Professional Services in Blue Ash

Skilled photographer Kim Rice uses professional shutterbug equipment to take indelible snapshots of families, high-school seniors, pets, and more inside Keepsake Photography Studio's homey confines. During the approximately one-hour session, subjects strike 30 poses in a choreographed, in-studio scene that can be arranged to convey special occasions such as a graduation or first birthday. When the photo shoot ends, clients then select their favorite shot for tangible commemoration in one 11"x14" print and eight wallet-size prints, which make great gifts for family members or passing doppelgangers. Keepsake Photography Studio is also the stomping grounds of Oscar the parrot and Houdini the cat, both of which are available for posing advice between Acme-brand battles throughout the day.

With over 100 years of experience in the fine art of floristry, the Durban family offers a large selection of flowers, as well as gift baskets, lollipop bouquets, fresh brownies, and other smile-inducing gift ideas. Welcome in the season of rebirth with Easter selections such as an Easter centerpiece ($49.95), a whimsical blooming garden basket ($39.95), or a traditional Easter lily ($29.95). Young men whose fancy has lightly turned to thoughts of love can pitch the season's first woo-ball with a lovely budvase with three red roses ($29.95). A birthday-balloon bouquet ($39.95) will cheerily commemorate a person's oldening, while a fresh-cut market-basket bouquet ($39.95) provides a perky pick-me-up for any holiday or occasion. And a Taste of Cincinnati basket ($39.95) stuffed with local foods is always a nice floral alternative for any triffid-traumatized gift recipient.

Jones the Florist first bloomed back in 1865, under a different pseudonym, and has been flourishing in the Cincinnati area ever since. Green thumb your way through the botany business's online catalogue to find thoughtful bouquets for just about every occasion, whether you're celebrating a birth, birthday, or just want to announce an imminent military invasion with the traditional bouquet of roses. Otherwise, dress your digs appropriately for the warm months with a vibrant bouquet featuring summer sunflowers ($34.95–$54.95), or send off a bundle of the season's best ($44.95–$64.95) blooms to your best buddy, significant other, or allergy-ridden enemy.

When horticulturalist Brian F. Jorg isn't cultivating native plants at The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, he treks up to 20,000 miles a year on globe-trotting photographic excursions. As he leads guests through the Great Smoky Mountains or the Peruvian Amazon, he captures nature's grandeur with his digital camera, sharing his ever-increasing portfolio with the world through field guides, educational displays, and mass text messages addressed to “world.” Brian's passion for nature overflows not only into his photography, but into community activities. He can often be seen sharing his horticultural wisdom at area flower shows, teaching classes to the general public, or snapping dynamic images at sporting events.

Glamour Shots specializes in complete photography sessions in which subjects receive makeovers and in-depth consultations on their shoots to help their best face to shine in front of the camera. Upon arriving at the studio, subjects undergo hairstyling and an airbrush makeup application before donning a series of their own outfits during boudoir or traditional photo shoots. Image designers can retouch snapshots afterward, and client favorites can shine in lab-produced prints or on digital CDs.

While the fraternity brethren milled about parties discussing Jack Kerouac and sipping cheap lagers, Jack Counts was busy working. In the late 60s, the entrepreneurial college student carved out a niche snapping his shutter during fraternity parties and selling prints dubbed Party Pics to members. Over time, Counts spread his business across multiple campuses, photographing graduation ceremonies and special events and processing the prints in his own lab, Candid Color Systems. With Glamour Shots, Counts’ business yet again expanded from special-events photography to include portrait shoots with an emphasis on flattering female subjects.

At each Glamour Shots shoot, a brigade of expert shutterbugs and cosmetologists gets subjects ready for their close-ups with style-enhancing makeovers and photo shoots that result in high-quality pictures and prints. After a personal consultation with the styling team, clients undergo an airbrushing treatment and hair sculpting. Depending on their package, models strike up to 30 poses, quick-changing into different outfits to capture a spectrum of looks, from professional career woman to professional career woman in a bear costume.

Clients pour over proofs immediately after their session, and a professional lab generates each print on quality Kodak paper within 10 to 12 days after the session, with touchup services available to display pristine complexions. Shots are available in a variety of product forms, including prints, calendars, photo books, and canvas wraps. To ensure that none of the photos evaporates from living memory, a slideshow presentation houses the proofs of the entire day's shoot and sets it to music or field recordings of yaks performing Beethoven.