A new take on Head Shots: Oceanside Animal Hospital: Professional Photographer Plymouth South Shore

I love when a creative take on something comes along.  A chance to do something new.  I have been working with Oceanside Animal Hospital for a few years as a photographer for their website  and on the flip side as a client.   I love that Oceanside puts so much care and thoughtfulness in everything they do.  Taking pictures is no different.  Each professional was encouraged to bring their pet to work and be photographed with them.  Kathy and Lucy are the latest example of that. Kathy is one of the technicians at Oceanside Animal Hospital. Some of her responsibilities include taking patient histories, weighing patients, reviewing vaccination records, filling prescriptions, scheduling appointments, and assisting the doctor during examinations. Kathy’s favorite thing about work is it never feels like she’s working! Kathy would prefer a lick on the face over a thank you any day! Lucy is one of her beautiful canine babies.

Thanks Oceanside for all you do including taking care of my canine baby Charlie!

Small Business Shout out: Nosh Tavern

I am a big proponent of supporting small business especially when that business is also involved in the local food movement.  One of the things I like best about Nosh is their Sunday brunch.  Their menu is both creative and incredibly tasty.  In addition it does not break the bank.  Breakfast at Nosh has a upscale South End of Boston feel to it at local Plymouth size prices!  If you have not been enjoyed a meal there yet don't waste any more time!

Small Business Shout out: Vassi's Drive In: Professional Photographer Plymouth South Shore

When we are on vacation, if we can, we like to take things slow and have fun.  We especially like to stop at fun little places to eat.  On our way back from PA, we stopped in a cute little drive in for lunch.  Their food was simple but really good.  Burgers and Chicken were exactly what a good diner should be and we love diners!  I had a Greek Veggie Sandwich, Dave had burger and fries and Lucy had chicken and fries and of course ice cream.  If you are looking for a fun little spot to stop on a road trip this is just the place! Vassi's Drive In

Address: 1666 Main St, Hellertown, PA 18055

Phone:(610) 838-1877

Small Business Shout out: Mayflower Brewing Company: Professional Photographer Plymouth South Shore

Long before I photographed Mayflower Brewing Company, I very much enjoyed their craft beers.  In particular I am a big fan of their porter.  It is so smooth and filling and no bitterness at the end.  I am not a big fan of the bitter after taste that sometime accompanies a darker brew. In addition to making a stellar product, Mayflower also supports other local business, in particular local farms.  They compost their hops and other organic matter with one of the local farms in the area.  This decreases their waste and also goes to support our local food. Something I am a big fan of.

If you have not had a chance to sample Mayflower's brews, there is no time like the present!

Photo Tip of the Week: Tips on Photographing Jewelry and other small items

Sometimes people will come to me to have me professionally photograph their jewelry lines or small items that they are producing.  However there are a lot of individual artisans out there that cannot afford to hire a professional and still want nice looking photos. Here are some suggestions.

1. Use poster board as a backdrop.  the white background is smooth and easy to photograph and will not detract from the look of the item.

2. Use external lighting.  For a truly professional look you want to use studio lighting but you can get away with setting up some make shift studio lighting of your own.  Go buy some silver work lights at home depot and some Halogen bulbs.  Position the lights on either side of the item and don't use the flash on the camera and I guarantee you will be happier than if you used the on camera flash.

3.Go buy a plexi-glass frame from Staples and place it under the object.  This way you get a slight reflection to add some visual interest but not to mirror the image exactly.

If you have the money, a professional has the equipment to really knock it out of the park ; If you don't these tips will help you to produce images you can be proud of and to sell more product!

Happy Shooting!

Small Business Shout out: Lobster Hut: Professional Photographer Plymouth South Shore

Lobster Hut is one of the hidden gems of Plymouth.  When you first walk in, it looks like a chain restaurant, No frills. If you are craving good seafood at reasonable prices then this is the way to go.  Throw in the deck overlooking the water and you are golden!  Still some of the best clam chowder in town!

Small Business Shout out of the Week: Woods Seafood: Professional Photographer Plymouth South Shore

If you have been reading my blog then you have guessed or seen by now that I am a big supporter of local business.  One of the places that I had the pleasure of photographing while I was working with Destination Plymouth is Woods Seafood.  They are part fish market and part restaurant. If you live by the water and you love seafood, It is a must to by your fish from a local fish market rather than a grocery store.  The fresh is more likely to be fresh rather than flash frozen and the quality is so much better.  I have been good to Woods Seafood for my fish since I was too little to buy it myself, I recommend you give them a try, and if you don't feel like cooking then have them cook it for you too!

