Scott Statson Photography

Oakland University, Rochester Michigan, Engagement

2010-03-22T08:03:00.005-04:00

Ok, so you now know I am way behind posting on my little blog. But I was scheduling an engagement session the other day and reminded me to update my blog and some of my engagement photos. Here are a few quick pics from my engagement session with Becky & Dan. They meet at Oakland University in Rochester Michigan and we did the engagement shoot on the campus and then in Downtown Rochester Michigan. They are a great couple and it was a blast!

Engagement Photo Session

Couple: Becky & Dan

Location: Oakland University http://www.Oakland.edu Downtown Rochester Michigan http://www.downtownrochestermi.com

Photographer: Scott Statson http://www.StatsonPhotography.com

Cameras: Canon 1Ds MarkIII, 1Ds MarkII, 5D, 1D Mark II

Editing: Apple Aperture, Adobe Photoshop CS3

Capturing Photos or Creating Photos?

2010-02-24T16:25:00.007-05:00

I truly believe that photographs are not taken but created. Let me explain a little here. First off I don't mean that you create images by using a green screen and Hollywood editing. While creative Photoshop editing works and offers endless creative outlets that is not what I mean about photos being created.

The way a photographer, a professional photographer sees things are typically different than the "normal" perspective. There are times I see an image in my mind but it does not necessarily match what is in front of me. Many times this calls for me to stand on something, bend down, change the angle or perspective of how I photograph this person, place or thing. I tell those interested in photography to work outside of their comfort zone. Take photos from different angles, it can make a big difference.

The photo below of the tractor was how I envisioned it. I knew without thinking that I would have to manipulate the fence but it could certainly be done. This was a minor adjustment but makes a big difference.

Here is the final image of the tractor. This was taken by leaning over the fence and it was just out of camera range, barely. The tractor is now without obstruction but does take up the entire frame.

This was how this tractor looked from the normal perspective. Moving up on it a little which would eliminate the fence and bring it into the frame without the obnoxious obstruction was how I viewed it in my little brain.

Here are the photography geek stats on this photo: f/6.3, ISO 200, taken with the Canon 1D Mark II, Canon 24-70 2.8mm, taken at 24mm, photographed in RAW, editing was done in Apple Aperture

Happy Twenty-Ten!

2010-01-20T10:25:00.003-05:00

Well - while I have been very busy photographing lots of great people I have certainly neglected this blog. If you are not a friend of mine on facebook please send me a request: http://www.facebook.com/statson?ref=profile I try to update my Facebook info several times a day through Twitter.
Well it is a new year and while I am not someone who makes New Years Resolutions, I do plan on improving and possibly updating my blog more frequently.
My goal this year is to do as many weddings as possible without sacrificing quality in my work. I will limit the numbers and keep things in check. I am also adding more photography training seminars, courses and other creative photography get to know sessions. I have had a few Coffee Club meetings and will try to have one on a monthly basis in different locations.
Thanks for visiting and I will be back very soon to share work as time allows. I have tons of weddings, portraits and creative work to share.
Have a great day!

Healthcare Reform... for my blog

2009-10-26T14:05:00.002-04:00

I do admit it. I have been neglectful in updating my blog. My busy wedding season is about over and I have lots of photos to share. I have gone back and forth this summer trying to decide how to make my blog a more effective and efficient place. I am yet to find the solution other than I need to do a little CPR to the blog and put a breath of fresh air into it. While I have been posting on my facebook account, I have neglected to take the time to post here at my little blog.

Like the healthcare debate going on in our legislature my blog has been a source of debate, not by the Senate or Congress, but by me. But in my case my vote counts and I voted to make this blog as fun as possible.......now I have to get a few stimulus dollars to.......well stimulate the blog. So from here on out I do pledge.......wait maybe pledge is to strong of a word. How about this, I pinky promise to make this a blog of not only funtastic fotos but to create not only inspirational photos but to create inspirational blog posts. *clapping*

So since we are discussion health care I will share a photo that I took with my iPhone of me exercising (my dog)....you can see my little puppy (Doberman) ahead of my golf cart to the right (she is fast).

Oh boy...

2009-09-22T21:21:00.002-04:00

Well.....I promised the blog that I would post more often.......I have TONS of photos to post but it is time that I am short on. So for a little blog humor I am posting a shirt that might fit my lack of blog posting.

Lindsay & Christopher Birmingham Michigan Wedding

2009-08-11T14:40:00.006-04:00

Every wedding I photograph has different elements and personality. Lindsay & Christopher are extremely talented musicians and included a complete concert into their wedding ceremony. Here are a few sample photos from their wedding this weekend.

Wedding Ceremony: First Presbyterian Church of Birmingham, Michigan WEBSITE
Wedding Reception: The Village Club, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan WEBSITE

Want to be Flashed? (web talk)

2009-08-07T15:07:00.006-04:00

I have a flash based website (www.StatsonPhotography.com) and understand that some web browsers are less than happy with all flash - so I created an html (with no flash) based web site (click here) were you can view a few sample photos without having to use flash. So take a look and let me know what you think - share it with your friends and family and let them offer some input also.
I am also working on a new blog setup - it will offer much larger photos and I will share the new blog here in the next few weeks.
Thanks for visiting and please feel free to drop me a note if I can help you in any way!
Scott

Click Here for Html Based Sample Site

Makin' a Big Wedding Entrance.

2009-08-06T09:09:00.005-04:00

I am honored to photograph many different types of weddings. I have photographed lots of different cultural weddings this year from traditional Christian church weddings, Muslim weddings, Indian weddings to a combination of several cultures coming together.
Below is a photo of Alok who made a grand entrance on horseback during a wedding I photographed in Rochester Michigan. I will post more photos from Alok and Amy's wedding as soon as I have a chance - but take a look and let me know what you think!
All the best!
Scott

What does it take to be a "great" wedding photographer?

2009-08-04T11:52:00.005-04:00

I get calls and emails frequently from perspective brides who inquire about my wedding photography services. Most brides contact me because they love my work and have heard that I am easy and fun to work with, this is true. I am someone who truly loves capturing the special moments of the wedding day. The wedding day flies by very quickly. Even after spending months preparing for your wedding day, the day zips by.
I hang (cool talk) with photographers of different specialties. Some photographers focus on news, sports, advertising and others weddings. I have had the honor of covering all of the above and can honestly say that I truly love weddings. I compare wedding photography to a marathon race. You have to be at the top of your game, you have to be ahead of everything that is happening, you have to anticipate what is next and you have to be prepared as a photographer to get results in the end. Not to mention if you are not the hardest working person at the wedding you are not doing your job as the photographer.
I am told at every wedding from the couple, family, DJ and everyone I interact with that I am the hardest working photographer they have ever met. I truly put 110% into capturing the day for my clients and capturing shots from many angles with creative flair.
When you hire me to capture your wedding day I will guarantee that we will get along, you will love me, my work and the result of all my hard work will be inspiring images of your day.
Here is an article from a bridal magazine about the differences in wedding photographers from other photographers. article link
Questions? Comments? Contact me- thanks!

