Pam Biasotti Photography Blog


Archive for the ‘My Favorite Things’


People that make you smile

It’s all about the humor. Rule number one in the Pam Biasotti book of requirements for friendship: MUST HAVE A HUGE SENSE OF HUMOR! Last February I spent a weekend in San Diego at the Secret Photography Workshop as a staff member and met some really cool people. Ashley McNamara was one of the funniest new friends I made that weekend. We had a lot in common–she hails from the Bay Area originally and knew exactly where I was from and understood the lingo. We text messaged each other on our beloved iphones. We took pictures of others and ourselves with lots of makeup and teased hair while we experimented with off camera flash in a swanky room at the W.

I love Ashley’s photography–she has a style that’s all her own. This is a capture of her Flickr images that says it all about her. She is a genius who knows how to execute the image! She has this set on her Flickr stream that says “Failed attempt at 365″ which I wish she would just start doing again. She makes me want to do one for myself and I HATE having my photograph taken. (That’s why it’s important to have someone you trust who can do the job well. I was pleased with the outcome.)

So when I knew she was visiting from San Diego a few weeks back she did me the ultimate favor by taking some images of Riley and me for my new dog website that I am working on. I was thrilled–check these out! My portrait session by Ashley McNamara

Which image of Riley and me do you like the best? My favorite is the one blowing in Riley’s ear. Hee hee! I can’t help but wonder if I need me some botox….

I left my heart in San Francisco

Oh, I have left my heart in San Francisco many times. There is no city like it and there will always be a charming draw of people to our city by the bay. I mentioned to you in a previous post that I was waiting patiently for Connie and Terrilyn to arrive to attend a workshop with me. It was called the one light workshop and we had an excellent time. The hardest part for these ladies was staying awake! The workshop usually goes into the wee hours of the morning and by midnight California time, they were exhausted and we headed back to casa Biasotti for some sleep.

The next day we had some time to play and we stopped by to pick up Theresa, who has family in the Bay Area. Theresa is the Blog Queen extraordinaire. She can get you set up and running a blog in no time. So the four of us headed out to city. I had warned my East Coast buddies that California is a deceivingly cool climate this time of year. Bring layers. Bring your jackets. Prepare to freeze your buns especially in the evening. I was most worried about Terrilyn, as she is from the west coast of Florida and spends many of her photo sessions frolicking on the beach in the warm Gulf of Mexico waters. Connie had informed me that in Maryland they were having awesome warm weather but since she once lived in California I expected her to remember how cool it can be in the evening.

The day was sunny and bright and we didn’t do too bad until the late afternoon. We started our journey through the city and headed straight for the Golden Gate Bridge. We drove across the bridge to Marin County and had a great lunch at Sam’s in Tiburon.

As photographers, we always have our cameras ready. After lunch we stopped to catch the reflection in the window. Pretty cool, huh? We thought outside the box on this one didn’t we? Connie took this photo. She gave me permission to post this. It is copyrighted by Barefoot Photography.  (Snicker snicker)

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After lunch since we were in the neighborhood, I thought the best way to experience the Golden Gate Bridge and view of the city was to take the ladies to the Marin Headlands. There are many beautiful views and photo ops. Lots of fun. You have a gorgeous view of the bay, the city and the bridge. Plus four wacky women. Excuse my expression. I don’t know how to jump gracefully and beautifully. Tyra would send me home for not photographing well. That is why I get behind the camera and not in front of it.

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Theresa wants you all to know that she really can jump high, but in that picture (which was the best one of me jumping) she doesn’t really show how good a jumper she can be.

So here she is. This is the lady that does Blogs for Photogs. SHE JUMPS

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Connie jumps too. Somehow a small child got stuck to her leg while she was jumping. It was very difficult to carry him around in her leg the rest of the day.

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I also want to make a quick disclaimer before other photographers look at these photos and tell me to clean my sensor. I am quite aware my sensor is dirty and needs cleaning. I am also quite aware that I should have used the patch tool to remove them. Thank you for noticing in advance.

Here are a few more.

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Another Connie photo that she gave me permission to use. Obviously *I* didn’t take it!

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If they were a band they could use this on a CD cover

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Ok, so for the two people left reading my blog because I know I have probably lost everyone else by now, let’s move on. I had to take the girls down Lombard street, as cheesy as it is. I wanted to show them the world’s most crooked street and it was near the Buena Vista anyway.

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The Buena Vista. Oh my. How can you not go there? I go there every chance I get when in the city. World FAMOUS Irish Coffees. Yum. Terrilyn doesn’t do coffee so Theresa had hers. Connie politely sipped hers. Theresa and I knocked down Terrilyn’s and a few more.

Theresa took this photo. I am using it with her written permission. Very important to get permission and not steal images from other photographers.img_8550.jpg

Now doesn’t that look refreshing and tasty? Since we were feeling good from those drinks, we walked around the area and checked out the cable cars and did a little shopping for the families. Here are my Rice A Roni ladies enjoying an authentic cable car. They had it all to themselves. :)

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Are you still with me? Should I break this up into part 2? Hmmmmm. To be continued I guess………….

I can’t wait. I can’t wait. One Light Workshop Berkeley is coming!

Last year I did the One Light Workshop Oakland. I liked it so much I wanted to do it again. It’s coming this week to the Bay Area and with much anticipation and excitement I will be there. The first time I didn’t give it my 100% participation and regret it so when Zack announced he was doing another workshop in the Bay Area this year I jumped at the chance to get into this.

You can check out the information here

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What I like about this workshop is Zack’s commitment to teaching. He doesn’t have to do this but he graciously shares his knowledge and passion and we have an awesome time using off camera light via flash. His website is worth checking out as well.

Zack’s work 

So, this week is going to be crazy for me as Monday I have a session and am wrapping up some client orders. Wednesday two dear friends that are photographers also are coming out to take the workshop with me! It’s going to be crazy at the Biasotti house! Terrilyn from Florida and Connie from Maryland are heading to my hometown! I have known both ladies for about 4 years now. Connie and I were roommates at WPPI in Las Vegas a few years ago and last summer both ladies along with three other friends and I attended the PPA convention in Memphis.

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This photograph did not come from my camera but *I* was the one who pushed my finger down on the shutter, so I am sure neither lady will mind having their smiling faces on display here. Be prepared for more photos from our adventures this week coming up.