Small Business Shout out: Plymouth Bay Winery: Professional Photographer Plymouth South Shore

I have always been a fan of a nice glass of wine, especially this time of year when I can sit on my deck and enjoy the summer nights and the relaxing breeze.   On my travels with Destination Plymouth, I was fortunate enough to spend some time at Plymouth Bay Winery in Downtown Plymouth.  They were in the middle of doing a tasting for a super cute couple (with their two puppies) while I was there.  I was able to witness first hand the time and care they take with customer service.  Not only do they have wines, but they also have wine jellies.  In addition, they made suggestions about pairing wines, cooking with wine recipes.  It was a long tasting with lots of information.  It looked like such a fun time that I am planning my own date with Dave to go there and experience it for myself.  Looking for something fun for the 4th? Why not have your local winery provide you with something to celebrate!

Small Business Shout out of the week: Oceanside Animal Hospital: Professional Photographer Plymouth South Shore

I have been trying to support and sing the praises of local businesses around me every week and this week is no exception.  This week I want to tell you about another great place, Oceanside Animal Hospital. Oceanside Animal Hospital is located in Sandwich, Massachusetts at the corner of Tupper Road and Route 6A. They are a new full service animal hospital and retail boutique.  This is where I take my dog, Charlie and my sister takes her dog Max.

The level of care and compassion at Oceanside is the best that I have ever had.  I feel comfortable and confident that my pets are always getting the best care.  I can tell you as a pet owner that I have definitely not always felt that way.  In fact, I have had a handful of really bad experiences with other places.

Oceanside treats their patients and owners like family.  They are warm and caring and their level of care and attention to their patients is fantastic.  If you are looking for a vet, this is the only place I will go.  Oceanside can be reached at Phone (508) 744-3838 Email info@oceansideanimal.com and website http://www.oceansideanimal.com

Professional Photographer Plymouth South Shore: The best cheap investment for photography gear

Okay, so as photographers we all want lots of big fancy things to help us do our job better.  What I have come to realize is this.  The person behind the camera is more important than what equipment you have.  Its what you do with what you have.  Also, when you finally go out and buy a lens that you have been yearning for, you need to protect your investment.  I make it a rule of thumb to put a UV Filter on every lens I own.  The cost is 10-15 dollars more.  The most important thing to remember is this..if you scratch your filter you are out $10-15 and if you are scratch your lenses you can loose anywhere from $100 to thousands of dollars.  Which choice would you rather make?

Creative Photo Shoot: The Elements with C'mor Color Lush MUA

So every once in a while, about 4 times a year, I try and do a creative photo shoot that has nothing to do with anything other than remembering why I love photography.  Cynthia Morales, owner of C'mor Color Lush was introduced to me by a friend and we set out to showcase our talents!  Here is our result!

Plymouth South Shore Professional Photographer: Small Business of the Week: Martha's

So I am working on getting the word out there about some local businesses that I really appreciate having around.  Local Business is so important to me.  It keeps our communities thriving!  Another thing that is really important to me is the environment and the local food movement.  I believe that this is so important that I choose to put my money where my mouth is and spend more to support the local farmers and other local vendors in the area who also support this movement.  With all the environmental toxins, all the health hazards and environmental repercussions of mass produced meat and pesticides, we need to think about what we are putting in our bodies for food and what we are putting on our bodies the clean, moisturizes, etc... The list goes on.  

What I want to highlight is a local chef that has been doing it right from the very beginning and providing the community with amazing food to boot.

Martha Stone of Martha's in Benny's plaza in Plymouth has been providing fresh, local delicious food to the community for quite sometime and never ceases to amaze me with what she can cook up.  Martha can do more with a hot plate than most people could do with a state of the art kitchen!  If you haven't had a chance to try her cooking you will not be disappointed.  I have been sampling her delectable dishes since she had Martha's Galley and I was still in high school.  I won't call either of us out by saying how long ago that was.

Martha's is located in Benny's Plaza on Court St in Plymouth MA.

Read more about her and her business her!  Nice Job Martha!

