Last Week In Photography - Studio Sessions

Predicting the weather is always tricky so balancing outdoor with indoor sessions keeps the flow going.

Here are a few samples taken in studio.

The twins (yes.. they are tough to tell apart so they dress and do their hair differently) needed some theatrical headshots. They both were on General Hospital back when they were very young and still are in the hunt for roles. They and their younger sister, also shown here, are models and I’ve been photographing them for a few years.

I’ve included a few headshot samples including one for a government employee needing a photo with a flag background. Photoshop helped accomplish that and the before/after is also included here.

Clicking on the composites will enlarge them full size

Stephen SilverbergAugust 29, 2021Comment

Last Week In Photography - More Family fun In the Sun

While there’s a window of warm Michigan summer weather this family decided to take advantage of a beautiful day in a local park to capture images of their daughter at this fleeting time of her life.

I was pleased to be a part of their day as I know it will be gone in a flash as she starts to walk and talk.. but not yet.

Clicking on the composites below will enlarge them full size

Stephen SilverbergAugust 16, 2021Comment

Last Week In Photography - Summer Sessions

While I’ve been fighting the studio flooding (see previous blog posts) outside the walls the real world of flowers and greenery has been available and I’m sharing a day with a couple and their daughter and also a boy/girl friend senior session photographed locally in two parks.

Outside sessions are always weather dependent so two great days like these were a joy!

Clicking on the composites below will enlarge them full size.

Stephen SilverbergAugust 10, 2021Comment

Last Week In Photography - When It Rains, It Pours ll - The Painful Recovery Process

My last blog post documented the destruction of my studio after a massive sewage backup.

This one is a record of the fight to get back in business, The initial process is to completely gut and sanitize the space. The next step is an assessment of what is needed to get back in business.

The list is extensive and many times surprising. Drywall replacement? Yes.. knew that. Painting? That, too. Floor covering? A two hour there and back trip to a carpet wholesaler for commercial grade carpet tile.. solved.

The things that were a surprise.. many of the doors and jams needed to be replaced because the originals had deformed due to being partially submerged. Drains that were thought to be good.. weren’t… requiring further excavation and the installation of back flow valves,

After a bit over $30,000 in cash outlay depleting my business account the photos here are a record of the 95% recovery with a few things yet to be done.

FEMA and the SBA have both been here in the neighborhood and the confusion is rampant as the help we hoped for seems to be mired in conflicting programs.. Loans many of us can’t use and grants held up or unavailable because of the loan process.. all still to be resolved.

The good thing is to know the extent of mutual support in our neighborhood for one another.. heartening!

Clicking on the composites below will open them full size.

Stephen SilverbergAugust 3, 2021Comment

Last Week In Photography - When It Rains, It Pours

The photo above was my lower level studio prior to 2:00AM June 26.

It rained heavily that night and, since I have no clue what sleep means, I went downstairs to check as I’d seen a small leak behind the furnace during a heavy rainstorm a week earlier.

Bear in mind I had a $20,000 basement drain footer project a few years ago followed by $2,000 for a collapsed drain last month.

When I got to the top of the stairs my flashlight revealed what was my share of a neighborhood catastrophe.

The massive rainstorm moving through southeastern Michigan had overloaded the sewer capacity and many homes on my block as well as throughout the city were flooded with raw sewage, in my case about 2 feet deep.

The ensuing struggle to find crews to address the aftermath and the discovery that many people’s insurance did not cover the damage was epic. Even those who did have coverage found it was a small fraction of the cost.

The composites below document the recovery effort in my studio… still to come, drywall repair and painting, replacement floor covering and moving forward after the loss of materials and studio income.

Kudos to my neighborhood, College Heights in Ypsilanti, as well as other adjacent neighborhoods for the support offered by our neighbors during this reminder that nature and the environment is a force not to be ignored!

Clicking on the composites below will enlarge them full size.

Stephen SilverbergJuly 9, 2021Comment

Last Week In Photography - Senior Season

This session had been scheduled for a long time and we finally got together in a bright and sunny but chilly day!

