lance johnston | photographers

New Website and Blog

2010-01-23T21:32:00.003-06:00

Well this is the end of Whatsnewlancejohnston@blogspot The new www.lancejohnston.com now contains our website as well as multiple blogs about our different photography offerings. Thanks for following here and be sure to save our new location in your bookmarks. If you have a link to our blog please change the address. Check out our new Facebook pages @ www.facebook/lancejohnston and become a fan today.

The Knot

2010-01-09T15:22:00.002-06:00

Patricia and Mikey's wedding on "the Knot"
Check it out.

My Real Wedding from The Knot and The Nest.

"All Aboard"

2009-12-30T14:38:00.004-06:00

I recently did a photo shoot at the Rep with Annamary & Greg Thompson for their upcoming fundraiser to benefit the theatre.
This article is in the January issue of Inviting Arkansas

2009-12-25T22:54:00.001-06:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS
&
Happy New Year

What is Christmas all about?

2009-12-15T18:33:00.003-06:00

Town & Country

2009-11-22T17:50:00.004-06:00

One of our weddings was recently featured in Town & Country magazine as well as Mississippi Wedding Register magazine. Chris and Liza's wedding at the Rockefellar mansion is one of the most beautiful weddings I have ever photographed.

Photography as an art & science

2009-08-25T21:09:00.003-05:00

I have met with so many people who want to be photographers in the last year or two I can't even count the number. The one thing I tell them all is learn your craft if you want to be a professional photographer. People like to break the rules, be original and creative ,but if they don't know the rules they just don't know what they're doing. I break the rules all the time but only because I know them. Photography is an art and a science. If people tell them they are a great photographer who have seen some of their snapshots that means they probably have a good eye for composition. That is a must, but does not a great photographer make. There is a technical side to photography that seems to be being overlooked these days, perhaps even avoided and unfortunately the result of people not caring about proper lighting, posing, and composition, not to mention being technically ignorant of their equipment, is causing a dramatic fall in the quality of photography being produced. The volume is staggering but the craftsmanship is lacking. Here is a quote from a recent article on "luminous landscape" by Alan Briot

"Photography consists of two separate elements: art and science. It is through the successful combination of these two elements that the creation of world-class photographs can be accomplished.Yet art and science differ greatly in their aim and their practice. In fact, they are so far apart as to present serious difficulties if their respective qualities are not known to the photographer.The science part of photography includes technique and equipment. The artistic part of photography includes the photographer's artistic goals, his vision, inspiration and the use of art-related concepts. These two parts need to merge seamlessly for the creation of a successful world-class photograph to take place. If one of these two parts dominates the other the result is either a technically excellent photograph without much artistic interest, or a very artistic photograph lacking technical excellence."

"Let me be really clear. If you are
a mediocre photographer, or you have
mediocre skills in dealing with clients …
if what you offer is a service for people who
aren’t clever enough to take their own
pictures, you are doomed. D-O-O-M-E-D."
Seth Godin

If you are an aspiring photographer I would encourage you to learn your craft anyway you can. If you are an established photographer I encourage you to learn more of your craft. If you are a potential client I hope you will learn to discern the difference between a good snapshot and a portrait created using all the elements of the art & science of photography.

Little Rock Studio in the Heights

2009-08-05T15:31:00.006-05:00

If you haven't had a chance to come by our new Little Rock location I thought I would show you a few shots. It is 99% complete. Just a little painting left to do. It is located at 5813 Kavanaugh feel free to stop by and say hello.

My Daddy: by Mary Dean

2009-07-25T13:09:00.003-05:00

My daddy has the best job in the world. He has had a long experience in photography and is really good at it. He has inspired me to be just like him when I grow up.

Interview on KARK

2009-07-25T12:53:00.003-05:00

In case you missed my interview on KARK about the APPA here it is.
I fired my hair and make-up people.

Wedding Photographer of the Year

2009-07-25T11:52:00.006-05:00

Our annual convention "Capture'09" was a huge success. I am honored to have been named the 2009 "Wedding Photographer of the Year" by the Arkansas Professional Photographers Association. In addition to the photographer of the year Barbara and I received numerous other honors including Two Kodak Gallery Awards for our Wedding album and one of my wedding prints. Barbara and I took home almost every available award in the General and in the Salon wedding categories as well as the "Best Portrait of a Child" and "Best Wedding Candid". Here is a complete list of all of our awards.

Wedding Photographer of the Year
1st Place Wedding Album General Division
1st Place Wedding Album Salon Division
Kodak Gallery Award Wedding Album
Kodak Gallery Award Wedding Print
Best Wedding Candid
Best Photo of a Child
Two Distinguished Album Awards
Two Distinguished Print Awards
Judges Award

Barabara also received her Associate Fellowship degree from APPA
Way to go Barb!

"Here is the crew with Denis Reggie"

Check this out!

2009-07-25T11:51:00.002-05:00

I would give a discount on wedding photography to anyone who would attempt this entrance.

Comprtition Prints

2009-07-25T11:00:00.000-05:00

"Boys of Summer" Lance

"Sealed with a Kiss" Lance

"Love Actually" Lance

"Vintage Love" Barbara

"Love Elevated" Lance & Barbara

"An Elegant Affair" Lance & Barbara

"Stick a Fork In It" Barbara

"Greetings from Beautiful Lake Como" Lance

Twitter

2009-06-04T21:52:00.004-05:00

You can now follow me on Twitter. If you like interesting things that seem all together useless but you can't help but reading or watching. Then Twitter was made for you. Click here to follow Lance on Twitter

New Florida dates

2009-06-04T21:50:00.001-05:00

We will be back at Rosemary beach over the Fourth of July. If you will be in the area give us a call. We still have a couple of spots available for the week of June 15-21.

Capture '09

2009-06-04T21:37:00.006-05:00

WWW.CAPTURE09.COM

As the President of the Arkansas PPA I feel the need to continue reminding all you photographers out there that our state convention is just around the corner. Check out the convention website, I designed it. Hope you like it. Anyway I didn't realize how much hard work is involved in running an organization it's been fun, but I look forward to being a has been.

American Idol Parade & Concert

2009-05-09T22:24:00.003-05:00

I have finally recovered from yesterday. I cannot imagine how tired Kris Allen is after weeks of keeping that kind of schedule.
Here are a few shots from yesterdays parade and concert. I heard that there were 15,000 people at the park.

