Blog
Corporate Events
It’s always an Honor to sponsor Hospice of Washington County
— 01/29/2024 by Monika Wertman —Sponsoring Hospice of Washington County
In 2014 we began our relationship with Hospice of Washington County with a Last Wish project and since then we have captured many things for this wonderful, local organization. From Last Wish projects to groundbreaking ceremonies, headshots and fundraising events, we love preserving important events for Hospice. One of our favorite events is the annual Celebrity Waiter Gala. This event is like none other in our community. We have captured it from the beginning and we never quite know what surprises await us on the night of the main event.
The uniqueness of this fundraiser can bring anything from impromptu dancing and singing to comical routines to life and we are there to capture it in both still photography and video.
Over the last few years our coverage has grown to create short promo videos for the celebrity waiter teams, helping to raise funds ahead of the big night. Themes have run the gamut from Phantom of the Opera, 1950’s sock hop, Barbie and the Adams Family to fairytales and beach adventures. In 2023 Grease was the theme chosen by CNB Bank, one of the celebrity waiter teams. They did such a good job promoting it on social media that our video won the most likes, earning that team a trophy during the fundraiser.
Click on the photo below to check it out.
We can’t wait to see what themes will be picked for this year’s event!
Check out our videography page to find out what all we can cover.
Anatomy of Great Photography
— 08/16/2017 by Monika Wertman —Prelude
Life happens and it happens fast. We try to capture as much of it as we possibly can; from Mom snapping pics with her cell phone, to National Geographic Photographers capturing worldwide documentary quality images, fit for magazine print and awards among the best in the world.
Perusing photos throughout our lives, we will at some point, begin to see differences in style, composition, quality and so on. Our appreciation for great photography has been well noted, as so many marvel at truly wonderful pics. We hang them, post them, share them, comment on them and even sell them!
Some believe that the differences in quality of photography start with the camera. I’ve heard people say, “Wow! Those are great pictures… You must have a really good camera!” There are those who say that it’s in the education and experience of the photographer. (We stand by this one!)
Still others maintain that wonderful photography happens by chance or by luck. These ideas beg the question, “What does it really take to produce Great Photography?” We are going to pursue the answers in this series. Please join us and feel free to comment. Participation is always welcomed!
What to do to prepare for a successful Photo session
— 08/22/2016 by Monika Wertman —What to do to prepare for a successful Photo session.
In this post we will focus on some of the things you as the client can do to ensure that your session with us will be successful and productive.
Whether you plan to book us for a family or senior session, a glamor/boudoir or a couple’s session or a newborn session, there are a few things that you as a client can do to prepare for your time with us and to ensure that you will not only have a great time during the session, but that your pictures will turn out great. You will, of course, assume that we will do everything in our power to ensure these things as well, and we do, but you can help make it just a wee bit easier for us.
Here is how:
#1 Schedule a consultation with us prior to the date of your session. We offer consultations with most of our sessions, in fact make them mandatory for some. Even if you have booked a session for which we do not require a consultation, book one anyway. During this time we will plan the where and when, what you should wear etc. For a family session, this can be discussed over the phone if you are super busy, and with children, you are. We understand this. For a senior, boudoir, engagement or couples session, an in person consultation is best and highly recommended!
#2 If you plan on bringing your pet to the session, please inform us ahead of time so we are prepared with water for your pet and by having anything he may bounce into out of the way.
#3 Discuss your wardrobe with us. This can be a simple discussion of color choices or be more involved such as what it is you are planning to wear and if you have questions on what form of clothing photographs better. If you plan to wear formal wear, please let us know so we have the studio set up accordingly if we are shooting inside. If we are planning on outdoors only, and we are dealing with high heels, please let us know, so our plan does not involve you climbing over rocky and potentially muddy surfaces.
#4 If your session includes several clothing changes, organize them before you arrive. Changing time will go more smoothly and take away less time from your session. ( A few months back we had a family of 8 with three clothing changes, the mom was fantastically organized. I have never seen anything go more smoothly! It was impressive)
#5 We will most likely ask you this, but in case we do not, please let us know what ages your children are. This applies to an in studio session as we’ll as an outdoors/lifestyle session. We love working with littles, but want to know ahead of time so we are prepared with props and location choices that are age appropriate.
