California Photographer | Paso Robles San Luis Obispo - Food, Wine, Event Photography - Advertising, Editorial, Corporate: Paso Robles California Photographer --  Syl Arena photographs people, food, wine, botanic, horticulture and agriculture subjects. His creative photography appeals to magazine, advertising, annual report, editorial, event and hospitality clients. Syl photographs throughout northern and southern California from his home in Paso Robles  the hub of Californias central coast wine region. Location and studio photography in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Monterrey, Carmel, Santa Barbara, Bakersfield, Fresno and Salinas. Professional member ASMP, EP, APA, SAA.










Central California Photographer | Magazine Advertising Commercial Corporate Photography
Specialties Food Wine Botanic Horticulture Agriculture Studio and Location Photography
Paso Robles, California | San Luis Obispo County | California Central Coast Wine Region
Serving Los Angeles | San Francisco | Monterrey | Carmel | Santa Barbara | Bakersfield | Fresno | Salinas
Member: American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP), Editorial Photographers (EP)
Listed in Adobe Photographers Directory
Syl's blogs: Paso Robles Photographer | PixSylated



























Paso Robles California Photographer Syl Arena creates photographs people, food, wine, botanic, horticultural and agricultural subjects. His creative photography appeals to magazine, advertising, annual report, editorial, event and hospitality clients. Syl photographs on location and in studio throughout California. His photography studio in Paso Robles provides convenient access for location photography in nearby San Luis Obispo, Santa maria, Lompoc, Santa Barbara, Bakersfield, Visalia, Fresno, Carmel, Monterrey, Gilroy and all other locations in the San Joaquin Valley and on California's Central Coast.

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PHOTOGRAPHIC SPECIALTIES


Syl's slogan is "Creative Services for Cultured Clients™ - Agriculture, Horticulture, Floriculture and Viticulture "

Agricultural Photographer
-- Creating great photographs of California farms and ranches is a unique ability in the world of commercial photographers. Most photographers seldom think about who produced the food they eat - nor do they focus on creating beautiful photographs of California farm products. Syl Arena traces his roots in farming and ranching through four generations of his family to the founding of the Arena Fruit Co. in 1888. As a youth, Syl spent most summers working on his family's farm west of Phoenix. He has never lost his connection to agriculture -- nor his awareness of how vital modern images of farming can be to the industry. Knowing how to photograph food produced by California's farms with an understanding of the heritage of the state's vast farming resources is one of Syl Arena's greatest skills. Agricultural photography calls upon a wide range of photography technique -- shoots can range from macro photographs of fruits and vegetables to photographic portraits of farm workers, farmers and consumers to panoramic photographs of farms and ranches. Syl has photographed throughout the San Joaquin Valley -- including locations such as Fresno, Visalia, Bakersfield , as far north as Stockton, Sacramento, Chico and Redding, and as far south as San Diego, Palm Springs, El Centro and Brawley.

Horticultural Photography
- Syl spent more than a decade working in horticulture. As a former producer and distributor of unique garden roses, Syl honed his skills as a botanic photographer. Many images from his extensive collection of rose photographs have been licensed by leading publishers: including Martha Stewart Living, Sunset Magazine and Ortho Books. Capturing natural beauty while photographing flowers requires both a deep sense of aesthetics and photographic technique. Fortunately, Syl's home in Paso Robles is centrally located to many of California's leading breeders of flowers. Syl has also photographed gardens throughout California -- including the famous rose collection at The Huntington Library near Pasadena, the Rose Hills International Rose Trial garden east of Los Angeles, the Walk of Roses near San Diego, Gaal's Little Acre east of Ventura and the Flower Fields north of San Diego.

Food Photography and Wine Photographer
-- Building upon the vast resources of the state's heritage in agriculture, California is home to many of the nation's finest producers of artisanal foods and beverages. Further, Paso Robles is the state's third most successful wine region (after Napa and Sonoma). The area features over 150 wineries and thousands of acres of vineyards. Whether photographing on location or in the studio, Syl has the experience and tools necessary to create captivating images of California's food and wine.

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PHOTOGRAPHY FOR PUBLICATION -- MAGAZINES, ANNUAL REPORTS AND CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS

As an editorial photographer, Syl Arena is qualified to produce creative photographs for use in magazine, annual reports and corporate communications. His photographs have been published by Sunset Magazine, Martha Stewart Baby, Garden Compass, Pacific Coast Nurseryman. Photographing for magazines, annual reports and corporate communications frequently requires that the photographer work on location. Syl Arena is very adept as a location photographer. Depending upon the vision of the art director, he can create natural light photographs or photos that are creatively lit as if they were shot in a photo studio. As a magazine photographer, Syl Arena understands the importance of delivering a portfolio with a wide range of options and the importance of delivering that work on time. Whether shooting location photography or studio photography, California photographer Syl Arena uses a digital camera and a completely digital workflow

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CALIFORNIA ADVERTISING PHOTOGRAPHY

The creation of successful advertising photography requires that the photographer visually coordinate the client's message with the art director's vision. Syl is a creative photographer who is able to communicate with art directors, creative directors, photo editors, graphic designers, ad agencies and all other types of creatives.

