I am working on a canvas wall sample for my home and I thought I would share with you the thought process and the before/after of the finished product.  I get emails and phone calls ALL the time asking me how I workflow my images or how do I get my colors in my  photo’s to pop.  Anyone can pick up a camera and take a great picture, digital has opened the door for a whole new bread of photographers.  I still get surprised though when “photographers” ask me about the 2 most important elements in creating a great photo.  Exposure & White Balance.  If you master these two elements, then you have won 90% of the battle.  Fortunately for those of you that don’t have it mastered yet, there are numerous plugins, and color overlays that you can apply to your image to make it look like you “ment to do that”.  Anyways, back on track.   With the below image I took in Belize I already had the finished image in mind.  I knew that I wanted a long panorama canvas print (around 40 inches) for my wall.  The way the clouds were formed in the sky, the broken down dock with it’s leading lines into the shack.  All I needed was good composition, good white balance and a perfect exposure with my trusted P&S Canon G11

Like my presentation in Chicago on Elements of a Competition Print I want to focus your attention on the subject matter which is the dock and the shack.  Darkening down the sky and foreground  will bring your focus to the shack using the leading lines of the dock. All the elemnts were present in my original image, I just used some quick workflow to enhance them.  The key to a great digital image is to not “fix your image in photoshop” but to “enhance what is already there.”

Last day of our www.infernoworkshop.com  today and I am getting ready to present to the group.  The past 2 days have been amazing  with awesome speakers Like Danny Rabalais, Mike Long, Shannon Folton, Will Crocket, Nick Coury, Scott Crosby & William Foster.  Sometimes it get’s a little overwhelming when members come up to me telling me how much we have impacted their lives.  Sometimes I just don’t know how to respond, it seems like a smile and “your welcome” just doesn’t cut it.  It is also amazing to see the friendships that members have created with one another in our NoBs Community.  We all say “Friends for life” or something along those lines but again that really doesn’t cut it either.  I came up with my own version of this, and although it’s a little morbid (well that’s me) it does convey the meaning of “A friend for life”.  I look at these friends we have all made over the past years and I say to myself “Someday in the far far future, I will either be at your funeral, or you will be at mine.”  That is what a “Friend for life” means.  You know that they will be in your lives for a very long time.  Getting together for these workshops enrich our lives with not just photography but inspiration and thoughts of success.  I have rambled on enough here, I just want to publicly on my blog thank each and every member of NoBs.  YOU MAKE ME PROUD!

Here we are getting ready for our group shot.

The water was a little cold.

SEE YOU ALL IN NOVEMBER!

Well I am back in the office today after completing our www.photographymarketingbootcamp.com tour.  What a blast we had meeting photographers from all over Canada that share the same passion as us.  As you can see from my previous posts that I did not return unharmed (my nose still hurts) but I did make it home non-the less.   I want to thank EVERYONE who took the time to come out to our events.  Sorry all you Saskatooners who didn’t get a chance to attend due to mother nature, but there will be more opportunities in the future.  We finished off the tour with a packed house in Toronto which was a great venue.  Thanks again everyone.

Here we are at our T.O Event

Sitting in the Calgary airport waiting to catch our flight to Saskatoon for our workshop.  It was an eventfull day (usually is when Abbas is driving…………FOCUS!).  Learned that Starbucks employees don’t  speak English, only the Starbucks language and that to order a coffee flavoured coffee is…………………….rude.  Oh well.  Here are some group shots for you and another video of the window escapade.

Well the weather is getting warmer, the ice is coming off the lakes and the yellow grass will soon be turning green.  Along with the mosquitoes and blackflies it’s also the starting of our outdoor family portrait sessions.  Joce and I LOVE creating beautiful family portraits, especially on location where we can all feel relaxed, comfortable and enjoy some summer fresh air.  Personally, and this is my opinion, but I think EVERY family should have up to date family portraits on the walls in their homes, offices, and cottages (anyplace where people can enjoy the image).

Your kids may be leaving for College or University, heck they might already be gone and the only family photo on the wall was from 1982.  Next time the whole family is back home together book a family portrait session so you can have these images to enjoy in between the visits.  A family portrait can mean more to the people involved than you probably realize.  It might not be today, tomorrow, or even next week, but when they get older,  looking back at that family portrait will bring back all the memories they had at that time of their life, and yours too.

but you should cry if you miss our Sudbury Pin-Up Perfection Event tomorrow.  We have only 2 slots left due to an unfortunate cancelation so now is the time to act fast.   For more information check out our Sudbury Pin-Up Perfection Event.

PIN-UP PERFECTION DAY IS MARCH 27TH, 2010

WHO SAID PIN-UPS WERE A THING OF THE PAST?

March 27 will be our first Sudbury Pin-Up Perfection day.  Please read this entire page as it has all the information you will need to take advantage of this very colorful event.

Pin-Up Perfection Day  IS Saturday March 27th, 2010
(by appointment)

There are only 8 openings left for this day so you need to call and book your slot.  Call Jocelyne at 705-693-0654

Our Pin-Up Perfection Sessions are a completely different experience from our other sessions.  Oh, don’t be mistaken, you still have fun, you will still laugh, and you will walk away with some amazing images, but you will also be creating a timeless image of yourself. One that will be completely different than any other images you may have of yourself.  Your Pin-Up Perfection image will show a side of you that hasn’t been captured before and one that your family and friends will be jealous that you had your image created before them.

