| arcata photo studios |

Here's the Point.

2011-09-12T13:45:00.000-07:00

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Hey, look - we just do like we're told. Sometimes jobs make no apparent sense, as was The Point KWPT 100.3 & 102.7 FM promotional photos for a pending Freddie Mercury-inspired event (check out the poster). But Lost Coast Communications On Air Personalities John Matthews and Andy Powell were game. It's a living. We take photos. Often, weird ones.

Jessica on the Roof!

2011-09-08T13:32:00.000-07:00

It's been great to meet and work with Jessica Pettitt. But it's tough to keep up with her. The diversity speaker and workshop leader travels nationwide year round to college campuses and major workshops (like the TED Conference) guiding programs in social justice. And her talks aren't boring - part comedy routine - so she needed photography the properly represented her - attitude as well as quick wit and laugh. More of Jess at jessicapettitt.com.

Biggest. Groom's Party. Ever.

2011-07-29T09:17:00.000-07:00

There's already enough stress surrounding a wedding. Why make a groom play favorites with his longtime friends? So figured Mike Ripley last weekend at the Carrville Inn in north Trinity County. Seventeen. Yeah, Mikey tapped out at 17 groomsmen - a combination of high school friends, loyal coworkers as well as new and old family members. And they got a sweet deal on orange guayaberas - lending the sunny afternoon a decidedly Hi-Bro-Glow. Ripley's a dude's dude, but not to his detriment, saving most of his attention for bride Meredith Maier.

Wining + WINNING

2011-07-25T18:29:00.000-07:00

Much of the excitement attached to Humboldt County photography is connected to that known unknown: weather. At the coast, the marine layer rules the day. Inland, toward the Trinity Mountains, a sunny morning can easily turn to thunderstorms. Rain falls... it's a given. Hence the natural beauty of well-watered foliage. When Marina and Russell's Trinity County - Straw House wedding turned inclement and their couple's portraits remained to shoot, we suggested meeting them again... beyond the stress of the big day and let them get back to what the day was all about: their party. Great call as Portland Photographer Joni Schrantz was in town within days and was looking for a beautiful bride to photograph - and Winnett Winery welcomed all with open arms. The dress, Marina had designed with Arcata's Angelica Atelier, got the light it deserved.

Senior 2011-12 Portrait Kickoff

2011-07-21T17:55:00.000-07:00

Gearing up for 2011-12 Senior Portraits and luck to have Kaylee S-W interning. What better way to learn the posing and lighting direction than have KSW in front of the camera... and she brought good friend Ivy on Wednesday evening. It's gonna rock!

Larson-Creager Wedding

2011-07-18T17:38:00.000-07:00

Smashing wedding at Fieldbrook Winery: Larson-Creager Wedding among family and friends, Saturday. Arcata native Keri met Dustin while a sports photographer at Humboldt State University... and things developed. Dustin was a standout on the field and holds several NCAA football records. Now in SoCal, Dustin is busting through nursing school and they're on their way to a great life. We were honored to photograph this day.

Albums, custom, we like to build them

2011-03-10T22:06:00.000-08:00

Onward

2011-03-07T19:10:00.000-08:00

Calling out Senior Portrait clients... it's time to get the word out. If we haven't already contacted you about turning your favorite senior portraits into top-drawer graduation announcements, let's get on it. These things are important for (1) inviting out-of-town family members to visit you in June (2) guilt tripping aunts and uncles who can't make it into helping fund your Eurail Pass this summer with "congratulations" cash. We're just sayin'.

Think about it. Operators are standing by: (707) 825-1061.

Jocks in Socks

2011-03-07T19:01:00.000-08:00

More Humboldt Roller Derby action, Saturday, March 5. Not to disappoint, HRD, Reno and Oakland took a too-moist track in stride and switched to sock derby... a weird, but still entertaining event.

Yeah, Arcata Photo is the official photograp...her of HRD. We got a banner to prove it!

Next bout is April 16 at Redwood Acres.
And the poster we built is looking trés super.
Look for ticket release notices at humboldtrollerderby.com soon.

AHS Fashion Show is online!

2010-03-19T12:29:00.000-07:00

Click HERE to get to the online gallery. Fill out the form (it saves your favorites) and head on in to see the images!

If you want to pass the word along, people can also head to www.arcataphoto.com, scroll down to the client login for events and type in: ahsfashion

Late? Never!

