Studio Mark Emile

Master of Photography

2012-01-30T15:34:00.003-05:00

Betsy and I recently returned from New Orleans, where we attended Imaging USA, the annual convention of the Professional Photographers of America. I am thrilled to announce that during the Degrees and Awards Ceremony, I was awarded the Master of Photography Degree, by PPA President Don Dickson.

The Master of Photography degree is one that is achieved by meritorious performance in International Print Competition. It is not a matter of simply taking enough classes or being a photographer for long enough. You have to create compelling images, as judged by affiliated jurors. It is about performance as a photographer, judged by people who know the difference between solid photography artistically enhanced and mediocre captures in which the flaws are covered over in Photoshop. It is a Big Deal.

It's hard for me to talk about me, but sometimes it's necessary. Thanks for reading.

NH Primary

2012-01-09T17:23:00.001-05:00

We've been on the path to the NH primary since last March, when we first photographed Mitt Romney as part of a small gathering of business owners. Since that time we've photographed Donald Trump, Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry, and Ron Paul. We've been interviewed on camera back in the summer when Rick Perry first came to NH and became on overnight sensation (before he fizzled.) And again this past week, when the door to the studio opened and in walked a guy named Buddy Roemer (along with a camera crew.)

Today we come full circle. It's the day before election day, and Mitt Romney was here as the final installment of the Nashua Chamber's Backstage Pass series. Unlike our first meeting, which was an intimate affair, today's event was quite large indeed. The largest ballroom in Nashua was packed to capacity.

It's nice being the official Chamber photographer. While the media is (supposed to be) kept to the back of the room, I am given essentially free reign. This makes it possible to get some nice pictures and avoid the scrum that inevitably develops between competing news organizations.

We in NH are privileged to have our place in the presidential election process. It is something I have really come to appreciate as I've gotten older. While the general election may be almost exclusively the province of the large electoral college yielding states, we actually do have a voice in the early stages of the game. This is why it is so important that all NH residents go to the polls tomorrow. Respect the privilege and vote for your candidate.

Here are some of the shots from Mitt's breakfast visit:

Link to full Mitt Romney Gallery

As luck would have it, we were also invited to the Nashua Rotary's meeting, which featured Newt Gingrich as a guest speaker. After the former House Speaker's prepared remarks and Q&A session, we were interviewed by NECN. Fun stuff.

Images from the Rotary meeting:

Link to full Newt Gingrich Gallery

Don't forget to vote!

Thumbtack

2011-12-28T17:32:00.003-05:00

Studio Mark Emile is happy to be using Thumbtack to help people who are looking for top-notch photography find us! You can check out our Outstanding NH Photography on Thumbtack!

Size Matters

2011-12-27T18:06:00.000-05:00

I got a call this morning from a client of ours who had senior portraits and a family portrait done this year. She and her husband had repainted their living room, and were in the process of rehanging pictures. Having been liberated from having "no free wall space" by virtue of having to take everything off the walls to paint, she discovered that the when she took advantage of the wide open surface and put her family portrait on that wide expanse of wall, it suddenly seemed not big enough.

One of the things we do here at Studio Mark Emile is provide expert advice in sizing the prints and canvases that we provide to our clients. In so doing, we try to guide you to the optimal size for your situation and budget. Now you might think that we always try to sell the largest sized prints that we carry, but we don't, and for a very good reason. It's not always the best size for our clients.

When you come to us for a family portrait, one of the things to keep in mind is what you are going to do with the prints you purchase. If you have a plan for what you are looking for, it makes it MUCH easier for us to provide you with precisely the right products for you, whether they are framed wall prints, canvas clusters, wall groupings or what have you.

This morning's client wished she had gone a size or two larger on her gallery wrap. Instead she will be adding another gallery wrap or two to fill the space. We are happy to help her either way, of course. But if you wish to avoid repeating her experience, consider where you are going to be putting your finished portraits when you come in for your premiere. You will find it's time well spent.

Presidential Candidate Rick Perry

2011-12-05T15:32:00.001-05:00

The governor of Texas visited New Hampshire last week and we were happy to be chosen to photograph the event for the Nashua Chamber, who was hosting the event as part of the Backstage Pass Breakfast series. The focus of the series this fall has been on republican presidential contenders, as President Obama is running unopposed for his party's nomination.

Perry proved to be an engaging speaker, and avoided the overt miscues that have plagued other appearances. He did a good job of remaining on his talking points, whether during this prepared remarks or during the Q&A session that followed. It will be interesting to see where things are in 30 days.

Latest Business Portraits

2011-11-18T18:13:00.001-05:00

This was certainly an interesting session. Two people who are seeing each other but not married, yet they have the same last name. One person from my high school graduating class, of whom I have no recollection whatsoever (and there were only 120 people in my class.) I'm still baffled by that.

At Studio Mark Emile, we do a pretty fair number of business portraits. Whether they are environmental portraits (like the Faces of Nashua images) or simple headshots, we approach them with the idea of making you look your best. We use flattering lighting and expert retouching to provide you with a look that is simply not going to be replicated with a point and shoot or cell phone camera. It's a look that says "I am professional, and I care enough about my business to look like it."

Why New Moms Should Consider a Professional

2011-11-07T11:09:00.001-05:00

Jenny came into the studio the other day, pushing her baby carriage, with her 15 month old daughter inside. She wanted to know if I could "fix" pictures of her daughter's first year. We pulled up the pictures on Facebook. For the 100th time, I saw poorly composed, marginally exposed, and fuzzy images that had been subjected to all sorts of "artistic" filters in photoshop. What do you say? "I told you so" is not my style, but for the love of God, you can avoid this plight!

Jenny fell into the trap that many young mothers fall into. Jenny had a friend with a camera who's "starting a business" and "gave me a gift certificate for free pictures" for her baby shower. Naturally Jenny felt obligated to use her friend, plus she'd seen some of her friend's good pictures, and after all, professional photography is expensive so she'd be saving money. Right?

It's sad. We see this again and again. There's something that happens with a new mom, in which EVERY picture of her bundle of joy is a "great picture", until she gets her eyes back. It may be that she sees pictures of a friend's baby, and sees a huge difference in the quality of the pictures between what her friend with a camera has taken of her child, and what this other woman got from a professional. Then comes "why can't my baby's pictures look like that?" And perhaps an attempt to salvage the pictures.

The real problem is that babies change a TON in their first year. By the time you realize that your gift was not such a bargain after all, it's too late. The baby has grown. The baby has changed. And no amount of money can bring you back and get you professional level images at that point. There's no going back. The opportunity has been lost. Very costly "savings," indeed.

We see the pictures on Facebook. You love them because you love your baby. But they are not good. And when you finally realize that they are not good pictures, it will be too late. I would not be so presumptuous or egotistical to say that you have to come to us to get good pictures. There are MANY solid professionals out there. But there are many more who have no concept of lighting or composition, and deliver out of focus or motion-blurred images covered up with lots of photoshop work. Ladies, PLEASE don't use such fauxtographers. Find a real pro and make the investment. You will get joy from those pictures for your whole life, and so will your children and your children's children.

The difference between a professional (and yes, there are many who take the name without deserving it) and a fauxtographer is that a fauxtographer takes a gazillion pictures to get a few good ones by luck and circumstance, whereas a pro produces professional level images on demand, regardless of circumstances. One thing to look for: see if your photographer is certified, by the Professional Photographers Certification Committee. This is the standards body that provides real credentials to photographers. This isn't pay for a designation. It is a rigorous test of technical knowledge (2 hours, closed book, 100 questions, 70 to pass) coupled with a 20 image submission from actual client work. As one of the judges for such image submissions, I can tell you there are a LOT of people who call themselves professionals but whose work does not merit the name. Find a certified professional near you, and you can be assured the photographer knows what he or she is doing. You will be happy you did.

Presidential Candidate Ron Paul

2011-10-31T16:36:00.001-04:00

The Nashua Chamber of Commerce hosted Texas congressman and presidential hopeful Ron Paul on Friday as part of the Backstage Pass breakfast series. Dr Paul, who brings with him an impressive resume- former US Air Force flight surgeon, congressman, physician and author, spoke to the crowd the day after the first of the region's two unusual October snowstorms.

Sponsored by Citizens Bank, the Backstage Pass series provides access to experts on various issues relevant to local businesses. To that end, the series will include top republican presidential hopefuls over the next few months. Paul is the first such candidate.

Attendees had an opportunity to meet the congressman, to listen to his prepared remarks, and to engage the candidate during a Q&A session. Studio Mark Emile is happy to be asked to provide event coverage for the Chamber.

Ladies Night on the Town Makeovers

2011-10-27T17:34:00.001-04:00

Two lucky ladies won makeovers as part of the Nashua Telegraph's event "Ladies Night on the Town." Studio Mark Emile was happy to be a sponsor of this event and to provide "before and after" portraits of the winners.

The ladies came to the studio for their "before" images last week. We did very basic snapshots of them as they were, and printed them large, so everyone could see how they were before the makeovers. Here they are:

Emily Myott

Julie Doyle

After the "before" pictures, they went to LunaChics in Exeter for a fashion consult and to get a new outfit. And yesterday, they were each treated to a new hairtstyle, complete with color and cut, at Salon Belle Vie. After that, they arrived at the studio for a celebrity-style makeup session with renowned makeup artist Kriss Soterion, and to have their "after" portraits made.

