5:45am is sure dark

One of the "benefits" of day light savings time is that when the time does move back I get more time with the kids. Their internal clock that told them to wake up at 7am doesn't change, the only difference is that it's now 6am. And today at 5:45am Isaac came running into our room to inform us that Sammy stole is favorite cho cho train. How could I not smile?

Orders are going out the door like crazy. Were almost caught up. As soon as we finish the last 2 we will start getting caught up on the website. So for many of you (Teresa) I promise to get your wedding photo slideshow up asap.

Alex is out of town this week. Hope the server holds ------ y i k e s!

annnnnnnaaaaa ------- oh yea and bart

Guys check out this cool site. http://www.msdewey.com/

Last day to order wedding photos Nov 3 2006

Last day to order wedding photos Nov 3 2006. So if you want your wedding photos and video for xmas you need to place your order Before Nov 3rd. Not make an appointment but get your butts in here.

SOooooooo = Look forward to seeing ya all - yall, or should it be youaall.

_______________________________________________________________

I've put up a form where couples can send us your music selections and credits for your wedding video. If you have already dropped off your order but have not sent us your musc and credit please use the form. Here is the link.

http://www.excellencephoto.com/video_info/

Counting the days

I love booking weddings!! We welcomed 6 new couples this week to Excellence. 2007 is ALMOST booked up. I can't wait.

Here's a story. In the beginning of September I went to Staples and picked up 200 folders. You know the ones I give to each couple with the contract, brochures from people we love to work with and our contact info? Well I'm out.

So as much as I love meeting new people, I'm kinda looking forward to a break in new customer appointments.

--------------------------------------------------------------------


Wierd the background for the blog is missing!! I hope its not forever. I really liked the pattern.

Another late night.

Wow, 3rd night in a row I'm still here after midnight. I did sneak out for wings. Really gotta stop that. I NEED to lose at least 10 more pounds before I leave for Florida, otherwise I will have to spend my time on the ship watching what I eat - and who does that?

I screwed up! I was rushing to update Antonella and Frank's personal site. And I uploaded their page in the place where we list the different couples. So if you need to access your page click on this link and find your name.

Ho hum

So as I was driving to the office this morning after a very satisfying hour at the gym, I tried something new. I turned off the radio.

After 2 cups of coffee. 30 minutes on the treadmill. I'm get myself all worked up. My mind is going 10,000 mile a minute - my hearts pounding and I;m slowly getting tired of the traffic.

I was getting stressed. Imagine that.



So I tried changing the radio to some classical music (no jokes, I actually listen that stuff). But I still couldn't settle down. I kept going through all the things I needed to do as soon as I get to work.

So I remembered a very famous motivational speaker, Brian Tracy suggested that each of us should sit in a quiet room for 10 minutes each day. No speaking. No fidgeting - nothing.

It goes back to meditation, control and self. I slowly regained control and was able to think clearly. Without excitment. Lower my heart rate.

When I finally reached the studio I was relaxed and ready.

cool huh!

Here is a new one of Donna

Talking to so many Brides and Grooms make me so excited for the weekend. I just can't wait to shoot each Saturday. I think it because I know the season is almost over. I'll be forced to go to Florida and sit in the Sun. Boo Hoo :(


Hey!!! I uploaded this the old way and it worked!!!

Trying to fix a problem uploading photos since I upgraded blogger.

Trying to fix a problem uploading photos since I upgraded blogger. Here are a few to satisfy your photo cravings.

eeewwwwwwwweeee - yuk

Ok. So I'm a bit of a germaphob - So I wash my hands 10 times a day and don't let my kids drink from public fountains. But if you really think about it. People can be pretty gross.

Thanks Fiona for reminding me that no matter how expensive the purses I bought for Marianna are - they are full of germs too.



PURSES

I never gave it a thought. Who'd a thunk?

Have you ever noticed gals who sit their purses on public restroom floors - then go directly to their dining tables and set it on the table? Happens a lot!

It's not always the 'restaurant food' that causes stomach distress. Sometimes "what you don't know 'will' hurt you"! Read on...

Mom got so upset when guests came in the door and plopped their purses down on the counter where she was cooking or setting up food. She always said that purses are really dirty, because of where they have been. Smart Momma!!!

