Holiday Greeting Cards

Spread your holiday cheer! Printed holiday greeting cards with my nature photography are available. Need 1 or 25? I have a variety to choose from. Receive a 25% discount at checkout! (Apply code: WinterCraze16Promo)

5X7 HOLIDAY GREETING CARDS

1 - 5x7 Folded Card w/ Envelope $8.95

10 - 5x7 Folded Cards w/ Envelope $34.95

25 - 5x7 Folded Cards w/ Envelope $76.95

HOW TO

1. Select your favorite photo on my website at: estudioaurora.smugmug.com

2. Select "BUY".

3. Select "Create a Card"

4. Select 4"x8" or 5"x7" card type.

5. Customize your card with the hundreds of card designs available.

This is a great way to keep your dear hearts warm!

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Winter Craze 2016 Special!

It's gift buying season! Here's a chance to buy a photo from my photo adventures. Customize an image from my select galleries & apply "WinterCraze16Promo" to receive a 25% discount during checkout.

How to 
 It's easy! Pick your the photo you want, select "buy", and select what cool gift you'd like to create. This is great for making postcards and holiday cards! Available for Wall art, prints, keepsakes (i.e. mugs, key chains, coasters, puzzles, etc.), iphone or android cases, etc. One use per customer. Expires 12/31/16 at midnight.

Further Customization
Even better! Personalize it even more. Set up a photo session with me. The printed item would be photographs from our photo session instead of my photo adventure pictures. Additional costs will apply (See "Services" tab above for pricing details).

There are so many items to choose from! Visit my website https://estudioaurora.smugmug.com/ to get started.

 

Simmons Island on Ice

In one of my wondrous explorations of the lakefront of Simmons Island I came across some curious abstract ice transformations. There were so many kinds! Glaze ice on the pier and on grass blades, frozen sand ice shelves, baby glacier formations. It was non-stop ice formation discoveries. Ivory came along and trotted along the lakefront like she didn't mind the cold. She loved it.

Simmons Island on Ice. 2013-2014.

Check out more of these abstract ice formations in the slideshow below.

         

Winter in Kenosha

A winter in Kenosha, Wisconsin is pretty unique in that since we are adjacent to Lake Michigan we experience a major dynamic confluence of weather systems. Sometimes this causes less snow or more snow. Regardless, I love the weather phenomenon this brings. February of this year was filled with many interesting photographic opportunities.

Port of Kenosha- Kenosha, Wisconsin. 2016.

  See more Kenosha wonderland photography in the slideshow below:

Pet Photography and Tips

A few tips on working with animals during a photo session

1. Always have a lint roller or wide masking tape present. (For your own clothes and of course

    your props.          

2. Have a shiny, stringy, and noisy toy at the ready. (Ex:A small bell with a metal chain)

This will grab their attention and should get them to focus on your lens when working on  portraits.

3. Pet the animal and make it comfortable. Many of them love attention.

4. If they are allowed to,have a treat ready.

These aren't all the tips, but they are the most useful.

The lovely cat, Libby.

Chicago

Chicago
A night picture of Chicago's skyline.
http://etsy.me/YJF7ZE

2016 Elections

Real Estate Photography Services

Real Estate Photography Services. Photography and Videography services available. Photo editing for your current photographs is also available. Visit my site for price details at estudioaurora.smugmug.com

Contact me for a quote.

Real Estate -Residential Home

My Personal App

My SmugMug photo website allows me to create a personal SmugMug app. Check out my newly posted pics through this app.

Download my SmugMug app here: http://smu.gs/2dIuveQ

October - Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Breast Cancer Awareness. 2016. The month of October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. See the yearly diagnosis and death statistics for men and women. Research more about risks, prevent, and control at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Visit at http://www.cdc.gov/.







Credits:

Music by: Silent Partner "Always Hopeful"



October - Breast Cancer Awareness Month graphic elements and digital media were created by Aurora Contreras-Howe, owner of Estudio Aurora. All rights reserved. 2016.



