STORIES

MCKINNON AND HARRIS It was hot, like, 100 degrees. The camera tripod was 3 feet deep in silt. We waited, covered in bugs and mud, watching the tide come in, adding stones and seashells to make the chaise lounge level until just the right moment when

MCKINNON AND HARRIS It was hot, like, 100 degrees. The camera tripod was 3 feet deep in silt. We waited, covered in bugs and mud, watching the tide come in, adding stones and seashells to make the chaise lounge level until just the right moment when it appeared to be floating on the water.

MCKINNON AND HARRIS We were waiting for the light to change when a giant fog bank rolled in unexpectedly. It took this image from a nice, well-propped image to an outstanding image. The fog bank rolled back out again in minutes. It was a case when wa

MCKINNON AND HARRIS We were waiting for the light to change when a giant fog bank rolled in unexpectedly. It took this image from a nice, well-propped image to an outstanding image. The fog bank rolled back out again in minutes. It was a case when waiting for the right moment was the right thing to do.

THIBAUT We borrowed the vintage VW bus from our mechanic and brought our 3-legged Parson Terrier. It was so hot that day. Our “talent” waited underneath an umbrella drinking cold water until it was time to put her on set. She got lost a few times in

THIBAUT We borrowed the vintage VW bus from our mechanic and brought our 3-legged Parson Terrier. It was so hot that day. Our “talent” waited underneath an umbrella drinking cold water until it was time to put her on set. She got lost a few times in the van, but she was so patient when we’d put her back in the pillows. Oh, our sweet studio dog, Taco, how we miss her.

MCKINNON AND HARRIS We were shooting at Bunny Mellon's estate. The gardener was super nice and interested in what we were doing so I asked him to sit down so I could photograph him with his work. As we talked, he told me the secret to gardening for B

MCKINNON AND HARRIS We were shooting at Bunny Mellon's estate. The gardener was super nice and interested in what we were doing so I asked him to sit down so I could photograph him with his work. As we talked, he told me the secret to gardening for Bunny: if there’s 4 weeds you pick 3 and let 1 live.

ARCHER HOTELS Austin. Ice storm. The city had shut down. We were stranded for 4 days in the hotel where we were shooting. All we did was work, sleep, eat, repeat because we couldn’t leave. The client pitched in bussing tables and seating other maroon

ARCHER HOTELS Austin. Ice storm. The city had shut down. We were stranded for 4 days in the hotel where we were shooting. All we did was work, sleep, eat, repeat because we couldn’t leave. The client pitched in bussing tables and seating other marooned guests because the staff couldn’t get to the hotel.

EL SAN JUAN HOTEL Puerto Rico. The rental company sent a Vespa without a motor and we had no other source for a moped. So we decided that the wardrobe stylist would stand behind the couple and flip up the train of the dress with every take while I s

EL SAN JUAN HOTEL Puerto Rico. The rental company sent a Vespa without a motor and we had no other source for a moped. So we decided that the wardrobe stylist would stand behind the couple and flip up the train of the dress with every take while I shot as fast as possible from a scissor lift.

SOMMERS BEND It had been raining for 3 weeks in normally sunny Southern California. We’d rescheduled the photo shoot multiple times. Finally, we had to make it work. We put plastic over the cabana, plastic over the lights, and hot tea and blankets fo

SOMMERS BEND It had been raining for 3 weeks in normally sunny Southern California. We’d rescheduled the photo shoot multiple times. Finally, we had to make it work. We put plastic over the cabana, plastic over the lights, and hot tea and blankets for the talent in between takes. We had to use all the strobes we had to make it look like sunlight. We used limited focus to reduce how much rain we could see but still had to touch out the some of raindrops in post. One strobe blew from the humidity. We were soaked but got the shot.

CIRCLE DESIGN Moxie is one of the very memorable dogs we’ve met during our shoots. She lives in the middle of nowhere overlooking the New River Gorge, West Virginia. She was so excited that we were there to play with her (not photograph the house) th

CIRCLE DESIGN Moxie is one of the very memorable dogs we’ve met during our shoots. She lives in the middle of nowhere overlooking the New River Gorge, West Virginia. She was so excited that we were there to play with her (not photograph the house) that she’d run out into the woods, get a 6, 7, 8-foot “stick” and make me throw it repeatedly.