It's something just about every woman carries with them. While we may know what's inside our purses, do you have any idea what's on the outside?

Shauna Lake put purses to the test - for bacteria - with surprising results. You may think twice about where you put your purse. Women carry purses everywhere; from the office to public restrooms to the floor of the car. Most women won't be caught without their purses, but did you ever stop to think about where your purse goes during the day? I drive a school bus, so my purse has been on the floor of the bus a lot," says one woman. "On the floor of my car, and in restrooms." "I put my purse in grocery shopping carts, on the floor of bathroom stalls while
changing a diaper," says another woman "and of course in my home which should be clean."

We decided to find out if purses harbor a lot of bacteria. We learned how to test them at Nelson Laboratories in Salt Lake, then we set out to test the average woman's purse. Most women told us they didn't stop to think about what was on the bottom of their purse. Most said at home they usually set their purses on top of kitchen tables and counters where food is prepared. Most of the ladies we talked to told us they wouldn't be surprised if their purses were at least a little bit dirty.

It turns out purses are so surprisingly dirty, even the microbiologist who tested them was shocked. Microbiologist Amy Karren of Nelson Labs says nearly all of the purses tested were not only high in bacteria, but high in harmful kinds of bacteria. Pseudomonas can cause eye infections, staphylococcus aurous can cause serious skin infections,
and salmonella and e-coli found on the purses could make people very sick.

In one sampling, four of five purses tested positive for salmonella, and that's not the worst of it. "There is fecal contamination on the purses," says Amy.

Leather or vinyl purses tended to be cleaner than cloth purses, and lifestyle seemed to play a role. People with kids tended to have dirtier purses than those without, with one exception. The purse of one single woman who frequented nightclubs had one of the worst contaminations of all. "Some type of feces, or possibly vomit" says Amy.

So the moral of this story - your purse won't kill you, but it does has the potential to make you very sick if you keep it on places where you eat. Use hooks to hang your purse at home and in restrooms, and don't put it on your desk, a restaurant table, or on your kitchen countertop.

Experts say you should think of your purse the same way you would a pair of shoes. "If you think about putting a pair of shoes onto your countertops, that's the same thing you're doing when you put your
purse on the countertops" - your purse has gone where individuals before you have sneezed coughed, spat, urinated, emptied bowels, etc! Do you really want to bring that home with you?

The microbiologists at Nelson also said cleaning a purse will help.

Wash cloth purses and use leather cleaner to clean the bottom of leather purses.

THIS IS WORTH SHARING!!!

I Hate Mondays!!

Wow what a fun weekend. Been running around from one end of the city to the other. Thank god I lease my car.

I want a computer. Not just any one but a new MacBook Pro. So I'm starting to save my 10 bucks a day. Lets see how long it takes.

:)


I guess I should let Marianna know.

Wierd been trying to upload pics to the blogger server and it timing out. When I figure out the porblem I will upload a few new photos.

Ps changed the music on Jill and Emerson's engagement pics. They weren't into The Doors. Guess I am offically getting old.

Technical Specifications

In the box

• MacBook Pro
• 85W MagSafe Power Adapter, AC wall plug and power cord
• Lithium-polymer battery
• Apple Remote
• DVI to VGA adapter
• Install/restore DVDs
• Printed and electronic documentation

Processor and Memory

• 15-inch MacBook Pro:
  
  • 2.0 or 2.16GHz Intel Core Duo processor, 2MB on chip shared L2 cache running 1:1 with processor speed
  • 512MB (single SODIMM) of PC2-5300 (667MHz) DDR2 memory on 2.0GHz configuration; and 1GB (single SODIMM) on 2.16GHz configuration; two SODIMM slots support up to 2GB
  • 667MHz frontside bus
• 17-inch MacBook Pro:
  • 2.16GHz Intel Core Duo processor, 2MB on chip shared L2 cache running 1:1 with processor speed
  • 1GB (single SODIMM) of PC2-5300 (667MHz) DDR2 memory
  • 667MHz frontside bus

