Wedding & Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) announces that registration for WPPI U is now open. Four, two-day workshops, will take place in Fairfield, NJ, June 25 26; Atlanta, GA, July 24 25; Las Vegas, NV, August 13 14; and Portland, OR, September 5 -6, 2012.

WPPI U is a comprehensive university-style, two day seminar providing essential education and training on multiple aspects of photography to help todays up-and-coming photographers not only strengthen their shooting skills, but also learn how to be successful in their business and marketing practices.

What began nearly three years ago as a one location educational seminar has grown into the ultimate learning experience that hits the road this summer to bring WPPI-quality education to four key cities in the United States, said George Varanakis, Show Director of WPPI U and Publisher of Rangefinder. Ideal for emerging photographers who envision a successful career in photography, WPPI U allows attendees to sharpen their technical skills, teaches them how to run a profitable business and break out on their own using marketing tips they learn from the renowned industry leaders who speak and teach at WPPI U.

Featuring several guest instructors, WPPI U class topics will include:

????Lighting & Posing Techniques
????Wedding & Portrait (now including Children & Pets)
????Business Planning & Accounting
????Presenting & Marketing Your Business
????Postproduction Lightroom & Photoshop
????Social Marketing Panel
????Portfolio Reviews

Professional photographers scheduled to speak at WPPI U include*:

????Fairfield NJ – Lindsay Adler, Sal Cincotta, Anthony Vazquez, Christa Meola, Blair and Suzanne Phillips, Jared Platt, Susan Stripling
????Atlanta, GA – Lindsay Adler, Sal Cincotta, Zach and Jody Gray, Tim Meyer, Sarah Petty, Jared Platt
????Las Vegas, NV – Sue Bryce, Sal Cincotta, Zach and Jody Gray, Blair and Suzanne Phillips, Jared Platt
????Portland, OR – Sue Bryce, Sal Cincotta, Kevin Kubota, Scott Robert Lim, Jared Platt, Kirk Voclain

Each class is estimated to run 2 hours, but may vary per city based on the number of professional photographers on the agenda. WPPI U also includes a mini trade show featuring some of the newest gear and latest technology from leading brands in the photo industry. Lunch and refreshments are included. Attendees will receive a certificate of completion from WPPI to display in their office or studio.

Registration for WPPI U is open now. The early bird registration rate for WPPI U is $ 125 per person until June 8, 2012. After June 8th the price will be $ 149 per person. Each registered attendee receives one free registration to WPPI 2013 which will take place next year at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, NV, from March 714, 2013.

To register visit: https://www.xpressreg.net/eReg/?ShowCode=WPRT062

For more information about WPPI U please visit: http://www.wppionline.com/on-the-road.shtml

About WPPI

Wedding & Portrait Photographers International (WPPI), a division of Nielsen Photo Group, is an organization that serves the educational and business needs of emerging and professional wedding and portrait photographers. WPPI is a professional organization that exists to help member photographers by providing them with exclusive information, programs and professional services to assist with their photographic artistry and business needs. WPPI routinely supplies its members with new benefits and valuable industry information enabling them to succeed in todays active photo market business. WPPI membership gives photographers the resources they need to succeed and the tools they require to build and develop a strong personal support network.

In 2012, WPPI completed its 32nd annual Convention and Trade Show, featuring 320 exhibitors to its convention space in the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas. The annual WPPI 2013 Convention and Trade Show is set to take place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, NV, from March 714, 2013. For more information visit: http://www.wppionline.com.

The first ever WPPI Mexico Conference & Trade Show takes place at the World Trade Center in Mexico City November 28-30, 2012. For more information visit: http://www.wppimexico.com

*Professional photographers in any city are subject to change without notice.

# # #

Contact:

George Varanakis

Rangefinder Publishing/WPPI

gvaranakis(at)rfpublishing.com

Steve Rosenbaum/Leigh Nofi

S.I.R. Marketing Communications, Inc.

631-757-5665

sir(at)sironline.com / leighnofi(at)sironline.com

Soon, teachers across the country will be receiving their 2012 Carson-Dellosa product catalogs and the company has more to offer than ever before. In addition to over 280 innovative new products, this years catalog also features new digital offerings and twelve months of coupons.

