Zettl Photography - St. Louis Photographer» portraits

From now until December 31st, 2011 we are having our end of the year Zettl Photography Gift Certificate Extravaganza. Session fees will be going up January 1st, so this is a great opportunity if you plan on having any kind of portrait session in 2012. Give them as gifts or keep them for yourself.

Please feel free to email us at info@zettlphoto.com or call us at 314.454.6612 with any questions.

We’re looking forward to working with you and creating beautiful, elegant, lively photos for you in 2012.

BOGO Portrait Sessions

Buy one of our classic portrait sessions for $190.00 get a second one free.

Our classic portrait sessions include the talents of Stephanie or Peter Zettl for about an hour in the location of your choice in the St. Louis area. (travel fees may apply outside the St. Louis area)

Photo ordering sessions are available in our Central West End studio or in your home. (Prints, Image Files, Albums, etc. are extra.)

The Portrait Collection Gift Certificate

Get a classic portrait session and a $350 print credit for $350. (Regularly $540)

Photo ordering sessions are available in our Central West End studio or in your home.

Bonus Gift Certificates

For every $100 you spend you will receive an additional $25 print credit: For $100 get a $125 gift certificate, for $200 get a $250 gift certificate, etc.

Gift certificates can be used on any new print orders for past or future weddings or portraits.

(Can not be used on wedding collections.)

All Gift Certificates expire 12/31/12.

Favorite Photography Books

zettlphoto — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 03:43:22 +0000

Considering I have an ever growing collection of photography books, it was no surprise that I was asked to give some advice about what a fellow photographer might want as a gift. I have photography books about every thing from the technical to artist portfolios, from street photography to high fashion.

As I was compiling the list, I thought about how it really was a list of books that all photographers should have on their shelves. I was going to make this a top 10 list but I decided that I would probably continue to add to it. So let’s call this Stephanie’s List of Favorite Photography Books. (Book Covers link directly to Amazon) I hope they are a source of inspiration and enlightenment to you.

My most recent purchase is a book of Vivian Maier’s work. Her story is exceptional and I encourage you read her story and view more of her work at www.vivianmaier.com Her work rivals any of the great street photographers of the twentieth century.

Vivian Maier: Street Photographer

While we’re on the topic of street photographers, no collection would be complete without a book by Henri Cartier- Bresson. This book was given to me by a cherished friend. What I love about it is that it contains a lot of the well know Cartier-Bresson images but also a lot of them that I had not seen before. It is a beautiful book.

Henri Cartier-Bresson: The Man, The Image & The World

Richard Avedon – If you don’t have one of his books on your shelves, you are missing out. Here is one of my favorite books by one of my favorite artists.

Avedon Fashion 1944-2000

A lot of my fashion work is influenced by the elegance of Norman Parkinson.

Norman Parkinson: A Very British Glamour

I am drawn to the photos of performers and musicians, which is why I love the work of Herman Leonard. (My B&W Jazz cover of St. Louis Bride Magazine was my homage to the artist)

Jazz

No collection is complete without the quiet humour of Elliot Erwitt. The man sees the world in ways I wish I could, always with a bit of mischievousness, always with a bit of a smile.

Personal Best

Nick Brandt is one of my favorite nature photographers. His warm black and white images of African animals are second to none. This book is large and properly highlights his beautiful and majestic images.

A Shadow Falls

Now on to the technical photography books… Let’s start with books on lighting.

This list wouldn’t be complete without a self serving plug for my own book on the Nikon Speedlight System. I’m really proud of this book. It provides a lot of great information and is visually appealing.

Nikon Speedlight Handbook

Another great lighting book is by the well known New Jersey Wedding and Portrait Photographer Neil van Niekerk. His Tangents blog and books have been very influential to my work as a wedding photographer. I highly recommend them. You will definitely have some ah-ha moments while reading them.

Off-Camera Flash

Joe McNally ‘s work with speedlights is extraordinary. His book falls in the same category.

The Hot Shoe Diaries

This list should give you a good start. I’ll continue to add to the list as I find more books I believe are valuable to our education and inspiration.

Hope you enjoy them!

xoxo

Stephanie

Congratulations Madeleine!

zettlphoto — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 02:16:13 +0000

Just want to give a little shout out to St. Louis native Madeleine for being named the 2011 Cutest Vegetarian Alive! Working with her was a lot of fun and she really does deserve the title. She’s smart, cute, and dedicated to what she believes. Congratulations Madeleine!

Read what she has to say here about being a vegetarian: http://features.peta2.com/cutest-veg-2011/Winners.aspx

Makeup by the super talented D’Shannon Llewellyn at www.dmakeupartist.com

Portraits I take for myself – my grandfather at age 92

zettlphoto — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 04:32:28 +0000

I close my eyes and I can see it. The office walls were always covered with news clippings, photographs, sales reports and random cartoons or quotes. The desk was rarely neat and it was often stacked high with papers. This is how I always remember my grandfather’s office. Whenever the family went to Kansas City to visit him we would stop by his office in Westport. As a child, his office always fascinated me. My grandfather is a very driven man; he’s an entrepreneur, outspoken, opinionated, interested in the world around him and ready to live life to its fullest. In some ways I think I have a bit of my grandfather in me.

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He’s 92 now and still keeps an office in the building he owns in Westport. The last time I visited him I knew I wanted a to create a photo of my grandfather in his office. There was some conversation that perhaps we should take it in the park or at his house. But the answer was no; I wanted it in the office. The truth is, this photo is for me and it was made as a visual record of my childhood memories.