Florida AVEDA Institutes - Full Potential

To add to my entries for this years Edwin Neill Full Potential Awards I also had the opportunity to photograph The Florida AVEDA Institutes entries. With a two city stop under our belt, starting in Fort Lauderdale and moving on to Orlando, we were able to create some stunning images. It was a whirlwind adventure but in the end everyone came out on top. The students learned while creating images for their portfoilios and to try to grab this years trophy, while I got to meet and work with some upcoming talent.

Beauty Basics - AVEDA Institutes

I recently finished shooting this years Edwin Neill Full Potential awards entries for Beauty Basics AVEDA Institutes. Was another great year and great shoot. The students again proved that they are force when it comes to creativity and drive. It was a big undertaking this year with 8 schools and 24 students participating. We hammered out some great images and now we have to wait until August to find out how we did. New Orleans currently holds the title with an image we did last year.

Murphy's Law -vs- The Laws of Attraction

WOW. So needless to say it has been a while since my last post but let me explain. I will do this in as few words as possible. Sometimes it takes the worst possible thing you can think of to make the best possible thing happen. I lived through that in the last 2 months. In March a tree fell through the roof of my house. Yes, the house that we had been trying to sell for 8 months prior. This threw my life for a loop but at the same time pushed me to make the step that I was waiting on anyway. After removing said tree from the roof I packed up and made the move to California to be with my wife and make the next step in my career. Many more things have happened and I will fill you in in the next 3 or 4 posts.

Rocking Panama City

I just wrapped up a project with Kerigan Marketing Associates in Panama City, Florida. We shot for a week for 2 local companies. The weather was great and the crew was even better. We shot in tandem with David Connor and his team from Digital FX who were shooting TV spots and Catherine Noel with Kerigan art directed. We worked hard from dusk till dawn everyday but the crew, the beautiful beaches and the final images made it all worth while. We had a great pool match that turned out to be still photographers versus videographers. Stills won the pool match but videos won the sabotage the condo match. Good one guys.... watch your backs.

Want to thank my assistant Nabil as well. He hung in there for the long haul and even managed to take some great behind the scenes photos.

Digital Boot Camp - Tampa, FL.

I will be speaking at the Digital Boot Camp hosted by the International Academy of Design and Technology in Tampa, Florida. The workshops take place April 2nd through the 4th. I will be speaking on April 3rd starting with a talk about the process of creating images then I will do a live demonstration photographing two models while answering questions. The hair and makeup will be done by advanced Aveda Institute student from Saint Petersburg, Florida.

My presentation is sponsored by Phase One Cameras and I will be using their latest technology during my demonstration. Attendees will get see the newest digital hardware and software as well as the process of shooting and working with models and styling teams.

Gold Addy Award

I wanted to congratulate the team that helped me to create the "Coming Home" calendar produced to raise money for Hairdressers Unlocking Hope. Not only did we help raise money to rebuild New Orleans we managed to create a Gold Addy award winning project. Friday night I was honored to win a gold Addy award for the photography that went into the calendar but I want to thank everyone that played a part in this project.

I survived Las Vegas

I just returned to the studio after spending 3 days in Vegas at the WPPI show. I taught a Master Class on beauty photography and it was a great experience to spread some knowledge and inspiration to other passionate and eager photographers. Thanks everyone for showing up to learn.


I also need to send a shout out to my sponsors for helping me with gear. Rich at the MAC Group was great in setting me up with some Profoto lighting gear for demonstration also Murray with Phase One for allowing me to use the P30+. A huge thanks to Mark at California Sunbounce for making my day by giving me a Mini bounce. It was interesting getting it home on the plane but rest assured... "Yes, I bounce". And last but not least my buddy Cris at ProPhotoResource that is going to help me spin the class into an online webinar so look out for that. If you missed the class in Vegas catch us online sometime soon.