A brisk and beautiful day

at Chico Hot Springs Resort.

Cameron and John brought their family and friends together last Saturday for a brave adventure... an outdoor spring wedding at Chico Hot Springs.

Regardless of the blowing snow we had on Friday, the Montana spring weather held true to form, ie. FICKLE and UNPREDICTABLE. Well, they had a beautiful day as you can see from the outdoor photos at the Field of Dreams.

Enjoy these images that I quickly selected for the blog.
You've got to love the last two images that speak volumes about us boys!
Pick a winner! Wave when you get to the bridge!







Snack Time.

Economic stimulus

and synchronicity package.

I've been thinking about this for awhile. The current economic situation in our country is affecting more of us than not. Most of us are more conscientious about what we're spending and why. If you're in the midst of planning a wedding, you are certainly looking at the budget carefully. I've decided to offer my own contribution to rebuilding the faith in our economy and hopefully see it thriving and growing once again. I have many key weekends open for weddings during the upcoming summer months. So I'm offering a tremendous savings on my photography packages during the remainder of the year.

If you are interested in the style of my work for your wedding and my calender is open on your wedding day, I will offer my services at a greatly reduced rate, giving you a value that you will find no where else.

I love being busy shooting weddings. Weddings are inspiring to me. I've always noticed that regardless of what else is going on in this world, we as human beings will cease our toils and troubles to celebrate love and the union of two people in love. I've experienced it time and time again, when two people stand up before their family, friends and community and profess their commitment to one another, time stops for a moment. The sky can be falling, but people will stop and celebrate this love. That's a miraculous thing when you think about it, that we as human beings can choose to celebrate love in the face of the arising of all forms of trouble and strife. It's my humble opinion that life on Earth would be much better if we would practice this more often in great ways and small.

Ok, so this is my "Economic Stimulus and synchronicity package" offer for the year of 2008. If one of my free days matches your wedding date, I will offer you a substantial discount on my photography services. Write me, call me and tell me that you've read this. If you've asked for my pricing and availability for a specific date in the past and have still not booked a photographer, please contact me again. Mention the Economic Stimulus package.

Best wishes for a better tomorrow.

The heart beat of life

Defining moments.

Greetings friends, neighbors and blogographers. I just shot a very special wedding today. The flat out truth is that every wedding I attend is special. Why? Because life is miraculous. If we develop an eye for it, we can find this "heart beat of life" in every single waking moment that we are gifted with. Religious speak? No. Just the facts.

Capturing these defining moments, these "heart beats" is a gift. I shoot often and when I get back to the studio, I'm like a little kid that can't wait to see what Santa Claus has placed under the tree. I look through the images to find the magic. And lo and behold, there it is, regardless of all the myriad conditions and circumstances... if you look long enough, without tiring, you will find these moments.
I don't have pictures for this post, just words, reflections and thoughts, but I do have a link to a guy that I am inspired by. He has a Zen view and a universal soul. His work captures the "heart beat of life". I love it.

So, hat's off to my fellow photographer and WPJA member Joseph Kohn

I can't wait to share images from Cameron and John's wedding sometime this week. Smile, while you look for the magic of each and every moment we have.

University of Puget Sound

Once a Logger... always a Logger!

...this post is for my daughter Lauren Brooke who is attending the University of Puget Sound with her newest and very close friends. Wilson, Rynne, Casey, James, Lizzy, Peter, Kapiolani (the sweetest room mate), Melissa and many more who's names I can't remember.

Heather and I spent 4 days in Tacoma and Bothell and Seattle enjoying a great time visiting classes, restaurants, cafe's, the mall, the shoreline, the most gracious Calla Allen and Jess in Bothell, wathcing soccer and well... it was a great visit.

Here are some photos to enjoy. Art squeezes out of this wet spring Pacific Northwest environment. The weather was an ever changing bucket of water!

This weekend I am excited to photograph Cameron's wedding at Chico Hot Springs. The weather is still a bit brisk but we're going outside for memorable and scenic photos in Paradise Valley. Keep an eye out next week for a preview.

Sea gulls everywhere.



Lauren go bump-de-bump.


Art in nature.


Art in surroundings.



Joy explodes on a snowy street in Bothell.




Still life mosaic.


Rainbow rain and blue sky.



Heather in her native habitat.


My bonnie Heather.

Alicia and Tyler's

Engagement album.

Here's something new. Alicia and Tyler came by the studio this afternoon and I presented them with a design for their engagement album. I showed it on the big screen and, wow... I love this idea. The engagement photos I make are fun and romantic; no pressure of the big event with hundreds of people to greet, and formality of traditions to satisfy. This couple is so excited that we're actually planning another shoot. But I won't spoil the surprise, other than saying it's going to be like No Other engagement shoot you've ever seen.

The album showcase you're about to view is going to become a keepsake album and a book that friends and family can sign on their wedding day.

Alicia and Tyler's Engagement Album

Ethanol use promotion by MSU film students

and I'm on the other side of the lens.

This has nothing to do with weddings directly, but read on... I think you'll see the value.

Ok... so!... these young guys that hang around at Chisel Industries next door and learn from the pro... that would be - Yarrow Kraner, have put together a big splash of their own and I'm really honored that they included me in their project!

These guys are super creative Film students at MSU. They put together a piece for a competition for a commercial to promote the use of Ethanol fuel and well... save our species from extinction. I'm so personally behind this project for a truck load of reason, the first being our annual national contribution to the diminishing of our clear air supply. I see so many folks driving fuel ravenous gas hogs that spew dirty emissions into our air for no good reason... but to look good. I think it's shameful that we don't all have keys to electric vehicles or at least hybrid vehicles.

Side bar: You like fast cars? Did you know that the fuel efficient hybrid Honda Accord is faster and quicker than the all gas version???? Yep. It's true. Check out it out.

Back to the subject. Royce (Rolls... the ride with glide) put this together with his fine peers pictured here. Check in, sign on, vote for this great piece of work. Student or otherwise, it's fine work, for a good cause and I hope to see it airing on national TV when the boys win this contest. Good work guys! Here's a link and some production stills I grabbed while they were shooting with me.

Royce did this



Obviously Royce want to shoot it right here. He's down with this spot! Great body language!

WPJA announces top 100 wedding photojournalist

...and I'm 39th!

I just recently was informed that for 2007, the WPJA ranked me 39th amongst their international membership. I am thrilled about receiving this honor. I have always looked at the work of this group of photographers and marvelled at the broad range of talent. I'm honored that they deem my work noteworthy.

If you haven't seen the website, now is a great time because they have the 2007 4th Quarter contest results posted with all the amazing photos.

I just got back from shooting engagement photos for my July 5th couple. Yeah... I was so ready to go out and shoot something creative and fun. I'm a dyed-in-the-wool photographer, taking photos is what I love to do and sometimes business demands take me from my real work. But...Ha Ha... not today!

Alicia and Tyler are in love. No need to say another word! It was a treat shooting and spending time with this vibrant couple. Congratulations you two! I look forward to your wedding day.