City Gate and First Friday in Raleigh

This last Friday in downtown Raleigh was the opening night of our showing called "Pairs." The weather was horrible and traffic was well...typical NC traffic when it rains and it's rush hour. So I was a little worried about the turnout but thought to myself, "I'm here to have fun and I'll make the best of every opportunity." In spite of my forced optimism we had a ridiculous turnout! I could not believe how many people trafficked through! We had about 100 people make the trek out in the cold and rain to hang out with us and talk about life! My sweet, beautifully pregnant wife also came out for the entire show which was great because people are always asking me about her and the baby so she was able to fill everyone in! I could not have asked for a better turnout or a better host. City Gate Real Estate did an amazing job of making everyone feel right at home. Our work will be up all month so feel free to stop by at 404 Glenwood Ave and check out our showing. You should also take time to check out Matt and Trent's websites. Of course seeing the work in person is a greater experience than seeing it online but Matt and Trent are really creative guys who have amazing personalities. For those who weren't able to make it out in the cold and rain here are a few shots from First Friday.

The Varner Family

It's been a little while since the last time I had an infant shoot. I've done a lot of maternity shoots this past fall, maybe even more than the last couple of years, but I've just been so busy with Weddings that I haven't really had the opportunity to take time out for something as sweet as an infant shoot. Back in June I had spoken with Lorren Varner about shooting for her toddler, Savannah (Savi for short). Lorren was a month ahead of us in her pregnancy and wanted to get some new shots of Savi before their new little baby, Hailey, arrived. Well, as things go, I went to Thailand and then had my wisdom teeth pulled and found myself in the middle of a crazy fall wedding season so we weren't able to get together. Then Lorren had a great idea and asked me to shoot Hailey within the first 10 days of her being born. So I was pretty excited and wasn't expecting Hailey to get here so early but she did! Lorren emailed me and we figured it all out and on Monday I happily made my way up Capital to photograph a beautiful little girl!

Being that my wife and I are expecting our first in just 14 days I was a little more sentimental about this shoot than I had been in the past. I kept thinking about photographing my son's little hands and feet and little sleepy eyes. As if capturing this beautiful baby wasn't enough I got to see a lot of Savi's great big blue eyes! She is such a SWEET little girl! Enough about what melted my heart, here are few shots from our shoot. I've got more posted on my Facebook.

Stories from Haiti

Yesterday my wife was listening to the radio on her way to work and an American guy called in with his story about how he survived the earthquake in Haiti. My wife couldn't remember his name so we'll just call him "Mike."

Mike was on the second floor of a six story building when the earthquake hit. He was unable to get out before the building fell onto itself, burying Mike in the rubble. However, Mike wasn't crushed to death but he was trapped and injured. Once Mike gained some sort of awareness of what had just happened he began to realize where he was wounded. He happened to have his iPhone with him and was able to gain access to his iPhone.

Mike used his iPhone to research how to nurse his wounds so that he could survive until someone was able to find him. As Mike was tending to his wounds he decided that just in case he wasn't found alive that he would email all of his family members and close friends to let them know how much they meant to him. Mike is also a Christian so he felt that it was appropriate to let his family know that even if he died, no matter how unfortunate the circumstances of that death were, that he would spend eternity with Christ in Heaven. Mike emailed all of his family and close friends and for six days continued nurse his wounds. Finally, on the seventh day, Mike was rescued from the rubble and alive to tell his story of how God provided for his survival.

I love this story for a lot of reasons. A life was spared in the midst of this tragedy, a man of Faith never gave up his hope in Christ no matter how desperate his situation became, he used his iPhone to treat his wounds and share the Gospel of Christ with his friends and family, and finally, it's a beautiful picture of grace.

The quake tragedy in Haiti has already claimed so many lives and who knows how many more will be found dead over the next six months. To know that people are still being found alive is not only inspiring but it alludes to God's grace in a tragic situation. Okay, so yes, I do think it's awesome that he used his iPhone and not a "Crackberry" or an Android or any other smart phone that thinks it's an iPhone. But the really amazing thing to me is that "Mike" wasn't afraid to die. He was prepared to be with Christ because he had complete peace about his salvation in Christ. There are so many people in Haiti right now who don't have that. Everything that they had has either been destroyed or severely damaged. The opportunity for hope in Christ could not be more abundant in Haiti than it is right now.

I know there are those who see the quake as "God's Judgment" on Haiti because of whatever darkness may or may not be there. Let me say that guys like Pat Robertson do not speak for the conservative or Christian communities as it relates to the quake. I don't think that the quake is God's judgment. Scripture teaches that day is coming but it's not yet here. When God decides to make His judgment known, we'll all know! It belittling to think that the Creator of the universe would be limited to a quake as a manner of executing His judgment for sin.

