Author Archives: Doug Cohen

Blogging Revisited

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So….. we had a meeting with my friend and new guru Melissa Brodsky this morning and I am very excited! You see, Missy is an incredible and very accomplished writer and blogger and she knows her way around social media. I’ve mentioned her blog www.rockanddrool.com before and if you don’t follow it then you can’t be my friend anymore. Okay maybe that was a little strong. But you really should check it out – it’s fantabulous.

As most of you know I spend a lot of time updating our facebook pages and scouring the web for cool content that I think y’all will enjoy and get some use from. I tweet, I set us up with a page on LinkedIn and connect with people there, I’ve got Frameable Faces going on Foursquare, Yelp, YouTube……

It’s now time to revisit and take our blog seriously.

Little by little our online presence has morphed and grown quite a bit and this blog will once again become an important piece to the puzzle that should allow us a more robust platform and outlet for our creative energies (read – Doug can write and post more stuff), help us expand our reach, and help tie the strategy together.

All of those details might not mean a ton to all of you, but I know there are a decent number of frameables who are into this subject and regardless we just like to let you know what we’re doing and why. The blog gives us some additional flexibility and another way to build relationships online. We will continue to post on facebook and we will let you know when there is something to see here (which will be often) and we will ask you to continue to leave your comments, feedback, questions and come along for the ride! Feel free to leave a comment below and let us know what you think! The frameables are the reason we are here and we look forward to giving back to you!

Frameable Food at Zoe’s House of Pancakes!

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Anyone who has spent considerable time here at Frameable Faces Photography knows that we are total foodies and it’s not uncommon for there to be food in the studio – lots of food.  So when we had the opportunity to photograph the new menu items at Zoe’s House Of Pancakes here at The Orchard Mall we salivated at the opportunity (pun intended). What a morning that was – photographing and feasting for hours until we couldn’t move. Flash forward a few months and the new menu is official with our images gracing the cover and the back! As for the food, I truly believe Zoe’s has elevated their game significantly with the new items. Zoe’s has always been a very good breakfast joint with a really good whole wheat pancake option, some yummy specialty items like pumpkin pancakes, the chicken pomodoro omelete and they’ve always had good lunch too. However in my opinion they have become the premier breakfast option on the block with the new items they have added and the line out the door on the weekends proves it.

My favorite is the Chilaquiles – tortillas, chicken, and salsa verde on top of hash browns and cheese with scrambled eggs on top – soooo good. The Huevos Rancheros is great too – love the latin flavor choices!

Zoe's House Of Pancakes

Huevos Rancheros

As for the pancakes – Red Velvet Pancakes!!!

Frameable Faces Photography, Food, Zoe's House Of Pancakes, Photography

Red Velvet Pancakes

Yes the red velvet pancakes are quite delectable and I’ve never seen these anywhere before. The carrot cake pancakes are unique too, and the very berry cream cheese stuffed french toast is out of this world.

West Bloomfield Photographer

Very Berry Stuffed French Toast

Yes we’ve tried all of these already – all in one morning actually…. (oy).  The conclusion: Eat at Zoe’s – and then walk down the hall and say hello after you do!

Frameable Faces – What’s In A Name?

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For some time Ally went by “Allyson Cohen Photography” before changing the name to Frameable Faces Photography. At the risk of sounding a little corny, Frameable Faces for us genuinely means many things and we thought we would share…

Community
It’s not just about Ally which is one of the reasons the change was made in the first place. Frameable Faces is a place – it’s a physical studio and a business true, but it only works business namebecause it’s more than that. It is really a community – all of you! The smiling and frameable faces of the people who pass in front of Ally’s lens make up Frameable Faces Photography. You are all a part of it and it wouldn’t exist without you. You ARE the frameable faces.
Lifestyle
Sure we take pictures and capture memories here, but we try to promote the idea that being “frameable” is an attitude and even a lifestyle. People are here because they live life to the fullest – otherwise they wouldn’t be looking to have it photographed. Sometimes people walk through our doors hesitantly – they don’t think they are photogenic. Those people deserve a lot of credit for overcoming their doubts and getting in front of the camera, and they end up discovering how frameable they really are. Is your attitude, your family, your life, your smile, your face worth displaying on a wall (or on a purse or in an album)?
Fun
We think the name is fun. It makes us smile, and taking pictures should be fun. We even think our little flower in the logo is fun (don’t ask us how it evolved into our little trademark symbol because we’re not really sure – but it seems to fit). We enjoy meeting so many wonderful people and getting to know our peeps, staying in touch, watching their children grow and celebrating life’s milestones. Sometimes it’s downright hilarious (like when a newborn baby poops on Ally).
So there you have it. Yep – it’s sugary sweet but it is what it is!

