It 's a nice feeling to know that someone appreciates your work. When I recently showed a colleague a framed picture I had taken of the great tooth of the Grand Tetons--he commented that it looked very cool and should be in a gallery. I was flattered he liked it so much. It made me further realize how important that right gift can mean to a customer or client. That's one reason we sign and number all of our Verlin Studio prints--in addition to using creative editing, enhancing and enlargement techniques. What's more--every print is unique--being captured with lighting, shadows, reflexion, etc at that moment in time--as is any memorable photograph or work of art. This brings to your potential gift recipient something they can enjoy and treasure for years to come. And we're able to offer these very affordably. See all of our Artisan PhotoGifts at: www.verlinstudios.com. If you enjoyed this post--please like us on our Facebook page: https://www.f

Iconic. That's the first word that comes to mind when I first saw this picture after taking it in September of 2007 with my camera at Grand Teton National Park. It's one of the black and white photographs that made Ansel Adams famous. I recently enlarged this print to 11x14 and matted it in a 16x20 white frame. The richness of the gray/black/white hues popped out of the frame--and up against my latte-colored walls--really was stunning! Most likely will mount in my office in a nice viewing site from my desk. Thus is the beauty of photographic art that was produced with a simple Minolta Dimage XI, 1.7 megapixel camera when I was in the Grand Tetons in September of 2007. I remember taking this shot--driving down a gravel/dirt road at Grand Teton National Park and finding the right location to center the ranch house (dating back to the 1900's) in line with the beautiful Teton range. A physician I know loved this image so much that he had a full color one

A former co-worker recently posted a picture of her mother and father taken outside their home with a 1950's Chevrolet in the driveway on Facebook. She was commenting on what a great woman her mother was and that she was now with her father. Seems like we tend to collect "things" in life--pack ratting away these items until one day we discard them when events cause us to "downsize", move or face a life change. But the "memories" part of our lives sometimes don't really come into focus until that time when we lose a loved one. Suddenly--we begin to scour our scrapbooks, photo albums, stored away boxes--anything to find our loved one's life story for the funeral, reception, etc. These family memories are all too often forgotten until needed. In my own life--it took on special meaning one day when we discovered an old super 8 video of my brother and I with my grandfather (i was the two year old in his arms). We had the movie from the

Few pictures in our lifetimes conjure up more imagery than the planets and our solar system. From pics of the earth from the moon to Saturn's rings, Jupitors' moons and comet trails and now a blood-red total eclipse of the moon. With John Fogarty's Bad Moon Rising playing in the back ground--I read with interest the varying viewpoints about this most recent eclipse--particularly the apocryphal. Joel 2:31 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. Occurring on the first night of Passover--was this coincidence or part of prophetic  revelation of the end times? While not to over focus on this one event--but be mindful of the "times", I awoke at 2:20am to attempt to photograph the height of the eclipse. Stumbling in a robe and out the front door--i raised my camera and zoomed in on the event. It looked like someone had slugged the moon in the eye and it was turning blood red. W

Networking has been around for ages--and knowing someone to get a job, a lead, a referral is one of the best ways to build any business, relationship, etc. But in a slow economy, where payrolls have to be met, inventories paid for/adjusted and rents have to be paid--is networking all it's cracked up to be? I recently had the pleasure of attending a non-chamber of commerce, service organization luncheon whose sole purpose is business networking and providing each other referrals. While many networking groups are based on "profession" focused representation--this organization in the local chapter had forty members, each representing automotive repair, home improvement, chiropractic, etc. Based on members providing other members with "referrals" of people they know (average person knows 250 outside of the organization) with whom they might want a specific service or product represented--each weekly luncheon spends a good hour going around the room

Two recent Wall Street Journal articles caught my attention as they discussed what's going on in the economy and how consumers are responding. First, with the new jobs added this month of 192,000 and unemployment steadying at 6.7%--and the Fed still doing the 0% dance for at least another year--how does a small business hope to survive and prosper? Combine that with a second article discussing the "wages" issue (stagnant, etc) and a third article discussing consumer "staples" (toothpaste, detergent, feminine hygiene products, etc) offering unheard of discounts--six bottles of detergent for 30% less, or something like that--and we're talking a nickel and dime economy. A business owner friend of mine who sells higher end home furnishings told me recently of a customer who shopped their store--then Home Depot and Nebraska Furniture Mart and my friend was $200 more than the competition for the same product. His business is family-owned and have been in

"Winters Warmth" Verlin Studio's popular woven blanket I thought by now this would have been put in the cedar chest--since Spring is officially here. But with old man winter still ravaging the country with snow, winds, rain...the perfect snuggling blanket is still apropos. At 60x90 inches--it makes for a very comfortable snuggling blanket or throw blanket just to take the "chill" off at night. Woven blankets are so much nicer than standard weave blankets--as the hand-woven feature retain durability and style. What makes this blanket so nice is its customized monogram option--and features four popular Verlin Studio prints (Burning Sunrise, Winters Song, Winters Road and Pastorale Stream). Truly--these original Verlin Studio prints make this a one of a kind blanket that no one else carries. Verlin Studio's prints and products are exclusive from their website and linked Etsy purchasing platform at: www.verlinstudios.com.  I get emails and comme

