Daily Archives: February 20, 2008

While I’m on a roll of retroactively blogging about people and photo sessions that have been instrumental in helping us build a dream it would be impossible to overlook Darryl Willison. In February of 2007 Darryl was the first gallery director to offer us representation for our fine art photography. At the time Rick and I would day dream about how awesome it would be to have a photography studio in an art gallery. He could see we had the chops and the ambition but needed a little guidance in the art world and, unlike most of the people we had encountered in our search, Darryl was available to answer questions and offer advice on any given topic and at any given time. Our joke is that “it’s always 1:00 am”. After months of 1:00 am emails a plan began to transpire and it was big, it was major, it was life changing. Long story short on November 24, 2007 we celebrated our huge grand opening that actually included the opening of our fine art exhibition Visual Whispers, the opening of our frame shop 66 Frames, and most importantly the opening of the official Dry Heat Photography Studio – and all of it is inside the Art Gallery 66! Somewhere along the way we shot this dynamic portrait session of Darryl. He is an awesomely talented artist and a great friend!

For all intents and purposes Caitelen and Greg have become our poster kids. Their faces are synonymous with Dry Heat Photography and the images we created in one two hour session have literally jump started a new chapter in our lives. The images that have become quite popular in our advertising materials were actually shot during a session in downtown Albuquerque last November but after having dinner with them a couple nights ago I thought I would tell their tale publicly as an outstanding example of synchronicity in action. When Dry Heat Photography was born, nearly ten years of portfolio material were sacrificed to a previous employer. Walking away empty handed was a hard thing to swallow but we had faith that things would work out. After all – it’s just pictures and we can always take more. No one can lay claim to our skills so while we did leave with practically nothing to show for ourselves we immediately set about doing the only thing we know how to do – creating more images. Rick and I had known Greg and Caitelen for several months prior to this session. I had photographed their real wedding earlier in the summer and then one night in August we were walking the streets shooting a story for Albuquerque The Magazine when we saw them sitting at a table at The Frontier restaurant. We shot some photos of them just hanging out doing their thing and some of those photos were published by the magazine. A couple months later when things were really starting to take shape and real decisions were being made we ran into them again. I told them our story and asked them if they wanted to get dressed up again for another shoot. They were all for it! It was an unseasonably warm day in November when we met them in downtown Albuquerque for this all important session. It’s a magical feeling to know that you are creating your future while shooting something. I remember saying to Rick “we are creating a career right now”. It was one of those days when all the forces of the universe lined up at the same time. The weather, the lighting, the fall colors, the amazing vibe that emanates from this couple. They are on fire – the world is their playground!
I tend to be long winded but I think you all get the point. Here’s some of the highlights.