WizBlog

not your parents' headshots!

"The goal is not to change your subjects, but for the subject to change the photographer."

Very occasionally we agree to do business headshots for our family portrait clients. Because we do them infrequently, it makes the journey into this specialized medium challenging and enjoyable, much of that in the post-processing where our goal is to create flattering art, not just shoot and burn to disk.

Betcha this isn't what you picture when you think of the usually boring corporate headshots, is it?

Nope, she's not a professional model. This, dear readers, is the image of today's contemporary corporate lawyer. Oh yes, and a lovely lady.

You may recognize our client, Michele. She is caring and bright. And she is beautiful - inside and out. We think of her as one of our favorite members of our Wizzy & Friends family ... well, OK, in part because we adore shooting her charming Miss Emily.

Oops, you caught us. We just had to sneak one in of little E.

One more more 'traditional' view -


A non-traditional headshot - good for uses other than being published in a law journal or the County business journal. *wink*

And a couple more casual that could be used, say, for more consumer-oriented publications. Even the back cover of that book we're sure she'll write. We love how these show that casual can still say confident and professional.


A little comp card, just for fun -


Caution: These are NOT your parents' headshots - LOL!

"twofer" & a pistol | OpLove

This OpLove family gave us a "twofer" - two Marines, mom and dad. Another first!

Mom K reminds us of a young version of Wizzy - sassy, smart and aware.
Having just returned from the Middle East, it is obvious right away that Dad M has re-bonded with his sweet family.

First things first. This little monkey, Mr. I, is a pistol. From the time he is unbuckled from his car seat his feet never stopped moving. We let him run off a little energy in a field with the last of the Spring's mustard weed. Just look at this big ol' hunk of a Marine teaching his boy to appreciate nature.

Then there is little Miss G who is good as gold throughout the whole session. Big smiles, a little hand-to-mouth teething, and just happy to be part of the fun.


This baby brood keeps mom hopping - and she takes it all in stride with a smile. The grin on dad's face says how glad he is to be home from loving his family.


 

Little "I" at play.

What a cute goofball!

Semper Fi to all our OpLove Marines! God bless you and your families for your service and sacrifice to protect our freedom. 

grandma's birthday

Youth is the gift of nature, but age is the work of art.  ~ Garson Kanin

Remember this gathering of four generations in celebration of grandma's birthday? Check here: Grandma's Birthday

We wanted to share a couple more, including one of all 14 family members - from age 1 (the twins) to grandma's 84 - all enjoying the day with its late Spring warm weather and a scrumptious pot luck buffet. Yum!

The day is SoCal wicked bright. Love the sun morning and late afternoon - but that darn midday overhead sun causes squinting and shadowed "raccoon" eyes -  just not anyone's best look. We luck out finding a little spot of open shade on the front walkway.

This family does great at our "snuggle close" directions -



And one more of the youngest cousins. Just look at those girls' sparkling brown eyes and dark hair!

Did you notice one of our signature "blends" behind the chair?

Happy birthday, Grandma!

happy father's day

Dads are dolphins in disguise with hearts as big as kings.
They test the waters and devise a way for everything.
When we are small hey swim along to help us reach our dreams.
And through it all so proud and tall
So like we'd like to be.

Many, many warm Father's Day wishes to all dads granddads, and dads-to-be out there. We hope your day brought you much love and many special moments. We love our Wizzy & Friends dads! Here are a few of our favorite daddy moments from the past year.

A special blessing today to our OpLove daddies, especially those who are deployed and cannot be with their families this Father's Day. You're in our hearts.













And a heartful of love on this Father's Day to our Woggy, with memories from Cirina, the late Sweet Roobie, Sam & TeeTee, and Jennifer- his four-legged and two legged kids.

picture this

"Memory is very important, the memory of each photo taken, flowing at the same speed as the event."   ~ Henri Cartier-Bresson

Each of our sessions seems to unfold as its own unique experience, often accompanied by the unexpected.

Capturing 14 family members and four generations gathering for great-grandma's 84th birthday is the focus of this session. As an unfamiliar location, we check out various spots around the home to find flattering light, then take a few test shots.

