My shoot with breakdancer, powerlifter, and sports athlete Timothy Kimmore

Three months ago I photographed Eliot Dean Baker, a singer-songwriter from Woodbridge, Virginia. I am happy to be able to finally share these images which were featured in Elegant Magazine Volume 59 | NO. 2 | Men | June 2019.

For more news and updates on Eliot you can follow him on

http://www.eliotdeanbaker.com/

Instagram.com/eliotdeanbaker

Facebook.com/eliotdeanbaker

You can view more images from the feature by visiting the website.

You can also check out a behind the scenes video from the shoot by visiting my Vimeo page.more

Inspired by the most recent installment of the long-running “ Live In Levi’s ” campaign, I decided to celebrate a different kind of dancer for a new personal project. I spent an entire Sunday afternoon in the desert with a professional dancer who specializes in bone breaking, contortion, flexing, and tutting.

I met Matthew "ET" Gibbs at a circus-themed birthday party the weekend before this shoot. As I watched him in action, the wheels started turning. By the end of his performance I knew what I wanted to do and approached him to set up a shoot. Shooting outdoors in the desert in direct overhead sunlight can be challenging, and is a little outside my comfort zone as I am used to shooting in studio in a much more controlled environment, but I knew the upside would be that the light would “get into his skin” and produce some really beautiful results. I chose to isolate him against the bright blue sky and neutral tones of the desert rocks to provide a nice contrast with his dark skin and white Levi's T-shirt and jeans. I also made a creative decision not to retouch this shoot. The images are straight out of camera as I wanted to keep them as raw and natural as possible in keeping with the environment. Lastly, I designed and printed a Blurb book of the entire shoot which I sent out to a select few clients.more

What a wonderful start to the new year !

I had the pleasure of photographing the the legendary UCLA Gymnastics coach, Miss Valorie Kondos Field, for the March issue of Inside Gymnastics Magazine .

Images were shot with the Nikon D5 . You can see the full story on my website. You can also purchase copies of the issue on the Inside Gymnastics website.more

When I moved from New York City to Los Angeles 15 years ago, one of the places I frequented was the 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica.

Having spent 16 years in the “concrete jungle,” I welcomed a space where pedestrians ruled the road. The proximity to the Pacific Ocean didn’t hurt either. If I am to be honest, however, it was the spectrum of street performers that kept me coming back weekend after weekend. This is where I discovered identical twin tap dancers Sean and John Scott, in what might have been 2008 or 2009. Fusing traditional dance routines and modern hip hop, their dance chemistry and artistry were undeniable. I knew I was witnessing something amazing. I knew they were destined for greatness, and I never forgot them. They stayed on my radar over the years, and as I followed the progression of their careers, my desire to photograph them grew. I finally got the chance last month when I reached out to them to see if they would like to be photographed for my In Water series.

Sean and John started training with professional tap master and innovator, Alfred Desio at the age of 6 at the Colburn School of Performing Arts, and have been dancing together professionally since age 8. They have been featured on several notable television shows such as Disney’s hit television show, Shake It Up, Nickelodeon’s Yo Gabba Gabba, and American’s Got Talent to name a few. They have performed on stage with icons in music and entertainment and toured internationally with mega stars such as Prince, Beyonce, Christina Aguilera and many more. They’ve even danced for Nike and Target / Converse in special sneakers equipped with tap soles ! You can currently find them in residence at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas performing in Absinthe , recently named by Las Vegas Weekly as “the #1 greatest show in Las Vegas history”.more

When The Jitterbugs, found out that I was going to be photographing Sofia Wylie for the April / May cover story of Inside Dance Magazine , they flipped, especially my daughter.

Wylie plays Buffy Driscoll on Disney's family comedy-drama Andi Mack. The coming-of-age television series, premiered on the Disney Channel on April 7, 2017, and has quickly become popular with tweens. It is my daughter's absolute favorite television show. She binge watches with the intensity of someone far beyond her years, and you must not bother her while it's on. She reminds me of me watching the "stories" (what we call soap operas back home) on CBS growing up. And, while she loves all the characters on the show, Buffy is her favorite. After meeting Sofia, it's easy to see why.