Why is Professional Baby Photography Worth the Price Tag?

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We thought this was a good article and here is why… The article goes into detail about some things to consider when deciding to invest in professional photography and what the value is, and we take all the elements described here very seriously. This applies not just to babies, but to maternity, children, families, high school seniors and all the rest. We love doing what we do and we love our people – as some of you reading this already know we have become very close to many of you and we appreciate you letting us into your lives to help capture all the great moments that have happened in front of Ally’s camera!!!

Why is Professional Baby Photography Worth the Price Tag?

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What a sweet little angel!

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On Saturday, I got to work with such a pretty little girl. Baby S was so good in the studio. She pretty much let me do whatever I wanted and even though our session was shorter than I typically like newborn sessions to be, we did get some absolutely beautiful images.

So, without further adieu, may I present “S”. I hope you enjoy her images as much as I did capturing them.

Until next time,
Ally

Wooohhhh Hoooooo!!!! Beautiful Girls!!!!

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You know, that Van Halen song? Or is it just David Lee Roth? Either way, that song’s been going through my head since I photographed these two. They are definitely beautiful! I’ve posted a few from them before, but here’s the real “sneak peak.”

I don’t know if I could’ve even put a model search out that would have brought me better models than these two. A and S are so pretty and were so great in the studio. They were totally on their game and were perfect models! I was telling Doug that when we get some new props in or just need some models for some new images in the studio, A and S are at the tippy top of our list! LOVED working with them!

So, here’s the real deal from their session. Enjoy the “S” sisters!!!

Until next time,
Ally

And we’re OFF!!!!

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I am beyond excited to be heading down to Nashville for the Imaging USA conference for photographers. This conference is full of information, new products, great ideas, etc. I’m so looking forward to going! Plus, I get to spend some time with a bunch of other photographers to talk about what’s working and what’s not in their studios.

I’m planning on taking copious notes, learning a ton of stuff and coming back to the studio on Thursday refreshed, refocused and ready to work to make 2010 the best year ever!

Make sure you check in to our YouTube channel for updates from the convention. Get to meet some of our vendors, see a bit of what it’s like to be on the floor of one of the coolest venues in the photographic world!

When we get back on Thursday, I promise to post a bunch of images that I’ve been sorely lacking in posting! Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!! The downside of being so busy! 🙂

Until next time,
Ally

Life Preservers by Frameable Faces Photography

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My Grandpa Louie was the best grandpa a kid could have.

Louis Ackman "Grandpa Louie"

Mostly because he was just hilarious. I remember he would put on these skits for me that would have me doubling over in laughter.

Grandpa Louie and I played a lot of gin rummy. He’d keep score under the headings “you” and “me.” It was great when I beat him because he’d curse with words that weren’t swear words. “Sacramento, California!” was his favorite expletive.

Grandpa Louie’s sister died a couple days before my bar mitzvah back in 1983, so he didn’t dance. You’re not supposed to dance during shiva. But he did chant the prayer over the bread and he talked on camera for the videographer for about 30 seconds or so. He talked along with my Grandma Lillian, who I loved very much.

I also was very close with my Grandma Ann.  I remember our little “discussions” together when we would talk about practically everything. Grandma Ann made the greatest noodle kugle ever.  She is also on that bar mitzvah video.  Talking for only about 8 seconds, she said, “He’s one-of-a-kind! That’s it!” (referring to me). There is also video of me dancing with her.

My Uncle Eddie was my dad’s older brother and he was quite a character. Uncle Eddie talked on the video for about 30 seconds and he was hilarious.

