Sep
03
Another ode to summer days.
Normally I’m not attracted to items that have an explosion of colour in them together. I love bright colours, but only with neutral colours lol I’m the one who wears wore neutral colours to work with red polka dot shoes. Today’s Friday Finds is based on Mother Nature’s miracle – the Rainbow.
a) Monko Photography – I have a secret. I’ve never had these candies before.
b) Panoply Creations – I love pottery, bowls, vases etc They seem so elegant and rustic at the same time.
c) Kimz Kreations – When I have a baby, I totally want one of these.
d) Lirola – In my 20’s I’m becoming a dress person – this is gorgeous!
e) Snugglepants – Flamenco dancing dress?
f) Vincenzorizzo – Can I have this up on my wall? The face reminds me of Natalie Portman actually.
g) Can’t Find the Name – If I was a kid I would LOVE to wear this.
h) Sugar Sweet Bowtique – Awww adorable.
i) Sea Glass from Hawaii – Need beach glass for an artistic endeavor?
j) Lavender Field – I’ve never seen a necklace like this.
k) Treacher Creatures -Another adorable item for a kids room.
Sep
02
I was forewarned, but despite the warning that Rupeela gave me I was still blown away by everyone. I half expected to have my hair covered and some other cultural differences I’m not used to, but the one culture warning she gave me as her and Mick sat down to our first face to face meeting was ‘be prepared for people being posy, like pull you around to take shots of people’ and she wasn’t kidding. Between the endless family shots with the bride and groom (that’s why my elbow hurts!) and being pulled around the dance floor to take photos, I’ve never seen so many people willing to be in front of my camera with a smile on their faces.
Somewhere between the food and the dancing, the family must of hypnotized me with all the beautiful sarees and the most delicious smells because I found myself wanting to get on the dance floor myself. Mick came up to tell me that once he brought Rupeela on stage he would say a few words and despite not knowing what the words were, I found myself getting teary along with them.
It wasn’t my first time being introduced to part of the Indian Wedding Ceremony, but it certainly was my first time taking photos. Dallas, my second shooter, and I were told what was going to happen by at least five different people for a total of twenty times and we STILL had questions of where we should be. It’s been really hard narrowing down photos, especially with all the funny faces (sorry Mick I had to include the sweet one!) and the cute children running around. But hopefully I made Rupeela and Mick proud on their Engagement Party.
Thanks you two!
Aug
31
Despite the summer solstice being September 21st, the end of summer days is the last day of August for me. It would mark the day when my Dad would go back to the classroom and a trip to Staples both for me and him. August is full of long lazy summer days, catching the last bit of warm sunshine at the beach or drinking those fruity drinks like sangria or mojitos. Before the leaves start to turn, sundresses are covered and the fruity drinks turn into baked goods or apple cider. Funny enough instead of a sunny day on August 31st we’re having a downpour of rain, it seems like Mother Nature is giving us an early gift.
I love fall – not because of my birthday, but because of the warm fuzzy feeling I get in the pit of my stomach when I put on that cozy sweater for the first time to drink a chai latte at Starbucks while eating a delicious pumpkin scone with frosting.
During spring I can’t wait for summer; I Imagine going to family BBQ’s, hiking with K, and beach parties with friends. But none of that happens – it probably doesn’t help that I have a sincere lack of friends in real life and K and I’s fitness level. But most important of all that it gets too darn hot to do anything. This summer was worst of all, half an hour out in the sun and I’m a goner.
As much as I yearned for this summer and how excited I was to start my own business – it didn’t go as planned. From mid July through to mid August I was plain miserable. I will spare you the long talk, but suffice to say at some parts I felt like I had a personal rain cloud. I may have thought I was prepared for the photography world of clients and competitors, but my prospective clients weren’t and I wasn’t ready for the amount of competitors.
As I come out of this year’s summer business time I need to rethink, reorganize, and reenergize what I want to do. I placed an ad on Craigslist for a second shooter and received forty inquiries; all wanting to get into the business. How am I to compete in a market where the clients focus on price over quality, years in business over total experience? I’m an artist – not just a ‘photographer,’ not just a ‘web designer.’
But for now on the last day of a lazy summer day, I’m going to be relaxing, enjoying Mother Nature’s gift. Tomorrow? Well you can see me with a chai latte in hand welcoming September and a new perspective with open arms.
Aug
29
Wow. Amazing. Incredible. Blow my mind away.
Are all the things that came to mind as I was explaining the night to my Mum, who was nice enough to save me a trip through Surrey Central at 11:45 at night. Everyone made me so welcome, between the parents of the bride and groom, to the Aunts of the Bride (I think that’s the relation). One who force fed me appies and the Mother who cleared a spot on a table so we didn’t have to eat the main course on the floor.
They weren’t kidding when they warned me about the posed photos, normally I contend with people not wanting their photo taken, but here I was pulled around to take photos on the dance floor. Even when I held up my camera to people at tables they would smile and thank me. So beautiful.
I’ve been to an Indian wedding ceremony before, but it was more of a somber occasion, here they definitely knew how to par-tay! Thank you Rup and Mick for inviting me along, thank you to your families for giving me a hug and whispering thank you, and to my second-shooter Dallas Kolotylo who made me feel at ease.
At the end of the night, I decided to pull out my iphone Polaroid and capture some shots of the dance floor.
Aug
27
“I like fish.”
“He really likes fish.”
I’m a marine animal lover myself so Emilio and I connected over our favourite animals during their portrait session at Queen Elizabeth Park. Luckily instead of the rain and thunderstorms that were predicted, the sun shone through the entire day. Between portraits at the park and Gastown to a quiet ceremony at their condo (on the 46th floor might I add) to their very large reception at the Vancouver Aquarium my first wedding turned out quite fun. (Just don’t tell K that. He’s been badgering me about going into the industry full time this past week.)
This was an interesting project. Their first wedding was done in Ontario in July with the ceremony, where the August ‘wedding’ was supposed to be just the reception for Emilio’s large family and co-workers. Did I mention he owns Femo Construction Ltd.? But instead they performed a quite ceremony with just their parents at their condo, enjoying the gorgeous sunshine and themselves.
Tammy is such a gorgeous girl, Emilio is a very lucky man. In between the cell phone calls, the few kisses, and a gorgeous dress we captured some lovely shots.
Thank you to Tammy and Emilio for sharing such a day with me and Monica Ng my lovely second shooter :)