While the series has made Sofia a household name, it's her dancing that first propelled her into the spotlight. She has danced on tour with Justin Bieber, performed at the renowned Radio City Music Hall, and even appeared on shows such as America's Got Talent and So You Think You Can Dance. more

I've had your postcard on my desk waiting for a project. I might finally have one."

A few months ago I had the pleasure of being on set with viral tap sensations, Syncopated Ladies , to capture behind the scenes imagery of their latest video release, Like A Boy , for the February issue of Dance Magazine.

Dance Magazine is one of my "dream clients" and I had been wanting to shoot for them for many years. I had been sending out quarterly email blasts and promo cards to the Creative Director every year for the past several years, and was thrilled when I finally received an email:

"Hi Cassandra,

I've had your postcard on my desk waiting for a project. I might finally have one."

We hammered out the details over the next couple of weeks.

I was to "be a fly on the wall, and work in camera only."

"I can do that," I said.

When I arrived on set, I was immediately greeted by Chloe Arnold, the group's Emmy nominated creator and choreographer; not with a handshake, but with a genuinely warm look-you-in-the-eye and give-you-the-biggest-hug greeting. I knew this was going to be a good day. (I come from the east coast. South Jersey to be exact. We hug when we meet you. It's a thing.) One after another, the other members of the group appeared, each time greeting me with a hug. I then met the rest of the video and production team, and began looking for my fly on the wall place. Prior to commencing the shoot, Chloe stood front and center on set, welcomed every single person involved with the shoot that day by name, and thanked everyone for being there. She then discussed goals for the day and gave clear direction on what we were there to accomplish. It was very motivating. Then the music started...more

I had the honor of being a featured photographer in Dance Lifestyle magazine's Fall 2017 issue !more

I had the pleasure of photographing the lead actors of Bring It On: Worldwide #Cheersmack , from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment, for the August 2017 issue of Inside Cheerleading.

The shoot was held at Millennium Dance Complex in Hollywood. The issue hit stands before the film became available and served as a sneak peek into the film, so the challenge was to photograph the actors without giving too much away. Although the film itself is competitive in nature, there was a general camaraderie between the actors on set. They got on really well, so it was a relatively easy task. We played up the relationships and dynamics between their characters, while also showcasing a bit of their own personalities, keeping it fun and light.

Inside Dance also ran a shorter feature about the dance portions of Bring It On in their September issue. It was nice to see the images and story get additional life.more

I had the pleasure of photographing dancer and choreographer, Val Chmerkovskiy at Millineum Dance Complex in North Hollywood for the May 2017 Cover of Inside Dance Magazine.

You may know Val from Dancing With The Stars. For season 20, he was paired with actress and singer Rumer Willis , earning his first mirrorball. For season 23, he was partnered with Olympic gymnast Laurie Hernandez , earning his 2nd mirrorball. For season 24, he was partnered with Fifth Harmony singer Normani Kordei. They made it to the finals and finished in third place. He has also partnered with Zendaya, coming in second place in season 16, behind Derek Hough and Kellie Pickler. more

On Saturday, April 29th, APA Los Angeles presented its Sixth Annual Off The Clock Curated Personal Photography Exhibition. The opening reception was held at Santa Monica Art Studios. On view for one night only, after the exhibition, the images will rotate through some of the most creative advertising agencies in Los Angeles, including Saatchi LA , and Ignited.

Nearly 1,000 images were submitted by photographers showing the personal side of their artistry. Only one hundred images were selected for the exhibition. This year's curator was Elizabeth Avedon. You can read her Curator Statement and find out more about her process for selecting the images on her blog.

