Saturday, February 26, 2011
indigosilver turns one!
It's hard to believe it's been a whole year since our Grand Opening! Our studio has grown so much in one year -- we'd like to thank friends, family, clients, and vendors for their support!
To celebrate, we hosted an anniversary party here in the studio. We took a few pictures of the setup, but once the party started we put our cameras down and just had fun!
Special thank you to Moxie Floral Design Studio for the flowers, Imaginary Friends Bakery for the cupcake minis, and Middle of the Island for delicious catering!
To celebrate, we hosted an anniversary party here in the studio. We took a few pictures of the setup, but once the party started we put our cameras down and just had fun!
Special thank you to Moxie Floral Design Studio for the flowers, Imaginary Friends Bakery for the cupcake minis, and Middle of the Island for delicious catering!
Friday, February 25, 2011
The Vegas Whirlwind, a.k.a. WPPI 2011!
Part 2 of our trip: Leave San Diego, head to Vegas for a week of intense learning with 16,000 other photographers from around the world. The Wedding and Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) conference is not to be missed!
Special thank you to our clients, who helped send us to WPPI by participating in the WPPI Special!
Jeff and I learned SO much this week! Our first two days were spent volunteering as Print Handlers... we're the staff that makes the International Print Competition run like clockwork! For those unfamiliar with print competition, here's how it works: Prints are submitted to the competition in different categories and subcategories. For example, in the Wedding category, there are Bride Alone, Groom Alone, Wedding Party, Wedding Details, Engagement, and other subcategories. And Weddings is only 1 category! Within each category, prints are judged by a panel of 5 judges - internationally renowned photographers who are specially trained to judge the prints on a scale of 60-100. Print handlers put a single print on display and announce the title of the print as it is judged. As print handlers, we get an up-close view of every print, and we're the only ones who know the artist of the print. It's an incredible learning experience to hear the judges' commentary on each print, as well as a cool networking opportunity to rub elbows with the big-wigs. :-)
The rest of the conference was spent learning hard and playing hard. As a newer studio, Jeff and I felt it would benefit us to focus on the business of photography - marketing, sales, pricing, etc. rather than on the creative aspects like posing and lighting, which we feel pretty adept at. So we didn't take as many pictures as usual... in fact the only ones we took were camera-phone pics during the playing hard part - "networking" after hours with fellow photographers and new friends. Check out our mobile uploads on facebook.
We returned to Wilmington exhausted but with brains full of new ideas... stay tuned for some announcements throughout the year and new directions in our business!
Special thank you to our clients, who helped send us to WPPI by participating in the WPPI Special!
Jeff and I learned SO much this week! Our first two days were spent volunteering as Print Handlers... we're the staff that makes the International Print Competition run like clockwork! For those unfamiliar with print competition, here's how it works: Prints are submitted to the competition in different categories and subcategories. For example, in the Wedding category, there are Bride Alone, Groom Alone, Wedding Party, Wedding Details, Engagement, and other subcategories. And Weddings is only 1 category! Within each category, prints are judged by a panel of 5 judges - internationally renowned photographers who are specially trained to judge the prints on a scale of 60-100. Print handlers put a single print on display and announce the title of the print as it is judged. As print handlers, we get an up-close view of every print, and we're the only ones who know the artist of the print. It's an incredible learning experience to hear the judges' commentary on each print, as well as a cool networking opportunity to rub elbows with the big-wigs. :-)
The rest of the conference was spent learning hard and playing hard. As a newer studio, Jeff and I felt it would benefit us to focus on the business of photography - marketing, sales, pricing, etc. rather than on the creative aspects like posing and lighting, which we feel pretty adept at. So we didn't take as many pictures as usual... in fact the only ones we took were camera-phone pics during the playing hard part - "networking" after hours with fellow photographers and new friends. Check out our mobile uploads on facebook.
We returned to Wilmington exhausted but with brains full of new ideas... stay tuned for some announcements throughout the year and new directions in our business!
