…it was a beautiful morning for my good friend Eric and I to hike up in the Cold Creek area just ouside of Vegas about 30 mins off 95 North…. if you know me you  know I never really like getting up before dawn to do anything but photograph a golf course which is still one of my favorite things to do….but I must say being out in the desert as the sun is rising where you can hear a pin drop is tranquility at it’s best…  getting away from the hustle and bustle and exploring the true beauty of what the Las Vegas area (and only minutes from the Strip) has to offer is becoming something I truly enjoy getting up that early for…

…the beautiful horses that call the desert home were having breakfast and didn’t really mind us hangin around with them for a bit….they call them wild but they looked beautiful to me and anything but wild. And tell me how they get that plump eating just bushes and leaves…I guess they’re eating a bunch of them..

If you need a chance to catch up on your tranquility they’re plenty of places right here in Las Vegas’ own backyard that would certainly help you do just that…

… thanks to the beautiful Nevada Desert I just may becoming the morning person I thought I’d never be!

……….when I heard that the South Point Arena was having a “full contact” Jousting Tournament I was thinking to myself… sure you are… it will probably be a patty cake deal of sorts because there’s no way people these days go galloping toward each other on horses with a 10 ft or so dowel (that you hang your clothes in your closet  on or possibly pole vault with) and try to knock the other Knight off his horse…WRONG!..otherwords it was real wood and real “full” contact!. My bad…to say that the Knights of Mayhem put on an incredible show last night and even delivered more than I would have ever expected is like saying Missy Powell’s Beef Stew is  just ok…

I wasn’t really surprised  that much when I heard where it was being held  (South Point Arena)  because just a short time ago Steve ( Steve Stallworth GM) filled the arena with water….yes I said water …and had a Pro Jet Ski competition. From what I heard there were Jet Skis flying all over the Arena.. Steve said “you gotta get out of the box”..after seeing the crowd last night that turned out it’s obvious that more and more people want to be entertained from “outside” the box…

Knights of Mayhem is a new reality television show which follows the professional jousting troupe: “The Knights of Mayhem” (lead by Charlie Andrews the world champion of full contact heavy armor Jouster). Charlie–trained in Medieval and Renaissance warfare. The show follows Charlie in his public and private life as he attempts to take jousting from the theatrical world of the Renaissance Faire into the arena of real sport, shining a light on the intense dedication, brutal training, and severe personalities needed to survive the fierce competition of this bone-crushing sport.

Charlie’s passion for this sport goes way beyond just joustling…he truly wants the fans to get their money’s worth and I would bet you that not one person…not one…wasn’t totally entertained and delighted they were there. If you get the chance to see an event live don’t hesitate to do so…Also look for Charlie and his band of Knights coming soon to Cable TV….in the meantime go to www.knightsofmayhem and check them out..

Just like Sevens Rugby…..I came as a curious photographer and left brand new “huge fan”…..thanks again Charlie for an unforgettable evening…

…If it’s been over 3 years since you’ve had  your Photo taken you qualify! ( if you qualify or have a headshot or web site shots you don’t like or need to update please keep reading )

Derek Rosenberg’s Merrill Lynch Team needed a makeover…they needed to update their web site . They needed new headshots and  team shotos…  When I met Derek on my initial visit to his office for my preshoot visit I asked him what his thoughts were on the shoot … he thought for a second and said “I think you know what you’re doing”…”just make us look good “…I had several thoughts on the Merrill Lynch team photo to be a little different than the normal cardboard cutout …something a little more approachable yet still totally professional… also wanted to change up the standard or for lack of better words the typical boring headshot with this shoot…almost any colors could have been used but for these headshots and teamshots I chose a tighter crop for the headshots and black and white for the collection.

If you or your office has recently changed some of it’s team, if you’ve added to your group, if you are doing a company web site make over or building your very first web site chances are you should be thinking about getting some professionally done photos….by including photos of your staff and even  your building,  visitors to your site can see you as well as a little of what you and your team are about… These photos can also be used for Business Cards, Brochures, News Releases etc…the better the photos of you and what you do will  help sell your business…that’s a fact!

Thanks again to Derek Rosenberg and his entire Merrill Lynch Team which is now located on  West Charleston directly above the Vintner Grill but will soon be moving to the Tivoli Gardens at Fort Apache and Alta Dr…they were a blast to work with and they are a passionate team of investors….they certainly get up early and stay late!

So let me ask you again….Do You Qualify?

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…every now and then you get the chance to capture memories for a young person just a little more special than most…not only is Jordan a Centennial HS Class of 2011 Valedictorian but she is also an accomplished soccer player and after our time spent on the field and seeing her working that soccer ball like magic it was very evident that she is not only an outstanding student but a top soccer player among the  local girls high school soccer circles.  Jordan’s soccer team at Centennial made it all the way to the State finals this year and Jordan was a major reason for their success.

