Black and White film – Mara Blom Schantz

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 🙂

This season let us help you Create Your Heirloom

Mara Schantz — Fri, 30 Oct 2015 00:46:00 +0000

This time of year is very busy for me as a photographer. I have 15 family portrait sessions scheduled for November. Fifteen sessions might not sound like a lot, but for the time I put in to each one, planning, executing and helping to choose just the right images and portrait products to meet expectations, and then following through with orders, I am almost at my limit.

You see, I like to give you what I value myself – excellent service, individualized attention, and creativity that produces an heirloom for you and your family. I can’t do that by photographing 10 families in one day and shoving them into 20-30 minute time slots. And, frankly, I don’t want to. I would quit after just a couple of years of that because I would hate it. I would rather spend time getting to know you before your session, establishing your goals and helping you to choose exactly the portraits that will fit in your home, with your life.

It is important to me that you have an heirloom for your family – beautiful, classic, timeless portraits that you will never “switch out” or remove because they have become too trendy. It is important that I follow through with service, helping you to choose just the right images, in just the right sizes and finishes to compliment your home. It is important that I follow through and make those portraits for you (instead of handing you a cd and telling you to go to Walmart or wherever). It is even important to help you find the perfect frame so that you can take them home and hang them instead of shoving them under your bed in the box they came in. It is important that you give your children a better legacy than rotating images on a digital frame, your screen saver, your phone or your apple tv.

Life moves so quickly these days. Our children seem to age ten years in one and then all of a sudden are applying to colleges and leaving home. My goal in creating these portraits for you is to help you stop time. To give you something that will make you (and your children) stop and remember – classic portraits of your children and family that will transport you back to that time you loved, time you were all together.

Yes, I am very busy this time of year. But not too busy to create heirloom portraits for your family.

Not too busy to create something more than just some holiday cards and gifts.

Not too busy to create a true gift for your entire family, even if you are the only one who understands what a gift it is…

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.

Let us help you Celebrate your Beauty!

Mara Schantz — Thu, 12 Feb 2015 23:48:00 +0000

How will you be remembered?

Women are beautiful creatures and deserved to be celebrated for who they are – on their own, not defined by a husband, children or job. Here are some of the recent portraits I have created to Celebrate the Beauty of Women. Why not celebrate your own beauty?

Mari is beautiful,

and fun,

and sensual.

Sally is intelligent and caring,

kind, and beautiful.

Jules is artistic, funny,

loving and beautiful.

How about you?

Look Books are Here!

Mara Schantz — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 22:32:00 +0000

We are so excited to get our hard copies of The Look Book (Fall 2014) in the studio today! They will be going out tomorrow so look for them or ask if you would like one sent to you. We had seven beautiful, talented, intelligent girls model clothes from the best local boutiques in the area! Thank you so much to Brooke, Madeline, Hannah, Kali, Carmel, Darby and Sasha! And special thanks for clothing from Muse Apparel, Mombomb, Alixandra Collections, Frances Vintage and Kitten Retro. You can see the online version here.

What is the value of fine photography?

Mara Schantz — Fri, 08 Aug 2014 16:50:00 +0000

Last month I had the pleasure of photographing this loving family again four years after I first met them. They had moved to San Diego from Phoenix and time just got away. But something happened this past spring that made them call me again. There was a fire. They had to evacuate their home. As the mother related the experience to me I could only imagine how terrifying it must have been to leave everything you own behind and not know if you would be able to return. She explained that her girls were safe at school so she only needed to gather the dogs up. And she had time to gather a few other things that she said were the most valuable to her – her portraits of her family and children from our first session together. She said that she saw those every day and they helped her to remember the time when her girls were so small. It made her happy to remember how it felt to hold them, love them and nurture them. Thankfully, the fire did not touch their home.

I love that I can create portraits for people that help them remember. I love that they are printed on archival fine art paper and printed in a way that will stand the test of time. I love that this mother, who loves her children so much, will be able to remember what they were like as little ones even when she is an old lady. I love that someday her sweet girls will be able to show their own children and grandchildren these portraits hanging in their own homes.

Someday your hard drive will fail. Someday cds will be obsolete. Someday your smartphone will break and the cloud will experience a technical issue. Someday you will wish that you had portraits like these to remember your babies. Someday you will regret that you did not invest in fine photography with a true professional who gives you beautiful portraits that will hang in your home for your lifetime and beyond. Or, you will be happy that you spent the time and money to create a legacy.

Fine photography is an investment. An investment just like a great pair of shoes you will wear forever, or a beautiful handbag that will last many seasons, or a great car that you are excited to drive and that will keep your family safe, or that sofa that will make a room, or a classic piece of jewelry that you will someday give to your daughter. But unlike all of those things, fine photography will transport you back to that moment and make you feel the emotions of being part of a family, of having your children with you, of what it was like to nurture those young lives.

In a world where everything is so quickly obsolete, where people seem to spend more time on their phones than with their friends and family, portraits like these can help us to slow down and take a breath, to remember what is important to us.

There are many, many photographers for you to choose from. Every third person with a digital camera is a photographer and that is fine. It is a great profession that I have had the pleasure of working in since I was just a teenager. But, if you are like this mother and don’t want to leave your memories to chance and would like to have actual fine art, archival, hand printed, beautiful portraits to hang in your home, hire a trained professional who can create that for you.