (with another one on deck), a second family shoot and two senior shoots. But when they said they wanted me to do their newborn shoot, I knew it would be a struggle. Definitely not impossible though so challenge accepted.

I will readily admit that newborns are not my specialty. It takes a talented baby-whisper to get some of the epic photos you see advertised as professional baby pics. However, I do know a few tricks or two. Enough to get some great images to capture the baby's essence. One of those being what is traditionally a coaching opportunity for me: patience.

The best baby pictures are those that are taken when the newborn is sleeping. Naturally, you can't force a newborn to go to sleep. You're at the whim of his/her schedule. The idea is to make the circumstances conducive for them to want to go into a deep sleep. Things like turning the heat up, feeding them, soft music, etc. Well we didn't have access to all that in a home setting with several people present so we had to go with feeding the little lady and just try to wait her out.

As you can see, it didn't work out quite the way we had hoped. She never did get to sleep. At least not while I was there. I found out later that the minute I left, she fell into a deep, deep sleep. Because of course that's just how my luck works. It didn't matter too much though because it turns out the little fella take some darn good pics while she's awake too. One of the most difficult sessions I've ever done was well worth the effort.

Not Goodbye...Just See You Later : Mom's Tribute

Many of my current followers have already heard the news by now that my mother passed away. She left us to return home late in the evening of July 26th.  Needless to say I'm still recovering as I struggle to find my new idea of 'normal'.  Now that her services have been completed, they say this is when the hardest part starts.  They were not kidding.

I knew I would be a wreck at her Homegoing Celebration but knew I had to say something. Therefore, I wrote it all out beforehand and scrutinized it several times before I finally agreed on a final version. It seemed to go over very well and I'm fairly confident Mom herself would have been pleased.  So for those of you who are interested, I wanted to share the transcript of my mini-tribute to the greatest woman I have ever known...

"On behalf of my Dad, Dr. Stanley Fleming, Sr., my sisters Teandra Fleming and Diah Conkrite, we would like to personally thank everyone for all your kind words, thoughts, prayers and condolences. It's great to know that we were not the only ones who loved Mom beyond measure.

I am definitely no public speaker. Which is why I wrote this beforehand. Because one of the many traits I did inherit from Mom was the ability to write. So please forgive me if I don't express it as eloquently through speaking as I intend it in actual words.

I am the oldest son of the oldest child. An unashamed Mama's Boy. And while I was never actually called that name, I wouldn't have minded it at all. I'm very proud of everything Mom taught me both intentionally and inadvertently.

We're always taught that no one is perfect. That is true to some extent. However, the more I think back on it, I realize that for us, we had the perfect mother. She was the perfect grandmother. The perfect role model. She always had the perfect smile. She had the perfect laugh. She certainly didn't raise the perfect son, but she left me with some perfect memories of her efforts to do so.

I could stand up here all day giving you perfect examples of all the incredible traits she had. Especially the ones I was blessed enough to have been gifted with. But I know you all have things to do and Mom wouldn't want me spending your time doing that. I will tell you this one though because it's so relevant. And that was of how unselfish Mom was.

As Mom was more and more ill to the end, I would make more frequent trips from Texas to visit. During one one of my recent trips, Dad had mentioned he wanted go see the new Transporter movie that was playing and wanted to know if I wanted to go. I told him I would pass so I could spend more time with Mom. Mom pulled me aside and told me that I needed to go. She flat out said that Dad needed some time away, a temporary distraction, because he had been so consumed with taking care of her. She was more worried about his well-being even as she was suffering constantly. Needless to say, I did what she said and we went. Now I have to be honest and tell you the movie was horrible. Just not a good movie at all. Both Dad and I slept through a lot of it. But I do know that was some rest that Dad needed. Some rest that Mom made sure he got one way or another.

So I again thank all of you for being here to celebrate and honor Mom's memory. Know that she is here with us celebrating as well. I certainly don't mean here as these earthly remains either. I mean right here in our hearts.

Stay blessed."

Inspiration

It seems like an oxymoron that a photographer would be such a private person.  Here we are spending our time giving people a peek at other people's worlds through the images we capture.  But not all of us particularly like having the same lens on us. In fact, it may be the reason why several of us enjoy staying behind the glass in the first place instead of in front of it.

I am certainly no different.

