The Power of Photography

As I was looking through images from the Inauguration last night, as well as last week's plane crash in New York City, it reminded me just how powerful a tool photography is. These images I saw before me on my computer screen moved me; they were filled with emotion; raw and very human. I thought to myself how important photography is and how I have always viewed it. It has always been more than a hobby to me, ever since picking up a camera at a very young age. For me, it was a way to tell a story. I would come back from family vacations as a teenager and make photo albums and scrapbooks in a way that told a story so anyone who picked it up felt as if they were there too. This is how I view every one of my photo sessions. I am there to capture moments that tell a story. To capture raw emotion and moments in time that will never come again. After losing my father to cancer 10 years ago, the photographs that I have of him are priceless and I cherish them more with every year that passes. So to me, photography is a medium that has the power to capture time, for you to hold in your hand or put in a frame. Priceless moments that you never want to forget and when you look back at them years from now you remember just how you felt that very day, or remember the look on your child's face and it lights up yours. This is what humbles me, that I have the power in my camera to do that. Here is a slideshow to music of some of yesterday's images that I thought were so moving that is appropriately titled "Looking Up". That's a great thought for every day, never stop looking up.

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2009/44.president/inauguration/looking.up/

Happy 2009!!

What an amazing year 2008 was for me! I was honored to photograph some of the most beautiful families and gorgeous children ever! I traveled all over the country and was fortunate to meet and photograph along side some of my favorite photographers whom I admire so much. And I was extremely blessed to photograph some celebrities and very well known people (sorry, I'm under contract and can't name names!), had one of my photos published in the Orlando Sentinel, was selected as "Artist of the Month" by Infusion Tea, ran into Brad Pitt on the streets of New Orleans, and worked with some amazing companies such as Cavichi, Daisy's Children's Boutique, Playground Magazine, Pain Solutions Magazine, Posh Parenting and Dream Balloon Productions. I hope 2009 is every bit as great as 2008 was! Here is a slideshow of some of the images from this past year (couldn't fit them all in). Just press on the arrow to start and turn up your speakers.

My Nephew

He's back!!! This little guy has been missing from my blog for quite some time, and to no fault of my own. My nephew, Zach, has had it with Aunt Suzie and her camera and has not let me photograph him in forever. But he's actually starting to come around again and let me take some photos of him. He's gotten SO big, hasn't he??! We managed to get in a few holiday photos in front of the giant tree at Uptown Altamonte.

Off to New Orleans

UPDATE: I saw and got some pics of Brad Pitt riding his bike thru the French Quarter yesterday!! We were doing a group shoot on St. Louis Street, right off of Bourbon Street, and he rode right past me!! Here's a preview. I was THAT close to him!

I will be out of town in the Big Easy from Sunday 10/05 thru Thursday 10/09 attending the awesome Image X Workshop. I will have to little to no email and voicemail access. I promise I will get back to you promptly upon my return, with lots of pics too! It's been years since I was in the French Quarter and I can't wait to go back and attend a workshop of some amazing photographers: Jessica Claire and Chenin Boutwell (two of my idols in the photography world). Here's a video promo about it below. Have a great week!

LearnFest Workshop

UPDATE: I am back and what an amazing experience this has been! An awesome group of photographers from all over the world and I was so proud to be a part of it. Thank you to everyone that had a part in putting this on. It was extraordinary and something I won't soon forget. I made lots of new friends which made it even more memorable! Thanks everyone for an awesome week!

I will be out of the state in beautiful Bald Head Island, North Carolina from Monday, Sept. 22nd, through Friday, Sept. 26th. I will be attending the first-ever LearnFest workshop with four of the most amazing and talented child photographers in the country: Audrey Woolard; Tamara Lackey; Lena Hyde; and Laura Novak. I am truly honored to be in their presence. I hope to return fully refreshed and inspired to serve my client's needs that much better. I have never been to Bald Head Island before but it sounds amazing: no cars, you get there by ferry and get around by golf cart or bicycle. During my absence, I will not have access to email or voicemail. I promise to get back to everyone upon my return (with lots of photos!)

Amazing view from our porch

Amazing sunset from our porch

The Girls!!! I love my new friends: Kelli, Patrice, Tara & Mandy

The awesome Tamara Lackey

The awesome Audrey Woolard

One of the child models we got to shoot

the awesome house I stayed in

Playground Magazine Fall Issue

As you have seen on my Blog throughout the year, I am honored to be a part of a great new magazine here in Orlando, Playground Magazine. Their Fall issue just hit the streets and it is awesome! I was honored and thrilled to be named one of their 5-Star Family Photographers! Here are a few highlights of my work in the latest issue. You can go to their website and sign up for a subscription or a listing of vendors throughout Orlando that carry them. Go get a copy!