This year, I was honored to have 3 images selected for the exhibition...more

2016 ended on a high note wth fitness and wellness entrepreneur Tracy Anderson for photographed for the January 2017 cover of Inside Dance Magazine !

I was familiar with Tracy from her work with clients such as Madonna, Shakira, and Jennifer Lopez, to name a few, (I mean who hasn't obsessed over Madonna's arms, Shakira's torso, and J'Los backside ? Come on, be honest). I also knew that she had trained in dance from an early age and had initially hoped to become a professional dancer. I was super excited to meet her.

When she arrived at Millennium Dance Complex , our location for the day, I was immediately impressed with her strong facial features, gorgeous smile, and of course, her physique. We introduced ourselves, went over our plan for the day, and what to except during the shoot.more

I am pleased to announce that for the second time, I have images that have been selected by the Jury for an Honorable Mention in the International Photography Awards !

The first image, Balance, was selected in two categories, the Advertising: Self-Promotion Category as well as the People: Other Category. This image was also selected for APA Los Angeles' Off The Clock 2016 Curated Photography Exhibition , which was curated by Julie Grahame of aCurator.com and is currently on rotation at some of the most creative advertising agencies in Los Angeles, including Saatchi LA, and Ignited.

The second image, Gretchen, was selected in the People: Portrait Category. This image was also chosen by award-winning photographer Art Streiber for the Los Angeles Center Of Photography's First Annual "The Creative Portrait" Exhibition .more

Last month I had the pleasure of photographing Ms. Debbie Allen at her home for Inside Dance Magazine. Ms. Allen has been an icon in my family for years. Of course there was Fame- Who doesn't remember her character Lydia Grant's classic line- “You got big dreams? You want fame? Well, fame costs. And right here’s where you start payin’. In sweat !”

With a list of accolades including actress, choreographer, dancer, film director, television director, television producer, at 66 years young, she is still going strong. And just like the article so expertly captures, she is still real, raw, and inspiring. It was an absolute joy to photograph her.

You have 2 ways to get your copy of the magazine ! #1) Download the digital version by searching 'Inside Dance' in your app store! #2) Order a print copy at www.ShopInsideNation.com.

To learn more about Ms. Debbie Allen and the work she is doing, including Freeze Frame, which is debuting at the Kennedy Center in New York City on October 27th, please visit the Debbie Allen Dance Academy website. You can also follow her on Instagram. To see the entire spread please visit the website. more

The first thing I noticed about Areana Lopez, was her gorgeous smile.

Areana, who goes by Ari, started dancing when she was 2 years old, and is a member of the Abby Lee Dance Company Mini Team that is featured in Season 6 of Dance Moms.

It didn't take long into our 4th of July themed shoot, for her exuberant personality to shine through.

A true professional, she dances about 20 hours each week. With each click of the shutter, her talent became more and more evident, and her confidence radiated.

Her energy and passion were not only admirable, but contagious.

She struck me as a free-spirit who is not only beautiful inside and out, but knows what she wants to accomplish and is focused on achieving it.

Ari is multi talented. She also helps her Mom, Sari Lopez, with sewing and merchandising for her Kandi Kouture Dancewear line, which she founded in 2014. She also models for the company,more

This past Saturday APA Los Angeles presented its Fifth Annual Off The Clock Curated Personal Photography Exhibition - an official MOPLA exhibition.

Photographers showing the personal side of their artistry submitted nearly 1,000 images. This year's curator, Julie Grahame of aCurator.com selected one hundred images for the exhibition.

I was honored to have one image and 2 diptychs selected for the exhibition.

The opening reception was held at Santa Monica Art Studios.

On view for one night only, after the exhibition, the images will rotate through some of the most creative advertising agencies in Los Angeles, including Saatchi LA , and Ignited. more

Recent fashion editorial for the Spring 2016 issue of West Hollywood Magazine, shot at Burn 60 Studios and various other locations in West Hollywood.