I go out of my way to keep my private life private. I don't discuss a lot of things on the social networks because it's either family business or people just really don't have any right to know. Or maybe it's because I keep too much bottled inside. Whatever the case may be, I felt like it was time to give everyone a little insight to something that I consider personal.  Mainly because it has been affecting me personally and subsequently, also my photography.

Those of you who have been with me since the beginning, or at least since the name change, may remember that part of the reason for the revamping was I wanted to have the 'Fleming' name as part of the legacy I was attempting to create.  This beautiful woman is one of the main reasons why. I wouldn't be the man I am (or at least trying to be) today if it weren't for the wisdom, grace and knowledge passed on to me by my mother and father.  So to get the devastating news that Mom was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer was earth-shattering to say the least.

As much as I hate to admit it, I tend to be very selfish. I don't drink, smoke, do drugs, have an ink (tattoo) fetish, drink coffee or any of the standard addictions.  Therefore, my selfishness is my vice of sorts with which I struggle. Where I see it happening now is I selfishly only care that out of everyone suffering with cancer that Mom is the one who beats it. It has carried over to my personal life where the social interactions I used to have are now no longer as important.

Sure, I still maintain a certain facade online. I will tell a joke or two.  I will still make the occasional sarcastic reference here and there.  I will always do that. Those are personality traits that I can't shake.  Wouldn't want to if I could. However, even those have become more infrequent.  And I can't honestly say if its for the better or worse.

The biggest area that has become affected by this at least from my end is my photography.  I have noticed that the passion I once had has dwindled. My competitive spirit to better myself while being challenged by the work of other photogs has diminished. I find it difficult to invest the same time, effort and energy I used to when part of my inspiration for doing so is in the fight of her life.

One thing I learned from Mom though is anything worth having is worth fighting for. So although I may currently be in a self-imposed hiatus of creating new work, I know it won't last.  This too shall pass.  Mainly because I know Mom would want that as well.  Still, the process of getting to that point may be a gradual one.  I will be out of pocket here and there.  My responses may be slow.  In some instances, they may even be unintentionally curt. If there is even a response at all. Know that it clearly is nothing personal. And know that you can never keep a good Fleming down.

Too Fit to Quit

I have been meaning to speak on this for a while now but something always came up to get me sidetracked.  Well a post on a friend's Facebook page compelled me enough to finally put in my own two cents about the subject. Mainly because I too get criticism from conseravative folks about some of the things that I shoot.

Even on this website, you can see that I will delve into a racy concept or two here or there. I am no stranger to controversy. And if I'm going to be totally transparent, it can get even more risque than what you have seen.  But it's all relative to me. Mainly because I don't look at it in that judgmental way at all. I am a photographer who enjoys his craft so I look at it as art.

I am of the simple mindset that our bodies truly are temples.  In these days where fitness is so popular (not to mention a multi-billion dollar business), it's becoming more evident. People spend countless hours fine-tuning their temples to get them in peak condition. They work tirelessly to get them sculpted into chiseled specimens that would make the ancient Grecian statues jealous. Having done all that, why wouldn't you want to show it off?  I say time and time again, if I was built like a premier athlete, you'd have to pay me to keep my shirt on.

Self secure people are proud of their bodies. They are proud of how they look either due to hard work or blessed genetics.  Or sometimes even both.  So there is absolutely nothing wrong with having it memorialized in photos.  It's just another form of artistic expression. When it's done tastefully, there is nothing wrong with that all.

Which brings me to my next point...the key thing is that it is done with class.  There is a fine line. Some people shoot porn and call it art. I suppose one could argue that that is another form of art too. I wouldn't. It's porn. Nothing classy about that all. I go out of my way to make sure I always maintain integrity when shooting my 'racy' shoots so there is no gray area where one couldn't make that distinction. Personally, I think I do a pretty good job of maintaining that if I must say so myself.

I will always have those pearl-clutching folks that say some of my shots are too revealing. Some of them may even end up being family members.  I'm fine with that. I may not have the physique of a Marvel superhero, but I am secure enough with my work to know when something I created is a work of art.

Location, Location, Location

Just saw a post in one of the groups I belong to on The Book.  A photog was looking for a good spot to shoot in the Dallas area and posted about it so the other photogs in the group could respond.  Par for the course, he received no responses.  Except from me chiming in that I would be interested as well.  Besides that...crickets.

The thing is I have noticed some time ago that a lot of photogs don't like sharing locations of where they shoot.  And I mean A LOT. They are very discreet about their 'top secret' locations because they don't want anyone else to shoot there.  Some even get offended that you would have the nerve to ask.  The whole thing has always baffled me.

