Moving Day – We’re headed to http://blog.deremerstudios.com

The Deremer Studio Blog is moving to http://blog.deremerstudios.com

Big News!  After almost three years, 370 posts, 5100 photos, and 280,000 views, we’ve decided to move the hosting of our WordPress blog onto our own site.  The new blog location will be http://blog.deremerstudios.com.  We’ve transferred over all the archives, including all the images, comments and likes to the new location, so you’ll still be able to search and find what you’re looking for from the past three years.  For the time being, we’ll be keeping this site up as well, though all new posts will be at the new blog location.    For most of you, your subscription should transfer over to the new site without an issue, but if you’ve signed up for email updates, you’ll need to sign up a second time.

As always, if you enjoy our photos, please share the new blog address with your friends and help us spread the word!

Check out our Deremer Studios site:
Commercial  Fine Art Wedding & Portrait   |  Blog
Copyright 2014 Deremer Studios LLC – Jacksonville, FL
904-744-1103  |  info@deremerstudios.com

Sneak Peek: Disney Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Night

2014 05 Fine Art - Disney Seven Dwarfs Mine Train 01 Sneak Peek

This is a bit out of our normal realm of photography, but while on a family trip to Disney this weekend, we discovered that the new Seven Dwarfs Mine Train was open during the evening for preview rides.  Needless to say, we were pretty excited, but there was only one problem – I had left our work cameras in the car.  So, with iPhone and a little waterproof camera in hand, I tried my best to get some descent shots to share with friends and followers alike. But, because of the very low light, the results weer lackluster.  Fast forward 24 hours, and we made a special trip to ride again, this time with our professional gear in tow.

2014 05 Fine Art - Disney Seven Dwarfs Mine Train 10 Sneak Peek

So, here’s a photographic sneak peek of Disney’s great new ride before it opens!  Let’s start with the line – which was about 60 minutes long.  As Disney has began to do, there are several great game stations with interactive screens (above) and fun activities that help the time go by.  You can see photos of each station in the gallety below.   The ride itself is about as quick and slithery as Thunder Mountain – though smoother thanks to the suspended cars – and it also has a slower portion in the middle that takes you on a tour through the Dwarfs’ gem-crusted mine (below).

2014 05 Fine Art - Disney Seven Dwarfs Mine Train 21 Sneak Peek Night Ride

Thanks for visiting out blog!  Check out all the fun in the galley below!  As always, please feel free to download any images you like – and if you enjoy our photos, please share this blog with your friends and help us get the word out!

TO DOWNLOAD PHOTOS: simply click on the photo you like from the gallery.  Once opened, click “view full resolution”, located on the bottom right part of the screen.  Once the full resolution image loads, simply right click and select “Save As” to save it to your computer.

Copyright 2014 Deremer Studios – Jacksonville, FL
Check us out at: Pro.DeremerStudios.com (Commercial Photography) or DeremerStudios.com (Wedding & Portrait Photography) |  904-744-1103  |  nate@deremerstudios.com

2013: The Year in Photos

2013 03 Concours - McLaren Amelia 22

What a year it has been!  As I look back on 2013, I am overcome with thankfulness to all the many clients, couples and individuals who chose Deremer Studios to provide for their photography needs.  We know there are many, many photographers out there, and we count it a privilege to have been able to serve each of you.

This year, we had the joy of photographing over 200 events, weddings and shoots – so there are just too many to list individually (though you may see a photo or two from many of our shoots in the gallery below).  However if you would like to see our highlights from any given section, feel free to click on the links below.

Automotive  |  Architectural  |  Aviation  |  Commercial  |  Culinary  |  Fine Art Wedding

There are two particular shoots I would like to mention – for two very different reasons.  The first is our coverage of the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance for McLaren (top).  When I was young, the McLaren F1 was by far the most amazing supercar ever made – and I loved it!  So, when I received a call from McLaren, I was a little surprised and more than a bit excited.  This was a dream come true – and ‘mI happy to note we’ve been asked to photograph their presence at the Concours again in 2014.

