Patrick Chondon 1/26/15 Patrick Chondon 1/26/15

Pat + Anne Engagement - With a twist

This was a very unique engagement session, mainly because I didn't photograph it! What do you do when you are a photographer and you have no choice but to be in front of the camera? Well, you get your son to photograph it for you!

I considered bringing the old tripod out and setting up the timer but I knew Noah had a good understanding of how to use my cameras. I have let him take photos with my camera's before, giving him tips here and there, but now it was time to put those skills to the test. He delivered with flying colours. He also had his friend Preston with him for comedic relief and moral support.

It was very strange being in front of the camera for once. Luckily it's easy to be natural when you have a beautiful Fiancé like Anne beside you and a 13 year old taking your photos. We started the day at Chippewa Park and luckily we picked one of the warmest days of winter so far (although it was still kind of chilly). Once we were done there we made our way to a small little overpass in Westfort. I have always loved this location and I haven't had the chance to use it on one of my professional shoots.

Overall is was such a fun and spontaneous day. Noah did such a fantastic job. I did manage to take one photo and that was of Noah doing his best photographer pose. When it was all said and done though we really came away with some great photos. Of course, I wouldn't have looked half as good if it were not for Anne, who looked as beautiful as ever.

And of course. Thanks you to Preston for, well.. being Preston.

Patrick Chondon 1/12/15 Patrick Chondon 1/12/15

My 15 Favourite Photos of 2014

Since it was such a great 2014 for me, I figured the best way to bring in the new year would be to select my favourite photos of this past year. I had such a wide range of clients that it was really hard to pick. There were some great events I was able to photograph, a whole bunch of portrait sessions and of course some truly wonderful weddings. Looking back it always amazes me just how many wonderful people I met just this past year alone. I simply can't wait for 2015! Be sure to check back often for blog posts and new sessions I have. As always, wedding season is fast approaching, so if you have yet to book a photographer I still have some dates available.

Click on any of the images to see the blogpost!

Patrick Chondon 12/21/14 Patrick Chondon 12/21/14

Heather + Jordan Engagement

My latest engagement session was a bit different in that it was split up into two different sessions. Heather and Jordan initially wanted to get some photos in the early morning at Hillcrest with the city lights in the background. So, the day of, we showed up at around 8:15 in the morning and took advantage of the darkness and the beautiful lights of the city. After about 20 minutes it started to pour rain so we had to cut it short.

We obviously couldn't just end it at that so we schedule a second mini session for later in the week at the Marina, for the morning once again. This time around we did it around 9:45 which allowed the sun to come up a bit more and give the photos an entirely different feel.

Instead of rain though it was blisteringly cold. We moved quickly between each shot to make sure we didn't get too cold. Heather and Jordan were both real troopers. Even though they were cold we managed to get some fantastic photos. One of my favourite photos in a very long time is the one you will find at the very top of this post. It's easy to always zoom in on each and every couple which is all fine and good but you still need to remember to take a step back sometimes. For that particular shot I stepped very far back which allowed for a uniquely intimate photo while showing off the surrounding scenery of the marina.

Both sessions went by extremely quick but were so much fun. I really can't wait for the wedding next year!

Patrick Chondon 10/19/14 Patrick Chondon 10/19/14

Katrina + Ed Engagement

Last year I had the pleasure to photograph Katrina and her wonderful family at Centennial Park. Unfortunately, Ed wasn't able to join us for that session. Well, fast forward to this past Thursday and I finally got the chance to meet Ed. It was time for an Engagement session with the two of them. Since I am photographing their wedding next summer, they wanted to take advantage of this great weather and some early photos for invitations.

One of the main challenges as a photographer in this city is finding unique locations for photos. That was not the problem this time around as we were able to use Ed and Katrina's property out on Hawkeye Lake. As soon as I arrived I realized just how beautiful it was. Aside from being right on the lake, there were a lot of nice little spots around the property that made for some fun and unique photos.

Overall it was an extremely laid back and spontaneous session. Ed and Katrina were really natural behind the camera. We were also able to get their two dogs into some of the photos. I also learned that next years wedding is going to be at the same location so I really can't wait.

Thanks again to Ed and Katrina for inviting me out to see their property as well as allowing me to capture some moments between them.

