Photography by Jack

Infant shoot

2012-01-23T19:08:00.000-08:00

I got to do my first infant shoot this week with little Todd who is such a cutie! If you have never done one, infant shoots are totally different than regular portrait sessions due to the fact that babies that age don't "pose" just how you want them. Hence, the effort to keep them asleep during the shoot.

Todd did a good job and we had fun getting a number of pictures of his cute little face.

I am looking forward to whenever I next get the opportunity to do an infant portrait session and learning more about how to achieve the most adorable shots possible!

Todd also was special because he is the first "official" portrait session that I shot in my new studio!

Contact me at photographybyjackmcdonnell@gmail.com if you are interested in setting up a portrait session and I will get you scheduled in!

Day 16: Silhouette

2012-01-16T19:11:00.000-08:00

Normally when I think of hearts and silhouettes, I think of those fun "hand-hearts" that young couples make. But as I was shooting for today's challenge this image grabbed my attention.

It feels like a bit of a discouraging picture of all the darkness creeping in towards the heart. But isn't it amazing that with all the discouragement and darkness that tries to crowd into our heart, we have a God who cares for us and gives us joy in every situation?

You may not be in a difficult situation right now, but when it does happen, remember the one who protects our hearts and gives us a smile when things aren't going our way.

Day 15: Your shoes

2012-01-16T19:06:00.000-08:00

These are my day-in-day-out shoes.

There is nothing fancy about them and they are not very expensive, but they are the most comfortable shoes ever!

You know that great feeling when you really break in a pair of shoes? These are like that and then some.

I love my old beat up shoes!

Day 14: Technology

2012-01-16T19:04:00.000-08:00

Hard to believe that this was modern technology at one time!

I love looking at old cameras though and I would like to eventually get a working vintage film camera and do a shoot with it.

Day 13: You with 13 items

2012-01-10T17:51:00.000-08:00

Those of you who have known me for some time will know that I love to read. A lot! :o)

When the 13 item challenge came up today, my mind first went to my bookshelf at my office, so I ran over there and picked out a few books that I have enjoyed over the years.

These are not necessarily my all time favorite books, but I can say they all are great reading material!

So, what is a favorite book of yours?

Share your favorite book (or two) in the comment section below!

Day 12: Eyes

2012-01-10T17:45:00.000-08:00

Okay, I know, scary, right? But hey, if you can get over the fact that there is a huge eyeball on your screen, you can start to appreciate the sight that God has given to us.

Truly the eye is one of the most complex designs in the human body.

I am grateful that I have been gifted with good sight.

Day 11: Something Blue

2012-01-07T21:19:00.000-08:00

Day 10: A Childhood Memory

2012-01-06T23:59:00.000-08:00

Day 10 of the challenge is a childhood memory. I have tons of memories that are much more important than this one, but this is one of the extra fun memories that I have from my childhood.

I remember going to the library and picking out all sorts of books on different subjects from fascinating tales of adventure to historic stories of great men and women. Before I left the library though, I always made sure to stop by the Calvin and Hobbes section and pick up one of the comic collection books. Mom would only let me get one Calvin and Hobbes at a time, otherwise I may have checked out all 5 of them every time! :o)

I enjoyed the craziness of Calvin's ornery world, and I still enjoy reading these and catching the deeper life meanings that are tucked into some of the strips.

Are any of you fans of Calvin Hobbes? Leave a comment below and tell me who your favorite character was! Mine would have to be Spaceman Spiff (One of Calvin's secret identities.)

So true...."Mom speak" can be so different from "kid speak".

Don't we all get a little too prideful of our power at times? It's good to know that a merciful God is really in charge and not us!

And this one just makes me laugh every time I read it. :o)

Day 9: Sunset

2012-01-04T17:06:00.000-08:00

I decided to post day 9 a few hours early when I saw this beautiful sunset this evening!

Our God is not only powerful, but he is also artistic and the creator of everything that is beautiful.

Let's make sure we take time out of our busy lives to appreciate the things in life that are free, yet so priceless.

Day 8: A Bad Habit

2012-01-04T08:17:00.000-08:00

Day 8 is supposed to be a picture of a bad habit, so I chose out of the many options....junk food!

And so comes the age old question, why are things that taste so good, so bad for you? :o)

And by the way, York Peppermint Patties are not a weakness of mine, I just let them represent all candy bars and junk food because they make the best faces! (Try carving a face into a Hershey's bar, it doesn't work so good.)

Day 7: Fruit

2012-01-03T16:40:00.003-08:00

Day 6: Low Angle

2012-01-03T16:40:00.001-08:00

Day 5: High Angle Shot

2012-01-03T16:39:00.001-08:00

Day 4: Green

2011-12-31T14:40:00.000-08:00

Day 4 adds a little color into the mix by throwing in the theme of GREEN!

Day 3: Clouds

2011-12-30T09:11:00.000-08:00

We all like the fluffy white clouds painted on a backdrop of deep blue sky, but when it comes to a dull overcast grey canopy, sometimes we don't appreciate it as much.

Isn't it great to know that no matter how blurry our future looks or how sad a situation may be, our God is right beside us, offering encouragement to us if we will accept his love?

So don't complain about the clouds, because with grey skies come life giving rain.

The darker times in our lives make the sunshine that much more valuable to us.

P.S. For you photography folks, this is the first time I think I have ever posted SOOC pictures. I just liked them how they were, no touch-up needed at all.

Day 2: What you wore today.

2011-12-29T16:34:00.000-08:00

So, day 2 of the challenge is somewhat boring. The challenge was to take a picture of what I wore today. I did my best to make it interesting.

