Family vacation painters

I just saw a painting recently in the Getty museum. It was a portrait of a tourist on vacation in Italy. Apparently it was very popular to have your portrait done on vacation even in the 1700s! Call my company the new Tricia & Co. Family Vacation Photographers for your special session!

Tricia's Tours 2010

If you want to get out of the city to the French countyside on day then check these out.
http://en.parisvision.com/ I took this tour on my dec 04 trip to the castles. Lots of fun
http://fattirebiketours.com/paris I've done the day tour 2x and the night tour once and the Monet gardens with them. I highly recommend that we at least do the day tour.... and the night one because it includes a boat ride at night. =)If you want to go to Monet gardens book it in advance otherwise we can just show up for this one.

http://www.mygenieinparis.com/en/index.html If you are looking for that extra punch to your vacation this time, try a chocolate class, perfume, pasty, wine, fashion etc. I've used them. It is pricey but the service is excellent and it's REALLY AUTHENTIC!!

There are a couple of hop on hop off tour buses. http://www.viator.com/Paris-tours/Hop-on-Hop-off-Tours/d479-g12-c97?pref=02&aid=g3254 I'd book this one in advance for Sunday because most of the shops in Paris are closed on Sundays. So that would be a good day to get an orientation and hit a couple of museums. Also you can get a museum pass at the tourist office, or online. Or you could just go buy a
ticket after 2pm.. and it's cheaper but less time in the museum.

If you want to go up the Eiffel Tower (you should on your first visit) you can also book that time in advance and not wait in the LONG line.

http://www.tour-eiffel.fr/teiffel/uk/ That would be another good thing to do on Sunday. Like I said the other shops will be closed that day.

One last Kudos

Greetings! One last kudos to Dan and the gang at Ciplex. I've had great compliments on my new design for the http://www.hawaiiportrait.com/ website. Thanks for making me look good! =)

Professional photo equipment

Greetings!


I have been asked by clients "what kind of equipment do you use"? Professional photographers have many many tools and

techniques at their disposal. Everyone has an opinion! Mac or pc? Digital or Film? Nikon or Canon? Mamiya or Hasselblad? The truth is it does

not matter what your tool of choice is. It's the end result that counts. Digital has surpassed film in so many ways now. Film was great! However, just as the horse and buggy was replaced by the cars, trains and airplanes. It's time is simply over. Sure a few artists that prefer to print on their own in a darkroom but all professional labs scan film and use a digital printer for portraits.



So what do I use ? I have to add a smile here =) . I use the right equipment for each job. For beach and studio portraits I use a Nikon D700 pro. I also have a Canon D30 as a backup. My other back up cameras are a Mamiya and a Rangefinder. Won't my competition now find out what I use? Sure! That's fine. I consider it a great complement that other photographers look to my studio for information about how to do portraits.



Check back to my blog for a "how to portrait sessions"! ~ Tricia

A professional photograph

Bonjour! Do you know what to look for in a good photograph? What is good lighting and posing? What are the different styles of photography? There are as many methods for achieving a excellent image as there are photographers. I prefer to keep it simple and easy. Why? I like to make it as easy as possible for you. Holding a pose and smiling can be hard! In this blog post I am going to cover the first question. What to look for in a good portrait.


The background should be simple. There should be no horizon lines or items sticking out of the subjects head.

There should be "catch lights" in the eye at the 11am or 1pm position

A head and shoulders image should have a "vignette" (fading out) only on the part of the image where the body exits the photo. Why? By adding a vignette it draws the eye back into the photo. A vignette all the way does not serve the purpose of a vignette.

Is the subject very bright and the background dark? Too much flash. It can be done on purpose for the effect but for the most part this is called a "flash effect" and it's not flattering.

Flat, Split, and Rembrandt light. I have example on the "Why Choose Us" page. The next time you watch a TV show or a Hollywood movie check out the lighting on the actors faces. It's usually Rembrandt. Why? Because it's the most flattering lighting pattern and it adds dimension. It brings the image to life from just a flat piece of paper to a three dimensional image.

