Gosh….Where do I start with this…

Bill is my lifelong friend.  By that, I’m referring to the 22 years we’ve known each other, the 20 years that we’ve been like this (I’m crossing my fingers…wish you could see it), and the 60+ years ahead of us.  When we were young, we quipped about front porch sittin’ when we’re old men.  Looking at our relationship through 30-year-old eyes now, I know that this is a certainty.

Bill is one of the kindest, most genuine people you’ll ever meet.  I’ve learned alot from him.  And he learned alot from his Granny Jane.

Bill and I spent quite a few summer days on his grandparents’ farm in Bath County.  We did a fair bit of underage driving through those fields and on the backroads.  We would help out with the tobacco crop some, though looking back, I’m pretty sure we were not terribly helpful.  Being from Mt. Sterling, we were clearly city boys.

I have plenty of history with the Manley family, and as a large component of that, I have a deep respect and affection for Granny Jane.  It was because of this that I was more than happy to document Jane’s 80th birthday party.  I had fun catching up with everyone.

I hope you enjoy the images and can get a sense from them what a great person Jane is, though I suspect you’d really just have to meet her.  Then you, too, would be just as much of a fan as I am.

Jane is a huge Elvis fan.  He made a guest appearance at her party.  Told you she was cool!

Jane shared some wisdom with us while she had everyone collected.

Here’s Jane with her kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids.  Quite a collection, right?

Me and Granny Jane.  I love this image.

My favorite.

Bill and Kelly’s son Ben.  Rocks are toys, aren’t they?

Carson and Ben hi-fiving for the first time.  We’re hoping they’ll grow up and be good friends.

I’ve been a busy bee the last couple weeks with some commercial projects, both editorial and advertising-related. I just wanted to share a handful of my faves.  Whatcha think?

Here’s Rama Dhuwaraha, Chief Information Officer at LFUCG.  He wanted something dramatic for this shot, so I tried to make good use of the perspective and architectural elements.

You know, this job has its perks.  Like the day I went to photograph Tricia Clemons at BabyCakes.  She sent home with me a couple of cupcakes, strawberry and cookie dough.  Katie was quite glad to see me walking in after work with that little pink box.  Side note?  Tricia is awesome to be around.  It’s no wonder that people flock to her for real honest-to-God homemade cupcakes.  You can check out her site HERE.

Matt and Wes at Lift Fitness & Wellness

This has to be hands-down, one of my fave images so far this year.  I was at Al’s Bar during Geeks Night Out, shooting the cover image for an upcoming issue of BG Magazine.  When we were done shooting, I suggested to them that, just for fun, we should do this shot.  I don’t think it will make the cover, but I think it’s pretty dang awesome. 

If you know me or read the blog often, you probably already know that my other full-time job is in real estate.  I’m prone to boredom and thrive on challenges, so it does my soul good to have the variety.  Often, the two worlds overlap.  Like when my wedding couples go to buy their first house.  Or when families I’ve sold houses to end up having life events they want documented.  I love my clients, so it’s fun for me to put on the other hat and help them.

I met Hanna at a photography workshop.  She’s a GREAT photographer who hasn’t been in the area long, but who is making quite an impact already.  You can check out her work HERE.  Hanna and her husband Dustin picked me as their realtor during the winter.  They’re my kind of people.  We had a lot of fun through the process, and they are now proud owners of their first house, a super-cute craftsmen style home in old south Lexington.

I brought my camera to their new house.  Hanna busted out a dance move.  Dustin did not.  I love them.