(I so wish I would've been wearing a tux or something like that today! :o)

New 30 Day Challenge!

2011-12-28T18:17:00.000-08:00

So, awhile ago I did a 30 day photography challenge to stretch my camera know-how and I enjoyed it so much, that I have been looking forward to doing another one for a long time!

So starting today, I will be posting at least one picture a day for 30 days in a row.

However, this challenge will be a bit more difficult, seeing as I can't take just any picture, I have to go by a pre-decided list of subjects/themes.

So the first day was one of my least favorite things to do....self portraits. I tease that I became a photographer just so I could stay behind the camera, but it is kind of true! :o)

I have a hard time giving a real smile even though I can coach just about anyone else into giving me their best grins.

So here goes the first day of the challenge.

Self Portraits!

Of course, with the advantage of having a studio, I also had some fun props sitting around and just couldn't resist grabbing a few less-than-serious photos. :o)

Check back every day to see a new post! (At least by midnight :o)

Gellos Family Update

2011-12-21T21:09:00.000-08:00

We got a few updated family pictures for my sister and her family while I was down in Pensacola and I thought I would share a few of them with you.

Enjoy!

Product shoot

2011-12-03T14:41:00.001-08:00

Okay readers, I need your help! I have never done a product shoot before, so when some friends asked me to do a preview shoot for their handmade soaps, I was pretty excited.

So what I need you to do, is look through this post and tell me which pictures are your favorites, the ones that really catch your eye and make you want to buy the product. :o)

Leave your responses in the comment section below and thank you in advance for your opinion!

#10

#11

#12

#13

These last two pictures are thrown in as a bonus lesson for all you photographers that are trying to learn more about your camera.

If you haven't learned what aperture is and how it affects the picture, research it online and figure out how to adjust it on your camera.

Here is the difference that aperture can make. Both pictures were shot within seconds of each other, same lighting, same distance, same everything except for the aperture setting on my camera.

The first picture was shot at f/22 the second picture was shot at f/1.4

Now picture putting a portrait subject in front of these amazing soft lights! Awesome, right?

Canvas Review

2011-12-01T15:51:00.001-08:00

Hey folks! I have a few people ask me about good places to order canvas wraps from, so I decided to do a personal review of the four companies that I have ordered prints from so far.

If you have printed from a company that I don't list and you love them, please share with the rest of us in the comment section below, we would love to hear your likes and dislikes!

If you have never printed a canvas wrap, I would encourage you to do so. The quality of fine art is available for displaying your favorite photos. Once you print a canvas, you will fall in love with it!

So we will start with my first canvas print that I ever did.

I printed this engagement picture for my sister and her husband from the company that I use to print all the pictures from my proofing site. Mpix does a great job and I couldn't be more happy with the quality of the print. The canvas print was smooth and the color was vibrant, the wood stretcher frame was strong and well built. It did not come with mounting hardware. Shipping was fast and the packaging was superb for ultimate protection during shipping. The price was not bad, but wasn't the lowest available of these sites. (http://www.mpix.com/)

This next canvas was printed by Canvas4Life. (http://www.canvas4life.com/)

The finish is amazing in detail with a nice flat texture with no shine whatsoever. The cost was very reasonable due to an online coupon/deal I combined with my purchase. Processing and shipping was fast.

The frame is sturdy, and clipped together at the corners with small plastic inserts. No mounting hardware was included with this print. The corner folds on the canvas are pretty clean and straight over.

This wedding picture was printed by Canvas People (http://www.canvaspeople.com/)

Once again, the price was pretty cheap because I got a coupon to use for the purchase. The processing and shipping wasn't bad but it wasn't amazingly fast. The finish had a gloss that is a bit too shiny for me. You can't really see it in this picture, but any light source gives a shine off of it that makes a distracting sparkle on the picture.

The corners are glued together and the frame is sturdy. I didn't like how the corners of the canvas were folded to create a diagonal line at every corner, but maybe I am just being picky.

For mounting they sent this small metal clip for you to insert into the wood frame wherever you want. You can get an idea of the size of the clip by the staple next to it.

The last company that I ordered for my studio prints from is called Simply Canvas. (http://www.simplycolorlab.com/index.php)

I loved the quality of the prints they sent me, every detail of the photo was perfect. The processing and shipping was not super fast, but they sent details via email of every step that was happening and when it was happening for the order. Unfortunately, the website is not made for the average consumer, so you have to figure out how to use their free downloadable pro lab software. For you professional photographers, this place is great once you figure out how to place an order!

The frames were very clean and sturdy. Also, they were sanded down smooth to touch. (I like those little details) The corners were folded completely flat and crisp.

The mounting hardware was already installed upon delivery which made it easy to hang up right away. I also like using a cable because you can level a picture very quickly with it. The price was a bit higher then some, but I found a first time discount code that took the price down to unbelievably low for what I ordered.

In review, I would list these sites in this order:

1. Simply Canvas

In the end, you get what you pay for, and these prints were perfection in every sense of the word. I couldn't find anything I didn't like about the prints and the customer service was a joy to work with.

2. Mpix

I will always love the fast shipping and super secure packing that Mpix provides and the top notch quality products they produce. They also have one of the best return programs available if anything happens to your print during shipping or printing.

3. Canvas4Life

For being a lower budget printing service, they did an excellent job and shipped quite fast. I would say that the print could have had a bit of a better protective coating and the corners could have been a bit cleaner.

4. Canvas People

They did a good job of printing the details and the price was great, however I wasn't impressed with the corner folds or the ultra shiny protective coating that was applied. (You may be able to order without that coating.)

Remember, these opinion s are just my own thoughts, and you may like one or the other for different reasons. If you have had experience with any of these companies or any other canvas companies, please share with us the good, bad and the ugly in the comment section below!