Kris Allen

2009-05-07T13:28:00.003-05:00

The Kris Allen phenomenon is amazing. I will see first hand tomorrow how crazy as I photograph the concerts and parade for the Conway chamber I will post a few images afterwards. My friend Kristian sent me a link to the Kris Allen website. I had no idea what kind of album he would make but his website says it all. Check it out www.krisallen.com I had no idea he was so diverse.

CAPTURE '09

2009-05-05T23:38:00.003-05:00

When I first started in photography fifteen years ago, one of the established photographers in my town came by my makeshift garage studio. He showed me how to set my lights up and invited me to an APPA convention. I can truly say that convention changed my photography and my life. I met so many wonderful people who invited me into a community of photographers and freely taught me all they knew. I believe when you teach someone about photography, you elevate the profession of photography. This has been a difficult year for anyone in business, which is why weather you are a new photographer or a seasoned veteran , it is crucial to expand your network, learn new techniques, and be inspired. We have some incredible speakers coming in for our convention. Denis Reggie is the father of wedding photojournalism and a must see program. Thanks to Canon ,Denis's program can be attended free of charge. But don't stop there. If you are registered for the convention you will see John Woodward really does know more about digital photography than anyone, anywhere, that Mitche Graffe is not a best selling author on marketing for no reason, and that Barbie Vallot did not win Photographer of the Year in Louisiana by accident. These are only a few reasons why you must attend and absolutely must invite a friend. The Doubletree Hotel and the Rivermarket are a perfect setting for this year's convention. CAPTURE '09 will be a life altering, business saving, inspiration to someone. Will it be you? I can't wait to see all of you there to spend time with old friends and make some new ones.

Lance Johnston
APPA President

CAPTURE '09

Call it Music Monday

2009-04-27T21:08:00.003-05:00

I am in a music mood so I wanted to share these videos that Barbara showed me last week. I didn't cry but I thought about it. Click the link below to watch.
PS22 Choir

New Friends

2009-04-27T20:59:00.002-05:00

Josh and Treva have visited our church the last couple of weeks they just moved here from Nashville. I thought I would share a link to Trevas blog. www.trevamusic.com

Shakespeare and the Oxford American

2009-04-27T20:23:00.007-05:00

Melissa and I attended a fundraiser for the Arkansas Shakespeare Festival on Saturday night that was great. If your not familiar with the festival here is a link to the website.
www.arkshakes.com
I also spent most of the night talking with Marc Smirnoff who created the "Oxford American". If your not familiar with this magazine you should check it out.

www.oxfordamericanmag.com

Quote of the day

2009-04-27T14:55:00.001-05:00

"You will never make a good impression on other people until you stop thinking about what sort of impression you are making.
No man who bothers about originality will ever be original: whereas to simply tell the truth (without care for how often it has been told) you will become original without having even noticed it."

~ C.S. Lewis

Rosemary Beach June 15-21

2009-04-27T14:37:00.002-05:00

It's almost that time again and our dates are set for the beach. Give us a call if you would like to schedule portraits in the Destin/Seaside area in June.

5D

2009-04-05T23:12:00.005-05:00

I got the new 5D last week and it has not disappointed I will post some images and video soon. It's amazing.
Right not all my spare time is working on my new program that I will test out next week in Texarkana. I have been doing A little research on the history of photography. It made me realize that a great photograph is truly timeless. See if you can guess the time frame on these images I will post the answers later.
Alfred Steiglitz 1907

Man Ray 1920

Dennis Stock 1954

Doisneau Robert 1950

Speaking Engagement

2009-03-21T13:52:00.002-05:00

I was recently asked to speak at the Ark-la-tex professional photographers guild in Texarkana TX. On April 13th I will be presenting a program and judging their print competition. It is always an honor to be asked to speak to other photographers.
Several years ago I did quite a bit of speaking and earned my Craftsman degree from PPA. I have not pursued speaking in the last couple of years focusing more on opening a second studio and serving on the ArkansasPPA board. I would say in recent months as I look forward to the end of my term as APPA president I have been inspired to create a new series of programs and hit the road again. I will be speaking at the Oklahoma state convention in August. The theme of the new programs is still developing but it will involve the idea of finding your own style and being true to yourself as an artist. There is a temptation today for photographers to imitate the latest trends, but not really find a style that is true to them or their community. I hope these programs will inspire photographers to create but not imitate. Finding your niche as a photographer is one of the most important things you can do in creating a successful business. Full Color our lab in Dallas and Burns picture frames are sponsoring our program so many of our engagements will be covered by our sponsorship if you would like more info have having me speak at you photography group let me know.

Senior Special

2009-03-19T14:08:00.002-05:00

I thought I would show you guys our Senior promotion. If you didn't get this or if you know a senior who hasn't done pictures yet you can print this flyer and receive 46 free wallets. Pass it on.

Ward Mansion

2009-03-18T22:46:00.003-05:00

We recently did a few photos of the Ward Mansion Bed & Breakfast. Joann Stevens has done an incredible job of remodeling this historic house. Check out her website and consider staying there if you will be staying in Conway soon.

Lance

Delta School

2009-02-06T22:57:00.007-06:00

Next week I will be in Hot Springs at the Delta School of Professional Photography which I serve on the Board. This is a great educational opportunity. Over the course of four days student's will get an intense small group learning and mentoring experience.

For school info (800)449-9578
www.deltaschool.com
February 8-12, 2009
Austin Hotel and Convention Center
Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas

New Studio and Gallery

2009-02-06T22:13:00.003-06:00

We have decided to move our Little Rock studio. Two years ago when we opened our second location we looked on Kavanaugh, but at the time their wasn't anything available. Well our lease was up and the building at 5813 Kavanaugh was for lease. So in the course of about a week we have gutted, painted, built, wired and moved into our new space. Here are a few shots of the work in progress. I will post some finished photos soon. I could not have done this job without the help of many friends. You know who you are and I appreciate you all. We will have a grand opening or open house soon. Watch for details or if you are in the heights drop by and see us. We are between Browning's mexican restaurant and the Sushi Cafe on Kavanaugh.

Wedding Traditions

2009-02-06T21:56:00.008-06:00

This shot was taken right after Brooke and Warren saw each other for the first time about 2 hours before the ceremony. It would not have been possible if they would not have seen each other before hand.

This is a little article that describes a question I get on every wedding.

