Inside Old Industrial Complexes with Meredith

 1. This shot with Meredith who was a standardized test-prep instructor by day & art model by night. I also remember her having some sort of a dance background, what specifically, I no longer remember.

This shot was taken at an industrial complex that used to (legally) print foreign currency that has since been converted into an artist's community and was taken many moons ago down in NYC at the end of July on one of the hottest days of the year.

Shooting in nontraditional spaces such as these probably began my proverbial love affair with the urban/rural exploration genre.

2. I'm currently selling my work. If anything particular shot, any model, or any set interests you, please email me here. Just tell me what interests you & I'll see what I can do. I try to work within people's budgets but I'm also not going to like give them away for pennies on the US dollar.

Anonymous Couch Bumm

1. During my undergrad senior year, I chose for my photography series artistic nudes.

I had previous worked with a female classmate of mine in a PG-capacity & tried to recruit her but no joy. However in this failure, she pointed a couple of her sorority sisters in my direction. & we were off to the races.

This here is, well, an anonymous raven-haired girl. I don't think she'd care if she's identified but am respecting her wishes given at the time.

We shot at my sister's place who also lived in the area. She hated the entire series because, I guess, all she could see was the gaudy orange couch. Yet when I presented them for critique, it was met with overwhelming approval. Familiarity of that couch breeds contempt, I guess.

Later that year, the model put me on the phone with her mother where I was met w/ a flurry of compliments. "I've never seen my daughter look so beautiful in such a tasteful manner.". Getting the mom-seal-of-approval definitely ranks up there in my career highlights reel.

There's more to this story but think I'll save it for another time.

2. I'm currently selling my work. If anything particular shot, any model, or any set interests you, please email me here. Just tell me what interests you & I'll see what I can do. I try to work within people's budgets but I'm also not going to like give them away for pennies on the US dollar.

Playfully Inviting with Lisa

1. I'm currently selling my work. If anything particular shot, any model, or any set interests you, please email me here. Just tell me what interests you & I'll see what I can do. I try to work within people's budgets but I'm also not going to like give them away for pennies on the US dollar.

2. This is Lisa.

When this was shot, she was coming off of a not-so-great relationship & wanted to do something fun & suggested as part of her own psychological liberation of doing a boudoir type shot. I was invited to her house & saw this lovely overcast sunlight shining through her bedroom window & knew I had to use it.

I like this shot because it suggestively reveal yet remains playfully & am happy that the model herself loved what was produced.

Spontaneous Canines and Stacy

 1. I don't think this shot is all that remarkable but getting there is interesting.

This was an early foree into studio shooting. Essentially an attempt to still work with people during the dead of winter.

Stacy is one of my oldest art model collaborators.

We were at a point in the shoot where it kinda had run its course & both were struggling to come up with new ideas. Stacy sighs & says aloud, "I'm struggling to come up with new ideas in keeping things fresh."

As if on cue, the dog bursts through the studio door (with their human in tow), hops onto the couch, followed by a delightful squeal from Stacy. 

If this were a Hollywood film, the scene would have been rejected for being to contrived yet as sure as I'm writing this, it honest to god truth.

I've learned since then whenever an animal interrupts a shoot, don't interrupt fate & just go with what the Gods just gave you.

2. I'm currently selling my work. If anything particular shot, any model, or any set interests you, please email me here. Just tell me what interests you & I'll see what I can do. I try to work within people's budgets but I'm also not going to like give them away for pennies on the US dollar.

Theater Portrait with Ciara

1. This is Ciara. I forget how or who found who but we were doing this session at her college.

Most of my shoots have a pretty loose structure. Enough to get something done but not so bound where we're not able to toss the book out the window if a situation presents itself.

We were wandering around the performing arts center where the theater hall itself gave me an idea. I lugged out my photo-strobe light (a piece of equipment I loathe using simply because it changes my shooting style) & set it up & shot.

Afterwards Ciara expressed how happy she was because "As a theater major, it never occurred to shoot in the very theater I've loved." If my model friends are happy, so am I.

2. I'm currently selling my work. If anything particular shot, any model, or any set interests you, please email me here. Just tell me what interests you & I'll see what I can do. I try to work within people's budgets but I'm also not going to like give them away for pennies on the US dollar.

Shiloh Profile Study

 1. I'm currently selling my work. If anything particular shot, any model, or any set interests you, please email me here. Just tell me what interests you & I'll see what I can do. I try to work within people's budgets but I'm also not going to like give them away for pennies on the US dollar.

2. This is Shiloh, one of the earliest models I ever worked with who wasn't initially a friend.

We met on one of those social networking websites that went nowhere. Arranged a shoot w/ mutually agreeable terms. She came down to my area & we shot.

I was still shooting film (this is a scan of that print), my camera was on a tripod (something I almost never use), we were in a forest, sun was setting, she was moving ever so slightly, & clicked my shot. This was the result & remains my one of my all-time favorites.

I cringe at how little I knew back then & am forever grateful for her creatively leading while allowing me to see what I saw. To say nothing about how she was able to draw at her inner actress.

That day we went our separate ways. Yet years later, we ran into each other (literally) when I transferred schools and discovered she was student there too. The Adirondacks is quite expansive but there are only so many colleges to choose from & we both have familial roots there.

The story continues but I'll leave that for another time.

3. I've disable comments because I was obsessing to much about whether anymore responded to my blog instead of focusing on writing & sharing my picture stories.

In the Oven with Crystal

1. I'm currently selling my work. If anything particular shot, any model, or any set interests you, please email me here. Just tell me what interests you & I'll see what I can do. I try to work within people's budgets but I'm also not going to like give them away for pennies on the US dollar.

2. This is Crystal.

I'm weird & get random stupid ideas. Sometimes after explaining them, I have models who are adventurous enough to take me up on said ideas. This shot arose from one of those times.

After I a few test shots, the models just weren't getting what I had in my head. I pulled them out & to illustrate better what I wanted from them, I physically got in the oven myself. THAT was when they got it! LOL.

I almost never pick out my model's wardrobe but I later thought the blue star socks being the same shade as this model's undies was a pleasant surprise.

Years later I'd submit this same piece & hang & frame it in a small local show & was told the piece was the most complained-about. Yet out of the 12 others pieces submitted, this was my mother's favorite. She found the concept of a person physically getting in an oven hysterical.

Rear ends illicit very strong opinions apparently.

3. I've disable comments because I was obsessing to much about whether anymore responded to my blog instead of focusing on writing & sharing my picture stories.