Cocktail Photography with Mom for Thanksgiving!

This past weekend, my mother was in town for Thanksgiving. Ahead of our visit, we decided to try our hand at cocktail photography. We picked up a variety of glasses at Goodwill and used a lighting kit that Mom had purchased to explore product photography in the living room, while my wife Kiley worked on the Thanksgiving meal in the kitchen.

Growing up, my mother worked at Kodak—not as a photographer but as the COO. She has always had a passion for photography, which she certainly passed on to me. Our project concept was to create fun, holiday-themed cocktail photos. Instead of real cocktails, we used single mixers and food dye to achieve the right colors.

It turned out to be more challenging than we anticipated, but we had a blast. It was a great way for us to bond, and even though I don’t think we’ll be winning any awards with our photography, it was exciting to experiment with a different type of photography.

Working outside of my typical portraiture pushed me to think creatively and learn how this style could influence my broader photography skills.

All in all, it was a fantastic day spent with Mom, filled with laughter and creativity.

Mini Session Spotlight: Celebrating a New Taekwondo Belt

Every milestone deserves to be celebrated — and this one came with a kick.

Recently, I shot a mini-session for a young Taekwondo student who had just earned a new belt. His mom wanted to mark the moment with photos, and between her busy schedule (and an older sibling’s soccer game happening at the same time), we met outside the Avondale Sports Center to make it happen.

Working with kids is always an adventure. There’s an old Hollywood rule: “Never work with kids or dogs.” Well… I’ve never been great at following rules, and honestly, I love the challenge.

At first, he was nervous — totally normal when a camera is pointed your way. But with a little encouragement and some space to show off his Taekwondo moves, everything changed. The kicks started, the confidence followed, and then came the smile we were waiting for. That’s when the magic happens.

For parents, here’s my go-to advice:
Be gentle, make it fun, and let your kid lead the energy.

With younger children, I always try to shoot at their level — literally. I was kneeling the entire session to be eye-to-eye, though in this case he was still so tiny that even on my knees, I was taller! That’s the joy of working with kids: you never quite know what to expect, but you always come away with something real.

And here’s something I always tell parents:
I’ll work hard to get that perfect smile and pose — but some of the best photos are the silly ones.
Those real-life moments often say more about who your child truly is, and they’re the ones you’ll treasure most as they get older. For me, it’s about the energy, the expression, the cute little baby teeth.

For little ones, a 15-minute mini session is the perfect length. Kids tire out quickly, and short sessions keep things positive and playful.

It was a joy photographing this young martial artist, and his mom loved the final images. Moments like this remind me why I love what I do — small victories, big smiles, and memories families can hold onto forever.

Why Lighting Matters in Photography: The Secret Ingredient to Stunning Portraits

f there is one element in photography that separates good images from great ones, it’s lighting. Most people think the camera does the heavy lifting—but in reality, lighting is what shapes your face, tells the story, sets the mood, and creates the depth that makes a photograph compelling.

If you’re not hiring a photographer who truly understands lighting, you’re not getting the full value of your investment.

Photo taken by second shooter, Scott Russomano

So, Why Does Lighting Matter So Much?

1. Lighting Creates Depth
Light isn’t just brightness—it's a sculpting tool. The way light falls across your face and the background determines whether your photo feels flat and lifeless or dimensional and rich. Good lighting defines shape, texture, and emotion.

2. Lighting Helps Tell a Story
Soft, even lighting creates a dreamy, warm, flattering atmosphere. Hard lighting creates drama, contrast, and intensity. A photographer who understands lighting can intentionally choose the mood that fits your personality and your goals.

3. Lighting Makes You Look Your Best
On the most basic level, flattering portraits use soft light. Soft light comes from diffusion—using tools like softboxes to reflect, scatter, or soften the light before it hits your face. This reduces harsh shadows, evens skin tone, and creates a natural glow.
Unless you specifically want that harsh, dramatic look (think movie poster), soft light is almost always the most beautiful.