Stylists Art Hunter and Brandon Nicholas . Makeup by Garret Gervais for Grid Agency . Hair by Sara Tintari. more

One of the most rewarding experiences about being a photographer is that you get to work with some pretty talented people. Sometimes those collaborations result in your work being exhibited.

The below image was shot at the new Arts District Los Angeles Photo Collective in downtown Los Angeles. It was a collaboration with costume designer Heather Lerma of Heather's Pretty World . In the photo, Heather's daughter Gretchen is wearing the tutu which Heather created for the "dream scene" in the ballet Raymonda . Gretchen is a beautiful dancer. I am pleased with the way the image captures her quiet beauty and grace.

The exhibition was juried by award-winning photographer Art Streiber. 141 photographers submitted entries for the exhibition, representing over 800 works of art. Of these, 53 images were chosen from 41 different artists.

Opening reception was held November 6th. The show runs through February 1, 2016. You can find additional details about LACP and about the exhibition itself on the LACP website.more

This past Saturday the Santa Monica College Photography Department presented its Fifth Semi-Annual Alumni Show at Santa Monica College. The exhibition showcased the work of former Santa Monica College students, myself included. Below are the two images on display.

Dancer, Kim Gingras , photographed in West Hollywood, CA. for West Hollywood Magazine's Winter 2014 issue.

Actor Raihan Baqui, photographed in West Hollywood, CA. for my new series, In Water.

The show will be running at Santa Monica College's Dreshcher Hall through November 6th. Santa Monica College is located at 1900 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405.

And thank you to Matt Kamimura for the additional photos.more

This past Saturday The Los Angeles Center of Photography (LACP) presented its Second Annual Members' Exhibition at the dnj Gallery in Bergamot Station.

Juried by Patricia Lanza of the Annenberg Foundation, the exhibition showcased the work of LACP Members. 129 people submitted totaling 730 images. Of these images, 50 were selected representing 46 artists. The below image of dancer, Melanie Mah was one of my images selected !

It was an incredible turnout !

The show will be running through August 29 at the dnj Gallery in Bergamot Station, located at 2525 Michigan Ave., Suite J1, Santa Monica, CA 90404.

You can also order a Second Annual LACP Members' Exhibition Book through Blurb !more

How long have you been a dancer ?

I have been a dancer my whole life but I started going technique classes in high school so about 10 years now .

What made you start ?

I grew up being dragged to my older sisters dance competitions. I have always been a doer not as much of an observer so I always wanted to join in not just watch. I was denied this chance when I was younger. I was an athlete and an actor but then a friend needed a male for a dance piece in high school and I jumped at the opportunity. It was like I was fulfilling this childhood desire I had always had .

If you had not become a dancer what might you be doing ?

If I had not become a dancer I would probably be a doctor. I always wanted to be a pediatrician, probably because I would watch ER saturday mornings rather than cartoons. I minored in kineisiology in college but never followed through with premed.

Art would be a part of my life though as it is an equal part of me .

What’s the most difficult part of being a dancer ?

I think the most difficult part of being a dancer is the constant need to be better and the inner self doubt that we all go through. While it drives us to be better it really does take a toll overtime on the psyche. Am I good enough? Can I stretch my leg higher? Can I have more control? This desire to constantly perfect creates an unattainable level of difficulty. I think this has a lot to do with how dance is becoming harder and harder as the years go on.more

I had the pleasure of photographing Greek women's wear designer, Michail Sykianakis, in his West Hollywood studio for the March / April 2015 issue of West Hollywood Magazine. Upon meeting Michail, he immediately wanted to know how much Greek I spoke. Sadly, I informed him that I spoke very little, and understood even less. Fortunately this did not deter him. He welcomed me openly, moving excitedly about his studio speaking of Greece, New York, his passion for design, and his aspirations for the future of his collection in what has to be one of the most beautiful accents I have ever heard. His passion and excitement were infections and the dresses were absolutely gorgeous. I wanted to try on every single one of them !

Here is the shot that made the magazine.

