ProDPI Love!

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My name is Brandon and I am a wedding photographer out of the Portland, OR area.

I love fashion and emotions of the wedding day, so I aim to shoot both… I shoot more of a high-fashion portrait (bridal party) and for the rest of the day is really just capturing the moments as they happen to tell the story with in the album; my composition is something that you will see flows through out all images and people seem to recognize. I LOVE artificial light (not as in flash, although I love flash, but lighting from fixtures and bulbs, etc.), so I incorporate it as much as possible in my images.

What got you into wedding/portrait photography?
Funny story… I have a saltwater reef tank and people were posting insane images of macro shots of the coral, and since I am a geek, I loved them… so I started to ask around what people were using to take those shots and found it was DSLR’s with macro lenses… I was sold! So I bought my camera and started to take those shots. I have always appreciated art in every sense, so I decided to shoot other things, nature, landscapes, etc. I never had any intention of shooting people. However, as we all know… when we have a nice camera, family wants us to bring it to all the family functions and since I am creative by nature, I took shots of the moments in between, not people looking at the camera; the results I got…caused me to fall in love! I did it a bit more and then decided that is where I wanted to go with it… not to mention I suck at fine art, landscape, nature photography, LOL. So I started assisting and 2nding with a fellow wedding photog and have been hooked since.

What are your favorite types of subjects to shoot and why?
I shoot people, so I guess those are my favorite subjects…but when people love photography, truly love it, is always my favorite people to shoot, because they really open up for the camera, which always shows in the images.

What is your favorite piece of photographic equipment?
My camera…LOL. I do not have a favorite piece of gear, because all of my gear I use on a regular basis…so I could not just pick one.

What ProDPI products do you use?
Prints and their lay flat albums…my two biggest sellers for my clients!

Are there any ProDPI products that have enabled your success?
Well…having a lab that has consistent results, that are amazing every single time allows me to succeed, because I can be absolutely confident in what I deliver to my clients!

Why do you love ProDPI?
I LOVE prodpi for many, many reasons…but their customer service sets the standard for every company in the industry and their products are amazing! Their colors I get from them are always spot on! Also, as I mentioned before, they are consitently right on all the time…which I need!

Website URL – http://www.brandonperron.com
Blog URL - http://www.brandonperron.info

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I got into shooting when my oldest niece (who’s now 11) was born. I was in high school photography at the time and got marked down on projects (in college too) because I didn’t “have enough variety” in my shooting (they wanted me to shoot landscape, products, abstract etc) since all I wanted to photograph was people! I got my degree in interior design but decided to go back to my original passion of photography 3 years ago!

What got you into wedding/portrait photography?
I grew up assisting my mom in her videography business, and my uncle was also a photographer/tv director so it’s in my blood. I LOVE photographing people- especially children and the weddings sort of fell into my lap when I was asked to photograph a friends wedding when I opened the business. Capturing the emotion between a bride and groom is just so sweet.

What are your favorite types of subjects to shoot and why?
Children…I have SO much fun with them and love trying to capture their thoughts and letting them do fun things a normal mall studio wouldn’t allow them to do– like jump in puddles

What is your favorite piece of photographic equipment?
my 70-200 2.8 L is my FAVORITE lens– it’s my baby. I am so comfortable shooting with it (though my hands hurt the next day!)

What ProDPI products do you use?
everything! I love the prints, the standouts and the cards!!

Are there any ProDPI products that have enabled your success?
Everything has… the rep cards being so affordable and the press cards without envelopes have been great tools for networking with vendors

Why do you love ProDPI?
your customer service is outstanding and product quality is awesome

Website URL – http://www.stillsbyhill.com
Blog URL – http://www.stillsbyhill.com/blog

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Photography has been my passion for almost 20 years, starting out with landscape and nature work. I turned my camera to babies and children in 2006 and haven’t looked back.

What got you into wedding/portrait photography?
It was time (finally). My husband and I had discussed my starting a business for years, but wanted to wait until our family was complete and we were settled in one location.

What are your favorite types of subjects to shoot and why?
Newborns and babies. Simply because it’s such a joyous time in a family’s life and I LOVE capturing it for them. Those early days fly by so quickly.