Page three of the catalog displays Carson-Dellosas new Learning Spot Lessons with instructions for a free, full unit download. Learning Spot Lessons, comprehensive digital lesson plans for interactive whiteboards and computers offer teachers a variety of tools to promote engaged learning and simplify classroom management. The catalog also premiers new bulletin board sets featuring the one-and-only OLIVIA, several new items added to the award-winning Guinness World Record? line, and much more!

In order to help teachers save money on the products they need for their classrooms, for the first time ever, Carson-Dellosa has also included twelve months of valuable coupons.

The publishing company was also thrilled to include local, North Carolina talent in the catalog artwork. The cover and several inside pages include photography shot by local photographer Stacey Haines, on location at Diggs-Latham Elementary School in Winston-Salem. The photos feature real teachers, parents, and students from Diggs-Latham and other area schools.

This year, catalog recipients will also find a variety of insightful teaching tips and ideas throughout the pages, contributed by Carson-Dellosas highly engaged Facebook fan community.

This catalog paints a full picture of our relationship with teachers, parents, and students, said Judy L. Harris, CEO of Carson-Dellosa. We actively seek out and include teacher and parent input in all we do, from product development to our catalog and even our website. This customer-centric, insight-driven approach helps us to create the kinds of innovative products and programs teachers and parents need to successfully motivate and educate students today.

Download your free Learning Spot Lesson Unit. To learn more about Carson-Dellosa click here.

About Carson-Dellosa

Carson-Dellosa Publishing, LLC, based in Greensboro, North Carolina, is a leading supplemental curriculum solutions provider for both educators and parents around the world. Founded by two teachers, the company boasts a 35-year history of enhancing a childs learning potential and environment through quality curriculum, supplemental learning materials, and classroom resources.

Carson-Dellosa proudly provides teachers, parents, and children around the world with the best possible educational materials produced by the industrys most recognized and respected award-winning brands including: Summer Bridge Activities, Mark Twain Publishing, Key Education, HighReach Learning?, Frank Schaffer?, Spectrum?, Judy? Instructo, American Education Publishing, and Brighter Child?. To learn more about Carson-Dellosa, visit carsondellosa.com, Facebook.com/CarsonDellosa, Twitter.com/CDPub, YouTube.com/CarsonDellosaPub, or Pinterest.com/CarsonDellosa.

According to the American Society of Home Inspectors, more than 60 percent of all American homes have some form of dampness and are at risk for developing hazardous mold, but thanks to a local mold removal company, local residents can have their homes or businesses checked and inspected for mold at no cost.

If you suspect that you have mold present within your home, it is important that you have a professional certified mold inspector examine to make sure you dont have a situation on your hands, as many types of mold are hazardous and can cause various health problems, said Carl Bennett, vice president of Above & Beyond Unlimited Cleaning. All our inspectors are MICRO CMI certified, so youre in excellent hands with us.

To ensure that local residents and businesses are free from mold heading into the summer months, Bennett said the company has created an initiative that provides home owners and businesses with free mold inspections.

We realize that our nation is still in recovery mode from the Great Recession of 2008, but thats doesnt stop mold from attacking homes and businesses, so were doing what we can to help out by easing the cost of inspections that can normally cost hundreds of dollars just for a certified inspector to search for mold, said Bennett. Weve added a coupon on our website that anyone who needs a mold inspection or just wants to have one done to be safe, can get and use.

The offer, however, ends June 30, Bennett said of the mold inspections where its inspectors use thermal (infrared) imaging cameras as well as regular video cameras, moisture meters, and other latest equipment when diagnosing mold conditions.

The companys choice to use state-of-the-art equipment to locate mold could prove to have perfect timing.

According the Centers for Disease Control, mold exposure, which can cause death, is the single most misdiagnosed illness in the Unites States.

Even a mold inspector cannot tell from looking at mold what type of mold is present, nor if it is toxic, Bennett said. For this mold testing is required to determine what type of mold is present in your household, whether or not it is active growth, or if it is harmful. Testing results will help you to decide weather or not the professional mold remediation is required.

Bennett added that, It is important to know what type of mold is growing in your house, as many types of mold are toxic, and can be hazardous to you and your familys health.

