Nice running into old friends

I remember when my first tooth was loose. I was around his age and I was freaked out because I saw a Bugs bunny cartoon where they tied the string to the door and slammed the door but it did work. Everyone would come up and offer advice like eat an apple meanwhile I was worried I would swallow it and not get any money under my pillow.

To say I felt old when I heard about his tooth would not be an exaggeration. It might also be that I have work every single day this year an average of 18.5 hours and I'm still at the studio at 10:20 and expect to be here until after 1.

Met some fantastic couples this weekend. The photo in this post is of a very cool couple that I shot a few years ago. They had both a catholic and a Jewish ceremony on the same day. The photos and the couple were featured in Today's bride.

The boy love the dirt

Wow - this took only minutes to upload - here is the boys playing in the sand at the Toronto Museum.






http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNy4P69OytE

You gotta check this out - freak out time!!

Wait until the end - I've seen much worse.

Last show this weekend - ya -

Magic number hit 69 yesterday surpassing last years number. Now thats cool - We only keep track until the end of February. I'm now going to try and get that number to 80 by then.

So how am I going to do this?

First step is to improve the couple section by adding more slideshows. The idea is that if potential Brides and Grooms visit the site by have very impactful and cool slideshows will help initiate them to call Marianna and book an appointment. The problem is that I can only do 4 appointments a night and we are books for almost 3 weeks from now. Couples get frustrated with having to wait and in the meantime book elsewhere.

The second step is I've opened up some space during the day. I did a review of bookings done last year and my day visits booked at a rate of 2 to 1. That means even other couple that visited the studio during the day booked. I think its because when the come in here and see everyone tripping over each other getting work done its more impressive than meeting me alone at night.

The third step is I'm going to clean up the studio. As I look around I have some incredible portraits sitting on the floor, the back office is packed with equipment, I'm even going to go to Homesence and by some bathroom things and pretty up the washroom.

Anyone have any suggestions - let me know.

Wowo I love this

Check out the new map Alex and the guys installed on the TorontoHomeMovie site

http://www.torontohomemovies.com/index.php?contact
When you put you mouse on the map you can move it around from within our page - zoom in and out.

ccccoooolll

Its monday morning.!!!! yippeee~

I have now worked everyday since January 1st. So everyday this year. kinda weird that I have so much energy and could wait to get to the studio to get work done. I have a few people from past year that are waiting for some photo edits and all the couples that waiting until the new year to order their photos.

For the new people - we usually have a deadline of November 2nd to guarantee your order before x mas. Some couples who get Married choose to waiting to order until January. Our average turn around is 4-6 week from the time you place your order.

I was starting to get a little freaky about the lack of snow. Not today. I've always parked my car in the garage. But, Marianna took the spot on the right and the left spot in the garage is pack with boxes, camera metal - tripods dollies, tons of kids toys. So, if I want to park in the garage I have to spend 2 hours bringing it all into the basement to make room. I think I'll get the guys to help. Maybe for the cost of a pizza. heheheh.

I bumped the number to 67 when I got an email this morning from a couple who came in a few weeks ago trying to book October 13th 2007 - sorry Charlie. We will only shoot 2 weddings on Saturday and one on Sunday. At the show this weekend on photographer told me I was crazy - " Just hire another photographer. The problem I have with that is what if they do a bad job? Sub contractor are just that for a reason - they cant make it on their own.

Marianna, Natasha and I have more than 30 years of experience - I know were good (and modest) People have been asking for a list of available dates. Sorry.

I LOVE to turn people away. It means that our work is good enough and in demand enough that couples make the decision to book. The operative word is decision. If I had a list online of the dates we were available for than many couples would just look see we were not available and we would never really know how many couples were interested but either waited too long or decided too late.

Let just say for 2007 the number of people who wanted to book us but when they called to give us their wedding were politely told thank but unfortunately we are booked is ...

67

Another bridal show over yaa 3rd in a row

Wow - that show was the complete opposite of the Roger show. Thousands of people - time flew by.

I ran into one bride from a few years ago - Debbie & Victor
Wedding Day March 9th, 2002!

Click here to visit their web page from 4 years ago.

Wow - IT s been nearly 5 years - time flys!! Speaking of flying I tool this photo for their engagement. Here is something to think about. I took this shot before September 11th. Imagine what the world was like back then. Sad huh.

