Joseph Montes

I honestly cannot believe how incredible this new Q Media cover turned out! It is a super close-up shot of my face completely covered in freezing snow and ice, and it seriously looks like a poster for an intense winter survival movie. I am wearing a thick coat with a fur hood to fight off the cold, and the camera caught every single little detail of the frost on my skin and beard. The dark lighting makes my eyes look super focused and serious, giving the whole picture a really cool, dramatic vibe. It is always so much fun working on these artistic projects, and seeing the final result look this amazing just blows me away every single time.

Here is a great selfie I took while spending some time out in the snowy mountains. I made sure to bundle up in my black leather jacket and a warm beanie to keep the freezing cold away while I explored. The view right behind me was absolutely amazing, with all those huge snow-covered peaks stretching out as far as you can see. It was such a beautiful, clear winter day to be outside taking pictures and just enjoying nature. Taking a trip up to the mountains is always a perfect way to clear my head and take in some fresh, crisp air.

Here is a really special picture of me and my son Ryan from way back on Christmas Eve in 1999. We were celebrating the holidays at our home in Plano, Texas, right before the start of the new millennium. I was holding him close while wearing a grey shirt, and he looked so cute in his little yellow turtleneck sweater. You can even see some framed family photos sitting on the wooden cabinet right behind us. It is crazy to think about how fast time goes by, but looking at this old picture always brings back wonderful memories of when he was just a little guy.

Here is one last shot to wrap up our reimagined Wildwood series. Dawne and I went with matching black shirts for this one, and even though it is a really simple look, sometimes simple is just better. I absolutely love how these artistic photos turned out, because they take a regular day of us hanging out at home and make it feel like a professional studio photoshoot.

We made sure to save these two great photos for the very end of our Wildwood series! First, we decided to match up with a sleek, simple black on black look that felt a little bit dressier. Then, for the final shot, we went right back to the style that started it all with my denim jacket and her turtleneck. It has been so awesome seeing these everyday moments of us at home reimagined into such cool art.

We are officially closing out the reimagined album with these last two frames from Wildwood. We tried out two completely different looks that day, with a button-down shirt and a turtleneck, and looking at them side-by-side, I really cannot decide which one I like better! They both capture that exact same feeling of just being happy together at home, and this whole project was such a fun way to see ourselves in a brand new light.

We are finally wrapping up our reimagined series with two totally different vibes! First, we have one last intense shot from our denim and turtleneck set, but then we have a really great candid one taken in the library. I absolutely love the library photo because it feels so much more relaxed, showing us just laughing and hanging out at home. Whether we are posing for cool art or just being ourselves, I am so glad we have these special memories captured.

We kept the camera rolling right by the window because the natural light was just too good to pass up for these Wildwood photos! I really like the artistic, reimagined style of these pictures. It takes a completely regular photo of Dawne and me just hanging out at home and gives it such a cool, polished look. Dawne looks absolutely beautiful here, and these are definitely going to find a permanent spot on our wall.

We found a really great spot right by the window for this picture. This might actually be the most peaceful shot of the entire bunch, just capturing a quiet moment at home in Wildwood with the warm sun shining in. I love how this reimagined art style makes a simple second in time feel so incredibly special. Dawne looks amazing here, and I am just so happy to be sitting right there with her.

Here is one more picture from our reimagined series at home in Wildwood. I honestly think this one might be my absolute favorite of the bunch because it is just a simple, happy moment between Dawne and me. The denim jacket, the black turtleneck, and our big smiles all just work together so perfectly. It is really funny how a simple picture can freeze a wonderful feeling like that forever.

We are finally rounding out our reimagined art series from Wildwood! We tried a few different looks for these, with some being super casual and others a little more styled, but they all share that exact same comfortable feeling. It was all about just being at home, enjoying the moment together, and letting the camera do the rest of the work. These unique portraits are definitely keepers!

We decided to fully channel our inner 007 for this fun picture! This reimagined photo puts Dawne and me right in the middle of a classic James Bond movie scene. I am rocking a sharp tuxedo, and Dawne looks absolutely stunning in her elegant white gown. It is definitely a whole lot fancier than our usual Friday nights at home, but it is always fun to pretend to be international spies for a minute!

Here are a couple more of those reimagined portrait shots from our home in Wildwood. I really like how these turned out because there is something about the style, with my denim jacket and the black turtleneck, that feels very classic but still very much like us. It is really cool to see a completely regular photo transformed into something that looks a bit more like a nice piece of art.

