Old Dog, New Tricks

My Dad, driving his new car and acting more like a twenty-something than the sixty-something he is. There are some advantages to a strong family resemblance—I know exactly what I'll look like when I grow up. Zoom-Zoom, Dad.

Perpetual Calendar

I've started shooting a personal project and have quickly realized just how out of practice I am at shooting inanimate objects [and how much more fun animate ones are]. This project also marks the start of my transition from Apple's Aperture to Adobe's Lightroom—so far, me likey. Only 39 more images to go.

A Nine Year Old's Perspective

My daughter was glued to the television today taking copious notes—my son not so much—that she then transformed into this graphical [and historical] timeline. Today certainly called for an extra big exclamation point!

As If I Need Another Reason

The iPhone + the Flashlight app make a rad portable light table! My Mom came across a box of color slides I shot more than 20 years ago. Back when you waited a week to see if what you shot came out or not. I'm surprised how many came out [and how many I took of my first car].

Gallery-Wrapped Awesomeness

You may remember Noah, Kolton and Landon from a holiday mini-session in November. The detail on these 16 x 24 inch gallery-wrapped canvas prints is nothing short of awesome—even my reflection in Landon's eye is still easily recognizable—and the trio looks amazing against the orange walls of my client's home office [click on any blog image to see a larger version].

Looks. Brains. And She Bakes.

Not only do these cookies look good, they taste good! I cannot tell a lie, Christy. I ate one of them as soon as I was done shooting. There's a party going on in my tummy right now.

ROFL

My daughter and I share the same quirky sense of humor, so I usually have no trouble making her laugh. Today, as we played around with an idea I had for the kids' Christmas thank you cards, she brought the funny all by herself!

Mixing Addictions

Okay, I admit I have a problem [only 11 steps to go].

blp's Best Friend

What this dog lacks in discipline he makes up for in good looks. I'm still trying to remove all the nose prints on my lens.

An Image A Day

My goal here is a simple one: shoot every day. And, I am not self-imposing any other rules.

Happy 2009!

Though I am looking forward to 2009, I do look back on 2008—and all of its images—and can't help but smile. Here's hoping that this year brings us all more smiles.

Merry Christmas

Here is my family's Christmas card which pretty much sums up my holiday wishes for you.I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas. I'll be posting again before New Year's to announce a few exciting things I have planned for the new year.

Shootshop Download

It's been a week since I got back from San Diego and the image is found One Day Our Way Shootshop, and I am still processing everything I took away. Nate and Jaclyn are about as real as it gets, and no question was off limits or without a no-punches-pulled answer. From shooting to post-processing and yes, even how to manage client expectations, Nate and Jaclyn filled my head with so much to think about it hurt [in a good way]. And, they are as funny as they are good. Nate had me laughing so much with his Nate-isms, that I started writing them down. You can read them here.

Have you ever asked yourself, "How do they do that?" I have, and the best part of the Shootshop is seeing how they do it. I left my gear in the studio while we walked around Oceanside with the über photogenic Molly and Matt, but I did grab a few how-do-they-do-that behind the scene shots with my iPhone [Click on the image below to see a larger version].On the flight home I wrote down several pages of post-'shop To Do's. Some of them have already been crossed off, while others will be coming in the New Year.

I have been admiring Nate and Jaclyn's work for nearly three years—they shot my sister's wedding in San Jose del Cabo in November 2006 which you can see here, here and here—and it was a thrill to see them again. See you guys on 11.11.11.

the image is found Blog Love

Since I spent all day Thursday traveling back from San Diego and most of today catching up with Christy and the kids, I'm still working on a recap of my awesome experience at the image is found One Day Our Way Shootshop. Suffice to say, I did come back with the Kaiser Fever I was hoping for. In the meantime, head over to Nate and Jaclyn's blog to see images from the Shootshop as well as a list of Nate-isms I wrote down. And a huge thanks to Nate for the blog love.

Getting My Shootshop On

Today, I am headed to San Diego to join 16 other photographers for a full day with the über talented Nate and Jaclyn Kaiser of the image is found at their One Day Our Way Shootshop.
Nate and Jaclyn are not only at the top of their game, they're at the top of the industry, and their passion for their art and life are infectious. I hope to return home with a bad case of Kaiser Fever.

Better to Give & Receive

Congratulations to Mary Reider who outbid her competition at the Mount Airy and Parrs Ridge Elementary Schools' annual dinner auction and took home the "An Hour in the Life" photography package I donated. Through Mary's generous bid, the schools' PTA can continue to fund all of their great programs, and Mary receives an hour of paparazzi-style, on-location photography along with a keepsake 8" x 6" softcover photo book.Scroll down the page to see more images from my recent "An Hour in the Life" sessions with Katherine and Cassie. And, click here to email me or call me anytime at 301.524.0777 to schedule your own "An Hour in the Life."