Capturing the energy and diversity of a BETO O'Rourke LGBTQ+ voting and fundraising event "You Beto Work" through stunning photography

Vote… For Fuck’s Sake

As you almost certainly have heard, Beto O’Rourke is running for election in November to take one of Texas’ senate seats from the awful Ted Cruz. In an effort to get Austin’s LGBTQ folks volunteering, signed-up, informed, and registered to vote, the Beto field team, Mouthfeel, and Cheer Up Charlie’s partnered together on the You Beto Work event to showcase an amazing line-up of dancing, drag kings, drag queens, and burlesque.T

There were so many highlights and amazing acts that my cup runneth over:

Chola Magnolia being amazing

• Zane Zena

• Bulimianne Rhapsody

• Chola Magnolia 

• Erica Nix

• Cupcake

• Rosalind Hussell

• Tatiana Cholula

• Papi Churro 

• DJ Girlfriend

• DJ Beats of Burden

Sure, I could have posted just a couple photos, but you know what? I didn’t want to. I love all these images way too much and I could have posted another 20 more!

Nikki DaVaughan being the amazing MC for the night

The Beto Field Team getting folks signed up to volunteer and registered to vote

DJ Beats of Burden was incredible all night long

Bulimianne Rhapsody, Mouthfeels, and Rosalind Hussell

The fantastic Beto O’Rourke Field Team

DJ Girlfriend rocking our ears

So many awesome people

Rosalind Hussell bringing in the big bucks

Nikki DaVaughan MC’ing like a champ

Cheer Up Charlie’s at night

The Beto Field Team discussing the importance of Beto’s message, volunteering, and registering to vote

Erica Nix’s workout team rocking our socks and sandals off

Erica Nix is #buff

Everyone deserves a hand and a hug

Papi Churro fanning the crowd

Papi Churro closing out this gallery

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If you have an awesome event coming up I’d love to help you capture it! Don’t hesitate to reach out and we can partner together to make it happen!

Candid Captures: SXSW Portraits and People Photography

The Wolf Man's brother

I had the good fortune of being an official SXSW photographer earlier this year, and I was struck by the fantastic number of awesome people that attended the event. I know that's silly to say. It's a major international event drawing hundreds of thousands of folks from all over the world, but, seeing the people and styles on display was a thing of beauty and it gave me a fair-bit of hope and excitement for our future.

DJ Top Spin AKA Blendiana Jones (my favorite DJ name)

Right on the nose

I have been finding myself on the wrong side of crotchety lately mostly due to the state of American politics and the cowardice and the lack of humanity on display by politicians and those seeking to influence politics through big-money donations.

Seeing the next generation of kids and young adults of all races, genders, interests, and musical tastes co-mingling and making beautiful things made me feel like there's hope in our shared future.

Their energy, their humanity, their desire to improve on the world that's been thrust at them is palpable.

Though my primary task for SXSW was photographing various commercial events, I was drawn to capturing the people at these events and the people as I was moving between venues.

Where I was able to remember folks I have their info linked below their picture... Mostly though, it was a blur. 

Temporary airbrush tattoos being applied at the Fox Sports Bar

URB-E product innovator crushing it on his URB-E electric scooter

The Groovy 1 and It's Jose Will making money moves

I know it's a bit out of focus but I love all the action in the background and I love the slight blur on these folks

This is the wonderful trombonist, Denzel Mendoza, for Haley Heynderickx

So much attitude

Photoshoots can happen anywhere

I love him so much

That skyline

Three of the amazing things that you see at SXSW

Interrupting a photoshoot

The world's a stage. Freetown Multimedia and Real Dirty Blonde