2010-02-22T14:45:00.001-08:00

Last week, Eliot Claasen was completely confident that he’d get his photos into the Arcata High School 2009-10 yearbook, despite the fact the deadline was waaayyy past (maybe he mentioned something about having a friend in the yearbook staff… we don’t know). And why shouldn’t Claasen be confident? The accomplished guitarist returned last year from France after a year spent on Sunrise Rotary of Arcata’s exchange program. He’s zeroing on a college app process with Stanford at the top of the list. So who were we to argue? We spent the Wednesday morning (Eliot wasn’t ditching class, it was Presidents Week) in our Jacoby’s Storehouse studio and hitting some favored haunts near the Old Humboldt Creamery when we realized we’d photographed Eliot’s older sister Sadie there two years ago for her senior portraits. All in the family.

See it all

2010-02-18T13:17:00.000-08:00

We're still getting great feedback on our Moxie sessions – high-fashion bridal portraiture – ever since we unveiled it at the Fortuna Bridal Faire in January. Model Krista Miller had a big part in that success, which we kinda attribute to her insisting on wearing her cowboy boots with her wedding dress during her Moxie shoot in Arcata. Several brides-to-be announced: "that is sooo me," on seeing Miller's images. She's a school teacher (a total math whiz at Coastal Grove Charter) and one of Humboldt Roller Derby's top players (!?!). For reals. Arcata Photo Studios has been collaborating with HRD since its inception, providing photography and bout poster design (yes, we do graphics services, as well: everything from graduation announcements to the Humboldt Crabs' season program each year). So when it came time to build our ad for the 2010 Season Program, it only made sense to feature Krista (Millertime, her nom de guerre). She pretty much defines Moxie (courage, sass, skill). See ad and Millertime's 2009 HRD poster. Then see Millertime kick butt at derby's season opener Saturday, February 27 at Redwood Acres at 6 p.m. And then see Arcata Photo Studios at Blue Lake Casino Bridal Fair on Sunday, March 7. See stuff!

AAI @ APS

2010-02-05T14:56:00.000-08:00

Arcata

High School’s Arcata Arts Institute continues its monthly presentation of emerging artists. During the Friday, Feb. 12 Arts!Arcata monthly downtown arts walk, three of the program’s leading photographers will share a show in Arcata Photo Studios, located on the Plaza Level of Jacoby’s Storehouse. Students Kim Wright, Treyce Meredith and Liam Sanborn-Peterson with take over the studio’s walls, displaying recent work. Under the tutelage of Anne Bowen Crawford, the pre-professional arts program offers young talent classes designed to prepare them for advanced education with a school-to-career emphasis. AAI courses place students in one-on-one working relationships with eight established artists and regular presentations from visiting professionals. Meredith, Sanborn-Peterson and Wright have proven to be outstanding photographers and deserving of show sharing their work with the town. More information about AAI is available at artsinstitute.net and news on the February show at arcataphoto.com or (707) 825-1061.

Moxie, rocked

2010-01-13T15:28:00.000-08:00

Hey! We're going to the Bridal Faire! OK, we definitely did not shout that Sunday morning at 6:30 a.m.. After a long Saturday shoot in SoHum, and looking toward a day spent in a booth pitching wedding packages... that could go very wrong. But truth be told - the Fortuna Bridal Faire on Sunday, Jan. 10 was... really cool, and time well spent. There we got to hang out with some fellow folks we really like in the industry – caterers, deejays, designers and photographers (we did spend much of the afternoon messing with Carol Niles). And we had something new to throw out there: the Moxie line. Basically we realized that the stuff we really want to do, and the really artistic photography clients deserve, you rarely have time for during the big wedding day. The rush of meeting schedules like the catering line, vows and bouquet throw more often than not determines the amount of time brides and grooms have for photography. So why not devote a day to it beforehand: spend the afternoon at an amazing location (we've mapped a bevy) with hair and makeup (we have several skilled artists) and create well-lit images that will last a lifetime and be handed down through generations. Forward fashion and high art: Moxie (courage, sass and skill). Women deserve it. The fair was packed and we talked to a bunch of brides. And a slew of them really got it, understood what we were promoting and saw them fitting in to Moxie. It didn't hurt that our model Krista Miller (Millertime on Humboldt Roller Derby) demanded to don her LoLa dress with her cowboy boots. The ladies from Fortuna got that immediately, just like others understood Jessica Fowler's bride in the post-industrial collapse portraits. Additionally, our booth looked good and stood out at the show. It was worth it. So we did return yelling: Hey, we just went to the Bridal Faire!

bricks

2009-10-14T10:42:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-01T09:40:00.000-07:00

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.

Dance Fever

2009-09-28T09:33:00.000-07:00

Arcata’s premiere dance troupe Samba Na Chuva needed some quality photos that did justice to how simultaneously cool and stunning the women of SNC are. They give new meaning to the word “hip.” Dance studio shots are fine and all, but the ladies needed something that said a little more about their sense “terroir.” So it was off to the Arcata Scrap Yard (how can you go wrong with beauty and scrunched metal), then a short hike over to the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary.

