i take photos

i'm sorry, so sorry

2011-09-08T20:52:00.004-05:00

this blog is shamefully out of date - and it's been such a good friend, it doesn't deserve this kind of treatment - believe it or not, i've actually been too busy to post - which is good, but it's bad - especially considering that one of the main reasons i started it a few years ago, was to not only encourage myself to continue shooting and creating, but to also document the events of my life - like an online journal - but it has fallen to the wayside, along with the many hand-written and doodled-up paper journals that are somewhere under my bed...

i fully plan to blow up this blog with all of the fun crap that's been happening to me lately...that is, if i can remember it all - i think most of it is stored upstairs, at least the things that alcohol has not yet erased...and then the rest of it, hopefully, will be filled in with my diligent photo/video file labeling and dating

so, watch out all...11 readers of my blog (including duplicates - which is proof that this really is more for me than anyone else) because there's about to be some bloggifying up in this bitch (sorry for the cussing mom...one of my main (and quite possibly my only) readers/supporters)

dan the man

2011-05-23T17:02:00.003-05:00

this is my friend daniel - it was his birthday recently, and when asked what his favorite type of cake was, i think his response was something like...chocolate, with chocolate, and then some more chocolate

so, i did what any lover of baking would do...i went to whole foods in search of the best quality chocolate available - and with a couple pounds of it, made a super rich chocolate cake from scratch, and then drowned it in a chocolate ganache made from the same magical chocolately goodness - it was so rich, i could barely eat a small piece, but he managed to polish off the entire cake within a week

i love this video because it's very honest and in the moment - it was also his first experience with trick candles....sorry daniel

how suite it is

2011-05-21T17:21:00.011-05:00

this april, i had the great honor (and responsibility) in assisting Brian Gibb of The Public Trust, (or as I like to refer to him - the mastermind of operations) in organizing and hosting the first annual SUITE Art Fair - it was an incredibly ambitious and ballsy undertaking, but I believe that all things great start with a big dream (and a little bit of crazy)

with Brian as the ring leader, the event was predictively surrounded by great design - not to mention the buzz he created after scoring an interview on NPR, Good Morning Texas, as well as placement in several respected national and local art publications

and the fair was a huge success! all of the contributing galleries came together at one of Dallas' most beloved historical hotels - people had the opportunity to visit 14 different bungalows, where each gallerist uniquely displayed their collection of work and installations - and as art patrons wandered out of each room and on to the next, they experienced live music and a cocktail in the charming courtyard

so watch the movie i shot to experience the event for yourself, and as a reminder to come out next year!

check out the SUITE art fair website for more information on the galleries

burning midget

2011-03-16T21:31:00.010-05:00

click here to see what happened after this photo...

last weekend i went on a little adventure in West, Tx - we camped (and kind of froze) on acres and acres of land in a tiny little town near the czech stop (and if you're any kind of texan, you know right where that is) it was a test-run for a festival called Flipside/Burning Man, that is coming up this May - and what a test run it was!

we: played with a lot of guns, made kolaches over the fire, lit up the night with the most awesome bonfire i've ever seen (with thousands of pounds of hay at the core), roasted marshmallows, watched in awe as the fire spinners worked on their routines, went on midnight boat rides, strapped a chair atop a jeep and played frisbee, made campfire espresso in the morning - there were dinosaur costumes and tree climbings, and then, we topped off the weekend with...almost setting the entire property on fire.  yep.

the short explanation: a hand-made firework + dry texas field + wind = bad bad idea...

but, luckily, aaron blazed onto the scene with a giant metal pool tow strapped to the back of a jeep, and extinguished the entire fire...like a superhero!....and then we all went home.

i'm so glad i got to spend a weekend with such a lovey, creative, and free-spirited group of people - so many memories to hang on to!
thanks for including me.

isn't she lovely

2011-03-13T18:55:00.011-05:00

i was recently fortunate enough to be invited to the baby shower of my friend and local fine art photographer, Misty Keasler - the celebration contained a collection of amazingly accomplished women - painters, photographers, gallerists, art professors, etc. - and i was honored and humbled to be in their presence
the incredible cake, a replica of the mural in the baby's room(dreamed up and painted by Misty's husband and artist Brian Gibb) was home-made by her friend and godmother to the baby-to-be, Maria Sheets, an art restorer in the Dallas area
this is a talented group of folks, to say the least
and after mimosas, delicious eats, and some of the most creative gifts i've ever seen given - the day was topped off with a mini-sculpture contest, with good old-fashioned modeling clay - a throwback to days in design class

see the sculptures, and the rest of the party, by clicking right here

house beautiful

2011-01-19T17:12:00.010-06:00

click here to see the rest of this impressive home

i rarely blog about work - my day job that is - in fact, i don't think i've ever blogged about work - but i often have the good fortune of photographing some of the most beautiful structures in the Dallas area - and this house was no exception - i would even go so far as to call it a feat of architecture - the house was primarily made of glass and steel, and curved around the block in a spectacular 'U' shape - the house was designed to wrap around an enormous tree that sits in the middle of the 3 acre lot - with features like an infinity pool that follows along the back side of the house in an identical 'U' formation, 15 foot zinc doors that greet you at the entrance, stunning custom zebra wood built-ins, movable walls, an outdoor shower, and secret hidden rooms, this place was a true dream house - and definitely warranted a blog entry
....oh, and to top it off, there was also an adorable blood hound that completely stole me heart

got it, that's a wrap!

