Well, this year was no different. I was really looking forward to seeing the girls again. Last year I was a stranger to them and had to earn their trust along the way. This year, it was like visiting old friends and we immediately reconnected. I just love these two. They were a year older, more mature, and as fun as ever. They are each so unique, beautiful, and fun to photograph. Last year, Laura really didn’t want to be in the shots but this year she joined in the fun with her girls. She’s also a budding new photographer and took a few shots of her own too.

In terms of the actual shoot, we decided to drive out to a remote farm and of course underestimated the drive time. We ended up in a serious race with time and fleeting light. We really only had 45 minutes or so to shoot but we made the most of it. Brian and I worked together and took turns shooting and coming up with concepts. We ended up running, jumping, climbing, and generally playing all around this one hillside as the shadow line raced up the hill. Savanah, Shay, and Laura, I simply can’t thank you enough for playing with me again. I know we asked you to do some crazy things in the rush of it all. Thanks for your trust, willingness, and playfulness. I can’t wait to see you all again next year! Hopefully, I’ll get to bring along my little girl to meet you guys next year. Until then . . . Enjoy!

Oh, this post by Brian has a few behind the scenes shots from this shoot too.

April has a wealth of experience having worked as a model and served in nearly every capacity in a thriving studio in Chicago. Lately she has been focused primarily on retouching for other pro’s. She’s also started working on the “driver’s side” of the camera and is enjoying that creative outlet. I am thrilled to have her join my team!

I asked April to give a bit of a background so here she is in her own words . . .

26 years old, I love art and culture – and the food, music and fashion that comes with! I am nerdy, fun and creative!  I love meeting new people and I love creating art! Moving from Chicago, IL to the much warmer south!

I have experienced military life firsthand, taught English in Kazakhstan, worked AIDS clinics in South Africa and have raised money for schools in Tanzania. These experiences have taught me: The only limits we have to achieving our goals, are the limits we put on ourselves.

Some of my favorite things: photography, sushi, customization, colors, high-fives, smart phones, green teas, computers and cute shoes! I also like woot.com!

Professionally, I am a National Guard veteran with a strong background and education focusing primarily on business management and computer technology.

My photography skill set is multifaceted. Over the past 6-7 years, I have done work professionally for many photography clients and studios. This work ranges from shooting, modeling, retouching and print preparation, to sales, admin, framing, print ordering and resource management.

I am thrilled about this opportunity and move and can’t wait to get started with BAP and all of the exciting things we have in store!

This is true story. My first camera, a classic Minolta SRT-101 fully manual little gem, cost me $150 in about 1973 or so when I was 7 years old. I borrowed the money from my father with a promise to work for him on one of his surveying crews for the summer to pay him back. I earned $1.50/hr (still convinced that was a 3rd world labor rate even then) to cut brush for all I was worth with men 4 and 5 times my age in the hot sweltering Virginia sun. I remember thinking I’d have Pop paid back within a few weeks but I failed to factor in expenses (lunch, a mid-day dr. pepper and a pack of “nabs”, etc.). This proved to be a valuable life lesson but nonetheless my entire summer was spent EARNING that first camera. It proved to be one of the most cherished things I’ve ever purchased partly because I worked so hard for it but mostly because it opened up a whole new world of technical challenge and creative pursuit for me. And, it has proven to be one of the most enduring pursuits of my life.

About a year ago, I decided I would procure a working model of that first camera and after a little research and digging locally and on e-bay, I finally found what I was looking for. My new “first camera” has been refurbished and calibrated to work with modern batteries and all of the moving mechanical parts are lubricated and in working order. The most amazing thing is not that it works. I could really almost care less. The amazing thing is the memories and connection with my past that the camera restores.

I still remember the smell and feel of the camera. When I first picked it up it was like traveling back in time to visit and old childhood friend. I so fondly recall those days. I still remember the smell of the film canisters which I collected and put pennies in. I remember getting photography magazines and wishing I could make images like the ones I saw . . . and of course own all of the equipment in the back of the magazine . . . some things never change I remember wanting a dark room so badly I could taste it but that was out of the question at the time.

My father would pay to develop as many bad images as I could manage to make and on occasion at first a good one or two would show up in the pile. Sort of like golf where that one good shot brings you back for the next round . . . so it was with my photography at first. I just kept coming back and back and back. Maybe I can call myself a “scratch” photographer now! Wish I could say the same for my golf game.

Well back to my story. I spent many years trying to figure out the technical side of photography and learned as much as I could absorb from books, magazines, and friends in those pre-internet days. I remember photographing anything and everything from insects on flowers, to sunsets at the beach. But my favorite thing was just chronicling our family events, trips, and life in general.

I recall a big change happening for me when my youngest sister, Liana, was born. I was about 10 at the time and evidently my fascination with her coincided pretty well with my gaining a basic understanding of the camera and she became my muse. I loved photographing her and so wanted to capture all of her milestones.

Today I have my own children. We just brought a new baby boy into the world last week and these feelings were stirred again which prompted me to finally make this post. I have loved photographing people since those early days and owe a huge debt of gratitude to my father for the opportunity and just the right amount of life lesson in the process and to my sister Liana and my entire family for serving as my practice subject then and to this day!

The first photo I’ve included below is of my new “first camera”. The second is one of my favorite shots of my mother and sister. Shots like this were fewer and further between for me back then but fortunately frequent enough to keep me coming back for more. I have always loved the power of that moment frozen in time and the potential impact it has when viewed later on. That power, the feedback loop, and the unknown potential is what continues to drive my work to this day.

But this is where it all began . . .

You can see more images here.

Click on the image below to view the web gallery of images . . .

Well let’s get on with 2010! I had the pleasure of photographing Jean & Alex at 8am on New Year’s day. Yikes! Sounded great at the time but by the second bottle of wine on New Year’s eve, I was second guessing the decision Well, as fortune would have it, the shoot was well worth it. Jeana and Alex are a great couple and so awesome together . . . a breeze and a delight to photograph. I’ll be shooting their wedding in Memphis in May and they just happened to be coming through town over on New Year’s day. So we setup a little couple’s session and bridal shoot. Thanks to Allan Mueller for assisting and Bobbie Clark for hair and makeup. This is just a taste of the fun we had. Hope you enjoy!

Front of card . . .

The flap . . .

Inside of card . . .

Back of card . . .

By the way, Travis gives the best massage in all of Knoxville (well really anywhere for that matter). If you’ve got some kinks that need to get worked out, give him a call at Spa Visage!

The slideshow is set to a song written and performed by Sarah and J (and their band Jag Star) about little Sofie. Pretty cool! It must be awesome to possess those mad skills and be able to do something like that for your daughter. Look for Sofie’s Song and many more on Jag Star’s latest album which is just about to come out. Hope you enjoy the pix and the song!