Free shipping at Becklo Photography and Design

I hate calculating shipping charges when I'm planning on ordering something online. It makes a good deal turn into a not-so-good deal fast. I have to imagine I'm not the only one. So I've officially removed any and all shipping charges from my sales - both domestic and international orders.

"Our Captain" Steve Yzerman, Detroit Red Wing

I sell photographs. They are incredibly lightweight. Shipping costs are probably attributed more to the packaging to keep said photos safe. Even when an order contains multiple items or larger prints, it's not that bad. I can swing shipping costs if someone is willing to pay me to display my art in their homes or to give as gifts.

Elephant Footprint, a special piece of Detroit Zoo history

Besides, not only will customers not have to think about shipping costs when they buy from my shop... I won't have to think about shipping costs when I sell something!

Who?

My newest item on Etsy, the Who? Owl, is a 11" x 14" print that still makes me laugh.

But then, I'm easily amused.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/87140537/who-owl-11-x-14-photograph

Grace Is Photogenic

I was having fun with Gracie May and came up with a bunch of ridiculous shots that, on their own, probably wouldn't have looked too great. But with their powers combined...

...it shows I have one goofy cat.

Steve Yzerman: Our Captain

It's a cold day in Michigan. Well. "Cold" being, "It's 68 and rainy after a week of being in the high 90's oh god oh god I'm so burned."

I optimistically reserve June for a Stanley Cup parade in Detroit each year. That doesn't always happen, but considering the Red Wings have won four Stanley Cups in the last 14 years, it's not completely unrealistic for me to think about. And although Steve Yzerman is no longer the captain — or even in Detroit —  he is still in the hearts of Red Wings fans everywhere.

This is one of my newest prints available on Etsy. It's a mounted chromogenic photograph printed on Kodak Endura metallic paper. Translation: SO SHINY. It has the texture of a glossy photograph but the reflective shine of something that may be embossed. It's still a fairly new type of paper that isn't seen frequently, so that makes it even more fun to look at!

I wish this photograph of the finished product could do it justice. Obviously, the metallic aspect does not translate through a static, 2D photograph like this. The paper makes the photograph pop, almost as if it were 3D or lit with LED lights. This particular one measures 10.75" tall and 14" wide, so the size just adds to the intensity of the photo's presentation.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/74837734/steve-yzerman-detroit-red-wing-11-x-14

Rest assured, I had fun with this photograph!

New Etsy Listings: Spirit of Detroit and Welcome To TIger Stadium

I'm being extra productive today, probably because of the beautiful weather. It's 72 degrees outside right now! So I'm out in the sunlight, making progress with my Etsy shop. I'm in the process of renewing old listings and creating new ones. Sports fans in Detroit will be particularly interested in these two:


Spirit of Detroit : http://www.etsy.com/listing/72940120/red-wings-spirit-of-detroit-4x6-mounted

This 4x6 print features the Spirit of Detroit decked out in Red Wings gear. It's the best way to tell when playoff season is here!

Welcome to Tiger Stadium : http://www.etsy.com/listing/50773784/welcome-to-tiger-stadium-4x6-mounted

This 4x6 print was taken on Michigan Avenue prior to Tiger Stadium's demolition in 2009. While the stadium may be gone, it will always invoke fond memories from the millions of people who attended events there in the past.

Our Core

I read a quick post yesterday from fellow blogger Shybiker titled, "Our Core." It wasn't a long post, just something real short and sweet that included a photograph of him from his childhood and all the similarities he can point out in the young child and his present day counterpart. At the end, a question was posed: Do you have any childhood photos?   

Well, of course I do! I'm a third generation photographer and the daughter of a genealogist! But I've had an idea percolating in the back of my mind for a while now that I decided would be a perfect way to reply to this question. My great-grandparents moved to Ferndale, MI in the 1920's after being chased out of Detroit by the Purple Gang. My family owned an apartment building in Detroit that had a billiards table the gang took a particular liking to. I'm sketchy on the details but I do know that they moved north and built a house in Ferndale. My grandmother was born in the late 20's and raised in that house.

This first photograph is of my grandma on the left, playing with a friend of hers in front of the house my great-grandparents built. It was taken in 1934, which I believe makes Grandma about five years old.

This is Grandma a few years later with her dog, Skipper. I'd put this to be mid-1930's. Look at those curls!

But then, check this out! My grandma on that same very porch, holding my mom as my uncles sit around her! This was most likely mid-1957.

Fast forward to the mid-1960's. That's my mom, probably not even yet a teenager, standing with her cousin and his girlfriend.

Then we have the (possibly late 70's but more likely) early 80's. If you ever wondered where I earned my cat lady status, look no farther than my grandmother. I think this was Max, who was a Siamese / Manx mix. Do you see a tail?

