Inspired Photo Blog

“My back to the wall
A victim of laughing chance
This is for me
The essence of true romance
Sharing the things we know and love
With those of my kind
Libations
Sensations
That stagger the mind”

All of us want to be different. Yet, we are the same. All of us trying to get back to something.

This past weekend, we watched UP. An amazing movie that my wife called “cute”.  Any reference to old people in love is deemed cute. Without spoiling anything—what touched me is a reinforcement of a lesson I recently learned. That we are always free to change the choices that we make.

Have you ever decided to buy a car that you felt was perfect? A car that was unique—that really expressed who you were as a person? All of a sudden you see that car everywhere. That’s the way it works for me. Whatever lesson I’m supposed to be learning at any given point in my life is reinforced in everything that I see around me.

Recently, I attended the  Life (as an artform) workshop with Jesh de Rox. One of the ideals I left with is that we always have the ability to change the choices that we make. If you know me at all, you know my passion for movies.  Here was that lesson whispered to me in the form of a movie. Later in the evening, we enjoyed another movie together as a family and I kept thinking of how important movies are to our society.

Joseph Campbell wrote about the power of myth in our society, which includes movies. One of the reasons I enjoy movies is that we get to witness the choices and consequences of choice in other’s lives.  I preach to my girls over and over again about about making good choices in their lives.

As the evening ended, I found myself alone on the couch watching a VH1 show about Steely Dan. Funny how I always seem to wind up watching behind the scene shows about musicians at the end of the day. A former musician turned photographer, I’m fascinated to learn about their creative process. What struck me was a comment from a session player who worked with them. He commented on how they would drive everyone to perfection and then go past it to a place where everyone found a comfortable groove.

If I could sum up the Jesh experience, it would be in his own words… if someone has been a friend to you,,,(life). He’s a photographic poet with the heart and soul of a wise and ancient teacher. We spoke very little about photographic technique and a lot on connecting to the heart of the individual.  He challenged us to look into our hearts and examine our creative process and be brave enough to see past ourselves. For me, it helped connect a lot of loose ends from the past few years. I hope to share some of this in my work in the coming months. Until then, be brave and live in love!

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May is blogiversary month. June is the beginning of my 5th year of blogging! To celebrate, I’m serving up a slice of decadent love. Chocolate and vanilla cheesecake with pecans and caramel drizzle—a mouth-watering taste of goodness.

Last year, I celebrated with a decadent treat. You can read the archived ‘08 Birthday Blog and A Few of My Favorite Posts, but the one that started it all was The Blank Canvas in 2005. I never intended this blog to be a vehicle to promote my business. I wanted it to be a peek into the life of an artist, a storyteller’s journey. A pulling aside of the curtain sharing with you the story behind the scenes.

If you follow my blog, you know it’s’s been very quiet. May is the month that I hit the reset button. I’ve been reevaluating my relationship to my business—my art and the path I’m traveling. Business is very slow, as it is for many in this economy, yet I’m busier than ever finding my life.

Upon reflection, I’ll say this was the year of travel. My first trip to Mexico, a life-changing workshop with Jesh de Rox, a trip to San Antonio, Texas with my wife and then Seattle for the annual Microsoft CEO Summit. This summer we are vacationing with our girls in southern California. The girls have grown up so incredibly fast and I’m in awe of life that never slows down.

This month alone, I’ve celebrated my 10th wedding anniversary with my beloved and I will see my oldest daughter graduate from high school with a 4.0 grade average, beginning her life as an adult. This may be our last opportunity to share a vacation together as a family as we’ve done in years past. A moment to hang onto all that we love and treasure— a family of 5 beautiful souls sharing life.

I have much to share with you in the upcoming months, including thoughts about the direction of my work in the coming years. I’ve felt a transition coming for years now, but recently it all came together for me in a beautiful way. I intend to show up every day for my work. I am going to distance myself from the creative process. Practice being in the moment and staying connected to life. Let go of the outcome, the end result and the labels and pressure that I feel from everything around me. To do otherwise would be like trying to swallow the sun.

A photographer at Jesh’s workshop had a beautiful phrase inscribed on her body. A thought—a frame of mind that I intend to keep present in my thoughts. Live in Love.

Be brave my friends and Live in Love!