Expansion

• 15-inch MacBook Pro
  • One FireWire 400 port at up to 400 Mbps
  • Two 480-Mbps USB 2.0 ports
  • ExpressCard/34 slot
• 17-inch MacBook Pro
  • One FireWire 400 port at up to 400 Mbps
  • One FireWire 800 port at up to 800 Mbps
  • Three 480-Mbps USB 2.0 ports
  • ExpressCard/34 slot

Security

• Kensington cable lock slot

Battery and power

• 15-inch MacBook Pro
  • 60-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery (with integrated charge indicator LEDs) providing up to 4.5 hours of battery life⁽¹⁾
• 17-inch MacBook Pro
  • 68-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery (with integrated charge indicator LEDs) providing up to 5.5 hours of battery life⁽¹⁾
• 85W MagSafe Power Adapter with cable management system
• MagSafe Power Adapter port

Communications

• Built-in 54-Mbps AirPort Extreme wireless networking (802.11g standard) ⁽²⁾.
• Built-in Bluetooth 2.0+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate)
• Built-in 10/100/1000BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet (RJ-45 connector)

Audio

• Combined optical digital input/audio line in (minijack)
• Combined optical digital output/headphone out (minijack)
• Built-in stereo speakers
• Internal omnidirectional microphone (located under left speaker grille)

Video and graphics support

• 15-inch MacBook Pro
  • ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 graphics processor, dual link DVI support, 128MB of GDDR3 on 2.0GHz configuration. 256MB GDDR3 on 2.16GHz configuration
• 17-inch MacBook Pro
  • ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 graphics processor, dual link DVI support, 256MB of GDDR3.
• Dual display and video mirroring: Simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display and up to 2560 by 1600 pixels on an external display, both at millions of colors

• DVI output port
• VGA output using included DVI to VGA adapter
• Built-in iSight camera

Storage

• 15-inch MacBook Pro
  • 80GB 5400-rpm Serial ATA hard drive on 2.0GHz configuration. Optional 100GB 5400-rpm, 100GB 7200-rpm, 120GB 5400-rpm drives ⁽³⁾.
  • 100GB 5400-rpm Serial ATA hard drive on 2.16GHz configuration. Optional 100GB 7200-rpm or 120GB 5400-rpm hard drives.
  • 4x Slot-loading SuperDrive (DVD±RW/CD-RW)
    • Maximum Write: 4x DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD+RW, and DVD-RW; 24x CD-R; 10x CD-RW
    • Maximum Read: 8x DVD-ROM; 6x DVD-ROM (double layer DVD-9), DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD-RW; 4x DVD+R (double layered) and DVD-R (double layered); 24x CD

• 17-inch MacBook Pro
  • 120GB 5400-rpm Serial ATA hard drive. Optional 100GB 7200-rpm drive ⁽³⁾.
  • 8x Slot-loading SuperDrive (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
    • Maximum write: 8x DVD-R and DVD+R; 4x DVD-RW and DVD+RW; 2.4 DVD+R (double layer), 24x CD-R; 16x CD-RW
    • Maximum read: 8x DVD-ROM (single layer); 6x DVD-ROM (double layer), DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R and DVD+RW; 4x DVD+R (double layer); 24x CD-R

Display

• 15-inch MacBook Pro
  • 15.4-inch (diagonal) TFT display, support for millions of colors; Optional glossy widescreen display
  • Supported resolutions: 1440 by 900 (native), 1280 by 800, 1152 by 720, 1024 by 640, and 800 by 500 at 16:10 aspect ratio; 1024 by 768, 800 by 600, and 640 by 480 at 4:3 aspect ratio; 1024 by 768, 800 by 600, and 640 by 480 at 4:3 aspect ratio stretched; 720 by 480 at 3:2 aspect ratio, 720 by 480 at 3:2 aspect ratio stretched

• 17-inch MacBook Pro
  • 17-inch (diagonal) TFT display, support for millions of colors; Optional glossy widescreen display
  • Supported resolutions: 1680 by 1050 (native), 1280 by 800, 1152 by 720, 1024 by 640, and 800 by 500 at 16:10 aspect ratio; 1280 by 1024 at 5:4 aspect ratio; 1280 by 1024 at 5:4 aspect ratio stretched; 1024 by 768, 800 by 600, and 640 by 480 at 4:3 aspect ratio; 1024 by 768, 800 by 600, and 640 by 480 at 4:3 aspect ratio stretched; 720 by 480 at 3:2 aspect ratio; 720 by 480 at 3:2 aspect ratio stretched

