bricks

We love brick. The 152-year old brick wall was one of the main reasons we went for our Jacoby’s Storehouse space for the studio. It makes a great patterned backdrop and seems to complement skin tones like few other substrate surfaces. Even on outdoor, environmental shoots we find ourselves gravitating toward the aging walls… particularly in Old Town Eureka where the late 19^th Century building boom remains chronicled in back alleys and side walls. Victorian spires and Greek revival spires are fine and all. But give us a century of weathered red-copper colored brickwork dotted with mossed cement and rusting bolts. That’s the stuff.

We took Arcatan Ramie Trent to some of our favorite haunts in Old Town for her senior portraits recently, joined by Assistant Kirbie Hoyt, (natural with the reflector).

Radio, Radio Radio

So it’s time to up the ante on Arcata Photo Studios’ profile. Time to let more people know about our Perfect 10 High School Senior Portrait and Operation Smile Family Portrait promotions. The nice folk over at Lost Coast Communications (KHUM, KSLG and the Point) were quite helpful lining up some radio ads (thanks, Mike Dronkers!) and their Tara Stetz lent a hand. Not only is Stetz reorganizing the Northcoast Environmental Center and she’s a dance caller at local Humboldt Folklife Society events, she also knows her marketing stuff. As usual, however, hubris gets us good. We can crank out dual 200 word commercial spots that are witty and spot on. Right? Not only that, we can record compelling narratives. Right? As we were practicing our scripts in the Jacoby’s Storehouse parking lot for the first time, 10 minutes before recording, it suddenly dawned on us: we have absolutely no experience doing this kind of stuff. We’ve got an eye for pictures, not a voice for radio. Needless to say, Stetz was quite patient through the multiple takes as we stammered, flummoxed and choked on the word “portraiture.” By the end, it worked out well. You can hear them on KHUM 104.3 FM and KSLG 94.1 FM. Still, as we preach to clients in matters photography, we were reminded that it’s better to leave it to the professionals.