StellaLily Studio 1

Last Show Until OOAK

2011-09-12T14:10:00.000-05:00

Just wanted to remind my clients and art lovers that my last show (until the One Of A Kind show at the Mart) will be September 17th at the Gralley. This is co-hosted by Uncommon Ground and St. Gertrude's. The event will be on Glenwood between Rosemont and Granville in Edgewater. Highlights are the artists (of course) music and great food. Always a good time and always a good turnout. This one lasts until 10:00p.m. !

The new catalogue should be up in October on the website. Visit : www.stellalily.com and go to the shop button. Final word...I just want to thank everyone who support my work. You have made my summer a busy one but also enjoyable!!

New Shows, New Art

2011-08-17T12:47:00.001-05:00

This weekend I'll be in the Glenwood Arts Fest in Rogers Park (booth #80). There's always great food, music and creative artist at this show. The week after I'm in the Streeter Fest one block off the Mag Mile. This is a new venue but I think it's going to be a good show.

As you can see I've added new images. This is part of a group of horses from the Navy Pier carousel. I've also stocked up on Chicago images since I keep running out so quick at shows. Also, I have big news...I'm in One Of A Kind show at the Mart this December! How cool is that?! I'll be working my little thumbs off from now until then.
September shows:
Lincoln Park Art Faire--Sept. 10 &11th
The Gralley in Edgewater--Sept. 17th

Senior Portrait Time Again

2011-08-17T12:21:00.000-05:00

Just a heads up (ha, ha) it's that time of year again to think about getting your senior pics done. I'm not talking about the one for the yearbook. No, no, no--I'm talking about the one you'll have a good time doing and be proud to pass out to friends. I'm crazy busy right now so if you want to do this please call soon!!!!

Fountain Square Art Festival

2011-06-24T11:57:00.001-05:00

I'll be at the Fountain Square Art Festival and the weather looks very promising! I have a great location--I'm booth number 52 right on the west side of Sherman. Last week I ran out of many of my most popular images and have been working like a dog (funny, my dogs don't do a thing--who came up with that saying?) to restock. My advice is to come early to get the best pick!
Also, I just added The Lake In The Hills Street Market July 9th & 10th. This is a first time event for them and they have been preparing for a large crowd to attend. There will be an artist's tent, antiques tent, and a farmer's market tent. I'll probably spend every penny I make at this one!
Finally, just want to say Custer Street was a total success. Thanks to everyone who came by my booth. Met a lot of very nice people and I'll for sure be back next year.

Thanks for your support--see you soon!

Custer Street Fair

2011-06-17T14:41:00.001-05:00

First, I'd like to say that the Andersonville Midsummer Fest was a blast! So many wonderful people stopped by the booth. I want to thank all of you!!! The crowd was so diverse and everyone was having a good time. I was so happy to be a part of it all.
This weekend I'll be in Evanston for the Custer Street Fair. My booth is located on Custer just south of Main #C60. Okay, the weather is a little iffy but I'll be there rain or shine (mostly shine I hope). I totally ran out of all the Paris, New York and most of the camera tiles last week but I've been working night and day to replenish.

See you this weekend :)

Summer Festivals

2011-06-09T17:13:00.002-05:00

My first outdoor festival is this weekend and it looks like the weather might behave. Nothing worse than holding down a tent in a micro-burst! This weekend I'll be in the Andersonville Midsummer Fest (even though it's only June). The booth (PhotoAccents by StellaLily) is located between Rascher and Balmoral. I am displaying new items so come on by and see what I've been up to. Also, the fest itself is a lot of fun with bands galore and really good food (and drink)!
Here's a list of the confirmed shows I'll be in this season.

June 11th & 12th---Andersonville Midsummer Fest (northside Chicago)
June 18th & 19th---Custer Street Fair (Evanston, Main & Sherman)
June 25th & 26th---Fountain Square Festival (Evanston)
July 15, 16 & 17th---River North Walk (Chicago)
August 20 & 21st---Glenwood Art Fest (Chicago)
September 10th & 11th---Lincoln Park Art Fair (Chicago)

I'll add other dates as they come in.

Thanks to those who follow me and it's always great to see a familiar face!

