Marcia The Art of Photography Gallery Blog

Saying Good-bye To Michael

2009-07-07T11:24:00.001-07:00

For many years the little community I lived in was also Michael's community. Neverland was just up the road from us and while I never met him personally, Michael Jackson was our neighbor, a constant quiet figure in our comings and goings.

Back in the beginning, I did photography for a small non-profit that Michael was very good to. It was his nature to be generous and the children that this charity helped had experiences to last a lifetime. Our community knew him and Neverland as a giving person, a giving place. As the years passed by, the King of Pop would sometimes quietly pop into a gift shop in downtown Solvang but more often was just privately a presence in the valley we called home.

I'm now in front of the TV celebrating his life, just one of the millions around the world who grew up to his music, his immense talent, the love he shared through his genius. Michael, as a little boy you sang I'll Be There" and I know you will always be...in my heart and soul, as an artist, fueling my passion for music, as a philanthropist, teaching me responsibility to those with less around me, as my neighbor in a little rural valley we both called home.

We Have A Winner - Sarah, Where Are You?!?!?

2009-07-07T10:00:00.002-07:00

Last Friday I ran a contest for a free engagement session and almost immediately I got a winner...Sarah was very excited. So excited that she didn't leave any contact info! Sarah, if you are reading this, please contact me so that we can schedule your free session. You can contact me through my website or if you want to leave your contact info as a comment on the blog, I promise I won't publish it.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Freebie Friday - Win An Engagement Session

2009-07-03T10:45:00.004-07:00

Ok, spread it around to all your soon to be married friends...It's Freebie Friday! The first couple to comment on my blog wins an engagement session from Marcia The Art of Photography...now here's the fine print:

Engagement Session location is Scottsdale, AZ only.
Engagement session must be completed by August 15, 2009

What you get:
Pre-Session Consultation
Engagement Session
Viewing Session to select your images
Personal Website
3 Artist Choice watermarked images to use on to share with your family and friends
1 5x7 of your choice.

Book your wedding with us with in one week of viewing and receive a very special bonus.

A Little Something For You

2009-07-01T11:27:00.001-07:00

Back home July was a time of picnics, treats, my favorite cupcakes. This month's desktop image is just delicious. Can't you almost taste them? Please feel free to download and enjoy.

Keep checking back for new images. Sometimes bridal, sometimes something different, but something always for you.

PUPPY LOVE - Spreading The Love On A Hot, Hot Day.

2009-06-29T15:26:00.004-07:00

(this one is for my puppy love clients, present and future ;-))

All my dogs have loved ice cream...dripping from the cone, slurping the bottom of my bowl, pushing a cup of Frosty Paws across the patio. My fabulous pup hotel Applewood Pet Resort makes the good stuff available to the "kid" when we drop her off and J. is such a sucker when they ask how many they should give her.

I recently started taking Zuri to Fido's Fun House for nail trims and Janice, our groomer, let me in on a secret - "it's really easy to make".

Last night we made our first batch of PB & Banana ice cream for Zuri. In it's most simplistic form, it's just a 50/50 blend of plain yogurt and peanut butter, whirled in the blender until smooth, then poured in Dixie Cups to freeze. We did a bit more. I tried it and it turned out great. Vary the ingredients to taste, here's what we did:

16 oz. Fage Greek Yogurt
1 really big scoop of Skippy Peanut Butter
1/2 banana

Super easy, just blended til smooth and since I'm Ms. Eco-Green, we poured into ice trays. This made 2 ice trays worth plus. Zuri loves it so much that she sat next to me while I emptied the trays into storage and as scraps fell to the floor, happily licked them clean ;-)

Green Wedding Friday - Eco-Friendly Table Linens

2009-06-26T13:26:00.002-07:00

My friends at BBJ Linen Rentals have the prettiest linen - made completely from recycled plastic bottles! You can see Natural Botela online or at their Phoenix Showroom.

Thanks to my girl Julie Horvath for turning me on to this pretty green fabric!

Natural Botela Fabric

Get Married Your Way - July 18, 2009 Only

2009-06-11T12:29:00.003-07:00

I wanted to extend to my readers an offer being made by Phillip and Gwen Waring of Bella Vista Chapel in Scottsdale, AZ. They can be reached at 480-502-0707 The beautiful image is by CollingPhoto.com.

I thought this an interesting concept, so I will be photographing two of the weddings offered that day with payment agreed in the same manner as the chapel. Please read on and let me know what you think of Phil's idea and how you might participate.

Phil writes:

I could not believe the first time I heard the guarantee advertised by Omaha Steaks. "Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back." I thought, "How could anyone do that?"

