With the Las Vegas family portrait rush about to get going, I thought I’d spice things up a little bit with a quick CONTEST! Here’s how it works:

1st place Grand prize: $250 portrait credit, 10% discount on order and a $50 gift card to the Grand Luxe Cafe in the Venetian!

2nd place: $10 Starbucks Gift Card

3rd place: 2 FREE RedBox rentals

Obviously, you want to be the 1st place winner! Here are the rules:

1) Only 3 families will be accepted. TO BE SELECTED, TELL ME WHY YOU’LL BE THE RIGHT FAMILY FOR THE JOB!

2) Your family will be photographed for no session fee and no obligation to order anything!

3) After the session, your portrait will be displayed on Facebook

4) The family who refers the most sessions to me by December 1st, 2013 wins the grand prize!

SEND ME A MESSAGE HERE TO SIGN UP! DON’T FORGET TO TELL ME WHY YOU’LL BE THE RIGHT FAMILY FOR THE JOB!

I’d like to showcase the very kind and lovely, DaLea Ellis. DaLea and I have known each other for a few years as I periodically bought advertising space in the local magazine she used to own. Well, she decided it was time for a change and is now following her goals and has become a realtor here in Las Vegas and she is excited for what lies ahead. DaLea reached out to me and told me of her new welcomed changes and I told her I would love to feature her on my blog.

Check out her website here: http://www.northwestlasvegashomes.com/

las vegas realtor photographer

DaLea Ellis, a REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty, has been married for 23 years and is the mother of six children, four daughter-in-laws, one grandson and one grandbaby due in the spring. Having raised a family of her own, she understands that the needs of each family are different and ever changing. She is ready and excited to help clients find their perfect home.

las vegas realtor photographer

las vegas realtor photographer

There is no place like home and the ability to provide the perfect home for your family is priceless. Having a career that allows her the flexibility of meeting her families needs while building a successful business is her ultimate reason for choosing Real Estate. Meeting new people and creating great relationships along the way are the bonuses to this business.

DaLea is very involved with her church and family. She has a flair for creative decorating, crafts, sewing, scrapbooking and loves spending time with her family. She’s a runner and enjoys a good morning workout. She has eight years experience as publisher of a monthly magazine.

DON’T FORGET TO VISIT: http://www.northwestlasvegashomes.com/

By the way, can you believe DaLea is a grandma?!

-Nate

http://www.TNGphoto.com

As you all have probably seen on this blog, each year I schedule a day to photograph families in Zion National Park. This has turned into one of my favorite traditions every year. We always make a trip there for family portraits because the canyon is filled with beautiful fall colors (that’s one thing we sure lack here in Vegas) and the busy summer season has died down and the park is quite secluded so it is very relaxing and easy going.

I’m excited for this year’s PORTRAITS IN THE LEAVES! If you’d like to make it on NOVEMBER 2nd (even if you are unsure if you can make it or not at the moment) click here

Here’s a quick dad story:

Earlier, I made myself half a turkey sandwich and put a few Cheetoh’s (a.k.a. the most addictive -and salty- snack ever devised by evil chefs) on my thin paper plate to join in on the action.

“Something is missing,” I thought about saying but just thought instead. Okay, that’s a lie. I actually spoke this aloud. I talk to myself all the time.

BINGO! There on the cold fridge door was a nicely chilled bottle of something especially delicious but only Las Vegas and Arizona natives can attest to. MACAYO’S SAUCE!

Other smooth sauces just cannot compare to this Las Vegas legend. Feeling somewhat elated that I bought a few bottles at the store on my last trip, I drizzled a few generous squirts onto a lonely part of the paper plate. Ready to eat my meal, I walked over to the chase lounge of our couch and sat, watching an SNL skit on Netflix. But I was not alone…

This is my son, Owen. He’s not happy here.

My 20 month old (only four more months until I can just say, “He’s 2” and not have to give specific months) saw my food and engaged his tractor beam. In a flash, his big blue eyes peaked over my plate and his big-little hands began their Cheetoh stealing work. Defeated, as usual, I allowed my little clone to share in the snack. He wanted more though. More. More. MORE! He then started his ascent up my foot then up my ankle to try to climb onto my leg when it happened…

SPLAT!

The left side of his face fell onto the thin paper plate, propelling the crunchy Cheetohs into the air with Apollo 11-like thrust. Not worse for wear, my boy stood up, looked up at me again and there on the left side of his face was a puddle of smooth, rich Macayo’s sauce dripping from his temple down to his cheek.

