Contest: Senior Portrait Package

Aaahhh…memories of senior year. You take all your tests, you find out if you  “got accepted” to your first choice and of course, you plan what you’re going to wear for your senior photos. What if we told you that you had a chance to win a senior portrait session unlike anyone else’s? We specialize in capturing personalities in the most creative way.

One lucky winner will win the full package with us. Simply go to our Facebook page or email us at info@chin-azzaro.com and tell us why you deserve to win. (Parents, you can enter your son or daughter too)! Check it out and pass it along to all the Class of 2014 seniors you know (in the Ann Arbor area). Enter now through June 30th. But if you can’t wait to win and want to book your session now, see your choices below. Good luck!

Kenta: Hair Stylist, Musician, Astro

After an amazing photo shoot with friend, hair stylist and musician, Kenta, I had an opportunity for some Q and A. His band Locus can be seen and heard here.

N- How did you become a stylist?

K- After high school I was searching for a job and went in for a haircut at a local salon for my interviews. I gave such detailed order to the stylist, he said “you should become a hairstylist!” So I did. I still believe that moment was meant to be, this job is the only job I’ve never wanted to quit! (Kenta has been styling hair going on eleven years and currently works at Da Vinci’s in downtown Ann Arbor).

N- When did you get into music?

K- The 4th grade. I really liked this girl and she played flute. I wanted to be with her in music class so I begged my ma. I only played for four months or so… At that time I was very shy about being the only boy in flute class so I converted to trumpet! Since then I’ve played a little tuba, guitar, and drum. My friend taught me how to DJ but I was never good in any instruments… so I highly respect people who practice instrumental music.

N- Describe your personal musical interest and your bands interest.

K- I have very broad musical interests, but grew up listening to a lot of punk, ska, rock, hip-hop, J-pop, trance, house, and techno and was never good at remembering the bands name or the song title.Band mate Ajekt (DJ/Programmer) also has a very broad interests and digs deep on all types of music. It’s crazy how much he knows about the history behind a band or the songs. I call him the Wiki of Locus! He can answer most of your musical questions! Band mate Qp (Bass/Programmer) is deeply rooted in rock and J-pop and listens to everything he likes. His bass playing style is heavily influenced by what he heard in his youth. He has also produced a few Japanese Pop songs for local talents as well.

As a band all three of us comes from very different musical backgrounds. The first few years we were suffering to find a point of interest, but we’re now gradually finding a solid Locus sound. We’re still in search of “creating something new, something never heard before”. I know its a long journey but feel like we’re definitely on the right track. The energy and atmosphere Locus creates is something I’ve never experienced in any other music or shows.

N- Tell me about Astro.

K- I’ve wanted people listen to our music rather than judge us by our looks, so it was my idea to put a mask on at a show one day. I’ve asked the band members to wear the masks too, but we’ve had some clashes on this idea. Astro is like a messenger for me, he’s the one who shouts my thoughts and emotions through the microphone. He’s a little cocky, spiritual, and loves women. He’ll do things I can’t and thinks what I can’t.

Thank you, Kenta for a great session and for sharing your stories. To have your own portait narrative photographed, contact us here.

Latest Tribehaus Shoot : Three Lighting Set Ups, Three Looks

We’ve started shooting for Tribehaus on a regular basis and every week is an exciting chance to sharpen our creative processes. Last weekend we hit the nail on the head when we worked with model Maeve and collaborated again with make up artist Taryn Scalise of Tough Love MPD. Along with the “chief” of Tribehaus, Anna Bagozzi, the stars were in alignment because we had some of the most successful shots we’ve seen a long while. Don’t you agree?

A New Partnership : Tribehaus | Photo Studio Group

Sunday we shot our first of many sessions for Tribehaus, owned by entrepreneur extraordinaire Anna Bagozzi. With its eclectic and trendy inventory, Tribehaus is an online presence unlike any other offering women’s fashion with plans to expand to menswear. Anna has turned the brand into an empire with her insane marketing skills. Check out her Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr pages.

For model shots, we required a studio space that would allow for flexibility and a seamless or cyc wall, a panel with rounded bottom corner to lend an infinite spatial quality to the images. Not only is it an incredibly brilliant concept, Photo Studio Group, is a community-based resource, offering their space and equipment at a fraction of what it typically costs. We just started our membership and we urge others to visit them as well. It’s better than any other scenario we’ve come across during our years in commercial photography.

Image: Photo Studio Group

Every shoot depends on successful collaboration of the team. We were really lucky to have Amelia modeling. Not only does she have an incredible high fashion look, she was so personable and a breeze to work with.

