Friends of Giraffe – Tamara Wendt Design

giraffephoto — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 16:41:23 +0000

When it comes to planning a wedding, their are so many elements and vendors to look at, it’s easy to overlook one of the most important people you should hire. That is a wedding decorator. Simply put, hiring a good wedding designer is the difference between people remembering you’re event a year from now or not.

One of our favorite wedding designers in the Quad Cities (and best) is Tamara Wendt with Tamara Wendt Designs, located in Davenport Iowa.

We photographed Tammy’s wedding several years ago at the Blackhawk Lodge and were absolutely blown away by the amazing decor she put together. It was like something off the ‘David Tutuera’ show! No exaggerations either! Fast forward a few years, Tammy is still kicking butt with her awe-inspiring room setups. I gave her a call to give you brides some info if you’ve thought of hiring a wedding/reception decorator but haven’t called anyone yet.

Q & A with Tamara Wendt Designs:

When did you start you’re business and why?
I’ve been doing this for three years. What inspired me to start my business, was after my own wedding, there wasn’t anyone in area to offer inventory for unique higher end weddings, with a big city vision / look.

What sets Tamara Wendt Designs apart from everyone else?
The difference with bringing together a vision a bride expects today, with all photos they see in magazines and online. Simply put, nobody else does anything like this.

What would you call your look / specialty?
Very trendy, high end contemporary. I utilize lighting and create focal points whether it be with crystal chandeliers or crystal columns. When people first see their reception, there is a wow factor! It’s about creating a vision, an experience that they and their guest won’t forget. They’ll be talking about it a year from now!

You can reach Tamara Wendt Designs by calling 309-269-4027 Monday – Friday 9 am – 6 pm. You will need appointment, and when you call you can setup a complimentary consultation.

Or Find her on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tamara-Wendt-Design/274400328388

Getting Great Baby Portraits

giraffephoto — Tue, 10 May 2011 18:52:58 +0000

One thing people ask me on a pretty regular basis is ‘how do I get the best possible baby portraits?’ Well, being that I’ve photographed hundreds if not a thousand babies, I know all the tips and tricks to get the best photos possible. But, it really relys on these six tips and a lot of luck! Yes, I said luck. Babies don’t smile on command. Just like you can’t teach a guinea pig to do a backflip, you can’t make you’re 3 month baby smile on command.

However, what you can do, is put you’re self in a situation to get better photos. So, here are some tips to follow. Feel free to share this post, or print it, so you have a copy to remind yourself!.

Tip 1 – Make sure your baby has been fed. I can’t stress this point enough. A hungry baby is an unhappy baby. How many times have you been starving and gotten grumpy? I’m really grumpy when I’m starving. My sugar’s low. I need protein. Feed me!!!!

Tip 2 – Don’t forget the nap! After you’re baby has eaten, their usually really tired. Digesting food eats up our body’s energy. Give them a little nap. An ideal time to bring you’re baby into the studio, is after they’ve just woken up from their morning nap.

**Bonus Tip – Even better, is to bring you’re baby into the studio while they are still asleep.

Tip 3 – If your baby is sick or just getting over a cold or virus, stay home! I don’t want to get sick and I don’t want my other clients picking up germs. Be considerate of others. Plus, sick babies aren’t happy babies. Especially with their bright red booger infested noses. You get the hint.

Tip 4 - Do not schedule an appointment the same day your baby is getting their shots! This is a disaster waiting to happen. I know what you’re thinking. Stephen, I already have the day off, I can kill two birds with one stone. I could make oatmeal and spaghetti in the same pan to save time, but it ain’t gonna taste good.

Tip 5 – Bringing more than one person with you isn’t a good idea. Babies get distracted easily. Now imagine, they are trying to look at me, then mom, then dad, then grandpa, then you’re friend, etc, etc. Plus, everyone making noises at the same time only makes my job harder and gives me a migraine. Keep it simple. Come solo or bring one person. Trust me, it’s enough.

**Bonus Tip 2 – Don’t forget to bring snacks. Or, if you need a few minutes to nurse your baby or change their diaper, we have a nursing room just for you. We don’t ever want you to feel rushed at Giraffe Photography.

