Camila Santos - Twilight Portraits

Camila's husband has been in Afganistan for the last 3 years and she wanted some beautiful photos to send him so we got together this weekend and fired away as the sun appeared and disappeared at dusk. We trecked up to the capitol building to find a high point while we were downtown and eventually discovered this spot with lots of broken pillars scattered about. What a great location! I'll definitely be shooting there again!

Shaun Surgener - Acting Headshots and Portraits

Shaun called me up about building a portfolio for him to use for acting auditions and also to pitch to a few agencies. He'll be a pretty good actor I would imagine. He was very outgoing and comfortable in front of the camera. Also, we ended up doing some shots at the Opryland hotel and when I tried to pose him by this baby grand piano, he started playing "Riders on the Storm" by The Doors and "Thats Just the Way It Is" by Bruce Hornsby.  He is really talented and I couldn't stop thinking how much I wished I'd met someone that was that good at piano while I was trying to put a band together in college!

Chuck Reaves - Album Photos

Chuck and I met on Sunday at Centennial park to do some headshots for his new album. We decided to ditch the park, hop in the car and drive around looking for good photo spots. I'm glad we did, b/c it didn't take long to find these two good locations.

Cast Photos for The Franklin Recreational Center's Production of "The Music Man"

My boss at the Vanderbilt Center for Better Health, Tom Lloyd, wears several hats. At Vanderbilt, he wears the Director of Consulting Services hat and now that he has a role in "The Music Man" he's been sporting a pork pie hat. Tom asked me to do some cast photos and headshots. As I rushed through a line of at least 50 kids vivid memories of being a school photographer came rushing back. Being a school photographer was a fun job when I was shooting outdoor seniors in the summer or driving to a hockey or football game to train another photographer, but the spring and fall school shoots could test even my passion for photography. It was the opposite of creative. I always thought to myself, that it was such a waste to photograph every child with the exact same pose and expression. No one could stand out or show any character or individuality... or at least I had to keep that to a minimum. This time there were no rules, I encouraged the kids to be silly and the photos were a lot of fun! Anyway, doing a free photoshoot for my boss is the least that I can do to repay him for hiring me on at the VCBH and saving me from a lifetime of school photography.

- Matt Andrews

www.mattandrewsphoto.com