Sage Studios Professional Photography

What to wear or not to wear.

If in doubt, just bring it along. You can always leave it on the hanger if it doesn't work photographically, and some pieces of clothing are better in public than in front of the camera. Choose clothing that is flattering for you and your physique. Most importantly, have fun with your clothing. Bring something sophisticated, elegant, fun or flirty, bright or moody. Think about how you feel in that piece of clothing, because utimately how you feel is what will come across in the final print.

Accessorize & Glamorize

Kick it all up a notch. Your portraits are you on your best day, so make it that best day. Get up early, spend extra time in front of the mirror, make everything perfect so that when you get to the studio your ready to go. If you need any last minute prep time, arrive early (not late). Think of everything when it comes to accessories; from your hair and makeup to your socks and toenail polish. You never know, you might be photographed barefoot.

Make-up Tips

Eyes-Well groomed eyebrows are a must (both guys and girls). Frida Kahlo is the only person I have seen pull off the bushy brow look with style. Enhance your eyelashes with a "little" black, waterproof mascara. Dark brown eyeliner is a good alternative to a heavy black eyeliner and compliments all shimmery eyeshadows.

Face-If subtlety is your style then keep it to a minimum, but don't skip foundation all together. A little bit goes a long ways in photography, and just the opposite, a lot goes a little ways to improve your appearance. Don't cake it on, our images are all fully retouched, so let us take care of that blemish for you, you just worry about being yourself. Pay close attention to base colors so that you don't discolor your face in relation to your neck and arms. Use both SPF-free moisturizer and foundation to prevent reflection and to enhance your skin's natural glow. Use a translucent powder to set.

Cheeks-Don't be afraid to have a little color on the apples of the cheekbones (petal pink). It really brightens up the appearance of your face and gives it life.

Lips-Last but never the least. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. Work with great glosses full of color and shine. Berry colors, deep reds & browns will make your lips gorgeous. Avoid frosty pinks and white tints for portraiture.

Boys. Listen Up!

You don't have to cut your hair but you do need to comb it. If you are going to cut your hair, do so a month earlier so that you can get used to it and have a chance to grow it out a little if someone gets a little too robust with the shears. If you do not have a full beard, don't bring a half beard. Be freshly shaven the night before so that you don't have razor burn the day of your session. Check your full clothing choices with your parents a couple days before so that everyone can feel good about what you will be wearing for this once-in-a-lifetime event. (If your really smooth, you could show them some really bad choices and say you have nothing to wear, then off to the mall you go to get some great new clothes to wear for your photo session and your next date.)

When Traveling from Rapid City:

Here's a google map link: Sage Studios

Verbal Directions:

• Go south on SD Hwy 79 towards Hermosa and enjoy the vistas of the Black Hills and Harney Peak on the right and the Great Plains on the left. Go past Hermosa and the Flying J truck stop south towards Hot Springs continuing on Hwy 79 about 1 mile. Do not turn on Hwy 40 Going East (Unless your meeting us in the Badlands. Do not turn on Hwy 40 Going West (Unless your meeting us at Mt. Rushmore) Turn Right on Hwy 36 towards Custer State Park (this is right before the Conoco station).

• Go approximately 3 & 1/2 miles and turn right after the blue colored Sage Studios sign located just before Hidden Valley Road on your right.

• Go up Hidden Valley Rd. exactly 1/2 mile from Hwy 36. Go up the hill from the “Y” at the bottom where you see another Sage Studios sign on your right (This sign is much prettier than the blue one). If you are asking yourself, "Is that the road we have to go up?", then you know your going the right way. No worries, there are several 'passing lanes' on the hill and no rush hour traffic. Enjoy the view, that's part of the Sage Studios Experience.

• Take the first right at the top of the hill (another Sage Studios sign is there dancing in the wind). If you cross a cattle gate or come to another "Y", then you went too far and missed the turn to the studio.

