The Holidays Are Coming...

Hello Lovelies!

I hope you are all doing well out there and that those of you in the U.S. had a nice, relaxing Thanksgiving holiday and long weekend! My weekend was busy, but good. I spent time with good friends having a good time. (It doesn't get much better than that, does it?) I love going on long drives in the winter (they're a nice stand-in for walks when it's too cold for those) and I caught this beautiful, winter sunset up here in Maine I thought I'd share. This really is a beautiful place to live.

What's new? Well, I just posted some new promotional work I did for the holidays for my STAG shop! I decided to make work for both Halloween and the holidays to show how good vintage can look and also to showcase some of the items in the shop right now. I really like how these came out, they really channel a 1960's vibe (which was my goal), with a fun twist. The rest of the pieces in this series can be seen over at Flickr. (A huge thank you to my models Katy and John and my makeup artist Christina! You guys are amazing.)

I have a couple of other exciting projects for clients that I've shot recently that are in the editing stage. I can't wait to show those off, but for now, you'll have to be okay with some candid teasers...




Here in Maine, there is a local photography collective called the Bakery Photographic Collective that provides photo space, dark room equipment and other resources for local photographers. It's a great resource and they have an annual fundraiser called Photo A-Go-Go that accepts donations from local photographers to be sold to benefit the collective. I have donated a framed print of Ms. Peacock this year to support the cause! If you're local, check it out. It's December 14th and the details can be found at the link above! So many talented people are represented.

Speaking of the holidays, one of my favorite companies House Industries (a typography & design powerhouse), has some wonderful products available this season for holiday gift-giving. Prints, bags, even a modern nativity! Check out their site. Here are just a few of the prints available right now:

Let's wrap up with some great vintage Firestone Christmas gift spreads that I found recently on one of my favorite blogs: Retro-A-Rama, shall we? Talk about eye-candy! The colors and the typography and the fact that they are entirely illustrated, really made me realize how much went into those old ads. We really don't bother anymore, do we? Ah, well...

Until next time: unpleasant dreams...

Hats & Masks...

Hello Lovelies~

I hope you are well out there! Things here in Maine are unseasonably warm today, but I am not complaining! (The fewer days I have to put on a big, heavy coat, the happier this woman is, you guys.)

So much to share, as usual! To start, I am working on a new project for a holiday gift that's what I call a Portrait Family Tree. (I've never seen one before, so I want to finish it before I reveal details, but it should be amazing.) Meanwhile, I'll share these candids. Between past shoots and STAG, I have a lot of fun things in my studio and when kids come, they usually want to play with them. Well, I let one of my subjects do what she wanted, and she is such a ham. So fun. Check these shots out:

Many of you know that I do crazy, over-the-top conceptual projects. But I also do normal commissions like family portraits and head shots! I recently shot this attractive couple for a new business venture they're trying out! Aren't they good looking? I wish them nothing by success and I hope these shots help them a bit.

So, I am going to share some amazing things I've found recently. To start, are you familiar with J.C. Leyendecker's work? I'm sure you are. He was a famous illustrator around the turn of the century up into the 1940's. He did a ton of commercial work, including Saturday Evening Post covers and ads for Arrow dress shirts. His style was classic and a bit of a twist on Normal Rockwell's aesthetic, or subject matter, with a more dated, less realistic execution style. The reason I love him, is the way he had of capturing both proud faces and youthful beauty and innocence (two things I try to capture in my work). Take a look at some of his work (that Easter baby in the cage is especially dear):

What else? Oh! I found a wonderful design/illustration studio recently that I wanted to pass along: The Motel. That's right, their studio is named The Motel. Amazing. The illustration styles they use completely run the gamut, as you can see from the below. But all of the styles are edgy and clean and sort of playful and I love them. Especially the middle one with the orange and yellow, that one's called Global Warming.

And let me wrap up with a book recommendation! I recently found a great, illustrated science book called The Where, The Why and the How: 75 Artists Illustrate Wondrous Mysteries of Science. A long title that in effect, means science that is illustrated by some amazing artists by Chronicle Books, so that makes it even better. Ha! Check it out:

Until next time: unpleasant dreams...

Busy Bee...

Hello Lovelies~

I hope this week finds you all doing well out there! Things here are turning quite cold almost overnight and I had to actually get out a winter coat this morning. It won't be long before the snow starts falling (which I actually enjoy). I mean, if it has to be cold, it might as well be pretty, right? But the cold doesn't keep me from cranking on projects, so here goes!

First off, I have just listed more great items over at STAG and I'm going to keep them coming. Items perfect for gift-giving and I'm going make it even easier for you because I am also offering gift wrap services during the holiday season! For $10, I will wrap your gift using all vintage wrapping and trim. That's right... all manly, all vintage. You will have the best looking present under the tree, guaranteed.

What else? Oh, I just completed a really fun commission for a client's parent's 50th wedding anniversary! Her Dad is a really big car nut and he's owned classic cars throughout her parent's marriage. So, I did a timeline/collage using photos from each decade of their marriage, combined with the cars her Dad owned in each decade and then I had it printed on a large canvas for them. It made it there just in time for the party, and they loved it! (Is there anything I won't do for a client? Nope, not really.) Take a look:

Oh! And I picked the winner for the Monster Card Promo I had going over on my Facebook page, yesterday! Leslie Stair was our big winner, so she's the new Monster Mommy! I will be sending those cards out to her shortly. This promo was so fun (and successful, many new followers to join the madness over there!), I think I'll do something again very soon, so stay tuned. You could be the next winner.

I am in the process of moving (gross) and so I have been sorting through a ton of things, cleaning things and getting rid of a lot. I was pleasantly surprised when I found this old shot I took of my sister back in a college photography class. Ah, the good old days, when I used an actual film camera and an actual dark room to produce my work. I miss it sometimes.

I have found the most amazing design house that I have to share it with you Kiddies. Invisible Creature. Heard of them? Well, their work is bright, and funny and edgy and also distinctly vintage and clever. (Can you tell I'm in love?) Here are just a couple pieces of their work. (That Whino the Clown print is available in their shop and it will be mine... oh yes.)

And let's wrap up with this amazing photo I found recently. I think it's for a car ad? (And if you look closely, they didn't actually bang these cars up, they're just parked really close together.) But, what was the copy, I wonder? I mean... that chick looks like she's lost her mind and that doesn't sell cars the last time I checked...

Until next time: unpleasant dreams...