The best time of day to photograph a portrait session in any part of the world is sunrise and sunset. No exceptions. If a photographer wants to take you out at any other time be careful. It can be done but it takes great skill and a great location to pull it off.

In the next blog post I will cover the different styles of photography. Merci! Tricia

New website!

Aloha! My new website is up ! I'm really excited about it. Call Summertime Beach Portraits for a special Hawaii launch special ! http://www.hawaiiportrait.com/
Mahalo! Tricia

Sun, Sand, and Surf!

Haiya'll !! I am just getting out and meeting people and passing out lots of cards. There is a surf contest just down the road from me today at Makaha. I'll post some photos. Check out my youtube channel too. I put some new videos on there.! Mahalo, Tricia

New Hawaii videos

Hey everyone! Don't forget to check out my youtube channel for surf videos!

Landing in Honolulu

Weather is uh.. perfect... for beach portraits =)

And I got a lei greeting at the airport... thank you Mom and Dad =)

It seems quite tame to just go for a plane ride now...after jumping out of one the day before.

Another picture perfect landing by Ms. Red

TX rest stop

These are a bit out of order. This is me at a TX rest stop on I10

End of 2nd Day on I10.. made it to AZ

This is the sunset from the end of the second day. I am in AZ. I stopped in Phoninex and then drove it straight into San Diego the next day.

Drive along I10... getting the heck out of FL!

I am going to post a few pics here of my adventure trip out to California!

Working on my pineapple treat and Hawaii tan =)

Pineapple Treat! Check out the Dole Plantation.

Sunset photo on the Leeward side!

Hawaiian Tropical Drink

Hawaiian cocktail: I'll have to think of a name..


(with help from Heather Cox Adicks) =)

Ingredients:

* Tea from the Hawaiian Islands Tea Co. I used the coconut macadamia herbal tropical nut tea.

* Fresh pineapple juice from the Dole Plantation (you can buy a gallon if you ask for it $7)

* Hana Bay Light rum

* Whaler's Dark



Instructions

This drink is still evolving..

Make some tea, then mix in pineapple juice, shake it with Hana Bay Light, pour over ice.

Then float a little Whaler's Dark on top!



Enjoy! Let me know if you've tried it !

Aloha! Tricia

Beautiful day at Waimea Bay, Hawaii

Another perfect day on the Northshore of Oahu!

Waimea Bay

Northshore this weekend at Waimea Bay!
We are making good progress on the website. We have the mock up done and we are working on the inside pages. Can't wait to unveil it.

House for sale Santa Rosa Beach Florida

2012 Update - For Sale by owner Tricia Keffer 850-269-2206
House for Sale! A beautiful house in Santa Rosa Beach FL! It's within 5 minute drive of Sacred Heart hospital, good schools, and a public beach access! It's a custom house with cool features and a large lot on a quiet street. 1/2 acre lot with tons of storage.

Week 1

Hey Ya'll.... I wonder ..what does a Hawaiian southern accent sound like? I'm just still scounting out places and meeting with hotel guest service people. The new Hawaii website is coming along fablousely! I'll let you know when it's been uploaded. I've been putting stuff on my facebook page so check that out too.

Aloha!!!

Aloha everyone! I'm here again =) It's a balmy 80 degrees... the sun has been shining and there are tons of tourists EVERYWHERE! I'll add some photos
on here this week and video. Usually I blog on Sundays so check back once a week for my travels and adventures. Add comments and let me know what your up too as well ! Mahalo, Tricia
PS) I just burned through my first box of chocolate mac nuts... I must go jog on the beach to burn it off =)

Vegas Skydiving

Hey! This is a video of me and my lil bro going skydiving! I have a video bar on the side but I thought I would post it here too.
Tricia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwEix28UtEc