Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Giving Back

You know, we have all heard, that when times are tough, that’s when the tough get going. We also know that charity donations are significantly lower now than in the past. So we began questioning what could we do to help.

We decided that whenever possible, successful businesses need to give back to their clients and to their community…and that is exactly what we are planning to do.

We have teamed up with a very successful business in North Port called Kyle Kurtis Salon and Spa. We have already done work with them in the past, and know how good and how professional they really are.

Anyway, on Sunday, October 11th we are doing a FundRaiser for the Susan G. Komen Foundation. We are calling this event: GET GLAMMED UP FOR BREAST CANCER AWARENESS.

The idea is that you call Kyle Kurtis to schedule your appointment. You will receive a great professional hairstyle, then a make-up artist will work with you, and then, you will have a beautiful photograph created by Island Photographics. All this PLUS…our version of a “Swag Bag” with a lot more value than the $25 fundraising contribution.

We are excited and already, spaces are being booked quickly. We hope you got our Email…If not, let us know and we will “subscribe” you so you can know about all the cool things we are up to…!

REMEMBER – Sunday, October 11th
Call Kyle Kurtis for your appointment: 941-257-2122

The event will be held at Island Photographics but make your appointment with Kyle Kurtis.

We will be working all day, BUT appointments are limited!!! So call soon!

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Free Fun!!!!!!!

In the proverbial ‘dog days of summer’…I think that’s sometime in August…at least that’s when we decided it was…We wanted to have some different kind of fun…

So we did FREE Pictures! It was GREAT!!! We did it on a Thursday from 2 PM to 7 PM and The deal was: 1 outfit, 1 background, 1 fairly low-res upload to your favorite social networking site, and all this in only 10 mintues for one day only…Yep…that was it. Free 10 minute sessions.

We had a blast. People came in droves…wearing all kinds of stuff…our challenge was to create a background in 10 minutes to coordinate with what the people were wearing…

It was so much fun…We really did not intend to sell anything – we just wanted to have fun…and that we did. In fact, it was so much fun and we got such positive feedback from it that we just may do it again. We let everyone know with our newsletter so if you want information on all the things we’re doing, call Melisa. We will get you on our emailing list.

Friday, July 17, 2009

Flattering things….

You know, we seldom have a whole weekend free these days…and I guess that’s why we try to schedule most any appointments during the week days whenever we can…
But when a free weekend does occur and you do not have other plans, one of the most flattering things that can happen is to have other photographers want to hire you. We often give our time and teaching to others…after all, that’s how we learned oh those many years ago…It’s fun to be able to give back to those who are just getting started in this wonderful profession…

But, when seasoned photographers want to hire you to either assist them or to photograph work for them – well, that’s just very cool. That means that other well-known photographers know your work and trust you with their clients…And that’s just what has happened to us.

When time affords us the opportunity, we have been working for other photographers and just this past weekend, we had the privilege of photographing a terrific Lido beach wedding for another photographer friend…It was great!

Sunday, June 28, 2009

JUNE IS A HAPPILY BUSY MONTH!!!!

Both personally and ‘business-ally’ June is shaping up to be a VERY busy time. For a Mother-in-Law which I am now (snicker! – I love it) the best things can happen! One of the very coolest things is when your daughter (in-law) calls and says she and a friend might be coming to FL and could…..well, you can’t know how fast the words, “YES YES YES!!”, came out of my mouth…We both giggled and we were instantly set for a great girlie long weekend…Jamie couldn’t come because of work, but Angelle and Rachel would be here on Thursday very very very late…it’s an 8ish hour drive from Augusta, GA and they weren’t leaving until after work. At last conversation Thursday night, they were exhausted, had decided to stop along the way, and would be in Friday late morning.

Well……..at 4AM, much to Calliope’s (Standard Poodle who owns me) and my amazement the door bell rang and who stood there but Angelle, Rachel and JAMIE too. What an fabulous surprise…We all had an phenomenally fun time…Had not shopped St. Armand’s for way too long a time so Melisa and I did our girlie thing with Angelle and Rachel, while James and Andy and cutie pie Nate (Melisa’s husband and son) played with cars or something.

So fun, so fun……..!!!

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Sandra Frost and Sammy Waldron Wedding




And talk about photographing families I’ve known forever, the Frosts and the Waldrons certainly qualify. Family portraits, senior pictures and so many other events…terrific…

And then the absolute joy of photographing Sandy and Sammmy’s wedding…What a very special wedding that was…two great people and two great families. Incredible emotions, beautiful people, great locations, a gorgeous day, amazing fun, and a real feeling of faith in the future for everyone.


Just doesn’t get better than this…for sure!

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Fistner DeFina Wedding



OMG photographing a wedding reception when the wedding has already happened in Italy…Now that’s a fun thing to do. And that’s just what happened for Jessica Fistner and Rocco DeFina and, of course, us! Jessica is the Banquet Manager at Mission Valley Country Club…so guess where the reception was! I’ve known the DeFina family just this side of forever I think, so it was a great privilege to be part of these wonderful combined families celebrations!


Tuesday, May 12, 2009

A Better Place Dance and Fitness Studio




Unless you’ve photographed a flock of adorable two’s in tutus and teens bedecked in gorgeous costumes, and guys doing everything from the Lion King to Hip Hop, you do not know what you’ve missed. But, that’s exactly what we spent last Saturday doing! And all I can say is WOW. Sonia does a fabulous job and with all hersuper caring helpers, this Place is indeed a Better Place to Be!!!












