The conversation went a little like this.
Ten years from now, the left 3/4th's of this portrait will love this image.
The first portrait of Hillary was when she was 3 months old with her sister and brother (and we have photographed her every year since). Now look at her, "sweet 16", one of the most perfect times for a portrait. I can't wait to see what we come up with next year!
The beautiful location, the embracing of the arms and hands wrapped around and holding each other, the warmth of the family looking off into the good things in the future, the soft expressions of three beautiful people, all reasons now is the time for a family portrait.
Why would you do portraits of your staff like these?
Why do a portrait like this?
We can all thank Jolene for the work on this portrait! All of us were thrilled with the artistry she added to this.
In the last couple of months, it seems like our clients have been enjoying the "Artist Composites" a lot. The nice thing about them is you can do up to 5 images to tell the story, add the name, and use colors in the matting to emphasize the colors in the portraits. On this portrait Jolene even choose the lettering style named "giddyup" as a whimsical touch.
In September, E-Town magazine held a party for the "Fab 5". These were 5 women who spent their time and energy on others. The magazine came to these women and gave them the opportunity for a complete make over, from make up, hair, workout time, and even some cosmetic surgery on a few of the women. All of this at no charge to them, all of the time and materials were donated. Dr. Bowman was one of those who was a part of the donations. What a great job he did. One of our slogans is "Making Enid Look Great for 32 Years", Dr. Bowman is doing the same. A thumbs up from us!
Our congratulations to Virginia for being the YWCA's "Woman of the Year". It could not have been given to a better person..jpg)
Here's an other one of our "Artist Composite" portraits. A beautiful girl in the family garden. I know this will be an heirloom her family will cherish. "Thank you"!
Last month I had the pleasure of photographing the Morgans once again. Since we have a display in their gym "Finer Physiques", they thought it would also be a nice location for their family portrait. If you have not seen it already, go by and look at it on the wall behind the reception desk.
We go back a long way, actually to her parents engagement portraits, over 20 years ago. To celebrate her 16th birthday, we created this "Artist Composite" with her first vehicle. 20 years from now I know this will be a great memory. (Drive carefully)
Every now and then I get to see how different people and their family members really are. About ten years ago I had the occasion to photograph the children in this portrait on their grandfathers ranch. In between I have photographed them many times, but with the oldest now being a senior in high school, it was time to recreate the original portrait. We dressed them all in white again for a classic sophisticated look and came real close even to the same spot the original was taken on. When we planned the portrait, their dad mentioned he also wanted a portrait of his father while I was there, so we also put him in white and photographed him on his favorite horse for an really classic cowboy portrait. While there, he and I had a great conversation about my third cousin Ted Gray and the book the University of Texas did on his life, I was real surprised he had the book as well as read it.
For those of you who follow my "Blog" closely, you have probably figured out that I have know a lot of my clients for a long time. But with Whitney, I have know her as long as I could have because both her and my youngest daughter were born on the same day, same hospital, almost same time. So it is really true, it's a lot about the relationships with us!
Trey's family and I have been together for over 22 years. We began with a 1 year old portrait of his sister and brother, and finally 17 years ago his portrait. Now he is a senior, where does time go? This portrait was done with the red shale location, typical of Northwest Oklahoma. His great smile adds a lot to the portrait as well as the laid back pose. And once again, "Thanks".
A couple of months ago, I "blogged" the son in this photograph, it was one of his senior portraits in his band uniform.
At the "design time" for this portrait, the mom told me how proud the sons were of their dad for being "St. Mary's Employee of the Year". So that is what drove the feel of this portrait, dad in focus with mom and the boys behind him, slightly out of focus, looking at dad. A great concept for a great family!
These children were photographed in their grandmother's "Secret Garden", what a beautiful place, and what a beautiful memory. This also is the third generation of this family we have photographed. And as always, "Thank You".
When Taylor's mother called for us to photograph her daughter's senior portrait, I knew I could do something that had a great emotional value for the 3 generations of her family. Taylor's grandparents were some of our very first clients, we have taken portraits of her mother, her aunt, her grandmothers family (4 generations), and finally Taylor and her brothers portraits every year since they were born. This portrait was inspired by a portrait we did of her mother when she was 14. We took this about a quarter of a mile away from where her mother was originally photographed.
Enid High has always had some great athletes, and several of them have come from this one family! Congratulations Erin on "All State"!
One of the things that surprises many of our clients is that their portrait does not need to be a traditional shape. It can be a square, or a slim line, as well as a rectangle. With this portrait, a slim line worked best as it was made to fit above the mantle. It's your choice.
About 15 years ago, Levi 501's came out with a set of television ads filmed in warehouse districts, these were known as the "Urban" look ads. Now this is the original Urban, his parents named him that.
When Ruth and I first started talking about a portrait, she was really exited about an outdoor portrait, then we added her dog, and it all came together. I hope everyone in her family is as pleased as I am!
When Theo and his mother came in for the "Design Time", I asked him what he thought was going to one of his favorite memories of growing up, and without hesitation, he said he loved backpacking with his dad and brothers....and so here it is. While it tells the story, the focus (both figuratively and literally) is on him.
While Jud was at home on leave, his mother wanted a new portrait from "The Grays" to add the the series we did when he was a senior. Jud came up with this idea for a "kind of a brown tone portrait with just a little bit of color, not real bright" (in the portrait art side, we call this a desaturated look). I thought it turned out great. I hope he is as pleased as we are. Plus I want to thank him for his contribution to our country on today, September 11, and to all his buddies with him, a salute!
When Mrs. Scott was awarded the "Teacher of the Year" this past spring, I new we had the opportunity for an awesome portrait at our design consultation. A black and white portrait, while she and her husband were dressed in black shirts and dark denim, and two black dogs, it just had to be a great portrait, which is what a great teacher deserves.
Years ago, when I photographed Latoya's brother, she told me that she wanted her senior portrait taken with the horses. And now, here it is. Incredible!
When I saw the gold shirt that Linda brought in (along with her gold hair), I new for sure we had to take her portrait in a wheat field, and once again God smiled on me, it was not raining that day!
This senior portrait was Rachel's favorite, mine also. I liked it because it shows her as she is and it also shows where her priorities are, music and church. This is everything I believe a senior portrait should be.
I wish I could take credit for this image....but I can't, it was my clients idea, and what a great idea!
While it's definitely not a traditional mother and child portrait, you can certainly feel the love, and isn't that what this traditionally has been all about.
If you're looking for a really cool outfit, try the "S Boutique" (formerly know as The Silver Loft) in the Heritage Hills Shopping Center. I think you will be thrilled!
Mona, congratulations on winning the "Excellence in Professionalism" award at St. Mary's Hospital. It was great to meet you and your family (more on them later). Keep up the good work!
Those that know me well know that I don't look backward very often (except for my yesterdays), but one of the things I should have done was to work for my Eagle Scout. Daniel here stuck with it. In the portrait I photographed him with one of the tables he made for the children at his church, "The First Methodist Church".
With all the rain we had earlier this summer, it has sure greened things up, making a great background for a great client.
This couple wins the award for traveling the most miles for a portrait this year, they are from Seattle. I wish I could say all of the Pacific Northwest is abuzz with the Gray's, but in reality, they came for their granddaughters graduation this May. But...I am extremely thankful they chose us for their anniversary portrait. Thanks!
After 32 years of fighting the Oklahoma wind, I have finally decided to use it to our advantage, both Steffanie and I agree, it was the correct choice!