It was difficult to get the images captured, retouched, printed, mounted and framed, but we managed to do so in plenty of time for the big reveal. We were quite pleased with how the portraits came out, and the ladies were too! Even they didn't see them until the reveal, so it was a lot of fun for us to get their reactions.

For you ladies who are reading this: THIS COULD BE YOU! If you are identifying a little too much with the before pictures, we can help transform you, too.

Nashua Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner

2011-10-14T16:31:00.002-04:00

Studio Mark Emile is happy to have been a sponsor of the Nashua Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner. This year we were thrilled that our good friend Sy Mahfuz was selected as the Citizen of the Year. Sy is a great guy, and especially deserving of this honor. Just to tell you what kind of guy he is, we approached Sy for some financial support for our Faces of Nashua exhibit, and also to see if he was interested in being a subject for the exhibit. He immediately agreed to help fund the exhibit, but was a little less sanguine about being part of it at first. After we described the concept, he readily agreed, and totally got into it, as anyone who has seen the photograph can attest. It is just this sort of support that Sy provides that attests to his character.

This year's theme at the Annual Dinner was Monopoly, and the Chamber staff did a fine job of pulling off this event. In addition to our photo booth at the Jail, there was a Nashuaopoly game going on, as well as the Free Parking lounge, featuring a jazz quartet.

Alderman at Large Lori Wilshire was the big winner of the Nashuaopoly game, bringing home first prize.

Lots of people had fun being photographed in Jail.

If you want to purchase prints, or simply see all of the photos, the link is: http://studiomarkemile.eventstorefront.com/

Select the Chamber Annual Dinner event, and the event code is monopoly.

Renee and Anthony

2011-09-21T19:41:00.001-04:00

Renee and Anthony are such Bruins fans that one nearly expected the ceremony to take place at center ice. Instead, they exchanged vows at Holy Infant Jesus church in Nashua, followed by a lovely reception at Sky Meadow. A great looking couple and fun, too. We totally enjoyed covering their wedding for them. Hope they are having a terrific time in Aruba!

Renee's dress was absolutely stunning. Exhibit A:

Her bridesmaids were a fun bunch!

A view of the Church

Exchanging vows

The happy couple ready to enjoy the rest of their reception!

Denim to Diamonds III

2011-09-20T15:56:00.000-04:00

The 3rd annual from Denim to Diamonds benefit for the fight against ovarian cancer was held this past Sunday at Saffron Bistro. Studio Mark Emile is proud to be contributing to the cause by providing event coverage as well as by donating a portion of the profits from print sales.

This fashion show features fashions by Fresh and jewelry by Scontsas Fine Jewelry. The ladies looked smashing, and the event was well attended. Studio Mark Emile again set up a "meet and greet" wall for attendees to get their picture taken. This time it was set up outside, and proved to be very interesting for passersby, both in cars and on foot alike.

This year we've made it a lot easier to get prints from the event. Simply go to our event host at http://studiomarkemile.eventstorefront.com/, select Denim to Diamonds III, and put in the event code "cure". You can then view all the images, and optionally order prints. The prints are very affordable, are shipped right to your door, and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Ovations for the Cure. Enjoy the photos!

Rockin' Senior Session with Cam

2011-09-14T16:47:00.001-04:00

At Studio Mark Emile, we really encourage you to get into your senior session. Such was the case with Cam, who comes to us from Nashua South. Cam, like his dad, is quite the musician. And he brought one of his favorite axes to the session. He's really got the rocker look down pat, and he's got the musical ability. Who knows? National acts come from somewhere.

Whether you want to bring out your inner rock star, want to show you belong on So You Think You Can Dance, are a track star, or just want to experience the best senior session in Southern New Hampshire or Northern Massachusetts, Studio Mark Emile is the place for you. Exhibit A:

Faces of Nashua

2011-09-13T17:12:00.000-04:00

Faces of Nashua is a photographic exhibit taking place at the Nelson Building in downtown Nashua until the end of September. Studio Mark Emile is pleased to have been asked to put this photographic essay together. Faces of Nashua is a cross-section of Nashua, environmental portraits of people as diverse as meter-maids, artists, politicians, and merchants.
The current exhibit is the first installment of a continuing series. Come on downtown and check out the installation. While you're at it, consider patronizing the businesses whose financial support made this show possible: The Nashua Bank, Search Pro Systems, Alec's Shoe Store, Nashua Paint and Wallpaper/Universal Decor, Persian Rug Gallery, and Scontsas Fine Jewelry and Home Decor. Thanks, all of you, for supporting the Arts in Nashua!

Lindsey's maternity session

2011-08-18T13:39:00.002-04:00

I knew it had been a long time since I posted on the blog, but I have to admit I was shocked at HOW long it's been. Yikes!

Well, suffice it to say, we have not been idle at Studio Mark Emile. This is traditionally a busy time for us, and this year has been no exception. High school seniors may be dominating the appointment book right now, but we have been doing other things as well!

Lindsey called to book her maternity session, and we told her that we like to include the father in the session. She and Peter came to the studio, and I have to tell you, they were positively radiant! This is a couple that is very obviously in love, and totally stoked about their impending addition.

The session was a breeze. They are a really good looking couple, as you can see. We had so many good ones, it was actually a bit of work for them to make their final selections. We are all looking forward to the arrival of baby Maximus!

Location session with Sarah

2011-07-07T17:29:00.002-04:00

While we do plenty of outdoor sessions downtown, we also are happy to take a jaunt to go on location. It is amazing what variety we have within a short drive from the studio. Last night, prior to the downpour, we did a location session in Merrimack, where our spokesmodel Sarah is from.

We had scouted this spot while looking for places to do a family session last week, but it proved to be a bit too much for the elders in the family to manage. Not a problem for Sarah, though! Sarah was a trooper, whether it came to clambering over slippery rocks or sitting within a hair's breadth of a spider web, she rocked it (no pun intended).

If you are thinking of doing a location session, give us a call. Whether you have the spot picked out, or just the concept, we can deliver. Here's a taste of an "outdoorsy" location session.

Dance Company NH Recital!

2011-06-15T09:46:00.004-04:00

The Dance Company held its first annual recital this weekend. It was a smashing success! We were fortunate enough to get to photograph this event, and it was a stunning visual display.

We have had many calls to purchase images from the event, and we've made arrangements to do so. Click to purchase individual images from the event

You can get the event code to enter the gallery from Tarryn.

Enjoy this slideshow of images from the recital:

And here are a few of our favorite images:

Senior Session Sale!

2011-06-01T14:46:00.002-04:00

Studio Mark Emile is offering 50% off your senior session fees for sessions booked by June 15th and held by July 1st! Get the jump on things and save money, too. This special deal expires in just two weeks, so don't delay. This is the best savings of the season!

If you know any of these people, hit them up for a bookmark and you will also enjoy $50 off your senior portrait package! This offer doesn't expire, so if you miss the session fee special you can still get $50 off your package.

Juniors: It's Your Turn!

2011-05-19T09:45:00.005-04:00

Are you currently a high school junior? Then it's your turn for senior portraits! Senior portraits are taken between the end of your junior year and the beginning of your senior year in order to meet yearbook deadlines. So the time is now to start thinking about your senior portraits.

Keys to Success

Proper planning makes all the differences in the end result. We do our part, but you have to do yours as well. The reason you come to Studio Mark Emile is because we provide you with an unparalleled senior portrait experience. But your participation and cooperation is crucial in creating the most amazing senior portraits.

Imagination

There is no substitute for imagination. If you are like most seniors, you haven't really thought too much about what you want for senior portraits, or even where to go to get them. You probably don't even know where to start. First, start thinking about whether you want a location session, a studio session, or both. If you want a location session, think about places that are meaningful to you. We are adept at creating on the fly, but we do need to decide on a starting point.

Clothing and Props

We recommend filling a laundry basket with all your favorite clothes. Definitely bring a variety of clothing, from casual to dressier (like a dress or suit). If you aren't a dressy person, at least bring a couple of collared shirts in solid colors. You want to avoid busy patterns or garish logos if at all possible. Your yearbook picture will have to be a head and shoulders pose, with no props or hats, but that is only ONE image out of your whole package. Feel free to bring sports equipment & uniforms, instruments, or anything else that represents who you are. Whether you are a dancer, a bookworm, a jock, or even if you just do pottery, bring the things that tell your story.

Personal Grooming

Now is not the time to go getting a new perm or trying a new hair color. If you are going to need your hair to be trimmed prior to your session, try to make it a week or two before your session so the look is softer and more natural. Guys- clean up your facial hair the day of your session. The camera will capture everything, and we don't have an electronic razor for you in Photoshop. Ladies, if you pluck your eyebrows, make sure it's done for your session, and if you paint your nails, make sure they are either nicely painted or not at all. Chipped nail polish does not help you look your best.

And feel free to bring a buddy. There's no extra charge for buddy shots- whether they are your boyfriend, cousin, niece, sister or just a friend.

Trump Visits Nashua Chamber Expo

2011-05-12T11:48:00.000-04:00

The Nashua Chamber scores another major coup as another potential presidential contender visits Nashua for a special luncheon & speech in conjunction with the Nashua Chamber's Business Expo. Donald J Trump, the real estate magnate and international celebrity, visited the Granite State yesterday, as a guest of our very own Chamber of Commerce. Chris Williams, the president of the Chamber, was excited to have landed such a high visibility speaker for this event. The 500 seat event sold out in a record 5 hours, and many were left wanting tickets.