It's Been Awhile

2011-05-05T16:40:00.000-05:00

Ok, I'm really bad at keeping up with everything. I'll tell you what I've been up to in the next couple of posts. To start, I thought I'd share some pics of a cute family! The mother in the shot was one of my daughter's favorite high school teachers. She seems very happy with her new role as mom. That's right--mother's day is this weekend. Happy Mother's Day!!!!!!

Please stop by my website to check out the new store (www.stellalily.com) and check out the new facebook page for StellaLily. There's some black and white photos of New York City in the cold, ''COLD' month of January.

Pic Of The Day

2010-03-05T15:07:00.001-06:00

Just thought I'd share a photo I took on a recent trip back home. I like driving through the countryside on back roads and seeing where I end up.

Hope everyone enjoys their weekend!

Baby Days In March

2010-03-01T12:33:00.000-06:00

We will be having Baby Day events in the studio during the month of March. What better way to boost your winter mood than to spend a half hour playing with your baby and creating a photograph you will cherish. There is a small $25 fee to reserve your session and along with that you will also receive a 5X7 print. To reserve a date and time give the studio a call and we will set you up. Better yet, make a play-date of it and bring other moms and babies to enjoy the event!

20 Minute Headshot

2010-02-25T16:30:00.001-06:00

I met Laura in a restaurant and learned she was a dancer. She's Italian and has only been in Chicago for a few months. I feel bad that her only experience so far, is Chicago in the winter--not fun for a sun lover! Anyway, I thought she would be perfect for testing my quick headshot session. It took all of 20 minutes to shoot and we had about 60 images to look at.

So, check out the special offers in March and April. There will be the 20 minute headshot session along with open studio for special all day events. Keep ya posted!

The New StellaLily Website is ready!

2010-02-10T15:55:00.002-06:00

Finally, the new website is ready to go. It's been a long time coming but I think it's worth it. Shawnna Rovinsky, web guru / Rovinsky Design, has provided me with a custom site that works with the studio design and all printed material. Can't get that with a template! If you want something unique, want to work with a talented designer, and just need help with putting your ideas together--she's the one I would suggest. Look her up at www.shawnnarovinsky.com.
Now, back to the site. I have a few things to still do but I couldn't wait for everyone to see it. Please take a look www.stellalily.com and post your opinions.
I'll leave you with a photo I had the pleasure of taking last week.
Enjoy!

Peace, Juana

Etsy Shop

2009-11-05T15:45:00.002-06:00

I opened my new Etsy shop yesterday under the name PhotoAccentsbySL. If you're not familiar with Etsy it's a place where you are able to sell and buy all things handmade. It's a great place to buy directly from the artist without paying extra in a retail store. Take a look at the site and see how easy it is to navigate and also visit my shop. I will be adding new items every few days throughout November.
Even though I love taking portraits I also like to use images to create fun items. I use my darkroom as a work space because it's dust free and quiet. No one bothers me when I have that door shut! I make things that I like to use and my hope is that you will like them also.
A big hit this summer were the teapot photo blocks and coasters. As my friends know I collect teapots for their shape and colors. I've recently photographed some of them and created what I consider mini art pieces. I'm amazed at just how many people are into teapots.
Below are just a sample of what you will be seeing in my shop.

Fall Colors with Lily

2009-10-25T16:08:00.001-05:00

We're getting beautiful colors here in Chicago but it's been hard to enjoy them because of the weather. I think it's rained almost every day in October. I've had to shoot in the studio when we really wanted to use the changing colors for background. Yesterday we got a glimpse of the sun so Lily and I went hunting. I gave her a camera and of course I had mine. We only had about an hour of good sunlight. So armed with hot coffee we took off. We had a great time together sharing ideas about what makes a good photograph and basically goofed around. Thanks, Lil.

Isn't He Adorable?

2009-10-17T17:30:00.008-05:00

Isn't he adorable is what my daughter says about this kid. It was G's (the little boy) grandparents anniversary and all the family members came into the studio today to get pictures taken. What a nice way to document such a special event. G danced for me, showed me what a ghost does (it's close to halloween) and how he can fly. We had a good time and took tons of pics. Here's a few quick one's from the shoot. Enjoy!

