A young man with focus
By darren | June 7, 2008
Yesterday I had the pleasure of meeting Shawn C. for the first time. Shawn is a recent high school grad and his parents wanted some nice portraits of him to remember this milestone. A lot of people are often jealous of my photographic abilities and relate how I have it made creating portraits. They’ve never tried to photograph a large family with several kids before! Shawn reminded me more of a professional model than my normal customers. Sitting proudly with good posture the kid is focused in so many ways. He was intent on having excellent images taken for mom and just made my job easy, thanks Shawn.
I couldn’t help but notice the young man looks like a politician and was told he has political aspirations. He has his sights set on Stetson Law and I wish him all the best with his goals. It was refreshing seeing a young man who knew exactly what he wants and is focused on achieving just that. I see so many young people who don’t have goals and just don’t show initiative.
So with that said, I thought Shawn and his family might enjoy this hypothetical magazine cover;
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Reagan’s Proud Parents
By darren | May 20, 2008
Becky and I can’t help but remember all the fun and hard times we experienced during her pregnancies with our children when we had the pleasure of photographing yet another expectant couple. Amy and Jay came by Sunday to create some precious memories for their family to be. We learned they’re expecting a baby girl to be named Reagan!
A little research shows that “A form of Regan, derived from the surname O’Riagain. Best-known as the surname of Ronald Reagan, the 40th president of the United States. First charted for boys in 1996. Ranks among the top 150 names for girls.” It is also said to be a strong Irish name.
Ok enough with the history lesson, um well here’s a couple of the portraits from the other night.
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A Little Princess
By darren | May 17, 2008
Ok, well she’s not a Princess but she was dressed so lovely and looking so pretty just like one. Samantha, was dressed so sweetly in a dress handed down for the 3rd time. Her mother tells us that two of her cousins wore the dress Samantha had today, if I remember correctly.
Samantha is such a treat to photograph as she is quite the model at times. Full of wonderful expressions, I can’t help but think she’ll be an actress one day.
Thanks Sara & Jerry for letting us capture this special day for your family! Here are some previews as promised.
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Operation: LoveReUnited
By darren | May 16, 2008
I inquired about this program some time ago and completed a brief application but never formalized my contacts when the other day I noticed that apparently my work had already been approved and a link to my site was listed. Not a problem. I’ve supported the military with my business since day one. My father is a WWII Purple Heart Veteran who was hit by tank fire in hills of France. I served briefly in the USCGR until the troops numbers were decimated by then President Clinton. I was placed on IRR and there I stayed for the remainder of my obligation, after serving 3 years.
So this is all leading up to this wonderful program called Operation: LoveReUnited and here is an excerpt from their website;
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**Please understand, Operation: Love ReUnited sessions are for deploying, depolyed and returning military families. Many of our photographers offer seperate pricing for military members if you are interested in family portraits. Thank you!**
Introduction To The Program:
If you have ever been through a military deployment, there are no words to explain how hard it is to send the father or mother of your children off to some foreign, dangerous land, leaving you all behind…. Alone. It’s indescribable to watch their faces light up as their mother or father comes up the stairs of the airport after months, possibly a year or more, of not hugging each other. Emotions fly through the main lobby, it’s so very good to have them home. Your base’s Family Support Squadron will help you with your deployment. But the last thing on your mind when your wife or husband arrives home after a 4 to 18 month tour, is capturing all this love– on film. Most people are so overwhelmed with emotions they forget to simply point and shoot the camera they are grasping of their child’s first hug, or that single tear of relief from a mother being able to hold her twenty year old son again. With the help of Operation: Love ReUnited and local photographers near your base, you can.
The Operation helps those long months go by a little faster. It’s designed to capture moments that you will never remember. It’s art. It’s love. And it’s all made possible by artists wanting to give something back to those who make the United States what it is, and ask for nothing in return- but to come home.