I have no problem sharing my locations with folks.  If another photog can get a different shot in the same location then more power to them.  The beauty of the art of photography is it's all in the eye of the beholder anyway.  What I may see from one angle in one location, another photographer may find in a different angle in the same location.  It's not about where you shoot..it's about what you capture while you're there.

Don't get me wrong...your location can make or break a photo.  I've seen far too many folks try to do a sexy swimsuit shoot in what looks like a marsh.  Or trying to capture a fashion look with what appears to be someone's backyard complete with raggedy chainlink fence and parked cars that haven't been properly DOF'ed (yes...just made up that term myself. That will be another post to come later).  I'm just saying that there are far too many folks that act like their locations are the garden of Eden and only they can shoot there.

I have been fortunate enough to connect with some photogs in the Dallas area that have had no problems sharing some of their favorite spots. Whenever I see one of their images and ask where it was shot, they don't hesitate to divulge it. There's no shroud of secrecy or them taking offense that I'm being nosy.  That's just how it should be. There's plenty of creativity to go around.

Not So Eventful

I really don't like shooting events. It has nothing to do with them being a lot of work though. Lord knows I could use the exercise. It's just that it's harder to make a connection with folks when shooting event. That consequently affects the individual shots when you try to single out people at the function. Although the candids are always fun because you can often catch people being themselves when they think no one is really watching.

The exceptions I always make are when I'm shooting an event for friends and/or family.  In this instance, doing the one for Grandma's 90th Birthday Celebration was a no-brainer. I always wished I had known now back when I did the one for Popoo's surprise party so he could have had the same quality images. At least I do still have video from that evening and in some ways, that's even better.

At any rate, this event could not have gone off any better. It was not a surprise Grandma made it clear she didn't want that. However, I think she was somewhat surprised at the turnout. And there's no way she knew what kind words everyone would share as they spoke on their amazing memories with her.  The smile on her face during all that was priceless.

It was a bittersweet moment for all of us in more ways than one. Grandma was already showing signs of illness that many of us weren't accustomed to seeing. She had always been such a powerful matriarch in both spirit and physical stature that we expected it to last for years to come. We all know that God always has other plans that we may not be aware of though. 

Grandma's health would go up and down in the days and weeks following her celebration. She tried to hold on for us as long as she could until it just became too much. I, for one, found myself selfishly wishing she was able to stay with us even longer. However, I certainly didn't want it to be in a condition where it was a struggle to remain here.  So her being able to finally be at peace was a greater reward than having more time with her.

At 90-years-young, Grandma had the chance to live a very full life that many folks would be envious of. Not only that, but she was able to experience some of the most pivotal moments in our country's history while she was still old enough to appreciate them.  That's why conversations with her were always so enamoring. As much as I will miss those, I will always treasure the knowledge I gained from her during those talks.

See these are the type of connections I look for when shooting events. Of course it helps when they are paying functions, but more than anything, if the memories are special for me too then that's something on which you cannot put a price-tag. I will always look back at these images from Grandma's 90th birthday celebration and remember how special, loved and appreciated we were able to make Grandma feel.  She may be gone, but she will be with us forever...

Getting Off Track

The title could apply to the fact that I've been MIA for so long with these posts.  Has it really been over three months??  All my bad there.  Totally inexcusable.  I had a goal to get these out at the minimum of once a month.  Actually, originally I had planned to do one with each shoot, but I realized that was a bit to ambitious.  Starting in the new year, I may adopt that philosophy like I intended. For now, I will probably just have to make up for lost time.

One thing the long gap in posts allowed me to do was to come up with more material and/or observations to post about.  Some I may have to filter a bit and won't address so as not to offend. I do like controversy, just not when it's bad for business.  Heck, this post alone may ruffle some feathers; however, it's still a topic that I feel passionate about so I feel compelled to speak on it.

The pic you see here was the last time I ever did a shoot on railroad tracks.  It was by design also. You see..when I first started shooting, I knew I wanted to do all the type of shoots that I had admired in the past. One of the trends at the time was the shooting on railroad tracks. I thought that would be so cool to do one as well. So I got my Frat Theotto and his then-girlfriend (now wife) Rikkia to help out and we made this happen.  I did like the way it came out at the time (given my limited knowledge of composition, editing, framing, etc.).  After this, I was good with raillroad tracks even before there would be issues in the photography world surrounding the use of them.