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
San Diego: Temecula Wine Country
We're having such a great time in California. We've gotten to see lots of old friends and family, and even booked a wedding a couple days ago! Andy and Lesley will be our first official West Coast destination wedding in June!
Today, Jeff and I drove up to see our friends' new studio in Murrieta. Brandy and Amy started construction/renovation on their studio not long after we opened ours, and I was excited to see the fruits of their hard work in person. Their new studio is amazing, and I am so excited for the direction they are headed. Good things await for them!
Since their studio was only a couple freeway exits from Temecula, I thought I'd take Jeff wine tasting in SoCal's wine country. Temecula's weather and topography is very similar to the Tuscan countryside, which makes it perfect for growing grapes for those deep earthy reds Jeff and I both love.
Of course, this field trip marked the one day of rain we had during our whole SoCal vacation, but we had a great time anyway.
Jeff seemed enthralled with the various citrus groves throughout the area as well. Having been born in Orange County, I never found them all that unusual, but come to think of it, there are not many orange trees in NC!
Well, this was our last SoCal adventure for this trip. Tomorrow we fly to Las Vegas for the annual Wedding and Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) convention! Can't wait!!!
Today, Jeff and I drove up to see our friends' new studio in Murrieta. Brandy and Amy started construction/renovation on their studio not long after we opened ours, and I was excited to see the fruits of their hard work in person. Their new studio is amazing, and I am so excited for the direction they are headed. Good things await for them!
Since their studio was only a couple freeway exits from Temecula, I thought I'd take Jeff wine tasting in SoCal's wine country. Temecula's weather and topography is very similar to the Tuscan countryside, which makes it perfect for growing grapes for those deep earthy reds Jeff and I both love.
Of course, this field trip marked the one day of rain we had during our whole SoCal vacation, but we had a great time anyway.
Jeff seemed enthralled with the various citrus groves throughout the area as well. Having been born in Orange County, I never found them all that unusual, but come to think of it, there are not many orange trees in NC!
Well, this was our last SoCal adventure for this trip. Tomorrow we fly to Las Vegas for the annual Wedding and Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) convention! Can't wait!!!
Monday, February 14, 2011
San Diego: Torrey Pines Gliderport and La Jolla Tidepools
Can you tell I am absolutely loving the SoCal scene? The weather's been absolutely gorgeous, and I never tire of the scenery. Today I showed Jeff around the north San Diego coastal region of La Jolla.
First, we stopped at the Torrey Pines Gliderport, which is a paragliding port built at the top of a cliff over the ocean. Paragliders strap into their gear and run headfirst off the side of the cliff, magically floating into the air due to the cliff's unique updraft winds.
Next, we had some yummy Wahoo's Fish Tacos (a local staple) and enjoyed La Jolla's tidepools.
Finally, Jeff and I wrapped up the day with a foray into downtown San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter. A little bar-hopping and a Valentine's date at Madame Cora's Marble Room. What a fun restaurant for a date! It plays off the Gaslamp's history as old San Diego's red light district... if you haven't been, check it out!
First, we stopped at the Torrey Pines Gliderport, which is a paragliding port built at the top of a cliff over the ocean. Paragliders strap into their gear and run headfirst off the side of the cliff, magically floating into the air due to the cliff's unique updraft winds.
Next, we had some yummy Wahoo's Fish Tacos (a local staple) and enjoyed La Jolla's tidepools.
Finally, Jeff and I wrapped up the day with a foray into downtown San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter. A little bar-hopping and a Valentine's date at Madame Cora's Marble Room. What a fun restaurant for a date! It plays off the Gaslamp's history as old San Diego's red light district... if you haven't been, check it out!
Sunday, February 13, 2011
America's Finest City
San Diego is nicknamed "America's Finest City". It's easy to see why.
After Zoie's photography lessons, Jeff and I drove her home to Dana Point, where we did some site-seeing around Dana Harbor. On our drive back south, we drove seaside along I-5 with a glorious sunset to keep us company. I miss seeing the sun set over the ocean! There's nothing else like it!!
