Busy with shoots…always busy with shoots. As a Photographer at least for myself I am always looking for something interesting and fun to shoot. Sometimes it is just a portrait of a unique face. Some of which i have been shooting and I will have to put a few of them up. Sometimes it is just a pretty picture.

Vancouver always has great people with different styles and each wanting something different. I have had album covers for bands, bouidor sessions, business portraits, magazine shoots, Headshots, some Stock photoshoots and whole host of sessions. And sometimes it is just a simple picture that can make you smile.

So what ever it is your looking for just let me know and we will get it done.

Thanks!

A great article from the Province newspaper.

Many brides start planning their wedding the second the ring is on their finger, but rushing your decisions can cost you big time. Here are five common planning mistakes and how to avoid them so you don’t lose sight of your budget (or your mind!).

Mistake No. 1: Asking all your friends to be in your bridal party the second you get engaged

OK, we know you’re excited, but putting your whole sorority house in the wedding party will run you a major tab.

What it’ll cost you: Bridesmaid bouquets aren’t cheap. The average price of a wedding bouquet is around $75, so you probably can’t afford to buy one for every woman you’ve ever known.

How to avoid it: Don’t ask anyone to be in your wedding more than six months out, and determine the number of people you ask by what your budget allows, not by your cell phone contact list. If anyone hassles you about not being asked, just explain that you’re so excited to have them support you as a wedding guest — and change the subject.

Mistake No. 2: Throwing a backyard wedding

It seems nice, right? A quaint celebration in the comfort of your own home — or better yet, your childhood home. But here’s an uncomfortable thought: the cost of wedding rentals!

What it’ll cost you: Combine the cost of a table and eight chairs (up to around $75 per set) with linens ($2 to $3 per chair cover and around $20 per tablecloth) plus set-up and delivery fees, not to mention a tent in case of bad weather (around $900) and a dance floor (up to $2,000), and your “small wedding” budget just jumped almost $4,000. (And we haven’t even mentioned the caterer!)

How to avoid it: Unless you happen to have access to a bunch of banquet tables and chairs, it might be worth your money to book a reception hall. Many hotels and local venues will throw tables, chairs, and even linens into your wedding package — a major savings!

Mistake No. 3: DIY-ing your wedding invitations

You’re just as crafty as any other bride, so why not put your personal touch on your wedding stationery?

Turns out, if you don’t do your research first, we have a lot of reasons why you shouldn’t.

What it’ll cost you: Let’s say you have 100 wedding guests. Purchasing the paper for the invitations and save-the-dates, pocketfolds, envelopes, inserts, reply cards, plus printing and shipping fees can run you well over several hundred dollars. And that’s not counting any redos in case you make a mistake!

Not to mention that awkwardly shaped cards can cost as much as $2 each to mail. Have you had a change of heart yet?

How to avoid it: Instead of starting from scratch, look into buying DIY kits sold at craft stores. You’ll get the same personalized feeling at a lower cost, plus you’ll be saving on time as well as money!

Mistake No. 4: Buying a wedding dress online

When you’re looking at a gorgeous wedding dress online, the “purchase now” button can become mighty tempting. But if it’s a gown you’ve never tried on (or even seen in person!), you should take a breather before you buy.

What it’ll cost you: There’s no way to know what a dress will really look like on you until you’ve tried it on. If the dress that arrives isn’t as lovely as you thought, you could be stuck with an expensive gown you’ll never wear. Even if you like the dress, unexpected fitting problems could mean hundreds of dollars in alterations alone.

How to avoid it: Two words: return policy. Triple check that the website you’re ordering from lets you return dresses if they aren’t as stunning on screen. Better yet, go to a bridal salon and first find the dress you like and then scour online for the cheaper deal.

Mistake No. 5: Choosing out-of-season flowers

Before you set your heart on those frilly peonies or lily of the valley for your fall wedding, keep one thing in mind: your budget.

What it’ll cost you: The average cost of wedding flowers is around $700, but when you start incorporating out-of-season blooms, which often have to be flown into your location, the price will leap.

How to avoid it: Again, research is key. Ask your florist which blooms are in season or locally available during the time of your wedding to cut down on costs. And unless you’re really set on a particular flower, ask if there is another (cheaper) bloom that can stand in its place (Hint: Tightly clustered carnations can mimic pricier hydrangeas for a fraction of the cost!).

Check out the Top 100 Wedding Planning sites a great place to check out resources for your Wedding Planning!

Hawaii

Summer is just around the corner and so it is wedding time.
Here are some great pointers for having a great wedding:

1.This is Vancouver what to do if it rains? The ideal outdoor wedding location has an indoor location or you might want to plan and have it covered.
Many brides and grooms opt to have their ceremony outside and reception inside. If it rains heavy then you have to realize that your probably going to
ruin a dress or shoes.