Post by RELENTLESSBRIDE on Blogger Bride at getmarried.com.

"We have had many Brides ask about meeting before the Ceremony and we love it for many reason but do understand tradition. But where do those tradition begins. While most of the Wedding traditions come from a very very long time ago, and we see that some might be out of style..

So here is the tradition about it being "Bad Luck" to see each other before the wedding:

The tradition holds to the idea that in ancient times, often the first time the bride and groom saw one another was at the actual ceremony b/c many marriages were arranged. Thus, in fear that either the bride or groom would reject the other prior based on disliking the other's looks, they were kept from seeing one another until the actual ceremony. Also, the veil was used to hidden the bride's face until the actual ceremony was done and the legalities were sealed with a kiss at which point, it was too late to change your mind. Thus, they say it is bad luck to see each other before the actual ceremony. As one blogger puts it "So the tradition that it’s “bad luck” for a man to see his bride before the ceremony really started out as insurance for her dad (b/c he had arranged the marriage of his daughter with a stranger)"

Reasons why many people are going the "non-traditional" route and seeing each other pre-ceremony:

* The wow moment can still be there as when you walk down the aisle, except in this private moment, the bride and groom can truly enjoy it with full emotion and the privacy of holding on to that moment between the two.
* Photographs can be taken of immediate family, friends and bridal party. This can help make the after ceremony photo session shorter, and give thebride and groom a chance to enjoy the cocktail hour with their guests.
* Getting the photographer to focus on "the moment" that the bride and groom see each other. The Bride and Groom can also pick the scenery in which these pics will be taken... this can give this set of photos a more artistic scenery while also maintaining the pictures from the actual ceremony.
* It can alleviate the "stress" of seeing one another making the moment more enjoyable and less stressful during the ceremony.
* Enjoy the photo shoot without worrying about the guests or that you are missing out on the cocktail hour
* You feel fresher. Make up, hair and etc are all fresher. And if its earlier in the day, it could be cooler depending on which season you have your wedding in
* Technically, last minute details can be discussed - although this is not so romantic, it can definitely help in the practicality aspect.

The part that appeals most to me is that the photographer can really capture the moment (and the immediate moments that lead to) the first moment we see one another. It really can be more romantic and dramatic this way, b/c the wow factor would still be there but there will would also be less distraction!"

Canon 5D Mark II

2008-12-16T17:33:00.011-06:00

Sorry I have been out of the loop. I am playing catch up from the holiday break. I am working on a new website, blog as well as a new charitable photography side to the business. In spite of my lack of posting there is more going on than ever. I have several big things in the works so check back soon for a lot of changes. Oh yeah, If there was any doubt that I would be getting this camera it all disappeared the minute I watched this video. "Reverie" Shot entirely with the new 5D. This camera will change the way I do photography.
This is a still shot from Vincent Laforets video "Reverie"
You must watch it.

My Sweetie

2008-11-10T14:31:00.003-06:00

I know we have talked enough about Brooke's wedding but I had to include one last photo of Melissa and I dancing at the reception. Destination weddings are one of my favorites especially when Melissa comes along.

More from Brooke's Wedding

2008-11-10T14:20:00.003-06:00

" Just a few weekends ago we experienced a bitter sweet moment for Lance Johnston Photographers! As most of you know, Brooke Bailey married a Massachusetts boy and is no longer working for Lance Johnston Photographers! It was a short but fun time that she was on our staff as wedding photographer and manager for the Conway Studio. She moved to Colorado after high school to study photography and fell in love that state ( and also fell in love with Warren Thomas). So of course when they got engaged her first reaction was " WEDDING IN APSEN"! We were all very excited to hear that she was engaged, getting married AND that WE were going to be her photographers for her wedding! The setting could not have been more beautiful! I agree now when photographers say "location location location".... But of course our subjects were perfect as well! We hope you enjoy looking at a few of the highlights from the weekend!

(the first picture is one that Brooke's mom took a week before the wedding when they had a huge snow! Of course the snow was gone by the time we landed in Aspen! But i'm so glad that her mom caught this photo! It describes Brooke adequately)

Barbara

Senior Time Again

2008-11-09T15:43:00.004-06:00

Here are a few of Hannah's senior pics. Seniors is one of my absolute favorite things to shoot. If you are a senior or have a senior give us a call.

What's New

2008-11-09T15:11:00.010-06:00

Hey guys there has been a lot going on. I just got back from our annual trip to Dallas. I will post some shots soon from that.
Earlier this week we made a trip to Jonesboro and photographed several new families. Thanks to Brandon and Brandy Adams for their hospitality. Melissa Barb and I also recently returned from Aspen where we were shooting Brooke's wedding. It was incredible. I love Colorado anytime of the year. Here are a few shots from the wedding that Barb and I took.

Wedding at the Rockefellers

2008-10-10T20:53:00.007-05:00

Here are a couple of images from Liza and Chris's wedding at the Rockefeller mansion. This was without a doubt one of the most beautiful weddings I have ever shot. Barbara, Brooke and I shot all weekend on this wedding and it was amazing.

Why I shoot weddings

2008-10-10T20:47:00.003-05:00

"Lance,
Emily and I are sitting in our hotel room about to take off for our honeymoon. I just wanted to drop you a quick note thanking you for what we felt was a fantastically done job yesterday. Emily and I were amazed at your balance of getting everyone together, and then letting us alone for just the right amount of time. We could not be more pleased with how things went."

I thought I would share with you guys an e-mail from the bride and groom from last weekend's wedding. This is a big reason why I photograph weddings. Being able to capture the most important day in someone's life is a big responsibility but when all goes well there is nothing more gratifying.

I just returned from the Southwest regional convention in Arlington Texas

2008-10-10T20:35:00.003-05:00

Southwest Professional Photographers is an affiliate of the Professional Photographers of America. Many photographers don't realize that when you join the APPA you are automatically a member of the SWPPA. You also can attend the Southwest convention for free. Check out there website at www.swppa.com

Check out our ad in At Home

2008-10-10T20:28:00.007-05:00

The image we used in this ad was from Dallas and Shanna's wedding .The wedding was at Collin's peach orchard and it was a beautiful wedding.If you are looking for a truly unique place to have your wedding, the orchard is an incredible choice.

It's been a while

2008-10-10T20:14:00.003-05:00

Hey guys sorry it's been so long.
I will try to catch up a little bit.

