This is an image I wish I didn’t have the opportunity to create today. I was on my way to go pick up my kids from the babysitter after work and this accident happened right in front of me. When I saw right in front of me…I mean RIGHT in front of me. I was the first car at the red light waiting for green to go across the intersection. I saw the white car waiting to make a left hand turn towards me. The light was yellow and this kid turned directly into the gray Jetta that you see completely mangled. Their collision made the Jetta turn side ways only to get nailed by a huge drywall delivery truck probably at 45-55 mph. The Jetta was hit so hard that the dipstick flew out of the engine. It had side curtain airbags, and apparently the woman driving the Jetta’s teenage son was in the passenger seat. He was completely fine, but the driver was not. When some people went to check on her (I was checking on the driver in the white car) she basically fell out of the car in pain. the ambulance came and took her away. She looked to be in a lot of pain when they took her away.I was luckily not involved other than to witness it, but the white car you see in the picture, is sitting less than a foot away from my bumper. Lots and lots of shrapnel from it hit me but there was no damage. Very scary to see a car out of control headed for you!

Tags: 365, accident, crash

This is an image that I created on Saturday when Addison had a birthday party at Snips and giggles where they did all the girls hair. The girls then got to dress up and have a fashion show. It was cute and Addi got quite the hairdo. The girl did a braid the wrapped all the way around her head. It was crazy and she looked very grown up!

Tags: braid, hair, Ships and Giggles

This image is one that I created yesterday for my daughter’s four year old session. She turned four a few days ago, but weather kept us from doing the shoot sooner.We found the purple flowers and she wanted her picture taken by them because purple is her favorite color (as you can tell by the shirt and hairband). This was kind of difficult to shoot because it was in the early afternoon and the sun was very bright. I think it turned out pretty well. I used my 580EXII to add some fill to her face and then opened it up even more in Lightroom 3 to make sure we see her pretty face!

Tags: 365, Addison, birthday, four, Purple

I know I posted a very similar image to this just a few posts ago, but there is one very important reason I post this one today. This is the shoot I did for my son Caleb’s one year birthday! I have done this very same shoot twice before this one, and I have to tell you, even though it is the same, it is so not! Each child reacted very differently to the cake. The first two dug right in and ate it up. My son, not so much. He did try a little, but he really didn’t eat much. My daughter was the same way when she turned one. Of course she had an ear infection and didn’t feel good, but we gave her the chance at two and she didn’t really do it then either. I guess the point is that, especially with kids, you can do the same setup and get completely different results every time. That is one of the reasons I love working with kids, you just never know waht you are going to get!

Tags: 365, birthday, cake, Caleb, messy

In the quest to replace all artwork in my home with images that I have created, I talked my wife into getting rid of a picture in our kitchen. She wanted it replaced with something that had a red/burgundy theme. Immediately what comes to mind is red wine, so we worked together to come up with this still life image. We purchased the items today, and then I spent quite a while shooting it. I tried it on a black background, and this white one. I tried all kinds of combinations, but in the end, this is the one that fit the image of what she wanted, so this is my choice for today’s picture and also the image I will be getting printed for her for our kitchen.

Tags: bottle, glass, grapes, red, wine

Yesterday I had a photo shoot with this cute little guy for his one year birthday. The cake is something I have done a few times, but it has always turned out good. You get such good expressions from the kids when they get to dig in! He did a great job getting nice and messy and really digging in there! It is was a pleasure to photograph him, and I think we got some great images of him.

Tags: birthday, cake

Today I got to do a business portrait of Mary. I did this portrait a little different than I have done in the past. I went with more of a flat type lighting pattern. I usually like to do more of a rembrandt or a loop lighting pattern, but I think the flat light suited her much better and she is very happy with the portrait. I am happy with it as well!

Tags: 365, business, portrait

Happy Mother’s Day! For today’s image, I decide to create a portrait of my favorite mother (besides my own of course) – my wife Lori. Lori is an amazing mother to our two kids and has been super supportive as I venture on this photographic journey, as well as trying to get my business up and running. She has gone on photo shoots with me and contributes so much, not just to that, but to making me and the kids very happy every single day. She has a very bubbly personality that makes everyone like her instantly and thatI aspire to be more like. Although I may not say it everyday, I love her with all my heart, and she is the reason I try so hard to succeed at everything I do. Thank you to her for everything she does, and I love you! Happy mothers day to all the other mothers out there as well!

Tags: 365, Mother's Day, portrait

We were just under a tornado warning very suddenly. This is the storm as it crossed over our neighborhood. we were just able to leave the basement actually. I snapped this just before taking shelter for a bit.

Tags: 365, storm, tornado, warning

Today I had an engagement session with Matt and Renee. We went to Neshota Park in Two Rivers, which is on Lake Michigan. I think we got some great images of the two of them on the beach as well as some in the more wooded part of the park. This image was one of my favorites. It focuses on the engagement ring, yet includes the couple in the background. This was a setup that my wife came up with and I love it!

Tags: engagement, Lake, Michigan, Neshota, Park, Two Rivers