Colin

My son Colin has just started a new job with Davey Resource Group and last weekend he was home from a the week long training session. Now Colin chose, like a lot of his generation, to forgo school and jump into a career. Now understand my wife and I, who both have degrees from Mt Mercy College, thought this was not a wise choice not to at least learn a trade at a trade school. We both believe that continuing your education beyond high school will put you into a place of a richer and more fulfilled life. By richer I mean a more well rounded view of the world and not necessarily rich in the monetary way. We want him to be the best we know that he can be and what parent wouldn’t want that?

 

Well like any kid fresh out of high school he took a few jobs that were not in his best interest. The vacuum job was the worst. When he talked about the job it sounded too good to be true, and it was. All he had to do is make presentations of the products and the environmental benefits they have for you. He had to complete sixty showings in a month and he would get three thousand plus commission on sales. The twist is the products are expensive and whether you had taken every show you could, the company did not always have enough shows to give you to make your quota. RIP OFF. He learned quickly and quit in the first month.

 

He got this job and for the most part he likes it. He gets to be outside which he likes and it is physical, which he also likes. Colin’s job is to mark and report on conditions of poles and lines that energy companies own. Simple true but he can move up in the company or branch out to the tree part of the company. The great thing is that Davey Resource Group is a branch of the Davey Tree Company that has been around for years. In fact my father remembers their ads in the National Geographic when he was a kid, and he is almost ninety.


Before he went back to his training I created this portrait of him. Despite his choice in not continuing his education in college or a trade school, I am proud of his choice in this job with Davy. Who knows maybe it will be the career that leads him to big things?

                                             My Son looking cool in front of his new mobile office. 

                                             My Son looking cool in front of his new mobile office. 

60 billion spent on Pets

Did you know last year Americans spent  $60 billion dollars on their pet to keep them happy, healthy, trained and well groomed. These loveable kids with 4 legs had us spending more money in 2015 than 2014. The two groups, according to Bob Vetere the CEO of American Pet Product Association, are the Millennials because of lifestyle  and Baby Boomers because of their age. Not sure what that says about my generation, Gen X, other than we are frugal with our money?

 

Tops on the list for most spent out of the 60 billion was food at a whopping $23.04 billion with Vet Care at $15.73 billion and third is Supplies/OTC Meds at $14.39 billion.$5.4 billion dollars of the 60 billion were spent on pet services such as pet sitters and exercise to keep our pet looking good. That was a jump of 12 percent from the previous year, 2014 and all indications is that spending will only continue to grow in 2016.

 

I know as a pet owner I had spent more this year than the previous years especially in the cat food category, no pun intended. For many years my cats enjoyed a brand of indoor cat food but that all changed one day. From time to time we get one cat that pukes on the floor but for two days we had all the cats barfing after a meal. So we switched several times until we landed on a non grain blend that cost an arm and leg. The barfing stopped and they seemed happy but now the store where we get it is not carrying it. I guess I have to look else where to find the food.

 

As I have grown over the years I have seen pets become more and more apart of the family rather than the lump on the lawn or the bearer of dead mice at the front door. For my wife there is one cat that is and will always be her’s and will always spoil. Triskaideka is the latest cat to be on the receiving end of much love and affection in our little family. In fact he is the most photographed of all the cats. Not that I haven’t tried to take their portraits, but Triskaideka kind of likes the attention were the others run from the camera.

 

So when it comes time to have family portraits taken make sure you include your pets for a complete family portrait that can go up on the wall. And don’t feel bad when you spend a little more on your pets, by the looks of things you are not alone.

Meet Holly and Matt

A few years back wedding photography was one of my subjects that I photographed but as demands of home life and job changes made it difficult to keep taking them. But opportunities in my life now  have made it so that I can start back into the portrait business once again. That is when Holly asked me, through a suggestion by Lane a mutual friend, if I could photograph her and Matt’s wedding. The date is set and the shot list is complete and the only thing left is the engagement session.