I was frustrated at first due to the cleanup but quickly realized that it was too funny to not laugh at due to it being Owen’s personal karma for always stealing his dad’s (me) food. I’m also quite sure that was his first time tasting Macayo’s sauce. I think he liked it.

– Nate

TNGphoto.com

I’ve reached a point in my career (already) that I get a lot of questions from hobbyists and aspiring professional photographers alike about lighting, posing, composition, marketing, sales, etc. etc. I actually love talking about all these gritty little details because 1, I love talking about photography and 2, my wife does not. I’ve noticed a trend though as there are a few questions that come up the most. I’d like to address the #1 question I get right now, forever chiseled onto internet stone, for the world to see. What question is it?

WHAT KIND OF CAMERA SHOULD I BUY?

This is the mother of all photography questions I hear and it’s actually a difficult thing to answer because I do not know the person’s skill level, what their goals are, what they plan on photographing, how much they have to spend, etc. On top of all that, I actually do not pay that much attention to the latest and greatest cameras that are about to hit the shelves. I’ve found that to be an unusual trait amongst photographers. What kind of photographer am I anyway?! I don’t really like to talk too much about gear? Come on! Haven’t I heard about the new 41 megapixel phone that is going to put every photographer on earth out of business or the new Canon Rebel XZ5000 mark 7.2 with 5.1 surround sound built in that also comes with a Cici’s Pizza coupon? Ok, I’m being a bit pretentious here but I think you get my point.

So how do I respond to this question? Most of the time I tell the person asking me that (if they are just starting out in photography) they will probably be happy with just about any camera they buy…at first. So many point and shoot cameras, in order to be cheaper, are strictly automatic and lack much manual controls. Once your knowledge of photography increases, those automatic modes will get less and less use and if you really want to improve your work, you’re going to need to be able to work manually with your camera. So make sure you buy a camera that has manual controls, even if you don’t know how to use them yet. You don’t want to outgrow your camera too quickly!

What about SLRs? For the person who is thinking about delving into higher quality with an SLR, stick to Canon or Nikon (the two biggest players) with honorable mention going to Olympus. Really though, the technology is so advanced that you’ll probably be happy with almost any brand. I’m a Canon man myself but when I have used Nikon in the past, I loved them! The brand doesn’t really matter that much and the camera is simply a tool that will do what YOU tell it to do. If you are skilled in photography, you’ll create fantastic images with any brand. I do recommend holding the camera in the store and seeing which ones are most comfortable for you to hold. You can view image quality online at places like http://www.dpreview.com before you go to the store and also read pros/cons of the camera you might be interested in buying.

Don’t get caught up in megapixels. They don’t mean as much as you think. The difference between 10mp and 20mp is not that much. Also, is your computer able to handle these kinds of files? They take up a lot of space and use a lot of your computer’s resources. If you upgrade to a high quality camera, you’ll probably need to upgrade your PC or Mac eventually as well.

Avoid kit lenses or bundle deals. The lenses in these kits are usually very low quality in comparison to the lenses you can buy later on. Let’s say you have $1200 to spend on a camera and you go to the store and see a nice shiny new Canon 7d with a 17-55mm kit lens for about $1200. It might be a good idea checking Ebay for a used camera that’s a year or two old and then saving money on the camera and investing in a nicer lens. Camera bodies lose their value considerably within 2 years of them hitting the market. Good lenses, however, hold their value incredibly well.

So that’s usually what I tell people when they ask me, “What kind of camera do you think I should buy, Nate?” Any questions? Concerns? Whimpers? Leave a comment!

Nate

p.s.

Sorry for the blogging dry-spell! With my new website under construction, I haven’t been updating the blog like I should. I’m back!

The 1st quarter of the year is over which means high school senior season is back! I’m so excited! I love senior portraits because they’re always so much fun! One minute I might be laying in a puddle of mud to get the best perspective for a portrait and the next I might be creating the portraits on top of a ladder and using a fog machine. The variety is probably my favorite aspect of senior photography. The sad thing is, a lot of seniors aren’t as prepared as they should be. So, whomever you choose for your Las Vegas senior photographer, here are 5 tips to making the most out of your session. Enjoy!

1) REMEMBER, THIS IS GOING TO BE FUN!  I’ve seen a lot of seniors think that their senior pictures were going to be no big deal, just something to make mom happy and they just didn’t care too much about their session because they are used to the way the yearbook photographer treats everyone. The BIG problem is that once they saw how much fun they were having they realized they wasted so much energy having a bad attitude!

