Sports photos

I'm a guy and I love sports. Truthfully though, I don't enjoy watching sports nearly as much as I do playing sports. Just watching is too boring for me - I want to get right in the middle of the action. My hometown Mariposa Women's JV Basketball team is coached by my father in law, so it was only natural that I do some portraits for the team. Before the shoot I was debating "how far out there" I should take the portraits. I wanted to create photos that screamed action. The ideas that I had in my mind were no where close to the traditional sports photos I got as a kid and I hoped everyone would be on board with me once they received the photos. When the day came, I set up my equipment in the basketball gym during a practice and rotated the players in front of the camera one at a time. I imagine it must have been hard for them to trust me and not do the same "kneeling with the ball" pose that has been done for the last 85 years or so, but as the images popped in the viewfinder, I knew I had made the right decision.

I can't even do a traditional team photo. Finally, the team asked to do a fun photo and asked me for suggestions. I told them to get their coach to lay down on the floor and gather around them. I may not be invited over for Christmas next year! In the end, I created the images just about as they were in my head. A photo that actually looks like it belongs on the cover of Sports Illustrated, and not a cheezy fake SI cover. Thankfully once they saw the photos, the team and parents were equally pleased. And now it's time to get back to weddings...

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Winter time at the beach

Originally, I am a beach guy. I grew up near the beaches of LA and surfed every day and love every minute of it. As I got older, I moved from the beaches to the mountains, but the ocean still holds a special place in my heart. For a long time, I have been trying to set up a shoot on one of my favorite beaches, Manhattan Beach. In my high school days, I surfed there almost every afternoon.

I wanted to do a shoot here because I love the combination of pier and sky. Luckily, the weather was a perfect 75 degrees (no wonder I am happy to be on the beach), the tide was low, and the sky was beautiful. So after a little surfing, tacos, and beer, we got to shooting.

Thanks again Susan for being a beautiful bride!

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Shooting Fashion

Even though my photography is generally geared towards weddings, I have been doing more and more fashion shoots lately and love them. Yesterday we did a shoot specifically for a makeup artist to show off her mad skills. The entire shoot was in the downtown area of Mariposa and we all had a blast. I love the looks the makeup inspired -- very different than your average wedding, for now :) Many thanks again to the wonderful models and artists that made everything come together!

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Markus and Tera

Weather in Yosemite is unpredictable at best. Although storms have been dumping snow for a while now, it has been relatively sunny for the past week or so. Then, just in time for Markus and Tera's wedding, a front moved in and dumped fresh powder across the valley. The storm lingered throughout the day as rain and fog created fresh textures on the walls. None of that could even put the slightest damper on Markus and Tera. From getting ready at the Ahwahnee to my favorite wedding chapel and a rocking band at night, this was their day. Their love must have kept them warm (it was in the 30's outside) as we strolled outside for a few photos. I love the vintage feel of the Ahwahnee. It really is a place that everyone needs to visit. It rained before the ceremony so we had to stay indoors and dry. Just as the ceremony ended the rain stopped and we went outside for a few photos. It was very cold and after sunset, so we moved quickly, but I love the atmosphere of the shots. Back inside the Ahwahnee (and warmth) we enjoyed an amazing dinner and great band. The brother of the bride rocked this photo! Congratulations Markus and Tera!

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