The Donald swept into town aboard his chopper, and made his way to the Radisson Hotel among a fleet of black SUV limos. The media scrum was significant and a real impediment to getting good images of Mr. Trump. Fortunately we were allowed special access due to our relationship with the Chamber as its official photographers, so places that were off-limits to the media were made available to us.

Our youngest daughter was able to attend the event, and was thrilled when we were able to get a picture of her with Mr Trump. Lots and lots of others also wanted their pictures taken with The Donald, and we accommodated as many as we could. Mr Trump was surprisingly gracious in this regard.

The Donald recognizes Mayor Lozeau

The Chamber staff with Mr Trump

"Tokyo Joe" challenges Trump to break a board; he is waved off.

Andy and Kasey from Search Pro Systems managed to get their shot as Trump was being ushered out of the expo by his handlers. Lucky them!

A complete gallery of images is available on the Studio Mark Emile Facebook page.

These copyrighted images may be shared on social media provided they remain unaltered. They may NOT be printed. For those interested, we have prints of the images available for the bargain basement prices of $20 for a 5x7, or $30 for an 8x10. Of course we will remove the watermarks from the prints. If you would like a low-resolution unwatermarked file to use on your website, that is also a bargain at only $20.

Mitt Romney Roundtable

2011-05-03T15:15:00.004-04:00

Mitt Romney was in Nashua today for a roundtable discussion with a number of young business owners and entrepreneurs. Yours truly were on hand to cover the event for the Nashua Chamber of Commerce.

Reporters, photographers and videographers came out of the woodwork when Romney arrived, and it was clear this was an event that would make news on a national scale. Romney's opening remarks referred to the recent elimination of bin Laden as the most wanted terrorist alive. He praised the President and the military for bringing bin Laden to justice, wisely sidestepping the partisan rhetoric some in Washington seem all too quick to return to following the momentous announcement two days ago.

The business leaders with whom Romney met cited regulatory issues, capital issues, and the rising cost of fuel as impediments to business, and hence, the expansion of the economy.

Cort Mendes of Five Guys Burgers and Fries offers his perspective on the impact of rising fuel costs on his business.

Chris Williams (left), president of the Nashua Chamber of Commerce, and Romney listen with rapt attention to the challenges facing local businessmen.

The full gallery: Mitt Romney Roundtable Gallery on SME Facebook page

Expo Nashua is Coming!

2011-04-27T17:29:00.003-04:00

Expo Nashua is coming on May 11th, at the Radisson off exit 1. It is bound to be hugely well attended this year, as it is being started by a Kick Off Luncheon with "The Donald", Donald Trump. The 500 tickets for the luncheon disappeared in record time, and there are lots of people wishing they'd been quicker on the trigger.

This is one case where being the official photographers for the Nashua Chamber comes in handy. We will be photographing the event, i.e. we get to "shoot" Donald Trump. As a celebrity and potential presidential candidate, Trump is bound to be an interesting subject. Additionally, after the luncheon, we will be manning our own booth at the expo, so definitely come by to become acquainted with our work if you aren't already.

http://events.nashuachamber.com/ExpoNashua

Senior Graduation Announcements

2011-04-20T15:23:00.002-04:00

For those of you in the class of 2011, graduation is fast approaching. It's time to make decisions about parties and such, and especially announcements. The school has sent your parents information about regular old plain announcements. These impersonal announcements are what they had, and everyone in your class that buys them will get exactly the same announcements except for the name. B-O-R-I-N-G. And they're not cheap!

What do you suppose happens to them? Well, they end up being held until your graduation gift or card has been sent, and then they hit the recycle bin.

We're here to offer you an alternative. How about custom designed cards, specifically for and about you? And they are completely customizable. Whether you want them to be graduation announcements, or graduation party invitations, we can customize them to be exactly what you want. We can even make little business card size cards for you to give all your friends, at a VERY attractive price. It's up to you.

What do you suppose happens to these cards? They end up on the front of refrigerators, more often than not. Where they stay for years. People don't throw them away. We often go to parties, and find cards on the refrigerators from clients from years ago. It's great to see your work being enjoyed for so long.

Call or email the studio for pricing, and to order yours. We have special pricing for a limited time (until May 15th).

Here are some examples of the card designs:

Senior Spokesmodel: Darren

2011-03-29T16:19:00.002-04:00

Darren comes to Studio Mark Emile via Manchester West High School, where he follows his brother Derek, whose senior portraits we did several years ago. The last time we'd seen Darren was around the time we covered his mother's wedding, and boy did he grow a lot in those 4 years! Wow! But even more than the growth in stature is the growth into a fine young man. We are happy to have Darren on our team.

Darren was a lot of fun in the camera room. He has a lot of personality. If you know Darren and you're a junior, hit him up for a bookmark. You'll save $50 off your senior portrait package here at the studio.

Senior Spokesmodel: Sarah

2011-03-26T13:27:00.004-04:00

The first of our senior spokesmodels has had her studio session, and boy, did we get some great stuff! We are really looking forward to her location session.

Sarah represents Merrimack High School. If you go to Merrimack and are a junior this year, see Sarah to obtain one of her bookmarks. If you bring it to the studio, it will save you $50 off the price of your package! That's right, we've doubled the value of the bookmarks this year.

Now is not too soon to start thinking about where you want to get your senior portraits done. Talk to our spokesmodels and prior clients about their experiences and the results. We are confident that you will find them to be very pleased, and the images created speak for themselves.

Here's a small sampling of Sarah's studio session. For more, check out Sarah's gallery on the Studio Mark Emile Facebook page. And while you're there, why not "like" our page? Thanks!

Latest Kodak Gallery Award

2011-03-22T12:18:00.003-04:00

Great News! Mark is now a two time, yes, that's right two time recipient of the Kodak Gallery Award!! And we couldn't be prouder of him. He was given this award due to this awesome image that you see here. This shot was done upstairs at Castro's on Main Street. Eric, the owner, was kind enough to indulge us when Mark presented the idea to him. Andy and Jay from SearchPro stepped up to the plate along with Val, the beautiful young lady from Aesthetics by Val! Stop by the studio later this week to see this up close & personal! Mention that you saw this on our blog between now & April 15th, 2011 and we will cut our session fee in half.

Wild Irish Breakfast

2011-03-18T16:49:00.003-04:00

The Plus Company provides support for people with developmental disabilities as well as acquired brain disorders. Each year they hold a fundraiser on St Patricks Day, the Wild Irish Breakfast. A bevy of politicians attend, mostly throwing darts at each other. It's a fun event, and raises money for this worthy cause.

This year, Studio Mark Emile was selected to provide photographic coverage of the event. Here are some of the images we produced.

Dance Company NH

2011-02-28T14:06:00.003-05:00

A few weeks ago, before we became so very busy during "the quiet season", we went to Amherst to photograph the Dance Company NH dance teams. We put together a couple of posters of the girls (and boy!), and can't wait to hang them in their studio.

We also did some headshots of the faculty and dance team members. Here are a few of our favorites:

See the Difference

2011-02-24T22:05:00.002-05:00

If you are considering having a family or baby portrait done, hire a Professional Photographer and See the Difference.

If you are going to be married and wish to have your nuptials captured for posterity, hire a Professional Photographer and See the Difference.

If you are a high school senior, and it's time for your senior portraits, hire a Professional Photographer and See the Difference.

You will have a better experience and receive better photographs if you do. Sure, it may require bit more of an investment than a friend or relative with a camera, but it's worth it. We have had clients come to us AFTER experiencing photography by those who offer "more for less", but as they eventually figure out, a whole bunch of lousy photographs, even for not much money, is still not a good deal.

Thanks to Professional Photographers of America (one of several professional organizations to which I belong) for putting together this short video which sums thngs up nicely:

A Touch of Glamour

2011-02-01T15:46:00.002-05:00

On Sunday, we held A Touch of Glamour in the studio. This special event teams the Studio with talented hair stylists and makeup artists to provide a chance for girls to enjoy the model experience for an incredible price. If you've ever dreamed of being a model, this is just what it's like.

Valerie Tukey of Aesthetics by Valerie and Amanda Garner Burgess of Motives Cosmetics provided stunning makeup for our models, and April Bohaker of Salon Apryl provided terrific hair styling.

Here are some of the results:

Bonus Bucks are Back!

2010-12-14T13:17:00.005-05:00

As we all scurry around trying to find the perfect gifts, we run into the same old issues. Is it going to fit? Is it going to be the right color? Does she prefer this style or that one?

What about a gift that fits everyone, in a color and style of the recipient's choosing? The gift of portraiture. A gift certificate to Studio Mark Emile is a gift sure to bring a smile to anyone's face. And until Christmas Eve, we have a bonus that will reward your generosity: Bonus Bucks. For every $100 you spend on gift certificates for your loved ones, you will receive $50 in bonus bucks. Bonus bucks can be used to make your gift larger, or you can keep them and use them yourself. It's a sweet deal!

So stop stressing about what to buy and come to the studio for a gift certificate. With 100% satisfaction guaranteed, you simply can't go wrong.