I hope this has been informative and helpful to all my friends who enjoy fine art.

God bless and I hope you are all enjoying the Christmas season!

The LaBate Family

2011-11-19T05:47:00.001-08:00

I had good time last Saturday shooting family pictures up in northern Indiana for the LaBate family. They are such a joy to be around and even though it got a bit chilly later on in the day, it was for the most part a beautiful day for a walk in the woods!

Not sure if this is a group hug, or the death grip, but at least they are smiling! :o)

I was so happy that Emily was able to come along to help out with the shoot. She is becoming a pro at cleanly switching lenses!

I can honestly say, this is the first time I have ever done a "picture frame" shot. And I loved it!

Expressing "JOY"! :o)

LaBate Family

2011-11-15T18:50:00.001-08:00

Last Saturday I had the pleasure of shooting some family portraits for the LaBate family.

Stay tuned for some more pictures from this shoot sometime this week.

Cedeno Family

2011-11-04T08:09:00.000-07:00

I had a quick family photo shoot yesterday with a friend and co-worker of mine and his family. James & Julie are such a sweet couple and little Lily has the most adorable bright eyes.

It was such a pleasure to get some portraits for this lovely family.

James is a visionary in the field of healthy living, the way God intended for us to live, so check out his blog here or his website here. It will be worth your while!

To check out some more pictures from this shoot, head over to my Facebook page by clicking here.

Impromptu sibling shoot

2011-10-29T16:44:00.000-07:00

Pensacola Beach

2011-10-20T20:21:00.000-07:00

When I went for a stroll this evening, I had the whole beach to myself! I took advantage of the opportunity to snap a few pictures, then I laid on the sand for awhile and just watched the waves roll in.

I hope these pictures convey how beautiful and serene it was. It was just one of those perfect moments that you can't create, they just happen.

All you can do is sit down and enjoy it, because it never lasts for long.

Fun outdoor lighting...

2011-09-24T09:17:00.000-07:00

Luke, Eli and I decided to mess around with some night flash photography, and we came up with few nice pictures, as well as a few pretty crazy photos!

Enjoy!

My lighting setup was pretty simple. It was just these two Alien Bee strobes, one with the umbrella with the back light slaving off of it.

We started messing around with water and we found out that just a little bit of water flicked off the ends of Eli's fingers looks like a whole lot more when you light it up!

Why do fire breathing when you can do the safe alternative of water-breathing? :o)

Just for the record, these last two pictures were Eli's idea, and his only! And yes, it was about 55 degrees outside. Chilly fun!

This may be the one and only time in his life that Eli actually asks Luke to pour a bowl of ice cold water on his head! :o)

My apologies...

2011-09-20T11:24:00.001-07:00

My apologies. Due to an unforeseen scheduling problem, the photographer meet-up had to be called off. I hope we can schedule it again in the future, maybe sometime next spring.

Will miss not getting out there to shoot pictures with you guys! Thank you for understanding.

Wedding slide show

2011-09-17T10:47:00.000-07:00

This is for all you photoholics that want to see waaaay more pictures of the wedding than I posted. :o) The last of the pictures will be adding to this slide show throughout the rest of the day, with the final count being right at 880 pictures.

I added the "pause" and "skip" buttons to this slide show so that you can view the pictures at your own pace. And remember, if there is a picture that you would like to order through my website, just use the link in the upper right hand corner of the slide show to go to my photo gallery ordering page.

Enjoy!

A few more pictures from the wedding...

2011-09-15T15:43:00.000-07:00

So I was editing the pictures from my sister's wedding this week, and I couldn't help but post a few more from the wedding day.

Enjoy!

These guys are not only brothers, but also the best of friends!

Cutest ring bearer and flower girl combo ever? I think so.

(Okay, maybe I am just a little prejudiced :-)

Dawn Rardin made a beautiful little cake for the top of the cupcake tower.

The making of...

2011-09-12T13:09:00.000-07:00

Normally my blog followers don't get to see the behind the scenes view of the photography shoots that I do, so I took the advantage of having a second shooter at my sister's wedding to show you a few shots in the making. Enjoy!

Thank you to Lindsay Hicks for doing a great job as second shooter!

This photo has to be one of my favorites from the whole day! Love it!

Train Tracks

2011-09-02T17:44:00.000-07:00

As I have been working on some Bible studies this evening, I thought of this picture that I took recently and how well it ties in with some thoughts that have been running through my mind.

Aren't these train tracks such a good picture of the Christian life?

We can't see what the result of our life in Christ is going to be until we get there. It is simply our duty to keep striving after the heart and mind of Christ. As we move forward, bit-by-bit down the tracks of life, we will see what is ahead of us. There is no need to worry or stress about the distant future, we just need to take the little steps that we know to be right and can see clearly in front of us. As we follow our all powerful and loving Saviour, he will guide us in the right way just like these train tracks guide the train to it's final destination.

So stay on track! Trust the all-knowing God in where he laid your life's rails!

Rick & Lizzie - Wedding

2011-08-24T21:54:00.000-07:00

The Thacker Family

The McDonnell Family

With Dad, right before heading down the aisle.

Brent built the balloon arch for the reception.

I loved the guest sign-in book that Lizzy designed with some of the pictures from the engagement session.

Rick gave Elizabeth an amazing wedding gift. A handmade violin! He named this particular violin the "Lizzie Grace"

Brothers and pals.

Willie Wesco, being his usual cute self.