New Puppy

2009-10-14T14:51:00.004-05:00

Who can resist a new puppy? I couldn't when a friend brought over her new puppy, Dana. Had to take a few pics even though I should be working on the DePaul University School of Music holiday card (which turned out great! Thanks K). Here's a sample of the cutie. Wish you could smell the puppy breath to go along with the photo.

Pregnancy Photos

2009-10-06T14:47:00.006-05:00

E & M came in today for their pregnancy photos. I'm excited because I also get to photograph the baby (girl) when she arrives. If it's anything like today it should be a breeze. With the first shot taken we all decided we had it in the bag. The images turned out beautiful and it was such a pleasure for me to work with E because she was one of the first babysitters for my children. Now it's her turn and she seems so happy! Congratulations you two soon to be three.

Ravenswood Art Walk

2009-10-03T13:37:00.006-05:00

Today is the Ravenswood Art Walk and my door is open to all. Nothing like a deadline to finish putting up photos. The front of the studio is now complete and I'm loving it. Now it's time to sit back and open the wine.

Actor Headshot

2009-08-18T13:18:00.006-05:00

The following images are for an actor who is updating his look. I photographed him before and we worked together to create some edgy looks. This time we both agreed that casual would be good. (L) is very easy to work with even in the heat (a very hot day!)

Hope everyone is having a good summer. I'll be taking Stella to school next week and the studio will be closed. We'll be ready to rock and roll in September! See you.

Bus Stop Photos

2009-08-07T16:32:00.007-05:00

Yesterday I had the privilege to work with another actor. We started in the studio but quickly went outside because of the glorious weather we were having in Chicago. We got so many different looks but the most fun was our experiment at the bus stop. K (the talent) was easy going and totally into the idea. People came out of their shops just to watch what was going on and also to thank us for cleaning the bus stop shelter. Here are just a few examples.

The following photos are from the regular shoot. K has the most beautiful eyes! I did not enhance them--can you believe it???!!!

Have a good weekend--I'm off next week with my daughter looking at schools. ROAD TRIP!

Testing Light

2009-08-03T16:29:00.007-05:00

Last week I had the opportunity to test a ring light. Lots of fun but bulky. I'll give it another try at another time but I'm putting up some samples. Thanks Shawnna for modeling and being blasted by the first few shots.

Model Shots

2009-07-25T16:37:00.009-05:00

Again, another long day of work. Trying to get my website back up. My web guru (Shawnna Rovinsky/Design Goddess) has made a custom site that I can update and change at anytime. It's very exciting but I never seem to have the time to go through and pick the photos. Hopefully very soon I will have it done. I will kept you posted.
Today I'm putting up some shots I did last week for K. who also wants to update her model portfolio. There are so many to choose from so I may add more at another time.
Enjoy!

Rogers Park Garden Group Fundraiser

2009-07-17T12:43:00.008-05:00

It's important to acknowledge good work that's being done. That's why I donated a gift certificate last year and will again this year to the Rogers Park Garden Group. They are a group of volunteers who promote gardening through education and hard work. Each year they take on a project to beautify and maintain a public way in the neighborhood. This year you can see some of the gardens on the Garden Meander July 28th. The 3rd annual RPGG Garden of Treasures Sale & Fundraiser will be held on Sept. 27th. All this information and more can be found on their website at www.rogersparkgardengroup.org.

The following pictures are from the family who bought the gift certificate last year. Enjoy!

A Stella Favorite

2009-06-22T17:06:00.003-05:00

It's the end of a long day of printing for other people. I need to do something for myself before I leave the studio. This is one of my favorite photos of Stella. I love the fact she's not smiling and actually a little put out that I asked her to stop what she was doing and pose for me. It's perfect!

I just got done talking with Stella on the phone (she's at a concert) and I told her I was going to make a project of stalking her with my camera this summer before she leaves. She's not up for it--oh, well.

Father's Day

2009-06-09T13:08:00.010-05:00

Hey, father's day is coming soon. It so happens it falls on my anniversary this year. It's also the summer solstice. A lot to celebrate on June 21st.
Here are a couple of pics of some young men sharing a moment with their dad in the studio last week.

Headshot for M

2009-05-19T13:18:00.006-05:00

Headshots are almost always fun to shoot and M. was no exception. I had her outside in the Chicago wind, inside with skylights and in the studio with lighting. It was a long session but we got a lot of different looks for her to choose from. I'm showing a few of the one's I like. Enjoy!

