25 YEARS OF CONNECTION
I first photographed Liv Strålman when she was about two years old. At the time, I had no idea that over the next 16 years, I would be photographing her and her beautiful family in four states and in their home country of Sweden—first in 2016 for her parents’ long-awaited wedding celebration, and again this past June to capture her graduation celebration and new family portraits at their home.
For me, Liv’s story is what makes my work so meaningful. After 25 years as a photographer, I’ve realized that one of the greatest rewards is not just documenting the arc of someone’s life, but the connections that are made along the way. To be there for the different stages, from childhood to adulthood, and to be trusted to capture that journey over 16 years is an incredible gift.
DAVE PRICE
A photographer and a comedian walk into a bar…
My shoot with Dave Price started 2023 with a bang to say the least. Laughter is a gift, it locks in the moment and seals it to memory and David Price brings the laughters. He and I have been kicking ideas around for about a year so I’m glad we finally got the rocket launched. Thanks so much Dave for letting me in your process and being so open to mine.
Kurt Markus
Being an artist can at times be a long road to walk. It twists sometimes, gets confusing or worse comfortable and before you know it you might find yourself, though maybe successful, a little lost. But every now and again you meet someone who's walked that same road and worked it out, who reminds you where true north is and tells you that you're on your way. This was Kurt Markus for me, a master of photography, writer, owner of extremely cool hats and a wonderfully forthright human being. He taught a workshop I attended last month in Santa Fe and asked me at the end if I enjoyed the class. My response was an emphatic yes and that I was holding onto to the lessons with both hands as best I could. His response classic and precise " well that's great" he said, "but don't choke it." Amen Kurt amen.
The Jones Market
I'm simply amazed at Candis Jones. In what seems like an age ago (6yrs) she worked in this very studio bringing her aesthetic for beautiful design, amazing people skills and humor. Fast forward, she now heads one of Columbus' most successful jewelry and apparel businesses, www.thejonesmarket.com. So we had a shoot last week, our models Jamie Perkins and Monica Warren knocked it out of the park and I wasn't so bad myself. So good to see good people making their dreams true and spreading a lot of love on their way up.
Anton & Johanna Stralman | Vara Sweden
Johanna and Anton first walked through my studio door in 2009. There was so much new in their lives then, a new country, new home, new baby boy, new hockey team (Anton had just been signed to the Blue Jackets) and now a new photographer. If they were stressed they certainly didn't let it show, they just laughed, loved their kids, loved each other and let the moments come. It was a trait that I would observe over the next six years as I continued to photograph them at the different stages of their lives, new cities, new hockey teams, new homes and new babies. Our latest adventure together would take us to their home country of Sweden and a Wedding Celebration I won't forget. Anton and Johanna had a small civil ceremony right before coming the US in 2009 and since then they had been planning and waiting for the right time to have the wedding they always dreamed of and on July 25th 2015 the right time came and the dream came true. Blessings to you Johanna and Anton, thank you so much for the honor.