 

 

Now the situation is they are getting married the first Saturday in April and that did not leave us much time for the engagement session. We had to wait until it was at least warm enough to melt the snow as well as not freeze like a popsicle. So to leave us enough room for the session and the wedding we decided to shoot on the first weekend of March and make the best of it as we could.

 

 

The thing about pre-spring days are that you can get a great warm couple of days and then the temperature  just drops and it snows. Yeah this time of year is unpredictable and you make the best of the day’s, warm or cold.  For Matt and Holly the day was cold but they were up for the task and a mid-shoot stop at Brewhemia to warm up. A warm cup of java always goes good with cold weather.

 

We went down to my favorite photo spot and started with the old shop that is in rather rough shape. I really like the texture of the peeling paint and the bear wood it really worked well not only in color but black and white. With an overcast sky and cold temperatures we headed out to the second location of or session. Moving through the various poses we joked around and did what we could to keep warm. Funny it did not seem to be cold when I walked out the door but out in the wind is when it really hit me and made it hard to work the camera. We completed a few more poses along the brick walls and track when it was time to head to Brewhemia where they were kind enough to reserve a table for us.

 

 

After grabbing a hot cup of magnificent java, we started taking photos again. Just some interaction shots and closeups of the ring, coffee and the two of them. After the coffee had warmed Matt, Holly and I, we moved to the last location, an old corrugated steel structure with just the right amount of rust. A few poses later and the filling of my memory card we called it a day.


Despite every attempt of the cold to spoil the shoot we manage to come out with a great set of photographs. I also got to catch up with Holly who I knew from McLeod Publishing as well as meeting a great guy Matt. With the fun we had I believe the wedding day will be great and I am excited I get to create a great set of portraits to commemorate their day.

 

Wilson

Last weekend I got to create portraits of Kylie and her cat Wilson. As Kylie puts it, “Wilson was the first adult purchase.” Kylie turned 18 recently and headed up to ISU for college. Sometime between college and birthday, not sure when, she picked up this cute cat and made it a part of her new life.

 

 

After they arrived we started out the portrait session with the two of them so that Wilson could get at ease with me and the set up. The things with cats is that most of the time they feel their best at home and not in strange places. By having Kylie and Wilson together I had hope to make him feel safe and for the most part it did. Once we got a few portraits of them together we set up a comfy chair and tried some on his own.

 

 

Wilson has a ribbon that is an equivalent of a wooby, his toy that makes him feel safe. If any other cat has it he has been known to take it away. I brought out a cat toy that most of my cats go nuts over but being in a strange place he just looked at it. We got out his ribbon and that perked him up a little but only when we wrapped him up in Kylie’s sweater he relaxed.


Wilson is a great cat and I had a great time getting to know him. As short as the session was I feel I came out with some great shots for Kylie. Kylie has a great cat and I think the will bring a lot of happiness to each others lives. 

 

Triskaideka's Spring Portraits

Today is the first day of spring and what better way to celebrate the season but to take spring photos, Triskaideka’s Spring Portraits. We had an idea of what we wanted but not entirely sure or set on a specific props. Buffey and I felt that the props should be spring like in nature but not Easter specific. We wanted to be able to put the portrait up for longer than a few weeks and if we shot it with Easter baskets or with cute bunny ears then the portraits display life would be short.

 

 

So after a cup of coffee we were off to a local craft store. We started off by just walking around to see what was available. We knew that if we started to pick up the first thing we saw then the chance of the portrait being hokey was very likely. Once we took in all the possibilities we started to weed out the trite and home in on the white washed box, plants in the pots and tin vase, and finally the pussy willows.

 

The setup was simple. We set the box and plants up on a card table that we covered with a piece of white background paper. We set the pussy willows in a five gallon jug setting behind the table. I placed my lights in their spots and after a few test shots we were ready. My wife, Buffey, place Triskaideka in the box and used a feathered toy to get his attention while I took the portraits. It did not take long before we knew that we had a handful of shots that will work.

 

We placed them into Lightroom and started the process of elimination and soon we narrowed it down to two portraits. I sent one photo to Buffey and the other I worked on. After a few minutes I created this portrait in which I am very happy with.