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When was the last time you had a portrait created by a professional photographer? If you’re like most people, the answer would be in grade school or your senior high school graduation. When couples ask why they need an engagement session (e-session in photog talk) I remind them of this point.

E-sessions are relaxed and fun. It’s an opportunity for me to show you how the whole process works. Explain about how I see light and use it to make you look your best. It’s a chance to creatively play, have fun and experience first hand how natural it can be. It takes away the anxiety about being photographed. On your wedding day, it’s one less thing to worry about. You’ll be a pro.

I recently caught up with a former bride and she commented on how much they enjoyed their e-session. She remarked that the whole period of time surrounding her wedding was a joyful memory. That the e-session captured the essence of their love for each other at the prime of their lives. A memory she will always treasure.

Molly and Myron are engaged to be married this year. They selected Newport, Oregon on the Central Oregon Coast for their e-session. Why? Because they live there and it’s Newport! Aside from the amazing seafood, it was an exciting new location to creatively play.

Occasionally, couples will ask me if I’ve ever been to their wedding location. I always educate them to the fact that seeing something for the first time, as a visual artist, can be very refreshing. It’s the challenge that goes with my profession and one that I enjoy. Finding the right light is more important and that changes constantly. It’s one of the reasons that I enjoy destination weddings so much.

Their wedding will be at the Portland Art Museum and my second shooter will be the inimitable Mark Kegans from Des Moines, Iowa. Congratulations Molly and Myron! We look forward to capturing the story of your day. Be sure to visit the blog in June to see their amazing wedding!

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It is not flesh and blood but the heart which makes us fathers and sons. -Johann Schiller

My father was a minister, as was my grandfather and great-grandfather. I grew up in the church. Literally, I learned how to ride my bike in the church parking lot of the Church of Christ in Kansas City, Missouri. I remember being afraid to turn the handlebar because I didn’t want to fall. After scraping my knuckles on the brick wall of the church, my father patched me up and told me that skin grows back.

Being a wedding photographer, I’m never far from the church. Perhaps I’ve strayed from the lineage of ministers in my family, but I’d like to think my art has as much of an impact in people’s lives. Photographs and the memories we carry in them connect us to the people in our lives, both present and past.

This is a photograph of my great grandmother, taken by my cousin. I have such fond memories of this woman. It’s funny how you connect with certain people in your family. The original negative is long gone and that’s a shame. This moment embodies a lifetime of memories and love.

My father stepped down from active ministry in the 80’s and took up another passion as a jeweler. The years have lead him from a chain of three stores to a smaller store in Richmond, Missouri. His custom designed jewelry pieces are works of art. I’ve never seen anything like them. He always says jewelry is meant to be enjoyed. It’s a touchstone, much like a photograph that can connect you to someone special in your life.

My great grandmother has long passed away and my father had her wedding band fashioned into a heart. He wears this as a necklace. It reminds him of my great grandmother every day. Someone who was very special to him.

I decided that I would commission my father to make a cross necklace for me that he and I would design together. After months of emailing designs back and forth the process was set in motion. Nearly a year later, it was ready. Creating jewelry for family does not pay the bills, so patience was required and that was something I was willing to do for this unique piece.

Here is the finished piece of jewelry fashioned by hand out of white gold.

Anyone who knows me will tell you that I don’t wear a lot of jewelry. My wedding band and a stainless steel ring that my wife gave me on an anniversary that’s inscribed with a Hebrew phrase, which roughly translated says “love your lover as yourself”. This commissioned piece of jewelry will forever connect me to my father. Although I am not Catholic, I am spiritual and this cross represents a faith I share with my father. When it was finished, I asked him to bless it. He placed one hand on my chest and raised his other hand to God and blessed that cross. A memory with my father that I will never forget.

To me, this is why my art is so important. It’s why I have chosen to photograph people. Connecting people with their past, with their loved ones and helping them remember their lives is the essence of what I do. What items do you carry with you that remind you of loved ones? What images do you have in your life that you will treasure forever? The heart matters and the heart remembers.

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As a visual artist and professional storyteller—I believe that my vision is best realized in something tangible. Without question, albums are still the ultimate heirloom. When you hold one of these in your hands and flip through the pages, you know it’s something special. Albums tell the story of your day and keep those memories safe on archival materials that will stand the test of time.

