PhotoGeek

Just Don't Panic

2009-07-07T20:54:00.002-05:00

I recently spent several days visiting my brother, who is vacationing in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. He rents a house there each year for two weeks of rest and recharge.

On our first day there, I discovered boogie boarding. Now look... I'm 50. And I decided on my 50th birthday that I was not going to act the way I thought a 50-year old should act when I was 20... you know... old. So, taking turns with Diana, we taught ourselves how to ride the waves, waiting for the proper wave to break and somehow knowing that it was right. It didn't take long to get the hang of it... and after a couple of hours, we quit and went back to the house to relax.

On our second day, we discovered that there were THREE more boogie boards in the house, so all four of us (me, Diana, my brother Jon, and his girlfriend Patty) had the opportunity to "play" at the same time. Jon got into the mood last, but he nevertheless enjoyed the adventure. Doing anything new often means that you want to keep doing it more... and bigger... and so on.

So as I was going a "little" further out, some by choice and some by being pushed out by the undertow, I quickly realized I was at about four feet of standing water and about seven feet of wave water. Another little push and I was at five feet of standing water and eight feet of wave water. I'm six foot two when I stand up straight, so I was in (pardon the expression) deep water. What struck me first was that I knew I was still being pushed (pulled?) further out.

So, I grabbed the board, which was about three feet long and 18 inches wide, tethered by a vinyl cord to my wrist via a velcro strap. I attempted to pull myself up on the board so I could paddle in... the board flipped (how annoying). When I fell back, I went completely submerged. And I felt that gentle tug of the undertow again. Seems every time my legs or feet fell closer to the ocean floor, I got tugged further out. This repeated twice more, but without becoming submerged.

Diana called to me, but all I heard was "too far." I could have extrapolated a lot from that. But what I also realized at this point was that my position and my inability to get onto the board was going to be a bit of a challenge - one I'd never faced.

Only an hour before, I'd read a magnet hanging on the refrigerator in Jon's rental home. One thing it said was "call for help by waving your hand." The other was "don't panic." So, I called loudly for Diana, and then called loudly for help. I waved my hand in the direction of the lifeguard (who immediately bolted from the chair). I turned my head and saw Diana headed my way. I tried the board again, fell off, and went submerged.

This time, though, I pulled my legs up. I didn't feel the undertow.

Hmm...

I pulled the board toward me, hearing Diana briefly over the waves and surf: "board is behind you." I turned and so it was. I pushed myself up with my arms, somehow pretending I was a fish (I CAN swim, but swimming ABOVE the surface is often a challenge for me. :(...). Since I knew I wasn't going any further out, then I reckoned that I was either going further in, or that the lifeguard or Diana would reach me before I got into real trouble.

Again I pulled the board toward me and somehow it flipped right directly in front if me, back of the board into my waist, and I pulled myself up so my belly was on the board. I felt myself move a good ten feet toward the shore. I wasn't TRYING to ride, but I was riding the board.

I realized I was going to be okay. I waved off the lifeguard, and motioned to Diana I was going to be okay. I got an indication from someone on shore (my brother?) that the lifeguard needed an okay signal. I stood up in four feet of water and gave her the okay. She echoed that signal and moved back toward the really tall chair that they sit in.

Diana kept moving toward me, and the face I love was both worried and relieved at the same time. I smiled at her, and she seemed to relax a bit. We walked up to the tent that we had previously set up on the beach (umbrellas are for very small people), and Diana lay her head on my chest... it was beating rapidly. The whole experience was over, but it could have ended differently.

The entire thing took less than a minute, from the moment I realized I was out too far until the lifeguard turned around to go back to her chair. In that minute, I knew two things... that I need to learn more about how to use flotation devices on open water, and that I wasn't going to be a statistic because I did something stupid.

I just kept telling myself "just don't panic." And I didn't.

I told you that, to tell you this. The economy over the last couple of years has given us all cause to reflect on our expenses and our savings. Everyone has made some kind of adjustment to the way they plan their budgets. We have tried hard to work toward helping keep photography as part of your budget. And just briefly I want to remind you of some of those things:

1) Third Friday Free Portraits... 15-20 minute sessions for kids. Each month is a new theme... July is "Day at the beach" (appropriate!) where we'll take pictures on the beach at our studio (yes, we have a real beach in our backyard).
2) NO price increases on weddings, dance, portrait sessions.
3) New LOWER pricing for senior portraits
4) We have maintained 2005 pricing for our special promotions... those prices will remain in effect throughout the remainder of 2009.
5) Senior portrait session discounts (50%) have been extended through July 31, AND the yearbook/cap & gown sessions are FREE.

