Flexibility in Making Commercial Portraits at New Mexico Cancer Center
Often times I do not know exactly what a shoot will be, even given a fairly significant shot list and description of what the client wants from the shoot. The reality on the day of in the actual location means adjusting and still getting results. Plus, I had never been in a cancer hospital before and did not know what the environments would be like. Still, in over a half dozen setups, I made commercial portraits for the client showing the entire range of the team of medical professionals there, plus some patients who consented to being in photos too! Most of the shots ended up being only two people in them, given the constraints of the spaces and the availability of staff. I even photographed a doctor again I had just weeks before photographed at an oncology conference! I enjoyed the challenge and creativity of making these commercial portraits at New Mexico Cancer Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Learning through photography with the Water Utility Authority
My last two days of photography for 2022 were spent at various Water Utility Authority of Albuquerque sites, both inside and out! This was actually my second shoot of the year for them, as I worked on making photos of award winning residential landscaping that you can see in their 2023 calendar. I learned a lot during these days of shooting about where our water comes from, how it is processed, and just how far ranging the duties of the Water Utility Authority are! As you can see in the photos, for the inside shots I was in testing labs and huge pipe filled caverns, and then outside from retaining tanks right to the banks of the Rio Grande River itself! Thank you to everyone at the Water Utility Authority willing to be models in the photos!
Favorite Photos and Drone Video of 2022 across categories
For the first time in three years, I have brought back the Favorite Five photos of the year, well actually four photos and one drone video this time! My criteria for choosing my own personal favorite five of the year are that as much as possible, each photo/video must be from a different category. That means not just choosing five landscape photos. Then I give preference to choosing a photo/video that I have not made a similar one to before and that has pushed my ability forward as a photographer and drone pilot.
Commercial Photography for restaurant branding and marketing in ABQ
County Line Restaurant in Albuquerque, New Mexico basically sits atop the city nestled right up against the foothills of the Sandia Mountains. It made for a great setting as I visited the restaurant a different times over two days to make interior and exterior photos as well as a 4K drone video showing the restaurant in its stunning setting. I used a variety of shooting techniques to get the interior shots, likewise for the exterior shots. As a professional commercial photographer, I am not set on one particular style of shooting, but rather choose the best for the shooting environment that will get the best results for the client. So for the interiors, sometimes I used off camera lighting, sometimes HDR shots, and sometimes a single exposure worked best. It was great working with the team at County Line Restaurant to make this wide ranging series of dynamic visual content for their branding, marketing, and social media.
Book Cover Photo Shoot in Albuquerque with an author friend
When local Albuquerque author and friend Sonja Dewing contacted me last week about needing some book cover photos for her, to be written the upcoming weekend, memoir, I was glad I had a last minute spot left in my schedule for the week. There were two concepts for the book cover, one using just some of her items from her time in service (like dog tags, etc) and then one with her holding some of these items. We made the lay flat image first using one of my new Duo Boards with a faux (but hyperrealistic) wood background. Then we made the photo with Sonja on a white seamless background with some of those items in her hand and on her person in various ways (check out the BTS shot below). Over the weekend she chose to go with the items on the wood background for the actual book cover photo. I think the final result turned out great!
Professional Commercial Photography for a Day Spa in Albuquerque
he whole time I was at Remedy Day Spa in Albuquerque, New Mexico making better than stock images, commercial portraits, and interior and exterior photos, I kept thinking to myself, “who knew this oasis was right in the middle of ABQ??” I met Mandy, the owner, who wanted me to capture the full range of spa services she has available, from secluded wooden barrels hot tub soaks, to professional massage, to a large yoga studio. It was one of the most wide ranging commercial photo shoots I have had. The photos feature the actual Remedy team in them, for that better than stock image photo feel because it shows the actual Remedy Day Spa team in the actual Remedy Day Spa setting. Now, all of Albuquerque can see and discover this hidden gem right in Nob Hill! Thank you Mandy for choosing me as your photographer and also to the Remedy team that did a great job in front of the lens all day. And thank you to Jessica for assisting on this, I wish I had gotten a BTS shot of you holding that huge diffuser over the hot tub!
Candid Commercial Portraits for the Engineering team at BHI ABQ
It was great to return to the Bohannan Huston campus for another two days of photography right here in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Three years ago I made dozens of headshots and a handful of candid commercial portraits. This time, more of the engineers at BHI wanted to get their own cool candid to feature when they go to conferences, events, and have an alternative to their headshot. Over the course of two mornings, I found a variety of backgrounds right outside their building such that two dozen people each got their own unique candid commercial portrait. Thank you to the tea at BHI for being so organized, and to the engineers for being so great in front of the camera, even outside on two warm summer mornings!
