Dog Portrait Ottawa

Photographing animals requires some special skills. I`m a cat person and I can tell you that
cats are the toughest. Next comes small dogs. Here is one amazing little Pom we shot for an
Ottawa breeder who was featured on the cover of this months Dog Digest. Shooting for magazine covers is tough since their technical standards are quite high. We love the challenge!
Got animals...bring em along for your next family portrait...

Merry Christmas 2009

Its been an amazing year at the studio. Weddings are up 50%, we shot over 20 magazine covers, partied with Kiss, and Shannon Tweed, covered the Olympic Torch run in Iqaluit, shot Alex Trebec and the Prime Ministers in TO and got to meet some amazing Ottawans.
My writing was published in the top ten newspapers in Canada and I was chosen as a photojournalist by Canadian Press to cover Ottawa. To top it all off, I finally got in my family's
annual Christmas card shot....

Best of the Holiday Season to All....

New Ottawa Wedding Magazine

Ta da.........check out which studio was chosen as the main feature in the new
Ottawa Wedding Magazine...
http://www.myvirtualpaper.com/doc/coylepublishing/ott_weddings_virtual/2009120801/
We will have copies next week at the studio free to all who come by for a consultation.

Sneak peek at our latest work.

I was in the Arctic last week covering the Olympic marathon, so our staff photographer Rachelle Latremouille shot this great cover for Ottawa Life. She still has lots of openings for next year ...portraits, boudoir and weddings with a female touch and Francophone to boot!

United Way

Isn`t it time you got your family together...

This year, for the first time in the long history of our studio we are offering Ottawans a chance to get that portrait you have been talking about for years. Whether its the whole gang in jeans and T shirts, a shot with the family dog or even a cool poster with Dad`s motorcycle...bring your wildest ideas to us and watch us make some magic. We do love animals and yes, the studio is capable of photographing your family and your horse!

Btw...yes, thats Paul Dewar and family having some fun with a shoot that defines their family quite well. Thanks for finding the time guys to get this together...

For lots of examples of our work...click here http://www.couvrette-photography.on.ca/2/portrait.html

Call the studio to arrange your sitting at 613 238 5104

DETAILS: This offer is valid only on sittings booked between November 1 and December 30 2009. The entire sitting fee will be donated to the United Way of Ottawa which helps families in our own community. Prints are at our regular prices and you are under no obligation to make any purchases. Deadline for delivery for Christmas is December 1st. We can accomodate groups of up to 40 people at our Gladstone Studio. All sittings must be studio sittings during our regular hours. Sittings on Saturdays, in the evening or at another location are at a premium. This offer is not valid for commercial clients headshots or any commercial assignments.

United Way

United Way Ottawa Portrait Campaign

Classic Black and Whites never go out of style.

A wedding coverage just isn`t complete unless we have one classic portrait of the bride and groom. Somehow, I think these will stand the test of time over some of the trendier wedding images and when it comes down to it, being able to shoot both is the key.

Name dropping...oops.

The coolest thing about my career is the people I get to meet. I have photographed the weddings of Chief Justice Barbara McLachlin, designer Justina McCaffrey and socialites like Mike and Marlen Cowpland and the Potters. My commercial site shows portraits of every Prime Minister from Trudeau to Harper . I believe I am the only photographer who has been given this honor.

Ok...that was a long preamble...but what I really wanted to show you was a new site featuring some of my work with my friend Kim Campbell. Enjoy.
Thanks for the link Kim....hey I guess that must be what they call a testimonial...lol

This may seem a little daunting to many customers who assume that we are pricey, but let me assure you that this is not the case. You might be very surprised!!!
We also pride ourselves on being down to earth and have a lot of fun with our shoots.
Call, come by and take a look...we keep our best stuff at the studio.


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Centretown Ottawa Indoor Studio.

We see a lot of photographers advertise their companies as XYZ "Studio".

There are actually only a half dozen "studios" in Ottawa and ours has been quite busy this summer as the Ottawa Monsoon Season was wacky to say the least. We prefer to shoot outdoors and we do have a lot of ideas on alternate locations indoors in case of bad weather. Its really nice however, to have a large centrally located studio in case the weatherman does not cooperate with your plans for a portrait in the park or some wedding groups.

We actually do rent it to other photographers but not on Saturdays as we like to keep it for our clients. There is btw, no extra fee for our clients to shoot in the studio. Even better, we have full time office staff and are competitive with a lot of folks who work from their home.

How do we do it....come on by and I`ll tell you the secrets.






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Awww...thats nice.

The current issue of Ottawa Life features Ottawa's Top 50 Citizens and guess who made the it on the cover. Nice to be in the company of Larry O'Brien, Alan Rock, and Michael Ignatieff. Read all about it here. Oh...row two five from the left...perhaps I ought to have smiled.


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Better Business Bureau of Ottawa

Its no fun to get all serious about such a happy topic as wedding photography.

This summer, however, we received a high number of emails asking our advice on the topic of Ottawa wedding photography. Sadly, many with tales of woe.

We have seen roughly 800 Ottawa and area photographers come and go in our 30 years in business. Currently there are roughly 200 Ottawa Wedding Photographer websites the majority of which are different from what we saw 5 years ago...and 5 years from now there will be a different 200.

When we started, you needed a business licence and you could not operate from your basement.
The population of the city supported about 20 excellent portrait and wedding specialists. Today,
all you need is a laptop, a dozen cool shots on a website and you`re in business...for a while.

Are some of the new crop good enough to last...yes. We recommend a mix of new and established studios when we are fully booked on a date.

Are we concerned about competition...no...frankly we love it...thats what keeps us on
our toes.

We are concerned however about the number of couples who contact us to
located their missing photographer, fix their digital files or make them an album
when their photographer does not provide this service.

