No more hiding – TDDUP – read on….
OK, we can’t hide it anymore….
WE’RE GONNA BE ON TV.
Yup, Susie and I are reality TV stars now:
http://www.hgtv.ca/ontv/titledetails.aspx?titleid=260480
We’re gonna have a viewing party in Burlington on that Tuesday night…or maybe again on the Friday….not sure.
Super Hot Susie!!!
Check out my wife! Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!
She is on her way right now to the Juno’s with Maloreigh. Of course I had to take a snapshot of her. She too has been working her butt off(almost literally) every morning and most evenings. Spending hours on the treadmill and hitting the weights. I can’t wait to see where we are both at in 60 days.
Holy Moly….I haven’t posted in weeks….
So many things have happened since my last post.
I need to review the following books:
David Ziser – captured by the light
Syl Arena – Speedliter’s Handbook
Zack Arias – OneLight Field Guide
Some serious reads in here. I should probably also talk about Joe McNally’s Hot Shoe Diary, but I did already mention it last year after my trip to Quebec.
I really wish that Syl had made this book about 4 years ago when I started photography. It is soooo good! Maybe a full review once I actually finish the last pages. Only about 20 to go.
As I mentioned in my last post, I am doing the P90X workout. It is an incredible workout. I am now on my recovery week. Tomorrow is day 1, which is not easy. It’s the 90 minute Yoga-X workout. I’ve seen some major improvements already. I have lost about 15lbs since I started working out in January, but the first 10 came in 2 months and I hit the Plateau. After 3 weeks on P90X, I’ve lost another 5, but certainly gained some lean muscle as well. I don’t think I have much more weight to lose as my bodyfat percentage will get lower but I will be gaining lean muscle mass.
I do really recommend this workout for people, but it is not for everyone. If you can’t get off your butt to workout every day, 6 days a week and you can’t push yourself, then sit this routine out. You need the personal motivation and direction to watch the videos and put everything you have into them. If you are just going to take it easy, then save your money.
On the photography front, I did my first official corporate shoot. It was pretty cool. Very “grade school” feel. I had in the executive team and senior management in and out within 1 minute each. I won’t be posting any pictures, but you may see them on future publications for Anixter Canada.
That’s it for now.
The saddest picture
I know everyone wants happy cheerful life is beautiful type pictures all the time, but sometimes our kids cry….and sometimes you get to capture their sadness. Desiree just wasn’t happy this day. We went to visit her Great Grandma, but at the end of the visit when we were trying to get a beautiful family shot of all of her 6 great grandchildren, Desiree didn’t want to take part and started to cry. Here’s how it looks when doves cry
Suspicion – Blackbird Studios Fall Fashion Show, Saturday Nov 27th – Hamilton, Ontario
Tonight was the first time that I had the chance to try my hands at a runway shoot. It was quite the experience and very fast paced. I didn’t bring the triggers with me, which I know for next time. Having on camera flash was a little harder as I had to blast it on full. With some triggers, I could have had it on 1/4 power and had better recycle time to keep up the pace with the models. Speaking of models, check them out. They were super hot and really made the clothes shine(literally on some!)
I also got to meet and shoot next to the most awesome Derek Lang of Bagel Hot. He was rocking the Nikons while I was rocking the Canons.
Here’s just a few of my favourites. The rest will be posted on the proofing site soon. Please comment on what you think? Should I try this again or should I leave it to the other pros?
Musical Guests included:
LORI YATES
BRAD GERMAIN
LISA WINN
LASHA LORRAINA
STEVE SAINT
GINGER ST. JAMES
THE ORPHANS
A little about the studio:
BLACKBIRD STUDIOS is Kiki and Buckshot’s latest fashion endeavor! Drawing on years of experience catering to the demands of Rockstars, Rollergirls, Burlesque Artistes, Fashion Misfits and Fashionistas, Kiki and Buckshot were inspired to create their new “BLACKBIRD STUDIOS” line of clothing and accessories.