Here is a really special photo of Dawne and me, but it comes with a fun little artistic twist! It is a reimagined portrait taken at our place in Wildwood, Missouri, and I really love the warm, classic feel it has. It is such a nice change of pace from a regular snapshot, and it really captures a happy, peaceful moment for us at home.

Here is a great look back at July of 2020 when Carter, Adam, and I were spending some fun time out at Lake Freeman. These restored photos really bring the amazing memory back to life for me. The sun was just starting to go down, the summer weather was absolutely perfect, and we were just enjoying being out there together. It is a simple moment, but those simple days are usually the best ones.

Here is a very different, formal look to end the year! I was fully suited up in a black-tie tuxedo, taking a moment to look the part as the CEO of MDIA. This portrait really captures the celebratory side of business leadership, highlighting the fancy galas and big milestones where you just have to dress up. I felt sharp, confident, and completely ready for whatever the night had in store.

Here is another absolute gem from our 2003 family trip down to Mississippi! While our previous shot was a perfectly planned pose, this one captures the funny, candid reality of the day. Dawne is all smiles for the camera, while little Devon decided to play shy and bury his face in laughter. It is such a sweet, spontaneous snapshot of our family travel adventures in the early 2000s.

Here is a beautiful travel memory from our family trip to Tunica, Mississippi back in 2003! Dawne is absolutely beaming while holding a tiny baby Carter in her arms. The bright natural light of the hotel lobby perfectly matches the wonderful energy of the moment, making it a snapshot of pure happiness and a truly great family memory from the archives.

Here is a really sweet, quiet moment at home from the family archives! This picture shows Dawne relaxing on the couch in Fishers back in January of 2003, with a giant Scooby-Doo plush toy and a very young Carter resting right nearby. It perfectly captures the simple, wonderful reality of that year, completely filled with sippy cups, cartoons, and peaceful downtime together.

This beautiful artistic tribute captures my sweet Dawne in a moment of striking confidence. The composition is an intimate close-up that draws all the attention right to her amazing gaze. The piece blends photorealism with a really textured, cinematic style, beautifully accented by the gold Louis Vuitton earrings that frame her face. It is a true portrait of her strength, style, and timeless beauty.

This image captures the true heart of our Plant-a-Tree project, quite literally! Dawne and I were sitting at the base of an enduring tree naturally marked with a heart shape, sharing a quiet moment together in the golden forest light. Beside us stands a single, young sapling, which represents the beginning of a legacy and our core mission to nurture new life as a testament to love and memory.

I decided to explore a gritty, cinematic Western aesthetic for this fun portrait! It captures me in a moment of stoic reflection, wearing a weathered cowboy hat and a heavy leather jacket. The lighting creates deep shadows that really highlight the rugged textures of my beard and the fabric, bringing out that timeless, resilient spirit of the American frontier. It is a cool nod to the classic, serious cowboy look.

This piece is a touching and incredibly vibrant artistic tribute featuring Dawne and me! It captures a moment of our shared joy, stylized with a really cool, bold wet paint aesthetic. Bright primary colors drip down the canvas, blending over our smiling faces and matching Freedom shirts. The background contrasts the paint with geometric patterns, giving it a modern pop-art feel that perfectly celebrates our life and connection.

This piece is a really vibrant, street-art inspired reimagining of me! Drawing heavily from pop culture, the portrait blends a classic Joker aesthetic with a gritty, urban graffiti style. The bright neon greens, aggressive reds, and chaotic brick wall background tagged with CHAOS create a mood that is both playful and intense. It is such a striking contrast between my realistic features and the wild, abstract makeup!

Here is a beautiful artistic take on me and my beloved Dawne wearing our Under Armour Freedom shirts! The picture is splashed with vibrant colors that perfectly capture the joy, spirit, and freedom we always cherished together. Her amazing smile still lights up my entire world right through the paint in this picture. She will forever be in my heart!

Here is a cherished recreation photo of me and my late wife Dawne, proudly united in our matching Under Armour Freedom shirts. We always stood together for the important values we held dear, wanting to honor those who protect our freedoms every single day. Her beautiful smile truly lit up every single room she walked into, and I miss her shining light every day.

This is a portrait in loving memory of my beautiful wife, Dawne. This picture perfectly captures her unbreakable spirit, those bright, piercing blue eyes, and the amazing strength she carried with her every single day. She is gone but will absolutely never be forgotten. She was my rock, my true partner, and my whole heart. Rest in peace, my love.