Tomasula Studio

WHAT!!!

2011-09-29T09:05:00.005-04:00

Apparently Blogger upgraded its software for their blogs. Without telling anybody about it. Now my blog is all screwed up. None of the photos are showing anymore. The layout is funky and the whole thing's a mess.

Thanks a lot Blogger!

High School Seniors. We've Got a Site for You!

2011-09-29T08:51:00.002-04:00

Our dedicated High School Seniors site is up an running.

New features on our new site include a password-protected Client Proof section, easy navigation, dynamic galleries and a complete pricing section.

We also have a mobile version.

Dedicated Site for High School Seniors

2011-09-24T20:17:00.000-04:00

We're expanding into High School Senior photography. And we're currently working on a dedicated web site for all you seniors out there (and you Juniors too!)

If you're familiar with our work, you know that our Senior photography is not going to be you're run of the mill High School Yearbook photography. We offer gritty, urban, cutting-edge photography. And we'll make you the envy of your friends.

Stay tuned for the web site. And some Grand Opening Specials!

By the way, we're also on Tumblr and Twitter, so look us up.

We're On Tumblr

2011-08-30T15:23:00.003-04:00

We've opened a Tumblr account.

Now you can follow us there too. We'll post photos from past and future sessions for your viewing pleasure.

Check in often as we'll update frequently.

Sealed With A Kiss

2011-07-24T12:38:00.009-04:00

I had the rock band SWAK (Sealed With A Kiss) in yesterday for their first photo shoot.

The guys were great sports, considering it was 100 degrees and everyone was sweating like crazy during the session. I had the air conditioner cranking, but
that didn't do much good.

We did a bunch of group shots and some individuals. They guys had fun and really got into the experience.

Held Over!

2011-07-12T11:19:00.002-04:00

They like us! They really like us! (Apologies to Sally Field).

But it's true. They like us so much they want us to stay.

The Yonkers Parking Authority Exhibit, which was scheduled to end in September, has been extended until the end of the year. The PA said they love our work and want us to exhibit there for a s long as possible.

So, what started out as a three-month adventure, has now turned into a six month stay.

Keep your fingers crossed. Maybe it'll turn into a permanent exhibit.

We Made the Local Newspaper

2011-06-03T13:45:00.002-04:00

Following on our previous post about the installation at the Yonkers Parking Authority, we also received coverage from our local Port Chester newspaper.

They did a nice little writeup about the installation, our studio and ran a quote from me.

They also ran a nice shot of my two favorite models.

Fine Art Installation

2011-06-01T18:44:00.004-04:00

The Yonkers Parking Authority may be a nondescript, government building in downtown Yonkers, NY, but it is now home to an installation of our Fine Art Photography.

We've secured a three-month installation of 16 photographs in their conference room. The 20"x28" framed photos are available for sale. In addition to our fine art work, we threw in some portraits for good measure. It can't hurt to promote both ends of our business.

This is the first time the Yonkers P.A. has had a rotating display of art in the building. Our photos will be on display until September.

Our Fine Art Photography web site is available at www.deantomasula.com.

Premiere Issue of Newsletter is Out

2011-01-11T16:51:00.004-05:00

The first issue of our Studio Newsletter has just gone out.

If you want to keep current with what we have in store, sign up today and get in on the ground floor!

We're the Featured Studio

2010-12-10T17:21:00.003-05:00

Tomasula Studio is the featured studio for December in The Click Group US newsletter.

The Click Group is a network of more than 150 portrait studios across the US–of which we are a part–that feature "portrait gift experiences." These can be given as gifts and offer a portrait session, prints and gift certificates for one low price. They can be bought at retailers and online.

Our studio is featured in the second issue of the US newsletter! The Click Group is based in the UK and expanded to the US two years ago.

Click here to download a PDF of the Feature on Tomasula Studio.

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

2010-12-02T16:02:00.004-05:00

We're working on the first issue of the new Tomasula Studio email newsletter, which should be available in a few weeks. Get in on the ground floor and be one of the first to sign up.

