The D.C. Shoot Off held every year in Arlington, VA, has quickly become one of my favorite events of the year and this one was no different. I enjoy the opportunity to mentor the photographers who attend it’s an opportunity for me to see old friends I love dearly.  For a few months leading up to the Shoot Off I have felt a photographic funk and its been hard to break out of. Sometimes all it takes is a workshop with like minded passionate individuals to get your wheels turning and heart racing once more in the right direction. I had many light bulb moments at the D.C. Shoot Off listening to my fellow speakers present their work. For me, there is usually one lesson that I sink my teeth into and hold on until I own it. This year, it came from Preston Keres and it’s something I’ve heard several times over the years but this time it really hit home. It’s the hierarchy of successful photos. In a nut shell the hierarchy of photos goes like this:

A beginning: Informational

Getting there: Graphically appealing

REALLY getting there: Emotional

You have arrived: Intimate

I realized during Preston’s presentation that it’s the intimacy in photos that drives me and what I love about portraiture. I realized it’s what I am always seeking but often calling it gesture. It’s nice to connect with a word and move forward with it as a photographer beating in your head and in your heart. Below are some of the portraits I shot in my hotel room in between mentoring our Shoot Off students.

Kareem and Mariah.

JD and Sharon

Drew and Mila

Andrew and Annie

The Bivera's.

I had the opportunity to photograph Joseph Matey in his home on his 100th birthday. He has been married to his wife Elizabeth, who will turn 97 in March, for 75 years. When asked what advice they would give a newly married couple Elizabeth said, remember the good, forget the bad. Sure, we had our fights but you just remember the good times and forget the rest.”