248.790.7317
The spectacular class of 2013 continues! Fall has given way to winter but the fall colors lingered in some cases for longer than we thought. We still have a few on tap and maybe we’ll get some good snowy scenes, but for now here is the latest round of young inspiring frameables who mean so much to us! Before we know it they’ll be graduating, moving on and we’ll be photographing the class of 2014!
As you know we are big fans of the “D” especially if you happened to read our love letter to Detroit. What we have here is a family who feels the same way… which makes us fans of them too! This was a great session! We love a family who together coordinates a theme for their session and what better theme than the Motor City, Detroit Rock City, Motown, the 313, Hockeytown…. you get the picture.
It was fun having them here – here’s the evidence….
Image courtesy of www.DetroitApparelFactory.com
We have traveled all around the country and there are a lot of cities we love. My family is originally from New York and I love it there. I love the big city and it really is an incredible place – endless things to do, see and eat. We love Chicago – we have close friends there and it’s a short drive – a ton to do there too. We love D.C. with its monuments and history. Atlanta and Philly are great cities. San Fran and L.A. are amazing. Dallas is very cool and so is Cleveland. Cincinnati is great – awesome chili, ice cream and ribs. We love Virginia Beach and we have family there. We also love South Florida and we have family and friends there all over – all the way down to the Keys – stone crab and key lime pie! We like Nashville, Houston, Tampa, Oklahoma City, Santa Fe, Jacksonville, Columbus, Minneapolis, New Orleans, Vegas, San Antonio and Atlantic City. We appreciate the smaller cities and college campuses we’ve visited like Madison, Dayton, State College, Hattiesburg, Cedar Rapids, Pensacola, Oxford, Syracuse, Vail, Taos, Morgantown, Annapolis, Richmond, the list goes on…
We love our National Parks. We love visiting battlefields, President’s homes, mountains and sand dunes. We love Skyline Drive, the Rockies, and the Natchez Trace. We want to explore the Northeast, the West and the Northwest. We have not yet been to Mount Rushmore, The Badlands, Big Sur, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon or Hawaii. We have much more we want to see.
BUT,
Here’s the thing. As wonderful and awesome as all those places are, we still love Detroit and the surrounding Metro area the most. Why is that? It’s not easy to explain to those who don’t live here. There are plenty of specific things we love of course. The food is fantastic – Lafayette Coney Island, Mexican Town and Greektown, the best Middle Eastern food, plenty of good Indian and deli, some great chop houses, amazing breakfast options all over the suburbs in West Bloomfield, Birmingham, Royal Oak, and Ferndale, Polish food in Hamtramck – and on and on. Lots of cool places to hang out as well in the aforementioned towns. Lots of diversity. There are world class museums in Detroit and there is a music history here like few other places on Earth. Of course there is also an awesome sports tradition here. Ann Arbor is pretty close as well, an incredible college town.
On paper does Detroit stack up to the other cities? That really isn’t the point. The point is Detroit is where we’re from. Detroit is where we have our studio Frameable Faces Photography (West Bloomfield to be exact). Detroit is an underdog. Detroit has been kicked and punched and Detroit has punched back. Detroit rocks. Detroit is home. So Detroit, WE LOVE YOU AND WE ARE NOT LEAVING YOU.
Love,
Doug and Ally Cohen
Frameable Faces Photography
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Frameable Faces Photography
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Frameable Faces Photography is a small biz retail mom & pop shop of Doug&Ally Cohen located in the Orchard Mall in West Bloomfield, Michigan, United States Of America!
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Ally & Doug can be reached at the studio at tel:248-790-7317 or emailed at mailto:info@frameablefaces.com
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Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/frameablefaces
Facebook: http://facebook.com/frameablefaces
Twitter: https://twitter.com/frameablefaces
YouTube: https://youtube.com/frameablefaces
Instagram: https://instagram.com/frameablefaces
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/frameablefaces
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Being “Frameable” is an attitude, a community, a way of life – a life you would want to celebrate and display on your walls for all to see! Tell us… ARE YOU FRAMEABLE?
