There’s an old saying in this world that goes something like this… “The answer is always no… until you ask.” Which I agree is true… but perhaps not entirely…
Age the Whiskey…
All the best things in life take time… great BBQ, fine wine, true love, and real wisdom. No one meets a 14-year-old and thinks they’re incredibly wise. If you do then I’m…
How To Fire A Client…
There’s a long held belief that we as photographers are constantly running around desperately chasing clients like Pepe Le Pew after that damn cat; who miraculously somehow always manages to get…
You Are Not A Photographer
You are not a photographer. Before you roll your eyes and go back to redesigning your logo, which will surely solve all of your photography business problems, please allow me to explain the above…
1+1=4
Clearly the title of this blog post is false, but the meaning behind the equation could not be more true. The term 1+1=4 is often said around the studio and most commonly refers to our desire to…
The Blue Laws…
Pretty sure I was still living in NYC three years ago when I first thought about shooting an image like this. Someone way back when, probably in some dank bar near Chinatown, brought to my attention…
Moen for Looks…
When Derryl Strong of The Adcom Group asked me point blank if I could keep it together for an entire day and suppress my… shall we say, less-refined self, I said 50/50. Apparently that was good…
Sharing Is Caring…
Here at TJDS, we have some pretty strict guidelines for utilizing and sharing the images that we create; the literature to explain our guidelines looks pretty daunting attached to an email, but we…
The Salerno Family Jewels…
It wasn’t long after meeting Fabio Salerno that I knew we’d be friends for a very long time… he offered me a tequila shot within seconds and complimented my shoes(albeit sarcastically since I was…
Don’t Worry James, It’ll Buff Out… The Interns Tell all…
Maybe it’s just my good nature… maybe it’s my trusting attitude towards others… or maybe I’m not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I decided to let my trusty interns have a go at a public…
The F Word…
I believe it’s nearly impossible for anyone to effectively articulate what should or should not be considered “fine art”. Any attempt on my part to do so would be a certain failure and leave you with…
The “Dark Portrait” Series…
The tides are changing here in Cleveland and they are changing fast. First off, It should be known that I’m not a Cleveland native. I moved here just 2 short years ago and as the new kid on the…
High on the Hog…
So much of what I do and who I work with is based on networking over a couple beverages, to some degree. A good friend of the studio and fellow beverage lover Anna Harouvis, the creator of the…
A Wicked Cool Follow Up…
A quick follow up to our last post seems to be in order considering some new photos from our paint party have surfaced. As mentioned, our good friend Angelo Meredino was present for the shoot and…
A Wicked Awesome Time…
Today’s post is all about making messes… and cleaning them up. Putting in the hours, (night or day), working around other peoples’ schedules, and planning for the worst but expecting the best….