Canaday Designs

Matt Canaday and I grew up together enduring the hot summers of Paso Robles. We passed the time by swimming in the neighbor's pool and playing music together in a couple of different bands. Matt has always been artistic and over the past lots of years has really directed his artistic capabilities into ironwork and design. Matt is practicing his experience and knowledge of blacksmithing to embrace his dream of making a living as a sculpture maker. He knows how to weld everything from railings to sconces to metal tables but his heart’s passion is creating these gi-normous statues that speak of eternity. This one in particular took him 700 hours!!!

This sculpture is a symbolic rendering of an angelic being, titled "Wisdom". It is a multi-metal masterpiece consisting of core ten steel, stainless steel, brass, bronze, and copper. Every piece is cut, formed, and fabricated by hand, all one of a kind. Wisdom stands 62" tall, 36" wide, and 24" deep. Her hand’s reach open to her audience, silently calling them. The idea for this sculpture was based out of the book of Proverbs in the Bible, where "Wisdom" is described as a female form. She stands humble yet with power as she invites onlookers to consider for themselves her message.

Matt’s business is called Canaday Designs. I’ve shot for his portfolio in the past. You can see my pictures on his website. Most recently a book has asked to feature some of his work in their yearly publication. I am just thrilled that Matt is living his dreams and using his gifts. Congratulations my friend!

Here is an excerpt from Proverbs 3:13-20.

“Happy is the person who finds wisdom and gains understanding. For the profit of wisdom is better than silver, and her wages are better than gold. Wisdom is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. She offers you life in her right hand, and riches and honor in her left. She will guide you down delightful paths; all her ways are satisfying. Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her; happy are those who hold her tightly. By wisdom the Lord founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens. By his knowledge the deep fountains of the earth burst forth, and the clouds poured down rain.”

Goodie Two Sleeves!

This is a fun photo I took for my friend's clothing company, Goodie Two Sleeves. They make the coolest and most creative humor tees around. I actually photographed the owner, Gabe Connor's, wedding last summer. Gabe is super duper creative and is going to make the coolest cartoon someday. I can't wait! I shot this picture for an art book that will be distributed at Pool Trade Show in August. It was really fun shooting my friend Corey, all the while envisioning little cartoon characters racing him to the finish. The poor burger is so sad to be in the rear. ;(

Eagle Castle Winery

I was recently commissioned to shoot some ad shots for the brand-new Eagle Castle Winery. It is nestled in the beautiful vineyard country off of HWY 46 West between Cambria and Paso Robles. First of all we photographed Bob and his lovely wife Brenda enjoying a glass of vino in the tasting room as well as on the veranda by the moat. Yes I said MOAT! The owner is so passionate about recreating a European Castle here on the Central Coast he even looked into getting live alligators to fill it. Needless to say, the County didn’t go for it. Ahh well… Our model, Bob, is also the guy who built the Castle. Bob The Builder. Great job Bob! The Castle is amazing!


Camilla Svensson Burns did an amazing job decorating and flowering the reception scenes. It worked out that they were able to use all of the beautifully set tables for the wine festival that weekend. Camilla is so quintessential, a word that I have learned from Camilla. Quintessential: Representing the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Camilla on a number of occasions and I am always impressed with her ability to take flowers and arrange them into art.



We needed some shots of a bride and groom as well as possible reception setups. I asked around for a week or so and couldn’t find any models. Rebekah Pouge, the event’s coordinator, suggested my wife and I dress up in our wedding attire for the shoot. Except…who would shoot pictures of me? Rebekah explained that her husband had a ‘knack’ for photography so he could come along as well and snap anything that I was posing in. So I gave him a pro-photographer crash course and he did a fantastic job! We look hot! Especially Mrs. Ingalls. She was thrilled to dress up again! What a model!








This is Bryan and Rebekah Pouge. Rebekah is doing such a fabulous job getting Eagle Castle ready for weddings! She is not only organized and professional, but also a joy to work with. It won't be long until Eagle Castle is a landmark wedding venue on the Central Coast.

This is the patio on the rooftop. It can accommodate smaller parties or receptions. The view is gorgeous; overlooking the mountains and vineyards of West Paso Robles.

Columbine High Survivor

I just finished the book "Marked For Life" by Crystal Woodman Miller. I was able to almost consume it in one day on my flights home from Florida. Crystal writes about the high school shooting that rocked her life and so many others on April 20, 1999. She writes about escaping gunmen who threatened to kill every student in the school's library where she was curled up under a table praying for her life. But most of all she writes about choosing hope and discovering purpose in the darks days that have followed that tragedy.

I met Crystal just a few months ago. Her husband called me from Oklahoma early this year asking that I snap some promo photos for Crystal's book. What he didn't know was that I lived in California. He had seen some of my work on a website of an Oklahoman musician/worship leader Charlie Hall and loved my style. When I explained that I didn't just live down the road he was bummed but determined to have me so much so that he flew me a couple of weeks later. I had just a brief couple of hours with Crystal and wish that I had had more time. She and her husband Pete were full of joy, peace, and love. I could tell that they are people that have been "through it" but have come out victorious on the other side of despair.

I think the hardest part of surviving a tragedy where loved ones die in front of your eyes is actually surviving. Crystal's story has encouraged me to move on from the bitterness of suffering that I have held onto and befriended. There were parts of the book that brought me to tears as I read of suffering greater than mine experienced by people around the world that have gone before. It encouraged me to pursue God in the face of tragedy and pain and to use my hurt to find the beauty that can come out of the ashes. Thank you Crystal for showing us that life is not about ourselves and that we take for granted every day, every breath and the amazing people God has entrusted to us for such a short time.

Crystal writes...

"Frequently, I prayed to God, 'Why can't you just erase my hurt, my pain, my memories? Why won't you restore my life to how it was before Columbine, before my family broke apart, before my mind was permanently imprinted with images I wish I'd never seen? They're thorns in my flesh, God... Please just take them away!'

God of course, didn't. But as years went by, I'd find myself seeing God's face more clearly, sensing his presence more fully, feeling his hand on my life more strongly as I walked through bouts of suffering."