Photography: Amber Marlow Blatt
Photography: Amber Marlow Blatt
Meet (dad) Dennis and (mom) Kelsey and their family. This dynamic duo from NYC is getting high marks for successfully reinventing the school portrait with one of the greatest ideas since recess, it’s called Stomping Ground. The gig has officially been underway since last school year though Dennis has been a well-known name in the industry for some time having sharpened his portrait skillz photographing famous acts like The White Stripes, Radiohead, Neko Case, and tons of other artists.. The accolades his work has received are many and though snapping a school portrait may seem like an uncommon tangent, he and Kelsey have identified a unique need and created a very special solution with Stomping Ground. They were kind enough to entertain a Q n A and even offer Hipsters w/Kids readers a discount at their next Open Studio Day – Read on!
What was the motivation to start Stomping Ground?
KELSEY: It really started as a project with our daughter’s class. And then we did another class. And then another. The portraits were stunning and the parents loved them so we decided to pursue it. Now we have school clients in New York and Los Angeles, and schools from other cities are contacting us as well.
DENNIS: Our daughter’s school photos never came close to capturing her spirit—they were always really stiff shots of her with a forced smile. Kelsey knew I could do better shots of kids—not just technically better, but better at capturing their personalities.
You two have kids, how does this help with 'tricks' of the Stomping Ground trade?
K: Dennis is such a great dad. He absolutely loves children and has a sensitivity and gentleness that children really respond to.
D: I couldn’t have done this before I had kids!
Are there methods for getting kids to loosen up in front of the camera and capture them being real?
K: Eye contact and listening. We want them to feel acknowledged and relax.
D: You just have to be open emotionally and mentally and physically get down to their level.
K: I also think that Dennis simply knows when to press the shutter!
Any funny stories from kids acting silly/saying funny stuff etc that stick out?
D: I can’t think of a specific story, but I’ve learned a lot about behavioral patterns of little kids. If they are feeling bashful or are uncomfortable, their tongues hang out. They shove their fingers in their mouths. Boys will generally fall to the floor and won’t get up.
What is unique about photographing children?
D: Little kids are generally guileless. They don’t have all of the ego issues that adults have. If they are in the mood, then you can get the most expressive, open, and honest pictures. Even if they aren’t in the mood, you can still get great shots. The pictures are just quieter, softer, more reserved. And it seems obvious and a bit cliché, but kids just seem to radiate from inside out.
K: We’ve gotten feedback from parents that their kids love the pictures. This is really important to us especially with teenagers. We want them to feel good seeing themselves. The pictures aren’t just for the adults. I was on the phone with a parent who said he and his wife didn’t have a photograph of their son smiling from the last few years. He said they really treasured the photos we took. And its not like his son had a big smile in the shot. It was very subtle. But he was relaxed, his eyes were happy and he was smiling slightly. Honestly it looks like he was trying not to smile but couldn’t help himself.
Is Stomping Ground by appt only or do you have open studio days? Do schools hire you the most or individuals?
K: You can hire Dennis for environmental family portraiture that can include studio shots. But we also have Open Studio Day twice a year. This way parents whose schools don’t partner us can still have their child photographed by Dennis. And if a family wants to be photographed at Open Studio Day that is ok too.
Our next Open Studio Day is May 22nd and 23rd in DUMBO at Rabbit Hole Studio. We picked DUMBO because it’s a great place for families. You can take a water taxi there if you’re coming from Manhattan. The views are amazing as is the architecture. And it’s a very kid-friendly neighborhood: there’s a great playground, Bubby’s, Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory, and Powerhouse Books.
The sitting fee is $150 for a half hour session. Packages start at $89. First 3 Hipsters w/Kids readers to make a reservation and mention this post receive $50 off the sitting fee. If you’re a Hw/Ks reading single parent receive 50% off the sitting fee.
YOU GUYS... THANKS!
Monday, April 19, 2010 
;)