Today our volunteer helper, bright and precocious Miss L, is quite insistent that she is a good helper. And so she is. Because we are essentially strangers, we think she might be a little camera shy. So Woggy suggests she do animal imitations. Here is her elephant:

  Wizzy takes a few test shots, then Miss L reaches for the camera, mutely requesting her turn. Both Wizzy and Woggy have an affinity for smart, confident women, so who are we to refuse? Once she wraps her little hands around our huge camera, she even directs how the shots should be taken.

While Wogg helps support the camera (for an average-size adult, it is the equivalent of holding up approx 10 pounds to one's face), L squints, aims, and shoots. Whooda thunk this little bitty girlie would do so well? A little editing and cropping, and voila! The Wiz -

(take note of the green day lily stem - it appears in later shots as well - occupationan hazard of a child being so close to the ground - LOL)

Then the two of us being impressed at this monkey's photogarphic prowess! (green stem peeking in from left)

And finally, two of our little cutie, Miss Photographer herself. As it turns out, not camera shy one little bit! (note to mom and dad: when she asks for this camera for Christmas, we disclaim any responsibility - tee hee ...)


Watch tomorrow for great-grandma's birthday portraits.

remembering the fallen

"And I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free. And I won't forget those who died, who gave that right to me." ~Lee Greenwood

On Memorial Day, we honor the heroes who have laid down their lives in the cause of freedom, resolve that they will forever be remembered by a grateful Nation, and pary that our country may always prove worthy of the sacrifices they have made.

Throughout our Nation's history, our course has been secured by brave Marines, soldiers, airmen, sailors, and Coast Guardsmen. These courageous and selfless warriors have stepped forward to protect the Nation they love, fight for America's highest ideals, and show millions that a future of liberty is possible.

Freedoms come at great costs, yet the world has been transformed in unimaginable ways because of the noble service and devotion to duty of these brave individuals. Our country honors the sacrifice made by those who have given their lives to spread the blessings of liberty and lay the foundations of peace, and we mourn their loss.

Today, our service men and women continue to inspire and strengthen our Nation, going above and beyond the call of duty as part of the greatest military the world has ever known. Americans are grateful to all those who have put on our Nation's uniform and to their families, and we will always remember their service and sacrifice for our freedome.

On this solemn day our country unites to pay tribute to the fallen, who demonstrated the strength of their convictions and paid the cost of freedom. We pray the members of our Armed Forces and their families, and we ask for God's continued guidance of our country.

~ A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America
Memorial Day 2008
**
We at Wizzy & Friends invite our readers to share our tribute to our own courageous Operation: Love Reunited clients, with boundless admiration appreciation for your service and sacrifice to protect our great country's freedom. Click on the link below: OpLove Tribute - Memorial Day 2008 

no ordinary family!

"Families are like quilts - lives pieced together, stitched with smiles and tears, colored with memories, and bound with love and prayer."

Clients rarely see our on-location session prep. When we tell clients we're doing a 'light re-con,' this is the kind of thing that goes on ahead of time. Here the Wogg part of our WizWogg team being the light-stick test guy to be sure we have enough fill light for a session with a sun high overhead. (nothing worse than deep shadowed eyes caused by midday sun :( )

Same shot, same location - no raccoon eyes. Rather, bright, smiling family faces -

"That was really fun!" declares grandpa Mike after their four-family session, a 50-year wedding anniversary gift given to him and grandma Sally from daughter Ginny.

Without doubt the most fun (and rewarding) thing for us is when our clients get into the experience as much as we do.

For 30+ years Sally and Mike have owned and operated two very large, well-known kids' day camps in Pasadena and on Catalina Island: Tom Sawyer Camps

"Tom Sawyer Camps create lifelong memories by providing fun-filled days where children feel happy and safe" we read on their camp website. Well, you know Wizzy & Friends - we're all about capturing lifelong memories and fun, so we knew they were in our world!

Usually we do the work to help our clients feel relaxed. Well, not with this crowd - they made their own entertainment.

The alligator is my friend
And he can be yours too
I'd rather have him as my friend
Than have him in my shoe.