What's New

2009-05-15T13:44:00.009-05:00

There is a lot to tell that's new. I closed the retail photo studio in Lincoln Park and moved to a loft in Lakeview. The new studio space is bigger and nicer. I'm still putting the final touches on it but I'm feeling right at home here. In the middle of the move I broke my arm and was unable to shoot for six weeks but I was able to get my taxes done early this time. Thank goodness that only rolls around once a year.
Another big milestone was Stella (oldest daughter) getting into the school of her choice. It's been a lot of hard work on her part and a lot of support on my part. It's going to be very hard in the fall to let her go. I am so proud of Stella!

Back to studio news. The website is close to being finished. The best feature of the new site is that I'll be able to update it at any time. So now there will be no excuse for changing photos and keeping the site fresh and current. Speaking of current, I'd like to share some shots I did yesterday of a cute 6 week old. The mom was so worried he would not cooperate but he was such an angel. I love the little bottom!

I have a lot of new samples I'll be listing on this blog so be sure to visit me again soon!
Thanks

Peace

The Election--Just My Opinion

2008-11-07T13:13:00.004-06:00

What, no photos?! That's right. I feel very fortunate to live in Chicago. I took my daughters to the Obama rally in Grant Park and I didn't even take a camera. The reason for no camera was that I wanted to be with and totally present for Stella and Lily. We stood shoulder to shoulder for hours with a sea of people from all over the country and watched history in the making. I cried and so did many other people--even the really big guy just in front of us. I was so proud of our country and I was proud of Chicago with how it accommodated the largest crowd I've ever seen.
Two years ago I photographed Michelle Obama when she was speaking at a luncheon for a Chicago think tank. She spoke of the less fortunate in America in such an eloquent manner that I left that day wishing SHE would run for president. I say it's about time we have someone in the White House who is intelligent and knows how to complete a sentence!
Just my opinion.

Peace,
Juana

Another Senior Portrait

2008-10-29T12:13:00.010-05:00

It's cold today in Chicago so I thought I'd share some senior photos taken while it was still warm out. I love the dappled light of the trees and backlight of the bright sunshine. I took the photos in Oz Park next to the high school. The two girls were relaxed and totally into the pics. I think they turned out great!

I'll post some male senior photos next time. Until then--remember to vote!
Peace,
Juana

Tank

2008-10-24T15:42:00.002-05:00

Need I say more.

Peace,

Juana

Family Photos

2008-10-11T12:36:00.005-05:00

Now is the time to get your holiday photos taken. Don't wait until the last minute! Photos of your family make wonderful long lasting gifts for your loved ones and friends. We now offer all the photos taken at your session put on a CD so that you may print them yourself. Oh, and don't forget to ask about the 10% discount on the sitting fee which already includes an 8X10 print.
I have included a couple of photos from a family photo session shot in the studio. They're regular clients and one of my favs!

Ruby

2008-09-16T13:22:00.004-05:00

There is a new addition to our family who I'd like to introduce. Her name is Ruby Fay and you may see her in the studio bossing everyone around. We are gearing up for what will be a busy fall season. There is a new and exciting website in the works, we've added a new front desk for that right assistant, and we are putting a line of photo books together. Stop in to say hi to Ruby when you're in the neighborhood.

Peace,

Juana

TTV of Rogers Park

2008-08-14T14:44:00.008-05:00

In the last post I said I was going to take off and go shooting at the beach. Well, here are a few photos of that day. The technique I used to create these photos is called TTV--through the viewfinder. I used my digital camera and shot through another camera. It has such a dreamy quality. I've been using it on portraits and flower photos. This is the first time I used it at the beach.

The location is in Rogers Park, Chicago and only 3 blocks from my house. One of my favorite things to do is take beach chairs with Louis and sit on the pier (with a mimosa!). It really lifts my soul to listen to the waves and feel the breeze off the lake. LOVE IT!

Enjoy my view.

Headshot For Opera Singer

2008-08-08T13:57:00.005-05:00

Olga just picked up her discs to take to the printer to get her headshots printed. She was thrilled with the outcome so I thought I'd share her photos.

It's important to have both color AND black & whites to show these days.