Stephanie & Mark

2009-08-03T19:47:00.006-04:00

I had the privilege of spending the day with Stephanie and documenting her special day. Here are a few quick photos of the day. I wish Stephanie and Mark all the best in their new home in Virginia.

It's All in the Details!

2009-07-27T15:59:00.006-04:00

You have heard "it's all about the details" . Well the truth is it really is about details. What most people forget is that cameras see in two dimensions our eyes see in three dimensions. What this means is that even though I have some of the best equipment it is really the details of editing that turns a good photo into a "Wow" photo.
I encourage all of my clients to get a package that includes "full editing". This is a labor intensive process but it really turns photos into creative works of art.
Here are two samples of editing vs unedited photos. (click on each photo to see it larger)

Andrea & John - Bay City Michigan

2009-07-15T18:23:00.007-04:00

I had the pleasure of photographing the wedding of Andrea & John - they are a great couple who eventually found each other. It was truly a pleasure spending the day with them and photographing their special day. They were married in Unionville Michigan and the reception was just outside of Bay City Michigan.

None of the photos were planned, even the American Gothic type one with the pitchfork. Thanks to Andrea's dad who had the perfect pitchfork just sitting in the barn.

For more photos of John & Andrea and many others visit my website: http://www.StatsonPhotography.com --- thanks!

National Geographic - Muddy!

2009-07-14T11:11:00.004-04:00

I typically post beautiful, creative photos here but I want to post a quick sample of photos that I took for the Muddy Buddy Race sponsored by National Geographic Adventure.

I photographed a wedding all day on Saturday and Sunday morning I had to make it to photograph an adventure race. After getting to bed by 1am I had to wake by 5am to make it for a 7:15 pre-race meeting....I was whipped! But the photos came out well. Here are two that I can share with you.

Good old mud in your teeth.....talk about fun!

Rachel's Beautiful Voice

2009-07-14T08:38:00.009-04:00

Rachel just turned 7 and has a beautiful voice. I have had the privilege of working with Rachel for several years now and she just seems to get better. Rachel is preparing for her national music debut and they are hoping to secure a spot on the Ellen Degeneres show come this Fall. Here are two rough drafts from the photo shoot with Rachel the other day.

So, if you are looking for a creative portrait from a skilled professional photographer, than contact me! :) Rachel and her mother were showing pictures of Rachel to people during their trip to Dallas/Houston Texas. Everyone was asking who took Rachel's photos, when they gave my name, it seems they recognized me as a famous photographer. :) WOW, I am even famous on the streets in Texas. So, if you want to be famous, let me take your photo. While I can't guarantee that a daytime talk show will want to interview afterwords, I can guarantee you will look stunning darling!

How to Make Doctors Happy?

2009-07-08T08:17:00.004-04:00

I had the honor of photographing a great couple, Komal & Sam. They were married in Grand Blanc Michigan and had their intimate reception at the Brick Street Tavern. Sam is much taller than Komal so I decided to photograph them so no one would notice the height difference. The photo below shows what happens when you put the taller person in the back and photograph from a lower angle. I also used natural light for a little more drama - the light was extremely harsh outside and played well in this photo.

Not only are Komal & Sam a great young looking couple but they are both doctors. Congrats to both of them and may the good Lord continue to bless their relationship!

The Wedding Dress Shot

2009-06-30T17:37:00.006-04:00

I push myself for creative ways in photographing the wedding details. The wedding dress is an item that a bride spends endless amounts of time searching for, trying on, and posing in. I typically survey the surroundings of the wedding ceremony location and then develop an idea of a picture I have for the wedding dress. In a recent wedding there were not any real window locations close so I searched high and low for another location. Luckily for me the bride was no where to be found and did not see where I took her lovely dress - because if she did I might not have been able to photograph her beautiful dress in this location.

With the help of editing I was able to emphasize the textures involved in this church basement location. I was caught by the church pianist as I was scouting this location, I told her I loved this door. She looked at me like I was out of my mind and said yes it is old.

Here is the end result:

I am soooo sorry.

2009-06-29T19:26:00.006-04:00

Dear Blog,

I am so very sorry for neglecting you. There is no excuse for not spending more time with you and showing you a little love. There have been many times I wanted to blog with you but I have been busy. Please forgive me blog for neglecting to post with you. I have been busy with weddings and swamped with photographing beautiful couples on their special day.

I promise to spend more time with you and will show you much love with new and exciting posts. Thanks for always being there and sticking with me.

Love Always!

Scott

Baby Photography by Scott Statson

2009-06-08T12:04:00.007-04:00

I have not photographed many babies but thought I would take another crack at it and incorporate the same locations that I would take brides for bridal photos or other "adults". This little beauty is an extremely well behaved seven month old from Grand Blanc Michigan. She was a joy to work with and the results of the baby photo shoot were beautiful. Above it one of my favorites - there are lot more but I am saving them to show the parents.

If you have a young one (or group of them), let's talk and take advantage of the beautiful weather for outdoor family photos.

Thank you!

2009-05-26T16:26:00.007-04:00

I love hearing from couples & family memebers that I have had the pleasure of photographing their special day. I received an email today from a bride who I photographed recently. She wanted to share with me the reaction her friend had to her photos. Then the Mother of the Bride from another wedding sent me an email recently. Here are the emails (with the names removed):

"Wow U look soo stunning!! Like a true princess queen!! beautiful! .....
and the photographer is a true genius!! these are so far the best I've seen in wedding pics.. he's a true artist... very original...."

Here is an email I received from the mother of a recent bride:

Dear Scott:

Thank you for the wonderful wedding pictures! You were a delight. You were patient and stayed in the background and captured all the special moments. We were a crazy group but we have a great deal of fun. Thank you for helping to make a perfect day even better.

Mother of the Bride

Michigan State University Wedding

2009-05-18T10:35:00.010-04:00

The ceremony took place in the beautiful Michigan State University Alumni Chapel. It is pictured above before anyone showed up - sometimes I am lucky enough to get empty church shots. The chapel had fantastic stained glass - and yes I took a few photos of the beautiful glass before everyone arrived.

Mandy & Jeremy wanted a photo by "Sparty" - the statue by Michigan State University Spartan Stadium. Mandy climbed up on the statue without any prodding from me - way to go Mandy!

The reception was held at the University Club. I can't say enough nice things about the University Club and their staff. Great location and great people.

Congrats Mandy & Jeremy and thank you for the honor of photographing your wedding day!