2013 02 26 with Donna Genentech 22

The second shoot was for our friends at Genentech (above).  In February, we had the opportunity to photograph the 26.2 with Donna marathon on behapf of Genentech – who invents creative treatments for breast cancer.  As you may know, Bryn was diagnosed with breast cancer in late 2012 – thankfully her prognosis is great and she is nearly done with treatments – but one of the treatments she is undergoing is Herceptin – developed by Genentech!  Talk about a small world!

A BIG THANK YOU to everyone who helped to make 2013 such a wonderful year!  As always, please feel free to download – and if you enjoy our photos, please share this blog with your friends and help us get the word out!

TO DOWNLOAD PHOTOS: simply click on the photo you like from the gallery.  Once opened, click “view full resolution”, located on the bottom right part of the screen.  Once the full resolution image loads, simply right click and select “Save As” to save it to your computer.

Copyright 2013 Deremer Studios – Jacksonville, FL
Check us out at: Pro.DeremerStudios.com (Commercial Photography) or DeremerStudios.com (Wedding & Portrait Photography) |  904-744-1103  |  nate@deremerstudios.com

Big News – Deremer Studios Receives Top National Award!

2013 11 Award News - Knot Hall of Fame 2014

We have a very exciting announcement we’d love to share with you all!  We recently received word that we’ve been inducted into the Knot’s inaugural Best of Weddings Hall of Fame.  Of the over 20,000 wedding professionals listed on The Knot nationwide, Deremer Studios was one of only 253 companies to receive this honor – placing Deremer Studios in the top 1% of national wedding providers.  Within Florida, Deremer Studios is one of only six photographers to receive this award and the only photographer in Northeast Florida.

We know that it is because of all our wonderful couples, and the great feedback you have all provided over the years, that we’ve received this wonderful honor.  As a small way of saying thank you, we’ve put together four ultra-high resolution photo mosaics featuring all our wedding blog posts and a selection of our earlier favorites from through the years. Please feel free to download, share or print any or all of the photos below.  It’s like a giant Where’s Waldo – have fun looking for your individual photos within the bigger picture!

Over the past 11 years, we’ve had the honor of serving over 450 couples.  It truly has been an honor!  A Sincere thank you to each of you!

TO DOWNLOAD PHOTOS: simply click on the photo you like from the gallery.  Once opened, click “view full resolution”, located on the bottom right part of the screen.  Once the full resolution image loads, simply right click and select “Save As” to save it to your computer.

Copyright 2013 Deremer Studios – Jacksonville, FL
Check us out at: Pro.DeremerStudios.com (Deremer Studios Pro Commercial Photography) or DeremerStudios.com (DS Photography Wedding & Portrait) |  904-744-1103  |  nate@deremerstudios.com\

EXTREME Weather – Jacksonville EF2 Tornado Photos, but Abiding Beauty

2013 08 Weather Jacksonville Tornado EF2 02

What a Day for Wild Weather in Jacksonville, FL!  At our office, we collected 5.2 inches of rain in under 2 hours!  And if that weren’t amazing enough, just a few miles down the road, a quarter-mile wide EF2 tornado touched down and caused extensive damage.  Tornadoes and waterspouts are somewhat common to our area, with one or two a year, but it is extremely rare for an EF2 tornado to hit northern Florida.  Thankfully, no one was killed or seriously injured, and the Tornado was only on the ground for a half mile or less, but as you can see from the photos, it caused quite the damage.  Be sure to look at the gallery to see the 2×4 imbedded half way through a second story wall.

2013 08 Weather Jacksonville Tornado EF2 10

However, the day was not entirely marked by destruction. As I was headed home after shooting the aftermath of the tornado, I saw this amazing afterglow from the sunset.  Amazing!  Enjoy the photos – and of course, feel free to download as HD desktop wallpaper below!

