I recently volunteered for a photography conference here in the valley called “Chicks Who Click”. It was held at Firesky Resort in Scottsdale, AZ and was organized by PPA Charities (www.ppacharities.com). PPA Charities has decided to align itself with Operation Smile. Operation Smile sponsors medical mission trips that provide free cleft lip surgeries that transform lives of many underprivileged children around the world (www.operationsmile.org). As one of just a few Operation Smile studios in Arizona, I am excited about the opportunity I will have to positively affect the lives of children in such a tangible way. Besides making numerous airport runs in order to pick up seminar presenters, my main obligation was to book models for the platform photographers at the event. I was able to book a 2 week old newborn, children and maternity models, as well as high school senior girls and boys. I have attached some of the photographs I captured after the main sessions. Not only was I able to work with and learn from top portrait photographers from around the country, but I was also able to support a wonderful charity in the process! A big thank you to Bert Behnke for allowing me to work with him.
With high school graduation just around the corner, Lauren wanted something new and fresh for her graduation announcements. After scouting for a few days, I found this great field with trees, bushes and tall fox-tail grass. Who would have thought this picturesque background was located in the desert of Phoenix, AZ. The evening light was perfect and it turned out to be everything Lauren and her mom envisioned it to be. What a magical evening!
Halle Berry
I had an amazing opportunity to be part of the photography team that covered Muhammad Ali’s Celebrity Fight Night last weekend in Scottsdale, AZ. I found that I was working so hard I didn’t have time to be star struck. Although it goes without saying, Halle Berry is drop dead gorgeous. Being an American Idol fan, it was fun to see the current cast and hear them sing. Their security team reminds me of a Presidental detail – these guys are crazy BIG! I was assigned to photograph the sponsor room and the VIP guests with celebrities which included Kevin Costner, Billy Crystal, Bo Derek, Larry Fitzgerald, Tom Chambers, Verne Troyer (Mini-Me), Bret Michaels, just to name a few. One of the highlights of the evening was when record producer, David Foster introduced 10 year old singing sensation Jackie Evancho. This kid can sing like no 10 year old I’ve ever heard! Check her out (www.jackieevancho.com). Photographing MatchBox Twenty was a favorite of mine that evening, for sure! I was practically right on stage with them as they rocked the house. So cool! At the end of the evening, millions were raised for Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center. The night ended when American Idol star, Kelly Clarkson and Reba McEntire invited all the ladies in the room on stage to sing a Kelly favorite. It was truly a night to be remembered.
American Idol Cast 2011
Kevin Costner
Reba McEntire
David Foster & singer Jackie Evancho
Jackie Evancho
Rob Thomas-Matchbox20
Haley Reinhart-American Idol
Miss Arizona USA Brittany Brannon & Arizona Cardinals Tim Hightower
Halle Berry/ Brittany Brannon Miss Arizona USA
Billy Crystal
Sinbad
Lauren Alaina- American Idol
Scott McCreery- American Idol
Jordin Sparks
Bret Michaels
MatchBox20
James Durbin-American Idol
Thia Megia-American Idol
Larry Fitzgerald
I traveled to Lake Village, Arkansas in September to photograph these darling children for a unique Christmas card. The family farms cotton there, so Mom decided to get some portraits of the kids in the cotton fields to show family and friends in Arkansas, but in their home state of Ohio (GO BUCKS!), as well. Lake Village is a farming community, nestled in the south eastern corner of Arkansas and that area is known as the Delta. You can’t go anywhere around there without seeing the familiar “John Deer” green on just about everything. Mom ordered the overalls online and we used antique John Deer tractors for the kids to sit on. They were completely mesmerized by the cotton picking equipment picking cotton on both sides of us during our photo session. I can say, without a doubt, this was a photo experience that I won’t soon forget. Thank you to everyone for excepting an outsider like me into your friendly and humble community!
On a recent trip to Arkansas I had the privilege to photograph the newest and largest bridge over the mighty Mississippi river. Through some close connections in the area, l was given a sunrise tour of the bridge. I had the entire bridge to myself to photograph. It was amazing being up there above the river in the dark with nobody else around. This new bridge 5 years in the making just opened today and will make the connection between Lake Village, AR.(US 82) and Greenville, MS.(US 278). The $250 million bridge’s design, location, and span were created both to allow easier river navigation and safer driving. The roadway has four 12-foot lanes, 12-foot outside shoulders, and 8-foot inside shoulders. The old bridge was 2 lanes and no room for driver error or barges floating on the river.
The Greenville Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge crossing the Mississippi River. The main span’s 1,378 feet (420 m) length, makes it the third-longest in the United States, and fourth longest in North America. The largest on the Mississippi !
I had a great photo session with a couple of seniors at McCormick RR park this past week. Lauren’s Mom called me earlier this summer and said she wanted some fun pictures of her daughter and her boyfriend. To avoid the unpredictable monsoon storms, we needed the early sunrise light and started taking pictures at 6:00 AM. Even at this obscene hour of the morning, these kids brought energy! I have photographed Lauren before so I knew she was a sweetie and easy to work with. I wasn’t sure how things would go photographing both of them together. With just a little fun coaxing and teasing, I was able to put them at ease and the shoot went off without a hitch. Andrew was a very respectful young man and it was a joy working with everyone involved. Kudos to Julie (Mom) for being my assistant.
One of the things I really love about my job is photographing people that have never been in front of the camera. That happened the other day during an awesome photo session with Lauren and her mom. Lauren never had her senior pictures taken so this was her first time in a studio. She had great clothes and moved with ease and confidence- a real natural. I received many versatile looks from Lauren and the images are exquisite. The evening allowed me the opportunity to try several different types of lighting scenarios, as well. Below is just a sampling of the many looks from the evening. Thanks Lauren for a great night of photography – You’re a real beauty!
