The good ole days?? Video

A funny thing happend to me today. As I was burning out editing videos I decided to sneak into my itunes and watch a strongbad podcast. (long story different article) Anyhow, they did a skit on romantic videos.

sooooo

I started to think about the good old days of video. When I used to shoot engagement videos with 3 batteries, a SVHS 1 chip camera and a tripod.

We had this VERY corny skit. It started with the groom walking down a hill. At the bottom the bride would walk towards him. As he past her he could take his eyes off her. The bride would ignore him. No as he was watching her and walking we would usually trip. She always looked back at the last moment.

We then went to a bridge where he would stand on one side and her on the other. Slowly they would look at each other, then move a little closer, then a little more closer , then closer until he made his move and kissed her. yea reall fast movers.

Now the part I remember this afternoon. I would hold hands with the bride and we would twirl in a circle as I video taped. Of course I had to explain to the guys that they had to stay behind me for this to work, then convince them to hold my hand and twirl as I record him. It would finish off with them running towards the camera hand in had.


yikes.

The sun is shining

Everyday I wake up, go ino the kitchen and look outside. The home we are living in is in a new community. My back yard is actually where this summer they will be building 500 new homes. So for now I have a huge field. We have a walk out basement so the kitchen is actually the second floor.

Since the boys wake up at 6am (5am yesterday and 5:30 today) I get to sit in the kitchen and watch the sun come up. Tomorrow I'll take a picture.

I'm trying to set myself up for traveling again. We're off to see Bradford in California. He has the most expensive portrait studio in America. Where one 16x20 cost $2000.00

Poor guy is forced to live in Newport Beach, California.

Anyhow. My laptop has been acting up. Something to do with ntdll.dll

Driving me crazy. So I bought a 300 gig portable harddrive to be my maindrive. This way I wont be worried if my laptop explodes. Vitaly is going to reformat the drive in the laptop again. Wierd he just did it before we went to florida.

We got the new Premeire Pro 2.0. What a fantastic upgrade. Marianna asked me what the big white book in the bathroom was - new user manual - I thinks its the best place in the world to read manuals. I learn something new everytime I visit :)

Expect to see a lot of video up on the site in the next few weeks.

First big wedding of the year.

Congratulations Marlena and Tom!! Absolutely beautiful day, except for the cold.

Now here is the scoop. Some stuff went well and , well , well some stuff sucked. The bride was not happy with the flowers (didnt deliver the flower girls baskets or the guys flowers until called, the limo(wrong one, very dirty inside and out), the church was late (organ broke).

So when we got to the park that was the only thing the bride and groom and parents and bridal party could talk about. Seriously, the most important day in their lives and they are spending the time upset.

So I asked them what was wrong. Then said.

So you had problems with your flowers, dress,limo,and church - how's the photographer doing.

They broke out into a big smile and said "you're great"!!

I then told them that from that moment everything will be perfect. That if something was not as they expected send the maid of honour to deal with it. That is was now party time.

The photos kick ass - upload a link later

The hall was busy - but they are used to it. Lots of food, great service, 3 people working the bar amazing.

DJs were AMAZING!!!! Couple of guys that used to work for sound sensation now working for AB productions. People, this was the best reception that I can remember in years!!!!!

Oh - we tried the new Jib arm - very cool Upload some video later today too.

Spring is here and love is in the air.

Finally!!! Spring is here and I can get back to shooting!! Kevin and Jessica are getting married in less than a month and booked us really last minute.

This photo was taken a few days ago at G.Ross Lord park(click on the link for directions) . This is where each one of our couples have there photos taken. From time to time I may venture out to Queen's Quay terminal (click on the link for directions) but usually only when I have no choice or when a couple pays extra to shoot downtaon and it doesn;t make sense to drive all the way back to G. Ross Lord park.

The reason we only shoot at G.Ross is time. We are are extremely busy. Dyring the week I hanlde no less than 20 appointments for DesignerGeek,ObjectiveEye Video , DGVideo, TorontoHomeMovies.com and Excellence Photography. Mostly I am managing a our team as they work on various projects. (Look for us at the Ontario Science Centre in October - more on that anotehr time)


If you do want me (Marianna does not shoot engagement photos) to go to a specific place (like the guild inn or Niagara Falls) you have to contact Marianna to make arrangements 416-630-0090. My scedule is usually full for 2 weeks at a time.

Well the season is offically started!!

Yesterday I shot the first of 30 portrait sessions in the park licking off the 2006 wedding season. Very very couple (hey there Jessica and kevin) I'll post some photos later today.

About 4 years ago a huge storm washed the foundation on one side causing the bridge to colapse on one side. ( Click on the links to see the bridge collaped one, two, three,)

The bridge is nearly finished.

I had a dream

Woke up this morning and boy was I tired. I had a dream I was shooting a wedding. But in this dream everything that could go wrong did. Parents fighting, camera jamming, batteries dying, car wouldn't start. Equipment was stolen, basically all the major worries that a wedding photographer could have.

No matter how long you shoot weddings we still get a little nervous that things could go worng.

SOOOOOOOO

This morning I started checking over all my cameras, light stands, tripods, I asked marianna to start contacting people regarding their wedding day schedule.

Funny how dreams initiate action huh?

I had a dream

Woke up this morning and boy was I tired. I had a dream I was shooting a wedding. But in this dream everything that could go wrong did. Parents fighting, camera jamming, batteries dying, car wouldn't start. Equipment was stolen, basically all the major worries that a wedding photographer could have.

No matter how long you shoot weddings we still get a little nervous that things could go worng.

SOOOOOOOO

This morning I started checking over all my cameras, light stands, tripods, I asked marianna to start contacting people regarding their wedding day schedule.

Funny how dreams initiate action huh?

Few more photos

 

Just a few images of our day

 

Yep the water is 73 degrees

Every once and a while everyone deserves a nice day at the beach. In the summer we are usually way too busy to get away.

I would absolutely love to shoot some engagement photographs here. Usually when we book weddings or portraits here it last minute and they just dont have time.

Off to Miami tomorrow. 

Fun time Sushi in Boca Raton

So we went to the beach. Life is good.

Then we went to sushi - a place we ways go because its amazing.

This is the bad part.

Isaac took a dump. Ok 2 year old do this every day. But this time. Oh the fun.

Ah aha ah so much s**t. Wet s**t


Took 22 minutes to clean him. In the process there was s**t all over the bathroom sink, s**t on the mirror, floor even a huge skid mark down my s**t (I mean shirt) See above

Meanwhile other customers keep trying to come in. And sammys passing me toliet paper. But he has undone the entire roll, so there is toliet paper all over the floor.
Then marianna comes in.

"What's taking so long?"

Wow I love vacations. 

Were here!! Back in good old Florida.

OK so many of you are enjoy above average temperatures in TO right now, but Marianna, the kids and I did our shopping at the local Whole Foods ( a very cool organic market in Boca Raton) then sat outside in the front and ate fresh strawberrys on the patio at 8:00 at night. Wearing out T-shirts.

Got a lot to do this week besides catch up on sleep. Meeting with a follow portrait photographer to discuss his new virtual back drop. I'll update you guys as soon as I learn more.

We are planning WAY more studio shots this year.

Looking forward to enagement portrait sessions when I return. I will be putting a map for both G Ross park and Queens Quay terminal in the customer support area today.