Keyboard and trackpad

• Built-in full-size keyboard with 78 (U.S.) or 79 (ISO) keys, including 12 function keys, 4 arrow keys (inverted “T” arrangement), and embedded numeric keypad
  • Backlit keyboard with ambient light sensors for automatic adjustment of keyboard illumination and screen brightness

• Solid-state scrolling Trackpad for precise cursor control; supports two finger scrolling, tap, double-tap, and drag capabilities
• Apple Remote included

Electrical and environmental requirements

• Meets ENERGY STAR requirements
• Line voltage: 100V to 240V AC
• Frequency: 50Hz to 60Hz
• DC input: 18.5 Vdc, 4.6 A max.
• Operating temperature: 50° to 95° F (10° to 35° C)
• Storage temperature: -13° to 113° F (-24° to 45° C)
• Relative humidity: 0% to 90% noncondensing
• Maximum operating altitude: 10,000 feet
• Maximum storage altitude: 15,000 feet
• Maximum shipping altitude: 35,000 feet

Size and weight

• 15-inch MacBook Pro
  • Height: 1.0 inch (2.59 cm)
  • Width: 14.1 inches (35.7 cm)
  • Depth: 9.6 inches (24.3 cm)
  • Weight: 5.6 pounds (2.54 kg) with battery and optical drive installed ⁽⁴⁾
• 17-inch MacBook Pro
  • Height: 1.0 inch (2.59 cm)
  • Width: 15.4 inches (39.2 cm)
  • Depth: 10.4 inches (26.5 cm)
  • Weight: 6.8 pounds (3.1 kg) with battery and optical drive installed ⁽⁴⁾

Software

• Mac OS X v10.4 Tiger (includes Spotlight, Dashboard, Mail, iChat AV, Safari, Address Book, QuickTime, iCal, DVD Player, Xcode Developer Tools)

• iLife ’06 (includes iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie HD, iDVD, iWeb, GarageBand), Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac Test Drive, iWork ’06 (30-day trial), Comic Life, FileMaker Pro trial, Omni Outliner
• Photo Booth
• Front Row

Technology Overviews

• 15-inch MacBook Pro
• 17-inch MacBook Pro

Wierd - I love to work

Strange thing.

Today the kids fell asleep. Marianna was watching TommyBoy for the 22rd time.

So there I was - nothing to do. I bugged Marianna until she got annoyed.

Then played some Solitare on the Imac.

In the end - I logged into my daily logs to check production at TorontoHomeMovies.com, checked out how our adwords are doing, then started to process the proofs from yesterday's weddings.

Next thing I knew I was up to my elbows in work, typing and sorting jobs on 3 computers. Marianna walked into the office. Looked at me for about 15 second before I noticed her.

No words - she just shook her head and went back to Rob Lowe, David Spade and Chris Farly.

Night before a wedding - should be asleep

Even after nearly 1000 weddings I still get a little nervous the night before. Even though I pack on Thursdays and triple check on Fridays, a part of me goes through everything over and over.

Yikes - too much coffee.

Lots of presentations very soon

It seems that I used to get a presentation on the site every few days. Lately I've been a bit behind, so I plan to spend the next few days catching up.

Here is a link to Annie and Angels new presentation

http://www.excellencephoto.com/2006site/couples/2006/annie_angel/

And FINALLY I have Jill and Emerson's slideshow.

http://www.excellencephoto.com/2006site/couples/2007/Jill_Emerson/jill_emerson/

Professional - but fun.

Today I've been thinking about some really funny moments at weddings. Here is one.

A few years ago - this one couple hired a singer to sing at the church - seriously don't people provide refferences or samples.

Not only was this singer terrible - she wouldn't stop - First song between readings was 8 freaking minutes long. Between each verse it would seem she was done and you could see the bride and the groom sigh with releif only to have the singer start another verse.

