I love working with good designers. I have been collecting all the brochures, magazines, cards, hand outs and catalogs our photos have been used in over the last year or so. I decided to look back and see just where how and where these photos were being used. I get to see them on web sites all the time, but there is something special about being able to see the images combined with great design that really makes my day.
Here are a few quick shots of the stuff I have collected lately. I thought it would be fun to share them with you. Does anyone have a favorite designer they like working with?
Recently a restaurant I take photos for needed an image for a new promotion it was going to be running. I was told we’d need dice, a child, and a waitress for the shoot at the restaurant. We worked on the idea with the client and came out with this image below. I loved that they were open to the idea of having motion in the image and not just a static shot. I feel the motion really sells the idea – and honestly, the boy was having fun with the dice. There was no need to “fake” anything! So this collaboration was pulled off very well… They were happy and so was I! The image was given to the ad agency and as of this moment I am waiting to see what they do with it.
When I heard about one of my favorite photographers, Chase Jarvis, Judging a Nikon Video Contest called “Your Day 140 Seconds or Less” I knew I wanted to be part of it. So I went to one of my most creative friends, Joe Santa Maria of Kill the Ball Media, and told him what I wanted to do. Together we brain stormed and came up with a concept. I danced about, took photos, growled a bit, made many comments. He created music, did the editing and after many many many hours of work – we finally had a final project.
I would invite you to view this video now. It’s about my Red Room Project. I only use natural light when shooting in my Red Room so the video is done the same way… Please take a look at it, share it with your friends, and please please please leave me comments! I would love to hear your feed back.
When we show folks the images we’ve created of food {any kind of food} Evidently we hear, “Great! Now I’m hungry!”, or the old cliche- “That looks good enough to eat!”
Sometimes it takes more than one photo to show off what you have to offer. Most web sites have more than one page. Most brochures have more than one side. Most businesses do more than one thing. Who are you? What do you sell? Where are you located? All of these answers can be enhanced by imagery. Beautiful, eye catching, high end photographs will enhance your image and tell your story. I offer up another example for you…
Who are you? The Celtic Tavern is a new restaurant with a lot of seating…
Celtic Tavern Room 1
What does the Celtic Tavern sell?
Menu Option: Bangers and Mash Entree
Where are they?
Celtic Tavern Building
These images can be used in a number of ways. On the web they can be strategically cropped and placed on the menu pages, directions page, or reservations page. In ads they can show a special dish, introduce a new menu item, or help solidify an upscale renovation. Wouldn’t you like to have a multitude of images of your business in your arsenal?
When asked if we can add a little life to a product that may not be all that glamorous we usually think of color. Lots of beautiful bold colors… We’ve found that good use of color will greatly increase the impact of any printed piece. It will improve readership and increase response. Why? Because most of us will judge a business by their image. That is why it’s so necessary that your business shows professionalism and high quality. The best way to do so is create bold, colorful, (not gaudy) eye catching pieces.
Let’s take a look at a before and after shot of a large piece of equipment we shot recently.
When a client can not decide wether or not to use bold colors, we usually like to show them the difference side by side. This next photo actually showcases the impact of color. Take a look at what we shared with them.
Bright Clean Machine
This is a bright – clean – well lit – piece of machinery. It’s would be perfectly acceptable for them to use this shot to showcase this machines capabilities. In fact, They really liked what they saw in this photo.
Then we added a bit of color into the mix and came up with this next shot.
Machine with Blue Added
In this shot you can see we used the color blue to highlight the machine in a very different way. We also liked the way blue looked against the orange of the product that the machine was processing. But to take it a step further, blue is also the company’s main logo color. Once we showed them these two options, they saw the impact color can have. One final thing – their designer really wanted color for the brochure images… So by giving them this photo, we were also giving them what they craved design wise. In the end, It all comes down to personal preference and if it fits in line with the image the company is trying to convey. In this case, we just listened to what they were asking for.
Almost anyone can make a video and put it online these days, but how do you want folks to see your business? Do you want to be seen as “Professional?” Or is it more important to be seen as “Fun?” Maybe you want to come across as “Approachable?” What kind of look and feel do you want to have your customers and more importantly – potential customers- to see?
I say why not make it the best it can possible be? Great lighting, great script, good video quality, and high end photos all interlaced make for a first class and enticing video that will make folks want to know about your business.
Here is a great example of how high quality images can really make a video about your business look professional and classy. This video was created for the Jewel Box, a local restaurant that hires us to do food photography for thier ads and brochures.
Creating a video is just one more way to get your business out in the world- and I think, nothing completes it like using professional-quality photos- What do you think?
I love the internet and love having a web site. You just never know who is going to stumble on your site, like your work, and then contact you. That’s just what happened a few days ago to us. We were approached about an assignment for a magazine based in WI. It was about a local lab here in central New England, so they found us online by searching for a photographer in this area. It’s so important to be able to be found when folks look for what you offer. It’s also important to have great work on your web site.
After some discussion with my new client, the specs were sent over for the assignment. There were some very specific needs, photographing certain people at the lab to fit the cover etc… But my favorite part was this “Accent photos: A variety of accent images are required to round out the profile feature. Provide 6-8 scenes and 3-4 images of each scene.” Wow! I get to be creative. Excellent and one of the reasons I love these kinds of assignments.
So, I thought I’d share a few of the images I thought fit the “accent photo” criteria. I sent over all the photos to the client two days ago, but will not know what they choose for the magazine layout for several weeks. All I know is they were happy with what I sent them. Therefore – I am happy, too.
Jumpstart’s Read for the Record, presented in partnership with Pearson, is a chance
to experience the importance of Jumpstart’s work in preschools year-round. Adults
will read The Very Hungry Caterpillar – the 2009 limited edition campaign Book – in
a record-breaking celebration of reading, community service, and fun.