Winter Stroll

2010-12-02T10:29:00.002-05:00

This year's Winter Holiday Stroll was fun to photograph. From my vantage point at the top of a downtown building, I had great views of the throng as it passed from City Hall down Main St and up to the Hunt Building. It was windy again this year, but thankfully not nearly as bad as last year.

After the tree was lit I joined in the festivities at street level, enjoying the various live acts that were around the downtown as well as stopping in to a few of my favorite downtown retailers. Just a quick note to mention that shopping downtown is good for your quality of life. Local merchants are not beholden to remote corporate offices, as are the mall stores. So we can offer unique items, not just the same old stuff. It is perhaps a bit ironic that I have only come to realize the bounty of what is available downtown since becoming a downtown merchant myself. Do yourself a favor and come downtown and browse the shops. You'll be glad you did.

Santa is coming!

2010-11-05T11:00:00.004-04:00

We've set the dates for our annual portraits with Santa! There's no need to wait in an endless line at the mall when you can have a boutique experience at a mall price.

Call and book your session now to reserve a time that is convenient for you to minimize waiting, or you can always just walk in. You will have a first class experience at very affordable prices.

Our first session with Santa is on Ladies Night, November 18th, from 6-9pm. Come down with your girlfriends for a night out shopping before the holiday crush is on, and treat yourself to a photo with your girlies. We will have snacks and beverages to make it a particularly fun time, and bonus bucks for all gift certificates purchased that night! That's right- you can buy a gift certificate for someone else and get something for yourself at no extra charge! Last year Ladies Night was a blast, and this year we hope to make it even more fun.

Note that on Thanksgiving weekend, our Santa sessions will be held across the street from the Studio, at 94-96 Main St, at Nashua's first Festival of Trees. This will be during "Breakfast with Santa", from 9-11am.

Bird's Eye View

2010-11-04T18:47:00.004-04:00

"I shot the Mayor, but I did not shoot the aldermen..." (Apologies to Bob Marley)

Being a photographer sometimes affords one "once in a lifetime" opportunities. And so it was this week, when we got to climb the scaffolding surrounding City Hall and "shoot the Mayor" against the eagle. The eagle is 8 feet tall and 7 feet wide, and the top of his head is about 120 feet above pavement.

Thanks, Mayor Lozeau, for getting us up there!

You get a great view of the city from up there. While up there, I created this panorama of Nashua, looking north.

Nashua Chamber Annual Dinner

2010-10-31T13:29:00.004-04:00

We recently participated in the Nashua Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner. This year's theme was "Mad Men", a TV show on AMC about advertising executives in a high powered Madison Avenue ad firm set in the 1960s. Theme attire was encouraged, and the Chamber staff, Liz Baker in particular, did a great job in arranging for props for the photo room.

We had a blast!

Lots of people were very interested in seeing the pictures, so we created a gallery of images. Please note that all the images are copyright protected. Prints are available- at very reasonable prices- call the studio at 603.886.0957 for details.

Click here for the full gallery

Here are a few of the images:

Adrianna's session

2010-10-21T17:19:00.002-04:00

We've had a recent spate of babies coming into the studio, starting with the lovely Adrianna. Adrianna came in with her mom Emily last week, and she was such a love! So cute, and so well behaved. It was a treat to photograph her and her mom.

Support for Jensine

2010-10-20T18:55:00.003-04:00

We at Studio Mark Emile feel very strongly that our troops need and deserve our support. For that reason, we offer a free session and 11x14 print to any active duty military personnel.

Jensine first came to us several years ago, as a high school senior. And now she is off to Kuwait, serving her country. We are very proud to have shot her senior portraits, and we are prouder still to have created these portraits with her family.

Godspeed, Jensine. Thank you for all you do for our country.

What is the Session Fee For?

2010-10-06T15:12:00.002-04:00

When you have a session with us, you pay a session fee. You may be wondering exactly what you are paying for.

We are not a walk-in studio. You need to schedule an appointment. This helps our studio run smoothly, ensures that we will have the personnel necessary to provide you with the exemplary service you have come to expect, and prevents other people from infringing on your session. Part of the session fee pays for the scheduling and consultation prior to your session.

During your session, we have a photographer and at least one assistant present for your session. We create the images at this time, generally an hour or more. So you are paying for two people to take care of you and create images for you. If we did nothing else, the session fee would be a good deal. But we do a lot more.

After you leave, we download all the images and go through them one at a time to select the best images to show you. We tweak white balance, adjust color and density, and crop all of the images. Some of the images we choose to show you in black and white, sepia, or one of our custom color styles. We pick a few images and fully rework them so you can see just how profound a difference there is between images straight from the camera and final images. All of this takes time and skill. The session fee is paying for part of that.

Once the images are prepared for your premier (the viewing and ordering session), they are brought to the premier room and set up for you. Your premier lasts about an hour, during which time you are given expert guidance to determine the best prints and products to purchase. The person who is conducting your premier is not a volunteer. Part of your session fee is going to pay them for their time.

If you think about the amount of care, skill, and time you are getting for your session fee, you are really getting a good deal even though the session fee has not purchased a single image. The session fee has put you in a position to purchase images; it has brought about the images that you may purchase. We at Studio Mark Emile take a lot of pride in providing a top notch experience from the first phone call to the final delivery, not to mention the care and skill that we bring to the creation of the images that you will enjoy for the rest of your life.

What the session fee does not do is purchase any rights to use any of the images created in any way. That is what the print prices are for. And in this digital age, the file prices and licensing terms for those files. This is what copyright is all about. When you create an original work, you get to decide under what conditions it may be replicated, if at all. When you purchase a file, you are essentially purchasing a copy of the file and a limited license to make use of that file. We do this on purpose to keep the cost as reasonable as possible. By strictly limiting the uses of the images, we are preventing people with lesser needs from subsidizing those with larger needs. Do you think you should pay the same to use your headshot on business cards as someone who plans on putting a headshot on hundreds of thousands of boxes of hair color? Neither do we, so we license usage and you pay according to how many rights and how much usage you need.

We hope we have given a little insight into what you are getting for your session fee, and why we need to charge it in the first place.

REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-Photography Spending Pays Off

2010-10-05T14:46:00.001-04:00

REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-Photography Spending Pays Off

Hey, no kidding. Getting better photographs of your place helps it sell faster, for more money. Who could have predicted that?

A Wonderful Family

2010-09-27T09:15:00.002-04:00

Recently the Ally family came in for a portrait. We were thrilled to have three generations to work with, including newlyweds. We were happy to be able to provide them with these fine portraits.

Denim to Diamonds 2010!

2010-09-22T15:17:00.005-04:00

The 2nd annual Denim to Diamonds fashion show and ovarian cancer research fundraiser was held this past Sunday at Saffron Bistro in downtown Nashua. Studio Mark Emile is proud to have been selected to cover this worthy and fun event, and were happy to donate not only our services for the evening but also a family session with a framed 16x20 print to the silent auction.

This annual event feature fashions from Fresh of Nashua and jewelry from Scontsas jewelers. It is both a fun evening out for women who enjoy the fashion show, but also a sobering experience when the ovarian cancer survivors share their personal journeys. It underscores the worthiness of the cause to hear the speakers, and there are few dry eyes in the house when they share such a personal and often painful story.

The fashions and jewelry for the fashion show were just terrific, and as the pictures show, the ladies sure had a good time, whether they were modeling or in the audience.

Click here to go to the Denim to Diamonds gallery

Note that you CAN purchase prints at our special event pricing, AND make a donation to Ovations for the Cure at the same time. Studio Mark Emile will be donating 50% of the profits on all sales from this event, so pick up a 5x7 or 8x10. Call the studio at 886-0957 to place your order.

Please note that all these images are copyrighted. Please do not steal them by printing them.

Fun With Tavia!

2010-09-15T12:13:00.002-04:00

Senior season has been very good to us, and we are loving how busy we are. It's really hard to keep with things like posting to the blog, because we are so backed up with the rest of running a busy studio. Plus the yearbook deadlines are approaching like a speeding train, and we are simply not going to let any of our seniors miss their deadlines on our account.

So I am going back a couple of weeks to show you Tavia's images. Tavia attends Nashua South, and was a great subject. She has multiple interests including basketball, lacrosse, and her car is her pride and joy. She is also very close to her family. We were able to incorporate all of these elements into her sessions, and she has some great images.

Colton's Sessions

2010-09-02T18:25:00.003-04:00

We recently photographed Colton for his senior portraits. A senior at Alvirne, he has a strong interest in agriculture and is a standout baseball player. We photographed him both on-location as well as in the studio, and got a ton of great stuff. Here are a few favorites, as well as a video with even more of his images.

Recent Business Portraits

2010-08-20T19:23:00.002-04:00

Even though we are in the middle of summer, aka vacation season, business goes on. Many people find it an ideal time to get a nice business headshot. People are tanned and fit and relaxed and it lends itself to nice images. Exhibits A, B and C:

Angela's Senior Portrait Video

2010-08-20T11:22:00.000-04:00

Enjoy!

The story of Amelia

2010-08-15T16:43:00.003-04:00

As difficult as it is for us to admit, we do not always get first dibs at our seniors. Sometimes they come to us after someone else has failed to deliver. And so it is with Amelia. Amelia came to us having already been to another studio and having been very disappointed with the resulting images. "Only 2 or 3 were even acceptable", and having remembered my presentation at Bishop Guertin's career day, she asked her mom to give us a shot. We're so glad they did.

