Arizona film photographer – Mara Blom Schantz

Let’s Go to the Beach!

Mara Schantz — Tue, 24 May 2016 21:51:00 +0000

I know it is not that hot yet so it is harder to think about leaving Arizona and heading over to California to get some cooler weather and beach time. But, most schools are either out for summer vacation or will be out by the end of the month. So, now is the time to schedule your summer beach session. I will be in Southern California for the month of July and have some dates still available. It is a great time to have your family photographed. Such a fun and relaxed way to document your family. Whether you have small children, grown children or grandchildren, everyone has fun at the beach, even cowboys. It shows in the images. Here are some of my favorites from last summer:

Whether you are a cowboy or a hippie,

or have a very active little guy,

or littles and bigs and one in between,

or a sorority girl,

or an artist and a runner,

or are a father and son,

or a grandmother,

or sisters,

or a dancer,

are fun loving,

or contemplative,

or serious,

or are cousins,

or a family of five,

or a father and son,

or have a hard time paying attention,

or can’t sit still,

or you like to fly,

or like to laugh,

or you are a sister,

or a brother,

or have curly hair,

or a dog,

or like to run,

or walk in the water,

or feel a protective hand,

or you like to look toward the future,

or stay in the present,

or you are shy,

or still love to feel your mother’s hugs,

or like to walk your dog,

or hug your dog,

or you are intense,

or quiet,

or melancholy,

or calm,

or happy,

or a have a family of four,

or three kids,

or someone who lost his teeth,

or likes to run,

or stand still,

or can be calm,

or wild,

or feel the wind,

and get wet,

or have a pet,

or are family friends,

or best friends,

or three sisters,

the beach is one of the best places to have you family documented! Every family is unique and I am an expert at telling your story with the beach as your background.

Why I Choose Film

Mara Schantz — Sun, 14 Feb 2016 16:51:00 +0000

One of my favorites, using the light to create a desired effect.

I have been a photographer for many years so it is a given that when I started out, I started working with film. Then, about 10-15 years ago there was a huge shift in the professional industry and almost every single photographer I knew switched to digital. I felt the pressure to go along with the masses, but I tried out some digital cameras and hated them. So I decided to just keep doing what I was doing. Then a few years passed, the pressure to conform was mounting, and I tried another digital camera. I was again disappointed. Maybe my expectations were too high but the images lacked depth and needed to be manipulated on the computer after the fact. That was not what I liked about photography. In fact, digitally retouching images after the fact is the thing I like the least. It is not photography, it is retouching. In contrast, I love everything about using film. I love the feel of the film as I am loading it in the camera, I love the sound the shutter makes on my Hasselblad – a big, loud, clunky noise. I love the sound that it makes as you finish a roll and it rolls through. I love the anticipation of getting my film back from the lab and seeing the images for the first time. I love the smell of the fixer in the darkroom when I print my own. I love when I get a delivery from my printer and open the package to see the beautifully printed portraits.

Creating impressionistic style images is possible by over exposing the right color film and use of soft focus filters. No photoshop needed!

So I kept doing what I was doing. Frankly, I didn’t see a reason to switch until I was around other photographers. I went to conventions and all I saw and heard was how much better digital was. But I just didn’t couldn’t see it or understand the draw. I was so happy using my film. I even got yelled at a few times by other professional photographers who told me that I was stuck in the dark ages. Thankfully, I had (have) a phenomenal professional printer who is himself an artist in the darkroom. He told me to keep doing what I was doing and he would keep printing for me. Then, I went to photography workshop in Santa Fe. There I met my soul sister. We are different in every way at first glance – she is 6ft tall, blonde and very outspoken. However, when you look at the images we create, they are very similar. I was happy to learn that she was still using film. I had found someone else to talk to, compare techniques, different film types, etc., so I decided to keep doing what I had been doing and not to be cajoled into doing what I did not want to do.

The right lighting and filter ensure that the reflection is apparent while her skin tone is soft and beautiful.

A dreamy effect can be achieved with a special effect film and red filter.

A technique known as pushing (done in the film processing) can give your image a more dramatic look and can be done when lighting conditions are on the dark side.

After all, it was the process that I loved and still love. It is deciding which film to use for a given situation, how I will set my camera to get exactly the look I want, which filter and lens will maximize or change that look, and what instructions I will give my lab to develop to make it what I want. That process is what I love. I love knowing in my minds eye how the image will look because of my years of training, but then getting the images back and being surprised that they look better.

Another more impressionistic color image made by over exposing color film and using a soft filter.

Since meeting my friend in Santa Fe and deciding that I would not switch to digital, I have fully embraced the fact that I can give something completely unique to my clients and to myself. In fact, I have gone in the opposite direction of the digital movement – I have learned to use large format cameras, print my own portraits, and have even built a darkroom in my home. (Though I continue to use my master professional darkroom printer for all my client work because he is still so much better than me!)

A masterpiece printed by my printer, Robert, toned to perfection.

Yes, with film you have to think about what you are going to do before you execute it, because you have a limited number of photographs you can take before you have to load more film. And, you really have to know how to pose and light your subjects in the most flattering way, because you don’t have the attitude of “you can just fix it later”. But, that is the challenge and the fun of photography after all. And, you can “fix” things in the darkroom through creative techniques like diffusion, darkening and lightening certain areas of the print, adding contrast, toning, etc. That is an art form in itself and yields a real one of a kind art piece for my clients that literally cannot be recreated exactly.

No retouching needed for these beauty portraits.

The ethereal look is created with use of a special lens.

Overexposing color film and the right lighting ensures a creamy and perfect skin tone.