A cool day

2008-07-22T19:12:00.002-05:00

I had a very cool day I was trying to think of photographers to invite to our next convention. I decided to go for the best so I called Denis Reggie. If you are not familiar with him you will remember his famous photograph of JFK jr coming out of his wedding and kissing his wifes hand. It is arguably the most famous wedding photograph ever taken. Anyway he agreed to come and speak at our convention next July. If you are a photogrpher mark you're calendar now for the 14th of July 09. It should be cool.

Legends Online

2008-07-21T23:04:00.008-05:00

I just dropped a new link on my favorites to the Legends Online page of the Photo District News website. There are galleries and interviews with some amazing photographers from Arnold Newman to
Denis Reggie and Steve McCurry. Please take a look at some of the people who have shaped the industry of photography over the past century.

Artefact Studio

2008-07-21T14:55:00.006-05:00

I wanted to show you guys the new company we are using for our wedding albums. These albums are wonderful. Whether you are a potential wedding client or a photographer you should check these albums out, they are fantastic. Our goal with weddings as with all aspects of our photography is to offer great looking, classic and timeless products. Artefact Studio is the perfect compliment to my photographic style.

The Kodak Gallery Award

2008-07-21T13:46:00.013-05:00

The Kodak Gallery Award has been called the Oscar of the photography industry. I have been honored to win this award 9 times. They are, to me, the pinnacle of achievement in our industry. I am thrilled that Barbara & Brooke both received Gallery Awards at our state convention. We submitted prints for print competition with photographers from all over the state, and our studio won 9 of the almost 40 awards that were given. I'll give you a brief recap, Barbara won a Gallery Award for her wedding album, 1st place for her wedding album in the general division and a distinguished print for her portrait in the general division. Brooke also won a Gallery Award for her wedding print, the best wedding candid, 1st place for her wedding image in the general division, a distinguished print in the illustrative category and the wedding album Brooke and I entered together won first place in the Salon division. I took first place in the electronic imaging category as well as first place for my wedding print in the salon division. Competing in print competition is something I have always enjoyed. It's a great way to hone your skills and without a doubt has made me a better photographer. Having your work critiqued, torn down and adored is humbling and satisfying all at the same time. It was a big week and I think the best part was the president of the APPA and my good friend Joel Schmidt gave me the distinguished service award. This is the biggest honor that we can receive for giving back to the photography industry in our state.

State Convention

2008-07-21T13:16:00.003-05:00

I think I have just about recovered from our state convention. I think this was one of our best and not just because I was the convention chairman. I am now officially installed as President of the Arkansas Professional Photographers Association. Which basically means I will be doing a lot of work this year. At our awards banquet I had to give an incoming presidents message. Melissa leaned over to me right before time and and asked if I had prepared anything and I said I am working on it. When I got up there it was so easy to speak from my heart about photography as our profession. I am not sure of the total numbers but I think it is very safe to say there are more photographers in our association from Little Rock and Conway than any other part of the state. I believe part of the reason is the willingness to share ideas and the open doors of all of my photographer friends. I believe if you help elevate someone's photography even if they are your competition you are elevating the profession and art of photography to the benefit of everyone who calls photography there passion. Anyway I look forward to this coming year and hopefully bringing many new photographers into our association.

APPA State convention

2008-07-09T22:55:00.004-05:00

It has been a crazy start to the summer. There are only a couple of days till our state convention. I am really excited but some old friends and some new friends coming in to town. It has been a lot of hard work, but it is going to be a great convention. I am sorry the posts have been so few and far between , but after the convention I will update you guys on some exciting shoots that I have had lately.

Commercial site

2008-06-09T23:11:00.003-05:00

Check out our new commercial site. Over the last few years we have done more and more commercial jobs. Working with ad agencies in Indianapolis and Mississippi as well as here in AR. We have done jobs for Microplane, Savoya, The Capitol Hotel, Health X, Conway Regional, and many more. I love the challenge of a commercial shoot. If your business is in need of great commercial photography give us a call.

Sonshine

2008-06-09T21:31:00.007-05:00

I recently spent a weekend with Brooke & Barbara photographing 400 ballerinas. For almost ten years, I have been photographing the Sonshine Dance Academy. After the first couple of years we decided to make this event a fundraiser for YoungLife. Giving the proceeds from this job to YL has been one of the most satisfying things we do. The school has tripled in size and so has our donation to YL. I hope in the future to find more events we can do as fundraisers. If you are a photographer, I encourage you to find a job or event that you might turn into a fundraiser for your favorite ministry or charity. Please check out the link to the younglife homepage. I am convinced it is one of the most important organizations in any community.

Common Question

2008-05-28T21:39:00.004-05:00

If there is one question I here asked more than any other it is how often do I recommend people get there portraits made. We do not offer any special packages with portrait plans until your kids graduate. Although many of my photographer friends tell me how great they are. I think it is simple, when you look at your portraits and then you look at your children or family and they don't really resemble one another it is time. This is what I try to do. When the kids are young that will pretty often and as they grow older not as much. There are some milestones that I recomend like at least two to three times in there first year and again when they are two and three. Agian, if its been a while, right before what I like to call the awkward years 10 or 12 is a great time for a family portrait as it might be the last one you do for awhile. And if your family is growing up, the last ones graduating high school [don't forget the senior pics] that is a great time for a family portrait. That could be the last time your family is just your family without in-laws and grandkids. Anyway hope this helps some of your questions on when to call. Of course I would say if you are reading this blog then its a good time to make an appointment.

We're Back

2008-05-27T20:34:00.000-05:00

Sorry it has been so long. It has been a crazy month and there is much to tell. The biggest news is Brooke is engaged which means we will be heading to Aspen CO. in October to shoot her wedding. Brooke has only been back with us since September and has been a great asset we are happy for her but will be very sad to see her move. Her fiance Warren is in Massachusets. Anyway that is the big news. We are about to wrap up school this week and get into the summer plans. I promise to get more posts online next month.

Billingham Bags

2008-03-26T19:50:00.003-05:00

Melissa got me a new camera bag for Christmas. It's made by Billingham. I absolutely love it. Billingham makes a classic camera bag but with modern technology. Part of the experience in everything for me is getting ready, planning, packing & storing. I love containers. Having a camera bag that I love is a must. There is something about the look and the materials and the overall aesthetic of these bags that I have loved from the first time I saw them. Check out there website at www.billingham.co.uk

Artist in Residence

2008-03-26T14:02:00.012-05:00

My sister-in-law Heather Mainord, who is an outstanding artist, is the featured article and on the cover of Women's Inc magazine. Heather has a solo art show next month at Local Coulor gallery in Little Rock. We did these shots of Heather at her home and in her studio that's behind her house. If you love good artwork, check out Heather's website and her show on April 25th.