The other photographer came highly recommended by her cousin, but the truth is that not every photographer meshes with every client. It's a very individual thing. That's why it pays to research photographers well to determine if they do the style of photography that appeals to you. Fortunately, Amelia was a great subject, we worked together wonderfully, and she got images she is happy to show off. Which is exactly as it should be. Here's a quick sampling of her stuff (and yes, Amelia, your beloved Pandora bracelet, too!) :)

Jess' Belly Session

2010-08-15T14:59:00.002-04:00

Jess and John came in for a belly session recently, and we got a chance to play. We had fun creating images of the two of them, and especially her baby bump. We're glad to share some of them here.

Merrimack Senior

2010-08-04T13:29:00.003-04:00

We recently did a senior session with DJ, a senior at Merrimack High School. We had a good time on a beautiful summer evening.

DJ is interested in becoming a firefighter, and is currently in an Explorer Post. We included his gear in some of the images.

Capturing Who You Are

2010-07-28T13:18:00.004-04:00

Senior portraits are all about capturing who you are at this point in your life. You are on the verge of huge changes that will forever change what your life is like, and our passion is to capture you as you are. We make a big deal out of this, because it is important. We are not the place to come to if you are getting your portraits done "because I have to" or if you want your pictures to look exactly like everyone else's.

"A picture is what you look like; a portrait is who you are."

We create portraits. To do this successfully, you need not only the cooperation of the subject, but their active participation. This is what separates portraits from pictures.

Nicole came to us for portraits, and she really got what we are trying to do. Consequently, she had a number of portraits to choose from. It's a fun process. It's a great experience. And then you have all these great images to choose from.

Here are a few of our favorites from Nicole's session:

Think you know a little bit about her now? Let us tell YOUR story. It may make your mom cry. But it's ok, we have plenty of tissues.

More dancers from the Dance Company NH

2010-07-22T14:53:00.004-04:00

Tarryn brought in her little dancers yesterday, and it was bedlam in the studio. Amidst the general craziness, we actually managed to create some images. It was a fun, albeit somewhat exhausting process. Here's a sneak preview of some of our faves.

Outside with Angela

2010-07-21T10:52:00.003-04:00

Angela arrived for her first of two sessions with a friend in tow, as well as her dog. While nasty thunderstorms plagued much of the rest of New England, we were spared and managed to get our entire session in with only a few raindrops. Angela models and dances and is a blast to photograph. We are really looking forward to her studio session.

Buddy shots and the inclusion of family pets into your sessions is not only allowed but encouraged and is included in the cost of the session. Our goal is to provide you with a memorable and unparalleled experience, and to provide outstanding images. Try us out and see if you agree that we deliver on that promise.

"What a cute dog. What's his name?" "Askim" {puzzled look} "Hey dog, what's your name?" "Arf arf" Apparently the dog's name is Arf Arf. ;)

Angela and her friend Ashley

Shana's slideshow!

2010-07-19T15:12:00.001-04:00

Shana's senior portraits! Enjoy the show!

Nashua Chamber BAH at P&L Landscaping

2010-07-17T10:41:00.003-04:00

We've been members of the Nashua Chamber of Commerce since we moved downtown a couple of years ago, and we attend just about all of the Business After Hours events. It's a good opportunity for networking, and the food and beverages are usually pretty good.

This past Wednesday, the BAH was held at P&L Landscaping. We've been working with Eric Brand, the owner of P&L, to supply images for the P&L website and their home show booth. The images have been coming out great, which is awesome because they show off the terrific work that P&L does.

Eric asked us to cover the BAH event, and we were happy to do so. Food was provided by Amigo's restaurant, which is located right next door to P&L. They really did a great job.

Smiles abound at the BAH.

Networking and making new friends and contacts.

Chamber President Chris Williams addresses the crowd.

P&L Owner Eric Brand at the mic

The highlight of the event was the limbo. Kym shows her winning form.

Dance Dance Dance!

2010-07-09T15:25:00.003-04:00

Tarryn came to the studio with the first tranche of dancers for us to photograph. We had a blast! Capturing images for Tarryn's new studio is a great way to spend a Wednesday evening.

We started off in the studio, letting the girls jump. The captures are not that easy, but they sure are rewarding.

At the end, the girls wanted to do something outside. So we did. hehehe. Raised a few eyebrows, too!

Thanks, girls (and boy!) for such a fun time. Can't wait until we get the little bitties in the studio...

Derek and Vanessa's Wedding

2010-07-07T12:11:00.004-04:00

Studio Mark Emile recently photographed the nuptials of Derek Gagnon and Vanessa Masias at the Zorvino Vineyards in Sandown, New Hampshire. What a lovely couple!

We had not yet been to Zorvino Vineyards, and it is a gem tucked away on 80 acres in Sandown. The grounds are immaculate, and it is an ideal location for an intimate wedding.

We were thrilled to have been chosen to photograph this momentous occasion. Derek and Vanessa are such nice people it was a pleasure to be there to share and capture this moment in their lives.

Here is a sneak peak of the images we created for them.

The bombs bursting in air

2010-07-06T14:58:00.003-04:00

Independence Day fireworks celebration in Nashua. Another stunning display. Nuff said!

Happy Birthday, America!

Shana Rocks

2010-07-05T10:59:00.003-04:00

Shana had a session at her home as well as one in the studio. We had so much fun! Shana is quite the interesting girl. A bit tomboyish, but also loves being a girl (and dressing like one!) Such a blast to photograph. We got so much stuff, we have no idea how she and her mom are going to pick!

Shana is a perfect example of how coming to Studio Mark Emile for your senior portraits is more than just "getting pictures done", it's an experience. And after this great experience, you have all these terrific images to last you the rest of your life.

Here's your sneak peek, Shana!

Last Call for discounted senior sessions!

2010-06-29T17:43:00.002-04:00

As our discounts for senior session fees nears an end, we thought we'd prod those of you who "mean to" call, to pick up the phone and save some money. Our current 25% discount expires on July 1st, with sessions to be completed by July 15th (and there are not that many openings left!) So don't delay.

Be smart, like Amelia, who visited the studio yesterday. Amelia, from Nashua South, is a vivacious girl. Photographing her was a pleasure. We had fun, and will be doing a location session soon!

Here are a few to whet her appetite:

Get it on the fun by calling the studio: 603.886.0957

Exciting news for the Studio!

2010-06-26T10:41:00.005-04:00

Studio Mark Emile is proud to announce its acceptance into the Click Group.

“The Click Group is America’s fastest growing group of independent portrait photographers. Only studios with exceptional skills and that have the highest levels of customer service are able to join. Each studio is personally vetted by The Click Group’s International President who together with his team carefully monitors each studio continuously to make sure that they continue to offer each and every client the very best photographic experience possible.”

The Click Group is currently running an unbelievable promotion. A FREE session and complimentary 5x7. All it takes is a phone call. After they get your information, they forward it to the closest studio. You will be contacted by the studio to set up the session, which requires a refundable $20 deposit. So long as you show up to your session, you get the $20 back, or credited to any additional prints or products you may choose to purchase. But the session and the 5x7 are free. What a bargain!

Here's how to get in on this incredible promotion: (and this works all over the US!!!)

www.clickgroupusa.com/index.asp

Dalianis House Ribbon Cutting

2010-06-18T11:58:00.004-04:00

Today was the ceremony to mark the opening of Dalianis House, transitional housing for veterans. Named in honor of General Griffin Dalianis, and sited at the former home of Avery's Furniture, Dalianis House has been totally transformed. Various dignitaries attended this morning's ceremony, along with a throng of people. Studio Mark Emile is happy to have been chosen to create the portrait of Griff which will hang in Dalianis House.

Quite a crowd!

Raise your hand if you are a veteran

Counting down

And the ribbon is cut!

Announcing the Inaugural Visual Arts Scholarship Recipient

2010-06-16T15:56:00.003-04:00

Studio Mark Emile, in recognition of the importance of higher education in the arts, instituted a Visual Arts Scholarship this year. Designed to provide assistance to a student interested in pursuing a talent in the visual arts, it was opened to any Alvirne High School student who had committed to a program of studies in the visual arts.

To apply for the scholarship, in addition to filling out the general scholarship application, each applicant needed to submit a piece of artwork for evaluation. The scholarship would be awarded to the person submitting the artwork that demonstrated the most promise.

The judging was not that easy. There were photographs and drawings and graphic art pieces entered. Each entry demonstrated potential. After deliberations, a pencil drawing of crumpling paper bags by student and artist Karen Kuhns was deemed the winning entry. The detail and subtle shading were the main factors pushing this entry over the top.

As Karen did not make the Scholarship Awards Night, we had her into the studio for a picture of her with her winning entry.

Studio Mark Emile is proud to have instituted this scholarship, and would like to expand to additional schools in the coming years. We would also like to thank fellow merchants who also contributed to the scholarship fund, allowing us to provide a $1000 check to Ms Kuhns. Fred Ramos, of Showtime Computers in Hudson, Wally Miller of Walter Miller Electric, and Amanda Garner of Motives Cosmetics- thank you SO MUCH for your support for this worthy cause. We would encourage the readers of this blog to make use of the goods and services from these fine folks who give back to the community so generously.