Private Label Couture, Evening Wear, Outerwear, Bridal and Prom Dresses, Boudoir Intimates, Jewellery and Handbags, Theatrical and Burlesque Stage Wear, PVC/Fetish, Classic Goth, Victorian Velvets, Vintage Reproductions, Rock and Roll Club Wear, Roller Derby Uniforms, Logo Apparel.
Most of the fabrics are exclusive to the “BLACKBIRD STUDIOS” label. They are customized screen prints, limited only by the designers’ imaginations. Fabric designs are often inspired by the dark and romantic. Post punk, Fairy Tales, Gothic Horror, B-Movies, Pulp Fiction, and Torch Songs.
Website update and more from your Burlington Ontario Photographer
Not much to report on today. Just doing some updates to my website. A cool new iPhone version is being launched as well as a new html site. They should be up and rocking in the next few days. Be sure to check them out and let me know what you think. Also, I’m updating a whole bunch of pictures and styles on my main site, so watch for those.
I can’t wait to show you the latest wedding I shot as well. I’ve got to present to Latoya and Thomas first and I know they are excited to relive their day through pictures. They should be up by this weekend.
That’s about all for now. Just a quick hello. I figure I tweet enough that I should probably blog a little more as well.
Now for a quick image for ya, because a post doesn’t seem complete without something.
Laurie & Tim’s Edgewater Manor Wedding
Together Laurie, Tim, friends and family celebrated a beautiful wedding on an incredible August day at the Edgewater Manor in Grimsby Ontario. I also had the pleasure to work with Brent Pilgrim. He’s an awesome budding wedding photographer from Milton and my new friend in the business. The guys had just returned from getting an Italian shave just in time to get dressed and get to the Edgewater. The ladies, all 10 in the wedding party plus MUA and family, were all in great spirits and kept the house very busy. Lots of hustle and bustle but in the end a beautiful bridal party and a stunning bride. Here are a few of my favourite moments from our day together.
Laurie & Tim – Edgewater Manor Wedding Photographer
Here’s a little Sneak Peek from Laurie & Tim’s wedding on August 14th 2010 at the Edgewater Manor in Grimsby, ON.
Christine & Mike’s Wedding – Balls Falls Conservation Area Wedding Photography
The weather really set the mood for this wedding. A bright beautiful day without a cloud in the sky, well maybe a few Cumulus clouds, but they just made for some awesome backgrounds. Christine, her bridesmaids and parents made me feel right at home and didn’t mind having me wander around and take pictures of them getting ready. When we arrived at the barn at Balls Falls, Mike was there waiting for his stunning bride to arrive. The barn was beautifully decorated and then Christine made her grand entrance. Thanks again to both families for letting me take part in your special day. Also a big thanks to my second shooter, Milena Trpkovski. Even though she works for Nikon, I won’t hold that against her. Sorry Milena, but Canon rules!
Christine & Mike – Balls Falls Conservation Wedding
A little sneak peak into Christine & Mike’s wedding today.
6 reasons why I didn’t post this weekend
No photos or blog posts this weekend! Here’s what happened:
1. It was the long weekend, and I needed a break
2. Saturday was a shopping day for our great BBQ fiesta
3. The bbq’s started at 8:30am and lasted until the guests arrived
4. I can’t post to my blog from my iPhone
5. Monday was clean up day
6. Monday was also spend time with my kids day and try to relax
We had a great time at the BBQ. Friends and family all showed up. I tried to reconnect with some old clients as well because I don’t like to just shoot, I like to build relationships with my clients that last forever. We become friends when the work is over.
Maloreigh and Allie – Burlington Strobist at work
Another day (there Dave, another Dream Theater reference for ya).
I emailed my next two brides that I’ll be shooting in August. I can’t wait. It’s been forever since I shot a wedding. I still have to post a few of my favourite pics from the last weddings I did with AC Images. They look great and Andrea is an awesome photographer whom I can’t thank enough for the privilege to shoot with her this year. I hope to get a few more weddings under my belt with her.