The young woman was a trooper and never showed the goose-bump inducing weather. We went to a number of locations and she changed outfits in mom’s car on the way to each.

Clicking on the composites below will enlarge them full size.

Stephen SilverbergMay 16, 2021 Comment

Last Week In Photography - More Head Shots And Portraits

As Covid restrictions continue, although easing a bit, I’m still carefully observing measures to keep clients safe in the studio. I’ve received my 2nd vaccination and also diligently clean surfaces as well as respecting personal distance as much as possible.

These three people were guests for head shot sessions and I’m sharing some of the results here.

Clicking on the composites below will enlarge them full size.

Stephen SilverbergApril 25, 2021Comment

Last Week In Photography - Head Shots And Portraits

With warmer weather just around the corner I’m fielding requests for outdoor sessions. We’re not quite there yet but I should have some to show shortly.

While we wait for nature to catch up with our wishes I’ve been busy in the studio with a number of head shot and portrait sessions.

Here are some examples of results from the past few days.

Clicking on the composites will enlarge them full size.

Stephen SilverbergMarch 28, 2021Comment

Last Week In Photography - Head Shots And Snow Shovelers

Business is slowly picking up at the end of a cold and snowy winter.

I photographed this young woman in need of head shots and dragged a local guy down to the studio after he cleared my walks and driveway from what, hopefully, will be the last significant snow of the season.

Clicking on the composites will enlarge them full size.

Stephen SilverbergMarch 7, 2021Comment

Last Week In Photography - Studio Couples Session ll

My last blog post documented a session where I photographed a young couple who came into my studio looking for photos that would show their commitment to each other.. done on Valentine’s Day.

This post is from the very next session, a couple who have a long and loving history together.

They’re great people and since the husband is a photographer we got to use each other as sounding boards in some after session editing discussions.

Clicking on the composites below will enlarge them full size.

Stephen SilverbergFebruary 28, 2021Comment

Last Week In Photography - Studio Couples Session

During a period of very cold temperatures outside I was privileged to be able to get into my warm studio with this great couple.

Snow and single digit temps were no match for their closeness.. a pleasure to be part of this shoot.

Clicking on the composites below will enlarge them full size.

Stephen SilverbergFebruary 21, 2021Comment

Last Week In Photography - A Cold Winter Day So A Studio Retreat

With the daytime outside temperature in the low double digits I turned on the heater in my lower level studio and had a great session developing an acting portfolio.

Sometimes a session gets to be playtime because the client wants to get creative and this was one for sure. This young woman is aiming high and it was gratifying to be a part of her plan.

Clicking on the composites below will enlarge them full size.

Stephen SilverbergFebruary 12, 2021Comment

Last Week In Photography - Rebooting My Life

Last November during a photo shoot I did some critical damage to my lower back bringing everything movement related to a screeching halt.

Supporting a heavy camera and lens put the point of balance directly over my lower left side and the pinched nerves were a graphic reminder of how fragile we are as biological entities. Suffice it to say, working has been a no go and I’ve been and will continue to be a regular at physical therapy twice a week since then.

Finally and cautiously.. ten weeks later.. I took my first job and although I knew I wasn’t back entirely I felt good that I was part of another family’s life when I met this senior on site an Huron High School to document his passage towards the next phase of his education.

He’s an incredibly bright young man and the session was great re-entry for me.

Clicking on the composites below will enlarge them full size.

Stephen SilverbergFebruary 6, 2021Comment

Last Week In Photography - 2020 - Swimming In A Sea Of Turmoil

It’s almost impossible to summarize this past year in any words that adequately describe the pain and uncertainty we’ve been subjected to.

Moment by moment we have been battered by another loss.

The loss of innocent belief that our way of life would keep on the path we thought we had set was a huge body blow that knocked many of us to the ground. The discovery of the depth of hate and anger lurking just beneath the surface manifesting in the loss of lives and disbelief of finding out how little we could rely on the institutions we set up to protect us and the flame of unrest setting friend and family against one another were cuts that went deep and bled hard!

At the same time the good surfaced as well.

I see daily posts on social media offering free food and clothing to those in need. Neighbors have stepped up to assist when made aware of desperation has set in due to Covid infection or financial collapse. While some families have been torn apart others have formed.

