Well......Hello .......again. The past fall was an incredibly difficult time. A time that I never want and never will put on my family again. The support from Lisa has been incredible, but that is what a partnership - a marriage - is supposed to be.

So...here I am 10 months later with a new update to the blog. An update I did not know would come about. Today was a very good day. Today I had the opportunity to photograph a very special young lady. A girl I have seen grow up, photographed numerous times from prom, senior pictures, pageants, to this afternoon's wedding. And special too because the groom is the third in his family that I have been able to photograph. I have photographed 3 of the four siblings! This couple is now Mr. and Mrs. Kyle Kruger (Christi Dubois). Christi was stunning as usual. Kyle cleaned up good too. It was a very comfortable day for me to shoot because I have photographed nearly the entire wedding party at some point in my career. I will have images to post here soon.

So what does this mean for my photography? I did completely shut down in October - I stopped shooting almost completely - stubborness on my part, also feeling defeated. Many know that this is our daughter, Kacie's, senior year. Obviously I will be doing her images. Over the last couple of months, a few other girls from Adena have approached me to do their images - and I have decided to do them. I do not have any more weddings set for this year. But I have decided to take on any seniors that want done and also to book any and all weddings that come my way. Some may have seen my brother, Mike's, posts on his facebook pages about band coverage that he had been doing for several weeks now. Good stuff there. Mike has been a second shooter for many of my weddings, including Kyle and Christi. Mike and I talked and will be continuing that relationship for as long as we have weddings to shoot. So, yes, my hat is back in the ring. It is not the John Warth Photography of the past. I will not open a studio at this time. But I am available at the same phone number, email and website. This new venture will be a lot smarter, for sure. And who knows, perhaps another studio will be possible in the future.

September 2009

What a journey this has been. Many turns, twists, ups and downs. Many triumphs and very few defeats. But one defeat has come to pass, that I can not recover from.

It is with heavy heart that I announce the closing of John Warth Photography. I will not book any sessions after 10/11 and my doors will formally close 10/31. It has been an incredible ride. One that I could not have done alone - my family, friends, neighbors, community. It all started out with my brother, who was responsible for a lot of the success in the studio, especially with the incredible creativity he brought with our senior products. The studio would not have been possible without his help, especially in the earlier times. And he also caused me to ratchet up my skills with graphics and post production in general so that we were doing things unique and fresh for our clients.

My family has been nothing but support. My wife, Lisa is the most wonderful and caring person I know. She has been nothing but supportive through this whole time. Even to learning how to shoot (and quite good) enough to be second shooter at my two most recent weddings. She helped many times in the studio and at dances because she has the eye for detail, much more so than I. I learned and still learn from her every day outside of the studio.

My friends. It is no surprise to most that know us, that we have a special relationship with Tom and Missy Madru. I consider Tom my brother. I treat Mitchell as my own son and care for the Madru's and Tom's parents a great deal. Tom's father was good friends with my dad - golfing buddies - long before I even met Tom. Mitchell and Joe were born a day apart. Lisa even knew Missy long before I knew Tom. Tom has been a rock for me to lean on and is one of the most greatest individuals I've had the pleasure to meet. If we are lucky in life to have just one friend, it should be somebody like Tom Madru.

There are a lot of people who are my friends in the Frankfort and Chillicothe community - far too many to mention, but please know that your support has been greatly appreciated.

My neighbors and community. I can only hope that I provided an adequate service for you all when you have come through the studio. I hope that the business too provided enough community support for our village of Frankfort. Probably 95% of my business came from our little town. Without all my seniors - I call them all my kids - I would never have done what I've done the past 2 years. Starting with a few from 2006, a few more in 2007, even more in 2008 and a few here in 2010, I've seen quite a few Adena kids come through my door. My most memorable class has to be 2009. It by far was my most profitable and memorable for me as I watched my own son and Mitchell graduate and got to participate in so much of their final activities. That whole class was just an honor to photograph - from some of the athletes that came through to my very special 15 from the marching band. Each and every shoot was special to me because it was Joe's class and we know these families so well. The few I've taken this year for 2010 mark the last kids I had come through when I coached T-ball. All the kids have really grown and quickly.

