Employee Portraits

I've been working on employee portraits for a company directory this past week. This is Hunter, one of our customer care reps. Isn't it great to work in a dog-friendly workplace?!

Do your feet a favor...buy some NBs!

After a great weekend, including time with family, baseball games, and a wedding shoot, I'm back at work. It occurred to me that not everyone knows exactly what goes on here at the NBWeb studio. So, I thought I'd give you a little sample of something I threw together last week.

I'm increasingly convinced that if you need shoes (and "most" of you do!) then you need to be wearing New Balance shoes! I even convinced someone of that a few days ago in a Marshalls! We spend our money on technology to actually help your feet and body...not just on superstars to tell you to wear this shoe or that (no offense, MJ!).

These 1224s will be incredible shoes when they hit the shelves this Fall. Trust me and get your bank cards ready! True love, baby!!

Tired

I'm working on employee portraits for an online directory and snapped this self-portrait today while waiting for my next appointment. Just feeling a little tired.

Tired is good when it's earned. You know, that feeling of being completely exhausted after a hard day's work. You collapse on the couch or in bed and just know that you've truly accomplished something today. Often that whole sentiment can be summed up in a deep sigh right before thanking God for that day and closing your eyes (only to be awakened by a dog scratching in his crate!!..but that's a different subject, huh?!)

Praise

If there is anything I have learned over the past several years, it's that we need to approach every day with an attitude of praise.  That lesson is engraved in my mind after seeing so many times when God has provided for us, even when it seemed impossible that it was going to happen.  However, it's easy to wake up from time to time and forget all about that, instead giving in to negativity.  What a nasty downward spiral that brings!

I'm thankful for so much.  These are the big things I'm thanking God for today:

• My family...my incredible wife, wonderful kids.  My mom that has always supported me.  My grandma who I adore.  I can't imagine going through life without a supportive family!
  
• To have a wonderful job that I love coming to everyday...and for the team we have here in the studio.  Such creative minds that are great for challenging ourselves to push the boundaries of quality and productivity.

God's grace is a wonderful thing.  We don't deserve anything, yet He showers blessings on us when we give our lives to Him.  Part of that is reality and part is perspective/attitude.  If we have an attitude of thankfulness and praise, then it's easy to feel like we have EVERYTHING even when the world might think we have nothing.

What are you thankful for today?  

Why I love photography

Last Saturday's wedding was a thing of beauty.  I have to admit that I did approach it with a certain level of "holy fear".  I knew I am someone that handles pressure quite well...BUT we're talking about capturing moments that are here for a second and gone the next.  You have to respect that reality.

As I began shooting, I became increasingly comfortable and rather quickly found myself in that wonderful, creative mode that I love.  Sure there were technical issues to deal with.  But I'd done my homework.  I've studied 100s of images from wedding photographer greats -- I'm named them a million times here.  So, I felt so free to work out the images I already had in mind.

Likely, enough can't be said about the bride and groom.  They were super open to whatever I threw at them, just wanting the best shots possible.  Without that, no way we would have just taken a little walk down the road to figure out some fun locations to shoot.  Too fun!

The process continued as I got home and began sorting through all of the images.  As is the case with a lot of folks who are starting out in wedding photography, the job was setup to give the couple unedited images on CD.  But I wanted to take that a step further and process the images that really speak to me.  So, I jumped in and have been working since then to draw out the emotion in those shots.  That is pure joy for me!  

I love this side of photography...looking for those killer shots that scream emotion or passion.  The ones that do something to you inside...maybe they send you back to a special time in your life...or just hold you eye for awhile.  I love it.

If you'd like to see the shots I've been working on, check out this slideshow I made for Rachel and Kevin.

Wedding Action!

I had the absolute thrill to flex my creative muscles yesterday at a beautiful wedding near downtown St. Louis. The couple was beautiful...the scene beautiful...what more can be said?! This being my first wedding, it was a bit nerve racking to make sure I was on top of it all. But that said, I had a blast. With my wedding photography standards set in the stratosphere thanks to my faves Jessica Claire and Jasmine Star, I had such a good time looking for those unique, dynamic angles to capture. Thanks Kevin and Rachel for letting me be a part of your day!!