I’ve been shooting more and more down in the Benson area, and each time it’s just awesome. Much different character and feel than what Tucson offers and so far there hasn’t been a trip down there that hasn’t been totally awesome. Sam is a friend of Samantha, who I photographed last year. It’s always a challenge when clients request some of the same locations as their friends as I’ve always promised myself not to photograph the same location exactly the same, I’m always pushing myself to create something unique and different for every one of my clients. Sam totally rocked her senior portraits, she definitely made my job easy!
It was raining most of the first 45 minutes of the session, makes the earth look awesome here
Complete spontaneity is always key for a killer series
This one definitely is a little unconventional for my style, but her eyes just pop in this one
A while back I took a venture into a different approach for my family portraits. The style, as I and others may call it, is called “family documentary”. Normally photojournalism is completely undirected, unaided “life as it happens” moments where NO intervention or planning has been made to create a photographic opportunity. It is raw, it is real, it is exactly what the story tells. Now this isn’t always what we want to see with family portraits, we always want to look our best, and of course, like we like each other If you missed this first post I made, go see it now, it’s worth a look (besides the fact it was also shot on film). This to me is showcasing what life is like in an average, everyday normal family’s life. For the most part I try and stay completely out of the way with little to no “direction”. We will plan out a schedule per se, but then it’s up to the family to just be themselves. For the many many families that have seen this first session above, it connects with people on a different level because it’s very easy for most families to just “be themselves”. A lot of families will come to me for family portraits feeling a little shy, unsure or uneasy about what the actual “photographic creation” will be like. My number one goal is to make sure that EVERYONE is having a great time and is comfortable, and when I’m not directing you, posing you, or telling you to do something, most people feel like “themselves” and end up completely enjoying the entire time working with me. So, while I still enjoy doing family or couple’s portrait sessions where there is definitely some directed portraiture, being able to relax and “be yourself” definitely makes the entire experience a little bit more fun
Clearly this was the case with the Gomez family! I was delighted to find out that they LOVED this concept and approach and I was even more excited after getting to know them as a family and what they might like to include in their own personal “documentary”. After maybe 3 minutes, their son was an absolute ham for the camera for the entire day and everything was just a blast. It was a little work on my end just trying to keep up with them With careful planning, a creative mind and just having fun, these are moments that will be cherished forever . . . I love being able to be a part of something that will be handed down through the family.
If you know the family, are friends or even complete strangers, share a comment for the Gomez clan . . . I’m sure they’ll love it!
The more and more he went through the slides and tubes, the more the static made his hair stand up
Digging for treasure, they just found something
The rest of the evening was spent with family and friends preparing for dinner
They both wanted to show off the tomatoes that they found
Such hams, this might have been their first ‘wet-willie’
While dinner was cooking, they found out that the “water main” was leaking and it was now their job to find it and fix it such an amazing imagination
Kevin is one of the first sibling-seniors I get to photograph . . . I photographed his sister’s senior portraits almost 3 years ago! Seems like a long time to me, but I’m glad that I get to work with the family again. Must have done something right We photographed Kevin’s portraits during the muggy monsoon season here, and the clouds were definitely epic that day. Golf, good looks and a star soccer player is a winning combo for me. I LOVE doing the unique and custom stuff . . . as much as I love doing standard portraits, incorporating personality into every session is something I always strive for. Hope I nailed it this time Thanks again Kevin!
Wow. This wedding was just awesome from head to toe. It’s been longer than I would have liked to get these on the blog and share them, but in between travel, moving my apartment and studio (more details to follow) and unpacking and a whole lot of new sessions in between, I’m definitely behind on quite a few awesome sessions. Big thanks for Leslie & Patrick for allowing me to photograph their event. The amazing Christie Board planned the event so perfectly, I was in love with everything that they had put together. LOVE. Oh, ya, if you can’t tell, the American Ranch in Prescott is also an absolutely amazing venue for a beautiful wedding. It was raining all morning and into the mid afternoon, but a miracle came and sunshine was bountiful during the reception and all till sundown. Couldn’t have been better timing
Leslie & Patrick are both just amazing individuals with a bright future ahead of them. During the reception we all got to hear about them through speeches and other events and I stand in awe of both of them; amazing families produce amazing children! They ended the night with some crazy dancing and they REALLY know how to party hard. Hope you enjoy their story as much as I did!
Patrick works with the Denver Broncos, customized footballs FTW . . . All shots of guys getting ready by Jeff Ambrose
There were plenty more signs, LOVED all the details!
by Jeff Ambrose
BEST key lime pie ever, mmmmmmmm
The clouds were crazy awesome, here’s a progression of the sky near dusk
What happens when a lot of guests are snapping away? You’re bound to catch a flash in your own shots This one happened to work out awesome in my opinion
Jessica and Erick are such a rad couple. Their photos are equally as rad, so after looking at their set below you will understand just how rad they are. Prescott is a special place for them where they get out of Phoenix to relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery, and I must say, I don’t blame them! This is my third session in Prescott in the past 2 months and every time I go I just love it there. Small, quaint, charming and the weather is just awesome. I also LOVE doing new things and going to new locations for sessions, and they had an awesome idea for an older style playground at an old elementary school. Man, this has some playground equipment that I remember playing on when I was little . . . and it totally fit their personality: young, fun and free. Can’t wait for their wedding which will be at the awesome Tubac Golf Resort!
