I want to personally thank all the couples, families and vendors I have worked with along the way this year - none of this would be possible if it weren’t for your support and kindness! I hope that this New Year will bring you all challenges to grow from, hugs that make you smile and rest to renew your soul.
So long 2012 and hello 2013!
All the best!
Here is part two from my studio shoot at Film2Frame last weekend. I wanted to do a bit of a lifestyle beauty shoot with a bookworm twist and keep it very natural.
In my online travels, I found a wonderful company local to Vancouver called Granted Clothing and they make these awesome Cowichan-inspired sweaters. I always love working with and meeting artisans local to the Lower Mainland so this was a really neat opportunity to work with Granted. I thought it was a perfect fit for my concept and all the colours just came together beautifully. If you like chunky, incredibly warm and cozy, well-made sweaters, I would highly recommend checking them out.
And now I am feeling the draw of cozying up with my own coffee, so cheers on this cloudy last-Friday-in-2012!
Enjoy!
Model: Michelle Cyr
Hair/Makeup: Meenu Gill
Location: Film2Frame
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Sometimes it can be a process of elimination to determine where your strengths lie and what you are truly passionate about. I learned some new things the other day during a simple shoot that I arranged for some off-season fun.
I am not a studio photographer.
This shoot comes in two parts (part two will be forthcoming) but the first part was shot in a studio setting with lighting and a white backdrop. I wanted to try something different, a little out of my comfort zone, well, actually, a LOT. Jeff, who works at Film2Frame showed me a simple studio setup that he uses and it’s what I used to shoot this series of Michelle. I love the minimalistic look of a white backdrop and the use of studio lighting will always create a very predictable outcome but the whole time, I felt so confined. Confined to a predictable lighting scenario (granted you can change this, but it’s not a natural occurrence like the sun suddenly dipping behind the clouds) and confined by location. I do strongly believe that learning lighting skills is critical, for broadening scope and understanding but nothing can replace the rush of a moment when you get a beam of golden sun in between rain showers. It is so fleeting, a moment that cannot really be anticipated but only lived out when it presents itself. And sometimes, this is where magic happens.
I keep seeing these gorgeous beauty shoots of women in fantastical makeup or just a very simple, clean look - the lighting is superb, the expressions are captivating and I think to myself, “I want to do that!” But then I see videos like this and realize that this sort of shooting is really not who I am. While I can appreciate the work that goes into something like that, I just can’t fit myself into that box. I just don’t feel comfortable with the fact that these women’s bodies are being changed to fit an “acceptable” concept of what beauty is, I don’t feel comfortable with the contrived nature of shooting in a studio. It’s just not real life. I far prefer living in a space where reality is the main feature of the shoot. And that is why I have chosen to focus on weddings at the moment.
That being said, it is fun to do something different and be challenged in different ways - it’s the only way to grow. A big thank you to my crew for the day - my lovely model Michelle, hair and makeup by Meenu and for Jeff’s help at the studio location.
Enjoy and stay tuned for part two, which is very different!
My Mom got a Phalaenopsis orchid a little while ago from a very kind person and the moment I saw it, I was a little overwhelmed by it. It stands about three feet tall and is truly an impressive plant. The arrangement is neat as well, with mosses, air plants (so cool!) and a few other things I am not able to identify. The whole thing is pretty interesting but the showstopper are certainly the flowers. They are silky, shimmery orbs of white that are about the size of my palm (if not bigger) and dozens of blooms. I have never quite seen anything quite like this.
If you know me and have been following my blog for a while now, you will know that I really love flowers. And that I love to photograph them. A lot. Don’t believe me? Well, check this out. And this one was certainly a treat. When I shot these, there was a small pocket of sun streaming through the clouds later in the afternoon and by the time I felt like I had exhausted all the angles and details, the sun dipped back behind the clouds. It was good timing. I was rather intrigued by the translucency of the white petals and how I could play with the light to achieve different patterns and looks. And the nice thing too is that flowers are always willing subjects.
I hope you enjoy these as much as I did taking them!
My friend, Kristie, got her new family canvases in the other day and took a few pictures of them for me so I could share them with you. It’s always really cool to see how people use their images from their sessions and I really love canvases. It really elevates the image to a piece of art.
If you are interested in having a canvas piece done, I certainly can have that arranged, just send me a note!
To see Kristie’s family session, you can go here.
Happy Monday (and only 8 sleeps until Christmas!)
