Those Spaniards

Earlier this winter, on a chilly day, I photographed Caitlin & Israel's February wedding. It was a clear cold day, Caitlin looked awesome, and it was fun trying out my very weak Spanish on Isreal's family, who are all from Spain. During the reception, I witnessed a twist on the Mother-Son dance, as Israel and his mother danced to traditional Spanish music. This image captures the kind of, Matador look of the dance. In the past couple of years, I've witnessed many cultural weddings, including Danish, German, Korean and now, Spain. The unique aspects of these various traditions is always enlightening.

Portraits for Friends

I am home recovering from the flu, but earlier this week, friends of ours came to visit with their newborne, baby girl. So we did some portraits, and I just love this one. Show it all, family, love, wonder, admiration. Man, this is what makes photography so much fun.

Cover Girl

Well, we made the cover. The photos from our January, burrrrr, Spring photo shoot are out with the Spring issue of Newport Life Magazine. The editors chose, what I think is the best image for the cover. Michelle looks awesome and the leading lines work so well. I remember this shot was not planned for. As Andrea, the editor, was suggesting she crouch down to eye the putt, I was standing by the hole thinking this looks boring, I need a different angle. When it hit me to get down on the putting green and shoot up with the ball in the foreground. I didn't give any instruction, just plopped down and as I did, Michelle looked at me, I grabbed two shots - and I knew it right away.

Photography works that way for me. I know alot of photographers previsualize images - I tend not to. I look and look and wait for the right moment, the inspiration.

It's hard to believe that we are out there in January about 38 degrees with gusts of wind. You'd never know, but now you do.

Fan Mail

Last Fall, I started experimenting with a new program with a Providence, Rhode Island company called the Thank-U Company. Basically, it's built on the idea that people like to be appreciated. So I started it. The idea is that after an event, I select an image from an event, wedding, portrait, whatever. The Thank-U Company sends this very cool looking photo etched in glass to the bride or whomever. It's a free gift from me, saying thank you for choosing me to be their photographer. Inside each gift is a survey card. Well, not everyone fills it out and sends it back, but I got these two recently. Feels like getting fan mail.

PPA Rhode Island Awards

I just got back this afternoon from Newport, RI, where the Professional Photographers of America - Rhode Island Chapter held their annual convention. I had three of my prints awarded merit points and blue ribbons. The highest scoring print and the most talked about by the judges was this one of the young male lion from my 2005 trip to Africa. I joked with someone at the event, "Oh, great how's this gonna look to all my portrait and wedding clients. So did the print of my three darling little boys win? Ahhhh, well, no. Your adorable children lost out to this adorable yet hungry lion."

print competition is a funny thing. I listened and watched the whole thing all morning. Most of the judges were really good, but sometimes they skipped over amazing portraits. But, that's the nature of the game. Anyway, I'm happy to win, and my "Young Simba" will now be a candidate for the International competition.