Hi Folks, for those who attended, It was a delight meeting all of you! Thank you for your patience, and I hope you were able to get alot of useful information.

Look for more webinars in the future. I am going to feature other great photographers in the future so keep watching for who'se on.

Hi Folks, I am delighted to announce that I will be doing a 3 day workshop with internationally acclaimed fashion photographer Matthew Jordan Smith! Matthew has photographed everyone who is anyone in the fashion world, from Tyra to Aretha F... yes THE Godmother of Soul herself! This incredible workshop is going to take place from April 6-8th. Matthew and I are currently working out the location but it will be in the Los Angeles/Hollywood area. The course is very hands on, and models will be provided for your practice sessions. This is a terrific time to bone up on your photographic technique, and build an outstanding portfolio. For cost, go to my website. www.cantrellportrait.com

I do an engagement portrait session for all of my clients. What a great way to get to know them. Here are some of images from my latest session. I don't do alot of photoshop work on them, but use Marcus Bell's #21 action which warms up the print and gives a bit of shading around the outer edge of the print. If any are interested, I have the Marcus Bell actions on my site.

I am pleased to invite one and all to a special event that will take place on Monday February 4th at 5 p.m. West Coast time. I am going to launch an exciting new educational program. This will be a live web seminar,and is open to the first 12 people to respond to this post. You must post on my blog, and give your email address so I can log you in as one of the attendees. The program will be one hour long, and is open to anyone with a good sense of humor, who wants to come to my party. I will host this program through WEBEX. More details to follow.

Hi Folks, I need your help. I am new to this blogging thing, so if you could please give your email address when you post a comment that sure would be great. I would love to personally respond to your comments.

Capturing the decisive moment in an unprompted way, doesn't mean just putting your camera on "P" for professional, pressing the shutter release button on your camera and aiming at the subject. Thought should go into what you are trying to do. Do you have the right lense on to properly capture your subject? Where is the light coming from? Do you need to roll play in your mind ahead of time what you anticipate happening so you can capture the image from the best angle?

To capture the above image, I anticipated what would probably happen, choose the 24-70 Canon Lense so I could allow room for my subject to walk into the scene, and then had my assistant stand in approximately the same spot I knew the bride would eventually walk into so I could get a proper exposure. By thinking ahead, I was prepared for the decisive moment and didn't have to shoot 25 frames, nor "stage" the scene and prompt my subject.

I just had to share this lovely photograph of my dear friend Jimba. There is just no other time in a woman's life when she is more radient.. and I am sure you will agree this mother radiates something.

Please enjoy this photo.. I hope you get as good a laugh as I did seeing my friend Jim Garner imitating "mother with child."

I don't know about you, but this image gave me nightmares for weeks!

Recently I had the opportunity of sharing in episode 4 of the Studio with Jim Garner. Here is that episode. I am sure you will agree, that it is the best so far. I don't think I've ever laughed so much.

View Episode 4 of the Studio with Jim Garner here

I just returned from 4 days in Tampa at the Imaging USA convention. Whew! The convention was good, and for the first time, I had time to actually sit in on some of the programs. One of the programs I enjoyed a great deal was the Salee's on their wedding business in Texas. They have a refreshing style, and had some great ideas for captivating album designs.

I had the honor of rubbing elbos with some of the great photographers of our time, Yervant, Matthew Jordan Smith, Marcus Bell, and of course Jerry Ghionis.

There were some very interesting new products. Finao had some great new leathers for their albums and I absolutely loved the new proof boxes they had.

I was very happy to see how many companies were catering to the female photographers. Marathon Press has incorporated a new line of promotional literature, eg. boxes etc that are to dye for!

Now I am finishing up on my albums for the upcoming bridal fair this weekend.

Wish me the best.

One more thing, for those who voted on the new headshot, thanks for your very kind kind comments!

Bambi

Hi folks, Richard, Dawn and Erin, thanks so much for your votes! You aren't a bit helpful! LOL. Thanks for the encouragement. Richard, take one day at a time, and give yourself one cheat day per week to have whatever you wish!

I have been working on a program for getting in shape and improving my health recently. As part of that new lifestyle, I've been on a mission to loose those unwanted pounds. I will turn 52 this year.. (I am a leap year baby) and decided to take control of my body again. Thus far, I have lost over 50 lbs! yeah! My daughter in law and I can actually shop in the same stores! That is a story in it's self.

Anyway, to make a long story short, In the process I needed to have a new headshot done (my face is thinner now) and asked Internationally recognized photographer Matthew Jordan Smith to do it. (you will recognize him as one of Tyra Bank's top model photographers. Check out his website at www.matthewjordansmith.com

The photo shoot in itself was an experience. There has to be nothing harder than to photograph a photograper. Matthew is a master of making one feel comfortable. Within about 5 minutes, he had me laughing out loud, almost to the point of tears. Here are a couple of my favorites.. you have to help me pick "the" new headshot that will appear in any upcoming ad's.