What is your favorite piece of photographic equipment?
Oooh, tough one! I love my Canon 5D Mark ii, but added the 70-200 2.8 to my lineup last year and would marry it if I could.

What ProDPI products do you use?
Express proofs and Fuji printing.

Are there any ProDPI products that have enabled your success?
Definitely the express proofs!

Why do you love ProDPI?
Because you listen to your clients! With the recent addition of linen texture to your Fuji printing, you are now my one-stop lab. I’m so thrilled.

Website URL – http://www.lisarussophotography.com
Blog URL – http://www.lisarussophotography.com/blog

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My name is Mario Masitti! I am a 22 year old professional photographer based out of Denver, Colorado. My work is primarily focused around High School Seniors, Headshots, and Kids as well!

What got you into wedding/portrait photography?
I began with shooting automotive photography when I was 18… it wasn’t until I was pushed into a couple of weddings and senior portrait sessions that I realized how much I enjoyed working with people… I began refining my style and decided to push forward with my focus on High School Seniors.

What are your favorite types of subjects to shoot and why?
I love High School Seniors and Kids… they are by far my favorite subjects to shoot. I love mixing a fashion style with my seniors, making them feel like rockstars… and there’s nothing more captivating that capturing a child’s laugh. They are both extremely different styles and I enjoy shooting them both tremendously.

What is your favorite piece of photographic equipment?
I honestly have an appreciation for just some simple quality glass… give me just about any camera body, my 35 f/1.4, and the 85 f/1.2 and I am set!

What ProDPI products do you use?
The Fuji Pearl Prints are my most purchased product… they are such a unique option for my clients, and they constantly rave about how much they enjoy them. I also love the ProDPI Press options as well – specifically getting to use them for my Senior Rep cards.

Are there any ProDPI products that have enabled your success?
Absolutely! The vast array of mounting options, paper types, extremely quick turn around, and amazing customer service allow me to provide the same service to my clients.

Why do you love ProDPI?
ProDPI’s quality and customer service constantly blow me away. My client’s appreciate the confidence and quality behind my studio and my products, and I wouldn’t be able to offer that if ProDPI wasn’t as great as they are!

Website URL – http://www.mariomasitti.com
Blog URL – http://www.mariomasitti.com

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I’m a maternity and newborn / baby photographer for the greater Orlando, Florida metro area. I’ve been in business since 2006. Prior to that, I was a part-time web and blog designer and ran a wedding-related website called “Wholly Matrimony!”

I’ve been married to my husband Todd for over 13 years and we have two sons, ages 6 and 4. We moved to Florida in 1997. We’re both Sooner born and Sooner bred and met at the University of Oklahoma.

I was recently voted the 2009 “Best Family Photographer” winner for Orlando, Florida, by Nickelodeon’s Parents Connect and goCityKids.com. I am a featured photographer at The Knot / The Bump’s “The Nest Baby” and my photographs appear in “A Scrapbooker’s Guide to Walt Disney World”.

I also maintain a product, packaging, and marketing website for photographers called Paperie Boutique.

What got you into wedding/portrait photography?
My husband and I were told we could not have children and after trying for several years, had all but given up when our oldest son was born. Surprise! I had blocked off all things maternity and baby during those years, but once they were actually a part of my own life and I saw how fleeting the moments really were, I never wanted to let them go… Now I don’t have to.

What are your favorite types of subjects to shoot and why?
I love shooting newborn sessions. Each one is different and challenging in its own way. No two babies are ever the same. It’s one of the happiest times the parents will ever experience together and it really is a privilege to witness the love and awe in the glances they exchange. Helping a family preserve a smile, a sigh, a yawn, a kiss, or the way their baby looked at a moment in time is honestly the reason I love being a photographer.

What is your favorite piece of photographic equipment?
I could not live without my SB-800 and SB-600 speedlights. Although I love natural light photography, it’s just not what I feel that I do best. I learned to photograph my two boys in our first home located in the middle of a nature preserve. We had tall trees all around and sunlight never entered the windows. I quickly had to learn how to use artificial light effectively and I’ve never regretted it.

