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Traditions Photography Blog bio picture

Welcome to our Blog!

Welcome to our blog...it's the more candid part of our site.  Enjoy!

Here's the fam!  It only took us 2 years to get a great family portrait.  My kids are...well...kids.  And kids get bored looking at their mother trying to make them giggle AND be in the portrait. But, after a little bit of work, this year it happened!

Jacob is the giggly one.  Penelope is the one with curls.  Michael is the one wearing black.  And, I'm the one with glasses.  We're the Diminos and we own and operate Traditions Photography.

It's nice to meet you!  Welcome to our blog!  Take a peek around and let us know if you have any questions.  Most of all, enjoy what you see.  We have LOTS of fun here and love to share our fun with anyone willing to be a part of it!

~Eileen :)

Beach Sessions are HERE!

It’s that time of year!  Beach sessions are set for Saturday evening, July 17th!  Sessions are 30 minutes each (give or take a few minutes), are $99 and include the session in New Buffalo, (1) 8×10, (8) Wallets and (1) Facebook Image of (1) pose.  (That’s a huge bargain!  No travel fee, and prints are included too!!!)

So, don’t miss it!  I’ll happily go to the beach with you another day, but our travel fee goes with us.  Call today to book!  Times are limited b/c of the warm summer sun.

Boudoir is the BOMB!

We are having a blast with our new boudoir sessions!  Check out our most recent session!  More samples available at your consultation!

Desktop Mini-Wraps – For a cause!

We would like to offer something we’ve never offered before!  It’s a Desktop Mini-Wrap!  Super cute!  And a PERFECT gift for someone you love!

And the best part is that the profit will go straight to the Spiess Family!  Our goal is to sell 100 before their August fundraiser.

These awesome 4×5 desktop mini-wraps have an easel back are only $100!  And, we will happily edit a picture of your own.  So, if you have an image that YOU took that you want on this professional wrap, or if you want to order one from a session you had here, let us know!  574-271-7751

(Modeling in the sample below is the lovely and talented Miss Mia and her proud mama!)

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Thirty-One Gifts – A PARTY @ Traditions!!!

Thirty-One Gifts is a fabulous little company selling stylish, fashionable and affordable totes, handbags, and baskets (among other fun items) that can be personalized.

Wendy Badger Peters is a senior consultant for the company and has graciously offered to donate all of the proceeds from our party to the Spiess Family.  So what does this mean?  It means that there is a PARTY at TRADITIONS!

Please come!  And bring friends!  (And your check book!)
Wednesday June 23rd from 4-6pm @ Traditions.
Free goodie from Traditions if you RSVP before Monday the 21st.

Meanwhile, shop their catalog HERE.  But, if you order through me, your shipping charge will be much less than if you order online.  So, if you can’t make it to the party, but want to order, call me!  574-271-7751

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FLOAT Wraps

Super cool!  We are now offering new Float Wraps.  They are signature prints or canvas prints, wrapped, and mounted as to portray that they are “floating” off the wall.  We did a series of three for Jen & Clint at Pages In Time Forever and they are sweet enough to showcase their beautiful daughter at their shop.  We don’t have a sample of them in the studio right now, but you can visit Pages In Time Forever and see the wraps in person.  It’s a little difficult to tell in the picture, but there is a shadow behind and below them that shows they are not resting directly on the wall.  Pretty spiffy if you ask me!  Prices are currently set to match canvas wraps.

Link for Pages in Time Forever.  (Just in case you need directions)  Address: 4110 Grape Road, Suite C, Mishawaka, IN 46545 • (574) 252-4074

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I was reading this article…

…in one of my Professional Photographer magazines that was about giving away a CD of images from sessions and how the author was against it.  I’m against it as well, but when asked “why?”, it was hard to explain.  But, this author wrote it beautifully…

“…this [giving away a CD of images] is as ridiculous as John Singer Sargent handing his portrait client a sketch on canvas and some dollops of paint. A good start, yet a total disservice to our public, the people who have placed their trust in our hands to create something unusual they cannot do themselves…”

This is it.  Why would I give you, the client who trusts me to create a beautiful piece of artwork, the bare negatives of nothing.  “Straight from the camera” portraits are rarely as beautiful as ones that have been enhanced, even slightly, in editing software.  Part of my art, of the Traditions style, has more shadow and more color vibrancy than an original negative.  Giving my client bare naked negatives is giving them pictures.  Not portraits.  And certainly not heirloom artwork.

I just wanted to share something with you that I get asked often.  I appreciate YOU, your business, and your desire to own an heirloom portrait.  And I respect you enough not to hand you a blank canvas with a sketch on it, but a finished piece of artwork that you will cherish forever.

June 10, 2010 - 7:16 pm Mandy - This makes complete, total sense... and adds one more reason as to why we love and cherish your work so much! :)

Helpful info about archiving your pics…

So, I was buying GOLD DVDs today and learned some new information thanks to a helpful gentleman at Media Supply.  Apparently, Silver CDs/DVDs last about 100 years and Gold CDs/DVDs last about 300 years.  Who knew?  I mean, while 300 years is awesome, is it needed?  I didn’t even KNOW about Silver discs until today!  Also, helpful things to know for archiving purposes:

*Gold and Silver help stop the breakdown process of discs

*Burn to one time discs, not rewrite-able ones

*Don’t write directly on discs, label their case

*Don’t use paper cases, especially paper cases with the film see thru panels.  The paper will break down eventually AND the film panels will stick to the discs and destroy them.  There are awesome C-shells or other plastic alternatives that help to seal out dust and add an extra level of preservation.

*Store discs in jewel cases or some other case that can be stood up on its end.  Laying a disc flat can cause distortion over the years and if you stack them up one on top of another that only increases the likelihood that damage will occur.   Standing a disc up is the best way to maximize preservation of your precious memories.

Just a little bit of what I learned today!  Hope it helps someone out there!  And, while I’m at it, I’m going to say it again – back up your pics in two places if they mean a lot to you!  Hard drives fail – it’s guaranteed.  So, use a hard drive, external drive, dvd, cd whatever!  Just back those pics up!  I can certainly tell you from experience that it’s devastating to lose your baby’s 1 year pictures…the fact that I’m a mom AND a professional photographer made me hate myself even more for losing Penelope’s baby pics.  AND – print your pics!  You’ve taken then to enjoy them – print them, and enjoy them!

I don’t claim to know everything about picture archival, but the guys at Media Supply sure do know tons!  Good luck!

Carousel Pics in St. Joe MI

Oh. My. Goodness!  Had tons of fun photographing at the carousel in St. Joe Michigan!  I teamed up with La Dee Da Children’s Boutique there and photographed a bunch of their clients modeling their clothes at the carousel.  What amazing little models wearing amazing outfits!  Check these out!

La Dee Da:  Click HERE

St. Joe Carousel: Click HERE

Pics:

Quite an engagement!

What sweethearts these two were!  A great engagement session on my old stomping grounds!  Just too cute! :)

1st Communion Portraits

I had the honor of capturing Kennedy’s 1st Communion portraits a couple of weeks ago.  I have been photographing Kennedy since she was about 4 years old and I’ve seen her grow into quite a beautiful little lady.  And now I was able to photograph her at this special time in her life.  It was really special for me as the photographer to see her all dressed up and to remember my own 1st Communion and all the wonderful rituals that come along with it.  Congratulations Kennedy!  God bless!