1. Posted by dhmeir on June 23, 2011

    So things have changed quite a bit around d. holmes meir studios. Closing our physical studio after 15 years being the biggest change. I’ve pared down, eliminated, thinned out, sorted, tossed and sold off much of my old equipment. What I have left are a few backgrounds, one chair, a bunch of low-end economy flash units and my artistic eye. And strike me dead for bragging but I’m pretty pleased with these images from my first senior of the summer. The fact Kelsey is a very pretty young lady with a fantastic smile doesn’t hurt either!!!;-)

    All of these images – except for the white dress on the front porch – were created in Kelsey’s garage. More than happy to do the same for you. Give us a call.

    K_Hansen_12S-0030K_Hansen_12S-0050aK_Hansen_12S-0062K_Hansen_12S-0093K_Hansen_12S-0124


  2. Posted by dhmeir on May 3, 2011

    I have to admit it took me awhile to find my way into my own blog dashboard to make this post – it’s been that long since I posted. Hence the title to the post, Bin Laden Yes (dead and gone) Me No (we’re still here and still in business) I wrote a lengthy diatribe on my thoughts about recent events with respect to the war on terror and Bin Laden’s death – and then deleted it. Senior portraits are a “happy place” and I don’t want to be a “Donnie Downer!!”;-) Let’s move on.

    You may or may not have noticed but we’ve closed our physical studio on Broadway. 15+ years in one spot is long enough don’t you think?!?!;-) I needed a new challenge, new inspiration – and I wanted to take advantage of new technology to better serve our client needs and the changing professional portrait market.

    d. holmes meir studios is now The Portable Pro and I really think you’re going to love our new level of service. Exceptional service coupled with the quality, creative portraiture you’ve come to expect from d. holmes meir studios.

    What Exactly Are You Paying For?

    In the past photographers have earned their living by creating beautiful portraits and then selling the printed images. Often times clients were confused by the price of an 8″ x 10″ from our studio compared to one created by another studio or a chain studio. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to determine that the “cost” of the 8″ x 10″ print doesn’t vary a great deal – no matter where it’s printed. The difference in “value” stems from the photographer’s skill in creating the image. An image that’s properly exposed with artistic composition, color harmony and a flattering pose.

    Hard as it may be to believe, I’m not one for patting myself on the back. No one is as critical of my photography as I am. But the most frequent comment we receive is, “We’re not really sure what it is, but there’s just something different about your portraits.”

    Over the years we’ve had many clients take their younger children to different photographers – even though we’d photographed their oldest – in an effort to save money.The interesting part of the equation is the number who then call us back because they aren’t satisfied with their “money saving” images. I even had one Mom tell me she went through the entire senior portrait process at another studio and actually say she was ashamed to display the younger child’s portrait next to the older child’s – from our studio. She didn’t do the entire session over with us – just her wall portrait.

    Digital Changed Everything – Including our Perception of Quality Portraiture

    “Digital means there are just that many more “photographers” out there taking bad pictures,” is a quote I read not long ago. Can’t remember who said it – only wishing I’d said it first. A digital camera does not a photographer make. Anyone – including a monkey – can hold up a digital camera, push the shutter button and capture an image. The fact someone owns the newest, biggest, baddest digital wonder camera has absolutely no bearing on their ability to create beautiful images.

    I have a second business – The High School Senior Portrait Expert – a website where I teach other photographers – 3000 and growing – how to create beautiful senior portraits. The most frequently asked question I receive -  what equipment to buy!!! And my answer is always the same, “Doesn’t make a dang bit of difference unless you know how to use it. Unless you study composition and color harmony and proper exposure and artful posing. Until you know that – cold – the most expensive camera on the market will have zero effect on the quality of your portraits.”

    You Own ALL Your Portraits

    Since the inception of professional portraiture, photographers have maintained control of images they create. That control protected by Federal copyright law. When you purchase portraits created by a professional photographer you are actually purchasing the “right” to display the printed image – the photographer maintains all other rights – including duplication of that image.

