Focus on Village Photo

By Ann Hauprich

When Ballston Spa High School seniors walk across the stage at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center to receive their diplomas each June, a familiar face is doing her part to ensure that their special moment is captured for posterity.

Beside professional photographer Donna Martin’s side as she documents teens making the transition from high school students to high school graduates is her longtime husband and Village Photo business partner Pete Martin.

While Donna focuses on snapping the best pictures possible in the space of just a few seconds per student, Pete keeps a close eye on all things technical linked to the two state-of-the art digital cameras operate on what he calls “the most powerful batteries you can buy for this purpose.”

In addition, Pete makes sure the hundreds of names are properly recorded in the files of the couple’s business at 104 Milton Avenue in Ballston Spa, NY.

Taking the commencement ceremony pictures is something to which Donna has looked forward since she began taking individual student portraits and photos of proms and sporting events for the high school about a decade ago.

“I just love taking the individual portraits; I especially enjoy photographing the kids who were not especially excited about the prospect of coming to our studio. I really take my time to make the hesitant ones feel comfortable and try to establish a relationship with them by learning about their interests and what they plan to do after they graduate,” says Donna. “My hope is that they’ll feel like rock stars by the time they leave here.”

Perhaps it’s because the Dutch-born Donna (nee Van Deinse) initially worried about fitting in when her family moved to Ballston Spa that she goes the extra mile to make teenagers feel at ease as she secures 20 to 50 proofs per senior sitting.

“I moved here from a city where white go-go boots were in vogue only to find myself being the only girl in the village wearing them,” muses Donna, adding that the experience made her more sensitive to the feelings of adolescents as they struggle to express their individuality while at the same time wanting to blend in with the crowd.

“I usually encourage students to bring their two favorite outfits for their sitting. Most choose one casual outfit and one more formal outfit, but that’s up to them and their parents. My goal for yearbook purposes is to capture who they are and how they look on a daily basis rather than some glamorized version of themselves.”

To this the seasoned photographer adds: “I love it when kids bring in their own props to help their unique personality shine through. Most often this is a musical instrument or a sports trophy, but we’ve also seen some rather unusual props. One student brought along her iguana – which I do not recommend – and another brought in an entire collection of Harry Potter books. Another wanted to pose with the hood of a snowmobile.”

While snowmobile hoods are allowed in the portrait studio, Donna frowns on students being photographed with hoods or hats covering their heads.

For those who elect to have a traditional portrait to taken (yes, the studio still makes a shoulder drape and a string of pearls available for interested senior girls), the sitting may take as little as 15 minutes. For those who need time to change outfits or to experiment with props, the sitting may take as long as 45 minutes.

Some students arrive for their sittings with friends; others are accompanied by parents or guardians. In the latter instance Donna must occasionally “step in as a mediator” to help decide on which outfit and/or pose would be most appropriate to have framed for grandparents and which would make the nicest yearbook picture or wallet shots to share with friends.

Asked if she ever offers grooming advice, Donna sighs. “I’ve always regretted that I had my own long hair cut short in the style made popular by champion ice skater Dorothy Hamill just before my own senior portrait was taken for the BSHS Class of 1977 yearbook. I immediately regretted changing my hairstyle, but there was nothing I could do. The senior portrait will be in that yearbook forever, so I strongly discourage any drastic hairstyle changes until AFTER the portrait is taken.”

It’s the same advice she offers to brides-to-be who come to book her as a wedding photographer. “I tell them not to make any drastic hairstyle changes until after the honeymoon,” laughs Donna.

Any other advice for those booking senior portraits? “I recommend classic, neutral neck lines and suggest that the girls apply a touch of make-up even if they don’t normally wear any because it helps to enhance your features,” explained Donna. On the other hand, she says there’s no need to fret over acne or the like. “Thanks to PhotoShop, we can make such imperfections disappear – a nice feature that wasn’t available to high school seniors of past generations.”

In addition to taking individual portraits of roughly half of all BSHS seniors, Village Photo has also welcomed seniors from high schools in Burnt Hills, Ballsrton Lake, Clifton Park, Colonie, Galway, Queensbury, Saratoga Springs, Schuylerville and Stillwater who sought out the Ballston Spa business based upon word-of-mouth referrals. Also extremely popular are outdoor or on location portrait sittings in scenic destinations such as the Saratoga Spa State Park and historic Congress Park in Saratoga Springs.

Something else Donna can offer those posing for senior portraits: Proof that friendships between classmates can not only survive – but thrive – no matter how many miles may eventually separate them following graduation.

Indeed BSHS Class of 1977 alum Donna, who bonded with Lisa Debuonatventura and Laura Whelden while the three were attending classes at the Ballston Spa Middle School, says they have remained close ever since.

“The three of us have been friends since the sixth grade,” beams Donna. “Over the years, we’ve been in one another’s weddings, welcomed one another’s babies and have basically been there for one another through the best and worst of times.”

Rather than waiting for their 50th high school reunion to roll around in 2027, the trio decided to make their respective 50th years of life an unforgettable occasion by taking a carefree vacation together in Florida.

“We all celebrated our 50th birthdays in 2009 and decided it was a good time to do something we hadn’t had a chance to do since we graduated from high school – we went to Miami and had late dinners every night, slept-in in the mornings, relaxed on the beach and got lots of exercise, swimming and biking.”

Luckily for them, husbands Pete Martin (Redhook High, Class of 1977), Donald Kennedy (BSHS, Class of 1975) and Dough Adams (BSHS Class of 1977) happily agreed to hold down the couple’s respective forts.

Class of 2017 graduates might take a few notes for future reference!

In addition to taking individual senior portraits and photos for yearbooks, Village Photo has long offered wedding photography and a digital lab. To learn more, please visit www.villagephotollc.com or call 518.885-0396.