Dominic Capone

It's always enjoyable photographing Dominic Capone.  We first met on a series of shorts I was creating, he is an amazing collaborator and now friend.  We have shot on several occasions and on this portrait I wanted to push the boundaries of his self image. Keeping it gangster but adding in macabre. After shooting the concept we collaborated on creating additional images just because. Capone simply fearless !

Dominic Capone ... IMDB

Great body and fantastic sense of humor .. that's Nick.  Dang !

Found an a wonderful rural road near the Illinois/Wisconsin border.  Timing in strobe and daylight for the hero image .. beautiful.   Carlo Aparo / Chicago based actor

I don't always make models cry ... When asking her to scream for visual effect it was pretty funny, she just couldn't do it.  After teasing her she started to cry.  

Nancy Vela Hair & Makeup added the tears. Love how it takes it to another place.

 Being that the day was so amazing we went out for a walk.  Just beautiful.  

Shooting with Canon 1dx and profoto AirB2 ... love that combo.

Philip Hunger is the vocals and guitarist for a band .. The Hanging Gardens.   A true musician and throwback to the 70's.  Phil's best friends both have the same last name, Castor ... Tele and Strat coincidentally both in cream.  He's been playing since a kid and it shows.

Today more than ever ...

What's going on .. NOT MUCH is often the reply.   Out for a drive with nowhere to go and nothing to do except get out for a while. That's part of what these images are about.

Sarah

The thing I love about just showing up to a location site unseen is it makes you think on your feet.  Shooting at Sarah's residence we carried a sofa to her back porch for this portrait.   Lovely

Ad Council

Shooting a campaign for Ad Council where the look was to portray people loosing their homes.  Depressing 

Debra Sweet

Took a little road trip to a small town an hour plus outside Chicago to photograph Debra Sweet, Bass player in a band 45rpmband.   Great player and very sweet .. go figure.

Trevor & Bayley

Hanging with these two with no agenda ... totally great! 

Christian Castro

When it came to creating a conceptual portrait of Christian I reflected back on when I first met Christian. He was so polite and trying impress, he came across as Boy Scout. Friends now and knowing him now, take it from me he's not the model scout.  LOL

I spent a summer afternoon in rural Indiana photographing Cassie and her two kids.   Driving from Chicago, being there was reminiscent of my rural childhood days. I grew up in a small town ... USA

Setting up a studio at a bikers rally I found so many amazing characters. Most everyone asked said, hell yes.  I took 2 pictures of everyone photographed. Direction was pretty much stand there and look at me. Some that were approached said they had reasons not to be photographed. Typical reasons, Ex, IRS and Wanted.  Approx 70 images from the series.

I met Sriram on a shoot a few years before this shoot.  These pictures completely identify his persona.  This was a pretty quick shoot. Ransacked his closet for wardrobe, he got dresses while I taped a white seamless to his condo wall and we were done in 30.  

Kenny Bellinder, singer songwriter.   We met at open mic night at a tiny throw back bar named The Island and became friends.   Kenny hits the Nashville scene a few times a year, brings his guitar and songs.  Go Kenny.

A portrait from a series of images documenting the transformation of Ben to Trannika his Drag Queen persona.

A guy I met ... shot outside his home in a parking lot.  

Waly Lowry

Waly, all American, proud of his 1967 Gibson Hummingbird guitar and 1967 Volvo plus the museum of collectables he has in his home. Waly played in a band in his early years and now is embracing his second career, again as a musician. You can find him at open mics and playing event venues in the northern burbs of Chicago, he's the guy typically laughing, quite the personality ... having drinks with Waly, I always find that his candor cracks me up.

Michael Wexler/Actor ...  I work at conceptual work in a way that embraces the talents persona.  Micheal would always say yes to everything I creatively threw at him.  He always took the bait so to speak. I tied a paper clip with some padding to a string and tied the other end to a light stand.  Micheal did all the rest.  The out takes are ridiculous as was Micheal in such a great way.  I totally miss this guy. Tragedy struck Micheal by way of a car that didn't see him, so very sad and abrupt. Thank you Michael for your friendship and inspiration.

This picture has special meaning to me, it's my Uncle .. more like a second father to me. Captured this portrait at his kitchen table using window light. He doesn't use this table much, typically he eats while in his recliner while being affronted by the news. This is a man that the world could use more of.   Peace

Frank the Train

When I met Frank he was wearing a sweaty hoody working out on a Stairmaster in the gym burning fat, like he needs too? I know better than to interrupt a workout but what can I say. In my experience I have learned the toughest badass guys typically laugh the most and are easy going, and this was most definitely true about Frank. That being said it doesn't mean I want to piss this guy off.  Frank was so very receptive to being photographed, worked with him on two occasions. Photographed him in the studio and at his home where he keeps a tractor tire to flip on those days when he has nothing better to do. I say this with embarrassment, that tire is heavy. Btw ... train refers to his nickname, when he plays basketball he runs the opposition over.

