About Us
The Photographer
Pete Dendrinos is a native of Traverse City, Michigan. He has been behind the camera and in the darkroom since 1977. His interests have taken him through photojournalism, portrait, studio stills, and landscape photography. Over the years, he has worked in color, black and white, 35mm, 6×6 and 4×5 formats. All this work has been created in his own lab. Today, he primarily focuses on high resolution medium format and 35mm format digital color and black and white portrait and special occasion photography. Creating beautiful images, for an ever-growing clientele.
CREATIVE STATEMENT:
“I have always enjoyed working with the play of light on the subject. In the studio on on location i truly enjoy crafting beautiful images using light and space.
Weddings are a special treat for me as it allows me to capture for the bride, images that reflect the emotion and magic of the moment. When the feelings and the light come together, you have a very special image.
Turning back to the studio after several years of landscape photography has been an exciting move. Working with the human element, and trying to capture the spirit and personality of an individual is very rewarding.”
The Studio & Gear
We use Hasselblad Camera equipment and lenses in the studio with Paul C. Buff lighting gear. We use Nikon cameras and lenses, and portable studio lighting configurations for work outside the studio..
We have both in-house and outside photo finishing labs able to provide the finest quality finished prints available. From wallet sized prints to very large murals, wedding albums and portfolios or almost anything else you may need.
The Philosophy
I have been actively shooting for over 30 years. In that time I have seen countless changes to technology within the field of photography. Its not difficult to find folks arguing about what camera is best, or what medium they prefer. The truth is, all of that is secondary to the skills of the fellow operating the camera. Over the years I have developed an eye for layout, emotion, and beauty that no technology can duplicate. Understanding what to take the picture of and when to take the picture are traits you develop, you cant upgrade to it. The camera is only a tool to aid the photographer in his objective of capturing the images he is paid to capture. While I believe the equipment I have chosen to work with will allow me to satisfy my clients needs, they are hiring me, not the gear.
I believe that the photographer you hire to shoot your special event or portrait, brings to the table not only his particular skills with the gear but also his life experiences, his views about what is and isn’t important in life, his work ethic, his way of seeing the world ,if you will. I have lived and worked on both coasts of this country and several places in between. In communities that were more conservative and communities that were more liberal. I have seen and interacted with a great number of different types of people, that have all shaped the way I perceive the world and how I interact within it. What I bring to the table is not only the technical skills necessary to capture a great image but also the life skills and experiences necessary to tell your story through the images I capture.