New wedding video

2008-03-12T22:48:00.006-05:00

I have been playing with some of the programs that are on my MacBook Pro. I recently created a website for the APPA convention "IMAGINGARKANSAS" using iWeb and most recently this video of some of my favorite images from weddings that Barb, Brooke and I have photographed lately. The Apple programs are so easy to use it has been a lot of fun playing with them. If you are a Mac user check out some of the programs in iLife 08 the are really cool. I hope you enjoy this video.

Artfully Arranged

2008-03-08T15:30:00.028-06:00

I thought writing a post on how to hang and arrange portraits in your home, as well as framing options would be helpful. There are several great ways to group portraits together in your home. If you are not sure what is best for you here are several examples of some great ideas. The first is a group of different size prints ranging from 20"x20" down to a 3"x5" print. In this example the frames are all different but have a unifying theme with color and size.
This grouping is an example of nine frames of the same size with different size mat openings. Images in this group range from casual to formal and individuals as well as family groups.

This grouping is an example of a collection of very different images some color some B&W and a variety of sizes. The unifying theme is they all have the exact same frame.
Sometimes there are several images that we love but we can't hang all of our favorites on the wall. I always encourage people to take those few favorites and get smaller prints 5x7s or 8x10s. These are perfect for dad's office or a bedside table.

Finally, for some of our best clients, their walls are full in the living room. I often hear " I don't know where I'll put these. I don't have any wall space". I usually recommend moving some of your older images to more private spaces like a bedroom a hallway or an upstairs landing. This allows you to keep your most current images in the your most used rooms, places where you and your guests can enjoy them.
There are many ways to enjoy the images of your family for years to come. These are just a few options. In this post you can see the impact that a grouping can have in a room. These groupings range from large to small and have black, wood, silver and gold frames. No matter what your style, there is a great way to incorporate photography of your family into your home if is artfully arranged.

Rosemary Beach

2008-03-07T22:29:00.023-06:00

It's time to start planning those summer vacations again. We have set our dates for our annual trip to the beach. Rosemary Beach is once again our destination. If you are planning on going this August we will be wrapping up the summer with a week at the beach. Rosemary Beach is 30 minutes from Destin so call the studio if you will be in the area and would like to capture those vacation moments at the beach.

Imaging Arkansas

2008-03-05T19:17:00.001-06:00

If you are a professional photographer or just an enthusiast the "Imaging Arkansas" APPA State convention will hold something for you. If you are a pro in AR and not a member of the APPA I cannot say enough about the importance of membership in your local Association. Most photographers I know would credit a lot of their success to the educational experiences and the relationships they have through professional associations. Melissa and I are members of Arkansas (APPA), Ozarks (PPO), International Christian Photographers (ICP), Southwest Photographers (SWPP), Professional Photographers of America (PPA) and The American Society of Photographers (ASP). I can honestly say our best friends in the photography industry have all been met through attending seminars and conventions with each of these associations. This year the APPA convention is especially important to me because I am on the Board as well as the Convention Chairman. If you ask me this is the best slate of speakers & activities we have ever lined up, of course I did invite them. If you are interested in photography but not a professional you can check out the trade show and the print exhibit. I would encourage you all to check out the IMAGING ARKANSAS website for all of the details. Of course anyone with questions about any of these organizations or the upcoming convention feel free to give me a call.

Snow Day

2008-03-04T22:56:00.005-06:00

A voice for Burma

2008-02-28T22:40:00.003-06:00

For over half a decade the Southeast Asian country of Burma has been ruled by a ruthless military regime. During this time Burma has become one of the worlds leaders in human rights abuses, political oppression, and isolation.
The Burma advocacy group is an organization of local students and young adults dedicated to making the voices of these forgotten people heard.
This is an amazing group of people who are making a huge difference in the lives of the people of Burma. The two images in this post will be auctioned at their second annual fundraiser this Saturday at the Embassy Suites in Little Rock. Our good friend Jenny McNulty is the contact person for this orginization. Her number is 501.908.6678. If you would like to help these people give Jenny a call. If anyone is interested in purchasing one of these prints we will donate all the proceeds to this group. The prints alone are $150.00 each and $300.00 matted & framed.

Master Your Craft

2008-02-28T22:31:00.004-06:00

Barbara and Brooke just got back from Dallas and the "Master your Craft" seminar with Mike Colon and Bob Davis. Mike and Bob are both wedding photographers to the stars. I am excited that Brooke and Barbara had this opportunity. I am constantly keeping up with the newest styles and techniques in photography. The best way to do this is attending these seminars and conventions.
I am excited to hear all that they have learned. By the way Mike Colon is our headliner for our state convention this summer.

Southwest Image

2008-01-24T19:04:00.000-06:00

The current issue of the Southwest Image came in the mail today and they included one of my images in the gallery. "Life is Good" is an image I took in Florida of a couple surfers after a long day of not catching any waves. This image appeared in the international print exhibit of Professional Photographers of America earlier this month in Tampa FL. It is an honor that the Southwest Professional Photographers would choose it for publication in the Southwest Image.

2008-01-23T17:12:00.001-06:00

Keep Me, Protect Me, Share Me

2008-01-21T20:09:00.001-06:00

If you haven't ever watched this Kodak commercial you owe it to yourself to take a minute and watch.

The Capital Hotel

2008-01-17T19:44:00.000-06:00

Yesterday Barb and I had a great job assignment. The agency that handles the Capital Hotel's advertising hired us to photograph the newly renovated rooms, as well as some of the fare from the Capital Bar and Grill. The latter will be featured in the Paula Deen magazine later this year. I love commercial jobs. It is a new challenge every time. I think the shots from the grill are some of my best. After photographing the food, Barb and I, along with her husband Dustin, sampled it for ourselves, and I encourage everyone to make a date for dinner at the Grill or across the hall at Ashley's. Chef Lee Richardson and his staff have an incredible menu with a focus on regional ingredients.