Boston, Jumpstart’s Read for the Record event will feature a press conference
following VIP readings of Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar, the official
campaign book, with 240 preschool children from Boston, the South End, and
Chinatown, and Amy Ryan President of the Boston Public Library; Bob Gallery
President of Bank of America Massachusetts; Bob Sweeny Director of Development
Boston Bruins Foundation; Peter Tarr Chairman of The First Marblehead Corporation;
John Reilly Senior Vice President of Communications MFS Investment Management;
Joannie Jaxtimer Vice President of Corporate Affairs BNY Mellon; and Sandi Kirshner,
Chief Marketing Officer from Pearson.
Mayor Thomas Menino - Reading for the Record- Boston
Making Caterpillars
Hungry Caterpillars
On October 8, 2009, we aim to double that number in a single day. Together with record-setters everywhere we’ll be reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle. In addition to hosting reading events with friends, colleagues, and educators from around the world, we aim to raise funds to support Jumpstart’s essential year-round work with preschool children in low-income communities across the United States.
This year’s efforts come in direct response to what we learned by conducting the first “Pearson Foundation Early Childhood Education Perception” poll – a nationwide survey that explores perceptions surrounding the reading inequality gap that exists between children in low-income homes and their more affluent peers. The survey found that far too few Americans understand the important connection between early childhood literacy skills and a life of sustained learning and success. Of U.S. residents polled, 95% were unaware of the long-term importance of reading to children between the ages of three and five; 73% wrongly believe that unprepared kindergarteners will catch up in elementary school; and 53% were unaware that nearly half of low-income children start first grade with reading skills up to two years behind their peers’. The conclusions were simple: we need to give every child an equal chance to succeed, and we need to continue to spread the word.
Part of this effort includes donating more than 230,000 special-edition copies of the children’s classic at the heart of this year’s campaign. Thanks to the Penguin Group, a special Campaign Edition of Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillarhas been created just for Jumpstart’s Read for the Record. On the morning of October 8, the book – which again this year features an introduction by Matt Lauer and Meredith Vieira, as well as commentary by LL Cool J and Mary-Louise Parker – will be featured on NBC’s TODAY show with a host of celebrity readers. For the first time, we’re also welcoming Wal-Mart to the Read for the Record campaign, as the program’s official retail partner.
Also on October 8, we’ll be marching down Fifth Avenue in New York City and hosting events in Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. We’re especially looking forward to our kick-off event in Washington, D.C., where together with the USO we’ll host reading events for children and families of U.S. service people who are stationed overseas. We’ve been working to engage leaders from hundreds of school districts nationwide; to organize statewide reading events; and to bring governors, mayors, and city officials together across the country to involve more public and school libraries than ever before.
While sitting in the dentist office today, I was flipping through a magazine when I came upon an ad that captured my attention. I know it’s shocking news to hear, an ad in a magazine… Who would have guessed? But I like looking at ads. Flipping through pages seeing what catches my attention then wondering what it was that caught my eye. I’m a pretty visual person surrounded by images all day long. But the goal is always to create something that catches a persons eye. So when one catches my eye I feel it has accomplished something very successful. Photos are great! (Yes I am bias – totally and completely) Designers are great too… But together this is a combo makes things eye catching.
This week my favorite design and photo combo is this one for a new restaurant called The Jewel Box. I was very happy with the photo, but when Troy sent me the design – I thought – wow – he made that look great! I love working with designers…
A clean room is an environment, typically used in manufacturing or scientific research, that has a low level of environmental pollutants such as dust and chemical vapors. This place was pretty spotless. There were a few other rooms I had to don the cap and tyvek suit for. In these cases, I couldn’t bring a whole lot of equipment in the room with me. So the lighting is pretty basic in these shots. I knew it was more about capturing a great angle to show off a lot of what happens in the room. And how did I know that? I asked my client.
Sometimes the goal is different. I always ask my clients – what they are looking for in the photos? Are we showcasing the machine? It’s capabilities? The folks who are working with it? It’s essential to keep in mind the goal of the company when deciding what to photograph and how to do it.
For example the photos below were taken with the idea in mind that the machines look “massive and strong.” These monster machines are “well built”, and even thought there are many, many moving parts – everything fits together perfectly. The machines needed to “gleam.” And so they do… and then the client is happy. Then I am gleaming.
In every community, boys and girls are left to find their own recreation and companionship in the streets. An increasing number of children are at home with no adult care or supervision. Young people need to know that someone cares about them.
Boys & Girls Clubs offer that and more. Club programs and services promote and enhance the development of boys and girls by instilling a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging and influence.
Boys & Girls Clubs are a safe place to learn and grow – all while having fun. They are truly The Positive Place For Kids.
Boys and Girls Club Pool
Boys and Girls Club Play Room
Boys and Girls Club Gym
Photographing at the Boys and Girls Club was an awesome experience. It was because the people who work there are all amazing. I just can not say enough about them… Each one was friendly and extremely helpful. All were willing to work with me to create images. And the kids- were curious and respectful. It was an great day…
What’s the difference between a professional photograph and an amateur photograph? The biggest difference is the lighting. And lighting can be expensive. Which is why there are so many poor quality photos floating out in cyber space. But if you have a great product, service or space. Hiring a pro can show it off.
When photographing interiors – you really do need as much balanced lighting as possible- if you don’t use good lighting – say a point and shoot camera with a flash right next to the lens- you’ll get an amateur photo that has a bright spot in the center of the image and deep dark shadows in all the corners.
Here is an example of lots of soft- well balanced lighting- covers as much of the room as possible. It looks like the room is warm, inviting and the very natural wood finished is stunning. The fixtures look beautiful and the windows are not completely white (blown out) or reflecting any harsh light spots back at the camera.
Photo of Kitchen taken for a Professional Builder
Everything about this screams – Professional! So when you spend the time, money, and effort to create a beautiful space – seriously consider hiring a professional photographer to capture that space. This way you can have amazing photographs to show off to all your future clients…
I was at a networking event and the person presenting at this event was a home inspector. He decided to jazz up the event by playing a little Q & A game about Home Inspections. BUT- One of the questions he asked was “How many Real Estate Brokers are using their High School Senior Portraits on their business cards?” Everyone in the room laughed loudly- even the Real Estate Brokers. He joked further by saying “… sometimes when I meet the broker at the house I’m inspecting, I think they must have sent their mother!” I watch the crowds reaction – full of waves of laughter spread across the room…
But this guy was right- and that was why it was sooo funny… Because it is true.
