Max is passionate about running (it’s obvious) and about teaching running but he’s also one of those wonderful athletes that balances his supreme athleticism with a full-time career (he’s a chemical engineer) and family (he’s got an 8 month old!).  Above all, Max is an all-around fun guy, easy to get along with always cool, calm and collected with a smile.  Over the last few months we’ve had the opportunity to spend some quality time shooting Max for various marketing projects for some of his big sponsors: Montrail and Mountain Hardware.  Below are some of our favorites from the last few shoots out at Smith Rocks State Park and Sisters, OR and as we just found out, the covers of the new 2011 Montrail catalog and Mountain Hardware Excel Run.

Ohh la la

This was the ‘hydration’ shot   The view was spectacular though…

Max stretching before the photo shoot run   Very difficult, max effort.  he he…

One of our favs; Max has a fantastic stride, focus and dedication to his sport.

Max’s ‘All-American’ smile and portrait.

This is one of Wendy’s favs – great lighting and intensity.

Max is quite fearless, when we say jump – he jumps…across a chasm!

This was honored by making the cover of Mountain Hardware’s 2011 Excel Run Spring Catalog.

The new Montrail’s 2011 catalog cover shot

Another hydration/hero shot of Max.

One of the many classic, casual running shots out at Smith Rocks.

Max showing off ‘parkor’ style…goofing off really.  Just happy he didn’t get hurt   Oh, and he’s several feet off the ground here.

Another hero shot – that dude is strong.

Jumping over the 4 feet wide chasm.  Every time he landed, Wendy breathed a sigh of relief.

A Montrail shoe focused shot, Byron’s fav

While I am rarely at a loss for words, I struggle to articulate how excited I am to marry you.  We have both said that we know our life together is going to be amazing and so much fun and now we get to put it into action.  We make such an incredible team together, you are the perfect balance to me and I feel honored that you want me in your life forever.

When we first met, I was skeptical of meeting someone online.  But something about you drew me in even before I ever heard your voice.  Your eyes were kind and I could hear your sense of humor come through your typed words.  And everyday since we’ve met, you look at me with such sincerity and care, it makes me feel as though I am the only one in the room.  And while our first date was “interesting” to say the least, you had me laughing so hard my sides ached.  Those two traits kept me coming back for more….and more I will get!

So here is to a lifetime of raising our crazy pack of dogs, the never-ending list of home improvement projects, skiing, camping, our Sunday trips to the grocery store and planning for our next international adventure.  Whatever life holds for us, I want to do all of these things with you.  You are my best friend and I am so honored to have you in my life…

Love, Jen

Okay, we’re just going to start with a smokin’ hot one first.

‘You turn me right round baby right round, like a record baby, right round round round.’

A dainty, sweet moment

Jenni, I’m going to tell you one more time how much you rock those boots.

Fisheye love.

One of my all-time-f-a-v-o-r-i-t-e-s.

Ohhhh, classic shot of Ian.

That’s a keeper….

Here’s the second smokin’ hot one.  Get a room you two!  he he…

Pure bliss   Yum.

Love the vanishing lines here – this is classic urban chic.  You’re rockin’ it!

Thank you, to this particular graffiti artist who made my day.   Oh yeah, saved the best for last Jenni.

Here’s a sneak peek of two of our favorites from each shoot (more to come this week!) and of course, some of us goofing around in a sea of blooming cherry blossoms right off 23^rd avenue.  We hear you…and are going to be proactively posting more photos of the two of us.  Stay tuned for more of Meredith + Joe and Jenni + Ian…

We love this funky, one-of-a-kind shot   Meredith + Joe, you guys are too cute.

On the Columbia River in a brief moment of wind stall.  A shot of simple romance…

Jenni + Ian in their funky, one-of-a-kind shot!  Jenni, you’re fearless…

Love, love, love this   Blow kisses anyone?  Portland has the most fantastic urban settings…

Wendy is so classic – what a cutie

Fun with the bloooooming cherry blossoms!

My ‘give me some attitude’ look (a well used saying for all clients).

And of course, myself in true form. 

In addition to the four days of seminars, trade show and parties, Wendy and I got to spend some time with my parents who came up from Phoenix and stayed with us.  Unfortunately, the only time we saw them was when we walked back to the hotel prior to going out again for a party each night but it was better than nothing and we spent a few more days with them as well.

Here’s a quick list off the top of our heads as far as what we both learned that crazy week:

1.  Just because you paid for the conference, doesn’t mean you don’t have to wait in line for a seat at WPPI!

2.  Kevin Kubota and Doug Gordon’s moves on the party bus dance pole could be considered legendary.

3.  Jerry Ghionis‘s secret weapon is his voice.

4.  Jasmine Star in person was as inspirational as her writing.

5.  Finao’s booth design ROCKED THE HOUSE!

6.  Bend, Oregon was represented well with the full Kubota team and Big Folio (this little town has one big impact on this industry!).

7.  Casino smoke is hard on the lungs!

8.  Justin and Mary Photography taught us about the beauty of ‘Lovemarks’.

9.  Animoto won us over; okay, we were already halfway there.

10.  Be you, don’t be afraid to be different, be bold – that was the overall message from the ‘new wave’ photographers.

Here’s our friend, world famous wedding photographer Kevin Kubota at the Nikon booth.  You all know he lives in our little town of Bend-right? Hey, I used his actions to edit this photo-is that weird?