And they will live happily ever after! :o)

To see another 18 pictures from the wedding, head over to our family blog: Here

Chicago - August 18, 2011

2011-08-23T08:33:00.000-07:00

Rick & Elizabeth ~ 08/20/11

2011-08-20T21:11:00.000-07:00

I had a wonderful time today, shooting the wedding of my sister to Mr. Rick Thacker. The Lord blessed and held off the rain for the photography and we all enjoyed seeing these two people who are so in love get married.

More pictures in the future, but just a sneak peek for now!

2011-08-17T11:05:00.000-07:00

Whew! I was planning on just doing a sneak peek of the wedding, but I ended up doing the whole post and posting quite a few pictures!

This will be the last post on the wedding. (for now anyway)

I just want to say thank you again to Josh and Amanda Taylor and congratulations on your new life together!

Josh & Amanda - The Getaway Car

2011-08-17T11:02:00.000-07:00

Josh & Amanda - Reception

2011-08-17T11:01:00.000-07:00

I love the willow tree figurines, but I had never seen one used as a cake topper. Very neat!

This picture was by special request for the father of the bride. This is how it is after the wedding! lol

I don't think they need any lessons in kissing, they've got it down! :o)

Yes folks, this is what it looks like. A bounce house!

When I heard that they were going to have a bounce house for the little kids at the reception, I knew we had to get a picture with the bride and groom inside.

After a few blurry pictures and hanging on to the sides of house for support, I managed to get a shot of some of the wedding party, Josh and Amanda.

Josh & Amanda - Parents

2011-08-17T10:51:00.001-07:00

Josh & Amanda - The Ceremony

2011-08-17T09:32:00.000-07:00

Waiting for the bride...

I love the bold brown striped tuxes!

The wedding party...

Having a party! :o)

Exchanging the rings...

For the first time as Mr. & Mrs. Joshua Taylor!

Josh & Amanda - Rehearsal Night

2011-08-17T09:24:00.000-07:00

The ring bearer was such a cutie!

Practicing standing...

Mom and Dad watch the proceedings.

Alexis filming...

This little kiddo was so adorable, I couldn't resist grabbing a shot or two.

A special tradition of handing down special charm bracelets through the generations.

This tiny charm had the whole Lord's Prayer printed on it! Amazing.

The wedding party broke out their artistic skills to help make signs for the reception hall.

A few of the finished products!

McKee & Taylor wedding tomorrow!

2011-08-12T19:37:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow I get the opportunity to yet again capture the memories of one of the most special days in a couple's life....their wedding day.

I have loved getting to know Amanda McKee and Josh Taylor, and I am sure they will have a long, happy and God-blessed marriage!

Congratulations guys, in less than 24 hours, you will be man and wife!

Visiting friends...

2011-08-11T14:35:00.000-07:00

If you clicked on the link titled "Visiting friends..." and expected to see some nice portraits, sorry, no humans today!

These "visiting friends" are of the glass and metal sort. Still, they are very near and dear to my heart due to the fact that I will be shooting a wedding this weekend as well as the next weekend.

I am sure these loyal friends will be a great help as I work at getting the best pictures possible for the bride's big day.

I wish they could live with me forever, but until my piggy-bank agrees with me, I will have to be content with them dropping by for a short visit. :o)

Abigail!

2011-08-10T19:34:00.000-07:00

I became an uncle for the second time when Miss Abigail Gellos was born, and I can't tell you how cute and round she is, and how big her adorable eyes are....so I will have to show you! :o)

We had some amazing weather this evening and Abigail was a doll while we took a few pictures.

Such a happy little girl!

I made the switch...

2011-07-29T15:34:00.000-07:00

I have had a wonderful relationship with my Motorola Droid and I loved it, until this last week. It started dropping 3G coverage randomly and even freezing up and bad lagging.

I had been thinking about switching to an iPhone since I got my Macbook Pro, and this confirmed my decision. So as of now, I am the owner of a shiny new iPhone 4!

Only time will tell if I like it a lot, but so far, so good!

Any advice from current iPhone users on good apps or layouts for the phone would be much appreciated. I am quite new at this format. :o)

Wedding invitations

2011-07-13T15:04:00.000-07:00

With my sister Elizabeth getting married soon, I have been involved with engagement pictures and printing for the big day.

I really love how Mpix prints their wallet size photos in metallic finish. You have got to see these in real life to truly appreciate the cool high quality look!

Friend Shoot

2011-07-13T14:58:00.000-07:00

Have you ever thought about doing a friend shoot?

It makes for a great time of memories that will last forever thanks to photography. A friend album will not only last for a lifetime, but it could also be the most amazing gift ever! Christmas, birthday or just because you are an awesome friend.

Contact me if you are interested in a shoot for you and your best friends!

My curly-haired sister and her friend Anna.

Another curly-haired sister and her friend Kaity. (Most of my sisters are curly-tops if you hadn't figured that out yet.)

A little merry-go-round fun!

Two women drivers at once? Not so sure about this idea! :o)

Sisters and also best friends.

Before & After

2011-07-08T10:26:00.000-07:00

I am usually really bad at getting "before & after" pictures of projects I am working on, so I am very impressed with myself due to the fact that I remembered this time! :o)

This is how my front room gallery/studio looked before...

And this is how it looks right now!

I am looking forward to installing curtains, painting all the trim and hanging canvas wraps on the walls!

A few portraits

2011-07-04T18:20:00.000-07:00

While we were visiting some good friends yesterday, the evening light was perfect for portraits, so we headed outside to get some updated profile pictures. :o)

Tim

Karisse and Lizzy

Nathan, cute as ever!

Emily

Rardin Family

2011-07-01T15:55:00.000-07:00

What an blessing it was to spend a day with the Rardin family, as they celebrated their parent's 50th anniversary!

