Christine & Paul | Film is Not Dead

Definitely my longest post of workshop images. I spent the most time with these two on our "wedding" workshop day. How could I not? Just look how fun and beautiful they are.

Lucky me, I even get to hang and shoot with Christine today at one of her weddings!

Shot on my Holga, a Nikkormat 35mm, and a Pentax 645 on Fuji 400H. Processed and scanned at the unbelievable Richard Photo Lab in Los Angeles.

Hot Air Balloon | Park City, Utah

Crisp, cool, fall mountain morning. Shot while waiting for the workshop to start.

Shot on Fuji Pro 400H.

Want it on your wall? Order a print here under "Park City/Heber, UT October 2009."

Lessons Learned | Everyday Heroes Project

Today is the law school's memorial service for the man who inspired my "Everyday Heroes" project. Lots of mixed emotions about his passing. I'm not sure how I earned the opportunity to speak at his service, but I hope my simple words can at least partially express the gratitude I feel for his influence in my life and in the entire legal community.

photo credit

Below are a few of my favorite "lessons" learned at the feet of a great man:

1. How to handle traffic cops: “When you get caught speeding, don't say ‘I’m sorry.’ Say, ‘IF I was speeding, I am sorry.’ ADMIT NOTHING.”

2. How to use computers in class: “I'm not opposed to playing games. If you want to play solitaire, bring a deck of cards.”

3. How to choose an expert witness: “For expert witnesses, there are two requirements: must have gray hair, and must have hemorrhoids to convey the proper level of concern.”

4. How to keep your family from malnourishment: “The children of lawyers who don't read footnotes will STARVE.”

5. How to give a good speech: “It was horrible! He covered everything but his 1990 colonoscopy. Good example of a bad speech. Everyone wants to go home, so unless you're awfully funny, keep it brief."

6. How to be a righteous lawyer: "Let me give you a hypothetical. Jesus goes to law school, graduates, and what does He do? Criminal prosecution or defense? That's right, he's defending these monsters. He's a defense attorney. That's my gospel insight for the day.”

Above all, Professor Goldsmith demonstrated the power of one--that " creativity and commitment to a cause can produce positive results."

Here's to living a "can-do" life.

Gretchen | Everyday Heroes Project

I couldn't have asked for a better first session for the project. Gretchen was nominated as an everyday hero by her sister. Here's what she had to say about Gretchen:

"I wanted to tell you about my sister. She is one of my everyday heroes. My father left our family ten years ago and Gretchen struggled with his leaving in a very difficult way. She became involved with someone and after finally being able to break away, found out that she was pregnant. Gretchen knew that she did not want to raise her little boy in a home without a father. After much prayer and consideration, she decided to place her little boy for adoption and give him the home with a father that she could not provide. I will never forget the feelings in our home after she placed that little boy, there was such a conflict of peace and sadness! Words cannot describe what a hard thing that was for all of us, but especially for my sister and my mom. We knew that she had done the right thing, but it was still difficult.

A few years and a Master’s degree later, Gretchen found an incredible man who loved her for the person that she was. They were married as a forever family. In September 2009 Gretchen and her husband welcomed their first child into their forever family."

Captured in natural light at their beautiful home in Heber, Utah on 35mm Kodak BW400CN film and digital.

Matthews Family | Utah Family Photographer

Repeat clients are the best! I can't believe how old Pierce looks compared to last year.

Amelia | Film is Not Dead Workshop

You'd think she was one of our models at the workshop. And she could've been, she's so stylish. She kindly modeled for me during down time each day. We immediately hit it off--and turns out, we're distant relatives. Check out Amelia's film photography here.

Good heavens, Amelia, I miss you.

Christine | Film is Not Dead Workshop

I've only downloaded half of my images so far from the "Film is Not Dead" workshop I attended last month. I am dying over them. Dying. Film. Straight out of camera. Natural light.

I love this girl. So glad she was one of our models!

Everyday Heroes | The Passing of a Professor

Thank you to those of you who have supported my "Everyday Heroes" project, inspired by Professor Michael Goldsmith. Today I learned of his passing, yesterday, among his family in New York, after a three-year battle with ALS. It is a sad day not only for the law school, but for the entire American legal community, who have lost a real "can-do" person.

You can read more about him here and here.

I have a few "Everyday Heroes" sessions to post, and I still have spots available for next semester. Please contact me if you're interested in sponsoring your everyday hero or if you're interested in just participating yourself--I'm opening it up to anyone interested in a session. In tribute to Professor Goldsmith, I want to make sure that all 25 spots are filled.

Remember: for a $25 donation to ALS TDI, you receive a portrait session for up to 5 people and an 8x10 print.