Wining + *WINNING*

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.

Arts (exclamation point) Arcata

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.

One.

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!

Rylee in Old Town! Sneak-Peek!

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!

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.