For more information on mold or how to receive a free mold inspection, please visit: http://www.abmoldremediationnj.com

Independent Filmmaker Mike Bizzarri knows he’s stretching the limits of the funding opportunity provided by Indiegogo with the launching of his $ 444,300 feature film project titled She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not. Compared to your average feature film budget, that amount may seem quite low, but such is not the case on Indiegogo, where most, if not all of the film and video projects posted there, are budgeted much lower.

“I realize my budget is comparatively high,” Bizzarri comments, “but this is a full-up feature film scheduled for 35 days shooting at 17 locations with a crew of 13 professionals as well as 25 cast members. Cast, crew, meals, equipment, locations – not to mention pre and post production – it all comes with a hefty price tag.”

If you’re not familiar with Indiegogo, it’s one of several new “crowdfunding” websites that have been established for the purpose of generating funds for creative projects by way of donations. Donation levels can range from $ 1 to $ 10,000 or more, and donors receive various rewards based on their level of contribution.

“I read the book, and I couldn’t put it down,” Bizzarri says of the first novel of The Kim Claypoole Mystery Series written by Jean Erhardt, an artist and author based in Portland, Oregon. “The characters are so colorful, and the scenes are so vivid – as I was reading, I immediately began envisioning a film.”

The story is a murder mystery about a lesbian restaurant owner/amateur sleuth named Kim Claypoole who uncovers the dark, dangerous military secret behind a couple of grisly murders that occur in a small Ohio town.

“I think it’s worth the effort to go for a suitable budget in order to do justice to the book, but I am, however, prepared to cut some corners if I have to, and for that reason I’ve chosen to go with Indiegogo’s “Flexible Funding” option.”

Unlike Kickstarter, another popular crowdfunding site where projects are only greenlighted if the entire amount of the target funding goal is reached, Indiegogo offers an option which allows the project creators to keep as much of the funding as they can raise.

“I’ve chosen the “Flexible Funding” option, for two reasons – the first is because I’ve put quite a lot of work into the development of this project, and I’d hate for it to be scrapped because I was a few dollars short of my funding goal, and the second is because even if I don’t get the full budget, I’ll adapt the production to whatever amount we’re able to raise – even if we have to go with a three-man crew, shoot all hand-held with existing light, and eat PBJ sandwiches every day for lunch.”

Perhaps easier said than done, but Bizzarri has been down that particular road before. “I had virtually no money for The Greater Good,” (his first indie feature,) “but I still managed to make a decent little film that won some awards because the story was interesting and the cast was great. If I run into similar funding challenges with She Loves Me, I’ll apply what I learned the first time around.”

If the full-budget funding goal is reached, Bizzarri intends to hire a “name” actress for the leading role. “Using an actress with a recognizable name will up the ante in terms of public interest, media coverage, and potential revenue, but I’m not going to worry about it if it doesn’t work out. The pool of talented actors in this area is unbelievable, and I’m confident in my ability to put a great cast together – with or without a name.”

“My goal is to make a great film and pave the way for the sequels.” (Author Jean Erhardt has already completed several more novels in the series.) “As long as there’s a good story and good acting in place, I can make that happen with whatever resources become available to me.” Borrowing a quote from Clint Eastwood’s Heartbreak Ridge, Bizzarri says “In this business, you have to be prepared to ‘improvise, adapt, overcome.”

About Mike Bizzarri:

Mike Bizzarri has been a motion picture professional in the Cincinnati area for over 27 years. His work as a Writer, Producer, Director, Director of Photography and Actor includes TV commercials, documentaries, short films, and feature length films. His first indie feature, The Greater Good, won the Best of Festival, Best Screenplay, and Best Actor awards at the 2006 F.A.I.F. International Film Festival in Hollywood, and the Best Narrative Feature award at the 2006 Ohio Independent Film Festival.

Mike Bizzarri

513-476-8951

mikebizzarri(at)yahoo(dot)com

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Two years ago, photographer Michael Mundy arrived at the door of someone he had never met and preceded to shoot an interior he had never seen. Two years later, he has knocked on over hundred doors and spent as many afternoons getting to know, via his camera and conversation, a cross-section of creative New Yorkers he might never have encountered, were it not for an initial recommendation that led to another and another and another.