Sweet babies!

2010-06-16T12:59:00.002-04:00

We have been blessed lately with some very sweet babies to photograph! First were the 3 month old twins, Colby and Ashlynn. My, how they've grown since their newborn sessions! Such sweet little babies. Mom and dad are clearly in love with their little ones. It was a joy to photograph them

Next up was the lovely Hand family. Niky and Jeremy brought in their new bundle of joy, Aylin Rose, for her first trip to the studio. What an active and alert 2 week old! I thought she was going to roll herself over. Then a proud Jeremy showed us a cell phone video of her doing just that!

We had a very eventful session, right Niky? LOL. But seriously, we had a lot of fun and even got Miss Aylin to cooperate for some sleeping baby images. What an angel!

If you have recently had a baby, you need to get in on our Baby Plan. It's a great way to preserve the memories of the first year, and comes at a very attractive price as well. The end result is a 10x30 matted and framed composite image from 4 sessions taken during your child's first year. This would normally cost $599 by itself, but if you invest in the Baby Plan, you pay only $299 up front, which includes the first session, and the 3 subsequent sessions are only $50 each (a savings of $25 per session). That's it. In all you save over %50 over the cost of the sessions and framed composite purchased individually.

And the regular senior season begins...

2010-06-08T11:40:00.003-04:00

Now that the Class of 2011 seniors are in the homestretch of their junior years, we have begun to get some action on the senior portrait front. For those of you that missed the 50% off senior session fee deadline, you still have time to get in here and save 25% on your sessions! The 25% discount ends on July 1, for sessions to be completed by July 15.

Damian comes to us from Texas, via Alvirne. He has completed his studio session, and will be back for a location session. One of the big advantages of this approach is that you learn a lot about the experience during your first session and are better prepared for the second session, not to mention that your comfort level is such that the warming up period is a lot shorter!

Here are a few shots of Damian

Talking about different kinds of seniors!

2010-05-26T16:55:00.002-04:00

At Studio Mark Emile, we get a bunch of high school seniors around this time. This year, we've gotten some college seniors as well. Well, we now have SENIOR seniors to add to the mix.

A week or two ago, I took the call from a "senior" who wanted information about sessions. I spoke to her a little bit, but I have to say she did not sound like the typical senior who calls here. With a little prodding it all made sense; she wanted a headshot for a dating site. We recently had her in and she chose several shots in different outfits.

We also had a nice lady in today who hadn't had a portrait done since high school. Another senior senior. Could be the start of a trend...

Introducing Mariah!

2010-05-02T11:50:00.003-04:00

Mariah is another new spokesmodel for the studio. She is attending Alvirne. We had a dynamite session with her, and we've been dying to share them. Feast your eyes!

If you want a rockin' session of your own, find Mariah or one of our other spokesmodels and get one of her bookmarks. Save some cash at the hottest senior studio in greater Nashua!

Welcoming Travis to the Spokesmodel Team

2010-05-01T09:51:00.002-04:00

Travis is our latest spokesmodel, and he attends Nashua South. He's an interesting guy- with varied interests, and consequently is fun to photograph. He plays varsity lacrosse and hockey, likes to ride dirt bikes and 4 wheelers, etc. If you go to South, seek him out. He can save you money on your senior portrait package at Studio Mark Emile. His bookmarks represent a $25 savings to you on your package here at the studio.

NHPPA Print Competition

2010-04-26T10:22:00.006-04:00

Yesterday the annual print competition for New Hampshire Professional Photographers Association was held. While I was not able to attend this year, I did send a case, and got some results by friends who were present. It was a reasonably successful case this year, and I am pleased to announce my first Judge's Choice ribbon, on one of my 3 blue ribbon prints, and my first Kodak Gallery Award!

Without further ado, my case for NHPPA this year:

"Copydog" 81 points, blue ribbon, Judge's Choice Award

"Inner Workings" 83 points, blue ribbon, Kodak Gallery Award

"Attitude" 80 points, blue ribbon

"Where the Concrete Meets the Sky" 79 points, red ribbon

"Bump" 77 points, red ribbon

I also want to give a shout out to Dennis Johnson at Avalon Editions for terrific prints and lightning fast turn-around. Thanks, Dennis!

A different kind of senior

2010-04-13T16:46:00.003-04:00

High school seniors is a mainstay of our business here at Studio Mark Emile, but we get other seniors as well. And this time, I am not referring to senior citizens. :) This is Samantha, who is about to graduate from the University of New Hampshire. Yes, college seniors get photographed, too. And if you are like Sam, who hated her high school senior portraits (done elsewhere, of course!), then college graduation is a great time to rectify that.

Sam brought her boyfriend, who was included in some buddy pictures. As always, buddy shots are included in your session at Studio Mark Emile at no additional charge.

Enjoy these images of Sam (and Evan, too!)

Fenway Tour

2010-04-09T18:17:00.002-04:00

My daughter Renee and her sons finally made a trip up north, and we have been visiting with them all week for the first time in a couple of years. It has been wonderful having all my girls home at one time for the first time in a long time. We took the grandsons to Fenway Park yesterday, as the boys are baseball junkies (and jocks in their own right.) We took the Fenway Tour, which I can highly recommend even if you are a lifelong Red Sox fan and think you know a lot about the park. There were quite a few nuggets that I learned, and I have been watching the Sox for decades. (There's an ouch in there somewhere.)

Here are a few shots from our trip.

Professional Business Portraits Spring Special

2010-04-05T17:52:00.003-04:00

Here in Nashua we have a LOT of business professionals. Doctors, lawyers, accountants, real estate agents, mortgage officers, executives of all types. And one thing they have in common is a need for solid, professional portraiture. With the advent of digital cameras, it has become easy and inexpensive to obtain a reasonably well-exposed snapshot. And that is precisely what an awful lot of people have done "to save some money". The problem is, it looks it. And if you are a professional, the last thing you want to do is look like you don't care enough about yourself to present yourself as a professional.

The web has become the dominant source of information for consumers looking to find services. Because it can seem so impersonal, having images of the people with whom you will be dealing is crucial; consumers want to know there are real people behind that web presence facade. That being the case, it has never been more important to look your best. Whether you are planning on putting your portrait on a business card, on your website, or even if you issue press releases or write articles, having a solid, professional portrait gives you a leg up on the competition who consider a poorly lit, unretouched snapshot to be "good enough". Give your customers a reason to pick you. Show that you care.

Studio Mark Emile is here to help. With professional portraits starting at just $150, and quantity discounts beginning at 5 portraits, you can afford to get portraits of your entire team. And ALL of our images are expertly retouched. You will never look better! Act before May 1st to extend the image license by one year for FREE.

Miami After Dark- WOW!!!

2010-04-05T16:02:00.002-04:00

After Dark Education is an amazing experience, putting participants in close contact with top photographers from across the country and indeed the world, in an environment that is designed for sharing, exploration and discovery. I recently had the good fortune to return from 4 intense days in Miami at the latest After Dark event. It was incredible!

I return to NH inspired and totally primed to bring the photographic experience at Studio Mark Emile to the next level. What a great tune-up for seniors season!

Here are a few of the MANY images created:

Our first spokesmodel of the season

2010-03-24T11:49:00.006-04:00

Introducing Peter D! Peter is our first spokesmodel for the studio this year, and is a senior for the class of 2011 at Alvirne High School in Hudson. If you are a friend of Peter, hit him up for a studio bookmark. It will entitle you to $25 off your senior portrait purchase at Studio Mark Emile, the BEST place in the Nashua area to get your senior portraits done.

Because we are not a volume studio, we can pay attention to the details and spend the time to create senior portraits that you will absolutely love! Being a senior in high school is a really special time in your life, as you begin your transition from adolescence to adulthood. Creating lasting images to capture who you are at this juncture is what we do. It is our passion.

By the way, we are still looking for additional spokesmodels for all the area schools.

To learn more about the spokesmodel program

To apply to be a Studio Mark Emile spokesmodel

Storm's Aftermath

2010-03-18T11:38:00.003-04:00

A couple years ago we experienced the "100 year flood" when we received 12 or 13" of rain one Mother's Day weekend. This past weekend was nearly a repeat performance. It rained most of last week and culminated with quite a windstorm (though thankfully less severe than the one we got a couple of weeks ago that cost 250k NHites their power.

As the studio is right next to the Nashua River, we saw how high the river got as a result of this storm. There are STILL places upstream where the river is over its banks and causing road flooding. I did grab a few pictures of this event.

The view upstream from the Main St Bridge next to the studio.

The Main St Bridge, upstream side, showing a tree lodged in the bridge, trapping all sorts of detritus.

The tree became a real concern and the city had it removed. It was quite a production.

The view of the top of the dam looking downstream.

Side view of the dam. The water is surging at the base of the dam.

Maternity at SME

2010-03-18T11:20:00.004-04:00

We have been blessed with some maternity sessions of late at the studio. Expectant moms and dads make for a wonderful opportunity to capture a moment in time. These two ladies are pregnant with their first children; in one case, twins! How very exciting for both these couples.

We are really looking forward to the newborn sessions!

Snow Day!

