Tag Archives: South Boston

Beautiful New Props!

We are proud to share with everyone the latest edition to the studio (besides Natalia of course): our new prop room!

We’ve been actively building out our props collection over the past year and a half, so this summer we thought it was about time to showcase all of our great finds.

Our clients now have easy access and visibility to our large array of props and dish ware.  If a client needs something last minute, there’s a good chance you can find it here.

Our prop room is full of in-house dishes, silver ware, fabric, napkins, and various other props.

All the fabric and napkins are neatly organized and color coded, the OCD Photographer’s dream come true!

We have a diverse variety of bowls, making it very easy to find the perfect one.

A small glimpse into our glassware section.

Need a plate?  We’ve got you covered.

Pinky’s favorite section 😉

We also have a great selection of wood surfaces (not pictured here), including some new ones we picked up at Brimfield this year.  If you have any questions about what we have in stock, please give us a call and we’d be happy to send over some images of our extended collection.

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20th Anniversary

It is hard to believe it has been 20 years since I opened my first studio! It feels like yesterday that I welcomed my first client at 355 Congress St., in the late spring of 1992. I have enjoyed every day and every shoot; it has never felt like work to me.

I would like to thank each and every client I have had the privilege to work with over the last 20 years.  It is largely due to their loyalty and innovative ideas that the last 20 years in business have been so rewarding.  I’m not in this alone; my staff of professionals makes it possible for me to focus on what I love most: capturing the perfect image.  It goes without saying that without the support of my family and friends, I would not have achieved this level of success.

Although many things have changed in the photography industry since I snapped my first photo with a Pentax K1000, the way I think about my clients has remained consistent. From day one, my philosophy has been to bring my clients’ vision to life within the comforts of my studio.

My first studio at 355 Congress St.

Former producer, Heather, and I brainstorm before a shoot.

My first client Computervision, Inc., sent me around the globe for 5 weeks in 1993. I traveled with two assistants to South Korea, Italy, Germany, France, Japan (pictured) and Canada photographing CEO’s and factories for companies such as Hyundai, Siemens, Audi, and Fiat, to name a few. That’s me on the far right, with assistant Jeff to the left of me.

33 A Street Before

33 A Street After

I wanted a place where I could provide a comfortable space with all of the amenities. Luckily, I found a building that was a diamond in the rough at 33 A Street right in South Boston. This has been my home away from home since 1998 and continues to be today.

The patio area at 33 A Street became an outdoor shower for models, Sylvia and Mark, during a shoot for Crabtree & Evelyn.  Assistants Aldo (far left) and Joe (right) had a fun time too!

(From left) Goji, Jeff, Mark, myself, and Al behind-the-scenes at a baseball stadium for a Papa Gino’s shoot.

Hanging out with Jay Leno after I shot his portrait in Burbank, California. I found out that our families descended from the same town: Avellino, Italy!

Below are some of my favorite portraits and personalities from over the past 20 years. It’s been quite a ride – thanks again to everyone who has made it such a memorable adventure!

And here are just some of the thousands of products I’ve had so much fun shooting over the years.

I’m very excited to see what the next 20 years hold for the future of the studio.  If they are anything like the past 20, I can’t wait to get this party started.

– Michael

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Wardrobe Change!

We’ve been shooting apparel like crazy in the studio lately, so we wanted give a shout out to some of the highly talented wardrobe stylists and makeup/hair artists (some who we’ve worked with before, others brand new to the studio) who have helped to make our shoots so successful over the past couple weeks.  Thank you, Ennis, for providing us with such delightfully skilled talent!  They have been a pleasure to work with.

Abby Beilagus picks out the perfect outfit.

Lori Green touches up our model’s makeup on set between shots.

Abby and Lori work in tandem to create the perfect look in our dressing room.

Stylist, Eileen Eisele, prepares the clothing for the perfect shot.

Wardrobe stylist, Evan Crothers, puts the finishing touches on some sporty attire, moments before Michael begins to shoot.

Makeup and hair stylist, Kacie Corbelle, perfects our model’s makeup before sending her off to set.

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Did Someone Say Mezze?

Sometimes you just want a good snack — you’re not yet hungry enough for a full meal, but don’t have the energy to make it to the next big one.  Our recent cravings for mezze led us to pick up some artisan cheeses, olives, and dips.  Only one problem: they turned out to be so pretty, we just had to photograph them before diving in.