….it was my pleasure to be the one capturing Jordan’s special Senior Class Memories and best of luck to you at BYU…something tells me you’ll do just fine…

We are looking for a model or possibly two to work with us for approx 3 hours (Date TBD probably mid June ) ….in return they will receive the best images taken that day for their time to update their portfolio and use as they see fit. If you or somebody you know is looking to update their portfolio and would like to trade a little of their time this is a no brainer.. You do not need to be a full time professional model but should feel comfortable and confident in front of the camera…. Please send a couple of recent swimsuit shots to jrick@martinphotogroup.com  ….The photo shoot location is in Red Rock Country Club and the pool area is shown below. Please plan on bringing a friend with you to assist you. We will be shooting later in the day probably from around 5-8…We need to schedule the shoot soon so a bikini ready body is essential and we will be making our selection (s) by the end of the week so don’t wait if you need some great new images for your book or if you need to start one….headshots along with other lifestyle photos around this Villa themed property will also be taken so it will be an all around good start or update for sure.. (if  you are chosen we will discuss hair, makeup and wardrobe) .. count on it being Classy, Professional and Fun… Hopefully it’s a Facebook Friend that we get to work with…

thanks and Good Luck!

J Rick

For more than 12 years The Wedge Brothers have played for thousands of people, on the largest of stages including The House of Blues (Las Vegas & New Orleans) to the Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel, for crowds of 7,000 people at outdoor festivals, to the smallest of dive bars in Vegas. The Wedge has opened for numerous recording artists including America, Dennis DeYoung (Styx), Grand Funk Railroad, Rick Derringer, Starship with Mickey Thomas, Al Stewart, Berlin, John Kaye & Steppenwolf, Three Dog Night, WAR, The Fixx and Family Stone, to name a few. The band has averaged more than 100 gigs per year since Mike O’Brian and Tom Rojas founded the band, and can provide as small as a solo act, to a two piece duo or three piece trio, to their full five piece band.

Say Cheese!

Vacation time is right around the corner…here are a few things for the beginning photographer to keep in mind. Remember you don’t really “take” a photo you “make” it…if you ever have questions regarding photography you can contact the Martin Photo Group anytime…we’d be glad to help..

1. Don’t go crazy buying the most expensive equipment right away.

It’s possible to get very nice photos with an inexpensive point and shoot. See these examples on Flickr. The more photos you take, the more you’ll know about what kind of camera to get when it’s time to upgrade.

2. Consider a tripod.

On the other hand, an inexpensive tripod is worth getting, especially if you have shaky hands like mine. When I got a tripod, my satisfaction with my shots skyrocketed. For even more stability, use your camera’s timer function with a tripod (read our introduction to tripods).

3. Keep your camera with you all the time.

Photo ops often come when you least expect it. If you can keep your equipment relatively simple – just a small camera bag and a tripod – you might be able to take advantage of some of those unexpected opportunities. Or, if your phone has a camera, use it to take “notes” on scenes you’d like to return to with your regular camera.

4. Make a list of shots you’d like to get.

For those times you can’t carry your camera around, keep a small notebook to jot down places you’d like to come back and photograph. Make sure to note any important details, like the lighting, so you can come back at the same time of day or when the weather’s right. If you don’t want to carry a notebook, send yourself an email using your cell phone with Jott.com.

5. Don’t overlook mundane subjects for photography.

You might not see anything interesting to photograph in your living room or your backyard, but try looking at familiar surroundings with fresh eyes. You might catch an interesting trick of the light or find some unexpected wildflowers in your yard. Often a simple subject makes the best shot.

6. Enjoy the learning process.

The best part of having a hobby like photography is never running out of things to learn. Inspiration is all around you. Look at everything with the eyes of a photographer and you’ll see opportunities you never noticed before.

7. Take advantage of free resources to learn.

Browse through Flickr or websites like the Digital Photography School Forum for inspiration and tips. Also, your local library probably has a wealth of books on all types of photography. If you’re interested in learning about post-processing, give free software like the GIMP a try.

8. Experiment with your camera’s settings.

Your point and shoot may be more flexible and powerful than you know. Read the manual for help deciphering all those little symbols. As you explore, try shooting your subjects with multiple settings to learn what effects you like. When you’re looking at your photos on a computer, you can check the EXIF data (usually in the file’s properties) to recall the settings you used.

9. Learn the basic rules.

The amount of information about photography online can be overwhelming. Start with a few articles on composition. Be open to what more experienced photographers have to say about technique. You have to know the rules before you can break them.