2.Being calm. Sure its a stressful day. Who would have thought it would have actually come to this day? So make sure you have the most level headed people
handling your wedding. A little common sense goes a long way.

3. Planning. The number one reason Brides attribute to a succesfull wedding is the planning. Remember your the glue that holds everything toghether. Check
lists are essential. Dont fret so much over the small stuff but the bigger picture. Sometimes things don’t show up. No sense in crying and ruining that
perfect makeup.

4.The guests. You did remember to invite them? Well they are there to have fun. Make sure there is plenty of food and alcohol and slowly but surely they will
loosen up. The best weddings are always the ones that can balance alcohol and fun at a perfect level.This isn’t a kegger it’s a wedding. But remember that
you probably have a lot of people feeling awkward and one of the best ways tog et them relaxed is a toast and drink.

5.Relax its your day. Once the vows are said it’s official so do your best to have fun. A happy couple will wear off on everybody. Happiness is contagious and
if it shows your having fun others will want to join in. Congrats your a Bride! Have a great wedding.

Need Fitness Photos? A lot of people love to get them. Call it a reward or simply just something they desire to have after slaving a way at the gym. Understandable after all we all know how time can wear away at those chiseled abs.

Most people aren’t in front of the camera everyday.So I thought I would just write a few pointers on how to make the most of your photoshoot.

1.Theme. Make sure you and the photographer know what you want out of it. Be specific. Be creative. The best shoots are always the ones where the photographer knows exactly what you want.

2. Hair and Makeup. Get it done professionaly trust me you will look your best.

3. Wardrobe. Make sure you have something that you look great in and is a unique look. Look through Magazines and realize how new and how well everything is put together.

4. Energy. Being confident in front of the camera! Be comfortable. This is not a High School Picture. Smile, laugh..Jump up and down…If you feel uncomfortable trust me it will show.

5. Posing. Look in the mirror. Yeah we all have done it so you know what looks best. Natural looking poses are the best. A simple hands on the waist is great. Just do it with some attitude and your photos will look great. Confidence is key. Not everybody is a super model…and really thats ok!

A photoshoot in California out in the desert always makes for a great location. Of course everything that leads up to it isn’t always as great. Early morning makeup call. Makeup artist late. Wait for the makeup artist who finally rolls in all smiles ok she gets to work. Of course I am away from the comforts of home where I have disposal to all my equipment and figure I better get a Ringlight…so off to Samy’s Camera. The way you know that photography is big in a city is when you get to the local photo store and they have Valet Parking, and of course that’s when the fun begins. Wait in line cause every Studio in LA is shooting on a Saturday. Wheres the recession? well of course it was all commercial stuff as I listen to the Tags of the runners picking up equipment…Vogue, GQ, Miley Cyrus,…the list goes on. Me I just need a Ring Light…so put the $2k deposit on my cc and off I go back into the car. As I load the ring light in and close the door I see a dead bee on the window ledge of the car door. Jump in and start rolling. Let me assure you it gets hot in LA during the winter and I roll down the window to let some air in and damn that’s a sharp pain on my elbow! Well Guess what? Bee ain’t dead! Ouch got stung by a bee. I think I was 10 the last time I got stung…

So after reassuring myself I am not allergic to bee stings I roll back to Studio City to pick up the client and roll…of course its 11:30 am now and they are not even close to being finished. argghhh. I can only tell you that by the time we got rolling it was close to 2pm and when we finally arrived at the location the sun was setting! Ha so here is a snap…man I love the sunset.

Kinda reminds me why I bought the album in Kmart, how it was so eye catchy, not only couldn’t I look away I had to buy it. Ac/Dc’s album was the first album I ever bought. I use to get 25 cent a week allowance and I think albums were $7.99 at the time. So do the math it was quite an investment at that time…and my dad calls me cheap! lol Ok enough about my ramblings here a recent pic, neat a little different and fun! Shot here in Vancouver sometimes you just like to work with friends, nothing fancy, not in a studio and definately not with a ton of studio lights.. kinda lets people relax and be themselves.

I finally got into a groove about being able to post and get work done. Workflow workflow…A lot of stuff is making things interesting for shooting namely that we are in a recession. Believe it or not if you fall off a cliff it hurts and you don’t get better right away. Basically that my analogy about a recession. So everybody wants something and everybody has something to sell. Advertising shooting products trying to sneak in a human in there somewhere cause shooting something is way better when there are people involved. Especially a woman. aheem. So trying to ad some new looks to my port. most people dont have great imaginations so instead of telling them what you meanit is best to just take the damn picture and they can see for themselves. So this pic is what I mean to say!