Patrick Chondon 10/16/14 Patrick Chondon 10/16/14

Steph + Brent Engagement

Steph and Brent's wedding isn't until next year but we decided to do the engagement this year while the weather is beautiful. Boy did we have a really nice day to work with. The location for this session was at Steph's Aunts house off of the highway. As soon as I got there I can see it was going to be a wonderful location to work with.

Upon my arrival I was greater by Charlie, their very energetic dog. I then met Brent for the first time who I can see was a bit unsure how things were going to play out that day. Seeing as how this was his first engagement session. Once the introductions were done we made our way to the side of the property where there was a nice stable for horses as well as a couple other great areas.

Usually with couples that I photograph for the first time I like to get that first photo out of the way. It helps get them more comfortable behind the camera. We did just that. There was a nice little wood pile by the stable that we took advantage. Then it was off to the tree covered area. You can see it from the highway but you don't realize how awesome it is until you are actually within the trees. We spent about 15 minutes in there and came away with so many good photos. I even managed to get a couple of Charlie standing still for a moment here and there.

As we came out of the forest I noticed one tree in the middle of an open field so we took some photos there. Steph then mentioned that the driveway leading up the house was long and covered with leaves. Well, we couldn't pass that up so I got both Steph and Brent to go about half way down and just interact with one another while I took some natural candid photos.

We finished the session by with these old iron chairs on the lawn. Not only were they heavy but they were beautiful. Those last few were some of my favourite photos of the day. I simply can't wait until the wedding especially seeing how easy and fun it was working with Steph and Brent. Thanks again to both of them for a splendid engagement session.

As you may have seen in previous posts I am now also including specially processed vintage style photographs. Here are a few I did for this particular session.

Patrick Chondon 7/31/14 Patrick Chondon 7/31/14

Matt + Diana Engagement

Just a couple days ago I had the pleasure of photographing Diana, her fiancé Matt, and the rest of her family. It was kind of a unique engagement session because instead of just photographing the couple, I took photos of the whole family! It was a nice change of pace though. Plus, Diana really wanted me to get a lot of candid photos for the hour I was there as well.

As soon as I got there I started to just walk around and document the evening. I tried to focus on those moments, the ones that would otherwise be missed. After about 20 minutes we gathered everyone up and made our way out to the balcony. Luckily it was a really nice evening and they also had a nice big space outside to accommodate lots of people.

After taking photos of the entire group we did all the different combinations with some fun ones mixed in-between. Of course, Diana's Grandfather was the centre of attention. Luckily we had a chair for him and his wife to sit on. He did try to get up a couple times because he thought he was done, but they would quickly tell him to sit back down. Everyone had a good laugh when that happened.

As I said above, it was a nice departure from the typical engagement shoot and I hope to door more like this in the future. Congratulations to Matt and Diana on their engagement, and for letting me photograph such a fun evening. It was great meeting everyone

Patrick Chondon 7/21/14 Patrick Chondon 7/21/14

Brittney + Adam Engagement - Cascades

Once I heard my niece Brittney got engaged I hoped she called upon me to shoot their engagement photos. Luckily she did! I always find it very fun and rewarding to photograph family members. Plus, it's usually a laid back and easy going session. This one was no different, and the location in this case was the Cascades Provincial Park in Thunder Bay.

Just like any other session we started it off by just walking and getting caught up. Then I slowly started taking photos of the two of them. As they got more comfortable behind the camera, which didn't take long at all, we stopped at different parts of the trail. We ultimately made it down to the cascades. Once there, we managed to get some of my favourite photos of the day.

We then made our way back along the trail, taking some fun photos along the way. Once we got back to the parking lot I spotted a pretty cool little area with some trees as well as a nice open field with tall grass. Thanks to Brittney and Adam for a wonderful session, I had a ton of fun.

Patrick Chondon 6/9/14 Patrick Chondon 6/9/14

Katrina + Lucas Engagement

My first engagement session of the season was quite a very fun one. Katrina and Lucas approached me to get some engagement photos done in time for the wedding next year. We decided on Centennial Park which as I have mentioned before, is always a great venue to photography a couple.

I could tell Katrina and Lucas where a bit nervous going in seeing as how they have never had to do an engagement session before. That hesitation very quickly went away as soon as we got the first photo out of the way. They were very natural and carefree which translated into every single photo.