Friday, May 1, 2009

Mommy & Me was so much fun!!!!












Friday, April 10, 2009

High School Senior from Oklahoma







Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Island Celebrates Mothers


Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Bunnies were fabulous!!!



Some images from bunnies sessions. Our bunny wrangling days are over for another year.

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Cloudy & Windy days are pretty too!!!

When we schedule a family portrait out doors we are always at the mercy of the weather. This session was no different. The Anselme family came all the way from Illinois to vacation here and wanted us to do their family portraits at the beach. The weather turned out to be windy and cloudy, but their images turned out to look amazing.




Thursday, April 2, 2009

Melisa and Susan Jones-Mannino Reconnect!!!!!!



OK! How fun is this?!?! Yesterday we were busy photographing a popular local actress/teacher/traveler and woman of distinction. Melisa kept saying I know I know her. Turns out our client was a teacher at Booker High School when Melisa was a student there. While they were in different areas of the school, Melisa persisted. Ah ha!!! She remembered!!! That’s Ms Mannino!!! When the connection was made, the fun really began… “Oh yes, and remember dot dot dot??” “Oh my gosh, I haven’t seen her in years…” And so it went for about two hours. A major reunion, for sure.

Susan is busy acting in films, just did a one-woman show at Osolo, and is about to be in production of a new film. Susan’s character woman in the photograph is none other than Angelina Emily Grimké Weld. Never heard of her? Well I hadn’t either but she is a fascinating 19th century Southern Abolitionist, strong public speaker, and women’s rights advocate. Susan’s portrayal of her is just awesome. I got to hear a lot of the dialogue while we were photographing. We did the character image and then, of course, a terrific head shot for Susan’s portfolio.

Susan is wise to know the value of a great image of herself. For that matter everyone in business should have a ready and recent likeness of himself or herself. It is often your first introduction to other people. Opinions are formed based on this image. But that’s a whole ‘nother blog!!!

Thank you Susan. It was fun to photograph you and Ms Weld!

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Learning, Learning, Learning…that’s just what we do!!!

Yesterday was a very long but great day. Melisa and I left the studio at 3PM to attend an incredible seminar in Tampa. The event was presented by one of the very best nationally known photographers both in the field of wedding photography and family events. He is amazing! By midnight we were exhausted and dealing with exploding brains!

Nonetheless, we feel that continuing to update our skills and hear about new ideas is what keeps us on the top of our game and on the cutting edge of new trends as well as continuing great traditions. We have been in this business 20+ years and without this constant attention to education, I do not think we would be nearly as successful as you have helped make us.

We studied new equipment, new techniques, new products, and connected with lots of old and new friends. Come see us so we can play with some of our new ideas and try out some of our new ‘stuff’!

Friday, March 13, 2009

Bunnies are Coming!!!







Wednesday, February 25, 2009

OMG I am on the other side of the fence – The Mother-of-the-Groom!

Who knew what it is like to have your only child, a son, getting married and you, his Mom, is a photographer, and the wedding is taking place in another state, and you are NOT in charge. WOW!

The great part is that his new bride, Angelle, is wonderful, her family is terrific, and they are joyously happy. A Flock of Florida Friends arrived in Lafayette, Louisiana on Thursday of Mardi Gras weekend. We had a splendid dinner Thursday night at Randol’s Seafood house.

Friday, Angelle’s family hosted a true Louisiana crawfish boil with caldrons of crawfish, boiled corn, carrots, and potatoes, boudin, and other mysteriously marvelous Cajun seasonings. So fun to have the Louisianas teach us Floridians how to eat our supper. T’was truly a great mixer! Then, after we’d had bazillions of crawfish, we learned that crawfish etouffeé was next on the menu. And what a phenomenal treat Brenda’s etouffeé is! For that, we did not need eating instructions!

Saturday I ‘hostessed’ the Rehearsal Luncheon at Landry’s Cajun Seafood Restaurant in Breaux Bridge, LA. The theme was Wedding + Mardi Gras complete with lots of beads, masks, flowers and the traditional Mardi Gras King Cake. Saturday night was lots of rain, the Krewe of Bonaparte Mardi Gras parade, and globs of bead mongering!

The wedding was on Sunday at a lovely southern Victorian style home called Sunny Meade in Scott, LA. It was a chilly but bright breezy day. Angelle was a gorgeous bride, and her groom was, well, a very fine handsome guy. (Said without an ounce of prejudice!) Lots of you know James’s Best Man who was ‘our’ Melisa’s husband, Andy. I must say, the wedding was so incredible and I almost made it through without shedding too many tears. It was a joyous occasion for sure.

Now, many of you have asked if I photographed the wedding. The answer is a resounding NO, I did not! The beauty of having been a photographer for lots of years, and having been active in many Professional Organizations throughout the state, and having acquired lots of really good photographer friends, is that I, well, I got the best of the best!

I also got paid back in spades. You know how sometimes, after a session, you’ve said to
me, “Kate! There are soooooooo many good pictures here – how am I ever going to choose?” Well guess what. I have approximately 4,000 awesome images to play with!

Let me just say, “I feel your pain.”

Friday, January 9, 2009

YIPES!!! STRIPES!!! Holiday Portraits!

Mercifully, none – not one of our families that we have been photographing have shown up in ‘alarming’ clothes…Prints, plaids, polka dots, and the dreaded stripes are not great attire for a family portrait!! We have been at the beach, at peoples’ homes, and about a million other locations…And believe me it is GREAT fun…We love it…