Here are is the first image:

Here is the second image with a Black and White variation:

Here is the somewhat vintage look:

Visit my Website: Charleton Churchill Photography
Contact me:  (209) 603-1741
Wedding and Portrait Photographer

I thank Jesus.  Without Him, my life would definitely not be where it’s at today.  I’m a different man.  By God’s grace, I press on daily, striving to be that good man.  He has blessed me with my beautiful wife of eleven years, three beautiful girls, and many relationships with people who are great and influential in my life .  I also want to thank my family locally and afar.  I want to especially thank my wife for not only putting up with me, but taking on quite a load with our home and children, and as a public school teacher.  She has been a huge support in this growing photography business.

People that have been influential in my life, people like my Pastor George for putting up with me and continually encouraging and challenging me all these years.  Randy Fields for his influence in my life as a high school and college student, pushing me to work hard.  Close friends from college and the band, Andrew Shirley, Nathan Brown, Chris Berry, Joel Berry, Brett McFadden, Ben Rayls, Dex Alexander,…where would I be today?

My photographer inspirations and thanks go out to Kevin Focht and Andrew Funderburg for mentoring me and pouring into me regarding the business and art of photography.  Thanks for being honest, challenging, and pushing me to new levels.  Kevin Focht, thank you for allowing me to fly up to Portland and shoot a wedding with you.  Scott Wreyford for your wisdom and willingness to answer all my questions.  Scott Kelby (I know, I don’t know him personally, but man his books are great).  Jonathan Esper your frienship in landscape photography on Mt. McKinley, Denali, Alaska (2007).  Travis Hoehne for introducing me to the business of photography, and getting me started. You’ve been a gracious friend.  Robert Evans, for allowing me to drive with you on a road trip to WPPI Vegas.  It was worth it.  Thanks for teaching me about emotionalism in art.  I would like to thank the photographers of Amador County, our local PPA, WWPI, David Jay, Chase Jarvis, and the photographers I shoot with for their great work and assistance in my life.  And of course, my huge early and most adored inspirations, Ansel Adams and Galen Rowell.  I will never enjoy photography as I do on the mountains I climb.  There is something beautiful and peaceful in the grandness of a mountain.  Of course, there are many other photographers I would like to thank, and who have inspired me.  Thank you all.

Again, I cannot reiterate how much I am thankful for you all.  Without you, this means nothing.  There are some of you who are die hard fans.  Mitch you definitely can be nominated as one of my craziest fans. I love you bro.  Thank you all for referring your friends to me for weddings, in state, across the states.

Counties that competed in the KCRA 3 2010 A-List Best of Business Contest are as followed: Sacramento County, El Dorado County, Placer County, Nevada County, Sierra County, Stanislaus County, Yuba County, Amador County, Calaveras County, Colusa County, Lassen County, Plumas County, Yolo County, Butte County, San Joaquin County, Solano County, Tuolomne County, and Sutter County.

Kevin just plainly told me I have what it takes, and I could write whatever I wanted, what I’m doing, and how I inspire others with my work.  Kevin Focht and Andrew Funderburg (Fundy, as we call him, has developed software for photographers) are both inspirational in their photography and business.  Kevin has lived in London and New York as a photographer.  He’s been on featured on many magazine covers.  He shoots fashion, seniors in Portland, and high end weddings.  Andrew is an amazing photographer and business man as well.  Kevin and Andrew have been an inspiration and mentor to me, so I’m privileged to be writing weekly for their blog.

If you are new to photography, want to get into the business, want to grow as a photographer, or just want to be a better photographer with your family and friends, this blog is a great place for you visit.  Every Wednesday, I’ll post something, while a few other photographers write during the week.

Thank you Kevin and Andrew for your work and for inviting me to your photographer’s blog!

Originally, I had a Vegas RT flight from San Francisco, but a sudden opportunity to ride with Celeb Photographer Robert Evans from Orange County was before me, and I would have been a fool to pass it up.  In case some of you don’t know, Robert Evans is an amazing photographer with amazing breath-taking images.  He was the exclusive photographer to Tom and Kat Cruise’s wedding, as well as Brad Pitt and Jennifer Annistan.  He has shot Jim Carrey and Cristina Agulara.  He showed me his 300 image album in the car on the way to Vegas.  Every image has the wow factor in it.  Brilliant composition and feeling.  I had purchased my plane tickets to the OC a few hours before I left to the airport, which thank you to Anthony Sprunk for driving me there.

On the way up to Vegas, time flew.  It seemed there wasn’t enough time to talk, as we both couldn’t shut up.  We stopped at Subway on the way (He likes Subway).  He bought gas.  I bought Subway and his gum.  Not much of a trade-off, but he wouldn’t let me share the fuel costs.  One of his passions is mentoring other photographers, so was I really glad to have this personal road trip with someone I rarely knew.

One of the statements Robert Evans said to me on the phone before arriving, which blew me away, was, “Ask me any question you want.”  I was like wow, one on one time with a great photographer.  So, even though I lost my original plane ticket and had to pay more to take a detour, it was way worth my time to have 4-5 hours with this wonderful guy.  He is very personable, caring, and generous of his knowledge.  He is also a people watcher.  We were at Subway, and I saw him staring at a group, his attention was focused, and I said, “what’s up?”  He was like, “Oh sorry, I have a habit of people watching, as my wife tells me I do.”  Then he talked about where this group was possibly going, and what they were probably going to do.  Anyway, it was interesting getting to know a little of this guy.

I’m getting ready to go down and meet up with some new photography friends at the Canon pool party, which is for everyone (it’s about 9:20p.m.).  I will be in contact later, but I just wanted to share this amazing opportunity to meet someone such as Robert Evans.  Tomorrow, I was meet up with Kevin Focht from Portland.  I’ve seen Tori Plant from our area, and Gavin, my second shooter a few weeks ago. I’m hoping to see Travis Hoehne around here somewhere.  I hope you’re all doing well.  Blessings to you all!

Wow, I am blessed, blown away, and humbled at the same time! I started this little side photography business officially in April with a simple business license, some business cards, a website, and a few other things. Little did I know I would be getting this much business so fast. I know the camera real well, and I am well versed in Photoshop software, and I have been eating up photography since climbing mountains seriously, and God made me creative, so it works out great. I have three weddings booked this summer, I am already booking for next year, and so many children portraits, senior portraits, school and dance portraits, and other miscellaneous sessions, I am really grateful. Thank you all for allowing me to have fun with you, and be creative. Here are some photos I’ve been taking this week as samples for people who had sessions! Check them out and enjoy!

Little Boy Blue

Senior Portait Session

Kai Zen Karate - Anthony Hanks

Children Portrait session

Photography is not only about what you see, but what others don’t see. Capturing the right moment with the right elements is actually hard work, getting that emotion and story within the photo with the right pose and form pays off eventually, but you’ve got to be inside your head when you are shooting.

Now, after capturing the right photo, you need to process your shot! Mostly all photographers do this in some form (color correction, lighting, touch up, etc.). It’s quite easy to fix the obvious areas, but one needs to pay attention to detail to have the ideal shot, like one of my fav photographers, Taylor James. Below I have a photo that has been touched up. I shoot my photos in RAW (not jpeg) so that I have full control of all my photograph detail without hijacking the quality, like you would in a jpeg, which is compressed. This photo below was color corrected and touched up by what I was envisioning in this shot. I fixed the eyes, brought softness to some parts, sharpened some areas, colored in some areas, brought up intensity in RAW, and a few other things. The model did very well that day.