After this much time in the industry, we have concerns about the reputation of our profession.

Soooo...we strongly suggest that couples use that old standby, THE OTTAWA BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU to check out photographers reputations. We did, and were shocked to
find how many rated low. Check it out for yourself.

You WILL find one AAA ...we're proud to say.

PS...Yes, we will offer the service of correcting your wedding files and making you an album, but sorry - we can no longer help you track down your photographer or offer legal advice. We are
too busy serving our own customers. Frankly, we have been so busy this summer I have not posted as many shots as I would like...I`ll correct that soon.

Ok...enough said...back to smiling faces....




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Patrick Swayze....and wife. Dancing with the Stars.

Ottawa Florists we recommend for our Weddings.

People have been asking about florists.

First to come to mind is Silver Rose...classic elegance and excellent service.
http://www.thesilverrose.com/ Also look at Langdons in Alta Vista as well as Phulero Dola.
Out in the country...try the nice folks at http://www.poshpedalsflorist.com/

One bit of advice you should really heed. Have your flowers delivered early. We have seen
at least five weddings this summer whose flowers arrived half way through the house photo session. I have no idea why someone would not deliver on time...

Here's an idea. Why not get them early.
If the florist says they have to get to work earlier to prep em...too bad.





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These people know how to have fun...

I would love to have been there....

Someone pinch me...please.

When I was a kid you only got in the dictionary when you were dead...
http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Paul-Couvrette


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Wedding on a boat on the Ottawa River.

This summer we have a few brides who have discovered that not only is a boat wedding kinda fun, but the prices are really reasonable for catering too. Elena shot this great image and now has a second boat wedding this summer...I`m jealous.

Candids VS Photojournalism

Just so we are on the same page when discussing wedding styles...the top photo is wedding photojournalism....shooting unposed images. The bottom shot, while a lot of fun, is what is now
being called "candid" groups...ie more fun in posing. These need time and a cool location. People do not naturally do the things that you see in a lot of wedding photos...if you invest the time, we can create some great images.

Portraits on Location

We have a large studio and that allows us to shoot some very big groups, but of course
a portrait at home or on location affords the client a little more convenience. This family have been studio portrait clients for many years and it was nice to finally shoot in their home and see the gallery of my work on their walls.

Ottawa actress Sonja Smits

Recently we spent a couple of days in the Picton area shooting portraits of Canadian
actress Sonja Smits for a travel promo. Sonja was great to work with and our Ontario
"summer" even let up for awhile so I could get these shots. Check out the current issue
of Ottawa Life for the full spread.

Ottawa Engagement Portrait.

Hot off the presses...shot last week at the end of the Tulip Festival. Looking forward to
more fun shots at their Chateau Laurier wedding in July.

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Wedding Advice..

Hey...I didn`t write this...but I did take the shot.



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A wedding album...a la Serge.

I keep mentioning that the best way to judge a wedding photographer is to look at a whole job.
Take a look at a recent wedding by one of our photographers... Serge. Like all major studios we have a number of photographers, all trained by myself and all extremely competent...on top of being a lot of fun. Serge, Elena and Rachelle have created half of what you see on my site...You didn`t think I did it all myself did you???

Enjoy.....

Executive Portrait of a BC Lawyer.

We photograph a lot of Judges and Lawyers. I photographed the wedding of Chief Justice
Barbara Mc Lachlin and the family portraits of hundreds of local Judges and Lawyers.
The way I see it..if a lawyer writes you a testimonial it should give you double bonus points...lol

Check it out... (scroll about half way down...)


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Reputation, reputation,reputation.

The web is a great place to compare services, but it has its limitations. It doesn`t take much to set up a website or a blog with a few shots that look really cool.
Want the real story.....Google the actual names of a few photographers you like...then ignore their sites and see what others say about them, who has hired them in the past and what unbiased sources say about their work. Checking out the Ottawa Better Business bureau rating may really floor you...but don`t say we didn`t mention it.

http://www.bbb.org/ottawa/business-reviews/photographers-commercial/paul-couvrette-photography-in-ottawa-on-10588

You`ll learn a lot more by looking at words than looking at pretty pictures...even ours.

Here`s mine to start....




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Photoshop Artistry

We just hung a large new BW in our Gladstone St window and people are really responding to it...I can tell, when cars slow down and folks stare.
I thought it was the perfect time to talk about the issue of digital files. We book a few weddings
per year in which people tell us they are making their own albums. Sooo...in the interest of science I have posted these two files and allowed you to grab them and try your luck at changing
the color file to the bw. If you can create the kind of look we did..hey, good for you. Now multiply
that time by a few hundred images and perhaps you'll see that it might be a good idea to let a professional make your wedding album.

I read recently in Popular Photography that over half the people who thought they had the skills and time to create their own albums hadn`t done so...over two years after their wedding!

We had a bride show up just last week who must have spent 50 K on her wedding three years ago...yup...the photographer (who will go unnamed) didn`t offer an album service and her hubby promised to make the albums..

I can`t imagine how many times he regretted that idea.


BTW, email me the results if you really nail that Photoshop test...we always have openings and lots of work...

Photographs worth a thousand words.

In law, they used to use the term "photographic evidence"...not any more. In the digital age, photographs can be downright misleading...
We see a lot of websites and blogs showing a half dozen shots per wedding. That's no way to judge any photographer's skills. Frankly, even our trainees come up with a few good shots per wedding. The real test is whether they can cover the whole day from portraits to candids.

Sooooo...I thought I would post a recent wedding that shows what we do on a real job. If you want a fair comparison........ask other photogs to do the same.

Service with a Smile

Your call is important to us!.....Press 8 while standing on one leg and and holding your breath so we can transfer your call to our operator in Bangladesh.