Surely people would take advantage and get their money back by demanding a refund for perfectly fine meat. But the meat warranty continues today and with uncertain courage, the same guarantee has been adopted by Arizona Ministers. If a couple is unhappy with anything I say or do, I will give them their money back.

Interestingly, in my 32 years of leading weddings, no one has ever asked for their money back. I have given three couples all or part of what they paid me because I wasn't happy about something, but I have never been 'taken advantage of' because I offer guaranteed quality.

Nothing gives confidence like an iron-clad, money-back, satisfaction guaranteed warrantee. Hampton Inn will refund your money if you are unhappy. That proclamation of quality assurance gives consumers confidence that this business wants to keep doing business by doing things right.

Now, a new challenge to demonstrate quality has been introduced in the valley. The Wrigley Mansion Club has been offering meals on their lunch menu priced: pay what you think it's worth.

As with the meat warranty, when I read this I shook my head and asked, "How could any business survive letting the customer determine the value?" Surely someone will leave two cents for a $7.50 club sandwich!

You don't see The Wrigley Mansion Club, annual dues $10, on the black list of distressed, foreclosing, or for sale hotels, resorts, golf courses and restaurants in Arizona. In fact, The Wrigley Mansion Club seems to be doing pretty well in-spite of the customers determining the price of lunch.

I have to admit, I am challenged. Can I step-up to letting a couple decide the value of their marriage officiant?

Does the average bride and groom know that I have a mortgage, health insurance, car costs and all the expenses they have? Would they just tip me $10 when I have invested thousands of dollars in marketing and advertising so they could find me in the first place? Are people that cheap and insensitive?

I am willing to trust people.

July 18, a couple can get married by me, at Chapel Bellavista, with up to 30 guests and pay what they think it was worth. We'll have the chapel ice cold, the cactus garden groomed and lots of chilled sweet water from our well. The bridal suite and the bell tower will be theirs. The entire day is available for this two-hour wedding package.

Is there a florist that will provide flowers for whatever our couple thinks they are worth? Let me know NOW.

Is there a invitation shop that will print invitations for whatever our couple thinks they are worth? Let me know NOW.

Is there a musician or music group that would perform for whatever our couple thinks they are worth? Let me know NOW.

Is there a photographer that will spend two hours, provide photos and get paid whatever our couple thinks they are worth? Let me know NOW.

Is there a video company that will shoot, edit and give a DVD for whatever our couple thinks it's worth? Let me know NOW.

Don't know if anyone will join me, but I am going to offer this wedding to any couple for whatever they think it's worth! Will anyone do their reception for what the couple thinks it's worth? Let me know NOW.

Negotiating Wedding Costs - The Hidden Dangers

2009-06-08T11:30:00.009-07:00

Found this on "The Wedding Marketing Blog" and thought it was just to fun not to share...the video, that is, not the message behind it.

While this video makes fun of the way people try to negotiate prices, this is a real issue in the wedding industry from a couple of different viewpoints.

The first and most important, is that many couples are simply not well educated on how to budget their wedding expenses. Reading magazines is just not enough. Investing in a consultation with a professional wedding planner is a first step many never take and the result is a free fall into budget chaos.

On the flip side, wedding price points are not standardized. There is so much that goes into consideration of setting prices, from level of customer service, to quality of product and experience. It makes it very difficult for the consumer to compare costs, so many times they find something they like and try to negotiate the price to something lesser they saw.

Add to this the economy and new people coming into the industry every day who are willing to give away service even to the detriment of the client and you have a disasterous wedding planned. Couples just don't know that service is one of the most important commodities of their wedding day. Here are some examples:

Baker #1: Started baking for friends and 6 months ago started their Wedding Cake business with no business skills but a love of the craft. She offers a 3 tier cake for 100 guests for $500 and will take $50 off if you pick up the cake.

Baker #2 Has been voted Best Wedding Cake of Your City for the past 3 years, educated in Paris and has been in business for 20 years. She offers a 3 tier cake for 100 guests for $800.

Our couple loves Baker #2 but knows they can get "the same cake" for $450 because they plan to pick up themselves. So they tell Baker #2 this and expect a hefty price break. Here's what they don't know.

