DJ Jason Kushy gets signed to a label returns for a second personal branding photo shoot in Pacific Grove California
Even before my photo studio here in Pacific Grove, California was even close to fully setup, local DJ and producer Jason Kushy contacted me about a branding photo shoot to help him launch his first tracks on Spotify and other music streaming platforms. It was a great shoot in studio and out on location. Since that time he has grown greatly in popularity and been able to sign with a label! So he wanted another branding photo shoot to have images to share with the label and this new, exciting phase in his music career. This time the shoot was entirely out on location in downtown Pacific Grove using a couple of spots I had scouted before, and then also improvising with a few more. The result in just an hour shoot was a fantastic variety of backgrounds, styles, and vibes for the photos we made. Big thanks to Felix for assisting with this shoot allowing me to focus on getting as many creative looks for Jason as I could. And of course, a very big thank you to Jason for continuing to choose me as his photographer as his music journey takes off!
Surprise engagement photography at Point Lobos Park in Carmel California
Irving contacted me asking about using Hidden Beach in Point Lobos State Park as the location for a surprise engagement photo shoot. Hidden Beach itself may be hidden, but it’s a very small beach with not really any place for a photographer to hide, but I did my best to keep the element of surprise when Irving arrived with Marissa and the ring came out! After Irving proposed, and Marissa accepted, we did some posed shots using my unique style of off camera lighting. After the beach, we went up on the nearby bluff for a different meadow and ocean background. Thank you Iriving for choosing me as your photographer and congratulations to you and Marissa!
Making professional photos of paintings for product use in Monterey
Derrick contacted me about photographing some of his paintings on wood. I asked for a few more details, like the size of the pieces, which I learned would easily fit in my photography studio here in Pacific Grove, California. He wanted professional, high resolution photos of his paintings to be used for making products like stickers. I enjoy seeing other people’s artwork up close like this. It was a fun shoot. Thank you Elijah for assisting and thank you Derrick for choosing me as your photographer! I look forward to photographing more of your paintings in the future
Indoor and outdoor in downtown ABQ personal branding photoshoot
The last photoshoot for 2022 for the ongoing CNM founders project is with the person who invited me to be the photographer for the project herself, Jen Mulliniks. We met right outside her office building in downtown Albuquerque to start the shoot with some street shots. We then went inside and used, at Jen’s own suggestion, some of the buildings unique architectural features. I made the above photo by going half a staircase down, leaving a light hidden behind the wall to light up Jen in the circle. My semi-related inspiration was the cover of Carole King’s album, Tapestry. Thank you Jen for choosing me for this project and for a great photo shoot of your own!
Golden light in Altura Park for commercial portraits in Albuquerque
Continuing the ongoing photography project I have with CNM to photograph founders of various local businesses (see first shoot), I met Trish of Teeniors at Altura Park. I have known Trish already for a couple of years through various business community and networking events. Even knowing someone just a little makes a big difference in the photo shoot I have found in my 13 years of doing this. Thus, the commercial portraits I were able to make of Trish, also benefiting from the late afternoon light in the park, resulted in some of the best photos I have made this year. Of course, Trish was a natural in front of the camera which always makes things much easier too! Thank you to Jen for organizing and to Trish for our planned, but still impromptu photo shoot!
Making photos of horses and robots and people for CNM
All of October I am working on a project for CNM making photographs of founders of companies in and around Albuquerque. Some of these people I have already known for quite some time, like Paul of Equiseq. And I also tangentially knew Chris of Build With Robots from an open house years ago. I really like photo assignments like this where with a simple one light off camera setup, can go into a new environment and have free reign to create the photo I like of each person. Thank you to Jen and CNM for choosing me as the photographer for this project!
Can I make a drone video of a dentist jumping over his staff in New Mexico? Yes, I can!
I was contacted by a dentist in Gallup, New Mexico with a very unusual drone video and photography idea. He told me that he wanted to both jump his dirt bike over his dental staff and then drive the dirt bike through his practice! Dr. Porter had me curious for sure! After some discussion about what was feasible that I could do both in terms of drone video, regular video, and still photography, we had the details set and I was off to Gallup where I spent the night to be ready for the early 7am start in the morning. Despite many “never done that before” shots, the morning went off nearly flawlessly and I was able to make all the content Dr. Porter wanted. Thank you to Dr. Porter and his entire team for being so great in front of the camera and the drone, and below the dirt bike!!