In todays world that's pretty well the norm, but not at Couvrette Studio. We've employed a full time office manager and support staff since the start of our studio in the seventies. Booking a part time photographer that works from home may look like a bargain, but in the end you may find otherwise. A wedding is generally comprised of 3 to 10 hours of photography and 25 hours of coordination, planning and post production. Our office manager and support staff work 9 to 5 weekdays and your call will always be answered right away, or within the hour if we are on the line serving another customer.
Yes, we are not open til midnight on Tuesdays ...that's because we operate a full time studio not a hobby business out of our homes in the evenings.

Sometimes we all get caught up looking at price so much that we forget to compare service. It is a huge part of coodinating and creating a fantastic wedding album or a beautiful wall portrait and delivering it flawlessly and on time. I`ll confess that I buy our paper towels at Costco..but when it comes to something really important like our cameras...we go pro all the way.

There are only 5 studios in Ottawa who have flourished for over 25 years....now you know one of the reasons why...



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Medieval Theme Wedding at the Chateau Laurier Ottawa.

I promised to post some shots of this wedding a couple of weeks ago...so here goes. The Chateau Laurier was the perfect backdrop for this amazing late winter wedding. The bride, a noted singer from Calgary, had organized an event that was spectacular from the costumes to the decor. We
were honored that she chose us to record the whole thing. Truly a special evening.

Update...I recieved this email from the bride about five minutes ago...I think you might call it a testimonial...


Dear Paul,

WOW, WOW and WOW again... OMG... which ones to choose for our picture gallery???? Some if not most of them left us breathless.

I am so very glad you were there... you made us relive the entire fairytale as you captured our emotions on every one of them... THANK YOU, for immortalizing such a great day for us to pass on for generations to come.

Lucie and Don

Then a bit later, Daniel Richer, Ottawa`s Town Crier who is the gallant gentleman acting as
Master of Ceremonies wrote....


Squire Couvrette
As always you have the masters touch....
Hope to be in front of your lens soon... Daniel

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An engagement portrait shot in Ottawa just last week.

> These are hot off the presses from last weeks brrr...cool... shoot of a couple from the Niagara Falls area whose wedding we are shooting this summer near Russell on their family farm. We recommend these sessions so people can get a good idea how they look on camera. Besides, it allows us to get really relaxed shots which sometimes people miss on their wedding day due to overscheduling of the photography session. Planning the day is key to having a fantastic album as our office manager Sheila will tell you.

UPdate...this is the email I got when they recieved their mini album.

Hi Paul, Ryan and I just wanted to say thank you for the great pictures! They turned out so well and everyone absolutely loved them. Everyone was asking who the photographer was, and were saying you have a great eye! We're looking forward to the wedding day photos. (I will be sure to smile more since my hair won't be in my face!)See you at the end of May.

Take care, Amy & Ryan

A couple of fun people....

Modern portraits can have various "looks". I think there is a place for studio portraits..besides, they can still be cool...and we can charge a lot less, since we are not lugging our gear on site.

Awwww....Ottawa Baby Portrait

This little character opened his eyes for only a split second....but thats all we needed...cute indeed.

Save Money on Your Ottawa Wedding...without going cheap!

Ok, so you want your wedding to be special...yet you want a great deal...Easy.
Here are some tips for saving money when you plan your Ottawa wedding.

Lets start with the obvious.

Photography If you find a photographer at half price....some part of the deal will generally be half as good. One trick is to hire a great photographer for less time. No matter whether a photographer says they do not charge extra for time...its a myth. Time is built into every quote. Isn`t a great photographer for 6hrs better than a mediocre one who offers to stay and party til midnight. While we are on the topic...90% of all wedding album photos brides choose are not selected from coverage at the reception.

Limos Check out the cost of renting a really swank luxury car. Even with gas, its a quarter of a limo rental and just as ritzy.Get one of the groomsmen or even that Uncle with the great sunglasses to be your "chauffeur". You`ll save hundreds, plus you won`t fall into that worrisome game of paying for that exhorbitant "overtime" if you are a little late.

Dress You can find a Justina McCaffrey on Craigslist or Kijijij for less than half the price....heck, you can even sell it back on these forums and de facto have had a designer dress for FREE. If that's too radical...check out Sinders...a bit out of town, but worth the drive.

Rings My jeweller friends will hate me for telling you this...but you can actually buy diamonds online and have a custom ring made for way less than the major retailers. Check out a little shop called Marigold on Dalhousie...they`ll make the band up for you. A custom ring at a third off...can't be beat.

Reception First off, check the Quebec venues...prices are 10 to 20 percent cheaper. Second...plan your wedding for off season...and get tough with the sales staff. They can make you a better deal in February. Reconsider that open bar...or buy everyone a first drink... hey, there`s a recession on! Check out reception halls that let you bring in and serve your own alcohol...you will save a small fortune. Double check the "gratuities" clause in the contract...some add a nice little mandatory 15%,but some add 25%, yikes.....on your biggest cost, it can be a killer surprise.
One more tip...check out the boatlines for a fun floating location at a reasonable price per person.

Video Most people view their videos for the first few months...their wedding albums for decades...If you do price a video, avoid all those special effects and titles...Simple clean photojournalistic video will be a lot less costly and twenty years from now will still look classic.

Flowers Got a creative friend...then hit Michaels and make your own unique bouquets....

Decor....while you`re already at Michaels...think about decor too...Where do you think the decor
people shop...lol.

Honeymoon...there are a lot of last minute deals, but thats probably too scary for most.
Travelzoo will send you emails weekly with deals you can book months ahead and save big time.

Testimonials...

Every once in a while, someone asks me for a testimonial..........


