Youth With A Mission (YWAM)

A few years back my friends Jeremy and Val Sizemore started a YWAM base here in Pismo Beach. YWAM is basically a community of people from all over the world that come together to reach out to a specific community (Pismo in this case) while training for a bigger mission abroad among the nations. This YWAM in particular has an emphasis on reaching people through the arts. I was asked to teach the photography portion of the training school. So for about 10 weeks starting in January I met with 5 students encouraging their passion and gift for photography. They just returned from their mission the Rwanda this week. They reached out to orphanages and aids victims. They even played soccer against a team of streets kids and got pretty worked. They said the whole village came out to watch thinking they were an American soccer team and just laughed as they slipped and slid in the mud. Here are some of their amazing shots that they got from the trip.









Here are some of the shots that the students took as a result of assignments I sent them on. It is amazing to see unique tendencies and talents through each individual.







Kara Orendorf in particular is a film-only photography. She is crazy about printing on metal and cloth in her darkroom at home in Nashville. Check out her website! I didn't know much about her Rollie camera and so I had to call in a favor from my good friend Michelle Warren who is an amazing medium format and 35mm film photographer. Thanks Michelle for helping out and for taking these cool square pictures!



This is almost all of us: Amy Kusta, Kara Orendorf, Me, Katie Pfruender, Will Barrow and Cindy Robert (not photographed). I’ve had a great time getting to know everybody and feel honored to be considered your friend and kinda your teacher. You are all doing an amazing job using your creativity to reflect our Creator! Keep shooting from the heart. Everyone gets an A++!

Ben + Michelle

We had a blast shooting Ben and Michelle's pictures last week at (what appeared to be) an abandoned Arroyo Grande home that I have had my eye on for months now. When they asked me where we should go for their engagement pictures this place jumped to mind. I have been waiting for the perfect couple for this beautifully dilapidated pink house. When we walked around the house and found a trailer, a green couch, and some broken windows I realized that it was a far more amazing location than I had even hoped.

I met these two a couple of years ago when they moved here from Santa Barbara. Michelle had graduated from Brooks Photography College and migrated North for a quieter more peaceful place to settle down. Michelle Warren is an amazing film and digital photographer! You can check out her website here. She is an ace at photographing families and children and has a real elegant feel for her weddings.


Well it's about time Ben and Michelle tie the knot! They are getting married next Thursday!!! Jose Villa will be shooting the wedding and I am sure he will follow up with some breathtaking images. You will have to keep checking his blog in a couple weeks if you hope to see some from their awesome day.



Me in action. I think I look good blurry.









Oh yeah! And here is a polaroid that Michelle took of us after dinner at their house. She said she actually brings this camera to her weddings. So cool!