Copyright 2013 Deremer Studios – Jacksonville, FL
*Statistics courtesy Wikipedia
Check us out at: Pro.DeremerStudios.com (Deremer Studios Pro Commercial Photography) or DeremerStudios.com (Wedding & Portrait Photography) |  904-744-1103  |  nate@deremerstudios.com

Amelia Concours 2013: The Preview & The BIG News

2013 03 Concours - Pre 02

On Monday, we were arriving at the Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island for a corporate event (post coming soon) when I stumbled upon this little gem – a 1960 Ferrari 250 GT.  This car, along with several others were there for the annual Orange Blossom Tour, put on by Classic Motorsports Magazine.   Around the resort, everything is beginning to take shape, with the RM show tent being erected and the special auction area setup for the big weekend.  As in previous years, we’ll be shooting the 2013 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance on behalf of the resort.

2012 03 Concours P2 01

And now for the BIG news – McLaren, the British supercar manufacturer of such venerable giants as the F1, and the stunning MP4-12C above, has hired Deremer Studios to cover their display for the Concours.  As a young adult, I was borderline-obsessed with the then new McLaren F1 – the worlds fastest production car with a top speed of 241MPH.  So, having the opportunity to spend the weekend with some of the folks who brought us that car will be rather thrilling.  Stay tuned for some great cars on the blog sometime early next week!

Copyright 2013 Deremer Studios – Jacksonville, FL
Check us out at: Pro.DeremerStudios.com (Commercial Photography) or DeremerStudios.com (Wedding & Portrait Photography) |  904-744-1103  |  nate@deremerstudios.com

Christmas Joys!

2012 12 Christmas 01

Inquiring minds want to know… what does Christmas look like in the world of Deremer Studios?  As you would expect, Christmas is very much a family affair filled with many of the cultural trappings that often come with the holidays.  From presents and Christmas carols, to a big breakfast and an even bigger dinner – and not to be forgotten,a gaggle of hyperactive, anxious children who completely lose all self control – all of it marks our Christmas morning.  Above is another tradition we have – Bryn comes up with an idea for a home made gift for our kids which inevitably involves many, many hours of woodworking on my part.  This year was not an exception.  While the Angry Birds were indeed purchased, the destructo-building kit was hand built to some form of standards.  As a note of caution, if you plan on making one of these play sets for your own young, know that the collapsing of the block tower alarmingly resembles the sound of something very expensive being irreparably harmed…

2012 12 Amelia Island Christmas 08

But, with all the fun and pageantry around Christmas, it would not be complete if I were to stop my story here.  The story neither stops or begins in the Deremer home.  The story of Christmas is as old as time – older in fact.  Before the computer, before the car, before the printing press, before the wheel, before the human race, before the earth, before even time itself, God in his goodness and mercy set in motion a plan that would culminate 2,000 years ago in the humble birth of a king who would defeat the greatest enemy of all; death.  By coming to earth, Jesus the Christ set aside all his rights as God, lived the perfect life that we never could, suffered and died in our place, and rose from the dead, conquering death for all those who put their faith in him.

It is this gift we celebrate at Christmas.  It is a gift we all desperately need but could never earn.  And so, as you enjoy all the wonderful blessings of Christmas, take time to ponder the words of Isaiah – written many hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth:

    Surely he has borne our griefs
        and carried our sorrows;
    yet we esteemed him stricken,
        smitten by God, and afflicted.
    But he was pierced for our transgressions;
        he was crushed for our iniquities;
    upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
        and with his wounds we are healed.
    All we like sheep have gone astray;
        we have turned—every one—to his own way;
    and the LORD has laid on him
        the iniquity of us all.
(Isaiah 53:4-6 ESV)

As always, feel free to download one or all of these HD photos – sized perfectly to use as your desktop wallpaper!  Below are some of our favorite shots from the day – enjoy!

Copyright 2012 Deremer Studios – Jacksonville, FL
Check us out at: Pro.DeremerStudios.com (Commercial) or DeremerStudios.com (Wedding & Portrait) |  904-744-1103  |  nate@deremerstudios.com

100K on Thanksgiving Day – Plus Free HD Wallpaper!

