Fun, Sweat & Tears

The purpose of this book is to honor young athletes who are otherwise overlooked. We used a photographic technique called low key black & white portraiture to capture the beauty and determination of girls ages 4 - 14 from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Hundreds of hours and countless photo shoots went into the creation of this collection.

Inspired by the hard work shown by the young girls participating in a variety of sports ranging from dance to swimming to boxing and many others.  In this book you will see the faces of determination and confidence.  The book is comprised of over 150 high quality black and white photograph with minimal text.  It celebrates this point in the lives of these energetic, adventurist and beautiful young girls.  Who are empowered by strength and determination and not there looks.   They are adventurous, funny and full of life.

This book is an accumulation of a life time of photography. My wife, JeanAnn and myself have been active in photography since we met. We own and operate a studio, LaBelle Photos in Marquette, Michigan. We specialize in portrait and wedding photography. We have however been involved in all types of photography. Were comfortable photographing mountains in the north, deserts in the west as well as swamps in the south. What we really love to photograph are people. The photographs in this book are black & white images of female athletes Between the ages of 4 and 14