2011-01-17T22:16:00.002-06:00

my most recent shoot was for an old friend of mine and her family - we spent a really nice afternoon in a local park - initially a little stiff, (and irritated with the thought of being photographed for a couple of hours) i eased them in with some traditional group shots - but, as the afternoon wore on, and the family began to loosen up, i moved on to screaming out direction and movement and how to look like you're having fun until....we hit that moment when i know i've done my job...when they all actually started having fun, laughing at one another, and almost forgetting that i was there - and that's when i got this shot.

i don't care if it's hip

2011-01-17T21:52:00.005-06:00

it seems like all of the artists and graphic designers i know have been moving to Portland lately - i mean, i know it's a very green-hipstery-fresh-aired-mountainous-love-your-neighbor type of place, but what is all of the hullabaloo about anyway?
well, now i get it. after a far too short vacation, filled with skiing and hiking and snowmobiling and game nights and happy/friendly natives and amazing farmers market produce and....really i could go on...for awhile...but i won't
i love this place! and i fully plan to return in the summer months to experience everything else it has to offer - until then Oregon...

check out the movies i shot and edited of this wonderful wonderful trip!

elephants and eggnog

2011-01-17T21:08:00.004-06:00

i've thrown a lot of parties in my lifetime - but most have been in my college-lifetime - and though i've always wanted to throw a good christmas party, it's never really come together...until this year - i figured it was time, living downtown, being surrounded by neiman marcus christmas magic and the big city lights, everything around me here feels festive - i decided to go with a white elephant party - friends from all different stages of my life were invited, and going to come together for the first time, and a ridiculous and dirty present exchange seemed the perfect way to get everyone involved and laughing together - it was a huge success! - and the best christmas party i've ever been to - haha! cheers!

check out photos from the 'photo booth' we set up at the party right here

cool yule

2010-12-28T13:27:00.003-06:00

one of the great things about the warm texas winters is that we get to have fabulous outdoor christmas festivals - this is my second christmas living downtown, and i was not about to miss the over the top production known as the 'city lights festival' put on by neiman marcus - there was a great tree-lighting ceremony, hot cocoa, face painting, carolers - and then, a spectacular reveal of the neiman marcus window (the only department store window in america that allows the children to actually crawl into the display itself) the show was topped off with fireworks, and the most awesome santa entrance that i have ever seen! you'll just have to watch the movie i shot and see it for yourself!

twistin' the night away

2010-12-28T13:20:00.003-06:00

kandi and i were lucky enough to attend this year's margarita ball - the world's largest invitation-only black tie charity ball - it is a non-profitable event, who's goal is to provide christmas gifts for at-risk children, as well as support the organizations that work with these children throughout the year - the mountain of toys was overwhelming, and the party was such a joyous celebration of the season! - see for yourself in this movie that i shot between dances:

nature in the city

2010-12-28T13:08:00.003-06:00

i worked with a new client recently, and we decided to do a less traditional shoot and work in the park...in the middle of downtown - we were able to shoot during those last beautiful minutes of daylight, my favorite time of day for shooting - and with a little direction, a little cooperation, and a lot of courage to not care what others would think (the park was full on onlookers that day) i was able to get the modern lifestyle type portraits i was looking for - the sunlight, the park, the city backgrounds, the adorable family - all made for a fantastic and fun session!

check out the rest of the shoot right here

too much cute for one week

2010-11-16T20:55:00.003-06:00

in the same weekend as my previous adorable kid photo shoot - i managed to book a second adorable kid - this little girl, who expressed interest in acting and modeling (the reason for the photo session) showed up initially a little shy - but with just a little encouragement from me to jump up and down, laugh, and dance - this little girl came alive, and a wealth of joy spilled from her every move and facial expression

little boys are...fast

2010-11-16T20:43:00.004-06:00

i had a shoot with a new client recently - we had such a nice day in the park! i was warned beforehand that he was difficult to photograph because of his energy and inability to sit still - and boy was she right - i spent most of the afternoon chasing him around in circles, up and down playground equipment, back and forth on the swings, and whoa, that kid is fast! but his dimples won me over - and the rest of the day we'll just call...a good day's workout...and pretty much how the majority of toddler photo shoots go

check out the rest of the shoot here

summertime, and the livin' is easy

2010-11-05T15:08:00.003-05:00

my college roommate contacted me recently in need of some headshots for a new business venture - i knew she would be easy to shoot because not only does she have a great smile, but it is incredibly easy to get her to laugh...err crack up - headshots are a simple head and shoulders crop, which i think actually makes the shoot more challenging sometimes - it's fun to play with light and backgrounds and posing to try to get variation and life within such a tight shot - and i think she looks pretty great in every one of these shots

check out the rest of the shoot right here

ghouls and goblins and glitter, oh my!