We’ve got some big news!  On the most fitting day of the year, we reached a big milestone for our little blog – our first 100,000 views, and all in just over 14 months!

We would like to thank you all for frequenting our blog!  As a way of saying thank you, we’ve included a bunch of our favorite 1080P HD Desktop wallpaper here for you.  As always, feel free to share, download and enjoy!

Copyright 2012 Deremer Studios – Jacksonville, FL
Check us out at: Pro.DeremerStudios.com (Commercial) or DeremerStudios.com (Wedding & Portrait) |  904-744-1103  |  nate@deremerstudios.com

Trunk’r Treatin’ with Second Mile Ministries!

This past weekend, despite the lingering blustery weather from Hurricane Sandy, the Deremer Studios team headed out to the Second Mile Ministries Family Fall Festival here in Jacksonville, FL (No relation to the Second Mile organization associated with the Penn State tragedy).  We provided a game for the neighborhood kids as well as providing photographic coverage of the event for the second year in a row.  As with last year, the turnout was great (over 800 folks this year) and we had a great time connecting with all sorts of people from the neighborhoods where Second Mile serves throughout the year.

This year, the event expanded to include a petting zoo, gigantic slide, and Danglin’ Doughnuts – on top of the cake walk, kickball, sack races, lots of games and candy, and a great meal – all of it provided free of charge for the 800+ folks that attended.  Below are some of our favorite shots from the afternoon – enjoy!

Copyright 2012 Deremer Studios – Jacksonville, FL
Check us out at: Pro.DeremerStudios.com (Commercial) or DeremerStudios.com (Wedding & Portrait) |  904-744-1103  |  nate@deremerstudios.com

Introducing New Wedding Offerings & Revised Pricing

As of July 1st, we have shifted things up a bit with our wedding offerings.  Though a few packages have modestly increased in price, we have expanded those packages, and we have even dropped the pricing on several packages and introduced new, even more affordable a la cart options for those of you on very tight wedding budgets.  We hope these changes will help all of you find the perfect package to fit both your needs and your budget!

Still want to book based on our previous packages?  Through July 31st, you are welcome to book your package either using the new pricing or our previous pricing.  But, on August 1st, we’ll discontinue offering our previous pricing options.   Here is a link to both our new and old pricing:

New Price Sheet
Old Price Sheet

And, as always, if you don’t see the perfect package on our price sheet, please feel free to contact us for a custom package quote!

Copyright 2012 Deremer Studios – Jacksonville, FL
Check us out at DeremerStudios.com  |  904-744-1103  |  nate@deremerstudios.com

Andres & Carla Dun Got Hitched!

We recently had the very special pleasure of shooting the wedding of Andres and Carla.  Why was it so especially special you ask?  Well, Andres has been part of the Deremer Studios family for five years, and we go way back.  So, when we heard he was dating an old friend from his college years, a friend we also knew, we were pretty excited for him.  Surprisingly, despite his romantic yet botched engagement attempt (be sure to check out our blog post on that one! Here’s the link), Carla agreed to marry our dear friend!

Their wedding was really a wonderful event – filled with a joyous and youthful spirit – not to mention Andres and Carla’s closest friends and family.   Held at the Club Continental, on the banks of the St Johns River, the natural beauty of the evening complemented the wonderful wedding perfectly. Also (above) is Andres and Carla’s adorable cake toppers from Disney’s Wall-e.  Below are some of our favorite photos – enjoy!

TO DOWNLOAD PHOTOS: simply click on the photo you like from the gallery below.  On the bottom right, click permalink.  Right above the photo is a link to the full resolution image (1280×720 is usually what it says).  Simply right click that link and save it to your preferred folder.

Copyright 2012 Deremer Studios – Jacksonville, FL
Check us out at DeremerStudios.com  |  904-744-1103  |  nate@deremerstudios.com

Tropical Storm Beryl – DS National Coverage!

