This personal project is called MARKED. The concept is this: We experience joy, anger, love, bitterness, loss, remorse, beauty, grace, and a truck load of other emotions. As a result, we are left MARKED by life and for some, we choose to be MARKED by ink to remember those things. They serve as reminders, memorials, tributes, achievements. But they also serve as beautiful pieces of art that walk past us every single day. We don’t always get to appreciate the art and hear their stories. So, this project seeks to do just that – share stories and reveal beautiful art that often goes unnoticed.

If nothing else, hopefully it encourages you to take a minute and ask that stranger whose sliver of ink you see sneaking out past their sleeve what the meaning of their art is. Sometimes you will find “that guy” or “that girl” who was just drunk and thought that a shamrock, Elmo, unicorn, or barbed wire fence around their bicep was super awesome and unique – and who knows, maybe the person with that tattoo actually does have a story attached to it with actual meaning. But, a lot of the time you will find a grateful person honored that someone took the time to notice, listen, and appreciate.

The tricky part with this project is that I am seeking to shoot all of them on a white seamless – so, that means I am either waiting on studio time, having people come to my house, or driving around with a white sheet of paper in my car I can tape up on a wall somewhere indoors. It would be too easy to just shoot the tattoo wherever I met the person. I desire to have a meaningful encounter with each person where I give them the time and attention that their tattoo and story deserves. Plus, I desire to light each one uniquely, which is proving to be a challenge.

Here are a few of the 35 I have so far to start. Hope you enjoy the project and hope even more that you pass it along to your friends who have tattoo’s with meaningful stories behind them.

I loved going in this new direction where we just shot on seamless and allowed the jewelry to really show itself. We shot it all in their studio too where they make every piece themselves. Make sure to check out their stuff!

On a side note, Mickey Lynn is a partner with our Love Gives Way wedding campaign and are providing incredible custom jewelry for our couples – make sure to read about it if you haven’t yet!

It’s hard to take everything you want to share and condense it down to a couple short hours. Everything from exposure, composition, lighting, scouting, working with a model, developing a style, post-processing, etc. But just like with photography, the more you do it the more you learn. You develop a style of teaching and flow for the sessions.

I had the chance to teach in the photography class at the local high school for a couple days where we mostly focused on off camera lighting and mixing that with ambient light.
In the short amount of time, my main goal was to show them all of the different options and variations you provide yourself with when being able to control your light beyond what the situation provides you.

Here are a few images I took of the students as I taught before handing over the equipment to allow them time to shoot.

This model was made in the late 1930’s and it’s nickname became “The Brick” because of the shape and weight. It was also one of the most accessible cameras which is what largely helped make 35mm film become the standard.

After shooting 2 rolls, I have fallen in love with this camera. However, it has also completely humbled me. I think that I only really like about 7 images out of 70, but I attached a few extra shots to show you how it looks.
If you have grown up in the digital era of photography, then you definitely have to pick up a film camera that doesn’t have an internal meter or auto focus. It slows me down, helps me think through every shot so much more, and to be honest, it just looks cool.

Their album is great, but you haven’t fully experienced them until you have had a chance to catch them live. It will leave you begging for more.
Here are a few shots I captured of them at Catalyst plus a show they played the following night in Athens.

I should really shoot with film more often – I am in love with so many of these images – They have such a distinct look that’s different from any of my digital work

In both shoots, I was able to work alongside the very talented stylist Abany Tschupp of Brown Linen & Co. I look forward to collaborating on a lot more shoots with her.

For this shoot, we were going for a way more natural light look which is something I don’t necessarily lean towards a whole lot. I feel most comfortable when I have all my lights set up and trying to create something a bit more dramatic. But I was really thrilled with how these turned out as well as the things I learned. Sometimes the lights just need to stay in the car.

Here are a few of my personal favorites from the shoot and I hope you make sure to check out Mickey Lynn’s work – she makes some incredible jewelry!

The way in which I love Jenica today looks way different than the day I proposed, the day I said “I do”, and even the day I watched as she brought our son Asher in to the world. I reason I love Jenica is not because I think she “completes me” as I believe that’s an idea and attempt to fill a bigger void, and will leave us feeling empty as long as we place that responsibility on another human. I love Jenica because I made a commitment to her and I know she made a commitment to me. So even on those days when those first feelings we felt at the beginning are not there, I know she is for me and she knows I am for her. And at the end of the day, that is what makes your love grow stronger and makes those initial feelings from the beginning seem so young and naive. What I have learned the most, despite popular belief, is that walking through the hard stuff together, always saying you are sorry, and forgetting the others’ faults is what makes you fall in love with your spouse over and over and over. Feelings are fleeting; promises are not.

I know that Jenica is for me no matter what. She is ridiculously patient with me, always hopes the best in me, is quick to forgive me and forget my faults and failures, is kind to me, respects me, and her love never gives up or loses faith. It’s an understatement to just say I wouldn’t be where I am today without her. I wouldn’t be who I am today without her in my life. She is more beautiful to me today than ever before as I see her as a gracious wife, loving and gentle mother, and best friend. I know that life will not always be easy and we will walk through hard stuff together, but it’s a huge blessing to know you have someone committed to walking through the other side with you no matter what comes.

If you haven’t known us for long, here’s a photo journey back from the beginning – thankfully she has been the main encouragement in my life to pursue photography which is why the images get a little bit better as the they become more recent…ha.
Thanks to all of our friends and family who support us and give us wisdom. We are grateful for all of you.

Jenica, I love you more than what I can say in this post. I love your heart for others, your grace and wisdom, your support and encouragement, your ability to calm our child when I can’t, your quickness to tell me that my clothes don’t match, the fact you hate my beard but still let me have one (sort of), that you let me follow my dreams and passions even if it takes me to the other side of the world, and that you pretty much hold my life in check.

So thankful for these 5 years with you as my bride and looking forward to many more!

For this month only, you may purchase some of the images I shot in India. The prints will be offered in 4 sizes (8×12, 11×17, 16×24, and 20×30) and will only be offered as prints. You will need to do the mounting and framing on your own.

I believe that another $2,000 is a very attainable goal, and here is a quick breakdown to show how we can reach it together:
10 people buying 8×12 prints
10 people buying 11×17 prints
5 people buying 16×24 prints and
5 people buying 20×30 prints
This breakdown would allow us to just meet our goal!

So, please consider purchasing a print from the India Art Gallery by clicking here. Below is a sampling of some of the images you will find in the gallery.

Thanks for your support and I look forward to updating everyone as we make progress towards our goal!