Ceremony: Michigan State University Alumni Chapel

Reception: University Club of MSU

Pakistani Wedding

2009-04-26T19:46:00.005-04:00

I had the honor of photographing my first Muslim wedding ceremony this weekend. It was Pakistani couple, Saima & Mudassar, and a great two day event it was. They were incredible and very open to creative work. I had the opportunity to learn a lot of new wedding terms (nikkah, barat, walima, iman & others) and experience the color and culture of the islamic ceremony.

Above are a few of the great photos from the two days. I want to thank Saima, Mudassar and their families for such a great time!

Wedding Gear

2009-04-24T13:29:00.007-04:00

I have a small goal this year, it is to be the absolute best wedding photographer on the globe. Hey everyone should shoot for the moon. In order to hit my goal I am reworking my photography gear and trying to revisit a few items. I spent my lunch hour getting my gear in order for a wedding I have today and thought I would take a quick photo of it and explain a few things.

I will be shooting (photographer talk for photographing) with mostly full frame this year. The photos will become more high definition through the camera, lenses and editing process. I have added more prime lenses to the mix. The prime lenses are not zooms so I might have to move around a bit more but the sharpness and clarity will be killer. I have added a 160gig netbook computer to backup photos super quick and easy.

Now as a member of Canon Professional Services my equipment gets priority service and back to me the next day. I plan on entering a few more contests as a member of Wedding & Portrait Professionals (WPPI). I am also on the ThinkTank photo pro staff. Well, now I have to take off and photograph a beautiful couple on their special day. Have a great weekend everyone!

Baby Owen

2009-04-19T19:32:00.009-04:00

I had the honor of photographing another beautiful baby recently, Owen. "Baby Owen" as I call him was a joy to photograph and I am pleased with the results. The first thing that I noticed about Baby Owen was his big beautiful eyes, so I spent the majority of the photo session capturing his personality through his eyes.

For a larger photo of "Baby Owen" and to see his big beautiful eyes visit my website: http://www.StatsonPhotography.com, go to the "gallery" section and then to "portraits".

Creative Juices!

2009-04-19T19:15:00.005-04:00

If you have been following me on Facebook, you will know I am in a creative mood. YEA!

The above photo is one I took of my boys, yep, all four - left to right Scotty, Sam, Matthew & Nick. They were trying to take me on with their mad fighting skills.

Visit my website for more creative portraits and corporate and creative work. http://www.StatsonPhotography.com

What a Monster!

2009-04-14T21:24:00.004-04:00

My kids are home for "Spring Break" this week and sometimes you really have to offer creative outlets for them. My son Sam likes playing the Zombie game in Call of Duty and wanted me to take a picture of him and turn him into a zombie. Well, here is Sam as a zombie.....he thought it was "cool". I personally think it is a little scary. Lucky for Sam I have been on a creative streak. (and don't worry Saima I will not add zombie editing to your wedding photos!).

Good Friday!

2009-04-10T12:06:00.007-04:00

Here in Michigan we had a snowstorm less than a week ago. In the past few days it has been in the low 50's. The Lord is true to his promises and Spring is now kicking in. I took a photo yesterday while out with my son and thought I would post the results here. I want to wish everyone well this Good Friday. Remember that God has plans for us no matter where we are in life.

You can visit the large version of this photo on my website (http://www.StatsonPhotography.com) then to the "galleries" tab up top and go down to "Corporate & Creative".

People are Great!

2009-04-09T21:02:00.003-04:00

I have been photographing a lot of different kinds of people lately. Everyone from sports figures to ordinary people and a few babies. I am going to make an extra effort this year to photograph as many people as possible. This will keep me busy since there seem to be tons of interesting people in this world. Visit my website for several new faces. Go to http://www.StatsonPhotography.com and visit the gallery section and click on portraits.

Featured Guest Photographer

2009-04-08T13:50:00.005-04:00

Well Spring is getting closer and time for new and innovative things, at least in my book. I typically post my work here but would take a moment and post work from a fellow photographer friend of mine in Dubai, UAE, Michael Ritter. He recently did a project called Dubai Gigapixel and is an excellent example of how to get creative with technology. The photo allows you to zoom in and see tiny details of this huge landscape in Dubai. The single photo was actually created by taking 1100 photos and combining them together.

Take a look at Michael's work: http://www.DubaiGigapixel.com

How about another sky

2009-03-29T21:33:00.006-04:00

Here is a photo from my trip to the "Motor City" Detroit a few weeks ago. I have never photographed a wedding at this church but would love to. I was at St. Patrick's Cathedral a few weeks ago and this is certainly not on the same level. The City of Detroit is certainly full of history and believe it or not there is some great architecture there.

Ok, maybe their was a little photoshop work done here to make things a little more exciting but heck nothing about life is real, well except life that is.

Interested in what this looked like before I did a little photoshop magic? Here take a look:

Spring....or maybe Fall?

2009-03-25T21:29:00.005-04:00

It is Spring here in Michigan........well is is supposed to be. It smells like Spring today (wet and moldy). But it really has been looking and acting like Fall. I am a Summer person myself. I actually live for the sun and heat of Summer and try to enjoy every moment. Here is a photo of the back of my house (please ignore the mess), I took this doing a little camera testing this evening. The photo received a little editing to bring out the clouds.

For those photography geeks out there the clouds are real but I did a little HDR treatment to it. It was photographed with a Canon 1Ds Mark II and Canon 16-35L. ISO 400/2.8 shot in RAW

Detroit

2009-03-07T22:51:00.011-05:00

Sometimes it takes a little editing to turn a bland photo into something a bit more interesting. Even the great "Motor City" Detroit, needed a little oomph. I did time it correctly to photograph the location at sunrise, however there really wasn't much to make it pop. Without photoshop, the building formerly known as The Renaissance Center, would not be much of a photo.

By the way enjoy, this building before GM has to auction it off on Ebay to recoup a few bucks to repay a few billion in government loans ....... yikes.

New York City

2009-03-01T12:29:00.007-05:00

I was able to spend a day in New York City and of course I had to take a few photos. I have flown into NYC and out in the same day for work before. This time I was able to have a little time for a few photos. I found the people in NYC to be friendly and the city is tons of fun! There are lots of things to do and see. Here are a couple photos from the trip.

Take Time to Smell the Coffee

2009-02-16T21:10:00.005-05:00

I pulled out the "old" video tapes a few weeks ago and have been watching them with my family. While watching videos of our goofy clothes and hairstyles is often funny and amusing, it is actually pretty sad. What is really sad is actually seeing how fast my kids grow up and how quickly time flies. Here is a photo of the "Jamaican Blue Mountain Party" at ABeanToGo.com last weekend. This photo is a good reminder that we really need to take the time to slow down and as they say "smell the coffee".

