Abby, Zoe & Madison

I often work with models, families, and/or children, but rarely do I get the opportunity to work with my own children. This weekend, I got to go out with all three of them to update their portfolio's. It was so much fun to see each of their very different personalities coming out as we worked. Here are some of my favorites from this weekend..

It's Alive!!!

So after a VERY lengthy process, my website is officially-all the way-up and running! No more half galleries, no more "pardon our dust", just lots of pictures. I decided to go back and look at all the images I've taken and pick the best of the best to completely re-edit from scratch.

Of course now that it's all up and running, I have new pictures to edit and get put up, but this is a good thing :) I found out my shots of the Bradley daughters (Daughter's of Shawn Bradley) are being printed in PRISteen magazine's back issue from Winter 2011, as well as the beauty pages, which I shot. Better late than never, I say! And I was asked for a designer spotlight I had shot to be used for a prom spread. Almost done editing those, so hopefully those will be part of the updates on my website soon!

Anywhoo, feel free to check out my website :) It's finally something I feel proud to share, and it's been a long time in the making. www.dericophotography.com

iStock!

So it's official! After quite a lengthy process, I have finally been accepted as a contributing member of the iStock team. I first applied almost 2 years ago. I was told flat out no, come back when you have more experience. Last year I decided to re-apply. After a few weeks I got a reply saying they had looked at the three images I submitted and would like to see more examples of my work. After thinking of what to submit for another few weeks, I submitted three new images. I then got a message back saying two of the images in the set were too close in subject matter and to please find three new images and re-apply again in a few weeks time. Sigh. So I went through it all over again... had to think of three new things, totally unrelated, to photograph. I think at this point, I took a couple of months off. Finally, I came back and got my three images uploaded and submitted. Later that week I got an email saying only two had successfully uploaded and I would need to submit three new images! At this point, you can image it was enough to just give up. But I've been wanting to do this for a long time and there was NO way I was giving up when I felt SO close to succeeding! I waited the mandatory waiting period and submitted three new photos. A week later... Success!! Finally!

So I uploaded my first set of images for actual submission. The hard part was over, right? Wrong. Only one image out of the 5 or so that I submitted was approved. This time, however, they provided each rejected image with a reason for not being accepted. Something at least I can use to work on. So I took a long hard look at the images that had come back and there were the mistakes, plain as any eye could see... how could I have missed all of that?!? I learned a lesson last week. It doesn't matter how many images I take (or submit) if the quality isn't good. I think I've been getting a bit lazy. I knew I could do so much better! I re-edited the images and re-submitted them, as well as some new images I took while on a little exploration trip up the highway here along the Columbia River Gorge. I was pleasantly surprised this week when I checked my inbox and found it full of acceptance emails for all my images!

It takes a couple of days for everything to show up all pretty and organized in my portfolio once the images have been accepted, but here is the link to my iStock Portfolio I have gobs of ideas to start shooting now that I've been approved. I've even had one of the images downloaded already... earned me a whopping 22 cents! LOL. Yeah, not going to be retiring on my iStock income any time soon, but it just gave me this big boost I've been needing emotionally, and I can't wait to really start doing some cute, quality images!

Stars Talent Studio

For those of you who have heard mention of the Talent Agency I work with, Stars Talent Studio, here is a clip run by the news recently, which aired on Mormon times and KSL. I can't begin to say how honored I am to work with these wonderful people, and try to bring about a change in the standards of media and future celebrities. It's high time we take a stand to say beauty is only skin deep, and what is on the inside; TRULY. DOES. MATTER. We don't need to be scantily clad to be beautiful. We don't need to follow fads that aren't healthy for our bodies or souls because "well gee, everyone else is doing it". Even if I can only help one of these girls (or boys) understand how special and strong, and talented they are without compromising what they believe in, then I consider it a job well done! I am so proud of all those I have met who have decided to stand up for what they believe in, regardless of religion, race, or gender. Stay true to yourselves my friends, and you will go far!

