We've all seen the movies, the "chick flicks" as they are known in our house. The films that are known for the love story aspect. The ones that women love and men tolerate. However, regardless of a movie leaving you an emotional mess or even something entertaining like Pirates of the Caribbean, (any one of the four) inevitably every armchair critic discusses whether or not the two leading characters had chemistry. Was the casting good? Were their roles believable, relatable, even enviable? We all have opinions about different films, some are agreed upon, others are not.

Usually the classics, dating back to the likes of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers or Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall are accepted as perfect couples with ideal chemistry, without question. Modern roles are still up to debate for some. The more successful a film, most agree that the casting and the chemistry between a leading actor and actress was just right.

As a portrait photographer, I have the privilege of getting to see real life chemistry in real life roles up close. My goal, especially for these sessions, is to not have contrived, stiff, staring at the camera poses but to capture what really exists, especially between two people.

I posted some photos from this session but not the whole session in its entirety. Now that the beauty of autumn is beginning around us (Long Island is always a little later than everyone else) I thought this was the perfect time to share this session. It took a little while for this couple, who have been married for years, to relax and almost forget I was there, which is what I wanted them to do.  However, their rapport, their love for each other and their friendship is so strong that it came through without anyone trying. I just had to capture the moments and assure them how beautiful it really was.

Some of us are blessed to have known it in life. Some know it for a short time and some for a lifetime but when you have that beautiful chemistry, not just in physical allure or attraction but as a connection between two souls, you can never duplicate it or re-create it, you can only stand back in awe and witness it.
 
Without a doubt this will always be one of my favorite sessions and I thank them both for just being real and for being who they are! Thank you for helping me capture true love.

A lot going on here at home and in the studio but for those of you who have asked, we do have some holiday mini sessions ready to go! The location will be at a beautiful local park and we have a few dates to choose from. If by some chance these do not work there are a few sessions available on weekdays but they are limited. We will do our best to work with you.

This year I am really excited to be teaming up with Tiny Prints to help you design and make your own beautiful Holiday Card to send to family and friends! While drugstore photo cards can be nice, sometimes their developing leaves a little to be desired. With Tiny Prints, you choose the photo from your session that is your favorite and I will send it to their design department as a high resolution and fully edited file so nothing is changed in the processing.

 I will also have a page up soon at their site recommending some of my favorite Tiny Print cards. If you haven't seen their products, check them out, they are high reputable and they have a great personable group of creative people.

This year's holiday mini session has so much to offer. You will receive a 30 minute session (outdoor)  for up to 5 people. ( $25 each additional person) Within one to two weeks, you will receive an email with a password to view your photos in an online password protected gallery. You will have approx. 8-10 proofs to choose from.

 Once you choose the image you like best, we can discuss your options of lustre finish, metallic or glossy. You will receive an 8x10, 8 wallets and your image choice uploaded to Tiny Prints if you would like the print for a card design. If you will not be making or sending cards this year, we can swap out the digital file use for a couple of 5 x 7's or for something of a comparable value. I will also email you the pose of your choice as a low res watermarked file for online sharing such as on facebook or for holiday email newsletters. All for $175 (plus NYS tax.) This is usually a $275 value.

and just a brief description...

What is a holiday mini-session?

A holiday mini session is just a shorter version of our custom portrait photography session. Regular sessions usually last between 1 and 2 hours. Mini sessions are about 30 minutes.  Mini-sessions are perfect for holiday cards, annual family newsletters or for those who would like an annual family photo. This type of session will not provide many candid moments, or individual poses if any; there is simply not enough time to create a wide range of looks, visit several locations or change outfits. If you're looking for a larger range of images, please contact us about booking a full custom portrait session.  

Below are the dates and times available.... please email us with your choice of a date a time slots and we will send you info about how to book, the session location, some session wardrobe tips and how to send us a $25 deposit to hold your spot.

You can email us at shieblerphotography@gmail.com or through our website email. As always if you have any questions at all, just let us know!

Susan Elise Shiebler Photography Holiday Mini Session Dates and Times:



Sunday October 30th 2011

1:30-2:00
2:00-2:30
3:00-3:30
4:00-4:30

Sunday November 6th 2011

1:30-2:00
2:00-2:30
3:00-3:30

I can't believe how long it has been since I posted on this blog/journal. A combination of work in photography, helping another artist with their new career, even directing a musical and time with family has kept me very busy!

Additionally, I don't blog every photo session and sometimes I wait for certain themes to use a certain shoot and this is probably not very conducive to the true nature of a blog which is to follow my work. I plan on working on that in the future!! My favorite time for sessions is now, late summer into fall as the lighting is always most beautiful. So hopefully, I will stop here and share what I am doing!

Below are two examples of recent headshot sessions for a wonderful actor and a beautiful actress. Many of my clients tell me that prices for these sessions in NYC can be a little higher than expected. Having worked on the other side of the lens at one time too, I know that starting out is not easy from a budgetary standpoint. I try to make the most of these 1-2 hour sessions, giving models/actors/actresses the option of 3-5 clothing changes, unlimited poses, some styling consultation and at least 20-30 proofs to choose from after the session. Beyond a very affordable session fee, Digital files are available within 2-3 weeks to send to agents and for personal use. Prints of course are also always available. I can always be reached by the contact form or email on my site. This is also a good time to start booking portrait sessions for the fall, sessions for school seniors and photos for holiday cards!
 