Visit my website at: https://estudioaurora.smugmug.com/



Follow me on Twitter: @auroracontrer



Like my page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EstudioAurora.AC



Email: estudioaurora.ac@gmail.com



THANKS FOR WATCHING!

Picture Your Kenosha Photo Contest

Picture Your Kenosha Photo Contest: Contest Information
Enter your photos now in the Picture Your Kenosha Photo Contest! This is a photo contest sponsored by the Kenosha Area Convention

Hazy Morning

Hazy morning on the Port of Kenosha.
http://smu.gs/2cLJLBO

Kenosha, WI. 2015.

Red Witch Tall Ship

Flyby Kisses

Watch as this humble bumblebee is lavished in wasp kisses.

GraffGiraffe

Visit Kenosha's Sculpture Walk by Simmons Island. This sculpture, named GraffGiraffe, was created by Joe Gagnepain. This colorful and amazing tall piece, which was created with found objects, stands almost life size. Not something to miss! This is one of my favorite snapshots of  GraffGiraffe. See more of these amazing sculptures at estudioaurora.smugmug.com

Exploring Downtown Kenosha

Southport Marina. Kenosha, WI. 2016.

Southport Marina. Kenosha, WI. 2016.

 Playing with light today while venturing through downtown Kenosha. This particular statue is displayed just north of the Southport Marina and a few feet south of the Kenosha Public Museum. What appeals to me about this feminine statue are the calm expressions on the women and the smooth and dramatic natural contour lines on the robes. Women working together and being pillars of strength.

Send Me On A Photo Quest

I encourage anyone to send me on a photo quest. What subject matter do you want me to photograph? It's more of a challenge that I would love to meet.

Follow these 3 steps:

1. Email me what you'd like me to photograph with great specificity.
2. Purchase "Photo Quest" request (available below).
3. After my quest is complete, I'll send you the original photographs from my quest along with a personal and commercial use photo release signed by me. (Ex: Purchase Photo Quest with 5 Original Photos and I will provide you with 5 original QUALITY (Original is equal to the full size approximately 4672px by 3104px or 3104px by 4672px and from 5-7 MB) photos along with the signed photo release. Time to complete this quest is reasonably dependent on my ability to attain the subject matter or activity.

VOILÀ! That's it.

Photo Quest

5 - Quality Original Photos $275.00 USD 20 - Quality Original Photos $900.00 USD 50 - Quality Original Photos $2,000.00 USD

Please note: Photographs may not infringe on current U.S. copyright law nor depict any type of illegal activity.

Picture of the Week

A beautiful sunrise on North Point Beach in Racine, WI. I stood and waited for the sun to rise and peak through the lifesaver hanging on the lifeguard tower.

North Point Beach - Racine, WI.

Digital Photo Size/ Price

WEB Approximately .3 MP $25.00 USD HI-RES Approximately 4 MP $200.00 USD ORIGINAL Approximately 14 MP $400.00 USD

Upwork Global

 Check out my creative art work at:
Upwork Global

Floral Firecrackers

 These firecrackers blew up all over my front lawn. It happened almost overnight. Gorgeous!! I planted white and pink lilies for my mom a few years ago. They're planted behind some hostas on either side of the house stairs and a nice welcome to my mom's house. Better than a welcome mat. 

First Day of Summer 2016

How exciting! Today marks the first day of summer. The temperature has consistently been in the 70's and 80's. I'm so glad. I'm more of a summer person, but overall adaptable. Well you must be if you live in Wisconsin. Today I was working on a photo and graphic design project. My family's dog Ivory was the focus of the project. She's easy with the camera, and very friendly. This photo was taken at the Simmons Island Beach in Kenosha, WI. Great beach! I haven't visited it enough these past two years. Time to make up the time.

