Children Maternity and Portrait
Mary Mortensen
About The Course
Nationally known for her artistry and innovative marketing programs. If you are a new photographer of a “seasoned” one, this class will take ordinary to the extra-ordinary.
Every day you will photograph in the classroom and / or outdoors; and transform your images into works of art using elements of Photoshop, Painter and other tools.
You will learn to create templates for marketing pieces, announcement cards, folios and galleries for innovative client products designed to make you money~.
Learn to create marketing programs that will keep you busy year long and how to develop a chartable campaign that will provide community awareness and make you stand out in your area.
About The Instructor:
Education
Master of Science Degree - Business Management
Bachelor of Arts Degree - Communications and Management (with emphasis on Marketing and Sales)
Licensed in Makeup Artistry specializing in photography
Professional Affiliations
Professional Photographers of America
American Society of Photographers
Wisconsin Professional Photographers, Past President 2005-6
South Central Professional Photographers Association
Past President - Southeastern Wisconsin Professional
Photographers Association
Past President Women for MACC, Inc.
Background and Experience
Law firm of Mulcahy & Wherry, S.C., employed as a paralegal specializing in incorporations, real estate and probate for five years.
Miller Brewing Company, employed as Corporate Employee Programs Manager, responsible for company-wide employee communications programs for ten years.
Occupational & Family Health, Inc., a division of DePaul Hospital, employed as Vice President; successfully brought an existing division of the company from a $30,000 per month loss to break-even status within a two-year period; successfully negotiated, implemented startup, staffing, marketing and sales programs for a joint venture major health/wellness center located in downtown Milwaukee, WI.
Mortensen Portrait Design, LLC, opened with husband Allen in 1988 in Waukesha County, a western suburb of Milwaukee, WI. During the first three years the studio tripled business as a result of client referrals and an emphasis on marketing programs. The studio has established itself as one of the largest in the Greater Milwaukee-Waukesha area and is well known for its unique style of photography and personal approach to business. In addition to its portrait division, the studio also houses a full digital lab and school photography division. Besides the owners, the studio currently employees five full-time and seasonal part-time staff members
Awards and Recognition
Mary specializes in the photography of children and babies. For over a decade Mary has partnered with the Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer (MACC Fund) and the Women for MACC in their fight against childhood cancer. Through photographic programs developed by the studio, the Mortensens have raised over $100,000 for childhood cancer research. Mary received the prestigious PPA AN-NE award for charitable marketing in 1999. She has been featured on NBC Channel 4 in the Greater Milwaukee Area for her work with children. She was been featured in Wisconsin Women Magazine, M Magazine and Alverno Magazine.
Mary has been recognized locally and nationally for her work. She was the first in Wisconsin history to receive the most awards given at one convention. She is the 2009 Wisconsin Photographer of the Year, 2009 Electronic Imager of the Year, winner of the Canon Par Excellence Award, 2009 Best of Show, 2009 Clean Sweep, 2009 Top Ten Imagers, two Fuji Masterpiece Awards, two Court of Honors and the American Society of Photographers Regional Medallion Award. She has received local and state Court of Honor and Traveling Loan Awards, Best of Show and Sweepstakes Awards from Burrell/Supra Color Lab and her work has appeared in the PPA Loan and Showcase Books, the Professional Photographers of America Magazines and in the ASP Elite Collection.
Mary has worked with mothers interested in entering children for pageants and modeling. Her photography has helped clients win awards, including a 6-month old who won “Most Photogenic” in a national beauty contest. She has also worked with upscale beauty salons in the Milwaukee-Waukesha area that compete in hair color and makeover national contests sponsored by international hair suppliers. Her clients have received three first place awards and her photos have appeared in international hair magazines.
Mary is currently a member of PPA’s Approved Photographic Instructors, ACI Lab Speakers Team Fuji Talent Speakers Team and is a PPA Affiliate Judge.
Mary’s style is simple but artistic. Her knowledge of portrait artists and work with art galleries has set the tone for the studio’s emphasis on producing fine art and selling wall decor and gallery framing.
What to Bring to Class
Camera, (tripod is recommended), computer with Photoshop installed and samples of any marketing pieces.
