Poop=Toy!?

I was shooting some photos yesterday when I got a call on the cell from E.J. (our 3 year old), and he was screaming that he had just gone poop in the potty for the first time! We are all so excited. Christene (the wife) bought him a toy, and he is so proud of it. I am proud of him 'cause he now will save some diaper $$. Today, he went AGAIN (#2) in the potty, and wanted another toy! I got a quick idea, ran up the stairs and went poop meself. I came downstairs, and asked Christene for my toy. I didn't get one. All I got was a stern look.

The Inspector

Here is a latest photo of mine. I would like to thank Craig for posing for me in business attire. It is so much easier to take pictures of a subject that doesn't move or run around. It is nice to have some adult models back. I love the kids, but it takes twice as long to get a good shot from them.

The Journey

New concept series. I think I got the lighting at its best during sunset. This photo got an initial rating of 5 from iStock inspectors. I only have 5 of those out of 342 files. I could see doing this photography thing professionally, but I like graphic design too. I was inspired by Disney's Brer Rabbit. Next up: Kids with whistles and red cards.

Taming Debt

Feature magazine articles are my most favorite area of design. The copy is supplied, and I paint the visual picture. With this LDS Living article, I morphed it into "Taming Debt." I wanted debt to be portrayed as a wild and rabid animal—one that can kill you if you let it. The article gave steps on how to take control of your debt. Alex Nabaum illustrated this for me, and I created the title to make it look as if debt was caged. Muey fun article, and it was received well, and won a Regional Silver ADDY in Albuquerque. It ran July/August 2005. These Illustrations also won a Gold Art Director's award from the Society of Illustrators Los Angeles. You can check out Alex Nabaums at www.alexnabaum.com

Homemade Whitewalls

On occasion, I ride the bus home from work (which is a totally different entry coming soon to the pokey) and walk about four blocks to our house. Upon coming to the house, there are usually toys and kids and sidewalk chalk drawrings all over the place. Last Friday, however, I had to chuckle. Jackson and E.J. are HUGE Cars fans (Pixar/Disney movie) and they absolutely love Lightning McQueen. Jackson knows all the names of the Cars, and which one can beat the others in a race. Racing matters in our family, we race up the stairs to go to the bathtub. Anyway, the boys had taken some sidewalk chalk to the van tires hoping to make the van look like Whitewalls McQueen (above). I had to laugh. I don't remember pushing those crazy buttons when ordering our kids from the stork. Oh well, they are funny kids. Our van is stylin' now.

A Degree of Sanity

Here is a spread from the last LDS Living, for an article about stay at home moms that go back to school to finish their college degrees. It was the first project I directed commissioning a photographer rather than an illustrator (there are benefits to both). I had Brad Slade of BYU help me on this one.

I came up with the concept to juxtapose the two areas of this story: school and motherhood. I put textbooks in the dishwasher; writing utensils in the garbage disposal; more books in a baby bassinet; a row of lunch sacks with one for Mom, and the school papers hanging on a clothesline (seen in the spread). Finally, I decided to shoot black and white, to give it more of a documentary/nostalgic feel.

Last of all, I made my own diploma, placing the copy, title, and authors into the diploma. (It is my Pine View High Diploma.)

Tahitian Noni Spread: Vision

Just a sample of a spread/article I recently Art Directed and designed. It is an intra company magazine for Tahitian Noni International. I didn't illustrate the guy, but directed the illustrator what to draw along with the concept and tone. Everything else was handled by me. (Just to clear up some confusion as to what I do.) I absolutely love the whole process with feature articles in magazines. Choosing typography is fun too.

We Be Pirates!

Here are a couple of images from my latest photoshoot. I have to admit, this was a fun endeavor. The smaller model didn't want a beard, so we went soft core with him. My favorite piece of wardrobe is the skull and bones gold necklace on the larger pirate. I love creating a scene that wasn't there before—a new world. Let's just hope it doesn't turn out to be the Lord of the Flies world. And there has to be cookie dough there.

To see the rest of this series, click on my homepage and browse in my iStockphoto porfolio. Let me know whatcha think. Ya scurvy pirate!