Saturday, October 08, 2011

Providence House Ad comes with a free headshot!

Purchase a half page ad or larger in the 2011 Providence House Luncheon program and receive a free business portrait at Avant-Garde Images, Inc. Photography Studio. Deadline for the ad is October 21, 2011.

Providence House Naples provides faith-based, transitional housing and a self-sufficiency program for motivated single women with young children who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

Avant-Garde Images, Inc. is offering one free business headshot for each half page ad or larger purchased for the Providence House Luncheon program. Cost for the half page ad is only $250.00. 

Please attend the luncheon too!! It's November 12 at St Ann Jubilee Center.
  Please contact Nancy at naplesprov@yahoo.com or call (239) 777-8343 to place your ad or for more info.  www.ProvidenceHouseNaples.com
Fine Print - Business headshot must be scheduled on a Tuesday between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Offer expires January 30, 2012. Location: Avant-Garde Images, Inc. Studio. Value of the headshot $95.00 (Tuesday special). Call or email for appointment: 239-263-7001.

Friday, October 07, 2011

NAWP Industry Award 2011

Well, this sure made me feel good!!  Thanks to the National Association of Wedding Professionals! 
Peggy Farren with Jessica Sigg, Naples NAWP President
 The NAWP Naples Chapter Industry Award is given to someone excels in their industry.  It is someone who stands out as an example of professionalism, kindness, success, overachievement.  It is someone who is involved in their industry and their community and who follows through.  It is someone who creates/offers a dynamic product.
 

Wednesday, October 05, 2011

Jessie and Murray Album

Helen just finished designing, retouching, and ordering Jessie and Murray's album.  Here are a few of my favorite page spreads!  Their beautiful wedding was held at Mediterra Country Club in Estero, Florida.  It is an incredibly beautiful place! 
We love the RED!  Notice Jessie's gun in her garter!  LOL!



Gorgeous and happy couple, beautiful day, beautiful surroundings, wonderful friends and family!  It was fabulous!

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

National Association of Wedding Professionals NAWP Conference

Both the photography business and the wedding business are highly competitive so the summer/early fall is the time we get educated by going to conferences, seminars, etc.  The National Association of Wedding Professionals held its national conference right here at the Naples Beach Hotel this year!  The kick off party was Sunday night on the Naples Princess.  Wedding pros are a lot of fun!


 We were shuttled from the Naples Beach Hotel to the Naples Princess via the wedding trolley by Premier Trolley Services.
The Naples Princess!  Even in the rain, this boat is fabulous!


Dave and Stephanie - Along Came Stephanie Wedding Planner

Diego from the Naples Princess takes great care of us!  Courtney Herrell from the Naples Zoo looks adorable.


Sara Booker from the Inn of Naples and Dina Eisenberg of Positively Wed.
My new friends from Fort Myers!  Jovina and Barbara.

Chocolate covered macaroons from Roy's Hawaiian Cuisine.

El Presidente!  Stuart Rosenthal

Siri Ecklund, CEO and found of Two Bright Lights

It's me, Peggy Farren, with Bill from Premier Trolley Services.


Tuesday, August 09, 2011

Feeling the LOVE!

Thanks Jerri Lynn Merritt, of www.photographybyjerrilynn.com for the super sweet blog post!!
http://photographybyjerrilynn.blogspot.com/2011/08/naples-wedding-photographer-weddings.html

We had so much fun with our "Weddings 101 with a real "fake" wedding"! This is the second time I've taught this class and it is so much fun! Yes, I'm giving away my "secrets" but I would much rather have great competitors who bring the value of photography up! We had a mix of seasoned pros in our class, along with some photographers just getting into wedding photography.
We were so lucky to have professional makeup artist, AlexAndrea for our rain date. We got rained out at the end of our fake wedding last week so we got together again on Sunday to take more pictures at sunset. We made it to sunset and then got rained on AGAIN! But it was so much fun! And we all got the chance to practice beautiful sunset portraiture!
As Jerri Lynn says in her post - even seasoned professional photographers need to get out, learn new things and practice! It's way better to try new things on models than on a real wedding day!