They practice just down the street at the local capoeira club, so it all made geographical sense. If you missed their two show-stopping performances at the North Country Fair: here is Samba Na Chuva.

To the Point

2009-09-25T09:25:00.000-07:00

We’d known Tabitha Flemming back when she was slinging joe at Arcata’s Sacred Grounds. That seems like a long time ago and she’s all grown up: both a biologist and an organic certification authority for food makers throughout the state. And longtime beau Ryan Emmelhainz knew not to let this one go. The couple had a small, intimate wedding in a Patrick’s Point vacation home, joined by both families and the closest of friends.

Thoughtfully decorated, the venue was made even better by an extremely nice day. The ceremony (conducted by Teri Bradley of Weddings by Design) overlooked a blue, frothing sea on a cloudless day). Ryan’s nine-year old son Seth took being the only kid at the wedding in stride and stole the show. He even helped us with lighting and directing portraits. According to Ryan, he’s since taken a keen interest in photography, so he’s obviously a cool kid.
The harried run-up to the wedding afforded Tabitha and Ryan no time for engagement portraits, so we took them out to a favorite haunt at Houda Point for some relaxed, post-marital photos. Another nice day, you’d almost forget that it will soon be raining for months!

High Flight

2009-09-22T09:19:00.001-07:00

Didn’t have to ask us twice. When we were approached by the Ocean Conservancy to document the North Coastline by plane, we were all about it. Thanks to the impressive pilotage of Grant in his Cessna Skywagon 185, we were skyhigh midday to photograph from Point Arena, Mendocino (California’s furthest western locale) on up to the Oregon bordertown of Brookings.

It was a beautiful, windless afternoon that was impacted by a marine layer only at Shelter Cove through the 200 miles of coastline. Grant is the kind of guy that you wanted to be when you were a kid... or still: a flight instructor with 20 years experience, surfer, builder and soon-to-be law student who frequently spends his weekends flying to Montana and Santa Barbara (once to Costa Rica). Heck of a nice guy, too - making time to drop in over two breaching gray whales about two miles off Petrolia. Coast well photographed, Grant throttled the nimble single-prop about 25 feet over the waves near Fern Canyon. It was finally appropriate to utter the overused “Awesome!” The OC will be using the 333 images in its efforts to publicize the need for keep the North Coast seas pristine. With an aerial view, who could argue?

Beer me

2009-09-14T18:15:00.000-07:00

We've been doing some fun photos for our pals over at Six Rivers Brewery. They'll have a new rockin' website up soon, sporting some of our photography. There are worse jobs to have than sitting around on a Friday evening studying the photographic properties of their beer!

Keep in mind, if the shot isn't turning out, you just drink that one and open another...maybe it'll have been quality to the light right?!?!

Cheers!

Recent Seniors @ Arcata Photo Studios

2009-08-27T19:11:00.001-07:00

Wow.... Arcata Photo is humming...

2009-08-25T19:13:00.000-07:00

Our sincerest apologies. It's been a madhouse around little ol' Arcata Photo Studios. We're in the heat of wedding season, the beginnings of High School Seniors, leading into Fall Family Portraits with a heavy dose of sporting events. That's all mixed together with some really fun commercial shoots for some great local companies. To top it all off, we had a SUPERB Arts! Arcata featuring photography from around the world by Dr. Marion Nachshon, ton's of good people and great conversation around on the 2nd Friday.

Stay tuned for some images...we're trudging through an amount of images that would fill the average person's hard-drive up...

Cool stuff coming soon.

Until then...back to work.

meet arcata photo intern kaylyn sims

2009-07-31T14:18:00.000-07:00

Kaylyn's a senior @ McKinleyville high this coming year and she was part of their advanced photo class that came to visit us at the end of last year (read all about it here). We love to pass on anything we can to folks that are interested in photography and art. We're not grumpies around here. We don't hoard information. We're not scared to be a part of a community of photographers. So when you give a call or stop in and Kaylyn introduces herself as the lackey or the minion or the slave....it's all in good fun. No really. Okay, mostly in good fun. So far she's a blast to have in the studio and she's workin' hard.

Final week to get outdoors

2009-07-21T11:24:00.000-07:00

It's the final week of our summer outdoor family portraiture. The weather is finally good again, perfect for some quality outdoor portraiture. The kids are out of school. Or maybe your teen is heading off to college in two months… this could be the last time in years that the entire family is together. Then maybe you just have a favorite beach or forest spot… even your backyard… where the fam has fun. Ending July 31, APS is running an Outdoor Portrait Promotion, with a half off-discount to our sitting fee (normally $150, dropped to $75). Sure we are partially motivated by the desire to see the sun after a long winter, ditch the studio. But our motives can be your family’s gain. We’ll travel anywhere in the county and our recent acquisition of some high tech gadgets means we can do professional studio lighting… anywhere. Up Fern Canyon. Down on Agate Beach. Your home's backyard, if that's your favorite place. We’re that mobile. studio@arcataphoto.com or (707) 825-1061.

