Stephanie Millner Photography & Design » Uncategorized

Nelson’s Getting a New Brother

Stephanie Millner — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 22:04:36 +0000

The last maternity / pet session I photographed was WAAAY less cute than this adorable family of three. Three being mom, dad, and dog… for now at least. Unlike the last “pet maternity session” there were no hairless rats to be found last night! (That doesn’t mean there aren’t any… it’s Rome after all… it just means I didn’t find them!)

Can we tell I haven’t had a caffè today? Just kinda rambling. But I guess rambling is better than not posting for… oh, my… it’s been awhile again hasn’t it. Well hopefully the cuteness of Nelson and just how adorable of a couple Claire and Charlie are will make up for that! Here’s a couple from yesterday’s session.

Oh, and I know I was all excited about that new gray border I custom designed… Well, Lightroom decided it didn’t like it anymore and crashes whenever I try to load it up. So… back to the Photoshop stamp for now.

I love happy couples that need no direction to look cute for the camera!

Claire’s cute little baby bump!

Love this. Stunning!

And a few of Mr. Nelson. He’s a very happy puppy dog.

My favorite. Considering a reshoot of this image for next year.

You know that rule I have about “ears up / tongue in” dog portraiture? Um… yeah.

After we finished up, I released the Shetland Sheepmonster and gave both her and Nelson the remaining hotdog pieces. Well Nelson dropped his and Hailey wasn’t quite fast enough to snatch it up before Nelson swallowed it. I kid you not… my little 20 lb. sheltie sprung into action and attempted to TACKLE Nelson who’s at least twice her size, if not more. Of course she couldn’t really do much. He growled back at her, but he could have eaten her in one gulp if he wanted. Hailey ran behind my legs like “protect me!”… yeah right, dumb dog. You started it! I should really teach her to share better… Come to think of it, she’s quite the instigator!

I finally figured it out.

Stephanie Millner — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 13:03:13 +0000

How to list my blog with search engines, that is! (And here you thought this would be some deep philosophical thread – sorry to disappoint.) Anyway I listed my blog and about 2 days later, it was republished. Well, I thought it was cool (and sufficiently ego-stroking.) Wish she would have just asked me for the photograph she picked though – didn’t need to have the “previous” button showing. Neat blog – definitely check it out.

Check out her very cool blog here: http://www.swarakarnik.com/pageaday/stephanie-millner/

More photography to come soon. Some pets, some portraits, some studio work, some OLD stuff (oopsie!), and we’re going to Norway and Germany soon so lots and lots of cool stuff from up in the Arctic Circle!

Wow, that’s a lot of cameras.

Stephanie Millner — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 21:16:33 +0000

Monday night I photographed the Merck Summit for Individualization of Fertility Treatments in the absolutely beautiful Villa Tuscolana in Frascati. About 250 doctors attended from the Far East – countries including Taiwan, Bangladesh, and Singapore we in attendance. Overall – a very interesting experience. My new studio manager, Sofia (there will be a post about this later) covered the event with me. We sat through two very interesting lectures given by some European doctors – or… they seemed really interesting anyway. Kind of technical (ok, VERY technical), but from what I gathered there has been some remarkable improvements in fertility treatments when treatment is individualized to the patient.

Oh, and there were a LOT of cameras. I think every attendant had two! And peace signs. Peace signs in every image. Long story short – we had a lot of fun and cannot wait to shoot a wedding in that location!

As you can see, I’ve found a new plugin for Lightroom (Mogrify) creating these awesome new frames that match my stuff more. Hope you like the new look of the blog images!

The gorgeous dinner set up in the tents overlooking the Casteli Romani

Two views of the interior of Villa Tuscolana (and some Fisheye Lens Love)

Love this one – how pretty is this?!

And the cameras…

These were the two speakers for the evening

And some people enjoying themselves at the event… with peace signs!

Seems like everyone had a great time!

So Exciting! (Long Post)

Stephanie Millner — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 21:23:27 +0000

Still trying to get over the shock… This year’s scores from 2010 International Print Competition have come out.

I don’t know if you remember any of my posts on print-comp in the past, but here’s generally how it works: You first buy a semi-expensive (approved) print-case, and then agonize for months over which 4 prints you’ll be entering. Then, about 2 weeks before the case deadline, you get 4 rush prints from your lab, stick labels on the backs, and rush to the post office to pay the overnight delivery charge you could have avoided if you’d just picked your prints earlier in the first place. OR, if you’re really lucky, you went through this for Regional Print Competition, you already have your seals, and you can just re-ship the same case to Nationals. Then you kind of forget about your case until the week before print-judging, and agonize over “when will the list be out!?” for the next 2 weeks. In a perfect world.