Never before have there been so many options. From covers of brushed aluminum with an etched image to luxurious two-tone leathers, your album is custom-designed and one-of-a-kind. I don’t use templates. I work hand in hand with an album designer and together we create a unique work of art.

Sarah and Patrick’s wedding album was recently featured on the International Society of Professional Wedding Photographers website. This album features a beautiful leather cover and flush mount pages. Sarah wanted the pages to look like a traditional matted album with the clean lines of today’s magazine style designs. Sarah did an amazing job with this album. And if you didn’t know, she’s not just a client, she’s also my album designer!

Take a moment to look through Sarah and Patrick’s wedding album. The story is all there. And if you’d like to see this album in person or talk to us about designing a unique wedding album for you,  contact me and we can get started today.

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Recently,  bf-Stop interviewed me for their Artist Spotlight series. It’s humbling to be a part of this series. Previous spotlight artists include Chuck Arland, Erik Clausen, Matthew Clark and Dan O’Day. Amazingly talented photographers. All I can say is “Wow!” Here is a reprint of the interview.

1.  You are based in Vancouver, Wash., do you ever get to travel for work? If so, how often and where are some of your favorite places to go?

Traveling was one of the reasons I wanted to become a photographer. I’ve been fortunate in my career to have traveled all over the country. Lately, it’s up and down the West Coast for destination weddings. Last year I traveled to Vermont for an incredible wedding weekend and the year before that to Jackson Hole.

2. You were a musician before becoming a photographer. Do you find the two artistic fields have much in common?

As a society, we keep our memories in music and photographs. Both are a touchstone to a moment in time. As an art, there are many parallels. Both require a dedication to practicing the discipline of the art. This practice translates into a vocabulary, a set of tools that you reach for without thinking to express your vision. I find it interesting that so many photographers are inspired by music. Personally, I can’t imagine a world without music. There is a magic to both arts that transcends the moment.

3.  So when did you realize that you could make a living shooting pictures?

Ironically, when I was a musician, my day job was working as a custom printer. I printed black and white art prints, wall prints and even worked for an aerial photographer a few years. That inspired me to go back to college and get a degree in commercial advertising photography. I had been in so many bands over the years and they always ended up falling apart. I could see the writing on the wall, it was a natural progression for my artistic sensibility.

4.  Was there a photographer (or anyone else) that inspired or influenced you?

When I started assisting, I was fortunate to work with some of the best photographers in the business. From Michael Grecco to Chris Cuffaro to Stephane Sednoui, all of them inspired and influenced me. In school, I found that I related to the work of Josef Sudek and Alfred Stieglitz. Recently, the photographer who has been a profound inspiration is David Williams from Australia. His dedication to the heart, soul and passion of photographing people has forever left it’s mark on the way I shoot.

5.  How would you best describe your style?

Style is always a tough one to describe. For me, it’s a point of view. The voice of the artist. I watch a lot of movies and find inspiration in the way they frame the shots to the lenses used to create a feeling in the film. So many photographers come into the industry armed with an arsenal of actions and textures and camera gear, emulating everything they see that catches their eye. Somewhere along the way, you learn to trust your personal vision. This is the development of style. That point of view is always there, from the beginning. It just gets lost in the noise of inexperience. I’d like to think my style is cinematic, emotionally honest and intimate.

6.  Any horror stories you’d like to share? Something bad that happened during a shoot?

I’ve heard some great horror stories that have happened to other photographers. If you do this long enough, you’re going to have a horror story. It’s just the way life is, no matter what you do. The challenge is to be prepared as much as anyone can and build in a system of checks and balances. From the way you pack your camera case to all the other rituals you develop.

However, there was a wedding back when I was shooting film with a Hasselblad. The shutters were built into the lenses. They break. It happens, but you’d never know unless you were using a flash or shooting Polaroids. At this particular wedding, I was using a long lens for my formals. We were using natural light and a reflector to light them. For the rest of the wedding, I used my normal-wide lens. A week later when I picked up my film from the lab, I was told there were 10 rolls of blank film! The shutter broke on my long lens and many of the formals portraits were lost. We were able to put together a very nice set from the 35mm images my second shooter captured during the formals of the family. In the end the album was amazing, but that was one of those moments you never forget.