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Plymouth South Shore Professional Photographer: Small Business Shout out of the Week: Smilin' Mike's Dojo of Champions

So by now if you read my posts you can see that I am sort of making it my thing to give a shout out to all the great businesses in town that I frequent.  Nothing is better than a personal recommendation to grow your business. So I am making it part of my mission to let people know of all the deserving businesses that I know.  We all definitely need to support local business.  It is great to have the convenience of shopping online, I know I do it a lot as well, but if we want to see our communities thrive we also have to support the places that we live and work. I met Mike from Smilin' Mike's Dojo of Champions before he started his newest Dojo location in Plymouth.  He was teaching in Randolph and a few other places and he was a stay at home dad.  Since I am growing my business the same way, I can tell you that it is not easy to spend all of your "down" time make a business work, but Mike has done it with finesse.  He has such a great way with people and his business is taking off like a rocket.  I can't think of someone that deserves it more.  I have seen Mike in action with kids and he is fantastic, so involved and engaging.  Once Lucy is old enough for Karate instruction she is definitely going here!

Mike has been teaching since 1997 and if what I see is any indication he's going to go a lot farther.  If you are interested take a look at his business.  His website is http://www.randolphkarate.com and his contact info is: dojoofchampions@yahoo.com or 781-963-9600.  Smilin' Mike's Dojo of Champions is located at  739 State Rd, Plymouth, MA 02360.

Plymouth South Shore Professional Photographer: Shout out to Local Business: Second Nature Social Skills

FYI, I like this business so much we are doing a Cameras and Cocktails Fundraiser with them on June 19, 2014 at 7pm.  Ask me for more details on that too! I went to Notre Dame Academy in Hingham. I love the fact that so many of the women I went to school with are doing great things with their lives and in their communities. Amy Gordon is a great example of that. She started Second Nature Social Skills on a shoestring budget with no office to speak of. She had an idea that would make a difference in the lives of those around her. I am so happy to say that it has taken off and she is making great things happen along with her team.

I love the way Amy talks about her own business on her website so I am going to put her words here to explain exactly what she does:

Imagine how much easier life would be for people if they had specifically designed navigational tools showing them how to get to through the next social challenge: at school, at work, in life, with their peers.

If they had someone that could just tell them what the answers were in social situations as they learn in school?

Second Nature Social Skills aims to make this possible by using a highly visual, direct and explicit teaching approach in making the abstract and "hidden" rules concrete. This makes way to increase social mindfulness for you and your family.

Our approach is always customized to you and family. Everyone is unique and our teaching is individualized for you and your family learning needs. Second Nature Social Skills embraces this because we understand how you need to learn. We provide individualized social life maps so you and your family can confidently navigate your own journey.

Amy specializes in Autism, Asperger Syndrome, Nonverbal Learning Disorders and Anxiety. She is highly skilled and involved in her community. I cannot think of a better person to talk about for this week. Keep up the good work Amy! I love what you are doing!

You can check out her business at http://www.secondnaturesocialskills.com or contact her and her team at 508.747.2663 or info@secondnaturesocialskills.com.

Plymouth South Shore Professional Photographer: A little Jazz..A little Photography...a little talk about taking candid photos!

So as the daughter of a jazz musician, I occasionally get to have fun taking photos of my mother and her fellow musicians out at their gigs.  I thought it might be fun to use some of their pictures to talk about how to take better candid shots.  So obviously when you are photographing a band, or a group of kids on stage (the list goes on...)  You can't change what they are doing and you can't change the limited number of angles that you have.  I have a couple tips on doing the best you can with a difficult shooting situation.

The first tip, when I go on any photo shoot, I set my camera settings ahead of time.  The benefit to this is that I am relatively confident that I am not going to miss any of the action.  If you are in the same room for the whole time (barring being closer and farther from changing light sources like windows) you can usually make sure you are happy ahead of time and just focus on composition.

The second tip is don't be afraid to move around the room.  Get as close as you can without disturbing others around you.  Not a lot of good pictures are had by just sitting in your seat and watching the show.

Change your perspective if you can.  Stand on a chair. Lay on the ground. If you are taking pictures of a dance group, try taking pictures of just their cute little feet all in a row.  Don't be scared to play around.  

Make one subject your focal point, take a picture of the singer and blur the band.  Take a picture of the guitarist when he or she is playing their solo.  Try to catch each person in their element.

Happy Shooting!

Plymouth South Shore Professional Photographer: Small Business Highlight of the week: Tiny Boxes Boutique

One of my favorite places to frequent in Downtown Plymouth is Tiny Boxes Boutique.  Their jewelry and accessories are so stylish and fun.  You can always find something unique in any price range.  Also, Karen and her staff are super helpful and great to talk to. Many times I go in with no idea of what I want to get for someone.  I ask for suggestions, give a price point and I leave with something that my friends and family think is fabulous.  If you haven't been in here you need to drop everything and go shop immediately.