2010-02-16T18:08:00.002-05:00

There are few things that bring more joy into a teenager's life than a snow day. Turn off the shower, go back to bed, there's no school! We've all been there. Well, what else do you do when there's no school? How about go to the studio and get photos with your boyfriend and his little brother?

That's what our daughter did today. It was a pleasant interruption to our otherwise busy day.

Alvirne HS Semi

2010-01-25T16:18:00.001-05:00

No better time for a dance than a Saturday Night. And of course, if your going to a semi formal dance, ya gotta have pictures. This group dropped by the studio on their way out. Lots of fun & lots of noise! These guys were definitely ready for a great time.

Ryan comes to play!

2010-01-25T15:56:00.004-05:00

Ok, so he can't really play yet, but we can certainly enjoy his company! Saturday morning bright & early Ryan and his MomKaitlyn, along with Grandma and Auntie, showed up to have Ryan's first pictures taken. At 13 days old, he was a very agreeable little fellow with nary a peep out of him. Of course, we kept him warm & comfy, and we all took turns holding him. There is just nothing like a new baby to snuggle with. Keep watching, Ryan will be back with us for his 3month photo before you know it!

We Love Babies!

2010-01-20T17:31:00.002-05:00

Little Alita had her first visit to the studio yesterday, and she was a delight! Such a good-natured little one! Mom and dad were as impressed by her behavior as we were. Maybe next time we will meet Alita's older brother.

Here are a few shots from our session.

What those letters mean

2010-01-19T17:06:00.005-05:00

If you follow photographers for any length of time, you will notice that some of them start to accumulate letters after their name, and you may wonder what that is all about. Basically, it is a way for photographers to distinguish themselves among other photographers.

The Professional Photographers of America (PPA) have a set of degrees that a photographer can earn. In Nashville, I was awarded my Craftsman Photographer degree, entitling me to add Cr. Photog. after my name. The craftsman degree is awarded to photographers who share their knowledge with other photographers to pass on what they have learned from those who came before us as well as what we figured out on our own. Whether it is posing techniques or command of a particular software or whatever, if you pass it onto others you earn speaking merits which you can accumulate to earn a craftsman degree. This is kind of a big deal- you are called up on stage with your sponsor, who puts the ribbon and medallion around your neck, and receive the degree itself from the President of PPA, all the while your image is projected onto a huge screen for the audience to see. It's a big achievement and a big honor, and I am pleased to announce this accomplishment. I chose my wife Betsy for my sponsor, because she more than any other person is responsible for pushing me in this direction, to purse this passion and make it a career.

Mark Levesque, CPP, Cr. Photog., A.C. Ph

CPP: Certified Professional Photographer (written test & image submission)
Cr. Photog.: Craftsman Photographer, bestowed by PPA, explained above
A.C. Ph: Associate Colleague of Photography, bestowed by NHPPA

Images courtesy of Jeff Dachowski

Ready to Rock

2010-01-14T09:00:00.002-05:00

Betsy and I just returned from Imaging USA, the largest gathering of photographic professionals in the world, which was held at the Opryland Convention Center in Nashville. Wow! How inspiring!

Aside from the pleasure of reconnecting with friends (and making new friends, of course), we attended seminars to further our ability to create personalized art pieces for our clients, and sought out new products to provide our clients with the best and most interesting tangible manifestations of their portrait experience at Studio Mark Emile.

We are excited by the new products that we will be offering this year and the ways we've learned to make the portrait experience at Studio Mark Emile even better. The techniques we've learned to improve the quality of our image-making is simply the icing on the cake.

The international print exhibit is worth the trip all on its own. Photographers from around the world enter prints in this annual competition of the best of the best, and it is an honor to hang a print in this show. Let me just say that the images are inspirational to say the least.

We have a number of exciting announcements to make here on the blog. Stay tuned!

Studio Graffiti

2010-01-04T16:48:00.003-05:00

Prior to last year's senior season, we got in touch with a graffiti artist who agreed to paint one of our interior walls. He is henceforward referred to as Mr No-Show. We got busy with senior season and really couldn't get around to finding anyone else for months. Then, last fall, our youngest told us about some friends of hers that "did graffiti".

They came into chat and show us their ideas, and we settled on some paints and such. We decided to give them a shot to play on a large canvas- our entire studio wall. They were practically giddy at the prospect. We finally got together yesterday for their day to play. Their "couple of hours" turned out to be a full day.

They had a blast. I have had enough Ironlak vapors to last me awhile. ;)

A blank canvas:

Making progress

The artists

The finished work

Thank you Shawn and Justin! We think it looks great.

A lovely family

2009-12-17T14:50:00.002-05:00

We get a fair number of families in for portraits here at the studio, and sometimes one or more of the family members are in from out of town. Well, this family redefines "out of town". Mom flew in from the Philippines! How cool is that? It's hard to be from much farther away than that!

This was one of the easiest sessions we've ever had. It was one of those times when everything goes right, and I literally could have picked the images with my eyes closed because they were virtually all good ones. And they are all such nice people, it is a thrill to be able to create such images for them.

We are putting up a few here so that people back in the Philippines can enjoy them before Yvette returns. I won't ruin the whole surprise, but here's a glimpse:

Getting a jump on things

2009-12-16T17:36:00.005-05:00

Well, the Class of 2010 may not yet be graduated, but by now the vast majority of the the senior portraits have long been done, given the early yearbook deadlines. We may get the occasional late bird or dissatisfied customer from somewhere else, but the senior market is very quiet this time of year. So I was a bit surprised to get a call from a mom inquiring into senior portraits for her daughter who is in the Class of '11.

Seems her daughter was getting braces put back on and wanted her yearbook picture to be braces-free. No problemo. Bring her down and have her bring clothes and things that are meaningful to her, and we'll have some fun and create some cool images. And we did.

Shoshana turned out to be a great subject- cute, brimming with personality, and just plain a delight to be around. We had a very successful session, and everyone has been pleased with the results, some of which I share here. This is the earliest of early-birds that we've ever had, and we are delighted to start off next year's senior season with such a great senior. Enjoy.

Announcing our Bonus Bucks Program

2009-12-14T11:09:00.003-05:00

This is our ad which ran in the Hudson-Litchfield News.

Here's the skinny: any gift certificate you buy qualifies you for Studio Mark Emile Bonus Bucks at 25% of the value of your gift certificate. Bonus Bucks are studio credit which can be used up to March 31, 2010. So if you give someone a $100 gift certificate, you have $25 in studio credit you can use yourself (or give to someone else). There is no limit. So spend $1000, and get a $1000 gift certificate AND $250 of studio credit.

Portraiture is a great gift. Maybe you know a real estate agent or other professional that needs a new business card headshot. That's only $150, and you'd get $37.50 in bonus bucks for yourself.

This special offer is for a limited time only. Purchases must be made by Christmas Eve to qualify!

Fun with Santa

2009-12-07T13:23:00.004-05:00

Having Santa in the studio has been a blast. Whether it was Girls Night Out or our daytime sessions, we've had plenty of frivolity- and not a few tears. Some of our younger clients apparently do not yet appreciate the generous nature of the jolly old elf. Honestly, some of those images are my favorites.

Here's a sampling of our pics with Santa.

One of the doggies who joined us:

A family:

Girls Night Out hijinx:

Nik and Mike

For this little one, the magic question was "do you like pizza?" :)

Honestly, I AM smiling. Really.

Winter Holiday Stroll

2009-12-02T16:02:00.002-05:00

Saturday night was the annual Nashua Winter Holiday Stroll. This eagerly anticipated event happens every year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and is always well attended. This year was no exception. Sadly, howling winds made the candle-lit procession to the tree-lighting all but impossible. I saw only a handful of candles in the throng. I was atop the Hunt building to get some images of this very procession, and the wind up there was brutal. Even with a tripod it was very difficult to prevent movement of the camera. I salvaged a few shots.

Here they come:

And the tree is lit.

Thanksgiving brings families together

2009-11-27T18:07:00.002-05:00

And while Black Friday means shop 'til you drop for some, for others it means taking advantage of family being in town for family portraits. Take the Retter family, for instance. Mrs Retter came into the studio one hot summer day looking to get some color copies made. While this is not exactly what we do, it's something we can do, and so I did at a really good price just to be nice. While she was in I suggested that she get a family portrait done, and suggested that Thanksgiving weekend might be good since her son is away at school. A few weeks ago she called, and scheduled an appointment for today. They came in this morning and we had a nice, easy session. Here are a few of the previews they will be viewing:

Oh, what fun!

2009-11-21T14:26:00.004-05:00

Santa came to the studio today for the first of his appearances, and we have a couple of the images that we created today to share. First up is Brennan, who is modeling our traditional look. Brennan is a cute little guy, but not too fond of the jolly old elf quite yet. Still, we had our share of laughs at his expense. :)

Next is Nina, who is showing our Rockwell style portraits with Santa. Observant followers of the blog will notice it is Nina's second appearance. A lovely young lady, who wants some Wii games for Christmas. What kind of games? "The fun ones, of course!" LOL

Santa returns to the studio on Nov 29th, from 10-4, the day after the Winter Holiday Stroll. Call the studio now to reserve your session at 886-0957.