Perhaps I could list the famous clients whose weddings we have shot like Barbara McLachlin, Justina McCaffrey, Marlen Cowpland or the Potters....hmmmn...that's gonna scare people.
Ok...how about being the only photographer who has done portraits of every Prime Minister from Trudeau to Harper....nah...boring.
Would 150 awards make a difference...maybe not. Just sound like we are gonna be expensive...a myth btw.

Ok...I`ve got it........Some real nice, real people....this should do it. Phew!


BTW....Check these ladies out if you need some real nice real estate in Kingston.

Ottawa Wedding Ceremony Officiants

We have attending over a thousand weddings and seen the good, the bad and the...well, lets leave it at that.

The range of people who will officiate on your special day is so wide that it amazes us. We have seen ministers who must have mistaken this joyous event for a wake and officials who could not even remember the bride's name!

Our faves....certainly Floralove Katz from http://www.ottawaweddings.ca/ is one of the nicest, most personable. As well, the people at http://www.exceptionalceremonies.com/ are...well exceptional.

Ottawa Wedding Makeup

Looking over the post below, it occurs to me that I should mention some dependable and talented
Ottawa wedding makeup artists. We have worked with quite a few and while style is very individual (ask for a test run) professionalism and timing are what impresses us.
First, I would stay away from most hair/makeup salons unless they can guarantee that you are the only wedding there that morning. Hair salons tend to overbook and we have seen more lateness from salons than from individual artists that go to your location. No matter how great your hair and makeup look for that critical 12hrs, your photographs will be around for many thousand times those hours...and all the makeup in the world won`t hide a look of stress....The most dependable salon if you do go that route in town...Rinaldos.
As far as individual services, Weddings by Tracy and Ottawa Makeup Artists are really professional. We also like the work we have seen from Seema Haider..but have not shot with her yet.

Ottawa...no Qatif.

We shot these for a bridal salon in Saudi Arabia. Now how did we get a client from
Saudi...long story. Oh, btw, we do travel to destination weddings and have shot weddings in the
USA, Jamaica and a number of Canadian cities. Still waiting for one in Vegas...if you`re going...lets make a deal!

The makeup is by Layali Almobasher for her Salon in Qatif.

The "Cowboy Bride"returns....

If you look a few posts down you will see a familiar face... as I photographed this clients wedding a couple of years ago. She is still a "horse person" and I guess it runs in the family as the groom is a blacksmith....

As you can see from my fine art shot....the little one already has some boots...lol.

Pregnancy Portraits Ottawa

Here are a couple of recent pregnancy portraits of one of our clients. These are priceless memories...I know....we show our shots to our kids and they love 'em.
I had previously photographed this client for a bodybuilding portfolio last year. Return clients
are the best testimonial to our work...

Some well known faces...

This is my portrait of a number of Canada`s Prime Ministers and Alex Trebek, which I shot for Magna and the CBC to promote the Next Great Canadian Prime Minister TV show that airs
today. I have photographed portraits of every Prime Minister from Trudeau to Harper and this
assignment is one I have carried out for 4 years on location in Toronto.
Sometimes I have to pinch myself when I realize that I am having a glass of wine with Kim Campbell or hearing John Turner describe me as his favorite photographer. Its always nice to
get together with them and this year meeting game show legend Alex Trebek was an added bonus.Behind the scenes...he`s funnier than on TV.

Now if I can get these guys to all smile on cue...imagine what we can do for YOU!

Fashion and Beauty

I started my career shooting Fashion and Glamour for Ottawa designers and models. The experience was great and led me to assignments from international cosmetics companies. I also keep the rust off by doing some local sessions with upcoming models and actors. This shot is part of a major ad campaign that recently appeared in Vogue and InStyle.
Here is the website...which I think is really nicely done. We also shot all the product photography.

Thinking of modelling...perhaps its wise to invest in headshots by someone who knows the biz....
Got a product...we`ll make it beauuuutiful.
Need a glamour portrait...give us a call!

Photojournalism meets Fashion

We were thrilled to be selected to create the current cover of Ottawa Life magazine featuring
some of Ottawa`s most dynamic women. Recently we have also been honored to be selected as
photojournalists for Canadian Press to add to our work for Time, Macleans and Newsweek.
A lot of people in the wedding biz claim to be photojournalists...we really are!...check it out.

Medieval Wedding Ottawa

Last weekend we photographed a fantastic Medieval theme wedding.
It reminded me that we had one on Youtube that I posted last year and
so here it is on my blog. Stay tuned for the recent shots in a week
or so...

The Couvrette Building

Recently I decided to research the history of my building on Gladstone Avenue. The shape of the building always puzzled me and the City Archives finally solved the mystery.

Couvrette Studio was built in 1910 as a Livery (horse and carriage depot)by one of Ottawa`s top hotels, The Alexandria on Bank Street, founded by entrepreneur Thomas Babin. By 1923 it became Horner Motor Sales, the first automobile showroom in the city. In the mid thirties it was the home of Progressive Printers and was heavily reinforced to hold huge presses on the second floor. The building is so solid that it easily withstood a car crashing in the front window last year.
Kinda reminds me of my company, which has withstood three recessions so far and counting. Yes, we started in 1977...making us one of the longest standing studios in the city.

Dollco took over the printing business and 430 Gladstone became one of Ottawa`s original hi tech companies in the mid sixties.I purchased the building in the mid 1990's and after extensive renos...voila, Couvrette Studio.


When I started my business there were 15 studios owned by photographers in the downtown core, bounded by Bronson, the Ottawa River, the Queensway and the Rideau River. How times change...now its just us......STABLE .you betcha! (its a joke,...livery (stable) oh well.

It sure would be nice to have some shots of horses and Model T`s in front of our building...maybe a project for the 100th anniversary next year!

Ottawa Boudoir and Glamour Portraits.

Here are two more from the session...

Want more...click here!