2010-11-02T17:50:00.002-05:00

so i guess i'm more of a videographer than a photographer these days - or still in the thick of a love affair with my iphone - either way, sometimes things are just better with motion and sound - and halloween is definitely one of those things - we had such a great time at the block party on Cedar Springs this year - the costumes were so great - and the personalities of the people we met were even better - follow that up with a great rock show, and you've got yourself a pretty magical all hallows eve...

one part friends, two parts tequila - shake well

2010-11-02T15:16:00.004-05:00

i recently photographed some old family friends of mine - i was initially concerned that the history between us would make it difficult for them to relax and act natural - but on the contrary, it actually made the shoot a lot easier and more comfortable for all of us - i was able to joke around with them and get them to laugh easily - and then go for margaritas afterwards!

click here to see the rest of the shoot

the big apple

2010-11-02T15:13:00.002-05:00

my most recent trip to NYC was a total blast! the movie i made shows it better than i could ever describe it - enjoy

you gotta have 'em

2010-10-27T21:07:00.003-05:00

we tackled another 5k last week - but this one included more walking and smiling and girl-power, and a little less sweat and fire and mud - it was a great experience and really uplifting - the susan g. komen breast cancer awareness 5k is always a very empowering and community driven event - more than 30,000 people came out in support of the cause - and it was really an amazing sight to see - see for yourself and check out the video i made of the early morning fun:

today i stretched my designer hat over my photographer hat - it was a tight fit

2010-10-14T18:52:00.020-05:00

i had the privilege of shooting these three girls for the 2nd fall in a row this year - and somehow, they have managed to get more beautiful since - and this time, mom and dad decided to join in on the fun for a few of the photographs - i'm wrapping up the editing of their shoot from this weekend, and have layed out and designed for them, 4 different christmas cards with the photos from our shoot - i've always loved graphic design, but have certainly never considered myself a designer - i have to say however, it was made a lot easier by having access to photos that i shot with my point of view, from which to derive inspiration

click right here to check out the card designs

let the games begin...

2010-10-13T19:49:00.008-05:00

click here to look through the rest of this shoot

with fall comes great weather, and with great weather comes portrait season! just another reason why this time of year, is my favorite time of year - i had a hectic weekend of wedding photography, family portraits, and senior portraits - the first set i'm rolling out to the public are the senior portraits - this was one of my most successful and satisfying shoots to date - i am proud of the work and eager to share - and it didn't hurt that my subject was a very patient young artist with incredibly striking features - a complete joy to photograph

(fall appointments are filling up fast - check out thephotositake.com for available dates and rates)

the monster mash

2010-09-26T21:14:00.008-05:00

the end of september means the beginning of haunted house season - and halloween just happens to be my favorite of all the holidays - i look forward to it like normal people look forward to christmas - it's not just the candy, the costumes, the parties, the mood, the chilly nights, the haunted houses, the spirit, the history, the ghouls and the goblins...it's all of it!

this weekend we headed out to a nationally accredited haunt in gainesville, a small town just south of oklahoma, where all of the proceeds from ticket sales are donated to the red cross - in these quick snapshots, i tried to capture the things that represent a recipe for a good scare: ticket booth hand painted on the side of a trailer..in the middle of nowhere, target practice, clowns, decapitated heads, and...porta potties

there is nothing more fun for me, than to visit these houses with people who are easily terrified and truely scared of, not just the spooks and startles, but the mere anticipation of it all - it's just not the same unless you have a screamer in the group, and luckily we had a couple - i'm really looking forward to screaming all over the metroplex for the next couple of weeks!

the end of summer

2010-09-08T19:03:00.011-05:00

traditionally, labor day marks the end of summer - and this year it was a welcomed relief to steamy triple digit days, as well as a much needed triple day weekend.
mine was filled with cliche rituals of the american holiday...barbecues, block parties, new babies, and football - but, a nice change of pace from days filled with shot lists and photoshop and computers and hours of driving - it came and went all too fast

(and on a side note, the iPhone takes some pretty awesome photos too - as you can see)

and....action!

2010-09-04T14:20:00.009-05:00

so i finally surrendered to the genius that is steve jobs...i got an iPhone - i've been a mac user since i was a teenager and i'm constantly trying to convert people because i have first hand experience in the superiority of apple technology - however, i've been putting off buying an iPhone for several reasons - the cost, having to become at&t's bitch, being that connected all of the time, and mostly - because i was sure i would be addicted to it soon after - well...i was right - and i'm already at the point where i can't remember how i survived without it for so long - within 24 hours of owning it, i decided to make my first iPhone movie - i think i was inspired by all of the filming that's been going on downtown - so i walked around in my neighborhood for a couple of hours and shot a few clips of my favorite places - i used the iMovie app to cut and arrange the clips, add music and text and transitions, and export...all on the phone - this thing is awesome!

enjoy the show.

quiet on the set

2010-08-22T15:02:00.002-05:00

an unexpected perk to living downtown is getting to observe all of the movies and tv shows that are filmed here - the film crews are always really nice - and it never ceases to amaze me that i can wander around and take photos without anyone questioning me - i'm not sure if maybe my camera gear just makes me look like i belong there, or if they really just don't care - before my many adventures through the various sets, i would have thought there would have been more security on a movie set - or at least they would block off the street to the public - but i guess it's just too expensive to borrow main street for a night or two...?

the happiest kind of bar

2010-08-15T16:05:00.020-05:00

a girls' night out at a gay bar is like smoke on a disco ball...
roundup is a fabulous place where you will find a karaoke stage, a dance floor, pool tables, a rooftop patio, and a few hundred beautiful, well dressed, charming,and totally.. uninterested men... who can dance.

after we cheered michele on in the karaoke room, we hit that dance floor where we made an adorable new friend - and we immediately began scanning the room to help find him a partner for the night - and successfully so! i can't remember the last time i danced, and sweat, and sang, and laughed so much in one night - and we can't wait to go back!

