Welcome to Sugar Six Photography (formerly ISG Photography) – Anchorage Alaska’s Wedding and Portrait Photographer
NOTE: ISG PHOTOGRAPHY IS NOW SUGAR SIX PHOTOGRAPHY. I am working on transferring all of the links from ISG Photography over to the new Sugar Six page but to view the new Sugar Six site directly simply click on the home page button to the right.
Welcome to my blog. I am Samantha Gawrys and I am a full time wedding and portrait photographer in the Anchorage Alaska area. In March 2011 ISG Photography changed names to Sugar Six Photography. Same photographer, same services, just a refreshed look! All of the past ISG Photography posts, images, and archives can be found here as well as new Sugar Six Photography information.
Scroll down to see the most recent posts, browse by category or by month on the right. Feel free to call with any questions. 907-317-1433. Thank you.
Know before you print your professional photographs – Print comparison by Sugar Six in Anchorage Alaska – Wedding photography printing tips
Just because I am an all digital studio, and I provide the digital negatives with print rights with every portrait photography and wedding photography package, does not mean I don’t care what your finished prints look like hanging on your wall. First and foremost I hope you DO get them up and on the wall. All too often we are guilty of admiring them on the computer but never getting them to print. So if you haven’t printed yet listen up and make it a priority. Probably the biggest thing holding other professional photographers back from offering the digital files is the argument that the prints represent the photographer just as much as the files, if not more, because they are what everyone sees. Photographer are afraid they will do all of their hard work to make amazing images only to have them printed on crummy paper with improperly configured settings. This was a fear of mine as well but something I decided to take a calculated risk on because the digital model was something I really believe in. I try to educate my clients on why quality matters with prints and how to go about getting good quality without breaking the bank. With every package I include some printing recommendations that I encourage clients to follow when printing Sugar Six Photography wedding or portrait images. I have used Millers Professional Imaging for years and have been thrilled with their quality and fast shipping to Alaska, which we know is SO hard to find! Millers Professional Imaging has a consumer lab online called MPix www.mpix.com. Knowing I could send my clients to a division of my professional lab was an important deciding factor in going all digital.
As I’m preparing for the wedding fair tomorrow at the Dena’ina Center in downtown Anchorage I am a bit behind on a few things. Happens to the best of us. I knew I wanted to print a few prints for my studio display as well as for the wedding fair display but I procrastinated and placed it only Thursday afternoon. I woke up today and still had not received my package from the pro lab. So by mid-day I figured I better print a few at Costco just to be sure I had them to frame even if they weren’t perfect. I picked the prints up from Costco this afternoon and thought “oh, they aren’t bad, that’s good” and came home fairly pleased. I knew they weren’t perfect but without having the file right there to compare to they looked “good enough”.
When I arrived home I found a package on my doorstep with the prints from my pro lab! Yay! As I pulled them out of the box the difference between the pro prints and the Costco prints was shocking! I knew when I received the Costco prints that the color was not exactly what I expected but until you have them side by side you don’t really see how much of a difference there is. Once I could truly compare I realized what I thought was “good enough” actually wasn’t good at all!
I thought this would be an excellent chance to share a few lessons I learned and this image that I took at a workshop in CO was the perfect of the group to share because of the deep rich color of her hair and her amazing complexion. The first is of course when you have a big wedding fair coming up don’t procrastinate until three days out to order your large images. The other was a reminder that good enough isn’t good enough when you deserve perfect! Think your drug store prints are “good enough”? Check out the dramatic difference in color and clarity between the two. Even I was shocked!
Here is the same exact image ordered from my pro lab that is the professional side of MPix where I send my customers. Millers Professional Imaging owns MPix and my work is calibrated to their machine which makes a HUGE difference as you can see. There is barely any difference between the quality, color, contrast and sharpness of the file I sent in and the image I got back.
