It's never too late to deck your walls

Did you run out of time looking for the perfect gift?

We've got your back. Now that the holiday frenzy has settled, you can brighten someone's holiday season with a large print. From now until January 2nd, save 30% on our most popular large print sizes. You can choose from 13x19, 16x20, 16x24, 20x30, and 24x36 prints in either matte, glossy, lustre, or pearl.

Combine your beautiful photographs with our quality prints and excellent turnaround to give a gift that will surely keep on giving.

Don't be late this Holiday Season!

By popular request, we're posting our holiday schedule here.

Spread Cheer with Greeting Cards from myPhotopipe

Many of the biggest things that make Christmas time joyous and triumphant are, well, the little things. Cocoa topped with whipped cream serving as hand warmers after a winter wonderland, snowball fight with the neighborhood kids; the smell of a fresh cut, pine tree after coming home from a long day of shopping--these are a few of our favorite things.

For those of you that cherish the sentimental and intimate nostalgia of pen and paper, get into the spirit of Christmas with greeting cards from myPhotopipe.com. We'll help you make your holiday cards special with your personalized photo greeting cards.

We've added new templates for you to choose from in 2012, and we're here to make your holiday card shopping just as special as the meaning you put behind them.

Tis the Season to be Snapping

Photos that is. Lots and lots of photos.

That magical time of the year is upon us. What better way to share you special memories than with beautifully designed greeting cards? From now until November 13th, save 30% on all greeting cards. We have many designs to choose from and different styles to fit any occasion. As an added bonus, you can also save 30% on select large print sizes including 16 x 20, 16 x 24, 20 x 24, and 20 x 30.

Photographer Snapshot: Dave May

This week on Photographer Snapshot we decided to chat with Atlanta-based photographer Dave May. With a primary focus on commercial and editorial work that illustrates the natural emotions of his subjects through a photojournalistic approach, Dave is currently expanding his pursuits in wedding photography and video editing, while automotive editorial photography has reignited his lifelong interest in cars.

Dave's work has fascinated us for quite some time. His artistic background which includes drawing, sculpting, and graphic design provides a unique perspective to his photographic eye. The following Q. and A. with Dave will give you a little insight into the mind behind the photography.


What is the most difficult subject you've ever photographed that produced great results?

I've had to really think about this because every new subject and type of subject brings new and different challenges. I've photographed gemstones from the size of coarse salt grains to a variety of jewelry to cars.

Macro work with reflective objects like gemstones was difficult because of the narrow depth of field and the magnification that was needed. Today, if I were to get back into that area, I would have a much better understanding of equipment needs to produce much better results--the biggest item being Canon's 1x - 5x macro lens (Nikon didn't have anything particularly well suited at the time).

The biggest challenges with automotive work is two-fold. First, I have to find a location that fits with the car since it's mostly editorial work, and then I have to get people up early morning and ready to go to help get some nicer base light to start with. The most difficult automotive shoot I've done so far (or perhaps just the most time consuming) was the Infiniti QX56 which we did in a parking garage and had to balance a lot of color as well as luminance. It was both a compositional challenge as well as a lighting challenge, but the results were well with it.

How did you get your start in photography?

I'm not really sure about this one. My dad bought in to some of the first digital Sony Mavica cameras, and that may have really sparked my interest. We always took photos on vacations, but I think with the Mavica I just got to use it a lot more than previous cameras and could take a lot more photos without worrying about running out of film as such (although we had a stack of 3.5" floppy disks I guess it was). In college I did graphic design and bought a Canon 20D when they first came out, but then went into fine art photography (B&W) with the Konica. I learned a lot about both fine art photography and later commercial photography in school while eventually getting my degree in graphic design after all. Right out of school I ended up at Jewelry Television where I learned a lot about equipment needs, photo editing, and general real world application.

What's one thing you wish you knew when you started out as a photographer?

I know a lot of people say this in hindsight, but it's true - take classes in business. To be successful you need more business skills than anything else. Work will only speak for itself if it can be seen by the right people. Another thing to consider is if you are serious about doing photography full time, then go ahead and buy the equipment you need. That doesn't mean spending on top tier Profoto lights and Hasselblads, but it does mean spending enough to get the jobs done that you want to pursue. Creativity can solve a lot of problems, but sometimes you just really need an extra light for shaping or more lighting power for depth of field.

Do you believe film and digital photography both have a future in the fine art and commercial world?

Personally I think film is done, and I can't say I'm particularly sad about it. On one hand, I feel better work was produced more consistently with film due to the expense per frame, but I don't miss the long nights in the dark room. I do think the plethora of digital cameras on cell phones and their flooding of social media networks has degraded the acceptable quality of photography though some people argue it's a style difference. Publications all seem to want digital files now so I might as well start there rather than scan in later. With the quality of professional digital cameras there's no reason or real benefit to using film. With all the filters and actions available to give digital photos those old film looks, there's not much to be missed.

Favorite photo sharing site?