Each issue will offer news about the studio, promotions we are running and special deals only available to newsletter subscribers. They also will feature some of the latest awesome photos from our recent shoots.

To subscribe to our newsletter, fill out the form on our Blog page (scroll down the page), or click on our subscribe link.

Tell your friends to subscribe too!

In a Hurry? Then Our 5 for 30 Promotion is for You

2010-11-12T14:39:00.005-05:00

Your life is busy. Who's isn't these days? That's why Tomasula Studio is running a 5 for 30 Promotion.

What's a 5 for 30 Promotion, you ask? Well, it's an in-studio portrait session for people that don't have two or more hours to spend getting photographed.

Here's how it works:

We'll set you up with a quick, half-hour session. We'll photograph you and your family in up to five different poses. And you'll get to pick one 8x10 print from the different poses in the session.

And the best part: it'll only cost you $30!

That's it. You're under no obligation to buy anything else. There is no Minimum Session Order. No sitting fee. Nothing. Just $30 (tax included!) and you're out the door in 30 minutes. You'll have your 8x10 print from the session in a few days.

Of course, you're welcome to purchase additional prints and products from the session.

So give us a call to set up a 5 for 30 session. This is a limited, special promotion for the Holidays so book now.

Social Media Profile Photo Sessions for Just $75

2010-11-06T16:05:00.004-04:00

If you need profile photos for social media sites like Facebook or for online dating sites, you've come to the right place.

Tomasula Studio is offering profile photo sessions for $75. Complete. We'll photograph you for up to an hour and provide four different shots on a CD-ROM that you can use on social media and dating sites. The photos will be appropriately sized so they can immediately be uploaded to your favorite site.

Do you want serious poses? We've got you covered. Feeling in a humorous mood? We can provide you with funny photos. Want to look glamorous for a dating site? We'll provide those photos for you too. Or, we can shoot all those moods for you in one session.

So if you want to look your best in cyberspace, come to Tomasula Studio and we'll help you look your best–for only $75. No further obligation.

Give us a call at 914-305-4296 or email us to set up an appointment.

We're Having A Holiday Sale!

2010-11-01T11:06:00.004-04:00

That's right. From now until the end of the year we are offering a Special Holiday Sale.

Book an in-studio session and take 15% off the Minimum Session Order. You can take the 15% off if you buy a package or choose to go Al a Carte. Either way, you get 15% right off the top.

So why wait? Book a session now.

Also, you can now find us on the Bronxville-Eastchester Patch web site. They are running a 15% off coupon to coincide with our sale.

We're also on the Larchmont and New Rochelle Patch sites.

We're Now Offering Packages

2010-10-07T12:10:00.004-04:00

Yep, that's right. Tomasula Studio is now offering packages of prints. And the best part is the Minimum Session Order price will be credited toward your package purchase. That means with any in-studio session and package purchase, you'll get $200 off the price of the package. For on-location sessions you'll save $245!

Of course, you can always buy the types and number and prints you want individually without buying a package. In this case, the Minimum Session Order still applies.

For more details, Call or Email for our detailed Price List.

First Ever Autumn Open Studios November 14

2010-09-29T11:13:00.012-04:00

Just in time for the Holidays, the Yoho Artisits Association is holding it's first-ever Autumn Open Studios on Sunday, November 14 from 12 Noon to 6 pm.

You may be familiar with the annual Spring Open Studios, which takes place in April each year. Well, we're expanding. We're now holding two Open Studios a year.

Come by and meet the artists, chat about art, enjoy some refreshments, and buy a few pieces for your walls. Or maybe as gifts for friends and family. We have photographers, painters, sculptors, woodworkers, tattoo artists, metal fabricators, stained glass artists and more. There is definitely something for everyone.

The Autumn Open Studios takes place at the YoHo Artists Studios at 540-578 Nepperhan Ave., Yonkers, NY 10701.

Call me or Email if you need information or directions.

The World's Smallest Waterfall?

