Some Things You Just Do

Some things you do for money To make a living, to eat, to keep the lights on. Some things you do for the art of it. Not everything has to be monetized. That’s why I make portraits of folks 70+ on Mondays In my Longmont photo studio at no cost. Because I can. Because it’s...

Publishing Four Very Important Photo Books in 2019

It started with a social media post. And it was an idea that would change the world. See, these four books for four friends are the most significant photo books I'll publish this year. And they're not even my photos. Because those folks weren't going to make photo books. They weren't going to print any...

A Crossroads in the History of Photography

We are at a crossroads, now more than ever.  At first it was just digital technology as a new way to capture light and make a picture. We all embraced it because it was no cost, no worry, shoot shoot shoot and delete later, or don't. (Because let's face it, we don't delete, we just...

The Most Important Time to Be a Photographer

In the history of photography, now may be the most important time to be a photographer.  To document our world, our life, our family. Because as a photographer, we are in a unique position.  For one thing, there's a sense that there are more photographs being made now than ever.  That's not true.  For one...

“You’re Better As You Are Than You Think.”

I traveled across the U.S. last month to a photo shoot in Washington D.C. (drove so I could bring a full studio to the conference) and on the way back, I photographed my partners' Mother and brother at breakfast during a stop in Cincinnati. When I sent them the photographs, her Mother said...well, I'll let...

What Really is a Photograph? And What’s With All the Surveillance?

I went to my photo lab this week to pick up some black and white and color prints of my Dad and me sitting at a pub and restaurant on my last trip to Philly.  I always pick up small black and brown wood frames at yard sales and thrift stores whenever I find them...

If You Believe in Something, Keep Going (Though You Will, Anyway!)

Those were the words I heard from someone recently, in regard to having an idea that you're passionate about, that people don't seem to be responding to.  That it's worthwhile to keep at it.  To grow it.  To find an audience, even if it's a niche audience, because what you're doing is eventually going to...

To Keep or Not Keep the Status Quo

There’s a couple next to me at the bar where I'm sitting--I'm writing at Ted's Montana Grill in Boulder.  The guy is eating his dinner in silence because his spouse is on her phone. Occasionally he picks his up, too, because he looks bored. But for the most part, he eats alone, one bite of...

Family Matters and How Photographs Can Promote Self-Esteem

I was working last week on a photo shoot for a client in Philadelphia, and I traveled across the country so I could bring a full portrait studio, and also so I could stop in towns across the U.S. and make photographs for my Roy Stryker photo project. In my travels, I met a couple...

Name a Time, Name a Price, Get a Photograph

I have a dilemma. I love to create photographs, lasting memories, beautiful portraits of people of all ages. But people don’t commission portraits anymore.  An occasional high school senior portrait, because those are due.  But the rest of the time, the rest of the family, nah! We’re living in a time when our phone camera...