6.7.8.9.

2009-07-15T16:30:00.000-07:00

We’re up for most things, so Becky Browning’s request that we shoot her wedding on a Wednesday… well, we didn’t bat an eye. Wednesday wedding even has some decent alliteration, but weekday matrimony is still a bit of a rarity. Then we ran into Maria Vanderhorst of Ms. M’s Catering (another great Arcata business) and she’d just completed… a Wednesday wedding, too. We finally figured out what Becky had engineered – her nuptials at 6 p.m. on the seventh month on the eighth day in the ninth year: 6-7/8/9. Becky and finance Tyler Bruinekool were already lucky with the day: a cool breeze and sunshine at Patrick’s Point State Park’s Wedding Rock. And the wedding did rock. Good friends and beaming parents high above the Pacific… then off for a reception dinner at Six Rivers Brew in McKinleyville. Arcata Photo Studios was also lucky to be in the right place at the right time.

Yeah, we rip artists off...

2009-07-01T15:43:00.000-07:00

But, Botticelli’s copyright is, like, way expired. We’re not expecting any calls from Italian attorneys. So we were free to use and abuse his “Birth of Venus” (or “Venus on the Half-Shell” for you Kilgore Trout fans out there) for the latest Humboldt Roller Derby poster. Just like when we stole from da Vinci for the last one. Call it another homage, or something. Thing is, those Renaissance guys spent all that time doting over form and expressiveness. Why remake the wheel? That’s how we roll.

Pictured are, left to right, derbiests Elysian Wheels, Avi N. Flew, LoLa Corolla and ThunderMuffin, all shot in our Jacoby’s Storehouse studio.

Not everybody knows that Arcata Photo Studios also does graphics work under the name APS Images. In the case of Derby, they’re still relatively new and needed the assistance. Plus, we know a couple of the bruisers on the team and were too afraid to say no. And they made us an offer we couldn’t refuse. official league photographers. That said, we’re always happy to hear about and help with design projects for similarly fun events. You don’t even have to be a Medici.

Arts (exclamation point) Arcata

2009-06-28T14:17:00.000-07:00

Man, oh man – it sure was cool getting the studio going one year ago. A prominent location, at center of the monthly Arts!Arcata route, we were genuinely enthused about providing a space to photographers (those second-tier artists!). It was vital – with a cadre of really talented photogs that weren’t typically gaining access to downtown real estate show. We spent the first couple months showing off our own work – then other local people whose work we really admired. Newly returned from interning with Rolling Stone, Chris Tuite had an excellent RAWK! Show. Kim Miller wowed people before heading off to Thailand. Dan and Dana Smith knocked everyone’s socks off. Charles McNally (no relation) was great. And others. For us, the events were not only fun mixers, but helped fulfill our goal of building a collaborative photography community. However, for our favored photogs – new and emerging – shouldering the expense of displaying a show can be burdensome. They’re generally young artists. It’s now less of a surprise why the same painters frequently fill local arts walks venues month after month – their stuff is already framed and ready to go.
However, we’re on the hunt and looking for new and interesting work to display. And APS is finally making headway on our plan to host an annual juried exhibition of local photography.
In truth, this remains a small town, despite hosting a university. But we may be overlooking real talent. We have walls and we pour wine. You have photography that you’re ready to show. Let’s connect… studio@arcataphoto.com.

Arcata Photo Studios Session Videos: Chynna Johnson-McKinleyville High Class of 2009!

2009-06-17T14:17:00.000-07:00

Get out

2009-06-15T07:00:00.000-07:00

Seriously. The weather is finally good again, lending impetus to some quality outdoor portraiture. The kids are out of school. Or maybe your teen is heading off to college in two months… this could be the last time in years that the entire family is together. Then maybe you just have a favorite beach or forest spot… even your backyard… where the fam has fun.
Through July 31, APS is running an Outdoor Portrait Promotion (OPP for the acronym needy), with a heavy discount to our sitting fee (heavy as in half off. Yeah – heavy like half. That heavy).
Sure we are partially motivated by the desire to see the sun after a long winter, ditch the studio. But our motives can be your family’s gain. We’ll travel anywhere in the county and our recent acquisition of some high tech gadgets means we can do professional studio lighting… anywhere. Up Fern Canyon. Down on Agate Beach. Heck, we’ll shoot on the Arcata-Eureka Airport tarmac. We’re that mobile. studio@arcataphoto.com or (707) 825-1061.

A little fun at the beach...