Something prospective brides might consider when comparing photographers is how well they do portraits. Photojournalism is fine and dandy, but a talented photographer should also know how to make the bride look great. Frankly, even our assistants in training can manage to get a few lucky shots, but they need a couple of years training to do great portraits. Take a look at entire sites, and not just cherry picked wedding shots. Better yet, ask to see an entire wedding...thats when you really know how to judge a photographers talent.

Ottawa Boudoir Photography

Here is a shot from a recent session in our Centretown Studio. Luckily this nice young lady was OK with us posting it online. At the studio we have hundreds of other sessions that we can show you. A lot of our brides are doing these as wedding gifts and of course Valentines Day is always a busy time for these sessions. For women who are too shy to shoot these with a male, we do have a female photographer on site.

Ottawa Wedding Musicians

Looking for a referral to a wedding musician?
Well..here is one you might want to check out. She also has a neat
list of offbeat ideas for wedding venues and locations on her site.

http://www.louiseebeltoft.com/gallery/index.php

Another group of dependable professionals is http://www.classicalsounds.com/

I Dare You.

....wait for it.

Ottawa Glamour and Boudoir on Youtube

Glamour and Boudoir portraits are lots of fun...and great gifts that we often do for brides to be...

Here is some digital magic we did just to see how far we could push it. Take a look at it on
Youtube itself if you really want to see the detail and of course push the "view in hi res" button.

We have an extensive set of examples on our site, but better yet, set an appointment to come by the studio to see lots more. Shooting this style in a natural offshoot of our wedding work...and I wonder sometimes if a lot of photographers have lost the art of making women look good.

Ottawa Wedding on Youtube

We posted this wedding on Youtube not too long ago and now its up over 2000 hits...wow.
The bride is coming in for a pregnancy portrait next week...I guess that's a
testimonial to my work...and theirs.

Awwww,,,,

I just couldn`t resist putting this on my blog...click and you`ll see why.

Ottawa Wedding Dress

A bride to be asked me today what I thought was the most photogenic wedding dress.

Thats easy... anything by Justina McCaffrey. Now I am not just saying that because I shot her wedding (ok, I`m name dropping, but its true...come by and I`ll show you some shots)...I simply like clean classic lines and the quality of materiels she uses simply look better in photographs.
A little tip though...look up Janine Adamyk on Bank....a local talent that is often missed. She creates custom designs that rival the top stuff you will see in all the mags...for a lot less $$$$$

Ottawa Wedding Receptions.

In the coming weeks, I hope to post some images of many popular Ottawa Wedding Reception venues and photo locations. Having covered over 1000 weddings to date...who better to ask than someone who has seen his share of rubber chickens and fine cuisine.

For now, here are some observations about some of the popular Ottawa and Gatineau area reception venues. The comments are derived from our photographers experiences and this post will be updated as new info comes in. Feel free to add your comments and this can be a resource for those seeking to choose the ideal location for their event.

Strathmere... If the couple enjoy a rural setting and a lot less stress this is one of the best spots in the area. Food is a 7 to 8 on 10. The staff are friendly and the exterior locations for photos are
plentiful if you have a good eye. Only downside..the interior of the main manor is small and could use a new paint job..hint hint.

Stanleys Maple Farm... Once again, a rural setting...not quite as pretty as Strathmere for photographs...but the food is on par. The big plus...a great wagon ride...especially beautiful in the fall. They have also recently put in a nice garden that serves as a good photo spot.

Chateau Laurier...The best indoor location in Ottawa. Food varies widely....at the low end menus its a 6 or 7 given the price/quality ratio...BUT....at the high end, such as what one sees in the Quebec suite at its premium menu...its a 10. Parking will cost you big time...but hey, its once in a lifetime.
Update Mar 09....just enjoyed a great wedding, food, service and coordination was A+
The couple chose a buffet type service and it was well coordinated and the food was excellent.

The Schoolhouse....a special little spot in the west end (max 70people) that is worth a look.
http://attheschoolhouse.ca/history.php We have not been there, so don`t take our word on the
food...but the place itself seems quaint.


Holiday Inn Kanata...surprisingly nice. Food is above what one would expect for a Holiday Inn and the lobby is small, but not too bad for some nice shots on a rainy or winter wedding. Parking if free and plentiful.

Westin Hotel. Food is widely varied...at their best its still a 7 or 8. Not much thought was put into indoor locations for photos...always a problem in Ottawa...especially in the winter. The main reception areas are not that exciting, so unless you spend a fortune on decor your wedding
may not look much more exciting than a dentists convention.
If you have the budget, the suites on the top floor have some of the best views of Ottawa and make a great location...but get your wallet out. On a sunny day, the rooftop garden
works well too....

Delta...Nice staff, food is average. The lobby area is pretty busy to shoot in...but its better than
the Westin.

Hilton Lac Leamy....Food is a 9 or a 10 most of the time. Great decor...lots of photo spots indoors and out. One of our favorite spots. Check the rest of my blog and my site for some pix.

Beantown Ranch...a hidden surprise...Food is excellent and staff VERY friendly. Its very rural,
but worth the drive..lots of great photo locations. They really care about weddings! AAAA

Sala San Marco....Food is always great....not surprisingly,they are excellent at Italian. Lobby is a bit small..and no place for pictures...too bad. Its a short jaunt down to Dows Lake or the Experimental Farm for some shots of the gang.

Italian Soccer Club....Decor is plain ....But the food once again is tops. Italian weddings
demand nothing but the best. Parking is free.

Skyline Hotel...food is pretty standard, though once again, you should consider that as you move into the higher brackets on any hotel menu price wise...the food gets better (gosh, that works in a lot of services doesn`t it)..no great photo locations at the hotel, although the view from the top is spectacular, shooting groups there is not advisable since its all glass.