Ah yes, as far as wedding photographers go there’s always talk about the illustrious “uncle Bob” at every wedding who has all the equipment and ultimately ends up getting in the way!

Here’s Lens Baby creator Craig Strong.  A great product that opens up lots of door to creativity!

No WPPI discussion would be complete without an image of famous wedding photographer Jerry Ghionis. This time it’s of him singing and hey, he’s got a pretty good voice!  A very inspirational photographer who can create the most amazing images out of the most mundane settings!

Chuck and I were able to meet up during his lunch, stroll through Drake Park and shoot 3-4 different scenes within a matter of 45 minutes, (heck, it might have been less for that matter).  In the end, no digits were lost to frostbite, we got the shots he needed and when 3:00 rolled around, he wasn’t caught using his leather office chair for a quick snack.

It was our pleasure to take some photography to enhance them breaking into the wedding market.  What better place to do it than The Oxford Hotel (new to downtown Bend, Oregon!), which is spread with modern decor and sophisticated style.  It was the perfect backdrop for the photo shoot.  We always have fun with these two and as usual the photo session was filled with laughs and Byron trying to be a ‘model’ and show them ‘the look.’    Special thanks to Ben Perle over at the Oxford for allowing us to lug all of our gear in to do the shoot in the first place!

We can’t wait to do some weddings together, so be sure to book these two fabulous musicians for a great addition to your wedding event.

- B&W

How swank is that?!  (Wendy’s favorite)

A beautiful portrait – can’t you see this on a poster?

These two are never far from a smile…

Here’s a picture of the ‘egg’ (the silver coffee table) we kept laughing at.  Damn, I want me a green rug like that though…

It was great to be part of something like this.  The event was basically on the site where the facility will be built, with the tents set up at the end of a road and security super tight.  Most of the people attending, (including myself) didn’t know what business was coming until today.  I’m really amazed this secret was able to last this long…especially with how powerful Facebook is!  Excavation only began on the 130+ acre site about two weeks ago but when the GM overseeing construction drove me around to get some images, it was evident that by the beginning of 2011 they would be up and running-think, TIGHT schedule.

At around noon, Prineville Mayor Mike Wendel announced to everyone the big news and after several speeches, the official ground breaking ceremony occurred, lunch was served and within 1.5 hours everyone had moved on to their next appointment.  I love challenges, and today I got to hammer out one of my quickest photo edits to date, since one of the stipulations for my shooting the event was that the PR firm in charge of the events media distribution needed the images literally after I was done shooting.  Pressures a good thing….especially when things go right!  So here’s to Facebook for putting Central Oregon in front of the world’s eyes.  Oh, did I say again how much I love my job?!!

Big shout out to all my friends who did an outstanding day today.  This includes Heidi Berkman with H. Berkman & Associates Inc., the Marketing & Special Events Consultant-541.480.8700 who made everything go silky smooth, Pinnacle Media’s Matt and JoAnn Hand for handling the video content, and Joolz Restaurant from downtown Bend for providing the amazing food.

Cheers-

Getting ready for the fun…

Mayor of Prineville, Mike Wendel showing some of the excitement we all are feeling!

Facebook’s Director of Site Operations, Tom Furlong (brown jacket) celebrating with others that got the job done!

Three of the finance wizards from Facebook–you can thank them for making it happen.

We’ve had our two dogs Miles and Dizzy for 12 of their 13 years now and XC skied, mtn biked, ran and played literally 7 days a week with them.  So yea, I was stressed I’d loose my terror of a lab that has done everything from destroy a new 4 month old couch, to eating 2 full boxes of chocolate fudge Cliff Bars (remember Ben?), to endless counter robberies of steaks, Costco apple pies and anything else that resembled food.

Between dropping Miles off and picking him up, the one redeeming event that allowed me to have a semi-productive day and not let worrying about my dog fill all thoughts was volunteering to shoot some images for the Volunteer Connect projects happening around Bend, Oregon during Martin Luther King Day.  Helping out the community, seeing old friends and laughing with others took my mind off my furry friend. Cheers to all those hard working volunteers!

In the end, both my dogs lay next to me while I write this and I can’t help but wonder when they’ll be ready for the next adventure….Miles, get your head out of the trash dude…..yea, things really never change.

This is our Miles. He definitely has attitude and this shows it!

Paw’s R US

Not trying to play favorites, I needed to include Dizzy as well.

Friends With Flowers volunteers creating love for terminally ill patients in Central Oregon

Over at the Bethlehem Inn, volunteers fixing bikes for a good cause!

At the Bend Community Center volunteers work to create blankets for the homeless.

This young dude was a rock star, putting air into all the bike tires and doing bike maintenance!

Anyway, I had the privilege of shooting this weeks cover for The Source and this proved to be lots of fun as their art director Elise and I worked with the logistics of shooting at the Summit Salon during lunch time.  One great thing about working with actors, (at least in theatre) is that they are easily motivated to have fun and play during a photoshoot which makes getting great images much more likely to happen, (and I don’t have to do anything silly to lighten up the situation…not that I have a problem with looking silly….just ask Wendy!).  With Elise taking the place of a light-stand (at some point I’ll own some) and holding a snooted speedotron light to create that spotlight look for the cover, I got to yell “action” and the actors did the rest.  Thank’s Elise for risking life and limb as my light holder, Summit’s staff for letting us shoot there, and Ric, Lorraine and Sandra for the acting fun.  Looking forward to seeing the show!