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Business & Tech

Plainview Photo Studio Helps Women's Cancer Cause

The 2012 "Moms Who Kick" calendar will feature the award-winning photography of Jay Brenner.

When the new 2012 Moms Who Kick breast cancer fundraising calendar appears later this year, the professional color photography will be taken by award-winning photographer Jay Brenner of Brenner Photo Productions in Plainview.

Featuring 12 area mothers in glamorous dresses and evening gowns, the calendar will also highlight their strength, athleticism, and fitness along with health and nutrition tips.

“We’ve been producing the calendar for four years now,” said Joanne Hutchins, founder and executive director of Moms Who Kick, a charitable organization dedicated to raising funds for breast cancer research and women’s health. “In previous years we’ve used black-and-white photography from a local Oyster Bay photographer. We’re very excited to have Jay onboard providing us with high-end color photography and his professional expertise.”

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Brenner met with Hutchins and her team to determine the direction of the 2012 calendar. “We brainstormed with them and they seemed to like the before-and-after choice, in which each model is photographed in her daily routine and then her dream fantasy life,” explained Brenner. “I want to photograph each of the women where they can be proud of themselves. "

Hairstylists and make-up artists will be on hand and Brenner will be able to professionally retouch the photos.

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"I know it can be stressful for non-models and it takes a bit more patience but using digital photography we have instant gratification to see what we shot immediately," he said. "Participating in this project is my way to give back and help a worthy cause.”

Brenner and the women’s organization were introduced to each other by Laney Liner, the director of marketing and a board of director for Moms Who Kick, and Alan Benasaraf, a sales representative for the Plainview photo firm.

“We feel it is important to take part in this effort because it’s all about doing the right thing and helping people and a cause that more people need to be aware of. Plus, I believed in the mission of the organization since my family was affected by cancer,” said Benasaraf.

The 2012 Moms Who Kick calendar will feature photos of athletic and fit women, stylishly dressed, while showcasing the exercise or activity they most enjoy in order to maintain their health. Contest winners will be featured in the 2012 Moms Who Kick calendar fundraising campaign. All net proceeds collected in association with this contest will benefit The Katz Institute for Women’s Health and Katz Women’s Hospitals, and breast cancer research.

When the finalists have been chosen by Moms Who Kick, the models will shoot their photos in Brenner’s studio in Plainview. “Studio photography is always easier because we have everything at our fingertips,” said Benasaraf. “Packing for a location shoot doesn’t always allow us that luxury.”

Moms Who Kick was established in 2008 by Hutchins, who had many family and friends who were affected by breast cancer. Hutchins, who trains at Tiger Schulmann’s mixed martial arts center, noticed a calendar for sale with different women posing in martial art stances. “That put the idea in my head,” she recalled. “Why not print a calendar for Moms Who Kick focusing on area women. The calendar helps to raise money for cancer organizations and promote our mission of physical fitness and a healthy lifestyle.”

“We have worked with non-models before on numerous occasions,” said Benasaraf. “The biggest challenge is that professional models are fully aware of what it takes to stand in front of a camera and hold a pose for any great length of time.”

Brenner Photo Productions was established by Jay Brenner, a Rochester Institute of Technology graduate with 30 years of experience serving a diverse clientele and earning accolades and awards. Today the firm encompasses a 10,000 sq ft facility in Plainview with between 11 and 15 employees including freelancers and assistants and 6,000 sq ft of shooting space.

The studio features three full-time photographers, a digital team of artists that take the images straight from the camera and perform retouching, color correction, color conversion, and any other type of file manipulation.

“We are a one-stop shop for all photography needs,” said Brenner. “We take it from conception right up to prepress. We will even work with your printer to ensure that the color is on the target.”

The firm has an impressive list of clients, including Bed, Bath & Beyond, Canon and Sbarro, and was named the Best Photography Studio on Long Island in 2011 by Long Island Press.

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