    The digital revolution has changed forever the way we view our images. More and more of our clients want the digital file for use on their phones, their personal websites and social media sites. While printed portraits are still important to many of our clients the desire for digital files indicated a need to change our business model.

    One Price – ALL Your Portraits

    We have one price for our portrait services – $700. With that one fee you receive the following;

    - Up to 2-1/2 hours of photography session time. We’ll come to your home with studio lighting and backgrounds to create your more formal portraits. After that it’s on to any number of locations for your outdoor portraits. Your own backyard, the Plummer House, the streets and alleyways of downtown Rochester – it’s all included.

    - All your images on your personal web gallery. Within 48 hours of your session we will upload all your images to your personal password protected web gallery. Show them to everyone you know or only your closest friends and family. You control the password so you control who sees your images.

    - Two of our favorites posted to our studio Facebook page. You’ll be famous. Kinda.

    - All of your high resolution images on CD. We will do complete color correction and exposure tweaking on ALL your images and burn them to CD – yours to keep and have printed where ever you wish.

    - Your Favorite 15 Retouched and Enhanced. One of the benefits to you in working with our studio is the level of retouching and print enhancement you receive on your ordered images. When you’ve had a chance to view your on-line gallery simply email us the image numbers of your “Favorite 15″ and we’ll make them shine. Colors will pop, your eyes will be beautiful (or dashingly handsome) and your skin will be flawless. You’ll receive the high-resolution files of your “Favorite 15″ retouched and enhanced images on CD – ready to be printed where ever you desire.

    - Access to Our Print Partner Program. Via a new system offered by our color lab you’ll have access to the same quality printed portraits you’ve come to expect from d. holmes meir studios. You’ll be able to log on and order your prints from the comfort of your own home – anytime you want – 24/7/365. Pay with a credit card and when your order is complete they’ll be hand delivered to your home.

    - Virtual Sales Appointment. We understand many of our past clients are going to miss the ability to get our input on the images their considering. Not to worry. Again, from the comfort of your own home we can set up a virtual sales appointment. We’ll talk on the phone while you – though the wonder of technology – view MY computer screen live and in real time. We can discuss specific retouching requests, create wall collections, show you different cropping – all as though we were sitting across the table from one another. (Except we can both be in our PJ’s;-)

    FREE Senior Portraits – REALLY!

    Consider how most business’s run a referral program – we’ll use our studio as an example. In past years we would give our clients referral cards to hand out to their friends. If their friend used the card to book a session at our studio they saved 25% on their session fee and got eight wallet photos free with their order. The referring client received $25 credit towards their portrait order. We could only afford to give the referring client $25 credit – because we had no idea how much the referred senior would spend.

    I’ll be totally transparent with you – I need to make $500 from every senior I photograph. I could go into all the reasons why; equipment, marketing, training, etc… but who cares – you certainly don’t. You want a good deal and great portraits – and that only makes sense. So, every senior that has their portraits created with us will receive 10 referral cards. Any individual can use one referral card for their senior portrait experience.

    Each referral card will give your friends $100 off their senior portrait experience and for every senior that uses your referral card – you’ll receive $100 cash back. Not credit – CASH! With 10 referral cards to hand out you could actually MAKE MONEY having your portraits created at our studio.

    That’s It In A Nutshell

    Continue to watch this blog for our updated “Print Partner” portrait prices. You’ll be pleasantly surprised.When you’re ready to book your session just give us a call.


  3. Posted by dhmeir on July 15, 2010

    Thanks to all the good looking 2011 seniors that make my life so easy!!!

    Remember we still have a few 50% off sessions available for July and all

    August sessions are 25% off!!

    B_Bosch_11S-0155_a

    E_Barlow_11S-0078_a

    K_Ellingson_11S-0109

    L_Lorang_11S-0050

    N_Miller_11S-0109a

    RC_Schneider_11S-0034


  4. Posted by dhmeir on July 2, 2010

    Just thought I’d add a few of my favorite images from this last week. Summer is always a great time in the studio – lots of fun kids and time to experiment with different things. Thanks everyone who’s been in over the last week or two – Kate, Lucy and I appreciate your business more than you know. Have a great 4th everyone!!! P.S. – Don’t forget to practice your Triple-C!!! The pot’s up to $105!!!! Where else ya gonna make $105 for 90 seconds work?!?!?!?!

