Benicia Arsenal Shopping: Lisa Duncan Photography

Benicia Patch periodically profiles businesses located in the Industrial Park and the Historic Arsenal. Patch interviewed photographer Lisa Duncan, owner of Lisa Duncan Photography, at her Historic Benicia Arsenal studio as she completed a shoot for Benicia magazine.

How long has been in business?
I opened my business in 2003 and moved to this studio in April of this year.

What is your most popular product?
I photograph weddings, and bar and bat mitzvahs. However, my focus is changing to high school senior photography. These are pictures of senior girls looking their best and called high school senior portraits. The concept is rather new in California. These are not what you think of when you recall yearbook or traditional portraits.

The girls use the photographs for Facebook images and there are a variety of products they love. For example, the images can be printed on multiple canvases for use as a wall portrait cluster, or the images can be printed on metal. I can also mount multiple images on mat board and include them in an image box (about the size of a book). I also offer framing options.

What is different about what I do is — a new tagline I have — “It is the way you would want to be remembered." These photographs of the girls are wholesome.

You mentioned you have a new process you are using.  Can you explain that?
I also specialize in HDR (High Dynamic Range), a photography process which works for fine art. These photos are shot three times from a tripod with different exposures. The exposures must be combined correctly to get the image. (From this writer, there is a depth captured in these images that is quite amazing. Find photos on the website portfolio page.)

How did you get into the business?
I’ve done photography since I was a kid. My family is very artsy. I actually tried not to do this. I didn’t really want the lifestyle, but at some point I decided you have to go with what your skills are. I went to Davis and studied economics. It was not me. My aunt went to college in San Francisco and was Annie Leibovitz’s roommate. So my family was immersed in the art culture. In 2003, I worked with Yves Mozelsio of YJM Photography and photographed 36 weddings with him. It gave me such confidence to go forward.

What are the benefits of your Historic Arsenal location?
Everything. I love this studio where I can shoot in two types of light. I also love the surrounding outdoor area where I can shoot, all of the different options, the grounds. All of the buildings, I use every inch of it. You can walk up to the . The refinery lights at night make a great backdrop. Benicia is an incredible asset because I can shoot on and on the boardwalk.