The image was captured using the Leica S with Fashion Editor Bruno Lima and Creative Director Matthew Morgan on set to set the tone and direction for the shoot. You can check out the digital version of the issue here.more

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of shooting a dance cover story for the Winter 2014 issue of West Hollywood Magazine . Photographed using the Leica S and 35mm and 70mm CS lenses, the shoot took place high above Sunset Boulevard on the rooftop of the Andaz Hotel , a hip boutique hotel located in West Hollywood, CA. The direction for the shoot was to showcase the talents of 8 professional dancers- Kim Gingras , Taylor James , Melanie Mah , Michael Silas, Vincent Noiseux , and twins Jayme Rae and Jenny Dailey. more

Meet Rachel and Rebekah Rife !

I had the pleasure of photographing these two lovely ladies back in September. I was really moved by their calm energy, how in sync they were with one another, and those gorgeous eyes !

How long have you been synchronized swimmers? We have been synchronized swimming for 23 years, swimming is easier for us than walking!

What made you start? We had a year of speed swimming under our belts and our dad would always stop and watch the synchro swimmers during his bike rides and he decided we should give it a try.

If you had not become synchronized swimmers, what might you be doing? We always loved the discipline and structure of organized sports as well as the team aspects. We would probably have chosen to swim or play water polo year round as opposed to just one season a year, which is all the time synchro allowed for. Perhaps we would have explored more land sports and saw what stuck. Beach volleyball, gymnastics and snowboarding are three sports we admire and love to watch!

What’s the most difficult part of synchronized swimming? Synchro is very physically demanding and takes a lot of flexibility and strength. We are judged on the degree of difficulty and artistic impression of our routines. To look elegant, effortless and not miss a count all while spending half a routine underwater is part of the complexity and difficulty of the sport. To train properly for national and international competitions takes 35+ hours a week of practice with lots of cross training.more

Continuing on a tradition started last year, we decided to do another Back To School Shoot. This year the Jitterbugs (plus Cousin Dougie who relocated to Los Angeles this summer) entered Kindergarten, 3rd, and 7th grade respectively. The initial inspiration for this shoot was to play upon their individual school personas ("too school for school", the "teacher's pet", and the "class clown"). I had scouted the grounds of a gymnasium for the shoot, however en route to the gymnasium we came upon this particular alley way and I was immediately drawn to the light playing off the brick wall as well as the art on the wall itself, so we pulled over and shot there. Armed with three literary classics from my personal collection (Nathaniel Hawthorne's The House Of The Seven Gables , Oscar Wilde's The Picture Of Dorian Gray , and Homer's Iliad ), the Jitterbugs let loose and had some fun.

While the Jitterbugs head back to school, I plan to acquire some new knowledge as well by attending APA LA At A Glance and Stand Out Photographic Forum. more

Meet Dani. Narcissist. Musician. Tatoo Artist.

How long have you been tattooing ?

I have been tattooing professionally for 5 years- however, I started off as a body piercer, so I suppose I’ve been in the body modification industry for about 7 years total now. I still do both, and love both.

What made you start ?

There was nothing else that I could do as a job that would’ve made me want to wake up and go to work in the morning. I have a million hobbies (from flying Cessnas to writing short stories to gardening and caring for carnivorous plants) yet I realized by my 18th birthday that none of my interests could provide much, at least financially speaking.

If you had not become a tattoo artist what might you be doing ?

Oh. I guess I answered that in the last question. Rock star would’ve been nice.

Who or what inspires you ?

My mother. And a ton of different musicians.

How many tattoos do you have ?

I’m not quite sure how to count- for example, my right arm used to be 16 individual tattoos. In one sitting, we added a cohesive background connecting it all, so now it’s technically one big tattoo. I have three on my left arm, two on my neck, the right side of my head is covered, one on my ear, one in my mouth, a full chest piece (in progress), a stomach piece, a little one on my ribs, about ten little ones on my hands, that full sleeve on my right arm I had mentioned, both feet are covered, and my legs are heavily, HEAVILY tattooed. And my best friends lips on my butt.more

I was pleased to be one of this year's 100 selected artists for APA Los Angeles' 2014 Off The Clock Curated Exhibition , curated by Britt Salvesen from LACMA . The opening reception was held last night at the Helms Bakery Building and was a featured event of MOPLA .