Well, this year, that didn’t play out quite as I hoped. (And I already admitted I would be doing it the last minute – you can see already… aiming pretty low here!) Back in February, I ordered my 4 prints (that were, surprisingly enough, firmly decided upon months ago.) Two came in perfectly, one came in on the wrong paper, and one had a Photoshop problem that needed to be fixed. The replacement of the one on the wrong paper came in almost immediately… but there was some waiting involved for that 4th print. And more waiting. And more waiting… APO mail is slow, indeed.

So it finally comes in, and I rush to PosteItaliane (or as I prefer to call it, “Hell”) over at Termini. First mistake. When will I learn, oh stupid American I am, that nothing in Italy is a “rush”… I realize when I get there that I didn’t put my print labels on, so I run around Stazione Termini trying to find a roll of tape. Not an easy word to translate, and the hand-gestures I was making to simulate “tape” was apparently an obscene one… so yeah… the word for “tape” is, apparently, “striscia” – which will save you from making rude gestures to shop clerks. I go back to Hell, I take my number, and wait in line. For an hour and a half.

FINALLY my number comes up. Turns out I waited that last 1.5 hours in the line to pay bills. Wrong line, can’t help me. I take another number. And wait some more – another hour and a half to be exact.

Then I find out, Hell can’t ship a print case. It needs to be wrapped because of the exterior strapping. In plastica dura. Oh, don’t know what plastica dura is? Yeah, join the club. All I could make out was “go to grocery store – ask there.” Now, not sure if you’ve ever experienced Italian customer service – but let’s just say it makes the DMV look like a fun afternoon. After going into this same store 3 different times (and literally leaving in tears – seriously, the manager pointed and laughed at me for trying to “mail a package” there)… I finally figured out that plastica dura is, in fact, SaranWrap. Of course it is – why wouldn’t the post office want me to make my print case freezer fresh?! (Don’t ever go to Despar in Termini – they’re very mean!)

€100, and the promise of 3-day delivery later… I was finally able to leave Hell. Dropped a message to Regional Print Competition to let them know to expect my case, and verified 5 days later. Nope, never got there. The tracking number that Hell uses to locate a package apparently doesn’t work overseas. Why? Because (get this stroke of genius…) the tracking number changes once it leaves Italy. Smart, right? So to this day, that first case is still missing.

Well, then I realize that I will need 4 new prints for Nationals – deadline is fast-approaching. Except, my print case is missing, and I wouldn’t have any time to get the images to Italy and then out to the competition. *IDEA!* Last year’s case had come back to my parents’ house, and I told them to just leave it there. So – while I don’t advise this method… I called my lab and begged them to use some extra love and care while printing a second set of competition prints, and then drop-ship them to my parents. (This alone makes me LOVE BayPhoto and if you don’t have a lab yet – you need to use them!) I forwarded the labels and forms to my dad, and drew up some PDF’s on case assembly. He mailed the prints I never got to see.

Apparently, it all worked out… Still in shock though… All 4 prints not only merited, but were accepted into the Loan Collection! One of only 7 photographers internationally this year (and that list is some very good company!) The title for 4 prints “going Loan” is “Diamond Photographer of the Year” (which explains that new line on my gmail signature.) – HUGE honor. Extremely excited. And if I need to go through PosteItaliane again for this next year… Consider it done!

“Looking Up” – hairless rat owned by Andrea R. of Virginia

“Grey and Balding” – Sphynx owned by Kristi K. of Virginia

“Look Who We’ve Got Our Hanes on Now” – Papillions and Golden Retriever owned by Sarah S. of Virginia

“Healthcode Violation” – hooded rat owned by Andrea R. of Virginia

A Weekend in Rome

Stephanie Millner — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 15:19:49 +0000

Saturday, I had the opportunity to photograph two friends visiting family in Rome. Riccardo is a commercial photographer in Ukiah, California. He and his fantastic wife, Dominique (who’s currently in nursing school) are here for the month visiting Ric’s family in the area. For those of you who get my bi-lingual rack cards, this is the guy who writes the Italian for me. (If I wrote it, it would sound for less eloquent, and far more “caveman”) Here’s a few from our day out:

By Piazza Colonna

By Piazza Navona

Near Campo di Fiori

Off Lungotevere

Near Piazza Venezia

Il Colosseo

Outside the Forums

Lazio in Sepia Tone

Stephanie Millner — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 12:45:19 +0000

Last weekend, Dave, my father-in-law Fred, and I went on a little adventure outside Rome, to beautiful Lago di Balseno in Northern Lazio. Absolutely beautiful hidden gem – tourist free, fantastic food, and beautiful vistas everywere. We visited a few cities, including Tuscania, Marta (where we ate in a restaurant full of cats – it was great!), and Cività. Best part about Italy, I’m totally convinced, is that you can pick any random town off a map and decide to go on a whim – and it’s like it’s own little mini-vacation. And I was happy because I got to spend the day shooting these…

Lake Balseno

Tuscania

Doorway – Cività

Window – Cività

Ant on a Flowering Olive Tree – Cività

And since I couldn’t resist a panoramic… This is the hill we climbed up to get to the town.

