The wedding today was awesome! Tomorrow is a day-after session with Nichole and Brad. Then off to Rick’s Cafe for some cliff jumping. Here are just a few from yesterday. Many more after I get home..

~dave

We have successfully made it to our resort in Jamaica. After some Red Stripe and a Jerk Burger, we have settled into our digs here at Sandals Negril. We got to hang out with Nichole and Brad and do a little wedding pre-production today. Tonight is a shoot on the beach with them and a beach party starting at 6:30. Anyone wanna join?

~dave

Adam and I are currently in Milwaukee, staying overnight, before we head to Jamaica in the morning. We are shooting a very intimate family wedding there on Tuesday. And given today’s snowy weather, it will be a nice little break. I plan on blogging more photos and video as our trip unfolds!

This is the current view from our hotel room in Milwaukee. Gotta love it!~

Go out and build a snowman for me!
~dave

My dear friend Zack Arias posted an amazing video blog for Photoshop guru Scott Kelby’s website yesterday. Photographer or not, take some time to watch this video. It speaks to me personally on so many levels, I can’t even put it into words.

It’s so easy for us as photographers to get caught up in a fast-paced life. Workshops, travel, conventions, business, marketing, branding, defining personal style; all that stuff. But as I look at my own life, I can see that I need to focus on being myself and not something larger as a photographer. I too have a lot of room to grow and so much to learn, both professionally and creatively. I don’t think that ever stops. But in the meantime, my own life comes first. My wife. My family. Myself. Not the camera.

After this coming week, my wife returns to teaching full-time. She is an awesome mom to our three little girls and a huge inspiration in my life. But now it’s my time. The next two months are slow for me. Even though I will be taking on new projects, I don’t have a packed schedule. I don’t have weddings booked. I don’t have endless meetings, errands and projects on my plate. What I do have, is much needed time to spend with my girls and time to re-invent myself as a father and husband. For that, I am greatful.

~dave

This past weekend I visited my good friend Michael Howard and his family in Nashville, TN. Michael has been a great mentor to me over the past year and a half and very much an inspiration for me, given his amazing talent and solid business approach in the photography industry. The weather in Tennessee was in the low 70′s and was a much needed break from the frigid temps here in Wisconsin.

On Saturday, Michael and I shot an collaborative fashion project with clothing designer Shea Steele of Local Honey and celebrity stylist Joseph from Trim Classic Barber & Legendary Beauty. The shoot was done on-location in a vacant and haunted (yes, haunted) southern style mansion (currently on the market for $2 million) and took nearly eight hours to shoot 12 looks between the both of us. It was a fast-paced day of non-stop shooting, but well worth it in the end. Have a look at some behind-the-scenes video shot by Michael:

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Here are some of my favorite shots Michael took. To see more of Michael’s shots from the shoot, visit his BLOG. This dude kills me with his skills..

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A few behind-the-scenes shots. I wasn’t afforded the luxury of being able to tote my lighting gear to Tennessee. The good thing was that I got to use Michael’s ProFoto lighting set-up. So awesome!

Clothing choices, gear, gear and more gear.

Most of this shoot was done with available light. It gives fashion work a more contemporary and natural feel. Reflectors were a must in some situations. TIP: white foamcore makes for an inexpensive reflector..

Michael shooting Brittaney.

Me shooting Bree (photo courtesy of Michael Howard)

And I had to get a shot of Michael in.

~dave