Included in Baker #2's price is the following:
Consultation to make exactly the right cake (time expense)
The finest ingredients (additional product expense)
Freshly baked (yes, some bakers make layers well in advance and freeze)
Delivery and set up (time expense plus this is a risky venture for the consumer to do)
Education (education $$$)

Included in Baker #1's price is the following:
I can do "some designs" (lack of experience)
Box mixes from Grocery Store (lack of quality, less expense)
Baked previous week (she has a day job, too)
Discount for pick-up (she's sure you can carry that big cake assembled, lack of experience)
Learned from Grandma (no formal education)

Of course Baker #1 can offer a lower price because it is a lesser product. So the couple is considering a possibly dry cake that may fall over in their own car on the way to the reception. But many couples will see this as a standard and then pressure the more experienced vendor to bring their price closer to the substandard. This is a no win situation for both the Bride and Pro. The bride feels ripped off by the higher price and being "forced" to use the less experienced vendor and the experienced vendor loses a possible client. The very time that it is most important to do things just right, the couple makes a decision that ends in possible disaster to save money because they don't know what they were turning down for that lower price. This decision gets made time and time again...with the florist, photographer, DJ, etc, etc. Make the same decisions with all your vendors and you really will have a party they'll talk about for years, and so will you.

A Thump On The Side of The Head moment: You'll make the money again...you won't have that Wedding Day again.

The moral of the story is: Prioritize and Budget. Research your local area's prices and use prices that are fair for the quality you expect for your special day. Be flexible. Know that you get what you pay for in this business. Professionals that have been in the business for years have been for a reason. Their experiences shows it and their prices reflect it. Be reasonable in your requests. Certainly don't overbuy, but make sure you are getting what you pay for and pay a fair price for it.

A Little Something For You

2009-06-03T11:23:00.002-07:00

This month's desktop image is just juicy. Please feel free to download and enjoy.
Summer's heat is a wonderful invitation to a glass of cold, fresh lemonade. These heavy, ripe pieces of fruit are the promise of what's to come.

Click on the image to download a copy of your own and freshen up your desktop!

Keep checking back for new images. Sometimes bridal, sometimes something different, but something always for you.

Wedding Photo Tips - Top 10 Reasons To Hire A Professional Wedding Photographer

2009-06-01T15:22:00.000-07:00

10. Uncle Al has a great camera but "used" to have a drinking problem.

9. Your bff was going to give you the photography and a scrapbook album but got
an offer to go to the Bahamas on Your Weekend with the man of her dreams.

8. Disposable cameras, need I say more?

7. The Disc Jockey's baby sister is a really good amateur photographer who dreams
of being a wedding photographer...someday.

6. Your friend that got that travel photo published in a "big magazine" has a
really good camera...one really good camera...can you say back-up equipment?

5. Your brother says he'll take care of taking pictures in between picking up on
your college room mate and your new husband's secretary.

4. "I thought I had a memory card in the camera!"

3. Your mom's friend has a friend, who has a friend...who doesn't want to know you
but wants your wedding in his sample portfolio.

2. That photography student thought that jeans and a "tuxedo tshirt" really would
be appropriate for your black tie dinner.

...and the number 1 reason to hire a professional photographer is (drum roll, please):

You want Beautiful photographs that document all the emotions and events in this first day of your family history captured by a dependable professional who takes the time to get to know your tastes, your style, your desires and gives you all of that and more.

Green Wedding Friday - Your Wedding's Carbon Footprint

2009-05-22T07:41:00.000-07:00

So...you've been hearing all the buzz about weddings and the carbon footprint events leave and wondering what all that is about?

You can actually calculate your party's carbon footprint on many of the sites that sell offsets such as CarbonFund.org, Terrapass and Native Energy.

Once you've calculated your footprint you can decide how you might want to lighten the load. When you purchase carbon offset credits, your money is used to fund renewable energy sources like wind and solar power, alternatives such as farm methane power and reforestation.

Courtesy Photo

Green Wedding Friday - Desert Botanical Garden

2009-05-08T08:31:00.000-07:00

I love this place! It's so beautiful and peaceful and everything you could want in eco-consciousness. Desert Botanical Garden is an oasis in the center of Big City Phoenix.

According to DBG, "The Garden acts with the environment as its priority. The Garden’s environmentally active projects include installing solar panels on the roof of its largest building, Dorrance Hall, and composting, recycling, and reusing. The Garden is SRP’s second largest business customer to use renewable energy to meet 100 percent of its electricity needs, as we wish to promote green sustainable actions. We encourage our catering companies to be environmentally conscious encouraging reusable, recyclable, or decomposable materials whenever possible. Our utilization of native landscaping also assists us in minimizing water usage. When you choose to hold your wedding at the Garden, you are choosing to Go Green."

