The Chatter Box

Photo Tips – Prints still rule

Gary Box — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 20:08:56 +0000

Last week a friend told me that his laptop was stolen. And since it was the computer he had Photoshop installed on, most of his pictures were all on his laptop. Hundreds of them, of his children growing up, family events, etc. Unfortunately, whoever stole his laptop, also stole his memories. Imagine loosing all those baby pictures of your children.

It’s a common scene. In our electronic age, many of our prized pictures simply reside on a computer or a phone somewhere. If we are lucky, maybe a low res file uploaded to Facebook. Keep in mind, that computers CRASH. And phones occasionally take a dip in the pool. Then what do you have? Nothing.

You can save your files to CD’s. That helps a lot. We suggest premium CD’s and always close out a CD where you can’t burn more to it. Unfortunately CD’s aren’t the safest medium either.

As far as stability, photographic prints still rule. So I encourage all of you to take those favorite and meaningful images and have photographic prints made. You can frame them. They last longer. And except for a fire, they are the safest way to store your images. And the easiest way to look at them. By the way, an inexpensive photographic print will probably last much longer than your own inkjet printer prints will last.

If you really want to safeguard your images, have prints made. Then burn the images to a CD and store the CD at a friend or relatives house. Then, even in a fire, you can recover your precious memories.

New Topic Category – Photo Tips!

Gary Box — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 20:01:07 +0000

We often get asked if we teach photo classes. While we do so on a professional level, we just don’t really have the time to teach classes to normal people who just want to make their own photos a little better. Not professional portraits, but how to use their camera better for better snapshots. After all, you can hire a professional for the important stuff, but you still want decent pictures of everyday fun things and events in your life.

So we will be doing occasional posts on how to make your own photographs better. So make sure you subscribe to our blog to get these tips.

If there is something you would like to see covered, like “when is the best time to use flash” or “what does the ISO number mean”, then just ask as a comment and we will try to cover it for you. You must be a registered user to comment.

Happy 4th of July ChatterBox Friends

Pam — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 02:08:51 +0000

Thank you Soldiers

None as great as the American Soldier

So selfless, so grand. A hero to me

Never would I have the courage to follow or to be

Thank you Soldier for all that you do

No words to express that gratitude due

Prayers are said for you to be safe

That He would protect you with the love and good grace

Well wishes to families who sacrifice much

To those who adore you and long for your touch

How I wish there was peace so you would return

No more tears to be cried, no more hearts left to yearn

Until that day, that glorious day

Thank you just seems like the right thing to say

More web models

Gary Box — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 21:43:37 +0000

Our web model search is finally over. We still are working on images. But we got some CUTE stuff! This is little Kruz. We did his dad’s senior pictures several years ago. They brought in a bunch of hats and he is a CUTIE! They also brought his golf clubs, and that kid can hit a golf ball bettter than me! Maybe a future pro golfer.

A sweet happy baby! Meet Brady Greer!

Pam — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 01:54:13 +0000

This is Brady a happy sweet little guy that smiled from ear to ear!

: Gotta Love the hat!

Children’s Portraits Model Search a HUGE success!

Pam — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 14:45:56 +0000

Thank you to all of the Children Portrait Model Search participants! Over the next several weeks I will showcase photograph’s featuring our models! The first little lady is Miss Aubrey Bowlin, parents are Jamie and Robbie. Jamie and Robbie preferred a classic and timeless portrait of Aubrey who recently turned one! She was such a little sweetie to work with!

Mother Nature stops our travels

Gary Box — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 00:53:58 +0000

Well Pam and I were supposed to fly to Florida today. To be keynote speakers at the Senior Youth National Conference (SYNC). But Mother Nature decided to bless us with about 1/2 inch or so of ice and then top it off with about 8 inches of snow on top. Here are a couple of pictures of the ice, then one of our 12 foot tall bamboo that is bent over to about 3 feet tall now.

As you probably know, ice and airplanes don’t mix well. So they cancelled our flight and scheduled us on another. Then they cancelled it and put us on another, and so on, and so on. At this point, we are wondering if we are going to get out at all!

They are re-arranging the SYNC schedule to move our program to Monday morning. Hopefully we can make it there by then!

The snow sure is pretty. Unless you need to be somewhere.

Model Search is On!!!

Gary Box — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 15:41:39 +0000

If you haven’t noticed, we just launched an all new family and children’s website at http://boxportraits.com. We think it looks great, but the only problem is, for the past 6 months, 90% of what we have been photographing is high school seniors. It’s good that we are busy, but we want some new non-senior images on some of our new backgrounds and sets to put on our website and our display at Woodland Hills Mall.

So we are doing a web/mall Model Search special. Simply sign a release so we can use your images on the web and at the mall, and you get a FREE Family, Baby, Kids, Couples or Maternity session. Plus you get 15% off of your portrait order! Talk about a deal!

What’s the catch? You need to act fast. We start getting real busy with spring pictures late in February. So this deal ends on Feb 12th, 2010.

For more info, see http://boxportraits.com/modelsearch/ or simply call our studio at 224-7838

Bo’s Story (Box Gallery Mascot)

Pam — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 15:19:23 +0000

In August of 2009, I was just a lost little kitten in a Sapulpa alley. I was all alone and I hadn’t eaten in days. One morning I saw a girl walking through the parking lot, her name was Nichole. She stopped to pet me for a minute and then continued on her way. I thought maybe if I followed her she could help me. She led me to Box Portrait Gallery. When I got there, she and the other girls who work there let me in and gave me something to eat. Gary the owner of Box Portrait Gallery named me GoBo, which is something black that photographers use to block unwanted light. Then they took me to the vet and got me all cleaned up. When I got back I even had a photo shoot! Now I have a place to sleep, plenty of food, and a family that loves me. I also get to meet and play with new people everyday!

So, what do we teach at these photographer conventions?

Gary Box — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 02:36:56 +0000

Like many other professions, we photographers get together to learn new ideas, techniques and new equipment. There are often local, state, regional and national levels of professional organizations.

Gary and Pamela Box are some of the most requested teachers in the country on the subject of senior portraits. Photographers like to watch them and how they manipulate light and pose their subjects so that every picture is great. Consistantly good pictures do not happen by accident. A real pro get’s it right every time.

Here is an example of one of their images. And one of Gary’s cute drawings howing how they got the lighting on this image. This image was shot on the rocks out on the beach in San Diego. Pam shot the image while Gary, risking life and limb ( LOL! ) climed up on the rocks just outside of the picture, bouncing the late afternoon sunlight back into the models face and across his body to show off his physique.