Getting a head shot done is not as painful as the name sounds. In fact, if you pick the right photographer and connect with that person, they can create some really wonderful images of you.
You’ll want someone with experience. You should look at their work and see if you really like what they have done in the past. Ideally you will want to hire someone that can make you feel comfortable and someone you can communicate freely with. Please also look for someone who has technical abilities with lighting, cameras and lens. And you want someone who has a bit of creativity! You really don’t want a “snap shot” feeling. You want well lit, in focus – especially sharp in the eyes – and something that is not stiff or posed and fake looking. You really don’t want a vacant stare looking back out at your audience.
I’d also like to mention that fashion comes and goes. Trends in colors and clothing can give away just how long ago you had that photo taken. Looking modern and updated should be a key part to any successful headshot session. It really builds your credibility with your viewers. This is your chance to make the best first impression you can…
Let me give you an example and you can decide for yourself.
Robert's New Head Shot
Robert's Old Headshot
Here is just an example of what a client was using, an old shot from many years ago, needed to be updated to look a bit more modern and to reflect what he looks like now. His employer insisted upon the updated one… Now Robert can see why….
Skateboarding- a misunderstood artform/sport where there are no uniforms, rules, times etc. to clearly define the activity. It is a skillful, creative and extreme sport and can only be compared to a select few other sports such as surfing, snowboarding, even BMX.
Zack, Skateboarder
Pat, Skateboarder
Mark, skateboarder
Flying
I spent several hours following these guys around, photographing their stunts. I was on the ground asking them to skate and leap towards me… Over and Over again. Every time I said – do that again, they did. Or I’d ask – Come sit over here, they would. Some of the easiest going models I have ever worked with! And! These guys were skating on one of the hottest days of the year… and they all just kept going long after I was home in my air conditioning.
The phone call came a few weeks ago. A very nice woman from Worcester Living Magazine asked me if I was the owner of Erb Photography? And I said “Yes – Yes I am…” And she proceeded to give me the news that my photo business was voted the Best Photo Studio in Worcester by the magazine readers. Wow- how cool is that? I thanked her for the news and hung up smiling.
Just a few days ago I was sitting in the office of a prospective client going over what we felt he needed photography wise for his new web site design, when I looked down on the table and saw Worcester Living Magazine. It was the issue that was clearly showcasing the best of where to eat, shop and have fun…
After the meeting I flipped through it and saw name after name of some of my favorite places in the City of Worcester. I love Mezcal for my mexican food cravings and Sweet for – well my sweet tooth. But the list of places I like to eat out in Worcester is pretty extensive and I saw many of my favorites on the list. But it was also nice to see places like Worcester Fitness, which is my gym. And the Wine Vine which is where I love to do wine tastings.
So a heartfelt “Cheers!” to all the Winners!! I am so please to be included among quite a prestigious and well loved group. And a very sincere and earnest “Thank You” to all who voted for us! I am so very grateful…
Sometimes it’s about your amazing, talented and completely brilliant clients…
That’s what our client, Millbury Savings Bank, hired us to show off for them. Yes – they hired us to show off one of their artistic – and very friendly – clients. In this case a gifted painter by the name of Michael Graves.
Painter Michael Graves in His Studio
Sometimes it’s about telling other peoples stories and how your business has helped them achieve their goals and dreams.
“If you work hard enough at something you love, eventually dreams do come true,” says Graves, a lifelong resident of Millbury, who says his passion for drawing and painting started when he was four years old. Today, he is an award-winning painter with works on exhibit in galleries and homes across the country. But it took years of effort and dedication to achieve the renown he now enjoys.
If you’d like to see some of his paintings, you’ll find them on display at the Asa Waters Mansion, the Millbury Public Library, and the Millbury Senior Center. Or visit his open studio during the Millbury Chain of Lights on December 6. And if you travel the back roads and byways, you just might catch a glimpse of Michael Graves at his easel, working to perfect his art.*
*excerpt from the Millbury Savings Bank Newsletter
Big Trash the Dress Event run by Erb Photography and the Worcester Photo Meetups. Over 29 Photographers and 27 Models on a Beach In RI Trashing hundreds of dollars worth of Dresses- all for the sake of making that one “Great Photo.”
“Trash the Dress? Why would anyone do that to their wedding gown?”
“We heard this comment a lot when we were pitching the idea to the Worcester Photography MeetUp Group.” said Teya Rutherford from Photography by Teya in Oxford, MA. This was her brainchild and she was the one who came to Scott Erb, owner of Erb Photography and founder of the Photo Group, with the idea. “It’s important to see our group being active together and Trashing the Dress is a perfect photo op” said Scott Erb. “What makes our group so successful is that our members are proactive and have their pulse on what is hip, trendy, and yes, even a bit non conventional.
Erin Trashes her Dress
So, On Saturday August 8th -3 large tents went up, 35 photographers joined up with 27 models, 3 professional make up artists, and they take over Oakland Beach in RI. The group trashed over 25 very nice dresses, some of which were donated by Local Bridal Shops.
The idea of trashing your wedding dress after hundreds of hours of stress from planning a wedding has some mass appeal to some very non-traditional brides. They can run around a beach getting wet and dirty and feel free to have a professional photographer capture very unique imagery of them as a bride. The images are something that most brides could never dream of having on a normal wedding day, and that is it’s biggest appeal. Brides other choice is to tuck away their dresses – never wearing them again, never having fun in them again. Some brides feel they are saving it for their daughters. How often does that become a reality? So why not do something fun, creative, and down right dirty with the dress. Trash the dress sessions can be seen on Youtube.com and professional photographers all over the world are sending in submissions from sessions to the web site www.trashthedress.com.
The models who attended will get very unique images for their portfolios and the professional wedding photographers can show future brides the endless possibilities that can be captured in their wedding dresses.
Yes That is Wet Seaweed!