Most of the time I have a photo in my head that I envision but I always let the couple do what feels comfortable. I basically set them loose in a setting and see what happens. This was the case with Katrina and Lucas. Whether they were walking down the train tracks or leaning in for a kiss all the photos were very spur of the moment. It was simply my job to capture it. And that is why I love this job.

It's always nice to have a couple be open to pretty much anything I throw at them. Not every photo is always going to end up the way it is intended but that doesn't mean the final result is any less special.

Thanks to Katrina and Lucas for a fantastic engagement session. Their laughter and sincerity allowed me to capture the day perfectly.

Patrick Chondon 4/15/14 Patrick Chondon 4/15/14

The Benefits of Doing an Engagement Session

For almost all of my packages I offer an engagement session but rarely do couples take advantage of it. Most of the time it is lack of interest or even timing in most cases. There are also some cases where couples are simply coming in from out of town to do the wedding. In this post I am going to touch upon the importance of doing an engagement session with your photographer.

Katie & Kurtis did the engagement well in advance. They then got me to create a great little customized engagement book for them which they shared with their friends and family.

Get to know how your photographer works

As I mentioned above, most couples usually meet their photographer for the first time the day of the wedding. There is nothing wrong with this, but it can be hard to feel comfortable behind the camera just like that. It often takes a little bit of time to relax and truly feel at ease when someone is taking photos of you.

So with an engagement session, it really gives you the opportunity to not only get to know your photographer as a person, but also how he shoots and the process in which he takes photographs. Plus, after spending an hour in front of the camera, come the day of the wedding, you will be a season pro!

Also, if for some reason you don't like some aspects of the way your photographer works you can always bring it up before the wedding. I have never had this happen personally, but you never know.

Melissa & Robert also got an engagement session done in advance of their wedding. It was really a great hour we spend together as we had a lot of fun, plus it allowed all three of them to be in front of the camera and get comfortable.

Get comfortable with your other half

Unless you have done numerous photo sessions with your loved one in the past it can sometimes be a challenge getting natural photos right from the start. It takes time to feel comfortable and not be too 'posed'. So by doing an engagement session you get to work out the kinks and really learn how to be at ease and get those great candid shots. Plus, it may even give you some ideas you want to try out for your wedding day.

Alisha $ Derek were honestly one of the most comfortable and natural couples I have had the pleasure of photographing. They decided to split up their engagement session into two separate ones. One a year before and another closer to the wedding. Thi… — Alisha $ Derek were honestly one of the most comfortable and natural couples I have had the pleasure of photographing. They decided to split up their engagement session into two separate ones. One a year before and another closer to the wedding. This also allowed us to use two different locations during two different times of the year. A great idea by them if you ask me.

Using the photos for your wedding

By have engagement photos done before you wedding, it allows you to use those photos for just about anything your heart desires. Couples often use photos from our engagement sessions for invites, the guest book or even a personal website for all the guests. It may even be something as simple as having some nice photos to put up around your house. Some of my favourite photos have been from engagement sessions. The pressure of the wedding is still a long ways away therefore couples are usually very relaxed and playful which in turns creates some truly natural photos.

Yet another option for the photos would be a photo book. I have done a few of these for couples and they have all turned out great. By doing one for your engagement session it gives you a good test run for a full on wedding album.

There you have it. A few good reasons to think twice about not doing an engagement shoot before the wedding. If you do decide to do one, be sure to schedule it for well in advance. That way you will have plenty of time to use the photos for the wedding.

Patrick Chondon 4/2/14 Patrick Chondon 4/2/14

5 Tips to Feel More Comfortable in Front of the Camera

When I take photos of couples some are more comfortable then others. Regardless, I always try and make it as natural as possible, that way the photos really do come across as sincere. With that being said there are things you can do to further ensure the photos don’t look too posed. In this short post I will list 5 simple ways to do so.

Simply having Chellsea look back at Ryan created a dynamic and emotional photo.

