Chad McGehee - Sports Meditation Expert at the Center of Healthy Minds, UW-Madison

March 04, 2020 in Environmental, Headshots, Madison, Men, Portraits

Mediation expert Chad McGehee at the Center for Healthy Minds in Madison, WI

Sports Meditation and Mindfulness Coach and Trainer

Chad McGehee works at the Center for Healthy Minds, a brain science research center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Chad’s research and expertise lies in meditation and mindfulness for athletes and sports teams. Basically, he helps people of all professions do what they do better by using meditation to help strip away the distractions that interfere with their focus.

First Meditation Training Director in Major College Sports

Chad has been working with the UW Badger sports teams as a meditation trainer and coach for their athletes. Recently, he was formally hired as the Badgers’ Director of Meditation Training, the first-ever such position for a NCAA Division I program.

Athletes like LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Steph Curry and UW’s own Russell Wilson have touted the benefits of meditation as a tool to gain a competitive edge. These athletes have been coached and trained by people like Chad, who understand not only the fundamentals of mediation, but also the science behind how mediation can change neural pathways and remove distractions from performance.

Mediation as a Competitive Edge

Though “meditation” often carries a very “new age” vibe, there’s nothing hippie about Chad. His soft tone feels warm and safe, but he speaks about the power of mediation in matter-of-fact, no-nonsense language. For his, mediation is a clear and straighforward way anyone can gain a critical competitive edge. An edge that, quite frankly, most people don’t take advantage of. Those who do harness meditation have much to gain.

Headshot Photos for Illinois Wesleyan’s Alumni Magazine

Chad’s undergrad alma mater, Illinois Wesleyan University, hired me to photograph him for their alumni magazine. Here’s how it turned out.

Mediation coach Chad McGehee standing at railing

Portrait of meditation trainer Chad McGehee from Madison, WI

Chad McGehee meditating while sitting in a chair

Mediation coach Chad McGehee meditates in quiet room next to two windows.

Chad McGehee training clients in mindfulness meditation techniques

Chad McGehee coaches meditation at the Center for Heathy Minds at UW-Madison

Therapists and Dogs

August 01, 2016 in Animals, Dogs, Pets, Portraits, Summer, July

A couple years ago, Madison psychotherapist Amy Collins told me people spend 2-3 times as much time on website if it has dogs on the homepage. Really? Because dogs? I was incredulous at first, but she went on to explain how she had done her Ph.D. research studying how and why therapy website works (or don't). One of her discoveries was this dog-loving thing... just feature a dog on your website, and as if by magic - BOOM - folks stick around longer. This concept seems too simple to keep secret.

Amy features her big German Shepard on her website homepage, and at client request, will bring him in to hang out during therapy sessions. That’s pretty cool.

I was shooting headshots with Rhonda Reinholz, a Madison therapist on the near west side, and we made sure to include some shots with her adorable Standard Poodle. I don't think she's going to feature her dog on her website, nor does she offer animal-assisted therapy, but at least she'll have the option available in case things get slow sometime.

Ben Heinrichs was a Madison psychotherapist with Westside Psychotherapy, and now owns his own practice, Breakwater Psychotherapy, with his wife, Rachel, in Delray Beach, FL. We snuck his dog, Dr. Theodore McTubbins, into his photo shoot when nobody was looking. That’s one cute dog! And Ben has nice socks.

Wedding Make-Up Photos in Olbrich Park, Madison WI

June 13, 2016 in Couple, Madison, Portraits, Spring, Wedding, May, Olbrich Gardens

My first wedding make-up shoot. After their Utah wedding day was completely and mercilessly rained out, these two moved to Madison to start the new chapter in their lives. But they hung onto their celebratory duds and soon enough, they were ready to to reclaim their basic American right to gorgeous wedding portraits. We chose Olbrich Gardens because it was the best place to find some flowers still hanging on in late May AND it is the perfect place to get married after work on a Tuesday. I am always impressed by structure, color and tranquility at Olbrich and feel really lucky to have it just down the street from our house.

Corporate Headshots Create a More Intimate Workplace

January 06, 2016 in Headshots, Portraits, Wisconsin, Madison

Roche NimbleGen is a Madison biotech firm owned by Roche, a much larger Swiss company. Roche invests in staff headshots as a way for their employees to know each other better. As a multi-national business with thousands of employees, headshots associated with email and other internal technologies enable co-workers to pair sharp, modern, flattering images with work communications, which in turn fosters closer, more intimate relationships amongst far-flung staff. It's certainly not the same as being able to enjoy a coffee break in person with a co-worker, but I love that the firm sees the value in providing this service for their staff.

