o, not to the big time, but a really special move for me. This year’s competition ended with my winning the Second Place Photographer of the Year of the Professional Photograpers Guild of Florida’s annual print competition. This is the third year in a row I have been in the Top Ten POY. Along with that award I was the recipient of the Jim Swallow Service Award for this year. The presentations were made at our annual award banquet and it was a lovely event.Congratulations to Mr. #1 and all the others who took home awards.This week’s work was mostly pro-bono for two worthy organizations. Saint David Church holds an annual luncheon for elderly shut-ins hosted at Father O’Reilly’s home. We photograph each guest with Father and present them with the photo before they leave the luncheon. The folks really appreciate those photos!!! and it is fun to do. (Unless you lock your keys in the car like I did yesterday. Thankfully, it was all over by then.) Photos of the luncheon can be found at photosbylaraine.com/santaparty.
The Association of Professional Businesswomen also held a luncheon that benefits Starlight-Starbright, a group that supports children with severe illnesses. Today’s luncheon included a raffle and by donations from local businesses, the organization raised $1000 and matched that to donate $2000 to Starlight Starbright.Photos from that event can be found at photosbylaraine.com/apb08.
Well, that’s what it turned out to be worth…..I didn’t get paid a cent for this portrait.
It all started with a portrait of a family with two teenagers, one getting ready to graduate and the other getting ready for her prom.After the session, I photographed the family with the grandmother sitting in the middle as well.They orders were placed and everyone was happy, but they need two additional 8×10s of the family.When I wrote up the order, I transposed the numbers and delivered the one with the grandmother in it….a very fortunate mistake for them.I ordered the correct portrait and gave them one of the wrong ones and kept the other for my portfolio.They decided to send the extra one with the grandmother to the grandmother’s brother in another state.He was delighted that they thought enough of him to send a portrait, and when he saw how grown the children were, he sent them each $10,000 for college.Thus, that one 8×10 was worth $20,000 to that family.Never underestimate the power of photographs and the emotions they evolk.
Now, if I could just get paid that much for one.But, then, how many people get to have their dream job and LOVE it?
The middle of summer and it’s time for family visits from all ends. Cute kids whose faces just cry to be in front of the camera, (literally), and the older folks who don’t want to be photographed, but who should because the last time it was done, they were 40 or 50, and well, those old photos just don’t LOOK like the grandma the kids know. We have one dear woman who comes in faithfully each five years and has her portrait done on her milestone birthdays. The last time was her 85th and she left saying she would see me on her 90th. God willing, she added. She has her lenses removed from her eyeglasses, gets her makeup professionally done, hair done, and shows up with several outfits so we can pick the best for her photo session. This is the grandmother that the grandkids recognize.
Portrait sessions are not just for the young and beautiful, the thin and fit….they are for us all. How are we going to be remembered if we are always waiting for the last 20 pounds to come off, the skin to clear, or whatever the excuse is? Remember, we have special lighting and, of course, Photoshop. Portraits are precious things, cherished things, things to be saved from disasters. But first they must be made. Next time I will tell you about the $20,000 8×10 portrait. It will demonstrate how precious these things are to family.
Wow, do I feel Independent! Thanks to Ryan Merrill, a new young photographer who has already been published numerous times in slick magazines (including covers,) and will be featured soon in a Popular Photography article. Ryan helped me get this blog set up and he just so happens to be my “long-lost” godson. I see great things in the future for him, and he is teaching this old dog new tricks in the digital photography area. He and I have very different subjects, but are closing in more and more as I learn from him and he learns from me. Thank you so much Ryan for you patience getting this going….I hope everyone has a safe and happy 4th. It’s raining here and the fireworks may not be visible, so I’ll put a few up with some technical info for you fellow photogs who like that sort of thing. Let Freedom Ring!!
Laraine
I call this first one “Splash Fire”
this one “Palm Fire” as it looks like a palm tree
and the third “Raining Fire”.
These handheld images were done with a Nikon SLR set to automatic which gave me an f-stop of 4.4. Notice the motion when a tripod is not used although I tired to hold it steady while seated. The real trick is to take LOADS of images allowing you to pick the best to brag about.
Welcome to our new blog….we’re trying to keep up with the times. Come visit us often to find out what’s new, what we can do for you, and how things are changing in the photographic/artistic world. Having just converted to Digital Photography in the past three years, it’s been a busy time going to seminars, Florida Professional Photographer’s School, PPA conventions, and just learning from the experts all the things that digital entails. This month I spent a full day, one-on-one with one of the industry’s best child and wedding photographers and teachers in Jacksonville. Coming up soon, I will be doing the same with Florida’s top baby photographer. We will be offering our Kid’s Club and Baby Club very soon. On the artistic side, we can rescue your family heirloom photos using restoration techniques, and you can share them with the extended family.
Also, just a reminder we also have a videographer on staff for your special occasions and we can edit your home movies and make you a DVD.
So much for what’s going on now, but be sure to visit again and keep up with us, and please, please post your comments, needs, and wishes, and we will try to accommodate you. Till next time…Laraine
