While the technology of photography has changed dramatically over the past 40 years, the fundamentals of making good photographs have not. Michael Harvilla, owner of Photography by Harvilla in St. Clairsville, started making photographs in high school, working on the school's newspaper and yearbook. After graduation, Harvilla attended West Liberty State College, where he minored in Journalism and English and majored in Political Science. "During this time, I also ran a freelance business, photographing weddings, high school seniors, reunions, making portraits and making photos for the two major wire services at the time, United Press International and the Associated Press, plus local newspapers," he said. Later, friends encouraged him to get into the investment business and he was a stockbroker for about 16 years. Harvilla moved to Dallas, TX in 1998, photographing for several newspapers in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area and working at BWC Photo Lab, a commercial lab. After moving back to the Ohio Valley in 2000, Harvilla concentrated on building a freelance photography business and opened a studio in his St. Clairsville home in 2007.
Photography by Harvilla is a full service studio, photographing weddings, reunions, high school seniors, sporting events, anniversaries and aerial photography. They also publish yearbooks and promotional brochures for business clients. Most of the shooting is done on location, but some clients and models need studio shots. The studio is on five acres, providing the ability to do a variety of outdoor shots right on the property, incorporating Arabian horses, barn settings, a Harley-Davidson motorcycle and several other options. In addition, he's been given access to other locations nearby, which provide an additional variety of settings.
When explaining why people should hire a professional photographer for their events, Harvilla says that just like buying the latest scalpel on the market doesn't make him a surgeon, using point-and-shoot technology to take a photo doesn't make a person a photographer. He goes on to explain that making good photographs requires an understanding of the basics of photography such as aperature and shutter speed, white balance, composition, lines of direction, and many other components that go into making a photograph.
Harvilla's background in journalism gives his business the ability to create newsletters, layout brochures, and write press releases complete with photography for clients. They also have photographed products for clients to use in their advertising. He adds that they are proud of their turn-around time, which is usually two weeks or less, depending upon the nature of the job.
In addition to work for local clients, Photography by Harvilla shoots for national and international agencies in New York, Los Angeles and London, covering local events of interest to their clients such as the Sarah Jessica Parker surrogate in Martins Ferry, Jamboree in the Hills, the Barnesville Pumpkin Festival and the recent filming of "Unstoppable."
For more information about Photography by Harvilla, contact Michael at 740 296-5533.
