David Michael Portraits

On The Beach

Dave — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 06:27:14 +0000

I love my photography magazines that arrive each month that allow me to see what other photographers are doing to run a successful business. Although I always strive to be unique, it’s always good to know what others are doing to survive these economic times. I was intrigued by an article of a photographer who’s entire business is built on family vacation portraits on the beach, while capturing the tourist that visit the town. It makes me wonder.….…. Hummm!

To Be Continued.….….….….….….….……

Family Reunions

Dave — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 00:08:18 +0000

There is nothing better than a good family reunion! I really can’t comment on a bad one because I have never had one. I did however, just finish a great family reunion where both my daughters and their wonderful husbands along with six grand kids were all piled in our home. Great grandmas and grandpas along with aunts, uncles, nieces & nephews traveled from both up and down the west coast to join this grand occasion. I had one daughter who drove from Harrison, Arkansas and one who drove from Moscow, Idaho. For many in my family it was the first time meeting face to face others they had only been told about. More than anything else I appreciate the sacrifices that almost everybody who attended had to make, and I thank you all for them. This event took an entire week of activities of places to go and things to do, but as the last members of my family packed up to leave, I was thankful that I am a photographer who was able to capture the fun we had.

As I sat and thought about what I wanted to say in this blog, and how it pertains to photography, I thought about how important the time was that we set apart to take family portraits. The only other time that families join in such a joyous event is a wedding. But I’ve shot enough weddings to know that you can’t shoot the same kind of fun that a family reunion has. There was no bride and groom being placed as the center of attention with the rest of the family being placed in the perfect place to achieve the perfect looking portrait. Instead it was a fun time of acting crazy and just enjoying the time and moment. My advice to all families, who have a desire to hire a professional photographer to shoot family portraits, is that it’s a planned event with a scheduled time and place. I am so disappointed that my older sister and her family were not in our photos, as their arrival time was later than the perfect time of day to shoot on the beach. I advertise a lot for weddings and High School Senior Portraits in Florence Oregon, but maybe it’s time to advertise my photography services for family reunions up and down the Oregon coast.

Keeping Everything Up To Date

Dave — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 23:30:52 +0000

Wow!!!! I can’t believe it’s been two months since my last blog. Where does time go, and how can one person keep everything up to date? It seems like a never ending task of chores to accomplish before I am even ready to pick up a camera, but I think I am finally at that point where I can say.….. I’m ready!! The first two months in Florence was a time of unsettled living, living in a great apartment overlooking beautiful Mercer Lake, but living out of our suitcase. This past month we were able to find not only a place to live, but also a place to set up my portrait studio in the same location. Now after three months, David Michael Portraits is open for business. I think I have covered all the bases for what is needed to market myself. I’m in the phone book with a nice standout ad. I’ve joined the Chamber of Commerce. I’ve got new business cards, hats, shirts, and lettering on my vehicle, all advertising myself as a wedding, high school senior picture, children and pet photographer. Everywhere I go, I introduce myself and my business. At this point, name recognition is a must. As time passes word-of-mouth advertising will once again start taking place where I won’t have to focus on the printed material as much. I’ve got some great plans for some upcoming specials. Now I can once again keep the website fresh, and keep new information in my blog site. Yes, I will even have time to shoot some landscapes again. This photo is of the Siuslaw River that flows through town.

There’s a New Photographer in Florence, Oregon!!!

Dave — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 00:15:40 +0000

On May 1st it will be three weeks since we packed up a very large truck, in which we used every square that it had to give, to move our belongings from Fresno California to Florence Oregon. We crawled over the mountain tops at break-neck speeds of 30 miles an hour in some areas. That diesel engine was giving all she could give, and all I kept thinking was please don’t break down, as I would never ever again be able to re-pack a truck and make it fit. I continue to thank God that we made it here just fine with no problems. The first week of being here, I think I made a trip to our two storage sheds at least twice a day just trying to find stuff that we needed. By the start of the second week here, things started to settle down to allow me to focus on a return trip back to Fresno to shoot a wedding. I made a fast pace round trip with my niece Missy, who was my photography assistant for the wedding. This week has really been my first work week here where I not only focused on wedding photos to edit, but also getting out and meeting people of the town. If I am trusting God in everything, than His timing for this move has been amazing. I have been welcomed here by so many people that have all been so encouraging. It’s been a great week of making really good contacts for getting my photography business off the ground in Florence Oregon. Now for the rest of the week, my focus is editing hundreds and hundreds of wedding photos. Hope your week was as good as mine.

Johnathan & Sharla

Dave — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 19:38:50 +0000

It was a gift for me to be the wedding photographer for Johnathan & Sharla’s very unique wedding. Their outdoor location was awesome which led to many beautiful photos for this young couple.

How Great a Friend

Dave — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 03:11:16 +0000

After living in the same city for over 40 years now, I have made a lot of friends. Most were there for a season in my life and we just lost connection with each other. Some however have been friends for as long as I can remember. Those are the special friends, who are always there for you at any time of day or night. But of all the friends I know, there is only one who gave up everything for me.

Easter week and Easter day are by far the most important days of the entire year for me. If you have ever read any of my ‘Bio’s’ of the different photography web sites that I have belonged to, I let people know I am a Christian and that is the backbone of who I am. I have a very personal relationship with the trinity, God my Father, Jesus His son, and the Holy Spirit that guides my life.