The 100 selected images will be displayed for 2 months respectively at three of the top advertising agencies in the country- TBWA\Chiat\Day , Deustch Inc , and Ignited. They will also be displayed at Photo LA in January 2015.

Each of the selected artists in the exhibition receives an artist book. The book is also given to the creative teams at each agency that attends the exhibition as well as the sponsors who support the event. The book is also given to the creatives that participate in the portfolio reviews held twice a year. My image is on page 75.more

Motivation is the driving force behind effort and accomplishment. Yet, even the most motivated of us can feel unmotivated at times. I am no exception. The past several months have been difficult to say the least. Major surgery followed by a personal loss left me challenged in ways I had never been challenged before. Here are some ways I stay motivated even in the toughest of times.

1. Make a plan. Write it down. Seems pretty obvious, but putting your goals on paper brings them to life. It gets them out of your head and brings them one step closer to being. I make personal and professional goals at the beginning of every year. The actions and decisions that I make throughout the year are guided by these goals. I stay motivated by working purposefully to actualize them. Whenever I feel stuck, I simply take a look at my goals, see where I am and get busy !

2. Find support. Surround yourself with people whom you admire. I have been doing this since I can remember (Really. Pretty much since 3rd or 4th grade). I choose like-minded people with whom I not only share common interests and goals, but people who share a similar work ethic, drive, and ambition; people with whom I can share ideas and ask for advice; people who help hold me accountable for doing what I say I am going to do.more

The below series of images featuring Jordan Cann of The Movement Talent Agency "tricking" was recently awarded Bronze in the 2013 One Eyeland Awards Advertising Self Promotion Professional category !

Jordan (a.k.a. JorDance, a.k.a. "the dancing ninja") is a dancer, martial artist, actor, and all around nice guy. You can catch him in the upcoming Celine Dion music video, "Incredible," and new boy band To Be One's upcoming music video. You can also check out his latest project "Vampire's Rage" .

Visit One Eyeland 's website to see the complete list of winners. Visit my website to see larger images.more

As I reflect on the previous year, I am reminded of this quote by Bruce Lee, “Adapt what is useful, reject what is useless, and add what is specifically your own.” Seems simple enough.

What were the year’s highs and lows ? What were the successes and failures ? What worked ? What didn’t ? And how can I learn from it ?

I chose to share the below collage not only because I feel the images represent some of my more successful images of the previous year, but also because they reinforce my vision as a photographer- to capture images that celebrate the formal, athletic, whimsical, and sometimes unexpected nature of movement.

Yet, while I chose to focus on the successes for the purposes of this blog post, as any artist will likely tell you, they are never satisfied. As Marie Dressler so perfectly put it, “You are only as good as your last picture.”

Though many of these images will likely form the basis for my updated portfolio, as I move forward into 2014 I will continue to adapt, reject, add, and refine who I am as an artist in an effort to create work that I can be proud of, yet never too comfortable with, if that makes any sense.

You can see larger versions of these images and more by visiting the website .more

Yes. I know. Another "top ten" list, but this one’s not about me or my work. It’s about something far more important. It is a list of charities and organizations that you can contribute to to help those in need. This is by no means a random list. Nor is it meant to be conclusive. Certainly there are a plethora of great and worthy charitable organizations out there. This particular list happens to reflect those that I support and have been directly affected by in some way, which I guess does make it a little about me. I won't bore you with personal stories here, however. Simply use this as a starting point to inspire you, not just this holiday season but at any time of the year. Heck, all year round for that matter and spread the love !