Sing those camp songs, group!
Check out the alligator jaw arms -

Having been clued in early on that this family was exceptionally fun-loving, we knew we had to be on our Fun A-Game. "These instructions are for everyone except grandma and grandpa. On the count of three, everyone else fall to the ground."

"One, two ..."

... three!"



"There is a star above us which unites souls of the first order, though worlds and ages separate them." ~ Christina of Sweden

Fun first layout for their family StoryBook - left side:

Right side -



Thanks for a great session, gang!

eight gifts | no cost

"Love is a gift. You can't buy it, you can't find it, someone has to give it to you." ~ Kurt Langner

 
Eight gifts that do not cost a cent

The gift of listening
But you must really listen. No interrupting, no daydreaming, no planning your response. Just listening.

The gift of affection
Be generous with appropriate hugs, kisses, pats on the back and holds. Let these small actions demonstrate the love you have for those you love and your friends.

The gift of laughter
Clip cartoons. Share articles and funny stories. Your gift will say, "I love to laugh with you."

The gift of a written note
It can be simple. "Thanks for the help" note, or a full sonnet. A brief handwritten note may be remembered for a lifetime, and may even change a life.

The gift of a compliment
A simple and sincere, "You look great in red," or "you did a super job," or "That was a wonderful meal" can make someone's day.

The gift of a favor
Every day, go out of your way to do something kinds.

The gift of solitude
There are times when we want nothing better than to be left alone. Be sensitive to those times and give the gift of solitude to others.

The gift of a cheerful disposition
The easiest way to feel good is to extend a kind word to someone. Really ... it's not that hard to say Hello or Thank You.

What gifts will you give today?

Bound By Honor

"The United States Marine Corps, with its fiercely proud tradition of excellence in conmbat, its hallowed rituals, and its unbending code of honor, is part of the fabric of American myth." ~ Thomas E. Ricks, 1997

Because this Marine is leaving for deployment this Sunday, we promised we'd have these posted no later than Friday night - and we're about 40 minutes late. But we're hoping the R family will forgive us those extra few minutes when they see their gorgeous family portraits.

And just in their honor, while we're going to be a little short on text, we're going to be long on images.




Special message to Mr. T - You were such a great sport during your family's session! A big Wizzy thanks for being not only helpful, but cute!




See this pose below? The guys came up with it themselves. It's so hard to shoot when the photographer is laughing at the whimsey - what fun!

Big brother T volunteered to tend little bro W while we were shooting mom and dad. When we were finished and went to find the boys, this heartwarming scene is what we came upon. This gorgeous location is just on the north end of the runway - and the boys were watching the helicopters doing touch-and-go training.

We've had such fun with these tracks - but can you tell young Mr. W is totally disinterested?

Our love and prayers go with you, Marine.
Semper Fi and godspeed!

Mother's Day | give mom what she really wants

"The bond between mothers and their children is one defined by love. As a mother's prayers for her children are unending, so are the wisdom, grace, and strength they provide to their children. On Mother's Day, we are reminded of the great debt we owe to our Nation's mothers for their love and devotion to their sacred duty." ~ George W. Bush, 2007 Presidential Mother's Day Proclamation

Forget unimaginative roses, cards, or dinner out. Give that special mom, mom-in-law, or grandmom in your life a Mother's Day gift that will delight - a Signature Lifestyle Session by Wizzy & Friends Photography.

So many fun options for mom to choose from -
A casual lifestyle session at home with kids or grandkids?
Or a family playdate at the park? (Fido is optional)
Maybe a romantic evening beach picnic for mom and dad with photos?


Mom's Bonus Gift:
Each Mother's Day client will receive an 8x8 custom-designed artist display proof. Here are a few samples -



There's even an elegant, personalized Gift Certificate for you to give!


Mother's Day sessions purchased before May 7 will received a copy of this beautiful Gift Certificate in its own metallic bronze folder, including a gold ribbon - all ready to gift on Sunday, May 11, 2008. Certificates or sessions purchased between May 7 and May 10 will receive a personalized email 'virtual' gift certificate ready for you to print and gift on Mother's Day.

Call us now so we can help you give what every mom really wants for Mother's Day - custom family portraiture!