Boys and their Toys

So legend has it that a few years ago I sold my truck to start my business. I've really wanted a truck ever since. I mean every guy needs a truck right? I live in Corvallis so I mostly ride my bike around town, but I'm from Klamath Falls originally so it just makes sense that I would need a 4X4 full-size pickup eventually. Last December I got my dream truck, nothing too fancy, a 2000 Toyota Tundra with an access cab for the kids. I had visions of taking a really cool sunset picture for the blog, but the crappy weather wouldn't cooperate and neither would my kids. (Gabe is in the truck during this picture. He refused to come outside and instead ripped through my glove compartment) It actually even started snowing right as I got the tripod setup. So long story short, I'm glad that selling my truck and starting my business has worked out. It was one of the best decisions I've ever made.

Steffany and Michael's Engagement Session in Corvallis

This Saturday we must have had the best luck ever. It was rainy and gloomy all day, and Steffany and Michael's engagement session was set for 4 o'clock. We started shooting and just as we finished up, it started raining again. You gotta love the Northwest. Anyway, I'm glad we got to shoot while we had the chance. Here are a couple of the highlights:

Sometimes great backgrounds like pretty waterfalls and gorgeous sunsets can really add to a picture, but sometimes the best shots are more simple, and intimate. I love the first few pictures here. To get these shots I just kind of sat back and worked my way around Steffany and Michael as they shared a moment.



I love the sparkle in Steffany's eyes here.

A little funky foreground....



This is right before it started to rain, and I think its a pretty good ending shot for the session.

Bad Blogger Great Wedding Album

Wow, I think this has been possibly the longest wait between blog posts since I started this thing a couple years ago. I apologize! My new resolution-once a week blogging!


So here we go, recently I've switched album companies and I am very happy with my new albums. I love the new company's flexibility with custom covers and materials. Here are a few shots of the new flushmount albums I am offering with my Platinum package or they can be purchased a la carte.

This cover was made with pearl leather and a platinum strip. I also really like the high quality binding that is sure to last for a loooooong time.

Flushmount albums have super thick pages that are almost like posterboard in width. They give a nice sturdy feel to the book. And make it pretty heavy.

This album had a 6 inch metal cameo. I think it goes great with the platinum leather strip.

Vivid Color!

One thing I REALLY like about the flushmount album is that there is no gutter, so your pictures don't get lost in the binding.





That wraps up the new album preview. For all your photo-gear junkies out there (Steve) I shot these with my new 50mm 2.5 macro lens. Expect to see a lot more details shots in the upcoming wedding season as I plan to put this lens to work.

Facebook Slideshows!

Have you been dying to share your engagement session or wedding slideshow with all your Facebook friends? If I've shot a wedding for you and you'd like a custom slideshow that you can embed in Facebook let me know and I'll get you setup. It's all for free of course!

Kara and Forrest's Engagement Session in Corvallis

Kara Forrest and I spent a lovely Saturday shooting their engagement session in Corvallis. What a blast! Kara called it our "bonding time". We spent a lot of time walking around downtown and in a nice natural area and I got to know them really well. I think that one of my favorite parts of being a wedding photographer is meeting so many fun couples.

Derek and Stephanie's Engagement Session in Corvallis

Since Derek and Stephanie came all the way from Seattle for the engagement session, I'm so glad that we had a break in the weather! It cleared up just enough for us to get in a great photo shoot at OSU and Bald Hill. This is the first time I've ever posted a purely black and white entry. Of course I shot in digital so they will receive both color and black and white files, but as I was editing I just loved the creaminess of the white tones, and the boldness of the black that I decided to do a slideshow in pure black and white. Also Stephanie and Derek had such beautiful expressions that I really think that seeing them in black and white makes you look more at the happiness in their eyes.

Happy MLK Day!

My father-in-law gave me a book for Christmas and I wanted to share it with you. I'm sure many of you have heard of Randy Pausch's last lecture. For those who haven't Randy, a professor at Carnegie Mellon and father of three, found out he had a few months to live when he decided to give one last lecture at his school. The lecture was videotaped and became a Youtube viral hit. Randy who died last year, wrote a book based on his ideas in the lecture, and my father-in-law gave the book to me for Christmas. If you get a few moments in the next week or so, READ THIS BOOK! As a dreamer, a husband and a father this book really helped me put into perspective the things that are most important in my life. Of course my family is most important to me, but Randy shows also the importance of achieving your childhood dreams in a refreshing down-to-earth way. As I read the book, I couldn't help but think of what a great life I have. I have a beautiful wife, two adorable kids, amazing parents, great siblings, and not one, but two jobs that I am super-excited about. I really am living my childhood dreams. I wanted to be photographer when I grew up. I wanted to have a family when I grew up. I wanted to be in the Olympics when I grew up... ok well I'm still working on that one. Randy's life helped me to see that life is not perfect, but it can still be great.