New Toys!

Life has been pretty crazy! I've still been working with Stars Talent Studio and PRISteen Magazine, as well as plugging away at my own photography business (Derico Photography), and I have REALLY been enjoying learning so much more about photography tips and tricks, lighting, Fashion Photography, Graphic Design with the Magazine, and the ins and outs of the fashion/entertainment industry.

I've had my eye on the Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 Lens for a while now. In fact, one day I even had a new window open in my browser with one sitting in my shopping cart for an amazing $800 off! The problem... it just didn't feel right. I know, kind of weird when you find yourself with a need and the means, but really, even though I've dreamed about and salivated over this lens for well over a year now, I just couldn't push the checkout button. Kind of glad I listened to that still small voice in my mind...

About a month or month and a half ago, I was perusing KSL and found a complete studio light set of strobe lights (5 total) with 4 soft boxes, two umbrellas, and a reflector with extra stand. The poor guy who was trying to sell it was an older gentleman, and accidentally refreshed or double clicked his purchase when he bought his set online. As he had bought his lights from a third party site, there was no refund on the "accidental" set of lights. So, with two new sets of studio lights, he hung onto them just in case he needed a back up. Two years later, he still hadn't even  cracked open the second set... so up they went for about half price on KSL.

Yay for me! Major score! I was able to get brand new studio lights for just under half the cost of what the new lens would have cost me, as well as a brand new 50mm lens. HOLY COW! I thought I would HATE a fixed lens. I know they have better quality making than the zoom lenses, but still, I like to be able to move. My dear friend Alyse, let me borrow her 50mm lens to use for some headshots and I fell in LOVE! So, I got new studio lights, and my new 50mm lens and In the two months I've had the lens, it has not once come off my camera. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!

Getting those has opened a whole new world for my studio photography. I've only just begun with the new equipment but already see a marked difference in quality, and I look forward to working with lots more models and actors in capturing images.

I am working with a new fashion designer here in SLC and collaborating with her on some custom couture steel doll dresses, and am SUPER excited to get to photograph those! I also am looking forward to photographing a fashion event with PRISteen Magazine in mid August. Selected images from there will be published in the third installment of the magazine. Installment #2 is literally days (maybe a week) away from final approval before going on to the printers... and yours truly scored four pages! while it was fun to do, I sure wish I had had my new studio lights back when I did the shoot! But it gives me something to look forward to in subsequent editions later on.

So, in closing I wanted to leave you with a couple new headshots (all low resolution) that I've done with the new lens and/or lights, as well as a fun couple I had the opportunity to work with on their wedding day. As always, thanks for stopping by and feel free to leave me comments... comments make me happy :)

Spring Fling Special: 20% off ANY 2011 Wedding

Let's jump start Spring with 20% off your 2011 wedding! Coupon is only good till May 31st, so make your 2011 wedding reservation before time is up! Deposit of 30% is required to reserve your date.

As always, our wedding packages include a print credit which may be used towards lab prints, or the purchase of your copyrighted CD with print release, TWO professional photographers for your event, professional, personalized editing of selected images from your event, an online gallery of digital watermarked proofs (appx sized 4x6) for personal download and use on the internet, blogs, and social networking sites, as well as a free consultation prior to your wedding to make sure we provide you with the memories you would like to have included in, and captured on your special day.

Coupon is NOT good towards any additional prints, copyrighted CD, travel fees, additional locations, extra hours, or any applicable location fees that may result from engagement or bridal locations that require a photography pass to rent or shoot on public or private property.

Wuebkes Wedding

I had the opportunity to attend the wedding of David and Rebecca Wuebkes this last month. It was a Valentines wedding down in Utah County. I was only there for the first half, and it was bitter cold outside, but we managed to have some fun inside the church building. They are a super fun couple, and you could definitely see how in love they are. Congratulations to them both! Here are just a few from their special day: