Photography Thoughts & Stories from Tucson

Is It Worth Paying for a Professional Headshot?
Michael Kloth Michael Kloth

Is It Worth Paying for a Professional Headshot?

Most professionals assume a good phone photo is close enough. It isn't. Here's what you're actually paying for when you invest in a professional portrait, and why the math tends to work in your favor.

Read More
When Tucson's Police Dogs Got My Full Attention: The Barks for the Blue Story
Michael Kloth Michael Kloth

When Tucson's Police Dogs Got My Full Attention: The Barks for the Blue Story

In late 2018, Melina Casillas founded Barks for the Blue with an urgent mission: raise funds to outfit Tucson Police Department's entire K9 unit with bullet and stab-resistant vests. Each vest cost around $2,500, and the city budget didn't cover them. Her fundraising strategy? An 18-month calendar featuring TPD's K9 partners.

I photographed K9 Ranger, K9 Hondo, K9 Raven, and other TPD working dogs across three sessions in early 2019—black background studio portraits at their training facility, dynamic action shots on their parkour-style training equipment, and community engagement coverage at a University of Arizona campus event.

The project required the same mobile studio setup I use for executive headshots, adapted for working dogs who needed calm, confident handling. By late 2019, Barks for the Blue had achieved its mission: raising $15,000-$20,000 to protect the K9 partners who protect Tucson.

This is one of my favorite examples of how professional photography serves purposes beyond aesthetics—supporting community safety and honoring working animals.

Read More