I'll say it here one more time - how fortunate we are in our little town to have the youth that we have. And it is a direct reflection on the parents, grandparents, guardians and people of this community.

So we made it a go and it just didn't work out. It was many factors, many poor decisions. You'll still see me with a camera - maybe even more so now. But these will be more for fun, and of Kacie as she nears graduation.

And as I get closer to shutting down, I would like to offer many images back to the individual. I have many different people on display in various sizes. Some are loose prints, others have matting ready for frame and stillothers are fully framed and ready to hang. Loose prints of any size are just $5. Framed prints are $15. There are many to choose from, so if you know I have you on my wall or window, give me a call and you can get these for well below what it cost me to print and/or frame. I'm not looking to make anything, just get them to you if you want them.

I'll probably post again, right before we completely shut down.

But a huge thank you to everybody who has helped me through the years. I love you all for all you have done for me.

Absolutely sincerely,
John

Been a while - yet again

Last post was in April!? Oh man, I've been neglecting things. Well, in all fairness we've been quite busy getting things squared away with Joe and graduation and now he leaves for Otterbein in a few days.

So what's new with you all? Stop in the studio and let me know what's been up. I've been catching up with friends as school has now started in Frankfort. I've had a few seniors stop by for their portraits and have a few families getting ready to roll in. I have some specials for the month of September for these seniors and I'll talk about that in a minute.

Some of you may think I'm crazy for what I'm about to tell you. But I've ventured into the realm of Affiliate Marketing and I'd like to share that with everybody. Please just take a few moments to look over this website:

Click Here!

It may not be for you. I know, I'm not into the marketing thing really either - I don't really like that part of the studio either, but I've learned a bit and I'm going to give this a try. What can it hurt - there's a 60 day MONEY BACK GUARANTEE. I've researched affiliate marketing for the last few weeks and have come across this particular product to promote straight out of the blocks. I do have my own personal blog through the system as well, that was completely set up for me instantly! You can see that if you visit the site and see that there is a generic first entry and I entered another entry before I even visited my blog, so there's kind of two posts about the same thing. My "affiliate" blog site is:

http://jwarth.cbpirateblog.com/

Give it a look - it has some other products that I am in the process of trying. But really keep an open mind and take a look at:

Click Here!

And if, by chance you think you might want to try it out, please be sure to order from this above direct link, so that I can get credit for the sale.

OK - enough of this shameless plug.

Back to the studio. My senior special is running through September. The first 25 seniors that book their sessions will get a special gift. I'm going to make it a tease and not tell you what it is - you have to call 740-253-1510. Once again, I team up with my brother, Mike to absolutely rule the world of graphics for your senior images. Nothing compares to what we can come up with. For Mike, it comes pretty easily. I've had to work hard at it, but can now hold my own really well. I actually surprised myself on this last senior session.

New format to the whole senior process. In the past, I have always offered "packages" You know, this many 5X7, this many 8X10, oh the big package has a 16X20, yadda yadda. That's boring. That's keeping Mom contained to a box. Too many constraints. And we have used the regular spiral bound "proofbook". And we have shown WAY too many proof images. All last season, Mom's complained that there were too many to choose from and very hard to make a decision. We've cut that down a bit. The new format is based on 4 sessions. Each session has a certain amount of time and certain amount of images that will be presented.

But the exciting part is that there is no more proofbook - nope, no more proofs. Huh? I heard ya. For three of the four sessions, you can expect to receive a completed custom album. That means that each image inside that is presented for your preview is a finished image, ready for us to send to print. All the cropping, manipulations, graphics, and retouching is finished. This album is INCLUDED in 3 of the 4 sessions!

So give us a call. Hurry so you don't miss the special. We hope you enjoy your senior year.

John

Yet another much needed update!

Hello all! Once again, it has taken months to check in on the blog. I'm sorry. This has been by far the busiest winter for the studio. We are still working on a few of our seniors from this years class. Almost wrapped up though. One in particular is FINALLY done! It's Joe, my son, and I finished his final edits this morning and will be sending them off to the lab later today.