2010-07-30T20:45:00.005-04:00

I was wandering around my local nature preserve today and I ran into this tiny waterfall (click on the photos for larger versions). I had been to the nature preserve many times before but never knew this waterfall was there. It's near the main road–which I drive up and down a few times a day taking the kids to their various events–yet I never saw this waterfall until today. It's not exactly Niagara Falls, but it's pretty cool anyway.

The dappled sunlight on the main road into the preserve was pretty interesting, so I just had to take some photos of it. The weather today was perfect, hot, bright sunlight, a few clouds. The quality of the light in the nature preserve today was quite nice.

We're Now on MySpace

2010-07-06T19:49:00.004-04:00

Tomasula Studio now has a presence on MySpace.

Visit us there and become a friend. While you're there, check out our slideshow.

More Website Changes

2010-07-01T16:59:00.006-04:00

We've upgraded our website yet again. This time we took out the Personal Gallery and swapped it for one called Models-Actors-Musicians.

We've been doing a bunch of musicians and actors lately, so we thought we'd put up a gallery to showcase some of the great shots we have.

Summer Special! Free Business Portraits For Unemployed Executives

2010-06-22T09:34:00.005-04:00

You read it correctly. Tomasula Studio is offering free business portraits for unemployed executives and business people.

With a New York State unemployment rate of more than 8% and an unemployment rate in Yonkers hovering around 10%, finding a job can be tough. In order to be considered for a position, you have to look your best.

That's where Tomasula Studio can help. In an effort to help those looking for a job look their best, Tomasula Studio is offering free business portraits to unemployed executives and business people. We're offering a full session (just like the ones our paying customers get) for free, with no strings attached. After the session we'll provide you with high resolution jpeg files that you can have printed anywhere and send out with your resume, or use on job boards.

Actors and Models do it all the time. When they send out resumes for jobs they have a headshot attached. Business people can use the same tactics to get noticed. And with a free business portrait from Tomasula Studio, you'll look your best and have a leg up on the competition.

For information on how to book a Free Business Portrait session, contact Tomasula Studio.

Actor's Headshots

2010-06-14T17:00:00.005-04:00

Emily came in yesterday for some headshots. She's studying to be an actress and needed some fresh shots for her portfolio.
She said she hadn't done many professional photo shoots in the past, but that was hard to believe as she was a natural in front of the camera. I guess her acting training came in handy there. She would start posing before I even told her what I wanted to do. She seemed like an experienced model, rather than someone just starting out.

It was a quick session, but we had a lot of fun. And Emily has a lot of good headshots to choose from.

So That's What the Studio Really Looks Like

2010-05-13T18:54:00.004-04:00

I finally got around to taking some new photos of the studio.

The old ones had been up a bit too long, considering the studio looks nothing like that anymore.

Check out where all the magic happens here.

Once on the page, click on the photos for a larger view.

Music to My Ears

2010-05-08T21:33:00.008-04:00

I had my buddy Joseph in for a session on Cinco de Mayo. He's a musician and needed shots for his newly redesigned web site, some publicity materials and an upcoming CD of his music.

He brought his favorite guitar and some clothes changes. We did a bunch of "looks" and some "attitude" shots. He's definitely got the Rock 'n Roll attitude down and it comes through in the shots.

We spent nearly three hours on the shoot, capturing different angles, attitudes and backgrounds.

Joseph is a very cool guy and a great musician. The session was a lot of fun and I think I captured a number of great shots for him.He's heading to Berlin, Germany in August for some concert dates and he plans to use some of my shots for his publicity over there.

It's Not the Cover of the Rolling Stone...

2010-04-28T18:30:00.004-04:00

...but it's some good press nonetheless.

The 7th Annual YoHo Artists Association Open Studios weekend–held April 17-18–received some good media coverage. There was an article in the Riverdale Press, which covered the many Riverdale-based artists that are part of the group. Unfortunately, yours truly is not from Riverdale, so no press coverage for us in the RP. (A little mention anyway would have killed them? I'm just saying.)

But we made it into other papers.

Yonkers Rising (link downloads a PDF file) did a nice piece on the show, putting us on the front page! They used of photo of me in the studio too. Color and everything.