I also shot one for myself I'd like to share. It's a profile and not useful for Olga's headshots but after she saw it she has decided to use it for business cards. I find it to be stunning (if I do say so myself) and am very happy with the outcome.

Okay, it's Friday and a beautiful day here in Chicago. I've decided after posting this I'm going to the lake to take a few shots.

Enjoy & peace,

Juana

High School Senior Portraits

2008-07-31T17:23:00.011-05:00

I can't believe that the feeling of summer almost being over is forced upon us. It's the last day of July and people are already talking about school starting. Since I have a senior AND a junior in high school I'm feeling the crunch. Summer is my most favorite time of the year and my most creative time as an artist. I love getting out of the studio and photographing what I please.

Now is the perfect time to get senior pics done. Everyone looks healthy and energized--and I enjoy taking people around the city to capture the summer light. It's a more relaxed time and I think that's what kids are looking for. We can always do the studio shot but a teen wants to show off their own personal style and I'm the person to help them attain that look.

Take a look at some out-takes from a shoot I just did recently with a senior. She was a joy to work with even on a hot summer day. What a trooper!

Call the studio for information on special senior portrait packages. Check to see if you can become a representative at your school and receive the VIP treatment!

Enjoy the rest of summer!!!!!

Energizer Baby

2008-07-02T16:56:00.010-05:00

This is going to be a short post but I have to share pics of this baby I recently photographed. Normally, when photographing a baby you have a narrow window either between naps or between feedings. I usually take my time and let the baby dictate the pace of the shoot. There have been sessions where the total time of shooting has lasted 15 minutes and then sometimes you get lucky and it can last almost an hour. Well this baby was like the energizer bunny! He kept on going, and going, and going...

The little boy just got his two lower front teeth and was happy to show my assistant and I his smile almost every time we asked.

The short period of time when a baby is able to sit up on their own and when they learn how to walk is a great time to photograph because you are able to hold their attention longer. Even though I certainly don't mind running around after children it's always nice when I can focus my attention on facial expressions and small details.

I was able to use various backgrounds and different vantage points while photographing this little one.

I also make a point to get the family involved in the photographs of the baby. The mother was not expecting to have her picture taken but I insisted and they turned out beautiful.

We ended up getting a TON of photographs of this little energizer baby and after 2 1/2 hours of shooting I had to call it quits. I really think he could have gone on but I was exhausted! Even though it turned out to be a long shoot with many background changes it was so much fun. They got a lot of photos to choose from and I got a lot of wonderful samples. He was great to work with--such a cutie!

Peace,

Juana

Gal Pal Photos

2008-06-17T15:35:00.009-05:00

We're going to start this site off with a fun job I recently shot. Jennifer called the studio to inquire about photographing a group of gals she was friends with during school at DePaul University. She saw my photographs in the studio windows while driving by in Lincoln Park (Chicago) and then checked out my website at www.stellalily.com

Jen scheduled a session with what ended up to be five other gal pals. We negotiated what seemed to be be a fair price for all which included the photo session, online viewing, and two beautifully retouched prints for each person. We later decided it would be fun for the girls to be able to use any image for their Myspace or Facebook.

We started the shoot with a pleasant photo of all the women on a chaise. I made sure I got a nice close-up shot of them together (these are ALWAYS fun to do).

They brought champagne and flowers as props--well the flowers were props--and we had a great time creating memorable photos with some festive poses.

Options, options, options! Bringing different clothing changes the mood and gives more options to choose from in the end. The girls changed for their single shots and I think it showed off their individual beauty and style. Mix it up is the name of the game here and making sure no two person's session look the same. They really delivered and it was such fun for me to work with them. I think it shows in the final product.

And then sometimes I shoot one for myself. One of the women had long straight hair and long thin arms. She had changed into a pretty top that had long linear lines and I thought it looked beautiful in a quiet way. (art talk) Anyway, she was gracious enough to work with me for a few shots before we did her glam photos.

We ended the session with a lot of chatting and laughter. I think they headed out for a night on the town. What a way to start!!!!

I'd love to do more of these so called 'gal pal' party photo sessions. Call or email me if you're interested. Let's face it, it lasts longer than a regular spa night out with your friends.

Hope you enjoyed the first of many entries. I plan on discussing other jobs or projects in upcoming posts. Thanks for participating in the journey!

PEACE,

Juana