 

Triskaideka is so easy to work with because he is our cat and he is in his home. I know that is key to the success of this and other portraits we have done of him and our other cats. Think of how many times you take your dog or cat to the vets or any other place and suddenly they become shy or totally unsociable. Triskaideka becomes withdrawn at the vets believe it or not. This is why I believe it is necessary to have me go to the pet rather than the pet come to me.


Now that we have Triskaideka’s Spring Portraits done we will have to generate ideas for his Summer Portrait Session. Have you had your Pet Portrait Session done? Or having a portrait session of your family being done? Don’t forget to include your pet they are family too.

How is your head shot?

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Most of us today have some form of social media page like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or a few others. On that page we have a cover photo and our profile photo which, most likely, is a snapshot of us. For the most part that snapshot will suffice for the fun social media pages but what about the professional pages like Linkedin? Will that same snapshot be good enough for that? Most experts would say  “No.”  

 

 

Social Media pages like Linkedin are professional pages where you are branding yourself to potential employers or employees. The portrait you have says a lot about who you are, so it must give the right message. A snapshot on the beach does convey that you are fun and enjoy the outdoors but to a potential employer it could be saying “takes a lot of time off.” On the other hand you may have a portrait that is on a neutral background but shot from a distance which makes you look too small and unrecognizable. As much as we would like to think otherwise, if we don’t look the part we will not get in the door, thereby another lost opportunity.

 

Below I have included two of my headshots to serve as an example. One was shot outdoors by my wife and the other was shot in my studio setup. The outdoor one has harsh shadows and hard light, not to mention my favorite Fat Tire Ballcap. This portrait says “I love the outdoors and love to drink Fat Tire Beer.” Which is true but it is not what an employer is looking for in a employee.

 

The second portrait has a nice clean background, my skin tones are even, my hair is neat and without flyaways, my eyes are clean and my smile is good. With the way it is cropped I look sharp and you can easily recognize me if you were to run into me at the store. Everything about this portrait exudes confidence, professionalism  and that is what employers want in their employees. Now that I have their attention I will most likely have my profile read to see if I have the qualifications.  

 

 

There are so many things that you must get right in order to get the power portrait you need to brand yourself a contender that it is best to leave it up to a skilled professional. The right expression, the clean background, the hair perfect and the outfit stunning. On my best days I can’t achieve that and get it in a portrait  without a little help from an expert.  So here is what a skilled professional photographer will do for you.

 

As a skilled professional photographer I am first going to listen and discuss what exactly are your portrait needs. We will talk about outfits and hair for the session yet to take place. On the day of the session I will coach you on how to pose in order to get the best results. I like to schedule an hour for the session so that way we don’t feel rushed and it give you a chance to change cloths. Once we have accomplished our goals then I do a little post production editing to give you a great looking set of portraits on a disc. And it is not just one image that you get. By having 3 or 4 images you will have the ability to change your profile portrait as often as you update your page. This way you can keep a fresh up to date look as often as you like. Try to get that from your friend with your camera phone.

 

So if you are looking to update your profile portrait and looking to get that 3 or 4 power photos please do yourself a favor and hire a skilled professional photographer. You may pay some up front but landing the dream job will make it a great investment.

 

I am interested in hearing from you. Please feel free to place a comment below or contact me on my contact page with a question or to book your next appointment. At DFG Studios we Create Your Next Unique Portrait.

 

Morgann

Hey I just wanted to tell you about a portrait  session I had with my niece Morgann a few weeks ago. The hard think about winter time is the season of outdoor portraits with the snow and cold. The hands get cold and don’t always coperate not to mention that your subject is turning blue in front of you. But Morgann and her mother, Jill, got through it despite the cold.