can i get a little cheese with that whine

2010-08-02T19:53:00.006-05:00

my family and i attended a wine and cheese tasting at whole foods recently - we had a very in-depth history lesson about the 6 different types of gouda we tasted, as well as the several whites and reds that were paired along with each cheese - the origins and the cultural references were fascin...blah blah blah - it was a lot of damn wine and cheese...and i can't wait for the next one! - what a great way to spend an evening amongst friends and family - and after the 7th or 8th wine that was passed around, an actual fist bump (or terrorist fist jab, as fox news likes to call it) occurred between my mom and sister, as my dad looked on entertained/embarrassed - and we managed to get out of there without blowing too much on our picks for the night - *clink* here's to the next tasting, family!

surrogat family at the lake

2010-07-28T20:39:00.009-05:00

so i spent this july 4th on a beautiful lake in crockett, tx - a sleepy little town between here and houston, where all of the tallest pine trees in texas have decided to dwell - the lake house where we spent the weekend belongs to a friend of a friends' parents....hairdresser's second cousin's sister-in-law...jk - anyway - it belongs to two of the most wonderful and welcoming people that i have had the pleasure of spending time with - and it's become kind of a tradition for aaron and i to crash their family reunion come july 4th - and i spent the (all too short) weekend fishing, swimming, water skiing, kayaking, chasing kids, making s'mores, setting off fireworks, drinking wine, and photographing everything in sight so as to not forget those 3 awesome summer days and nights - thanks genie and chuck for another memorable 4th!

click here to see the rest of the weekend

surprise!!!!!!...sort of

2010-07-17T12:04:00.004-05:00

so the plan was to surprise jason on his birthday by stuffing all of his friends inside of his favorite bar and screaming and jumping and waving at him when he walked through the door - pretty standard as far as surprise parties go, but a fun one nonetheless - when you're expecting to run in and take your annual birthday shot, and find 20 or 30 of your friends, dulce de leche cupcakes, and balloons - it's pretty surprising right?....unless you forget that jason knows what kind of cars we all drive, and we managed to line the streets outside the bar with them...oops - even though he was tipped off, he did indulge us all with a little manufactured shock and awe...thanks jason

check out the rest of the fun surprise right here

yee-haw

2010-06-27T13:25:00.003-05:00

i had the good fortune of attending another central market cooking school class this week - it featured the chef, author, and radio personality, john demers - and with a texas-inspired menu like white bean frito pie, texas snapper, praline sweet potatoes, and shiner-braised short ribs with jalapeno polenta, how could we resist?? - and after one amazing bite of that creamy kicked up polenta, my mom exclaimed 'i love grits' - which, for you northerners, is one of those hand in the air/hand on the bible statements that you have to make before you can hang out in the south - we definitely picked the right week to report to class
chef john openly and passionately expressed his love affair with all things texas - as he chopped and sauteed and flipped, he sipped on a shiner beer - a local favorite brewed in shiner, tx. - that he would later use to braise the beef (this is my kind of chef) - he told tales of a 14,000 mile roadtrip around the state, his search for the best bbq, the many colorful characters in terlingua and marfa, and his life near the border - he got so lost in his own words and animated storytelling - a true author - and it suddenly became more of a show than a class - and we were the willing (and salivating) audience

clinks of drinks and birthday winks

2010-06-15T21:29:00.011-05:00

it wouldn't be sarah's birthday without some karaoke at a gay bar, lining up to do 'the time warp', a little bar hopping, and at least a few rounds of shots
*table-cheers-down the hatch*
there is never a shortage of interesting characters in denton - what a fun town - even though i reside in dallas these days, i'll never stop thinking of denton as home - i didn't grow up there, but it made up for what was sorely lacking in my hometown...music, art, love, diversity, and local color///segue///the color of light in the different bars that we visited throughout the night was so eclectic and fun, that i decided to go with it - so i just enhanced it, instead of color correcting it - have fun looking through a few of sarah's birthday photos by clicking right here

not the barbarian

2010-05-25T21:17:00.005-05:00

last weekend, my best friend and i had the pleasure of being among the few that witnessed conan obrien's 'legally prohibited from being funny on television' tour - initially a little skeptical about watching conan do stand up for a couple of hours - we were pleasantly surprised - it turned out to be a show full of sketches, musical performances, great comedians, and old conan friends and inside jokes - one of my favorite moments, pictured above, was a sketch where conan wandered aimlessly around his house in a robe, showerless and beardy, drinking far too much wine - all set to the tune of 'all by myself' - a possibly too-close-to-home depiction of his life since being fired from the tonight show

wacky tobacky

2010-05-08T17:00:00.006-05:00

in addition to parades, another common traffic-stopping spectacle downtown are the many protests that occur, both peaceful and not-so peaceful - there was one of each last week, and while both carried validity, i decided my blog expressed too casual a tone to convey serious journalism, so i photographed the more peaceful/entertaining of the two - the legalization of marijuana - a diverse group of people came together to march, both young and old - pot head cliches, conservatives, hippies, artists, and even grandparents walked the streets of downtown dallas, carrying clever signs and chanting 'free the weed' - the cops monitoring the protest were in good spirits, which was lucky as many of the protesters were openly smoking the not-yet legal drug...i'm pretty sure i got a contact high

i am a warrior, hear me roar

2010-05-06T21:34:00.006-05:00

click here to see the whole race

this weekend i participated in the craziest race to ever come through texas - the warrior dash - a 3.5 mile race through uncharted woods and farmland, with insane obstacles along the way - some of the obstacles included fighting my way through gale force winds (enormous fans at top speed - they called this one 'the texas tornado') climbing up and over a cargo net, sliding down a muddy river bank - crossing the river - and climbing back out the other muddy side, jumping over fire pits, swimming across a bog while pulling yourself up and over several huge logs floating on the surface, and crawling through a mud pit under barbed wire - at the end of the race, we were all hosed off by a powerful fire hose - and then it was on to the free beer, music, and turkey legs, all while adorning our newly acquired race medals and viking helmets - it was so awesome, i'm thinking of following it to another state and doing it all over again!

happy birthday to me!