What ProDPI products do you use?
I use ProDPI for prints and press-printed products. However, if it all possible, I won’t use anyone else for birth announcements, birthday invitations, and holiday cards. There is simply no comparison. I am totally addicted to their Smooth Matte paper and so are my clients. I provide a paper sample kit when a baby plan books, and 90% of the time they will pick ProDPI’s Smooth Matte.

Are there any ProDPI products that have enabled your success?
ProDPI’s folded and flat press-printed cards are known all over Orlando as the standard for birth announcements and holiday cards. My button logo on the back is somewhat of a status symbol for my clients, which is very flattering (and humbling). And that would not be possible without the right lab to print it on.

Why do you love ProDPI?
I love ProDPI because they aren’t just a lab or a vendor. They make you feel like family. If you call for assistance or with an issue, you get a real person who is genuinely interested in your call. If you send an e-mail, the reply is almost instantaneous. So many labs have a “take a number” policy, and when my clients need an answer “now”, so do I. I can’t imagine placing something as important as a birth announcement in anyone else’s hands.

I also loved it when I sent out our own personal holiday cards on ProDPI Smooth Matte and it caused other photographers to finally make the switch. Seeing really is is believing!

Website URL - http://www.buttonsandbowsphotography.com
Blog URL – http://paperieboutique.com

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We met while attending one of the most prestegious photography schools in the world: Brooks Institute of Photography. Our combined passion for photography and capturing emotions was a big part of our relationship and remains so to this day.

Tim’s history as a photojournalist shooting for the The Tehachapi News has been a huge influence in his documentary style take on weddings. Cheryl’s love for children and their playfulness has led to her fun picture taking style.

For a while Tim was working toward a carreer as a professional mountain biker and trials rider and Cheryl was classicaly trained as a bassoonist while attending college at Biola and both realized that their calling as photographers was what they preferred to persue.

You’ll still find Tim riding his mountain bike and backpacking and Cheryl still appreciates a nice date enjoying an orchestra performing Beethoven.

Our imagery has been featured on Jay Leno, The Knot Southern California, TheKnot.com, Santa Barbara Magazine, Weddings 2006, Savor Wine Country… Our cameras have captured Ray Charles, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, Reggie Miller, Ray Bradbury, Gwendolyn Osborne and others.

What got you into wedding/portrait photography?
My friends asked me to photograph their wedding in 1999 while I was working as a newspaper photographer and writer. I refused cause I felt it was too important for me (Tim) to be trusted with. Eventually they talked me into it, and I loved it. Shot a million rolls of film, and then handed them all to the couple.

But… I didn’t think you could make a living from weddings, cause the guys back home made maybe $500-$1000 per wedding and that in my mind wasn’t sustainable.

Then, while at Brooks, I was convinced weddings were for losers and I was ready to be a fashion photographer. Yeah, I sucked!

So, I saw Mike Colon speak at Brooks (I went to heckle him with my friends, cause he was some loser wedding photographer) then I heard him talk about his work and about how much he charged, and by the end of the night I knew I was back in love with weddings and that I was going to pursue weddings.

What are your favorite types of subjects to shoot and why?
I love photographing couples. I just enjoy the interaction between two people who love each other and are playful. Engagement sessions are definitely my favorite thing to shoot.

What is your favorite piece of photographic equipment?
1ds MkIII. Hands down, so epic.

What ProDPI products do you use?
ProDPI’s prints rock my clients walls!! Press printed stuff is always super useful, and ProDPI’s mounting services.

Are there any ProDPI products that have enabled your success?
The press printed products have allowed us to help brand ourselves with beautiful materials to hand out to potential clients and other vendors.

Why do you love ProDPI?
I love ProDPI because there are absolutely NO worries about the quality of anything they are printing for us.

Beyond that, the drop shipping is AWESOME! Looks beautiful and enables us to get prints to our couples quickly.

Did I mention it’s sooo great to have a lab we can send images to and have them printed and delivered to our couples with no concerns about the quality??

Website URL - http://www.halbergphotographers.com
Blog URL - http://blog.halbergphotographers.com

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Michelle started her career as a band photographer in 2003, and has since shot many weddings, actors, senior portraits, models, and local events. Her focus is now on Fashion Editorials, and her boutique-style High School Senior Portraits.