Contact:
Donna Dufault or Scott Erb
Founders of the Worcester Photography Center
Erb Photography380 Bridle Path
Worcester, MA 01604
Business: 508-421-3912 Cell 774-239-0215
Ah- Yes the ultimate question. When you take photos for a living, you end up with a ton of images. You take them, download them, edit them, retouch them, send them to clients and guess what- most of the time we never know where exactly they end up being used… So I decide to do a little bit of detective work and look up some recent clients web sites. Eureka! I can see my images being used right there on those web sites. I’d like to share some of them with you….
Check out this one- I talked about Swing Labels in an earlier post. But when I went back and looked over the redesigned web site I was pretty impressed. They really did use a lot of the images we shot for them that day- throughout the web site. It was all integrated very nicely by Cold Spring Design.
Swing Labels Web Site
Or check out this web site sprinkled with our images. Some of our favorite images were taken the day Mark gave us free rain to photograph anything we wanted in his office. He let us position him, his desk items, office items, and even a staff member for the photos. He was very willing to work with us and I think the photos really reflect him and his personality because of it. This web site design was done by New Perspective Web Solutions.
Mark Lee Web Site
When I went to see the Worcester Fitness Web site today, I was literally blown away. Here is a client we spent a lot of time with. Someone who really wanted to overhaul their past web site and upgrade to the next level – and wow did that happen. I was so excited to see the photos we took for them right there front and center – really showcasing the Fitness Centers best assets. There are a lot of images used on this web site in very compelling ways. I have heard this client tell me that it has made a huge impact on their business as well.
Worcester Fitness Web Site
The extra time I took spending time looking through these clients web sites has been extremely valuable and insightful. Each one has a -very- unique personality. And I love knowing that I help contribute to that brand building. I love my clients and I love seeing their hard work look so good online! Good Photos and good designers are exceptionally valuable to helping a business grow.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again- it’s all about the light!!
When a photographer is hired to photograph a special event they better know what kind of lighting will work best in any situation. Event photography is a fairly unique type of photography that has a unique skill set. It’s different set of skills than from a studio photographer or portrait photographer. Event photographers understand what kind of light may be needed in environments where lighting is uncontrolled. Outdoors, arenas, and halls are just some examples of places with all kinds of mixed lighting. You either need to know how to work with the light available by using it to your advantage or how to create your own lighting to overpower what is there.
We also pride ourselves on asking a lot of questions before an event to understand the framework of that affair. What’s the most important thing the client wants captured in photos? Sometimes it’s more important to capture the crowd’s reaction rather than the main person speaking behind a podium. So some of it comes from experience, some maybe a bit of gut reaction. The same is true for entertainment, corporate events or how to capture the action of a sport.
Below is a video put together from the photography Scott Erb and Donna Dufault did the evening of the Worcester’s Best Chef event. The photos we took that night were then put together as a video to be used as a promo piece for upcoming Worcester Best Chef events. Please note that there were two photographers capturing moments from that evening. When there is a large event like this one was – it’s always a good idea to have two people covering it photographically. Two perspectives adds a lot of value – and we can be in more places with more opportunities for capturing the event more fully. Plus it was a food event- and we love doing food photography!
Scott Erb with Lynn Curran the owner of The Willows Studio
It was a beautiful day outside, but being inside the Willows Studio was so very peaceful and relaxing.
Their mission tells it all:
Our professionally trained staff performs outstanding bodywork and energy healing to support the health and well-being of our clients and our community. We collaborate with local professionals, businesses, and organizations to provide insight and education on health and wellness topics.
We just were there to make photos to underline the beauty and serenity of the place. It was easy- everywhere you looked was comfy and casual with just the right amount of professionalism. And the woman who work there not only are fully trained and licensed – but know how to make all your cares go away… they were a dream to work with.
Check out the Willows Studio – Spa and Wellness http://thewillowsstudio.com
The 20 Artists of Worcester book is coming along nicely. And after a visit to Jonathan Lucas’ studio – we also knew he was yet another wonderful choice to be included in the project. The very large and overwhelming sculptures Jonathan creates we the center pieces to our conversation and made for a fantastic back drop for the photos Scott were taking.
Thank you Jonathan!
Check out Jonathan’s web site at: http://www.jonathanlucasart.com
The book is due out in November and we are working our tails off to complete the final stages. So stay tuned for updates!
When Worcester Living Magazine came out with the list “Best of” this year there were a lot of great places and people listed. To see our name among them- we’ll was very – very cool! Thank you to everyone who voted for us! We are so grateful… Come by and see the awesome plaque hanging in the office sometime…
Many commercial clients are striving to find a unique “vision?” or “style” to associate with their products. Just look around at the latest magazine ad’s or tv commercials. What we have seen is a growing trend of fine art photographers being hand picked for commercial jobs!
It’s a very exciting time for many photographers who have a unique style and a very clear vision of how they make their images.
Photographers who have cultivate a fine art aesthetic in their work are being sought after by demanding clients who need to really stand out- and be different from all the others. Creatives seeking new approaches for their inventive material need to find photographers with the styles to show case their brands in a exceptional way.
Erb Photography is know for it’s sepia toned figurative work and in this image you can see it crossing over into a product placement image. A convergence in Fine Art and Commercial Photography!
Here is a photo of the EcoTarium in Worcester MA. I have been photographing here for years. But I finally got the opportunity to do one of the images that I always wanted to create. There is a certain time of day when the light in the sky hits a very beautiful and stunning blue color. Just after the sun goes down. And I really enjoy taking photos of buildings at this time of day. I really only have about a 20 min window to get it all set up and done right – and I love the challenge of it.
Learn a bit about this fun place- if you have kids it’s great during the day. If you have an event coming up and need a unique place to hold it – check them out!
The EcoTarium is a unique indoor-outdoor museum in Worcester, Mass. Set in an urban oasis, the EcoTarium offers a chance to walk through the treetops, take a thrilling multimedia journey through the galaxy at a digital planetarium, meet wildlife, stroll nature trails, ride a narrow-gauge railroad, and get hands-on with family-friendly exhibits. http://www.ecotarium.org/
Haven’t you ever wanted to see the inner workings of an artist studio? Are you curious about what it looks like behind the doors of the imaginative and inventive artist? Through his editorial style photography, Scott Erb captured of some of the most talented artists in Worcester County in their creative environments. Join us for an entertaining and revealing evening looking at the artist’s work and where they created it. What you find may surprise you!