They are all gone now and I will always cherish the memories I have of each of them.  The clips of them on that videotape are priceless to me.  I am so thankful I have them to show to my children, but I wish the clips weren’t so brief.  I would give anything now to have had any one of us sit them down in front of a video camera to talk about their lives for an hour.  It would be like a personal video documentary that I could show my kids, who are named after them.  They could have learned about their great grandparents and maybe even gotten to know them on some level.  That would be the greatest treasure of all.

We keep the memories of our loved ones alive when we pass down stories and reminisce. But as the years pass, our memories grow dim, generations pass, and these family histories erode.  Our grandchildren deserve the awesome gift of knowing our grandparents and hearing about their lives straight from them, as they would tell it.  Drawing from my own past with this mission Life Preservers was born.

The time to get your parents and grandparents in front of a professional videographer is right now. Don’t put it off for another day.  Let their stories be told in a quality, high class, and fun way!

We’ll bring all the cameras, lighting and sound to your location to preserve a wonderful life story for generations to come.  We will also use old family photos and even film or video footage to illustrate the story and weave a full narrative worthy of your family’s legacy.  We take the time to consult ahead of time with the subject to prepare for the event and craft a framework for telling the story, and then the magic begins!

Legacies.  Now you can create one forever with Life Preservers by Frameable Faces Photography.

What could have been a really tough session….

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Turned into a really great one! This is N and L. When their mom came in and booked their Christmas card session, she told me that L hates to have his picture taken. So when L DID come in and started saying that he wanted to leave, I thought for sure I had my work cut out for myself! Especially when he started telling me that I couldn’t talk to him or play with his trucks, etc. I was thinking “Uh oh! I may have met my match!”

BUT-things quickly turned around when I put on my “Ally” charm. I had L smiling and laughing with his big brother.

We did a bunch of silhouettes at the beginning of the session just like their mom wanted (which I loved!!), and then we decided to take a little break so they could head down to Toys3 for a treat for being so good. N was all about making sure we were finished up by 6 so he could get his toys, so we made good on the promise.

Shortly after 6, I heard screaming and crying. Yep! As luck would have it, L really wanted an airplane and couldn’t get one at that time. He was all out of sorts and was NOT a happy camper. We even had a super nice man stop by and offer to make him an airplane! This guy was a seriously great paper-airplane-maker! Is this what it means when they say “it takes a village to raise a child?” So N was appeased for a few minutes and we ended up having to negotiate with him for a bit more. Finally, I had a great idea!

Seeing as it was the night before Thanksgiving and most of the stores were closed, I had the boys yell “BOO!” at me. When they did, I screamed! They thought that this was the funniest thing ever and that was it! I got both boys in flat out HUGE smiles.

By the end of the session N and L didn’t want to leave the studio. We got some unbelievable images and I know that S will be one happy mama! I even got a bunch of hugs from the boys on the way out! Did I mention how much I love my job?????

Until next time,
Ally

W-O-W!!! Talk about stunning!

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These little girls are just adorable. Plus, the personalities of these little angels is just over the top awesome! They totally fit with everything we are here at the studio. Just totally fun little sweethearts.

Baby R was about the sweetest little girl ever. Her eyelashes are insanely long – like fake-eyelashes long. And her huge brown eyes were like little pools of adoration for her parents. She even came with her big “brother” Matisse. His images are coming, but when I say BIG brother…I’m so not kidding! He’s a French Mastiff and was so much fun to have in the studio.

R’s cousin’s S, A and M were equally as much fun and just as beautiful! Poor M wasn’t having much fun at all. She was crying and not acting herself…Poor thing wasn’t herself either. After the session we found out that she had a double ear infection. I wouldn’t be all smiley either if I had that going on. So M gets a re-do. That way, I’ll totally be able to capture her in all of her cuteness.

S is the perfect little lady. She is supremely photogenic and was a pleasure to work with. She was rocking it out and was such a little diva! I can only imagine what she’s going to be like when she gets a little bit older. Can you say STUNNING!!!???

Then there was A. To say that this little girl is a complete Rockstar would be a serious understatement. She was all about the camera and was mugging for it the whole time. What a face! She was a perfect little model, too. And was cracking me up the whole time!!!

Seriously, to be a mommy to any of these little girls…sheesh! Watch out, L and C! Your babies are gorgeous! And even better…they’re sweet! Thanks so much for letting me share a day with you all. I had a blast with all of you!!!

Until next time,
Ally