Portraits of a Rock Star: Katelyn Richards

I first met Katelyn Richards when I did her first set of head shots, --gallery here-- in 2010. She gave me a call because she found my card and she loved the image of the model on the front. A few days later I had her on location in a cafe here in town. Fast forward 2 years later, I have seen her play nearly a dozen times, and have photographed her at a few shows. She came into the studio today to get some new head shots. She is going to be spending a majority of time in New York City and before she headed out of town, she made a point to sit in front of the camera. She was also kind enough to share one of her songs, a personal favorit for an up coming project. An announcement will be made about that shortly. Below are two shots from her time in the studio. Katelyn is always a blast to work with. Be sure to check her out at Katelyn Richards dot COM

Happy New Year: Last Post of 2012

As my friend Rory Casey would say, "don't try and thank everyone by name, you'll inevitably forget someone." Which is true. As the last few hours of 2012 come to a wind, I want to say thank you to everyone, not by name or by individual, but to everyone for 2012. In 2012 I worked on some amazing projects, worked with some amazing people, and was fortunate to have been able to make some great photographs. A lot happened in 2012! I mean a lot. One business has come to a close and a new door has opened. My studio has undergone some great changes, both positive and negative, but from the negative come positives. I had a lot of help with some cool things, exhibitions, locations, shoots, jobs, clients and work. It is impossible to thank everyone after the fact, but for 2013 things are looking as great, and even greater than what 2012 was.

Thank you to everyone that I worked with in 2012. Thank you to everyone that has helped me have an amazing 2012. I wish everyone the best of luck in 2013! I look forward to working you in the coming year.

Below is the last set of images I am posting for 2012. Simple shots, but fun.

Stay safe and have a Happy New Year!!!

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Composite Photograph: Portrait of an Artist

Last night I took a chance and produced something I have never made before. I had a guest in the studio to discuss an installation that she is going to be producing. A spontaneous idea led to an impromptu shoot and a small road trip to make an image. I stepped out of my comfort zone and explored the idea of creating a composite, something I have NEVER done in my work as a photographer. I have often been captivated by the work of photographers who do produce such compelling { compositry } work. Compositry, being a word I just made up, meaning a collection of photographs or images, composed and compiled together to render an entirely new composition, i.e. photograph. Also defined as the act of producing an image or photograph that is composed of many images to become one a single image. It was fun to step out side of the comfort level I have been so accustomed to. Something I rarely do. But recently I was told, step out of your comfort zone, do something new, and get familiar with working in things you typically don't and you will become more successul and rounded. We worked together to construct the main composite. Stephanie offered up some great suggestions that resulted in the final piece. I polished up the piece after she left the studio, and VIOLA! Something new!

When I sit back in my chair and view the piece, knowing the stack she is leaning on is a collection of pages from 5 books, I feel that with the black and white, the piece has a narrative, a poetic juxtaposition that creates a story. It speaks to me as a visual narration, kind of like you're looking at an element from "Alice in Wonderland" story. I can't say that I will produce more of these, as last night we had a lot of factors that just fit. The right ideas, set up, and ability to make the images needed for the composite.

To see Stephanie's work, click on this link, right here, just click this set of letters/words.

2013 Calendar: Historic Fairfield Ave, Holyoke MA

In the middle of the summer I was contacted by the Holyoke Historic Commission to see if I would be able to produce photographs for a 2013 Calendar. I said yes, and showed a sample of winter shots that I had already produced. Over the course of a few months I made a number of visits to the neighborhood and produced the photographs that became the calendar. As with some projects, things come up. We had a few variables that resulted in a delay in the production. They came off the presses yesterday and are ready for distribution. The Calendar has a low dollar value of $10.00. That wont break the bank at all... They are sized at 8.5x11" when folded. Open they expand to 11x17". If you are interested in purchasing one, you can acquire yours by following this link: 2013 Fairfield Ave Calendar Gallery

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Baby Portraits: In Studio

Kids, babies, toddlers, youths, new borns, all have one thing in common when it comes to portraits, they don't always sit still and pose. Every so often I find a child that listens on command or just instinctively poses for the camera. I have a friend who has a son who, at the snap of her fingers, would pose and smile. I have had some children that would smile every other shot and some that wouldn't smile at all. Its a tough sell sometimes, getting children to smile. When Annalise didn't want to sit and had to put the broom down, she became very sad and let a few tears out. So I made a shot knowing it would be a cute moment as well as become a quirky little ad for the studio. Her tears were fleeting, but the shot will last. She was an adorable little one to photograph. She even wanted to assist in the studio by cleaning up with the broom.

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FASHION PHOTOGRAPHY: Muse in studio

I caught up with a friend over the past two weeks. She was in town from Australia, her new home. We had a few lunch meetings and a few micro shoots in the studio. Over the last 6 years or so she has appeared in front of my camera. We formed a friendship because of mutual hatred of a college course and a love of photography. Since the instant I bought my first digital camera, she has been musing around in front of the lens. Over that period of time she has grown as a person and I have grown as a photographer. Every time we work together, there is a strengthening in my photography. Gracefully walks in to the studio, poses, and something new appears. It may not be visible to people that watch my work, follow me, or have just started seeing my photographs for the first time, but it is true. There is always that one small thing that she gives me that is new, fresh, and something I was looking for. Even though I do not photograph her as often as one would like, she still enhances my work to some degree and rightfully has gained the title of Muse.

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