Comedian Kevin Miller

Approach .. coupling a few studio images with a few location stills.

Nicole + Stan

Love shooting with no game plan. Chill and take photos.  Nicole and I were looking through her dresser for some wardrobe when a box of condoms spilled out, not really a big deal but she got a little flush. She laughed and commented, well guys don't bring em.  So we used them in a shot just because.

Foster Grant Campaign Images.  Also directed the broadcast spot for the Foster Grant campaign.

When I am asked who this guy is, who is my Naprapath, they are a bit puzzled.   I met Steve at the gym near where lived.  I moved to the city and hadn't seen him for quite awhile.   I called him for an appointment and when I saw him I was like what the hell.  He said he just finished a body building competition and would love to be photographed. I had just watched one of Stallone's movies "Untouchables" which inspired me.

Charles Schwab

A few images from a library shoot for Charles Schwab

Another shoot with Dom.   I suggested that he throw his friend who was tagging along against the wall and not be tough about it.   Spot on.

Portrait of George in his home/artist studio

Portrait of Liz and Ray ..  just shooting the mojo of the afternoon.

Eve Rydberg

Eve's persona has always come across to me as being a beautiful Fairy Princess.

In Milwaukee shooting .. a shot of Step and her friend. I do enjoy shooting in locations feel comfy in.  Like their home, when possible.

Michael Moody

True .. The Zippo lighter was named after this medieval night who would torch villages.  Wikipedia eat your heart out ! 

I was friended by Michael and when I looked at his page I instantly decided I wanted to photograph this guy.  I didn't want to go down the path of Game of Thrones all tough and brutal for this photograph. I came up with a concept which embraced a Monty Python approach.  When I pitched my concept Michael was totally game. Michael owns all his own armor, swords etc. and teaches Medieval fighting and stuff.

Roommates .. ok not really.  Producing this shoot on short notice in Seattle was challenging, actually anywhere on short notice is tough, but I pulled it off.   The talent was cool to hang with, Stylist Minou White and H&M Jenny Verador added another layer of wonderful.  The shoot was driven in part to a really great retro trailer home that we shot in.  Looked like a throwback to a Howard John motel from the 60s .. Thanks all !

Thanks all.

Anna

Plan B ... Shooting impromptu in a nearby parking garage as a snow storm moved in.

Cass

I found Cass amazing to work with.  She was so completely comfortable with herself which allowed me to make some powerful images. I had her in many poses that I feel were tough for her to do but she willingly without complaint, participated.  As I know to be true it's always the simple poses, not trying too hard that shine through at the of the day.

Claire + Billy

My perfect world is photographing/working and relaxing in the same day. That's exactly what I did in Manchester, England.  Actually I had severe jet lag, by 3PM my reIaxing turned into just sleeping.  I had the good fortune of spending a few hours shooting with Claire and Billy, new friends.

Image for a Kellogg's broadcast spot

I met Joe at Nordstroms, thought he had a cool look.   Photographed Joe in the studio and added the sky in post.

I met Alexa while shooting with her sister, they are roomates. Skate or Die is Alexa's motto.  She lives up to her motto as she had a cast on from a boarding incident when I first met her.  Delightfully hardcore.

Olivia and Sofie

They had no problem taking direction for this photograph as this is what sisters do.

Sean Royer

I met Sean at a casting, found out we lived close and became friends. I had Sean jumping on a mini trampoline, looks like he is giving a sermon. Great guy to work with although if you haven't seen him in awhile you never know what he's gonna look like.  Either bulking up for size/strength or shredding for competition.

Worked with Terra on a commercial shoot .. shortly after we got together to shoot and she had he son with her.

Dina 

Beautiful Dina in Chicago ... Shooting in a hotel room using only a small window behind me for light.  Keeping it simple and allowing Dina to be Dina.

Patton's Daughter Movie Poster

Concept : Create a movie poster of a film about a revolutionary leader who turns out to be the illegit daughter of general Patton.  The idea was fostered by a war museum along a highway I stopped at just because.

Tammy

Tammy stepped out of her comfort zone which allowed me to photograph her depicted this way.  She's a corp. girl completely unfamiliar with the process ... was cool that she allowed me to tell this story. Creating cinematic imagery is always a treat for me.

Trent Jeffries of Plasmata is a true rocker.  Rock&Roll, Metal and Attitude is the front .. as a friend totally down to earth with and easy smile.

Diago

Diago is an aspiring fashion photographer. Putting him on the other lens side of the camera gave him a completely different perspective. I enjoyed the camaraderie.

Christian Castro

Working with Christian to create two visuals on a windy spring day along the Lake Michigan shores. Mixing daylight and strobe and muting colors in post.

Rose an art student is a friend I asked to get in front of the camera for me.  Rose completely loved being in front of a camera and was totally herself.