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CALIFORNIA PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY

Paso Robles Photographer Syl Arena is not a traditional portrait photographer. Rather he strives to create photographic portraits that convey the persona (the personality) of his clients. Syl's executive portrait photography can be used for corporate communications and advertising. His environmental portraits demonstrate his ability as a location photographer.

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CALIFORNIA STUDIO PHOTOGRAPHY and CALIFORNIA LOCATION PHOTOGRAPHY

Drawing from his years of experience as a photographer of agricultural and horticultural subjects, Syl Arena is equally adept at photographing on location as he is when shooting in the studio. Of course, each type of photography has its unique requirements.

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DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHER

Syl Arena uses a completely digital workflow from image capture through post-production and delivery to the client. Digital photography is the best solution for projects that have to be produced on location, in a short time frame or with color critical requirements. Using a combination of Adobe Lightroom and Canon's EOS Utility, Syl is able to shoot directly from his camera into a laptop for color measurement, focus check and composition analysis. He often takes a color-calibrated studio monitor on location.

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PASO ROBLES PHOTOGRAPHER / PASO ROBLES WINE PHOTOGRAPHY

Syl photographs wine produced by the many vineyards and wineries around Paso Robles – the hub of California’s central coast wine region. Many Paso Robles wineries are members of the Wine Institute. Located halfway between Los Angles and San Francisco, Paso Robles is a popular destination for wine enthusiasts. Paso Robles is a comfortable drive from many other California locations - including San Luis Obispo, Monterrey, Carmel, Santa Barbara, Bakersfield, Fresno and Salinas. Syl is available to photograph wine events. Recently, Syl photographed on location in several beautiful homes available through Paso Robles Vacation Rentals. Other information on the local area and ideas for photographing in Paso Robles are available through: the Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce, Winery Music Awards, Paso Robles Main Street Association, and the San Luis Obispo Visitor's Guide.

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PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY ASSOCIATIONS

Syl holds himself to the highest standards of the photo industry. He is a professional member of many leading organizations, including:

American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP), an association of professional photographers who work in many sectors
Editorial Photographers (EP), a professional association of magazine photographers
Advertising Photographers of America (APA), a trade association for photographers who work in advertising photography
Stock Artists Alliance (SAA), the association for photographers who license stock photography, and
PLUS Coalition -- the consortium of photographers and other industries that promotes the licensing system known as UsePlus

Further, California Photographer Syl Arena is listed in the Adobe Photographer's Directory.

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FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY / AN EDUCATED PHOTOGRAPHER

Syl earned his BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts) in the College of Fine Arts at the University of Arizona during the 1980s. As a student, he spent considerable time studying the masterworks of modern photographic art at the nearby Center For Creative Photography. Prior to attending art school at the University of Arizona, Syl studied at Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara -- just two hours from his current home in Paso Robles.

Syl participates in many workshops each year. The Santa Fe Photographic Workshops are a particular favorite. He has also studied with Mac Holbert and John Paul Caponigro at the Fine Art of Digital Printing. Syl looks forward to attending the Palm Springs Photo Festival each spring.

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RESOURCES FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS

As a service to his colleagues in both the fine art photographers and commercial photographers, Syl maintains the Photo-Resources List -- a collection of over 100 web resources for photographers.

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HOW TO HIRE A PHOTOGRAPHER

The American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP) provides many online resources that can help you work with professional photographers. Working With An Assignment Photographer is a good place to start. ASMP also provides a guide to licensing photography.

Depending upon your location, the nature of your assignment and the method in which the photography is delivered, you may be charged California Sales Tax. This new guide to Sales Tax for California Photographers can help you understand when photography is taxed and when it is not.

The Advertising Photographers of America (APA) provides an online business manual for photographers that provides insights into the many considerations for hiring an assignment photographer.

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CALIFORNIA STOCK PHOTOGRAPHY

Syl Arena's images of California and other stock photography subjects are availabe through:

Digital Railroad's Marketplace and PhotoShelter Collection.  Click here to go straight to Syl Arena's stock photo library on PhotoShelter.


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The BASICS OF COPYRIGHT - UNDERSTANDING WHY OWNING A PHOTOGRAPH IS DIFFERENT THAN OWNING THE RIGHT TO REPRODUCE IT

At the moment of creation, photographs are intellectual property and the ownership of the copyright for that photograph belongs with the photographer. Unlike real property (your home for instance) and personal property (the items in your home), you cannot touch intellectual property. Intellectual property is also different than real and personal property in that it can be reproduced easily (many copies can be made). A photographic print is a physical object and a type of personal property. However, owning a photographic print does not necessarily give the owner the right to reproduce the photograph. This right of reproduction remains with the copyright owner -- a right than can be licensed many times. California photographer Syl Arena does not sell his photographs. Rather he licenses specific rights of reproduction to clients.

Copyright is a fundamental American right contained in the original version of our Consitution. Copyright predates other rights that were established by amendments to the Constitution -- such as:  separation of church and state, protection against unreasonable search and seizure and the right of women to vote. The original language in our Constitution that pertains to copyright is listed in Secion 8 and gives Congress the right "To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries"

Useful sources of information on copyrights can be found on ASMP's copyright tutorial and from the US Copyright Office.