7.  Do you ever do any photography just for fun? If so, what are your favorite things to shoot?

Photography for fun? I love being behind the camera! However, it’s easy to lose sight of the reason you became a photographer in the first place, given all the demands of running a business and staying on top of constantly changing technology. Last year, I decided to start doing art walks. Taking a day and going out with my camera and photographing whatever inspired me. I used to do this when I was in photography school. It was a great exercise and very challenging. I was very happy with the body of work that I produced and would like to do this more often. I think it’s a necessary part of practicing and developing your artistic vision. I posted three of these journeys on my blog last year.

8.  Any predictions on the next big trend in the wedding photo industry?

Don’t we all wish we could predict what the next trend was, especially in this economy? Obviously, things are very tough out there for everyone. During times of recession, people return to classic styles. Look at fashion magazines and you’ll see trends in imagery that show up in wedding photography. Trends are cyclical. Eventually, everything come back in style. I think timeless black and white will make a big comeback and that’s great. My roots are in black and white film and printing. I’ve been fortunate to have that background as it gives me a sensibility for how my black and white digital images should look to emulate that classic style. Trends keep the industry fresh and that’s what makes being a wedding photographer so exciting.

9.  What type of local publications or resources do you advertise in? What about international publications?

I advertise regionally with a national wedding site and locally with ISPWP, which is an amazing group of talented wedding photographers. I have tried print advertising, but it never really works for me. Word of mouth from satisfied clients has always been the best form of advertising for me.

10.  What are you working on next?

I’d like to work on a tan, and I may get that chance if the economy doesn’t start picking up soon. I recently put together a collaborative blog project called My Portland Photographer. 24 photographers joining together and committing to post one new image every week showcasing our unique styles. It’s a great resource for brides, wedding planners and a unique opportunity to drive traffic and bring exposure to our individual sites. Together, we are joining to elevate our profession. Other projects include a lighting workshop that I’m creating with Kevin Focht.

This year I’m taking a step back and evaluating my business. It goes in cycles. I have 2-3 years of creative inspiration and then I spend a year working on the business. Updating the galleries on my Big Folio web site and evaluating my pricing, products and services are the next steps for my business. I’d like to travel to Germany with my father and explore our family genealogy. You never know what life has in store. Most important is trusting the process and continuing to strive for something.

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“In Mexico, anything is possible!” rental car agent

Traveling the world has always been a dream of mine. A dream that I share with a woman who’s been my wife for 10 years in May. Unfortunately, because life seems to have a different plan most times, we have never been able to do that. We’ve traveled for work and personal trips, but never together.

My father and his wife enjoy 6 weeks every year at a villa in Cancun, Mexico. They’ve invited us in the past, but we could never make it happen. This year, we decided that being married 10 years was worth putting in the effort to make it happen. Having a place to stay was certainly a deciding factor.

I’ve never been to Mexico. Having seen so many images, I had an idea of how it would be. I was surprised to find Cancun very similar to Las Vegas. Very Americanized. My expectation was for more of a native experience. Honestly, I was slightly disappointed, but once I accepted the fact that I was there to enjoy the sun, the amazingly blue water and the tequila, everything fell into place. Spending a week with my wife, my father and his wife was priceless. A week I will never forget.

We visited the Maya ruins at Chichen Itza and along the way, met some amazing Maya natives who worked at the resort. Tammy and I walked the flea markets, took a trip by car to Playa del Carmen going through a Federal checkpoint where the guards had Uzi machine guns and even went para-sailing on a stormy sea.

I hope we have the opportunity to go back again. I know I’ll add a few more outings to explore the real Mexico and capture it in images. All of these were captured with my amazing little Canon Digital Elph point and shoot. I only say that because I think it’s important to note that you don’t necessarily need professional gear to create great images. Having a point of view and knowing how to use the tools you have are far more important. Enjoy a few of my favorite images from our week in Cancun!

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Recently, I posted a video by Zack Arias. This generated a lot of comments and discussion about technology and art and where all of this is leading us. A friend of mine, Kevin Meyers, sent me this video as “an eye opening support for your thoughts”.

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“Let’s organize this thing and take all the fun out of it.” — Twitter/i heart quotes

Everyone knows that referrals are the best. The trusted wisdom of a friend is clearly the best way to find exactly what you’re looking for in a wedding photographer.

Times are tough and everyone is looking for value when spending hard earned money. Value is defined many ways besides saving money. It’s about getting the MOST for your money. Sometimes value can come in the form of experience. With so many inexperienced photographers shooting weddings, how can you find the best value?

