Constant Contact

For the second year in a row Constant Contact has awarded me a 2009 All-Star Award.

These awards are given out to companies that average an open rate of 20% or higher, sent newsletters regularly in all four quarters of 2009 and averaged a click through rate of 2% or higher.

Click here to view one of my 2009 newsletters.

Sneak Peek of Weekend Project

Photo Shoot with SuperSpy Music

I had the honor last week of shooting the incredibly talented songwriting/music producer duo, SuperSpy (Mher Filian and Isaac Hasson). Their most recent credit is co-writing and producing Demi Lovato's new single, "Here We Go Again."

We had a lot of fun shooting together. These three images are probably my favorites.

iSpy with my plastic eye Exhibit in Association with Month of Photography - Los Angeles

Last December, the I Spy with My Plastic Eye exhibit opened at A&I Hollywood.

The exhibit has now travelled to 5th & Sunset Studios in West Los Angeles with a gallery reception this coming Friday, April 16.

Click here to see my previous blog entry on this exciting exhibit.

The fine art book that complements this exhibit will be for sale, featuring all images from the show with shot details and artists commentaries. The book is $40 and you can purchase it by clicking here.

Congratulations to the Winner of the $25 iTunes Gift Card

Congratulations to Chelsea Fuss for winning the $25 iTunes Gift Card for signing up to receive my blog entries via email.

More About My Photographic Series

I told you a little bit about my new photographic series last week.

I started working on the series yesterday and wanted to share this image with you.

My Great Aunt Frances Reid owned her home in Brentwood from 1968-2010 (42 years) and since she passed away our family has to sell her home.

In a perfect world I would be able to twirl a magic wand and have the home stay exactly like it is forever -- a museum of sorts. But since that is not possible I thought it was appropriate that I photograph the home. Not so much the rooms but the little things.

My Aunt Francie had a wonderful book collection so I thought it was important to photograph it.

My dear friend Ron Marasco came over yesterday and we went through all of her theatre books. Ron helped me tremendously figure out what was a rare treasure and what was as he calls it "readily available." I could not have done it without him.

In going through the books yesterday we found a book that belonged to choreographer Jerome Robbins (dated 1946), a book signed by playwright Moss Hart given to Francie's husband actor Philip Bourneuf and a script with a note from film/theatre director Elia Kazan.

I cannot wait to share more of this project with you.

Win a $25 iTunes Gift Card

You will be eligible to win a $25 iTunes gift card if you sign up to receive my blog via email.

Just fill out the form below by February 25 and your name will be put in the drawing.

Enter your email address:

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New Photographic Series

I am starting to work on a new photographic series. A little info (or maybe more like a tease)

-- It has huge time constraints
-- It is probably one of the most personal projects I will ever work on

Intrigued?

More next week..........

Rayko's 3rd Annual International Juried Plastic Camera Show

I am honored to be a part of the RayKo 3rd International Juried Plastic Camera Show in San Francisco, California. The opening reception is February 26 and the show will be up until April 17.

Click here for more information about the RayKo Photo Center and the exhibition.

I'm on Envelopments Blog

Envelopments, a fabulous paper company, has started a blog and my photography is featured in a recent entry.

The blog entry highlights the International Printing Museum in Carson, California.

Special thank you to Rachelle Chuang for helping to make this happen. I'm so happy to have met her last year through the Museum. Click here to view the Envelopments blog entry.

Envelopments and my photography together? You just can't beat it.

Frances Reid

Most of the time I separate my professional and personal life but sometimes the lines blur and the death of my Great Aunt Frances Reid is one of those times.

The world knew her as Alice Horton on DAYS OF OUR LIVES but to me she was Aunt Francie. I could go on and on with ridiculously funny stories of things she would say to us when we were kids and someday I'll share some of those stories.

In the television world she was the quintessential grandmother and in real life she was anything but. Funny how what's real and what's on television can be so different.