5 REASONS TO BE A PIN-UP PERFECTIONIST

1.  Because  your image will be colorful, exciting and something new.

2. You always knew you had it in you but never had a chance to express your Pin-Up “attitude”.

3. It will make a great gift for your boyfriend, husband or girlfriend
(who wouldn’t want an Iphone pic of you?_

4. It’s another reason to get your hair & make-up done and leave the house.

5. You will look HOT!  We promise.

We have several different  types of   Pin-Up Perfection Sessions but we will only be offering one specific session on March 27th.  The session will consist of one clothing style (your choice) with whatever props you like or no props at all (sometimes those are the best). Jocelyne and I will pick the image with  the best expression and pose and your finale image will be fully retouched will  a “Hodgified” solid background in the color that best matches the outfit you were  wearing (just like the above and below images).

Some CLOTHING tips for your Pin-Up Session

* The more colorful the better.  Pinks, purples, light blue, orange, yellow, greens, polka dots,  all work well for these types of shots.  Think 40′s.

* Avoid logos of any kind, we don’t want to date the image to anything other than the 40′s.

* Sundresses, fishnet stockings, bustier, frilly skirts, short shorts, tie up tops, and old style bathing suites look great for this type of portrait. And don’t forget the shoes!!!  Mary-Janes, pumps, high heels etc..

* This isn’t about clothing but hair and make-up.  You can do your own that’s just fine, but if you wish to get the most out of your session we suggest getting a professional Pin-Up Stylist.  Read on for more information.

Read what Jacqueline said about her Pin-Up Perfection Session

“I really enjoyed spending time with James and Jocelyn; the photo session was more like ‘hanging out with friends’, laughing and joking with each other (and a little goofing off of course)! That made it so much easier to be comfortable in front of the lens which in turn made for AMAZING images! James and Jocelyn were both open to hearing my ideas as well as putting their spin on things. When I saw the first final image, my eyes were hungry for more! Anticipation kept building and I just kept being more and more impressed by what I saw. I look forward to my next ‘Hodgins Experience’!”

Jacqueline Jameson

This is what Melanie had to say about her Pin-Up Session

“Though I am not a model, I do consider myself a bit of a thrill-seeker. And this experience was just that – a thrill. Preparing for the pin-up photo shoot (rockabilly hair, ‘50s inspired makeup, playful outfits) was so much fun and the session at James Hodgins Photography was an amazing experience. James and Joce made me feel really comfortable – they’re great, down-to-earth people. Posing as a pin-up girl felt completely out of my element and that is why I LOVED it. It was exciting and I think all the ladies should try it. Get all dolled up. Pucker those lips. Work those hips. Feel glamorous. And be prepared for tons of fun.”

There are only 8 openings left for this day so you need to call and book your slot.  Call Jocelyne at 705-693-0654

SO WHAT DO YOU GET?

Your session will include 1 Fully Retouched 5×7  Hodgified Pin-Up Perfection Print with 2 wallets (of the same pose)  and I-File for email, facebook, myspace or whatever other online social presence you might have.

SO WHAT DOES IT COST?

This  is a one time  promotion event for our Pin-Up Perfections at a low cost of

If you wish to have your hair and makeup done (which we highly suggest) please contact our Pin-Up Stylist Amanda Casagrande

Phone 626-8588 or email misscasagrande@gmail.com

Professional Pin-Up Hair & Make-Up for $75

Amanda just did 8 sessions with us this past week and the hair and make-up were OUTSTANDING!

BE THE FIRST 5 TO CALL AND RECEIVE AN 8X10 MAG COVER FREE

Pin-Up Perfection Day  IS Saturday March 27th, 2010
(by appointment)

There are only 8 openings left for this day so you need to call and book your slot.  Call Jocelyne at 705-693-0654  Don’t Delay!

Today I had 9 ladies in the studio for a Pin-Up Assignment for Mark Gregorini & Franks Deli.  All our ladies were naturals and after a few minutes they are dancing, singing and playing along like this was something they did everyday.  This is not the final image for the restaurant, but just something I wanted to work on.  Like I mentioned before I have my good friend Jason Landry doing the final poster design and when it’s all said and I will post them here.  Thanks again ladies for an amazing day.  Like I always say.  I LOVE MY LIFE!

That’s right, you heard it here first.  We are officially announcing our Sudbury Pin-Up Perfection Day Saturday March 27th at our studio.  I will post all the juicy details about this spectacular event when I get back from WPPI Vegas next week.  Until then, start thinking of your Pin-Up Perfection scenario and dig deep into your wardrobe for those forgotten outfits.

Just a heads up.  There will only be 15 sessions available and it will be first come first serve.  We have already had numerous emails and calls to book our sessions, but to be fair we asked them to wait until our Pin-up Day.  So, with that said I would call and book your appointment as soon as I announce the Sudbury Pin-Up Perfection Day Details.

We will be hosting our first “Sudbury Pinup Perfection” Day this month.  More details to follow so stay tuned on this blog (or better yet SUBSCRIBE to the blog) to be notified on all the sassy details.