As Thanksgiving Approaches

2009-11-18T14:20:00.002-05:00

Thanksgiving is barely a week away, and we at Studio Mark Emile would like to encourage those of you who are going to take advantage of your families being together by getting a family portrait on Thanksgiving weekend to secure your sessions ASAP. We hate to disappoint, but there are only so many slots left, and we have a very full schedule over the weekend. Saturday night is Nashua's Winter Holiday Stroll, and Sunday we have Santa coming from 10-4. All we have left is a small number of slots on Friday afternoon and Saturday, so don't delay! Call the studio at (603) 886-0957 and make sure that your family portrait session is secured before all available slots are filled.

Aside from the fact that family from far flung places may be back for the Thanksgiving holiday, there is one other very good reason to get your sessions scheduled pronto. Time is running out on our promotion of 25 custom designed holiday or Christmas cards FREE with a family portrait. Thanksgiving weekend is the last weekend before that offer expires, furthermore we are rapidly approaching the holiday deadline after which we can no longer guarantee delivery in time for Christmas.

Here are a couple of the cover designs we have done so far this year to give you an idea of what we are doing for our custom cards. With a variety of finishes available, these cards are sure to impress and many people keep the cards from year to year, so well are they loved by the recipients. You don't want to miss this deal!

Guess Who's Coming to Studio Mark Emile!

2009-11-12T11:08:00.003-05:00

That's right, that jolly old elf from the North Pole, Santa Claus!

Why hassle with long lines at the mall only to get terrible pictures? We have convenient parking, specially priced prints, and the big man himself! Bring your little ones, bring your dogs, bring your girlfriends. It's going to be so fun!

We have multiple days set aside for Santa photos.

Especially for Kids and Pets:
Saturday, November 21, from 10-2
Sunday, November 29, from 10-4
Saturday, December 5, from 10-4

And we are also having Girls Night Out with Santa
Thursday, December 3rd, from 6-9pm

Happy Halloween

2009-11-02T12:25:00.002-05:00

We took a few shots of the grandkids when they arrived at our home for "trick or treat". One little ghost and little bo peep. :) Such cuties.

New Orleans

2009-10-26T17:19:00.003-04:00

We are back from a series of speaking engagements for some of the professional photography guilds in southern Lousiana. We spoke to the guilds in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Lafayette. What a great tour!

We flew in a day early as we had never been to Louisiana. We can't wait to go back! It is so cool down there. We managed to spend 3 days and nights in the vieux carré, aka french quarter. It was AMAZING! So much history, it almost looks like a theme park, except it's real. So many textures, artists, examples of great architecture, and so much fun! For a photographer, it is a target rich environment. I could have spent the entire time shooting and still had reasons to go back.

Our hotel was located near Jackson Square, just a stone's throw from Cafe du Monde, where we sampled the beignets the first morning. We ate very well. Love that creole and cajun cooking!

We are looking at going back and bringing our youngest with us. Can't wait! Never been to a place that served all its alcohol in "to go" cups, and let you roam the streets with it. Lots of live music, too. What a fun place.

Here are a few of my favorites.

Masks are everywhere in New Orleans. These were in a wonderful shop that ONLY had masks. No "3 for $10" masks here. They were all handmade works of art.

There is a rich artist community around Jackson Square. So many painters and performance artists, displaying their wares or entertaining the crowds. It's great watching talented artists create in front of your eyes.
So much cool architecture, with such character. This is on the end of Decatur St.

Jackson Square- about 30 seconds walk from our hotel, La Place d'Armes.

They line up carriages by the dozen for rides and tours. This is right across from Cafe du Monde.

Trying to catch up!

2009-10-25T11:42:00.002-04:00

We've been out of the office for a bit, having traveled to southern Louisiana to speak to several professional photography guilds. Boy, do we love Lousiana!

We had a fun time at our avatar night party. Sorry it's taken me so long to post these! Looking forward to doing it again, and we hope even more people will join us.

What are you doing on Friday?

2009-10-06T18:20:00.004-04:00

Coming to the FREE avatar party, we hope!

We are opening the studion on Friday from 6-9pm for an evening of fun, frolic, food and drink. And we are going to be taking pictures that Mark will post and you can use as your profile picture on your social medium of choice- Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, etc. Feel free to bring props, or you can use whatever you find in the studio to personalize your profile picture. We are up for whatever- it's going to be great fun and the price can't be beat.

We will also have specials for people who attend the party and want to book a family session, or want to by prints from our Friday night adventure.

All you need to do is contact Betsy at the studio to RSVP, or RSVP on the Facebook fan page for the studio (click here.) This is an all-ages event, so bring the kids.

Here are some examples of profile pictures and headshots from past sessions:

Chloé and Ruby come to visit

2009-09-23T16:52:00.004-04:00

We had a very special visit this morning from our granddaughters, Chloé and Ruby. They came to play with us at the studio, and brought us each a present- an apple they had picked themselves. Then we got down to the fun of photographing them. Chloé is now very mobile indeed, and is tough to keep up with. They were a joy to be with this morning, along with our daughter Tina.

Part of today's fun was to try on halloween costumes. We think we've found them. :)

We will be holding a special day in the studio for children to come and get their pictures taken in their costumes for a very special price. Stay tuned for our Halloween special; details to follow.

The lovely Miss Chloé sporting a delightful ladybug costume.

Big sister Ruby showing off her pitching arm in her princess costume.

Follow the leader?

Sitting like a princess...

The highlight of the day: popping bubble-pack! The sight of Ruby bouncing up and down the hallway popping the bubbles in her princess costume is one I am not likely to forget! It was hilarious. I only wish I had video.

From Denim to Diamonds

2009-09-21T21:01:00.005-04:00

Last night Studio Mark Emile was proud to be a sponsor of the "From Denim to Diamonds" fashion show, along with Scontsas Fine Jewelry, Fresh of Nashua, the Nashua Bank, Fortin-Gage, Salon Apryl, Aesthetics by Valerie, and Saffron Bistro. This event was a benefit for the Ovations for a Cure for Ovarian Cancer, and brought a number of ladies to downtown Nashua on a Sunday for such a good cause.

Getting ready
At the "Meet and Greet" wall

Fashions!

Denim and Diamonds

The organizers and the models

The entire gallery may be viewed at: http://www.studiomarkemile.com/gallery/denim/

See an image you like? Prints are available for only $20 for a 5x7 or $30 for an 8x10, and 25% of the profits will be donated to Ovations for a Cure for Ovarian Cancer. Just email mark at mark@studiomarkemile.com with the numbers of the prints you want and the quantities and he will set you right up!

Post-PPANE silliness

2009-09-16T12:23:00.003-04:00

This past weekend, aside from being rife with spanish teenagers, was also the weekend of the Professional Photographers Association of New England's annual conference. Luckily for us, it was held at the Radisson in Nashua, so we were able to do both. The PPANE conference is fun, from the print competition to the programs to the trade show, and the camaraderie you get from seeing friends from far away. And making new friends, which seems to happen spontaneously. Photographers are a friendly bunch. That's what happens when you love your job.

Anyway, we were invited to join an eclectic group from the conference for drinks at Martha's Exchange. The group included my wife and I, George Wakefield from GW Moulding, his girlfriend speaker and print judge Jill Sanders, who is also president of the Illinois PPA affiliate, another print judge Cindy Romano, John Snow from Larson, David Maheu of his eponymous background company, Christel Aprigliano from PPA national, and the President of PPA Ron Nichols and his wife Carol. Let me tell you, this is one fun group!

During the course of the evening, it was revealed that Jill and George are now engaged. Ron was quick to whip out his iPhone to record the moment and upload it to Facebook. Then we all began planning the wedding for the national convention in Nashville. It was hilarious. All the people with electronic toys were fanning the flames on Facebook. It was a total hoot.

After dinner, we took everyone down for a tour of the studio, the scene of the spanish exchange party a few hours earlier. Some of the props were still out, and when Christel started putting on the angel wings, there was only one thing for a photographer to do: take pictures. I just turned on the lights and started snapping away. A totally impromptu, silly time. Here are a few highlights.

Spanish Exchange

2009-09-16T12:10:00.004-04:00

It's been a pretty crazy weekend at the studio. Alvirne families are currently hosting students from Bilbao, Spain in an exchange program. We had the bunch of them to the studio to get pictures made with their host students. It was a bit of a party, and the kids did a lot of laughing. They could use any props they wanted, and the first few kids were pretty mild about it, but by the time the boys got into it it became totally silly. We made prints for each student to have to remember this time.

Reconnecting, again

2009-09-11T15:56:00.004-04:00

It has been a blast to be contacted by some of the girls who were on the teams that I coached when my girls were playing in the town recreation leagues for basketball and soccer. When Taylor called, it took a minute or two before I remembered who she was. As soon as I did I was excited at the prospect of working with her. It was so cool to see how she's grown up in the intervening 3 or 4 years. Braces are gone and she's really blossomed into a beautiful girl. And still as sweet as ever!

It was great to reconnect with her and create some memorable images of her. Looking forward to part II tomorrow, in the studio. Here are a few from her outdoor session.

Introducing Meagan

2009-09-04T12:56:00.000-04:00

Meagan is a senior at Manchester West, and I am so glad she came to us. We had a couple of great sessions. She and her sister Holly are both cute and sweet, and we had a lot of fun creating her senior portraits.

The first thing she said to me when she called is that she didn't want them to look "like everybody else's." We were only too happy to oblige. Our motto is "Be Your Own Original", and we got some great looks!