Get ready for some “big” hair styles and clothing rarely seen in over a quarter of a century!

In this video, we travel back to 1996 to experience a promotional video for our portrait studio located in our home on the corner of Bagley and Fitch Roads in Olmsted Falls.

We've been based in Northeast Ohio since 1980 with our first location in the Kamm's Corners area of Cleveland, then Olmsted Falls and now in North Ridgeville.

We truly appreciate the nearly 3000 clients that have trusted us to capture special moments in their lives through photography. Many have returned multiple times – beginning with their wedding photography, then family portraits – and years later – their children's senior portraits.

If you're a past client, please share in the comments which photography service we provided and when. We would also love to hear what you and your family are up to now!

The post “Blast-from-the-Past” – SpectraLight Photography’s 1996 Promotional Video appeared first on SpectraLight Photography and Design.

Waaaay back in 1996, I photographed the late Fred Griffith and Connie Dieken of WEWS “The Morning Exchange” in Cleveland. Fred passed away at the age of 90 yesterday (July, 19, 2019).

In the summer of 1996, I photographed Fred and Connie in vintage costumes at various shops at Grand Pacific Junction in Olmsted Falls to promote the city's annual Heritage Days festivities.

I remember Fred as an easy-to-photograph celebrity who gave me as much time as I needed to create some fun images in his “old-time” attire. So many members of the media will give you two-minutes (if you're lucky) to get the shot and then they're gone. Not Fred. He was a kind, smart, witty and a true gentleman.

Later that year, I was asked to appear on “The Morning Exchange” at WEWS Channel 5 in Cleveland – hosted by Fred and Connie. The main focus of the interview was exploring the type of photos that should be used on photo Christmas cards. (see video, below).

A funny thing happened during the live broadcast. Fred accidentally knocked a large print off the display easel I brought along (you'll hear it falling at the 4:06 mark). Fortunately, the camera was focused on a greeting card at that moment so you don't see me turning and catching the print before it hit the floor! And I did it without missing a beat in my narration.

Fred was an amazing man who will certainly be missed.

Did you watch Fred Griffith when he was at one of the Cleveland TV stations? Do you have a favorite memory from one of his shows? Please share it in the comments area.

The post A Funny Moment with Fred Griffith of WEWS “The Morning Exchange” in Cleveland appeared first on SpectraLight Photography and Design.

Back in 1978, when I was a photography student at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, I caught wind of an adventure brewing in Brockway, PA – a town about 10 miles from my hometown of Du Bois, PA.

Four men were planning a journey from Brockway, Pennsylvania to New Orleans via the mighty Mississippi River in their own hand-crafted kayaks. Kayakers Bill Giovanelli, Chuck Dollard, Ron Morrison and Paul Camuso grew a following of hundreds of people during their three-month adventure, years before “social media” even existed!

I photographed the completion of their watercraft on March 25, 1978 and then their departure at Toby Creek in Brockway on April 30th. I caught up with them when they arrived at the Oakmont Country Club on the Allegheny River on May 7th. Unfortunately, I did not have the funds to travel to New Orleans to see them complete their journey.

Below, are a few photos that I captured of the early days of their adventure.

Putting on the final touches to their hand-crafted kayaks on March 25, 1978, are Brockway, PA area residents Bill Giovanelli, Chuck Dollard, Ron Morrison and Paul Camuso. On April 30th, they would begin their adventure at Toby Creek in Brockway to New Orleans and the Gulf of Mexico. (Photo: Mark Madere of SpectraLight Photography – https://SpectraLight.com/)

Were you there the day these kayakers left Brockway? What adventure have you dreamed of taking? Did you follow through? Please share your thoughts here!

The post 40th Anniversary: Kayak Trip from Brockway, PA to New Orleans appeared first on SpectraLight Photography and Design.

I grew up watching old Superman re-runs on TV so when I heard about the Superman exhibit at the Cleveland Public Library – I just had to go!

I thought I'd share my experience with this video highlighting the more than 1200 pieces of memorabilia at the “From Cleveland to Krypton” exhibit – which ends on March 31, 2018.

Included is the prototype Superman statue by artist, David Deming, that will eventually be displayed in Cleveland. While the prototype measures 6.5 feet from the tip of Superman's boot to his outstretched hand and is made of fiberglass; the final statue will be 12 feet long and made of stainless steel.

Celebrate Superman's Anniversary with some Superman memorabilia here!

See more videos highlighting what is great about Cleveland on the Hot on Cleveland (HOTonCLE) website – www.HOTonCLE.com

Are you a Superman fan? If not, who is your favorite super hero? Please share it here! (You may need to scroll down to the comment box if there are other comments already posted.)

The post Superman Exhibit – From Cleveland to Krypton | Cleveland Public Library appeared first on SpectraLight Photography and Design.

The route to my degree in Specialized Technology – majoring in Photography/Multi-Media allowed me to explore the field of fashion photography while at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh (AIP).

Two main challenges were finding models on a budget (Hey, I was a student paying for most of my education!) and finding unique locations to impress the profs.

I was fortunate to have a roommate who had an attractive girlfriend who was willing to pose for some of my class assignments.

Lynn Agee was an Interior Design student at AIP without formal modeling experience. She also had a car (which I didn't) so we were able to scout out some pretty cool locations around Pittsburgh.

The location for this particular assignment was Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts – a performing arts center and concert hall located in the Cultural District in downtown Pittsburgh. After all these years, I can't recall how I was able to finagle time at this prestigious location!

Lynn chose her outfit, I lugged in some tungsten lights to match the illumination on Lynn with the color temperature of the lighting in the hall and the result were some stunning photos of a beautiful subject – both the model and the building.

Not only did I get an “A” for this assignment, but I grew to love the challenge of fashion photography created on-location – one of many experiences that continues to serve me well as a portrait photographer creating glamour photos, high school senior portraits and family portraits throughout the U.S. today.

Here are some videos of high school senior girls that show how my portrait style has evolved since Lynn's photo shoot.

Do you like this article? Please comment here and share on your favorite social media sites!

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