On April 25, 2012, Mundy will mark the second year of his photo project, An Afternoon With…, by celebrating, and celebrating with, the individuals he has profiled at the private club Parlor New York in Soho. For the first time, at a party dedicated to community as much as creativity, everyone who has been involved with this evolving and inspiring project will get to meet everyone else. An Afternoon With… may live in the digital world but Mundy is keen to connect, in an old-school, face-to-face, celebratory coming together, the group of people who have made his 21st century portraiture site such a curiosity and success.

An Afternoon With… began with a simple premise: that everyone tells a story via the things they live with. Every person or every room may be or not be stylish, as defined by the editorati, but every place expresses a style, revealed as much by the things people eschew as by the things they treasure. In a generous and appreciative manner, every person Mundy visited was recommended by someone and had someone to recommend. An Afternoon With… is a collection of one-of-a-kind beads connected by a verbal string, creative minds recognizing other creative minds.

In the process of spending afternoons with a diverse range of New Yorkers (artists, a porn star, designers, writers, a dog walker, a waitress, musicians, a cowboy, a poet) Mundy discovered a form of portraiture more personal and telling than either a headshot or a traditional interiors shoot. Unaided by an assistant, styling, retouching, artificial lighting, or words, other than those provided by the subjects themselves via video, Mundy has produced deeply descriptive and revealing stories of imaginative, thoughtful, open New Yorkers.

The narrative portraits of An Afternoon With… have struck a loud chord in the online world. Tens of thousands visit the site monthly, prompted by recognition by dozens of bloggers, shelter publications as well as WordPress, which recently lauded An Afternoon With… as one of its most inspiring blogs to follow in 2012. Going forward Mundy plans to broaden his scope with a bi-annual newsprint publication and an expansive video presence, bringing the stories of his subjects to an even greater audience.

Michael Mundy was born and raised in New York and is considered one of the great interior and portrait photographers of our times. His work taps into the soul of everything from architectural spaces to noted personalities, as well as fashion. His simple, tranquil and sophisticated images of interiors are revealing and resonate with the character of their inhabitants. They often create a sense of ambiguity while also exposing personality in a glance, an angle or a revealing moment. Michael Mundy has worked for some of the worlds most prestigious brands, including BCBG, Baker, Calvin Klein, Frette, Grey Goose, Halston, Herve Leger, Kohler, Morgans Hotel Group and Andre Balaz Hotels, as well as Architectural Digest, House & Garden, Travel and Leisure, Town & Country, Vogue, W, Wallpaper and more.

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On April 4 Google announced their Google Glass project, which is developing a way to overlay graphics from a mobile device onto the users normal vision. Looking similar to normal glasses, features include graphics overlay, stereo speakers for music and calling, a microphone, and a camera to take still photos and video of where the user is looking. News and blog sites across the internet buzzed with speculation on the market potential of such a device. As an entirely new product, its unclear to many technology pundits how consumers will react.

Two days after the Google Glass announcement Hit Laboratories conducted an InstaHit test the standard pre-market test of product performance based on consumer feedback. The Google Glass product scored an 8.9 out of 10; a score just short of excellent but still indicating very good potential with American consumers. The target demographic was identified as single males age 30-49, and a price of $ 132.60 was found most agreeable. The market size is good with nearly 50% of consumers expressing immediate interest in purchasing.

The glasses earned the highest score to-date on InstaHits Shareability metric, owing to consumers finding it very remarkable, being excited to use it, and it being a very visible product which would be noticed by many and a good topic of conversation for users. It scored poorly on the Usefulness metric because consumers do not feel the Google Glasses solve an important problem in their lives.

InstaHit is the market-leading test of new consumer and direct response television (DRTV) products. It predicts performance using a propriety statistical model which correlates new products with the success of previously marketed products. InstaHit reveals to marketers and inventors what price consumers are willing to pay, what the potential market size is, who the target market should be, and how their product compares with other products on five key Viability Metrics.

