Unmask the Beauty Within!
Posted by: admin on March 19, 2010
I have just returned from a photo conference with 14,000 other photographers in Las Vegas! Wow! What a ride! Imagine 7 days of constant photography classes, speakers and networking. This was the annual Wedding and Portrait Photography International convention, my favorite event of the year hosted by WPPI , and Rangefinder Magazine, America’s oldest established photographic magazine. (Oh, yeah! I write articles for them!)This was my tenth year to attend classes and network with the best photographers in the world! I will be sharing new information with you over the next several months because I learned 7 large notebooks full of new ideas in the technology, art, and magic that is photography!
That's me under that mask! Spring is coming! Celebrate!
If you love photography, visit Rick Ferro’s photography highly educational site and look at all the free information. I was fortunate to attend his fabulous posing and lighting lessons. Look at the elegance in this classroom shot of him posing a bride and groom. (Yes, he let me take photographs of his teaching!) Our models were gorgeous and Rick taught me new posing and lighting techniques with clarity and intensity.
A Touch of the Master's Hand!
I have studied hard with Rick Ferro and other world class photographers, and brought these lessons home for you, my clients! So, watch for the upcoming April mini-session specials! In honor of the upcoming Mardis Gras, I appear above in “mask,” but my feel-good photography sessions are guaranteed to unmask the beauty that hides within every person!
Got Water?
Posted by: admin on February 19, 2010
This will be an unusual blog entry because it concerns the world beyond photography, and yet it is motivated by photography, because today’s socially conscious photographers are doing more for the world than making images. As a group, I think photographers have become more socially responsible in the last year. Many awesome, world class photographers have joined this great website. This group is dedicated to providing clean drinking water for everyone on planet earth. What an awesome challenge! I always took H2O for granted. It is hard for me to comprehend that 1.1 million people are forced to drink dirty water on a regular basis. One amazing photographer and educational speaker who is deeply involved with solving this global problem is Mike Colon. He taught me some of my first lessons in wedding photography. For an educational experience in excellence, go take a look at his work. I believe that both his photography and this charity will touch your heart! Then drink a frosty glass of ice cold, clean, safe water and feel blessed. I did!
GOOD NEWS! This week I also found a new group for all of you photo enthusiasts! You can visit them on the web for some of the great tips, easy photo tricks and FREE Photography Lessons . Also new for 2010 is our blog PAGE with the Angel Kissed Photography monthly package specials! These are only available to our blog readers, so check them out and don’t miss the opportunity to save on a glorious photographic experience!
Bridal Runway Video
Posted by: admin on August 15, 2009
Curious about choosing a dress for your upcoming wedding? Just watch this show!
Hotstuff in July!
Posted by: admin on July 9, 2009
Weddings and town celebrations caused this summer to heat up with action and excitement! It amazes me how the temperature can be 98 or 101 degrees, and our lush foliage and shady spots appear to be so cool and refreshing when they are printed in photographs!
Mr. and Mrs Nick Peluso pose in a Midsummer Night's Dream!
The last two months of watching all the photographers who photograph events just for personal enjoyment have inspired me to blog about a few hints and lessons in photographic art. The word amateur comes from the Latin word, “amo,” which means love, so amateurs are people who do their art for the love and passion of making memories! Many such photographers ask me for hints and advice. This summer’s advice is for photographing in low light situations. CAUTION: if you do not have a tripod, brace that little (or big) camera on a wall, tree or table. The more steadily you hold the camera, the clearer your focus will be! For more hints, lessons and tips, visit to a photo-education website. There are many reputable sites and blogs that will provide free information about photography. the Photography Schoolhouse at Photography Schoolhouse is one of the spots well loved by my private photostudents.
Notes from Las Vegas
Posted by: admin on June 9, 2009
In March I attended the largest photography convention every held by Wedding and Portrait Photographers International. Since I write for their magazine, Rangefinder, I thought it would be educational to include some exerpts from my notes and articles for the conference. I’ve always wished I could just take all my clients who love photography with me for the whole week of study and lessons with the world’s best photographers.
WPPI Convention 2009: Chicken Soup Cure
For an Ailing Economy!
By CharMaine Beleele
The stories in Jack Canfield’s book, “Chicken Soup for the Unsinkable soul” include teachings to “motivate you to pursue your goals, comfort you to know you’re not alone in the struggle, encourage you to reach out for support, and empower you to remember you can make your dreams become a reality.” For the last nine years, I have searched WPPI Convention, for just such teachings, which I call “Chicken Soup,” for the photographer’s soul. This year, due to the economic crisis, I thought perhaps my approach to the conference should be more analytical. I wondered if I should apply my commentary to financial gloom like so many of my associates in the media. A little bit dispirited by the prospect, I began my pilgrimage through the elegant hallways of the MGM Grand.
0ver 11,000 photographers lined up here!
This is an image of the calm before the storm; the registration booth served thousands of attendees under its ornate golden roof at the MGM Feb. 14-19, 2009
I fully expected to meet downhearted teachers, distressed speakers, and 12,000 dejected members. Much to the contrary, I found the speakers, teachers, and members of the WPPI organization, full of passion, positivity and pumped up with practicality! Skip Cohen, president and Steve Sheanin, Founder/CEO created a menu of 130 different programs from which to choose. The Canon mock wedding, the Nikon Big Night and Miller’s Town Hall brought unique flavors to the soul soup recipe of this conference.
(Figure 2 ) CAPTION: Was the on stage champagne delicious? Ask the bridesmaids from the Mock Wedding!
Therefore, just as in previous years, my ninth convention wrap-up article is a recipe for “chicken soup” for the photographer’s soul. For 2009, it comes in the creative, WPPI Economic Stimulus Package!
Photographer and speaker in the Spanish program, David Taylor put the financial condition into perspective for me. He said, “Some people are challenged because they are listening to media and spreading too much negative talk…Instead, they should spend that time marketing and self-promoting! Where there is motivation, education and will-power, you’ll find money!”
Later in his lighting class, Frank Dispensa explained the magic of the WPPI education. “The Science of photography is the journey; the art of photography is a gift.”
Caption: Frank Dispensa’s model strikes a pose as he demonstrates perfect lighting.)
Strike A Pose In Perfect Light!
Frank Dispensa enjoined us to serve our shooting “uncooked! RAW is your best friend; 35 % of the information is thrown away when you shoot Jpegs.”
The tradeshow floor held a rare type of magic this year. With room to spread out the exhibits, there seemed to be so much more to see and do, even if you were on a budget.
Like America's Top Models, Living Beauties Adorned the Show!
49 sponsors and 400 exhibitors brought beauty to the showroom floor.Teachers, famous and new, taught within the mini-classroom settings of the extravagant exhibits. Super heroes, pretty girls, and fun freebies brought a lighthearted giddiness to us all. For more education in beautiful photography at the convention, view and read Best of Times, the big article to be found in the archives of www.rangefindermag.com
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