Let that Camera Earn it's Keep!

Scoopshot, the name says it all.

This innovative model puts you and your camera in the forefront of today's news and lets you get paid.

For Mobile Photographers : Scoopshot makes you a mobile news photographer – everything you need is in your pocket. Want to see your photo make front page news? See how by clicking on the link.

For Freelance Photographers : Scoopshot Pro is an exciting new ecosystem that helps you to get assignments. Your client can be the newspaper next door or a journalist from the other side of the world. What is common to them is their desire to get newsworthy photos – your job is to deliver!

For Journalists : The news is out there and there’s always someone on the scene to witness. Tap into the huge pool of fresh news photos taken by mobile Scoopshooters around the world.

Purchase photos from Scoopshot Store and instantly publish them. Or, create photography tasks and assign Scoopshooters to the scene. Our news photos are no older than 48 hours and we have taken care of all the copyright stuff for you.

October's Final Friday!

Trick or Treat!! We hope to see many familiar and new faces!

Browse Movies Upload Photoshop Tutorial: How to Make Your Photos Look Hipster

Your talent + imagination = wowsa.

Photoshop Tutorial: How to Create a Dazzling Dance Photo Manipulation

There are so many ways to do so many things.

Photoshop Tutorial: Create an Electrifying Music Poster with Photoshop CS5 Extended

Sit back put your feet up and enjoy another tutorial from Photoshop.

Beginner Photoshop Tutorial: 5 Easy Photo Effects

Although these are great for beginners some of the old timers might see a new way to use something old.

Photoshop Tutorial: 3 Retro Photo Effects

You're home from your photo shoot and now you want to add some finishing touches. Check out some tips from Adobe Photoshop regarding Retro Photo Effects.

Introducing Camille Turnetine

When we started our blog for Studios United, we wanted to catch everyone up on our current events, and hopefully keep you updated on photography news that can help your businesses.

Now we would like to celebrate our photographers by showcasing them. So come in, sit down, and let's make some new friends or get to know our old ones better.

Introducing Camille Turnetine. Her company name is "My Smile Photography." She has been a member of Studios United for about ten months. Camille started experimenting in photography as a hobby about 2 years ago. In January, Camille is happy to say, her hobby evolved into a business.

When asked about her style, Camille says, "I would describe my style as laid back. I like my photos to feel natural, not posed."

Currently shooting with a Canon Rebel XTI, Camille is excited about her plans on upgrading soon.

Working with people and sharing special moments are caveats that attract Camille to photography. Her first paying shoot was her best friends college senior pictures. From setting up the lighting to coming home after a shoot to the post processing in Photoshop, she loves it all.

She smiles as she thinks of her time with her mom looking at pictures from her childhood, and appreciating her family history as she sees her mom's childhood pictures.

Her company "My Smile Photography" is a full service company, providing newborn, children, babies, families, engagement, senior and boudoir photographs. Camille enjoys shooting outdoors. She likes the freedom and the use of natural light.

As with all new businesses, getting the word out is a challenge. One method Camille uses are coupons. Camille acknowledges that starting a business and developing clientele is hard work, but something she is committed to support her love of photography.

Camille shares, "Right now my favorite place in Wichita to shoot is at the Keeper of the Plains. I'm always on the lookout for new locations."

On a clear day you will see Camille scouting for locations. When you do stop her and say hello.

Photography Props

Building an inventory of photography props is advantageous in creating a unique experience for a sitting. The little red wagon, the flamboyant hat, or the embroidered pillow, will greatly influence the audience as well at the subject's attitude.

As you collect your props, gather them and shoot each one independently creating a catalog that will not only help you plan but will stimulate your creativity. As you create your digital catalog add the sittings you liked the most to remind you of what worked best for you. You can even invite your fellow photographers to do the same so that you can share inventory and create a trading system.


Visit garage sales, Goodwill stores, and estates sales, with an open mind as to what might help you play with your next subject. Costume jewelry, a playschool kitchen set, or a boa can transform simple to simply divine.


