Thanks to Jack Hutchinson for his work on this video. Had a great time with Joe Benson of Envisions Gallery in Atascadero who interviewed me for the video.
Holiday Portrait Sessions
That time of year has snuck up upon us again! I’ve already been seeing Christmas decorations in stores everywhere and Christmas is some nine weeks away! So on that note, I am excited to announce some cool options for my Holiday Portrait Sessions!
This year I am offering 2 drawings for a couple of really cool items!!
1) The first winner will receive a cute metal photo ornament of their favorite image. ($24 value)
Metal Photo Ornaments
2) The second winner will receive a 11 x 14 Gallery Wrapped Canvas of their favorite image. ($110 value)
Gallery Wrapped Canvas
Here are the options:
PLATINUM $125
30 minute photo session at location of your choice for up to 5 people. ($10 for each additional person)
10-15 of finest photos on online gallery for viewing, sharing and purchasing.
10 of your favorite photos on a CD for personal use along with 10 of same images in web-optimized form for sharing on the web.
FREE 8 x 10 photo of image of your choice.
Entry into drawings.
GOLD $95
30 minute photo session at one of two locations (TBA) for up to 5 people. ($10 for each additional person)
10-15 of finest photos on online gallery for viewing, sharing and purchasing.
5 of your favorite photos on a CD for personal use along with 5 of same images in web-optimized form for sharing on the web.
FREE 8 x 10 photo of image of your choice.
Entry into drawings.
SILVER $80
30 minute photo session at one of two locations (TBA) for up to 5 people. ($10 for each additional person)
10-15 of finest photos on online gallery for viewing, sharing and purchasing.
3 of your favorite photos on a CD for personal use along with 3 of same images in web-optimized form for sharing on the web.
FREE 5 X 7 photo of image of your choice.
Entry into drawings.
The sessions will be offered on the following dates with available times:
If the time is crossed off it means that that time slot is booked.
NOVEMBER 6 for those who would like to choose their own location.
9:00-9:30am
10:00-10:30am
4:00-4:30pm
5:00-5:30pm
DECEMBER 3 in North County
2:00-2:30
2:45-3:15
3:00-3:30pm
3:45-4:15pm
4:30-5:00pm
DECEMBER 4 in SLO
11:00-11:30
11:45-12:15
12:30-1:00
Times and locations are subject to change.
Please contact me if you would like to schedule a session or if you have any questions.
Laura Dienzo
805-459-5853
Laura@DienzoDesigns.com
Seeking one thing and finding another
Have you ever set out for one thing and ended up with something else?
I was standing on my deck yesterday afternoon to see just how hot it really was outside…it was supposed to be about 100 degrees. While I stood there, I noticed a couple of Monarch butterflies fluttering around. I went inside to grab my camera in the hopes of getting at least one good shot. I sat down on the wall near the flowers to wait for the butterflies to land on the Lantana close enough. I waited for a few minutes and they came close but were hiding behind some foliage. After just a few minutes, they both flew off and never came back. I still had my camera in hand and didn’t want to waste the opportunity. I started taking a few shots of the Lantana and turns out I really love the shots I got. I guess that’s how things go sometimes and it got me thinking about how the same things happen in life.
If we sit still and don’t move because we are afraid of failing, we end up going nowhere. If we stay focused and move ahead with our goals we might not end up where we intended but it’s better than nowhere. It also doesn’t mean that we settle for just anything that comes along–which is a little too easy for people with ADD.
Inspiration or Imitation?
Inspiration comes in many forms and has the potential for making us better. It’s wonderful listening to a master violinist and any musician finds within themselves a desire to be as good as someone that good! It’s also fabulous to walk through an art museum and see the finest pieces of art that have been inspiring artists, and pretty much the whole world for centuries.
There are aspects of inspiration that make us want to raise the standard in our own pursuits. When we find ourselves inspired by another artist we need to turn it into our own originality.
I was searching through radio stations not long ago and heard the lyrics of an old hip-hop song by N.W.A called “Express Yourself”. The words that really resonated with me was “Don’t be another sequel…”. We can see the wonderful things that others do and allow us to be original.
New Discoveries
I’ve lived on the Central Coast of California for almost 30 years and there are still places that I have yet to discover. I guess that’s how it is when you live in a place where tourists come! Within the last six months I’ve been to three places that I’d never been to before. I finally made it to the Monarch Grove in Pismo Beach where the migrating monarchs visit each year and visited Mission San Miguel just a few miles north of us. This weekend I discovered a swimming hole just a few miles south of us that I’ve passed by lots of times but didn’t have a clue existed.
Does anyone have any suggestions of other places to see on the Central Coast that I might have missed?
I am so excited and motivated to keep on discovering this wonderful place we call home, with my camera close by of course!
Creativity
There is no way that my husband would quit his job as a civil engineer to become a chef. His sister wouldn’t dream of quitting her job to become a wedding and party planner although she always gets raves about her work and encourages her to be a planner.
I love being able to use my creativity in my profession but not everyone has the desire to profit from their creativity but rather prefers it as a hobby.
There is no way that my husband would quit his job as a civil engineer to become a chef. His sister wouldn’t dream of quitting her job to become a wedding and party planner although she always gets raves about her work!
I guess what really matters is are you doing what you really love and getting paid at the same time?
Camping
My husband and I love to go camping and, unlike most of our friends, we still camp in a tent. We love breathing the cold air at night and seriously don’t mind setting up the tent. (At least I think my husband doesn’t mind) We also enjoy the fact that we can bring our dog along on our vacation, although I’m not totally convinced that she enjoys camping as much as we do.
Last weekend we drove up to King City, CA which is only about an hour away from our home. There is a nice little park in the heart of the city but you would never know it once inside the park. As soon as we got out of the car our dog Nellie jumped out of the car, took care of some business and then hopped right back into the car. After we got the tent set up Nellie found her spot inside the tent and refused to come out. It took a little convincing to get her out and to get used to the fact that we were staying there for a while. I think she finally got used to it and we had a wonderful time with friends!
Colorful Farmer’s Market
I had a great time taking photos at the San Luis Obispo downtown Farmer’s Market. I brought my color-wheel, camera and a couple of friends helping me spot the colors. I honestly thought it would take me about a week to get all the photos of the color wheel but the Farmer’s Market proved to be an evening in “full-color”!
Challenge
Working from home can be a challenge in itself in that there aren’t the usual forces around you that would challenge you like other careers. It’s a lot like working out at the gym versus working out at home. It’s easier to get pumped up about working out when you are surrounded by people pushing themselves to get in shape. It’s not as easy to get motivated to workout when you are sitting on the couch looking at the workout DVD cases in your TV stand.
So in order to challenge myself to continue growing as a photographer I’ve come up with a self-imposed challenge. In the next couple of weeks I am going to photograph representative color objects on the color wheel. I might put them together to create a piece in itself but who knows….that might be my next challenge!
I’m planning on going to our local Farmer’s Market in downtown San Luis Obispo tonight so I might be able to shoot all the colors tonight!
Seeing A Pattern….
I was going through my photos to find a particular one and I noticed that I find myself being drawn to photograph some similar scenes. One pattern I see in my portfolio is empty chairs and benches…not sure what the draw is. Does anyone else see a pattern in what they are drawn to photograph?
