Rained out

It's been a rainy week and I've had to reschedule two shoots due to the weather. That's one of the unavoidable hazards of shooting outdoors. Oh well, we need the rain so it's a good thing.

After the rousing success of my new senior photo website, I decided to have my wedding website redesigned as well. It will hopefully be finished in October. It's a lot of work and I have 4 weddings in the next 5 weeks, so the web design will be put on the back burner for a bit.

Speaking of weddings, I've had a ton of bookings over the past 2 weeks. In fact, I'm down to 5 openings for 2009 and 2010 is looking busy as well. I'm always surprised at how fast the calendar fills up. I suppose that's a good thing though. :)

Sunday we're in Pittsburgh shooting Ellen & Ron's wedding. It should be a blast!

Brandon's Senior Photos

This afternoon I had the great pleasure of shooting Brandon's senior photos. He was such a fun guy to work with and I loved that he wanted some shots with his dirt bike. I also knew he was loved everything to do with trains and the railroad, so we got some photos of him by an old caboose and at the tracks near his home.

Reminder - Studio is closed Sat/Sun

Just one more reminder that the studio will be closed on Saturday and Sunday. I'll be in West Virginia and Kentucky doing some documentary photography work and I'll be out of town from Friday afternoon through Monday morning. I won't have access to email or voicemail while I'm away, but I'll respond to all messages as soon as I have a chance on Monday.

Chelsea's Senior Photos

Yesterday I had a great morning working with Chelsea and her sister and shooting Chelsea's senior photos. We hit a lot of new locations and had great weather for the outdoor shoot. It was a lot of fun!

Alyssa & Jason's Wedding Portraits

Yesterday afternoon I met with Alyssa and Jason to shoot some post-wedding portraits. They were married earlier this summer and the hired photographer dropped the ball in a major way, leaving them without any good photos and without photos at all during large portions of the day. I had shot Alyssa's senior photos last year, so she got in touch with me and asked me to shoot some portraits for them. I was more than happy to help out and I had a great time working with the newlyweds yesterday!

2009 Weddings - some info

As most people who've check out my wedding website know, I'm booking no more than 20 weddings for 2009. Currently I'm a little over half booked for the year and autumn (which is quickly becoming the most popular "wedding season" in PA) is almost completely full. I'm down to 2 openings between Sept. and Dec. of 2009 so if you're planning a fall wedding and are considering me for photography needs, please contact me to see if your date is still open.

New Senior Photo website is live!!

Check out my brand new senior photography website - www.tonyurbanseniors.com. It's pretty darned cool. :)

Stephanie's Senior Photos

This morning I headed to Johnstown for Stephanie's senior photo shoot. We started things off with some shots of her and her horse and then went to Green Gables in Boswell before heading back in to Somerset. And she even agreed to kneel in some rather murky creek water at the end of the shoot. Now that's cool!

Reyanah's Senior Photos

Yesterday I had the chance to shoot Reyanah's senior photos and we had a blast! I've really lucked out this year with super-cool seniors and Reyanah was no exception.

Alexandra's Senior Photos

This afternoon I met with Ali and her family to shoot her senior photos. We had a great time shooting in and around Somerset. Ali's such a photogenic young woman and just a joy to work with. I even snapped a photo of her brother during one of her outfit changes.

More news

Okay, so remember when I wrote that the new senior photo website would hopefully be ready some time in October? I lied.

The site should be up and running some time this week. I'm just working out some kinks with the programmer and as soon as that's done, it'll be ready to rock. And it is so freaking cool. But then again, I'm easily entertained.

In other news, I'll be out of town on August 23 and 24. I'm going to Kentucky and southern West
Virginia to do some photography. I won't have access to email or voicemail while I'm away, but I'll do my best to respond to any/all messages shortly after I return on the 25th.

That's all for today.

Amazing things are coming

Anyone who has followed my blog will know how much I love shooting senior portraits. This year I've worked super hard to create a unique style and look that will help to set me apart from the other photographers in my area. I don't want to be just another photographer and instead want to be the photographer who clients go to because they want to work with me and want my artistic vision, and not just because they "need pictures".

I plan to photograph at least 100 seniors over the next year and to take my business to the next level. Being a newer studio in the area, I know I need to work twice as hard, but I'm going to create a fun, exciting experience for my senior clients. Part of that will be coming later this year when I launch my new senior website. It's an awesome, flash-based site that looks super cool. I'm working with the designer now and it'll hopefully be fully functional some time in October.

I'm also recruiting new Spokemodels to help spread the word about Tony Urban Studios to their friends and classmates. I already have a referral program in place where seniors get a $20 print credit for each referral, but the new program will have even more cool stuff involved for everyone.

More than anything, I want to continue to create amazing photos for my clients - photos that people look at and say, "Wow!" I know that making the best portraits will help me reach every milestone I set and that's that's what is going to ensure that Tony Urban Studios is the top senior portrait studio in all of Pennsylvania.

I'm really excited about starting this journey and hope you'll continue to follow me along the way.

Steve's Senior Portraits

I finally photographed a new senior guy! It's hard to believe that we're almost half way through August and I just now had my first "guy" senior. I'm actually used to it as the ladies outnumber the gentlemen by about 8 to 1 every year, but I really enjoy working with the guys and doing different poses and hitting different locations.

I had a fantastic time working with Steve this afternoon. He's a great golfer for North Star High School so we went to the Somerset Country Club to get some action shots. It was a great change of pace and I look forward to photographing more male seniors in the coming weeks.

Senior Portraits - Now booking September, October & November

I just booked my final remaining Senior slot for August, and I'm now accepting bookings for September, October and November.

