Joseph
and Louise Simone are known world wide as two of the greatest portrait
photographers and teachers in the industry. Not many people know
the details about their history and how they rose up from their humble
beginnings to a position of true prominence in the world of
professional photography. They do not know how they started to
use Virtual Backgrounds and make it one of their most important tools
to help further enhance their work.
Joseph Simone was born in
Italy
and at the age of just 14, he studied industrial design and then immigrated to
France
where he worked for ten years for different companies as a
“turnmaker.” The turnmaker is the person who works on a master
design which is then copied for mass production. It must be
perfect. Always looking for something different, Joseph decided
to move choosing between Africa or
Canada
. He finally chose
Montreal
where he started selling photographs for a studio photographer.
This is where he began his love of photography and where he also met
Louise. Joseph soon decided that it was time to open his own
studio which he named Photo Studio Louise. Joseph and Louise
married in 1972 and Louise then became actively involved in photography
in 1974.
Louise was born in
Montreal
and wanted to become a painter. From a very early age she
showed exceptional talent in art, including being able to draw a face
from scratch as a teenager using pastels or charcoal. Her
father wanted her to become a teacher and discouraged her artistic
endeavors, but the drive to be a true artist dominated. Meeting
and marrying Joseph cemented her future.
In 1974, the Simones purchased an established studio in
Montreal
and did every type of photography that came in the door including
weddings, first communions, baptisms, portraits, and commercial.
It was in 1977 that they first heard about the Winona School of
Photography, and they began taking courses to upgrade their
understanding of true professional portraiture. They wanted to be
fundamentally different. As a result of learning from great
mentors like Don Blair, the Simones decided to move away from
production photography and concentrate on producing only the highest
quality images. The studio name was changed to Simone Portraits.
They
decided that they could learn from the great master painters of the
past, so Joseph and Louise spent a large amount of time in art
galleries studying the fundamental factors that are common to timeless
images. They then applied these principles to their own studio
work. Almost immediately, they began winning awards including
being named Photographers of the Year many times by the PP of
Canada
.
Both Joseph and Louise quickly earned their Craftsman and Masters
degrees. Joseph recently received his Fellowship from the
American Society of Photographers. Both Joseph and Louise have
been inducted into the Photographic Craftsman organization.
Five years ago, Sam Pelaia and Terry Deglau suggested to the Simones when they were teaching at the
Texas
School
that they drive to
San Marcos
to see the Scene Machine Virtual Backgrounds system. They had
been only vaguely aware of its existence. Within hours of
first seeing it, the Simones knew that it had to become part of their
“tool box.” Backgrounds had been an important part of their work
but the Scene Machine made backgrounds so much easier to create and
added infinite variety. Today, they use Scene Machine for about
75% of their work and their results are impeccable.
After spending a great deal of time over the past 15 years teaching
their methods all over the world, the Simones have a dream that is now
coming true. Together with Joseph’s brother, they have a true
vineyard, the Cote de Vaudreuil, 30 minutes west of
Montreal
.
It is a very serious vineyard. They just planted another 4000 new
vines last year. Their wine will be commercially available
including plans to produce ice wine. Every vineyard has to have a
Chateau and the Simone Chateau is where the Simones are now teaching
their methods to photographers who travel from all over the world. Of
course, wine-tasting is part of the class as well. Teaching at
their Chateau greatly reduces their hectic travel schedule although
they are also teaching this fall a special class in Tuscany
Italy. One place is still available in the
Tuscany
class. Click here for more information.
Four years ago, he Simones published a phenomenal “coffee table” book of their work titled The Portrait - Mirror of the Soul.
The book was so special that many of those who purchased the book were
not photographers but rather people who appreciated fine art
photography and wanted the book for display on their coffee
table. Professional photographers use it as their “bible.” The
Simones are now working on a DVD training program as well as planning
their Tuscany Italy program. Their appearances on the national
circuit will become more rare, but they are scheduled to once again
teach a five-day class at Virtual Backgrounds this November.
Participants in a Simone class come away with a whole new appreciation
for classic timeless portraiture.
The Simones style
is clearly recognizable in all of their work, perfection, and
timelessness. They don’t shoot dozens or hundreds of photographs
when doing a session. They capture a minimal number of really
great photographs. That’s the nature of a timeless Simone
portrait. Studying with the Simones is indeed special.
Click here to be directed the Joseph and Louise's Web site.