We also made it into the Westchester Guardian (link downloads a PDF file). They gave us a two-page spread in the centerfold. And I didn't even need to bring my catcher's mitt for the shoot. (Those of you that were around in the 1972 and were Burt Reynolds fans will get the reference.)

The WG piece was a complete surprise to most of us, as no one knew they were doing a story. I found out when I got a call from their layout artist, who needed some high resolution photos to illustrate the piece. They ran two of my photos.

And no, I didn't buy five copies for my mother. But I did pick up a few copies of the Westchester Guardian for some of the other artists.

Earth Day Number 40

2010-04-22T19:36:00.003-04:00

Happy Birthday Planet Earth!

Today is the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day. In honor of that milestone, I thought I'd post this photo from 30 years ago. I was working as a photographer for a local newspaper and this was one of my assignments.

Enjoy.

Open Studios Weekend is Upon Us

2010-04-14T13:14:00.003-04:00

It's here! This weekend is the 7th Annual YoHo Artists Association Open Studios Weekend.

Here is a list of participating artists and their specialties:

And here is a floor plan of the Artists' Studios:

Save the Dates - Saturday, April 17th and Sunday April 18th

2010-03-11T16:24:00.007-05:00

Mark your calendars for April 17th and 18th because that's the weekend the YoHo Artists Association is holding their 7th Annual Open Studios event in Yonkers. The event runs from 12pm until 5 pm both Saturday April 17th and Sunday April 18th.

The Open Studios event gives the public an opportunity to see where the art is made and to meet the artists in a one-on-one atmosphere. In the artists' studios' relaxed atmosphere, the art loving public will discover how accessible art really is. They can meet with the artists and familiarize themselves with their creative processes, materials and range of works. Visitors may purchase artwork directly from the artists. Many of the artists are gallery-affiliated and have exhibited internationally. Many of their works are part of numerous collections in the United States and abroad.

This year, Tomasula Studio is participating in the Open Studios weekend. So drop by and take a look at what we do. And visit the other artists while you're there.

A Model Client

2010-03-03T10:20:00.005-05:00

Literally.

Nadiya came in the other day, wanting to add some shots to her model portfolio.

We had a great session, trying out numerous poses and looks. Nadiya was usually ahead of me, suggesting a pose that I was about to get to, just before I suggested it. Working with someone who is on the same wavelength as you makes it a whole lot easier.
We both had a great time.

Book a Family Portrait Session - Get a Free 8x10

2010-01-27T09:31:00.003-05:00

When was the last time you and your family went out to a studio to have a professional photographer take your portraits? It was probably a long time ago.

Well, it's time to have those photos updated. Tomasula Studio is offering one Free 8x10 print when you book a portrait session with us. We'll photograph you and your family, give you plenty of amazing photos to choose from and provide a free 8x10 print from the session. That's it. You are under no obligation to purchase anything further (of course, you're free to purchase any additional prints and sizes you'd like at our standard prices).

The kids are growing so fast. Don't put it off any longer.

Call Dean at Tomasula Studio now at 914-305-4296 to book a session, or email dean@tomasulastudio.com for more information.

Last Session of 2009

2010-01-03T17:56:00.009-05:00

I photographed Nancy and her family in their home the other day, the last session of 2009. The session consisted of Nancy, her husband and three children, ages 11, 10 and 2.

This lovely family was a pleasure to photograph. And the kids were troopers, especially the little one.

They were all dressed in their Sunday best and came prepared with the biggest smiles you could imagine.

I think everyone had fun. I know I did.

We're Starting to Click!

2009-12-16T10:28:00.009-05:00

The Click Group and Tomasula Studio are gearing up for the Gift-giving season.

To that end, the Click Group (profiled previously in this October Blog post) has lined up a number of retailers to sell our Portrait Gift Experience. We are available in 400 Borders Book Stores, 250 Duane Reade pharmacies, 440 Sam's Club outlets, and online at Amazon.com and Smartbox.com.

The Portrait Gift Experience from Tomasula Studio features a family photo session (up to four people for up to an hour) and a 5x7 print -- all for only $49! That's right, for $49 prepaid you can have a session at Tomasula Studio with your family. That's a $125 value!