Call before August 22 and get 1 free 8x10 portrait with an Express or Superstar Session for sessions booked in September, October and November.

Regan's Senior Photos

This afternoon I had a senior session with Regan. We shot in and around the studio and we lucked out with great weather. It was a lot of fun to work with her!

Courtney's Senior Photos

Yesterday I spent the afternoon with Courtney shooting her senior portraits. I had a great time working with her and loved the different locations at which we shot.

I'm having a fantastic time working with the 2009 seniors. Senior photos are quickly becoming my favorite form of photography and while it's a bit of a challenge to compete with studios that have been around for 20+ years, I've found that I tend to attract the students who are after something unique and exciting which just makes my job even more fun.

10 Things you might not know about me (and probably don't care)

I love to get to know my clients. I feel that when I know more about them, we get along even better and the images we make together benefit. So, in the spirit of sharing, here are 10 things you might not know about me.

1. I worked in the independent film industry for 8 years before opening my photography business. I didn't do anything big, but I did co-write a comedy called "Poor White Trash". It stars, among others, Jaime Pressly (My Name is Earl) and William Devane. I also worked on a movie that stars Bridget Marquardt of "The Girls Next Door" fame.

2. I love animals, especially "shelter dogs". Our last two dogs have come from animal shelters and I try to help out with all of the local fundraisers. I'd love to be a dog walker but I know I'd end up bringing them all home.

3. I think road trips are the greatest thing in the world. I want to take at least two a year, every year, for the rest of my life.

4. I love scary movies. I watch them every chance I get and have hundreds and hundreds of them on DVD.

5. When I was a senior in high school, my journalism teacher had me write down a list of 10 things I wanted to achieve in my life. I've achieved all but one of the goals I set for myself.

6. I am addicted to reality TV shows. My favorites are Survivor, The Amazing Race, Big Brother and Hell's Kitchen.

7. When I went on a road trip in April, I fell in love with New England. I want to move there some time within the next 5 years. I'm leaning toward Maine.

8. I go to the flea market every chance I get. It's like a treasure hunt and you never know what you're going to find.

9. Last September I bought a projector and had a 133" screen installed in my den. Now I can go to the movies without ever leaving my house. But, in my opinion, the best way to see a movie is still at the drive-in. In the photo below, the screen is at the top of the photo, mounted to the ceiling. The TV is 50 inches, and it looks tiny next to the screen. Sadly, I don't get to use it very often.

10. I love life. I love experiencing new things. I love meeting new people. I love going new places. I think every day is an adventure and that the only thing holding us back from achieving our dreams is ourselves. I hope I never become afraid to live.

Ashley's Senior Photos

Two Ashley's in one week. That's a first. :)

Yesterday I had a terrific time hanging out with Ashley and her step-sister and shooting Ashley's senior photos. I always love when seniors have photos taken with her pets, and Ashley wanted to have photos taken with her dog and her horse so I was happy to oblige. The shoot was great fun!

Ashley's Senior Photos

I had a great time this afternoon working with Ashley and shooting her senior portraits. Ashley's mom, Missy, actually booked me for a double session so Ashley can have some shots with her hair straight and some with it curly. Today was the straight hair session and next week we'll be ready for round two. I can't wait!

Senior Clients - Proof Albums are back!

After discussing proofing with several of my senior clients, I've decided to bring back the spiral bound proof albums which were so popular last year. Initially I had planned to show all proofs as a slideshow presentation on my plasma HDTV because, to be totally honest, seeing the photos at large sizes on a big TV makes them look incredible. But, I understand that everyone has busy lives so setting up a viewing presentation, especially for out of town clients, can be pretty tough.

So, the proof albums are back. Now the albums will be made for all of my senior clients and the albums contain all of your proofs, 4 images per page. You can view the album in the studio or take it with you to show friends/family. If taking the album from the studio, a $150 deposit is required. The album must be returned to the studio within 2 weeks and you can place your initial print order at that time. And remember, copying or reproducing the images in the proof album (such as scanning the photos to have them printed) is in violation of federal copyright laws. But you already knew that. ;)

Jill's Senior Photos

This morning I had the pleasure of working with Jill and shooting her senior photos. Jill wanted to have her photos taken at her family farm which had at variety of spots. I especially loved that she brought her guitar and that she had some photos taken with her dogs. The shoot was tremendously fun and a great way to start the weekend.

More 100

Last week I met with Heidi to shoot her portrait for 100. Her son and daughter were along for the ride, so after I made Heidi's portrait, I asked if her children would be interested. They agreed albeit a little reluctantly at first, and I'm really glad they did. All three of them had the most incredible blue eyes and they all were great additions to the project.

Lighting on location

I love using strobe lights on shoots - it just adds so much drama to the quality of light. But the logistics of hauling around a light and power source is daunting. Add to that the fact that using umbrellas as modifiers turns a regular light stand into a giant sail. Many times I've had light go tumbling over in even the slightest of wind. And losing a $250 light to a fall on a concrete sidewalk is a sure way to spoil the day.

I recently came up with an idea to make a light stand that was counterbalanced with my power supply, which should be heavy enough to offset the wind. I just needed something which would stand on uneven surfaces, but which was portable. The other day, I came up with the perfect idea - a golf pull-cart.

Tomorrow I'll be putting my ghetto light stand to use on location for the first time, but I spend most of the evening dragging it around the yard, over rocks, through dirt, etc. to see if anything fell off and nothing did, so I'm pretty optimistic that it'll hold up.

Without further ado, check out my ghetto light stand. I know you're jealous.