Yeast disappeared from the shelves as home baking underwent a resurgence and food sharing was, again, a way to serve and connect. Those who have sewing skills have filled a need with custom designed masks and returnables are regularly donated in bags at the doorsteps to help those whose income has dropped .. or stopped.

On a personal/professional level I’ve been out of work since mid November with a back injury incurred during a photo shoot and getting beaten up at my physical therapy sessions. I hope to be back working soon…. I love what I do.

So.. a new year is coming in a few days and I wish you all, my country, those who have supported me, those who have commented on my work and particularly those who have suffered loss.. a very happy, safe and healthy 2021.

Clicking on the composites of photos from 2020 below will enlarge them full size:

Stephen SilverbergDecember 29, 2020Comment

Last Week In Photography - Sister and Brother Modeling Sessions

The sessions in this post are from a series of sister and brother (in that order chronologically) sessions for prospective modeling portfolios.

Each of them came into the studio a few times to allow for different backgrounds and looks. Genetics proved to hold true as there are a lot of physical similarities in the way they photographed.

One of the composites show the wider studio view and the finished version.

Clicking on the composites will enlarge them full size.

Stephen SilverbergDecember 11, 2020Comment

Last Week In Photography - Make-Good For A Lost Graduation Celebration And A Chilly Family Session

I’ve photographed this young woman before as a senior session then Covid hit and her graduation at the University of Michigan Stadium was cancelled.

Wearing her prom dress she posed in front of the stadium gates to document her success.

It was a fun shoot as the drivers passing by applauded, yelled encouragement and honked their horns in a wonderfully shared moment.

Also, on a very cold late autumn/early winter evening I photographed this family whom I’ve known for over three decades. The setting was the Ypsilanti Freight House. It was masks and coats on then a very hurried herding cats moment then back to the coats and masks while everyone made believe they were warm.

Clicking on the header photo as well as the photos and composites below will enlarge them full size.

Stephen SilverbergNovember 30, 2020Comment

Last Week In Photography - Continuing To Make Use Of Good Weather

We enjoyed a long stretch of good weather and it was great to be out in the sun and photograph some senior and family sessions. We shared the local parks with lots of late October-early November strollers.

Mixed with a few studio senior sessions it made for a very enjoyable late fall season!

Here is a collection of photographs taken in studio and Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor settings.

Clicking on the composites will enlarge them full size.

Stephen SilverbergNovember 23, 2020Comment

Last Week In Photography - There's Still Good Weather! Busy In and Out Of The Studio

I’ve been grateful for our extended fall weather. We’ve been blessed with great seasonal color and warm sunny days so I’ve been busy photographing at local parks.

Also my studio time has been picking up as the need for head shots is increasing.

In this time of pandemic there are so many people in dire situations and I am very aware and very grateful to be busy and healthy.

Here is a selection of family and studio sessions.

Stay well and stay safe!

Clicking on the composites will enlarge them full size

Stephen SilverbergNovember 8, 2020Comment

Last Week In Photography - Watching Kids Grow and A Cold Day At The Beach

I was privileged to have been invited to share the births of both of my friends’ children and just had them both into the studio for a “Yikes.. look at how they’ve grown” session. There are a couple of composites in this post showing them then and now.

Also I’ve included a series of a young woman surfer I photographed on a chilly day in Saugatuck this past September 13th. I don’t get to play with photography as much as I’d like, being busy working for hire so this was a welcome break from my normal days.

Clicking on the composites will enlarge them full size.

Stephen SilverbergOctober 27, 2020Comment

Last Week In Photography - Studio And Location Sessions

Still under pandemic restrictions in and out of the studio I photographed a one year old and did some senior photos.

It’s difficult to communicate when half your face is obscured… interesting how it’s all in the eyes.

Speaking of eyes these two, both the toddler and senior, did fine showing their personalities during all three sessions. The senior sessions were done half in studio and one week later at a great park I never knew existed.. one more place to use as background.

Clicking on the composites will enlarge them full size.

Stephen SilverbergOctober 3, 2020 Comment

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