I had to do some Christmas/School pics of my kids so I turned my garage into a makeshift studio.  Yeah I know, “and your just now uploading them way to keep the blog up to date”.  Anyway, I brought out a couple popup backdrops and set up my studio lights.  I even rigid a Canon 580EX flash with a snoot and set it up overhead as a hair light.  All in all I think they came out pretty well.  I wouldn’t be able to do large groups of families or anything in there, but if I had to do individual head shots, pinups, maternities, or children I now know I have a place to do them indoors.  What do you think?

I have a high school senior who is working as an intern at my Radio and Television studio this year.  We got together and went out and did a senior session recently.  As with all my sessions we had a lot of fun.  If you know her make sure to ask her about Beyonce.  I tried some different lighting with a couple of her shots and I think they came out well.  Here are a few from the session.

Well I came across a deal I just could not pass up last week.  I have wanted a Mini Cooper for ages, but they are just too small to fit anyone in.  Well in 2008 Mini came out with the Clubman version with a suicide door on the passenger side and a little over nine inches in extra length.  I never had a chance to really look at one until I saw a used one for sale recently.  Just for curiosity sake I called about it and took a look.  I took Devin with me because that is the main issue, fitting him in the seat behind me.  Much to my surprise he fit back there with plenty of room.  She is a 2008 model and was a great deal with only 11K miles on it.  She is pretty much loaded with everything Mini has to offer; Hot Chocolate exterior paint, “S” version with sports suspension, Sun roof, Premium Stereo, heated seats/mirrors, Bluetooth/USB, Hot Chocolate upgraded interior, Xenon headlights, Fog Laps, and the list goes on.  I am sure you are thinking, all that is nice but how is the drive?

She is like a little rocket.  The car pulls away in every gear, and just grips the road through the turns.  Mini says it is like driving a go cart and I have to agree.  It makes me feel like I am back racing the streets of So. Cal. again.  Agreed it is not the most practical car in the world, but wow it was a great deal and it is going to be so much fun to drive I just couldn’t pass it up.  If I lay one of the 50/50 split seats down in the back it will fit all my photo equipment or golf clubs in with no issues and that’s all that matters right?  Besides the gas mileage is phenomenal in it, so far tracking around 28 MPG in the city, so that makes it a little more practical.  I can convince myself of anything.  I have attached a few photos of it below.  After a couple weeks of driving I will do another post with more details about the cars performance.