Last Week In Photography - Time To Schedule Sessions

This young lady was absolutely captivating and captured the attention of many people who “liked” the post in which she appeared.

This is from a family session in my studio and now that the year is over half gone it would be good to plan ahead as the late summer and early fall sessions will start to pile up and this is a reminder that those moments in time can never be recaptured once gone.

Family, senior, portrait, couples, pet and head shot sessions should be a conversation topic before it becomes a last minute scramble.

Here, in this post, are a sample of photographs captured in past sessions.

Clicking on the composites will display then full size

Stephen SilverbergAugust 5, 2024Comment

Last Week In Photography - Acting Head Shot Session

This young woman just finished her theater degree at Ypsilanti’s Eastern Michigan University and is on her way to live in New York City with her brother.. Lucky her!

This was her first photo shoot ever and I was very happy to give her a start. Here are a few of the ones we did.

I have wonderful memories of my time in (very) little theater in NYC….Break a leg!!!!!!!!

Clicking on the composites will display them full size.

Stephen SilverbergJuly 21, 2024Comment

Last Week In Photography - Same Day Service

Yes, 95% of my projects are shot and delivered the same day.

NO.. I typically do not take same day appointments or walk ins as I set appointments days, weeks or months ahead.

In this case this gentleman was in a huge bind and as it was still early in the day when I had nothing else scheduled he came over and I photographed his head shots and delivered them to him in a couple of hours.

It’s all about customer service!

Clicking on the composites below will display them full size:

Stephen SilverbergJuly 14, 2024Comment

Last Week In Photography - Head Shots

A couple needed head shots, him for work and her as she was furthering her education… A little non traditional floor fan work to add some fun.

Clicking on the composites will display them full size

Stephen SilverbergJuly 7, 2024Comment

Last Week In Photography - Owned By Your "Pet"

Categorized as pet owners, those of you who know the truth admit the real relationship between a pet and owner. You work, keep up a home, feed, groom, walk outside in heat and cold, wet and dry and let’s not forget those vet bills and yet you’re called “owners” when, in fact, that roommate you spoil runs the show!

I know…. having been owned by a number of dogs and cats over the years, there’s a huge payback in comfort, amusement and loyalty along with the tumbleweed sized drifting fuzzballs and occasional surprise “gifts” often discovered always at inopportune times.

It’s not for nothing one of my cats was named Peeve…. and I lost count of how many times I was left in the dust staring at the south end of a northbound dog just as I needed to leave for work.

Regardless, we love them.

Thank you, all cats, for confirming the earth is not flat as if it was, you’d have knocked everything off it by now.

Bottom line, I photograph pets and people, in and out of the studio… just saying.

Clicking on the photo above and composites below will display them full size.

Stephen SilverbergJuly 1, 2024Comment

Last Week In Photography - Links To Sales Sites

This is a new addition to the Metal Print and Etsy item shop. Clicking on the photo will display it full size in a new window.

I've been a bit lax in promoting both sites so here are a couple of web links for you to visit in what you laughingly call your spare time.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/SSPHOTOSTORE

https://www.ssphotographic.com/metalprintstore

In the next few months I'll be posting some gallery dates so you can see these in large format and in person. It's something I've been working towards.

Stephen SilverbergJune 24, 2024Comment

Last Week In Photography - Grad Session In Unfamiliar Waters

As I usually photograph university graduates at local campuses such as Ypsilanti’s Eastern Michigan University or Ann Arbor’s University of Michigan it was a different experience to drive to East Lansing for this grad’s session on the campus of Michigan State University.

Her father and I followed her from location to location photographically documenting her journey to her degree.

She’ll be looking for her next career step closer to home here in the Ypsi/Ann Arbor area.

Clicking on the composites will display the full size

Stephen SilverbergJune 16, 2024Comment

Last Week In Photography - Senior In The Sun

This grad and I spent a great morning at Ypsilanti’s Depot Town and Riverside Park.

We were concerned about the weather but got a great, sunny day.

He has worked hard to get to this point and has a wonderful future ahead of him!