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Join the Frameable Faces Community – sign up for our email newsletter for the best of the week in the Frameable Faces World! Click here!
Such major sweetness graced us in the studio a few days ago! Meet Princess V!
For those of you old enough (NOT minors for starters) we thought we would try to make a case for boudoir photography with a blog post, but then a quick search of the web turned up this MUST READ article which makes the point better than we ever could…
These sessions are so much fun and memorable. We think the most important point is that boudoir sessions are for YOU! Oh, and yeah – if you have a significant other they’ll enjoy it too which in the end benefits you as well. Double bonus! We have done these sessions at our clients’ homes or at a Victorian bed & breakfast – either way works. Anytime is a good time to do it but December and early January work especially well because a “little black book” can be a great Valentine’s day present!
Whether you live in Metro Detroit and call us, or wherever you are, consider doing yourself and your relationship a favor by hiring a pro for an unforgettable experience! You won’t regret it…
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Frameable Faces Photography
**********************************************
Frameable Faces Photography is a small biz retail mom & pop shop of Doug&Ally Cohen located in the Orchard Mall in West Bloomfield, Michigan, United States Of America!
************************************************
Ally & Doug can be reached at the studio at tel:248-790-7317 or emailed at mailto:info@frameablefaces.com
************************************************
Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/frameablefaces
Facebook: http://facebook.com/frameablefaces
Twitter: https://twitter.com/frameablefaces
YouTube: https://youtube.com/frameablefaces
Instagram: https://instagram.com/frameablefaces
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/frameablefaces
**********************************************
Being “Frameable” is an attitude, a community, a way of life – a life you would want to celebrate and display on your walls for all to see! Tell us… ARE YOU FRAMEABLE?
**********************************************
Join the Frameable Faces Community – sign up for our email newsletter for the best of the week in the Frameable Faces World! Click here!
Those of you who have been on location with us have very likely met Reflecto.
He’s our sometimes rogue, somewhat snarky, and quite often arrogant reflector. He is really a character and while sometimes he gets a little out of line he’s definitely never boring, so we thought we would sit down for an interview with Reflecto and find out what’s on his mind….
FF: Let’s get right to it – it’s been said that you are a sometimes-rogue, somewhat snarky, and even arrogant reflector. Is that fair?
Reflecto: Listen, haters are gonna hate, so let ’em is what I say. It’s pretty simple. If I am awesome and I say so does that make me the bad guy for speaking the truth?
FF: Okay….. Uh – we won’t try to answer that question. How about you tell us about your childhood?
Reflecto: I try not to talk about my past too much. My family moved around a lot and had various jobs – wrapping York peppermint patties, getting odd jobs as foil – stuff like that. I decided when I was old enough that I would never settle and I was able to snag this gig with Frameable Faces. Now I run the place! Haha! Follow me on twitter at @reflect_o! Winning! I’m the be-
FF: Hey easy – let’s stay on topic okay?
Reflecto: Whatever – fine.
FF: What was your best moment on a photo shoot?
Reflecto: When you are supremely talented like me there are just too many to choose from. I enjoyed smacking Doug in the face on a shoot once. It was quite genius really – I waited for a really windy day and then “bam”! I really think he just thought it was the wind that caused it. Hahaha!
FF: You must have other moments that don’t involve violence…
Reflecto: Okay I’ll admit that I do get some satisfaction when my beautiful reflecting makes a senior look great. It definitely validates how great I am, and if the #frameables (yes I’ll appease Doug and Ally and call them that) are happy as a result then that’s a bonus.
FF: Who is Blocko?
Reflecto: I don’t know what you’re talking about.
(side note – “Blocko” is Reflecto’s alter ego and he’s nicer than Reflecto – we’re not sure why he didn’t want to talk about it)
FF: We know that sometimes you try to blind the frameables by reflecting the sun into their eyes. Do you think they deserve that?
Reflecto: The media embellished that story. My talent can be “blinding” – whoever made that comment meant it figuratively not literally. Like Michael Jackson told Paul McCartney I’m a lover not a fighter.