Saturday, July 09, 2011

Show and Tell - Photoshop Actions and Layers

We host Studio Model Shoots twice a month through Photography Naples. If you have a DSLR - come on down! We will help you with your settings and it's only $19. You will have so much fun!! www.PhotographyNaples.com

We had a fabulous model last time, Jessica Stone, who is a teen singing sensation. Jessica loves to dress up and we love it to! http://jessvocalist.bandvista.com/bio/

In this post, I'm going to explain how I achieved this look. I will assume you have basic Photoshop or Elements knowledge.
Here is the retouched image:
Instructions:
1. Convert the RAW file to JPEG in Adobe Camera Raw.
2. Make a copy of the background layer.
3. Run “Portrait Pop” action. Paint eyes, lips, headress and armband with white brush.
Portrait Pop, Shannon Beauford, 9/28/08 from www.atncentral.com (This may or may not work with Elements - if not, you can skip this step).
4. Reduce top layer to 88% (portrait pop is a little intense).
5. CTL E to merge one layer down.
6. Make a new copy of that layer.
7. Use Quick Selection Tool to choose floor under model.
8. Use burn tool to darken floor.
9. Deselect and burn a bit around top of picture.
10. Make another copy of the layer.
11. Desaturate picture (SHFT – CTL – U).
12. Add a Layer mask to that layer (it's at the bottom of the Layers Palette - Elements didn't come up with this option until Version 9).
13. Paint the model with a black brush to bring the color back.
14. Paint with a white brush to fix any mistakes. I love layer masks because you can easily fix your mistakes!
15. SHFT-CTL-E to flatten layers (or go to Layers - Flatten Image)
16. Add contrast of +18.
17. Crop as a square.

Here is the original picture:
Stay tuned for more photography tips! Better yet, join our Meetup group: www.PhotographyNaples.com.


Monday, June 13, 2011

Chantal and Rob's Naples Beach Wedding

Chantal and Rob had a wonderful beach wedding! We started at Chantal's parents' home. I love the birdcage veil. Chantal was incredibly beautiful!



Chantal and her sisters! Pink was the theme!


Kelly Werder from No Worries Weddings made sure every detail was wonderful!


Chantal's parents walked her to the ceremony. We had fun using our digital infrared camera for a mix of traditional and artistic photographs!
These two were laughing so much! This was a fun wedding!


Kelly Werder from No Worries Events organized AND officiated at this fun wedding!
The guests blew bubbles at the end.

More laughing as Chantal and Rob got bubbled!
Infrared is so COOL!

The handsome groom wore raspberry!

I think Chantal is happy about being married!
More laughing!

Fun with the siblings!

Gazing out to the future!

Now the families are blended together!
And Naples gave us a beautiful sunset... as usual!

Monday, May 30, 2011

Photo Contest for a MAGAZINE COVER!

Photo Contest:
Neapolitan Family Magazine and Photography Naples are teaming up for a cover photo contest!!June's cover by Peggy Farren, Avant-Garde Images, Inc.

This is your chance to harness your creativity to produce a unique photo that can be used as the cover image for the July issue of Neapolitan Family Magazine! It's also your chance to get your children, your favorite relative or neighbor on the cover of the most popular parenting publication in the area.

The theme is simple: BIRTHDAYS!
Set up props if you wish and then use your imagination to create a photo that shouts birthday fun. You may use any number of children in the photo but do keep in mind that the best cover photos are vertical in nature and have room for cover titles.
The following rules apply:
1. No professional photographers. This is open to amateurs only. If you have a photography website or have been paid for your photos, you are not eligible.
2. Subjects must be under 16 years old, must live in Collier County and must have clearance from a parent or legal guardian to have their photo taken. No professional models and no makeup unless it is for costuming purposes.
3. Photos must be available in high resolution as the image will be printed at a final size of 8 1/4 x 10 3/4. You may make edits to the photo and use Photoshop to alter the original.
4. The photo may not have appeared in any other media. The photo needs to be an original work created for this contest. By entering, you will be granting permission for the photo to be used on the July issue of Neapolitan Family and in subsequent promotional pieces when deemed appropriate. You also agree not to sell the photo or use the photo in any commercial capacity. You will be given permission to use the cover PDF (it will be provided to you) for your own promotional use.
5. By submitting your photo, you are granting permission for us to post your photo on both our web site and Facebook page as an entry in the contest if we so choose.
6. To enter contest: submit a lower resolution version of your photo (under 2MB) to info@neafamily.com. Include a brief description of photo including names and ages of models and your phone number.

All entries must be received by June 10 to be considered.


We will choose the winning photograph before June 15. You may enter up to 3 different photos of the same subjects but please make each photo a unique setting.
7. The winning photograph will be on the July 2011 cover of Neapolitan Family Magazine. The photographer will receive a full credit in the "on the cover" bio inside the magazine. We will also provide you with 50 copies of the magazine and a PDF of your cover. We will also post the cover and bio on our website and on our Facebook page. In addition, we may choose to enter the cover into a national Parenting Publications contest for "best cover photograph" if we feel that it is a potential award winning photo. Those entry fees will be paid for by Neapolitan Family Magazine.