Clicking on the composites will display then full size.

Stephen SilverbergJune 9, 2024Comment

Last Week In Photography - The Perils Of Graffiti Alley

This senior session was to be held at two locations, one of which was Ann Arbor’s Graffiti Alley, a back entry area in the middle of town.

Under the heading “ya never know what you’re gonna get” the expected F bombs were less abusive than I’ve seen them in the past…. still, be forewarned.

Many years of applied roller and rattle can paint have graced these walls and it’s clear that it’s been an active site for social expression.

We relocated to the local canoe and kayak rental spot to finish the session.. somewhat more sedate.

Clicking on the composites will display them full size.

Stephen SilverbergJune 2, 2024Comment

Last Week In Photography - Senior and Head Shot Sessions

These two sessions are quite different and point out a couple of the range of services I offer.

The young woman lives in a house with long established flowering plantings in the yard. She and her family wanted some photos taken with the flowers in the background, her full senior session to be completed at a later date.

The head shot session also included here was taken in my studio. The gentleman needed to update his photos for professional usage. another fun session.

Clicking on the composites and the header photo will display the full size.

Stephen SilverbergMay 26, 2024Comment

Last Week In Photography - Actor's Head Shot Session

I had the opportunity to photograph a headshot session for a gentleman who also is active in acting and local theater so we got to do a bit more to show a range of emotion as opposed to the standard “approachability” photos.

It’s always fun to play a bit and since I have had some small theater experience back in New York City we traded stories. A fun very enjoyable session with a very nice guy!

Clicking on the composites will display them full size.

Stephen SilverbergMay 19, 2024Comment

Last Week In Photography - Before And After

There’s a phrase in photo-world known as SOOC meaning “straight out of camera” or unedited.

I’ve seen this in a lot of photo forums mostly used with pride by hobbyists because I don’t know any professionals who do not edit.

Edits can be very subtle.. color, exposure, retouching skin issues or sometimes creating a fantasy world.

AI is making major waves in the arts as well as politically and socially.. a subject for another day. I haven’t dipped my toe into that vast ocean…. waiting to see how I can incorporate it to enhance but not replace my images.

The composites included here are a very few examples of edits.

Clicking on the composites will display them full size

Stephen SilverbergMay 12, 2024Comment

Last Week In Photography - No, I Don't Do Weddings... But...

I have a great admiration for wedding photographers as it takes a special skill set and great patience. To me it’s cat herding.. sorry!!

In this case I was contacted by the bride to photograph a very small ceremony at Washtenaw District Court 14A.

There is a long window wall along the hallway leading to the courtrooms that has always fascinated me on a visual level. True, the walk down that hallway is not the most pleasant of experiences as it is, after all, a criminal court building.

Nonetheless on the day of the ceremony we were able to capture some great images of a happy bride… other photos are private but she OK’d these.

Clicking on the composites will display them full size.

Stephen SilverbergMay 5, 2024Comment

Last Week In Photography - Family In The Park

Both daughters are in schools in separate parts of the country so when they both came home at the same time, this happy mother got us together at County Farm Park in Ann Arbor to capture this slice of time.

The day was a bit brisk but clear and a hint of warm weather to come.

Clicking on the composites will display them full size.

Stephen SilverbergApril 28, 2024Comment

Last Week In Photography - First Grad Session of 2024

This session happened this morning on a bit of a cloudy, blustery day that improved drastically just as we started.

This young woman just received her Bachelor’s degree and will pursue a Master’s in forensic science and criminal investigation.

Photographed on the Eastern Michigan University campus in Ypsilanti the day went well. Sunny with a side helping of huge Koi living in the ponds.

Clicking on the composites will display them full size.

Stephen SilverbergApril 21, 2024 Comment

Last Week In Photography - Running a Business

Part of me envies the part time photographers picking up a few jobs here and there for a bit of extra funds although, in fairness, many of them yearn to go full time but due to family, financial or personal reasons have not done so.

In my case I was laid off shortly after losing my wife to cancer after being together 31 years and I was done with corporate so bootstrapped my photo business.