I might have laughed. Ok I laughed out when the bride started to pray, At least I think she was praying - she turned to her husband to be and said in a very loud voice

" O my God!!"

Holy moly - google is taking over the world!

So Google bought utube. Cool now all the video content is basically controled by them.

They also added alot of new features to what used to be spreadsheets. Its now call google Docs & Spreadsheets. You can upload word and excel files to the web and store them there.

FREE!!

SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) - Google launched a test version of a service that lets users create documents or spread sheets online instead of needing word processing software on their computers.

The Google Docs and Spreadsheets service was a "mash-up," or meshing, of its Spreadsheets program and word processing capabilities from Writely, which Google bought earlier this year.

"We took Writely, the web word processor, and integrated it with Google Spreadsheets," Google product marketing manager Jen Mazzon said in her company blog.

"The result is one place where you can create, store, share and publish your documents and spreadsheets online. Keeping your documents and spreadsheets online is a treat because you can access them from anywhere via a web browser."

The move was part of a "Web 2.0" trend in which software applications are hosted online by companies instead of bought by users and installed on home or workplace computers.

Google's new service was seen by analysts as a rival to the ubiquitous Word and Excel programs by software giant Microsoft in Redmond, Washington.

A key benefit of the service is that it allowed people to collaborate online by being able to simultaneously work on documents or spreadsheets from varying computers and places, according to Mazzon.

"I'm looking forward to the day when all my applications are online," Ken Leebow, author of the book series 300 Incredible Things to Do on the Internet, wrote in a review of the Google service.

"Whenever I have an idea or information to place in the book, I just go to the nearest computer."

WOW

I'm such a winer - I mean winner

So I've been reading my posts lately and all I seem to be doing is wine. boohoo for me. I gotta work blah blah blah. Well no more@@.

Only 6 weddings left this year and that's it!! Soon I be complaning I can't wait for the next wedding.

40 hours of shooting over 48 hours

Another fun weekend!! The thing is that it's not really work.


SO DONT TELL ANY ONE!!!

Sept poll is now the Oct poll

Turns out the poll from last month was corrupted and we could not determine who was the winner fairly - so the Septemember poll is now the October poll!

Give us your opinion
Vote for your favorite
Engagement Portrait

CLICK HERE

Which is your favorite? Vote below.
Image #1	Image #2
Image #3	Image #4

way more posts.

I'm feeeling a little pressure. After 2 weddings and a bridal show - hey there should be a movie about this - I'll play Huge Grant :)

I'm not getting enough sleep. Even with the guys help we are just keeping up. That's probably why I've posted less photos and blogs lately.

BUT NO MORE!!

I write to make myself feel better = so it doesnt make sense to not write.

So more posts with more photos!!! And lose more weigth. I;ve decided to work toward 215 lbs and reward myself with a 2 litre bottle of real - not diet -- COKE.

ahhhhhhh -

What a wonderful world!!!

3 bookings this week and many more to come!!. We are slowly (quickly) closing dates off for next year - yippee.

I am meeting so many interesting people. Who cares if they don't all book. It just fun learning about them. Like - this one couple who practive a religion called Druze. Check it out a the wikipedia site http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Druze

I sometimes feel we are so segregated here in Canada. I think its the media. I find myself searching for UK radio stations and French websites to get a different perspective on world affairs.

Here a good one. I was talking to a couple about life - their work etc. (Yeah they were here to look at photography) And the bride said she wasn't happy with her job.

Well I immediately told her about Rich Dad Poor Dad. See previous posts.

In the end when she left (they booked) we had come to the conclusion that its not her job that is the problem but what she was getting out of it. Now she want to go into business for herself and the job she works at today will pay for it!!.

Wedding photography is a business. So why should that matter to you? Because there are a ton of great photographer that go out of business every year!! As successful photographers we can guarantee that after 10 years of kick ass photos were not going anywhere.

My long term goal is to make enough money in my other business to allow me just to shoot on the wedding day and get employees to handle all the editing of photos and video. In fact, as of today I spent 3/4 less time editing photos and video than I did 3 years ago. We have 3 full time editors. That leaves me to manage the team and concentrate on creativity.