What got you into wedding/portrait photography?
I started photography in high school, my style was very abstract, and did not involve people. It was in college when I started doing headshots for my actor friends. I always had a love of fashion and photography when I was in high school, and it wasn’t until college that I realized I could combine my love of those two things into one profession. I shot my first senior portrait in the late spring of 2007, and posted it on my blog. Almost immediately I noticed how many people were searching for “Senior Portraits” and landing on my blog, so I decided to try taking my career in that direction. It totally blew up, and got me to where I am today; shooting fashion, and high school seniors.

What are your favorite types of subjects to shoot and why?
Fun high school seniors with loads of personality and style, and of course models!! Seniors are so much fun because they each shine in their own way, and I love to give them something fun to remember themselves by when they were in high school. And of course, I love working with models because I can bring to life the images and ideas floating around in my head.

What is your favorite piece of photographic equipment?
I would have to say my camera (of course!), but more importantly my lenses are what allow me to create. The Canon 35mm 1.4L is my favorite go-to lens, and is appropriate for just about everyone, and any situation!

What ProDPI products do you use?
We use ProDPI for all our client print orders (Lustre and Metallic Finish). We have quite a few large Metallic prints hanging in our loft, and our clients love them for wall prints! We also use their Press Printing for our Thank You cards, Gift Certificates, and Senior Grad Announcements. In particular I LOVE the Eco-Matte finish (100% wind powered, recycled, and environmentally friendly!) I’m really looking forward to trying out the new products (Stickers, folded business cards, and also the Green Executive Drop Shipping!).

Are there any ProDPI products that have enabled your success?
Having such great turnaround, products, and customer service have enabled me to keep the print order portion of my business running smoothly. I am really looking forward to starting to use the Executive Drop Shipping to cut out a step in my print orders, and save materials (so as to be more environmentally friendly). Creating marketing materials with their postcards, and awesome press-printed products has boosted brand recognition, and created happy clients!

Why do you love ProDPI?
I was able to meet them at WPPI in 2009, and it was so refreshing to meet such great people running such a fabulous company! I was extremely impressed with the Eco-Matte papers, and the Green Executive Drop Shipping. Being environmentally aware is extremely important to me, and offering such a great earth-friendly product has allowed me to keep tangible products in my clients hands all while lowering my business’s impact on the earth.

Website URL - http://michellemooreseniors.com
Blog URL - http://michellemooreblog.com

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I never knew that I’d end up a wedding photographer. Though I purchased my first camera in high school I went to college to study theatre and dance, obtaining a BFA in 2001. Shortly upon my move to New York after college graduation I realized that the life of a starving actor was not for me and went on to consider several career paths. I waited tables, was a receptionist at a failing dotcom, worked in a broadway theatre casting office, and finally found my love for photoshop when I began studying digital and graphic design.

Upon my move to Florida in 2001 I picked up my camera and looked at it seriously for the first time. I photographed my first wedding that fall and was in love. The fantastic theatre and emotion of weddings moved me in a way nothing had before and my business was born that year.

I have photographed weddings all throughout the US, the Caribbean, South America, Finland, France, and the Bahamas. I’ve been published in Inside Weddings, Bride and Bloom, Modern Bride, the Knot, Professional Photographer Magazine, the New York Times style section, Martha Stewart Weddings,in trade publications for Nikon USA, Rangerfinder, Capture, and this fall will be featured in Town and Country Weddings.

I live in Brooklyn, New York with my two beautiful daughters.

What got you into wedding/portrait photography?
I-was-asked-by-a-friend-of-a-friend : that old song and dance. I had never shot a wedding before or anything but images of my own daughter on a point-and-shoot camera but truly was very randomly asked if I “did weddings”. As a favor I accepted an invitation to shoot a wedding in the fall of 2001. I had no idea what I was doing. I bought an external flash for my Canon Rebel, grabbed a bag of film, surfed a few websites for luck and truly went out and winged it. I had no plan to turn it into a career and truly didn’t think of the shoot as anything other than a favor – until I actually got to the wedding and got to work and was fascinated.

What are your favorite types of subjects to shoot and why?
Weddings. I know that may sound crazy but besides photographing my children my true love is WEDDINGS. When I get stuck or feel I need to freshen up my work I don’t take on personal projects or go out and shoot nature or street scenes because I don’t find that inspiring – I go shoot weddings with friends!