So the next time you need to make some large wall prints that will be displayed and cherished in your home forever please consider printing from the lab I recommend! You paid for a professional photographer to capture your wedding or your baby or your family so you deserve quality amazing looking prints from it! Also remember I do sell wall art pieces over 16×20 in size including canvases, wall prints, acrylics, etc. and I’d be happy to quote you an amazing gallery display wall and do all the work for you! This post is of course not to bash Costco for their images. In their defense they do the best they can do with what they have got and they have some very nice photo products and nice staff. The problem is they are not calibrated to Sugar Six Photography images so what I see on my screen, and what you see on your screen, does not match the calibration at Costco. The other problem I believe is that it is so expensive to update machines in Alaska. Places like Target and Costco in the lower 48 get new photo printing machines MUCH more frequently than they do up here. My local drugstore employee, who shall remain nameless since I don’t have facts like this print to show, told me that they were printing on the same machine as when they opened 14 years ago! So of course I realize for small prints to send to grandma or wallets to include in Christmas cards places like drugstores and box store prints are just fine. But if YOU are going to hang something on your wall I encourage you to take the extra few days (www.mpix.com shipping to Alaska is cheap and super fast!!!!) and order the quality you deserve.
Winter Wonderland Wedding – O’Malley’s on the Green in Anchorage Alaska by wedding photographer Sugar Six
Finally finishing up my holiday weddings starting with Robert and Tarina! Robert and Tarina were married in a wonderful native ceremony at O’Malley’s on the Green in Anchorage. It was a nasty freezing cold day but Tarina really wanted snow photos. JUST when we were about to give up on snow during the ceremony the skies opened up and starting dumping snow for her! So despite the cold and dark we had to go get some snow shots for her!! I love them, the couple and the photos!!! So full of personality and love. Robert and Tarina’s wedding is featured in one of my new sample albums. Come by my booth at the wedding fair to take a look.
Here are a few of my favorites from their day. To view a few more visit my Sugar Six Photography Facebook page
Valentines Day Sexy Boudoir Photo Special – Downtown Anchorage AK
The boudoir marathon pre-valentines day special is over and we had such an amazing time! Every slot was filled, hair and makeup was rocking and the hotel suite was gorgeous. I have had my eye on this suite for boudoir photography ever since I photographed a bride getting ready in here during her wedding in downtown Anchorage. I’m just now getting time to put up sneak peeks for those who want them online and emailing private sneak peeks to those who don’t. Every single woman was amazing to work with and looked gorgeous coming out of hair and makeup by Julene Quinlan and Tess Weaver! One of the best parts of doing special marathons like this is getting a totally different challenge every hour! Every woman brought completely different items and wanted a different sort of feel. It was such a hoot to watch everyone pull out their items and talk about their vision for their boudoir images. One minute I’m photographing soft vintage style boudoir and the next I’m covering a gorgeous girl with Valentines day candy!!!! Best job EVER!!!! 
Here are a few sneak peeks for those that want them with more to come tomorrow.
More to come tomorrow. Also don’t miss my boudoir display at the upcoming wedding fair Sunday January 22nd, 2012 at the convention center downtown Anchorage!
Valentines Day Boudoir Special is this weekend! – Sugar Six Photography Anchorage Alaska
Today was the start of the boudoir marathon weekend in a swanky hotel room downtown Anchorage. We had SO much fun I can’t wait to do another full day tomorrow. Just one quick share tonight because I can barely stand it I love it so much! Many more images to come but this shot has been in my head for a long time and I was SO excited to find someone with an amazing body, gorgeous face and super fun attitude who was willing to lay on a hotel floor and let me cover them in candy. Hahahaha. I have the best job in the WHOLE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!
I do have one lone spot tomorrow, saturday the 14th at 2:00 pm come open if anyone is interested in some last minute fun. Text or call me at 907-317-1433!
Anchorage Wedding Fair – Sunday January 22nd – Come visit the Sugar Six Photography booth!