The rest of my day was a pretty standard Friday. Tim Hortons for breakfast, worked my 9-5, home, Pizza Pizza for dinner, play with the kids until they are tired, then off to bed. I don’t think I’ll need to tell any of you that last part anymore because that’s what I love to do every night. My kids mean the world to me and I love playing with them.
Tonight Maloreigh had a friend over who’s going hang with us all weekend. Allie is also going to help babysit the kids tomorrow night so that Susie and I can celebrate our wedding anniversary. 6 years tomorrow.
So for tonights inspiration comes another backyard sunset shot. I love the back-lighting and the way the sun give such great red to their hair. I think I could use this shot for a band one day (so any local bands that want to shoot, drop me a note).
f/18
1/40th
ISO 200
430 fired again off camera right, full power, no diffusion
You also get to see how my little helper Desiree worked with Daddy tonight. She wanted to shoot the models and photographer. I think she did really good. This shot is SOOC and I think she even nailed the rule of thirds! Not bad for a 4 year old.
Time for Change
Today hit me like a ton of bricks. Here’s why:
I just found out that I don’t exist and it’s getting worse. I have to ask myself, What am I doing? Well, I thought I’ll get a nice flash website, an awesome blog, a smugmug page, a facebook page, a twitter account, and on and on and on. Why? Because that’s what all photographers need right? We need social media to stay current and capture our clients. Well, I have them all and guess what? Clients aren’t finding me. I post to my blog every day, I twitter a lot(not lately thought), I keep updating facebook. I’m doing everything that I’m “told” to, but I’m not getting the results. My first step was, go to Grader and find out why. Now, most people wouldn’t want to show how bad they’re doing, but I do. This is my testament to all the budding photographers out there.
So I turned to my good buddy David Schultz, who is a web guru to find out why. So he and I went back and forth through email and it came down to the article I posted above.
I have lots of work to do! Which is now represented in my picture below. I’m changing. I’m no longer saying I’m a Wedding Photographer and doing the blah blah blah that everyone says you have to do. Yes, I love Weddings, I want to shoot YOUR wedding and that’s what I want to do in life, but now I’m going to be really letting you into my world. My blog is now going to follow my trials and tribulations of making it as a photographer, 9-5er and father/husband. It’s going to be a reality show in a blog. You can help shape this blog. I want your input and feedback and I’ll be reaching out to you Mr & Mrs Internet. We have until Dec 31st to turn this thing around.
Susie with Flare
Tried a bunch of shots in my backyard tonight, inspired by Strobist and Zack Arias. It’s time to get creative or get going. So I’m getting creative.
The Cookie Thief
I had a great idea tonight to shoot the cookies that Desiree and Maloreigh made last night. We had tons! So tonight as I was trying to setup my shot, a little hand reached up to grab some. I thought, you know what? this is my shot. It was perfect.
Lighting Flare
I thought I would try my hand at some more flare shots. I think this one looks pretty cool.
Gargoyle
One of my neighbours was getting rid of his gargoyle because he’s missing an ear. Well, I think it adds character, so I picked him up. Yup, I’m a garbage picker. I need to find an awesome spot for this guy, I just don’t know where yet.
Burlington Ontario Photographer
Kids make their memories
One of our walls in our new basement had this writing all over it. Lots of great memories for the previous owners. Kids heights at different ages, all kinds of scribbles. One day it will be gone as we will be doing our own wall with our kids.
Wall of Memories
Backgammon Cube
Ah the cube. It changes everything. It can make a nice friendly game end in seconds.
Sophie & Hovig Wedding Invitations
I received my wedding invitation from my cousin and her fiancée today. The invites look amazing as will my cousin!
Burlington Ontario Wedding Photography
Burlington Ontario Wedding Photography
Kraft Peanut Butter
Mmmmmm goodness. I love peanut butter and so do my kids. Tonight, Hayden had 2 PB sandwiches. My favourite is the triple decker, 3 slices of bread with lots of PB. You can’t go wrong. On special occasions I’ll have PB and Strawberry Jam. Now that’s a treat.