When you buy the Smartbox, you get a full-color guidebook featuring 105 activities available in the Northeast US (including our photo session) and a prepaid gift card. To take advantage of the service, buy or receive as a gift the Smartbox, choose the Portrait Gift Experience, call us to book a session, bring the prepaid gift card to your session. And that's it. We'll do the rest.

It makes a wonderful Christmas gift for friends -- or even for yourself.

More Hi-Key

2009-11-25T17:39:00.005-05:00

I had Grace and her sister Faith in for a session today. It's the first time I could get these two together in a while.

I don't think it's possible for these two to get any more hi-key than they were today. The energy level was off the chart! They definitely had fun during the session. The dancing and carrying on went on for a while.

Then they needed a break for some time on the easel. Luckily it's two sided, so one got to draw on the whiteboard and the other got to use the chalk.

High-Key and High Energy

2009-11-18T14:32:00.009-05:00

I just completed a test shoot with Grace, a three year old. I wanted to test out my new high-key rig and see how it was shaping up. High-key essentially means the background is so bright it looks pure white.

Grace normally does not like to be photographed. Rather, she doesn't mind being photographed, but she prefers not to look at the camera. Rather than end up with a session full of photos of her looking everywhere but at me, I had to devise innovative ways to get her attention.

I found one of the best ways: shooting tethered.

For those not familiar with the term, shooting tethered is just fancy photography jargon for connecting your camera to a computer. Using special software, when you press the shutter release on the camera, the image is sent from the camera directly to the computer. So when the inevitable "Let me see, Let me see" pops out of their mouth after you snap the photo, you can just point their attention to the computer screen, rather than having to stop each time and letting them look at the back of the camera.

When the first photo came onto the screen, Grace thought this was the greatest thing she ever saw (and maybe it was, after all, she's only three). This tickled her to no end, bringing a huge grin to her face. This kept her attention for more than a half hour. Something that is pretty hard to do with a pre-schooler!

Clicking Away

2009-10-30T20:14:00.003-04:00

Tomasula Studio just joined The Click Group, a marketing network of professional photography studios across the US.

The concept, which has been successful in England and Ireland for the past 15 years, has just come to the US. Already the company has signed up 65 studios here (including us!). The Click Group runs in-store, product packaging and magazine promotions -- in partnership with major marketers like Toys R Us, MasterCard and T-Mobile.

The best part of this is that depending on the promotion, you can get professional photography at our studio for free or at greatly reduced prices.

Here's how The Click Group explains it:

The Click Group specialize in portrait awareness promotions within national newspapers and magazines, on-pack and in-store loyalty promotions with leading brands and more recently the gift experience market. The promotions are either spend-related on pack, retail offers, readers' offers within newspapers and magazines or photographic experiences purchased on line or in-store.

So look for their logo when you're out shopping. Take advantage of the promo.

We look forward to working with you soon.

Working on the Web Site

2009-10-13T17:26:00.004-04:00

The team is hard at work on the Tomasula Studio web site.

While not yet fully functional, it's coming along nicely. I've been working with the team, tweaking the design and coding, trying to get it to look -- and more importantly -- to operate the way I want it to. Once it's gone live (hopefully before the end of October), it will be easy to navigate, pleasant to look at and very informative.

They'll be a price list available for download, as well as downloadable directions to the studio form anywhere in the area. There also are a bunch of galleries with some shots from recent sessions.

Bookmark the site now and be the first to surf when it goes live.

Inaugural Photo Shoot!

2009-09-05T16:06:00.005-04:00

Well, we finally inaugurated the new studio on September 4, 2009. For the first shoot we brought in a family of nine people -- three generations -- including four girls: a 3-year-old, 7-year-old, 10-year-old and a 12-year-old.

The kids had a great time, dancing around and striking their best poses. Not bad for a bunch of kids who have never modeled before -- especially the little one.

It was a long shoot, but, surprisingly enough, the kids held up pretty well through it all. Even through a bunch of costume changes.