This Friday afternoon, we invite you to enjoy our colorful array of small plates — just don’t let them spoil your dinner!

Mediterranean olives swimming in a pool of olive oil.  Paired with a silky Spanish cheese and warm crusty bread, this combination is a feast for both the eyes and the lips.

We whipped up a fresh batch of fire-roasted red pepper hummus and thought it would pair well with olive oil-brushed French bread, hot off the grill.

On a hot summer day, who doesn’t love fresh peppers dunked in a cool, creamy dip?

Spanish Manchego never looked so pristine.

Pretzel Crisps have become a favorite go-to snack around the studio.  With a little creamy French Onion dip, who could have just one?

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Alien Invasion! The Men in Black are Back

Here come… the Men in Black. (again)

While we may secretly wish that we could announce we shot Will Smith’s promo portraits for the upcoming Men in Black III premiere here at the studio, we are proud to say that we did play a fun role in the promotion of the new film, which premieres nationwide this Memorial Day weekend.

We had the unique opportunity to help kick off ice cream season with some of Baskin-Robbins’ new flavor tie-ins to MIB III, which is predicted to be a summer blockbuster.  Enjoy some of our behind-the-scenes shots below, and indulge yourself in a scoop (or two or three) at your nearest Baskin-Robbins store this weekend.  What better way to kick off summer than with some Lunar Cheesecake or Pink Surprise Cake ice cream, a Spacey Sundae, or the new Triple Mocha Cappuccino Blast?

Aliens invaded the studio for one day only — though we had to do some hand grooming before taking them on set.

Prop designer, Shannon Shea (“The Captain”) flew in from Los Angeles to “handle” our alien hand. He paid close attention to every intricate detail on the hand, which was actually used in MIB III.

Cradled by alien hands, Lunar Cheesecake ice cream makes its debut on set.  Videographer, Justin, captures some behind-the-scenes footage in the background.

Michael works his magic behind the lens, capturing the perfect angle of the Triple Mocha Cappuccino Blast.

We think the final ad turned out great!

Have an extra 30 seconds? Check out our video to get an even closer look behind-the-scenes:

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Quench Your Thirst

All of this blissfully warm weather lately has been making us pretty thirsty here in the studio.  So… we decided to quench our thirst with some delightfully sparkling beverages to transport us right into the New England summer.  (or at least until we reach the bottom of the glass and the chilly temps return)  Here are some pieces of eye candy we shot… they might just inspire you to make some citrusy cocktails of your own this warm weekend.  Cheers!

Drinking 8 glasses of water per day can just get plain old boring.  But how about adding a dash of lemon and few sprigs of mint?  Yes, please.

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Blueberry cocktails never looked so inviting.

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Splish splash… Florida oranges are back in action for the summer.

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Jen (food-stylist-for-the-day) works some behind-the-scenes magic.

Jen, where’d you get those bartending skills from?

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Bringing Sexy Back

We always follow through on our promises.  A few weeks ago, we mentioned that we were doing a marketing overhaul and that our new portfolio was being baked in the oven.

Well, our promise has been delivered.  A new portfolio has landed at 33 A Street!   … and we happen to think it’s pretty sexy.

Call us if you’d like to be one of the first to see this beauty in person… we’d be happy to drop by.

Big thanks to Scott Mullenberg at Mullenberg Designs for hand-crafting this fine work of art to safely house and beautifully showcase our photography.

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Everyone’s a little Irish…

We’ve been having lots o’ fun this week, gearing up for St. Patty’s Day in Southie–the capital of Irish Boston and humble home to our studio.  Join in on the fun and check out some behind-the-scenes photos from our recent St. Patrick-inspired splash test… because hey, if you can’t drink beer during normal business hours, you might as well splash it.  Sláinte!

The spotless calm before the storm.  Let’s get this party started!

Digital Tech, Jen, skillfully creates the perfect splash, while Michael and our incredible intern, Elise, look on in amazement.

Studio Producer, Caleb, tries to defy gravity with a different technique – the reverse splash.

The Aftermath.  Guinness, green beer, and Heineken kegs… who ever said we had to be all work and no play?!

The Final Ad.

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