What's important to remember... just don't panic.

See you soon.

Pretty Day

2009-06-27T22:31:00.002-05:00

I went out this morning to let the dogs out, and it was actually a little cool. The day only got better from there. In the afternoon, Kevin came in for his senior portraits. Now here's a kid who knows how to be the subject.

We started off with some pictures of Kevin and his girlfriend, Caitlin. I really liked working with them because he was kind of funny and she just laughed at everything. After a few studio shots, we went out to take pictures with his car. Kevin really played it up, wearing a dashing suit for these photos.

It wasn't until we went into our backyard portrait park that he mentioned "you really have a lot of stuff here." And he's right, we really do. Let me recap what we have in the portrait park... most people say "I didn't realize you had all this back here." So, here goes...

- A double-sided aluminum wall (one side is distressed and rusted, the other side is clean)
- Tiki Bar/Pier area
- Beach, complete with sand, pylons, and a pier
- Large white gazebo (several areas are covered in flowers)
- Hanging porch swing
- Stone pathway under a white arch
- Hacienda with curved walk-up steps (with a look-through window and a closed window set)
- Barn set, with two doors, hay, barrel, saddle, two ladders, and a pitch fork. :)
- Waterfall/fountain (yes, the water really runs), with large rocks and scenic greenery
- Bamboo forest... really, a Panda's heaven
- Foot bridge
- Boulder garden
- Grey & black rock wall with door and window openings
- Brown & tan rock wall with door and window openings
- Green garden area
- Park bench scene
- Garden gate set
- Rock gate scene

Not to mention the rock wall that backs the fountain, the greenery on the fence, the ivy wall, and we can't forget the split rail fence.

If you want to take a look, come on by. We'll be happy to give you a tour.

The dancers have left the building

2009-06-21T23:14:00.002-05:00

Dance season in WV's Eastern Panhandle is a frenzy of rehearsals, recitals, pictures, emotions, rushing around, and so much more. And we are grateful to provide our photographic services to several of those studios.

There are always the memorable moments... and I like to recount them:

- The smilingest child in the world danced every dance with a happy face that is unforgettable.
- The little karate guy who was so happy and bouncy that I thought he was going to fly.
- The poor like crying Elephant who hit her head before going on stage, but insisted that she had to go perform. She cried, but she did the dance.
- All the beautiful costumes.
- The last dances of the seniors. We will miss every one of them. Please keep in touch.
- Seeing all the dance parents again. Hi!!
- Stage Art
- Shooting portraits on stage... what a difference a year makes.
- A dancer thanking ME for being there. How humbling.
- The continued tries at jumps that weren't quite perfect until we made them perfect.
- Working to make the action pictures look great before showing them... it was worth it.
- Katie's help in the dance studio... Thanks, Kaytee. ;-)
- Watching all these little girls growing up.
- Missing Jimmy already.

There are more. Most of you who know... you understand. If you don't... well, look for us next year.

Have a great summer, dancers. We hope to see you all again soon.

Back to seniors

2009-06-20T15:41:00.003-05:00

We have been so busy with dance studios in the last few weeks that we have barely had time to breath. But now we are going back to being totally focused on seniors.

There are a couple of things we'd like to tell you about that we think are really exciting.

Senior Albums - Why we haven't done this before is beyond me. Sometimes you like so many of your pictures, it's hard to pick just two or three. These albums give you the chance to twenty or more images in a single book. And these are REALLY nice books. Hardcover, bound, and available with or without photo covers. Very stylish and classy. They are 10x10" and a great bargain.

Accordion Wallets - Sounds funny at first, but you'll get the gist of these things quickly. There are twelve DIFFERENT pictures on one set of accordion wallets. Six on one side, six on the other. They are a great gift for grandparents, close friends and just about anyone who really wants to see the different personalities from your senior pictures. They come in sets of three.

Our senior consultations are filling up, so you will want to call soon. Our senior consultations are held every Thursday at 6pm. They are free, and take about an hour. What we do is take you through our studio, including our outdoor portrait park, and give you some tips and pointers on how to look your best for your senior portraits. We'll be happy to answer any of your questions, too.

Finally... I want to remind you that senior sessions are currently 50% off through the end of June. Call and set up your appointment and you can save over $100 on session fees. Your pets are welcome in your sessions, and yes we DO photograph cars and bikes!

304-263-3100... a great start to your senior portraits.

When it rains...

2009-05-04T18:54:00.003-05:00

Image via Wikipedia

...get an umbrella!

Perhaps this is the wettest spring on record. I don't know... meteorology, while a fascination, is not something I keep up with. But it sure has rained a lot. I hear friends exclaiming that their kid's baseball and softball games keep getting canceled, that they can't mow their lawns, and that they are starting to sprout webs between their toes.

But that's neither here nor there.

Often times I find myself so mired down in the day to day stuff we have to do to keep the studio operating, that I miss a few things... especially those that are worthwhile reporting.

Part of my recent past has included a considerable amount of teaching, primarily at the university level. When I was teaching Studio Photography to college juniors and seniors, I knew that most were serious art students. When I added Sports Photography to my resume, I felt like I finally had the opportunity to not only teach the things I love, but teach them to people who really cared about the subject. Okay, it was college students, but hey... 'nuff said.

Now, as I continue to poll other photographers, I'm learning that they want to learn more about lighting, photography, workflow and so much more. Things I have not only been teaching, but also learning more about in the last few years. So, I'm going to start teaching again.

This time, I'm going to teach my own workshops. My first is scheduled for May 31 at the studio, and covers basic lighting that helps prevent common mistakes that you always end up fixing in Photoshop. If I had to have some fancy name for it, I would call it "Mind your FIPS: Lighting Revisited."

Email me if you're interested in attending. I'll have to limit the class size to 15. Fees will likely be $25 per person to cover modeling fees (yes, a live model) and drinks.

About our Seniors

2009-04-27T17:47:00.001-05:00

See, here's the thing.

Over the years, we have photographed a lot of seniors. We have met some incredible young people, amazing parents, and taken a lot of photographs that have really added a lot to this important part of their lives.

In 2008, when we moved our studio into Jack Dehaven's former studio, we stepped up our game maybe a hundred-fold. We are still meeting some incredible young people, their parents, and taking some amazing photos. But the changes we have seen in ourselves have been that much more stunning than ever before.

So, what's that much different?

We have a facility that was specifically designed for portrait photography. We aren't stuck in a hole-in-the-wall strip mall, or in the upper floor of a retail store. We're in a location that we have complete control over. That makes a difference because we determine what we can and can't do. We can upgrade to the right equipment and install it without regard to the landlord's issues, or the restrictions of space and neighbors. And that makes us more at ease, and probably a lot more fun.

Well, mostly more fun. There are two things we are very serious about.

One is great images. There's no substitute for great imagery in our studio. It's taken me a year, but I think I've finally gotten used to the equipment, the lighting, the props and how to best use them effectively. And Diana, bless her heart, has been really putting together some amazing touch-up work to my pictures. You will never look as good until Diana gets hold of your pictures.

But the proof is in the pictures.

Go to www.tlcphotography.com/seniors. Click on the Catalog download. All of the images in that catalog are ours. We took them for 2009 seniors. The work is a joint effort between Diana and I to bring you the absolute best pictures of you.

For 2010 seniors, we have some wonderful new products. This includes two new album options that will give you more of your images in a single place that is a keepsake forever. You will, of course, always want the wall portraits, the desk prints and the wallets. But this year we're adding 411 cards... yeah, they're really that cool. We can't wait to show you all the samples.

An Earthy Day

2009-04-22T10:06:00.002-05:00

Image via Wikipedia

A lot of times we get caught up in the daily minutia.

And days like today I'm reminded that there are more important things than tweaking this or fixing that. Today is Earth Day, and it is an opportunity for all of us to reflect and recognize our responsibility to our planet and to each other. Whatever your stance may be on global warming or issues that affect our environment, there's one thing certain: We have ONE planet. And if estimates are accurate, there isn't another habitable planet nearby that we can jump to if something happens to this one.

We have been trying to be responsible:

1. We have stopped using paper products, both at the house and at the studio. Paper, styrofoam, plastic... they all take years (and longer) to breakdown in the landfills. We use stoneware and ceramic plates and mugs, real flatware, and wash them for reuse the next day.

2. We recycle our plastic containers by refilling our bottled beverages with water and one of those single-serving drink mixes. At the end of the day, the bottle goes into the recycle bin. We recycle all of our glass, plastic and metals from the studio and from home.

3. We recycle items we don't need anymore. We have recycled furniture, clothing, and much more through online groups like Precycle and Freecycle. We donate used clothing to Goodwill (which is also a tax write-off!). We even reuse items we cannot use elsewhere.

4. This year, we introduced the no-paper Senior Catalog. Last year, we sent out nearly 2,000 paper catalogs, using some 10,000 sheets of 11x17" paper, as well as 2,000 9x12" envelopes. This year, we designed the catalog for use online. And to add more incentive for people to download their own catalog and view it online or on their own computer, we offered a $50 coupon so that they didn't have to print it out or have us print it.

5. We are reducing our paperwork in the studio by using fronts AND backs of paper to use all surfaces. The objective here is to stop wasting the back of the page. Now, law requires us to maintain paperwork for all transactions, so there's little we can do to eliminate the use of paper. But at least we can utilize the paper we have a little more efficiently. We have even taken to emailing invoices and receipts to client's email addresses in an effort to reduce that paper usage.

6. Finally, we are eating smarter. We buy very few pre-packaged foods... the packages that get thrown out and fill up the landfills. We buy fresh meats, fresh veggies and throw in our own spices and sauces. Each day for lunch we have a salad with chicken and fruit. Our dinners, many of which have been prepared in advance, are stored in reusable containers that we open up, empty and wash.

We need to take care of Earth. She's going to be here long after we are gone. But it would be nice to leave it clean for the next person... ya know?

Here are some links we can all use:

Sharing time...

2009-04-19T22:24:00.007-05:00

Even with as much work as we do, it is not very often that we get a client as enthusiastic about their portraits as this one is. In 1997, we photographed Don and Katrina's wedding. It was a lovely wedding with plenty of emotion and warmth.

Well, 12 years later Katrina called us and asked if we could enlarge a photo from her wedding. She had long wanted a large portrait from her wedding, but wasn't ready to get it just yet.

When she visited to pick out the photo, I was delighted to meet two of her three children. It isn't often that we get the opportunity to meet the children of our wedding clients.

We got to work on Katrina's wedding selection and she also brought in the kids (all three: Ashley, Allison and Adam) for our Easter Portraits with a Lamb. It was great fun trying to take pictures of three young kids AND a live lamb. Well, that's another story.

We delivered the large portrait from their wedding not long after the Easter photos. We had it sitting up on an easel in the reception area of our studio, and when she walked in it was right in front of her. She was very happy with it.

After she got it home and put it in place, she called. She was very grateful and wanted to thank us for the extra effort we put into the photo and the presentation. We were humbled, of course, because our biggest reward after delivering the photos is how people respond.

Well, tonight I got an email from her. Attached was the photo you see above. The text of her message follows:

"As I look at my wedding picture above my bed EVERY day (and several times at that:) I want to pick up the phone and thank you again. It's the best! And I LOVE the picture of my kids you were able to capture for Easter- with ALL of them looking at the camera. We've had several compliments on both pictures I've mentioned. Did I tell you I took the wedding picture to work with me? They all LOVED it too:)

Thanks for making me smile several more times during the day as I look at these pictures."

This gave us a big smile and a little tear to the eye.

So we had to share. :)

The weather...!

2009-04-18T16:34:00.003-05:00

Like most of you, I'm enjoying this incredible weather we've had the last couple of days.

I spent a little time cleaning up some things in the backyard park today. Mostly leaves and branches that had fallen over the winter. All cleaned up now. There are probably a ton of leaves embedded into the rocks in our waterfall, though. So, next week I'm going to get out the blower and foof it all into a big ole pile.

But the reason I'm writing has everything to do with a morning dove that has taken up residence on the top of one of the lattice work fences in the back. It's a tall green fence, so nobody would likely see the nest from the ground, but from our back porch it is literally less than four feet away. The first few times I went out the back door and she (mommy bird) flittered off, she was quite scolding. When I noticed that she stayed put when I went out more recently, I figured she was probably sitting on eggs.

So, I'm going to keep an eye on things. Assuming that a neighboring stray cat doesn't cause too much havoc, we'll be seeing dove babies soon! I'll post a pic of her on the nest soon, too.

Let's Get Excited

2009-04-09T10:52:00.003-05:00

Image via Wikipedia

You know, it's only a few days before Easter.

Chicks, bunnies, eggs, pastels, warm weather, cut grass smell, buds on the trees, daffodils in bloom... I'm a big fan of Spring.

Spring also means planning out the year's approach to many things. Now, most of you know that we photograph only a handful of weddings each year. I love weddings... I really do. They are very time-consuming, though. The overall time we spend for a single wedding is upwards of 30-50 hours. I won't bore you with the details, but the time spent is always well worth it, because there are so many great opportunities at weddings to do some great photo work, meet some amazing people, and have a lot of fun.

