STOLEN - A Cautionary Tale

Today I present a cautionary tale about internet use. Back in 2011 I had the pleasure of photographing the wedding of my friends Kaitie and Ben. It was a beautiful wedding and one of the most intensive and fun photo projects I have ever been tasked with. Afterwards I started to prepare some of the photos for posting on my blog and it was during a time when I was not at all concerned about my images being stolen by a second party. I figured my blog was just being viewed by my close friends and family so I decided to post some images at a rather large size. Fast-forward to 2014 when my friend Ben sends me an image of one of my wedding photos being used in a jewelry store in LA. This store somehow found my blog post from 2011 and proceeded to use my image in one of their store displays. I have since contacted this store seeking compensation for the illegal use of my photo, but have (to little surprise) not heard back. So, please, if you are a photographer or artist be careful about how you post and what you post on the internet. If it can happen to me then it can happen to anyone and it might just be a matter of time. And if you live in the LA area, drop by El Palacio de Oro y Diamantes at 718 1/2 S. Broadway to see a free exhibition of my photo work and tell them that Mark Pariani sent you. Thanks for reading and stay alert about your internet posting. And be a pal and don't support photo theft - Keep it REAL.

Flashback Friday #29 - Mark Pariani - Productions

Hello readers! Today is Flashback Friday and I wanted to take a second to reflect on my personal photo and design brand Mark Pariani - Productions. It all started in high school when I first discovered an interest in photography and design. At that time I grabbed any camera I could get my hands on and constantly took images while out with friends, on family trips, or even just around my neighborhood. I never did it as a means to any end, I just wanted to have fun and document what was happening around me. As technology advanced I was able to pick up better cameras and I continued to always shoot anywhere I went. There were only a few times early on where I decided to try my hand at freelance and commission work. One of those early attempts was something I called "HouseBook." It started with my family wanting to document the current conditions of our house and it's contents for insurance purposes, so I photographed the entire house inside and out. It was my first venture into creating a real product and I ended up selling a few to friends and neighbors. I greatly enjoyed the process and I learned a lot, but I still enjoyed shooting for myself more. Thankfully I kept at it and even studied photography and design in college. I still to this day mainly shoot only for myself because that's how much I enjoy it, but I also love sharing my work with other people as well as helping them document their own special events. That's why I started Mark Pariani - Productions to share my work and put my name out there in case anyone needs a photographer. So, you might be saying to yourself "Mark, this is all just a shameless plug." And you would be right! Haha - But even so I hope you now have a better understanding of why I love photography so much and how that translates into what I shoot and how I shoot. If are interested in seeing more of my work you can check me out on all of my social media outlets! - Facebook - Twitter - Tumblr - Behance - Instagram - and never forget to Keep it REAL!

Picking the Right Camera

As a photographer I am always trying to stay current with technology and make sure I have all the up-to-date tech I need. As you can imagine that is very hard today with how fast technology is advancing and how constantly it is changing. Cameras are no exception. The envelop is constantly being pushed and new cameras come out every year. Luckily the job of testing and ranking new camera tech is often done for you as it is with this handy chart that I recently found in The Wall Street Journal. If you are looking to buy a new camera or wanting to get into photography for the first time then you should take a look at this chart and consider some really good current options. Feel free to ask questions too in the comments. Keep it REAL!

Remembering Betty Claire Farmer Painter

My grandmother Betty "Baba" Painter always loved to help things grow. She loved tending to her garden, raising her three daughters, and caring for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She grew several different plants in her garden, and some of my fondest memories growing up are from times spent in her backyard watching her care for her plants, making sure that not a single leaf was being neglected. And that was how she lived her life, making sure that no one was neglected. You always felt welcome in her Decatur home that she built with my grandfather and had lived in since 1951. My Mom and her two sisters grew up in that house and it was always there when they needed to come home for a visit. This weekend in Atlanta, my family and I will be celebrating her outstandingly full life of 88 years. You will be missed Baba, but never forgotten. All of my love. 1926-2014. (Photo 2012 by my Aunt Sally Painter.)

Void Music 2014

The latest Music centric issue of Void Magazine just hit the stands. It features a lot of great articles about some local Jacksonville bands and the music scene in general. It even has a a short write-up on my friend's band Civil Brute with an accompanying photo taken by yours truly. Don't miss this issue, be sure to grab your copy today. It's FREE so what's stopping you? But, as always, Keep it REAL!

Arbus Art + Architecture 2014

The May/June issue of Arbus Magazine is still on the stands and it features a full page ad I designed for my office, ELM. The theme of this issue is Art + Architecture and it covers many local artists, architects, art events, architecture firms, and current building projects. If you live in North Florida be sure to pick up a copy at pretty much any local business in the downtown area of Jacksonville. It's FREE! In the mean time - Keep it REAL!

Flashback Friday #28 - What Time is it? Adventure Time!

So, for this Flashback Friday we are not going all that far back. Just a couple of years if that. This past week I had the wonderful surprise of finding the two above comic books at my local comics shop, and what do ya know my good friend and college roommate Phil Jacobson was the illustrator on the featured side story "Jelly Wars." Phil lives out in California now, but he drew this comic back when he still lived in Savannah so it had been in the works for a little while before it reached the store racks. But it's finally here and you can read it! Go get yours today - Adventure Time #27 & 28 by KaBOOM! Studios. Be sure to Keep it REAL! P.S. Phil hid himself in the comic as a doughnut because, why not!