Make an effort to relax a little and enjoy the precious time that you have.

Capturing Love

2009-02-05T16:07:00.007-05:00

It is really exciting to look back on photos that I take and remember the love that was flowing during the wedding. I spent a lot of time this weekend editing, and it reminded me of why I photograph weddings. While they are extremely busy and sometimes crazy events, I appreciate how important they are in a couples life. They mark a very important time and my goal is to capture photos of their special day that they will cherish for many years to come.

If you are married, may the Lord bless you and your marriage. If you are getting married, then lets talk. I would be honored to be your photographer on your special day.

"Scott is one of the best"......

2009-01-29T20:28:00.007-05:00

I received an email today that I was reviewed on the Martha Stewart Weddings website: "Scott is one of the best wedding photographers in the country". All I can say is thanks! What a nice compliment! Wow, sometimes hard work does pay off. Thanks!

All Stars!

2009-01-22T09:47:00.007-05:00

We all love when we work hard and have others thank us for our effort. I am someone who believes in putting 110% into everything I do. I am grateful to have clients who take the time to thank me for my efforts. Here is an example of a recent bride and her thoughts on my wedding photography skills. :)

(click on the picture to enlarge)

Wedding Memories, some good, some not so good.

2009-01-18T12:09:00.010-05:00

I tell perspective couples, or brides, not to worry no matter how out of whack the agenda gets. I will capture photos that will be fantastic. The majority of brides tell me "noo, my wedding schedule has been well thought out and will go as planned". I know from much experience that even the best planned schedules tend to get off kilter.

I had the pleasure of photographing a wedding this weekend. The weather was calling for "flurries" and warmer (better than 10 degrees) temperatures. Well, what happened was a blizzard with 6-8 inches of unexpected snow, oops. I knew the weather was going to be tough so I was at the location an hour before I was scheduled.

The wedding party, and many of the family, were staying at the same hotel. The hotel was kind enough to shuttle the group to the location. Unfortunately no one planned on the shuttle limo making a wrong turn and getting hit by a drunk driver. This was certainly not planned but everyone eventually made it, some after the delayed ceremony. Definitely a little scary.

The rest of the night went well. Even with the weather, delays, traffic accident, etc everyone seemed to be having a great time. We were able to squeeze all of the photos in that the couple wanted. I managed to get a few creative shots and documented the couple's special day.

The night would have ended great if it were not for an intoxicated guest who fell from the stairs into the fountain of this historic building.

No matter what happens on your wedding day, enjoy your time together. Rest assured that I will go with the flow, adapt to the changes, and capture some moments that you will be able to look back on forever.

Facebook

2009-01-17T12:56:00.002-05:00

I am now, finally, on Facebook. So if you want to know more details about me and what I am up to, you can follow me on Facebook. Just send me a friend request and I will gladly add you as a friend. :)

Last Wedding of 2008

2008-12-29T19:53:00.004-05:00

I was able to finish up the 2008 wedding season with Andrew & Jessica. They are great people and their wedding was a fun time. The weather was uncooperative for much outside but that did not stop the fun. Jess and Andy will have tons of great photos to look through. I wish them all the best and it was an honor to photograph their wedding.

Santa Comes to Michigan

2008-12-28T19:27:00.003-05:00

There have been several people emailing me about my son Matthew. Matthew has fully recovered from his rare illness. He caught up quickly on his school work and is active living the life of a young kid. Matthew is such a blessing and is a great kid. According to the doctors his condition can flare up but we are praying that this does not happen.

Matthew's brother Nick dressed up at our Christmas party this year as Santa. Matthew had the chance to thank Santa for all of the gifts that he received for Christmas.

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers for Matthew.

The NHL

2008-12-14T17:23:00.005-05:00

Many of you know that I take photos for minor league hockey. I received an email the other day from the hockey league that my photos were featured on the front of the NHL website. I have been fortunate to have my work featured in many places in the past year. I am going to try to post a few of them like this from time to time.

Pull That Bus!

2008-12-14T16:54:00.001-05:00

Here is a quick photo I took for a news agency for a school fundraiser. The students had to pull a bus against other classes in order to raise money for the PTA. I was bitterly cold but they still were able to put together enough energy to put a full size school bus across a parking lot.

How to Have Fun at Weddings.

2008-12-07T21:00:00.002-05:00

Weddings are actually a lot of fun. As someone who photographs a lot of weddings I feel that they are a sacred time for couples but they can also be a lot of fun. If a couple, typically a bride will just allow the day to take its course, planned or not so planned, and relax, it can be a lot of fun. No matter how much planning a couple does there are always things that just don't work out in the agenda. Forget the details and allow yourself to enjoy the day and it will be a great time. It is tough to get couples to relax but I have have perfected the skill necessary to get them to relax for a few moments to enjoy the day and each other. This allows our little creative photo sessions at weddings to go smoothly and for the couple to photograph with emotion and romance.

Putting Up the Christmas Tree

2008-12-01T20:39:00.003-05:00

Well we did it.......sort of. My wife actually is the true leader who coordinates when the tree will go up. I was able to capture the festive time with my camera. I went up the second floor and risked life and limb (I am afraid of heights) and looked over the balcony to take a shot of the family putting up the tree. The last photo is of my son Sam who was doing a great job putting up ornaments.

HDR

2008-11-12T10:30:00.005-05:00

Unless you are a photographer or graphic designer you probably do not know what HDR is. HDR stands for high dynamic range. It is a process in bringing out stronger variations in light and dark areas within a photo. I am not someone who likes "over processing" photos. I personally think that every photograph can use some "tweaking" but I do not personally like them to be overdone. HDR is something I have been avoiding but recently found a few uses for it. For example in commercial photography such as portraits of bands etc there is a use. Above are a few random photos that I did some HDR editing to.

Veteran's Day

2008-11-11T15:02:00.005-05:00

I have the greatest respect for the men and women who have served and are serving in our military. I was honored to receive a news assignment today to cover a Veteran's Day service and have attached one photo, above, that I can share with you.

I am scheduled to photograph many great people and events in the next year. One event that I am looking forward to is a wedding of a military couple who have hired me to photograph their special day. Speaking of weddings, yes I am planning on adding more photos to the blog and my website (http://www.StatsonPhotography.com). I have lots of weddings that have not been added but will be added in the next few months.

Since today is Veteran's Day go out and thank a veteran for their service.

Election Time

2008-11-05T12:04:00.005-05:00

What a long and exciting presidential election year. I have had the privilege of photographing many of the candidates who ran for the office of President. It was a great year meeting many of the candidates and getting photos for many news agencies. I am involved in local politics in my community and had the opportunity to stay close to home on election day and photograph local political elections.