2010-04-28T19:36:00.004-05:00

click here to see the whole night

this weekend i celebrated my 28th birthday - after 21, birthdays seem to be mostly a let down - but this year was, by far, the best birthday i've had since childhood (you know, when mom was still in charge of the festivities) - the night started out with an amazing meal at a sexy restaurant with live music - then we headed back to my place, where we set up a full bar/balloons/cupcakes/the whole nine, on the roof of my building downtown - the weather was perfect, the company was perfect, the city lights were perfect - and just when i thought it couldn't possibly get any better...my friends surprised me with one of my favorite musicians - who serenaded us all for the rest of the evening - what a magical night!

we built this city

2010-04-20T16:44:00.004-05:00

you know you're growing accustomed to life downtown when the sound of the traffic outside lulls you to sleep like ocean waves - the ebb and flow of the city begins to sound like music - and just this morning i was listening to the squeal of braking buses, and a chord emerged...i think it was c minor

'a flurry of groin-hugging spandex'

2010-04-03T14:38:00.006-05:00

click here to check out the rest of the photos

last night i made my way out to the house of blues to catch a band called steel panther - it was literally like being in the movie spinal tap - take every 80's hairband cliche...exaggerate it - then add a lot of leopard spandex and incredibly offensive lyrics, and you get steel panther...so bad, it's good - there was actually a moment when the guitarist whipped out a mirror to check his lip gloss, and then proceeded to douse himself with hairspray - but antics aside, these guys are actually pretty amazing musicians - and it was one of the most hilariously entertaining rock shows i've ever been to

don't look down

2010-03-31T22:21:00.003-05:00

i was reminded this morning about an aspect of city life that i had forgotten about...window washing - i awoke to a 'squeaky squeaky' at my window, only to find a man suspended from ropes just outside - i've been repelling before, but these guys take it to an extreme - it was pretty fascinating to watch them in action, but there was definitely a sigh of relief when they safely reached the ground

roll out the red carpet

2010-03-21T12:22:00.012-05:00

my most recent photo session was with a young actress, who just finished wrapping up filming her first independent film - it is scheduled to premiere in new york, la, and dallas - and has recently become a contender for sundance - though her career seems to be taking off, she was really down to earth and fun to work with - and by the end of our session, she insisted on sharing my name and contanct info with the producers of the movie - so hopefully, the next time i see her, i will be photographing her on the red carpet at that dallas premiere!

a birthday and an irish holiday

2010-03-14T13:07:00.009-05:00

jj turned the big 2 - 8 this weekend...not exactly a milestone, but a wonderful friend deserving of a big celebration nonetheless - and all i really have to say about this post, is that i find my friends to be completely adorable...

click here to see more

and of course, we celebrated st. patrick's day this weekend - which, in dallas, means the largest parade of the year - a record attendance of 80,000 people and over 100 floats to observe - with bagpipes, green beer, mardi gras beads galore, and a host of other colorful characters...it crushed the christmas parade in excitement, energy, and just plain fun - i can't remember the last time i was in such a large crowd of people who were all totally drunk...before noon - you gotta love the irish!

check out my favorite shots from the day right here

2010-03-07T17:59:00.007-06:00

i had the privilege of spending time with a very talented local film maker this weekend - we spent hours in his studio watching and discussing several of his edited pieces and documentaries - beautifully lit and well composed works of art, that for me, was like witnessing really great photography in motion - to see some of his work for yourself, visit his site right here

to keep my art buzz going, i decided to complete the evening with a little gallery hopping - the public trust and 500X had both great shows and great turnouts - several of my favorite artists were in attendance and we decided to keep the party going and the spirits flowing at a great uptown bar

click here to meet some of these characters

comedy, trucks, and chewy wine - i think i'll write me a country song

2010-02-28T19:41:00.008-06:00

in the span of two days, i managed to drive up to oklahoma to watch craig ferguson live, down to arlington for my second monster jam in one month, and back to dallas for a wine tasting at the ritz - the little obsessions and interests of my friends, in combination with my own, have resulted in a series of ongoing spontaneous adventures - and i can't wait to see where we end up next!

trust no road

2010-02-21T14:01:00.002-06:00

i've probably been watching neff perform for about ten years now - and i've always thought he was without a doubt, the best singer i have ever heard - after all of this time, my opinion hasn't changed, and neither has his talent - and bonus, he is probably the best looking guy i have ever seen in real life - click here for more shots from this denton good time

today, i went by ms. lindsay

2010-02-14T18:52:00.004-06:00

well, i think i just photographed the next child superstar - he filled my sunday morning with questions, giggles, jokes, and dimples - and by the end of our session, i was ready to keep him (although i don't think his mom would have appreciated that) check out the rest of my favorite shots of this adorable kid right here!