What About Off-Camera Lighting? Why It Matters Even More

Many photographers rely solely on natural light or an on-camera flash—but off-camera lighting opens up an entire world of creative control.

When I bring my off-camera light, here’s what I’m doing:

1. Controlling Foreground and Background Light Separately

Natural light doesn’t always cooperate. Off-camera lighting lets me expose you perfectly—bright, crisp, and flattering—while darkening the background for a more dramatic, cinematic look. It creates depth and polish that natural light alone simply can't achieve.

2. Creating Foreground–Background Separation

This helps you pop from the background instead of blending into it. Your face becomes the focal point—clean, bright, intentional. Having an off-camera flash allows me to shoot at a low ISO, allows me to shoot wide open, which leads to clear images with those nice bokeh backgrounds people love.

3. Softening the Light for Beautiful Skin Tones

You'll notice I use a softbox on my Westcott FJ400. That softbox is not just a gadget—it's the magic ingredient that diffuses the light into a smooth, gentle glow that flatters every skin type.

So Why Hire a Photographer Who Understands Lighting?

Because lighting isn’t optional—it’s foundational.
It’s what makes the difference between a snapshot and a portrait you want to frame, share, and treasure.

When you hire someone who knows how to use light intentionally—especially off-camera light—you’re hiring someone who can make you look your best in any situation: sunrise, midday sun, sunset, indoors, outdoors, cloudy days, you name it.

Lighting is the language of photography.
And when it’s done well, your photos speak beautifully.

Grad photos at the Old Court House

Lauren and Mark at Old Court House

Some photo sessions feel like stepping into the future while honoring the past — and this one was exactly that.

Lauren and Mark graduated from Arizona State University this year and are already making their mark within the Judicial Branch. They’re in love, ambitious, and both working toward careers as attorneys — and one day, judges. When they reached out for graduation photos, they wanted their session to reflect where they’re headed next.

That’s how we ended up at one of the most historic and visually striking buildings in Phoenix: the Old Courthouse.

Why the Old Courthouse Matters

For Lauren and Mark, the Old Courthouse wasn’t merely a scenic backdrop — it symbolized their commitment to the legal field and the future they’re building together. The texture of the brick, the marble accents, the sense of history in every hallway — it all served as the perfect setting for a couple deeply connected to the justice system.

Lighting the Story

On this shoot, I brought my trusty Westcott FJ400, one of my favorite tools in my kit. Using lighting on location lets me keep the subjects evenly lit while still creating a dramatic look where the foreground gently pops against a darker background. It turned a beautiful day into images with depth, shape, and intention.

The weather couldn’t have been better — bright but not harsh, perfect for mixing natural ambience with controlled strobe light.

A Session with Variety and Personality

We captured individual portraits and couple shots, and honestly, Lauren and Mark made it easy. They were fun, expressive, and willing to try different poses and ideas. Couple photos are a fantastic addition to grad sessions — they bring warmth, connection, and a spark you can’t replicate with solo portraits.

We also made sure they walked away with:

• Traditional grad photos in full regalia

• Professional headshots they can use as they move into the legal field

• Casual and more formal portraits in their dress clothes

I especially loved featuring Lauren’s custom regalia, which proudly incorporated the Mexican and German flags — a beautiful reflection of identity, heritage, and accomplishment.

Planning the Vision Together

Before the shoot, Lauren sent me several inspiration photos she liked. Not only did that help me understand her aesthetic, but it started a great creative conversation. From those examples, I could tell immediately that the shoot was going to be fun — and it absolutely was.

Inside Access

Photo by second shooter, Scott Russomano

We meet graduates on location, wherever your story takes place. For this shoot, we even coordinated with the Judicial Branch to get permission for a few portraits inside the Old Courthouse — a rare and special opportunity that added depth to their collection. We even got a few creative shots using the beautiful staircase.

Looking Ahead

The best part of graduation photography is capturing the excitement of accomplishments completed and paths just beginning. Lauren and Mark have a bright future ahead, both personally and professionally, and it was an honor to document this moment for them.