That’s when I had an idea to gather together the collective talents of photographers I’ve known and competed with for years. Photographers who support their families with wedding photography. Who’s passion is surpassed only by their artistry and unique imagery. Photographers with professional ethics, who dare to be different.

That’s how My Portland Photographer was born. Day after day, week after week, we’re going to show you why we are Portland’s best wedding photographers. These are the photographers I’d recommend to shoot my best friend’s wedding. We are ourselves and we are different.

Experience. It’s crucial. In the world of wedding photography, experience can have a multitude of meanings and appear many different ways. It is in the confidence that comes when the camera is an extension of the photographer’s eye. It provides the ability to anticipate a moment that will pass in a mere flash. Experience is the wisdom to seek what is meaningful and the ability to create an emotional connection. These reasons and more are why you should trust an experienced photographer with your wedding images.

You’ve discovered an uncommon collaboration of Portland Wedding Photographers. As individuals, we are artists and studios practicing alone. But together, we are colleagues and supporters of one another’s craft. We have joined together to show you our work, to help you explore our talents, and, perhaps reveal your perfect match.

We exchange no money or favors to collaborate. What unites us is the spirit of being our best, and the desire to uphold the high standards we believe in. Each member is approved by the group as a whole and recognized as a professional whose reputation is outstanding and whose work we know and recommend. Enjoy this forum as a way to learn about us through our images.

Let us show you why we are Portland’s best wedding photographers. There will be new content posted every weekday, so even if you just like viewing great photography, be sure to add us to your RSS feed. And if you know anyone looking for a photographer…you know where to find me!

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It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity. — Albert Einstein

It’s that time of year when one dark day can push you over the edge. It’s always been tough to make your living as an artist, but it seems even harder in recent days. We all know the economy is on the brink of disaster. Technology is decreasing the entry threshold into photography and society is struggling to understand the differences between a weekend hobbyist and a professional.

Technology is depressing. I tire of technology, especially when it fails and it seems to do THAT more often than not. Where technology does work, human greed steps in and it breaks again. Is this the nature of technology from this point forward? Will we ever find balance in our lives and satisfaction? Will we figure out that merely having the technology to create a great exposure does not mean we have created anything of substance?

My brand new Apple Mac Pro is stunningly fast and I utilize every ounce of speed it has to offer. But I’ve already had to replace the logic board and power supply. Countless hours of troubleshooting, waiting on hold to talk to tech support. Setting up appointments to have a technician evaluate the problem. Hours of lost production. Hours of my life I’d like to have spent doing something, anything but watch the endless blue task bars.

Dish Network and ABC have been fighting over pennies for months now. During this time, my wife can’t watch her favorite Sunday night shows. They gave us a $1 credit for our trouble. Wow…thanks Dish. I recently added Boxee to my Apple TV so we could watch television shows and movies on Hulu. Now the content providers are blocking Boxee users. Apparently, I’m not alone in my frustration. And once again, a web site such as Lifehacker steps up with a solution.

My RSS reader is filled with blogs of photographers who usually inspire me. Lately, I find myself trying to figure out my place in all of this. So much incredible work and so many talented artists. Never in the history of the world have we had access to so much information. I can’t help but wonder if all of this exposure is numbing us to the value of the art form. All of this has given me great pause and for that reason, I’ve been stalled with my blog. In the midst of this darkness, I stumbled upon the voice of a fellow artist. A call to transformation by Zack Arias. If this touches you, be sure to visit his blog and comment. Feel free to comment here too!

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Having just witnessed the inauguration of Barack Obama, I am filled with hope and pride for our great country. The hope that things will change. The power of change that has already happened. Never in my life have I felt so passionately about our government and the change that needs to happen. On this historic day, Godspeed Mr. President!

This is officially my first post of 2009. Much has been happening the past few weeks. For starters, I have finished my new web site! This is a complete redesign from the ground up. It’s been over 5 years since I changed out the images on my site. It’s a big step forward and represents many hours of hard work. Let me know what you think!

Last week I attended the Digital Wedding Forum Convention or DWFC as we like to call it. 450 of the world’s best wedding photographers gathered in Arizona for a week of seminars and networking. It’s the end of a long wedding season and all of us were ready to party. These photographers are a family and it was wonderful to see old friends and meet some new ones. All of us left feeling inspired and motivated for the best wedding season ever.

