New Engagement Portrait Class on Jan 23rd!

The Engagement Portrait
with Marina Zinovyeva

Learn how to land and coordinate the perfect engagement shoot!

The Studio of Photographic Arts will be offering a full day introductory class on the how-tos of a professional photo shoot for the newly engaged couple.

Staff member Marina Zinovyeva will reveal her stratagem for acquiring a clientele and the recipe to a memorable, and well executed set of engagement photographs that will be treasured for decades.

Topics covered include:

* How to find Clients
* The importance of Communication
* Choosing the Location
* Smart Wardrobe Choices
* Posing do's and don'ts
* Lighting techniques

All you will need to bring is your camera and an open mind!

This class will be held from 9am to 5pm on January 23rd - Saturday. Sign up now as space is limited folks!


Your Instructor
Marina Zinovyeva is a long time SOPHA staff member and photographer. She has photographed dozens of bridal clients, providing them with memorable images and unparalleled customer service.

New Class: Product Photography with Barry Meehan

Secrets of High End Product Photography I
with Barry Meehan

Elevate your images from "Catalog to Cadillac" with Hi-end lighting and set design techniques.

Through a combination of visual examples torn out of today's magazines and group discussion, learn what it takes to create Hi-end product photography. A intense hands-on workshop follows—exploring studio lighting techniques, reflectors, prop and background choices, as well as lens considerations.

When it comes to shooting professional-looking product shots, it is imperative to use good lighting tools. We will have several tabletop set-ups to demonstrate different approaches to capturing the product—from broad Hi key lighting to moody rim lighting.

Students should have a working knowledge of studio lighting and manual camera settings. Lunch is included in the course cost.

This is a hands on course, so be ready to be busy!

This course will be offered from 9am to 5pm on Saturday, January 16th. Sign up today!


Barry Meehan is an experienced commercial photographer with over 15 years experience. Clients include Cabletron, Compaq, Clean Harbors, Nutfield Technology, and Bittware Research. He has successfully photographed products for clients smaller than a pin to machines the size of buses.

Lots of Santa Sack Images on Facebook

The Santa Sack Images from SOPHA's Holiday Party this weekend have been posted to my facebook page.

Folks who might want their image can send me an email and I will send it to you right away!

Let it snow!

BUD and the SOPHA Staff

Special Video Announcement from SOPHA

Special SOPHA Video Announcement from Bud Thorpe on Vimeo.

If you need more details, call or email.

Bud and Dave Show for 11/29/09

Bud and Dave Show 11/29/09 from Bud Thorpe on Vimeo.

The Studio of Photographic Arts in Manchester, NH is proud to release the 11/29/09 episode of the Bud and Dave show. Featuring the latest news and events from SOPHA - New Hampshire's Photographic Resource Center.

This episode features a discussion of Paul Buff's Einstein lights, and a review of the Paul Buff remote control by SOPHA's very own Marina Zinovyeva. Also featured is Blond Jon's Ten Second Tech.

Oh - and we are switching to Vimeo for our HD content. Please make a note of it!

New Video: The Making of our Holiday Card

This holiday season, we wanted to create a special card to share with our SOPHA community - our members, students, and friends.

Logistically, it was an interesting challenge - to get a dozen staff together in one place and time, to find the right location (and prop!) - and the right angle on the scene and to have the right expertise to do it.

In fact, we almost gave up on the idea of the sleigh shoot - after all, where does one find a full size, big-guy-compatible, sleigh? Enter Tyke Frost. Literally! Tyke walked into SOPHA for a class (our Lighting with Speedlights program) and was quick to point out that he had a sleigh. In fact, he and his wife collect them - they run Point of View Farm and lead sleigh rides, hay rides, and the like. He offered his services, and we were quick to accept his kind offer.

Kirk Membry stepped up as photographer - he has some interesting gear and a skill set to match - he make panoramic images and images from a tall mast he can erect attached to his truck - 50 feet tall!

We asked our friend Greg Trost to make a how-we-did-it video - and his work far and away exceeded our expectations.

Special thanks to Kirk Membry at Moss Creek Media, Tyke Frost of Point of View Farm in Deerfield, NH, and to Greg Trost of GT Photo and Video for the videography, direction, and editing of this video.

Finally, SOPHA thanks Dave Dawson for his continuing inspriation and art direction at SOPHA, and his work on this piece - all the post production work was his, including a complicated cut out of the massive reindeer pulling this interesting over laiden sleigh!

You can see the making of video by clicking here.

The SOPHA Holiday Card Shoot from Bud Thorpe on Vimeo.

More about SOPHA, our gallery, classes, and community can be found at theSOPHA.com.

This weeks Bud and Dave Show is posted