Here are some of my favorites of the day:
After Zoie's photography lessons, Jeff and I drove her home to Dana Point, where we did some site-seeing around Dana Harbor. On our drive back south, we drove seaside along I-5 with a glorious sunset to keep us company. I miss seeing the sun set over the ocean! There's nothing else like it!!
Here are some of my favorites of the day:
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| Moonrise over Mars, by Jeff |
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| Sunset over Catalina Island |
The Family Business
Oh how I miss San Diego! 75 degrees and Sunny has greeted us this week! It is great seeing friends and family again.
Today, my niece Zoie asked for some photography lessons. She says mom won't buy her a camera until she learns to use one first! So, we walked to the park and I gave her a crash course in photography.
For those who understand the techno-jargon, we practiced with a Canon 5D Mk II and a 24-70 lens. Within about 20 minutes, I taught Zoie about aperture, shutter speed, the Rule of 3rds, depth of field, and finding portrait light. Then, over the next hour or two, she photographed everything you see below in full manual exposure. She decided for herself whether she was looking for an aperture or shutter speed related effect, metered and set her exposure, focused-and-recomposed... For those who don't know- that's pretty awesome! There are some professional photographers that struggle with these concepts!
All of these pictures have had only minor cropping and exposure adjustments in Lightroom.
Shallow Depth of Field (where only one thing is in focus, and everything else is blurry) and Rule of 3rds composition:
Focus fall-off:
Freezing motion with fast shutter speeds:
Portrait lighting in harsh sunny conditions:
The budding artist:
Today, my niece Zoie asked for some photography lessons. She says mom won't buy her a camera until she learns to use one first! So, we walked to the park and I gave her a crash course in photography.
For those who understand the techno-jargon, we practiced with a Canon 5D Mk II and a 24-70 lens. Within about 20 minutes, I taught Zoie about aperture, shutter speed, the Rule of 3rds, depth of field, and finding portrait light. Then, over the next hour or two, she photographed everything you see below in full manual exposure. She decided for herself whether she was looking for an aperture or shutter speed related effect, metered and set her exposure, focused-and-recomposed... For those who don't know- that's pretty awesome! There are some professional photographers that struggle with these concepts!
All of these pictures have had only minor cropping and exposure adjustments in Lightroom.
Shallow Depth of Field (where only one thing is in focus, and everything else is blurry) and Rule of 3rds composition:
Focus fall-off:
Freezing motion with fast shutter speeds:
Portrait lighting in harsh sunny conditions:
The budding artist:
Monday, February 7, 2011
indigosilver goes on vacation!
Jeff and Lori will be out of the studio from February 8th through the 25th. We will be on a two-part trip: First, from Feb. 8 to Feb. 17, we will be in San Diego visiting Lori's friends and family, as well as doing a few wedding consultations! Then, from Feb. 17 to Feb 25, we will be in Fabulous Las Vegas for the annual Wedding and Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) convention! We can't wait!
Also, Lesley will be out of the studio from Feb. 8 - Feb. 12, visiting friends and family in New York.
Therefore, indigosilver will be closed the week of Feb. 8, and will be open on a limited basis from the 14th through the 22nd. As a result, there will be no Vendor Spotlights for the month of February. Vendor Spotlights will resume in March! Join us for some tantalizing photos from boutique chocolatier Sue Papach of So Sweet Chocolates!
Stay tuned for updates from our travels!
Also, Lesley will be out of the studio from Feb. 8 - Feb. 12, visiting friends and family in New York.
Therefore, indigosilver will be closed the week of Feb. 8, and will be open on a limited basis from the 14th through the 22nd. As a result, there will be no Vendor Spotlights for the month of February. Vendor Spotlights will resume in March! Join us for some tantalizing photos from boutique chocolatier Sue Papach of So Sweet Chocolates!
Stay tuned for updates from our travels!
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