Please Join Us on November 14, 2008 at the Davis Gallery at 44 Portland Street, Worcester MA. for an enjoyable evening of fun, food, and art. You’ll meet and greet not only the photographer and writer of the book “The 20 Artists of Worcester,” – but also the artists themselves at this exhibition. We will be unveiling the book and Scott Erb & Julie Grady – will be there to sign them just for you. Plus – The gallery show of photographs by Scott Erb and artwork from each of the 20 Artists will be on display. An event not to be missed!
Wine and Hors D’oeuvres will be served. Yum…
Can’t make the show? – Check out a preview of the book and portraits of the artists at our web site. (These are just portraits and not the studio images of the artists. Yup, it’s a teaser!) The 20 Artists of Worcester and their Work Spaces exhibition will run until Jan 23, 2009. So you can make an appointment to see the work or stop by during regular business hours to see the show, M-F 10AM-4PM.
Erb Photography & the Worcester Cultural Commission
Contact: Scott Erb Tel: 508.421.3912 For Immediate Release
TWENTY ARTISTS OF WORCESTER:
Worcester County’s Latest Contribution to the Art World Hits Stands In November
Scott Erb of Worcester’s own Erb Photography is releasing his book, Twenty Artists of Worcester during an exhibition and book signing on November 14, 2008.
The project, which was funded by an Individual Grant from the Worcester Cultural Commission, highlights 20 of Worcester’s most talented artists.
“It was hard to believe after meeting so many creative people in the area that there was so little publicity,” Erb said.Taking matters into his own hands, he began his own creative journey to document—through photography and text—20 of the most sought after artists in Worcester County in their personal studios. “I wanted to meet with and collaborate with them in order to create interesting images…images that could tell a little bit about them as artsy people living and working in the area.”
Scott will be able—with the help of assistant Donna Dufault and writer Julie Grady—to show off these hidden and not-so-hidden gems in an exhibition that showcases not only his newly-published book, but the artists and their works featured in the project as well.
After months of hard work, Erb Photography is pleased and proud to announce the opening and book signing will take place November 14th from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at The Davis Art Gallery on the third floor of the Printers Building on 44 Portland Street in Worcester. The show will close on January 23, 2009.
For more information or to learn more about the project Twenty Artists of Worcester, please contact Scott Erb and Donna Dufault at 774.239.0214 or scott@erbphoto.com
Every so often I have a client that would stop and ask me “What kind of camera are you using?” My answer has always been and will always be- “ That’s a great question…Why do you ask?”
You see, many people ask me that question, but they all ask for very different reasons. Sometimes they are photo buffs with a hidden passion for knowledge about all things photographic. And I enjoy the banter over lenses, f-stops, settings and the like. After all, I do carry with me over 500 pounds of gear whenever I shoot on location. I have a lot of gear. I love gear. I love gadgets, I love all the bits and pieces of my photo world. And I love chatting about it with other photographers- amateurs and pro’s a like. I love the learning and sharing. But in the end – I always try and remind the person I am talking with – it really doesn’t matter what tripod, what lens, or even what camera you have. You can get whatever you need gear wise to fit your vision- the image you create in your head. The one you want to capture. More on this in a moment…Let me get back to the original question…
“What kind of camera do you use…?”
Others ask me this question because they honestly think that if they go out and buy a “high end” camera they too will be able to create great photos and have no need for a professional photographer. I don’t want this to sound haughty- yes some folks can take the camera right out of the box and make some nice photos. I’ve seen it with my own two eyes. And I would always encourage anyone to pick up a camera and go for it.
Here is my point…
While shooting in a restaurant the owner jokingly said to me-
“Wow these images look amazing! It’s all about that expensive camera…” and I smiled
…and said “Yes- just like how your expensive oven makes the food here delicious…”
We exchanged smiles and laughs…it was fun.
My point is- it’s not about the camera.
…And a final note- about this “vision” I said I’d get back to. I would encourage you to think about your vision. About how you want your ‘company’s’ image- your ‘corporate’ image- your ‘mom and pop’ store’s image- to be portrayed. Because finding the right photographer who can help you achieve this vision, is really what a professional photographer can do for you.
When Tush first opened it’s doors in Worcester Ma- Scott wanted to photograph the place. It’s in one of those old renovated factory buildings that is filled with character. Big windows, old wood, and great brick.
The Store is beautiful inside as well. Thanks to the time and talents of it’s owners – Deb and Shannon – It’s nicely decorated, and has a warm welcoming feeling. All the women who work in this place are helpful and talented. What’s their unique talent? Not something you can find just anywhere…They can place you in a great pair of jeans.
Scott chose to capture the entire building from the street at dusk. You can see the boutique on the first floor all lit up in a warm glow. The second shot was taken earlier in the day inside of the store. He used his own lights to fill the large space so you can see every nook and cranny of the place. http://www.tushdenim.com
I have heard a lot of chatting about this “Social networking” lately. In fact, when I was at an actual face to face networking event the other night at G’Vanni’s in Worcester and that’s what a lot of the folks were talking about. Who’s on Facebook? Linked In? – and what is this Twitter thing? I mentioned I like all of these things and try to be on all of them at least 2 times a week. I like being connected to others. I find it’s a nice way to broaden my vision and I can stay in touch with the people who matter to me.
In taking on the “burden” of learning the ropes of these online applications – I have meet -online- and face to face – many- many new people. I have also connected with friends from many years ago… but I’ll save that story for another blog…
I’d like to share with you a brief story of how I have found LinkedIn to be an amazing place to network. Actually, what I’d like to do is have this recommendation that I found in my in box this morning do all the talking…
LinkedIn Recommendations
Joe Santa Maria has endorsed your work as Co-Owner at Erb Photography.
Dear Donna,
I’ve written this recommendation of your work to share with other LinkedIn users.
