We weren’t always Two Sticks Studios. We weren’t even portrait or wedding photographers when Bob and I decided to start our business. We were just a couple of guys who loved photography and figured we might as well give it our best shot. So we started shooting everything we could. It started with Little League baseball. We would go to every game we could find and start handing out business cards directing people to a crude website where they could order prints. On the business cards: Bob and Chad Photo. SUPER CATCHY I KNOW. Eventually we included football and soccer and every other conceivable sport where we thought parents might like shots of their kids in action. I can’t even count the number of weekends spent roaming baseball fields grabbing photos and then trying to edit thousands of them to get them on the website that night for parents to see.
While it was going OK, we also realized we weren’t getting to know anybody we were shooting. I’ve found one of the great things about photography is how close it can bring you to the people you are shooting if you have the time to really get to know them. And when you do it can show in your photos.
So we decided to change our focus to portrait and wedding photography. We also decided to change the name – a process I was really dreading, primarily because I didn’t have a half decent idea. Enter our old friend Mr. Guinness. Actually enter Bob and a couple of Miller Lites, but I have trouble giving that much credit to a light beer. The point is this. Bob came up with the name Two Sticks Studios while we were having a couple of beers at Andy Gavins. He was spitballing on the idea of the creative spark needed for really different photography. So we started talking about the most basic way to light a fire – rubbing two sticks together. We had a lightbulb moment. “Two Sticks Studios – “The creative sparks starts with two sticks”
We had it. We had a new name and a catchphrase. All we needed were some clients.
That brings me to the point of this rambling post. Bob and I have always said we have the best clients. I don’t think there is one we don’t count as a friend. Every once in awhile we get reminded of how lucky we are to do what we do and to meet the people whom we meet.
We shot a wedding for Jen and Joe last weekend. All day, I listened to story after story about the generosity of these two amazing people. I watched it unfold in how they embraced their guests and treated everyone around them. It seems they don’t make friends as much as they keep making their family bigger. So when they gave us a gift the night of their wedding – a beautiful framed print that Joe designed – we were quite literally floored. It was his interpretation of our two sticks logo – taken to the next level. Just amazing!
It brings me to the point of this post and why I was thinking about our name. We came up with two sticks over a couple of beers. Really the creative spark comes from our clients. It comes from people like Jen and Joe who make you want to not only be a better photographer but a better person. Thanks guys!
Here are a few shots from their day. They’re not the typical wedding shots. We’ll get to those soon. These are the ones that mean so much to Bob and I. Jen and Joe and the gang will understand.
Ted Scazafabo - Thank you for posting this. This is really great. What a great story about how it all came to be. I wouldn’t want to give credit to a light beer either, haha.
You guys are really great. Cheryl and I feel very fortunate to have met you guys all that time ago. At first your obvious talent stood out clearly from the other photographers and that was amazing. You’re love of the art screams through in your photos. Then we met you guys and were amazed just how damn cool you guys are. You are both guys that put the people you are shooting at ease. Personally you guys seem like guys I would have a ball with just getting a beer together (let’s say Dogfish, seems like a neutral beer between the two of you). I remember my sister Jen commenting how great you guys were and how going the extra mile was the everyday for you guys. You guys stayed for hours on the engagement photos till you got in all the shots no matter how long it took. Cheryl and I thought the same about our engagement session. You aren’t afraid of the long hours and all that work to get that wonderful shot and you always seem to find it.
As an “artist” (people actually bought some of my stuff! Crazy isn’t it? Be sure to check out Aurants! Nothing lime a shameless plug) I find you guys super inspiring. You are so dedicated and talented you are a force that is just nice to be around and would love to be a part of it. Seeing the creativity in action is amazing. If you guys ever need someone just to hold a camera for you or make words look pretty I’m there in an instant! Three sticks sounds pretty good too
Thank you so much you guys for being who you are! Hope our paths cross again soon!
Ted (half of the Cheryl and Ted show)
Theo Scaz - PS And seriously Getting to hold the camera was awesome! I think it’s pretty much well known of my geekness so you have no idea of how much it really was super awesome for means how much it meant! Dream came true!
Ted - Thank you for posting this. This is really great. What a great story about how it all came to be. I wouldn’t want to give credit to a light beer either, haha.
You guys are really great. Cheryl and I feel very fortunate to have met you guys all that time ago. At first your obvious talent stood out clearly from the other photographers and that was amazing. You’re love of the art screams through in your photos. Then we met you guys and were amazed just how damn cool you guys are. You are both guys that put the people you are shooting at ease. Personally you guys seem like guys I would have a ball with just getting a beer together (let’s say Dogfish, seems like a neutral beer between the two of you). I remember my sister Jen commenting how great you guys were and how going the extra mile was the everyday for you guys. You guys stayed for hours on the engagement photos till you got in all the shots no matter how long it took. Cheryl and I thought the same about our engagement session. You aren’t afraid of the long hours and all that work to get that wonderful shot and you always seem to find it.
As an “artist” (people actually bought some of my stuff! Crazy isn’t it? Be sure to check out Aurants! Nothing lime a shameless plug) I find you guys super inspiring. You are so dedicated and talented you are a force that is just nice to be around and would love to be a part of it. Seeing the creativity in action is amazing. If you guys ever need someone just to hold a camera for you or make words look pretty I’m there in an instant! Three sticks sounds pretty good too
Thank you so much you guys for being who you are! Hope our paths cross again soon!
Ted (half of the Cheryl and Ted show)
chadsebring - Ted,
Thanks for the exceptionally kinds words. I get the feeling our paths will cross plenty of times. Also, thanks again to you and Cheryl for letting us be a part of your lives. We’re better because of it.