When Norterre reached out about their executive portrait series, they were clear about what they did not want. No grey backdrops. No stiff poses. No photos that could belong to any company anywhere. They wanted portraits that looked like them: approachable, human, specific to who they are and what they have built. We spent time on-location at Norterre, working through 15 individual executive sessions. Each portrait started the same way every Bokeh Story session does, with a conversation. Before the camera came out, I wanted to know how each person wanted to be seen, what they were proud of, what their role meant to them. That conversation changes everything about what ends up in the frame. The result was a full leadership portrait library: individual headshots, cohesive in style but...
Not every portrait session is about a milestone. Sometimes it is about showing up: professionally, confidently, as exactly who you are. I had the pleasure of photographing a group of UX designers and a large leadership cohort, all Kansas City professionals who spend their days thinking about how people experience the world. It was fitting that they trusted me to think carefully about how the world would experience them. For the individual sessions, we kept it real: natural light, on-location, relaxed. Seven personal brand portraits, each one different because each person is different. For the group shot, we brought together around 35 people in one frame and still made it feel intentional. When you know how to tell a story, the number of subjects does not change the approach.
Some of my favorite work doesn’t happen in a traditional portrait session. Sometimes the story worth telling is about a team: how they think, what they care about, and what they create together. Over several sessions, I had the privilege of documenting the UX Glass Wall at Cerner’s Innovations Campus in Kansas City. What looks like a wall is actually a hand-drawn installation: 20 feet long, 10 feet tall, created entirely by the UX team members themselves, by hand, with markers. Each installation rotates quarterly around a new theme: World Usability Day, inclusive design, human-computer interaction, and more. It is one of the most visually striking expressions of a team’s creative identity I have ever photographed. My job was to tell that story in images: the scale of the work,...
When Tara reached out about her maternity session, I knew this one would be special. She is a physician, and someone who spends her days caring for others through some of life’s most important moments. This session was her turn to simply be present, to slow down, and to celebrate the little girl on her way. We met on a warm January Saturday in Liberty Downtown. Tara wore a beautiful maroon maxi dress with a black sweater, elegant and timeless. We wandered through Liberty Square, finding light and stories along the brick walls, the iron stairs, and the bench outside Huey’s. Her husband was warm, playful, and completely devoted. There were sweet quiet moments, him holding her belly, the two of them chatting on the stairs like no one else...
Audrey’s second part of her birthday wish is not just to be Snow White, but also to dress up as their favorite princesses with her best friends! I originally planned an outdoor photoshoot at William Jewell College, but it got rained out. The weather forecast changed within two days of the scheduled photoshoot time. It was so hard to get all the girls together at the same time before Audrey’s birthday. These little ladies all have so many activities and classes outside of their preschool and kindergarten. Since we cannot change the session date and time, I could only look for alternate indoor locations in case it rains. After calling a couple indoor venues, one owner is so nice to offer me a tour. It is a bed and breakfast...
My little princess Audrey is turning six! I asked what she would like for her birthday. She said, “I want to be Snow White!” I said, “Perfect! Mommy can make your dream come true! Let me think of a good place and we will go from there!” That was the first part of her dream – to dress up as Snow White. I didn’t have to do much with her hair since her natural hair color is black and the length is perfect to dress up as Snow White. I did not use a huge red bow headband on her as it looked silly. Instead, I used a blue and red mixed headband with a medium sized bow. For makeup, I only applied little blush on her cheeks and put...
The 2016 Adorn Style Show & Brunch was a fabulous day fusing fashion, fun and philanthropy! Emcee Michelle Davidson, host of KSHB-TV’s Kansas City Live, welcomed more than 500 guests attending the event held September 17 in the Grand Ballroom at Bartle Hall. The high-energy style show, hosted by the Harvest Ball Society, featured the latest clothing from some of the Kansas City area’s finest boutiques, as well as exciting creations from emerging designers. They included: Alaskan Fur, Alicia Janesko Caftans & Resort Wear, Amelia’s, CW Boutique, Design in the City, Dillard’s, Gown Gallery, La~de~da, Lillians, Sideline Chic and Tip Top Tux. The above quote were published in multiple media in Kansas City area. This is the fourth year in a row I am shooting Kansas City’s premier fashion show – Adorn...
I always wanted to plan a themed child photo session. What would be a better reason to organize one for my little pumpkin Wesley’s 5th birthday? I contacted the moms of his best friends in his preschool, planned, executed the session. These are his best friends since they were babies. They play together and grow up together. Here’s our cast: Wesley as Batman Audrey as Batgirl Calvin as Robin Broderick as Captain America Tyler as Superman Not a surprise, all friends were super excited during the photoshoot. Although I had two pages of notes about the poses and scenes, the kids just knew that they were going to play superheros. Thanks to all the moms and dads who helped me during the session. It would be almost impossible to direct...
Rick Folten is a model and actor active in the midwest. He appeared in numerous films and TV series as well as over 200 TV commercials. I met Rick through shooting Adorn Style Show in 2013. I always enjoy shooting with Rick. From his Father Daughter story to his head shots, we have become good friends. I had the honor and pleasure to work with Rick again at Union Station earlier this month. Actors usually updates head shots every year while really active actors might need updates a few times a year. Rick had three different outfits to show his different looks. He invited his good friend actress Cari Burmaster for one of the scenes. We shot at Harvey’s at Union Station. This might one of the most romantic spot in...
With a theme of “Timeless Beauty,” the 2015 Adorn Style Show & Brunch was a fabulous day fusing fashion, fun and philanthropy. Emcee Michelle Davidson, host of KSHB-TV’s Kansas City Live, welcomed more than 600 guests attending the event held September 19 in the Grand Ballroom at Bartle Hall. The high-energy style show, hosted by the Harvest Ball Society, featured the latest clothing from some of the Kansas City area’s finest boutiques and emerging designers including Alaskan Fur, Alicia Janesko Caftans & Resort Wear, Alysa Rene Boutique and many more.” Before and after the show, guests browsed the Avenue of Shops, buying fashions from exclusive boutiques and local merchants. Guests also enjoyed a tasty brunch and decadent cupcake desserts. “Proceeds from the Adorn Style Show & Brunch...
