Showing posts with label GPPDV. Show all posts
Showing posts with label GPPDV. Show all posts

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Happy 23rd Unbirthday

I say unbirthday because it took me nearly two weeks to post (Bad Serena), but house and work has been keeping me busy busy!

So I wanted to post up some highlights from my Birthday! You can view the entire album here:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150456559918294.448294.501818293
^Viewing the entire album is a great way to see all the fun and crazy faces of Re in order =X

My day started off attempting to answer my 250+ Happy birthdays across a wide variety of websites (mainly Facebook). Dave had class until noon and my mom worked, so I figured I would attempt to relax a bit (although I originally had 'house work' written on my schedule book. I was quickly talked out it it.)

We went out to dinner at Applebees, starting the evening off arguing in our normal family tradition over who was going to sit where around the table.


After Dinner (thank you to my family for not telling the restaurant it was my birthday) we went back to the house for some cake and such. Now normally my family buys me an ice cream cake, but they were apparently scarce this year.... So they figured, what the heck. Anything Princess-esque would work. Well, they did well. Apparently Disney has created friends for Tinkerbell. I must attempt to find this movie although cheesy as it probably will be.





Obviously my family, Mom, Dad, Brother - and Dave were there. But my friends Joanna and Katie (and the creepy mannequin we photograph all the Scarlet Fairy stuff on) also attended my party. As Tradition we all sang the Viking Happy Birthday dirge courtesy of my medieval upbringing. (Yes the one that used to get posted on my locker at school which was confiscated by the counselors before they tried to kick me out of school... Yeah Really. That one. Gotta love growing up as a SCAdian.)

This pretty much just about sums it up. With a lot more verses that aren't really as dreary (well, maybe). Imagine a room full of really really really REALLY drunk people with less scary faces laughing and slamming their beer goblets on a table singing this while eating a feast of medieval food... I loved my childhood.

So as to continue with normal tradition, I get an enormus butcher knife (American Mcgees Alice for the win) and a spoon for my cake. The spoon to get the first bite out of the middle of my cake - and the knife to destroy my cake =D

And thus the passing out of cake begins

My brother was pretty amused by the scary amount of icing on this cake.

My parents really did go out of their way =X

And something to keep my cats from playing footsy in my drinking water while I'm working. (Weirdest cats ever.)

The Tinkerbell card started SINGING. (/immediate close and reopen cautiously)

Both my Mom and Dad's cards made me cry. Bad. My mom gave me her card earlier in the morning.
The crazy singing Fairy card brought me back to earth =X




And last but not least, a few days later at the Guild Print competition, my friend Gino gave me a balloon for my Birthday! I was so excited to see it tied to my chair!!!! I was going to tie it to my wrist but I was afraid with how much I use my hands when I talk I would slap people in the face with it. I tied it to my purse and enjoy it's company until near the end of the night when it somehow came loose and floated to the ceiling (/sadface). My guildies came to the rescue and attempted to get it down from the ceiling, but alas it will live it's life out above the chandelier (Thank you guys for trying! xoxo!)

On a final note before the commenting commences - Yes, I know. I'm like a little kid. I probably will be until forever. Live it up - have fun. Sometimes it's healthy to be a little immature =D

Thursday, May 26, 2011

A very late Update for 2011

I know this post is long overdue, but I just never seem to find the time to really sit down and type up. So many things keep popping up and changing and who knows where to start! I also haven't wanted to bury my extremely giddy post about my engagement XD. Bad Serena x.x;;; hehe

Well I guess things would probably be best at the top!

After many many many days with the Lawyer and our Accountant and an even larger bill, Serena Star Photography is no longer Serena Star Photography! We have become Star Fairy Studios LLC with divisions of Serena Star Photography (Photography studio ran by Serena Star - me), Scarlet Fairy (Clothing Company co owned by my amazing seamstress mother and myself!), and Wishing Star Studios.

Within Serena Star Photography, you've probably seen lots of small changes across the board from website to products we now offer, and even more coming soon. The studio is still in a state of ever remodeling. Those of you who have been to the studio, we still lack a sign (which at this point is probably a smart thing with all the changes, hehe!)

We are now also focusing more on marketing to High School Seniors and Weddings which are tons of fun! We've been doing them for years, but we want to make sure everyone knows it! We are really focusing on building self esteem in women of all ages, all shapes, and walks of life!

After a ton of questions and a bit of coaxing, I am now putting together workshops to help teach and inspire photographers, and have been traveling a bit doing so! It has been a really great experience for me as I think I've learned as much as I've taught, and it's been great to network with people across the world!

In the realm of Scarlet Fairy, we have finally launched our facebook and etsy page where we are now selling our products! We have Pinup/Burlesque inspired Lingerie, Tiny top hats, Tribal Belly dance outfits already up!

We are working on a Boudoir Photography inspired line for those photographers out there who want to have in house wardrobe. They will consist of the decorated bras, waist cinchers, and tutus without underwear (that your clients will provide for sanitary reasons)!