We first started out at my house for a few indoor shots in different outfits and with her cat, Mister Kitty. Mister Kitty, though not too upset with the situation, seemed not to appreciate his role in the session. None the less he was a trooper and we got a few great shots. With a year to go Morgann is not only getting a jump on her Senior Portraits but did help me out with rounding up my library of Senior Portraits and I can’t tell you what that means to me

After a break we met up at my favorite backdrop, the NewBo area. The old brick and shop fronts really add to the portraits. One of my favorite spots is the old Chrome Horse fire escape where we started first. After a few poses I set her up standing on the escape looking down and with her great smile and a snap of the shutter I know I had the photo.


 

We kept moving through the NewBo area and eventually out to Morgan’s Creek for some snow fun. There is a line of trees I set her up with the bright pink vest and the sun lighting her hair. Next we went with some playful photo with her many stocking hats. We ending with a her white coat with a fur lined hat with a more serious look. And with the sun on the horizon we called it a day

We had a great time and lots of laughs and looking over all the portraits, it will be hard to choose the best out of the bunch because there are just so many.Thanks again Morgann and Jill for your work and laughs that day. Oh and just to mention; I was down in the NewBo area and the fire escape at the Chrome Horse is gated off, looks like construction is going on and maybe your portrait on it might be the last one. We will have to see.


A Key to Great Portrait Outcomes

Now that the days are going longer photographers all around Iowa, including myself, are gearing up for the outdoor portrait season. With a new group of kids that are becoming Seniors in high school our days from the spring to the fall will be filled with late teens trying to get that portrait that everyone wants. Theses days it seems that Senior Portraits have become a marker or a right of passing from kid to young adult ready to take on the world. With that, my job as a photographer is about creating and capturing that in a small group of images. No pressure, right? So in order to create this situation I need the client just to do one thing, participate.

 

 

Imagine if you will that you are an artist and stranger walks up to you, who knows you by your work and says; “ I want you to create a painting for my living room” then walks away. Leaving only their phone number and a time they want the painting done by, they give you very little else to go on. So what do you do? What would you do? Call them and try to see what the space looks like or just create the same thing you always create and hope it works out? This is what I face as a photographer each sitting that the client doesn’t give me the  feedback on what they are looking for in their portraits. Needless to say I don’t feel I have put my best work out for that client that I could have.

 

 

Before I book any appointment I like to first meet with my clients and get to know them. This goes for all my portraits sessions and especially when it comes to a session that happens only once in a lifetime like a Senior Session. In this consultation I like to get to know who you are, what kind of things you are into and how we can incorporate that in the creation of your portraits. It’s a time to get comfortable with each other so the final outcome is the best portrait I can deliver to you. I believe that my better portraits I have taken have been the ones with the people I knew well. I understood their humor so laughing and having fun while creating portraits was had during the session. And that is what you want, to be comfortable, having fun which helps create the best portraits of you.

 

 

Other things too think about while in this session is what you are wearing for the portraits, what or whom you would like to include in your session. For some Seniors they are into sports, drama or academic activities. For sports I find it easier to book a session while the season is going on. This way if you want to incorporate your sport we have access to the facility before or after practice without making elaborate arrangements with the coaches and school. This same idea can be used with hobbies or activities outside of school.

 

 

Locations are another element of what I will bring up. There are many places around the city that some will fit your style and some that won’t. By choosing a location, say a park or more nature in theme, will relay to the your viewer that you are in touch with nature or love the outdoors, right? But if you are a person that will not step foot outside the city, dislikes camping, would rather be inside then outside then a nature like scene most likely not fit you. And the same goes for the nature lover being photographed in the city. Although you may get away with one or two portraits in the city, the rest will seem out of place.

 

 

Participation is the key to get your Senior Portrait Session all sorted out. By getting to know you and becoming comfortable with each other together we can create the portraits that are you and not like everyone else’s. And when the day arrives we will have all the logistics worked out so there is no questions on expectations at each place. You will be at ease as well as myself and the fun of the moment will come through. I firmly believe that with your participation we will “Create Your Next Portrait” instead of just shooting it.

 

 

I look forward to hearing from you. Feel free to comment or send me an email with your ideas and suggestions or to book your next appointment. Together let’s Create Your Next Portrait.