Oh I promised these guys I would choose my favorite image and tease them with it.

Look what I found!!!

As I was going through the Excellence site with some couples today and I came across something I made years ago - check out this presentation!!

http://www.excellencephoto.com/group/pages/customers/sammy.html


See you all at the international centre - (I take my coffee black).

Good ole days/

Wow,

This morning I found out that with the booking last night we have nearly closed off sept 2007.

I have increase the turn away number by 2. Marianna had to send (refer) 2 nice couples that spent time at our studio, loved everything but waiting too long. See the thing is this. I understand how making such an important decision as who will be your wedding photographer cannot be a rash, spur of the moment decision. But in life you sometimes have to go with your gut.

Heres a true story.

A couple of years ago we had just spent 3 year building a house with the most difficult scam artist contractor in the world. In fact, in the end he ended up; taking off with our money and not finishing the job. That's not the story. The market was just starting to pick up, interest rates were low and our real estate agent told us here was an incredible deal that we just couldnt pass up. A 4200 square foot house in an great neighbourhood. Marianna and I had been married for only 4 years at the time and buying that house ment a mortgage of over $400,000.

So what did we do?

We bought it!!! And when I sold the house only 30 months after I had a profit of over $200,000. I guess you could say we were lucky right? Marianna would disagree.

Before buying the house she had the real estate agent send her the previous 6 months of house sae for the street and the area. She hired an inspector, our lawyer did a check on issues with the city. We spoke to 4 mortgage brokers and dozens of real estate agents regarding the market and where it was likely to go. In fact, when all was said an done the real estate agents were both forced to reduce their commisions by a total of $10,000.

So I cant say it was spur of the moment. Now you guys are likely. You can visit hunreds of sites, most of you go to one or 2 weddings a year and you can visit many studios. You can create a list of questions etc.

But remember this. Please do not purchase you wedding photography on price alone. There are more expensive people for a reason.


They are better!


You know I had plan to write about something that I used to do whenever a couple booked with me. I use to write. Free 16x20 first baby portrait for each refferal that books. Each year I would get 2-3 couples in the studio and I'd shoot their screaming babies and have a great old time. But, for some reason I stopped writing in. Well its back - and for all of you who booked with me where I did not, just email me and I will email a confirmation.

Great Canadian Artists

We've been hired to create a series of documentary/biograph s for some of Canada's top contemporary artists. Its a honor just to work with these visionaries. To top it off we get to spend time with them painting and discussing their passion.

Imagine what it wold be like to spend a day or two talking to Picaso or Miro even Dali?

Here is a link to the first proof for Karen Hoepting - She's a world famous painter who does shows all over Canada, the US and Japan.

http://www.dgvideo.ca/proofs/progressive/pro_art_karen2.html

I am not afraid!!!

Guys, if you have a problem with anything -PLEASE let me know. At the 2 bridal shows couples whose weddings are coming up paid a visit (one brought me a coffee heheheheh)

Both mentioned something about the site - one mention a broken link and the other a mistake on their page. The question I had for them was " why did you wait to tell me?"

I am online nearly 14 hours a day. If you really want to reach me in a hurry email me or better yet read this old post from last year
http://excellencephoto.blogspot.com/2006/05/why-i-dont-use-phone.html

Show was a bust.

Have you ever gone to a movie and when it was done, thought to yourself - wow that was 2 hours of my life wasted. That's what happened to my weekend. Don't get me wrong I met a number of nice couples getting married. Especially one couple. He was the best man at a wedding I shot 4 years ago and we reminisced about the wedding and how great it was.

I spent more time talking to vendors than I have ever done so in the past 10 years. The Rogers centre is beautiful. The show was run perfectly - only problem - not enough people. They tried to get 5000 couples kissing and ended up with 1100.


Sammy is starting his own diary~! I told him many famous people kept diaries - Alexander Bell, Tomas Jefferson even his papa. Marianna rolled her eyes.

Waiting for customers.

I'm working away here while I wait for customers to show up. And I put on Les Miserable. For those of you who have not heard of the musical Les Miserable - you gotta get out more. Just kidding.