white trash weekend

2010-02-08T21:02:00.002-06:00

this weekend i ventured out to houston, met up with one of my best and most missed friends, and experienced my first monster jam - and what a loud, gas filled, vibrating, car crushing, truck rolling good time it was - click here to see more monsters

he takes photos too

2010-02-02T21:16:00.003-06:00

it's great to be immersed in the art world again - free wine and great people watching aside - there is never a shortage of innovative new talent to explore and fascinating people with which to converse - and lucky me, dallas' art scene just so happens to be bursting at the seams with great shows to attend - to see some of the work from this show, check out matt's site right here

and many more

2010-01-31T18:31:00.002-06:00

click here to see all the fun

we celebrated michele's birthday this weekend - and i'm not sure there was actually a point in the evening when we weren't laughing hysterically - while i'm sure the champagne and cupcake sugar high added to the fun - there's really nothing better than a night when all of your favorite people are together in one place at the same time

cheers!

it's all about the benjamins baby

2010-01-24T21:46:00.003-06:00

while out at one of my favorite dallas bars saturday night, i met a group of guys who were celebrating turning 30 - as i was documenting their drunken debauchery, they became increasingly curious about my camera, my profession, and the resulting images - and before i knew it, they were shaking my hand in gratitude while slipping me $100 tip - have i mentioned lately that i love dallas...

check 1....2

2010-01-20T21:40:00.004-06:00

...a few shots taken from behind the scenes during an arduous sound check on the saturday afternoon before the show

it was an unforgettable night - not just for me, but for an audience surging with loyal mus-tard fans - with lasers, smoke, video installations, and snow machines - this band does not disappoint - and even with all of the theatrics, the music and the talent still managed to shine through - i feel so fortunate to have been a part of it

and not to ruin their rock and roll image...but they are also 4 of the best guys i have had the priviledge of spending time with in a long, long time

click here to watch a video clip of my performance on 'friend' with ugly mus-tard WARNING:EXPLICIT LYRICS

today i made a new friend

2010-01-10T20:35:00.006-06:00

recently i've been spending most of my free time rehearsing with ugly mus-tard for an upcoming show and i managed to get a few shots of the guys in the studio over the weekend
i just heard how many of you are planning to come to the show and i think that's awesome - i really appreciate the support

party like the past is in the past

2010-01-02T22:05:00.016-06:00

and party, we did!

we started off the evening at a family-owned gem of restaurant, where the owner serenaded us throughout the evening, lounge-style - and his pianist, with a voice reminiscent of billy holiday, sat draped in pearls, fur, and sequins...awesome.

then we danced the night away at a new year's bash in uptown complete with a great band, free drinks, and an impressive balloon drop - everything new year's eve is supposed to be - and for me, it was without a doubt the best new year's since 2001, and that's too long!
(thank you for that particular night in '01, it was magical)

click here to see a few snapshots from the evening

thank you jeff

fitness can be fun

2009-12-30T19:32:00.006-06:00

last weekend i photographed a personal trainer for advertising purposes - yep, it's a tough job, but somebody's gotta do it...
and i'm looking forward to future sessions together - but next time with weights instead of camera equipment

feliz navidad

2009-12-27T13:43:00.006-06:00

note to self: when a french pastry chef says something like 'it's really not all that hard' - remember that they are a french pastry chef, and you are not
for christmas dessert this year i tackled the towering croquembouche(which means 'crack in mouth' in french) little caramel cream filled puff pastries, 'glued' together with caramel, and wrapped in spun sugar - definitely a labor of love, but well worth it because it was definitely delicious!

you have the right to remain goofy

2009-12-21T23:00:00.010-06:00

this weekend i went to a cops and robbers christmas party (it's a long story - only in denton) and at some point during the night we were all 'arrested'...click here to see the rest of the mugshots

it's because i'm green isn't it

2009-12-14T21:45:00.010-06:00

everything in the above photos is made of ice (except for my sister and my dad)

dr. seuss's life size who-ville, constructed and sculpted from over 5,000 blocks of ice - it was visually incredible and so much fun - we were given giant parkas to combat the temperature inside that was all of 9 degrees - and as soon as we entered and our breath became visible, we were all instantly 10 again - we took turns on the 20 ft. ice slide - but it was especially entertaining to watch my dad jump in line with all of the other kids for a turn - and as you can see by the look on his face, it was a good ride

puttin on the ritz

2009-12-08T23:01:00.005-06:00

this weekend i visited a friend of mine who is now running the bar and restaurant at the ritz carlton downtown - and can i just say, it's good to have friends in high places - and in more than one way - not only did we enjoy a private tour and tasting in the hotel's wine cellar - but his literal high place of 6 feet 8 inches allowed me to feel less gigantic myself, and in heels no less!

and to top off the weekend, we awoke the next chilly morning to enjoy the christmas parade (parade count since august: 3)

make a wish

2009-11-29T12:59:00.004-06:00

it was the first time in a long time that it was just the 4 of us for thanksgiving dinner - and we were all in agreement that it was the best meal to date - years of rehearsal brought about the perfection of turkey, sides, and desserts - and amongst the many advantages of a small thanksgiving gathering, the best is...leftovers for days!

happy thanksgiving

fa la la la la

2009-11-23T22:57:00.005-06:00

after the cacophony of a gathering crowd and muffled christmas chords made its way into my apartment friday night, i ran downstairs to join in on the festivities - a show complete with a scrooge, a choir, a dancing santa, fireworks, the unveiling of this year's neiman marcus window, and the lighting of dallas' new 60 foot christmas tree - the perfect night for a christmas-lover like myself, and right at my doorstep - literally...i love this city

the ball is officially rolling

2009-11-16T19:33:00.003-06:00

i booked a portrait session with a new client this weekend and had the best time photographing her three girls on what might have been the most perfect fall day - we spent the afternoon cracking each other up and running around a pretty little park - what a cool gig - i can't wait to fill up my calendar with more of the same