I have always been the archivist and historian in my family. I'm not sure if that has to do with my love of photography or just that I am an incredibly nostalgic person by nature.

This is one of my favorite early photographs of Francie. I have no idea who took the photograph or what year it was.

As things pop in my head or photographs of her come out of boxes in my house there will be more blog entries.

WeddingWire 2010 Bride's Choice Awards

I was just informed that I have received, for the second year in a row, the WeddingWire 2010 Bride's Choice Awards for Wedding Photography.

The annual Bride's Choice Awards recognizes and celebrates excellence in quality and service within the wedding industry, as determined by recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 500,000 newlyweds.

April Rocha Photography is among the top five percent of all vendors in the WeddingWire community.

Engagement Session Giveaway

I am giving away a FREE engagement session to a lucky couple.

I have put together over the years a top secret list of photo session location ideas that I will share with you if you're the lucky winner. We will go to one of these locations and shoot, shoot, shoot!

You can view blog entries on some of my engagement sessions by clicking here.

To enter, just email me at (april@aprilrocha.com) by February 15.

Some rules:

The lucky couple may only apply if they have not chosen their wedding photographer.

The couple will receive a discount on my wedding photography artist's fee and Save-the-Date cards, an online site of the images and will receive an 8x10 print of their choice.

2009 - Year in Review Slideshow

You can also click here to view the 2009 Year in Review Slideshow.

Happy Holidays

Printing Museum Photo Shoot

In October I gave you a sneak peek into my photo shoot at the International Printing Museum in Carson. I had so much fun exploring the bowels of this museum and finding all sorts of type and machinery. I was a girl in heaven that day. Here are some photos from that photo shoot.

They have also started using these images on their newly designed website.




Next blog entry will showcase the amazing books I found at the Museum's library.

I Spy with my Plastic Eye Exhibit at A&I Hollywood

Last night I attended the gallery reception for an exhibit I am a part of -- I Spy With My Plastic Eye.

The exhibit pays homage to the plastic camera and my print "Childhood Memories", shot with my Holgaroid, is one of many amazing images in the exhibit. I feel so honored that I was asked to participate in this show.

The exhibit is at A&I Hollywood and benefits WeSpark, which provides free cancer support services.

A fine art book sponsored by HP is available for sale, featuring all images from the show with shot details and artists commentaries. The book is $40 and you can purchase it by clicking here.





Here is Aline Smithson's foreword to the book:


I Spy With My Plastic Eye is an exhibition visualized by photographer Astor Morgan. The exhibit, brought to life by A&I, is a testament to the unique qualities of toy cameras. Each artist approached their imagery with a singular voice, using a variety of film types, techniques and cameras. The photographs in this book speak of gesture, of time passing, of simplicity and complexity, allowing for a wide range of expression. And all of this magic has been captured through an inexpensive plastic lens, part of an inexpensive plastic camera that inspires discovery and serendipity. And that is the best part.

-Aline Smithson

Name Outside Local Collection Store at Glendale Galleria

Look my name is outside the Local Collection store at the Glendale Galleria!!

Fine Art Prints on Sale at Local Collection Store at the Glendale Galleria

The first Local Collection store ever opens at the Glendale Galleria on Friday, November 13. It's on the mezzanine level across from Nordstroms.

My Fine Art Prints are on sale at the store.

Local Collection Store at the Glendale Galleria

I was very honored when Local Collection at the Glendale Galleria invited me to be a part of their first store. This is the first test of this concept and they have a phenomenal track record on first to launch retail concepts (i.e. first Apple store in the world, first Disney store in the world).

Local Collection is a mix of apparel, accessories, jewelry, home decor, wall art, furniture and pottery/sculpture all done by local designers and artists.

They will be selling my calendars, fine art prints (framed and unframed), paper items I've created and greeting cards.

The private opening of the store is next Thursday, November 12 from 5-9pm.

I am very excited about this new venture.