Every session starts with some sort of inspiration.  This time it was an amazing blue dress. I’ve photographed it before but something about this session felt different.

I had photographed this child 15 years ago.  And now she’s 16 and ready to go off to college next year I felt a little nostalgic.  Sydni is a timeless beauty and this dress took me back…way back.  This image has a renaissance feel to me and was my favorite from her session.

I’ve spent this year working on “digital art room” techniques in preparation for the next step in my development as a photographic artist – actual painting with oils over my images.  In order to get the finish portrait, I’m trying to create I must start with an amazing base – the photograph.  The lighting, posing, feel and technique all come together to lend itself to a masterpiece.  Those are strong words I know.  But when I see this image, I already know it is going to be an even more beautiful oiled masterpiece.

That is the goal for all the Forgotten Age portrait line.  Not that everyone will invest in the oil portrait but it is something I can offer and I am so very excited and proud to do so.

Many years ago one of my mentors said to me “when you reach a point in your career that you think you’ve learned all you can and that you know it all – it’s time to retire” and then came digital photography, artistic rendering and masterpiece oil application.  Even at my age, I have a new passion and skill and know I can spend the next 20 years perfecting it and feeling accomplished.

I have always wanted to create images for people to treasure for a lifetime…and for 30 years I did just that.  And now I can go the next level and bring additional value to an already amazing work of art.