Sean & Chloie - a midwest love story

I've known Sean for over 10 years, he was one of the first people I met when I moved to Colorado Springs. Since that time he has become like a brother to me. When he left The Springs to pursue a career and a new adventure in Kansas City I was really bummed. I have come around, I love that his time in KC has treated him very well. So well that he found his bride to be there.

Chloie is awesome! She is a school teacher, laughs (a lot), and isn't scared of adventure. No joke, she dropped everything two summers ago and moved to South America to take a job. With her fun personality and adventurous spirit she and Sean are a perfect match!

The love birds came out to The Springs a couple of weeks ago, and we went to the trolley car museum for a fun and unique engagement session. Yeah, I said "trolley car museum". Totally random but awesome.

In March I have the honor of being in Sean & Chloie's wedding!

[click on an image to see a larger view]

Pat and Kimbosha Engagement Session - Colorado Springs Photographer

Not only was it a pleasure to photograph Pat & Kimbosha's engagement session this past Sunday, it was a BLAST!  

I've known Pat for something like 10 years.  He is an incredibly humble man, and musician.  One of those guys you can count on, and one that people only have nice things to say about.  It had baffled me that Pat hadn't snatched up a cute young lady to make his wife sooner, but more and more I see that the proverbial "perfect timing" saying is true.  Kimbosha is the perfect match, at the perfect time.

Kimbosha is this unbridled ball of joy.  She is goofy, fun, creative, and a videographer!  I only met her recently, at what happened to be her brother's wedding; he was an old roommate of mine.  I remember seeing her family's Christmas cards on my fridge, when her brother lived with me.  These photos consisted of the family dressed in hilarious costumes (i.e. such as pirates).

This engagement session was a little different...  I just picked up some Cactus V5 remote triggers, and wanted to experiment with off-camera flash, this was my first outdoor use of this technique.  I also had my beautiful wife, Andrea, assisting me.  She hand held one small softbox with a Canon 580EX II flash.  We realized that we need to come up with some keywords so she knows what I mean when I say "turn it clockwise".  

Anyways.  Enough of me rambling.  Here you go!

(((Click on an image to see it larger in a gallery view)))

 I did not use flash for the above photos, just available light

Windows to the World

Downtown Denver Colorado

Canon G12 -- ISO 80 -- f/4.0 -- 1/320 sec

(Click on the image to view larger)

I'm not sure how I missed posting these!

Coit Tower - San Francisco

ISO 100 -- 50mm -- f/1.8 -- 1/6400 sec

Port of Los Angeles

ISO 400 -- 70mm -- f/8.0 -- 1/1600 sec

Port of Los Angeles

ISO 400 -- 45mm -- f/8.0 -- 1/1250 sec

Downtown Colorado Springs

ISO 400 -- 65mm -- f/4.0 -- 1/40 sec

ISO 400 -- 65mm -- f/4.0 -- 1/320 sec

ISO 400 -- 24mm -- f/2.8 -- 1/80 sec

ISO 500 -- 43mm -- f/2.8 -- 1/80 sec

More photos from the Joel Wise shoot...

ISO 100 -- 45mm -- f/2.8 -- 1/640sec

ISO 100 -- 30mm -- f/2.8 -- 1/250sec

So the adventure begins...

ISO 500 -- 24mm -- f/6.3 -- 1/40sec

My first post on my new blog! And what a better way than to start it out with quite possibly my favorite portrait that I've ever taken (01-30-10)? This is my friend Caleb Lazaro, he is an incredibly passionate believer who is seeking the Lord in ways outside of the American "norm". He has a huge heart for the poor, the destitute and the forsaken. I don't spend enough time with him as he is always busy with seminary, serving the least, and family. But I can't blame him.

My photo mentor, the talented Christina Dickson of www.brideinspired.com has been challenging me in things outside of the photographic realm, specifically: personal development. It has been awesome, and life changing even over the course of the past month and a half. I don't know that I've ever truly taken the time to think about who I am, and why. Sad seeing that I'll be 32 next week... This blog is dedicated to that personal development, specifically photography. (And writing development too because I love to write, I just don't do it frequently.)

About this photo:
I had dreamt this shot up for a couple of weeks after visiting Caleb at his work, City Rock (www.climbingtherock.com) in downtown Colorado Springs. I saw this galvanized steel sign in the climbing gym, and just knew I had to take this shot in front of it. I had nice window lighting, and I had Caleb stand about 6 feet away from the sign to add that extra "blur" from the depth of field. The ONLY thing I would have changed about this photo is I should have shot it straight on so the "rock" is all symmetrical, and there aren't any funky angles. I don't recall why I didn't shoot it straight on. I do recall trying to make sure I didn't get a bathroom sign in the shot on the right, and the Y from "city" on the left. Hmmm...