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Frameable Faces Photography
**********************************************
Frameable Faces Photography is a small biz retail mom & pop shop of Doug&Ally Cohen located in the Orchard Mall in West Bloomfield, Michigan, United States Of America!
************************************************
Ally & Doug can be reached at the studio at tel:248-790-7317 or emailed at mailto:info@frameablefaces.com
************************************************
Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/frameablefaces
Facebook: http://facebook.com/frameablefaces
Twitter: https://twitter.com/frameablefaces
YouTube: https://youtube.com/frameablefaces
Instagram: https://instagram.com/frameablefaces
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/frameablefaces
**********************************************
Being “Frameable” is an attitude, a community, a way of life – a life you would want to celebrate and display on your walls for all to see! Tell us… ARE YOU FRAMEABLE?
**********************************************
Join the Frameable Faces Community – sign up for our email newsletter for the best of the week in the Frameable Faces World! Click here!
Have we mentioned we love our high school seniors? It lights up our day when they come back to visit and as I’m writing this it’s the day before Thanksgiving which means many of our past seniors are home from college! Current Michigan State student and former spokesmodel (not to mention North Farmington Raider alum) Hannah Iwrey spent the morning here with us yesterday and I snapped a droid photo of her and Ally before she left.
Ally and Hannah during yesterday's visit! (Photo taken with a Droid)
Affectionately known here as “HBM” (for Hannah Banana Montana), she has become like a member of the family. Normally I would Instagram a pic like this, but alas Hannah has a BlackBerry and there is no Instagram BlackBerry app so she isn’t on Instagram. I thought about posting it to Twitter, but it seemed an even better idea might be to write a blog post about the visit and so the idea for “Frameable Flashbacks” was born. Kind of a “where are they now” feature as we remember the great photo sessions and great times we had and check in with our seniors to see what exciting things they are up to.
We gave her three questions to answer for us after she left and here they are! Enjoy, and when you’re done enjoy the 2 “iconic” images from her senior session back in 2010 at the bottom of the page!
Frameable Faces: So what are you up to?
Hannah: As much as I know you’re cringing about this topic, I go to Michigan State and am currently studying to be a Professional Writer. I’m in my second year and much to any other Spartan’s dismay, I’m still 100% a Wolverine fan! I spend a lot of my time working on a short story that’s already 15 pages long, and another collection of stories based on my experiences in the summer camping world. When I’m not up at school, I’m more than likely sitting in the FF Studio with my BFF Reflecto and hating on Doug for his hats, or being made fun of for the way I pronounce certain words. Sarry aboot that, eh.
Frameable Faces: What are your future plans with your studies (what do you want to be when you grow up)?
Hannah: Like I said, I’ve been eagerly working on those two writing projects, and plan to further develop some other unfinished pieces for my writing portfolio. My dream plan for the future would be writing children’s books or young adult novels. If that fails, I think I may have a promising future as a Sassmaster. I mean, I already have so many pairs of Sassy pants…
Frameable Faces: What do you remember most about your Frameable Faces experience?
Hannah: I really don’t know how you can ask someone to pin-point just ONE great thing about being a part of the Frameable Faces Family! Wow look at me and my alliteration, maybe this whole writing thing will work out. I love the energy that both Ally and Doug bring to sessions. I was super nervous to shoot my spokesmodel session during my junior year, but once the awesome music started from Doug’s endless library and Ally snapped the camera, it all fell into place. I also really loved going on location to some awesome places in the area, truly unforgettable. But I’d have to say my ultimate favorite aspect of FF is how welcoming the studio always feels when I drop by for a visit, I’m proud to have earned a nickname!
It was definitely “Haute” in the studio yesterday as we collaborated with the girls from Eleganza Boutique for images that will appear in their new catalogue! Eleganza is a neighbor of ours down the hall here in the Orchard Mall. They’ve been in business since 1986 and it is a fabulous LOCAL independent boutique. Eleganza provided the fashions and the models while hair and makeup was provided by The Beauty Lounge – a fantastic salon also here in the mall!