It was encouraging to see a family that loves their parents dearly and love each other as well. There were many laughs, hugs, stories told and joyful tears that day, and I enjoyed being there to preserve those memories forever with my camera.

Not all the grandkids could make it, but all six children were there to honor their parents.

They still had the original cake topper from the wedding 50 years ago, and Dawn Rardin made a beautiful (and tasty) cake to put under it.

This may be my favorite image from the day.

I know it is not technically perfect, more of a quick snapshot. For those of you whose grandparents have passed on though, you know that this picture will be invaluable to little Mindy someday.

There is something extra special and meaningful about a wedding ring that has been on a woman's hand for 50 years. What faithfulness to aspire to!

Lot's of photos were browsed through that day. You can never get a picture, once the moment is passed. That is what makes photos so invaluable!

50 years and they still love each other.

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs Rardin and thank you Rardin family!

Matthew & Jennifer ~ Wedding

2011-06-28T20:50:00.000-07:00

So here it is folks! The full post of some of my favorite pictures from the beautiful wedding of my cousin Jennifer to Mr. Matthew Sutton.

Enjoy!

My sister Lizzy traveled out to New York with me and helped out with some of the photography work on the wedding day. Thank you Liz, you are the best!

Can we assume by this picture that these people know how to have fun? I think so.

Matt's dad Eric is not only a super cool guy that does photography, but also had a killer car for them to pull away in! (I might post a picture of that some other time.)

I am not sure if they were posing, or giving me a death threat if I posted any silly pictures of them. I am hoping it wasn't the threat, cause if it is....then I am toast! :o)

These bridesmaids were so easy to work with due to the fact that they were constantly smiling/laughing. Thank you ladies!

Steve and Faith invited Lizzy and I to stay at their house over the weekend. They definitely have the gift of hospitality.

These two just go together so well!

Like peas in a pod.

Like a hand in a glove.

I think you get the idea! :o)

I hope you enjoyed looking through these pictures. I know I enjoyed attending and shooting this wedding!

The two cutest ring bearers

2011-06-25T08:42:00.000-07:00

Okay, so as the title of this post indicates, these guys were the cutest ring bearers ever!

They were ready to take a picture whenever I was, and yet they were all-boy, bouncing around, having fun at all times.

Oh, and did I mention they are twins?

No, they are not for hire, but these little fellas would make a killing if they decided to go into professional "ring-bearing" :o)

Naperville w/friends

2011-06-23T16:24:00.000-07:00

I have been to downtown Chicago a number of times and I love the many places to have photo shoots, but I had never realized how amazing Naperville is until last Monday!

Rosa and David showed me around the area, all the amazing little shops, the beautiful river walk and parks....etc.

I so want to do a photog meet-up in Naperville sometime! If for nothing else, so that you guys can experience Le Chocolat du Bouchard. Shop of fine chocolates and amazing drinks!

Mine was the Chocolate Cherry Chiller in the front, and I would have to say it was the best drink I have had in my life! Seriously!

Rosa chose the Rasberry Creamsicle Chiller

Thank you David for bringing me to this amazing place of goodness! :o)

I may be a little backwoods, but I had never seen a entire store that only sells tea leaves. Not coffee beans, not cappuccino...just tea.

Thank you David for the wonderful background! :o)

Anybody want to get married at this place? I would love to shoot a wedding here!

Oh, and not only are the grounds beautiful, they also have about 10-15 tanks from different wars!

We ended the day with Five Guys burgers and fries. My first taste of them!

Rick & Lizzie - Engagement

2011-06-23T14:27:00.000-07:00

So here it is, the promised post of at least five pictures from Liz and Rick's engagement session.

We decided to go with a casual picnic theme, seeing as we will be getting formal pictures at the wedding in about two months.

I know this is my sister, but still, they were so fun to shoot! I only wish all my couples were as easy going and relaxed as these two.

Enough jabber for now...here are the pictures!

2011-06-20T08:51:00.000-07:00

The marriage of my cousin Jennifer to Mr. Matthew Sutton was such a pleasure to be able to attend in the great state of New York. And not only did I get to attend, they so kindly chose me to do the photography for their amazing day!

Here are a few pictures that I really liked from their shoot. They make such a cute couple!

P.S. - For all the photographers that read my blog, this couple was amazing! Every time I was about to ask them to change their pose a bit, they did it on their own before I could get the words out!

She had a beautiful flower arrangement that was simple, yet stunningly fitting for her.

Awww, aren't they adorable?

Hope you guys are having the best honeymoon ever! I look forward to sharing the rest of the pictures with you later on.

One more sneak peek

2011-06-15T17:27:00.000-07:00

You know, I may just keep feeding these pictures through from the engagement session one at a time!

Just kidding. I will post at least five together once I finish the editing process, scouts honor!

(Wait a minute, I never was a boy scout!) :o)

Anyway, here is another photo that I really like from the shoot.

Sneak Peek - Rick & Lizzie Engagement

2011-06-13T11:47:00.000-07:00

I was working through the pictures from Rick and Lizzie's engagement session today, and I just couldn't help but post this one.

Keep your eye out for a longer post on this session sometime in the near future!

Great minds...

2011-06-13T10:57:00.000-07:00

They say great minds think alike, so I wasn't really surprised when six of our Savos Strings group showed up in matching outfits. It was pretty funny though that none of us planned this. :o)

Thanks to Luke for getting the picture for us!

A very random image

2011-06-06T20:27:00.001-07:00

The other day, my sister asked me to grab a picture of the sweet new cell phone cover that her fiance bought for her, so what else was I to do? Maybe I will have a future in product/advertising photography! :o)

Fire Hero Challenge

2011-06-06T20:23:00.000-07:00

The American Red Cross Fire Hero Challenge was held several Saturdays ago, and I, of course, brought my camera along when I stopped by to see some of the competition.