I would find out later that apparently it is illegal to shoot on railroad tracks in the first place. Something about how they are technically government and/or federal property so it's trespassing? Not that that matters a great deal. Anyone that has been shooting a while knows you will gladly trespass a time or two to get some good shots. I call it guerrilla photography.  As long as the photographer and/or his subjects aren't injured then it's all good. Which brings me to the next issue that would eventually arise...

Folks are getting killed while they are attempting to take photos on tracks. There have been more than a couple of instances now where the photographer is shooting on live tracks when a train has barreled down on them and the rest is history. I still don't know how it's possible that one could not hear and/or see a large locomotive coming. Are they shooting with loud theme music blaring? Even if the train is to their back, shouldn't the client see it coming and forewarn the photog?  Or maybe they thought it would be a cool shot to get the image of the train as it's right behind the client then they forget to move in time? 

The thing for me is shooting on railroad tracks has been come way to passe.  It's an image that has been played out and overdone by now. I don't understand why photographers are still doing it in the first place. Like anything else, it was a trend that had its moment but its time has now come and gone. I guess this is one of those things where I am in the silent minority though. Because even though I have refused to shoot that concept for the past few years now, I continue to see folks still doing it. And some getting killed in the process.

Do. You.

It just hit me one day while I was watching an old "Martin" episode a while ago.  He had that infamous phrase that he would utter occasionally when trying to be sarcastic:  "Do you!"  It was his way of saying that he may not have agreed with whatever that person was doing, but if they like it, then more power to them.  It occurred to me it could very easily have an even more positive meaning.

I am constantly taking photos of all types of different people from all types of different backgrounds.  They have their own personalities.  Their own interests.  Their own beliefs.  They don't live their lives according to how other people want them to.  They do what makes them happy.

Do. You.

Some people erroneously (and dare I say ignorantly) view it as a question when they see it on one of my photos.  Do you see a question mark anywhere in the statement?  No.  Because quite simply put, it is precisely a statement.  It accompanies each photo where the person is doing just that.  They are merely living out the statement in their own personal way.

It started out as a clever idea for me on just a couple of photos.  However, the more I started applying it to different photos, the more it took on a life of its own.  It became more of a movement.  A movement that will very soon take on some even edgier and different directions.  There are still several ideas that come to mind that would fall under the "Do. You." umbrella so it's not set to end anytime soon.

When I went through the process of creating this new site, I struggled with the idea of whether I should give "Do. You." its own category.  I probably would have if I didn't already have so many other categories.  And since all the others are mainly there to generate sources of income, I omitted my personal endeavors.  What I did instead was give this movement its own Flickr page that you can view here:  bit.ly/doyou06.

You will have to forgive the no-frills look of the current 'Do. You.' page.  It's really just meant to highlight the different photos that have already made it to the movement.  At some point in time I will devote a little more time to spruce it up a bit.  But for now, you may want to visit it from time to time to see what new images have joined the movement.  You never know...one day you could see your very own photo there...

Yay men!

I still remember the day, or to be more technically accurate, the evening that I received that horrible text.  My cousin Earl had been in a very bad motorcycle accident.  Having no brothers of my own (if you discount my 300,000+ Frat worldwide of course), that was like hearing my brother had just been seriously hurt.  I was instantly numb.  And helpless.  Hundreds of miles away and feeling there was nothing I could do.

The soonest I could see him happened to fall on the Kansas City reunion weekend.  By that time, he had been stabilized to the point where he could have visitors on a semi-regular basis.  He was still very heavily medicated though to help his body cope with the constant pain.  That's why he still has no recollection of my time with him in the hospital.  It's too bad because his conversation was down right epic.  Even on pain meds, I would have expected nothing less from Earl.

Fortunately, that was nearly a few months ago and a lot has changed since then.  Earl beat odd after odd as he embarked on his road to recovery.  Those successes landed him in this renown rehab facility in Lincoln, NE known as Madonna's.  Still pretty far from me to see him, but not if I was in Des Moines doing shoots.  So the last time I had something scheduled there, I made sure to set aside an entire day where I could road trip to Lincoln to check on my cousin-brother.

Needless to say, Earl was doing MUCH better than the first time I saw him since the accident.  Back then it was good to just see him coherent.  This time, his personality was fully intact with no medication inhibiting him.  He had Diah and I cracking up the entire time we were there with his stories of his time in the facility.  Best one of all being the 'special' men's section of the chapel choir.  Days later and I still start laughing thinking of how Earl tried to encourage those poor tone-deaf souls.

