Houston Photographer Patrick Bertolino - Real Estate, Commercial, and Wedding Photography » Portrait Photography

Kodak: Goodbye old friend

admin — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 21:37:45 +0000

Kodak Bankruptcy

I still remember the smell of fresh film from the canister, a strangely pleasant chemical odor – twenty-four to thirty-six life-capturing exposures of “I wonder what that will look like after I have it developed”. As you may already know, Eastman Kodak, the company that invented photographic film, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Founded in 1880 by George Eastman, the company had flourished and even dominated the market for most of the 20th century. Before the luminary revolutionized the world, taking a picture was a complicated process involving glass plates, a multitude of chemicals, and awkwardly huge cameras. When he introduced the first Kodak camera in 1888, he coined the slogan, “you press the button, we do the rest,” and the rest is history. I can’t imagine George would have been too happy to see his empire slowly corrode as competitors bashed away at his drawbridge door. First it was FujiFilm, Kodak’s first true competitor, that stripped away sales with cheaper products – then came the real nail in Eastman Kodak Company’s coffin – the rise and subsequent victory of consumer digital imaging over traditional film-based formats. Kodak couldn’t change in time to save themselves. In 2003, they announced that they would no longer be investing in their trademark product. After that, the company shifted focus to digital cameras but never got a foothold in the market. Thursday, February 9th, the company announced that it will stop making digital cameras altogether. CEO Antonio M. Perez, who joined the company from Hewlett-Packard, instead seems focused on turning the company around by betting it all on inkjet printers, but so far, they’ve yet to see success. I have to wonder that if they had hired an ex-Nokia employee as their chief executive, we’d be seeing commercials for Kodak smartphones. As investors, vendors, and everyone else tied to the failing business seem to be jumping ship, it seems like the venerable giant has no where to go but down the spiraling, slippery slope of obscurity. A sad end indeed for the the company who brought photography to the mainstream.

Engagement Day Kiss on Main Street

admin — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 03:15:27 +0000

Now this is the kind of portrait I can sink my teeth into! This young couple chose a wonderful theme for their engagement shoot! It didn’t hurt that he was a sailor. The story of the original kiss V-J day in Times Square is really interesting (READ ABOUT IT HERE) In choosing a location for this – I knew it had to be downtown. But at 6pm on a Monday, I wondered how we’d get that “middle of the street” look – then it came to me. Thank god for the light rail!

Um….Yea, I do portraits!

admin — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 20:00:37 +0000

Yes, I do portraits

Miss Texas USA 2009

admin — Thu, 21 May 2009 19:58:05 +0000

I had the great opportunity to photograph Brooke Daniels, Miss Texas USA 2009. She was so nice! A very fun shoot – I loved hearing her story about throwing the first pitch at the Astros/Reds game. And YES she made it to the plate – from what she told me it was in the strike zone….awesome. The shoot was for Deya’s Designer Jewelry http://deyadesigner.com/

Schedule an Activity, not a Portrait!

admin — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 00:39:51 +0000

Having your portrait can be difficult. I have witnessed many people freeze with the deer-in-the-headlights look. I myself am not quite sure to do with my face when a camera is pointed at it. Just recently, through extensive research with a mirror have I found my ‘good side’. Children can also have problems with the session: getting into comfortable clothes, having mommy or daddy fuss over them to not get dirty, then have some strange photographer point a big lens in their face and ask them to smile. Well, I want to change that. Let’s not schedule a photo session, but rather an activity that not only looks good but displays your personality and interests, while at the same time taking your mind of the camera! Hiking, having dinner, bowling, cooking together, and washing the car are examples of what I am talking about. What would be your activity? A child may enjoy putting together legos, a model airplane with his father, or just bangin pots and pans together like I did. The most important rule is that it needs to be fun! Now,….where are those pots and pans?!