Human Trafficking Awareness Day - ONWA

I'm lucky enough to photograph a variety of events for ONWA throughout the year, and pretty much every single one is important in some way. Such was the case with their recent one focusing on human trafficking. My main job was to obviously capture the event but I was also able to learn a lot while I did so. 

For anyone interested in learning more, please feel free to head on over to ONWA's Facebook page here.

Remembrance Day - 2017

Once again I was able to attend the Remembrance Day ceremony at Waverly Park in Thunder Bay. Below are some highlights from the day.

Canada's 150th Birthday - Thunder Bay Marina

Canada turned 150 yesterday which means I knew I had to go downtown at some point and see some of the festivities and people. The original plan was to go to Old Fort William first and then the marina, but the day just went by so fast that I only made caught the last couple hours of the day. So, with that being said, I tried to get as many photos as I could.

I arrived down at the marina with my friend Stan, for around 8:30. The good thing about that time of day is that the lighting was really nice, which is a always a good thing when taking photos, especially portraits of people. 

There was a lot of people there watching musical performances and dancing, waiting in line for food from all the fantastic vendors and of course everyone else just enjoying the good weather and significance of the day. Its was a photographers' dream as a lot of people were dressed up, wearing face paint, and overall just decked out in Canada themed attire.

I did get some candid photos but I also approached a lot of people and simply asked if I could take their portrait. I think only a few people said 'no', in which case I just said 'thank you', and moved on to the next person. I didn't stay for the fireworks because it had already been a very long day and my main goal was to capture more of the people then the actual fireworks themselves. 

Even though I only had a couple hours to work with, I'm happy with what I was able to capture. I also met and spoke with some very friendly people throughout the night. I'm glad I was able to be a part of Canada's 150th birthday.

Remembrance Day - Waverly Park - 2015

It has been a long long time since I have been able to be a part of Remembrance Day here in Thunder Bay. I was either living abroad or simply too busy to make it down. This year I made sure to see the ceremony over at Waverly Park. I also decided to take some photos since this is something I have been wanting to do for a long long time. I arrived at around 10:10 and there were already a lot of people there. As soon as I arrived I made my way through the crowd and into the area around the monument. From there, I spent the next 1.5 hours photographing the people involved in this special day. 

An event like this is similar to a wedding in that you need to know when it's ok to take photos and when it is ok to just blend into the background and go unnoticed. Luckily I have years of practice so it wasn't a problem at all. I decided to just bring my Nikon D610 and 70-200mm. That combo allowed me to stay back but also zoom into the action. I also brought my Fuji X-T1 with the 16mm. I was able to capture some really good wide angle photos with that combo. It really put just how many people were there into perspective. 

Photographing an event like this is probably one of my favourite types of photography. I can basically just walk around and capture candid moments. At the end of the day I just feel privileged to be in a position to take part in something like this. Of course this wouldn't have been possible without the sacrifice of all the men and women that fought for our country a long time ago. So thank you to them.

Getting the best possible photos on your wedding day

Photography is an integral part of pretty much every wedding. After all, what couple wouldn’t want to document at least part of their special day. Some couples are fine having a relative or friend of the family snap photos while others hire a professional to get the job done right. With that being said, some photographers are better then others and depending on which one you hire, there are certain things you need to look out for in order to make sure your wedding photos turn out as best they can. Most of these tips can actually be applied well before your wedding, to some extent. So without further delay, here are some my favourite tips for couples to consider before their wedding day.

1. Time of day

When is your ceremony taking place? Is it in the wide open? Is there any shade? Is it outdoors?

These are all important questions for a variety of reasons. For instance, if you wedding is at high noon, where the sun is beating down from above, this can create unflattering shadows on just about everyone. This isn’t to say that flash can’t be used throughout the ceremony, but some weddings don’t allow it, and plus, if the photographer can’t get in close it may not even be possible. I know me personally, I like to hang back and get photos from a distance with a zoom lens. Shade can play a very integral role in capturing better lit photos during the ceremony. If, you think it may be sunny and the time of day isn’t ideal, then it might be a good option to have some form of shade, at least for the couple and the wedding party. 

