A Day with Clay Blackmore

Clay Blackmore came to town last week for a DPPA seminar. Clay is one of the best in the industry and he does it all, classic portraitures to photojournalism. Though, I was excited about his seminar, I had the great privilege to spend the day with Clay. It was an incredible and eye opening experience.

Tuesday morning, I picked Clay up at the air port and showed him around the area. Immediately, I was struck by Clay’s personality and attitude. This man has photographed top diplomats like Madeline Albright and sports icons like Tiger Woods, yet you would never know it. He is incredibly humble and spiritual man. I discovered that he was like anybody else with the same problems, worries, and triumphs.

This made itself even more evident when we stopped by Angela Carson’s studio in Northville. Here I was sitting in the midst of two giants in the industry and they were like me. Both were down to earth but I was so taken and inspired by their passion for the art of photography.

Clay brought his camera with him. It never left his side. We stopped at my house. There he looked at the sky, moved by the cloud formations, he captured the moment with one click of his camera. In another instance, we had just left Angela’s studio, Clay saw the sun setting just behind a church and asked if we could stop so he could photograph it.

Clay documents life through images. He exemplifies everything I try to instill in my students. His eyes are skilled at capturing run away moments. He sees beauty in over looked details. He exudes passion for photography and I had a wonderful opportunity to spend a day with and learn from a man that I admire.

Last Final Engagement Sessions for Fall Colors

The trees are on fire with the rich colors of fall. The stunning reds, vibrant oranges and brilliant yellows are the perfect natural backdrop for your engagement photographs. Think of images of you and your fiancé surrounded by the glorious autumn hues at Mill Race in Northville. Autumn represents beauty and change. Your upcoming wedding signals a new life adventure. What better way to capture the spirit of your relationship than through photographs taken during Michigan’s most spectacular season.

Carroll’s Creative Images still want to extend an invitation to our final free engagement session. If you haven’t reserved your space for this special offer, we have two sittings still available for this Sunday, October 26. This package includes a 45 minute photo shoot, one 8x10 and two 5x7 photographs in a presentational folio. Our special free offer is valued at $150. To make your reserve session please call (734)513-6720. We believe that you will be please with our work and will discover why we are South Eastern Michigan’s best value.

Run Away Moments

A good snapshot stops a moment from running away ~ Eudora Welty

Welty is absolutely correct. Photography is much more than an artistic discipline or profession or business. It is an account of humanity and nature. Think of a photograph that held your attention; that moved you. That image is more than just good composition and dynamic lighting. The energy of that particular moment is captured. You see it and feel it. If you lived it, the memories pour through your mind. There are the stories with all the supporting characters. It is all said without a word. A skilled and gifted photographer reveals the soul of an individual, the spirit of an event and the essence of an era.

This is my role as a photographer and I take this to heart. For more than 30 years, I have had the enormous privilege to visually document hundreds of weddings. I take great care to ensure that each bridal party member, relative and wedding guest are photographed. My patrons often share their gratitude of my work and appreciation of my persistence. In a few situations, my photographs are the last images and memories a couple has of a relative or a best friend.

Early in my career, I discovered the implications of my work. It was really profound when I began to draw connections between my job as a photographer and my own personal life. My father past away when I was 10 years old and the only image I have of him is a faded out of focus photo. At that moment, my title, photographer, moved from a career to a mission. It’s my calling so to speak.

Today, I conduct introductory classes in photography. I tell all my students on the first day, that this isn’t just some hobby. What I impart to you here is the responsibility to become the documentarians of your family history or more appropriately your family story. Make sure you take your cameras with you to every family event, vacation and celebration to stop those moments from running away.