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3DMedia Corporation today released a major update of 3DComposer, a PC software product which allows users to create, view, edit, and share 3D pictures. 3DComposer version 3 includes 3DMedias patent-pending technology that lets users easily make 3D photos using any digital camera. These 3D photos can be viewed on 3D-capable displays such as computer monitors, TVs, and mobile devices.

The new software version builds on 3DMedias vision of a seamless ecosystem in which users can capture, create, share, and enjoy high-quality 3D content. 3DComposer version 3 contains significant new features and enhancements. A 3D photo editor is now integrated that allows users to adjust and improve 3D pictures created with 3DComposer as well as those taken with 3D cameras and 3D cell phones. Users can adjust the depth and color of their 3D pictures and easily crop them to the desired size, for example to match the resolution of the desired display screen. There is also a substantial new feature that automatically optimizes the 3D effect of pictures taken with 3D cameras, based on 3DMedias proprietary image processing algorithms. A major differentiator is that editing can be performed while viewing the picture in 3D, so users get instant feedback on all changes. Users can easily undo and redo edits to understand and compare the differences in order to create a better 3D photography experience.

The software also includes several new features that make it easy for users to share 3D pictures. Users can upload their pictures directly from 3DComposer to 3DMedias online 3D Photo Gallery, and they can view their gallery photos as slideshows using the included 3D viewer. 3DMedias 3D Photo Gallery contains thousands of 3D photographs that can be viewed by the public, making it an excellent resource for those in need of high-quality 3D content.

The version 3 software supports additional 3D viewing modes, making it compatible with more 3D computer monitors and 3D TVs. The user interface has also been streamlined, making it easier than ever to access all the program features. “This major update of our 3D photography software now makes it easy to create, edit, and share 3D pictures, which we believe will further inspire consumers to make their own 3D content, and will ultimately help the broader proliferation of 3D products and technologies,” said Jason Hurst, General Manager of PC Products at 3DMedia. 3D camera owners can also use our software to work with their 3D pictures.

The full version of 3DComposer is priced at $ 34.95. The 3D creation and editing features can also be purchased separately if desired. The Editor license is priced at $ 19.95, and the Creator license which allows users to create 3D pictures using standard cameras and cell phones is also priced at $ 19.95. A free trial of the 3DComposer software can be downloaded at 3dcomposer.com.

About 3DMedia

3DMedia Corporation develops technologies to create, view, edit, and share 3D content. 3DMedia’s technologies address the problem of 3D content generation, which is by all accounts the biggest obstacle to consumer adoption of 3D. These 3D technologies are available for licensing and incorporation into consumer products such as cameras, mobile phones, HDTVs, and PCs. By providing users with the means to experience and control high-quality 3D content, 3DMedia’s technologies are a key enabler for the proliferation of 3D products in the consumer market.

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Aspiring filmmakers and passionate travelers have less than a week left for a chance to win the globetrotting adventure of a lifetime. The final spot in the Win Your Dream Travel Job Contest from Viator.com the leading resource for more than 9,000 tours and activities in over 150 countries will be revealed on Monday, April 30. In order to be considered in the final judging period, entries must be received by Wednesday, April 25.

The Win Your Dream Travel Job Contest will give four finalists, paired in teams of two, the chance to travel and shoot video for Viator as part of the company’s ongoing effort to create a vast video library of tours and things to do in popular destinations worldwide. One team will film destinations in North America, the other in Europe, with both visiting approximately 20 cities in 60 days to document top local attractions, tours and things to do. Viator is providing equipment, training and transportation, as well as up to $ 15,000 per person to cover additional in-destination expenses including accommodations, local transportation and meals. Upon completion of their journeys, both teams will submit “Wrap-up” videos to Viator’s Facebook page. The video receiving the most votes from Facebook users will earn the winning team a grand prize of $ 10,000.