Here are a few links. -- http://www.lesmis.com/index2.htm

Wow I'm freaking out!! I have sooooo many memories involving Les Mis. Ok here is only one. In 1989 I was in a musical organization that wasn't the greatest. We traveled around North America and competed against other groups all summer. Usually traveling every night to a new city rehearsing all day then competing every night.



Anyhow, there were 12 group who were the best in entire world - my favorite group played Les Mis that year. Every time we had the chance to see them perform I was just amazed. So much so, that the next year I moved from Toronto to New York to join them. Wow those were the days.






http://www.yea.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Cadets

Wowo did I ever sleep

Last night after setting up the studio for appointments I came home to put Isaac to sleep. I usually get to be around 1 maybe 2am and get up at 6:15. Weeelllll, last night I sarting reading to Isaac (he's 2 and half) and the next thing I know my back is hurting and it 5am! I once watch my little brother sleep for 20 hours straight. Me I usually cant sleep more than 6 hours. Must have been the bridal show taking more out of me than I thought. or Im getting old. :(

So back into my schedule. A few people emailed me to point out that I only wrote my down what my schedule was Monday to Thursday. Thats because each weekend this year we are going to a different bridal show.

This weekend its the one at the Rogers Centre (Dome). We have only a few spots open for 2007 for Excellence Photo. But I have spaces available for DGVideo. If you know anyone looking for video have them contact Alex at 416 840 6623.

It's Monday

Kids are finally back in school. Wow.

Of course I love my kids. But, 3 weeks of closeness is a little much. One starts fighting with the other, then Marianna yells at them, soon I try to be the big boss and find myself the target of all 3 of their "affection"

We're in the middle of a very interesting time. Its January and I can;t remember when it snowed last. On the way back from the show last night, they were saying on the radio that its going to continue to be warm, unusually warm for the entire winter. I've never heard so many people wish for snow! Dont know about you but I'm getting freaked out. Global warming is real.

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

To all those new brides and grooms visiting my blog let me tell you a little about what the heck is going on. This blog is way that I am in constant contact with all my couples. You can subscribe on the left panel by putting your email address. That way when ever I post a new article you will receive an email immediately.

You could also use an rss reader (I suggest google reader!! I am addicted to all things google if you didnt know)


Also, I'm pretty careful about spelling and puctuation, but not that worried. I am usually writing in the middle of the night or first thing in the morning and if something bothers you enough email me the "correction" and I will fix it.

Ya the kids are in school!!!


Here is this months work schedule, per hour.


Mon-Thurs

Up at 6:15
With the kids until 8:30
Gym 8:45 to 9:45
Studio 10-3:45 -- I can usually meet people anytime during the day - call Marianna first
pick up kids go home 4-5:45 - I wont be available ever so dont bug Marianna she wont do because of me.
Studio 6-11pm - By appointment only - usually 2 week sometimes 3 weeks in advance.

Finally back to work!

The bridal show is on and I'm cruising along. We're down at the Metro Convention centre at Canada's Bridal show. Last day is tomorrow (Sunday) If you want to visit and say hi I'm in booth numner 1530 - I take my coffee black.

I saw a number of 2007 clients - guys if you want to stop by and drop off your January 15th instalment, no problem. I even have my receipt book.

You jnow I've never watched the show. It's been 10 years and I've never bothered. Its probably a guy thing, but I can't get excited watching dress parade down the stage. I keep hoping someone will trip and then start thinking about the chocolate fountain and take off.

I've not seen anything amazing this year. Everyone is still copying everyone. We decided not to bring our video demo. Last years cool fxs were copied and shown everywhere. One cool thing is that no one has yet caught on to our new digital effect series.

Heres a sample of one of my favorited - glow.














Its just a matter of time.


New version of Photoshop is coming out. CS3 - Photoshop is now one the most powerful tools in photography. But let me be clear. Its not a fix it tool. Too often, photographers even professionals, rely too much on the capabilties of Photoshop. I was speaking to one of my competitors and what we decided was that after 5 solid years of digital photography, only recently have the majority of photographers learned that the medium of photography may of changed but lighting, composition and the rules of engagement have not. You still need to be able to expose correctly, communicate effectively and have a complete workflow to be successful.

Happy New Year

I want to wish everyone a happy new year. The partying tonight was super - I'm making 2 typos for every word. :){

2007 will be a great year and I hope all of you getting married have the time of your lives.

Jean and Marianna