This is the fourth DWFC I’ve attended and for all four, my dear friend Mark Kegans was my roommate and partner in crime. Mark is one of the most talented wedding photographers I know. He lives in Iowa and previously worked for the Dallas Morning News and other newspapers before taking on the role of wedding photographer. Honestly, I’d go just to see Mark. I always enjoy our time together. He’s also one of the funniest people I know. His sense of humor is never far from his images.

The convention was held at the Carefree Resorts, just outside Phoenix. I brought two camera bodies and an assortment of lenses, but never used them. Mark was adamant that we experience the moment and not get caught up in taking pictures. So, I apologize for the quality of the photos. They were captured with a cell phone camera! And now you know the rest of the story.

Every year, the Portland crew asks unsuspecting victims to sloppy dance. This is a time honored tradition where you dance for at least 10 seconds. The worse you dance, the better. If you want to see how wedding photographers have fun, then check out this years Sloppy Dance submission.

Many changes are coming this year and I’m looking forward to continuing to share the journey with you. Take a moment to leave a comment, they are the lifeblood of all bloggers. Thanks for making my blog a part of your day. I’m looking forward to witnessing and being a part of change in the new year.

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What a crazy week this has been! The biggest snow storm in 40 years! Over 14 inches of snow and ice in Vancouver, Washington alone and more forecast for this evening. The bright side is we get to enjoy a white Christmas, which rarely happens.

All the girls are home and we are enjoying time together as a family. It’s been interesting to watch the girls get cabin fever after a couple of days. Fortunately, our friend JP has a four wheel drive truck and chauffeured us to the mall for our last minute shopping and a few supplies. We live in a society where being trapped in your home for more than 48 hours becomes unbearable. I’m not sure that’s a good thing.

At this special time of year, I’d like to offer a sincere thanks and appreciation for the support YOU have given me this past year. My success would not have been possible without it!

Season’s Greetings from my family to yours and Best Wishes for the New Year!

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A guilty pleasure I enjoy is hot sauce. Find the right hot sauce and it can make anything better. Everyone starts with the tried and true Tabasco. From there you can branch out and delve into the world of the insane. My local butcher has over 100 kinds of hot sauce. There’s even an annual contest for the best at Fiery Foods 2009 Scovie Awards. Heat is one thing, but flavor is even more important and much harder to find.

Imagine my surprise when I discovered both while enjoying an evening out with friends at the Old Lompoc Brewery. We shared a basket of calamari and the waitress asked if we wanted any hot sauce. Little did I know that I’d be stumbling onto one of Portland’s best kept secrets. Secret Aardvark Habanero Hot Sauce.

This hot sauce definitely brings the heat, but the flavor is so good, you keep pouring it on. It hurts so good. The label says it’s a unique Caribbean, Tex-Mex hybrid made with flavorful Habanero peppers and roasted tomatoes. And who better to bring all of this together than Scotland Barr, the original owner of Portland’s beloved Salvador Molly’s Restaurant. Scot is also a member of the popular band Scotland Barr & The Slow Drags.

Why is it called Secret Aardvark? According to Scot who grew up in Delmar, California, it’s a nostalgic nod to his past. Delmar sent out a flyer with the 25 things that constitute a gang. Scot and his buddies filled it out as a questionnaire and even made up a gang name—Secret Aardvark. When Scot sold the restaurant 8 years ago and started with 12 hot sauces, he eventually ended up with 2 favorites and decided to resurrect the Secret Aardvark name.

Hot sauces can be made with any variety of peppers. Jalepeno, Chipotle, Cayenne and Habanero and all sorts of other things including vinegar. This sauce is one of the best I’ve tasted in a long time. I’ve tried it on scrambled eggs, tossed it in corn chowder, sprinkled it on mac and cheese. It’s all good. I asked Scot what his favorite food to eat with Secret Aardvark. He paused and said…Pizza!

Secret Aardvark is made locally and part of Keep Portland Weird, a group that showcases local businesses that make Portland a more unique place to live. Locally, the only place I’ve been able to find it is Nature’s Grocery Store on Lombard. My 10 ounce bottle disappears quickly. I’m trying to locate a large jar like the one I saw at Lompoc’s that fateful night.