The Anchorage wedding fair is coming up and this is the BIG one folks! It is actually the only one that will have a cool Sugar Six Photography booth this year. So don’t miss it. Sunday January 22nd at the convention center. There will be prizes, free cake, a dig for diamonds, fashion shows, free cake, tons of vendors, free cake and of course ME!!!! Also did I mention free cake?? LOL. One of my favorite parts is getting done setting up early so I can hit up the wedding cake vendors to market and taste all the yummy samples.
I have BIG plans for the Sugar Six Photography booth with a big new display, brand new line of luxurious wedding albums, boudoir products and even some special boudoir session coupons! Exclusive for the wedding fair attendees!
Brides beware – this is the biggest wedding fair and where most good vendors fill their remaining schedule holes. I am usually fairly booked for the year shortly after the wedding fair. So if you are interested in Sugar Six Photography for your wedding photography in 2012 it would be best to schedule a consultation before the wedding fair!
I hope to see a ton of people there. It is always much more fun on years it is busy. Oh and there will also be a discount on something for someone who brings me a cold diet pepsi. LOL. Because usually by about noon I’m DYING from no caffeine and all they have is a coffee hut and sadly this girl doesn’t drink coffee. LOL. Although I was tempted to start last year after a 5am wake up to setup the booth!!!!
Tips For Boudoir Photography – Sugar Six Photography, Anchorage Alaska Boudoir Photographer
The thought of a boudoir session sometimes makes women nervous so I think it is helpful to know what to expect and some general tips before your photography session.
- First, and most importantly remember more than anything I am here to make YOU feel beautiful! With six years of experience photographing all shapes, sizes, ages of women I will pull out every trick in my book. We will hide what you hate, highlight what you love and light you in the most flattering ways. So the best thing you can do is relax and trust that you have picked an experienced awesome (if I do say so myself LOL) photographer who will do right by you and your undergarments.
- When you first arrive we will discuss what kinds of images you like, dislike, and any concerns you may have. We will shoot a variety of backdrops, poses, etc. so you will have a lot of choices when selecting your products. Although I do work out of a studio adjacent to my home it is not your typical home studio. Most people think of sheets taped to walls or cheesy backdrop stands made out of PVC piping as a home studio. My studio space is a designated space, 24/7 the only time I’m in there is to photograph people…..or clean it….or organize my million hats but you get the point. I have over 30 professional quality photography backdrops, including some ceiling power mounted canvases, and I can produce just about any look you want. I have several professional photography strobes for lighting as well as light modifiers which allows me to tweak the light however we want. The word photography comes from the Latin word which means to paint with light. Truly photography IS about the quality of the lighting so I have invested time and money into quality lighting gear. We will change outfits, and accessories, frequently and try to get a variety of expressions from sexy to playful.
- Unless you are an expert I suggest skipping the fake tanning creams right before your boudoir session. In everyday clothes you can hide spots that didn’t get evenly coated but in your underwear it is much harder! If you are light colored, and do not like that, we can add a touch of warmth to your skin tone in the editing process. If you make yourself orange, or blotchy, I can’t fix that.
- Remember to think about the details. Things like dark hair roots, unpolished nails, rough dry skin, and clumps in your mascara are often obvious when we begin shooting.
- We want your images to be sexy, sultry, beautiful, but also natural. While I encourage everyone to bring some items that are fun and out of your comfort zone this is not the time to dye your hair a dramatic color, put on makeup totally different than you do normally, or wear your hair in a drastically different style. Our goal is for you to look polished, beautiful, but still YOU!
- Think classic beauty! Some props and over the top boudoir clothes are fun but overall we want to create a look you can be proud of now and 20 years from now. This is an investment in yourself and I encourage you to pick things that are classy and timeless.
- Get a good night’s sleep before your session! A well rested face is going to be more beautiful regardless of the amount of makeup you apply.
