Expression

I've always intended to use my blog as a photoblog, but I sometimes forget it's a way that I can express myself with words instead of images. I have this really, really bad habit of not expressing my feelings or thoughts or experiences I have had, after photographing people or just in general for that matter. My focus after the shoot, is to just get the work done! I think I learned that from my workaholic Dad, I love You Dad :D I come across blogs, fan pages, websites etc. that really dig into content and expression about photography sessions, emotional experiences and just plain old story telling. I think I have done myself a dis-service by not sharing more and not expressing more! So I have decided to make this a NEW goal to talk about, express & share my thoughts and experiences, and not keep them so bottled up :D

I remember when I had a Hmmmmmm moment about actions & different tweak styles. I look back on that and all I can think is how I was wasting time. BUT, I was being true to myself and I always think you should do that too!

LaVell

Today I had the privilege of meeting LaVell Edwards at his home in Provo, Utah. I was asked to shoot still images for an upcoming documentary about him (More pix & info about the documentary to come).

LaVell is a very kind, spiritual and humble man. I was very impressed with his competitive nature, his honesty and of course his beautiful flower gardens. He was showing me his day lilies after the interview, they literally bloom for a single day and then they are done. He takes much pride in his gardening. I felt very peaceful and calm while I was with him, it kind of made me feel like I had a grandpa again, my Grandpa Lloyd has been gone since I was 10 years old..........I sure miss him!! But I sure treasured the time with LaVell this morning :D

Veteran's Day Remembered

I wanted to publically Thank all of the past and present Veteran's for giving me the freedom to live in this amazing land, have free speech, free choice and MANY, MANY other rights.
I love my job as a people photographer and I would NOT be able enjoy this right and blessing with out you all! You are not forgotten, you are appreciated and loved....Thank You Very Much!

Sincerely,
Michael

9-11 NOT forgotten

Did you take a moment in your busy schedule today to remember those who died and lost loved ones on this anniversary of the 9-11 attacks? We live in a land rich in happiness, blessing's and most of all FREEDOM. There are so many that would love to have what we Americans have and in some cases they might appreciate it more too!!
I felt overwhelmed today when I thought about this and really remembered this anniversary and also those who get up each and EVERY DAY to protect and preserve our FREEDOM'S. Count your many blessing's and may GOD continue to bless this GREAT Nation that we all LOVE.

A little Jeepin' above American Fork Canyon

So my good buddy Mike, a.k.a. Dr.Mike or to me, my Awesome dentist, decided to take 5 today. 5 hours that is, up above Tibble Fork Lake in American Fork Canyon. Sometimes you have to stop and smell the roses and realize why you work so hard! In this case we stopped to smell some very clean and fresh air above the city sprawl. As many of you know I'm programmed to work only (see: nightowlphotoholic post) but today I decided to enjoy shooting some scenery and a few details here in this beautiful state of Utah, that I call home.

We met at the crack of dawn, the sun wasn't even up yet. (my kind of hours) The top was off of the Rubicon, the air was brisk! Fall is definitely in the air. Our first stop was at Tibble Fork to take a few shots and let out some air in the tires to ready the rubber for the rocks.

We followed the windey black top up until we met the dirt road. This was our next stop for a shot, it was the back side of Mount Timpanogos. The next stop was just above Silver Lake Flats ish, when I say ish I mean we didn't GPS it :) We crossed over a little stream and then back over it a couple of minutes later. Mike and I heard that there was another Lake up above Silver Lake Flats so we jeeped up a sweet rocky and slick runoff path, way up on the mountain side that came to an old mine shaft at a dead end. Talk about a 10 point turn on a cliff! Mike's a very experienced, safe and smart driver. After all of that maneuvering I asked Mike if he thought that, that was a little hairy? He replied, "Ya a Little." With a Big Smile. LOL!

On our way back down to where we crossed over the little stream I shot some very wet flower pix, they were beautiful with the morning sun. Next we headed up to the back side of Mineral Basin and at the top there was a huge gate with a No Trespassing sign on it, that kept up from literally climbing over the top of the mountain! Darn gate. We stopped for a bit and harassed a squirrel, took some more flower pix and just took in the absolute beauty of Gods wonderful creation's. What more can I say? We had a blast and we were both back in our office's just in time for lunch :)

Jeep Man!

Tibble Fork East view ^

Tibble Fork, South view. Photo of the morning ^

East side of Mount Timpanogos ^

Little stream near Silver Lake Flats ^

ROCK on Mike!

Did someone say.....OZZY?

There were beautiful flower's everywhere!

Finally I have a NEW website!

Okay so I finally have my NEW website and it only took me 2 months to decide on one and another month get it where it's at right now, I think they call that OCD! There's still allot to do but hey I'm only one crazy person you know, see: (Nightowlphotoholic). But I will say that it's much closer to my style than the antiquated one. The old site served it's purpose and I'm happy that I've moved on. So my guess is I'll be ready for another new one in a year or less, we'll see :)

Tell me what you think, I'm excited to hear feed back.

6 months of blogging!

