I recently had the opportunity to make portraits for the organization Connections to Success. The mission of Connections is to break the cycle of poverty by helping individuals and families with education and job training, professional clothing, transportation and a number of programs that make a real, tangible difference in the lives of Connections’ participants. It’s a great organization, and I look forward to working with them again.
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The April issue of the Small Business Monthly is on newsstands now, so I can finally let last week’s diner picture out of the bag. It’s a portrait of Dave Geile and Tim Leon, better known as Geile/Leon Marketing Communications.
The concept was simple: to illustrate a long-standing business partnership which, according to many of the successful partners profiled in the piece, is a lot like a marriage. So why not photograph these partners as if they’re an old married couple, enjoying breakfast at the neighborhood diner? That is, in fact, what we did.
As is so often the case, we were the beneficiaries of good luck as well. The booths by the windows aren’t designed for two people to sit side-by-side, so we were forced to further enhance the “uncomfortably close” aspect of a partnership. Add to that the great light, the colorful Pennysaver paper and even the bright red plate that held that perfect pair of eggs… Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good.
Thanks again to the Olivette Diner for their accommodations and to Mr. Geile and Mr. Leon for being such good sports.
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I just finished up a location portrait shoot and would like to give a blog-based shout out to our hosts, the friendly folks at the Olivette Diner. As classic an American roadside diner that you can imagine: good food, great ambience, interesting people.
Along with a great shoot (once the picture is published I’ll put it up here) it was a notably great day for a couple of other reasons. First, I finally tried my first slinger. For those of you beyond the greater St. Louis metropolitan area, a slinger is a breakfast staple. Or a midnight staple served at diners in the form of a breakfast dish. It’s essentially breakfast favorites piled on a plate and covered with chili. Yes, chili. This one was something along the lines of beef patties, hash browns, eggs, chili, onions, cheese. And a side of toast.
I’ve never been able to bring myself to order one for a meal–until now. When I think “breakfast” I do not think “chili.” But alas, it was not bad. Not bad at all.
The other major event of my brief visit to the Olivette Diner involves rock ‘n roll history. Namely, the news that the classic 1975 album by the Southern Rock band Head East called “Flat As A Pancake” features a great photo of the band consuming mass quantities of pancakes, and that photo was made at the Olivette Diner.
So the next time you’re in the greater St. Louis area, stop in to the Olivette Diner and thank them for being such good sports. And try the slinger.
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