You can tell that these guys were really intense about who was going to win the first place on the course.

For this part of the course, a fireman had to hit a small target down with a jet-stream of water.

And here, the fireman is hauling a heavy hose to the top of the scaffold before racing down the stairs and ringing the finish bell.

The Reel Fires crew did a great job of filming the whole day and capturing the thrill of the race.

My friend's new car

2011-05-23T14:34:00.000-07:00

I have a friend who just bought a new-to-him BMW. Although it doesn't have the sleek design of the newest BMWs it still has that get-up-and-go power that makes these cars so much fun!

Anyway, when he drove up in it, I had to get a shot of it, just for fun.

So if any of you need to sell a car, I guess I am in the advertising photography business now too! :o)

Chicago Workshop with Britton

2011-05-19T21:03:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I attended a workshop by Britton Felber, and I got to model for the photographers. I quickly realized that I love photography not only for the beauty of the art, but also because I get to be BEHIND the camera! ;o)

We had a wonderful day of learning, talking, laughing and doing all things photography. Then Britton and I had the opportunity to go hear philanthropic photographer Jim Davis-Hicks speak on the Thirst Relief movement that he founded. Check out their website for more info, it is a worthy cause!

I, of course, brought my camera along and got a few pictures of the day as well.

I was literally laughing out loud when I took this picture. It was just too funny, I (a photographer) was taking a picture of a photographer taking a picture of a photographer who was taking a picture of Anna. Wrap your mind around that sentence! :o)

I enjoyed meeting Ruth and envying her awesome Canon Mark II. :o)

Love the variety in the shoes!

Sorry guys, I was a little goofy with this one. You look like seriously cool photographers here though!

Okay, great story behind this picture!

I am kicking myself for not having my settings right on my camera, hence the extra blur and noise in the picture, but here is what happened:

Britton stepped into a corner with some nice reflections so that we could try out a shot or two. He has the same problem as me of not liking many pictures of himself due to fake smiles, so he wanted us to get him to smile for real somehow. I was wondering how to do that, until one word popped into my head. I said it, and instantly got the genuine Britton smile in this picture.

What was the word?....Why of course Erika! (His fiance)

I love it when people are in love! :o)

If you want to learn more about photography, starting a business, editing images or relating well with clients, then I would encourage you to keep an eye on his blog for upcoming workshops.

Studio Update!

2011-05-16T18:51:00.000-07:00

Hey guys! Just a quick video update on the small studio/gallery that I am currently working on putting together for Photography by Jack. I can't wait until it's done and I can start using it for myself and my amazing clients!

I shot this clip by setting my 50D on a bucket and setting the remote to shoot every 3 seconds. :o) It's about 1,000 pictures in all! The blurry video clip at the end was recorded on my mac laptop to give a shot of more of the room.

Bonus points if you spot three things in this 1 and a half minute clip:

1. Me, holding up two jugs of painting glaze right in front of the camera.

2. A long drip that I catch after it almost makes it down the wall to the floor

3. Mail arriving with my little sister Emily's senior pictures and me opening the package and showing the two 8x10s to the camera.

The beauty after the storm

2011-05-13T10:50:00.000-07:00

Last night, we had a pretty good storm come through our area Heavy wind, thunder, large downpour and even some good sized hail!

About a half and hour after the storm had passed, we stepped outside to feel the cool breeze and we were greeted by this breathtaking sight.

Amazing what an artist our God is!

Fun with friends...

2011-05-07T10:00:00.000-07:00

The guys grilled up an amazing meal...

...while the little guys had a picnic.

Not sure if the younger two got the memo about smiling for this picture! :o)

The older guys played the fast paced game "Ninja" while waiting for supper to be served.

Garden Flowers

2011-05-07T09:51:00.000-07:00

Okay, I know, guys aren't supposed to like pretty flowers and "girly" stuff like that, but here is one guy that loves seeing God's creation displayed in the delicate art form of garden flowers!

Lighting Fun

2011-05-07T09:41:00.000-07:00

Who doesn't like messing around with some extreme lighting, right?

Here are a few pictures of the guys messing around with me and my off-camera flashes.

Clapping push-ups? No problem!

The only lighting for this picture was two flashes set on either side of Donovan. He was standing at the end of the driveway, and there was actually a house and a few people standing behind him that you can't see due to the lighting! Love it!

Forked tree branches are also nice for holding onto a flash!

Birds and such...

2011-05-07T09:28:00.000-07:00

While out jogging the other day, I got a few pictures of some wildlife that I thought you might enjoy seeing.

If you are wondering why this big hawk looks disturbed, the next picture will explain why.

He was being dive bombed by several irate grackles and eventually flew off after being pecked several times.

For once, I had a deer that was fine with pictures being taken of it!

A female cardinal.

I am not quite sure if this winged gentleman was upset with me taking a picture of him without asking, or if he was simply striking a serious pose. I guess we will never know!

Thacker Family

2011-05-05T14:44:00.000-07:00

I thoroughly enjoyed taking family pictures for the Thacker family last Saturday. Seeing as the are going to be Lizzy's new family in a few months, we decided to include Liz, so that their family pictures wouldn't be out of date so quickly.

Amanda

Alyssa

Alexis

Reid

We had a little bit of extra time after the shoot to do a few fun pictures with these three Thackers.

Air time!

Flashbulb Moment!

2011-04-25T22:27:00.000-07:00

This Saturday, I had a blast getting together with some photographers and hitting up Chicago for a great time of discussion, photography and awesome memories!

