Bad Touch…

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 complete.  I’d also note that a “no” has the distinct possibility of turning into a “FUCK NO!!” after you ask.  It’s just as important to know how to…

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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 gonna go ahead and need to meet this kid who has their shit together because I sure don’t.  Since I love the stuff and it […]

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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 a stripe of white paint on her back every single episode. This is simply not the case.  Sure there’s a time in every photographer’s […]

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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 factual statement in slightly more depth. ‘You are not a photographer’ is a statement that I’ve said to myself over and over again …

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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 collaborate with other artists. Huge benefits come with working in such a fashion.  The notion that the whole is greater than …

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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 that it was illegal to bring a lion to a movie theatre in Maryland. I immediately thought two things… A) How …

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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 enough for him because we immediately started brainstorming what we were gonna do with the new executive portraits for …

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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 hope it isn’t taken that way. Our goal at the studio as well as around town is to educate everyone from artists just …

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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 wearing flops at the time).  He’s also Italian, with a capital “ITALIAN” so you expect a measure of vitality and vigor …

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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 forum to give their perspective on what the inner workings of TJDS really look like.  These three titans-of-technical-know-how have been …

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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 far more questions than answers. Maybe the now-infamous words Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart used to describe hardcore pornography …

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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 block I have had the opportunity to experience this city with a fresh perspective. It doesn’t …

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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 fabulous “Anna In The Raw” juice line, hooked us up with world-renown chef and lover of all …

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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 took some behind-the-scenes shots of his own that he recently shared on his site. Above: Haley Dorling enjoying the …

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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. It’s about letting loose and letting go, allowing pictures to simply “happen,” rather than trying to meticulously plan out each shot. Many people think photography is all about controlling as …

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