KDW HOME The air was heavy. It was misty and rainy when we showed up, and there were biting flies. We were there to photograph an old Coast Guard house that was moved by barge from a remote island to the mainland of Virginia’s Eastern Shore. We had t

KDW HOME The air was heavy. It was misty and rainy when we showed up, and there were biting flies. We were there to photograph an old Coast Guard house that was moved by barge from a remote island to the mainland of Virginia’s Eastern Shore. We had to use lights and plastic bags to make sunlight out of no sunlight.

WASHINGTONIAN MAGAZINE The shoot had wrapped. This little boy was just snuggling with his puppy, thinking no one was watching.

WASHINGTONIAN MAGAZINE The shoot had wrapped. This little boy was just snuggling with his puppy, thinking no one was watching.

KLH DESIGNS We were on the water in Rockport, Massachusetts. The TV was on in the background. Suddenly, we hear that the Weather Channel is in Richmond, Virginia, where we are based, following a tornado. We stop to watch as they broadcast from our st

KLH DESIGNS We were on the water in Rockport, Massachusetts. The TV was on in the background. Suddenly, we hear that the Weather Channel is in Richmond, Virginia, where we are based, following a tornado. We stop to watch as they broadcast from our studio parking lot. Fortunately, we were spared.

PERSONAL PROJECT It was the first photo I took in my desert portrait series. I saw this family and the dad had on a Motorhead battle jacket. I asked if I could photograph them. That’s when I met Dan. Dan was super nice. I feel like it’s probably one

PERSONAL PROJECT It was the first photo I took in my desert portrait series. I saw this family and the dad had on a Motorhead battle jacket. I asked if I could photograph them. That’s when I met Dan. Dan was super nice. I feel like it’s probably one of the most real photos I’ve ever taken and one of my favorites. It captures a moment. There’s no wall between me and my subjects. He was the one who made me feel comfortable at this crazy biker kind of event.

PERSONAL PROJECT I started photographing these guys not realizing how drunk they were. Everyone around us were bikers, insanely drunk and making no sense. The guy on the motorcycle asked me to go to a party later. Fun Dip, the guy on the back, wanted

PERSONAL PROJECT I started photographing these guys not realizing how drunk they were. Everyone around us were bikers, insanely drunk and making no sense. The guy on the motorcycle asked me to go to a party later. Fun Dip, the guy on the back, wanted to kick my ass. It was scary, but I just held my ground. Other bikers were like, eff that guy and don’t worry. I felt like I was photographing something forbidden, wild people, outlaw bikers, 1%ers in the middle of danger and chaos.

PERSONAL PROJECT Two young kids hanging-out at a van meet. They were so free-spirited and wild. They looked like no one I’d ever seen. When I asked if I could photograph them, they were so excited. And the guy was like, “I have to get my wizard stick

PERSONAL PROJECT Two young kids hanging-out at a van meet. They were so free-spirited and wild. They looked like no one I’d ever seen. When I asked if I could photograph them, they were so excited. And the guy was like, “I have to get my wizard stick.” And I was like, “Get your wizard stick because I have no idea what a wizard stick is.”

STONED AND DUSTED This is Buzzo from The Melvins. I was working backstage at the Stoned and Dusted show. I started talking to them because I really like the Melvins. I asked if I could photograph him. I noticed that the agave plant in front of the ba

STONED AND DUSTED This is Buzzo from The Melvins. I was working backstage at the Stoned and Dusted show. I started talking to them because I really like the Melvins. I asked if I could photograph him. I noticed that the agave plant in front of the backstage area looked just like his hair, so I was trying to kind of photograph him next to it because…he’s always had crazy hair. I also found out that they love to play golf.

PERSONAL PROJECT That’s when we were driving back from the beach to my parent’s house in rural South Carolina. There was a crazy thunderstorm with tornadoes in the area. Our car radio kept going off with emergency broadcast system warnings. It was mi

PERSONAL PROJECT That’s when we were driving back from the beach to my parent’s house in rural South Carolina. There was a crazy thunderstorm with tornadoes in the area. Our car radio kept going off with emergency broadcast system warnings. It was misty and overcast. We drove by this place and I yelled, “STOP!” My wife turned around but didn’t want me to get out of the car. I was just floored by how scary it looked. Most of the bones are real but I don’t think without the atmosphere of the rain and tornadoes it would have come out the way it did. I definitely paid attention to the “NO TRESSPASSING” signs. It was definitely one of the scariest places I’ve ever seen. Driving down the back roads of … a storm was approaching. I was working on my Vacant series.