2009-06-13T07:00:00.000-07:00

Most people probably figure that wedding photographers save it all up for the big day, but the engagement shoot might be even more important. Taking the couple out sets the tone for how we’ll all interact and gets them used to having a camera in their face. Also, the conditions… a favorite location for the bride and groom, are assured to be more relaxed than when 150 guests are watching their every move. It can be a little more loose and fun. So we got to know Jennifer and Bryn better during their engagement shoot in Trinidad recently. Suffice to say, being photographed is probably not in Bryn’s top 10 favored activities. But he was a good sport and knew that the gig was important to Jen (she was leaving within hours to finish up graduate school work in England). We think Bryn even had good time. Better yet, we got some great photos that will last them a lifetime and made for a stellar sign in guest book, if we say so ourselves.

Arcata Photo hosts McK High Advance Photo Class

2009-06-11T08:55:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago Justine Smith and her Advanced Photo class from McKinleyville high dropped into the studio for a little bit of education and a whole lot of fun! We looked at some of our work and we talked about the daily operation of a portrait studio. Then Kaylyn volunteered to be photographed. We lit her, photographed her and then we ran her through our regular workflow of retouching and artistry. They had a blast watching how we create our artistic portraits. Then we let them loose with all of our lights and cameras. The fisheye lens was a big hit! Thanks again to Justine and the students for such a fun visit!

One.

2009-06-09T14:55:00.000-07:00

Hey… we’re one! Maybe this sounds timeworn – but it really is hard to believe that it’s been an entire year. This week, APS hits its anniversary. We’ve learned a lot about running a storefront portrait studio... keeping the door open and dealing with the business end of things. Maybe a surprise to only us, but the grunt work of marketing, bookkeeping and networking fills a majority of the time. Some of the work we assumed we’d be concentrating on has become of less import… and other work greater. But over the course of the year, we’ve met and photographed some truly excellent people. We’ve been a witness to a slew of couples starting their lives together in marriage, held shows for photographers we love, watched little kids grow up, photographed rock bands on tour and poured the town lots of wine during monthly Arts!Arcata gigs! It really has been a smashing year with the future looking equally upbeat (even our bookkeeper says we’re one of the few businesses she hears from who are smiling this year). Recently, we’ve become slightly… as Sheldon is fond of saying, “lean and mean.” Taffy Stockton of S&S Events shared our Jacoby’s Storehouse studio space. She and husband Aiden are purchasing a house out of which she’ll will run S&S. We’ll miss her as she really helped set the tone for APS and classed up the joint. Additionally, Martin Swett is moving to the big leagues of mortgage finance at Wells Fargo and won’t be running his brokerage down the hall. That’s a good biz move for Marty, but one that will take the majority of his energy. The result – he’s taking a year sabbatical from APS, but will still be available for some weekend shoots. So it’s just Terrence and Sheldon. And we’re enthused. We’ve got a solid plan for the year and looking forward to seeing more of you in front of the camera. Thanks to all of our clients who gave us a shot and helped us make memories for them that matter. A little birthday gift to ourselves, we’re taking Friday’s Arts!Arcata off. After 12 A!As, we want to check out Arcata’s other venues and see how we can do better. Cheers!

Ya, we like to have fun over here @ Arcata Photo

2009-05-18T11:18:00.001-07:00

Soon to be 3-year old Kellan was having so much fun...laughing so hard, we couldn't keep the snot in his nose!!! Sometimes you have to laugh at yourself. If anyone thinks it's easy to get a kid to smile for the camera and not have it look like they're "smiling"....come on by during a kids session and see how much work goes into making these kids feel comfortable enough to "let go" and show us their true smiles.

Think about it...we're always telling kids "Don't talk to strangers!" Well...to them, we're strangers. We act like complete idiots, jumping around, making weird noises, raiding The Rocking Horse for toys and other props...and when we're all done...we need a nap. It's hard work but fun work.

Arts! Arcata @ APS: Greg Smith, May's Visiting Artist!

2009-05-08T13:42:00.000-07:00

Come on down tonight, Friday, May 8th from 6-9PM for Arts! Arcata. Join us for some mediocre wine and great photography by our visiting artist Greg Smith! Greg's images have a wonderful painterly feel and he truly loves the photographic process!

A little snippet from Greg: "...I have no idea whatsoever why my 7^th grade teacher chose me to be the yearbook photographer, unless it was the Universe planting a seed. Later, in the US Army I was a battalion photographer. A very un-inspiring job. Nonetheless, it put a camera in my hand to stay. Fast-forward 35 years and the digital revolution in photography meant that color image processing and printing became affordable to any with a modest budget and the willingness to wrestle 900-pound-Gorilla software. My time had come..."

Rylee in Old Town! Sneak-Peek!

