How do you compile a decade’s worth of images and stories into a single blog post? If you ever figure it out, please let me know. In the meantime, this a best attempt at highlighting some of the ongoing clients, fun jobs and unique ingredients that have compiled the last 10 years of Novo Studio.

Enjoy.

It is an honor to have another photographer entrust you with photographing their wedding…

Last week, I took a few days to detach from work and life. I camped out, slept in the truck, did some fishing (caught nothing), read some books by the river, played my guitar, sat by the fire, explored some scenic roads and made some photographs. By now, you all know that this sort of detachment is a part of my routine so I'll spare you the further dialogue and share some of my images from the week. Enjoy. 

This week, the workload is light and the need for adventure is high. So I am taking some time to drive, camp, paddle, pedal, explore and most importantly, breathe. The cool thing about this blog is that I can schedule posts ahead of time, to appear in my absence and I have taken full advantage of that technology. Happy Spring Break everyone.

A heartfelt thank you to all of the newlyweds who invited me into their lives and made me (and my cameras) a part of their celebrations. This blog post contains some of my favorite wedding and engagement images from the year. Cheers and Happy New Year.

Say hello to Stephen and Tristen. To celebrate their engagement, we traveled to one of their (and my) favorite places on earth, The Buffalo River Valley. There, we explored a less-than-stable house, hiked the Lost Valley hiking trail and took a dip in the Buffalo River. (they did, I watched from the shore). Enjoy the photos. 

It's only been a couple of weeks since my trip to Wiser Time, but it seems as if it's been longer. Wiser Time as best as I can describe it, is a name given to a magical place by a magical group of people who find it imperative to disconnect from the fast-paced hustle and bustle of everyday life in order to refresh and recharge. And while there is some debate over the true origin and meaning of the name, most can agree that it directly relates to the physical, mental and spiritual healing qualities that come from intentionally removing oneself civilization and spending time in the great outdoors. Many thanks to the guys who introduced me to this magical place and in doing so, encouraged me to remove myself from everyday life more often. 

In lieu of being on the road all week, I'm sharing an image of the Buffalo River Valley from a few years back. I remember this day perfect, as I was alone and hiking through the woods on a cold, cloudy, and rather damp morning. Sometimes, those "less than perfect" conditions are in fact, the most conducive to a thought-provoking, inspiring and altogether, perfect day to be outside. Cheers to the weather in all seasons and to being outside regardless of it.

About the only time I don't mind getting up at 4am is if I'm heading into the great outdoors. Such was the case recently when myself and a few local rock climbers headed out to Horseshoe Canyon Ranch for some rock climbing and some photography for Arkansas Wild Magazine. Here's a few images from the day. Enjoy. 

It's that time of year again; The time of year where I try to recap an entire year's worth of photography work in a couple of blog posts and by doing so, post WAY too many photos. First up, a look back at my year in Lifestyle and Commercial Photographs. Enjoy. 

Happy Weekend Everyone. Today on the blog, a few of my favorite images from last weekend's wedding at Cedar Crest Lodge in beautiful, Ponca Arkansas. Congratulations and best wishes to Vincent and Rachel!

The Buffalo River and the surrounding area are some of my favorite parts of the state to explore and to spend time. And in case you were wondering...

My absolute favorite part of living in Arkansas is the natural beauty everywhere and the variety of outdoor activities that the environment facilitates. I'll take any opportunity I can to work with clients that are supporting these outdoor activities;

Say hello to Kristen Thomas. Many of you know her beautiful face from weddings over the years, where she would help photograph and also assist me. And if you’ve spent any time at all with her, you also know her sweet spirit, her contagious laugh and her absolute love for children. It’s probably good that she loves kids so much because she’s got two of them.

If you’ve been following our story at all, you know that last weekend, I rushed her to the hospital in the middle of the night because her water had broken prematurely. Right now, she’s on permanent bed rest until the twins get here. I’m so thankful we took a day last week to venture out into the great Arkansas outdoors and create some maternity photographs of her. She was a trooper the whole time and often ventured around against my wishes (typical).

Here are a few images from our treasured time together. Thank you again for all the love, the prayers and the support you have shown the two of us and our two kiddos. Pretty soon, they’ll be here! 

Sometimes, you just need to get out of the office and take a hike. Enjoy these images from a day of exploration, rejuvenation and solitude.  

After an incredibly busy Fall and Holiday season, I decided to unplug for a few days. By "unplug", I mean literally unplug. No phone, no internet, no television (although I broke that one) and no work. When you run a business on technology, it's hard to unplug. You're always worried that you're missing something. But for a creative, this is a necessary balancing act - working hard and resting well. Because how well you rest depends on how hard you work. So for a few days this past week, I focused on resting well. And in the process of resting well, I took some time to create some images. Here's a few of them. Enjoy :)

Now and then, I have to take a break. I'll admit, it's hard. I always end up feeling guilty. But in truth, I'm more productive when I'm inspired. And for me, inspiration comes when I walk away for awhile and recharge. For years, my escape has been photography. I love to hit the road with a car full of cameras and no map (not a good idea, by the way) or plan. Sometimes, I intentionally seek out areas or places to explore. Sometimes, I go with friends and sometimes, I go alone. As I'm typing this blog post, I'm realizing that the images posted here are at least 3 months old if not older. It's probably about time for another break :)