Having props available in your planning stage for your customers to look at can tell you a lot about their likes and dislikes. Going in, you will be able to secure an element of trust and understanding before the shoot takes place. The initial shyness, eliminated can spell out a fast and fun photo session.

Also don't underestimate the use of places as props also. The ticket booth at a movie theater, a rolling hot dog stand or a street sign can add personality and character to the memory of the event.

Final Friday was not only the last Friday of the month but it was the last day of the month!

It was quite a turnout for photographers. New Faces and old friends enjoyed playing in the studio, and I enjoyed seeing the pictures afterwards!

A special thanks to photographers Kathleen, Douglas and James for being so helpful to Matt who was renting the studio out the day after. Matt came by the studio during Final Friday to get a handle on the lights and working with the camera settings.

Photographs taken by James Sanny and Kathleen Michael

I was having trouble uploading photographs on this blog post so be sure to check out our photo album on Studios United Facebook fan page to see many more great shots from the evening!!

Stock Footage

A lot of us have heard the term and even know what it is but often we are somewhat unsure as to how it can fit into our scheme of things profitably.

We've even seen the pictures, but maybe we don't study them as close because we regard them as fill because there is no person of interest in them, but the right shot in the transition of a scene is crucial to the storyline. It anchors us to the time and place of the plot. It makes sense of the action.

Some photographers make their living or supplement their living by providing pictures of the ordinary. Understanding that trying to capture the mundane can be quite costly to a production company .

One such production company, Mayoworks Pictures owned and operated by Danny Roew has a product line dedicated to stock footage.


"I’ve started randomly finding several of my stock footage elements on more and more television programs and commercials. Specifically, I’ve seen a couple of my shots on one of my favorite shows… The History Channel’s “Ancient Aliens”. Embedded below are some of the clips that I’ve found floating around out there in the wild. If you like any of these or would like to see more of what I’ve got, please check out my portfolio on Pond5." Continue...

Besides video, some of the footage sold has been clips he created in "Adobe After Effects with Knoll Light Factory and Trapcode Particular plugins." He prefers working with Pond5 as a vendor because of a positive history he has with that company. He uploads his clips, they approve it, they list it, they sell it, over and over again, they send him the check. Danny says it is really important to build up an inventory if you want to have a stable monthly revenue.

A google search will find you a variety of companies that buy and sell stock footage. Danny is excited that Pond5 is now planning to buy and sell still photography. He sees another venue for his company.

Definition according to Wikipedia:


"Stock footage, and similarly, archive footage, library pictures and file footage are film or video footage that may or may not be custom shot for use in a specific film or television program. Stock footage is of beneficial use to filmmakers as it is sometimes less expensive than shooting new material. A single piece of stock footage is a "stock shot" or a "library shot".^[1] Stock footage may have appeared in previous productions but may also be outtakes or footage shot for previous productions and not used. Examples of stock footage which might be utilized are moving images of cities and landmarks, wildlife in their natural environments and historical footage. Suppliers of stock footage fall into two categories; rights-managed and royalty-free. Many websites offer direct downloads of clips in various formats, both compressed and uncompressed. QuickTime is a popular standard now in use for NLE applications such as Avid, Final Cut Pro and Adobe Premiere Pro."

Ladies, Cars, and Cameras

One of the most memorable things we did this summer was the outdoor shoot with cars, classic and new. We met up at Union Station, near the old Cox building in Oldtown.

Photographer Vernon brought his a 1966 Cherry Red Mustang, photographer Tonya brought her 1959 Chevy, and photographer Bodie brought his 2011 Dodge Charger.

We were so grateful to the photographers for supplying us with pretty vehicles!!

Models dressed with the theme of the day. Photographers captured it all.


We went up the train tracks were the Wichita sign is. The photograph was taken by Steve Williams. We were only able to be up there for about half an hour before a security guard booted us out.