2009-05-01T15:30:00.000-07:00

Rylee was a trooper. The wind was a whippin' and the pigeons weren't as cooperative as Rylee would have liked but she still cracked a few smiles here and there. We bundled her all around Old Town Eureka and had a blast with her, Mom Jody and Dad Rick!

Thanks again!

John and the girls!

2009-04-19T15:52:00.001-07:00

John, Vanessa and Kayla stopped in for some really fun family portraits. This is a little out take from the session but I just thought it showed how much fun we were all having. Vanessa is used to the process since we photographed her senior pics. Kayla was a little shy at first but being goofy got her to relax.

Actors...in Humboldt!?! In ARCATA?!?!?!?!

2009-04-19T15:27:00.001-07:00

Here in Arcata, it's hard to specialize too much. In much larger cities, some photographers make their entire living off of shooting headshots just like these of local actor Jassen Lloyd. Jassen most recently played Captain of the Guard down in CR's Drama Dept.'s Spring Show "The Misanthrope." Jassen has big plans to head on down to the City of Angels to continue his career in acting and he chose us to take some stellar portfolio images. He'll be armed with a killer resume and some great shots to head out and start working asap.

We've been a little surprised at the amount of actors, both working and aspiring, whom understand the importance of professional images in their portfolios when going to casting calls and sending resumes. Considering the amount of car commercials and the sporadic movie that is filmed up here, I'm surprised there isn't a larger creative community working together to enhance the opportunities for locals.

Baby and Child Portrait Contest 2009!!!

2009-04-04T09:06:00.000-07:00

Our awesome lab, Miller's is hosting a nationwide baby and child portrait contest now through June 21st. Open to all kids and babies 12 and under.

Cash prizes for the families of the winning kids from $500 to $5000!

Here's how it works: Schedule a shoot for your kids or your family, write us a check for the sitting fee, have a blast during the photography, you come back to view your awesome images, pick one photo of each child for us to enter into the contest and get $150 CREDIT TOWARDS YOUR PRINT ORDER!

Voting is done on a monthly basis and we have limited sessions available per month. Call today to set up a no-obligation chat with us here in the studio! 825-1061

Family Re-Deux!

2009-03-24T15:31:00.001-07:00

The Mosgofian family has been super great! We've photographed them and their kiddies several times and it's always a blast. Becky's parents were in town so they came down for a little photo of the extended fam.

The Body, Rampant

2009-03-24T15:23:00.000-07:00

Some promo shots for Fortuna musicmakers The Body, Rampant. JM and Sean were a lot of fun. I'm sure we'll get back out with them again when they add to the band! We roamed around the Arcata Bottoms and chilled in the studio for a little bit. We even did a little skating around on the shredsticks.

Derby Poster fun

2009-03-12T22:46:00.000-07:00

Terrence had a little fun with Miller Time and Guts and Gloria in the APS studio to do a quick shoot to get some images for their posters to promote their upcoming bout in April. The ladies are members of the Humboldt Roller Derby and they're always a blast to shoot with. Terrence got the idea from this image of St. Michael the Archangel.

Arts! Arcata-THIS FRIDAY 6-9PM @ Arcata Photo Studios

2009-03-10T16:14:00.000-07:00

Join us in the studio for fun, wine and good conversation. Featured artist for March is Charles McNally. No, he's not related to Terrence.

Haunting and emotional urban landscapes, mostly of Eureka, Ca. Crafted from multiple exposures, these brooding black & white images attempt to capture the lonely, empty feeling that Eureka often exudes.

Charles McNally is a 27 year old photographer who lives in Eureka with his cat and attends C.R.

Rooftop Model Testing

2009-03-10T15:38:00.000-07:00

We had a lot of fun goofing off last week with Jessica Fowler who is a really fun model to work with. We just roamed around town shooting some spec work and model testing with Jessica. We had some great shwag from Baroni Designs and their new line of accessories to help accent the photos. We'll definitely use Jessica for things in the future. Looking down on top of Arcata from the rooftops is pretty interesting. By no means is Arcata some huge metropolis, but for some reason looking down on rooftops makes me think of big cities. Look for more of Jessica in the months to come.

DISCLAIMER...THIS IS NOT OUR PHOTO

2009-02-26T14:56:00.000-08:00

Sheldon @ APS here...

I just wanted to shout out a huge congratulations to my good friend Carol Niles (www.carolnilesphotography.com) who snagged the cover of this years North Coast Journal Wedding Guide!

Carol is an AWESOME wedding photographer and a great person in general. She's so awesome that she shot my wedding last August! I get to shoot with her as a second photographer and it's always a blast. She's taught me a lot about shooting weddings and I'm forever grateful for that! She works herself to death and pours so much into her work.