Breakfast Morning Portrait Session - Monona Bay, Madison, WI

December 21, 2015 in Couple, December, Dogs, Family, Madison, Portraits, Winter, Wisconsin

Michal's mom had been asking her to please, please, please take some updated photos of her and Gavin, since her most recent ones were from their wedding a decade ago (or something like that). So Michal finally relented to stay in Mom's good graces. We talked about where to shoot and settled on a breakfast shoot at their place (though a cyclo-cross shoot was also considered). Done deal.

Michal actually didn't know how to cook eggs, which was awesome. Everyone should maintain a few basic things you don't know how to do, because it makes for great photos when someone teaches you. This is why I still don't know how to ice skate.

After breakfast, we walked out to the barely-frozen Monona Bay. I often walk the rails over the land bridge here early in the morning, it's a great place for capitol views, or to see folks on the lake. The trestle bridges are old and tastefully unimproved, always a nice contrast against a couple beautiful people.

Family Portrait Session - Shorewood Hills, Wisconsin

November 09, 2015 in Autumn, Family, Kids, Lifestyle, Madison, November, Portraits, Toddlers, Wisconsin, Shorewood Hills

It is such a strange, blessed fall we're having. Last week, we sat comfortably on a pier, watching the sun go down on Lake Mendota, wearing only t-shirts. Something seems wrong about that, but I'm not complaining. I just feel lucky, and slightly worried that we'll have to pay for this mild weather, sooner or later.

Last year, it was pretty tough to get either of these kiddos to look my way, let alone smile or act naturally. But this year was completely different, which made this shoot incredibly fun and easy. This family feels so comfortable with themselves and I think that really comes through in the images. It smells like good parenting, but I'm no expert.

Autumn Family Portraits - Neshotah, WI

October 26, 2015 in Autumn, Family, Kids, Lifestyle, October, Portraits, Toddlers, Wisconsin

Where is Nashotah? It's next to Oconomowoc. Lake Country. Honestly, there's a lake around every-other bend in the road, and there are lots of bends. When you live on a cute little peninsula, staying home for your photo shoot is a no-brainer.

Extended family portrait sessions are a great excuse to get together. These boys were not too interested in posed family portraits, so we pulled the wagons out and played in the street. Playing in the street is cool! Everybody is doing it.

The adult-to-kiddo ratio was strong here, so I was able to sneak off with each couple for those portraits that are so easy to forget about once kids dominate family life. Personally, I think having a recent photo with your mate is pretty important, so I try to request it when nobody is pulling on my leg.

Autumn Family Portrait Session at Olin Park

October 20, 2015 in Autumn, Boy, Family, Kids, Madison, October, Portraits, Wisconsin

This kid is cool, probably because his parents are cool. Coolness is genetic. This dad is infamous in his family for being un-photogenic, but I didn't experience that at all. Funny how some people get that reputation, usually from some isolated photo were the camera caught them in in a momentary cross-eyed moment, but then they can think they look bad in pictures forever. I like to wipe that slate clean.

I love Olin Park for family photography sessions because there is such varied landscapes within a short walk. Lakeside, parkside, big oaks, forest, field, playground... it's all close at hand. And it's separate enough from residential areas that it's usually pretty quiet too. Recommended!

Newborn Photography Session - Madison, WI

October 16, 2015 in Family, Madison, Newborn, October, Pets, Portraits, Wisconsin

There is nothing quite as classic and pure as a newborn baby. We had a huge house available with lots of big windows and beautiful natural light, and our best images were the simplest: tender compositions, simple backgrounds, intimacy and family. This baby was the most cooperative little model I've ever worked with, sleeping, waking, posing, and smiling as if reading my mind. A special morning.

Wedding Photos at Tiny Period Garden Park, Madison, WI

September 29, 2015 in Autumn, Couple, Family, Madison, Portraits, Wisconsin, Wedding, September

An intimate, nearby locale seemed appropriate for this small wedding party. After a ceremony at the Federal Courthouse off the square, these folks stopped for a drink, then sauntered over to tiny Period Garden Park, a favorite Madison treasure of mine. The Period Garden is hardly a secret (how can anything along E Gorham be a secret?), but it's so easy to drive or walk by it daily and not notice it.