10. Take photos regularly.

Try to photograph something every day. If you can’t do that, make sure you take time to practice regularly, so you don’t forget what you’ve learned. An excellent way to motivate yourself is by doing the weekly assignments in the DPS Forum.

11. Don’t be afraid to experiment.

If you’re using a digital camera, the cost of errors is free. Go crazy – you might end up with something you like. You’ll certainly learn a lot in the process.

(thanks to Darren Rowse for these Photo Tips)

…had a great time with part #1 of our photo session with Courtnee….she needed to get her portfolio in order for upcoming work she has contracted and for future work as well. She looked amazing and worked very well with my cameras…we got some incredible images that I’m sure will help her in any modeling endeavors she goes after…

..The Martin Photo Group has another shoot with Courtnee scheduled over the Easter Weekend and we’ll bring a totally different look to life in our next Photo Shoot…Courtnee’s mom Ginny is the Wedding Coordinator at the beautiful Pauite Golf Resort and has been referring me and my work for years.  What a pleasure it was to pay her back in the best way I knew how..and I Promised Ginny the best photos Courtnee has ever had …and you know us…we don’t make promises we can’t keep…

below is a nice note from Courtnee………….

“Thank you so very much for taking those pictures for me! You made me feel very comfortable and the pictures are truly the best I’ve ever had taken. I now have a great start to my portfolio thanks to you.

As for me, I just got a contract with PUSH Modeling which is a promotional company that is throughtout the US. I plan on using these photos to help increase my opportunities in this industry.

Again, thank you so very much for your time and talent! Can’t wait to work with you again”

Regards,
Courtnee

….when Alysia called a said she wanted to get some Memories made I was thinking of some shoot locations that would be perfect for her and her husband so she could have some photos made and capture some photographic memories in a nice scenic location …we met  for a preshoot consultation and  Alysia showed me some samples of what she was looking for. Alysia wanted some photos to capture her beauty in a way that was classy and tasteful and also at the same time create images that were also sexy and ones that could be placed on the walls of their beautiful home…

…having already  visitied her home that we would be using for the majority part of the shoot I knew it was going to a great location and Alysia would (sorry for the pun) feel right at home. As my asssistant  and I started setting up, Alysia was busy having her hair and makeup fixed up..She had shown me samples during my shoot location walk through so I pretty much knew what she was looking for…there really isn’t anything better for me than knowing exactly what’s going on inside my client’s heads. When I do I can concentrate on my vision of what I think would make Alysia as beautiful and sexy as possible…

…when she came out of hair and make up she looked  amazing…stunning!…I knew right then it wasn’t a matter of if but a matter of “how many” great images we were going to get from this Portrait Session..We worked on the shots that Alysia had wanted and we certainly made the grade on those. Then was my time to “do my thing”..I had these images in my mind long before this day and was really pleased on how my vision came together just like I had conceived..

Alysia admittingly was nervous that morning but after a few shots she was able to see how beautiful she looked and how good she looked in the images she lost the nervous feeling and the day turned into one of the most fun filled shoots I’ve ever been involved in…to see the looks on her face after seeing the shots we were taking was priceless… I was thinking as happy she was about these memories now…what would they be worth to her say in 20 years..

The thing that really made it special for the Martin Photo Group was the main reason she wanted these taken were for her husband…I think the special thing about the shoot from Alysia’s standpoint was we are always, Classy, Tasteful and fun to work with!

Thanks again to Alysia for entrusting these special memories with us! Alysia knows first hand …the Martin Photo Group doesn’t make promises it can’t keep…

…after meeting with Candice, Matt and Miya (wedding expert supreme) the day before and seeing all of the outstanding photo opportunities the beautiful grounds of Dragon Ridge CC had to offer I was chomping at the bit for Candice and Matt’s wedding the next day..The Martin Photo Group team arrived just around the time Candice and her wedding party were just getting there…we started capturing moment after moment all thru the day into the evening up until Candice and Matt’s  Martin Photo Group’s Sparkler Tunnel Limo get away at the close of Candice and Matt’s first day as husband and wife…

Hats off to the DRCC Team….The ease and professionalism of Miya and her team was as fine tuned as a piano. The food was simply delicious…Sound Fussion Entertainment kept things running smooth  with their uncanny way of playing just the right song at just at the right time…

As the evening progressed  I found myself glancing out the windows to one of the most beautiful strip views I’ve ever seen! The Martin Photo Group is proud to be part of a truly prestigious line of Wedding Vendors.

It’s no wonder that time and time again Dragon Ridge Country Club is rated as one of the very best Wedding Venues in all of Las Vegas!