2016 Capstone

These past two weeks have been extraordinarily hectic. My son just graduated from 8th grade and he is now moving on to 9th. The school he attended is named Bullen Middle School. There he was enrolled in the Dual Language Immersion Program where he was taught by English and Spanish speaking teachers. The mission of this highly disciplined program allowed for students to learn primarily in Spanish throughout the early years and diverge into learning in primarily English and less Spanish. The students capstone with the student's ability to be completely literate in English and Spanish students. For nine years (K-8th grade) the students enrolled in this program became cultured, learned together, played together, and became tight knit as a student body. This year is the last year they would all be together. Each student going off to different high school's in the area and maybe seeing each other again in high school but some became good friends and will be hanging together longer.

Every year they hold an 8th Grade Farewell Event to bid everyone adieu's. To help commemorate this event, the BCAT parent group I'm involved with provided a selfie booth and brought graduation props for everyone to wear while taking selfie's or group pictures. I volunteered to create a selfie booth for the student's and teachers. It was used at both 8th Grade Farewell Events. The students, parents, and staff all enjoyed the experience. I was told it was a major highlight of the event by a few administrators and teachers. At the DL Farewell Dance students signed the bottom half of the background of the selfie booth and it was given to the DL teachers. It was more of bittersweet occasion at the DL Farewell Dance.  Teachers and students cried and hugged each other. For the last time, DL teachers were surrounded by the student's they loved and dedicated themselves to for three years.  Sometimes the notion of time compounds onto the state of emotions. This is another great milestone my son has accomplished.  Four more years and he's off to college. With the KUSD Youth Options program maybe sooner.

 

American You Photo Sessions

Estudio Aurora's American You
5/16/16 to 5/30/16.
What do you do best? Get a snapshot of your life for years to come. Schedule your personalized appointment today! Meet at my studio or make arrangements to set up my photo studio at at a more convenient location (Additional charges apply for photo studio setup at your location).

Cost:
Single (1 person): 20 minute session = $25
Single Package includes: Photo session, personal online private link to downloadable digital album, and signed digital copyright release. Link and access to photo album provided within 24 hours. Prints not included.

Family Package (2+ people): 20 minute photo session=$45
Family Package includes: Photo session, personal online private link to downloadable digital album, and signed digital copyright release. Link and access to photo album provided within 24 hours. Prints not included.

Payment due on or before the scheduled May 31st photo session. Cash, debit, or credit cards accepted. Offer ends May 31st at 9pm.

Available Discounts:
Senior Citizen
Military (Please present a military ID)

Estudio Aurora location:
1405 16th St Suite #2574
Racine, WI 53403

Email for an appointment:
estudioaurora.ac@gmail.com

Real Estate Photography: A Condo Tour

Real Estate Photography: A Condo Tour (2016). This short film is composed of photographs from my recent venture into residential/commercial real estate photography. My focus is to capture a home or property as a prospective client would see it while touring through. Your journey starts at the driveway entrance into the ground floor, loft, and finally the basement.



Film Production and photography by Aurora Contreras-Howe, owner of Estudio Aurora. All rights reserved. 



View my photography work at estudioaurora.smugmug.com 

Contact me at estudioaurora.ac@gmail.com



Thanks for watching. Sharing is caring!

Photo Trax Shop

Check out the photography, video equipment, and supply store from Amazon I added today to  my blog. Visit Photo Trax Shop and find what you need at a fair price. Thanks!

Cat Portraits

I decided to take advantage of this cold weather and spend the whole day taking pictures of cats, family cats. Pet portraiture. Rossi, Libby, and Vincent were pretty good sports. Libby was the least patient, she's so energetic. I used quite a bit of catnip.

I set up my photo studio and started playing with the cats and taking pictures. I then went into my favorite programs, Photoshop and my favorite desktop publishing software, Indesign, and started playing some more. You can see my studio logo embedded within the pawprint and the name of the cats on the opposite side. I kept in mind their own natural character when selecting their fonts. Rossi is quick and slick, Libby is cute and hyper, and Vinnie is a tank of a cat.  Please enjoy the pics!