It turns out it was worth our effort to plug in our computers, boot them back up, edit and post video from Tropical Storm Beryl to our blog and on YouTube while the storm was still raging outside.  As providence would have it, Good Morning America, the Weather Channel, ABC News, and our local station, WJXT all picked up our footage.  It’s not often our logo gets placed in front of 5+ million people for free.  Granted, the clips were only two or three seconds, but it was still pretty cool!  Big thanks to all the networks who featured our video!

If you missed the video the first time, below is our footage of the storm, complete with blowing transformers, wet rain and windy wind!  Feel free to check out our other Beryl blog posts for free HD desktop wallpaper as well!

Enjoy!

Copyright 2012 Deremer Studios – Jacksonville, FL
Check us out at DeremerStudios.com  |  904-744-1103  |  nate@deremerstudios.com

DS Photography on the Cover of Jacksonville Magazine!


We found out some more great news recently!  For the third time in less than a year, our photography has been proiminently featured in Jacksonville Magazine.  This time, we were honored to get the magazine’s cover!  Thanks to our friends at Dostie Homes and Dreambuilder Custom Homes for submitting our work to the publication!

This particular article featured a wonderfully designed Dostie home located in the St Augustine development of Palencia.  Want to view this month’s Jacksonville Magazine for free, including our cover and six-page spread? Simply follow this link!

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Want to see more of our architectural work?  Check out our full portfolio at www.deremerstudios.com/arch.html.

Copyright 2011 Deremer Studios – Jacksonville, FL
Check us out at DeremerStudios.com  |  904-744-1103  |  nate@deremerstudios.com

DS Home of the Year Photos featured in Jacksonville Magazine


image: Jacksonville Magazine

We received word today that Jacksonville Magazine has once again published several photos from our shoot with Dreambuilder Custom Homes, this time in their biannual HOME issue.  Dreambuilder’s unique home has deservedly received the honor of  Home of the Year.  The article again details the uniquely narrow footprint and welcoming design of this Doctor’s Lake home.  Check out the online version of the article here, or pick up a copy at a local news stand!

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Want to see more of our architectural work?  Check out our full portfolio at www.deremerstudios.com/arch.html.

Copyright 2011 Deremer Studios – Jacksonville, FL
Check us out at DeremerStudios.com  |  904-744-1103  |  nate@deremerstudios.com

You are Entering the Twilight Zone: Daytona 500 Under the Lights…


As you can see from the photo above, we had quite an adventure shooting the Daytona 500 last night!   The race, which was delayed over 30 hours due to rain (the first time in its 54 year history the race was not run on Sunday), was marked by events that could have been straight out of the grainy, black and white world of the Twilight Zone.

The race itself, promised to be exciting when just one lap into the race, a large crash collected several cars.  But before long, the race was going full bore, with very little in the way of incidents and with everyone for the most part staying in line and waiting for the last run.  But that was all about to change…

At lap 160, while the caution was out, the 42 Target car was on the back stretch catching up to the pack.  Just before entering turn 3, something broke in the rear of the car, sending it spinning out of control – and directly toward one of the jet dryer trucks that was slowly circling the track.  I just happened to be looking in that direction, and saw a massive fireball erupt as the two vehicles met.  I quickly grabbed my 100-400 and took the following series of images.  The first is just a second or two after impact, before the jet fuel ignited.  As you can see, the damage doesn’t look all that severer.  The second image is shortly after the fire crew arrived.  The third image is after the fire has been put out – you can clearly see the destruction.

Below are my favorite photos from this very unique race!

All the photos can be downloaded for free as HD desktop wallpaper.  Simply click on a photo below, click on the permalink (bottom right), save the HD wallpaper by right clicking the “1280×720” link, and selecting save as. 

Copyright 2012 Deremer Studios – Jacksonville, FL
Check us out at DeremerStudios.com  |  904-744-1103  |  nate@deremerstudios.com