The Burnside Writer’s Blog and Plant Dreaming Deep both have write ups on this sauce. However, if you’re not sure, then visit Stumptown Vegans where you can sample Secret Aardvark. The photos of the food here will make you hungry. Bon Appetit!

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It’s that time of year when our thoughts turn to our personal lives. Sharing the holidays with our families, taking much deserved time off from work. Our focus changes and this is a good thing.

This has increasingly become a busy time for my business and I wanted to share a few updates with you. I have no less than 12 events to post from the past few months and some fun items that I hope you enjoy along the way. In case you get tired of looking at my photographs!

The next few weeks will be spent working on a very large project. Updating my web site! Yes, I know it’s been over 5 years since the images have been changed out and the content updated. It’s amazing how much technology has changed the way we do things. My website will reflect those changes and I hope you enjoy the new look. Stay tuned for the big unveiling in the next two weeks! During the migration, you may see various issues with my site—be patient.

The biggest challenge is selecting the images I want to reflect my business. Not only a representation of my style of shooting, but the type of work I want to be doing. I’m looking forward to sharing this with you. Be sure to subscribe to my blog with your RSS reader and you’ll be notified as soon as I post anything new.

I just finished my first Production Summit for a selected number of Portland photographers. What is this you ask? It was a round table discussion between 12 established photographers about the challenges we face with digital. We talked about the software and tools we use in our daily production workflow. From the moment we capture an image to delivering the final product to our clients. In the end, it was a powerful and productive meeting. I plan to post more details about the specifics after Christmas and perhaps take this on the road. A special thanks to everyone who attended!

And finally, this thought, since a blog post is worthless without an image, right? Have you ever noticed that everyone looks like someone else you know? Meaghan Smith is a wonderful singer songwriter. This image of her looks a lot like Sarah. I’ve had more than one person tell me I look like James Kirk, aka William Shatner. Who do you look like, or who looks like you?

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If you’ve listened to Portland, Oregon radio over the past 15 years, then chances are you’ve heard the unmistakable voice of Tim Taylor. Recently hired by The Fish, 104.1 FM, he needed publicity photos for their website and marketing. I was given a rare glimpse of the man behind the voice behind the microphone.

Our paths crossed nearly 5 years ago when Tim was filling in for a DJ at a wedding I was photographing. From the moment I met him, we were fast friends. Tim is a poster child for ADD (in a good way). He has an infectious energy, a love of music and a passion for life that is rare. As radio stations become more and more automated, it’s tough for on-air personalities to find work. Since I’ve known Tim, he’s been a morning personality on three radio stations, delivered traffic and weather updates every 10 minutes to a multitude of stations and even a guest DJ for Sammy Hagar’s Cabo Wabo radio station.

It may seem like quite a stretch going from Cabo Wabo Radio to adult contemporary Christian radio, but if you knew Tim at all, you’d know that he’s finally come home and has found his calling. His show airs from 6 AM to 10 AM, every Monday through Friday. For this photo session, I was given access to Tim during a live broadcast. It was amazing to watch one person running a major radio station. He has no engineer, no interns or backup. It’s just Tim, a mircophone and tons of power. Watching him answer the phone while a song was playing, set up the next song, cue up traffic reports, cut and edit snippets of conversation and still have the presence of mind to talk off the top of his head on air was an incredible experience. A consummate professional.

A funny story to share. When I arrived at the radio station, it was early in the morning. Morning traffic was just hitting it’s prime. The radio station is in an office building, shared by three other stations. Walking down the hallway, you can see Tim working through a window of thick glass. There are two security doors and a lobby between the front entrance and the radio booth. As no one was in the office that time of day, I had to wave my arms to catch his attention. He cued up a song and dashed out the door and into the lobby. Running across the lobby, he opened the door saying we only had a couple of minutes before the song was over. As he said this, the first door clicked shut and Tim realized he didn’t have his keys! Panicking slightly (talk about grace under pressure), Tim was able to get the attention of a DJ from another radio station who quickly came over and let us in. I can only imagine how difficult it would have been to explain dead air for one of the major radio stations in Portland during the rush hour commute!

Be sure and check out Tim’s show. Give him a call and stay tuned for some fun marketing materials from our shoot. I’d tell you about them, but I don’t want to steal the thunder from the promotions department! Best wishes Tim and congratulations!

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