A person I have had the honor of serving with on our local township board is Paul Amman. Paul has been the Atlas Township Supervisor for the past eight years. Paul lost the primary election and ran a write-in campaign. Unfortunately Paul did not win his election. I was hired by a news agency to photograph Paul as he took out his last campaign sign of the evening.

The top photo is of Shirley Jones who won the spot of Supervisor. Shirley is pictured on election day with supporters.

Harvest Time

2008-11-02T08:07:00.012-05:00

The Fall is a beautiful time in Michigan and the actual harvest for farmers is a reward for all of their hard work. I set out to photograph whitetail deer the morning of November 1st and ended up with an entirely different set of photographs. Little did I know that where I picked to photograph was the spot where Kermit Koester from Davison Township Michigan had picked to harvest the early morning of November 1st.

Long story short but I had a chance to spend time with Farmer Kermit and photograph him harvesting his corn. The photo above shows Farmer Kermit standing on his combine and not pictured is Kermit's son who has just brought up a trailer to off load the corn from the combine.

To view a collection of photos from the time spent with Farmer Kermit and the harvest visit here:http://statson.smugmug.com/gallery/6437458_HGPJZ#407935777_23fzi

GREASE, the musical

2008-10-31T15:32:00.003-04:00

I did an assignment for a news agency covering practice for a performance of the musical "GREASE". For those old enough you will have memories of John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John when Grease is mentioned.

Wedding Dress

2008-10-26T17:12:00.005-04:00

The wedding dress shot is one I try to get if at all possible. I typically position the dress in a spot that matches the surroundings of the wedding location. I try to have the dress in a photogenic location that really flows with the wedding and backgrounds. Here is a dress from a recent wedding that I positioned on a door leading out of the church reception hall.

Goodrich Michigan

2008-10-26T17:06:00.003-04:00

Here is a photo from a historic building in Goodrich Michigan. Goodrich is in the SE corner of Genesee County. This building is now the Goodrich Historical Society and was the former Goodrich Library. It is certainly not very big but a little piece of history.

Before and After

2008-10-25T17:30:00.005-04:00

There are many times that customers tell me that they do not think they need their photos edited. I was out shooting for a history organization looking for a grave from a civil war veteran and took a few interesting shots. The sky was very overcast today and there were a few sprinkles of rain. This photo indicates that if you shoot a photo in "RAW", even poor lighting can be salvaged with editing.

Behind the Scenes

2008-10-24T11:18:00.002-04:00

I am not going to post many hockey photos here but wanted to at least post one photo from the back room, locker room area of Perani Arena. The Flint Generals played their home opener last night and did a spectacular job winning the game and entertaining fans. You can visit a few sample photos from the game at http://www.flintgeneralsphotos.com

Senior Photo Shoot

2008-10-22T14:50:00.005-04:00

Here are a few photos from a recent senior photo shoot. These are an example of photographing using the natural surroundings and textures. Many people want water falls and "nice" pretty things but like one of the shots above, the red background is an old rusty horse trailer.

He Shoots, He Scores! (insert hockey airhorn here)

2008-10-21T08:50:00.005-04:00

Many of you know that when I am not photographing weddings I photograph many other things. Of the events that I photograph are senior photos, news photography and sports. Well this year I have signed an agreement with the Flint Generals hockey team. The Flint Generals are members of the IHL and Double 'A' affiliate of the Stanley Cup Champions Detroit Red Wings.

I will still focus on weddings and the Flint Generals are very accommodating with my photography schedule. Sports gives me an opportunity to strengthen my photography skills and will allow me to offer a new flair of photography to professional sports. I intend on not only capturing goals, checks, fights but also taking a photojournalistic approach and capturing many behind the scenes type moments. I would have signed up as an actual hockey player, except for the small problem that I can't skate. :)

Scary Photos with a Message

2008-10-20T10:47:00.005-04:00

Both photos are from a shoot I did for a news agency. They are from a haunted house, well more of what they would call "Reality House". A church group put together a haunted house based on real life situations to get ticket buyers to realize how scary life is and that they need Jesus. The top photo was of an actress who played a part in a drunk driving scene which told about the brutal reality of drunk driving. The bottom photo is of an actor who plays the part of satan who tells of how just living a good life without Jesus will lead to hell.

For photography geeks: Both photos were shot with a Canon 5D and Canon 35L. The top photo was a challenge due to lighting but I positioned myself to where the lighting would balance and I could shoot to emphasize the girls wounds. The bottom photo I thought would not work. Technically it was VERY dark. I did not want to shoot at too slow of a shutter speed, so I shot with high ISO on the Canon 5D, something it is known to do well with. Then with the strength of the 5D and the strengths of the 35L's 1.4, I positioned myself where I could get enough light to get a photo that told the story.

Boxing at The Palace of Auburn Hills

2008-10-18T16:30:00.007-04:00

The bottom photo is of the promoter Joseph Donofrio, pictured on the left, and in the light blue suit is the "Hitman" Thomas Hearns. Boxing is a sport that has a rich history in Detroit but keeping the interest alive is something I give Joe Donofrio credit for.

Family Time

2008-10-16T08:33:00.004-04:00

I was out of town photographing a wedding this weekend. On the way home I had a client scheduled for a photo shoot. We did a few location shoots and as we were leaving a park I noticed a family eating lunch on a park bench looking over the water. I was going to approach them and ask them if I could take their photo from the front, but did not want to disturb their family time. So as I walked passed them I decided to take a quick photo. Dad moved as I was taking the photo but I think it still tells the story.

More Politics

2008-10-15T12:07:00.005-04:00

I worked a news assignment last night covering local campaign offices for Obama and McCain. As a photojournalist I try to keep my opinions out of what I am documenting but let me give you an overall observation. Typically, people are very enthusiastic about choosing a side, but I have found that this campaign season many are hesitant in sharing their views. I even found as I was taking photos that there was a person picking up lawn signs. This unnamed person did not want me taking his photo because he did not want people to know who he was voting for. I suggested to him that maybe the lawn sign would give it away.

Anyway, because of this hesitation I wanted to make sure that the faces photographed were not necessarily recognizable.

Sam's Birthday

2008-10-14T21:25:00.006-04:00

I wanted to make sure that with all the attention given to Matthew that I gave a little time to one of my other boys, Sam. For his 9th birthday, Sam wanted drums or an alien mask. Well, this birthday he was fortunate to get both things that he wanted. After traveling for a wedding this weekend I came home and Sam wanted to show me his alien mask and a few songs he could play on his drums. Happy Birthday Sam!

Matthew's Progress

2008-10-14T21:04:00.004-04:00

Many of you know that my son Matthew has been sick for a while. He came down with a rare auto-immune disease called Henoch-Schonlein purpura, or HSP. Matthew has been in a lot of pain for the past month or so. He was hospitalized at the University of Michigan Hospital for kids called Mott Children's Hospital for a while and then at home. It has been over a month now but we are glad to say that he is recovering. Matthew actually went outside today and did a little playing. We are so blessed to have Matthew recovering. He has missed a lot of school and the goal is to get him to school in the next few days.

