Category : Portraits

A Family Portrait Session for The Source Weekly – Bend, Oregon

I had the opportunity last week to go out and do a family portrait photoshoot for a good cause.  The Source Weekly was running an article about a family who left their dog Zoe at a kennel for three days to only come back and find their dog was ill.  After much undercover work from the family, it turned out that Zoe had been beaten by one of the employees at the kennel and sustained a multitude of injuries – including six broken ribs.  Now the family is looking into what they can do to tighten up the laws regulating kennels not only in the state of Oregon but thoughout the country.

I’m happy to say that Zoe and the Burton family were in great spirits when I came over for the photoshoot and I want to thank both John and Caren for their hospitality in letting me into their home.  I look forward to keeping up the Burton’s success in changing kennel regulations and applaud them for their efforts.  As you all know, Wendy and I have two of our own dogs and I’m sure all of you pet owners out there are on the same wave length with me when I say that this should never have happened and should never happen again! For the full story please click on this link:  The Source Weekly

A beautiful portrait for a beautiful dog.

The Burton Family

Business Portraits With Jeff Coffey Of StreamiT Media

My friend Jeff Coffey is a true visionary and his company StreamiT Media has been working frantically on an exciting project that will change how video content will be dealt with on the web.  Wanting to make sure he had his business portraits set when INC.com calls him up for a cover shot, Jeff and I spent one morning recently working together.  We always have a great time together in social or work settings and this was no different.

I’ve always had an interest in fashion/interior design/architecture, (maybe it’s my Italian roots showing through) and even though I never went to school for it or worked in the industry, I’m seeing that looking at all those GQ, Elle Decor, etc. magazines when I was younger wasn’t a waste of time as it really helps me to envision lots of options during a photoshoot and in this case allowed me to manipulate his wardrobe choices to get the results you see below.   Please take a look at their website for more information:  StreamiT Media

Phoenix, Arizona And All The Festive Cheer One Could Ever Imagine

Wendy and I just got back from spending a week visiting my parents down in Phoenix.  For one, (and I’m not saying this because they’re going to read this) my parents rock, and the older I get the more I realize this and love them all the more.  They have so much positive energy it’s easy to understand where I get my love of life!  I’ll tell you though, I wasn’t expecting much from the weather, (because it usually ends up getting cold just as we arrive), but I really was hoping for temps in the 80’s.  Nope, yet again a cold front flows in and 50-60 temps prevent me from getting that tan I desperately wanted.

The images below are from a number of different moments during the trip.  My parents live fairly close to some amazing hiking trails call the White Tanks, so I took a camera with me and spent about 10 minutes photoshooting Wendy next to this huge cactus.  I love walking around in areas that are nothing like where we live.  Super picturesque and amazing colors!

The other images are of my parents church choir prior to mass beginning.  My mother was a professional opera singer prior to the birth of my brother and I and she continually amazes everyone with her voice.  My father has been singing in the choir for a number of years and seems to have found a new love in his voice!  The final images are of this house that wins the Christmas Spirit Award…enough said.

That’s Wendy getting a little too close to a LARGE cactus.

My mom, Ninfi Roe, dazzling hundreds of Midnight Mass goers with her soprano solo.  Just beautiful…

My father, Byron Roe, Sr., in the gray suit – singing baritone with the fellow choir.

The most elaborate house of Christmas lights I have EVER seen!

…it made the Phoenix news….did you know their electric bill is $800 for the month of December?

Max King Of Bend, Oregon Wins XTERRA Trail Run Worlds 2009

Back when we had an autumn in Bend, Oregon this year, I got the chance to go out with Max King for a photoshoot.  With more evergreens than deciduous trees in Central Oregon you have to know where to go for some color so I took him up to a very unusual spot that has a very dense but small area of aspens surrounded by green for miles.  Even though the colors were amazing the temperature was in the 40’s so my hat goes off to Max who not only stuck it out during the photoshoot but had a great attitude as well.  Max looks in top form as he just claimed his second title as XTERRA trail running world champion about a week ago in Ka’a'awa, Oahu-Hawaii.  About a month ago he won the USA Track and Field National Trail Marathon (six days after finishing 18th at the New York City Marathon).  Congrats Max!

Charity Auctions And Cover Shots For The Source Weekly In Bend, Oregon

Last week my friend Elise and I met at Powell’s Candy in downtown Bend, Oregon to meet up with the Big Brother/Big Sister couple and their “little” Mac for the cover photoshoot.  Having been in education prior to beginning full time as a photographer and starting my own business I’ve worked at most of the schools in the area as a substitute teacher.  So when Mac came up to me and asked, “were you a teacher ever?” I gave him a sly smile and before I could think of a good line I was laughing, since I did remember him in classes and it’s so common for me to have kids come up and ask, “are you Mr. Roe”?.  Ah, they grow up so quick!

So at 9:00am in the morning it’s not super warm out and I’m having Mac sit on a blisteringly cold metal bench while I shoot photos of him for the inside shot.  Mac’s not too into the whole thing and can only think about his freezing bottom so the brick wall ends up being a better choice as he gave more than a painful expression!  The cover shot was just as fun and after experimenting with having the “bigs” do rabbit ears to Mac with the lollipops I wanted to create this look where the two adults were the ones with the candy (looking more like kids) than Mac.  I’m happy with the results as it creates a fun subtle air for an important cause.

In addition, I donated a really cool framed print of the Painted Hills to be auctioned off.  So come on and put your money to a good cause!  You can access it online at www.tsweekly.com/

Tiffany Anderson Senior Photos – Downtown Bend, Oregon And Drake Park

It’s always a bit funny finding people at a coffee shop when you don’t know what they look like.   I try to get eye contact with people and wait for a look that says “yep, I have no clue who I’m looking for as well”.  That’s the goal, but what really happens is those people your really trying to meet up with are on the other side of the store and the person you decided to take an extended glance at ends up looking quite bewildered at you.  Luckily, all I had to do was search for the best dressed teenager around me and found Tiffany, her boyfriend Shane and mother waiting patiently.

This was probably one of the last days where I could get some fall colors into the shots so we went to Drake Park and also spent some time in downtown Bend where the sun was lighting up this blazing red tree.  Tiffany was a natural in front of the camera and I think this came partly from her excitement at having, as she said, “waited four years for this day”.  Thanks Tiffany, Gina and Shane for the fun day!