Tudor Inn...location needs a makeover...food is a bit above average. Parking is free.
Lobby is not a place for group shots..try Mooneys Bay park on the way out there...some
nice white bridges and water.
Update...we were back in May 09...and rate it the same

Ottawa Hunt Club. Food and service are great, view is fantastic. A little formal, but if
thats your schtick...enjoy. Group shots can be done on the front lawn...though you have
to contend with a lot of traffic...we advise shooting elsewhere unless you are really stuck for time.

Empire Grill.....great food and service. Perfect for a wedding of under 75 people...
Parking is best at the lot behind the Basilica on Sussex....a two minute walk.

Royal Ottawa Golf Club Food is traditional..but very well done. Surprisingly, they don`t even let you near the beautiful course for pix...hmmmn. Stop along the Parkway for group shots or use the nice front verandah....if you want varied locations, perhaps even stop at the island in the middle of Champlain Bridge.

Cedarhill...food is average, decor is too. Photo locations...minimal. The good news...nice view of the greenery and a nice area for cocktails...plus, no charge to park.
Update...Summer 09 we saw an increase in the quality of food and service.

Loch March...food is average to slightly above. I hear the price is decent.(Update: Had a great steak dinner recently...if you can budget for that....you are OK) Not much in indoor or outdoor photo locations...which is surprising, given that its a golf course. It just happens that all the best angles are dangerous to stand a bride and groom in... A wonderful course btw...my fave in Ottawa. A good photo location on the way out there is Andrew Haydon park.

National Art Gallery...Great location rain or shine. Food is super..and the parking is even reasonable. Every couple of years some new civil servant changes the rules on where you
can take photographs..sigh. Make sure you clear it all well in advance.

Museum of Civilization. Wonderful photo location....a bit crowded most Saturdays in tourist season though. Food is average to good...depending on what you pay for it.... If you want GRAND..the Main Hall is really super with its view of Parliament at sunset.

Calagogie Peaks...a hidden gem. Great locations both indoor and out. Make sure you get some
shots on top of the ski hill. The food was excellent!!!




Cordon Blue.....Magnifique....some of the best food in town. Great decor and even a couple of
photo spots indoors. A little formal for most....but hey...live a little. Nice park..Strathcona..across the street.

Lord Elgin Hotel....have not been there in a while...but nothing really special last time we went.
No great spots to shoot in either. Food was competent, but not exciting, possibly try the higher end menus. There is a nice park across the street for photos...with rain, I suppose you could walk over to City Hall. The hotel lobby is far too busy.

Wakefield Mill....very nice location for photos...food is a consistent 9....staff are a little formal..but that may have changed since we last shot there. Not much space for groups indoors on a rainy day.

Courtyard....food was very traditional...but competent. Great locations for shots just outside the
restaurant. A walkabout on the market for those candid shots is lots of fun.

Centurion... Food is dependable...but not exciting. Locale is pretty industrial. It IS possible
to shoot some groups on the second floor in case of rain.

Montebello. A beautiful secluded location with fine food. The rooms are a little in need of sprucing up for the price they charge. As well, shooting in the main foyer is tough because it has a tendency to turn out dark when shot by anyone but an extremely goooood photographer. One tip, try booking their smaller venue at the golf course..beautiful and a little less pricey.

Brookstreet....I have not had the luck of being there yet...but my staff say the food is great. Not the best for photo locations...so hope for sun. The nearest great photo location is Andrew
Haydon Park...but not on a windy or cold day.

A good way to compare hotels is actually a site called Trip Advisor. They rate via actual feedback
from customers...check this one...about midway down...OUCH

Officers Mess, Somerset Street....good conservative food...one room is not bad for indoor shots.

18 Beautiful decor, great food..perfect for a group of 50 or less...No location indoors that is big enough for group shots...but on a nice day, Major Hills Park and the Market are right there.

The Mill.....I have not been there in a few years...thankfully. Great location, but boring cuisine and poor service the last time I was there a few years back.

Southway Inn.....excellent food and service at a reasonable price. Not much by way of photo spots though.

Ottawa Congress Centre...now being torn down...thank goodness...boring food and a location that resembled a prison...Hopefully the new one will shine..we need it.

Orchard View...great photo locations, food is a bit above average. Staff are very cooperative and
friendly....something we see at a lot of the locations outside the city core.


One more thing to consider...having the wedding outside of a normal venue and utilizing the
services of a caterer...I will post some thoughts on the local scene in the coming months, but for now I would say that my faves are Tulips and Maple as well as Thyme and Again...but then thats just my taste...I like creative, inventive and good wholesome food...not a chicken fingers guy at all.
Update....a reader suggested I add Dish Catering....and yes, they rock....how did I forget them,
heck, I did their portraits.



I would strongly advise you to do a sample meal before booking any of these locations as chefs and staff are constantly changing and some of my comments may be out of date... Its best to ask
friends who have had recent weddings at these locations, for things change in the catering biz
really fast.

Well, thats it for now. Just one closing comment. With all the money spent on weddings at these venues I am disappointed that most have not even considered setting aside space and budget to
create decor that works for wedding photography. I have been asked to consult with
a couple of these locations on the topic of decor for photos and their attitude has been less than enthusiastic about spending time and a little money on making weddings look better... how sad.
When you meet with the various reception planners take note of this, as its a mark of how much
they care for your business.

One last thing...I am open to comments on this thread, so post a comment on the blog or e me
privately if you have any flowers or bricks to throw at these reception locations...I will update
this every week.

Oh...one more thing...check out my site if you would like to see shots of some Ottawa and area locations we have covered...there are lots more examples at the studio.

Ottawa Wedding Consultants and Planners.

Recently an Ottawa firm that produces training videos for wedding planners hired me to
help them create a Professional Planning Secrets dvd for sale to wedding consultants worldwide.
Frankly, appearing on camera was not my favorite thing...I prefer the other side.

