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Focused on ᥴ𝕣ꫀꪖ𝕥ⅈꪜⅈ𝕥ꪗ and an 𝕖𝕩𝕔𝕖𝕡𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕒𝕝 customer experience. ꪜⅈડⅈꪮꪀ

1. Provide exceptional quality photography.
2. Support non-profits & my local community.

Offer the best turn-around times in the industry.
3. Foster an enjoyable relationship with clients.
4.

30/10/2026

What started as a few hundred people in a room with Gene Abdallah has grown into thousands, with his son Scott Abdallah carrying that work forward. Together, their efforts have raised millions of dollars for charities near and dear to law enforcement. That’s an incredible legacy built around taking care of people and bringing a community together.

Wednesday evening marked the 45th annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Dinner and Children’s Charity Fundraiser at the Sioux Falls Convention Center. Thank you to my friends Jon Jorgenson and Governor Larry Rhoden for inviting me to join them. I appreciate these friendships and the opportunity to use my photography to share an evening like this with all of you.

Scott Abdallah hosted the evening, handling introductions and guiding the program. Speakers included Tony Dungy, U.S. Marshals Service Director Gadyaces Serralta, Governor Larry Rhoden, FBI Director Kash Patel, Senator Mike Rounds, Congressman Dusty Johnson, Attorney General Marty Jackley, U.S. Attorney Ron Parsons, South Dakota Supreme Court Chief Justice Steven Jensen, Sioux Falls Mayor Christine Erickson, and Sioux Falls Police Chief Jon Thum.

The gathering also came during a difficult time as our community continues to mourn Minnehaha County Deputy Katherine Frank. My thoughts are with her family, friends, and fellow officers.

There’s a lot of work behind bringing an evening of this size together. Thank you to Scott, the organizers, and the sponsors who continue to make it happen. And to the officers serving our communities and the families supporting them at home—thank you. I’m grateful to share these photographs in recognition of you.

26/10/2026

A quick heads-up before you scroll: if hunting images are difficult for you, this post may not be for you. I sometimes struggle with them myself. But if you love dogs, there’s something here for you, too.

Saturday started with Governor Larry Rhoden’s 2026 Governor’s Pheasant Hunt and ended with the Zac Brown Band concert at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center. For the morning hunt, we traveled north of Sioux Falls to Patriots Bend, where Russ Olson and his wife were gracious hosts to our group.

In all honesty, despite living in South Dakota for over 35 years, this was my first hunting trip ever. Our team captain, Matt McCaulley, led the way with hunting instructions and even a few photography tips for me. I appreciated the guidance as I got familiar with what was happening in the field and how to capture it. After years of photographing so many different parts of life in South Dakota, it was interesting to experience something so closely associated with our state for the first time.

And yes, the dogs got some time in front of my camera. There’s a lot to appreciate about watching them work alongside their handlers, and I wanted to share that part of the morning, too.

The Governor’s Hunt traces its roots to Governor Joe Foss in the 1950s and was revived and expanded by Governor Bill Janklow in the 1980s. Over the years, it has also brought business leaders to South Dakota to experience the outdoors, get to know the people here, and explore opportunities to do business in our state.

Thank you to Governor Rhoden and his team for the invitation, to Russ and his wife for their hospitality, and to Matt for helping me through my first hunt. I’m grateful for the opportunity to experience it and share the morning through these photos.

25/10/2026

Last night at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center: Zac Brown Band and Brothers Osborne. A strong showing from Sioux Falls and its guests. Brothers Osborne opened the night with some serious guitar work and extended instrumental breaks.

Before Zac Brown Band’s first song came a message that stayed with me: “From darkness to light. From pain to joy.” Zac shared some of the hardest parts of his childhood and how music became a place where he could feel safe. Years later, sharing those experiences through his songs became a way to give someone else that same comfort. He spoke about finding gratitude, letting go of fear, and appreciating the people who made it possible for him to stand on that stage. He dedicated the night to the people listening—the ones raising families, working hard, and holding on to their dreams. “Life is hard, but we’re going to be okay.” A few of my favorite frames from the night.

20/10/2026

To Katherine Frank’s family, friends, and fellow officers: Sioux Falls needs to see your strength and the depth of your love for her.

The air was heavy inside the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center yesterday. You could feel the gravity of grief. Throughout the venue and across the grounds outside, law enforcement officers, first responders, and support personnel came together with extraordinary organization, precision, and care. With Katherine’s casket draped in the American flag, it felt as though an entire law enforcement family had come to say goodbye to one of their own. Some had served beside her. Others had never met her. Across different uniforms, badges, and state lines, they had come to stand beside a family and a department facing a loss that words could never make right.

At the center of it all was one irreplaceable person: Katherine. Twenty-six years old. A sister, a friend, a Minnehaha County deputy who chose to serve the people who live here. Someone whose siblings remembered her laughter, her personality, and the certainty that she would be there when they needed her. One person, whose absence leaves a space no gathering, however large, could ever fill.

One thought from the service has stayed with me: Katherine wasn’t ready to come out of the game. She was still at the beginning of a career she cared about. There were people she still wanted to help, memories still to make, and years she should have had with the people she loved. Pastor Stelter spoke to the breaking hearts and tired legs in that room, reminding those gathered that their communities still needed them. Sitting with those two thoughts—the life Katherine still wanted to live, and the work her fellow officers must find the strength to continue—is heartbreaking.

Frank family, your love for Katherine was unmistakable. To her brothers and sisters: the memories you shared helped us understand the sister you grew up with, the person you could count on, and the future together you should still have had. I hope you felt how many people wanted to stand beside you. As we were reminded during the service, Katherine’s place in this community does not disappear when the funeral ends and everyone goes home. Her service on this earth has ended. The love she gave and the difference she made remain.