My last post said I would put in some of "my boys", so Here are some of them.

Let's start with Joe, since he's fresh off the edit! This way I can get through typing stuff that might make me a bit emotional. Lisa and I are so fortunate to have the kids we have. We are truly blessed. Joe has grown into a fine young man. He will graduate with a perfect 4.0 for his entire school career at Adena High School. He is quite an accomplished musician with killer piano skills and a very good trumpet player, although he does not give himself enough credit.

Joe will be attending Otterbein College this fall and majoring in Actuarial Science. I can't believe he will be graduated in another month! And even though he is non-music major, he will still be participating in the Otterbein Cardinal Marching Band this fall!

Next we have another young man that I have known since his birth - because he and Joe were the two biggest kids in the nursery at Adena Regional Medical Center 18 years ago! Mitch is just like my own son. I'm very proud of him as well. Mitch has always been mechanically enclined and that is what he is going away to school for. I believe it will involve bigger farm machinery and the college is part of The Ohio Sate University at their Wooster campus. Mitch is always quick to help out his "other dad" down the hill for things I'm just not physically able to do myself.

There were quite a few other guys come through the studio and all are great kids. I go on and on about our Adena students, but I really mean it when I say they are all a great bunch and have done us all proud. And then there a couple a guys from Chillicothe, my alma mater. Dillon and Zach. I had a good time shooting them both and they made some good images. It was a lot of fun shooting Zach because I actually graduated with both his mom and dad - geez we're getting old. Dillon was good fun too and I so enjoyed meeting his parents and know that there will always be a lasting friendship there as well.

That is one of the most rewarding things that has come out of opening the studio. Sure, I shoot quite a lot of people that I know because Frankfort is a small community. But the people that I met for the first time have become friends and people that will always be known as friends - even if I never snap another photo of them. It's a very good feeling. I have met so many great people.

I had better get back to some editing. I have just a few left. I have Adena High Schools prom coming up in 2 weeks and then a few weddings. By then, my class of 2010 should really start taking off. I have some exciting new ideas for senior shoots this year - a whole different format. You'll all just have to stop in and see what I'm up to. Remember - if the lights are on, come on in, I'd love to see you.

Until next time,

John

2008 A Year In Review

I can not believe this year is pretty much over and this week we will begin 2009. There are probably a million blogs floating around out there with thank you's to everybody that helped make that particular business successful this year. I'm going to jump in there too and thank everybody that came through the studio from the little order to the huge order and all those in between. I was able to see more seniors this year than any year yet. And I've said before that these kids, the Adena kids in particular, are such a class. I've been very fortunate to know each of the kids that came through and that helped make eveyone more comfortable and the images show it. I look forward to seeing these young people graduate in a few months. I've had a few seniors from out of town that were great to shoot and I also hope to keep in touch and wish them the best.

The studio saw an increase in Family portraits this year, and again, these families were from the Frankfort area, so I knew them and really enjoyed capturing a moment in their lives. One was a return family and I certainly appreciate that! A few of the other families had been through with seniors, so they too were essentially returning customers, but I appreciate you all having the confidence in our work to return - it really does mean a lot.

We were a bit shy on the weddings this year and hopefully we can share those special days in 2009.

The studio decor' or layout changed this year to a more efficient plan. And I am again going to move some things around in the next week or two.

So what will be new for 2009? I hope to remodel the studio even further than just moving around furniture. I would like to paint and get images actually hung on thw walls for display. The rear of the studio needs further attention in my framing area. Please remember that we are also a full service custom frame shop.

So thank you all for another great year. Remember to stop in an see me. If the lights are on, I'm there, even if the "open" sign is off. So please stop in if you like, I'd love to see you and visit for a while.

John

Too busy to blog?!?!?

I am REALLY falling behind on this blog deal. My apologies!

