Now Accepting Senior Portrait Rep Applications!

We are very excited to be launching Studio831: Senior Style for the 2010-2011 school year. Our new portfolio of senior portraits is now under development and we can’t wait to show it off. We are currently looking for Studio831 Senior Style Reps from high schools in RI and Southeastern MA. Please email us if you are interested in an application or visit the Studio831photography website and fill out the form in the contact section.

Studio831photography Style Reps are chosen in order to promote Studio831 Senior Style and studio831photography. Any student within RI and Southeastern Ma that will be a senior during the 2010-2011 school year is qualified to apply. We are looking for seniors with a variety of styles and interests who would love to have some fun in front of the camera! A maximum of 2 Reps from each high school will be accepted.

As a Studio831photography Style Rep, you will receive a free session in the Summer of 2010. The images from this session are used to create the rep cards that you will pass out in your high school and your proof book that you will show to other classmates, web images to post on social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, and as promotional images on the Studio831photography website and blog. After your session, you will also have an online gallery of at least 50 of your images to share with friends and family. This is a great way to have modern, fresh, and fun senior portraits taken for free!

For each student you refer with your provided senior rep cards that books a session with Studio831photography Senior Style, you will receive a $25 credit toward your print order, along with several other bonus and incentive offers that will be outlined for you after acceptance into this program. Some of these incentives include additional credits toward prints and products, special VIP pricing, cash and other prizes for the student!

If you are accepted as a Studio831photography Senior Style Rep, you will have the opportunity to review all details in the contract before choosing to accept your place in the program. The contract must be signed by both you and your parent/guardian to allow you to participate.

If you are interested in becoming a Studio831: Senior Style rep, email us before July 15th, 2010 and we will send you an application. Along with your application, please email 2 of your favorite pictures of yourself to: doug@studio831photography.com to complete the application process or become a fan of Studio831photography on facebook.

And the WINNER is....

We have selected the WINNER of the Photo Shoot Giveaway! I'd like to give a BIG congratulations to Melanie Silvia MacDonald and family!! They will receive a photo shoot from studio831photography! Why? Everything at the most basic level is engaged in giving and receiving. Energy is given, energy is received. If giving and receiving is such a fundamental part of life itself, then the same law must also apply to our interpersonal interaction. If we wish to receive, we must first give to others. The more we give, the more we will receive. We do not and will not run this business like the run-of-the-mill businesses. We are different. We are unique. And we are giving. Congrats Melanie!! We are looking forward to great experience with you and your family!!! You deserve this!

Fans and followers, please suggest our facebook page to family and friends. There will be more goodies to go around in the future. Keep an eye on us, we'll be doing big things to come!!

FACEBOOK

Photographer For The Littlest Heroes Project!

We are pleased to announce that we have been selected to take part as photographers in the Little Heroes Project. We couldn't be more excited and honored to have the opportunity to give to such a great cause and to inspirational people.

Here is an excerpt taken from the official Littlest Heroes Project website:

The Littlest Heroes Project is a non-profit based organization founded in January 2008 by Felicia Reinhard, made up of professional photographers nationwide that provide free photo sessions to our nations Littlest Heroes. Through the power of photography we are giving back and taking a stand for these children who sometimes feel forgotten because of their illnesses. We are here to let them know that they are heroes to many, and to share their inspirational stories and photos with the world.

Our mission at The Littlest Heroes Project is to help provide and capture memories for families who are dealing with hectic schedules due to having a child who is suffering from a serious illness or life altering disability. We understand that in the midst of being thrown a diagnosis and having to switch from a “normal” life to a life that is totally different, and often scary, things like getting photos taken is sometimes a huge challenge and is one of the last things families are thinking about. But when everything is done, and either the child has reached the end of their battle, or has proven the odds against it many wish they had more time to stop, and capture the journey that they lived through for so long. Through Littlest Heroes our photographers understand each and every case, and cater it to fit and honor each child and family. Our photographers are on hand to travel to homes, hospitals, clinics, fundraisers, and benefits to help capture your child’s journey in a “Day in the life” sort of style and work personally one on one with your child and entire family to get those special family photos and moments that you can cherish for years to come.

It's GIVEAWAY time! FREE photo shoot!

Calling all couples, families, kids and high school seniors! We've decided to offer a FREE photo shoot! That's right. And all you have to do is leave a comment on this post telling me your ideal photo shoot location. The more creative, the better. And remember, this is a family friendly blog so don't get TOO crazy!

But think about it. I have a few ideas in my head. Spots I've been wanting to shoot but I want to hear what you think. And we will pick based on which one we like the absolute most. I'm looking for anyone and everyone who wants a FREE photo shoot in the Rhode Island area.

Why would a Photographer give away free business you ask? It has to do with giving back. Helping out. Making someone happy, and thriving off of their happiness.

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”

- Winston Churchill

That is one of my favorite quotes in life that always comes back around. At all levels of life, we can observe the process of giving and receiving. It’s a dynamic exchange that must exist in order for life to perpetuate itself. Everything at the most basic level is engaged in giving and receiving. Energy is given, energy is received. If giving and receiving is such a fundamental part of life itself, then the same law must also apply to our interpersonal interaction. If we wish to receive, we must first give to others. The more we give, the more we will receive.

We do not and will not run this business like the run-of-the-mill businesses. We are different, we are unique and we are better then the average business. We want to give our time to charities and causes. We want to use our skills and talents in ways other photographers wouldn't and can't.

So there it is. This is real, with no strings attached.

Here's what you do:

-- leave a comment before May 15th
-- tell us your ideal photo shoot location (make sure it fits your personality and style!)
-- check back here after the deadline and see if you are the lucky WINNER!

We are live....

