April & Larry Helsel of Keepsakes Studio
April and Larry Helsel are relatively new to the portrait business. They opened Keepsakes Studio
in 1998 in the small Pennsylvania town of Duncansville. Looking for the
latest technology, the Helsels found the Scene Machine Virtual
Backgrounds system at the 2001 Photo Expo in New York City. Larry liked
the concept, but April, the actual photographer, saw it as a potential
headache.
Nevertheless, Larry won the debate and a
few weeks later they had their Virtual Backgrounds system. At first, it
just sat in the corner collecting dust. April made a few test
exposures, but nothing of interest. Several months later, Jim Wilson,
Director of Education at Virtual Backgrounds called to find out why no
one had attended the Virtual Backgrounds workshop in Texas.
April
decided to attend the workshop, but had very few sample prints made
with the system to bring along. April found the workshop very helpful,
but she still took another few weeks to start actually using the
system.
Quoting
April, “My oldest daughter, Ciera, served as my first serious subject,
but I didn’t want to do just a plain portrait of her with a Virtual
Backgrounds. I decided that I wanted to try to create a story book type of image. I used a Denny rock and placed some ferns and other
plants in front of and behind her to create depth. Olen Seidler, a long
time user of the Scene Machine, suggested using a 4 x 8 sheet of
Plexiglas to create reflections such as water. The Plexiglas became her
pond. I really got excited when I saw the results. I knew that my
portraiture had just entered a whole new dimension.”
“I’ve now used Virtual Backgrounds for two years and I still have a lot
more to learn. It is such a versatile tool. I love experimenting with
new ideas. The ease of operation saves time and money without needing
to use the 20+ muslins I already had. Children open up so many doors to
creativity. Repeat clients love the variety I can give them without
leaving the studio. With all the variety I now have at my fingertips,
there is no way I’ll get in a rut again. I keep trying new set ups. My
competition never knows what I am going to do next. I use my Virtual
Backgrounds system for 90% of my indoor work.”
April’s husband, Larry, also comes up with some of the ideas and is
actively involved in creating new props, such as the boat dock. Props
they build on their own are very inexpensive and can be changed
frequently so nothing ever gets old. April is also very active with
Adobe PhotoShop, which she uses to enhance some of her images.
April is always eager to share her experiences with Virtual Backgrounds
by doing programs and workshops. Her Web site address is
www.keepsakesstudio.net.
April Helsel
New Directions in Children's Portraits
April
and Larry Helsel are relatively new to the portrait business. They
opened Keepsakes Studio in 1998 in the small Pennsylvania town of
Duncansville. Looking for the latest technology, the Helsels found the
Scene Machine Virtual Backgrounds system at the 2001 Photo Expo in New
York City. Larry liked the concept, but April, the actual photographer,
saw it as a potential headache. Nevertheless, Larry won the debate and
a few weeks later they had their Virtual Backgrounds system. At first,
it just sat in the corner collecting dust. April made a few test
exposures but nothing of interest.
Several months
later, Jim Wilson, Director of Education at Virtual Backgrounds, called
to find out why no one had attended the Virtual Backgrounds workshop in
Texas. April decided to attend the workshop but had very few sample
prints made with the system to bring along. April found the workshop
very helpful, but she still took another few weeks to start actually
using the system.
Quoting April, “My oldest daughter, Ciera, served as my first serious
subject, but I didn’t want to do just a plain portrait of her with
Virtual Backgrounds. I decided that I wanted to try to create a "story
book" type image. I used a Denny rock and placed some ferns and other
plants in front of and behind her to create depth. Olen Seidler, a long
time user of the Scene Machine, suggested using a 4 x8 sheet of
Plexiglas to create reflections such as water. The Plexiglas became her
“pond." I really got excited when I saw the results. I knew that my
portraiture had just entered a whole new dimension.”
“I’ve now used Virtual Backgrounds for a few years and I still have a
lot more to learn. It is such a versatile tool. I love experimenting
with new ideas. The ease of operation saves time and money without
needing to use the 20+ muslins I already had."
"Children open up so many doors to creativity. Repeat clients love the
variety I can give them without leaving the studio. With all the
variety I now have at my fingertips, there is no way I’ll get in a rut
again. I keep trying new set ups. My competition never knows what I am
going to do next. I use my Virtual Backgrounds system for 90% of my
indoor work.”
April’s husband, Larry, also comes up with some of the ideas and is
actively involved in creating new props. Props they build on their own
are very inexpensive and can be changed frequently, so nothing ever
gets old. April is also very active with Photoshop, which she uses to
enhance some of her images. April is always eager to share her
experiences with Virtual Backgrounds by doing programs and workshops.
She has even come to Virtual Backgrounds to be the third day guest
speaker at our training workshops. Visit her website at www.keepsakestudio.net to see more of this very creative and talented photographer's work!
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