a fathers day gift for his office in downtown enid

Most gifts have a short shelf live, used, broken, or set aside in a small period of time. But a portrait as a gift....50, 75, a 100 years from now, it will still be in the use of family, I know the portraits of Jolene's and my family still are. When combined with design by intention, subtle posing, beautiful lighting, great believable expressions and a wonderful frame, it turns into an heirloom for today and tomorrow. As Jolene says "because life changes quickly".

top chef masters (observations from enid, oklahoma)

Last night, on the BRAVO network, the 3rd episode of "Top Chef Masters" aired. The basic premise of the show is that 4 top chefs, many who have been judges on the show "Top Chef", come back to compete - this time against each other for $10,000. per episode (and $100,000. grand prize) for their favorite charity.
This episode had my mom's favorite TV chef, Rick Bayless from the Frontera Grill in downtown Chicago. He is on PBS channel 13 Saturdays at noon. Last year, Lauren, my mom and I went to Chicago for my nephew's high school graduation, and of course my mom wanted to eat at the Frontera. I did a little research on the web, found the address, menu, and prices, and we ended up at the front door before opening. What is really cool about Chef Bayless is he grew up in Oklahoma City in a family that ran a BBQ joint south of the downtown. We told the hostess and our waiter we were from Oklahoma, and my mom was a big fan (I had never seen his show before). The waiter said he was out of the restaurant till around 1:00 (and it was now 11:30), but he would mention we stopped in. After about 15 minutes, we saw Chef back in the open air kitchen, and thought.....maybe! I got up to plug the meter down the street, came back in, and mom was excited that he did come by our table to thank us for coming in and chatted with her a little.
Well, last night, he won the episode, and will be back for the final.
So, great guy, great show, and great food!

P.S. He also has cookbooks and prepared Mexican Food products from his recipes in the store under the "Fronterea" brand.

cristina from oba

The influence in this photograph (from my part, at least), was the portraiture of the Spanish painter "Goya". The dress, pose, placement of the hands, rose, color palette, all give the feel of a beautiful painting. Add into the final portrait the mounting on canvas and an incredible hand made leafed frame, and we have what I believe to be a "masterpiece".
This is our last High School Senior from the class of 2009.
Thanks to Cristina and her family for their patronage and confidence through the years! (and I hope her dad loved his Father's Day gift).

harold-volunteer of the year

A question I ask many of our clients is "what would surprise me about you?", Harold's answer was incredible! I know that the answer to that question is what has made him the kind of person that St. Mary's Hospital would look for in the "Volunteer of the Year". Congratulations, it has been our pleasure photographing you.

elizabeth @ 9 months

Look at how proud of herself she is, standing tall and looking cute at nine months.

happy 50th (kind of) to the emerys

The Emery's have been one of our fans for the past 30 years.
We've seen their 3 daughters graduate for high school and college, marriage, grandchildren, BBQ cooking, a 50th anniversary last year, and a great dog, Alex.
The "Grateful Dead" sang "What a long strange trip its been", but for Bob and Sandra, I would sing (if anyone would let me) "What a sweet incredible time its been".
Thanks for all the opportunities you've given us!

ella @ 9 months

This is the third portrait in a series we started for her mom and dad when she was 3 months old.
When I photograph a child, I always think about the age in "times", for instance, a 6 month portrait shows a time that is twice as old as the 3 month portrait, and the nine month portrait is 50% more than the 6 months.....so lets apply this to me, at 55 when I photographed her the first time would have led me to be 110 on the second portrait and 165 years old on the third. They always said that George Jones (one of my favorite country singers) had a "drinking" problem, I know I have a "thinking" problem!
Ella, see you again at your 1 year! (or my 210th year).

david

Thanks for the opportunity to photograph you!
I was showing your portrait to a commercial photographer from Los Angeles, and he mentioned how great your expression was, he then asked me how I got it? And I told him the truth, that I spent 40 minutes talking with you, and then 5 minutes photographing you.
He made me repeat the story twice.
Keep on drumming!

the jensens

Congratulations on your family.
Incredible!

raquel

One of our favorite people,
one of our favorite portraits!

Remember us when you're famous.

mary

Great eyes,
great smile,
.....great portrait.

faith

What a sweet contemporary portrait. The hands, the arms, the smile and the purple top and nails make this incredible.

the halls

Recently we had another opportunity to photograph the Halls (not THE HALLS) from Kansas City. What a fun family, lots of imagination and freedom. Creativity is at its peak with them!