Here are some behind the scenes from last week's campaign with DraftFCB. We had a blast shooting inside of a pimp ride with our hilarious talent (who endured hours of acting like he was sleeping (in a not so comfortable position).
Thank you to my clients for just being awesome and for another fantastic crew (Mark, Neil, Brian, Courtney, Ashley and Brandi!!) Stay tuned to see the final image(s)!

photos by Brian Guido ------ If you can't view the gallery above click here

See you in a week!

. . . you'll find the talented, Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Matthew Santos. Jen at Chicago Magazine came to me to help build on a portrait concept of Santos which incorporates how he got his start touring with Lupe Fiasco (and opening up for people like Kanye West and Rihanna) and and is now performing in a much different genre of music.
I approached the shot more conceptually and created a simple, monochromatic set with light and energy bursting through a hole in one of the walls. I was hoping to give the sense of two different worlds and leaving it up to you, the viewer, to decide which is which. Be sure to pick up the March issue of Chicago Magazine and read the whole story behind Matthew Santos (and also my image!)

Santos has a brand new album that is about to drop in March and I can guarantee you'll be hearing it soon.

...just kidding! We miss the warm weather here in the Windy City and can't wait for the first sprinkles of a spring shower!
Here's a fun one for Time Out that we created a few weeks ago. You may have caught a glimpse of the shoot during our live web cast that was rolling during throughout the day. It was such a fun shoot and everyone loved the kids' energy and enthusiasm for the concept. I wish kid rain gear was this cool when I was a kid. Heck, I wish adult rain gear was this cool now!
I'd totally sport a slicker embellished with some Iron Man or perhaps an umbrella that covered with the hero Transformer, Optimus Prime.
Thanks again to our brother and sister talent Keoni and Naia, everyone at Time Out Chicago, Amy Lauhoff Obrien for some styling love and to Yo Gabba Gabba for setting the tone for the day!

will stay in Vegas until we're back in the studio on Monday! Hopefully I'll have some downtime to catch a show, win some money or some Zzzz's - or all three!

We just wrapped a fantastic shoot for a series of tv commercials which I directed. Thank you to an AMAZING client, crew and production team for making this possible. This was my first time working with a pair of the infamous RED ONE video cameras at the same time. I wish I had deep deep pockets to pick up a couple of these amazing cameras. Stay tuned for the final TV spots. But in the meantime, check out some behind the scenes from yesterdays filming.

photos by Mark Doddato ------ If you can't view the gallery above click here

Thanks to everyone that tuned in on Saturday for another live blogcast from the studio! We had a smokin' good time (ha!) shooting this concept which included an all black set and a new favorite chair (refinished, repainted and re-upholstered by yours truly). A HUGE thank you Courtney Rust for rockin' the styling and Mark Doddato for the apocalyptic fog!

I recently photographed my dad and his horses for my portfolio and for a promo series that we're designing. While we were setting up the lighting gear and he positioned the horse, I snapped a handful of quick snapshots. I've learned a ton of things from my dad, like my obsession for carpentry and building my own sets. I'm very proud that I had a small town upbringing because it has made me who I am today by giving me a more realistic outlook on what's important in life.

Thanks to everyone for tuning in for yesterday's live webcam blogcast from the studio! It was a quick editorial and our talent was HILARIOUS! The studio was pumpin' out some colorful Yo Gabba Gabba tunes while Monsters Inc was keeping the talent entertained between shots. We were all thoroughly hydrated with a plethora of juice boxes to keep me and our fantastic talent going for a couple hours!
A big thank you to Amy Lauhoff O'brien for being a fantastic co-stylist on the set. Amy and I have known each other for almost 10 years and this is the was the first time we've been able to work together (mostly because she is ALWAYS booked for styling gigs). The set was made entirely out of paper (which is headed to the recycling today). We are working on several more shoots in the studio and on location so keep an eye out for another live blogcast! Thanks again!

Here's a quick shot from the Black Friday and 2009 holiday campaign that I photographed for Marc USA for GGP. I was on location for most of November and didn't get a chance to catch it in malls around the country.

I've been supporting Kiva for a couple years now. Not only are they an amazing organization with a dedicated and life-changing mission, but the way you lend (donate) is easy, intuitive and clever.
Kiva's mission is to connect people through lending for the sake of alleviating poverty. They are the world's first person-to-person micro-lending website, empowering individuals to lend to unique entrepreneurs around the globe. The people you see on the site are real individuals. When you browse entrepreneurs' profiles, you (or your gift recipient) can choose someone to lend to, and then make a loan, you are helping a real person make great strides towards economic independence and improve life for themselves, their family, and their community. Throughout the course of the loan you can receive email journal updates and track repayments. Then, when you get your loan money back, you can relend to someone else.
Kiva now offers Gift Certificates in various pre-set ammounts, perfect for that special client, friend or family member!

That is the question.

Here is a portrait I did of two University of Chicago lads who are tweeting their way onto the shelves of every bookstore in the world. Their humorous interpretations of the world's best works of literature into 140 character Twitter messages had me at OMFG!

I also created a visual representation (out of foamcore board, poster board and a little glue) of Hamlet and Dante's Inferno that would be stung up with fishing line and suspended above their heads. By physically creating these two app icons for the shoot, the art director and photo editor could get a real sense of my vision for this shot.

I highly recommend two things: picking up a copy of January's Chicago Magazine and following these two on Twitter.

Off to the city by the bay again! Hopefully, I'll find time to do some shopping for Santa. See you in a few days!