Bridal Guide Magazine

2008-01-15T20:47:00.000-06:00

In the March issue of Bridal Guide Magazine there will be a CD on the cover. This is a resource that is going to be new for Bridal Guide. We are pleased to be the only photographer in the section of photographers for the state of Arkansas. Keep an eye out for the magazine in March.

Great Weddings

2008-01-15T19:57:00.000-06:00

We submit a few weddings every year to some of the local magazines. This wedding is one I remembered enjoying this past fall but when we went back and put a few images together for the magazine I realized how great it really was. This was up on the Little Red River at the Driftwood lodge. Click on the wedding gallery link to see more. I hope you enjoy!
WEDDING GALLERY

A New Look for wedding Albums

2008-01-13T17:06:00.000-06:00

We are excited to introduce one of our new wedding albums from Asuka Book. These coffee table style books are a great compliment to our Original Wedding albums. I believe there are two basic styles of wedding photography Traditional and Photojournalistic. I think both are beautiful and important for capturing the emotions and memories of a wedding day. The asuka coffee table book is a great presentation for the more candid photojournalistic shots that are such a big part of how we photograph. Here is a sample wedding Brooke shot in Colorado. The finished album was beautiful. Keep an eye out for our Heritage Album that is on its way.

Fashion shoot

2007-12-09T20:33:00.000-06:00

We recently did a test shoot for our friend Jordan Crowson who is a talented fashion designer. In January we will do a full line of his designs for a redesigned web site. Here is a sneak peek at some of Jordan's work.

It's been a while

2007-12-09T20:21:00.000-06:00

Sorry it has been so long since my last post. It is definitely not because nothing's going on. This time of year there doesn't seem to be enough hours in a day. As we put our girls to bed tonight, I was reminded of backpacking in Colorado. I know that sounds weird, but when you go backpacking the guides would remind us to look around and enjoy the mountains and lakes and the incredible scenery. There is a tendency when you are hiking to just stare at the person's feet in front of you. All of this to say that we have been so busy I can tend to just look at all the work there is to do and forget about what an incredible season this is and how much I have to be thankful for. Anyway, I will try to get you guys up to date on what's been going on soon.

Lifeword

2007-11-19T20:26:00.000-06:00

I recently photographed the new studios for Lifeword. Lifeword is a broadcast ministry based in Conway. They recently purchased a new property and have renovated it into the nicest recording and production studio I have ever seen. I wanted to share a few photos from this shoot.

My Girls

2007-11-17T09:09:00.000-06:00

Thursday night Melissa had some friends over, so I decided to work late with our girls at the studio. Anne Ryan came first after ballet and Mary Dean showed up later after swim lessons. Annie really wanted me to take her photo in her ballet outfit. I convinced her to wait until Mary Dean got there so I could get some work done. Of course Mary Dean wanted to take the pictures, so I let them take turns taking each other's photos. These are the results. No kidding, they took these all by themselves. I hope I have two future photographers here.

Barb at Garvin Gardens

2007-11-13T22:32:00.000-06:00

I wanted to post a few images from a wedding Barbara shot last weekend. Her wedding was at Garvin Gardens in Hot Springs, which is a beautiful place for a wedding. Barbara really has a great eye for capturing the important moments on a bride's special day. It's a great joy for me to have such talented photographers as Barbara and Brooke on staff. It's wonderful to know that when I am already booked, instead of just telling brides that I can't photograph their wedding, I can send someone like Barb or Brooke to capture their big day. One thing I encourage every bride to consider, is the role your wedding photographer plays in the wedding day. When looking at photographers you should not only consider the quality of their work, but also the personality of the photographer as well. In many cases we are still friends with the bride and groom from weddings I photographed ten years ago. I hired Barb and Brooke not just for their skill when it comes to photography but also for their character and personalities as well. Check out this beautiful slideshow of the Mannis wedding.

Press

2007-11-13T22:15:00.000-06:00

It's been a great month. Inviting Arkansas was kind enough to do a nice editorial on our new studio in Little Rock. If you haven't seen it, look at this month's issue. I also was asked to contribute to the recent fall At Home in Arkansas wedding edition. These are both such great publications.

These Are Days to Remember

2007-11-12T20:57:00.000-06:00

I love photographing High School Seniors. Seniors are one of my favorite subjects because they are always up for something new and different. I honestly feel like I'm getting to play and just have fun when I'm photographing a senior session. I have a special place in my heart for high school students because of twenty plus years of working with YoungLife. I know a lot of you think I'm only twenty-three "HA HA", but I am, in fact, old enough to have done something for twenty years. Anyway, high school is such a pivotal time in a person's life. I feel like high school and college were truly my formative years and that anything was possible. I love being around young people who are full of so much hope and promise. I hope seniors will always be a big part of our business. Check out a few of the seniors I have photographed in the last couple of weeks.

Cooking with Paula Deen

2007-10-30T19:31:00.000-05:00

I recently had the opportunity to photograph a kitchen renovation for Cooking with Paula Deen magazine. I love architectural photography, so I always jump at the opportunity to photograph homes for builders, designers, etc... I love details and everytime you photograph a room or someone's home, it's all about the details. I will be doing photography for the Conway Symphony designer house in the near future and I am looking forward to that project as well. I hope you enjoy this article. Be sure to pick up a copy of this month's Paula Deen.

Home Sweet Home

2007-10-23T19:57:00.001-05:00

I just got back from my annual trip to Dallas. This was our best trip yet. I got to Dallas on Friday afternon and got straight to work. I spent the next three days photographing kids and families pretty much non stop. This was such a great trip and I appreciate all of my friends and good clients who send out e-mails for me and introduced me to new clients. A special thank you to the Danza family for their hospitality while I was there. On my way home on Monday I decided to stop at Full Color, our lab which is in Dallas. I had a great talk with Paul Fuller the owner who has been in the business for over forty years. He has a lot of wisdom when it comes to photography and life. I would like to make this a semi-annual trip, so if you are in Dallas, or have friends who are, watch for a photo weekend this spring. If you are a photographer looking for a new lab consider giving Full Color a call. They are the best.

Old Friends

2007-10-23T19:01:00.000-05:00

I thought I would give you a look at a couple of our former employees, Sarah Kate Holt and Christen Byrd, both of which worked for me while they were attending college in Conway. Now Sarah Kate is a wedding photographer in Dallas with VIM studio . Sarah Kate is a great girl and a talented photographer. It is great to see her doing so well. Christen lives in Kentucky and just had her first baby with her husband Ryan. I am so very proud of both of them and I wish them both the best of luck.

