the WALLS and ELECTRCIAN

This week the studs went up and we met with the electrician.
One month and one day and it is moving time!

MORGAN

Morgan, what a beautiful young lady you are, but we always knew that since our first portrait of you when you were three months old. Have a great summer!

BRENDAN

Since 1971, we have been wondering around the warehouses and it never ceases to amaze me in how many different looks there are.
This area was chosen because of the colors in the background matched the colors in his hair and clothing for a very modern portrait (on a very windy day :-) ).
We also did a really cool sepia portrait in the studio and listened to some great music on his i POD.
All in all, a really creative morning!

ADAM

Some projects are over in a short time, others take a while. This one took 7 years. I know, you are probably asking "Why"? The real reason is that when I first photographed his sister's senior portrait in 2001, his parents decided on the size and frame that they wanted to do on all 4 of their children. So with Adam being the youngest, here it is in 2008, and the 4 senior portraits are all done and hanging on the walls of their home. What a great opportunity for me.....and hopefully for them!

ALMA

Alma, I am so thrilled with your senior portraits, what a great job you did. We wish you the very best!

the VENATOR children

Ever year we get several families from the DFW area who book an appointment for portraits around a visit to their family in the Enid area. One of the really cool things with digital capture is that we can do the portrait in the morning and the viewing in the afternoon, all tied together nice and neatly.

In this portrait I was glad to show the relationship of size as well as the touching (it really was touching to see the love between the three of them). As always, thanks and I look forward to seeing you next year!

ROBERTA HASKIT

Since changing to digital capture in 2004, we have seen the "Press Release" side of our portrait business skyrocket.
This is actually the 2nd business portrait we have done for Roberta in her career, and for that as well as the other portraits we have done for her and her family, we say, "thank you"!

STEVEN

This is a location that in the 33 years of being a professional photographer I have used twice, even though I drive by it nearly every day. I thought with Steven's eyes and clothing, it would look great. He thought so, and so did his parents.

SHONA and HER FAMILY

If you will go back to our home page, the portrait on the left is my niece and her family (including the dog). This was their gift to the family for "Mothers Day". We all were very pleased and thankful to have these.
The portrait on the right on our home page is our nephew from Chicago, Steve (named after my brother and Shona's dad).
And of course, you all know who the portrait in the middle is.

ABBY

"Simple Things Are Best", that's the title of a book that I used to read to second graders up at Harrison grade school when it was open.
I guess thats also a mantra that applies to most of my portraits, and Miss Abby's senior portrait is a great example. A super expression, colors that are repeated within the scene, and a natural pose.
Abby, you helped me pull all of this together, THANKS!

OPAL & LAVERN @ 60

60 years of marriage ... pretty cool!
And I have know them for 47 of those years, seen all 3 of their girls get married, did senior photographs of all their grandchildren, their 5oth anniversary, as well as a great family portrait.
Thank you for letting us and our art record your life!

JOCELYN & HER MEN

This is what it is all about! An heirloom now, and later.

GREATEST STORIES LIVE

Today as I'm doing some behind the scenes and end of the month (two days late) work, I've been listening to my old Harry Chapin LP's. WOW! It's still great music 27 years after his death (if you are not familiar with his music, I would recommend "Greatest Stories Live", you won't be disappointed).
When I hear music from people who have passed away early, John Lennon, Freddie Mercury, Harry Chapin, I always wonder if they realized how much they meant to us, would they be surprised that after all these years they still move us? I hope somehow they know, and they are pleased.
I am pretty sure that one of the things that led to my story telling approach in my photographs is Harry's music. What a good influence!

WILL

My last post had a reference to English rocker Rod Stewart, and while this is a totally different image, I do think Will has that 60's rockstar from England look (except with better teeth as Austin Powers taught us :) ).
Rock on!