When you schedule with TNG Photography to have your senior portraits taken, you’re going to have more fun than with other photographers, be actively involved in the creation process and you’re going to look amazing! http://www.TNGseniors.com Call (702)809-9763

2. WHAT’S THE POINT? Have you ever asked yourself what the point is of having a senior portrait taken in the first place? Sure, there’s your yearbook shot (I’m NOT the yearbook photographer though) which is taken of everybody so those aren’t that special but why do people have senior pictures made anyway? Well, simply put, your senior portraits are meant to do and symbolize several things such as the fact that you’ll probably never look as good as you do when you’re a senior! Don’t believe me? Just wait until you’ve been out of high school for a year or two and you run into an old classmate at Starbucks or the movies…you might just be shocked! 🙂

Another important reason to have a senior session is that for the first time in your life, you’re going to be FREE. You’re future is yours to take, however you see fit but you don’t have a clue how you’re going to do it, how you’re going to deal with all of life’s changes and how much stinking fun it’s going to be figuring it all out along the way! When you look back at your senior photos you’ll be able to remember how you felt knowing that soon after they were created, you were about to head off into unknown territory onto a new part of life without lunch passes, cafeteria food and bells ringing every hour. It’s an exciting time!

Lastly, the very BEST reason to have a senior session is simply to make your mom and your family happy. You might be leaving to college out of state and they won’t be seeing you nearly as much as they do now. A high quality senior portrait is a way for your mom and your family to have a part of you with them even when you are gone. Senior portraits definitely help moms not feel so far away from you.

3. I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO WEAR! Clothing choices are much easier to figure out that you might think. Make sure you bring more than you think you’ll need but for the most part, stick to simple colors, few patterns and earth tones work best. These tips will benefit most skin tones and help ensure the attention is on your face and not your clothes when you look at the final image. Still, bring some colorful, funky and trendy clothes too!

4. I DON’T TAKE GOOD PICTURES… I’ve heard this so many times! The fact is, unless you’re a professional model, you probably don’t know much about posing, lighting, expressions, etc. so don’t sweat it if you think you’re going to look bad–you’re not! I will be helping you the entire time to find your best angles, best expressions and you’ll probably be having so much fun you’ll forget all about how nervous you were! Some people hide it really well but the fact is just about everyone is nervous at first. That’s totally ok and natural. One thing that really sets me apart from other photographers is that I am not going to get mad at you if you’re nervous, I’m not going to make fun of you, I’m not going to make you feel bad, etc. I’m there to make sure you look amazing and have the best possible time along the way. It’s going to be a blast! Check out TNGseniors.com for some examples of my work and guess how many of these seniors are models. Any guesses? Fine, I’ll tell you. ZERO. They are just like you and were nervous at first and didn’t know what to expect but they ended up having a great time!

5. You Won’t Look Like Everyone Else. I Promise! When I was fresh out of high school, I worked for a yearbook photography studio. Once and a while when I’d get back to the office after taking 500 assembly line yearbook pictures (really, I felt like a monkey pressing a button for 8 hours) I’d have to take a few senior pictures in the studio. At that time I had noreal portrait experience but the company didn’t care. They were not selling high quality, artistic, one of a kind images. They were selling the same pictures to everybody! When a senior came in, I’d have to take a picture of them by a fake brick wall that was made of rubber, then stand them by a bunch of foam blocks that said, “2003” and then stand them next to a fake street sign and then sit them on a fake pile of hay…..hang on a second…I’m having bad flashbacks…deep breaths, Nate, deep breaths………………….ok, I think I stopped hyper-ventilating. Good….what was I saying? Oh ya! I hate when I see everyone’s photos looking the same! You’re not the same as everyone else so why should you’re photos look the same?

For those who want to show off their truly unique personality with portraits that show off that personality and don’t treat them like the rest of the herd, check out TNGseniors.com for the highest quality senior photography in Las Vegas, Henderson and Boulder City!

For those who want to show off their truly unique personality with portraits that show off that personality and don’t treat them like the rest of the herd, check out TNGseniors.com for the highest quality senior photography in Las Vegas, Henderson and Boulder City!

Some of you might remember a little interview from a few weeks ago involving the Desert Skye Pipes and Drums. A few months prior to that interview, you might also remember a post with some portraits of Piper Van Frazier who is a member of the Desert Skye Pipes and Drums. Van loves to also teach bagpiping and solo performing. Enjoy his interview!

