The Photo Shoot Area of the New Studio Location.

The shooting area ... a work in progress ... but getting there! Taking appointments for portrait work ... as well as rentals from fellow area photogs. Call 207-299-2869.

Looking forward to a great run in this new space. Wait till you see the rest!

~ Jodi

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Lovely Characters in My City.

At this past Friday's Downtown Bangor ArtWalk, my studio gave away free portraits to anyone who walked in to check out our business. Here are some of the great people from my city ... and even a sweet puppy ...

Truth be told, the woman in the red dress did not come into the studio on her own. I saw her passing by and yelled down the street to her, "Miss, I WANT TO TAKE A PICTURE OF YOU!". To which she simply turned her head, followed me, and entered the studio. I am not even sure if we exchanged words. She was just too cute to pass up.

So, our free portraits were a great success. And I hope to offer more freebie sessions in the future --- so that folks can see how fun and inexpensive a great photo shoot can be.

Thank you to all who participated! And for those who didn't ... we will get ya next time :)

Love,

Jodi

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Happy Easter!

Nikon D300: $1,500.00

Nikon 50mm Lens: $130.00

Box of Little Chicks: $2.99

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Time Spent Photographing My "Peeps" Photographing One Another: PRICELESS.

We hope you enjoy your peeps too! Happy Easter. And Happy Spring.

Love,

Jodi, Halis & Isaac

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How I Know Spring is HERE: Tell Tale Sign #1.

... lots of eggs ... of every color ... Yum.

Happy Spring!

xo,
Jodi

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The Studio.

Have you heard --- through my Twitter or Facebook --- that I am leasing an incredible property in downtown Bangor to begin my own photography studio? I am both elated and sick to my stomach. This is the big time. I had only put my want for a studio space out into the Universe on Wednesday ... and by Friday it came to me and bonked me on the head (with the help of a close friend). It is more ideal than I could even try to express here and the following pics are not going to do it justice what-so-ever. Let me just tell you that as I looked around the place ... I cried ... as it was as if it was built just for me. Seriously.

I brought along two friends with me ... one to keep me grounded ... and the other to push me forward. They were a perfect blend ... and both agreed that this space exuded "Jodi".

So ... here are the pics ... please try to imagine the space as a whole ... and without the ladders, mops, paint buckets, etc. Please also try to imagine that I can take much better pics than these ... and was just snapping away very quickly in order to show my husband ...

There are actually two more rooms that are not shown here. And of course ... the store front. I will try to take better pics asap. Until then, I am busy coming up with a name, filing all business paperwork, and getting my gear in order. (Also need to buy furniture, etc...etc...) Busy days ahead!

Thanks to so many of you for being so encouraging of my new venture. xoxo

Love,

Jodi

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Promoting Maine.

A representative of the Maine Office of Tourism recently wrote me --- asking if they could obtain rights to use one of my photos (shown below). I agreed to allow them, signed a small contract, and am now looking forward to seeing how they make use of it.


It is not the first time that I have given some rights to others to use my work ... but this one feels a bit more exciting than the rest (calendars, news articles, etc) because my pic may be used to promote the state I love so very much. AND because the pic is of my husband and son (though faces are not seen) enjoying a sled ride down one of our fave local hills.


So - here is hoping that the photo will be put to fun use ... and that I will one day catch sight of it somewhere unexpected :)


Love,
Jodi

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A Walk in the Woods on an Autumn Afternoon.

Can't you just smell it? The autumn scents that are conveyed in these pics? So yummy.

Or do you feel the cool, musty breeze?

What does fall look, feel and smell like in your neck of the woods?

Love,

Jodi

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Bangor Car Show 2009.

I am having a blast of a time hanging out with my neice and nephew tonight ... (and Isaac of course). We all went to the Bangor Car Show today and I took many many pics of vehicles ... most of which whose names I have no idea of. But the above photo is my favorite ... because I tend to love faces way more than cars.

I will post the rest of the pics tomorrow via Flickr. Will share when done.

Hope you all are having a great weekend!

Love,
Jodi

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Feels Like Starting Over.

As I stumble through my current return to manual film photography ... I feel humbled. In order to even get a decent exposure you have to really know what you are doing ... and to get a great photo, well you have to REALLY know what you are doing. Now I understand why it is so much easier for 'everyman' to be a photographer in the new digital camera age. It took much effort, knowledge, and practice (let alone alot of spent film) to get really good shots with the old manual cameras. And I now have a whole new respect for those National Geographic photographers of the 50's and 60's. (I just bought an entire collection of Nat. Geos from the 40s through the 70s --- and am drooling over the photography contained within).