15 minutes

2009-11-10T21:36:00.005-06:00

i met a lot of interesting people while shooting in victory park over the weekend - but by far the most entertaining were a group of hootin' and hollerin' ticket scalpers - i must have looked more important than i actually was, with my camera gear and tripod, because they were convinced that i was press and was going to make them famous somehow - i didn't have the heart to tell them i was out shooting for fun, but they wouldn't have believed me anyway - so i had them pose for a shot and promised to mail them a copy

dia de los muertos

2009-11-02T21:08:00.022-06:00

my costume this year was inspired by my fabulous trip to mexico over the summer - and after an hour of makeup, i transformed into a day of the dead skeleton

my all hallows evening was a throw back to my younger and more fun/carefree days - it started at a great house party, moved to my most frequented college bar, and then ended with my favorite rock star

click here to see my adorable costumed friends and the rest of this fun night!

(don't worry, the flasher is not actually naked)

it's a veggiesaurus

2009-10-26T18:40:00.009-05:00

we made our way out to the a.a.c. this weekend for the 'walking with dinosaurs' show - it was unexpectedly amazing! and at times a little scary...the dinosaurs were super realistic, not to mention enormous (check out the tiny guy on the rock - yeah, they were that big) the history lesson made me miss grade school and i was kind of disappointed that there wasn't a pop quiz afterwards

i love my job

2009-10-19T20:04:00.004-05:00

while out on assignment at the W hotel this weekend - i met a beautiful swedish boy, with charm to spare - we got to talking, and it turned out that he was interested in entering the modeling world - so naturally, i asked if he wanted to do an impromptu fashion shoot on the roof of this fabulous hotel - he agreed with the enthusiasm that only an adorable and intoxicating swedish accent can convey...and a few shots later, he became a model, and i expanded my portfolio

cello magik

2009-10-13T20:29:00.009-05:00

i was back in a studio recording this week - i've randomly played with rock, folk, and industrial musicians over the years, but this genre was a first for me - much more uplifting and soft than what i'm used to - it was a challenge, which made it fun - and after a day of recording, i realized how much i've really been missing my cello

if you'd like to take a listen to 'This is Who I Am' by Fred Rush, click here - i come in on the choruses with a little solo in the middle - they recorded my lower harmony and then layered my melody over it - it was kinda fun to listen to myself playing along with...me - i might just have to get a loop so i can rock out with myself everyday!

(i just started another project with a different band and it is very dark and very different - i can't wait to share it, so check back)

let the parades begin!

2009-10-08T22:38:00.006-05:00

when i was considering moving in to this building, my best friend's one and only question was, 'what happens when there's a parade' - which i thought was a random and crazy question - but damnit if there aren't 12 plus parades downtown a year - was anyone else aware of this? - so anyway, now that i live here - i can tell you what happens - if you're trying to get home...you won't - but, if you're already home...you get an awesome view from your window and free v.i.p. parking - i cannot wait for the christmas parade - i plan to throw a parade party - so if you want front row seats, let me know and i will add you to the list!

Auf jeden Regen folgt auch Sonnenschein

2009-10-05T14:18:00.006-05:00

click here to see the rest of this fun and crazy night

i returned to denton this weekend (the first time since moving to dallas) and celebrated oktoberfest with the crew - i drank way too much wonderfully hoppy german beer, and spent time with friends i spend way too much time missing - i'm looking forward to the next visit - Bis zum nächstes mal (until next time)

BAM!

2009-09-28T23:53:00.002-05:00

my sister and i went to a cooking class this week - and we learned that...well, that we know a lot more about cooking than either of us realized (and a hell of a lot more than anyone else in our class - evident after several rudimentary questions) so we learned nothing, but the food was great and it was a lot of fun - and that's all that really matters

jillybean

2009-09-26T22:07:00.006-05:00

our first test together went so well, that we decided to do an actual shoot this weekend - and this was one of my favorite shots of the day - turns out i don't need all the fancy lighting equipment that i used to borrow (and currently can't afford to buy) - i got this shot with the help of a breeze, a white wall, and a flash

the over-the-top period fashion shoot is scheduled for october, so stay tuned...

goldie locks

2009-09-21T20:37:00.004-05:00

my biological clock is definitely not ticking - however, i do really love photographing kids - with big bright eyes and a constant curiosity, you can capture a thousand beautifully innocent and candid moments just by following them around for a day

trust the public

2009-09-15T14:14:00.008-05:00

gallery director and creative genius brian gibb (my former boss) rolling through his downtown gallery

swing by for a look at the current exhibit, and pick up an original print set from five extraordinary artists for only 100 bucks! you can outfit your pad with artwork to envy, while supporting the relaunch of the nationally accredited art prostitute publication

The Public Trust - 2919 Commerce St - Deep Ellum

she was a showgirl

2009-09-08T20:54:00.004-05:00

meet lola - the newest addition to my little family - another step towards crazy cat lady? - maybe, but i can't remember the last time i smiled and laughed so much in one weekend - just days ago, she was recovered in a raid on a dallas-based hoarder - a bit under weight and in need of medication several times daily, she is a fighter and on the road to good health - i'm so glad i was able to save her from such a grim future, and it looks like she will be doing the same for me

strike a pose

2009-08-31T20:19:00.017-05:00

i've been shooting architecture for so long now that i almost forgot how fun it was to work with people - this weekend i had a short photo session with an aspiring actress - a precedent to an expanding photography business, and a confirmation that this was what i was made to do - i can't wait for the all day fashion shoot we have planned, and i can't wait to share the results!

click here to see a few more images from this test

everything's waiting for you

2009-08-24T17:22:00.004-05:00

this is the view on my way home everyday...
jealous much?