Since the launch of the contest, Viator has received hundreds of amazing video submissions from around the world. The team has watched, judged and rated each entry, and to date has selected three of four finalists:

????Round 1 finalist Ryan Van Duzer has never owned a car, but hes ridden his bike across America twice, and down the East and West coasts and from Honduras to Colorado. Hes comfortable in front of the camera: he survived in the jungles of Venezuela as a participant on Discoverys Out of the Wild Venezuela and appeared on a Honduran TV game show. But he also has a serious side: he served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Honduras working in youth development.
????Round 2 finalist Asha Mevlanas travels have often included her other passion music. She toured Europe, Latin America and Australia with various bands (including Australian rock band Porcelain), and accompanied soul duo Gnarls Barkley on a U.S. tour. Shes also appeared on several pilots for the Travel Channel and the Food Network, and has experience behind the camera as well, having filmed and edited a short documentary featured in several film festivals.
????Round 3 finalist Juliana Broste is a fun expert who drove cross country last summer with her mom exploring small towns in America. As a snowboard instructor, the mountains are her office but shes just as comfortable sleeping with lions while on safari in the Serengeti, learning how to belly dance after a trip to Turkey, and taking photos with her camera which she carries with her everywhere she goes (including the supermarket).

To enter to win the final spot in the “Win Your Dream Travel Job” Contest, contestants must create a unique one-to-three minute video that demonstrates their filmmaking talents and love for travel, and cover specific topics such as top travel tips or a memorable travel experience. No experience is required, other than insatiable wanderlust. And, friends can help: the 10 contestants whose video entry receives the most Facebook votes will be guaranteed an opportunity to interview with the Viator judging panel. Videos must be submitted to Facebook.com/ViatorTours no later than April 25, 2012. Anyone planning to submit should refer to the full details of the contest and the official contest rules before entering.

Contest updates and chronicles of the winners’ journeys will be posted regularly to the Viator Travel Blog as well as Viator’s Facebook and Twitter pages, and http://www.winyourdreamtraveljob.com.

About Viator

Viator? is the worlds leading online resource for travel experiences, providing access to more than 9,000 tours, attractions and activities in 800-plus destinations in more than 150 countries. Viator the Latin word for traveler offers a one-stop shop to plan, research and book trip activities via its Web and mobile platforms with resources such as more than 300,000 traveler reviews, ratings and photos, suggested itineraries and the Viator Travel Blog. Viators in-house travel experts hand-pick trusted local operators to ensure quality, value and service, all backed by a low-price guarantee. Viator sells its products through Viator.com, the Viator Tours and Activities App for iPhone, the Viator Ultimate Experience Guide for iPad, the Viator Shore Excursions website, local language sites for European, Latin American and Asian markets and more than 2,000 affiliated sites that include major hotel chains and airlines, online travel agencies, city-specific sites and more. Viator is a privately held company, with lead investment from The Carlyle Group, one of the worlds largest private equity firms. Founded in 1995, Viator is headquartered in San Francisco with regional offices in Sydney, London and Las Vegas.

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Nestled in the heart of Ball Square, Somerville, Blue Cloud Gallery displays the markedly unique creations of artists that hail from the Metro-Boston area. Over 100 local artists showcase an array of media ranging from ceramics and jewelry to graphics and glass. Owner and photographer Betsy Lenora presents the vibrant digital renderings of Marshall, exhibiting over 50 pieces of his original work.

Marshall’s eye for aesthetic detail began developing through his initial career as a medical photography specialist, but his drive for more creative expression quickly accelerated. He began tinkering with the infusion of synthetic color into digital images. This practice evolved to center around photographs of Boston’s cityscapes and suburban scenery.

A seeker of the romantic, Marshall endeavors to evoke the energy of urban scenes that straight photography may miss. “This ‘city vibe’ can be elusive to the camera lens alone,” he laments. “An ordinary photograph often falls short on communicating the vibrancy of the metro area.” Armed with a “digital paint brush,” he enhances color, tones and lighting effects, or modifies compositions to convey a deeper, more compelling story.

One particular image highlights the railroad car-styled Rosebud Bar and Grill in Somerville. Edward Hopper’s 1942 painting, Nighthawks, comes to mind, as Marshall similarly captures the live action of a city diner after dark. The canvas catches an American flag in mid-wave, a scooter artistically parked on the sidewalk, and a deliberating customer leans against the outside menu. Marshall’s signature style brings a striking layer of stimulus to the scene.