My Favorite Subject

2007-10-23T18:27:00.000-05:00

I don't usually play favorites because I love all of our clients. I enjoy photographing every bride, child and high school senior that calls but Aiden is definitely at the top of the list. You might recognize him from the series of gallery wrap prints hanging in the Conway studio. I love the shots of Aiden, but the family shots are some of the best I have ever taken. It is so cool to know that when they are older this family will look back on these photos and remember how much fun this time in their lives was.

2007-10-17T21:40:00.000-05:00

Here is a slide show of a few images from a wedding Brooke and I photographed last weekend. I thought Lauren was a beautiful bride. They had a great day and it was a pleasure to work for them.

remember having this much fun...

2007-10-17T21:02:00.000-05:00

Look how much fun these kids are having. I remember having this much fun when I was young. It is amazing how quickly an ordinary event can be turned into a gut busting , hilarious moment when you are a child. I hope I can learn to see life a little more like Ethan, Olivia and Simon do.

Wooo Pig Soooieee

2007-10-14T22:23:00.000-05:00

It has been a long weekend. Melissa and I went to Fayetteville with some friends to watch the Razorbacks play Auburn. I am a pretty serious fan of the Razorbacks, unfortunately that leads to some fairly sad and depressing Sundays, but I always believe that the Razorbacks will win next weekend. I included a shot that I took with my phone of the view we had from the upper deck this weekend. It was a beautiful night especially at that altitude. Go HOGS! Beat Ole MIss!

Beautiful Botanicals

2007-10-10T20:05:00.000-05:00

I introduced Brooke one of our wedding photographers and studio manager in Conway about a month ago, now I want to show you some of her personal artwork. Brooke has a unique style mixing digital photography, photoshop techniques, and an oil medium all printed and stretched on canvas. This process gives Brooke's botanical prints a beautiful and original look. Brooke's work is featured in many galleries and private residences. If you are interested in pricing and availability you can contact her at the Conway studio 501.513.0777 or at 970.389.6277.

2007-10-07T21:30:00.000-05:00

"Sequoia National Forest"

Colorado Rocky Mountain High

2007-10-07T21:17:00.000-05:00

We just returned from a trip to our favorite state, Colorado. Melissa and I spent last week in Durango with our friends and clients the Kairalla family. We spent a couple of days photographing new clients in and around beautiful Durango. I managed to squeeze in a round of golf, as well as a little frisbee golf (one of my favorite pastimes). We timed the trip based on the aspens turning for the fall and they did not disappoint. Melissa and I spent our honeymoon in Colorado, and on the way out recounted all the Younglife backpacking and ski trips over the years. It had been seven years since we had been to CO. In recent years we have traded trips to Colorado for trips to the beach in the summer. The beach is a much easier trip to make with small children, but I have to tell you, Mary Dean and Anne Ryan had as much fun on this trip as any I can remember. I think the Colorado climate suits our family pretty well. One day we took a drive up to Silverton, an old mining town that reminded us a lot of the little town of Creede, where we spent part of our honeymoon. There is a steam train that runs all day long between Durango and Silverton. It, along with the mountain landscape, provided plenty of photo ops. I am including plenty of images from this trip because it was inspiring. I hope this will become an annual trip.

Vintage Arkansas

2007-10-05T20:37:00.000-05:00

For about a year I have been working on a project for Arkansas Medical Research. I have been photographing all over the state, capturing images that represent Arkansas in a unique and artistic way. This project has taken me all over the state. One of my favorite stops was in Altus. It has been years since Melissa and I visited the vineyards at Altus and I had forgotten how great it was. It truly is like a little Napa Valley. If you have not been to this area you should take a visit. Here are a couple of images from the vineyards. Keep an eye out for more on this project, we should be wrapping it up shortly.

Fall Promo

2007-10-05T17:05:00.000-05:00

Take a look at our latest promotion and the images of little Edward. We had a great time with this new client and the photos show how much fun this session was. If you mention that you saw this offer on my blog you can take advantage of this special as well. Call us to schedule your complimetary session.

"Faces of Arkansas Charities"

2007-10-05T13:21:00.000-05:00

"Charity sees the need, not the cause."
-German Proverb

I recently had the privilege of photographing the images for "The Faces of Arkansas Charities" calendar, published and distributed by Inviting Arkansas. I was honored to meet and photograph these wonderful people who give back so much to their community. Check out the calendar in the October issue of Inviting Arkansas.

It is every man's obligation to put back into the world at least the equivalent of what he takes out of it."
- Albert Einstein

Arkansas State Convention

2007-10-03T20:49:00.000-05:00

Today I spoke with Mike Colon, one of the premiere wedding photographers in the country. He resides in Newport Beach, California. He has agreed to speak at our Arkansas Professional Photographers Convention in Little Rock. The convention will be this coming July at The Doubletree Hotel and Convention Center. I am on the board of our association and this year I am in charge of arranging all of the talent. I have also talked with one of my favorite photographers John Bamber from Chattanooga ,TN, as well as one of my best friends Kristian Andersen , who owns KA+A, a branding and design firm in Indianapolis. This convention is shaping up to be one of our best. If you are a photographer in our state or region check out the info at arkansasppa.com . You won't want to miss it!

Off to the BIG D!

2007-10-01T20:25:00.000-05:00

My wife Melissa and I are heading to Dallas again in a couple of weeks to photograph families and children in the area. This trip began with a couple of clients who would have portraits done everytime they came home to Arkansas. We then decided last year to go see them, and now it has grown into a portrait weekend. We are excited to already have seven families lined up on this trip. If you have friends in the Dallas area, tell them we will be there from October 19th-21st. We are already booking fast, but we do have some time still open on Saturday afternoon. We have started doing a lot of these destination portrait sessions, and would love to continue doing more of them.
Here are some shots of one of our clients we photographed last fall in Dallas.

Brooke's Hawaii Adventure

2007-09-28T19:49:00.000-05:00

Check out these images from the wedding Brooke Bailey, our newest addition to our staff, just photographed in Hawaii. They are incredible. I always love a destination wedding. Some of my favorite weddings I've photographed have been the ones that have allowed me to bring together my love of travel and photography. I've been blessed to photograph weddings in California, New Hampshire, Florida , and all over the south. These destination weddings have given me some of my best memories as a photographer, and remind me that I am part of an incredible profession.

