blogs of photogs

Scott Strazzante is a photographer for the Chicago Tribune, and started a blog recently to showcase some of the photos that as he says “don’t have a home”. I’m extremely glad he did… and I”m sure my readers will be as well. I looked through nearly every photo that he has up, and each one offered me something, a memory, a little slice of poignancy, a glimpse into the olympics, a slice of his photographic expertise and more. I hope he continues to post regularly, I’ll be adding this one to my reader for sure. Enjoy~

Mary

The Apertura Photo blog is the blog of photographers Ray Soemarsono and Erwin Darmali, who work out of Southern California, but travel for wedding coverage as well. Ray and Erwin are extremely talented photographers who both have amazing artistic documentary styles, though each markedly different in their approaches. Most of the posts they blog cover weddings, but somehow they manage to never make one wedding look like another; they keep coming up with fresh inventive and imaginative shots of each couple and wedding. Their work so perfectly captures the gaiety and energy of the receptions, it makes me feel like I was there.

Enjoy!

Mary

I had a wonderful relaxing two weeks in the north woods of MN, and came home to over 400 emails and 20 voicemails from clients. Wow. I intended to blog right when I got back, but you know what they say about the best laid plans…

Anyway, way back 7 months ago when I started this little blogsofphotogs project, I posted on a few forums that I frequented at the time (ILP, some others, etc) about it and said people could send in their blog addy, or submit a fave blog if they wanted, and I got absolutely slammed with emails. They still keep coming from ILP and I haven’t been on ILP for two months (bet no one misses *me* LOL) Anyway I somehow overlooked Suzanne Revy, after that round of emails from ILP’ers, probably because it was submitted with such total lack of fanfare. Just a brief “if you are interested” and the address. My mistake, and I am thrilled I found it now.

Suzanne works in the greater Boston area, ans she is one of those filmies still (yes, they still exist, thankfully, to give us exquisite art like hers to admire) She works with a medium format camera, and wet darkroom and her images are just splendid. Really amazing.

I sometimes pull out my old film camera and shoot a roll, just because it teaches me patience in such a different way than digi. To wait for the shot rather than machine gun. To really see it before I shoot it, since I can’t chimp.

Suzanne’s blog and site have sensational, alluring images. Make sure you check out her fine art gallery on her site too, there is such an art to the right title with the right photo. I may have to buy “Evolution”–it is just that perfect.

Anyway, I think I’m going to have to get some film out this weekend and see if I can find some of that special magic that she so clearly has. I know you will enjoy her work~

Mary

In addition to being available for travel worldwide, Daniel Snow works out of the Twin Cities metro area, (Minneapolis & St. Paul–same as me!) so I guess I’m performing another local karmic good deed by featuring his blog here on Blogs of Photogs.

Anyway, quite simply, he rocks at both wedding photography and engagement sessions, and Daniel is shockingly affordable for being such an accomplished photographer. If I were getting married again, (which I’m not, but instead celebrating 15 years of wedded bliss to my sweetie next month) I’d have to talk to Daniel first off and see if he was available. There is such a glut of photographers in our area, many whom…how can I say this kindly….just do not have the expertise to be charging what they do. Daniel is the complete opposite-exceedingly talented yet well within the budget of most middle class couples. Yippee for them, and I can see why he is booked so far ahead. The dynamic range of his black and whites, (on my iMac anyway) are truly some of the best I have seen lately. Comparable to great film shooters-this is what digital should look like when done right. Enjoy!

Mary

Todd Laffler works out of Scotch Plains, NJ, but travels as well. He primarily shoots weddings, but also some portrait work and children, etc. To say that his blog and site showcase an extraordinary talent would be an understatement. I’ve mentioned it before (some might say ad nauseum…) but I look at a lot of photo blogs. A lot.

There are some blogs that grab me right away, making me go through pages and pages and my kids get bagels for dinner. Again. Yup, this is one of those. His artistry, finesse and personality are all intertwined within his photographs in a distinctive way that makes me think we will be hearing about Todd more in the future. Hope you enjoy too….

Mary

I’m actually kind of embarrassed to admit (as a photographer myself), that I had never read Jessica Claire’s blog or visited her website prior to today. I first heard of her years ago, have seen many of her images before, on various photographers forums, and read things by her, most especially her very giving and helpful Q&A’s on the Beyond Just Images website forum (which also rocks) and I even *own* a shootsac. But somehow, I’ve never visited her site/blog. Currently, her site and blog are one, she calls it her blogsite.

Anyway, I got a little lost in it this morning. (sorry kids!) The design of the site is beautiful, it would be redundant to comment upon how stunning her images are, and she is a truly a marketing genius. Her blog is the perfect mix of information geared towards both clients, and towards the thousands of photographers who blog stalk her site, looking for inspiration, actions, tips, etc etc. I also enjoyed her writing style, friendly and conversational, with bits of her personality popping up around every so often. I hope you enjoy it as well!

Mary

Ok, I know, I know. I hear the blogs of photogs purists screaming and sloshing their starbucks in indignation. Dooce (aka: Heather Armstrong) is not really a photographer, because she pays her bills with blogging, not portraiture or wedding work, etc. But, she does do the Photo of the Day, and is amazingly talented at both photography and blogging, (and hilarious to boot) so, there you go. Plus, I’ve been a fan for years and years, so: She is our featured photographer of the day!

If there is actually someone out there who has not read Dooce, I’ll be a bit surprised, as there are so many people who I know, who have been faithful Dooce fans forever. I’ll bet many of you have not read her blog in a while, or have forgotten how funny her blog is, how addictive and interesting it is, and sometimes even feel like she is a friend IRL, in that weird way that blogs (and their authors) that we are familiar with become a part of us. Either way, check it out, for the first time, or find it again. Its singularly fabulous.

~enjoy!

Mary

Sugar Photography is made up of the fabulous photography talent of Jen Weintraub, and her assistants in the areas of office and sales are Mindy Tullis and Debbie Reininger.

Jen has built an amazing clientele and business, capturing “The Sweet Life” over the past several years, and she was voted the favorite family photographer by Dallas Child Magazine. One of my favorite parts of her blog and work is her “adoption sunday” posts. So inspiring and beautiful, just amazing. You will love her classic and fun style and her top notch polished skills and attention to detail that really shows in her work. Enjoy her blog!

Mary

Bebb Studio (Stephen and Jennifer Bebb) are two well known wedding photographers, based out of Vancouver, British Colombia, and they also have a great blog with lots of fun stuff to read. Their post processing is stunning and you will find a wealth of inspiration. They also offer seminars (bebbinars) that I have not personally attended, but have heard good things about. Enjoy!

Mary

[b]ecker is one of my favorite wedding photographers….he just seems like he has so much fun and spreads that excitement no matter what he is doing. Along with being a terrifically talented photographer, he is also a master at branding and marketing and I heard from several of my online buddies that meeting him at wppi was a blast. He works out of Orange County, CA, and you can find his main site here.

I know you will love his blog and his photos and style!

~enjoy!

Mary