Help Create a Smile

October is Family Portrait Month and as a member of the PPA (Professional Photographers of America) I am participating in Operation Smile for PPA Charities. The program helps children with cleft palettes afford surgery to correct the problem and create a beautiful smile. Here is a slideshow from PPA Charities and Operation Smile. I will donate proceeds from every portrait session that I do in October. Which by the way would be an incredible time to get some beautiful fall colors in your photography. So please view the slideshow and consider that if you book with me for the month of October you will be helping to create a smile.

Riverfest Cincinnati!!!

I braved the half a million plus crowd on Sunday night to watch the WEBN Riverfest Fireworks over the Ohio river. I decided to get an early start (which ended up not being early enough) and snapped some quick photos of the fireworks. It was difficult to find a vantage point as Devou park had well over a thousand people attending. Over 500,000 people from the Cincinnati, Covington, and Newport areas gathered in and around downtown for the show. Enjoy...(Some of my AC Nielsen Bases clients may recognize your building in the shots)

AVP Crocs Tour Cinci

The AVP Crocs Tour stopped in Cincinnati again this year and I got the chance to go. I have been playing beach volleyball for 6 years now and I didn't want to pass up a chance to see Misty May and Kerri Walsh, or Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers. A special thanks to everyone who said no to going with me because since I bought a single ticket I was able to sit courtside directly behind Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers. The other Olympic Women's team of Elaine Youngs and Nicole Branagh were there as well. Even though their medals weren't with them it is the closest I'll probably ever get to a Gold. Phil is so tall he makes it look so easy, but he is actually very quick and able to get all of his 6 foot 9 inches down to the sand for digs if he needs to.

Here are some pics from my prime seats...

Misty and Kerri waiting for the serve


Misty May - Treanor spike


Stretch Walshstrong


Misty May - Treanor serve


Misty May - Treanor dig


Misty May - Treanor


Walsh missed block


Super Serve from Dalhausser


Stretch DalStrong - All without touching the net


This is how close I sat to them...no zoom on this one


Elaine Youngs signing autographs after her match


Serve by Nicole Branaugh


Nicole Branagh spike, block by Jen Boss


Elaine Youngs jump serve


April Ross jump serve


April Ross block


Since there is not a lot of fabric real estate for logos and sponsorship the players don temporary tattoos

Exciting NEWS!!!

It has definitely been far too long since my last blog post and I am going to start keeping up so that you all can see what I have been up to. I will have quite a few posts in the next week to catch up on some fun sessions that I have had recently. Many of you may know that I have been in the Cincinnati area since July. I have been extending my stay after all of the new interest in my portrait photography.

In the next couple of weeks look for a post about my TWO new websites launching. I have some exciting new things to share and look forward to the next few months.

Paige and Sam

My first shoot in Cincinnati was with two wonderful little girls, sisters Paige and Sam. We had some fun on the playground and tried out some knock-knock jokes! Thanks for a a fun time girls and thanks to you your mom Vicki for cutting loose a little bit and playing some tag. Here are some of my favorites from the session...

Happy Holidays from the McClain's

Hey guys I have been real busy the past few weeks in my new venture with Eclipse Studios, but wanted to say hi and hope that my absence will not keep you from checking back in. I will be migrating this to a more personal blog, as you can stay updated on my photography over at the new Eclipse Studios Blog

Jim and Adrienne

Wanted to say thanks to Heather Essian for having us photograph Jim and Adrienne's wedding with her. We met Heather through Pictage, which many of you may know is one of the professional labs that we use to print your amazing photographs. The wedding and reception were at the Royal Park Hotel in Rochester, MI. A very elegant venue to have your wedding. It was a bit cold but all of the excitement and emotion warmed everyone up. Thank's Jim and Adrienne! I wish you the best and can see that you will make a wonderful life together.