It occured to me that I should write a few words about wedding consultants locally. First, let me say that I have seen some extremely cool decor and some great ideas by a few local firms. That said, I have had the unfortunate experience of photographing some of the most ill timed weddings of my career...that were organized by wedding planners!

Sadly, I have had a number of these planners offer to refer our services...for a fee, which makes
me wonder about a large number of these services. To add to that, of the twenty or so current
wedding planners, only two have taken the time to come by and chat about our services...yet they all claim to advise you on the best suppliers in town...hmmmmn. Whats funny is that I asked the owners of a few of the other top studios in town and they said exactly the same thing..double hmmmmn. We have a thirty year history of specializing in weddings yet the average wedding planner seems to last three to four years in Ottawa...triple hmmmn..lol.

Given that one of the key players in making your wedding run smoothly is a photographer with
style, tact, personality and a cool disposition under pressure....why not ask us who we have worked with...we promise that we don`t take payola. We just want you to have a great day..so
smooth that we can get great shots. We`re funny that way.

Btw..for anyone wanting to start a career in Wedding Planning...the course seems very pro.
Take a look...yup...thats me bottom left.


Update: We recently photographed a beautiful Medieval wedding at the Chateau Laurier and the cool decor was by an Ottawa company named Wedecor...check them out....here is their work.

New Years Eve 2008 Wedding.

We ended the year at the Delta Ottawa. Right on cue, the elevators stopped working and we were trapped a few times between the rooms and the main floor where the actual marriage and the reception were taking place. One more story for the book.

Ottawa Wedding Photographers Referrals

Since next summer is looking like a busy one and we already have a couple of dates that are fully booked, we get emails asking who we would refer. Frankly, its a tough
call, because we are extremely picky about our own photographers...and even more picky when we think of sending clients to others.
Sadly, I have seen over 800 photographers come and go over the 30 years of Couvrette Studio and have taken numerous calls from panicked brides a day before the wedding whose photographers simply vanished...despite having been in business for a few years and having a nice portfolio and a friendly demeanor. Sadly, what is seen on a web site is often NOT what is produced for the client. As well, one needs more than a good eye to run a successful photography business.

Selecting a wedding photographer should be based on a combination of talent,reputation, longevity and the personality of the photographer and staff.
With those benchmarks, I can safely say that Photolux and GR Martin are two shining examples which possess all of the above.

Drive through window???

Just when I finally had three days off...this morning the icy conditions resulted in a car driving
right through the front window of our studio. Luckily, no one was injured and hey...I got great coverage from the Citizen and the Sun...Check it out!
Yes...we are open for business tomorrow as the front of the building has been repaired and its all safe. Perhaps we need to offer drive through portraits!

Ottawa Wedding Palace Show, Ottawa Bridal Fair

A number of emails and calls have asked us why we are not at the Ottawa Bridal Fair, The Ottawa Wedding Show or the Ottawa Wedding Palace Show. The answer is simple...We want to save YOU money!

Let me do the math for you. These shows primarily attract the new studios, looking to build new business and hey, that's not a bad idea. However, the cost of booths at these shows has risen and adding to these costs are samples, brochures (most of which get tossed after the show) and overtime for our staff. We calculated that if we took the cost of these shows and divided it into the bookings we received we were paying $400 per wedding!!! Frankly we would rather pass those savings on to our customers. Our 2009 price list reflects these savings and if you print out this post and bring it in when you book us...we will take another $100 off any booking you make...Coupon must be presented at time of booking.

The Fine Print..this offer can only be applied to new bookings March to December. 2009.



Soooo...if you wonder why a studio with our awards, history and style has packages that are competitive with even some of the beginners...now you know.


Btw...The Bridal Fairs are worth going to folks...its just that I`d rather save you money and take my kids skating that weekend...its called win win!!!!!

Yousuf Karsh and I, Ottawa Citizen.

I am honored that the Ottawa Citizen has chosen to feature me in their story on Yousuf Karsh of Ottawa on the 100th anniversary of his birth.

Yousef and I met many times and I expressed my gratitude for the influence he had on my career. My one regret is never having had him take my own portrait or never having taken his, thought I did have the pleasure of taking a portrait of his brother Malak Karsh. As well, I wisely purchased an original print by Yousuf that he signed for me. The image is, in my opinion his finest work, a portrait of Pablo Casals. It is also one of the best investments I ever made.
My Karsh stories are many and I will save them for my own eventual book, but suffice to say I
was honored when he referred a number of clients to me upon closing his studio and equally honored when a number of corporate clients considered me as his replacement. Karsh was an artist, a businessman and one of the most refined gentlemen I have ever met...he truly possessed an old world charm that is rarely seen today. Without Karsh, I doubt my career would have developed technically and artistically as it did.

Click on this link to the Citizen page and if you click on my self portrait you can hear me speak on Karsh. The series is extremely well done...Yousuf would approve.

Merry Christmas to all...

Each year we do quite a few concept cards for our clients and every year for the last twenty years...one for ourselves. This years theme was of course my kids newfound interest in gymnastics and dance....

Digital files and making your own albums.

Digital files, a thorny issue indeed. Having the experience of a few decades in this industry I am often asked to speak to groups of photographers at Conventions across Canada regarding our business and this topic keeps coming up.

There are two schools of thought...photographers that simply shoot a wedding and let the clients print their own...and photographers who insist on total control.

We actually don`t fall into either camp...since our policies allow for both.

What do I think about the idea of having clients create their own prints and albums?...My opinion is that in 90% of all cases it is a bad choice for the client to try to make their own wedding albums unless they have top level skills and lots of free time. I can`t tell you how many people walk up to me at weddings and bemoan the fact they have no wedding prints...its really sad.

