One of the days of my life I will always remember feeling the most pride -- My son graduated from Columbia University this week.  He's such a bright young man, and, following some travel and an internship this summer, will be enrolling in graduate school this fall at Stanford University.  As a photographer, I feel fulfillment that he'll always have lovely photographs when -- decades from now -- he looks back on his life.  

Proposal Day in Bloomington, Indiana....!

A friend said to me this week that it must be fascinating to observe the highs of life, photographing proposals, engagements, weddings, senior pictures, newborns, family reunions, etc..... 

Yes.  It is.  It's fascinating and surreal and poignant and, at all moments, I feel the weight of responsibility to make sure I get the shots that will illustrate those moments for the rest of peoples' lives.  

Melissa graduated Indiana University this weekend and will begin law school in September. I loved her humor and attitude the moment we met. If she needs a letter of recommendation for a legal position in three years I'd write one in a heartbeat!

This week I've shot a wedding, an engagement, several senior pictures, a newborn sitting and a first-communion celebration.  What a whirlwind seven days of some of life's key marks....  Few things make a photographer happier, in turn, than a rainy day to stay at the computer editing, playing music and catching up.  Pouring another cup of coffee, and it's back to the iMac!

We're in full senior picture, engagement and wedding mode, with a great mix of family reunions, summer portraits and commercial work, too.

I recently bought Nikon's amazing 24mm 1.4 lens and can't wait to mix it in on photo shoots with my other fantastic lenses.... I want to provide clients with eclectic viewpoints and compositions among their portrait choices.  In particular, I'm excited about environmental portraiture and can't wait to begin breaking it in.  

So glad to have met (and worked with) Tony.  Fascinating fellow.  Retired professor, but hasn't slowed down one iota.  He needed portraits for A,B,C,D,E.... organizations he serves!  He's lived a few places and said "Bloomington is my favorite and I wouldn't dream of leaving".  

I agree.

What a joy to live and work in this amazing community.

Inundated with Indiana University, Bloomington South and Bloomington North senior pictures and LinkedIn head shots as the 2016-2017 school year enters its final stretch.  There's a palpable buzz throughout town as the flowers are up, spirits are high and temperatures are summer-like.  

I asked Jun (as I ask all clients) 1) through what means he located my business and 2) why he selected me to be his portrait photographer.  He answered, "Because you're a 5-star star!". 

Well, I sure do work hard to be the best in the area at the intersection of customer service, price and quality.  There are photographers in South-Central Indiana with lower prices and/or other niches, but I'm exceedingly proud and confident in my service/price/quality point. 

Call or message me to talk about your upcoming photography requests.

Booked seemingly every day April through June -- the whirlwind of spring/summer/autumn photography is in full force.  I've carved out a four-week stretch for late summer, however, to drive the iconic, beloved Route 66, from Chicago's Loop to Santa Monica Pier, with my Dad.  He and I took a road trip together 20-some years ago and this will be a fascinating bookend to a fascinating two decades.  

Sometimes we drive.  Sometimes we're in the passenger seat.  The road goes on, either way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7X0eYyhzcGw

Best things about being a photographer (in no particular order):

     1) Self-employment

     2) Daily creativity

     3) Pride in creating art, memories, moments, tears, joy and visual beauty

     4) Meeting fascinating people and establishing an immediate, personal connection

Life is comprised of many, many categories and turns, but, at this point in my own, I wouldn't trade my career for any other.

Out of loss always comes hope.

While the past three weeks have been mournful, surreal and melancholy, on a personal level, there remains joy and beauty and, well, spring, all around us.

I've got 14 weddings booked for 2017 so far, and have shot two already in March. What an unparalleled opportunity to see, up close, the optimism that propels a society forward. Living and participating fully in a college town, photographing engagements and weddings, seeing the pride/nervousness/hope while shooting senior pictures and coaching for best-foot-forward interview-ready head shots.....  There's a poignant ying and yang to my life.  Especially this past month, more so than in decades.  

What a remarkable experience to carry a camera and have the ability to stop time, even when we, as humans, yearn for that miracle but can never attain it.