When you're alone
And life is making you lonely
You can always go...downtown
When you've got worries,
All the noise and the hurry
Seems to help, I know...downtown

she's not lonesome tonight

2009-08-17T16:30:00.006-05:00

and the award for best kitsch goes to...
it's so refreshing when someone decides to give in to an obsession and just puts their quirkiness on display for all the world to see - oh, and in case you were wondering - yes, the entire house looks like this - how fun!

dallas or bust!

2009-08-09T08:46:00.002-05:00

moving sucks.

muy caliente

2009-07-27T12:32:00.004-05:00

melting ice, as little clothing as possible, and flip flops - this is what a texas summer means to me - i felt this was an appropriate post since it reached upwards of 105 degrees last week - and no, that is not a type-o - so, friends and family currently living up north take heed - STAY WHERE YOU ARE!

today's youth, tomorrow's leaders - anyone else concerned?

2009-07-14T21:09:00.004-05:00

a client recently asked for a favor - to document the damage done to one of his properties after a break-in - expecting to find broken windows and damaged door jams, i found myself shaking my head in disbelief as i entered the home... clumsy graffiti covering every wall and door, carpet singed from fireworks, piles of beer cans, rotting pizza and marinara footprints, cigarettes extinguished on counter tops, and so on... i chose this particular photo because i found it to be the most defiant - amazing - as jaded as i am, some people still shock the hell out of me

happy birthday k

2009-07-04T16:32:00.005-05:00

this weekend was about the celebration of our country's independence - but instead, i decided to celebrate the birth of my friend kandi! good food, good friends, good laughs, good times

and on a side note, we dined on one of kandi's favorites...mollejas - curious? let's just say it's a gland, and leave it at that.

like a virgin

2009-06-28T12:18:00.004-05:00

check it out
i totally partied with madonna this weekend

mr. and mrs. jimenez

2009-06-22T19:57:00.003-05:00

of course i could never get away with calling them mr. and mrs. jimenez - so, this is cris and bert - the parents of my closest friend - those rare parents that are not afraid to come out to our dirty little denton bars and have a few cheap beers and a smoke with the oftentimes crude locals - i love it.

photography? interior design? ...i'll get back to you

2009-06-14T18:04:00.010-05:00

click here to see all before and afters

well, this week i said goodbye to a house that i put a lot of love, and a lot a lot of elbow grease into (yes, it deserves two 'a lot' s) - but hey, at least i have these awesome photos to remember it by...yea.

the sarahs, plural.

2009-06-09T21:35:00.003-05:00

this is my friend sarah,
and this is my other friend...sarah
and this,
is what a good weekend looks like.

everything happens for a reason... bullshit

2009-06-09T21:18:00.004-05:00

i just wanted to apologize for the absence of greatness, as i am sure it was a void not easily filled - i recently crashed into a wall of disappointment - and it was paralyzing - but there seems to be a tingling sensation in my fingers and my toes - and i realized that i couldn't keep my anxious fans waiting any longer - so here we go again...

mud bugs can't swim

2009-05-06T21:19:00.007-05:00

it seems odd that i was born in the deep south of georgia, grew up in texas - and yet, had never been to a crawfish boil until today - i was instructed to rip off the legs, pop off the head, suck out the juice, crack open the shell, and...enjoy - i must admit, it was pretty tasty - but there were an abundance of live mud bugs crawling about - and it was bit like eating a cheeseburger in a field of roaming cattle - i have to say, i think i prefer the anonymity of my food - it keeps me from being a vegetarian

and this little piggy laughed out loud

2009-05-04T20:00:00.006-05:00

i spotted this while out at a bar over the weekend - i love denton's dark sense of humor - all the weird of austin, minus the traffic

america's future

2009-05-01T20:53:00.008-05:00

as if photographing multi-million dollar properties during a housing crisis and a drowning economy weren't ironic enough - i drive by this on my way to one of them today - i couldn't resist pulling over to photograph such a symbolic and ominous scene... a vulture, perched atop a dilapidated house, shrouded in a bank of dark and stormy clouds

ruca the cat

2009-04-27T12:51:00.006-05:00

this is ruca - and yes, i realize the implications (crazy cat lady) of making my first official photo blog about my cat - but i love this photo because it really captures the personality of the subject - kinda beautiful, kinda clueless, and kinda curious - she leans in close to my camera lens, and becomes transfixed by her own reflection.

the big bang

2009-04-27T12:20:00.007-05:00

i thought i would begin this blog by letting you know that...i don't blog. that's right, i'm a blogging virgin - but i am loving the idea of having a space to post the photos i took that have nothing to do with making money, completing shot lists, following guidelines, or working with the ideas of someone else. the resulting blog being full of images that make me happy! (juxtaposed with a little sarcasm, cynicism, and a mix of personal musings and rantings) so as my art class withdrawals still plague me - i've decided to give myself this assignment - and it starts today.