#6 Women and girls, please wear makeup, even if you generally don’t do anything more than mascara, do a bit more for your session, especially if it is a senior session, a professional headshot session or a glamor session. (we offer professional hair and make-up services starting at $85 if you are not sure what to do, and include these in all of our regular glamor and boudoir session) Wearing make-up ensures an even skin tone and guarantees fantastic results for you. On this note, do not fret if a pimple pops up the day of your session. We remove blemishes in post production.
#7 If it is a hot summer day and we are shooting outside only, please bring some water with you. We always bring some, but it helps if our clients come prepared as well.
#8 Please arrive on time!!!!!!! We set aside your session time plus 15 minutes. If you run late, you eat into your session time, which gives us less time to create the images we want to create for you. If we come to your home, please be ready for us. We generally arrive 5-10 minutes early so we have time to set up.
Wertman Photography has several shooting spaces within the studio, including a private dressing area. When we go on location, we can bring a pop-up tent for clothing changes as well. Together we will create great images that will stand the test of time and will preserve precious moments for you for years to come!
Santa Pictures in the Square
— 12/10/2015 by Monika Wertman —About three weeks ago, during the 2nd Saturday event in Downtown Hagerstown, we set up a photo booth complete with Santa and a tree. We offered micro sessions at a very reduced price and had lots of families take advantage of this.
We gave the children a chance to warm up to Santa, sit next to him, on his knee if wanted and gave them time to interact. We called it the Santa Experience.
This particular Santa has been Santa for 49 years now and is still gong strong. Many families dropped by and told stories of how they remember sitting on his knee and how it is neat that now their children get to do the same.
Below are a few images to show you how it went.
WE plan on doing this on a larger scale in the studio next winter, offering mini sessions that will be priced specifically for that purpose and will allow even more time for your children to interact with Santa and several special print collections will be a part of this offering. We are looking at doing this one weekend toward the end of November before it gets too busy.
Please keep us in mind for next year. Going into the home stretch of 2015, you will find us in the square for the donut drop on New Year’s Eve, offering a photo booth similar to the Halloween experience. We will be located within the fire station across the street from Bulls and Bears.
We are looking forward to a great end of the year and would like to thank everyone who has helped us be successful in 2015.
Happy Holidays!
Please browse our galleries as we are constantly adding new work. And if you have not gotten the email with details on how to see all of the santa pictures, here is the link: http://wertmanphoto.zenfolio.com/santa2016
Corporate Event at Kemp Mill Road
— 04/27/2015 by Monika Wertman —
Last week I had a last minute request to cover an induction/unveiling ceremony of a brand new addition to our county, a solar field. This was an assignment I can classify as an event, as it was a corporate event for all parties involved in the project, one being Northern Energy and Power and their partners, and Washington County being the other.
I arrived about 15 minutes before it was supposed to start and was treated like a queen. They drove me out to the site that the induction was to take place and gave me the chance to capture some great images of the solar panel site with wonderful stormy clouds on the horizon. According to the weather forecast, rain and windy conditions would arrive within the hour, creating skies a photographer dreams of.
After my stint of solidarity came to an end, guests to the event started to arrive and the show got underway. 
Speeches were held and having been told that I was in charge, I took up front row presence and got all of the important shots. True to the forecast, the storm arrived just after the ribbon cutting and lunch was served in very close quarters under a tent, surrounded by whipping winds and slashing rain.
This lasted for a while and once the winds slowed down, I was able to move around a get a few “party shots” without risking my equipment getting wet.
The purpose of the telling of this story is that no matter what, we will get the shots we were hired to do. Be it for a corporate event such as a ribbon cutting for a new venture, a corporate party set indoors and celebrating a year of good profits, to a birthday celebration or special anniversary, you can count on Wertman Photography to cover your special event well and thoroughly.
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