Since we are nearing mother's day rapidly and I know there is a lot of shopping left to do, it is a really timely suggestion!

Selection  includes silver jewelry, semi precious stones, fresh-water pearls, shells, beautiful real butterfly wing jewelry, recycled water and wine bottle pieces, hand blown crushed recycled glass, handmade fair trade items, crystals, mood beads, drusy jewelry,... Everything you could want.

Tiny Boxes is located at 31 Main St, Plymouth, Massachusetts 02360. Find them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tiny-Boxes-Boutique/101048299939784 or on the web at http://www.tinyboxesboutique.com.

Just a glimpse inside from one of Karen's own pictures!

Plymouth South Shore Professional Photographer: Kentucky Derby Fundraiser to benefit the Rich Cronin Hope Foundation for Leukemia

So it has been a whirlwind of a weekend to say the least!  I was super excited to be working with Alden Park Bar and Grill at their Kentucky Derby Fundraiser to benefit the Rich Cronin Hope Foundation for Leukemia.  If you missed it this year be sure to keep a look out for it next year because it was the event of the season.  They nailed it!  Everyone had so much fun and came together to raise money for a great cause!  Looking forward to next year already.  Here is a peek at the some of the photos that will be up in our gallery for people to order.  A portion of the print proceeds will also be donated to the Rich Cronin Hope Foundation for Leukemia so don't miss out! To see the full gallery please go to this page: http://themirroredimagephotography.zenfolio.com/p167702491

Plymouth South Shore Professional Photographer: Small Business Highlight: Archiplicity, Inc.

So last week I chronicled on of the entrepreneurs in my family and this week I am going to talk about the other; my sister.  My sister (unlike me) knew what she wanted to do since she was in high school.  She spent long hours and gave up countless opportunities to socialize to build herself a thriving business in the field of architecture.  She founded her own company Archiplicity, Inc. in 2001 and has never looked back.  To her, exceeding her clients expectations is what she strives for.  She has a meticulous eye for detail and a impeccable taste when it comes to design.  In her own words, "Our philosophy is to create architecture that is simple and elegant. We believe design should be based on good proportion, simple, well placed details and a thoughtful response to existing surroundings."  I am inspired and encouraged by her efforts and how far it has taken her.  For more information on her business go to archiplicity.com, email her at info@archiplicity.com or call 508-789-7184. I have had the benefit of photographing a few of her projects.  Here is just one of them:

Plymouth South Shore Professional Photographer: Shout out to another great Local Business!

Many of you may have no idea but I come from a family of entrepreneurs.  My mom and my sister both own their own businesses as well.  I think that definitely deserves a shout out to local women making big things happen.  One of the best ways to keep you town thriving is to support local business. Today I am giving credit to my mom who has taught me to not be afraid to pursue you dreams and to do what you love and the money will follow.  Much like my career in photography, my mother started her music business later in life.  She went back to school when she was 35 and opened her music school with her long time friend and colleague Paul Kinnear at 42.  Today they have a thriving school with lots to offer.  Music Lessons, Instruments and and other related musical goods, Ensembles, and More.

Middle Street School of Music has been open now for over 20 years and is, I would say, the main location for musical lessons in Plymouth and the surrounding towns.  For further information about lessons and more go to http://middlestreetmusic.com Middle Street at 508-830-1766 or middlest@verizon.net

In their own words:

The study of music has long been used to help instill confidence and build self-esteem was well as bringing great pleasure to both the listener as well as to the performer. It is upon this ideal that Middle Street School of Music was established in 1992.

At Middle Street School of Music our goal is to teach. We take pride in the knowledge that our staff represents some of the most respected music professionals. All of our music teachers have spent years of intense study, perfecting skills in their chosen field. They are prepared to take on the unique challenges presented with teaching both beginners and professional musicians.

Great Job to my mom and Paul for creating something wonderful!

Plymouth South Shore Professional Photographer: BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF PLYMOUTH: Construction underway on new teen center

It is so nice to see things going on in Plymouth for local teens in our community.  It seems like there is never enough for kids to do that is fun in the area that won't get them into trouble.  I am excited to hear more about the teen center and see it when it is finished. http://plymouth.wickedlocal.com/article/20140418/NEWS/140417637