Visit her website: www.carolnilesphotography.com
and her blog: www.carolnilesphotography.blogspot.com (BUG HER TO UPDATE THIS THING)

Bridal Fair-Blue Lake Casino

2009-02-25T16:05:00.000-08:00

We're finishing up getting ready for the bridal fair at Blue Lake Casino this Sunday. We've never done one and we don't really know what to expect, but it's just kinda something you have to do. We'll just be there being ourselves. We'll probably play some practical jokes (especially on other photographers) and we'll definitely be stuck in people's minds. :) We don't have the biggest booth or the most albums on display or some crazy gimmick. We'll just be there with some humble samples of what we do, being ourselves. We just love being photographers and we're proud of the work we do.
So if you happen to be a bride or groom with a wedding on the horizon, come and check us out.
Sunday, March 1st. 1-4pm
Blue Lake Casino
Saphire Palace

Vanessa G-Ferndale Senior

2009-02-25T15:14:00.001-08:00

Vanessa dropped back into the studio to get a few senior portraits done. When we originally shot in June I had a little injury and we cut the outside session a little short. So we went back out last weekend. Tons of fun. Vanessa has great energy and we had a really fun time!

A family's investment

2009-02-21T12:02:00.000-08:00

We just met with yet another really great Humboldt County family. Melina and John stopped in with their gorgeous daughter Tabitha. We talked about the types of photography they like, where we're going to photograph them, what the end product will be, etc. About half way through our consultation it really hit me: Family portraits are SO important. In these days of digital photography overload it's really inspiring to know that there are families out there who are looking ahead. They understand that coming in and getting a professional family portrait is an investment in their future. They understand they are investing in a work of art for their walls, one that can be passed down to following generations, something to really cherish. It isn't a picture. It isn't a snapshot. It's a work of art. And you know what? They deserve it. Families are precious and to be able to look up at your wall and feel that warmth when you think "That's my family and I'm proud of it. I love them!" is tremendous.

/end touchy feely sheldon

Zach-Senior Portraits

2009-02-21T10:24:00.000-08:00

I photographed Zach several months ago for the first round of his HS Senior portraits. Now he's got his braces off and we went at it again down on his parents farm in Ferndale.

Bret, Nim and the Terrible TWO

2009-02-15T12:54:00.000-08:00

Okay, they weren't that bad. I had a blast shooting with Brett, Nim and the kids. Tree climbing, wrastlin' and even some smiling.

Good fun.

The Smiths at APS

2009-02-12T11:15:00.000-08:00

No, not Morrisey's band. Better. Dan and Dana Smith, who's work we've followed for a couple years are making a rare showing at APS on Friday the 13th (during Arts!Arcata, 6-9 p.m.). Big, bold, colorful, prosaic images worked out of Holga's and an ample amount cross processing. Yes, kids, some photogs still shoot film and the Smiths do so to great result. No P-shopping and no BS. See the work throughout the month (Plaza Level, Jacoby's Storehouse). Better: meet them Friday with friends and a paper cup of cheap red wine.

The New Website Is LIVE...

2009-02-11T15:34:00.000-08:00

Please visit and pass the word:>>> www.arcataphoto.com <<<

Comments, critiques, suggestions are always welcome!

Brothers United Dance

2009-02-03T16:51:00.000-08:00

We had a great time up in the Green and Gold room at HSU for a formal dance put on by the Brothers United club. All decked out in tuxedos and suits with beautiful ladies on their arms....

Luckily I didn't have to scar anyone with my horrible dancing since we set up in an adjacent classroom to take the photos.

Brynne Senior Portrait

2009-02-03T16:47:00.000-08:00

So Brynne must have some great connections at McKinleyville High to get her yearbook photo in this late. Regardless, it was a blast photographing her on Saturday. Of course the Starbucks® latte kept her going at a time that I doubt she's usually awake on a Saturday.

Brett and Nim

2009-02-03T16:02:00.000-08:00

Brett and Nim are gettin' hitched sometime soon. SET A DATE ALREADY!!! Brett owns Mr. Rooter Plumbing and he's in my BNI Networking group. He's always upbeat and he wants other business people to succeed along with him! We met up at Redwood Park in Arcata and had a fun time.

We're still here...just doing the busy work.

2009-01-25T10:43:00.000-08:00

January has been flying by. It's typically a pretty dead month for photographers across the board. We've had some really fun jobs to carry us through the month. Mostly the daily toils have been preparing our 2009 pricing for portraits and weddings, getting ready for the bridal fair at Blue Lake Casino March 1st and pulling images for the new website which will be up and live in a week or so.

I (sheldon) have personally been burying myself in photography art books, magazines and art theory books. Just something to help keep the spark glowing in the slower times. Some new portfolio work coming down the pipe, fun projects and some fine-art work.