1. Don’t look directly at the camera

It’s often really easy to just stare at the camera and smile. Now, there is nothing wrong with looking directly at the camera, but the problem with doing this all the time is that all the photos tend to look the same. Plus, if you are always smiling as the camera is pointed towards you, the photos will tend to feel unnatural. So, look away for some, perhaps look down or even change the angle sometimes where you are looking up at the camera. Anything to just add a bit of intrigue to the photo.

This was a fun photo done right at the end of the wedding. The picture frame tied in to the scattered frames hanging down from the trees.

2. Use a prop

To be honest, I don’t often bring props to a portrait shoot or wedding but they can be very useful. The sessions I have had couples use props have actually turned out quite well. This can be just about anything. Depending on the theme of the shoot or the emotion you are trying to emote, be sure the prop actually makes sense. One wedding I had the couple brought some bright coloured umbrella’s. It wasn’t raining, in fact it was bright and sunny, but it really matched the overall theme of the shoot and made for some very interesting photos. Another engagement session I had, we used bright coloured balloons. Unfortunately the session was cut short by a storm but in the 15 minutes we had, we got some fantastic photos. It could also be something as simple as your wardrobe. Whatever you choose, make sure it’s something that helps you feel comfortable behind the camera.

This engagement session was done at the Brickyard where Curtis originally proposed to Katie.

3. Pick a location that is familiar to you

Whether it’s an engagement shoot or even a wedding, sometimes it can be very helpful to stage it at a location that holds meaning to you. I did an engagement shoot with a couple where they originally got engaged at. It’s almost impossible not to relive those initial feelings and they often really come through in the photos. By having it a location you are familiar with, not only will you know the lay of the land, but things will just feel that much more natural. Not to say, you can’t do this with a venue you’ve never visited before, but a place you know could make a big difference.

4. Meet your photographer beforehand

Most photographers are great at creating a quick relationship with their client the day of but some are better then others. In the end if you don’t feel comfortable with your photographer, then it will show in the photos. It’s not always possible to meet with your photographer before a portrait shoot but at least with weddings I highly recommend it. Even just meeting over coffee a week in advance can make a real difference once the big day comes. Not only will you get to know the photographer a bit better, you can also get a sense of their shooting style, what they are thinking regarding location or anything else that will help the day of go smoother.

5. Look at other photographs

Be careful with this one. Don’t go out and memorize poses necessarily but by looking at other photos you can get a ton of ideas which may lead to ideas of your own. As I mentioned earlier, you might see some props that you like, or maybe even a location you never would have thought of. In previous posts I mentioned some sites for inspiration in general so feel free to check that out. Another obvious place to look is your photographers portfolio. If you haven’t already see what their style of shooting is, what other clients of their’s have done or anything else that might help.

In the end, just relax and have fun with it. If you don’t feel comfortable take a short break and try something new.

Patrick Chondon 1/25/14 Patrick Chondon 1/25/14

Favourite Portraits of 2013

As promised in my last post, here are 'some' of my favourite portraits from 2013. I had a ton of sessions so it was hard to choose from but I narrowed it down these select few. If you would like to check out many more images by looking through the rest of my blog. Thanks again to all the wonderful families and couples.

Thanks again to all the wonderful families and couples.

Patrick Chondon 6/10/13 Patrick Chondon 6/10/13

Katie + Kurtis Engagement

After a couple tries I finally managed to get a break in the weather to shoot Katie & Kurtis’s engagement session. The location was the Roslyn Road brickyard. This location was very special to both Katie and Kurtis in that it was where Kurtis first proposed! It is located about 10 minutes outside the city and is quite beautiful. This was the first time I had even heard of the place so I was very anxious to see it and also use it as a backdrop to what would turn out to be a very fun session with Katie and Kurtis.

Once we got to the location we walked in a bit and immediately found a large pile of bricks in an open area. After that it was off to the races. There are a bunch of different areas to explore which we definitely did. It was right off the main road so we also walked along it for a few moments. It was a long open stretch which didn’t really have any traffic. So I got them both to stand in the middle of the road while a laid down and took one of my favourite shots of the day. With about a half hour left we then made our way to the train tracks down the road. As you can see from the photos below we had just as much fun here as we did at the brickyard.

The wedding is in a few months and I can’t wait! Katie and Kurtis were extremely easy going and basically did anything I told them to. Even climbing piles of bricks in high heels. Thanks again to both of them for a super fun and spontaneous engagement session.