Commemorating the ADA with the Michigan Statewide Independent Living Council

Happy Disability Pride Month!

To commemorate the 35th anniversary of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), idea39 hired me to photograph disabled volunteers for a statewide display put on by the Michigan Statewide Independent Living Council (MSILC). The exhibit is being featured in libraries across Michigan. As a disabled photographer and storyteller, I was honored to create these portraits, each one capturing a glimpse of the strength and individuality within the disability community.

Take a look at the portraits below.

*This series was commissioned by idea39 for MSILC. If you're looking for photography that centers authenticity, whether for a campaign, exhibit, or community project, I’d love to work with you. Get in touch through my contact page.

Behind the Scenes: Photographing Cocktails

This is my first Behind the Scenes post and it’s on cocktails. I’ve set out to improve my skills photographing these popular libations. I’m not much of a drinker, but I do love the aesthetics associated with the cocktail.

Today, I did a deep dive into the research, using this shoot by Carolyn Fong for Punch Drink as inspiration. I read a few articles, looked at online magazines and consulted some videos on YouTube. I found this video by Khandie Photography a great starting off point. I liked that it was an on location shoot with minimal equipment. Then for a more professional lesson I consulted The Bite Shot. There were a few other videos watched in there, but these were the most helpful.

What started as a fun experiment ended in a head-scratching, technical conundrum. I was able to collect a fair amount of data which I will show below, but as experimentation often does, it left me with more questions than answers.

So, what DID I figure out? HIGHTLIGHTS! Hightlight placement is very important when it comes to cocktail photography. Check out the photos I took below and pay special attention to where the highlights fall.