One of the highlights of the visit was getting to see Tanya.  We missed her somehow while we were in KC.  It felt odd too because it's not often that I see Earl without here so everything seemed right again seeing her at Madonna's.  That's why I just had to capture this image.  It didn't matter that Tanya had expressed they had taken about a thousand pictures already.  I pointed out to her although that may be the case, they hadn't had one done by me.  I promised it would be worth it.  Even she admitted it was one of the best photos of the two of them that they have had in quite a while.  So the entire trip overall was one huge success.

Aloha

Never thought I would be doing a destination wedding.  Okay...maybe that was very pessimistic of me.  I knew I would at some point.  It's really just the law of averages.  I just didn't figure my first location would be so epic.  I was thinking Florida would be likely at some point.  Possibly southern California.  Maybe even New York.  All spots I wouldn't mind shooting.  Nope.  It was Hawaii.

It all started with the engagement pics I did for Stefy and Sergio. Well if you want to be technical, it began with the first model shoot I did for Stefy.  However, I would definitely say it was the engagement pics that cinched the deal.  They were both so pleased with my work that they insisted I do their wedding.  I was all game for it too.  Then when I found out they were getting hitched in Hawaii, I just assumed all bets were off.  Those wedding packages come with photogs.  That didn't matter.  They still wanted my services.

Keep in mind, I have never been to Hawaii.  I have never even left the continental U.S.  So this was quite the adventure for me.  It didn't even matter that I was going there on business.  I don't care what your profession is, it really doesn't seem like 'work' at all when your locale is Hawaii.  And I quickly realized that 4 days there wasn't enough.

I promised the two of them that I would go above and beyond for their wedding.  That meant more than just the ceremony.  We did bridal and groom photos around the entire island of Kauai.  As long as there was sun light, we were out shooting in it.  I have never been exhausted in my entire life.  But once again, it was a type of exhaustion that I would gladly settle for if given a choice.

The wedding day itself was almost a disaster from my standpoint.  Something that Stefy and Sergio weren't even aware of until now (assuming they read this).  It turned out that I had drained both my regular battery and my back-up battery by the time the wedding day rolled around.  I had gotten so wrapped up in capturing every moment and properly preserving it that I forgot to charge my batteries the night before the ceremony.  As I'm loading up my gear to head to the location, I realize I'm down to about 15 minutes of battery life.  I was sweating like a prostitute in church on Sunday.

Fortunately, the vehicle that we were driving around had a regular three-pronged outlet in it. I charged one battery there while we snapped some of the formals at a lush flower garden.  That only bought me another 30 minutes though.  Then Lady Luck struck again.  We had to take a ferry to the site where the ceremony would be held.  It was approximately a 15-minute ride.  And that ferry had electrical outlets.  I was able to charge both batteries to the point where I bought myself at least another 3-4 hours.  And thanks to my tactical shot selection, they were able to last even longer.  Tragedy averted. 

All in all, I can't even express what an amazing opportunity that Hawaii trip was.  I cannot thank the Belmontes enough for allowing it to happen.  If I never shoot another wedding again (after the one I already have booked a few months from now) then I would have ended on the highest note possible.  I don't think I could ever live in Hawaii even if I had the chance given the high cost of living and being so far from everyone; however, I definitely would not mind visiting often.

Oh Baby

I remember when I first started dabbling with photography I told myself that I wouldn't do baby portraits.  Only because I had seen some bad experiences played out in movies and tv shows.  Plus, I just knew from experience how temperamental babies can be.  However, I cooled on that thought very quickly.  Mainly when I began realize that I would only limit myself by keeping my focus that narrow.

I will never consider myself to be the baby whisperer when it comes to shooting babies.  There's a special talent that one needs in order to catch the perfect infant pic.  I know I don't have that.  I also know I could probably obtain it if I really applied myself.  I just feel that my skillset is better with older subjects and I'm fine with that.

Now I do get lucky from time to time.  Fortunately, I've been able to work with babies/toddlers/kids that seem to like me.  Not so much that I'm their best friend, but just enough that they will do good in front of the camera.  That's all I really care about.  Just want to make sure their parents get some good images. 

