I was invited to attend a luncheon at UGM Portland’s LifeChange Center yesterday.  Chatting with so many people at UGM totally refueled me.  I was encouraged by hearing stories of lives completely transformed, and being in the presence of new and old friends who exhibit the most incredible faith.

This past summer I photographed a big party at the Portland Union Gospel Mission.  My friend Rob at UGM told me that it would be a time to honor their guests, the people they serve, and really enjoy life together.  Tillamook cheese donated 500 grilled cheese sandwiches in honor of their 100th anniversary.  The UGM wheeled in music and drinks.  It all went down right off Burnside and 3rd.  I love that these photos are in color.  That they show the joy and character of people who are too often avoided and forgotten about.

These are our great friends Olive + Fran.  Since moving to Portland from San Francisco, we’ve adopted them.  This was their first time cutting down their own Christmas tree from a real forest (Loch Lolly Christmas Tree Forest!)

This shot is inspired by my homie Eugene Atget.

I like Fran’s little hat.

I busted out the ol’ daguerreotype for these shots.

She just knew this was “the one”.

Merry Christmas!

“Nailed it”

A few snaps of my good looking wife, Jacqi, at our home in Portland.  She keeps me going.