What is it about a Black & White photograph…

{ March 10, 2011 @ 5:12 pm } · { General, Uncategorized }
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   that keeps your attention when looking at it.  First, it’s all about content, an emotion or a story told with in.   Color images can trick your brain in to liking what ever the content is. Color is a pretty persuasive in giving a looker an opinion of what they are looking at. But B&W is all about content.  There are 3 important factors I consider in all my B&W images. Fist and foremost. Expression, it’s all about expression. People relating to other people. Since I am a romantic photographer, much of the expression I like to represent in my images is all about love. Humor would be my 2nd choice of expression.  Second, is simplicity. No busy back grounds, no loud prints, and most of all no bare skin other than the face.  I don’t like bare arms to compete for the space of the face.Thirdly, great lighting. I even go for the dramatic style of lighting. Lastly, good printing. I like my whites crisp and the blacks truly black.  You can’t get good quality B&W printing from the drugstore. In most cases you get muddy looking B&W’s  I really  like Black and White images printed on metallic paper. WOW what a presentation that is. What most consumers do not know is there is a paper the Professional Labs offer specifically made for Black & White printing.  It cost a little more but the results are distinctly better. So if you have ever wondered why certain good photographers charge more for their Black & WHite images, it is a good possibility that they are A connoisseur and take great pride in the product they produce. Black & White images will always stand the test of time.

Our Promotion for the Month of March

Keeping it simple –

{ March 8, 2011 @ 8:35 pm } · { All about the art!, Uncategorized }
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   What a great job I have. Who can say that they laugh and make faces at their clients and get paid for the acts of silliness.  I do. Especially when I run my making faces Promotions.   At this particular session I had a cutey patooty 3 year old to work with. I have been photographing Ella for a couple of years now. She is High Energy and very expressive of her feelings.  The making faces promotion was perfect for her. I coach her mom to notice particular faces and coach mom to work those faces prior to coming to the studio.  Then, from the moment they are in front of my camera there are no rules, I have great music playing in the back ground and they can dance and sing and make faces and get suckers for their acts of silliness.  The whole direction of the session is to “Keep it simple”   Kooky grins, sly smirks, wandering eyes and the  sheer joy from twirling is what they can expect from this experience.  I laugh and they laugh, its short and sweet and they pay off at the end is a fist full of suckers.  I wish everyday was making faces day.                                                                                                            I’ll be back!

If a Picture is worth a 1000 words…

{ March 2, 2011 @ 10:38 pm } · { Business to Business, Uncategorized }
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What does your business portrait say about you?  I am sure you have noticed that the social media scene has leveled the playing ground for small business’s in the marketing arena. Your voice can be heard just as loudly now as those of Corporate America. In fact I believe your voice can triumph over major corporations from many different Social Media angles. One of those angles would be the personal, one to one, face to face that the Social Media scene offers. Many Corporate companies cannot offer that one element. THey have too many faces. But you are the voice of your company, the face of your company.  There are so many amazing inexpensive tools available to small business that allow you to get your message across a large band of people across your county, across the state and across the entire USA and abroad. Its absolutely Mind boggling! .  In the weeks that follow this blog post I will be exploring some of these tools and how to make them work for you. My first suggestion is to start with a decent picture of you to post on all your social media arena’s. If you can’t afford to do a professional one, then have some one take a candid shot of you. Stand by a window, facing it so you have good light on your face.  In the evening so the light is not to hot. Be seated, and have who ever you can nab, take a picture of you from their standing position.   The Higher camera angle will take a few pounds away, and the window light is soft and forgiving of those  ugly things called wrinkles. Crop it tight. Don’t show your body too much.  Make it personal and up close….

I’ll be back……

The Chalk Guy – An artist work you must see it to beleive it!

{ February 26, 2011 @ 2:41 pm } · { All about the art!, Uncategorized }
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    Julian Beever is an English artist who is famous for his art on the pavements all over the world. Beever gives to his drawings an anamorphous look.    An amazing artist who takes his mental/Vision and creates Art using chalk  on Flat surfaces. These creations have a 3D quality about them.  I find his vision and art amazing.  Truly an artist of the ages.   Isn’t art Grand!  Tell me what you think of it.

Our new Family Portrait now hangs on the wall.

{ April 2, 2010 @ 11:28 pm } · { General, Uncategorized }
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Its done and I love it. This is an image I will cherish and hang proudly for a very long time. Everyone looks great. Thank You Ralph Adams.  I choose this image because it had all the right expressions.  I had the image printed on a metallic paper. This presentation gives a dimensional look to the print, especially in BLack & White.  Love IT!   I got so many great images from the session. next on my own family memories quest is to create a coffee style family album.  I am finding it harder and harder to get my mature daughters in for family portraits.  I NOW truly know how my clients feel.  I have heard this tale of Woe for years.  It has never occurred to me that I would ever have that problem.  As youngsters living at home it was easy to schedule them to my liking. After all I was the master scheduler of the household. Making sure everyone got to where they needed to be.  But now they don’t live at home anymore and scheduling,  well I now follow their scheduling. Thank goodness they love me and know how important this is to me.   But Family portraits will not be every other year.  I will have to be satisfied with every 4 years or so….  

