Collins Photography

Super Senior Special

2009-06-08T15:58:00.000-07:00

What a weekend...I booked ten seniors for the Super Senior Special and things are looking good. We are gonna have soooo much fun this year shooting photos. I can't wait.

Back to Work

2009-05-31T15:26:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I am totally lagging on the blog. I am back to trying to keep it up. I am starting to book high school senior appointments and getting excited to start having fun again. Two appointments booked today, both beach sessions and I am ready to rock. More to come...

School

2008-06-18T22:58:00.000-07:00

This week I have invested in my education as a photo-grapher. I am in San Diego learning from the best in High School Senior Photography. Kalen Henderson rowed her boat to the airport in Iowa and made her way to California to teach at West Coast School.

Yes even after 15 years in the business, I still attend school to get better. I am learning new and imporved ways to make you look better and better. When you ask why a professional charges what he or she does, education and new equipment are the big reasons.

I will be back open next week to have fun again and make some beautiful images. I can't wait.

Mikie

Slowness

2008-05-12T15:30:00.000-07:00

Ok, so i have been a little slow posting to my blog. I have been extremely busy. I have traveled the state of California, speaking to affiliates of the Professional Photographers of California. Very little paid photography. But i got to photograph my son before he went into Army bootcamp. He is part of the National Guard and I am very proud of him.

Cake

2008-03-01T15:19:00.000-08:00

Sunday - Feb. 17 - Halee is here for her 1st Birthday!!!! Happy Birthday Halee. You can have your cake and eat it too.

Another Kid to Photograph

2008-03-01T15:16:00.000-08:00

Thursday, Feb. 28th - 10:00 - One down one to go. Brenna is here and she is two years old. Time for our tea party. I was a little worried at first as her eyes were a little teary but she was a trooper and had a blast playing tea party. Playing is the best way to get kids to relax and have fun and she had a great time. As you can see, her teddy bear got some tea too. Thanks Brenna.

Back to Work

2008-03-01T15:11:00.000-08:00

Thursday, Feb.28 - Back to work. I am now back from a week long convention learning new techniques and styles. Wow, my brain is on overload. First thing today I am photographing Brooks, and he is eight months old. We decided on the bathtub as his style this morning. Brooks is so easy, he is smiling from the get go. Here is a shot from his session.

2008-02-05T09:24:00.000-08:00

Monday, Feb 5 - Time for a newborn photo. Ryan came in all ready to get his first official photos done and he was a champ. He was asleep right away and in just a few minutes - BAM!!! We we done. Easy as that. We put a little dragonfly on his butt and he flinched a little as it tickled him but he was a trooper. How cute is this.

January - A monthof Vacation??

2008-01-31T15:03:00.000-08:00

This month, I have travelled across the country and then across the State of California. The first week was Florida where I attended the Professional Photographers of America Convention. Met a lot of really neat people and learned a lot about photography. I got home and one day later left for Sacramento, Redding, Moorpark, and San Diego. I was asked to install the board of directors for several PPC affiliates and then San Diego was a state board meeting for the Professional Photographers of California (PPC) and also Western States Print Competition. I got very luck and had three prints merit which means I can send them on to the National Print Competition and have them hang there without further judging. I have two weeks off from travel and will be spending a little time here at home with my wife!!! Talk to you soon.

Mike

2008-01-01T16:14:00.000-08:00

Being the President of the Professional Photographers of California is a big responsibility. That pretty much goes without saying. But with the responsibility came a lot of fun things. I am a person who does not seek out being photographed. But when I was elected president I did just that. I had four issues of Pro Photo West where I needed a headshot and I wanted to have a different one for each issue.

I wanted to use of the members of my own affiliate for the first one. I thought about Richard Giachetto and Babs but I already had ask a lot from them. So I asked Jack Della-Bitta of Jack Della-Bitta Photography in Cambria and he enthusiastically said yes. I drove two hours to Cambria and met him at his studio there. He, his wife Barbara and I then drove to a hotel for some images on the porch of the hotel. Then off to the beach for more photos. Their interpretation of me was a relaxed person (if they only knew) so we loosened the tie at the hotel and we shot and shot and shot. After a while the tie was gone and we were having fun on the beach.

Amy Fink was the second one I asked to help in this project. She is still shooting film. You remember film don’t you? After a lot of discussion we decided on a winery in my area, where I volunteer a couple of times a year to help with their events in exchange for wine. Yes I will work for wine. Amy found numerous places to photograph on these grounds and she shot a lot of really cool images. It turned out that after we were done, the owner of the winery insisted we come in and try some Italian wine they were tasting in their private kitchen. Not wanting to offend anyone, Amy and I obliged and had fun doing so. Of course this was after we finished our shoot.

In the third issue, Lisa Smith was a little harder to work with. NOT because of her, but because of me. I chose her because her work is always edgy and not main stream. We set up a date for shooting in the Gas Lamp District of San Diego after the Padres game during West Coast School. But during the game I sustained a minor injury to my hand requiring me to go to the emergency room and missing my appointment with her. (Yes there is a lot more to this story I am not telling). But two nights later, with her lens baby in hand she photographed me on the campus of the University of San Diego. Knowing that I used to be a police officer in my previous life, she thought of the CSI and mysterious side of me. We shot until very late at night (actually morning). That’s how hard I am to photograph.

In the fourth issue of Pro Photo West, Tim Meyer, whom I had worked for in numerous classes at West Coast School was asked to shoot me. I knew he would throw some hard edge lights and black and white into the mix. I drove to the Brooks Institute for this one. During the last class at West Coast School, Tim said that he sometimes will shoot just one shot to challenge himself. Well this was not the case here. I
think he just wanted to torture me. But the final product was worth the torture.

All four of these photographers used different styles, techniques and personalities to capture my personality. Each one was able to get me to relax and get great images. I used to think I looked like Tom Selleck, but after looking at all four of these professionals finished product I now know I don’t. I guess the next time I look in the mirror I should put my glasses on.

Christmas

2007-12-20T18:36:00.000-08:00

It's almost Christmas and the rush is over. I had more fun photographing people this year! I want to thank everyone who came to me and trusted me withtheir portraits. I hope you had as much fun as I did. If you have ideas on how to make things better for you pleaase let me know. I will be going to Tampa, Florida to the National Convention, January 5th through the 9th. So if I don't return your calls during that time, please understand that I am learning more new things to make you look better. I will be trying to update you with my travels in the month of January as it is a busy month.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Mike

Welcome to my new blog

2007-12-03T11:03:00.000-08:00

Well looks like I am now in the 21st century...I have a blog. Stand by for more later.