Our Studio in Boise Idaho

I have had some people lately say hey I couldnt find your studio, whats that location again? I used to say that were in the Coltrin Plaza next to the big flag at Flooring America but you know what the flag is gone? Not sure why but the flag is no seeing air time these days? So here is our studio building and a couple interior shots as well of our beautiful full service studio located at 11588 W. Fairview Ave. Suite 200 A. right above Rumors Spa and Salon. Come by and see us, call 208-371-7701 to make sure we are available to hang out with you! Best Wishes, Dirk

Do we do Glamour? Sure we do!

I got a call today asking I am looking for something special for my husband"do you do sexy glamour type stuff" ? SURE! We love recreating the pin-up looks of the 1940s and 1950s. Call us to chat about what exactly you are think of and Lightdances will make it happen. 208-371-7701

Boise Business Portraits will improve your image!

Hi guys,

A snap shot is not a professional head shot! Do this the right way and it will bring you business, screw this up and you can acually lose business as you might not come across as a professional.

Just wanted to chat for a minute about my business portrait division Boise Business Portraits.

I have been helping many new clients lately to get a garanteed great portrait for business purposes. Generally we start by determining what the end use is for the portrait, then we chat about the design, colors ,backgrounds and wardrobe that will convey the message my client is wishing to send. Our session can be in our fabulous portrait studio on Fairview Ave that is designed to be like a comforable home or on location at my clients place of business or a favorite place.

We offer a mini session in the studio for those on a budget and can get you in and out in less than 30 minutes or our extended session for clients wishing to have more image options. After we do the session, I will go throught and select the best images and do a basic retouch to make my client look fabulous and call them to schedule at time to view these images. When we get together we will then select the best of the best and decide what if any addition retouching should be done to make your head shot a killer headshot.

Over the past couple months I have created well over 150 business portraits for people just like you that had been using substandard headshots that were outdated, unflattering and in some cases downright unprofessional. If you do one thing this year get a decent business portrait, invest in yourself its not expensive and its tax deductable! Remember also our garantee if you dont love your portrait you don't pay a thing when you select Lightdances Photography you will never pay for a portrait you dont love.. Call me just to chat about improving your image our studio number is 208-371-7701. See you soon!

Great Expectations

When I get calls for pregnancy portraits I am always pleased to have been chosen over a female photographer as I know most women are more comfortable infront of another woman. This shows the trust and faith my clients have in me, and I dont take that lightly. Not that gender should be an issue but I understand this mindset of "not wanting a guy" so when I am selected I am truly honered to be choosen.

Congradulations to Mark& Brooke on the blessing of their second child. Brooke is truley beautiful person inside and out, and her husband Mark and son Jack are just downright handsome guys, I,m talking male model material.

We had a great time documenting this special time in their lives and I just had to share this one with you. Was I right about this little guy? :o)

Photography Class is in back in session!

I have had many, many calls lately asking when I would be teaching photography classes again as I have put the classes on the back burner so to speak. While I love teaching and sharing my love of photography with others I have just had to many commitments to my clients to hold a class. Great news though, I am making some time this next month and will be holding my famous"The right stuff training" here at the studio. If you or anyone you know wants to learn the secrets to getting great images the easy way call me and we can save a seat for you! Call me 208-371-7701.

By the way see if you can guess who this former student is photographing this beautiful model?

Anyone, Farris? anybody?

Congratulations Erica!

Erica's great family has been in front of my lens several times over the years, doing family portraits, her brother Brants high school Senior portraits and so on, so when she dropped by the studio with her mom Pam telling me about the Miss Idaho Teen pagent and would I consider helping out of course I was "in". We did a fun session which resulted in Erica winning the "most Photogenic title" I know she would nail this and she did. Erica is a nice young lady and I always enjoy her positive attitude as well as her great smile.
My involvment was easy I just pointed the camera, Erica provided the charm and the beauty.

Event photography

I received a call the other day from the great folks at SEI events asking if we were interested in providing the event photography coverage of the T-Mobile awards presentation again this year. Of course I said "Love to" as this was one of the funnest events I have ever had the plesure to be involved with.
This year we will be doing the candid coverage, the awards presentation and photo booth with on-site printing for the guests the theme this year is "rock and roll" so it should be a blast. I will be posting a couple from this event soon, stay tuned.

The Harris Moran Corporate event portraits

Last month we were selected to provide corporate event coverage for one of the worlds largest seed companys meeting in here Boise for their convention. We photographed 209 people from all over the world at Bob Levells Cool Water Creek Event Center a great place to hold an event with its beautiful grounds, fishing pond and western village.
We also provided on site business portraits for 160 atendees at the Grove Hotel and the Boise Center on the Grove. Not everyone spoke english very well but we got great smiles and great images just the same. Thank you Amanda from Harris Moran in Modesto California. Thank you to Bob Levell and thanks to my great assistants Jeffery and Nicholas.

Summers been crazy busy this year!

Almost everyone I see asks me "how's business"? to which I have to reply "swamped" really I love beeing so busy but wish I had a couple clones sometimes. Sure I have Jeffery, Chris and Brandi helping me out on occassion other wise I would never see my family so I can't complain. How is you business going this year?
Here is the Davis family reunion we did over by Fairfeild Idaho a great family really enjoyed meeting and hanging out with these fine people. Oh this is the day I sunburned my head up on that ladder, should have worn a hat! Jeff and I had a great time though.