    Collage_a

    C_Spaeth_11S-0096

    K_Gronseth_11S-0050_a

    K_Poe_11S-0068

    N_Clemens_11S-0144


  5. Posted by dhmeir on June 18, 2010

    Rachel was in the other day for her two hour Artist’s Choice session. Of course we were rained out for her outdoor images so she came in the next day to finish up. Rachel wanted a swing for one of her portraits, we were trying to get the pose figured out and I caught this one by happy accident! One of my favorites from her session.R_Lee_11S_out-0033


  6. Posted by dhmeir on June 16, 2010

    Zach Ellefson was in the other day for his two hour Artist’s Choice session. He must be living right because he brought his car and it actually stopped raining; usually it’s the other way around when someone wants car photos. Zach’s Dad is a body guy and he did the work on this sweet Camaro. Apparently they also have a Chevelle!!!! Wow!! Nice car Zach – nice picture too!!!;-) Thanks for choosing d. holmes meir.

    Z_Ellefson_11S-0089_a


  7. Posted by dhmeir on June 7, 2010

    Hey 2011 Seniors – let’s put some fun back in your senior portrait session.

    Because I was “challenged” by another local photographer to do this myself – here’s a video showing how it’s done!

    Well, start practicing now because every d. holmes meir 2011 Senior will have a chance to take on “The TRIPLE C” – chocolate cookie challenge.

    Here’s how it works.

    - At the end of your senior session we’ll give you the opportunity to take The TRIPLE-C challenge.

    - You must get three cookies – one at a time – from your forehead to your mouth in 90 seconds or less.

    - You can’t use your hands – only the muscles in your face.

    - If you crush the challenge you win all the cash in the pot.

    - If the “cookie crumbles” you STILL get a cool wallet photo collectors album just for trying.

    - Did I forget to mention – I’m going to video tape your attempt and post it to our Facebook page – you’ll be instantly FAMOUS!!!

    - How much cash? As of today, June 7th, 2010 we have “seeded” the pot with $50. For every senior that tries and misses we’ll add $5.00 to the pot.

    - When someone wins we’ll “re-seed” the pot with another $50 so you’re always guaranteed a chance to win at least $50.

    So what are you waiting for? Get some cookies, start practicing and if you haven’t already, call the studio and schedule your session!!!

    TripleC


  8. Posted by dhmeir on May 20, 2010

    If you’ve been a “faithful follower of Brother John Birch” (Charlie Daniels Band) as well as this blog you may have come across a post or two where I reference my beloved Big Green Egg. For those of you unschooled in the fine art of Bar-Bee-Que the Big Green Egg is “da bomb”. (on a side note, at age 52 it becomes increasingly difficult to keep up on the appropriate adjectives – “da-bomb” I’m sure, has long been passe)

    Anyway, in the instructional DVD that comes with your Big Green Egg you are strongly advised to always “burp” your egg. The BGE is a very air-tight grill/smoker and if you fling open the lid with reckless abandon you’re likely to experience “flash back” – a sudden rush of oxygen to the hot coals causing a burst of red hot flame to emanate from the blistering, boiling, bowels of your egg.

    I’ve always been a Careful Carl when it comes to burping my egg – until last weekend. Lost in thought (and quite possibly in the grips of an Absolut Peppar Bloody Mary) I did “fling with reckless abandon” of which the following is the result.

    Egghead

    My son is also a BBQ aficianodo and I texted him the above image. His response was, “Well I guess that’s the nail in the coffin for the last few stragglers!” Such compassion from my own child!!

    So . . . should you ever be tempted to purchase a BGE – be sure you always burp it!!!


  9. Posted by dhmeir on May 19, 2010

    Question number ten in a series of short videos answering the most frequently asked questions about senior portraits.


  10. Posted by dhmeir on May 19, 2010

    Question number nine in a series of short videos answering the most frequently asked questions about senior portraits.