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Last year, long-time clients Dboy & Bob Rogers Travel hired me to follow the Lincoln-Way High School Marching Band as they performed in the famed Rose Parade in Pasadena, California. The challenges were many: multiple moving targets, rapid lens changes, dodging flags in the color guard section, and jogging while shooting just to keep up. It’s a 5.5 mile long parade route! The energy of the uber-talented percussion group kept me going, and I now have a newfound respect for marching bands. Here are a few favorite images from one of the Top 5 Shoots of my 28-year career.

Luckily, when local financial advisor Brett Tushingham needed original images for a new website, he was looking for my style. He had seen my work and was ready to go. I’d never met the man before, but people tell me I have a knack for putting strangers at ease. Plus I often work without lights or a crew, so I’m able to keep the distractions down. This simple approach yields the pure and credible photographs that clients appreciate. Brett sure did.

In a quiet corner of northeast North Carolina lies a sleepy little town called Roxobel. Surrounded by fields of corn and cotton, here time moves at a different pace. One way residents are breathing new life into Roxobel is by celebrating their primary source of income: agriculture. The annual “Ag Fest” — complete with vendor booths, fried food and a tractor parade — was initiated three years ago, and earlier this month I attended for the first time. It was a joy to see my hometown so active again. Many people I didn’t really recognize called me by name, which drives me nuts by the way. When I couldn’t remember theirs (after several decades of being gone) I just told them, “Time hasn’t been kind to my mind.” Here are a few moments captured during Ag Fest 2019.

Agency: The client wants you to follow a marching band all over New York City. Me: {smile} This was part of the initial exchange I had with Patrick Smith, Creative Director at Dboy. His client, Bob Rogers Travel, specializes in tours for large groups — especially high school marching bands. This particular group’s itinerary was jam packed with all of the NYC site-seeing favorites including Rockefeller Center, The World Trade Center Memorial and of course, Times Square. But these trips aren’t all play. The band and chorus group were also scheduled to perform at various venues around the city, including St. John The Divine. I love these types of shoots because eventually the kids forget I’m there, and then I am able to capture their authentic experiences, expressions and emotions.

A recent assignment landed me 10 miles from Huntington Beach. I had been to this surfing mecca before, but never in winter. It was interesting to be in a place during the polar opposite of its peak season — everyone wearing hoodies and jackets. The long-range forecasts I had checked from home predicted a small wave, but of course it was waist-to-chest high and perfect. I didn’t come prepared to get wet this time, but I was OK with that. Sometimes it’s fun to just walk around with a camera like a tourist. A local pointed me to a classic California taco joint, where I felt right at home. All in all, an excellent winter day.

   

Shooting in working facilities can be a challenge, especially hospitals. You have to be uber considerate of patients, staff and visitors. So how do you capture their personality? I suggest making friends first and shooting second. The employees know a photographer is coming. So I shift their perception about how the “photo shoot” takes place. “Where would you like us to stand?” asks the nice lady. I politely say, “Give me a few minutes and I’ll let you know when I’m ready.” The marketing director smiles. Soon most folks forget I’m there. That’s when my work begins, and the authenticity shines through, naturally.

My job takes me to a variety of cool places. One spot near and dear to my heart is a little beach town just up the coast called Emerald Isle. One thing you might not expect to find on the island is a thriving corporation called Transportation Impact. Their story of growth (which began in a surf shop closet) is truly impressive. TI had seen my work and wanted some fresh photos of their ever-growing list of employees. A big meeting on a hot summer day provided the perfect opportunity to capture some of their out-of-town staff along with the locals. Need engaging images of your team at work?

I love shooting people in their element. So when the marketing director at Airlink/Vitalink reached out for some fresh images of their fleet and first responders, I jumped at the chance. Their hangar at ILM provided the perfect playground. My client wanted something a little different than before so I suggested a photo technique combining natural light and flash with camera and subject movement. This style perfectly complements the urgency of the work these heroes do every day. She loved the idea and especially the final images. Does your company’s marketing content need rescuing? Dial CDP for help!