Brenda & Matt Family Photo

2008-10-09T13:50:00.008-04:00

Brenda and Matt are great people. I had the chance to photograph their wedding in Frankenmuth Michigan last year and now was a chance to do a family photograph. We picked a location in historic Holly Michigan. Typically I like shooting in the historic battle alley but we happened to pick a day that there was an antique fair going on! Well we enjoyed our time and got a lot of great photos of their growing family.

Running Around Again, well photographing runners.

2008-10-08T13:17:00.005-04:00

I am often contracted to do non-wedding photography work on days that I am not photographing weddings. The other day I had a pretty busy day I had to photograph the Brooksie Way Half Marathon in the morning (early in the morning) and then I had to do head shots for a pro sports team in the afternoon. Anyway, above are two quick photos the first is from a runner the second is the Oakland County Sheriff's Department clearing the course.

Getting Better with Age

2008-10-07T11:55:00.005-04:00

I have done a lot of work in the past few months (weddings, news, politics etc). I did an assignment for a news agency coving a bluegrass event, by the way I am a smooth jazz type of music fan, anyway, but took a few photos that I can share with you. The fella in the red shirt Royce "Razorback" Bassham told me that he gets better with age. I thought about that and it sure is true. As a photographer the style in which I shoot is getting better. I am one of those people who believe in the constant improvement of myself. The first photo is of Mel Hammond a famous bluegrass performer.

Thanks for following my blog. I will have many other posts as often as I can. I have lots to post and a big announcement in the next week.

On the Road to Recovery!

2008-10-05T15:35:00.005-04:00

Matthew has been home from the hospital for a week now and as of today he is feeling better! YEA! Matthew has had a long hard road with HSP and he now feels well enough to play video games. Now this may not sound great to you but Matthew has been in severe abdominal pain and unable to do much other than lay in pain. We are blessed to have Matthew on the road to recovery. Our hope is for Matthew to start back at school slowly, maybe even this week! YEA MATTHEW!

University of Michigan Medical Center and Matthew

2008-09-26T13:41:00.005-04:00

My son Matthew, 12, has been in the hospital for almost two weeks. Matthew came down with sudden "tummy" pain and after a day or two the pain worsened. My wife and I took Matthew to the hospital where initially the thought was he had an appendicitis or maybe a tear in his intestine. He was transfered to U of M Hospital, where his team of doctors diagnosed Matthew with a rare auto-immune disease called Henock-Schonlein Purpura or HSP. According to to the physicians, Matthew's case was rare, he had severe abdominal pain and a small rash. Generally the the rash is large but the pain is less intense, that was not the case with Matthew.

I want to thank a special 3rd year U of M Medical student for all his work on diagnosing Matthew, Milad Sharifpour. Milad was one of the U of M physician team members and spent a lot of time with Matthew. Milad was able to evaluate Matthew, do a lot of homework and come up with the diagnosis. Prior to this Matthew was on morphine that did not give Matthew much pain relief. Thank you Milad and all of the doctors who helped Matthew along in his progress. We also want to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers during this time. God is good!

Obama Visits Flint, Michigan

2008-09-08T21:29:00.008-04:00

Here are a few quick photos from Senator Obama's campaign visit to Mott Community College in Flint Michigan today. It was a small event given to invite only guests. The crowd was comprised of mainly Democrat supporters from the Flint, Genesee County area.

The Hottest Ticket in the Country, John McCain & Sarah Palin.

2008-09-05T23:06:00.009-04:00

Here are a few photos from today's visit from Senator John McCain and Governor Sarah Palin, the Presidential candidate and Vice-Presidential candidate for the Republican party. They are fresh from the Republican convention in St. Paul, Minnesota. They spoke to a huge audience at the Freedom Hill Amphitheatre in Sterling Heights, Michigan.

Matthew & Sam Boxing Poster

2008-09-01T20:33:00.004-04:00

I was taking photos of my boys, Sam & Matthew, and they wanted me to put two photos together and make a little boxing poster. Here is the quick result for both of them being such good subjects to test out a few lighting tricks. Thanks boys!

Seeing Things Differently

2008-08-25T21:00:00.007-04:00

Some photographers know exactly the shot they want. Well, I like to consider myself a visionary but, in reality the good Lord puts things in front of me at different times that I do not expect. For example, I packed up the vehicle with myself, my wife, and two of my youngest children. For those that have kids you understand that getting everyone in the car is sometimes an adventure. Well, I wanted to run to get a shot of this old church I had driven by a few times and thought that it would like good at sunset. After loading the vehicle my wife then tells me that we needed gas. While I left only enough time to run to the location and take the shot. I did not plan on having to stop and fill up, but I took the time because otherwise we were walking home, the fuel gage was on empty. After filling up I ran to the church location only to find it a little disappointing. It did not quite match up to the sunset image I had in mind. But lucky me right behind the church was this field and tree with the sunlight shinning through. So what is pictured here is not what I had planned, but sometimes you have to look at things differently. Instead of complaining (I did enough en-route to get gas, sorry dear) I was open minded enough to see the real shot. The Lord led me to this church not to take a photo of the church but to see the beautiful sunset coming through an unexpected place.

Koegels Meats, Flint, Michigan

2008-08-25T20:36:00.009-04:00

To see a larger version of this photo click on it and it should bring up a little larger image. If not you can visit my smugmug gallery and I have it in there: http://statson.smugmug - places gallery

This photo was actually taken by accident. I was in the area of Koegel Meats and saw this potential shot and just had to stop to take this. To me it looks like a car advertisement, well that would be if the car was showing us it's better side. :) Anyway I thought you might enjoy viewing this photo. For those photography geek folks this was taken with a Canon 40D and Canon 17-40L.

The Crim, Flint, Michigan 2008

2008-08-23T21:01:00.006-04:00

Here is the starting line just seconds before the start of the race. There were over 15K people at the race. It was an extremely humid day but the rain that was predicted held off.

The last photo was of the two finishers just steps before the finish line. Both runners were from Kenya.

Fitness Coming to Flint Michigan

2008-08-21T22:50:00.002-04:00

I had the opportunity to do some work for The Crim Fitness Foundation. This was an event promoting the Crim race this coming Saturday. (Yes I have been contracted to photograph The Crim -photos to come) --The Crim will bring over 15K marathon runners to Downtown Flint, Michigan. It is nice to see a place like Flint bring in so many people for a great event.

Here are a few photos of people around the event.

The Crim Fitness Foundation....well sort of.

