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Studio Shoots To Please

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By LAURA FRAZIER

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 18, 2008

BRANDON - Diane and Paul Iaria met in 1984 when they joined a convoy of photographers hired to drive across the Northeast and set up temporary portrait studios inside department stores.

"Before there were photo studios in malls, that was the thing," Diane Iaria said. "Retail stores would have weeklong promotions, and people would bring their families out to have portraits made. Then we'd drive on to the next town."

The couple worked together for 24 years in the portrait business, traveling with various companies and later at mall-based stores and their own studio in Syracuse, N.Y. They moved to Florida in 2007 and in May opened DigiPix, a digital portrait studio, on Bloomingdale Avenue at John Moore Road.

Iaria said their portraits are comparable to mall studios in quality but not in price.

"The economy is really kind of sluggish, so we decided to keep our prices low," she said. "There are people who just can't afford to spend $300 or $400 on portraits. We're trying to attract the person who wants to spend $100 or less."

The Iarias created images using film until they opened DigiPix and went digital. They admit to being among the last holdouts using film, but they're glad they went digital.

"You get instant results that can be brought up on the screen, so if someone made a goofy smile, if you blinked or had a hair out of place, we can reshoot it or do instant touchups," Diane Iaria said.

Photos are displayed and selected on a large video monitor immediately after sittings. Iaria said that because they schedule one sitting at a time and avoid back-to-back appointments, they can take their time with clients.

"If your 2-year-old is screaming and yelling, it's OK. We'll work with you and get it done. We're photographers, not salespeople," she said.

Customers can have their photos sent to a lab for finishing or have them printed on the studio's commercial-quality equipment after their sitting.

Jennifer and Leon Ferguson of Seffner scheduled a portrait sitting May 5 with their sons Leon, 7, and Blake, 5. When they left the studio, they took their pictures with them.

"The whole 'getting the photos right then and there' thing, being able to walk out with them, is great," Jennifer Ferguson said. "You can go pass out your photos the same day."

She said her experience at DigiPix was better than a department store or mall studio shoot.

"They were great with the kids, and there were so many different poses and backgrounds to choose from," Ferguson said. "I got a lot for my money, and I'm really happy with the pictures."

DIGIPIX

WHAT: Privately owned digital portrait studio specializing in portraits of families, babies, grandparents and pets. They also offer passport photos and personalized photo novelties, such as mugs, magnets and pens.

WHERE: 155 E. Bloomingdale Ave., Brandon

HOURS: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday; call for appointment; walk-ins welcome

INFORMATION: (813) 657-1020 or www.digipixsite.com

Reporter Laura Frazier can be reached at (813) 657-4523 or lfrazier@tampatrib.com.

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