Thanks everyone who made it out for Flashbulb Moment, I hope you enjoyed our day together!

What a great group of people to hang out with in Chicago!

The people in our group who weren't shooting pictures that day did a great job modeling for those of us who were snapping away. (Whoops, didn't mean to make that rhyme, I'll try not to do that again next time.)

Check out Alyssa's blog to see some of her photography skills!

Nicole also keeps her blog fresh and up-to-date with pictures, so stop by and say hello to her!

Messing around with reflections...

Can't forget to get a picture of my delicimoso lunch of chicken enchiladas. So good!

I end up in this church yard some way or the other almost every time. I love the stonework and the peaceful atmosphere in the middle of a bustling city!

The gusty breezes kept us all laughing as it swept hair every direction. (Except mine of course) :o)

Emily, in her own little Secret Garden.

As you can see, everyone that came was super fun and willing to do crazy stuff for the photographer!

The three musketeer....ettes. :o)

We won't mention how long it took to get through the line to get to the top of the Hancock building, but we finally made it up and got a few pictures before getting in line to head back down....crazy!

Don't they look like matchbox cars from up here?

My "car" shot

I love this city!

At least visiting it anyway.

Caleb Rardin - Senior Shoot

2011-04-18T13:06:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday, Caleb and I braved wind, fire and plague in order to get some amazing senior pictures. Well, okay, I guess it was just raining a little bit, but it sounds much better with the fire and plague...oh well.

Here are a few of the amazing shots we got in downtown Chicago on a cloudy and cold day.

Enjoy!

1 epic picture of looking out into the distance to convey dreams and aspirations...Check!

1 entirely cool senior...Check!

1 random picture of the subject being swept away by a bit of Disney dust that was floating around the downtown area....Check!

1 amazingly chill picture with cup of tea...Check!

1 shot of Caleb with his future place of employment...Check!

Having a fun time during the whole shoot...Check!

Awesome lighting due to cloudy day....Check!

1 picture on the river-walk steps...Check!

Sweet urban backgrounds...Check!

Cloning Caleb...Check!

Finding walls that compliment the colors that Caleb was wearing...Check!

Falling in love again with the beautiful arches of the Fourth Presbyterian Church....Check!

A random and very blurry picture with Jessie Jackson...Check! :o)

1 totally intense silhouette shot...Check!

Sweet bokeh and existing light sources...Double Check!

Talking the theater manager into changing the sign for us...Check!

(Okay, so the managers initials are CS5..who cares?) :o)

A few trampoline pictures from last night

2011-04-12T04:49:00.000-07:00

Last night I took out my strobes, and tried to capture good images of fast moving objects in the dark.

For those of you that are photographers, you know how hard that can be.

Below are some of my results:

I didn't even know that AJ was a Kung Fu master!

Or that Eli had abilities similar to Superman!

And one not-so-fast object, but very cute!

Matthew and impromptu lighting

2011-04-11T08:26:00.000-07:00

After I attended a workshop with Jerry Ghionis and Sandy Puc', I was inspired to try some impromptu lighting techniques.

Well, last night after church, I was talking with my good friend Matt, and we decided to head outside to take a few pictures.

We spied a large business sign at ground level that was back-lit with fluorescent bulbs just across the street that would make a great soft-box.

This picture was taken, using the sign as the main fill light, and Levi used my Android phone as the back/hair light. No flash was used.

I was pretty pleased with how it turned out and I look forward to using existing light sources a lot more in future photo shoots!

So, what do you think? Shall we call a modeling agency and try to hire this guy out? :o)

16 days and counting!

2011-04-07T12:53:00.000-07:00

Alrighty folks, get out you calendar and mark the 23rd of this month with a big important looking circle because that is the day that the Flashbulb Moment photographer collaboration is down.

Seriously.....I am waiting....where is your marker?

This is going to be a great day in the heart of Chicago for anyone who wants to get out and really kick your creativity into gear.

We will be exploring the Magnificent Mile, shooting pictures, and making memories that will last for a lifetime.

Come prepared to share your photography skills with the others as well as pick up some amazing ideas from the group!

One thing though, you need to drop me an email at: jack.a.mcd@gmail.com if you want to sign up for this.

It is totally free and a super exciting ground breaking first time event, so you definitely want to be there.

Laser Car

2011-04-04T20:08:00.000-07:00

I told a friend I would take a picture and post it by the end of Monday (today) and as the clock struck 8:00 pm I realized I hadn't even shot a picture the whole day!

So, in a mild panic, I glanced around my office for something of interest to photograph.

I ended up grabbing my Mach 1 Mustang model and green laser to mess around with.

Here are the results, for better or for worse! :o)

The straight lines have a nice techy feel to them...

But the freehand lines give it almost a spraypaint look.

I think this is my favorite one.

Which one do you like best?

Dustin

2011-03-29T05:24:00.000-07:00

Do you have this handsome of a cousin?... I didn't think so. :o)

Future Secret Service? Just sayin'

His blue-ish shirt matched his eyes really well.
(Just one of those things that make a picture awesome!)

Dramatic lighting fits Dustin well.

Thanks for standing out in the cold to get the best shots Dustin!

Picture of cool, calm and collected.

Yes kids, this is what graduation will feel like! :o)

Loved working out some new lighting techniques!

~ Jessup Family ~

2011-03-29T05:13:00.000-07:00

This was before the session before the hair comb came out! :o)

You can tell Hudson loves his little brother!

The whole Jessup family!

Gotta love the smile!

Cuteness in a package!

Kerstin and Charlie

Can you tell who they cheer for? Touchdown!