CHECK OUT: Bagpipingbyvan.com

What inspired you to play the Great Highland Bagpipes?
I started playing the pipes about 13 years ago and people always ask, “why?” Well, I love the enormous, beautiful sound of the Great Highland Bagpipe. I also love the wonderful traditions of the great country of Scotland. I have to admit, I enjoy playing a musical instrument that very few people in the world can play!

Tell a little bit about yourself…
I live in Henderson, Nevada and I am available to play the pipes and entertain at any event or special occasion such as weddings, funerals, parties, conventions, school assemblies or events, and Eagle Scout Court of Honors. One of the things I enjoy most is solo piping at any and all special events. The pipes can change an “OK”
special event into an “outrageous” special event! I always arrive at the event dressed in one of my casual, formal, semi-formal, or historical kilt outfits. After a performance, I quite often receive a nice thank you or acknowledgment, such as the following:

Mr Frazier,
“Thank you, again, for your performance Friday at Mendoza Elementary School. The kids are still talking about it and the teachers enjoyed it also. We are grateful to have wonderful talent in our community that is willing to share their gifts with our students. Thank you very much for your presentation, professionalism, and excellent organization. It was fabulous!”
Sincerely,
Darrell Crowther – Music Specialist
Mendoza Elementary School

Along with my solo piping, I play with the Las Vegas’s only competition pipe band, Desert Skye Pipes and Drums. I also serve as the Band Director. We have traveled all over California, Nevada, Arizona and Utah to perform at Scottish Highland Games and compete against other pipe bands. In 2008 and again in 2010, my piping abilities were put to use as I was asked to serve as the Pipe Major of the Nauvoo Pageant Pipe Band for the historical Nauvoo Pageant that takes place each year in the city of Nauvoo, Illinois.

What do you feel is the biggest appeal of you and your music?
Someone once said, “Nothing sparks emotions like a bagpiper in full Highland regalia.” I’ve found that to be true, especially at a wedding. The most requested service for the Wedding Piper is the “Piping In and Piping Out” of the Bride and Groom and the Wedding Party. Often, the Bride and Groom requests a piper to play outside the church before and after the wedding ceremony. This is a letter I received after playing at Tara’s wedding:

Hi Van!
“Married life is amazing! We are so very happy. I can’t thank you enough for being a part of our special day. You were PHENOMENAL! We are so thankful you were there. Everyone just loved it. The family was so surprised and thought it was the best! I can’t believe we were actually able to keep it a secret from everyone. My favorite part was when me and my Dad were in the cocktail room “hiding” before the start of the ceremony and you began to play. We were just talking and getting ready for the ceremony to begin and he said “I think I hear pipes!” And then he said “Is that for you?” and I said “No, it’s for you!” It
brought tears to both of our eyes. He was blown away. You made our wedding so very special and meaningful. The pipes are an important part of our heritage and I’m so glad we found you! I hope our paths cross again. We all really enjoyed your tunes. You are very talented! It was the icing on the cake!!!”
Take care,
Tara

What about playing for the Boy Scouts of America? Tell a little bit more about that…
Another event that screams out for a bagpipe is an Eagle Scout Court Of Honor! Imagine the surprise of the guests as a piper appears dressed in traditional Scottish attire, playing American and Scottish tunes. Imagine the excitement as the Color Guard is piped in with a medley of patriotic tunes. Now, you no longer have to imagine how it would be. I am available to create that excitement for these young men on their special day.

Van
“Thank you so very much for coming to Zach’s Eagle Court of Honor. It really meant a lot to him that you were there. Thank you, Van, you did a FABULOUS job and everyone loved you! You are great. Thank you for all that you do!”
Marcie Peterson

Are you available for funerals?
One of the occasions that I am most fulfilled playing my bagpipe music is at funeral ceremonies. Music is the universal communicator and it allows for a sense of closure. Many family members and friends of those that have passed have expressed gratitude to me for providing the music that gave them comfort during that time of deep sorrow..
One of the most requested and meaningful tunes I perform is Amazing Grace. I also have a great variety of other music suitable for all religions and ethnic groups to make each memorial service unique. And of course, I will come professionally dressed in the traditional formal kilt.

To check my availability to play at your special event, you can call me at 702-994-5314 or email me at bagpipingbyvan@live.com. Or for more information, check out my web site at: bagpipingbyvan.com.