If you are a member or family member of the United States Military, and are interested in having very special and touching images with a patriotic edge taken of you and/or your family before a deployment or during, and at your reunion, please contact a photographer in your area now. You will receive a substantial package as a gift in appreciation for all you have been through as a military member. The package will always include a 4×6 album of pre-deployment images, such as a child’s hand clasped in his parent’s with the faint glimpse of a BDU sleeve, a marine in dress with his family, a salior with his parents right before departure, or a child playing dress up in combat boots and a helmet. The album will be sent to the deployed soldier by the photographer, at no cost to you. Also with your package, all session fees will be waived. Your photographer may have a designated package or other options for Operation: Love ReUnited participants at their discretion with a signed model release.
About Pre-Deployment & Deployment Sessions:
OpLove Pre-Deployment & Deployment sessions help you say
goodbye and cope with being away. Anyone who has had to see their husband or wife, son, daughter, sister or brother off to war knows how hard it is to watch them walk away from you. Our photographers are part of the program as volunteers. They feel your pain, many of them being military spouses or family members themselves, they want to listen, they want to help ease your worries, they want to do what they can to help you through this deployment, and we do that with photography. Your initial session will be either with your spouse before he or she deploys dressed in their dress uniform or BDUs for most of the session, or if you find OpLove after your loved one has deployed, your session will be done without your loved one keeping a patriotic theme that could include dress, hats, BDUs, boots and other military gear, but they will still experience all the love & benefits that OpLove has to offer.
About Returning Sessions:
When your loved one comes home from a deployment, the last thought on your mind will be your camera. Most people are so overwhelmed with emotions, they simply forget they are holding it in their hand. Once you find out about the time your loved one is to return from his or her deployment, please let your photographer know. They will want to accompany your family to the welcoming home of your spouse or loved one, and capture that first glimpse, that first embrace, and all the love that surrounds every person who walks off that plane, into their families arms.
**Please note that orders may be requested. Pre-deployment sessions in which the deploying spouse is participating, should include their military uniform, dress or BDUs, being worn for most of the session. Some images may be taken in civilian clothes but please understand that this program does not focus on traditional family portraiture. If an OpLove session takes place and the spouse has already been deployed, the session should keep a patriotic theme including military gear such as hats, uniforms, boots, etc.
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So, are you one of those military families as described above? If so we have a special program of services for you. If you are not deploying or returning, we still offer special discounts because we are proud of your service!
Give us a call today at [727]251-0145.
Darren
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Coastal Florida Artist Christopher J Kuster
By darren | April 26, 2008
Today my children and I went down to the Sponge Docks of Tarpon Springs. We were originally supposed to visit St.Augustine this weekend but the children’s mother, Rebecca wasn’t up to it. She is dealing with bronchitis right now. So, daddy promised the kids we would do something fun despite our change in plans. They told me they wanted to go to the Sponge Docks and visit the Tarpon Springs Aquarium.
So after running an errand or two this morning we headed to the Sponge Docks. We visited the aquarium, where the staff are always friendly and willing to share their knowledge of the fish and animals they keep. We then walked around the docks and came upon Christopher J. Kuster, Artist. There were two ladies talking to Christopher and looking over this work. He had some gorgeous lighthouse and other nautical themed prints that just jumped at me. So I started looking through his prints and I immediately laid my hands on two lighthouse prints and was looking for more when I was promptly told “Ummm those are my prints” as one of the ladies had already agreed to purchase them. Seems she is one of Christophers regular clients and she was meeting him here on the docks to get his latest work.
Although I was a fairly good pencil sketch artist during childhood, I never kept it up and am not sure I have what it takes to draw a circle now, never mind paint a beautiful scene like Christopher. What makes this all even more remarkable is that Christopher paints using his teeth and his website is calledhttp://www.paintbyteeth.com.. Now I don’t proclaim to be one of Christopher’s friends as I have only run into him a time or two. There are just times when you feel the need to tell everyone you know about something and this is one of those times. Christopher J. Kuster is an amazing artist and I hope everyone I knows drops by his website to view his work and purchase a piece or two should they like it.
The man is an inspiration for all of us.