Recommendation: “I consider myself fortunate to have been at the right place, at the right time to meet Scott and Donna. Proof that Social Networking and Business networking can blend! I met Donna simply by searching Worcester area businesses here on Linked In. I was looking for a new photographer and I was struck by the cool picture profile picture on Donna’s page. I sent her a message, she followed up immediately, the three of us met.
From there I immediately hired them for a major branding and marketing project for my company and invited them to dinner with my wife Lynn. The work that Scott and Donna did can only be described as GENIUS! They are the single most professional marketing team I have ever had the experience working with and I would recommend them to anyone looking to improve their brand with high profile, expert photographic images.”
Service Category: Photographer Year first hired: 2008 (hired more than once) Top Qualities: Expert, High Integrity, Creative
Meeting Joe Santa Maria from Worcester Fitness through LinkedIn was one of the best experiences a business person could have asked for- but the greatest part has been finding a new set of friends with a lot of the same likes and interests we share. Events like this are the reason I can sit and smile when folks around me talk about whether social networking is a good or bad thing.
In the mail box today we got a nice surprise. I found an envelope from Rod Lee of the Worcester Telegram and Gazette. Inside was a copy of their business magazine for central mass entrepreneurs known as D.B.A. and on page 6 was a nice article all about Erb Photography. I meet Rod while doing a photo shoot with Laura Briere {of Visions Advertising} at the Hanvover Theater downtown Worcester. He showed up and interviewed Scott while he was shooting…
d.b.a. article
We love these kinds of photography shoots. Hair and make up artist, excellent clothing, dramatic setting, willing model, adept assistant and very cool props…. We took a lot of photos on this afternoon. So sharing a few moments with Rod Lee in the middle of this day was just icing on a very yummy cake. We want to thank everyone for the bits and pieces that had to fall into place to get this photo shot together. I wonder sometimes if folks think this sort of thing just happens? There are so many bits and pieces that have to align for something like this to work out and work out well.
Laura on Hanover Balcony
All that planning pays off… we are thrilled to show off some of our favorite photos from the shoot…
1940's Microphone borrowed from WTAG
A Willing Model Tries Different Poses
Great Models assume a particular attitude or position in order to be photographed.
A trip out of town is always a great way to get the creative juices flowing. Then visiting galleries is just an added bonus. But when it’s visiting a gallery that is showing your college roommates beautiful black and white photos- you have hit the jackpot! When we received the invite in the mail about Troy Plair’s show at a gallery called Caos on F in DC, I called and told him to reserve that spare bedroom for his out of town guests and biggest fans- myself and Donna.
When we meet in the early 90’s in Daytona Florida while attending the SouthEast Center for Photographic Studies, Troy was photographing on the streets and also living out of his van. I offered my apartment up for half the rent and we had a deal. I got to see a lot of Troy’s work in those early years and felt there was certainly something special there. But the boy had a bit of trouble printing in the darkroom.
Now I see his work and it’s obvious all that has changed.
The images are truly striking. Stunning black and whites with depth and feeling. This transformed printing takes place in his basement darkroom. He’s old school and when I say old school I mean it- he’s never touched digital. I joke and call him a luddite and he just smiles and trys to defend himself. But the place smells like fixer. And that old Nikon slung around his shoulder makes that long lost clicking sound of the old world. I had forgotten about that heavy mechanism sound.
Donna and I are now very proud owners of three of Troy’s original photographs- hand printed and with custom, hand made frames. He does it all himself and it’s truly impressive.
Here’s a photo of Troy (man on the left) hanging out with Michael Berman and Matthew Falls at CAOS on F.
My Old College Room mate Troy Plair on the left.
And here is the gallery the night of the opening. It was a great night! And I have a heartfelt congratulation going out to my old friend. I look forward to attending more of his sucessful events in the future- as long as he keeps me on his mailing list….
The Worcester Art Museum is proud to announce a new class!
Worcester Photo Walkswith Scott Erb
Sign up for one, two, or three workshops—receive $10 off when you sign up for all three!
Join one, two, or all three of these educational and social photography classes. Walk around, shoot photos, and have fun with other photographers. Scott Erb will guide the walks and answer photography questions along the way. The routes will be short enough to provide plenty of time for shooting and exploring. Conclude each session with informal photo sharing and receive the link to a dedicated Flickr group to post and share your favorite photos! Bring your camera, photo equipment, sunscreen, water, and a snack, and dress comfortably.
09SAPHT314A
Photo Walk: Downtown Worcester Scott ErbW5pm–8pm
May 20, 2009, 1-session
Non-Member$45Member$25
Explore downtown Worcester to discover all of its photo-worthy nooks and crannies.
09SAPHT314B
Photo Walk: Green Hill Park Scott ErbW 5pm–8pm
June 3, 2009, 1-session
Non-Member$45Member$25
Visiting Green Hill Park will provide a multitude of photographic opportunities, both urbane and natural.
09SAPHT314C
Photo Walk: Shrewsbury Street Scott ErbW 5pm–8pm
June 17, 2009, 1-session
Non-Member$45Member$25
Shrewsbury Street, full of life, business, and color will inspire your photographic eye.
Sometimes when you work with other creative people you come across some very interesting and different ideas. And for the women working in the Paul Mitchell showroom over at Hairlines there was no lack of creativity happening. Black and white checkered pants, feathers and flowers, brides up -do’s and exotic looks were whirling about the room when we showed up to photograph all the excitement. each one of them had their own vision, their own style and they were working on these models for hours trying to get things just so. We were told to not do a lot of post production retouching. This was to show off their skills are makeup artists and hairstylists. So we kept our word and here is what they got. Some stunning models in some really beautiful hairstyles and makeup applications.
There really are a lot of labels everywhere you look. They have can have huge amounts of information on them too. Labels come in so many different shapes and sizes, not to mention a plethora of colors. Each one must be accurate and meaningful… But who makes all these labels? Believe it or not they are made right here in MA at a company called Swing Labels.
These folks work for some of the biggest names in the industry and they know their barcodes. They have to. Some of these labels are very complex while others just need to fit certain specifications and size requirements. We were certainly educated while we were there… We had no idea the world of labels was so vast. But like any new thing- once you know about it, you start seeing labels every where you look!