Watson

2011-03-29T04:19:00.000-07:00

I am glad to be able to share a few of my favorite shots from the portrait sessions that I did over the weekend in Iowa with you all.

Here is a sneak peek of Watson's shoot.

We braved the cold and the wind to get a few outdoor shots.

Watson is a man of many musical talents including trumpet...

...and piano!

#25 for the Crusaders basketball team!

Classic pose with a classy guy!

Have I ever mentioned that I like brick walls as backdrops? :o)

Date for Flashbulb Moment!

2011-03-12T12:53:00.000-08:00

Hey guys, quick update:

The Flashbulb Moment! creativity jam will be held on the 23rd of April instead of the 30th. See you on the 23rd, rain or shine!

Flashbulb Moment!

2011-03-10T22:30:00.000-08:00

Okay, I am super excited about this and I hope you will be too!

This will be a groundbreaking time that will be super fun, so plan on attending.

The cool thing about it is, it's totally free. Just figure out a way to get to Chicago and pay for your own meals and you are ready to roll!

This is not going to be a workshop or a lesson from a more advanced shooter. It's going to be a time where everyone, regardless of skill level can engage each other with ideas and learn from everyone in the group.

Let me know which date works better for you so that I can set the day on the 23rd or the 30th soon.

Anna's 13th Birthday

2011-02-26T16:03:00.000-08:00

Anna turned 13 today, and instead of taking the same boring pictures of opening the gifts, blowing out the candles...etc, we decided to just grab a few good portraits of the birthday girl!

It was pretty cold outside, so we only spent about five minutes, but she is so beautiful, it makes it easy to get gorgeous shots quickly!

Georgia Lizard

2011-02-26T15:52:00.000-08:00

While we were down in Georgia for my brother's wedding, the kids were excited to see lizards in their natural habitat for the first time.

We found this guy scampering around, and of course, had to grab a few shots to remember him by. :o)

Is it just me, or does the matter of insurance cross your mind when you look at this picture? :o)

His sticky claws could hold onto any surface.

Luke was the brave one to take a picture with the lizard on his shirt. He wasn't so excited though, when the lizard decided to crawl up on top of his head!

Results for the cell phone contest!

2011-02-20T23:46:00.000-08:00

The voting results from blogger and Facebook are in and the winner is...drum roll please....

David Garcia!

Thank you to all the friends and family that supported him, he did a great job with his picture.

Shout out to David Daudelin for being off by only one vote. So close!

The official results are as follows:

1. Aaron Hacker - 7

2. Amanda Thacker - 21

3. Ashley King - 11

4. Brett Reed - 2

5. David Daudelin - 30

6. David Garcia - 31

7. Eli McDonnell - 10

8. John Hanlon - 2

9. JC Burnett - 5

10. Levi Arnold - 12

11. Pam Lennard - 0

12. Rick McDonnell - 0

13. Stephanie Gilbert - 1

14. Stephen Wesco - 13

15. Wade Reed - 3

16. Katie Taylor - 21

17. Amanda Nero - 8

18. Britton Felber - 0

Wait, there's 18 pictures now!

2011-02-18T19:42:00.000-08:00

Yes, I know another picture just "appeared" on my cell phone contest post. #18 by Britton Felber.

I made the exception for this late entry based on two things. 1. Britton has been a huge help to me in getting me started into photography as a business and I consider him a mentor. 2. The picture is totally awesome! :o)

So if you are not already voting for a family member's picture or a friend who sent you here to vote for theirs, you have yet another excellent option to choose from.

Final voting results will be posted on Monday!

Cell phone contest final voting!

2011-02-18T05:36:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I know I said I was going to limit the pictures down to a few that I liked, and I could have done that. However, I wanted my readers to see the great variety of pictures that were submitted, so I entered them all for the final voting.

Great job guys with the pictures! You truly have some impressive creativity.

Remember, send people directly to this link: http://photographybyjackmcdonnell.blogspot.com/2011/02/cell-phone-contest-final-voting.html to vote on your picture!

~or~

Send them over to vote for your picture on the Facebook page. (They will need to "like" the page in order to comment.)

But hurry, because voting ends on the 20th, so you only have two days to vote. Anyone can vote, including yourself, but only one vote per person please.

1. Aaron Hacker

2. Amanda Thacker

3. Ashley King

4. Brett Reed

5. David Daudelin

6. David Garcia

7. Eli McDonnell

8. John Hanlon

9. John-Clay Burnett

10. Levi Arnold

11. Pam Lennard

12. Rick McDonnell

13. Stephanie Gilbert

14. Stephen Wesco

15. Wade Reed

16. Katie Taylor

17 . Amanda Nero

18. Britton Felber

Click here to comment:

Thoughtful Thursday

2011-02-17T21:30:00.000-08:00

This is a late night Thoughtful Thursday so most of you will probably see it on Friday, but sometimes I am a lot more thoughful later on in the evening, once I have laid my work aside and the house is quiet.

So the thing to ponder today is: Are you a professional or hobbyist?

Sometimes people who think that photography is the only thing they want to do, end up taking another job and losing interest in it. Others, just enjoy shooting as a hobby and one day realize that they could use their skills as a business.

Regardless if you are a casual shooter or a professional, it is good once in awhile to re-evaluate where you are at with your photography and why. Photography as a business may be the worst idea ever for you personally, or it might be a great way to really love your job.

Just consider the possibilities either way.

Comment Here

Last day for cell phone contest!

2011-02-17T16:16:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow I will be posting the cell phone contest pictures, so if you haven't got yours sent in yet, do it now!

http://photographybyjackmcdonnell.blogspot.com/2011/01/photo-challenge.html

Looking forward to sharing these pics with you and seeing who gets the most votes!