Well it's been 6 months since I started this photography blog. Allot has changed in my life and with my photography style. I'm so glad to just be me again! This artist has truly begun the next stage in his photography career. I hope the next 6 months are equally fun and exciting. Thanks for taking the time to hear my thoughts and see my photography evolve :)

Cheers, Michael.

Steve and Meghan's Engagement shoot

Steve, Meghan and I had the coolest engagement shoot Tuesday night! We shot in downtown Provo and at The Castle (which I LOVE) for their engagement session. When they arrived I was sitting on a chair watching them stroll up hand in hand and they were so cute and full of excitement! Our first spot was just along the parking way between the building's. I shot wide angle first and then some cropped in detail shots of their hand's and feet. Next we went to the stinky alley way (sorry guys!) and just around the corner from their were some window's. Meghan loves windows and stairways. A few kissing shots and then off to downtown. We stopped for a few shots with a Huge AMERICAN FLAG along University Ave.

Steve, Michael and Meghan

Next a wooden bench for a few shots. The next thing we knew we had an audience of a dozen or so and it was kind of awkward for Steve and Meghan, so we moved on for a little refresher at the nearby pizza shop. I LOVE Apple Beer...yummy.

We decided to make a quick stop at the Provo City Library. We did some cool shots on the stairs, up in the rail openings and in front of the monument. The monument shots were funky wide angle and their feet looked huge!

We were now on our way back to the cars and off to The Castle.

Photo of the day (above)

We pulled up and of course 6 bazillion people were there! I said, "We are going as far away from them as possible!" When we got out of the cars, the light was already amazing and holy cow we just went nuts with all of the fun, funky and crazy shots! Mixed hats, sun-glasses, mixed together etc.
Around the corner was a cool set of stairs with just Rad lighting! I shot some through a hand rail and some with the killer sky and sunset. Just before the sun went away we shot a few more with the Steve's yodeler hat and Meghan's pee-pee hat (inside joke).

Man they were so fun!!

Ryan in Las Vegas

Solarized in two layers. Mostly hand painted for the exact look I wanted.

Infrared B&W, I love the texture. It reminds me of a still you might see in a Quentin Tarantino film. I'm torn but I think this one is my favorite.

Color Infrared, cross-processed. I love how Ryan's left hand looks like it's on fire.

So I've been putting of tweaking these images of Ryan since our trip to Vegas for WPPI. I have looked at the vanilla version for so long now that I just couldn't wait any longer. At first you may think, "WOW....What is this??" But to be honest this is what I need to do every once and a while, when I am spending allot of time touching up and perfecting the "Traditional" images and filling print orders etc. It was sure fun to tweak these images!! :)

Nightowlphotoholic; what's that??

When I was texting in between the wedding today, I came up with a crazy word that defines a certain person I know!?

So who do you get when you cross a night owl with a photographer who works and edits weddings until 6 a.m.?........Michael Lloyd, that's who.
Hence: Night Owl, Photographer, Workaholic. (Nightowlphotoholic).

Seriously this is my life and yes, I shoot good exposures in camera but...I imagine the potential of the image. I work my guts out to exceed my client's expectations and so far after 8+ years, it still works! Call me crazy, but I get so excited to see and share an image that otherwise is average.

Favorite bridal's of the day

My favorite image of the day! (above)

Off to War again?

Sweet Harley Davidson! It's the 2003, 100th Anniversary edition.

So I was dang thirsty about an hour and a half into our shoot and I decided to make a quick zip through the Taco Bell drive-thru, on our way to the next location. I ordered a 32 ounce root beer and the lady said that'll be a buck eighty two!? I was like whatever and drove up to the window. She said, "That'll be $1.82." I said 32 ounce root beer right!? Yep! In my mind I was like, are you kidding?? I was just caught off guard I guess! So apparently that's how they make up for their $ .99 bean burritos etc. By the way my favorite is with the green sauce :) Enjoy mmmmmm.

Michael having a Hmmmmmmmmm moment!

So here's the hmmmmmm moment. I just went through 2000+ emails I've been meaning to go through for the last year, spring cleaning in late May. As I looked through, trashed, and saved them I started to checkout a blog here, a website there and it occurred to me that I have to stop fighting within myself about the styles that I personally like, that I haven't been pursuing. I have been couping up my feelings about it for a while now. I have seen some real cruddy photographs, websites and blogs the last couple of years. I feel like allot of photographers are relying on actions to save their blown out images and just calling it art instead of having a properly exposed image to begin with. (just my opinion take it for what it's worth) But on the other hand I have been more inspired by the great photography that I have seen and discovered in the last 4 or 5 months. You know who you are :) I try so hard to give my clients and the moms exactly what they want and totally forget about me in the process. I live to make my clients happy and give them an awesome experience. Really since I switched from film to digital in 2004, I can honestly say that I miss film, but strongly believe that digital is tons better for my clients and 110% worth the reward! I love shooting 600+ images at a wedding. I really like digging deep inside of me to be more creative and less safe. I'll always love classic and candid photography and implement them into my shoots. I'm ready to be me again and I feel so strongly about this.