Janet Klinger’s Photography Blog

I am thrilled and honored that the Readers of Seattle Bride voted me, Janet Klinger, the “Best Photographer 2008″. THANK YOU! From the bottom of my heart. Granted it was a TIE, but according to Ali Basye (the Editor of Seattle Bride) we split the largest number of votes ever cast in a tie. Spreading the love.

The fabulously talented J Garner won Best Photographer in the “Vendors Choice” category along with his wife, Katarina. These two are not only incredibly talented, but industrious, personable, and business savvy. Hmmm. Wait. Don’t hire them. Hire me! After all, this is MY blog.

Other Winning Vendors (A partial list as it’s late. Purchase the latest edition of Seattle Bride for details.)

True Color Events: Best Wedding Planner AND Day-of-Wedding Planner. Vendors’ Choice.
Aisle of View: Best Wedding Planner AND Day-of-Wedding Planner AND ALL AROUND BEST WEDDING VENDOR. Readers’ Choice. Go Merry Beth!!!
Luly Yang Couture: Best Custom Dress Designer AND Best Bridal Accessories. Readers’ Choice.
Luly Yang Couture: Best Custom Dress Designer AND Best Dress Shop. Vendors’ Choice.
Golf Club At Newcastle: Best Location for a Sunset Wedding. Readers’ Choice.
Flora Nova: Best Florist. Vendors’ Choice. (She’s all over this blog. Do a search!)
Aria Style: Best Florist. Readers’ Choice.
Moms, Maids and More: Best Mother-of-the-Bride Apparel AND Flower Girl Dresses. Vendors’ Choice AND Readers’ Choice.
E.E. Robbins, The Engagement Ring Store: Engagement/Wedding Rings. Vendors’ Choice.
The Healthy Bride: Bridal Fitness Plan. (I work out with her too, but I’m a healthy “Goddess”, not bride.)
The Michael Benson Band: Best Live Band/Entertainment. Vendors’ Choice AND Readers’ Choice.
Wave Link Music: Best DJ for the Reception. Vendors’ Choice.
Hotel 1000: Best Hotel for Guests. Vendors’ Choice.
A Heavenly Ceremony: Best Officiant/Clergy. Readers’ Choice.
Fairmont Olympic Hotel: Best Quintessential Seattle-Area Reception Site. Readers’ Choice.

Anyone notice anything in common? Nearly all of these vendors have been featured on Janet Klinger’s Photography Blog. Love to say I told you so. For more Wedding Vendors we adore, choose the “Vendor” category on the right.

Janet needs a nurturing assistant who really CARES that the client gets fabulous coverage. The ideal person is on the lookout for ways to help the photography go smoothly and the client to feel calm and confident. A multi-tasker needed to help shoot, set up lighting, handhold supplemental lighting, track request lists, handle gear and be VERY strong to carry heavy bags for hours at a time. Mostly weekends with occasional weekday/evening.

1+ years event and/or portrait shooting experience required. Please note that while there is some shooting involved, all images and their copyright remain with Janet Klinger Photography and are unavailable for use in your collection of images.

Please provide resume, cover letter and link to online portfolio in an email to info@janetklinger.com

Loosing my inner control freak, and training the miracle do-all employee; two of my career-long struggles. What a gift to hear from like minded, articulate (and funny) photographers Me Ra Koh, Sara France, Marc Weisberg and Dane Sanders describing their all-consuming post processing. They have each struggled with whether to keep post processing in-house vs. outsourcing. “Four’s Company“, a video from Shoot Dot Edit, allows me to be cyber-present during such a personally poignant conversation. I feel as if I’m sitting in the living room sharing ideas.

If you have personal experience with Shoot Dot Edit, renowned professional post-processors, or their competitors, I’d love to hear from you. Our busy time is upon us, so further personal opinions that might help me decide on a post processor to help support our in-house, overworked staff are gratefully appreciated.

The over loaded post processor blues.