Seniors have been in full swing and will probably start to slow as we are getting mighty late and closer to yearbook deadlines. I just wanted to talk a little about "my kids". I've had the best time photographing these fine young people. I've said in previous posts how lucky our community is to have such fine kids and it truly is a direct reflection on the parents and the community. But I have also had the opportunity to photograph a few seniors from other schools - even as far away as Dayton and they all have been a great group of kids. We are all so lucky as parents. Most of the Adena seniors, I know quite well as my son is also in that class and I have seen most all of them grow up. I'm extremely proud of my son, Joe, and his accomplishments, but I am also proud of all of the seniors I've had come through the studio. And I wish them all the best in whatever they plan in the future and I look forward to being around to congratulate them on their successes, and if need be to be here for them should they need somebody to talk to or share their experiences.

Enough of the sappy stuff. I have a few images to share of a few of the girls I've shot recently. This first one is Ms. Megan White from Circleville HS. What a great family. I really loved meeting Megan and her parents. I hope to catch a few of Megan's basketball games this year. We shot these the same day Hurricane Ike decided to roll through the Ohio Valley! Outside shots were "difficult" to say the least!

The next two young ladies are both local girls that are like sisters. They were both a lot of fun. Hannah and Whitney. Both were members of our Warrior Marching Band as senior members of the color guard. And both wrote incredibly sensitive, tear - jerking messages which I had to READ and record for the senior section of the end of year video. It wouldn't have been so hard had I not known these girls for all these years and known their fine parents.

Whitney first:

And now Hannah:

So there's a few. I'm sorry if this post is a little image heavy, but these three are "my girls" and I wanted to share. I've shot a few more that I'll post later and my next post will have some of "my boys". Maybe finally post some of Joe and my other "unbiological" (as Hannah might say) son, Mitch. I'll try to do this before Christmas!

Remember, if my lights are on, stop and see me - sit and have a Coke and visit. I enjoy it when my friends stop in the shop.

John

Well, I said I would try to do better on the blog postings. Haven't been very successful.

I had the pleasure to participate in Scott Kelby's PhotoWalk yesterday held in Cincinnati and hosted by David and LaDawn Ziser. PhotoMarathon may be a better label! (No Whining allowed, yeah right). It was a great day. Our route was FIVE MILES!! I got to spend the day with my brother, Mike and we got to enjoy ourselves by jumping out of the "production" mode and into just shoot for yourself mode. We were among many international cities to participate with something like 8000+ photographers. Our group in Cincy had a little over 50 participants ranging from professional photographers to artists and graphic designers. A diverse group with many different perspectives. A good time was had by all.

Senior season has finally kicked into gear. It's been a lot of fun the last few weeks. I've had the pleasure of photographing a lot of kids that I've seen grow up, including my son, Joe. And I've even shot my princess, Kacie. For one of Kacie's prints, I decided to try it in a metallic finish and Ihave to say it is a very nice print.

You can catch Kacie at the International Sunflower Festival in Frankfort next weekend as she competes for Queen!

Kacie

I have a few sessions scheduled today - Sunday!?! Am I crazy? No. Not completely. I can be found in the studio most Sundays. As many of you know, I have a day job in Columbus during the week which makes scheduling difficult. I think it helps the clients too, especially seniors involved in so many activities.

Which brings me to....High School football season has finally opened! Our Adena Warriors were victorious in 2 overtimes defeating the Greenfield McClain Tigers. A hard fought battle from both sides. I was on the sidelines for most of the action and during the halftime performance of the Pride of the Warriors, Adena Marching Band under the direction of Senior Field Commander Joe Warth. The kids put on a great show playing and marching to this year's competion show and finally ending with a spirited rendition of "Head Chop". You have to see it to believe, folks. The picture does not do the performance justice. You would think somebody's going to get hurt, but all returned home safe.

Field Commander, Joe Warth

"Head Chop" Senior Buddy Barnes on the carry.

Images of the football team and marching band will be available for purchase on the website. There will be a gallery for both. The band gallery already exists. To access those galleries, select Client Proof from the top toolbar. For band, use band as the username and password. For football and cheerleading use warrior as the username and password. I'll do my best to keep both galleries up to date each week.

Well, that's it for now. I need to grab some lunch and prepare for the sessions coming in this afternoon. Stop in and see me. If the lights are on, I'm there.

John