Below are the 9 images I am entering into competition.  Please leave a comment in this blog post with the number of your favorite photo, your full name and email (your email address will not be published publicly.) You are welcome to solicit votes for your favorite prints. (email, facebook, twitter this post!) You may vote one time per legitimate email address.

The PRIZES:

1) The client of the photograph that receives the most votes will get a 13×19 fine art print of the photograph shown here and a 13×19 print of their favorite photograph from their wedding or portrait session. (A $300 value.)

2) We will randomly draw a winner from all the votes cast for an extraordinary portrait session, a 13×19 art print from the session and a $300 print credit. (A $550 value.)

The RULES:

1. Winning prizes are not transferable and have no cash or substitution redemption value.
2. The portrait session is for up to 5 people.
3. Viewing, selecting and ordering your prints will take place in our studio.  You are under no obligation to order anything more than your 13×19 art print and $300 print credit. Print credit must be used at ordering session and can not be combined with any other offers or specials.
4. Both the photo shoot and the ordering session must take place by September 1, 2010
5.  Photo session is good for the St. Louis area.  Travel fees will be incurred for anything outside the St. Louis area.
6. The contest ends February 18, 2010 at 11:59 pm.
7. All results are final.  We are the final arbiters in all decisions. Void where regulated or prohibited.
8. We reserve the right to add to and modify these terms if necessary. We promise to be fair in that process.
9.  Winners will be announced via the blog and contacted via email.  (So leave us a working email address. We want you to win! And we promise not to spam you.  We will only contact you once with info about the winners.)

The PHOTOGRAPHS:

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

We’ll be having another contest in March of our favorite photo from each wedding and portrait session we shot last year. Stay tuned!

Every year Peter and I make our way to a photography convention to learn and be inspired.  For the past two years we have arranged a shoot to photograph our fellow photographers and provide them with a new avatar or profile photo. This year’s shoot was based on David Bailey’s 1964 shoot of Mic Jagger.

What I love about these photos is that they are full of personality.  They tell you something about the people in the photos.  We shot over 57 people in about 3 hours.  To be able to make that connection with your subject in 3 minutes is an accomplishment.  Our ability to connect with the people we’re shooting is one of our major strengths.

This also applies to our corporate clients – a photo with personality is key.  In a world of social networking like facebook and linkedin, your photo is often the first impression you give to potential clients.  Today, image is everything.  What is your photo saying about you?  Are you telling your clients you’re confident, personable, friendly, and worthy of their business?

We always discuss wardrobe, location and the purpose of the image to help you make the right introduction to clients and colleagues.  We also want you to be comfortable in front of the camera.  We dedicate the time and preparation to make sure you get the best photo.  Please feel free to email us at info@zettlphoto.com or call us at 314.454.6612 to arrange a session.

Like most photographers, he has few photos of all of them together in one photo, so it was nice to be able to provide a piece of family history for the Arlunds.

Be sure to check out Chuck’s work.  I swear this man will be shooting the fashion spreads of Vanity Fair and Vogue one day.

One of most valuable lessons I learned from him was that as parents we are not really taking photos for ourselves, but for our children.  Thirty years from now when our children have children of their own, that photo of them as a child will mean all that much more.  But even more meaningful is the photo of the child with mom and dad.   The photo taken now shows us as young and vibrant, guardians and caretakers – the way we want to remember our parents.  I insist that parents be photographed with their children.  I do this for the children.

David came to St. Louis almost two years ago and spent some one-on-one mentor time with the talented Pam Bredenkamp of Signature Studios.  As part of the visit he photographed Lily and her father Brian.  It was a beautiful lesson in the relationship and connections between a father and daughter.  As David explains, “This is the image I Love. I Love it because I said to Lily ‘Cuddle Daddy’…and she knew that all of him mattered and she grabbed the nearest piece. I will ALWAYS be moved by the way he instinctively started brushing his hand on her leg with moist eyes.”

Brian, who was a medic in the US Army, was killed last week while serving in Afghanistan.  He leaves behind a wife and two small children. You can only imagine how valuable this photo has become to his daughter.  He was taken from her too early in life.  But she will never doubt that he loved her.  This photo proves it.

Our thoughts are with Brian’s family.

Photo by David A. Williams