2008-08-21T22:33:00.007-04:00

Did you ever start out doing one thing and end up doing another. I call it a "Dory" moment. I was photographing for The Crim Fitness organization and was walking back to my car, when I saw a tattoo parlor. I was glancing in the window when I was invited in. I asked if I could take a few photos of their customers getting a tattoo. Everyone was warm and willing to be photographed. Here is a photo of Katie getting her tattoo. Katie did admit that it was a bit painful but she was taking it well. The last photo is another happy customer waiting for more work to be done.

Thoughts for the day.....

2008-08-19T12:01:00.005-04:00

Matthew 6:25-27
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

Alison & Marcus, Pentwater Michigan

2008-08-18T11:28:00.008-04:00

I traveled to Pentwater, Michigan last week to photograph Marcus and Alison's wedding. Their wedding took place at Alison's Aunt & Uncle's retirement home in Pentwater. Pentwater is a place that I have never been to before. It is a few miles south of Ludington Michigan. What a great hidden place in Michigan.

The wedding was attended by family and friends from all over the globe. It was an excellent location with such a warm feel. The wedding was elegant while offering such a great touch of warmth.

It was a pleasure meeting Alison and Marcus. Alison's father married them, and what a great job he did. Even though there were only about 40-50 at their wedding I was able to blend in and capture the raw emotion of the day. Congratulations Marcus & Alison, and thank you.

Please visit my website for more photos of Alison and Marcus: www.StatsonPhotography.com/sadie

Kirby Family, Rochester Michigan

2008-08-17T13:48:00.003-04:00

Sometimes dealing with family is, well, not a lot of fun. But in this case I was asked by my sister, Michele, to photograph her and her family. We had lots of fun! They are a great group to photograph and very photogenic. Here is one shot from their photo shoot.

This may come to a shock for most people but the Kirby's are well known for their karate skills. They have mad karate skills as seen below.

Shipping out DVD's

2008-08-14T21:01:00.004-04:00

If you order the DVD option here is what I send out to you (with your photos of course) :)

I was able to finish up quite a few photos and get them burnt onto DVD last night. They are ready to go and will be shipped out tomorrow to the couples above. The top photo is that of Tye & Piper who live in Iowa.

I was able to ship out another DVD on Tuesday that the couple received on Wednesday (wow is that fast or what!). It was nice to get an email that the DVD arrived and they loved them. The actual email said: "Scott we received the DVD and viewed the photos......they are awesome!...."

Katie & Austin, Brighton Michigan

2008-08-11T09:24:00.006-04:00

I had the privilege of photographing Katie & Austin's wedding last week in Brighton Michigan. They are a great couple with great friends and family. Above are two photos from the day. I have thousands of images to process and these are just two quick ones from their special day. It was an outdoor wedding at Austin's grandparents home. The location was spectacular. Thanks Katie & Austin (and family) for the great time!

Weddings, People & Places

2008-08-10T21:06:00.006-04:00

Hello! This week was a busy one. I was able to tour the state of Michigan doing a little photography work. Just as the title states I was photographing weddings, people and when I had a little down time I had the chance to photograph a few places. Above it a photo of picture under the Mackinaw Bridge. The "Big Mac" as it is called is quite a spectacular bridge. It spans five miles over some very treaterous (sp?) waters. I did not have a chance to photograph the bridge until after 10pm one evening. In order to get good photos in the dark you need a tripod where you can leave the shutter open to collect light. There was no visible light when I took the above photo.

The bottom photo was taken from the angle at the same time frame, after 10pm in the evening. I had to put the camera, Canon 5D, on a tripod and leave the shutter open for 15 - 20 seconds or so. I forget exactly how long but had to play with the settings to ensure the perfect combination.

Jackie & Jamie

2008-07-27T17:21:00.006-04:00

Photos from Jackie & Jamie's wedding yesterday. They are a great couple with now a blended family of five kids. Getting the kids to all look in the right direction was a lot of work, but a lot of fun. Here are a few shots from the day.

Piper & Tye's Beautiful Michigan Wedding

2008-07-17T16:43:00.008-04:00

I had the privilege of photographing Piper & Tye's wedding in Michigan. They are a great couple that wanted creative photos to remember their wedding day. I was able to capture some great shots of them in a few different locations. Above is a bean field from behind Tye's parents home. More photos to come.

Getting Ready for Her Wedding

2008-07-01T16:58:00.004-04:00

Here is a photo of Lee getting ready for her wedding. Lee was very outgoing and fun to be around. I could sense a few times and this was one where she was feeling the jitters prior to the wedding. Emotions flow quickly during weddings and this was a time that I am glad I captured.

Lee & Steve from Texas

2008-06-29T22:27:00.005-04:00

This weekend I had the pleasure of photographing Lee and Steve. The couple is from San Antonio Texas and their family owns a beautiful golf course in Freeland Michigan, The Bayou, where they had their wedding. They were a great couple and wanted some creative wedding work done. The weather was questionable but ended up holding out for them. Here is one shot that show them enjoying a romantic moment on the 5th green shortly after the wedding vows.

Samantha & David -- Bride with tattoo

2008-06-25T11:04:00.005-04:00

I had the pleasure to photograph Samantha & David's wedding this past weekend. They are great people and a lot of fun. Samantha has a large tattoo on her back that could not be missed-- I tried to capture the tattoo in as elegantly possible. They seem to enjoy life and had everything that you could ever want at a wedding including a Star Trek cake. Maybe I will share more of the cake later. Here is one that shows off Sam's tattoo while at an intimate dining table.

Photoshoot for James Swenor for State Representative

2008-06-24T10:59:00.004-04:00

I had the opportunity to do a rushed photo shoot for James Swenor who is running for 51st seat in Michigan's State House race. Jamie, as he is called, is a great guy and I look forward to documenting his race for office. Here is a photo of Jamie and his wife Michele.

Matthew's 12th Birthday

2008-06-24T10:56:00.002-04:00

My son Matthew turned 12 yesterday. Matthew is a great kid with a great heart and always thinking of others. It was great to see Matthew enjoy his day!

Stephanie & Mike

2008-06-17T08:47:00.005-04:00

Here is another photo of Stephanie and Mike from Goshen Indiana. They wanted photos on the dock where they were engaged, but I just had to take a few photos of them on the stairs going down to the dock. Here is another shot from the day.

Indiana Wedding - Stephanie and Michael

2008-06-08T20:22:00.008-04:00

I had the pleasure of traveling to Indiana this weekend to photograph Stephanie and Michael. The wedding was in Goshen, Indiana which was a great town. I went to college in Marion, Indiana and truly enjoy Indiana. I have always found the people of Indiana to be open and friendly. This trip to Goshen only confirmed this.