Panoramic of Cività del Bagnoregio

The American Embassy Auction

Stephanie Millner — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 21:14:16 +0000

Last month we donated a large print collection – valued at over $1000 – to the American Embassy’s charity auction. (Very proud to say it went for a pretty high sum to a VERY nice family – looking forward to doing the session next month when school is out!) We also photographed the auction itself as well as a quick “photo booth” type setup of everyone dressed up all pretty-like. Here are just a few from the evening’s festivities.

Oh, and if you’re wondering, we won a new vacuum cleaner, the FBI prize-package (which was essentially a Tee-shirt that said “FBI” and some bottles of wine), and painting lessons – which should be very fun!

The auctioneer

Nice couple from the Embassy

Some friends hanging out!

Love this one – married 30 years, I believe he’d said!

The auctioneer wearing the prize he was auctioning off…

I don’t know their names but I am pretty sure she works at the commissary…

Amazing fruit custard parfait things. I need to find these again. Yes, that’s right… NEED.

Some friends hanging out on the back patio

A $800 bottle of wine. I think it’s a white wine with a colored bottle, but I don’t really know. Anyway, it’s one of the prizes donated to the auction.

Maybe this time I’m here to stay?

Stephanie Millner — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 19:08:17 +0000

Well I’ve done it again. I have once again neglected my loyal blog followers. In fact, I see some of you have found the “unfollow” button in the facebook app! (coughmeaniescough). But perhaps that should tell me something… something like… “why have a blog if you never post anything?!” Ok, ok I get your point.

So due to popular request, I’ll try and post more about ROME in general, rather than just clients. Not that I don’t love my clients – I do! – but there’s that whole language barrier thing and I’ve cut back on work a lot to finish my MBA over here… so anyway, I’ll fill in the gaps with some randomness on the city and our vacations and new poisonous foods that the dog’s gotten into. Oh, and if you stalk me on Facebook you’ve probably seen the photos already. But they’re retouched and all pretty-like here. So just act surprised, okay?

This week’s theme: Architecture.

Villa d’Este, Tivoli

Another Villa d’Este interior

Door outside of Chiesa San Saba (next to my house!)

Door with a superfluous amount of potted plants – Nemi, Italy

View from a cliff at Nemi

Inside Castel Sant’Angelo, Roma

Bernini’s Piazza San Pietro – Vatican City

Big dog. Little dog.

Stephanie Millner — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:58:36 +0000

Brice has a new big brother… and I do mean BIG!

Brody is a 100 lb. mastiff… and still growing! Just look at the size of those paws.

Anyway, Lizzy bought in her new baby for some pet portraits just in time for Christmas (which explains the hat). They’re both surprisingly amenable to wearing clothing – which is funny because Hailey will really have none of it. Brice, by the way, is Hailey’s buddy after we dog-sat for him. She was so upset when he left!

My favorite. Possibly one of this year’s four…

All puppy! (that is SOME tongue!)

Best Buddies.

He’s all tuckered out, and the season has barely begun!

My favorite family portrait

A closeup of the group

My other favorite. They’re surprisingly willing to stay like this too…

Mayhem with Models (Part II)

Stephanie Millner — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:09:10 +0000

Part 2 of our evening commenced at… 11:30pm? That’s not too late, right? Right.

Ingrid, Courtney, the models and I ventured over to Old-Town for some fun night shooting around the pier. And wow… it was quiet out! We might have seen 3 cars all night, and only the night watchman to keep us company. I’ve never seen Old Town so empty! Even with Chadwick’s pub right down the street, it was completely bare!

Ingrid and I decided to play with some off-camera flash techniques for some extra pop. This is also how I learned that my flash won’t attach to her strobe system, and why professional photographers should (and DO!) carry a reliable second set of gear! Anyway, here’s what we came up with.

My favorite of Susie – she pulls off the drama look so well!

Crystal in front of the downtown Bike Shop

Susie in the Parking Garage

My absolute favorite shot of Crystal!

Kristi on the pier.

Natural light of Susie below the street lamp

My favorite of Kristi – love the lens flare!

Another of Crystal on the pier.