I am so excited to have Brooke and Barbara on my staff, and I can't wait to see all the beautiful wedding images we will create together in the future.

Meet Kristin

2007-09-13T21:29:00.000-05:00

Let me introduce you to our newest full time employee, Kristin Luyet. Kristin is our first full time digital artist. She is responsible for making everyone look so good! Kristin started working part time last Christmas and her artwork skills impressed us so much that when she graduated we offered her a full time position. She will be primarily working in Conway, but will also help out at the Little Rock studio as well. Kristin has her Associate of Applied Science Degree in Graphic Design. She is a great addition to our staff.

Arkansas Photographer of the Year

2007-06-30T23:50:00.000-05:00

June 10th through 13th, I attended the annual APPA convention in Hot springs. This year I took with me Barbara Raney, who manages our Little Rock studio. This was her first convention and print competition. She did great! She had two prints merit, and won first place digital imaging in the general division with her print "Torn". Last year, I came in second in the print competition, but this year I was able to break through and win Photographer of the Year. My prints "Colors of the Mediterranean" and "Sisters, Secrets & the Sea", scored 97 & 95 respectively. Taking first place in the Portrait, Illustrative & Electronic Imaging categories, earning two Kodak Gallery Awards, and two judges ribbons were just some of the highlights. Print competition is a great way to hone a photographers skills. I am always inspired to go back to work and create beautiful images for my clients after a competition. To see all my print entries from this year, click here

Rosemary Beach

2007-06-30T23:28:00.001-05:00

Every Year we take a working vacation to our favorite town in Florida, Rosemary Beach {near Destin}. We are about to go again July 12 through 19 with our good friends the Andersens and the Mathises. This is always a great time with the family as well as a great opportunity to photograph our favorite clients at the beach. This is an annual trip so keep an eye out for when we will be there next year!

California Here We Come

2007-06-30T17:02:00.000-05:00

We just returned from an incredible trip to California. On June 16th we photographed a wedding in Sequoia National Park. We had never been there before, and I must say it was impressive. My family, along with my mom went along, and we had a blast! After three days at the park and a wedding, we drove to Palo Alto to visit the Reed family, friends from home. They were kind enough to set up several portrait sessions for me. We enjoyed Palo Alto and ate way to well! Next, we moved on to Carmel, where one of my best friends Kristian got married a few years ago. I missed the wedding because we were expecting our second daughter. It was really great to see what I had missed back then. We loved Carmel. All around it was a great working vacation.
"Carmel by the Sea"

Welcome Home Brooke

2007-06-20T19:34:00.000-05:00

My very first employee Brooke Bailey, who worked for Melissa and me at our first studio over ten years ago, has accepted our offer to move home from Colorado. She will be our studio manager for the Conway studio as well as photographing weddings. Brooke is a talented photographer and a great girl. Brooke graduated from Colorado Mountain College with an Associate of Applied Science in Professional Photography. Since she started her career, Brooke has experienced several fields in photography: portraiture, weddings, digital lab tech, and fashion photography in New York City.

Brooke's credits in fine art include, being featured in exhibits and galleries in the following cities in her home state of Arkansas: Little Rock, Hot Springs, Conway, and Fayetteville. Her work has also shown in Memphis, Tennessee, Glenwood Springs and Breckenridge, Colorado as well as New York City.

Along with displaying her fine art, she has worked the last four years in the management of photography studios, specializing in portraiture and weddings in Breckenridge, Colorado. Her fine art hangs in homes and businesses from the East Coast to the West Coast. Brooke has used her talents in fine art photography to assist and raise money to benefit charities and non-profit organizations. Melissa and I are looking forward to working with Brooke, she will be a great asset to our studios.

Twice as Nice

2007-04-30T22:50:00.000-05:00

It has been a busy year already. This Christmas we were driving through The Heights in Little Rock and talked about how great it would be to have a location in that area, because we have so many great clients there. The next thing we knew we were signing a lease and starting construction on our new studio. We will keep our studio in Conway and I will split time between the two. We recently had a grand opening to celebrate. 5024 Club Rd. is our new second home. We are located accross from Cheers restaraunt just off Kavenaugh. We are enjoying our new location. Our hours are Monday through Friday from 10:00 till 5:30. Barbara Raney who has been with us for almost two years is our studio manager for the Little Rock Studio and has also come on as our first staff photographer. Photographing weddings and other events,
Barbara will allow us to keep up with the increasing demand for quality wedding photography.

Remember the Alamo

2007-03-01T01:24:00.000-06:00

In January, Melissa and I, along with our girls Mary Dean & Anne Ryan traveled to San Antonio for the PPA national convention.
I look forward to spending time with other photographers. It is always inspiring. This year I earned my Masters and Craftsman degrees from Professional Photographers of America. That was a great honor. I also had a print accepted into the Traveling Loan Collection for 2006. This was our first trip to San Antonio and we absolutely loved the River Walk.

"Unfinished Masterpiece" 2006 Loan Collection

American Society of Photographers

2007-02-26T01:57:00.000-06:00

In January I was invited to join the American Society of Photographers. This is an organization that is by invitation only and I am extremely honored to be added to the impressive list of members in this society. ASP is a society of professional photographic artists who aspire to maintain the highest level of excellence by adhering to ethical standards, stimulating creativity and continually refining technical competence. The goal of the organization is to promote education, foster fellowship and perpetuate the ideals of photography as a science and an art.

Professional Photographers of the Ozarks

2006-12-30T16:40:00.000-06:00

I have been a member of and attending PPofO conventions for about ten years. Some of our favorite people and our mentors are part of the Ozarks. We have always loved spending time with the Petersons, Lagows, Whitakers & others who really took us under their wings when we were new in photography. Several of those friends also attend {ICP} International Christian Photographers and have been an inspiration to us personally and professionally. 2006 was a particularly good year as I was able to capture Photographer of the Year honors. Ozarks consists of photographers from Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma & Kansas. There are some superb photographers in that group and it truly is an honor to win there.

Welcome

2006-12-06T01:37:00.000-06:00

Well, I am finally giving in to the blogging trend. I apologize to all of you that I have mocked behind your backs. 2006 has been such a busy year that I can hardly keep up. I hope the "What's New" section of my website will be a good way to keep you, our friends, clients, and fellow photographers up to date with what's going on with us. Come back often to see what's new with us.