As I see it, Haiti is in a period of complete devastation and fear. Their government is broken, their peoples are dying and hurt and I believe that God wants Christians to do everything that they can to reach Haitians with the Gospel of Christ but also with the hands that can help move demolished buildings, hands that can comfort, hands that can provide and hands that can create a new beginning for those who have lost everything. Our obligation is not to stand back and condemn but to reach out in a James 1:22 kind of way.

In the excitement of watching my 9 month pregnant wife tell this great story I was reminded that my sin is always before me but it has been canceled by Christ's death and resurrection. How could I not want the same freedom for everyone else in the world? How could I not desire the same trust, love and purpose for those who are dying and hurting. Although it would be irresponsible for me to leave my very beautifully pregnant wife and soon to be born son in order to travel to Haiti, I will continue to pray that those who can go will go and those who can give will give.

As an update to my commitment to help financially, I did book two weddings this past weekend. I have several others on schedule to meet for booking and I cannot wait to make a glad-hearted donation to relief efforts in Haiti.

Helping Out Haiti

It's almost impossible to watch the news, listen to talk radio or read anything online without seeing some reference to the devastation in Haiti. The more I see the more I want to help. Last night my mind was racing thinking about all of the children who have died, all of the mother's who are searching for their children and will never find them and all of the families who have been separated and live in fear that they may not see the rest of their family again. I've never experienced a pain like what the Haitains are experiencing right now. Being a photographer, who is waiting in eager anticipation for his first son, I feel like all I can do is pray. I am a firm believer that God answers prayer according to his own will and that His will is best for everyone. But I can't help but feel the need to actually do something for those who are able to be in Haiti to help those who are hurting. So from today (January 20, 2010) until April 30, 2010, I will eagerly donate $100 for every client who books me for their wedding and $50 for every family or commercial shoot that I book. This is not a "clever" way to drum up more business this is me wanting to do what I can to help those who desperately need our help. It's me trying to bring awareness to those around me about how great the need is in Haiti. I wish with all my heart that I could be in Haiti, not just to document what's happening, but to bring the Gospel of Christ to those in need. I will contribute all of my donations to the American Red Cross and will keep a running tab for the blog. Help me to help those in need by spreading the word.

All images are courtesy of the Boston Globe.

Kim & Chintan

A few months ago I had offered an opportunity for five lucky couples to have their engagement photos shot by me for free! No catch I just needed to update my stock portfolio with iStock Photo and what better way to do that then with beautiful people who appreciate a great deal! So when the emails flooded in I did everything I could to respond to everyone quickly. One of those emails happened to be from Kim Patel. Kim was actually friends with my younger sister when we were kids. Receiving an email from her and realizing how fast time goes by was a big surprise to me. I was really excited to meet Chintan and get reacquainted with Kim. I have to be honest. I was a little jealous of how easily they photographed but being on the receiving end of their beauty and candor with each other I felt like I should have paid them. No matter how you look at it they are a beautiful couple.

Chad Lister...need I say more?

If you frequent my blog then you've probably heard me mention Chad once or twice or a thousand times before. In organizing my files, and giving myself a brand new start in 2010, I realized that I didn't really blog a lot about my last shoot with Chad. We did the shoot a while back but even then I felt like it wasn't fair that I was having so much fun shooting. So I thought I'd post a couple shots from our shoot that evening. I'm not sure what Chad has coming down the pipe before the summer but I'm sure I'll be getting together with him and the rest of his band for an updated shoot. So for now here's Chad. If you haven't picked up his newest CD you may do so here. Have a great weekend!

Haiti Earthquake and Devastation

I have always loved photojournalism. However, I have never been able to shoot devastation without remembering that God is always in control no matter how dangerous or catastrophic the situation might be.

A little over four years ago I, and my wife of one month, went to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina hit to provide help anywhere that we could. We met so many people who had lost everything, some had even lost their entire family. It was heart breaking. With the understanding that I'll be a father in 5 weeks it resonates even more with me the idea of unexpectedly losing my son or my wife to any sort of natural disaster.





The earthquake tragedy in Haiti is no exception. It breaks my heart to read the stories of those who have experienced a greater loss than I could understand. For those involved in the devastation it's difficult to see God's grace in all of this destruction. But God's sovereignty and power over sin is more than enough to use this earthquake to bring the lost into salvation with Him.

The Boston Globe has a lot of images that tell just a very small part of the story. Please pray for those who are injured and hurting in Haiti right now and for those who are working around the clock to provide some relief in the midst of this tragedy.