f8 Photo Studios Helps Raleigh, NC, Salon Garner National Attention

Raleigh, NC, June 09, 2007 --(PR.com)-- A picture was worth more than a thousand words when f8 Photo Studio provided the digital photographs for Samuel Cole Salon’s submission to Salon Today magazine’s annual “Salons of the Year” décor competition, which is open to hair styling salons and spas throughout North America. Those photographs helped the North Raleigh salon walk away with the coveted First Runner Up award, placing it second only to the grand-prize winner, Frederic Fekkai’s new salon in New York City. They also inspired American Salon magazine to feature the North Raleigh in its June 2007 edition.

This is actually the second time f8 Photo Studios has provided winning images for a Raleigh salon. Last year, f8’s photography helped Blo Salon in Raleigh land a “Salon of Distinction” slot in the magazine’s 2006 competition.

Cara Grace Galati and Jonathan Kaz, partners in f8 Photo Studios, photographed Samuel Cole Salon after owners Jack and Joelle Ray completed a major enlargement and renovation of their space on Newton Road in February. The shots were primarily for use on their website (www.samuelcole.com), but the quality of the images helped convince the Rays to enter the Salon of the Year competition.

“It was a challenging shoot,” Galati admitted. “Some of the spaces are quite tight, which made it difficult to maneuver around. And the amount of mirrors meant we were constantly confronted with the need to keep ourselves, our lights, and our equipment out of the shots.”

Despite the challenges, the partners managed to capture the flow of the curvilinear spaces and the richness of the furnishings and finishes (such as espresso-colored cabinetry, polished Pakistani onyx reception counter, a frosted and glowing shampoo station, and both bamboo and cork flooring) so that the salon could win the prestigious award.

f8 Photo Studios’ images of Samuel Cole Salon are featured in both Salon Today and American Salon magazines’ June editions. For more information on the studio, which is located in the historic Royal Bakery building on Raleigh’s Hillsborough Street, visit http://www.f8photostudios.com.

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