It was a leap of faith and I love what I do. The business side of running a business is where many entrepreneurs fail. I had many years in and out of corporate so had the background to make the move.

I am an LLC, BBB accredited and licensed as a home business in the City of Ypsilanti. I carry equipment and liability insurance, pay for search engine optimization, my website, gallery and Etsy page as well as print samples, maintain my in-home studio much of which is pictured in the composites in this post and have a load of equipment also pictured in the post.

Two camera bodies, 8 flash heads, a host of light stands, tripods, umbrellas and light boxes, backgrounds, various electronics to fire the heads and enough computer power to process the photos and some stuff I’m sure I’ve forgotten here all add up to my tool kit.

I guess I qualify as a cottage industry of which there are many in this city alone and we are eternally grateful to our customers who keep us alive and still working.

Clicking on the composites below will display them full size

Stephen SilverbergApril 14, 2024Comment

Last Week In Photography - Senior Season Thoughts

While it’s still a bit chilly here in Michigan it’s still not too early to plan for a graduation photo session.

Whether it’s high school or college the need to capture that slice of time is fast approaching.

Obviously the preference is for an outdoor session utilizing one of the many great locations available to us with, perhaps, a side trip back to the studio to incorporate a short yearbook photo into the mix.

This post is intended to be a thought starter as I always get frantic calls as the deadline approaches.

The composites below are a very small sample of some of the sessions I’ve photographed.

Clicking on them will display them full size

Stephen SilverbergApril 7, 2024Comment

Last Week In Photography - Metal Print Wall Art

Last week I posted some Etsy products using my own and others’ photos and this week I am rolling out my new Metal Print Wall Art page.

I stress the these prints truly need to be seen in person to appreciate the dramatic difference over paper prints. I have a wall of them in my home and when customers come in for studio sessions they almost always are shocked at the intensity and color depth of these display prints.

Rather than printing the image directly onto aluminum which results in a lower resolution print that scratches easily, my lab uses the Dye Sublimation Process! During the dye sublimation process the image is first printed onto a transfer paper with "dye" inks then "sublimated" into the aluminum sheet with heat and pressure. At this point the inks are bonded with the aluminum for permanent protection and longevity! Because the inks are infused beneath the coating of the metal these prints are also scratch resistant and hold up perfectly in moist environments. Unlike other print mediums, you can wipe away fingerprints easily with a soft microfiber cloth and glass cleaner, which will leave your HD Metal Prints looking like new for a lifetime!

This post is a bit wordy as I am trying to get as much information a possible to you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeX53aItNys is a link to show you a video of the process.

Here is a link to the store page:

https://www.ssphotographic.com/metalprintstore

Clicking on the photos below will display them full size.. these are a small collection of what is available and photos I do in sessions are always available in metal.

Stephen SilverbergMarch 31, 2024Comment

Last Week In Photography - Product Sales Sites 1

I’ve been posting links to my product sales sites occasionally but this year my mission is to make a more concerted push to make people aware of the available custom imprinted image items.

I’m integrating a couple of new pages to my website that will be up and running soon but here is a preview of some product using my photographs…. more to come regarding the metal prints soon.. these in the photos below first.

I am also, in this post, asking anyone who has suggestions for new product to post a comment.

Also any product is available to clients who want photos I’ve done for their family, seniors, portraits or pets with those images printed as items to have commemorating those memories… just contact me.

This link takes you to my Etsy site https://www.etsy.com/shop/SSPHOTOSTORE

Clicking on the composites below will display them full size

Stephen SilverbergMarch 24, 2024Comment

Last week In Photography - Modeling Session

I don’t get to play much in my studio as many sessions don’t lend themselves toward too much experimentation.

The mission is always to capture the personalities of people who come in so when this young woman who had never been in a formal photo session asked for some photos for a potential model portfolio I jumped at the opportunity to be a bit more inventive.

She immediately relaxed in front of the camera and it turned out to be a really fun session.

Clicking on the composites will display them full size

Stephen SilverbergMarch 17, 2024Comment

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