Expensive gear can be overrated, yet having the best gear for the individual photographer IS important. That gear might be a fabulously sharp, detail-rich Hasselblad, or the quick, precise, fun Canon EOS. Equally perfect, in the right hands, could be a cheap, plastic lens equipped Holga, an instant Polaroid camera, or a panoramic Wide-Lux. Photographers who keep up with the latest techniques while also being inspired by the roots of photography offer you a complete, inspired list of classic and unique ways to record your wedding and your life! The bottom line; choose the skilled photographer for her work, not the gear.

Gear and technique driven benefits

• Wedding reception slide shows complete with images from earlier in the day.
• Taking highlights home (and on the honeymoon) with you loaded onto your iPod.
• Albums as small as 3×3 and as large as 12×18, with the huge benefit of large discounts for clone albums. (”Clone” refers to an exact duplicate.)
• On-line albums, proofing, ordering and archiving
• Highly personalized Art images, made more so by unique lenses/camera formats
• Personalized styles created with software or in the darkroom

Capture the details with a sharp lens

Associate Photographer (and intrepid Production Manager) Jane P. is celebrating Pride Month by offering 20% off portrait sessions with LGBT/alternative families & individuals in the month of June! You can check out her portfolio under “Associates & Design” on the main website. Weekend sessions are available, except the day of the Seattle Pride parade (but if you find her there, I’m sure she’ll have a camera handy!). Portraits are in-studio and immediate environs only.

Call the studio at 206-622-7478 to take advantage of this special event!

My first real job was as a sales clerk at Marshall Fields in Chicago. I was 16 years old. There I first heard “The customer is always right.” Even more valuable, I observed that some customers were “more important” to business than others. While initially I thought this stature was based on the depth of a pocket book, more imperative was a sense of partnership and loyalty. By choosing to state product preferences, request numerous special orders, and constructively criticize the management rather than go elsewhere, business and client became more bonded to each other.

If that was true for an enormous business, it’s even more so for a humble one. I rely on customer feedback, positive AND negative. Here are a few of the changes I’ve made because of your feedback.

NEW PHOTOGRAPHY PRODUCTS AND SERVICES OFFERED, THANKS TO YOUR HELPFUL FEEDBACK.

Offer a large selection of albums * Discount clone albums * Sell Originals (formerly negatives) * Offer less expensive sessions with talented Associate Photographers * Make ordering easier for friends and family by posting an online gallery * Keeping galleries private on request * Re-releasing the images on request * If custom prints are not necessary, a print discount applies during the first month of on-line proofing * Same day slideshows displayed at the event * Images posted to your iPod * Use of images on your website * Fine Art Holiday, Thank You, Baby Announcement, and Save the Date cards

Have you noticed another change? Please post it in “comments”.

Keep your feedback coming and keep coming back!
Inspired?

Thank you. The Management.

Photographing Vera Wang’s Fall 2008 collection I witnessed the talents of Bryan Rafanelli of Rafanelli Events who planned this fashion-infused champagne brunch. This man is pure elegance. Aside from the obvious impeccable attention to detail, his calm in-charge demeanor would put the most demanding mother of the bride at ease. Judging from the ambiance created in each space, it’s clear Bryan Rafanelli is equally in-touch with the bride and grooms individuality, encouraging a bold or gentle emergence, as best suits. I would recommend Rafanelli in a heartbeat.

Other top vendors at this exclusive event were: Dresses by Vera Wang, The Ritz Carlton, Boston Common, Claudia Kronenberg Photography, Hair & Makeup by Luiz Filho , Flowers by Spruce Floral, Music by Music Management,

The man himself, Bryan Rafanelli.

Erwin Schinnerl, General Manager, The Ritz-Carlton, Boston Common. Erica Ann Arkin, Vice President of Bridal and Maids, Vera Wang, New York, in the background.

Claudia Kronenberg and Brea McDonald

Luiz Filho, Hair and Makeup Artist

Outside the Ritz Carlton, Boston