You can become a fan of our Facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/ScarletFairy (Please do to keep up to date with all our crazy ideas!) We have Elizabethan/Tudor gowns, Marie Antoinette style dresses, and more on the way! We are also going to be making lolita/visual kei outfits, and Pinup inspired sundresses very soon! We've even moved into doing some steam punk inspired wardrobe! As things keep growing, make sure to keep track of our website at www.ScarletFairy.com and our etsy shop at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/ScarletFairy

Wishing Star Studios is a dud name so far. Still not yet sure if I will be using it. I was going to split it into a more family oriented Brand than Serena Star Photography for my Seniors and Children! Photographers out there, Let me know what you think - Bad branding or a genius idea ;)? If genius - Where would you stick weddings? Under the very fashion and Boudoir oriented Serena Star brand or this one?

In other big news, my fiance, Dave, is slowly becoming more involved with helping in the business. He has about another year to go before he graduates college with a degree in Graphic Design. He is phenomenal and we will be working together to bring anyone interested in photography templates, borders, textures, brushes, and more to help you with your work flow =)!

I am extremely proud to say Dave received Blue Ribbons on two prints in his very first Guild of Professional Photographers of Delaware Valley print competition! (Spring 2011). I will post the images below =) One you will probably recognize as the ever popular corseted photo of me, and the second is Model Bad Charlotte in Scarlet Fairy attire/Tiny top hat; makeup and hair done by me! He has also received awards on his graphite drawings for his "Eye Series" at his college art show. You can view his college drawings including his eye series here: http://dave-star.deviantart.com/gallery/27051511

He just discovered the wonderful world known as Wacom, so I expect to see some pretty bad ass stuff coming my way soon =D. (I really need to buy a new one, myself. Mine's been unusable since I switched to mac... which is a pretty long time =X)



Speaking of Guild, I am now the Print Competition Chair person for the organization! I completed my first print competition with this Spring Comp and I think it went fairly smooth. It's a bit of work, but rewarding after the competition is over to see what we accomplish =) I will also be speaking for them very soon on June 16, 2011 from 7-10pm! Go here: http://www.gppdv.com/ and check out the June Meeting!

I wanted to leave you off with the album I made highlighting all the best (and what I'm allowed to post online) of Serena Star Photography of 2010! Don't forget to full view, or view each page separately on my facebook fan page here:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150098909352003.285520.87975462002


So much more to come! I know I am definitely forgetting a ton of stuff since I've been meaning to write this since January and I kept putting it off! I will start trying to backtrack and play catchup. I didn't want to put any more into a single post, (I know how boring long posts can be to read) so check back often and keep your eyes peeled for lots of great photo shoots and all kinds of great things going on!

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

GPPDV Meeting

Yesterday was an awesome meeting at the Guild of Professional Photographers of Delaware Valley http://www.gppdv.com. I find networking to be extremely important. It's always wonderful to meet the faces of people who I have met online via social networking in person!

Jerry Ghionis was the featured speaker of this meeting http://www.jerryghionis.com/! If you are a Photographer and you get the chance, I would highly recommend attending one of his workshops or seminars! He is an extremely creative artist, phenomenal speaker, great at marketing (and has the experience to back it up), and has a great and fun personality! He really tells stories and keeps you laughing through out his program while either giving you constant information or inspiring your senses. I had the pleasure of having dinner afterwards with Jerry and his fiancee Melissa with a group of photographers from Guild and I can honestly say they are both genuinly really nice people.


It was great to meet new faces and to see old ones again. I found out that two of my friends and fellow photographers, Ken and Angela, are getting married in Rome very soon! On top of that, Jerry will be photographing their wedding! A few of my old fans might remember Ken as Transposure, the photographer that photographed the fine art black and white of me floating in rope a couple years back http://www.transposure.com. Angela is also a model and a great seamstress and is having one of her Katy Perry costumes featured on Access Hollywood this Friday! http://www.etsy.com/shop/Glamtastik

I also got my trophy for "Best of Woman" =D Of course I was to impatient to wait to take a proper photo if it. Had to blog it =X Now I just have to figure out where I want to display it! I really should buy a display case at the rate i'm going T_T;


Friday, September 24, 2010

Guild Print Competition!

As I've mentioned many times before, I really love print competition. It gives me a chance to grow as a photographer and an artist. I can see how my work is being judged, what I could do better, and how I am evolving as an artist. For the Fall Print competition at GPPDV (Guild of Professional Photographers of Delaware Valley -- which includes a lot of the northern east), I was awarded Four out of four blue ribbons and Best of in the Category for Women!

Envision
Model: Jessamyn
Makeup: Darya
Wardrobe: Scarlet Fairy
Hair: Me
Set Design: Me
Assistant: David Star
**Awarded Best of Woman Category**

Blue Butterfly
Model: Amy Schmoldt
Makeup Artist: MRS Beauty
Hair: Me

Cirque Du Lauren
Model/Styling: Lauren WK
Makeup: Me

Sunny Days
Model: Tara Mariea
Makeup Artist: Me

Since I don't think I ever posted about the spring competition, I submitted the same images as I did for PPA(Professional Photographers of America) print competition 
You can view those at the link above, minus the album. Instead of the entire album I submitted one of the images in it!

"Longing" was awarded a Blue Ribbon, "Behind a Dream Like Mind" and "Curtains Please!" scored Red Ribbons (I believe that's what they are called,) they were both 2 points away from Blue Ribbons! 
(You can view them all from the link above!) The image that I submitted instead of the album also Blue Ribboned:
Despair
Model: Christine Von Rose
Makeup Artist: Me