Hope everyone is enjoying these last fleeting weeks of precious summer!

One of the great gifts of the modern digital age is the ability to process photography and make it look as though it were vintage. It is truly ironic when you consider the laborious process photographers used in the 1930's and 40's to just develop a single photo. What they would have given for the crystal clear uploads from digital cameras that we have in just seconds! After all, they were as devoted to their craft then as much as we are now and maybe even moreso as they had more obstacles to overcome with fewer amenities.

Photographers back then might have been surprised to know that in decades and even in a century to come that black and white photography and sepia toned, antiqued processing was a favored option in some collections. They would never have imagined that despite all of today's technology, part of us would long to recreate a feeling reminiscent of a bygone era that most of us never experienced personally but still find fascinating today.

This exquisitely beautiful model, has an artistic vision that is completely in sync with my own. While the styling for this shoot was planned around her beautiful coloring and the fall leaves, her daily sense of style is consistent with an awesome understanding of fashion and beauty. (We didn't need a make-up artist this day, she did her own hair and make up and chose just the right colors)
 
Our goal (aside from a romantic portion of the session with her equally striking husband, one such photo is featured in the banner at the top of the journal header) was to create a Hollywood glamour head shot, circa 1930's or 1940's. We finished up this part of the session just as the sun was setting and it was nearly dark with outside studio lighting.

Once I finish proofing and post the entire session, these photos will also be more in context with the whole concept as full length wardrobe was also a part of the photo shoot.

I am thinking that these photos will eventually be featured in the "Daydream" gallery on my site. Aside from her glamour and her beauty, she also has a lot of wisdom and accurately summed up one of my philosophies by saying;
 
"Every woman, in her lifetime, should have at least one photo of herself that she loves."

I couldn't agree more and that is definitely one of my goals in every session. To call it a daydream session is accurate because as women, I believe we have all had at least one daydream of looking and feeling beautiful and having that moment captured.  I am not referring to Hollywood's standard of beauty today or having to be half dressed to appear beautiful to some of the adult male population. Women don't want to be objects, they want to be respected for who they are and part of beauty is character. To capture that with yes, the "old fashioned" concept of class and beauty shouldn't be just a dream!

 The biggest problem now is choosing among four different processing techniques!
Below is:
 1. the original
 2. antique processing
 3. black and white with a color tint
 4. sepia toned.

 The last two are really intended to give that old Hollywood feel. I think however that my favorite is #2 in the antique. The warm tones match the fall color palette and also her beautiful personality. Despite actually shivering at the end as it was so cold that night, to capture this mood made it all worth it. It would be easy for me bundled up behind the lens to say that but fortunately she agrees!







 

  
 

I am always so impressed by the beauty of great mother-daughter relationships. I personally have a mother who is also a best friend. While it took years to cultivate the strongest aspects of our relationship, like other mother daughter bonds, most are often based on strong foundations in childhood.

Now, as a mom myself, I try to be the best mother, confidante, reliable source of guidance and friend to the two gifts known as my own daughters. Any mother will tell you, there are days it is smooth sailing and you think you have it all figured out. Then, there are days you suddenly remember how emotional and determined you were as a teenager because it echoes in the familiar sound of a slammed bedroom door. (This time, you are on the outside of the door.) There are days when there are tears and they can still lead to triumphs. The key, and it sounds cliché, goes back to communication. I have learned however, that is more about me listening and less about me talking. I am still working on that one.
 
These beautiful daughters and their beautiful mom in the session featured in this post, have an amazing relationship. Just after working with them twice, (their handsome, younger brother is featured in a previous post) I see a genuine sense of mutual respect that I cannot help but admire. I have known their mom for many years as we met while working together for a mutual friend. She is today as good a mother as she has always been a person and it is always a pleasure working with her family. This session is part one of an imminent family session, featuring her two sons and two daughters together as a group. For this session however, we focused on mom and daughters.

One note, yes, their eyes are this beautiful! They are truly these colors and as vividly sparkling in person. While looking through the lens, I was thinking that no one will believe me that anyone could have eyes this beautiful! Their brother, in his previous post here on my blog has these beautiful eyes as well. 

Below are just a few of the many photos I am still proofing. Aside from mom looking like their sister, (in the middle first photo) here is the kind of person she is. She told me as I was leaving the shoot a couple of weeks ago, to not even worry about working on the proofs right away. She knows I am on a very tight schedule right now working on a calendar design featuring children with cancer, including some children who are very ill. (And yet still so excited about being in their own calendar.)

This mom's gift of her patience and the patience of other clients who have kindly given me the same permission in recent weeks has meant so much to me. I am trying to promise them all that by Thanksgiving, the calendar should be done and they will all have a full set of proofs before the holidays.

So I again thank these wonderful women, a tribute to mothers and daughters. Like so many others, they may not be famous or powerful. Their names, like most of ours will never be in history books. However, as it has been true for centuries, women with true character, compassion and strength will always be the ones changing the world.