Cowboys of Southeast Kansas - Rd 2

Went out and photographed some of the area's best cowboys today. These guys are the real deal. They don't just wear the clothes, ride the horses and look the part...they really are complete studs. All the images were made at Rafter Bar G Ranch in rural Bourbon County.

The modern Marlboro Man.

Last time out I forgot to get a group shot. Pictured above are Travis Duncan and his boys, Jeff & Charlie Madison, Jake Gross, Amy Younger, Tyler and Troy Felt. A great crew to work with. They might not admit it but they enjoyed having their photo taken!

The image above is one I had in mind before we started. Luckily, the clouds were perfect!

Another shot I had hoped for. The grass was tall enough to make it look like they were in untamed prairie...just what I wanted!

The cattle belong to Jake Gross, who can be seen acting like Spiderman in the photo above. Shortly after this he performed a circus trick to get down. Missed the shot of the day!

Cookbook - Coming Soon!

I mentioned quite a few months ago that I'd been working on a photo project for a cookbook.

Well.....drumroll please.....it's going to be available this summer! Every photo in the book was taken by yours truly and I'm proud of the product. I'll keep you all posted when I have a better idea on cost and where it can be purchased!

Bridal Portaits - Jaime

Taken inside the lovely Lyons Mansion.


Well Jaime got married last weekend so it's safe for me to show off the bridal portraits she had taken about a month ago!

These were a surprise for her husband, but due to time constraints we weren't able to prepare an album before the wedding. I think, though, that when he sees them he will definitely enjoy them!

The image with the cat...definitely not a planned moment but Mr. Kitty wanted in the photo shoot so we let him chill for a bit!

I think we all know that this is the last time we will see Jai pushing around a vacuum. KIDDING!

Mike and Jaime - Wedding

Jaime and I go back several years as her and my wife are best friends and have been for awhile. Mike and has become one of my best pals ever since he and Jai met up thanks to a meeting of fate in Fort Scott.
Mike's groomsmen were RELENTLESS. His wedding day turned into a ROASTING. Knowing his sense of humor and love for laughter, it only seems fitting. I'd not met any of them previous to the wedding so it was nice to finally meet the people he had bragged so much about.

I always try and get something of the bride and her father before the ceremony. It doesn't have to be anything earth-shattering ... just a nice moment between a father and his baby girl. Sam came into her dressing room as she was being laced up and immediately it was evident how special his daughter was to him. I stood in this same room less than two years ago while photographing his other daughter's wedding. He loves his girls!

Mike with his guys right outside the church entrance. Since it rained steadily all day long we were only able to shoot outside for about 15 minutes - my usual mode of operation is to shoot outside the majority of the time so this was unusual!

Mr & Mrs Tarchala

It's been a long time coming.
Our designer, the one and only Brittany, got married in Lawrence Saturday. She married Steven Tarchala, a really amazing guy.

Enough of that...on to the wedding details!
Gary and I both photographed the big day so as to provide her with the best wedding coverage money could buy.We arrived at the Country Veranda Inn around 1:30 p.m. and started the photo coverage immediately with a few detail shots before heading to the University of Kansas for some cool portraits near the century-old architecture.

Because there were two of us, I focused mainly on details while Gary did a large percentage of the portraits. We both shot the ceremony and the reception from different angles...she's going to have a KILLER album!

Don't wonder where all the portraits of them are...I'm withholding those as long as possible just to make them want them more! They are enjoying beach time in Key West, FL right now...so they are doing JUST fine I assume!

Brittany is sort of like a little sister to me, as I've been around her for as long as she and Steven have been dating. I wish her well and I know he will treat her greatly. As I was photographing the "reveal" when they saw each other for the first time he said to me that his heart was beating a thousand miles a minute and then he stood there in silence and said a prayer. The look on his face was priceless and, in my mind, was evident that he knew just how special that day was and although looking forward to seeing his bride in her gown for the first time, he was also envisioning many years ahead with her. God Bless!

The Martin Family

Saturday's rain showers pushed back our photo shoot until last night (Monday). Thankfully it did because the weather was PERFECT. We had beautiful blue skies with ginormous puffy white clouds. A photographers dream....

I've known Tyler practically my entire life. I went to school with his brother Kyle and we played a few games of WAR on the family farm through the years. And Rachel I first met in college when we shared a journalism class together. Good people and I enjoyed the opportunity to photograph their family!



And these little ones were fun to photograph. The girls had beautiful smiles and the little guy was full of energy and laughs. Loved every minute I got to make images.

The funniest moment of the night occurred when the youngest grabbed hold of her sister's hair and tried to

0 for 3 - Sports Illustrated Leading Off

Another one bites the dust!

Just got an email from the Sports Illustrated photo department letting me know that they had looked at this photo for the Leading Off section of the magazine (the BIG two-page layouts) but that it didn't make the final cut.

So what's the big deal? Well, it's not that big of a deal except that I've received the same email 3 times in the past few years. Close...but just not quite there!

One of these days...I hold out hope that I will land one of those coveted spots!

Cheers and have a great Monday!