1. SANDY is a book of iPhone Photos of Hurricane Sandy by acclaimed photographers published by Daylight Books which will be distributed in 2014. 100% of the royalties will be donated to Occupy Sandy to support rebuilding efforts in the New York City area and Sandy Storyline.

Image © Benjamin Lowy and is strictly for viewing purposes. more

1. The best Mother on the planet, hands down.

2. A beautiful family and supportive husband

3. A sound mind, body, and spirit

4. A place to call home

5. Freedom

6. Opportunity

7. Life lessons

8. The kindness of strangers and the generosity of friends

9. The air I breathe

10. Waking up every day

Bonus: The privilege to do what I love to do and to make images such as these (featuring Gymnast, Lee Squire of ANP Stunt Association) !

P.S. Visit the website to see full color version.

Update: Was just informed that this image, inspired by Herb Ritts , was a finalist in the 2013 One Eyeland Photography Awards in the Advertising Self-Promotion category !more

This image of Vinicios "Vinny" Silva of ANP Stunt Association ( which I previously blogged about on Monday, September 16th ) was recently awarded Second Place in The 2013 National APA Awards Action category. How cool is that ?!?!?! I'm very honored and very proud.

Here is the nifty banner that I now get to display on my site ! You can view all of the winners as well as the gallery here on the National APA website.

And just for fun, here are some other (non-photography related) honors and awards that I have earned at one point or another :-)

Honor Society

Valedictorian

1st chair- flute

The Presidential Physical Fitness Award

The Voice Of Democracy Award

50 yard dash school record

broad jump school record

"Best Mommy Ever"

Have a wonderful week !more

With almost 20k Twitter followers and 20k Facebook followers respectively, it’s easy to see why so many people are crazy about Jean Carlos Lloret, better known as B-Boy Bebo. From his infectious smile and magnetic personality to his unmistakable talent, one minute with him and I was hooked too. Our shoot was reminiscent of my years living in New York City where I immersed myself in the club scene witnessing raw talent emerge in the streets and on the dance floors of underground clubs throughout the five boroughs.

It also reminded me of one of the reasons I started photographing dancers in the first place. It’s that feeling that you get when you watch someone doing something that you love, something that they love, something that they are really really good at. It’s an undeniable energy that gets inside you.

Since he ImAgInEd it, this self-taught B-Boy’s star has continued to rise. Some of his many credits include the movie Step Up 4, America’s Best Dance Crew Season 6, and So You Think You Can Dance (check out Mary Murphy's reaction to his audition!) Most recently he performed with Austin Mahone on the 2013 VMAs and had the honor of representing his Latino culture on the 2013 Alma Awards. more

These two images featuring the lovely Genevieve, a technically trained dancer with experience in ballet, jazz, modern, pop, Bollywood, belly-dance, samba, and Tahitian, reveal telling details about me and my style of photography.

I like contrast (dark vs. light; hard vs. soft; clean vs. edgy).

I like simplicity.

I like shadows.

I like texture.

I like backs.

Yes, in case you haven't figured it out already, I'm obsessed with the human body, or more specifically to borrow from my elevator speech, with “the beauty, passion and overall essence of the human creative impulse” which is why I primarily photograph dancers and athletes. Though I am drawn to the formal, athletic, and whimsical nature of movement (there's that elevator speech again), every now and then it's fun to slow down and focus on the details often captured in the moments in between: the lines, bone structure, hand gestures, subtle tilt of the head, and the slight imperfections that reveal how human we really are...

Have a wonderful rest of the week !more

During a recent shoot with Vinicios "Vinny" Silva of ANP Stunt Association, I was reminded of a quote by Bruce Lee: "There are no limits. There are plateaus, but you must not stay there, you must go beyond them. A man must constantly exceed his level. If you're not better than you were the day before, then what are you doing—what's the point?"

