Even worse sometimes than trying to figure out someone else’s style, is to figure out your own. Sure, you don’t have to be pigeonholed into one specific look as a photographer, but I think that there is a prevailing theme that carries through most photographers work.

The longer I do this, the more I realize that my style can be simplified into one phrase, “Quiet Moments”. My favorite photos from any type of shoots that I do are always ones that speak in the subtleties and quietness of all the craziness. Sometimes it is easy to forget that in the midst of all the hubbub of a wedding, or the events leading up to it, that the celebration really is about real people, and real love.

I think that gets lost sometimes in the mess of it all, and it is one of my favorite things to bring back to the forefront of everyone’s minds. That these people are really are madly in love with each other, and when all the excitement, and fuss of the wedding day dies down, you still have two people who have chosen to spend their lives together and hopefully will relish in those quiet moments for a lifetime.

Thank you Amanda and Nick for an awesome time shooting your engagement photos! I am so excited to be a part of your upcoming wedding, congratulations!!

So this last weekend when I was in Kansas City shooting Cindy and Michael’s Engagement session, I offered to do a mini session for Hannah and Wyatt.

Sure, they just had their wedding and probably have enough pictures to keep them busy sorting for years, but you can never have too many pictures, especially when you are this awesome.Thank you guys for another awesome time in Kansas City  

I do photography because I love it. That is the only reason I am in this business. I have a full time day job that is great, I don’t HAVE to do photography. But I DO photography, and when I make a commitment to someone to take part in their lives by being their photographer, I take it serious, and my personal goal is simple, “Tell Their Story”.

One of my favorite things about being a photographer, is the opportunity to jump in on peoples life changes, and for the most part the happy ones

It has also been nearly 3 years since I have really pursued my photography, and it is has been one of the most rewarding experiences in my life. My dad is an amazing artist, we grew up with art, and while I love drawing and other art mediums,  I never really connected with those mediums in the same way I do with photography, granted, it could be the instant gratification I get from taking a photograph versus spending days and weeks on a single painting, but I like to think it is something different.

I love it because it allows me to be a part of other peoples lives in a ridiculously awesome way that most people can’t understand. Being a total stranger and yet being tasked to capture the emotion a wedding, or engagement, or birth of a child, or whatever else I get to do where I inject myself into someone’s life. It is addicting.

I have met some of the most amazing people over the past few years as a by-product of my photography, and I hope that number continues to grow exponentially, thank you to all of you that have let me share in your experiences, and for those of you that haven’t – why haven’t you yet!!?

I know what you are thinking – what do these pictures have to do with anything??? Well, this week we had our backyard landscaped, and I am a photographer, so naturally there are pictures! This is the first time I have paid someone else to do landscaping as I have done my own in the past, and I must say, I am so glad I did – the guys at Dynamic Outdoor Solutions did a phenomenal job . They were extremely affordable and worth every penny, I can’t speak highly enough about them, thanks guys! And if anyone is looking for landscaping, call up Josh or Rick and they will take care of you

And – the finished product!!

That means taking lots more pictures, working harder, and keep creating, keep moving, keep that shutter going.

It sounds a lot easier than it is, and I know some of you reading this know from experience. Taking lots of pictures is lots of work, editing lots of pictures is even more work. Critiquing yourself and constantly finding new things to learn, ways to improve and become a better photographer is hard work.

But despite that, I may have walk away from a shoot frustrated because I wasn’t as happy as I could have been with the way it turned out, but I don’t think I have ever regretted doing that shoot, I always find motivation, inspiration and direction, even from shoots that don’t go as planned.

And thus ends my long(ish) ramble on my little self motivational speech. Have I also mentioned that blogging on a regular basis and actually finding something relevant to blog on is hard?!  Thanks for following even when it is just a random ramble These pictures are of MY kids and their Mimi taken in Albuquerque over Christmas break.

I am happy to say the year went well, and we are one year down of the program. Another unexpected twist of the year was in September when I got a call early in the morning that my dad, who has been in otherwise decent health, was on his way to the E.R. with a possible heart attack. It was an awful, horrible feeling that just left me feeling helpless. So I jumped in my car with my 2 kids and trekked across the country to see my parents.

What had happened was not a heart attack, but a pulmonary embolism caused by a blood clot. Thankfully it was caught in time and didn’t cause massive damage. He stayed in the hospital for a few days and was put on blood thinners, but all things considered came out remarkably well.

It is amazing to me the fragility and quickness at which life can change. One moment things are one way, the next they are completely different. I am so incredibly thankful that God saw fit to keep my Dad here, but it also really made me realize how important the here and now is. So this year, my new years resolution, live every day as if it was my last, love my family more, be a better father, be a better husband, serve my God and keep the perspective that each day is a gift that is not guaranteed. I think that if I do that 2012 will be an amazing year.

These pictures are courtesy of my amazing parents. I love you guys, and I am glad that I got to share this with you, hope you enjoy

Once upon a time I would never show pictures from something that wasn’t in my niche. I would keep them to myself because I wasn’t sure it measured up to my other work. But the truth of it is that everything I shoot is an extension of me and who I am, and that is half the purpose of even writing out these blogs. Otherwise I could write out a 2 line sentence and give you a list of my pictures. But thats not why I am here, I am here because I enjoy expressing myself both in word and photo… Thus the tagline – “life and photography”

As of late I have felt that my blog has been more photography and less “life”, but I hope that changes, and I hope to be posting more of everything, even if it isn’t a paid gig, or something that is not within my niche, or as is the case with these photos, a random basketball game that I went to as a spectator and took pictures from the stands. My photography is part of me and I hope it always stays that way. Thanks for being a part of it, I hope the new year brings lots and lots of new posts and pictures that will keep me busy and you reading Happy New Year!