Artist of the Month

A local restaurant here in Orlando, Infusion Tea, has named me as their Artist of the Month for August! I'm so excited!! I finally get to exhibit my work for the public to see up close and personal. There will be many large Fine Art Canvas Wraps, metallic prints, metallic wraps, etc on display. This Saturday, August 2nd, I will be hosting their "Meet the Artist" event from 7pm to 9pm. Please feel free to drop by! They are located at 1600 Edgewater Drive in College Park. If you are unable to make it Saturday night, my work will be on display the whole month of August, so please feel free to stop in and take a look.

Out of Town

I will be out of town on a photo shoot from June 27th thru June 29th with very limited access to my email and the Internet. I will get back to everyone when I return. Have a great weekend!!!

Kids Town

As a contributing photographer for the new and oh-so awesome, Playground Magazine, I was asked to do some photos of Kids Town at the Orlando Science Center. I had never been there before going for this assignment and let me say just how cool this place is for kids! Information about the Orlando Science Center can be found by clicking here.

The newest issue, featuring hip stuff for Dads, hit the streets yesterday. Make sure you grab a copy! Here is a preview of my spread on Kids Town:

iPhone 3G

Apple, you're killing me!!! I just finally got an iPhone a few months ago, now you come out with a much better version that's faster and 1/2 the cost of what I paid... UGH

Happy Mother's Day

I just wanted to wish my mom a very Happy Mother's Day today. And to all the moms that have given me the honor and privilege of photographing your precious little ones, I thank you from the bottom of my heart and wish you a great Mother's Day!

My mom and me

Two Views Tour

I was privileged to attend the Two Views Tour today here in Orlando with two of the top photographers in the world, Joe Buissink and Yervant. These two photographers are icons in our industry and I was in complete awe. Joe Buissink's studio is in Beverly Hills and while he might not be a household name, his clients certainly are. He has shot weddings for Christina Aguilera, Jessica Simpson & Nick Lachey, Hillary Swank & Chad Lowe, Kelsey Grammer, J. Lo, and the list goes on and on. Yervant's studio is in Melbourne, Australia and has shot weddings all over the world. They talked about their work and what keeps them fresh and what inspires them to do what they do. In the afternoon, they had a model come in and showed us how they shoot and interact with their subjects. It was an amazing, amazing experience. And I also got a signed print from Yervant that is going to get promptly framed and hung in my house!

Fun in the sun

I got to spend the afternoon with my nephew yesterday and we went to a local community water park. I think he was having a good time, don't you?! I cannot tell how hard it is to photograph a 4 year old running at top speed from one side of the park to the other! It was a perfect day, extremely warm and a great spot to cool off at.

Checking things out before he takes the plunge

Sunset over Orlando

I was born and raised in Orlando and get to see downtown every single day. You truly begin to take it for granted and forget the beauty in this city. I grabbed my camera and walked around downtown right at dusk last night to photograph around the city and its ever-changing skyline. Right about 7:30pm, there was the most AMAZING sunset!!! I hurried up and ran to the top floor of a parking garage and got the sun setting on the horizon. So beautiful. I love when I just grab my camera and go shoot for myself and for fun. Me, myself and my 5D, its a beautiful thing :)

a blimp just happened to fly by!

taken out of my car window

Church Street Station

Me shooting into the window of what used to be the famous Phineas Phoggs

The Rockstar Roadtrip

I attended an awesome workshop today here in Orlando, The Rockstar Roadtrip, with two rockstar photographers, who I am humbled just being in the same room with! Corey McNabb, an amazing wedding photographer from Asheville, opened up with his wedding photography insights, and Amber Holritz, an amazing child & family lifestyle photographer from Chattanooga, finished with her wonderful world of portraiture. I also met some fabulous local photographers that were attending who I hope to now call friends. Anyone on the fence about attending this at one of their upcoming tour cities, I'm telling you to GO! Awesome workshop, lots of valuable info from two incredible photographers, you will not regret it. Thank you Corey and Amber for your time and graciousness today. You guys Rock! Here are a few shots I took:

Corey doing his thing (like the screen??! LOL!)

Amber during her presentation

Photo by Amber

Photo by Corey of Michelle, Lori & me

Zach & Zoe

I finally got to see my nephew yesterday for the first time in a few weeks. He is getting SO big! My sister came over and brought Zach's friend, Zoe, with them. How cute are these two??! We went and had lunch and then went to Uptown Altamonte. Of course, two 4-year olds can't bypass the fountain there. It was super windy and water was blowing everywhere. They were soaked when we left; but had an absolute blast! This was about 1pm yesterday at the worst possible time of the day to take outside pics, but we had fun and that's all that matters!

Someone was getting a little sleepy by the end of the day!