Practitioners of freerunning and parkour aim to overcome obstacles in their environment, using their bodies and their surroundings to propel themselves. This involves not only athletic skill, but also discipline, training, and confidence. To me, this is synonymous with overcoming obstacles in life. What obstacles stand in the way of you and your dreams? Of you becoming a better you? Whether your dream is to become a better photographer, mother, father, friend, musician, athlete, dancer, or simply a better human being, have confidence in yourself and in your abilities. Propel yourself forward. Take one day at a time and simply strive to be better than you were the day before.

Overcoming obstacles is something that we must all deal with at some point in life. What obstacles will you overcome today?more

It's back to school time ! New clothes, new books, new teachers, new friends, and (my favorite part) new knowledge! But what back to school celebration is complete without pictures ? So the Jitterbugs (my 4 and 7 year old), daddy and I packed up the car this past weekend and headed out to Stevenson Ranch for a fun back to school inspired shoot. We brought along plenty of snacks, a few of our favorite books, a positive attitude, and a playful spirit. There was just one catch...after the shoot, we had to look for lizards !

While the Jitterbugs head back to school today, I plan to acquire some new knowledge this month as well when I attend these two upcoming events: ASMP's Business As Unusual with Deb Pang Davis on September 11th, and APA LA's Behind The Promo with Agency Access on September 25th.

Enjoy the photos and have a wonderful week !more

My love of martial arts began in early childhood. I have very fond memories of curling up on the couch with my family and indulging in Bruce Lee marathons. My sister, nephew, and I would spend hours practicing all the moves (and tearing up the house !) and even had Bruce Lee trading cards. As a child the fascination was more about the action, showmanship, and butt-kicking abilities. Being able to fight like that was akin to having super powers. Now it has grown into more of a respect and admiration for (all forms of ) the art itself and the principles that it embodies.

-Self control

-Self discipline

-Self confidence

-Respect

-Focus

I feel that these images of Master Davis Chong of Musa Martial Arts Academy embody those principles.

With that said, one of my favorite images from the shoot is an action shot ! And he does look like he can kick some major butt. You can view it on the website.

Have a wonderful weekend !more

While a photography student at Santa Monica College, I had the privilege of hearing photographer Matthew Jordan Smith speak about three ways to enhance your life :

1. The people we meet

2. The places we go

3. The books we read

Today, I share with you 3 books that have enhanced my life as a photographer, 2 of which are a direct result of a place I went and people I met while there.

During SMC photography department 's annual camping trip one semester, I was one of a select few fortunate enough to be invited to the Kim Weston 's home. After touring the home, enjoying a presentation of his work, and hearing personal stories about his grandfather and the Weston legacy, we were then invited to hear photographers Al Weber, Ted Orland, and Huntington Witherill speak. It was here that I was introduced tomore

In honor of what would have been Herb Ritts ’ 61st birthday, I present six of his images that rank amongst my all time favorites. They not only represent what I love most about his work, his celebration of the human body as strong, sensuous, and beautiful, but they also highlight the hallmarks of his work: simple backgrounds, clean lines, strong forms, and graphic simplicity. I love the emphasis on the shapes of limbs and muscles, playful use of props, and the abstract and expressive poses. All of these aspects have played a role in shaping my aesthetic and form the basis for my work with athletes and dancers- to create images of iconic moments that are suspended in space and time.

Whether producing portraits, music videos, commercials, iconic album covers, fashion editorials, or successful advertising campaigns, Herb Ritts’ work and career represent the broad possibilities of artistic activity and cement his place in my book of inspiration.more

I write this post with butterflies in my stomach...for two reasons. One, this is my first official blog post. Two, this promo card marks the start of my first official marketing campaign- a two-tiered campaign that was sent out to approximately 1,400 creatives ! Needless to say, I am very excited and nervous at the same time. As for the image itself, it was taken a few weeks ago and features the lovely star athlete and dancer, Laura Beamer . Laura is a member of ANP Stunt Association. I've recently had the privilege of collaborating with several other ANP members and will be sharing images from those shoots in the weeks to come. To see more of my work, please visit my website. more