As I try to get the best aperture/shutter speed relation for each shot, I am very mindful of all conditions that may affect the quality of the picture. Because film is involved, I am also mindful not to be wasteful ... trying to make the most out of every photographic opportunity ... NOTHING like my mindset when using my D300. With digital, I just snap, snap away ... changing my settings as I go ... no worries about the number of shots I am taking ... simply concentrating on composition more than anything else.

Working with film - using a manual Pentax K1000 - has a whole different feel to it - but one that I welcome right now. It feels like starting over again with my photography... in a good way. I am reminded of what photography is truly comprised of ... and the efforts involved in becoming a truly great photographer (something I hope to one day become). I have started reading basic photography books again (just as I did in high school) ... and find this one very useful. And I am learning patience ... ahhh, patience. I suck at patience. But, manual film photography requires much of it, and I welcome the much needed life lesson.

Time will tell where this latest interest leads me. And I will be sure to share as I go along.

How about you? Do you remember your film days? Have you tried to relive them? I would love to hear your thoughts.

Love,

Jodi

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Everything Old is New Again.

I took my first photography class in high school (with some cute guy sitting behind me who went by the name Halis). This was back in 1990 ... and I had a Pentax K1000 that my parents bought used from a former semi-professional photographer. And just like when they bought me my first car ... I was hoping for more (did someone just say spoiled?). But - just like my first car - a 1973 Dodge Dart Special Edition with a slant 6 engine - my Pentax was a work horse camera that took lots of abuse and refused to die. Though they both weren't my first choices ... as an adult, I want them both back. Lord knows what I did to that poor camera, but the car I sold for $400 back in 1992 to a kid heading for college in Maine... and last I knew it was still alive and kicking. But I did get the camera back (sort of) ...

I got a great deal on this used Pentax k1000 from my friend at Bangor Photo. Come to find out, it was used by Bangor High School in their photography class (funny!). I took it out for a test drive this week and find that in order to get the right look for my photos, I need to overexpose them a bit. I bought my second roll of film today in order to do just that. But my first roll did get me one pic that I am in love with ...

I love the grain in this pic. I love how his eyes are true blue and one is entirely in focus, while there is enough depth of field to keep the rest of him a bit blurred. I love the way his body is positioned. I love the color. I just *love* it. I am a sucker for that vintage look. Though I absolutely love the versatility of digital photography, I also *heart* film, and want to make the best of both worlds. And I guarantee you that my $60 Pentax will outlast my $3,000 Nikon. "They just don't make things like they used to."

Enjoy your day.

Love,

Jodi

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The Photography Site.

Just a quick reminder that I have been posting to my photography site: www.jlr-photography.blogspot.com. And if you'd like to learn a bit more about this photo:

take a peek over there.

Enjoy!

Love,

Jodi

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What I've Been Up to Lately:

1. Photographing lupines.

2. Anticipating this new Disney Movie: The Princess and the Frog ... the first Disney movie to feature a "black" princess and prince. WAY over due.

3. Thinking of ways to cut up these amazing vintage goodwill finds in order to make magnets and pins for my shop: (and maybe frame a few gorgeous illustrations) ...


4. Working on a photography project with my friend Tom Grogan. Very "hush-hush" right now, but I can't wait to begin telling folks. Very exciting stuff.

5. Trading goodies on Etsy with fellow artisans. Here are my latest scores:

needle felting starter kit by Moondog Farm

custom made ball field (Fenway shown) for imaginative play

6. Attending area open mike nights ... and enjoying all the local talent.

7. Getting together with friends for drinks, laughs and deep conversation.

8. Thrifting, thrifting, thrifting ...

9. Ignoring housework & enjoying the sun instead.

I hope you all are enjoying yourselves as well!

Lots of Love,

Jodi

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Please Take a Look.

Hi friends.

I have decided that it may be time to branch out and create a blog that is exclusive to my photography adventures. Though photography will always be part of "This Handmade Life" ... I am hoping to grow my hobby into a business ... so a new blog seems appropriate for promotional as well as instructional purposes.

Anyway, won't you please take a look? It is still in its infancy, but I am excited to share the most recent post with you as one of my photos received a simple - yet well appreciated - honor by Shutter Sisters :)

Here it is: http://www.jlr-photography.blogspot.com/.

Thanks for looking! Please "follow it" if you wish.

Love & Appreciation,
Jodi

P.S. Please stay tuned to this blog for a great Etsy Anniversary Giveaway this week!

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