Tip 6 – This one’s mainly for you mom! At the end of the day just remember that not all babies smile at all sessions. It’s part of their personality and being a baby. Some babies are very giggly, others are serious. Either way, it’s just the way they are. Some of our best black and white portraits have a serious baby versus a smiling one. If you love ‘em, their cute just the way they are. A smile’s a bonus. But if you want lot’s of bonuses, then follow the tips above.

See you at you’re next session. If you’re a new client and want to find out more about Giraffe Photography, feel free to call us at 563-323-3870, Tuesday – Friday 10 – 4pm.

Photo Restoration Available

giraffephoto — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 16:05:05 +0000

As a professional photographer, one thing I really love, is collecting old photographs. Going to a flea market and digging through a box of vintage images of people once alive, may sound creepy, but to me its the story behind the image. Was the man with the solemn face once a famous theatre actor, or maybe a cattle rancher?

Sometimes you get lucky. I was told that one portrait I bought was Jesse James parents. I never had this verified, but if this is truly the case, I might have hit the jackpot!

But what if the photo is of your own family? How much more value does that hold. Especially since you can’t recreate that photograph. It’s priceless. Well, if you’re like me, and have old photographs you realize one thing very quickly. They don’t last forever. And even worse, the materials they used a century ago were not designed to last as long as they did.

So what can you do to preserve your family history? Well for starters, if your portrait is framed, make sure it’s backed with acid free paper/cardboard. Do not expose it to direct sunlight. If they are smaller prints, just putting them in an acid free box is the next best thing to do.

Now what about if you’re photo is falling apart? Maybe the edges are starting to crumble, there are cracks all over. Perhaps a nasty crease right down the middle of someones face. Well, you are not out of luck! But this is a sign your non-replaceable family portrait maybe on the verge of death.

At Giraffe Photography, we offer full photo restoration. No matter how bad the condition might be, we can usually fix it. In fact, check out this before after below. The man who brought it in said the photo is of his great, great-grandfather in Cival War times. It’s really cool! Hand-tinted, and the back was even lined with a newspaper from the 1860s!

(Before restoration)

But as cool as the photo looks, it’s falling a part at a rapid rate! So, in order to preserve his family history for himself and the next generation to enjoy, he brought it in for restoration.

(After restoration)

The best part is, we now have a digital file that can be duplicated much easier and stored in multiple locations so everyone can enjoy it for years to come! Plus, it doesn’t take very long. Average turn-around time for this service is usually a week or less!

So if you have a family portrait lying around that’s starting to fall apart, don’t wait! Call us today at 563-323-3870 or stop into our studio and we’ll be happy to give you a FREE estimate on getting your photograph FULLY restored to its original splendor!

What’s New At Giraffe Photography

giraffephoto — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 21:05:20 +0000

It’s 2011 and we’ve had alot going on at Giraffe Photography! For starters, we’ve updated our look at the studio. No more RED! That’s right, it’s gone to the landfill. It was starting to give me a migraine! Instead, we have a nice and light turquoise decorating the space complementing our 19th hand-made wallpaper. We love retro here!

Along with the new look, Elaine re-designed all our cards and packaging for the new year. Gotta keep our look FRESH! Nothing dull at Giraffe! Only originality.

More of our cool custom packaging!

2011 is bound to be the best year for us yet. We’ve got BRAND NEW custom collage designs for the year, AWESOME new gallery wrap options too!

We look forward to seeing all our clients coming back in this year and can’t wait to meet the new ones too!

National Photo Contest Entries OPEN

giraffephoto — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 18:41:58 +0000

Your Kid Could Be the Next Winner

Last year, two of our clients took home prizes! Michaela (winning photo below) won the GRAND PRIZE which consisted of an $1000.00 gift card and an $800 savings bond!

Do you qualify?

If your child is between the ages of Newborn – 12 years old, then the answer is YES!

How to enter?

It’s as easy as making a casserole. Call us at (563) 323-3870 and schedule a portrait session.

Is there a deadline?

Like any good contest, there is a cut-off. You must have your portrait session with us no later than April 15th, 2011. This ensures we have plenty of time to get the necessary paperwork and entry photos submitted.

Remember, we book up fast, so don’t get left out in the cold by waiting to the very last minute to call. See you soon!