   If you have not done a family portrait in over 4 years, well its time.  I can’t express how much I love my family portrait.  My children feel close even thou they are miles away.  Make an appointment with a professional soon.  A professional photographer will suggest and discuss the different styles of portraits. A formal or casual studio creation.  Or a location portrait, such as your home or cottage or the park. The pre-consultation is vital to the success of the session.  Clothing color should be determined by where in your home you plan to hang your family portrait. You want a wall portrait to blend with the decor and enhance the room just as a piece of art on your walls would.  Only this is your personal art. What better kind is there.  Call soon.

The Search is over for the right photographer, the Family portrait is on

{ March 31, 2010 @ 7:27 pm } · { Uncategorized }
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   Well as you may or may not know, (if you read my blog) I am looking to redo our family portrait.  Its been 3 years  since our last. In past blogs I have been sharing some of my trials and tribulations.  It not easy to organize the family portrait.   My daughters who know longer live at home are scheduled.  But I have not chosen my photographer yet.  Now you gotta know I know a lot of photographers.  You would think picking out just the right one should be a walk in the park.  Well their are many considerations.  I wanted someone who knows how to take 10 lbs off me.   I do it for my clients all the time, so why would I expect less for my self.  Not every photographer truly understands the fineries of good portraiture. Some simply shoot their heads off and know they will get a few good ones in there.  But since my goal is to have a collection of images to compile a story book collection of my family, Not just any ole- talent will do.  My choice is Ralph adams from commerce twp.  He is a great personality so my family will be comfortable with his great sence of humor.  After all this needs to be fun.  And My girls have come to expect the process a fun one.  I am sure Ralph will be the right choice. Now to make the appointment.    To be continued….

Gallery of Sights – Presents art works of Victor Banta

{ March 30, 2010 @ 2:10 am } · { All about the art!, General }
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  Mark your calendars, April 1st. This coming thursday from 6 – 9 the place to be is The  “Gallery of Sights” art show being held at the InSights building at 7187 Grand River in Brighton.  The featured artist is Victor Banta.  He will have a collection of images taken on a recent trip to Hati.  The images are pro-found and endearing. Victor is an author and will be offering and selling his books at the event.  This is also a business mixer, so come to network and enjoy the art that will on display. Besides Victors incredible display, there will several other artist including yours truly. Come by for some fun and food…. Hugs.

Atteded “MotorCity Connects” Birthday bash

{ March 29, 2010 @ 1:58 am } · { Business to Business, General }
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   MotorCity Connects is a great networking group.  They meet in a variety of locations and power network.  You often can enjoy a lecture business or Social Media related.  Check them out at www.motorcityconnects.com   They were celebrating their 2nd birthday, and what a great turn out.  I was able to share a table with my friends at Insights-Group of Brighton.  There were over 400 attendees and 22 speakers, marathoning their message. I was wondering how that was going to come over, and well it was intense.  The messages they delivered were to the point to say the least. Good business inspiration.  I was able to Bring some of my business images to show case, did a bit of networking and met some awesome folks.  Check out www.Insight-group.com  for local inspiration and Social Media info.  They are located in Brighton, Michigan and offer great classes on  Social Media and organic marketing and more.  Tell them I sent ya….  That and $1 will buy ya a cup of java…. Hugs.

Persona Branding – “Character’s Welcome”

{ March 26, 2010 @ 1:30 am } · { Business to Business, General }
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   Over the years I have created a bazillion business portraits. OK, maybe not that many, but a lot.  But with the onset of the Social media frenzy that is happening all around us. I am finding a new market for me to explore.  Creating business portraits that have a synergy about it.  Images that represent what the client does for living. Showing a little character.  I love the TV – commercial “Charaters wanted”    They have been so inspiring to me.     Start noticing what kind of images business people in your community is using. Then ask yourself, If an image is worth a 1000 words, what does your business image say about you.    “Characters Welcome”

Working the passion that is in you…

{ March 23, 2010 @ 5:06 pm } · { Business to Business, General }
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Passion is that invisible something that we need to nurture every day. I am forever looking for inspiration to keep my passion on track. I love when someone recommends a good book that Inspires me so much I have to share it with others. Well I have such a book to share with you all. It is by Gary Vanerchuk – “Crush It!”
It’s a great little quick read. It’s about finding the passion in yourself. And how important it is you do not waste your time doing something you do not love to do for a living. I have always felt this way, but would have thought to screamed from roof tops. I mean we all have jobs we do because we have to pay the bills. Or at least I thought that to be so. Gary’s view point is we all should be doing what we love for a living, 100% of the time. What a great concept. If you need inspiration, check out this short read. It will be the best $15 investment of the month.

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