It is ironic to me that the use of film has now become trendy among younger photographers. It seems like it is what all the hipsters are using now. That makes me happy because they are learning a magical process that you can only learn with film, but also gives me hope that film companies will see the trend, latch on and continue to manufacture all the great film! If not, I will have to become a film hoarder 🙂

Absolute Beauty!

Mara Schantz — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 03:30:00 +0000

I normally don’t share images right after a session because that is not really my thing. However, since it is senior portrait season, I think it is fun to see how much a skilled photographer can highlight individual personalities. Molly is a beautiful and intelligent girl, complex (at the same time serious and funny, shy and straightforward), very natural (wearing very little makeup), and seemingly comfortable with who she is.

The images that you see here are made with film, both color and black and white, and have had NO RETOUCHING! What you are seeing is how they came out of my camera. I love using film because I can do all the work in my camera to make the most flattering images and also because I HATE spending time at my computer!

Congratulations Class of 2015!

Mara Schantz — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 21:50:00 +0000

Congratulations to all the 2015 graduates!

Every year around this time, I get emotional because it reminds me of how quickly time passes and how quickly our children grow up. Some of these graduates I remember as little children, having had the privilege of documenting their lives for many years. Some of them, I only just met this year. However,

regardless of when we met, it was an honor to have been able to document such a special time in your lives! I know that each one of you will do something special and I look forward to hearing all about it. For now, I hope you all enjoy your summer and wherever you are headed in the Fall. Have a blast!

Madeline

Xavier College Preparatory

excited to be headed to TCU in the Fall

Scott

Arizona School for the Arts

Winner of the Flinn Scholarship, he will attend Barrett Honors College

Brooke

Sunnyslope High School

looking forward to attending Barrett Honors college at ASU in the Fall

Tommy

Brophy College Preparatory

excited to be headed to SMU in the Fall

Michael

Brophy College Preparatory

headed to the UofA in Tucson after some summer beach time

Sammy

Sunnyslope High School

looking forward to playing college basketball

Andrew

Brophy College Preparatory

very excited about heading to the UofA

Lauren

Xavier College Preparatory

excited to attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

Kali

Sunnyslope High School
headed to the UofA

Meredith

Xavier College Preparatory
excited to head to CA to attend Santa Clara University

Carmel

Xavier College Preparatory
plans to study medicine at USC

Darby

Xavier College Preparatory
headed to Texas to the University of Texas at Austin

Hannah

Xavier College Preparatory
excited to head to Texas to TCU

Zachary

Arcadia High School
headed to NAU to stay cool up in the mountains

Jasmine

Northern Arizona University

looking forward to a career in criminal justice

Madison

Xavier College Preparatory

going to St. Louis University in the Fall

Sasha

Sunnyslope High School

For the Class of 2016, just a reminder that we are scheduling now for your senior portrait sessions if you would like to have them photographed in the Fall (in order to meet deadline submissions for certain school yearbook pages, ads, etc.). If your school requires a certain photographer for your yearbook photograph, you can still schedule with us for an additional, more personalized senior portrait session. I look forward to meeting the next class of graduates!

Remembering TT

Mara Schantz — Tue, 10 Mar 2015 00:08:00 +0000

Life is fragile. Time passes too quickly. You can not plan everything so make the most of the what comes your way. Celebrate those you love and have fun. Dance and eat and laugh and hug. Dress up in fun clothes. Be nice to each other.

I stood in the front of the church with tears coming down my cheeks and tried to speak in a strong voice, despite my sadness. I had stood in that same spot and spoke in a strong and happy voice almost 23 years before at the wedding of my two friends. Who could have imagined on that happy occasion that we would be back in the same spot all these years later for their daughter’s funeral?

Tiara Jeanne Goff (TT) was a beautiful free spirit who was not afraid to dance and sing, not caring who was watching her – in fact, the more cheering the better. She loved to play basketball, jump on the trampoline, color with her crayons, eat guacamole and hummus and listen to music. I was blessed to know her and get the lessons she unknowingly imparted to everyone she met.

TT in 2005 – age 6

Tt had a ready smile when she was happy and let you know when she was not.

TT in 2007 – age 8

She was not self conscious or pretentious. She loved sparkly, shiny jewels and pretty clothes.

TT in 2014 – almost 16

She loved to laugh and when she had enough of you, she would tell you it was time to go.

I have known Tiffani, TT’s mother since I was 16 years old. She is one of my very closest friends and watching Tiffani and her sweet husband Lou and her two daughters struggle with the illness of their daughter and sister was heart breaking. However, Tiffani and Lou were inspiring in the way they drew closer together in their marriage, supported each other and took care of their family. Despite their daily struggles, they always managed to sincerely care about what was happening in the lives of those they love. In fact, when my mother was sick and I would come to visit her, I would stop by to cry to Tiffani and she would always make me feel so understood in my sadness, despite the difficulty of what she was facing.

Tiffani had called me in November asking if I would be out to CA soon. Like most mothers Tiffani had a tremendous intuition about her daughter and her health. She knew that TT was getting worse and she sensed that TT did not have much time left. As it happened, I was going to be out and we arranged that I would do a portrait session of TT and the family.

TT in 2005 – age 6 looking sly, probably planning an escape.

TT in 2007, so happy and ready to dance.

TT in 2014, with her sweet smile.

Sisters forever

The family in 2007- grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.

The family in 2014 – grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Family in 2007

Family in 2014

My friends Tiffani and Lou first found out that their little girl Tiara (TT to her family and friends) had an incurable and severe genetic disease called Tuberous Sclerosis Complex when she was just a baby. This disease is characterized by seizures and tumors. It is more severe in some people than others and for TT is was devastating. However, she was a fierce fighter and her spirit refused to give up for 16 years. TT passed away at the end of January 2015, surrounded by her family. Please consider learning more about TSC and supporting the foundation. You can read TT’s whole story on Tiffani’s blog.