My favorite area for receptions is Binns Wildflower Pavillion. It is in perfect keeping with the Sonoran Desert, from the breeze that flows through it's open sides to the rustic, lit stars that illuminate the high ceiling. In the Spring the Pavillion is surounded by wildflowers, and in all seasons has beautiful cactus and Papago views. To hold your wedding at Desert Botanical Garden, Debbie Weisz, Event Assistant, at 480-481-8159 or email.

Marcia The Art of Photography encourages couples to choose multiple green vendors for their wedding with special incentives. If Desert Botanical is your venue, you need only hire one other eco-friendly wedding professional besides our studio to qualify for your green rebate.

A Little Something For You

2009-05-06T11:17:00.000-07:00

This month's desktop image is a study in motion. Please feel free to download and enjoy.

What's Spring to you? For me, Spring is the soft undulation of wildflowers blowing in the wind. A photo doesn't always have to be sharp. Blur suggests movement, it conveys emotion. This month's desktop image is a flower in the breeze. Click on the image to download a copy of your own and freshen up your desktop!

Keep checking back for new images. Sometimes bridal, sometimes something different, but something always for you.

Wedding Photo Tips - Your Engagement Session...your first date with your photographer

2009-05-04T12:14:00.000-07:00

In this economy couples are cutting back on their wedding expenses and that is understandable. More and more I am seeing on wedding forums discussions on whether or not it is worth the money to do an engagement session. I wanted to take a moment to show the other side of the discussion, The big reasons to do an engagement session.

Your engagement session is our first date. This is a crucial step in learning to work together from both sides of the camera, a special time for us to warm up to one another. The greatest factor in having successful wedding photos starts right here, right now. We need to learn to trust each other and start working toward a comfortable relationship.

Never before has being comfortable with your chosen photographer become more important. Many people misunderstand the concept of photojournalism...they think that means the photographer is going to just document the day without involvement. Truly great photography in this genre is exactly the opposite. It is the photographer being involved and using many tools during the day including interviewing techniques and gentle direction.

By working with you photographically before your wedding and analyzing the results I can learn the best ways to capture your real and true personality. Our first time together will help me find your best looks, from a broad smile to just a hint of one or maybe no smile at all for a more dramatic look. The benefit to you is in learning to trust that I will never do anything to make you feel uncomfortable and can truly capture those moments that are once in a lifetime as well as doing it in a way that will show you to your very best.

Your engagement session can be done where you'd like, adding to the enjoyment of your day. Many people choose to incorporate their favorite activities, from morning coffee together, to shopping or a sports activity. Enjoy the beach or other special location? that can be done, too.

Let's make sure to take the time to get to know each other before it really counts. Let's go on a first date, make some memories, capture some images and start the foundation toward a remarkable first family history book, your wedding album.

Green Wedding Friday - Location, Location, Location

2009-05-01T13:46:00.007-07:00

Part of sharing your green lifestyle on your wedding day is your choice of location for your ceremony and reception. By keeping the festivities to one beautiful location you can reduce emissions by eliminating travel between multiple points. Host the event during the day and you lessen the need for electricity. If it's beautiful and natural already, you can take advantage of those surroundings to be a part of your decor, allowing more unique table treatments, perhaps using items that can be re-used later.

The Valley of The Sun has a number of incredible locations that are perfect for your eco-friendly wedding. Try Boojum Tree (picture below), Desert Botanical Garden or the Zoo for a lovely and natural setting for your event.

Green Wedding Friday - Baby Steps Toward Greener Photography

2009-04-24T11:21:00.001-07:00

I like finding ways to minimize waste and when I can do it and maximize style I am thrilled (aren't you?). I've found a way to make a pretty presentation that greens up my business, too.

Check it out. The DVD is directly printed on, eliminating the need for an extra sticker. The tin case is strong enough to ship on it's own, eliminating the need for additional packing materials, although for privacy's sake, I still choose to enclose it an envelope. I no longer need the extra padding of bubble wrap so that's that much less space in the landfill. And the coolest part of, I get to make a tiny difference will still making it really pretty!

Did you know that 32% of all garbage generated in the United States is packaging materials?

Press Release - GREEN : THE PHOTO COLLECTION now available

2009-04-23T08:45:00.003-07:00

Scottsdale AZ wedding photography gallery Marcia The Art of Photography is pleased to announce their new product line, GREEN : THE PHOTO COLLECTION. This new eco-friendly line of wedding photography is environmentally friendly, utilizing the latest digital techniques both for creation of images and delivery to the consumer. Eco-friendly albums and presentation boxes are available from such premiere companies as Cypress and Couture Book. In addition, clients are offered incentives for making multiple green vendors their choice in their wedding plans.

