Since
1991, Richard and Patty Rives have operated Richard’s photography in
San Antonio, Texas. The home based studio specializes in seniors,
families, and tasteful boudoir. Richard tried a number of other
career endeavors, but once he got into photography, the rest was
history. Photography was his chosen life career.
Richard was always looking for ways to be different. He not only fed
his creative instincts, but he also worked to distinguish his work from
that of other photographers in his area. He first learned about
the Scene Machine Virtual Backgrounds system online. When he
realized that it was manufactured just 45 miles away, Richard scheduled
time to visit the Virtual Backgrounds studio in San Marcos, Texas for a
personal demonstration. A highly knowledgeable computer expert
and webmaster, Richard had already been experimenting with green screen
to create backgrounds for his clients. However, he always felt
that the results looked fake, and it took too much time to paste in
backgrounds and more time to make corrections where green screen
failed. He also felt that green screen cheapened his work,
especially since many amateurs know about green screen and can now do
their own pasting in of backgrounds. He also did not like placing
his clients in front of the ugly green background and then having them
come back later to view their images, after the backgrounds had been
added. Richard prefers to show and sell immediately
after the images are captured.
Richard’s visit to Virtual Backgrounds got him so excited about the
optically based Virtual Backgrounds process that he immediately
scheduled himself to attend a full three-day VB workshop. Richard
states, “I was ready to go. Right after I ordered my Virtual
Backgrounds system and attended the workshop, I took down all my muslin
and canvas backgrounds that cluttered up my camera room taking up
valuable space and got ready for my new Virtual Backgrounds
system. I was completely convinced that this was how I was going
to go from here on out. I received my system in January, 2008,
and have been going strong ever since. Because I have beautiful
gardens in my back yard, I offer my clients a choice of staying indoors
and using Virtual Backgrounds or going outside or a combination of both
inside and outside portraits. Richard worked with his new system
for about a month before he fully integrated it into his operation.
Richard can’t stop talking about Virtual Backgrounds and how it has
helped his business. In the last year, his average sales have
grown 65%, primarily because of his Virtual Backgrounds system.
He was also able to raise his prices. Richard states, “The
Virtual Backgrounds workshop was wonderful. I learned so
much. It would be foolish to get a Virtual Backgrounds system and
not take the workshop. I keep learning every day. Recently
I attended a session at Virtual Backgrounds with Trevon Baker. He
is awesome. He helped me not only with Virtual Backgrounds but
also with my lighting and posing. Trevon is very caring, very
patient, and just a fantastic teacher. He showed me lighting
techniques that I had never thought of doing and these techniques have
really improved my photography. No matter how many years you have
in photography, you can never stop learning and trying new
things. That is what keeps me excited and ahead of other
photographers. Even though I got the system, I did not fully
appreciate the power of the background. It is a key part of the
photograph that helps to set the tone. I now do 100% of my in
studio work with the Scene Machine. There is no need for anything
else. Why would I want all those nasty muslins and canvas in my
studio? They are so limiting and they take up valuable space.”
Patty and Richard work together on most sittings. Patty
concentrates more on working with the clients, fixing their hair and
clothing in the camera room and handling general office
management. She also does the studio’s books. Richard’s
Photography is definitely a team approach. They thought of
opening in a commercial location, but their home based studio has
worked out just fine. They feel it is a much more relaxed
atmosphere for their clients. Although their studio is also their
home, there is no question when a client enters the front door that
they are in a professional photography reception area and studio.
The walls are covered with large portraits. It is just a few
steps to the camera room and garden.
Richard continues saying, “I love photography. The Scene Machine
enables me to be so much more creative. The Scene Machine helps
me to work so much faster and do so much more. I always know that
in the back of my mind if someone asks me if I have a certain
background, I can say Yes!
I make my clients look like they want to look. Backgrounds are
very important in San Antonio. That is what everyone wants.
Some kids even want gothic backgrounds. With the Scene
Machine I am able to give them a bit of everything. Total variety
is important. I even do a variety of colors.”
Richard adds, “I use a lot of props. Props help the total image
pop. I even use a 1940s love seat my grandmother once owned. I
have a standing lamppost with a real light on the inside and a variety
of other props. Actually, just about every piece of furniture in
our home can be brought into the studio to be used as a prop.
I’ll never work without my Scene Machine again. Why would I want
to go backwards? I am limited on space. The Scene Machine
is perfect. It saves me a lot of stress and physical work.
It is so easy to use the Scene Machine in my studio. I love it
and it makes me money.”
“It’s no secret that the economy is not good but we all need to think
positive. I try to avoid listening to negative things. The
more negative things you listen to, the more negative you can
get. Keep a positive outlook no matter how bad it is and you can
soar. Things change. You will attract the right
customers if you are always positive.”
There is no doubt that Patty and Richard will continue to be
successful. Their home studio keeps their overhead down, and
their extensive variety created with the Scene Machine and also on
location in their backyard garden area will continue to please their
clients. They offer the clients what the they want and so
much more! That is the key to success not only in photography but
in most any business.