We love going into companies to photograph the people who work there. Most of the time these photos are going to be used on the company’s web site. We try to make each person comfortable and at home while making the photos fit their personalities. At times it can be very hard – other times it can be a cake walk. With Michael Preston it was chocolate cake all the way. He had an easy smile and he chit chatted with us while we were photographing. He loved telling us about his business and we learned allot about what it is that happens over there at New Harbor Financial.
Another fun part of our job was photographing around the office. We were there to create images that would make their web site stand out from other financial sites. They wanted to add a bit of personality and class to their site and in this case – that comes from using what is about a persons office as opposite to using stock images that really don’t tell you much about the people that work at the company. So we decide to take a look at Michael’s desk and around his office. See what we could come up with for the web site. Here are a few images we were able to create just from things on Michael’s desk.
One of the first questions we get asked when networking is “So, What do you do?” So here is a quick little video by Laura Briere about Erb Photography.
With his usual effervescent charm, Scott Erb provides laughs along with his wisdom as he shares tidbits about his business, and his philosophies…
One of our favorite things to do is collaborate with others. We can’t help ourselves - we just love working with other creative types. And we feel everyone is creative in their own ways. Most of the folks we collaborate with bring our work to a whole new level! Together we can make extraordinary things happen. Recently one of the talented models from Scott’s Red Room series ( a personal project you can read about here) was written about in a local magazine. Check out the interview and images below. But in the end- none of it could have happened with out that meaningful collaboration! Congratulations to Rhiannon Doherty for a wonderfully written article by Pulse Magazines own Mel Pigeton and for Rhea’s excellent words of wisdom.
We drive down Route 146 all the time. It’s near our home and a great access road to adventures beyond our studio walls. But as we were driving down the road - suddenly in our view was this great big turbine rising out of the horizon. Both Scott and I looked at it, then at each other, and he said loudly “Was that there yesterday?” I replied incredulously, “There was no way we could have missed that- that has to be new…” And we both stared at it.
Out of the Horizon
“It’s kinda cool…”
“Yea, it really is… we should go up there and check it out.”
Then a few weeks later came a phone call from a wonderful Canadian company called Free Breeze Energy Systems. They needed some photos of the newly installed Turbine for their brochures and upcoming trade show. Would we be able to take some photos for them? Our answer was Yes. We’ve been meaning to check it out! And so we did, and they used many of the photos we took that day. It was an incredibly powerful piece of equipment and was a challenge to photograph. Below are a few of our favorite shots.
Wind Turbine on a white puffy cloudy day
Back Lit Turbine not a Cloud in the Sky
The best part of the whole experience of this photo shoot was working with the guys up in Canada at Free Breeze. They were very kind in giving us a bit of creative license in creating the images, answered our questions in an extremely timely manner, and were super nice both on the phone and via email. Basically a dream client to work for. I can only imagine how fantastic they are at installing these monster machines! You can also learn an awful lot from their web site. There is a huge FAQ section with all kinds of interesting tidbits. i was particularly impressed with the part about impact on community…
Community
Building a strong partnership with the community is critical to the success of every wind energy project. With community dialogue a vital component of our strategy, we start speaking with residents early in the project development process to introduce the project and solicit early feedback on our proposal. Our goals are to
* establish a cooperative relationship with the community
* listen to our neighbors
* share information and
* ensure our proposal fits the interests and priorities of the community.
The proponents also meet with elected and appointed officials, civic associations, environmental groups and other community organizations. They also periodically share new information, as it becomes available, to provide updates to the community about the project.
I would highly recommend you take a look at this very interesting company! Especially now that they have some very snazzy photographs of the newly installed turbine in Worcester MA.
Every summer the Ecotarium in Worcester, MA has the most incredible Jazz lineup. The series is called Jazz at Sunset and it happens on Friday nights from beginning June to the end of July. We try and go as many Fridays as we can, and we are never disappointed.
Trapped inside a what??? A Daguerreotype. Go ahead- google it. There are 525,000 results. You’ll learn a lot – but what you really need to know is that the Daguerreotype was the first successful photographic process and it’s discovery was announced in January 1839. Everything changed in the visual world from this discovery! But that’s another blog post for another time…
Perhaps you have seen a daguerreotype and just did not know it? Most folks have – a very famous one is the portrait of Abraham Lincoln.
…but… I don’t want to get side tracked from the story I’d like to share with you today. I’d like to talk about an email from my college photography professor; Walter Johnson. He was sending me a link to a Daguerreotype web site that he is proud to be a member of. When we were in college, Walter did make these Daguerreotype’s and even did demonstrations to show us this unique and complicated process. So when I was cruising through the web site he’d sent me too- I realized that he had captured me (and my fellow photo students, including Troy Plair on the left) in one of these Daguerreotypes! I had forgotten all about it…
Yup- that is me standing there – second guy in from the left side. Legs crossed leaning on the van… Looking cool in my sunglasses. But the cool part is this is a Daguerreotype. I personally feel photographers should learn a bit about them. See — There are a lot of processes out there to make images. And this my photo friends- is where it all began. I think it is important to realize and pay homage to the beginnings of photography. After all, it is a passion I share with so many folks. I have to give recognition to the creators of such an amazing invention. I’ve built my life around photography and here it is — the beginnings of a giant industry….
And I am trapped inside one.
And I am not looking for a way out, not even a little bit.
