Aurora's Portraits in Lincoln

It's been a cold December, so when I met up with little Aurora and her mom and dad, we decided to head to the capitol building. It was a gray day outside so the light was dim inside, but we still got some cute pictures. Aurora's smile gets sweeter ever time I see her!

Baby Portraits in Omaha

Leah and Nick asked me to visit their home to take pictures of Claire, who is just now 6 months old. I'm so glad that our schedules worked out -- Claire is as cute as they come.

Kris & Beth | Engagement Photos Near Omaha

Before the temps fell, along with the leaves, I ran around in the countryside with Kris and Beth, who are getting married next year. Here are a few outtakes from our time together.

Regina & Kyle | Maternity Pictures in Omaha, NE

It seems like yesterday, but a few years ago I shot Regina and Kyle's wedding. Now they are having their first child, so they contacted me for maternity pictures. We returned to the same place we took their engagement pictures for this session and wound up with some really fun images. It was wonderful seeing them again -- watching people grow together as couples, and then as a family, is one of the best parts of my job.

Fun Pictures from Halloween

Halloween has been my favorite holiday since I was little. Other kids liked Christmas gifts; I loved haunted houses. Here are a few Halloween-ish pictures for you.

Marissa | Senior Pictures in Lincoln, NE

Marissa is the outdoorsy type, so we roamed around Lincoln for her senior pictures. We happened upon some really great light and made the best of it even though it got cold.

Make BIG Prints for a LITTLE Cash

Let's be frank. You didn't pay good money for portrait or wedding photography just so you could post images to Facebook and make a few 4 x 6 prints. These days, it's easy to make BIG PRINTS for just a little money, so long as you follow a few basic steps.

1. First, you need a big print. When I just want big prints and I'm not going to be really picky about quality, I almost always use Winkflash.com. But places like Walmart will let you order poster prints as large as 20 x 30, too (but they'll have to ship them to you. Their in-store photo labs don't usually make prints this big). Again, these are not pro-quality prints like you'd get if you order from me, but they do the trick when you're on a budget.

2. After you receive the print, you MUST have it mounted at a framing shop. Mounting just means that you're adhering the print to foam core or similar rigid, board-like material. This prevents wrinkling and waves in the print. You can't skip this step -- wavy prints look really awful, especially when the prints are very large. I always have my prints mounted at Hangups Gallery on 70th and Pioneers. The staff is incredibly nice and they finish mounting jobs in just a few days. They will also mat your print if you'd like. Matting just adds a border to your print and it almost always means a more professional-looking piece.

3. You could also have Hangups frame the print, and if you have the money, I fully encourage you to do so. If you're looking to pinch pennies, though, you can buy really large frames for cheap at places like Hobby Lobby and Michael's. Just know that these stores cut the prices of their frames by 50% EVERY OTHER WEEK, so never buy frames for full price. Just wait a week and buy them for half off.

4. If you're buying a frame from one of these stores, understand that the the dimensions are NEVER accurate. So if you ask Hangups to mount a print at 20 x 30 and then mat it for a 24 x 36 frame, you can bet that you won't be able to make that print fit in the cheap 24 x 36 frame you bought. The solution? Ask Hangups to cut your matted print to a slightly smaller size, such as 23.25 x 35.25. This will make it MUCH easier to fit the print into your frame. Otherwise, you'll be stuck trying to wedge your huge, mounted print into a fussy frame...and this is an ugly, exasperating ordeal. Trust me.

5. Once the print is in the frame, to make a large print easy to hang and level, you'll want to attach framing wire to the back. This is as easy as putting two (short) screws through D-rings on the back of the frame, about 6 six inches from the top. Both bits of hardware are easy to find in the framing or hardware section of any hardware store in town. Then just string some heavy-duty framing wire through each D-ring and you'll be able to hang the print on a single, small nail that won't mess up your drywall.

The digital revolution means big prints are more affordable than ever before. Don't miss out on big prints -- they are an inexpensive way to totally change the look of any room in your house. Live with your art...it will change your life for the better.

Eric & Seara | Lincoln, NE Wedding Pictures

Eric and Seara are, quite simply, a bit ridiculous. Both of them are beyond photogenic. They are ridiculously perfect for each other. And as individuals, they are some of the nicest (and most entertaining) people I've had the pleasure of meeting. These facts aren't lost on the people around them -- they have hundreds of friends, and judging by the jam-packed reception hall, every single one of them showed up for the wedding. It was a fantastic night.

TAB Performance Glamour Shots | Lincoln, NE

I've been working with Justin and Casey Pflanz for a few months now. The brothers have been working steadily to expand their business, called TAB Performance, which makes and sells accessories for Harley Davidson motorcycles. A couple of weeks ago we set out to grab some images of one set of exhaust pipes. Here are a few of the results.

Call for Photo Assistants!

I'm currently looking for photo assistants to help on portrait and wedding shoots. Know anyone who might be interested? Here's the scoop!

What I need:

- people who are willing to help out on shoots, mostly by handling and carrying gear

What you get:

- this isn't a paying gig. But you'll take away a ton of hands-on learning and the experience of working with a full-time photographer

It's really that simple. My lighting ideas are getting bigger and my back can only take so much abuse. So...I'm looking for people who want to have fun on photo shoots while learning how lighting and image making work, as well as how I interact with clients to create unique pictures.

You're welcome to help as much or as little as your time and desire allow. For each shoot, I'll send an email to a list of assistants, and it will be first come, first served.

After the shoot is over and the pictures are edited, we can talk about the pictures and I'll answer any and all of your questions. A lot of photographers don't like sharing their so-called "trade secrets" but I feel that sharing is the best way to improve our artistic community. If you (or someone you know) might be interested, zip me an email (nathan@40nightscreative) or call 402-730-2568. - Nathan

Nikki & Jake | Portraits in Southeast Nebraska

Nikki and Jake are actually from Missouri, but they were visiting Lincoln to see family. Nikki's brother, Eric, will be getting married here in a couple of weeks...and I'll be taking the pictures. Funny how things start to tie together after a few years of taking pictures non-stop. In any case, we took a whirlwind tour around downtown and made some fun images. Here are a few outtakes.

Charleigh | Kid Pictures in Lincoln!

We met a wonderful family for a short portrait session on a recent Sunday morning. Charleigh is now 16 months old and just as cute as you'd expect. Here are a few images from our time together.

Max & Harper | Child Portraits in Lincoln, NE

My friends Rhett and Renee grabbed the kiddos last week and we headed to the park. It was rather...steamy...outside. That meant I'd probably only have a few minutes before the kids starting melting down, figuratively and literally. So, we played for about 15 minutes and then called it good. Here are few worth sharing.

Adam & Carrie | Engagement Pictures in Omaha

I have been a very bad blogger lately, but I'm trying to catch up. Here are a few outtakes from my session with Adam and Carrie in Omaha. This shoot...well, it was something else. First, we visited Hummel Park (not my idea) and overheard a rather violent-sounding screaming match. We decided to vacate the premises. Then we managed to miss part of an epic sunset...and in spite of it all, we wound up with a great set of images, some of which Carrie doesn't want me to share with the general public. So, the best work stays under wraps. Still, there are some fun ones I can share from this hilariously awesome outing. Can't wait to see these two in the fall.