Arts! Arcata-Friday, January 9th!!!

2009-01-05T22:26:00.000-08:00

Come on down this Friday from 6-9pm and give a listen to our friend and local strummer Lila Nelson. Lila is much loved around these parts and we're honored to have her in the studio. Of course us gents from Arcata Photo will be around to chat about photography, art, computers, fine drink and a variety of other meaningless drivel. We've got some killer new work hanging on the walls, representative of some of the fun work we've been having over the last couple months. We'd love to show it all, but hey, it's not a big place. Just big fun.

What?!?! In DECEMBER?!?!?!

2008-12-28T17:30:00.000-08:00

The Fam

Okay. Outdoor photography in Humboldt County in December is a little iffy to say the least. When Kristi Puzz dropped into the studio and wanted to arrange a family portrait while folks were in town for the holidays, we thought...no problem! Mind you, it'd been raining for a week straight with 100% chance of precip on the outlook as well. Hey, who are we to turn down something like this? Shooting in the rain at an undecided location with a tight timeline? OF COURSE WE WILL! After all, that's what pros do right? With some well placed redwoods for a little cover on our subjects we kept spirits high and everyone was smiling. Of course maybe they were laughing at the soggy photographers and gear they were looking at. Fun times and thanks again to Kristi Puzz and her family!

Fun w/kids

Random Senior Portraits

2008-12-24T15:20:00.001-08:00

Heather, Scott and Jayden

2008-12-24T15:15:00.000-08:00

Heather and Scott came into the studio just prior to having their first child Jayden. We captured some timeless maternity images and after Jayden was born they dropped back in and here is a great shot of Scott and Jayden.

Homage to Great Grandma...

2008-12-24T15:10:00.000-08:00

This project was so much fun. Pamela Ritter and her daughter Anya stopped into the studio after visiting Studio 3 hair salon next door to us. They were going to have Anya's hair done to replicate a photo of her Great Grandmother when she was Anya's age. After talking, they came back and we had some fun replicating the lighting and feel of the image of Grandma, which they were giving to her as a gift for the holidays. It isn't an exact replica, nor was it meant to be, but I think we captured the essence that ties them both together. Grandma is 95 or therabouts. Such a fun thing to photograph and such a timeless gift...

Santa

2008-12-24T15:08:00.001-08:00

Who says photographers are all cynical bastids? We love Santa, too. December 5 thru 20, we hosted Santa in Arcata Photo Studios, trading candy canes for smiles. It was exactly what APS photog Martin Swett wanted, below, spending a little QT with the fat man in between kiddie shoots. Who knows what Swett asked for. Frankly, you don't really want to know.

Families

2008-12-24T15:05:00.000-08:00

Who are we to make you go with one image of your family/kids. Heck, throw them all in. New product from APS - Family Collages.

The Rowland family of McKinleyville is great! Michelle and Casey's son Trystyn had just turned one-year old so we had a blast letting him demolish a tasty Ramone's cake.

Smiling little kids...

2008-12-24T15:04:00.000-08:00

Location Portraits

2008-12-24T15:00:00.001-08:00

We did a couple really fun location portraits for Activant. Who knew auto repair and parts was so complicated?
Dale @ Leon's Care Care

Ken Cook @ Six Rivers Warehouse

Irresponsible blogging and fun photography

2008-12-24T14:27:00.000-08:00

Led by one-woman belly dance sensation Shoshanna of Redwood Raks, the Old Humboldt Creamery has become the A-town center of movement. New World Ballet, Samba Na Chuva and Shoshanna's Ya Habibi had us down on location for promotional and head shot photography recently. Oh, another tough day in the salt mines for the APS crew.

Actor Tom Conlon

2008-10-24T11:25:00.000-07:00

We had a fun little head shot shoot with actor Tom Conlon. He's in the movie Humboldt County playing right now over at the Minor Theater. Check it out. Tom was super fun and had some great stories about his experiences here in Arcata and the county...politically, personally and beyond.

Katie-Future Actor!

2008-10-15T11:44:00.000-07:00

Katie came in and got a few quick headshots for her acting portfolio. She was a lot of fun to work with. Her mom Brenda helped pull out some great expressions. Hair and makeup was provided by Devon right next door @ Studio 3 Hair Salon.

Just a couple quick images:

Tamara and Mike-Trinidad, CA-10/11/2008

2008-10-15T11:39:00.000-07:00

Just a little preview. We had so much fun and we'd just like to say thanks again to Tamara, Mike and their families and friends for allowing us to share in such a great day!

The Blog.

2008-10-15T11:37:00.001-07:00

So we'll definitely try to keep this all nice and lighthearted and fun. After all, we love what we do and we want to share our excitement with everyone. Enjoy.