We had plenty of areas to shoot at behind the Cox building along with five models dressed in the classic pinup style. Our five models were Elena, Sarah, Tonya, Mesha and Brantay. Two ladies, Mesha and Brantay, were from a modeling group in Wichita called the Dynamic Divas. Everyone's outfits were great, it was nice seeing everyone's interpretation of the pin up model.

Elena taken by Photographers Joseph Bartlett

Sarah taken by Photographer Jack Powers

Tonya taken by Photographer Kathleen Michael

Mesha and Brantay taken by Shadowbox- Studio

The meetup lasted about two hours. All in all, we were about 25 strong, and it was great seeing everyone. We were grateful to see our regulars and happy to welcome newcomers. I so enjoy meeting with this talented group and seeing their work afterwards.

We welcome suggestions for other meetups, let us take advantage of this beautiful fall weather and holiday themes.

One Hundred!

Milestones, they help us evaluate where we've been against where we expect to be.

On September 19, 2011 Studios United had our one hundredth photographer/videographer in the studio. It was Greg from The Gregory Agency .

Greg was filming a casting call for a steakhouse commercial. The new steakhouse coming to Wichita needed a cowboy. The studio was transformed to a different place in time as a parade of men in western attire responded. Different size, shapes and ages interpreted the cowboy hat, duster, and cowboy boots in their own unique way. It was a great day.

"Based in Wichita, Kansas for almost 20 years, The Gregory Agency represents the models and actors in the region. Our award-winning reputation for excellence allows us to attract and keep world-class clients including: Hallmark Cards, Crayola, Boeing, Toyota, Wendy's, Sprint and Target. Our models and actors work around the globe and have appeared in Cosmopolitan, Teen, Seventeen, Esquire, and the Abercrombie catalog; in the films Starsky and Hutch, Haunted Mansion, Catch Me If You Can, and About Schmidt; on the TV shows ER, Monk, Everybody Hates Chris, Guiding Light, The Shield and The O.C.; in national commercials; and on the New York stage. The founder and director of the agency, Greg Boaldin, is a member of the Kansas Film Commission, is quoted in the book "How to Break into Commercials", and speaks on the topics of modeling and acting across North America. He has been slated to cast for films, music videos, TV shows, and national commercials and works as fashion editor for local magazines. The Gregory Agency is the only agency in Kansas asked to attend the Launch Showcase and to scout at Pro Scout."

Live Performance by Mike Potts from Douglas Hahn on Vimeo.

There are days we plan for, and it gets down to the point were we feel like a juggler trying to gracefully keep all our balls in the air and then it happens, "Magic." That's how it was Aug.26, Final Friday.

Presented was the work of Mike Potts, Melissa Mullinax, Abi Johnson, Brian Johnson, Bodie Engel, Joseph Olas and Caleb Bolt. Through the clamor of conversation and interest expressed by our gallery guests, it was evident, all our efforts paid off.

Mike Potts, a live performance artist awed and inspired us. His painting of a portrait of Willie Nelson was created before an admiring audience. All eyes followed his every move as each brush stroke transformed a piece of empty canvas into a work of art, inviting us to witness his creation on a more intimate level. At the end of the exhibition, Willie Nelson's likeness was raffled off. All proceeds went to Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Sedgwick County.

Now, newlywed Tonya Sims was the winner of the drawing. She is a member of Studios United and owner and operator of Shadowbox-Studio. Visit her site at http://shadowbox-studio.com/ She and her husband were in the process of purchasing a new home and were excited to find the perfect spot for her painted portrait of Willie Nelson.

For information about Artist Mike Potts, go to www.PottsGallery.com

As always, the studio was open for photographers and models to use, introducing another layer of energy.

Studios United shares gallery space with Naked City Magazine, Mead Street Gallery and Steve Murillo Studio, pooling art and talent to creating an enjoyable aesthetic experience on Final Fridays.

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