This wedding had everyone. Rain, clouds and eventually a lot of sun and warm temperatures. For this particular shot, I got the girls to stand against one of the old sheds which was in the shade. Shade is a photographers best friend. It creates natural even light.

2. How big is your wedding party?

I have had at least a few weddings where the wedding party was so large that it was struggle to get proper photos because the locations was so small. Obviously it is just a matter of moving everyone to a larger area but make sure you plan this in advance, especially if you are on a strict timeline. Some couples like to get very large shots of family and the wedding party and this is even more of a challenge depending on space. It can also take some time to organize and get all the combinations required. When you meet with your photographer of choice make sure you are upfront about how large your wedding party is, and if you plan on getting a lot of different family combinations. This will go a long way in planning the timing of the day. I find it works best to do all the family photos first and then work your way down to the wedding part and finally the bride and groom. That way,  family members, especially older ones, aren’t waiting around the entire time.

With only 8 total people, this wasn't the largest wedding party I ever shot but it was important to find a large enough area for them to fit. Another bright sunny day with no shade, I moved them to open area with trees for shade. Not only was it cooler for everyone but it allowed for much better lighting.

3. Does your wedding attire go with your surroundings?

It’s really easy to choose a nice colour scheme for you and your wedding party but don’t forget about how everyone will look during the portraits and even the ceremony. If you plan on getting everyone out to the local park and getting photos done with trees in the background, it probably doesn’t make much sense to have green dresses. Ok, I have yet to have a wedding couple choose green as their colour choice but, trust me, I have seen some ‘different’ choices. For instance, if you are going with purple or something bold like that, make sure you choose your portrait locations accordingly. If you have no choice in the matter, a simple solution to this is to have your photographer convert the images to black and white. I am a huge fan of black and white and I often convert a lot images to black and white at no extra cost, but some couples only like colour. 

Knowing tha we would eventually be going to the local park, Erika and Daniel chose a muted colour scheme for their attire and it worked wonderfully. It really complimented their surroundings.

4. Be prepared for the weather

I don’t know how many weddings I have shot where it is either extremely hot or quite cold. Either way, it can make for some uncomfortable and rushed photos. There was October wedding I did this past year where the ceremony was indoor and then we had the portrait session at the local marsh. It was a great backdrop and the photos turned out amazing but the bride was wearing her dress the whole time, in below 0 weather. She was a real trooper but near the end of the session you can really see it in her expression that she was cold. Luckily we got through the photos quick and got her warm as soon as we were done. So, a jacket goes a long way or keeping a warm car nearby to jump into is another solution. On the opposite end, on extremely hot days, bring an umbrella, make sure there are areas of shade around or take breaks in an air conditioned house. 

This was that cold October day I discussed above. Like I said, she was a real trooper but even I was cold. To Ryan's credit he did offer his jacket up a few times. 

5. Be upfront with your photographer

I have heard of many different instances of a photographer getting the ‘bride from hell’, or something to that extent. I have yet to have that problem, or anywhere close to that. Part of the reason is because I always make sure I communicate with the bride and groom. Not just about scheduling for the day, but also what kind of shots they are looking for specifically. Many just tell me that it’s completely up to me to work my magic which is fine. Others bring examples of photos they have seen from other weddings. Now, I have my ow style, and I’m not going to copy another photographer but if your photographer has and idea of what you are looking for going in, then this ensures that you get the shots you want. Except it will be with their own personal style. Which, after all, is what you are paying them for. When both parties are on the same page, it makes for a much smoother wedding day. 

These are but a few examples of what I have encountered over the years. If anyone has anything to add please feel free to comment below. In the end, if you are truly enjoying your wedding day, those emotions will come through. It’s just a matter of capturing them properly with a camera!