• Parking is available between the first and second building. Follow the path to the lower level entrance located on the west side of the larger building (that's the side with the incredible view of Mt. Rushmore, Harney Peak, and Custer State Park). Our Dog, Kota will be there to greet you (and yes, she expects you to throw the ball for her at least once).

• If all these directions make things worse for you right brainers you can download the link below for visual directions.

Here's a google map link: Sage Studios

5th Annual Autumn Portraits in the Park - ADDITONAL SESSIONS ADDED!

We have had such an astounding response that we needed to add additional times on Saturday the 22nd. For those that still want to schedule, we now have extra sessions added on Saturday afternoon with our photographer Joleen Jensen. She is excited to be photographing for us and loves working with families, especially in the beauty of the Autumn colors. So join us this weekend, click on the link and schedule your family session today!

Everybody wants that perfect family picture in the autumn colors, but it only happens for a short while once a year. This fall, once again we are offering our on location Family or Children's Session and will include an 8 x 10, and 2 - 4 x 6s of your favorite image for only $125 ($131.25 w/tax). This event will take place for one weekend only during the Buffalo Round-Up & Art Festival on Saturday September 22nd and Sunday September 23rd. Pre-payment is required to reserve your time. Sessions are limited so contact us today. You can send a check to Sage Studios, PO Box 122, Hermosa, SD 57744 or call the studio @ 605-255-4977 for credit card payments. Click Here for dates and times. Only available sessions will appear for you to choose from.*

1st Annual Portraits at the Ranch - Get your boots on!

If you love the rustic texture of aged wood and the warmth that a log cabin portrays this event is for you. For a very limited time (one day only!), we are offering our on location Family or Children's Session on a rustic homestead in Hayward near Rushmore Cave on Hwy. 40 and will include an 8 x 10, and 2 - 4 x 6s of your favorite image for only $125 ($131.25 w/tax). This event will take place on the morning of October 6th. Pre-payment is required to reserve your time. You can send a check to Sage Studios, PO Box 122, Hermosa, SD 57744 or call the studio @ 605-255-4977 for credit card payments. Click Here for dates and times. Only available sessions will appear for you to choose from.*

Senior Portrait Specials

We love hanging out with our friends and you probably do too. That is why we have our Friends Special. Book your senior portrait session together, hang out and have fun. Get a $25 discount on both your sessions and get some great shots of the two of you together.

Russell LLoyd Jensen began working with photography as an art form more than 15 years ago. His preliminary work focused on transcendental images and evolved into an exploration into the workings of human interaction and the environment. His current trend is to combine some of the fine art elements of art into his captivating portraits of high school seniors, children, families and commercial work. His images were first published in literary magazines in northern Minnesota where he attended college and has since then been displayed throughout the Minnesota and South Dakota region at various galleries and one man shows. His photography and sculptures are now a part of the Permanent Collection at the Rourke Art Gallery & Museum in Minnesota.

Russell's artistic photographs are in the homes of hundreds of families across the region. One of his current senior portraits was also honored by being selected as part of the 2011 Professional Photographers of America's International Photographic Competition Loan Collection. Eminent jurors from across the nation selected the top photographs from more than 4,000 total submitted entries. Judged against a standard of excellence, just over 600 (15 percent) were selected for the esteemed Loan Collection---the best of the best.

In the Spring of 2011 Russell was chosen as a keynote speaker and as a State Print Competition panel judge for the Wyoming Professional Photography Association state convention in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

As a former teacher he also loves to share his knowledge of photography with those who are learning about the profession. He has presented his artistic approach on photography to the Mass Communications and Photography department at Black Hills State University and will be a featured speaker in the fall of 2011 at a symposium on the craft of photography at the Dahl Fine Arts Museum in Rapid City, SD.

Stop in the studio any day of the week and he will show you his latest works of art that he is currently creating for his clients. He resides in Hermosa, South Dakota where he and his wife and three children live, work, play, and enjoy the beauty of the Black Hills.