Another 80's shot, this of my grandparents. Even to this day, photos of plants are referred to as "Grandpa pictures." He started the shutterbug itch in my family, which passed on to Mom and subsequently, me.

But here we go! My mom (in the stripes) sitting with me in a stroller with my pretty little bonnet. Behind me are my Uncle Dan, Aunt Sue and cousin Kathy. They live in Pennsylvania so for them to be in Michigan, I assume this was taken at Easter of 1986 (you know what happens when you assume...). That would make me about 8 months old.

Uncle Dan's trying to get everyone to look at the camera. Or he really likes pointing. Anyway, that's my dad holding me while Kathy watches on.

Mom and her loud-mouth daughter, ~ 1987-88.

Family portrait, probably Easter of 1989. I'm sitting in the pink coat in front of my cousin Sara and next to my best friend forever, Big Bird.

Mom and me in August, 1989. This is the day we brought my brother, Ricky, home from the hospital. This was just a few days before my fourth birthday.

Yep. I was Bert for Halloween. Two years in a row. I am a Sesame Street girl, no doubt about it. (Probably 1991-ish)

I've got my arm around my cousin Kathy, sitting next to her younger sister, Julia, while my brother Ricky jumps and screams behind me. Meanwhile, Aunt Sue is reading and Uncle Doug and Grandma (in one of her many cat shirts) sit and chat. (1995?)

Uncle Doug finished restoring his 1965 Austin Healy Sprite so we had to do a little photo shoot. (Fall, 1999)

Which brings us to yesterday, where after dinner, Uncle Doug (who now lives at this house) brought out his camera. Mom's hugging me and my little little brother, Kevin. This was one of maybe 40 photographs, but definitely the nicest.

I think it's fascinating how much history one little porch has. The house has changed a lot over the years but has stayed in the family throughout the entire time. I can't wait to see what else is in store for this porch in the future!

April Giveaway Contest!

It’s giveaway time at Becklo Photo and there are two ways to enter the drawing for a chance to win a mounted 8” x 10” of your very own!

About the photo

This lion is part of the intricate James Scott Fountain on Detroit’s Belle Isle. A black border surrounds what would almost appear to be a black and white photograph if not for the yellow sky of dusk falling behind the fountain. The photograph is a glossy chromogenic print on Fuji paper. It’s mounted on 3/16” black foam board which has a metallic green ribbon threaded through for easy and adjustable hanging. A small hole behind the knot of the ribbon has been carefully carved into the foam board to hang without a ribbon if desired.

This print would sell on Etsy for $30 plus shipping, but the winner of this giveaway will receive it at no cost. I'll even mail it for free! Participating in this contest requires nothing on your part but a couple minutes of your time.

How to enter

What is Etsy? Etsy's website states: "Our mission is to enable people to make a living making things, and to reconnect makers with buyers. Our vision is to build a new economy and present a better choice: Buy, Sell, and Live Handmade." Etsy features many traditional artists who paint, draw and (like myself) photograph, but there are many other things offered. Woodwork, clothing, music, food and more can be found here!

I am a strong supporter of Etsy, a website for people who make things and the people who want to buy those items. I’ve sold a variety of photographs via Etsy and also have a wish list going of things I’d like to buy. I owe a lot to Etsy and would like to give the good people there some exposure.

Step one: Sign in to Etsy or create an account (which is completely free, quick and painless!). The only information you're required to give Etsy is your email address, the user name you choose and the password you decide on.

Step two: Add my Etsy shop at etsy.becklo.com to your favorite stores by clicking on "Add to favorites" near the bottom of the left hand sidebar.

And that’s it! I’ll send you a message through Etsy, called a conversation, to confirm you’ve been entered in the drawing. And if you're interested, you can go for the...

BONUS ENTRY!

Step three: Find an item on Etsy from a shop other than my own that you would consider purchasing. Favorite that item and send me a conversation with the link to it. You will be entered in the contest a second time and I will make a treasury collection of all the items that have been sent to me. This will help other Etsians out by featuring their shops and wares.

A detailed display of how the ribbon is threaded (above)
and what the print looks like from the back (right).

How to win

On Sunday, April 24, I will randomly draw a winner from those who participated. I'll make the announcement here on blog.becklo.com and contact the winner with a conversation on Etsy. Make sure to check Etsy often and/or enable Etsy to notify you via email when you receive a message. If I don't hear from the chosen winner within three days, I'll redraw the names for another winner.

I hope this contest will encourage you to explore Etsy as well as help promote some amazing people selling things they've made by hand. I've encountered inspiring sellers who live in far away time zones and others who live only a few streets from me. Creativity is everywhere you look and I can't wait to see what you find!

4/04 - ETA: This contest is open to all people in all countries. Good luck!