I just thought I would post the album spreads from a little Engagement Signing Book that I have been working on. For those of you who don’t really know what these are all about (and why they are so cool), it’s a 8 x 10 photo book that  contains both stunning photos as well as blank areas for guests to sign / write short messages in.

These books are a great way to display engagement / lifestyle photographs!

What really makes these proofing books so amazing, is their ability to tell the full and raw story of your wedding day from end-to-end in an easy to view format. Parents absolutely love these as gifts and they also make a great addition to any album package. Consider it to be a magazine of your wedding day!

They are also practical, with each image being individually numbered so that it can be referenced back to your Proofing DVD, High Resolution DVD or Proofing Website.

The first photo placed 2nd in the “Kids will be Kids” category and was taken at Trish & Paul’s beautiful winter wedding. The all-too-cute flower girl was shying away from all of the attention she was getting, which made for a perfect photo as she hid behind her crinoline filled dress!

The second photo placed a respectable 10th in the highly competitive “Bridal Portrait” category. You will likely recognize the shot from Sarah & Naomi’s wedding slide show which was just posted the other week. The black on black wedding dress and kilts, combined with edgy posing and a great location, made for a striking image. On a side note, a similar photo of the bridal party was just published in Vogue Patterns Magazine… cool! [:

A big thanks goes out to my couples for providing me with these amazing moments to capture!

Full black on black attire, check.
Guys wearing kilts, check.
Awesome hairpieces, check.
Gothic influence, check.
Super awesome couple in love, check.

I decided to process this entire slide show in black and white as I felt it really suited both the couple and tonality of the images captured on their beautiful day.

Venue : Enoch Turner Schoolhouse

Enjoy.

The commercial shoots that I do range from simple head shots to fully spec’d advertising campaigns and everything in-between. One day I may be in the studio with an art director, makeup, wardrobe and multiple assistants, while other days I may be on my own to produce an environmental portrait of a CEO – in 5 minuites or less.

It’s the diversity that I love.

The photo below was from a recent studio shoot for CHFI Radio’s “Big Bag of Cash” promotion. Co-hosts, Mike & Erin were just awesome to work with and kept the crew laughing for the entire time!

You choose the size, page finish and number of spreads, while I design the layouts and beautiful cover based on inspiration from your wedding day.

The best part is that these albums are now included with all of my wedding commissions!

I was actually out of the country for the past while, in places such as the Cayman Islands, Washington DC, Australia and New Zealand. In the month of April alone, I logged over 50 hours of air time, which is a new personal record!  I will be sharing photos from these adventures over the next little while (you have already seen some of the ones from the Cayman’s) so stay tuned.

While in New Zealand, I was also honored to take part in my best friend Ian’s wedding. I was a groomsman, so I tried extra hard to keep my camera packed away for the evening (they did have a hired photographer), but I just could not help but take a few snaps when I could.

One thing that these photos prove, is that weather should never be a reason for missing out on great shots – as you can see, it’s dark and pouring out!

Ian & Claire – I had an amazing time at your wedding and am looking forward to visiting again sometime soon! Love you guys!

Looking through the galleries of all the winners, I can say that I am honored and quite humbled to have my imagery featured alongside that of some of the worlds most talented wedding photographers.

My images were awarded in the categories of Engagement Portrait, Bride Portrait & Emotional Impact.

Please take a look at the full winners gallery on the ISPWP website.

Click Here to view the full article.

Thanks SMP!

Ceremony : Cave Springs Winery
Reception : Inn on the Twenty
Floral : Petals, Stems & Leaves
Musicians : Club Django Toronto
Planned by : Distinct Occasions

Photography has changed a lot over the past number of years. One can’t argue that it’s experiencing a fantastic renaissance due to the introduction of newer technologies combined with ever decreasing prices on basic photography equipment. It’s a fantastic time for anyone wanting to start up a new hobby and push their visual creativity.

Unfortunately, because of the number of new weekend photographers out there, it’s harder than ever for a newly engaged couple to find an experienced professional photographer who can be trusted to capture life’s most precious moments. Adding to the confusion, is that many [commercial] professional organizations have extremely relaxed membership requirements -  just paying the sign-up fee is enough to get accreditation with many!

That’s where the ISPWP comes into play, by only accepting truly qualified photographers into their membership. Below is a snippet from their website, to give you an idea of just how serious they are about membership.

The International Society of Professional Wedding Photographers (ISPWP) is a rarity among wedding photography organizations. Photographers cannot simply buy an ISPWP membership, they have to earn it.

Our requirements are experience, talent, and professionalism. To be accepted, a photographer must have shot at least 50 weddings, submit their portfolio for review, agree to operate under the ISPWP Code of Conduct, and have an ISPWP Sponsor or four references. And THEN they have to be voted in by current members.

In short, when you hire an ISPWP Photographer, you are hiring a talented veteran with a track record, peer recognition, and a passion for creating heirloom images of your wedding.

I am quite honored to have been awarded membership with this outstanding organization and to be in the company of other amazing photographers from around the world.

To view my listing on the ISPWP website, please click here.
To view information on the organization and what they represent, please click here.