We were very excited to work with them yesterday and the results speak for themselves – so sexy and glamorous! Everyone should tap into their inner supermodel at least once, and while J and M have modeled before, J for example wowed herself with how great she looked in front of Ally’s camera! These images represent our typical “haute” session style which we have posted before. We’ve even included a little video of J working it! Enjoy! But you might need a fan to cool yourself down….. these pics are “haute Haute HAUTE!!!”
Ice Ice Baby…. Ice Ice Baby…. All right STOP! Collaborate and listen. Ice is back with my brand new invention. Something grabs a hold of me tightly. Flow like a harpoon daily and nightly. Will it ever stop? Yo – I DON”T KNOW!!!!!!
But that song has been going through our heads here at the studio since our photo session with the G family. 🙂
When M, S and their sons walked through the door, we knew we were going to have a phenomenal session. And fantastic it was! N wowed Ally with his awesome sauce and his fun sweet hilarious personality, while M was a total ham rapping the little ditty mentioned above all the way through! The kid has skills! Jumping, laughing, general silliness….we had it all during their session. And isn’t that what it’s all about? Having fun, creating memories and the images that capture them AS THEY’RE HAPPENING!
Thanks for a rockin’ great time, G’s! Word to your mother……
I wrote a guest post back in May for The Collective where I echoed the predominant thinking about how your blog (and website) should be the center of your online universe since you own them, as opposed to your pages on Facebook and Twitter that you don’t own. You don’t know what might happen with those sites and you can’t control it. Well something indeed happened to Facebook…
Money changes everything.
The short version is Facebook went public, it didn’t go well, and now they are scrambling to make more money – fast. They have Wall Street investors to answer to now and everything has changed. I get it – they are a business. The problem is how they went about this. Now stay with me here… They encouraged brands to build a following by engaging with their fans, and then once the brands acquired the fans Facebook took away the ability to reach the fans unless the brand pays to “promote” posts to the fans who were already following the posts. A major bait and switch.
The dilemma…
Keep in mind that our philosophy at Frameable Faces like many others has been to grow our likes and our reach on Facebook in a totally organic way – steadily building relationships fan by fan without contests and cheesy promotions. This suddenly has become more difficult and it raises a two part dilemma:
I read a great article by Ken Mueller on 10/22 that stated in part to “stop trying to game Facebook’s Edgerank” – in other words don’t try to cheat the system because shortcuts are not the answer. People are trying to find ways to do this like moving brand content to their personal pages for example. While I have used my personal page to promote our studio from time to time I’ve done it in a very limited fashion, and with a couple exceptions it’s usually when I’ve written a blog post that is more universal like tips on social media that I know everyone can use. If you start doubling up your content on both your business and personal pages your message can start to get lost. Think of it as making a social call on your personal friends to market your studio to them – this isn’t the exact same thing but it’s similar – in real life it’s a little awkward, in online life it’s a little spammy. The people who subscribe to our page (personal friends or not) subscribe there to follow our studio, the people who friend me want to be my friend – not necessarily my prospect.
So What Next? What TO Do…
The best bet seems to stay the course and focus on creating great content, and make sure all your eggs are never in one basket – especially a basket you don’t own like Facebook. However Facebook isn’t going anywhere and it’s critical to be able to adapt to these changes. One way to adapt unfortunately is to yes, spend a little money to promote a post here or there to make sure you continue to reach your audience. Which leads me to the following tip.
A Specific Tip I Learned From Trial and Error
I paid my first 5 dollars to sponsor a status update to see what kind of result I would get. The number of people it reached was a little disappointing, but here’s the tip – this was a post that no one commented on or liked (pretty pathetic I know). But misfires happen once in a while to the best of us, and these posts are NOT the ones you want to promote. Afterwards I came across an article by Jay Baer about when to sponsor posts and one of the things he mentioned was to only promote a post if after waiting 6 hours it’s exceeded a 1% engagement rate. Then give it a boost. Don’t try to boost a dog that no one is responding to in the first place. Promote a status update that is already proving to be engagement worthy.
Hope this helps! Please comment with any feedback or helpful tips on this topic!