I just wanted to post a quick blog about our website, which is up and live on the web. Check it out by clicking right HERE! What we do is showcase an array of photos that we have taken for all to see. At times there are a lot to see. We will also be uploading Client photo sessions as well, along with passwords for those Clients families and friends to order prints and other memorable keepsakes from those special events and moments.

Keep an eye out for spring and summer specials coming soon. There's no better time to capture those special moments, family and child portraits and Senior photos then spring and summer. The weather is beautiful and the landscape is incredible. Become a follower of this blog, a fan on Facebook and bookmark the website so you will receive notice on any and all specials to come.

We appreciate all of the support and kind words we have received. Without you, this would not be possible. Thank you!

Support Our Community

What I want to blog about is very important to us. It's about supporting our community and the people and events within it. In this blog you will read a short story and event details of the Gizzi Family Run here on Aquidneck Island in less then two months from now. This event will be the 3rd annual fundraiser in memory of Michele Gizzi, to benefit The Michele Gizzi Nursing Scholarship, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Woman & Infants Hospital of RI, Visiting Nurse Services of Newport and Bristol Counties, and other local organizations related to cancer and health.

I was born and raised here on the island and to be part of community events such as this one is an honor. Marika and I made a pledge to one another, that when we started this business, we would become more involved in the community and charities and events where our help could be used. This is what we plan to do and we will start right here. Please read below and also go to their website for more information. I know hard times are among us and every dollar saved is like gold. But I ask you to please donate, whatever you choose, to help support this cause. $1, $5, or $20, every bit helps when it will make a difference in people's lives. Be proud of yourself and give a little to help our community, you won't regret it.

Michele Gizzi was beloved by everyone in her life. She passed away on March 24, 2008 surrounded by her family after a difficult struggle with fast spreading cancer.

Always a Newport girl at heart, the Gizzi Family Run was something that she was very excited about, where everyone could come together in a positive way to celebrate her life and help make a difference for others. She left behind many of her family and friends inspired by her courage.

Michele was a registered nurse at the Newport Hospital for 32 years. She was a 1969 graduate of Rogers High School, a 1976 graduate of the Newport Hospital School of Nursing and a 1985 graduate of Salve Regina College where she received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Michele was a member of Emmanuel Church and the Newport Hospital School of Nursing Alumni Association. Caring for and nurturing others was every part of her being.

---- How It Started -----------------------------

Greg J. Gizzi thought his aunt Michele Gizzi had beat cancer just before Christmas last year. When he learned the cancer came back in January (2008), he said he knew he wanted to do something more to help her and show how much he cared.

Gizzi approached Kevin Buck, co-owner of the Newport Athletic Club, several weeks ago and asked for input about holding a fundraiser at the facility to raise money for cancer research. Because one of Gizzi's loves is baseball, he initially thought it would be a fun idea for him to run the entire length of a Red Sox game and get pledges from family and friends.

His idea transformed into something much bigger. As Gizzi spread the word, more and more people became interested in participating. In the end, about 50 people took part in the fundraiser, running on Newport Athletic Club treadmills and riding on stationary bikes during the Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees game Saturday to benefit the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute's Jimmy Fund.

Sadly, Michele Gizzi died March 24 (2008) at age 56, but family and friends said she would have been overwhelmed by the turnout and just so happy.

On Saturday, May 8th 2010, at 3 PM the Gizzi family will be holding the third annual Gizzi Family Run, a fundraiser for the Gizzi Family Health Awareness Inc., in memory of Michele Gizzi. The proceeds will be donated to The Michele Gizzi Nursing Scholarship, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, Visiting Nurse Services of Newport and Bristol Counties, and other local organizations related to cancer and health.

Relay teams will be running on the treadmills or bicycling the length of the Red Sox/Yankees game. The participants will collect pledges for each inning that they complete. There will be a silent auction, drawings, food, cash bar, and lots of socializing. Come and bring a friend!

If you would like to make a donation, pledge a runner, or donate a gift for the raffle or silent auction, please checkout the Sign-Up/Donate page at

www.gizzyfamilyrun.com

Date: May 8, 2010

Time: 3:00 pm

Where: Newport Athletic Club

Checks Can Be Made Payable To: Gizzi Family Health Awareness Inc. or GFHA Inc.

Gifts and Donations Can Be Mailed To:

The Gizzi Family

44 Mohawk Drive

Portsmouth, RI 02871

Come dressed in your best Red Sox apparel! Hope to see you there!

Excited About Life

This is the first time I have ever put together a blog. This will not be award winning writing or anything like that. I just wanted to publish a few words here to start out my blogging experience. In the near future most of my blogs will be based on photography and our experiences pertaining to it. So far here you will see an array of photos taken of our children and some of the beautiful landscapes that surround us. To come soon will be some adorable baby photography and a few action sporting events photography.

My passion for photography, or I should say to pursue my love for photography, I credit to two great people. First off, my best friend, my love, my soulmate Marika. She has been so instrumental in me believing that true love does exist and that there is a perfect person, a perfect match for everyone in this world. She has shown me that following your dreams and passions is possible, and worth it. Having a new outlook on life, a fresh breath of air is the way we should all wake up and go sleep everyday, which is what Marika has given me.

Secondly, I credit the wild, crazy and zany Jason Domingues. Jay has shown me that all things in life are possible. Helping those in need, never turning down the chance to share and to teach. He inspires me to carry forward this passion and hobby that Marika and I share. I study his work, his expressions, his views and how happy he and his family are. It's great to see someone be so happy and be able to successfully balance work, marriage and family. I know photography and expressionism has been a passion and a gift of his for a long time, and to see the success he has had in all areas of life, is a positive influence on others including me. It shows that anything is possible!

This is going to conclude my very first blog ever! When the photos start showing up here, check them out. Thank you for reading!