No shoot is complete until you bring in hair and make up and Taryn Scalise is a master of both. She got us through two complete looks very quickly and was on hand to catch fly aways with the brush and lip stick touch ups between shots.

Amelia and Anna going over logistics on the set.

Anna from Tribehaus, Nick from Chin-Azzaro and Taryn from Tough Love MPD

We can’t remember the last time such a production went so seamlessly and we can’t wait to do it again. In the meanwhile, support our partners and let us know if you have any questions about buying from, visiting or hiring our friends. See you next week!

Acting the Part

You may have seen some of these photos of N on our Facebook page, but we had to share them here too. He has a knack for creating gritty movie scenes and people love it. Thing is, we’re still mostly getting requests for traditional portrait. So our question to you is, are you game for some dramatic fun?

We’re booking holiday sessions right now. A la carte packages include up to four “costume” changes, styling, lighting and multiple locations plus all rights and usage. It would be the ultimate present. Contact us for all the details.

Jim Henson, Muppetry and An Unyielding Obsession

This past weekend N surprised me by hooking up a Detroit errand with an event at the Detroit Institute of Arts. Heather Henson, daughter of the late, great Jim Henson was putting on a performance with her troupe Ibex Puppetry called Celebration of Flight. Not only was I completely floored that he found out about this fantastic opportunity before I did, I was elated to see some artistry and performance at work.

I don’t remember a time in my life that The Muppets were not around. Prior to their “comeback” in last year’s The Muppets, I was still clamoring for Animal and singing the theme song. (Some say there’s even a Halloween photo where I wear a pig snout and N’s face is painted green…) Something as genius as what Jim Henson started in the ’60s would always have a place in my heart, even if it wasn’t reaching further than Grover watchers out there via Sesame Street.

We saw Jim Henson’s Fantastic World, a retrospective exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry in 2009 which included early sketches for animations, silkscreen posters he did in college and even key design elements from The Dark Crystal. This was, of course, all dwarfed in comparison to the Kermit which we were introduced to within the first ten feet of the exhibit. It was magical.

Needless to say, I was enamored by the motion, fluidity and realness of the birds and forms created by the puppet group. It was a hot day but the strong breeze made for a beautiful back drop as we watched the performers manipulate kites, bird forms and weave among one another with ease.

My path in art has meandered but never strayed far from appreciation of great artistry and concepts. Jim Henson’s legacy and its ability to make us believe is what continues to inspire me.

Fashion Forward: Tribehaus Clothing

We love meeting other creative professionals and owner of Tribehause Clothing, Anna Bagozzi is the epitome of fashion and drive. With a loyal following on Facebook and a store launching online this Fall (we’ll announce the big day when it comes!), we were thrilled to be a part of the process.

Anna chooses her inventory of clothing and accessories personally and relishes in choosing not only the latest trends but classic looks too. Our first collaboration was with her gorgeous variety of jewelry including the popular line Chan Luu along with other great pieces which will be featured on her site. Anna has great vision and it totally aligns with our aesthetic. See what exciting things she’s up to and check back for more from Tribehaus soon!

Our New Friends with a Great Cause: Skylark and King

We were so excited to meet Nick Zagar, one of the owners of Skylark and King (along with brother Michael Freedman) for a few reasons. Not only are their “larks”, multi-sized shorts really fashion forward, they’re behind a great cause. Every time you purchase a product from them, portions of the sale go toward funding clean water and sanitation solutions through the organization Water for People.

Photo: From Skylark and King

See our photos of their latest endeavor, kids’ larks below. *Aren’t they incredible?* We’ll keep you posted on when you can get these adorable, adjustable and totally necessary wardrobe items. You can learn more about this amazing company and their ideology to help people gain access to water here.

A Milestone for Chin-Azzaro, Personally-speaking

Yesterday we didn’t take any appointments. Instead, we hid out from the world a bit to celebrate our third wedding anniversary. Not only do we have the privilege of working together, we’re partners in life, sparring about all the little things that matter. For most couples gifts and dinner are in order. We like to take it an extra step and document things in style.

For every marketing plan I want to implement, N has a campaign concept.

For every advertising placement, N has an accompanying image.

When we think of how far we’ve come…

…it’s exciting to rediscover the place we met.

For better or worse, when you call on us, you get a package deal. Our innovation, all preconceived notions cast aside, our vision.

It’s worked well for us so far.

Edward: A Working Man

Our great friend Ed is full of personality. When he asked to have a new professional head shot taken, we jumped at the chance to shoot him in his element: jacket, button up and a whole lot of panache.

Pretty dapper, wouldn’t you say? So we veered a bit from the typical corporate shots but we got those too. If you need professional photos and aren’t afraid to laugh and kick back, give us a holler.