Brian and I have been together for almost 6 years now and I couldn't have found a better partner to grow with. Brian continues to push me creatively as I do him. Our talents are quite different, yet utterly similar: he is an amazing scenic and lighting designer and I, obviously, am a photographer. We are two artists living our dream. On Saturday, November 28th 2009 in Kaua'i, we officially committed our lives to each other

That Saturday, we woke up together and watched the sun rise from an amazing cliff near our hotel. That evening, Brian and I joined hands at the same spot again and committed our lives to each other as the sun set on the other end of the cliff. It couldn't have been more perfect and memorable than that. Simple. Quiet. Comforting.





We were able to share this news with a couple hundred of people at our holiday party this weekend. It was our sixth time having this holiday party and it continues to grow with each year. Family, friends, clients, assistants, artists, actors and musicians flock to our loft and collide for several hours sharing laughs and (ahem, many) drinks and food. Brian and I are extremely grateful for those that are with us in person and in spirit. Thank you for enriching our lives.
Have a wonderful holiday season and best wishes to you and yours for the New Year!

Brian and I had an amazing break in Kaua'i, Hawai'i this Thanksgiving and were fortunate to take advantage of just about everything you could see on the tiny island. This also included an amazing wedding of my cousin Nick and his beautiful new wife, Elisa. Here is a sample of what we experienced. The helicopter tour of the whole island was unbelievable. Dozens of waterfalls, cliffs, rainbows, sunsets and sunrises, flowers, fish, beautiful clouds and the endless sound of the waves crashing into the rocks near our hotel. Our perfect version of the 'reset' button.

We had another great shoot with the folks over at Campbell Ewald for USPS' Deliver Magazine. This time we grabbed a fun collection of images of Ryan Vero of CMO of Office Max.
Deliver is a great magazine for marketers, but it is also a great resource for photographers and other artists to learn more about marketing trends and news.

Gobble gobble, hula hula, gobble gobble! We're taking some time off in Kauai for Thanksgiving week. Kicking off the shoes, turning down the cell phone, escape the internet and turn off the city noise.

This was a first on a shoot. A live chicken!! Adam Burke is a witty and funny comedian here in Chicago and I highly recommend catching one of his shows. I also highly recommend you pick up a copy of December's Chicago Magazine and check out my photo and read the Arean Opener!

A big thank you to Courtney, Ashley and Marc for being a fantastic creative team!

I had a (cold and slippery) blast shooting the story of Chicago Magazine writer Bryan Smith for December's issue. Make sure you pick up a copy and check it out! He's a fantastic writer and has a great sense of humor (my kinda guy!!)

Thank you Creative Photography for giving me a monstrous tweet this week! I've received a plethora of emails and comments about my work. Keep spreadin' the love!

I'm always flattered when good blogs feature my work. I recently popped up on Fubiz and am blushing at the comments I'm receiving about my work. Thank you!!
Get your daily dose of inspiration at Fubiz

We're headed back to Texas again! YEEEEEHAW!!!!! This time, we're in one of my favorite cities - Austin!! Oh yeah!!

We're updating our books right now using two different variations of the same set of images.

Smaller, letter-size books are perfect bound through either Paper Chase (for large quantities) or Blurb for short runs. One set of these smaller books get their covers mounted to a hand-honed birchwood veneer to match my big books. These little wooden beauties are great traveling books and are easy to have tucked into my messenger bag when I'm out and about. The remaining 'naked' books are used as leave behinds for larger book showings.

My larger books are a combination of manufactured Pina Zangaro screw post covers in white which have also been covered in a beautiful hand-honed birch veneer. It's a very simple, economical way to own portfolios that incorporate the perfection of the machined Pina Z screw post hinges with the craftsmanship of hand cut wood. And all while staying within my branding of pure white and natural wood. My logo on the cover is laser-cut vinyl created by another local printer.

The larger books are printed here at the studio using the small Epson R2400 with K3 inks on Inkpress' Luster Duo 300gsm. All of the pages are then machine punched, trimmed and scored at a local printshop and then placed into the book. And, yes that is my stockpile of ink cartridges waiting to be recycled (FYI - Staples gives you 3 bucks per cartridge, up to 10/month)

The main reason I use the screwpost binding with bare prints is because we don't have to use those awful plastic print sleeves (which you shouldn't be using either) and I can update the book anytime I want, day or night! If I create a new portfolio piece . . . BAM! it's in the book! If an image doesn't 'fit' within the flow of the book anymore? BAM! It's gone! Simple & Easy.

I'm on location for a week in the Lone Star State.

Trick or treat!!!! Here's my 100% handmade 2009 Halloween costume! I just couldn't resist the urge to go all out this year! I rarely bust out the craft table for costumes, but this year I thought I'd do something different!

Happy Halloween!

Here is a shot I did recently for Chicago Magazine. It is of the very talented Alan Gross, a Chicago screenwriter and playwright. Alan's new dark comedy, High Holidays, opens on October 31st at the Goodman Theatre here in Chicago. We had a blast working with Alan and his willingness to shoot at two very different locations, D4 (a Streeterville Irish bar/grill) and his home in Old Town.


Be sure to pick up the November issue of Chicago Magazine, currently on newstands! And thanks again to a terrific crew:

Styling: Sage Reed
Assistant: Mark Doddato
Makeup/hair: Sara Saltanovitz

What a day! We did another editorial portrait today for Chicago Magazine. Here's a shot of me in action as well as me getting up close and personal with our 'prop'. I have never met a chicken so well behaved and cooperative as this hot chick. The handler could literally bend and pose the chicken's cute little head and he would stay in that position until we needed him to change. AMAZING!


Thanks again to a great crew . . .

Styling: Courtney Rust
Makeup/hair: Ashley Bourdon
Assistant: Marc Altman