- Avoid tight fitting clothes, bra, socks, or hair bands around your wrist a few hours before your session to avoid lines on your skin when we get started. I also encourage you to start with the lingerie items that leave the least amount of lines and marks and do the tightest items last for the same reason.
- Your boudoir session is an adult’s only event. Please do NOT bring your children to the session. Your boudoir session is all about you and it is too difficult to focus when your children are in tow.
- Chances are at any given time most of us have a bruise, pimple, or dry skin spot somewhere on our body. Typically you do not need to reschedule for these small items with Sugar Six Photography. You chose the best and your boudoir photography session includes retouching on all of your images. Small blemishes can usually be easily corrected in the editing process.
- If it helps you be less nervous bring a girlfriend. Just be sure it is a girlfriend you are comfortable being partly naked in front of!
- Bring extra. Extra stockings if you want to wear those, extra lip gloss, extra outfits, etc. Chances are something will be missing or have a run and we don’t want to have to throw out an entire idea because one element went bad.
- Relax, relax, relax!!!! Did I say that already? Really the most important thing is that you have fun and enjoy the process. I promise I will take care of the rest and you will love your sexy boudoir photographs!
- Do feel free to bring examples of photographs you like and don’t like so we can discuss your preferences. You can view samples of my work here on this blog and or on my website at www.sugarsixphotography.com
Here are a few boudoir sneak peeks from my last special!
Boudior Photography Special for Valentines Day
It’s that time of year again and I have the dates and location for my 5th annual valentines day boudoir special. Wow….5 years already since I started shooting boudoir photography?! Amazing. Anyway this year I’ve decided to do the special in a swanky downtown hotel suite AND it includes hair and makeup. Sexy boudoir photos are the perfect gift for Valentines day for your special love. Or…better yet give yourself a Valentines day present and do it just for yourself! As always my boudoir photography is completely private and discreet. You won’t EVER see yourself on my website, blog, facebook page or promo flyer unless you specifically approve it. I have 12 slots available and I’m sure they will fill quickly. So if you are interested give me a call! 907-317-1433.
Photography Special includes:
- Professional Hair and Makeup
- 45 minute private photo session with Sugar Six Photography in a downtown Anchorage hotel suite
- All professional editing to add that tiny bit of Photoshop magic, which everyone deserves when they are getting photographed in their underwear in my opinion!!!
- An average of 20-30 fully edited sexy photos on disk in high resolution, as always since I’m an all digital studio now, as well as personal print release to print/share/archive as much as you would like.
- Plenty of time to purchase books, pin up calendars, mini accordions or anything else you may want to from my boutique selection.
Sign up today! This is less than 1/2 price all included! Better than a photography coupon.
Baby Bunny – One week old newborn boy – Eagle River, Alaska
Imagine my delight when these parents arrived with a hand knitted bunny outfit they ordered from Etsy when she was still pregnant. Talk about pre-preparation! This is apparently the year of the rabbit so rabbits will be his lucky charm so to speak. Turn yourself into a golden rabbit and I think that is extra luck – right? A pretty good way to start off your life! We were a little worried at first because he was fussy during the family photos but add enough food and Mr. space heater and he zonked out. He was so much fun to work with as he curled himself into little nooks and kept his hands up by his face. Every time we tried to relax his hands down back up by his face they went. Natural model material. As well as amazing tiny bunny blackmail material for his high school yearbook as dad reminded me. Haha.
Wet Winter Wedding – Raven Glacier Lodge Girdwood
If I were to describe Erin & Amy’s wedding in 3 words they would be magical, joyous and intimate. With an amazing wedding dress, a unique location at the Raven Glacier Lodge in Girdwood AK, the MOST fun bride and groom you will ever meet and an intimate group of family and friends Erin & Amy were married….in the pouring rain…..in December! It was a brief, but touching, ceremony followed by one hell of a party! They braved some of the worst Alaska weather that I can remember (snow/hail/sleet/rain/mush) for some epic portraits! Once we all looked like wet dogs we headed inside the warm cozy lodge for dinner with friends around a giant wooden table. After dinner the fun really began as guests joined the couple in some dancing fun. Their energy and joy were contagious and I’m sure they danced well into the night!