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The “H” family from Colorado and Miami
By darren | April 22, 2008
What a beautiful shoot we had on the beach on Sand Key on Sunday Night! Spectacular weather topped off by an absolutely gorgeous sunset. The “H” family was beautifully color coordinated and ready to go. I always anticipate the worst and work up from there when you have a family shoot involving infants. Don’t get me wrong, it all goes to state of mind. You can’t possibly expect the little ones to have a clue what you’re up to and if it is new for them it could be scary. My fears were put to rest when I saw the twins sitting there in the stroller before hitting the beach, I knew they were gonna be fine. Not the typical finicky infants by no means. Not that if they were it would be all bad. The two older children, Tanner & Taryn were super well behaved and smiled effortlessly throughout the shoot, just what a photographer hopes for.
I can say I was a little off my game as my normal shooting local is Howard Park and it offers much more in the way of props for shooting against, so without as much to work with, it caused me to pause during this shoot. But I did get set up for the big shoot and all went well………almost. I was already to shoot the family in front of the sunset when, two dolphin watching boats were chasing dolphin just off the beach, directly in my camera’s field of view. Not enough stress trying to shoot as the sun is going down, but to have boats in the backdrops was about to push me over the edge. Luckily I had the presence of mind to set the group of for photos and in the mean time hope the boats would move off, and they did. Wheeew!
Tanner & Taryn were so good, quiet and well behaved through the whole shoot, I sure to hope they enjoy their time in Florida!
Working on the images now, should have them up by Friday evening. Thank you for choosing Darren K. Osgood Photography to create your family portraits. Hope y’all have a great stay here in Florida.
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Cost of Business
By darren | April 19, 2008
As any business person knows, the current state of affairs is not pretty. I of course have had much internal conflict trying to determine when and if prices or other business practices should be altered. Gasoline approaches $3.50 a gallon, Pinellas County Parks Department are now requiring prior permitting and proof of liability insurance before I can photograph in any county park and other expenses are being incurred by my business, therefore the following will take effect May 1st, 2008.
Effective May 1st, I will begin charging a non-refundable sitting fee of $75 for in studio portraits and $100 for on location portraits. If you have already booked an appointment past May 1st these fees do not apply to you. Prices are subject to change at any time. The sitting fee is payable in advance and if not received within 3 days of booking your appointment, your appointment will not be guaranteed. If you are booking on short notice, the sitting fee will have to be paid immediately using the paypal billing feature.
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Bags by Babycakes
By darren | March 21, 2008
We will now be carrying BagsByBabyCakes, manufacturers of cute, trendy and custom photo leather handbags of superior quality. Each bag is individually handcrafted and custom made to order in Colorado. Since their manufacturing facility is local, each bag is individually inspected prior to shipping to maintain the highest quality possible. Their non leather line includes beach bags, diaper bags and more! BagsByBabyCakes offers many fabrics and leathers to choose from, that will work with your image! When you own a BabyCakes Bag, you can be sure you have the best photo bag there is!
Will be working on a gallery to showcase these products in the near future, until then you can visit their website to see all the different purses/bags they offer.
Here is the Jennie Coco which retails for $320
And here is the Wendi which retails for $195.
These bags can be designed with either one or two images, depending on the bag. Either way, there is no additional charge for the 2nd photo if applicable. Watch my website for more announcements coming soon!
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Website Down
By darren | March 6, 2008
My apologies to everyone for the recent inconvenience of my website and blog being down. My webhost, BlueHost.Com had a server crash and they took over 28 hours to replace it and restore all the websites on it. I’m not happy about it, but will tolerate this if this is a singular occurance. Anyhow, that was the reason you could not access this site the past 28 hours.
Darren
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Beautiful Rescued Boxer
By darren | March 4, 2008
Well we had a treat tonite, we met Boozer for the first time. Boozer is a rescued Boxer that was brought home recently by Barry and his wife. Boozer is such a sweet boy, very, very well behaved and so friendly. Not that I’ve seen alot of mean Boxers in my day. My childhood pet was a Boxer mix and it was the most loyal friend a kid could ask for. Boozer is a rare boxer in that he, obviously is black and white. Normally Boxers are fawn or white or both. Okay, enough of the chatter, here is Mr. Boozer, standing proud.
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