Patrick J. Mitchell Photo Shoot

Patrick J. Mitchell Photo Shoot

February 14th, 2016

Story by:

Jerry Grugin

Patrick J. Mitchell / Photo by:  Jerry Grugin
© Jerry Grugin of Key Moments Photography by J & G
February 14th, 2016

On February 14th, 2016, Patrick J. Mitchell asked me to do a photo shoot of him in Lexington, Kentucky.  The photo shoot lasted only about 30 minutes because it was 19 degrees outside.  There was a light dusting of snow on the ground.  Patrick chose railroad tracks as the setting for the photo shoot.  I love railroad track photo shoots, and the snow added a new dimension for this particular railroad track photo shoot.  By the time the photo shoot was finished, my hands were numb and tingling.  It is extremely difficult to do a photo shoot with gloves on;  it's not impossible, but I prefer being able to feel the camera controls.  I was honored that Patrick asked me to photo shoot him.  Patrick is one of the best photographers in Lexington, KY, and, for that matter, in the state of Kentucky.  I consider him a friend and a mentor and I've learned much from him. 

I first met Patrick at an event called the Senior Summer Jam in Lexington, Kentucky.  I was a photographer at that event.  Patrick was also photographing that event and had all the tools of the trade.  I was somewhat awe-struck.  He had a full frame Nikon Camera with all the accessories.  He looked the part of a photographer.  We exchanged pleasantries and business cards.  

Not long after, Patrick sent me a friend request on Facebook.  Patrick then asked me to join a photography group in Lexington, Kentucky.  His role in the group is teacher and mentor.  The very first group photo shoot I attended was a photo shoot at the Henry Clay Estate.  Morgan Jones was the model.  I soaked in as much knowledge as I could at the time.  Patrick went around to each person in the photography group and engaged with one-on-one photography instruction.  I learned many things at this shoot.  This is where the world of photography really began to open up for me and I realized the immense power of my camera.

Patrick J. Mitchell / © Jerry Grugin of Key Moments Photography by J & G

What I've learned most from Patrick is photographing from different angles.  I used to shoot at 45 degree angles and only on one level.  From Patrick, I've learned to shoot below the model, above the model, and at the sides of the model.  I've learned how to position models and I've learned a great deal about depth of field.  I was already experimenting with these different techniques when I met Patrick, but he brought these techniques to life.  He offered real and constructive criticism and did it in a manner that inspired me.  This has made my photos 100 percent better.  I've also learned different lighting techniques from Patrick which has also improved my skills.

Just wanted to thank Patrick for having confidence in my work and inspiring me to be a better photographer.  Thank you Patrick!

Patrick J. Mitchell - © Jerry Grugin of Key Moments Photography by J & G

Andreana & Matthew Photo Shoot

Andreana & Matthew Photo Shoot

by

Jerry Grugin

Andreana & Matthew at the Henry Clay Estate in Lexington, Kentucky

©Photo by:  Key Moments Photography by J & G

On February 6th, 2016, Key Moments Photography by J & G, had the pleasure of photographing

Andreana & Matthew at the Henry Clay Estate in Lexington, Kentucky.  Andreana was 33 weeks pregnant at the time of the photo shoot.  Jerry Grugin, owner of Key Moments Photography by J & G, has known Angelia Horton since elementary school and high school.  Angelia had Key Moments Photography do a photo shoot of her and her son, Zane, last year on July 4th, 2015.  Angelia contacted Jerry Grugin and asked him if he and his company would do a photo shoot of Andreana and Matthew.  So, on February 6th, 2016, we all met at the Henry Clay Estate in Lexington, Kentucky, for a photo shoot.

The actual name of Henry Clay's Estate is "Ashland."  Ashland is the name of the plantation of the 19th-century Kentucky Statesman, Henry Clay.  The Ashland estate, at its largest, was over 600 acres.  In today's time, it has been named a National Historic Landmark.  It is a wonderful place for photo shoots.  Photographers come from all over the state just to do photo shoots of their clients.  Types of photo shoots include general photo shoots, engagement photo shoots, wedding photo shoots, senior picture photo shoots, etc.  I've had the pleasure of doing several types of photo shoots at Ashland.

Andreana & Matthew were wonderful subjects for a photo shoot.  The pictures turned out awesome.  It is the hope of Key Moments Photography that Andreana, Matthew, and their families will enjoy these pictures for years to come.  To see all of the photos of Andreana & Matthew, please go to our website at smugmug.com.  Once on the smugmug site, please comment on the photos that you like the best.  There is a "comment" section under each photo where you can place your comments.  You can also rate the photos by clicking on the stars near the comment section.  To view Key Moments' complete portfolio just click on the following website:  keymomentsphotographybyjg.smugmug.com

Please "like" our page on Facebook at "Key Moments Photography by J & G."