Primarily, I use Photoshelter for all my photo sharing needs. I occasionally send something to Flickr or 500px, but it's pretty seldom. Flickr has it's discussion groups, but I like the general look and feel of 500px better while also finding it less annoying to update. It's generally not professional work that I share on those two but more casual photos. Mostly, it's because I find it a pain to have to deal with so many photo sharing and social media sites. If I tried to keep up with all of them and update content regularly, I'd never get anything else done.

Learn more about Dave at his website or follow him on Google+.

Breathe New Life with Accessories

I don't know about you, but fall tends to light a fire in me--one of change. The leaves start falling from trees with such vigor, adding brilliant colors to the landscape, while the playful chill of impending winter encourages comfort in intimate surroundings.

I immediately retreat to my living space and want it to reflect as much of the color and transformation of the outside and still be inviting and warm.Instead starting from scratch, I resort to small accents and accessories here and there to breathe new life into my sanctuary until spring graces us again.

If you're familiar with this feeling, you also are aware of how difficult it can be to pinpoint what accessories you need to make your living area transformation happen. You're in luck. Our friend Shandra Hill Smith recently wrote DIY Design: Trade in Your Family Room for a New Look for Season Magazine. In this article, Shandra offers up DIY tips for giving your living area a new look.

Shandra asked if we could help with the artwork, and our team was more than enthused to do so. A little secret: around here we always start with the artwork when giving our homes new life. There's nothing like an 11 x14 canvas wrap of a fall, picturesque hill-top or photo book of the family adorned in festive scarves, mittens, and the like resting atop your coffee table to echo the changes happening just outside your front door.

Large Print Sale

If you've been looking for something to fill in that empty wall space above your couch, we have the perfect solution for you: a 13" x 19" or larger print! From now until October 16h, you can order a 13" x 19" or larger print at 40% Off.

Reintroduce Yourself to Our Finest Quality Product

One of the best things about what we do is that we are able to offer you the best in photography prints. And, our fine art prints are no exception. When you order our fine art prints, you are introduced to the luxurious quality of Hahnemühle Photo Rag. With Photo Rag's fine, smooth surface and feel, the paper is very versatile and ideal for printing both black & white, color photographs, art reproductions, and more.

From now until Sept. 30th, we plan to (re)introduce you to our finest quality product. You'll be able to order fine art prints ranging in size from 8x10 to 40x60 at 40% Off.

Feel and see the luxury of Hahnemühle Photo Rag.

End of Summer Sale!

The dog days are just about over, but before they go, we're going to heat things up just a little bit more. From Thursday, August 23 through Tuesday, August 28 at 11:59pm EST, you can save up to 65% on LARGE Print Sizes over 13 x 19. The rumor is true--we really know how to close summer out with a bang.

Take advantage of these low prices and give your clients professional, quality prints to accompany your equally incredible photographs.

Photographer Snapshot: Bowie Wheaton

This week we sat down with our very own Production Specialist Bowie Wheaton. Bowie and his wife Sharon run Alternative Life Photography in Atlanta, Ga. As wedding photographers, they believe every wedding needs both an emotional and locational representation of who you are and where you were when you got married.

Bowie is very active in the Atlanta photography scene and works closely with many of the artists to further their talents and local industry. Below, you'll get a glimpse into Bowie Wheaton--the man behind the camera flash.


What is the most difficult subject you've ever photographed that produced great results?

My wife and I did a six generation family shoot a few years back. The woman who hired us had just bought a home and decided to have all of her family over to document six generations of family in a number of pictures as well as one full family shot. The full family shot was to be held on her front steps, which posed as a challenge to hold close to 40 people in an area that should have help maybe 15 - 20 max! We managed to capture everyone in the shot. In the end, it was rewarding to know that this may be the only time that a moment like this was going to be able to be captured, and we were able to do so. I come from a large family myself and know that as the years go on, the opportunities to get full family photos go away. So we were happy to be able to capture this moment for our client.

How did you get your start in photography?

Since middle school, I always had a camera around. My mother was a photographer before deciding to have six children, and I suppose I picked that up from her. I never had a nice camera or fancy lenses, but I still loved the art of taking a photo. I graduated from Piedmont College in north Georgia with a Mass Communications degree with a focus in TV Production and Film Editing. After years as a restaurant manager, I decided to join my wife as a wedding photographer with our company. I have been shooting with her for three years now and loving every minute of it!

What's one thing you wish you knew when you started out as a photographer?

Knowing the technical skills of the camera and lighting would have been nice! My wife knew the ins and outs, so as her student, I learned a little at a time. Asking her about white balance and aperture settings in the middle of a wedding was hard for her I'm sure. After 50+ weddings under my belt, I'm good to go now!

Do you believe film and digital photography both have a future in the fine art and commercial world?

Always! There is room for it all. I believe that there will always be a group of people somewhere that will want to see their favorite medium come to life. I am still so amazed at all the wonderful things artists can do. I myself will stay put in the digital world.

Favorite photo sharing site?

Facebook, of course. My wife and I also use SmugMug and Zenfolio from time to time, but FB really helps our business get exposure when we have a sneak peak or delivery of some sort.

Learn more about Bowie at his website or follow him on Facebook..

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