The one kid that always gets the premier treatment is my grandson.  I will pull out the camera on a whim and just start snapping him.  It's partly because he's my first grandchild, but mainly because he's just so doggone photogenic.  He really doesn't take a bad picture.  And most of the time, he looks photo ready just being his normal self before I'm even able to get the camera.

So I may not have blogged in a while, but I figured this was a good photo to come back with.  And just to give you a heads up...there's a good chance that if I go into a funk again where I don't blog for a minute, my return may very well be another picture of this cute little fella.

Going Back in Time

It does seem like an appropriate title for Wednesday, doesn't it?  It could be a Wayback Wednesday theme, huh?  Or perhaps I could have waited for tomorrow and just called it Throwback Thursday?  Well ironically enough, it doesn't have anything to do with an archived photo but rather a setting.

There used to be a time when I relied solely on a nice location for my photography.  Back when I had no concept of studio lighting and/or how to use it.  Then again, I really had no concept of how to use outdoor lighting either.  However, I knew that a great location is the key to making an average shoot look great.  Like they always say...location, location, location.

That's why I was beyond pleased to get the opportunity for this latest session.  It was already good enough this was an engagement session.  I always enjoy those.  It's the opportunity to capture two people at one of the happiest moments in their lives.  You can capture natural euphoria that you normally have to coax out of folks.  And to do it all in a vintage setting is even better.

This spot that Stefy and Sergio selected reminded me of Living Histoy Farms back home in Iowa.  It's quite possible that every state has something like it somewhere and I'm just not aware of it.  One of those places where you leave the outside world to go back to a simpler time.  Only  Dallas Heritage Village was one of the best I've seen.  It was like I was on a 30s Hollywood set that spanned 13 acres.

Now granted, you can't do this type of shoot with just anyone anytime.  My boudoir shoots wouldn't quite fit here, for instance.  Your subject has to be in period gear as well to make it really pop.  Then you add a little vintage editing like I've done and it all really comes together. It's quite possible I may have enjoyed the session more than the couple did.

The Eyes Have It

This one isn't so much a tip as much as it is a personal preference to my shooting style.  Every photog will have their own set of guidelines they follow to make sure their work stays consistent.  Sometimes we have to stray for one reason for another, but we will strive to maintain that consistency.  For me, it has to do with a person's eyes.  Well...not really their eyes, but the colored contacts that some folks choose to wear.

For the record, this photo does NOT represent one of those such instances.  Jena is one of my favorite photo subjects who just happens to be blessed with some very photogenic eyes.  There would never be any need for her to wear contacts to alter her eye color.  Unfortunately, some people don't feel the same way about their natural eye color and they choose otherwise.  To each their own, but it really hurts the quality of any professional photos they choose to have done.

You have all heard the saying that the eyes are the keys to the soul, right?  Well that is certainly the case with photography.  A person's eyes can make or break an incredible picture.  All because your eyes are what gives your picture life.  Your emotions come through in what your eyes express.  So when a person has on contacts, the eyes look absolutely dead.

Let's put aside the simple fact that colored contacts very rarely look genuine.  That alone is an obvious reason to avoid having them in a professional shoot.  Then there is the secondary reason (and my personal pet peeve) that contacts don't capture catch lights very well.  If at all.  If you can't emote through your eyes, then a professional photo of your face is pretty much useless.

From the Hip

Every now and then I will impart some of my photography wisdom to all of you.  I have been doing this for a little over five years now (officially) so it's only fair that I pass on some of my knowledge.  Who knows, it might actually help out some folks that are thinking about getting into the field themselves.

This first tip is about shooting perspective.  Back in the day, they had those older cameras held about waist level then looked in from above to take pictures.  Of course the quality was terrible because they didn't have near the technology we have today.  However, the one thing they did manage to get right was the angle. 

It's crucial that when you are shooting a subject that you always shoot level with their waist.  What this does is assures that you will be maintaining equal proportions with their top half and their bottom half.  It is especially effective when shooting shorter folks.  Even moreso if they may already have insecurities about their height.  That way the image won't come out appearing as though you are looking down on them.  It may be a desired effect some may want to achieve when trying to be artsy, but you don't want that on a standard portrait.

The one drawback to this is that it is hard on the knees.  I find myself constantly kneeling and squatting to get that perfect angle.  But sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do to get that shot.  At least you do if you're serious about your craft.  It just means I need to get in better shape to maintain some longevity.  Because I'll be doggone if I let the quality of my work suffer.