If I wanted to learn to play the pipes, who do I speak to? Do you teach others to play the Great Highland Bagpipe?
Yes I do, and now you can learn to play the unique and very popular musical instrument that few people in the world can play, the Great Highland Bagpipe! You don’t need a set of bagpipes to start learning to play! All beginning lessons take place on a “practice chanter.” I will guide you through the start up process and help you choose the proper practice chanter and even advise you when it comes time to purchase your own set of pipes.
I am a very patient instructor and I work equally well with both children and adults. You can start learning to play the pipes at any age, but the earlier you start, the better. Ten would be perfect, but you’re never too old to start. I currently have a student that is 71 years young!

You will immediately begin playing the practice chanter and based on your ability, you will soon start playing the Great Highland Bagpipe. When you learn to play at a sufficient level, I will help you join, and play with a local bagpipe band! In the past few years that I have been actively teaching the bagpipe, ten of my students have successfully played with the Desert Skye Pipes & Drums Pipe Band. You also can join that special group of pipers.

For more information about lessons, call 702-994-5314 or email me at: bagpipingbyvan@live.com

I have included some comments from a few of my current and past students:
Van,
“I don’t ever show it, but I am so grateful for everything you have done for me. You are the reason I am playing today, and I just wanted to tell you “Thank You.” Thank you for your patience and understanding. I will never forget…
What a wonderful world this would be if every student’s life could be touched by a teacher as caring as you. Thanks so much.”
Sincerely
Angel Hinojosa
“Van is one of the best instructors I’ve had the pleasure to learn from. He has such a vast knowledge base of bagpiping. He’s a professional in every regard and has the ability to make the more difficult aspects of piping easy to understand. I highly recommend Van to everyone interested in learning to play the coolest instrument on the planet!!”
Chris F.

“Van’s ability to teach piping combines his personal mastery of piping with his inherent ability to get inside of his students’ minds and adjust his teaching methods accordingly. It’s one thing to play the pipes well. It’s quite another to teach piping well. Van has mastered both playing and teaching.”
C.T. S.

“Van has been providing me (a beginning piper) bagpipe lessons over the past 5 months. He is excellent in his teaching methods and patient with my progress. His direction has been constructive and his willingness to help me improve has been encouraging.
Van’s competence in demonstrating techniques that are easy to understand and improve my skills and in playing ability while not making me feel inferior at my stage is appreciated. Finally, I find his teaching rates to be very reasonable and a great value for the money spent.” – Ron W.
“Van Frazier is an excellent bagpipe instructor for all ages. Van helped me get back into piping after 7 years of no practice. He started working with me regarding the basics and within about 6 months I was back to playing tunes on my pipes again. His lessons are very focused, but Van makes it enjoyable with his easy going nature. Also, he is really knowledgable. Do yourself a favor and try at least one lesson with him, you won’t regret it.”
Evelyn H.

For more information about lessons, call 702-994-5314 or email me at: bagpipingbyvan@live.com

Do you like cupcakes? Ok, that was a stupid question. A better question would be, who DOESN’T like cupcakes? Unless you live in a remote, unexplored region of Alaska in some village with a tribe of people that time forgot, I’m going to go ahead and say that EVERYONE likes cupcakes!

If you live in Vegas, Henderson (Hendertucky) or Boulder City, you’re going to want to read this fun little interview I had with the owners of a little placed called Lil’ Brown Sugar’s Cupcake Cafe http://www.lilbrownsugarscupcakecafe.com/

1) Tell a little bit about your business…
Lil’ Brown Sugar’s Cupcake Cafe is a family owned business (Myself, My husband Vyron, and my 5 kids). We are located at 55 South Gibson, Henderson. We have a variety of delicious treats, not just cupcakes.

2) What inspired you to start your own company?
Three years ago I became unemployed (being a union Laborer) and decided I wanted my next job to be something I would enjoy and something my family could be involved in. And who doesn’t love sweets?

3) What do you feel is the biggest appeal of your business?
The sweets of course are our biggest appeal, but our customer service is something to brag about. We strive to make every person feel special.
4) What do you consider your big break—turning point?
When we started getting recognized by the Henderson Police Department, City Hall and other City Officials

5) What is your deal breaker?
Offering a gourmet cupcake at a reasonable price would be the deal breaker.

6) Have anything special planned for 2013?
In 2013, we see major growth. offering a wider selection of baked goods such as Cupcakes, cakes, a variety of Gooey Bars, Cookies, Cinnamon Rolls, Breads and don’t for get the Cake Pops are to die for!

Come into  Lil' Brown Sugar's Cupcake Cafe  the Mention TNG Photography and get one CAKE POP for FREE! http://www.lilbrownsugarscupcakecafe.com/ 55 South Gibson, 89012, 702-203-7376