I’m not one who goes around preaching that you must be saved. That is not my style at all, but I try to lead a life touching those I meet with kindness and love. I love to encourage people for whatever reason. I encourage those of you reading this to think about what the Easter celebration is all about. If you have lost connection with the one friend that would and did die for you, maybe its time to join in at a celebration service at church. That my friend is all the preaching you are going to hear from me. I’m much better at capturing that smile standing behind the lens of my camera.

I will say good-bye to many friends this week as we finally make our move to Florence Oregon Saturday. I know I will return often to see my family and friends here in Fresno.

I hope you all have a blessed Easter day!

Future Shock

Dave — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 15:53:47 +0000

The anticipation of my upcoming move to Florence Oregon has my mind going a hundred miles an hour of everything I need to do, and things I need to be prepared for. I titled this post as “Future Shock” due to many aspects of change that I will encounter. Number one is going from living all my life in a larger city with a population of 500,017 to a town with a population of 8,694. The average annual precipitation in Fresno is 11.23 while Florence is over 68 inches per year. The only time you see umbrellas in Fresno is in the middle of summer, as they are used to block the intense heat. When you start comparing crime, fees, fines, and taxes, the trade will be well worth it. I do look forward to a town that will slow the pace down, however new speed limits will be hard to get use to. My wife and I already have a bet of who will receive the first speeding ticket. After all, a town with very little crime, I’m sure to have its police busy finding those who speed. The beauty of the area also opens up a whole new view for my photography which I am looking forward to. Though we have visited Florence many times in the past 10 years, it’s only been for a week at a time. Even though there will be a shock factor, I am looking forward to a long stay, with hopeful anticipation of a successful photography business for many years to come.

Setting New Goals

Dave — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:46:11 +0000

I read an article the other day that applied to myself and my photography business. It talked about change, and how as photographers we have to be willing to change in order to survive with a new generation of people carrying cameras that advertise in Craigslist for their clients. I’m not saying nothing is wrong with that, as some of these new photographers are quite good at their work. In these economic times, you have to work smart, advertise smart, and use all the tools that are available. For myself, it’s also about location, and I’m excited about my upcoming move to a new location. In a few weeks I will be packing up my belongings and camera gear and heading to a small coastal town in Oregon.

Along with moving to a much smaller town, I am having to come up with a new way of marketing myself. Yes I have to make sure my website is a bit more trendy, but I have to use all the tools the Internet provides. The use of Facebook and a daily blog update will be my daily goal to attract and show my work to not only everybody in this small town of Florence, Oregon, but to everybody who wants to follow David Michael Portraits. Give me a couple of weeks to get settled in and I will demonstrate my style of edgy Senior Portraits and some great give-a-ways to introduce myself to Florence, Oregon. For me, my goal will always be about quality. If you purchase quality, you will never again want anything less.

Destination Weddings

Dave — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 16:16:19 +0000

My very first “Destination” wedding was my own almost 25 years ago. With all of my wife’s family living in Oregon at the time, and all of my family living in Fresno, California at the time, where in the heck do we get married at? How about on a cruise ship!!! Yep, that’s exactly what we did. Before we headed out to sea, we made arrangements to board the ship two hours earlier than everyone else. The captain of the Queen Mary, who was ordained, performed the ceremony. What a great day that was! The second best part of our wedding, we still came back home and had our reception party. The pressure of the wedding day was gone, and the party still happened.
As a wedding photographer, I’m always thinking about “Destination Weddings” and how fun it would be to travel to all these exotic places with a bride and groom, capturing their every moment, making their memories last a lifetime. Then my dear friend Sandy Powers www.sandypowers.net made a comment that got me to thinking about destination weddings right where I will be living. The beautiful coast of Oregon. Some of the most beautiful beaches known for their sunsets and rock formations that add to great backgrounds are on the Oregon coast. It’s something to think about if you looking to have that unique wedding without the pressure of the day. Talk to your travel agent, and if you don’t have one, I can refer you to someone who is excellent. You already know how to reach me. Life can be so fun! Be unique! Dream of your destination wedding on the Oregon coast.

A New Year.…. A New Beginning

Dave — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 01:34:35 +0000

I guess it’s time to share with my clients and the world that big changes are coming for myself and David Michael Portraits. Many of you know that I started with a business name of Western States Photography and only recently split my business into two categories by adding David Michael Portraits. I had visions when I first started my photography business of doing more fine art work with a focus on Yosemite as Western States Photography. Little did I know that my wedding and portrait business would start changing my goals. One goal from the very beginning was to move to Oregon in about 5 years from this post date. Due to economic times and the fact that I lost my full time position with a company I was employed with for 18 years, my wife an I feel it is now the right time to make that move. I have been VERY hesitant to announce this decision with the upcoming wedding season and the need to continue to make a living, then knowing that potential brides will decide to go elsewhere. When I make a commitment to anybody I always stick to it no matter what. So this is for those of you looking at my site and my work, while trying to make a choice between the many photographers you have to choose from, I will be here for you if you choose me as your photographer. I have no idea when our house will sell, and could be here through the summer. No matter what, it’s only a 11 hour drive for me and my price will not change to make a trip to Fresno should I be elsewhere. Word of mouth referrals is how I received most of my business and I hope you continue to refer me. I appreciate each of you who have been my clients who I consider as my friends.

I am excited to be moving to Oregon as I feel my photography business will flourish there. Now I have to train the search engines to find me up there, and by God’s grace, just maybe I can just be a full time photographer there.