It is time to get your Holiday Family Portraits. Here is image from our most recent studio session…..
It is time to get your Holiday Family Portraits. Here is image from our most recent studio session…..
Very cool to announce that our image “Into the Center” image won 1st place in the Macro division of the SCVPA Print Competition. The image was captured at the Frederik Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids, Michigan during this past year.
It has certainly been an interesting and exciting year, and last night was one of the high points, as our image “Beauty from Behind” created by Mel Carll was awarded “2010 Image of the Year” by the Professional Photographers of Los Angeles County (PPLAC) during their January 2011 meeting. The image was created at the SCV Center for Photography studio, and has won several awards this past year, including a “Best of Show”.
I have been experimenting with Nik Software’s new HDR Efex Pro. I am really liking the results and the ease of use in using this new software. Nik has also incorporated the U-Point technology that is in many of their other programs, so making local adjustments instead of global adjustments is very easy.
If you are interested in purchasing the software, then head over to www.niksoftware .com and during checkout, put in the discount code of SCVPHOTOCENTER and receive a 15% discount on ALL Nik products.
Here are a few examples using the new HDR Efex Pro software:
Show your camera some love. Always clean your camera after a shoot. You take it out in to the world and ask it to capture some amazing images for you. It gets exposed to the air and wind and dirt – maybe even some sea mist. Give it some TLC afterwards by using a clean, dry cloth to wipe away the dirt and grime. When necessary, take it in to your local camera shop for a thorough cleaning – including the sensor. You can, of course, clean the sensor yourself, but this can be tricky business and cause major harm to your camera. Unless you are 100% sure of what you are doing, do not attempt this at home! Take it to a professional. When you take care of your camera, it will take care of you! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at the SCV Center for Photography.
Today I got to do one of my favorite things – take pictures of cupcakes and cookies from Lady Di’s. What a perfect way to end the week! These mouthwatering treats are as good as they look. Stop by her shop located on The Old Road and Valencia Blvd. in Valencia and take some home today. Tell them we sent you!
On Sunday SCV Center for Photography hosted our Wedding Photography Intensive workshop with the awesome Wedding Photographer William Innes as our fearless instructor for the day. The dedicated group started at 8am, yes, on a Sunday morning, and the entire group was early at that. By 9am the group was shooting our totally decked out models Sarah & John, who did a fantastic job. We were back in the studio b early afternoon for lunch and Q&A. After lunch, it was all about workflow and editing the images from the day. By 5pm the group was spent, but thrilled with the images and new found knowledge. To see more on the workshop and about our totally awesome instructor, head over to http://williaminnes.com/blog/
Nikon announced today the release of several new lenses. The first that caught my attention was the 28-300mm f3.5-5.6 VR lens that compete directly with Tamron. This will provide the everyday photographer with a great range, thus reducing the need to change the lens. This will be a welcomed addition to the vacation photographer as it will improve the range from the Nikon 18-200mm VR.
The next lens is the 24-120 f4 ED VR. The great thing about this lens is it is geared toward the full frame sensor, so no loss of megapixels. Great addition for those with the D700 and D3 cameras.
The other lens is the 85mm f1.4 which has been a little late to the game. While the 85mm f1.8 is a great lens, this should rock with the f1.4 aperture.
On Saturday 8/14 we photographed Eric’s 16th birthday party at the Hyatt Valencia. What a grand party indeed. He invited 90 of his close friends for an evening of music, food and all around fun. Thanks Eric for letting us share and photograph your birthday event, and I do mean event. Here are just a couple of tease photos from the event. SCV Center for Photography supplied 2 photographers for the evening, and it was more fun than work, as the kids were a blast.
There are times when your photographic creative juices fail you, and you just can not come up with any ideas of what to photograph, but you want to photograph. Here are a few ideas for you to consider:
Hopefully these tips can you help you jump start your creative juices on those slow days. Enjoy, and keep shooting. If you are interested in other ideas, please log onto our website at www.scvphotocenter.com and check out our many workshops each month at the SCV Center for Photography.
One-on-One Workshops by appointment only.
One-on-one Workshops
Too busy to schedule a class? Do you learn better one-on-one? Do you have a lot of specific questions and don't want to disrupt a classroom full of students? Then one-on-one training may be for you. Learn Photoshop, general photography and DSLR skills, composition, or flash and strobe techniques in individual workshops, custom-tailored to your needs. Available at the Center, or on-site at your corporate location. Prices start at $75/hour.
PHOTOGRAPHY SERVICES:
We offer a variety of Photographic Services including:
* Studio Portraits
* Weddings
* Special Events
* Senior Portraits
* Head Shots
* Family Location Portraits
* Product Photography
To see our Wedding and Event Photography, please check our website Mel & Company Photography for additional details.
We are located in Santa Clarita, CA
(661)904-2092
info@scvphotocenter.com
Were heading into the dog days of summer and it seems everyone is either getting ready to head out on vacation, or like me, just returning from a photography trip. I was catching up on more than 1200 emails and one in particular caught my eye, a short article talking about 5 tips to shake up your travel photography from Jim Maher. Below is the short version of that article that we hope you enjoy and helps spur some great images in the very near future:
Forget the stock photos and focus on daily life: Sometimes when we are in a beautiful place all we can think about is taking photos of the beautiful architecture, the monuments and the wonders that we travelled to see. But these things are not necessarily what gives a place its essence and its soul. Stop and think about how you feel. What is creating that feeling?
Combine the old with the new: We all want to photograph another time period. So try and seek out moments that combine the old with the new - that pay homage to the past but update it with a modern twist.
Turn your camera away from the sunset: Sunsets are beautiful, but can be cheesy. Over the course of a couple of hours, the light from a sunset will constantly change colors. Set up your tripod, relax, and take identical shots of your surroundings with the different color pallets. Frame them side by side on your wall, and they will look stunning.
Combine a simple detail shot with a great story: Shooting one single frame that says everything is a very powerful image. Finding that image may not be easy, but when you do, you will know it!
Capture the locals: It is the locals both people and animals that give most destinations their true feelings, so go out and capture them!
If a one on one workshop is more your style, we can customize one just for you. Just give us a call. And remember, SCV Center for Photography workshops make great gifts.