TGIF-Gracon Portrait Studio

Join us this Friday, December 11th between 8:00am-9:00am at Gracon Portrait Studio. If you need a map visit http://www.thehba.net for the link. Now a little bit about Gracon Portratit Studio which is owned and operated by Greg and Josephine Ockerman. Gracon Portrait Studio: have been in the same location since 1982 (that's 27 years folks) and they had nearly 12,000 photography sessions. Their portfolio includes - Family portraits which convey the special relationship of each member to each other; Child portratures flash freeze a moment in the everchanging way our children are; Pet portraiture shows their part of our families. (Joe & Greg's greeter of 14 years, Brittany, has been gone a year so they truly understand a pet's importance in the family.) If your pet won't fit in the studio on Milford Road then they will bring the studio to you, it’s your pet and your relationship that they want to capture; High School Senior Portraitures, as well as Wedding and Event photography close out their portfolio. http://www.graconportraits.com
When I look for a photographer I always have wondered why I like one portfolio over another, when going through Gracon's web site they talk about Greg being a Certified Professional Photographer having earned the Photographic Craftsman Degree from the Professional Photographers of America. Okay for me I had to know what all that meant. I was pretty impressed with the test specifications which include: CAMERA, LENSES AND ATTACHMENTS category which means he has to know both digital and film cameras, which is appropriate for the subject matter and final product; COMPOSITION AND DESIGN which covers the best color relationship to complement subject(s) to achieve the desired effects
(mood, power, size, strength, etc); then there were topics like DIGITAL POST PRODUCTION, EXPOSURE AND METERS, FILM, DIGITAL CAPTURE, OUTPUT and LIGHTING. After passing the test a portfolio of his work was submitted to a panel of judges made up of his peers for their approval. To maintain his certification, every 5 years he must participate in continuing education programs and submit his work for critical evaluation. This helps assure that certified photographers maintain their level of expertise and continue to develop new skills and techniques. On the Professional Photographers of American website they state "that there are less than 3% of all imaging professionals who have successfully completed and maintained a Certified Professional Photographer certification."
I'm impressed and the next time I want to capture that five generations picture, I'll rethink my ability to just grab my digital and do it.