In case you didn’t see the slideshow, go check out the post below this one, you don’t want to miss it. Although it is a multimedia piece using still images in video format, I still tend to LOVE traditional blogging (and that way you can study individual photographs at your own pace, instead of hitting the pause button)! So, more details on the experience in the post below, but, this was shot on film with 2 lenses (for all that care). Love the look that film gives me for this type of approach, but at the same time there are things that I miss about digital. Verdict is still out, what do you guys think?
I’ve been an active photographer for about 5 years now and have loved every minute of it. I’m fortunate to say I have a successful business that allows me to to what I LOVE to do, and what I LOVE most about my job is working with the people I work with. I love weddings, I love portraits, I love interacting with people and watching their emotions, and being part of those memories. I find it rather corny to say that “I love capturing moments” . . . bleh, it just sounds soooo corny to me. But, what I love most is just being a fly on the wall, a front row seat in the lives of others . . .
About 3 years ago, I came across a set of documentary images by a good friend of mine, Daniel Shaw, who captured an amazing documentary of his wife giving birth to their son. Being the father, it was easy for him to be front and center, and the emotion and pure wonder of child birth was captured with striking imagery. Since then I have always wanted to document an actual birth, and I finally mustered up the guts to do it.
My experience was a whirlwind of 20 hours that is still quite vivid in my memory. They arrived 8pm the night before, and Cason was finally born around 2:15pm the next day. I got very little sleep, but, I didn’t mind. I loved just being able to be there, in the same room as the family, and experience life’s most amazing and sacred events. Maybe I didn’t sleep because I wanted to know what it might feel like to not sleep at all, to help me put myself in a father’s shoes moments before the birth of his first child. In short, I walked away completely amazed at the miracle of life, and how amazing both Kelly and Roger are. Thank you so much for letting me be part of something so special, I will never forget it!
Now, this is the first time I’ve created a slideshow for the blog, would love your thoughts and I’m sure the new mom & dad would love to hear your thoughts as well!
This past weekend is always a wonderful weekend, being able to celebrate the Independence of this blessed country we live in is hard to capture in words. But, as I was sitting in church yesterday, singing our beautiful National Anthem, I was reminded in it’s fourth verse what makes it so memorable and special to me:
“O! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war’s desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav’n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust.”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!”
I hope we all (Americans or citizens living in this amazing land) remember the many, many great and very serious sacrifices of the men that signed the Declaration of Indepence and the many thousands that fought to protect our Freedom. I believe that we live in a land that was preserved by God and it is our duty to help keep that reason prominent in our minds and across the nation.
Now, what better way to celebrate this great nation than by sharing what I believe to be at the core of our mortal existence, and the fundamental core of our nation: the family. The Greer family contacted me a while back about creating family portraits that were very dear and important to them. Shannon mentioned that it could very well be some of the very last portraits where the entire family is together and I thank them for trusting me with such an important occasion. If you know them, you’ll know that they have an AWESOME family and I was proud to be able to help create something so meaningful! Thanks again, look forward to working with you all in the future!
We photographed a LOT of individual families, some fun a crazy individual portraits, a LARGE group photo, and even a group portrait where ALL the grandkids are smiling . . . that’s an accomplishment itself Hope you enjoy!
I LOVED these, there are so many more too, this is just a tip of the iceberg of fun
Aren’t they a good looking family?
And the reason this all started, they are 2 awesome people with one amazing family, thanks Greers!
OK OK I know the blog hasn’t been updated in a while . . . I’ve been in SLC and Hawaii for the past 2 weeks and I have a whole SLEW of new stuff to post here, so stay tuned
Katy from Couture Makeup is not only an extremely talented makeup artist (that has worked with me on a few weddings), but an overly nice and awesome person to just be around Katie wanted a different look for her headshots and we decided to shoot it on film for a look that digital just can’t achieve. If you are getting married, you owe it to yourself to give Katy a call and see why she is so awesome at what she does!
Prescott = cool (both in style and temp), original, quiant, awesome. The drive was pleasant, not too far but good enough to relax and enjoy the beautiful Arizona scenery. It was great getting a good tour of Prescott with Leslie & Patrick, we shot their engagement portraits in the historic downtown area and just had a blast. Her original Mustang is freakin’ sweet. I’m not a huge mustang fan, but her’s has a rumble to die for. Their wedding is next month in a beautiful area of Prescott and I can’t wait. Thanks again guys, see you both soon!
I shot some film with this set too, can you pick out the film vs digital shots?