Isn’t she stunning!? Her bouquet was brooch bouquet that she made herself. It truly was incredible! It contained about 25 brooches she has collected over the past months as well as her something borrowed, a love bird broach and small locket photos of loved ones who couldn’t make it to the wedding.
It’s official! LOVE them! Could they be more fun? This shot, among many, makes me want to go and hang out with them all over again!
I love the way the groom’s mother is admiring the bride.
The umbrella wasn’t really part of the plan, in fact they were just under it to keep them dry long enough to let me set up the light, but I like it. It’s very “them” with the vibrant colors in a classic winter scene.
Dim the lights, crank up the tunes, stick a flash across the room with some remote triggers and viola! Lodge living room turned into Erin & Amy’s nightclub!
They were married right in the middle of a freak December rain storm. With about 4 feet of snow already this winter on the ground adding rain and hail on top of that made for some VERY interesting conditions and some VERY cool icicles! OMG how fun are these?!?! I was like a kid in a candy store when they agreed to go out for one more short set of photos after the sun went down. I found this amazing patch of icicles coming off the building so we brought out some off camera light and had some romantic, artistic, photography fun! I couldn’t love these any more!!!
The lodge looked amazing as the sky got dark!
And of course if I’m going to get pelted by hail and rain all day you can bet I’m going to use it to my advantage! We were going so fast trying to get out of the hail that I didn’t even notice the cool steam from their breath until I got home and pulled up the images. One of my favorites of the day for sure!
Congratulations Erin & Amy! I wish you a lifetime of happiness which honestly I have NO doubt you will receive. You could feel your joy and connection throughout your wedding and you truly are the kind of people I would be honored to list among my friends.
Steve & Katie were married about a week ago at the Church of a Thousand Trees as it is known in Palmer Alaska. Their wedding seemed to be focused around family, ceremony and tradition…..with a few twists. This United Protestant Church is an important element to their marriage and has a lot of family history. Many generations in their families have been married in this church and it was the perfect place for Steve and Katie to begin their new chapter. For an individual twist however the bride and groom incorporated some fun elements that were more personal to them. It was a gorgeous heartfelt ceremony followed by a wicked freezing cold photo shoot. It was -4 degrees on their wedding day which makes for some amazing colors in the sky but one seriously frozen bride and groom. Even my camera gear was starting to act up at the end of our time. We would get out of the car, keep coats on while I set up the shot, quickly ditch the jackets, hold our breath so the images weren’t full of cold breath smoke, shoot shoot shoot and run back to the car! Coldest wedding I have yet to photograph and I hope it stays that way. My time with them was brief but because they were brave and I was fast we still managed to get some amazing once in a lifetime shots!
The bride wore a gorgeous family heirloom locket during the ceremony.
The groom owns a tactical weapons, security and survival facility in Anchorage Alaska and the wedding certainly reflected that theme. The groom wore his tactical gear and even had a special “groom” name plate added!
The church was heavily guarded by some serious security forces. As you can see they were spread out and taking their guard duty seriously.
The poor little flower girls were super brave coming out in the cold but understandably only lasted a few minutes.
A traditional altar shot of the bride and groom before moving on to more contemporary portrait shots. I don’t claim a style per say with my wedding photography. I think the best photographer can incorporate some photojournalism, traditional, as well as more contemporary photographs. Why not have it all?
And even a big huge group family shot!
You know if it hadn’t been negative 4 degrees I SO would have knocked on this farmers door and asked if we could take photos with the hay bails. Alas…..maybe next time!
After the traditional photos it was time to get our sexy on. Which let me tell you is VERY difficult in -4 degrees!!! They were AMAZING!
Despite the harsh weather conditions this was an amazing wedding to photograph. Tradition mixed with humor and love and it shows!
