From the Photographer's Notebook

Photography is about more than what happens when I pick up a camera.

Here, I share behind-the-scenes stories, thoughts on portraits and the people in them, practical advice for planning a session, and occasionally why I put the light where I did.

Browse the latest articles below, or explore something that catches your eye.

Behind-the-scenes view of photographers reviewing images during a hands-on portrait lighting workshop surrounded by studio lights and modifiers in Houston.

Why Did You Put the Light There?

September 7, 2026

Why Did You Put the Light There? Somewhere during Saturday’s workshop, I realized that teaching photography involves answering questions I haven’t consciously asked myself in years.“Why did you put the light there?”It’s a perfectly reasonable question.The problem is that after you’ve worked with light long enough, the first answer that comes to mind is sometimes, “Because that’s where it belongs.”Which isn’t particularly helpful ...

Cozy living room with beige sofa, wooden coffee table, and three framed family portraits above the couch.

When Summer Ends, Life Speeds Up

August 3, 2026

When Summer Ends, Life Speeds Up There's something about the first week of school.Overnight, the house gets quieter.The calendar gets louder.Summer vacations quietly give way to homework, football practice, business travel, networking breakfasts, and calendars that suddenly have no empty spaces left. It's not just families.Around this same time every year, I start hearing from businesses that have grown over the summer. New hires. New promotions. New marketing materials. Before long, ...

Family of four photographed in their home around a grand piano, illustrating how meaningful locations help tell each family's story.

The Best Portraits Begin Long Before the Camera Comes Out

July 13, 2026

The Best Portraits Begin Long Before the Camera Comes Out It Starts With a ConversationMost people assume a portrait session begins when I pick up the camera. In reality, by the time I take the first photograph, much of my work is already done.It usually starts with a conversation.Sometimes that's a phone call during a lunch break. Sometimes it's an email from someone who's been meaning to schedule portraits for months. Sometimes it's a conversation at a networking event where someone ...