Meredith Frengs, Marketing Maven, came into the studio on one of my portrait promotion days and did some funny little outtake photos. She has a great sense of humor. Funny enough, she has just recently also appeared on I Live Here PDX this week.

PDX: Get your photos done! We have two special promo days in the studio (August 24 and September 21) – for business owners, writers, artists, and musicians to enjoy affordable rates for business and artist portraits. After the summer, rates will normalize at $225+ for weekday portrait sittings.

Chris Wallace, Independent Consultant and Facilitator

PORTLAND OREGON: Only two more dates in the studio for our “Artisan Portrait” promotion (August 24 and September 21) for business owners, writers, artists, and musicians to enjoy affordable rates for business and artist portraits. After the summer, rates will normalize at $225+ for weekday portrait sittings.

Breanna Tauscher, Graphic Designer

PORTLAND DEAL ALERT: I have two more dates in the studio for our Artisan Portrait promotion (August 24 and September 21). After the summer, rates will normalize at $225+ for weekday portrait sittings.

Anita, Ventura California, July 2011
Kodak GC 400 film, Nikon F100 camera, 85mm Zeiss glass

(you have the access code!)

I was up for the challenge when multi-talented singer Stephanie Kramer came into the studio telling me that her current profile photo was an old snapshot from a trip to Disneyland. As Managing Director of Oregon choral group Resonance Choral Ensemble, Stephanie is actively involved in the musical scene in Oregon. (Earlier today I saw her trying to round up more ushers for the Oregon Bach Festival programming!)

I grew up obsessed with classical music and have seen my share of ho-hum biographical photos in concert programs. Worse, today with facebook people have access to all kinds of “candid” photos of themselves that sometimes make their way into official programs for lack of a professional alternative. Call me old fashioned, but if you perform for a living it’s not optional to have a fantastic, expressive headshot ready to submit for your summer festivals.

We took all of these images within a very short timeframe. The beauty of being in a controlled environment such as a studio is that the images are all about your personality – there’s a timelessness but also an opportunity to go beyond being just another generic photo on a gray paper background.

I don’t know how Stephanie will react to her photos, but I just received feedback from another recent client who came in to do a headshot for her acting portfolio. She writes:

“I have spent the past 30 minutes in AMAZEMENT. Rachel, there are SO many good photos here!! I wouldn’t even know where to begin to choose the right headshot because there are SO many to choose from! You did an incredible job. I have seriously never had a shoot where so many of the pictures were so usable. You are so, so talented. THANK YOU times a million.”

I’m trying to keep my summer session fees as low as I can to accommodate musicians, artists, and small business owners. I’d love to meet you and learn about your art, then provide you with a small portfolio of images you will love. This summer’s Artisan Portrait days are July 13, July 27, August 24, September 14 when I am offering short 30 minute sessions in the studio for $125. Wheee!

David Burn, Chief Storyteller at Bonehook, a Marketing Services Company in Portland.

Q: Did you like being photographed by Rachel? What was your favorite part?
Aryanna: Yes. Just hanging out with her was my favorite part. She is pretty cool.
Kaety: Yes. My favorite part would have to be the lightning round [at the end].

Q: What did you think about coming to the photo studio?
Aryanna: I thought it would be fun. When I got there I liked the space. It made it easy to do what I was doing.
Kaety: I liked it. I liked just getting to be there.

Q: What do you think about being in pictures? Was it hard work? or 100% fun?
Aryanna: I liked it. She got me used to it. It was 100% fun.
Kaety: 100% fun. I liked getting to do all these cool poses and stuff.

Q: Any other advice for kids out there?
Aryanna: You don’t have to be a super star to [be photographed at the studio].
Kaety: I would recommend it to them because it is really fun.

Photography: Rachel Hadiashar
Styling: Cindy Page
Models: Aryanna and Kaety
Type of Shoot: Casting call test session; child headshots for comp card
Location: Portland, Oregon
Date: May 2011

A few weeks ago I got to photograph Portland writer Jessica Polley.

Jessica, an up-and-coming Portland blogger, writes over here: Living Portland.