My primary focus this time of year goes to high school seniors. This part of our planning involves many, many hours of sitting in front of the computer, reviewing layouts for marketing and presentation, hiring and training new personnel, and instituting updated policies. I know, b-o-r-i-n-g! Well, the result is a phenomenal approach to high school seniors. This year, we are really revving up the engines here to prepare for what promises to be a wonderful spring and summer season.

So, what's this post really about?

I'm excited! And besides, this is my blog. I'm taking a different approach to my blog this year, too. This year, I'm just going to post whatever, whenever... not just pictures. You need to hear my wisdom, I guess.

In a week or so, things will have greened up enough for me to show you some of our outdoor portrait park. It's a gorgeous place... there's even a beach!

Until then...

Kids and Lambs

2009-03-22T22:39:00.002-05:00

I love kids... I mostly love their reactions to things new. So as each child walked into our studio on Saturday, they each had different reactions to the lamb, Princess (not a name I provided). Most were fascinated with the wooly little animal, one seemed a bit afraid, and yet another just became completely defiant (until Princess nuzzled her, which loosened the mood a bit).

In all, we had a great time taking pictures, wrangling a very wiggly lamb, and having some fun with the kids. As if that wasn't enough, we're doing it again THIS Saturday, 3/28. Just call for an appointment!

Chelsea C

2008-09-04T13:30:00.000-05:00

Chelsea and Jerika are best of friends... her mother warned me that the two of them together are "big trouble." They didn't seem to create much trouble... at least not while they were apart. ;)

Jerika H

2008-09-04T13:00:00.000-05:00

Quiet, but very posable... Jerika enjoyed the beach set and many other outdoor sets in our backyard.

Barbara C

2008-09-02T13:00:00.000-05:00

Sometimes a senior comes to us that inspires a new idea in the studio. Barbara did that, and enjoyed the new ideas.

Chris S

2008-09-02T10:00:00.000-05:00

It's not every senior that brings a Harley Davidson with them to their sitting. But it was an essential part of who he is, and we found that the barn set in our backyard lended itself quite well to capturing the overall feel.

Jacki's Bridals

2008-08-30T22:17:00.000-05:00

The great thing about bridal portrait sessions is there's no pressure on the bride, and we can spend some quality time doing some fun and artistic poses.

Tabitha and Brandon's Engagement

2008-08-30T18:00:00.000-05:00

These two are one of the cutest couples we've seen in awhile. Both were very happy to spend some time together in the studio and in our backyard portrait park.

Aimee's Bridals

2008-08-30T17:00:00.000-05:00

As part of most of our wedding packages, we offer a no-charge bridal portrait session. Aimee took advantage of hers on the same day that she also had a trial run done for her hair.

Pat S

2008-08-28T13:00:00.000-05:00

Pat came to us through our association with Valley Homes and Style's graphic designer, Heather. He had a great time.

Kelsie W

2008-08-19T18:07:00.000-05:00

Somewhat reluctant at first, Kelsie warmed up to the camera. Her eyes really helped make her portraits wonderful!

Lori R

2008-08-16T12:30:00.000-05:00

Pixie. Faerie. Other smallish terms flittered between Lori, her sister, my assistant, and me. She was an engaging conversationalist, and started off the day with "I'm not really into the whole senior picture thing." But someone wanted pictures of her, so we took quite a few.

Alicia P

2008-08-14T10:00:00.000-05:00

So, we wanted to show you what we could do with some of the awesome images we take. Alicia had some great photos, and this was just one of them. This process produces a sketch-like image from the original picture. It can be done with most photos, but please let us guide you on how to make it look best. By the way, Alicia stood on the swing... danger girl, that one.

Kevin D

2008-08-12T15:00:00.000-05:00

Kevin was compelled toward senior pictures by both his mother and his girlfriend (who provided some of the ideas for his session). He did a great job and we got some wondeful images. Ask him to see the shot of him jumping out of the truck. Priceless!

Brettney C

2008-08-07T10:30:00.000-05:00

Some seniors are so easy-going, that they will just listen to our ideas and roll with it. Others have their own ideas. Brett was a mix of both. She knew what she wanted, but listened to a few of our ideas, too. Don't forget to ask about the shirts.

Jessica F

2008-08-06T15:00:00.000-05:00

So her mom says "Jessica is very basic." Her pictures didn't seem to agree, as Jessica was apparently involved in quite a few things. And polite. And fun to work with.