After building an initial library of images for Pluralsight last year, the company asked me to head up creating a more enterprise-level library in a bigger city (bigger than Salt Lake that is). Over a mutli-day, multi-location shoot, with 30+ talent, wardrobe, stylists, crew, even a second shooter – we burned through the shot lists, added some extra images, and even had a little time to enjoy the great food in that wonderful city.

What’s a junky? Why it’s a demolition derby, of course! Better than that, how ’bout a couples demolition derby? She drives and brakes. He has the gas. Yeah, that should work out just fine. They say couples bond going through stressful times together. Or get divorced. Both will yell at the top of their lungs and gesture wildly in the din of being smashed by other couples. Who are in turn yelling at each other. Danny and Jennifer (pictured here at her first junky) were still talking to each other after they sputtered out of the arena. Another couple I tried to photograph – were not. I just slowly backed away and tried not to make eye contact.

It’s 6AM Saturday morning – the first day of summer break. Instead of staying out late, or sleeping in, Elise and Madison are at the stables getting their horses, Bonjourno and Calypso Z, ready for their lessons. They’re not complaining. It’s like this most every day — after school, weekends, summer break, dead of winter.

They brush, wash, wrap ankles, get tack on and off, clean saddles, pick up manure, ride and train their horses at least three hours almost every day. And they love it.

“I guess a lot of girls go through a horse-obsessed phase. I just never grew out of it,” says Elise as she brushes down Bonjourno. She was introduced to riding by her mother at age five, who wanted her to have an intensive hobby – something to keep her busy and engaged after school. Now sixteen, Elise has an obvious command and comfort around her horse, a large and powerful gelding built for jumping.

“He’s kind of a scardey-cat at first,” she says of Bonjourno, “but when I push him he can be brave.”

Madison has been riding since she was nine, her mother also introducing her. With her small size at fifteen, she admits being more comfortable on top of her horse Calypso Z than on the ground trying to cajole him.

Lexi is the only rider in her family. After some persuasion her parents agreed to let her take a lesson when she was eleven, figuring that would be the end of it. But, sadly for her parents, it only fed her determination. Now fourteen, on days where she doesn’t train she’ll still spend her time around the barn with the horses and her friends.

Her horse, Juliette, doesn’t care for the sheep in the neighboring pasture. She finds them upsetting. But yet shows no cowardice when jumping over high wooden rails, cameras flashing and people cheering. Go figure.

On days without a lesson the girls will sometimes take ‘the kids’ as they call them around the barn for photo shoots, like babysitters with their toddlers out for an afternoon’s adventure.

All of the girls are driven to improve as riders and jumpers. There are local shows to get ready for, regional and out of state shows as well. Yet it’s the day-to-day routine of heading down to the barn to be with their horses and their friends that makes getting up so early on a Saturday worthwhile.

The morning’s lesson now over, Elise and Madi head back into the barn, their horses sweating and frothy from the heat and exertion. After being washed and brushed down from a hot day’s lesson, Bonjourno pushes his head into Elise causing her to stumble back a bit. He wants to go in his stable to eat and relax. She gets him his special hay and some water. Like anybody else, he just needs some down time and a nice snack.

Partnered with a great wardrobe stylist and created this wintery character. Then had some fun making the world where she lives. Maybe there’ll be random sightings of her now, or maybe I just need spring to hurry up and get here.

The ancestry search site FamilySearch.org wanted to remind teens that they’re not the only ones in this world. Well OK, mostly they just wanted to encourage teens to find out about their family that came before and played a part in making them who they are. A fun day shooting in studio and post work putting it all together.

Just finished shooting and doing post-work for key art and cast portraits for another Discovery reality show airing this fall. ‘Bitchin’ Rides’ highlights Kindig It Customs’ rebuilding of a 1939 GM Futureliner, a giant bus built to display future technology like microwaves and jet engines. Here’s a couple of group shots.

These images for Tobacco Prevention and Control are just going out, all with the headline ‘Get your life back.’ Aimed of course at smokers, the ads direct them to a hotline and website to get help and support. Worked with Vince Murray, Chris DeNinno, and Kyle Curtis with R&R partners. George Barnhill built a great Grim Reaper prop, complete with hand-carved scythe.

Here’s another new image in this series reminding parents that their influence tops all other things in a teen’s life. Parents Empowered focuses on getting parents to be more involved in their child’s life to help curb alcohol and drug abuse.

These images were created for an editorial piece on grief and losing a life-long companion. Thanks to AD Colleen Hinckley for the assignment and chance to explore the concept.