Many of you know that our favorite thing to photograph is food. Yes, It’s true, working with local – and not so local- restaurants is our passion. We love every aspect of this kind of work. We will often come into a place and photograph the food right there on location. It’s perfect for the chefs, they have all their tools, foods, and and equipment right on hand. They create the dish – plate it - and out from the kitchen it comes directly in front of the cameras. We spend hours working along side the chefs to make sure their creation is captured just the way they envisioned it. So we get to know these extraordinary chefs – and see just how passionate they are about the work they do…
I wanted to share with you some of the chef portraits I have had the pleasure of creating recently… Afterall, it’s these peoples talents you get to experience while enjoying your dinner at these restaurants…
Chef Stephen - Gastronomic Genius behind Niche Hospitality
Chef Paul -One of the Inventors of Imaginative Menu’s for Pepper’s Catering
Chef Mike - Wunderkind Sushi Chef at Baba
Chef Jim - Creating Flames at Micheal's
Chef Bo - Inventive Caterer for Harborside Catering
Chef Harley - Creator of Inventive Fare at 10 Center
Maybe I am on a bit of a nostalgia trip these last few posts, but I have to share this video with you. We took this while visiting my old friend and college roommate’s darkroom. I used to live in the darkroom while in college. Printing was the art form to learn and become a master at. Now a days, I am spending most of my time in front of a computer doing my craft. Afterall, the chemistry used in making photographic prints was not good to for me and I was having terrible reactions to it. So the computer was a blessing for me to continue my creative process.
….But my buddy Troy is old school. I mean he does it all, from manual film camera- to wet printing with chemistry- to cutting his mats with a Dexter- to building his own frames. I love this about him. These images are stunning, the frames are beautiful, and each piece is truly an art work. I had fun getting a tour of his spaces. This is the first video of our look around the darkroom, which flooded me with memories of my own time of printing in the dark for hours and hours. I hope you’ll enjoy this tour, learn a little but about the craft, and leave comments about your thoughts.
While traveling through Worcester along 290 toward 190- please take a look out your window toward the left and check out the latest billboard for Niche Hospitality. Billboard advertising is a high-impact way of getting your advertising message across. Based on the fact that thousands of people per day may be exposed to your message, billboards are very cost-effective. We highly recommend you find a professional to design your billboard. This billboard was designed by Troy Pontbriand Design. We here at Erb Photography were lucky enough to work with these really talented professionals when they were designing this latest billboard. They knew just what kind of imagery they wanted and gave us nice sketches to go by. It made it easy for us to create just what they were looking for.
The number one thing it can do is – Create Public Awareness
A billboard advertisement can be an effective way to make people aware of a product that they otherwise would not know existed. As drivers pass and observe a billboard, they become aware of the advertised product.
The second thing you are doing when you use a billboard? – You are Building the Brand
Some studies have shown that an advertisement must be seen at least three times before a consumer remembers the product. A billboard is observed each time a potential client drives or rides past it, increasing the likelihood that the advertising will be effective and the product considered.
And Finally – Create a Need
Some potential clients may not realize they want or need a product because they are unaware of how it can benefit them. As customers observe a billboard advertisement, they may realize that they have a previously unrealized need for the product.
So- Get your message out there… and they will come!
P.S.
One last thing- we took a lot of images during this shoot- and now our clients have a small library of images they can pull from for their other ads too. This is just one way Erb Photography adds real value to the photo shoots we do with our clients. Lots of images to chose from! Check out this other ad they did with another image from the shoot… Notice how similar the two ads look to one another- the style is unmistakably for the the same group of Restaurants. That’s what we call brand building… It’s recognizable!
Pitcher Ad for The Citizen Photo by Erb Photography
It’s true- Sometimes- you need to have some fun! And for me – that sometimes involves going out with my friends and photographing something I have never photographed before. This time- it was a Worcester Sharks game. Yep- a whole pile of us photographers from the Worcester Photography Center got ourselves organized, contacted the Sharks and managed to get ourselves all access passes to the last game of the season- which also turned out to be Fan Appreciation Night. Bonus! So we got to climb up to the catwalk to take photos as well as be down near the ice taking photos. We were all over the arena – It was a great evening- and very – very fun!
DCU Arena During a Sharks Game- taken from the Catwalk
Our group does a lot of things together during the year. The Worcester Photo Center is a place where people with an interest in Photography can get together and chat, hang out, talk about gear, vision, creativity and share with one another. So when the group asked if we could shoot a sporting event- Hockey seemed like a great choice in April. I have to thank the folks over at the Sharks for allowing us into the arena like this. Being down by the glass, seeing the space from above and participating in the events surrounding the game- was soooo much fun. In fact we are looking at going back again with the group this coming season. So if this is something you’d like to do – stay tuned in- go to the Photo Meetup site and sign up to get our emails. Afterall, it’s fun and it’s free to join the photo group!
Many of our clients have unique products and sometimes it’s all about showing them off. Taking a good – clear – sharp – well lit photograph of the product is the key to making it stand out and show you what that product is all about. After all- a professional photograph is worth more than a 1000 words.
For example, We just did a product shoot of this very cool packaging. it’s extremely popular in Europe and I have a feeling we will be seeing it a lot more over here in the next few years. You may not recognize the Ribena brand – but what about the other brands?
Ribena Package
Dole Packaging For Fruit Snacks
We got to taste these treats and I got to tell you I loved them. And the packaging made it all the more interesting and – well- kind of fun to eat. It doesn’t squirt out all over the place – you turn the cap part at the top and it pops off easily, then the rest is like a straw. So you just sip it up, and if you don’t finish it you can put the cap back on. It’s really neat! And not to mention- very little waste and it can be recycled without taking up a whole lot of space. We are sold…
The Incredibles Packages for Kids
And hopefully- once all these photographs are very neatly displayed on their web site- Showing off the printing, sizes, and options – so will everyone else!
We spent the whole day at the Ecotarium! …and we took a lot of photos- hundreds of photos. The kids were everywhere. And they were having a great time. One exhibit was especially popular this day – and that was a seasonal exhibition about Bubbles. Kids (and you) can create magnificent mega bubbles! In fact, you can stand inside a giant bubble or play with different bubble shapes. Or you can go old school and just blow bubbles at one another like you did as a kid… While enjoying these glittering and shimmering rainbow suds – you’ll be learning about the science of bubbles.
So while this was happening, we were photographing… Then the next day we were asked to send some photos over to them so they could create a Billboard. Yikes! There are hundreds! How will we chose?
Actually it was easy… we are professionals. We edit photos for a living. We know when something is a good shot and when something is not. Yep- it all comes down to experience. We narrowed it down to about 10 or so images an it made it easy for them to chose and design around these choices…
I think they did an excellent job and I can not wait to see the billboard!