As a photographer, I find it impossible to look through the viewfinder at someone grieving so deeply and not feel some of that grief myself. It is impossible to describe in words everything that made this service so meaningful. That is why we have photos—to preserve what we struggle to explain, and help others understand something of what it felt like to be there. Being trusted with these moments is a responsibility I take deeply to heart. I hope these photos show how fiercely Katherine was loved and how many people stood together in her name.

Exactly like it was said in the service—Sioux Falls needs to see the hope in that love. We saw it inside the PREMIER Center and in the people who traveled here to stand with us. Now we need to keep it here—in the way we care for the Frank family, support Katherine’s fellow deputies, and remember her in the years ahead. May the people who will spend the rest of their lives missing her continue to feel the love this community showed them yesterday.

19/10/2026

Zach Top and Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives were at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center Thursday night! I finally got to shoot inside the barricade for the first time all year, and I got to share the space with my buddy Isaac—and a motorized camera running on a track. It was good to be back that close to the stage. Here are a few of my favorites from the night.

28/09/2026

Championship Sunday at the CINCH Playoffs Governor’s Cup was a great way to close out the weekend at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center.

After three days of competition, champions were crowned, saddled, and presented their trophies by Governor Larry Rhoden. More than $1.5 million was on the line throughout the weekend, making it the richest rodeo in South Dakota history, with each Sunday championship worth $34,000.

With National Finals Rodeo qualifications also hanging in the balance, there was plenty at stake right up to the final runs.

Congratulations to all of this year’s Governor’s Cup champions—and everyone who helped make it another great weekend of rodeo in Sioux Falls.

27/09/2026

Night two of the CINCH Playoffs Governor’s Cup did NOT disappoint! Bull riding, barrel racing, bronc riding, steer wrestling, and roping made for a full evening at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center. There were some familiar faces in the crowd, too—including Governor Larry Rhoden, Special Envoy Kristi Noem, and Mayor Christine Erickson. Today is the final day, with champions to be decided and awards to be handed out!

26/09/2026

I spent Wednesday through Friday in Custer State Park at the invitation of Governor Larry Rhoden and his office for the Buffalo Roundup. The goal being to collect photos and share the experience with you all. Friday’s main event was incredible to witness, but the conversations and time spent together throughout all three days were just as meaningful.

An estimated 30 million or more buffalo once roamed North America. By the late 1800s, roughly 1,000 remained after being driven nearly to extinction. Their recovery has taken generations of work by Native communities, conservationists, ranchers, and others committed to protecting them. Knowing that history gives a different weight to seeing a herd like this today.

What began as a herd-management effort in the 1960s grew into a public tradition that now brings thousands of people together to watch, with crowds reaching more than 20,000. But even with that audience, the roundup remains a working event with an important purpose.

At its heart, the roundup is about the health and well-being of the buffalo. Bringing the herd into the corrals allows staff to check the animals’ health, vaccinate calves, and select animals for the annual auction. Managing the herd’s size helps ensure there’s enough grass to support the buffalo through winter without overgrazing the land. It’s about caring for both the animals and the place they call home—not simply putting on a show.

Beyond the roundup itself, there’s value in having a room full of people take time to talk, share ideas, and learn what others are working on. Governor Rhoden brought everyone together around a shared experience, but the connections were being made all across the room. Those conversations give people a chance to understand one another and see where they can work together. When people know each other, it’s easier to pick up the phone, ask for help, or collaborate on something that benefits South Dakota.

A sincere thank-you to Governor Rhoden, his family, and his entire team for the invitation and the hospitality throughout these three days. Thank you for all the work behind the scenes and for making people feel welcome. Thank you as well to the park staff, riders, and volunteers whose work makes the roundup possible. I’m grateful to have been included and to have experienced this part of South Dakota alongside so many people who care deeply about its future.

06/09/2026

Caitlin Tate Thunder.

I’ve wanted to take on a project like this for a long time—not just to make meaningful photos, but to give myself a reason to listen, learn, and better understand.

Caitlin is an enrolled member of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation and carries Arikara, Hidatsa, Omaha Sioux and Rosebud Sioux ancestry. She is also a fancy shawl dancer, and everything she brought to our session had a story behind it.

Her facial paint carries meaning: three dots on her cheek represent the body, mind and spirit, while the single dot on her chin represents her as a whole. The feathers she wears weren’t simply chosen and placed. They were given to her by her grandmother, Mina Crows Breast. Caitlin explained that feathers are often given when someone reaches a milestone, does something courageous or is recognized by an elder, family member, or someone within the community.

The Pendleton blanket she brought carries another story. Caitlin explained that Pendleton blankets became important to her people as an alternative to buffalo hide. Hers was received when her grandfather, Dale Crows Breast, made his journey home.

She described what her culture asks of her every day: to show honor and respect not only to her own people, but to everyone. When she dances in the circle, she sees it as an opportunity to honor veterans and elders who are no longer able to dance themselves.

Caitlin’s favorite quote, taught to her by her uncle Chris Standing Alone - “Always know where you come from.”

04/09/2026

I have had the honor of following Mallory and Nathan with my camera for several years. From a casual Mom & Pup session in the studio, to graduation photos, to work at The Dapper Dog Pet Care Services- Harrisburg, SD - and now their wedding. Thank you, Mallory and Nathan!

I haven’t photographed a wedding at Beaver Creek Chapel since it was located by Augustana University many years ago. Katie and Greg with Meadow Barn at Country Orchards did an exceptional job relocating it, adding a school house for prep, and finding the best piece of land between Sioux Falls and Harrisburg. Amazing you guys, thank you!

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