After Marshall completes his transformation, he stretches his rendered image over a canvas, then hand applies a protective coat of varnish. The canvases hanging in Blue Cloud Gallery are often mistaken for original oil paintings. Owner Betsy Lenora encourages Boston residents to come explore Marshall’s repertoire of unique digital renderings that emphasize the charm of Boston. An expanded selection will be available during Somerville’s Open Studios May 6th & 7th. Marshall’s art work is collected by clients all over the world.

About the company:

Blue Cloud Gallery, located in the heart of Ball Square, Somerville, invites the public to explore the many interesting handcrafted gifts created by local artisans. This unique store owned and operated by fine art photograher Betsy Lenora, supports local artists and helps the community discover fine artwork. Come and be inspired by the ever-expanding array of fun and functional items designed, created and produced to delight every visitor. As a premier provider of art for sale in the Boston area, Betsy takes pride in her products and local crafts and local art she represents. For more information visit her website at http://www.bluecloudgallery.com.

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It only happens once in a lifetime so fashion savvy teens going to Prom 2012 insist on only the trendiest Prom dresses.

Right now hot dresses range from dazzling sequins to high-low skirts to sassy, short Prom styles, says Phyllis Brasch Librach, president and founder of Sydneys Closet, a St. Louis-based company that designs plus size Prom dresses. Also in big demand: flowing chiffon formal gowns embellished with oversized stones and beading, says Librach.

For teens on the hunt for the perfect 2012 Prom dress, its a real fashion jungle out there. Animal prints in updated patterns and dramatic colors are super popular. The girls love SC7011, a dress we just had to name ‘Animal Magnetism’, says Librach. The abstract print chiffon dress combines bursts of orange and purple with leopard spots. The unexpected combination makes a very bold fashion statement.

For the girl who dreams of being the Prom Princess who charms Prince Charming, only a ball gown will do for the big night. Our best-selling ball gown, SC3018, is a tulle A-line strapless with a figure-flattering pleated waistband in rich jewel tones, says Librach. We know one reason ‘Starry Nights’ is flying out the door is that the dress was featured in February 2012 issue of O, The Oprah magazine.

Every year the fashion stylists at Sydneys Closet round up whats hot for Prom dresses. For Prom 2012, they share these Top Ten Prom dress trends:

1. Glisten Up! Shining sequins in every color of the rainbow sparkle on and off the dance floor.

2. Net Effect! Tulle takes over taffeta for the must-have fabric on any Cinderella ball gown.

3. Fashion Scoop! Dish up yummy shades of ice cream flavors like pistachio or blueberry for a delicious look.

4. Short Story! Forget going to great lengths to be on trend. Short Prom dresses above the knee are so sexy and in.

5. Mirror, Mirror! Geometric shapes of chunky stones and gems create a trendy reflection of your fashion power.

6. Jungle Fever! Wild animal prints in colorful combinations are sure to get noticed in the fashion kingdom.

7. Dangerous Curves! Mermaid style Prom dresses show off your great curves in body-hugging designs.

8. Make Waves! Ruffles create an oh-so frilly detail when layered on skirts or just accenting a strap.

9. White On! Why wait until you walk down the aisle? Prom is a great night to wear white or off white and stand out in a sea of color.

10. Get Spotted! Huge polka dots that burst with color in eye-catching hues?make for a playful look.

About Sydneys Closet

Librach, an award-winning journalist, traded deadlines for hemlines to launch Sydney’s Closet after her daughter failed to find a plus size Prom dress that flattered her curvy figure. Today, Sydneys Closet designs, distributes and sells plus size dresses for teens and women ages 16 to 60 who wear sizes 14 to 40. Customers across the US and around the world dress up for once-in-a-lifetime celebrations wearing Sydneys Closet fashion-forward original designs. For 2012, Sydneys Closet Signature Collection features prom gowns, evening formals, cocktail dresses and informal wedding dresses in hard-to-find plus sizes. The collection, sold under the Sydneys Closet label, is available online at http://www.sydneyscloset.com, at the companys flagship store in St. Louis and more than a 100 fine specialty shops in the US, Canada and Mexico.

At Sydneys Closet? were size and deadline sensitive; call us anytime at 888.479.3639. High resolution images of 2012 Prom dresses designed by Sydneys Closet available along with behind-the-scenes at our Prom photo shoot.