I’m going to get to the point really quickly. Alex’s story is incredible.

The epitome of inspirational.

In Afghanistan, Alex lost his leg when he drove over an explosive device. Coming home, he found himself on a downward spiral after he came out of a 2 month coma and 17 months in the hospital. Long story short, he decided to stop being sad and start being awesome. Working out, becoming sober and being generally bad ass.

That’s the quick story. You can literally search his name on Google and find his story everywhere.

Nothing fancy, not a big shoot. Just him being Alex, in some undies, and showing us his body. It shouldn’t bother you. He has ever right to show it off. Why?  Because if he can do it with what he has been through, what excuse to a lot of us have?

None.

So here is to Alex. The real deal.

Mr. Inspiration.

And I hope one day to see him grace a Nike billboard. Imagine that.

Model: [ Alex Minsky ]
Undies: [ N2N Bodywear ]

[Gabriel Gastelum Facebook]

I was so excited to go back for my birthday weekend. Seattle… it just feels like home.

The weather was absolutely incredible. The sun was out. The alcohol was flowing. The food was overwhelming. From hanging out to my best friends, checking out new bars, restaurants and hangouts it was a great weekend to bring in the number 29.

From sailing Lake Union to watching my friends from Hey Marseilles release their new music video, it was an absolute joy to be back. One thing not so joyous? My one and only camera, Natasha, decided to break. Oh well. On to new adventures I say!

Seattle is my favorite city in the United States and I always tell myself that one day I will end up back there. To all my friends that I saw, and even those that I didn’t get to see, thank you for such an amazing weekend!

So I made her stand in the middle of traffic.

No really.

And she stopped it. Cars slowed down. People honked.
It was awesome.

Kiara is ridiculously amazing and such a natural beauty. Stunning. Absolutely stunning.

I hope to work with her again.

Check it out.

“You can be the king, but watch the QUEEN conquer”

STUDIO TIME!

So here are a few that have recently made me as giddy as Pandas during playtime.

The first big one is this article for OUT.COM
Yup, thats right. I was a spotlight feature! Incredibly honored!
Go check out the interview [click here] and learn about some of my most popular shoots!

Donal & Niamh were also featured recently on One Fab Day! The Northern Ireland engagement was incredibly popular and still one of my favorites to this day! [Click here] To go check it out!

Speaking of engagements. Colby & Brandon’s engagement took down my site not too long ago and its been, by far, my most popular engagement shoot. So big thank you to the guys over at Queerty for featuring some of their favorites [Click Here].

[twitter] [facebook]

So here are a few select images from these past weekends that came from my phone.

Lots of ridiculously good food, lots of liver failure, models, behind the scenes, and general life loving.

Life is good.

I love a weekend when I don’t have to open my computer to edit.

Most of these images taken with VSCOCAM, a photo app that I LOVE. I would strongly suggest checking it out and downloading it.

I’ve worked a lot with these two and they have become incredible friends.
No fancy lights, no magazine or online features, no concepts. Not this time.

Just love.

Colby and Brandon are fighting hard for their love. It shouldn’t have to be that way. It’s hard to love yourself, let alone someone else, when there are a lot of ignorant people out there who don’t accept you for who you are. Well you know what? Screw them. Yeah. I said it.

It doesn’t matter who you love. Underneath it all, its the same love.

Colby and Brandon. Thank you so much for letting me capture your love. It was truly special.

I wish I had powerful words to write to you readers. But, I’m going to let you push play below, and let Macklemore do it for me.
There are a lot of pictures. Which is great, because there is a whole lotta love.

// No law is gonna change us
// We have to change us
// Whatever God you believe in
// We come from the same one
// Strip away the fear
// Underneath it’s all the same love
// About time that we raised up

Me: At least you guys aren’t doing something cheesy like spinning around holding arms.

Colby: OH MY GOD LET’S DO THAT!!!

And here is what happens when you bring a superman onesie to an engagement session.

[Facebook] me

James is also a kickass DJ here in the L.A. area

My favorite thing about having a lifestyle portrait session is that I get to know people during the session. It really feels like we are just hanging out. Not only do I walk away with some great photos, but I usually walk away is a new friend. James here is an awesome and talented guy and knows his music!

Enjoy!

Just writing that makes me smile.

Let me add up the ways this engagement makes me smile. I went to high school with both these youngsters. We also photographed in my hometown. My first engagement ever in my little border town in Arizona. Extra special. Heaps of laughs, lots of running around, vintage cars, awesome property, siblings, truck drives, and tons and tons of fun. That is the perfect word jumble to explain Renee & Jonathan’s engagement session.

Those are my favorite type of engagements. Ones were we don’t even realize the camera is there. Just having fun. Being yourselves.

Those are the best.

I was so happy when Renee emailed me a few months ago, asking me if I could capture their special day. I am so excited for these two. They are incredible people and will go on to do incredible things. I am so excited to go back to my little hometown to shoot their wedding. It will be absolutely incredible.

I get many photographers telling me that I post too many pictures. But, I disagree. I want to post more. I want to tell more of their story. I want you too see the fun we had.

To Renee & Jonathan. Two special people who I am happy to welcome to the panda brigade.

The last few weeks have been crazy busy. In a good way! I don’t think my little camera (Natasha) has snapped so many pictures in a a month’s time before. It was wonderful. Weddings, engagements, models, editorials, etc. It seems like I was doing it all. I can’t wait to finally get caught up and show you wonderful supporters everything.

For now check out these awesome images from recent shoots.

Not only that, but friends over at Queerty have featured some of my pictures (which went kinda super awesome sauce viral). It is always wonderful when someone wants to feature your images.

It was at a bar where Dalina met Alex. They met at Karaoke no less. Which suits them perfectly, because they just LOVE to sing out loud. It was the sweet melodies of Neil Diamond that got them talking. It was no surprise that I acted very big-brotherly when Dalina first told me she met this great guy. But, it only took one meeting and I instantly bonded with Alex. He was the perfect match. I really can’t see anyone else. I think Dalina knew that very early on.

So, to my amazing honor, they asked me to take some engagement pictures in the city they fell in love in. El Pueblo de la Reina de Los Angeles.

It was awesome that they got ready at a record store/hair saloon. Only fitting considering they met through music. We explored downtown, the arts district and even a little bit of the east. We explored so much, and I got to see so much of the city that they love. It was incredible.

They are incredible.

Dalina & Alex.