Midnight At The Oasis, Verlin Studio's 2014 Recently, a friend of mine told me a story that emphasized how important it is to make a connection with someone in whatever our personal and business life is. He had purchased one of my favorite prints that I took in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. The print is called Midnight At The Oasis--depicting a walkway along the Caribbean beach around midnight with a full moon beaming down and glistening on the water. After he had purchase the $40 print--he had it mounted on a blue/silver mat that he said made the picture POP. As he told me the story--I reflected back to the night this was taken--a beautiful full moon along the shoreline tide. I remember thinking when I took it how rare it would be to get a full moon, much less glistening on the ocean with enough light to not make it too grainy. This night--I made sure I took a minimum of 20 pictures to enough enough to work with in the editing process. My friend had frame the picture in his

It was one of those moments when things kind of presented itself. My friend and i had attended the Lee's Summit Bloom & Boom Fourth of July Celebration several years ago at Powell Gardens in Lee's Summit, Missouri. Every summer, they host a Butterfly Festival where butterflies seems are everywhere! But on this July 4th date--we were wandering around the lily pond area seeking a place to sit and picnic and enjoy the pomp and circumstance of a fourth of July celebration. As we were crossing the lily pond bridge--I began to notice a butterfly hovering around my face--almost like an annoying fly. That's when my attention (and camera) suddenly focused on this menace that gracefully landed a couple of feet in front of me on a purple flower. I zoomed in a bit and snapped a series of maybe four or five shots.  Having "captured" them--we were on our way across the pond bridge when i thought--oh, get a few more pics of this neat-looking pond. Not everyday

Course This isn't your Daddy's Bible Verse anymore! You're walking down the street. You see this cool kind of guy wearing a leather jacket, leather beret (looks kind of like an artistic Marlon Brando/Elvis kind of guy). As you pass by--you notice on his pink long-sleeved Polo t-shirt--a black and white, dark grey picture of a "cemetery".  You do a double-take--and notice a statement at the bottom of the photo, "He Restores My Soul". Jump back! Whoooaaa dude! (Is sort of your expression). That was my first impression when I saw VerlinStudios owner, John Verlin last week as we sat down for coffee--to discuss his latest "creation". David: John, VerlinStudios recently began selling a t-shirt iron-on transfer that's a bit--I don't want to say "controversial" but is definitely different--as far as a t-shirt design. I mean--it's a picture of a cemetery--with the words at the bottom, "

VerlinStudios bonus gift offer The hardest part of running a web-based business is not only "generating" traffic to your site(s)--but "conversation" rates into sales. And it take an "ah-hah" genius idea! I first learned about this out of the box thinking back in 1984, when I first met with jewelry retailer, Richard Goldman. Rich looked like Rod Serling (in my mind) and had a very cool, casual way about him. His family had been in the jewelry business for decades--and he had opened his own smaller shop when I first met him to advertise on our classical radio station. He would voice his own radio ads--and he like most local retailers had a rhythm about his delivery that built his brand quite quickly with our audience. They'd ask for him when they came in--and that name/voice recognition was huge. His credibility was a huge asset as was being associated with "their" classical radio station. All of this played into

NEW services offered by VerlinStudios In a second in a series of interviews with VerlinStudios' owner, online entrepreneur and star photographer to beautiful landscapes, etc--John D. Verlin. John--before we discuss this John Dillenger Vintage 1930's Collection placemat, mug, etc--let's talk about this new service you're offering your customers. John: David, it's called Artisan PhotoGift services. A lot of folks wrote us and indicated they liked our products--but wanted to know if we could put THEIR kids pics on the mug we offer--or pets, loved ones, etc. David: Instead of your work. ..their work so to speak? John: Correct. It's just like anything--a lot of folks don't have the time, experience, equipment to produce personal photo's into gifts--so they need an experienced professional to do it for them. David: Of course, they could go to a box retailer or other online service. John: That's true. They could. They migh

VerlinStudios "Winters Warmth" 15 oz ceramic mug with chocolates, $30 "The decision to "put" our photography on mugs, coasters, cell phone cases--everyday items we use wasn't easy". --John D. Verlin, owner, VerlinStudios "Mr. Da Vinci--would you mind if we painted that image of Mona Lisa on the side of our wagon? We think it will be a great draw to our wagon business." The idea of commercializing art didn't start with Andy Warhol--but it sure popularized it.  Most photographers, artists, musicians, etc cringe at the idea of their "art" being used for commercial gains. The marriage of art, advertising, marketing and merchandising isn't new--but the likes of Walt Disney and others understood it's power and "sales ability". Just ask Pixor and the Toy Story folks.  Of course, I remember in my grade school days getting lunch boxes with The Beatles (very rare--still in demand

Walmart Photo Mug, 15 oz. $16 with s/tax. Ok, I have nothing against Walmart--I shop there all the time and I know they provide good value, jobs, etc. But, having recently opened an online Etsy shop--specializing in photographic-related gifts--I decided to shop the competition and answer to people's comments about why VerlinStudios charged more for similar products. I've recently began working with online photo provider, Shutterfly to produce gift items for family, friends and business. I learned a very valuable lesson years ago when I worked with Danny O'Neill of The Roasterie in Kansas City. Danny would tell stories of searching all ends of the earth to find the perfect coffee bean. His slogan was "life's too short to have a boring cup of coffee". The Roasterie produces some of the best coffee, coffee beans in the country and it's not cheap--but it's worth it. If you're a coffee lover--the additional cost compared to another "bo