According to Owner/Operator, Marcia Mauskopf, this is as much a lifestyle choice as business decision. "As I look at the changes I've made in my own life, I realized it was important to offer these choices to my clients, too. While there will always be a big market for photography as wall art, more of the people coming to me are requesting digital files to enjoy on their computers and other digital products.".

More information can be found by going to http://www.marciaphoto.com or contacting Marcia personally at 480.366.4476

Happy Earth Day!

2009-04-22T09:28:00.000-07:00

Act Now, Save $100! Senior Portraits Starting Now!

2009-04-20T12:35:00.001-07:00

Green Wedding Friday - NEW FEATURE!

2009-04-17T09:30:00.009-07:00

I'm so excited...my lifestyle for a while now has been getting more and more green. We compost now, with as much kitchen waste, etc going out to go back to the earth. I'm trying to find more ways to incorporate "green" into my business, too, from unplugging computers and battery chargers not in use, to finding ways to minimize waste in shipping and recycle, reduce, reuse.

In the coming months I want to share the "greening" of my life and business with you.

Join me monthly (or even more often) for "Green Wedding Friday" where we'll find local vendors and other sources for your eco-wedding. If you have a great source to help create a green wedding, let me know and I'll feature it here on my blog.

A Little Something For You

2009-04-10T09:27:00.005-07:00

I am an avid reader of Anne Ruthmann Photography. Anne is a photographer that knows how to give back...whether it is a freebie or tip for her brides or making her business greener. I recently saw an entry on her blog that I want to extend to my readers. Each month Anne posts an image for her readers to download and use as their desktop image. So fun, and I actually am enjoying one of her images on my laptop, now.

Here's the first one for you. Click on the image to download a copy of your own and freshen up your desktop!

Keep checking back for new images. Sometimes bridal, sometimes something different, but something always for you.

Such A Beautiful Quote...

2009-04-08T14:21:00.001-07:00

Every so often I see a quote that takes my breath away. As seen on Facebook:

"The reason it hurts so much to separate is because our souls are connected." ~Nicholas Sparks, The Notebook

Win! Win! Win! Are You Getting Married? Win! Win! Win!

2009-04-08T08:17:00.004-07:00

Are you getting married? The first bride (or groom) to contact me here on the blog will win an engagement session in beautiful Scottsdale, AZ! Simply leave your contact info in comments below. I promise I won't publish your info, just the name of the lucky winner.

Good Luck!!!

Book Review - The Atheist's Way, Eric Maisel

2009-04-06T07:08:00.002-07:00

I have had a wonderful opportunity in life with my association with Author Eric Maisel. Eric is not only the foremost creativity coach in the United States, but also a psychotherapist, philosopher and cultural observer. I've gotten to know Eric through this blog, interviewing him for his books Van Gogh Blues and Ten Zen Seconds.

I find Eric to be both interesting and inspiring so when the opportunity came to read and blog/review his newest book, The Atheist's Way, I jumped at the chance. I've always been extremely open-minded and was interested in witnessing a view foreign to my own. The book arrived in the mail, I tore open the package, held the book in my hands and felt a wave of panic pour through me. Would reading this cause me to question my own spirituality? Would I lose blog readers in droves due to the subject matter? Would discussing this with my friends and family as I am often want to do cause strife in my life?

I found much of this to be untrue (we'll have to see how you, the reader respond). Eric's exuberance for his lifestyle could be considered a sales pitch for atheism by those so against that which is against their own mores, however, I found the book to be a very well written and a beautiful treatise in Universal ethics and morals. What I got from the book was simply a call to be the best person I can be, responsible for my actions and how I treat those around me. Did it cause me to question my spirituality? It caused me to examine and re-affirm it, knowing the path I have taken is right for me.

Eric's book, The Atheist's Way, is a must read both for those who are firm in their beliefs and open minded enough to learn about the full spectrum of religion and non-religion and those who are struggling with their belief system. While sometimes a hard read as I examined who I am and what I believe, I do feel that it is a book that has helped me to grow, and that is always a good thing.

Attn: 2009 College Graduates - Celebrate Your Milestone

2009-04-02T08:44:00.004-07:00

It's been four years of hard work, the times of your life. Don't leave University Life without celebrating this Milestone.

At this time when friends part for new adventures, give them an unforgettable piece of you. Memories only last so long, photographs are forever. Let's take your photos in that special place you all hang out at, maybe even bring in a couple of those friends for a shot or two.

It's time to preserve this moment in your own Commencement Portrait. It's been five years since you've been professionally photographed. Your style has changed, you're simply not a kid anymore. To book your session call Marcia, 480.366.4476 http://www.marciaphoto.com