Little Red

Another wonderful 109 degree day here in always hot and sunny Phoenix. Today I decided to get up early and head on over to The Desert Botanical Gardens to put the new lens to the test a little more.

I am a big fan of The Gardens and shoot a lot there in spring when the cactus are in bloom and also twice a year when they have the butterfly exhibits. I also try and use it for some of the photography workshops I teach.

Well today the blooms for the most part had long gone and the next butterfly exhibit is still a ways away. So when all else fails shoot little old lady's on scooters with bright red umbrellas.

In any case I like the shot.

The Rings

The rings are a very important part of the wedding ceremony. When I was a pastor for three years I use to say when marrying couples "The wedding ring is the outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual bond. It unites two hearts in love. The ring by its shape is a symbol of the undying love that exists between this man and woman."

Today I received my new Tamron 70-200 2.8 lens and thought I would snap a couple of photos with it and this was one of them. So far I like the lens. I like that it shoots at a minimum closeness of about 3ft and I like the cool way it switches from auto to manual focus by just pulling back on the focus ring.

I can't wait to put it through more testing in order to get more familiar with it and see how it fairs in the long run.

Kelly & Khon

Here is Kelly and Khon at Tempe Beach Park this past Friday as I photographed them for there engagement photo to display at their wedding on September 5th.

We were lucky that day because the temperature dropped a few degrees and it was only about 104 but there was also a nice little breeze and it didn't seem all that hot.

You know you live in a very hot climate when 104 doesn't seem so hot anymore.

I will be shooting their wedding at a new location called The Hidden Palace in north Phoenix. Now I just need to find a nice setting around there for pictures such as a park or resort.

Brittney's Wedding Day

Here is a shot that I took from Last Saturday at The Ashley Manor Castle in Chandler. It is of Brittney and there is another photo a little ways down with her husband Drew in their engagement photo.

It was a great place for photos with lots of cool areas and props to use.

It was about 108 that day and it was a bear outside which is where the vows were done.

Now that I know the place a little better I hope to shoot there again soon.

A Cooler Place

Its 108 degrees today in Phoenix and I can't help but to have my thoughts wonder to cooler places.

About a month back I was visiting Blacksburg Virginia and spent the day driving up into the mountains where this photo was taken.

It was a cloudy day with a few rain drops on and off. How I could go for some of that right now.

Drew & Brittany

This is Drew and Brittany, a couple that I will be photographing on their wedding day on the 11th.

This is their engagement photo that I took of them this past Sunday at Freestone Park in Gilbert.

Freestone Park is located at Lyndsay and Guadalupe and is a hot spot for photographers taking family photos, engagement photos, wedding photos, you name it their there.

This couples wedding will be at The Castle at Ashley Manor. It will be my first time shooting there and looks like a great place to get some great photos.