What is your favorite piece of photographic equipment?
My Nikon D3. I’d tuck it right in next to me in bed at night if that wouldn’t be incredibly weird.

What ProDPI products do you use?
I’m in love with the press printed products right now, the paper choices are beautiful. I love everything ProDPI does (yay, Fuji paper!) but the press printed products are truly beautiful to behold.

Are there any ProDPI products that have enabled your success?
I use the press printed products to correspond with my clients, be hang tags for product delivery, be inserts for albums (“how to care for your album”), be promo packets…in short, everything!

Why do you love ProDPI?
WHY DO I NOT? They’re lovely people with incredible customer service. They’re fast and sharp and reliable and their quality is beautiful. They use Fuji paper! They make me smile!

Website URL – www.susanstripling.com
Blog URL - same as website!

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Coming from a family full of artists, from oil painters to wood workers, I have been surrounded by art and artists my entire life. I suppose it was destined that I would eventually become an artist, although until just a few years ago I did not know what medium would inspire me. When I found photography, I knew I had found the vehicle by which I was meant to create memorable and unique art, and my desire to create great art is deeply embedded and central to all of my photographic work.

What got you into wedding/portrait photography?
I started my journey into photography as a hobby after my second child was born. I wanted to document everything: his first gummy smile, his first wobbly steps, and everything in between and after. I poured myself into documenting the special moments in my son’s life wholeheartedly. In the process I started to learn not only the technical details that make a competent photographer.

After seeing my pictures of my son, it wasn’t long before friends started asking me to take pictures of their own children. All of the requests brought me to the realization that I had discovered in myself the ability to help others document those special memories I had been capturing for my own family, and that this ability was coupled with a passion for doing just that. I started out simply doing some shoots for friends and family, but as I began getting requests from people I did not know who had seen the work that I had done, I decided that I would make full time career of photography.

What are your favorite types of subjects to shoot and why?
Maternity and Babies for sure!! There is nothing more beautiful than an expectant mother they literally glow and exude such confidence, I know I am much more confident when I don’t have to suck it in .. My favorite baby age to shoot is between 6-9 months. Babies at that age are so expressive and as an added bonus they don’t move around much.

What is your favorite piece of photographic equipment?
My 5D Mark II… my preciousss….

What ProDPI products do you use?
So far I use ProDPI for prints and I am planning on moving my press printed products over to ProDPI as well!

Are there any ProDPI products that have enabled your success?
Sure! I don’t know what you guys do over there but I swear my prints come back from ProDPI looking better than they did in photoshop. It is AMAZING!

Why do you love ProDPI?
Oh let me count the ways.. I love ProDPI because like I said above, My prints always come back looking amazing! But more than that, they are professional, they are on time, and their product is always consistent. That is a big deal. I have used MANY labs and ProDPI is by far the best in my book.

Website URL - www.ashleymcnamara.com
Blog URL - www.ashleymcnamara.com/articles

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Katie is a self-proclaimed emotional gear head. She loves the technology of photography combined with the emotions of weddings.

What got you into wedding/portrait photography?
Ohhhh…I was trying to woo a cute boy. He was a water polo coach. So, I went to a lot of water polo games trying to impress him. I decided to take photos at the games to pass some of the time. The local newspaper printed the photos, hired me as a photographer…and from there a career was born. (And a husband found…the water polo coach is Mr. DiSimone now)

What are your favorite types of subjects to shoot and why?
People…they give me emotions and interactions. I could look at a beautiful sunset or gorgeous mountains…but they all look better with someone smiling in front of them.

What is your favorite piece of photographic equipment?
my favorite piece…that’s like asking for a favorite kid. BUT, I suppose it would be the body 1DsMark3. Dual slots allow for instant backup of images, my fingers can fly through the buttons and menus, and it takes MIGHTY FINE pics!

What ProDPI products do you use?
All of them. Albums, proof books, standouts, press prints. I’d use more if they offered them. ProDPI is like a drug.

Are there any ProDPI products that have enabled your success?
Absolutely. My clients LOVE their proof books!

Why do you love ProDPI?
ROES, quick turn around time, awesome Fuji paper, quality smiles from the service people, and great promotions.