My new SeeMeShineModels division really shines!

Check out some of the amazing young talent I have been working with. Check out our really cool session videos from these folks:


Call me today if you know someone who may wish to be in on our talent search!

Quick portrait session with Tylee

Tylee's mom Tara dropped in for a quick session today. Tylee is adorable and wow so well behaved. Fun and easy, something you don't always get with two year olds. Thank you Tara for being a great mom and Tylee for being so cute!

Daniels movie "Magic Valley"selected for Tribeca film festival in New York!

I received a call a couple weeks ago from Pattie Frandson she said that her son Daniels movie was selected to be shown at the Tribeca film festival. The movie "Magic Valley"which was filmed in the Buhl Idaho area, features Daniel in a great role working working with various cast members. The film stars Scott Glenn ( The Right stuff, Secretariat, W, The Bourne Ultimatium, Training Day, and many other top films.

Daniel is an incredable young man, very smart and takes direction very well. I had the pleasure of shooting a talent portfolio for Daniel and could easily see why he was selected for this role. Quite and unassuming, just a great personality. Best wishes on the sucess of this film!

I look forward to seeing this film, hopefully, real soon. Check out :

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1527813/

http://www.zimbio.com/photos/Daniel+Frandson/Premiere+Magic+Valley+2011+Tribeca+Film+Festival/pW6ne5qzyI4

For Robbing the Dead

Recently we did some portfolio images for John Freeman, John is an extremely talented Boise/LA actor who recently completed work on a great looking film titled "For Robbing the Dead" John was selected in this role over many, many other actors I am sure for his unique rugged looks and great personality. The cast also includes Barry Corbin from "Northern Exposure" among other films and programs and Margot Kidder who has been in "Superman" and dozens of other popular films as well as Edward Herrman and Rance Howard (Ron Howards Dad).

John is a super nice guy and has exactly what makes a great leading man just the right mix of looks, talent and charm.

From what I have seen of the film the cinematography looks fantastic and with a great cast this film could be big. Keep your eyes out for this one.

Check out this link & film trailer: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1623660/

When is it time to update your business and talent headshots?

Lately we have had a lot of our clients come in after deciding the head shots they have been using were outdated. They realized it was very important that they look like the person in the picture on their business cards web sites or comp cards. You all have heard about the dating sites where two people meet up and neither of them look like their photograph. It happens all the time, not the way to make a good first impression. In the case of business or a dating site or social media, if you have put on a great deal of weight, changed your hair dramatically, altered your appearance or significantly aged its probably a good time to come in for a new head shot. If you are an actor or model if your look has changed dramatically you probably wont get the gig if you look different than the head shot the agency or casting director was looking for a specific type. Your new look might just be the one that their looking for. I have older clients come in and frequently they will look younger and better than the old portrait that they had been using that had the outdated hair, clothing or makeup styles.

The beautiful thing about our new studio location is we have some of the best hair, makeup and nail people in the Boise Idaho area right here at the studio. If you haven't seen the new studio I would love to give you the tour we are in the Coltrin Plaza Center at 11588 W. Fairview right above Rumors Spa and Salon, call 208-371-7701 for directions, hope to see you soon!

Time to start up the old Blog again

I am a bad blogger, I am a bad blogger, I am a bad blogger, sound like Bart Simpson don't I?

I have been doing a little Facebook a couple tweets but have let the blog people down. I know I need to get on the stick, but hey who reads blogs any way? Send me an e-mail to either www.Lightdances@aol.com or to portraitpro1@gmail.com and let me know you read the blog and I will do a drawing and send out a couple gift certificates to our random winners who contact me. You must include your name and e-mail address and tell me what year I started this blog to be considered. I look forward to hearing from you, please let me know if you are a client or student of mine. Thanks for visiting my blog, I will try to be better, I promise :o) ;o) :o)

Dirk Dabel

http://www.lightdances.com/

208-371-7701

My Idaho Camera Seminar was a huge sucess!

I have been so busy taking care of all my clients needs that I have not updated this blog forever. Usually in February or March things slow down but this year I have been swamped along with families, business and talent head shots, senior portraits and lots of new students taking my photography classes and workshops. In March I was asked by the Dennis and Pat Nagle owners of Idaho Camera if I would do a photography seminar for Idaho Camera, being a long time friend of Idaho Camera I was honored to accept the invitation. The class was for professional photographers and people considering becoming professional photographers and we had 85 people attend! Usually my classes are much smaller. We covered a lot of great topics and Met a lot of new photographers and had a blast. My associate photographers Chris and Jeff were both there to give their feedback to the crowd. Thanks guys I appreciate your continued support! Big things going on lately with our new model program at www.seemeshinemodels.com . Senior and family portraits have really picked up, call today if you have a family reunion or class reunion photography needs coming up. I will be posting some new images on this blog as well, my assistant Sarah was going to help with this but she and Ryan have been busy getting ready for their first baby, Bailey is due now any day congratulation's to them both! :o) Come see the new studio at 11588 W. Fairview Ave in Boise Idaho! Hope to see you soon, best wishes! Dirk, Jeff, Chris and Sarah.