Recreation of a Wedding

Recreation of Wedding Portraits

by

Jerry Grugin

Key Moments Photography by J & G

February 2nd, 2016

Andrea & Jacob Wedding Recreation

January 31st, 2016

Photo by:  Jerry Grugin

Gloria and I love it when our models become our good friends.  Two people, in particular, have become our good friends -- Andrea Tomer Lewis & Jacob Lewis.  The story is simple, yet complicated;  It is the everyday, yet extraordinary;  It is a story of how friends became family, figuratively and literally. 

I first met Andrea Tomer in the Master of Social Work program at Asbury University.  Andrea is an exceptionally bright and intelligent person, so I made it a point to sit by her in several classes that we shared.  Sometimes, during particular boring parts of a lecture, we would draw silly pictures of the professor or other silly things students sometimes do.

Andrea graduated a year before me, but we remained in contact.  One day, she told me that she had met a wonderful person in, of all places, the Nicholasville Wal-Mart.  Before I could blink an eye, she became engaged to this person. 

Gloria Weigle, my girlfriend, also became friends with Andrea Tomer and "friended" her on Facebook.  Andrea put out the word on Facebook that she needed a photographer to do her engagement photos.  Gloria happened to be searching the news feed of Facebook and saw this message.  She got in contact with Andrea and suggested that I take their engagement photos.  Andrea spoke with Jacob and they then asked me to do their engagement photos.  At that time, I only had a Nikon point-and-shoot camera.  The camera took great pictures, but I was very hesitant and nervous about doing engagement photos because I did not have professional equipment at that time.  That being said, I agreed to do the engagement photos.  When all was said and done, they were extremely happy with their engagement photos.

Then came the shock; Andrea & Jacob asked Gloria and I to come to their wedding to take some of their wedding photos.  Jacob's family already had a photographer booked, but they still wanted me to take some photos.  Even though I was honored and humbled, I declined.  After being repeatedly asked by them to do some wedding photos for them, I finally relented and agreed to do some wedding photos.  Needless to say, I was very, very apprehensive because I still only had an amateur point-and-shoot camera.  I was extremely worried that some of the wedding pictures would not be what they expected.  Again, just like with the engagement photos, they were extremely pleased with the photos I took. 

After the wedding, Gloria and I began to wonder what we could do with professional cameras.  We talked for a while and decided that we would invest in professional Canon cameras and attempt to make a go of the photography business.  So, off to the camera store we went.  We started out with one Canon camera.  We started taking nature photographs of birds, flowers, and butterflies.  Gloria likes old barns, so she took many pictures of barns.  She photographs interesting looking barns to this day.

Our first photographs we took were OK.  They were good, but not the greatest.  It takes time to learn about aperture, ISO, shutter speed, lighting, composition, studio setup, etc.  Along the path of learning, Andrea & Jacob agreed to let us experiment using them as subjects.  They were our test subjects.  We've taken thousands of pictures of them.  They have helped us learn and to become fabulous professional photographers. 

It's not surprising that we all have become great friends.  Taking photographs of people requires not only good camera skills, but it requires conversation.  So, during many of these photo shoots, we would eat or watch a movie, or sit by a campfire.  On one visit to their house for a photo shoot, Andrea had some surprising news for me.  Andrea is a genealogist and so am I.  We've both done extensive research on our family trees.  Andrea examined my family tree and noticed something strange.  She noticed that Jacob and I had some family members with the same last name.  She began researching and found that Jacob and I have the same 8th Great Grandfather.  This means that Jacob and I are cousins.  When Andrea broke the news to Gloria and I, we just couldn't believe it.  I wanted to make sure that Andrea was correct in her research, so I double checked.  She was right.  Jacob and I are cousins.  That makes Andrea and I cousins by her marriage to Jacob. 

Andrea & Jacob Wedding Portrait Recreation

January 31st, 2016

Photo by:  Jerry Grugin

Key Moments Photography by J & G

Andrea and Jacob knew that I had always wished I had a professional camera at their wedding instead of a point-and-shoot camera.  On January 31st, they made that wish come true.  They both dressed in their wedding attire and agreed to recreate some wedding portraits. 

So, what started out as a friendship between Andrea and I back in graduate school, evolved into a friendship between Gloria, Andrea, Jacob, and I.  Not only are we friends, we are family.  Not only that, Andrea & Jacob have been very instrumental in helping Gloria and I build a successful photography business.  What good fortune and blessings!

Gloria and I have a portfolio on a site called smugmug.com.  To view the portfolio, just click on this link:

Jerry & Gloria Smugmug Portfolio

We also have a Facebook page.  To view the Facebook page, just click on this link and "like" the page:

Jerry & Gloria Facebook Page