Welcome to the Portrait Playtime Blog...Thank you for visiting.  Look for gratitude, current work, provide photo tips, and list photo fundraisers.  Come back often. 

Summer Camp

February 06, 2015  •  Leave a Comment

Ah summer is coming and with it wonderful days of Photo Explorer Camps! I can't wait to share the joy of photography with young people and watch them explore their lives using a camera every day for two weeks this summer.   I will be teaching two separate photo camps each a week long, one at Frying Pan Farm Park and the other at Oakmar. These camps are for 8-13 year olds. 

Photo Explorer at Frying Pan Farm Park July 6-10 9 am to 1 pm

Photo Explorer Camp at Oak Marr  July 27-31 9 am to 4 pm (includes swimming)

Campers will learn new skills while exploring their own creative talent. Topics include focusing and motion techniques, separating subjects from backgrounds, using creative modes, exposure and some editing. Campers enjoy photo scavenger hunts and taking pictures on nature walks. They will do self-portraits that tell something true about themselves and portraits that verge on fiction. And of course, they will explore the practical uses of taking photos from note taking to gathering information to showing what they know.

Campers will need to bring digital photo device/camera, snack, lunch and drink. At Oak Marr campers also bring swimsuit/towel for daily swim break.


When a Young One Knows What She Wants

August 07, 2014  •  Leave a Comment

My friend's daughter absolutely wanted to do photos last night and I could not refuse. I was there to do a headshot and test my new ring light. She had a vision of exactly what she wanted.  They had just gotten back from the beach and she wanted to be a pirate, make a boat out of beach toys, do some fishing, all against a sunset...this is what we did.  

 

Testing new light Testing new light Testing new light Testing new light Testing new light Testing new light Testing new light


A Girl Power Session

August 04, 2014  •  Leave a Comment

I had a number of conversations with a client over a few years that she wanted photos of her younger daughter, we had done a session with her son before her daughter came along and then a session with the whole family.  So when her son was away at sleep away camp, I suggested we do a session all about her daughter.  She agreed and talked with them about my vision, that we take photos that showed being strong and powerful, having fun and showing who she is now. She brought her bike and a jump rope.  I caught her riding, talking, climbing trees and showing off a place she loves...here are the results.

 

Amazing, Awesome, Fantastic a girl in all her power


Business eCard Special

April 24, 2014  •  Leave a Comment
I have a new product that may be perfect for you. It’s been nearly a year since I started working on the concept and now it’s ready for me to show you. It’s a business card for the mobile device age.
 

What's Great about a Business E-Card:   You’ll always have your business card with you and you’ll never run out. It’s perfect for the way you use a paper business card - to provide your contact information to clients and prospects alike. It’s also great as as a way to keep them coming back to see your sales, specials, blog posts or whatever you want to feature.

Take a look and see what you think. 
 
Jessica Wallach
Portrait Playtime
Tel: 703-860-2222

 

What is in a  Business eCard: I hand craft each one to tell your unique story in less than 30 seconds. Each card features 2 head shots that I create for you along with 2 short video clips - the first is an introduction and the second is your personal message about what  you and your company does. We then add images of your products or services.  We tailor it so that people get a good sense of who you are and why pick you over someone else. 
 
The Secret Sauce: At the very end, our special hosting site provides a set of buttons for your viewer. These make using the card simple for the recipient who can with one tap or click add you to their contacts, call you from their smart phone, email you, get directly to your web site and go directly to any other page on the internet that you want (optional). As you can tell this is a business card that delivers way more information and impact than a standard paper card ever could. For you, sending is super easy with email or texting from your smartphone.
 
Special Offer:  For the month of May I’m running an introductory special.  Regularly I will be offering Business eCards for $395 each, but for May they will be $250 and include a year of web hosting and one web-ready headshot.  This service is available by appointment and during the week I can do these on Tuesday, Thursdays and Fridays.  
 
I am happy to offer a group rate as well for three or more people.  Work will all on the same day in the same location.  Here are those prices:
 
3 people:  Regularly $1000 for May $700
6 People:  Regularly $1500 for May $1200
 
Let me know what questions you have and when I can create one for you.  Just email me at [email protected]



Photography Camp this Summer

April 24, 2014  •  Leave a Comment
 
I want to invite each of you to send your children (who are going to be 2nd graders through 5th graders) to Photography Camp at the Eastern Ridge School.  We are going to have so much fun exploring the meadow with our cameras.
 
Camp is July 7-11
from 8:30 to 3
In Vienna, VA, not far from Wolf Trap
 
Sign up here: https://campscui.active.com/orgs/EasternRidgeSchool#/selectSessions/583402  (it is at the bottom of page one).
 
 
More and more we are talking in pictures, both stills and moving. Our kids will be using photography skills in their everyday communications and education much more than we ever did. Campers will explore the outdoors with visiting professional photographer Jessica Wallach and an assistant while learning photography. Campers will learn new skills, have ample time for their own creative works and enjoy free play on our micro-farm and nature space. Some of the activities we will do include: daily nature walks, photo scavenger hunts, photographing water (dripping, moving fast, still), macro photography in the garden, bug hunt, things that change, and the way things work. General skills we will practice: telling a story, art for art sake, investigation/scientific process, using camera to take notes. Topics we will cover include: focusing, separating subject from background, stopping and capturing motion, creative modes in camera, exposure, low light photography, when to take stills and when to take video, composition and editing. Children will need to provide a digital photographic device. A digital camera is great, but an iPhone or iPad is an alternative.
 
Let me know if you have questions.  [email protected]
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