Michael, Larry, Magic & Kareem: Thank you for this photograph!

I spent the 1987-1988 NBA season on the floor at Denver's McNichols arena with my camera.  Yes- with film & manual focus- via my trusty Nikon F3.  As a kid who grew-up worshiping NBA players in the 80s- and a dream to be a pro sports photographer- it was amazing.  I photographed Jordan, Bird, Magic & Kareem and almost every team & NBA star that played against the Nuggets that season. I was on the road to being the next Walter Iooss, Neil Leifer or Peter Read Miller.
That was until I began to realize that all the photographers around me were suffering from bad backs and a rotten disposition on life (it probably didn't help sitting next to a young, wide-eyed 19 year old kid who cheered more than I photographed the action).  And at the end of that season, I decided I didn't want to be them.  I came to understand that I didn't want a career working when everyone else was NOT, concentrating on getting 'the shot' that the guy 14-inches on either side of me probably got as well and then 20 years into a career, wondering why my 3rd wife divorced me & my kids hated me because I was traveling and never home.

This was not to be my path.

That was a really, really hard realization to face because it had been a dream of mine since I got my first SLR from my parents in 1983 and dreams of Sports Illustrated covers with my photo credit attached.
What I didn't initially anticipate was how my NBA floor experience would translate into commercial, wedding, family & child photography.  In respect to child photography: near the end of almost every session I get kids jumping, running and moving really fast- and usually moving towards me- and I rarely see great portraiture that has kids being themselves- in motion. (and rarely do photographers send parents home with kids in a good mood, ready for a nap!)
This image epitomizes that sense of joy, motion and everything fun about being a beautiful little girl with as much energy as she does personality .

And to think:  her parents & I can thank Michael, Larry, Magic & Kareem for this photograph...

Vail Families

Here is a lighter moment of fun that we had with the Williams family in Vail on Sunday.  I photographed them about 5 years ago and with kids growing quickly (and in-between braces as they noted) it was the perfect time to update their family portrait, so they took advantage of our get away to Vail.  Amazing wildflowers and of course the famous Gore range made each image spectacular- I can't wait for them to see them all!

The Redmond Family

I don't think there can be a better looking family!