Project for Hot Springs Guest Guide

Once again, I teamed up with Arkansas Business Publishing Group to shoot a few new and fresh photos for the 2016 Hot Springs Guest Guide.

On your last vacation, have you ever noticed the local magazine in your hotel room that provided info on where you should: Shop? Dine? Experience the local nightlife?

Of course you have. Just about every major city around the country has something like this.

Hot Springs, which is Arkansas' top tourist destination is no exception.

This years trip was mostly a gastronomical one: Beer, Pizza and Cupcakes

Got Beer?

A flight of beers from Superior Bathhouse.

My first stop of the day was at Superior Bathhouse. I've been here on several occasions for dinner either by myself or with friends or clients. This place is great. I loved LOVED working with and photographing their owner and head brewmaster, Rose Schweikhart. She's the first person I've met that's more high-energy than me!

Rose Schweikhart, owner and head brewmaster at Superior Bathhouse.

Roasted Barley

I could have spent all day here, but there were other projects to get to.

I loved these taps. Two of their Superiors taps are topped with bathtubs which are actually vintage soap dishes that Schweikhart bought from eBay.

Got Pizza?

Tony Valinoti, owner of DeLuca's Pizzeria.

Later in the afternoon, we headed to DeLuca's Pizzeria to photograph their owner Tony Valinoti. This is some of the best pizza you'll eat anywhere. The only thing bolder and better than the pizza was the time I spent photographing Tony. His lively and big personality and just as wonderful as his pizza.

He made us a pizza and after one bite, I could not get it in my mouth fast enough. And neither could he. Tony only uses quality ingredients imports from the motherland...AKA Italy. You name it, he imports it: semolina flour, meats, cheeses and sauces. You can taste the difference.

Got Cupcakes?

My last stop of the evening satisfied my sweet tooth. I photographed Mackenzie Simon, the owner of Fat Bottomed Girls Cupcakes and a few of her namesakes. 

Mackenzie Simon owner of Fat Bottomed Girls Cupcakes.

If you've never had these cupcakes you're missing out. We photographed, and sampled, a few of their favorites including their best seller, the Ooey Gooey Buttercake. As you started to unwrap the parchment wrapping, you can smell it. This cupcakes simply melts in your mouth.

They are simply perfect....every. delicious. bite.

Ooey Gooey Buttercake from Fat Bottomed Girls Cupcakes.

For your next trip to Hot Springs, check out these local eateries. Skip the boring chains and eat local. While you're at at, shop local too.

Project for Elite Duck Calls | Little Rock Arkansas Commercial and Advertising Photographer

These are not just duck calls. These are truly works of art.

My latest photo shoot for Elite Duck Calls was photographing their newest line of calls made of Cocobola Wood. Cocobolo is a tropical hardwood from Central America. Only the heartwood is used which is typically orange or reddish-brown in color, often with a figuring of darker irregular traces weaving through the wood. The less-common sapwood is a creamy yellow, with a sharp boundary with the heartwood. The heartwood is known to change color after being cut, lending to its appeal. Because it stands up well to repeated handling and exposure to water, a common use is gun grips and knife handles.

But for Elite, it's duck calls.

As I was setting up the lighting and getting everything balanced, I just kept staring at these. I could not get over how pretty they are. I even stopped mid-shoot to call my client to comment on how pretty they are. These are all hand-made with a superb tone.

Thanks again to Elite Duck Calls for the opportunity to work with you once again!

Project for Martin-Wilbourn Partners | Arkansas Advertising Photographer

In July, I collaborated with the creative team at Martin-Wilbourn Partners for fresh and new staff photos for their newly redesigned website. Martin-Wilbourn Partners is one of Little Rock's premier marketing and advertising agencies.

Their entire website got a fresh new look and they wanted fresh and new photos of each of their team members with a setting that matched the look and feel of their new look and their brand.

I kept the background consistent, but not exactly the same for each team member. Slight camera tilts along with shifting a bit left, or right, provided the perfect blend of consistency and variety. The lighting was very simple set up: One beauty dish and one bounce. You don't need a ton of lights to provide great results.

This was a great photo shoot and I loved working with this crew. It was a ton of fun.

Meet the creative team at Martin-Wilbourn Partners.