Just Sharp Enough

The Phlog for Mark Kegans Photographs, Des Moines, Iowa Wedding Photographer

Thanks for dropping by

After 15 years as a newspaper photographer and looking for a change, my wife Kelly’s career carried us from our home state of Texas to Iowa. The change in scenery also shifted the focus of my work. While still pursuing journalistic work with organizations such as The New York Times and Getty Images, I have progressively devoted more of my career to wedding and portrait photography. Why? Well, I don’t see the 2 fields as so divergent. When I photograph a wedding or make a child’s portrait, I’m simply a documentarian on a more intimate scale. Those images will have at least as much, if not more, value to a family as, say, flood pictures will have for the readers of a newspaper (Support your local newspaper!).
My favorite, though oddly most reluctant, subject is my son, Evan, who I’m also training in the ways of the Jedi. We make our home in Des Moines, Iowa with our 2 kittens, Miss Mittens and Clooney, and Mickie, our new puppy.

My new best friend

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Allow me to introduce the latest addition to our once-quiet and carefree household. Mickie is a schnoodle. Yeah, that’s right, a schnoodle. She’s a schnauzer/poodle mix. Forgoing boring commands like sit or fetch, I’ve already trained her to go straight for the jugular so don’t belittle her or me.

It’s been a couple of decades since I’ve had a puppy and my son is 9 so, naturally, I forgot what a challenge the first few weeks could be like with a very dependent creature. Throw in about 2 feet of snow, 2 kittens and a household that is, shall we say, unaccustomed to the way of the dog and you can easily imagine the sitcomesque possibilities. Some might say we’re about one goldfish short of “Jersey Shore”. Not me, I think it’s 2 goldfish and a rabid hamster until someone gets hurt.

Nevertheless, Mickie is settling in nicely. Our cats, Sueño (aka Clooney) and Miss Mittens the Avenger, who are ridiculously affectionate, have warmed quickly to Mickie. So happy for any kind of attention, Sueño gladly rolls over and allows Mickie to chew on him. If puppies and kittens can get along so well, I have to think there’s hope for us all.

Now that it’s warmed up to 10 degrees, I’m going to Nanook up and go for a walk with Mickie all the while cajoling her to poop or walk in a absurdly sing-song voice and love every minute of it.

BTW, if you’re in the market for a pooch of your own, I highly recommend Mickie’s breeder, eSchnoodles, in Caledonia, Minnesota. Good folk who make good dogs.

by Mark

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wilsonhoffFebruary 5, 2010 - 3:04 pm

Adding to the nobility of the breed, the schnoodle once served as the primary source of sled dog power in Northern Minnesota. Giant caravans, hundreds of schnoodles strong, pulling sleds commandeered by voyageurs were regular sights during the French fur trading era two centuries ago.

Yes, you’ve made a fine choice for a dog, Mark. This does not surprise me one bit.

Welcome to the cult of the schnoodle, my friend. It’s warm in here.

RandyJanuary 28, 2010 - 9:19 pm

Dude… I can’t believe you finally posted photos! I actually more shocked at how well they all get along. I’m usually not a sucker for animal photos, but damn, these kids are cute!

Amy + Erik: Des Moines, Iowa wedding

Monday, January 25, 2010

I confess, I usually develop little schoolboy crushes on my brides. Amy was no exception. Beautiful and exceedingly sweet, when she plopped on the dressing room floor less than an hour before the ceremony, covered her dress with a plastic bag and began (daintily) scarfing a big bag of Cheetos, I swooned. Even earthbound angels need comfort food, I suppose. And her groom, Erik? Drier than 007’s martini, he endeared himself by doing what good grooms do, by being the obviously-smitten gentleman.

It is a high honor to be chosen to photograph a life event such as a wedding. To be hired by the same family a second time for a daughter’s wedding means even more. I photographed the wedding of Andy + Lindsey (Amy’s equally lovely sister) in ‘08. In fact, the couples reversed roles serving as best man and maid of honor in the other’s wedding. Only one thing would make Amy and Lindsey even more perfect, if that’s possible? If they had more sisters.