Stephanie and Mike are great people and have tons of friends. I had the pleasure of spending the day with them and photographing everything from getting ready to a late night party. It was a great day with lots of great people. The town of Goshen gave us lots of nice backdrops for photos. We were able to take some creative wedding party photos at the Goshen College, a place where the couple met. This photo was from the visit to the dam where they were engaged. These stairs walked down to a very small dock where they love to hang out.

I wanted to share this photo showing that even a small set of old stairs is a non-wedding type of location. I say non-wedding because it was not indoors and there were five fisherman who were polite enough to step aside while we took a few photos. (I am telling you people from Indiana are great!)

Weddings and Kids

2008-06-05T10:19:00.006-04:00

I have the privilege of photographing weddings which is sometimes a pretty serious task. Some of the funniest moments are when kids are being kids at a wedding. Now, being the father of four boys, I totally understand how kids behave. Many will say that my wife has five kids. So I am constantly on the lookout before, during, after and in between for memorable times to capture kids. Here are two photos that show how cute kids can be. Many times the kids are not goofing off but simply doing what they have practiced and they are being cute during it.

The flower girls were adorable and I was able to capture the flower petals as they were in the air.

Here is another one of the flower girl and bible carrier as they waited for the ceremony to start. They were playing a game and I was able to capture them with some great lighting coming from the windows of the church.

Wedding - On the Beach

2008-05-29T22:09:00.005-04:00

Well, I think it is time to share a few wedding photos. Let me start with one photo from last weekends wedding. I had the pleasure of photographing Bruco, above, and his bride Melanie. I will share more later but wanted to show you that it is possible to take a great photo of the men. Too many times wedding photographers spend all the time trying to take photos of the bride and forget the groom. Here is the groom, Bruco, and his group of groomsmen. It was a great wedding on the beach with the beautiful setting of Lake Michigan in the background. The wedding was in South Haven Michigan.

Happy Memorial Day

2008-05-27T08:28:00.004-04:00

I hope everyone had a great Memorial Day. I had the chance to cover a Memorial Day Parade in Linden, Michigan. The parade started at the Linden VFW hall and ended at the Linden Cemetery. It was nice to see the community come together to remember those who have fought and died for our country. We live in the best country in the world and owe our freedom from those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for us. I had the chance to spend time with many veterans who have fought in many wars and here is a photo of two of the vets getting ready for the parade.

Gone to the Dogs

2008-05-17T15:23:00.005-04:00

I had the chance to photograph a dog show this weekend. I have a few dogs myself but I was not aware of all of the dog breeds that there are out there. Dog owners from many states around the Midwest and Canada were in Michigan for a dog gone good time. Here are a few quick samples.

I love working with people!

2008-04-30T19:29:00.004-04:00

I hear many times how photographers in my industry complain because they have someone difficult they work with. I guess I have been lucky because I have always worked with great clients. I typically build a pretty strong bond with my clients. I have been fortunate to have worked with great people.

I just had the honor to photograph a fantastic couple, Calista & Mark. They are fantastic people and have great family and friends. I will share a few samples from their wedding in the near future. By the way, that is one thing I hesitate doing. I hesitate in sharing photos because I feel that weddings are such a private, intimate time that I really am not comfortable sharing photos with the world. I am very proud of my work but I put the privacy of others above just showing off photos. So any photo I share is simply one of many that I take and deliver to my clients.

What I share is not always the best, but photos I am comfortable sharing.

Back to Calista and Mark, I wanted to share an email that they sent to me:

Scott,

Thank you again!!! Mark and I along with our parents looked at our photos. AMAZING! ......... You are truly awesome.

-Mark and Calista

The Editing Command Center

2008-04-24T21:30:00.006-04:00

The photo above is a quick shot of my desk. My father was kind enough to put hours of work into making me a custom desk. I will take a few shots when I have a chance and show you more of my desk. The reason for this photo is to show you the amount of work that goes into making photos perfect. After taking the photo there are many hours of work editing photos. I have several computers on my desk and they all have a purpose. I just added the Apple iMac because of many frustrations trying to make things work on my Windows Vista machine.

To ensure that no detail is lost I also have many different backup methods that are not pictured here. But remember that it is not simply taking a photo and adding it to a CD or DVD. There are many hours & days of editing after the photo shoot. I will in the near future add before and after photos to show you the difference even a little editing work makes.

What has Scott been up to?

2008-04-22T16:35:00.005-04:00

Hey thanks for asking. Yes I have been taking tons of photos but I recently caught a cold. After a week of dealing with feeling horrible my wife sent me to the doctor. I reluctantly went and the doc determined I had bronchitis. I suffered through bronchitis and after two weeks did not feel any better. This time I willingly decided to go to another doctor and was diagnosed with pneumonia. After some aggressive medication and treatment I am back on the mend. I am glad to be back up and running and can't wait to be 100%.

It sure makes me appreciate my health. I am thankful to God for giving me and my family good health.

I will try to play catch up in the next few weeks and post some of the work that I did. I was able to do a wedding this past weekend and should have those up shortly.

Here is one of a mother and her son. Let me give you a little story on this kid. I was taking photos of him at a wedding rehearsal dinner. I was up close and personal with him while he was eating. He told me that it was dangerous to photograph people while they eat. I asked him why. He said because I could scare them and they could choke on their food and die. Yikes. I better brush up on my Heimlich skills. :)

NBC's America's Got Talent

2008-02-19T09:39:00.004-05:00

I had the opportunity to do a photo shoot for a cute, talented, young singer. Rachel is only 4 years old but has a fantastic little voice. She was just invited to audition for NBC's America's Got Talent show. Rachel is from the Flint Michigan area and her mother contacted me to get some shots of Rachel for their marketing brochures. It was a pleasure to photograph Rachel, she is smart, talented and just a fun little girl. I have had the opportunity to work with Rachel before and hear her singing. I love to listen to Rachel on my iPod and wish Rachel the best of luck on her audition!

Flint Generals Hockey

2008-02-17T15:43:00.010-05:00

On Saturday 2-16-08 the Flint Generals battled against the Ft. Wayne Komets at Perani Arena in Flint Michigan. The game was a tough battle for both the Komets and the Generals. The Flint Generals were successful after a goal in overtime. Here are a few pictures from the game.

Fight Night at The Palace of Auburn Hills

2008-02-10T19:06:00.003-05:00

It was a pleasure working for Joe Donofiro, the promoter of Fight Night at the Palace of Auburn Hills, Michigan. Joe is a class act and puts on a great show. Joe has a true love for boxing and does more than his part to promote the sport. Here are a few pictures from the evening of boxing.

Hands and Feet Project Concert

2008-02-07T11:54:00.000-05:00

Here are a few pictures from another concert that I photographed this past weekend. There were several bands playing at this Hands & Feet Project concert in Michigan. Craig Lang & Driven, Andy Stefanic Band, Common Thread and Nailpoint Payment.