The image above shows what a great Photoshop artist can do in half an hour with retouching, skin tone and effects. What you see on this screen is exactly what our printer actually prints and what our client actually recieves. This is called a color managed system, which has taken us years to perfect and a lot of coordination with our lab. The combined experience at my studio is roughly 60 years in total time that my staff and I have been dealing with photography and digital. We have won over 100 awards for our work. Yes, there is a difference.

Occasionally we find one of our clients is a digital whiz kid and hey....we are open to discuss rates for including the files. As well, some of our clients simply want to make up some 4 by 6's for the inlaws and are not as concerned about these as their final album.

One thing I do caution against is selecting a photographer who will not make you prints. This is no bargain...I get emails all the time from brides asking if we will correct these "bargain" photographers digital files and make them prints. Sometimes I feel like Mike Holmes (you know,the guy from Holmes on Homes), but not quite as cranky. Yes, we have provided this service...but as they say..you can pay me now...or pay me a lot more later.

One final thought..... woe be the groom, who promises to make up a wedding album for his new bride and not deliver on that promise. Its a formidable task and to my mind, best left to a professional.

Ottawa Wedding

Sometimes simple and timeless works best. I chose this location because the detail on the brides dress matched the detail on the doors of Parliament (sorry if thats not evident on your monitor).

We spent a great couple of hours just doing a walkabout with the bride, groom and their flower girls (their kids). We forget sometimes that Ottawa has some national treasures up on Wellington Street that we all take for granted. I use them in my work quite a lot and am constantly finding new angles on these architectural gems.

Chateau Laurier Ottawa Wedding

I posted this snap of the Chateau Laurier lobby to give some prospective brides a peek at one of the best locations in the city for wedding photography. It can be formal, classic or funky, depending on how you want to shoot it...and how much time and talent the photographer has
at his disposal.

We are finding that an increasing number of our couples want less emphasis on those boring lineups and more on the couple themselves...to that I say great, lets plan to have fun.

Ottawa Wedding

Its production time at the studio..a happy time indeed. We are just about finished getting our albums that were promised for Christmas all put together. In going over the files, I thought I would post this one simply because it shows one of my favorite locations, the Hilton at Lac Leamy. I think the art in this hotel is by far the best of all those in the Ottawa region and we make use of it in a lot of our shots. The hotel is one of the few that provides great locations, rain or shine.

Strathmere wedding photos

Color like this can`t be missed. I believe the thing that seperates a run of the mill photographer from a very good one is simply the ability to visualize things that others don`t see and then have the technical skills to record them. Having trained dozens of local photographers, many of whom are still shooting for Couvrette Studio, it becomes apparent really quickly which ones have the gift.

It`s probably possible to save a few hundred dollars on wedding photography...but isn`t that about 1 or 2% of the total spent on a wedding by everyone concerned from the engagement party to the honeymoon. It seems to come down to whether people really care about photographs and what I have discovered is that some people really don`t make that a top priority....and hey..thats ok...its just not my kind of client.

I wonder though..when they invite people to their home and look over the wedding shots a year down the road...do they feel good good about their decision.

BTW...for another shot of this Strathmere wedding scroll down to the bottom of the page and
see the shot of the bride and groom in a soy field...that's one of the many great locations out there.

Chateau Laurier Wedding Ottawa

The light quality of the day made this shot. Some people hope for a sunny day, but frankly the best light...if you know how to expose for it...is overcast light.

Ottawa Wedding Portrait Lac Leamy Casino Wedding

We stopped at a little island in downtown Gatineau which was a great location for a series of bride and groom portaits. This was one of my faves, partly because of the color and composition and partly because it reminds me of one of the nicer couples of the year....

Ottawa Dog Portrait

Dogs are great in photos...give me dogs any day rather than cats...and I have three of the
felines at home. The shoot took a grand total of five minutes with such a cooperative model.
To date we have photographed cats, dogs,birds, rabbits and horses....and a range of smaller pets.
No snakes please...although perhaps my current assistant might be ok with them....

Don`t be shy, bring that animal in when you book your family...we are all animal lovers.

Wanna see more......click away...

Family Portraits at Home in Ottawa

Tis the season to start planning!

We love these sessions...and it gets us doing our exercises by loading all our "stuff" and
getting out on location.

To see more....click away.

Ottawa Children`s Portraits.

I really hate November...Whats there to like anyway....its cold, its a wish washy month,
outdoor shoots look blah and besides...its gray...

Soooo....here is a nice outdoors portrait just to make us all feel better. I have photographed these kids every year for the parents Christmas card...for the last decade. Apparently, it is highly
anticipated by the family and friends and a top secret project...no, this is not this years...you`ll have to wait.

Ottawa Glamour and Boudoir Photography

We started glamour and boudoir photography in Ottawa in the early nineties. My first big project was the Ottawa Rough Riders Cheerleaders Calendar, which landed us on the front page

of the Citizen for the scandalous behaviour of making women look sexy...lol

Well, Ottawa has come a long way since then and today, this type of image is more common than

most people imagine as a gift for the boyfriend or even as a wedding gift. Around Valentines day

we sell a lot of gift certificates...hint hint.

Sessions are done at our large Centretown studio and we always have a female in attendence at the shoots. Dozens of photogs have come and gone in the boudoir biz...we`re still the original.

One of my images won Best Portrait in Ontario some years back.

For more images, visit our site...or come in to the studio. We have a lot of images that our clients do not want to be seen online that we have been allowed to show you in the studio.

Ottawa Christmas Family Portrait

Tis the season to start planning. I pulled these two files from last years Christmas shoots just
to get people in the mood. The Christmas season is probably the most enjoyable time to do
family portraits...it seems people's moods are up and that really works for me. These home sessions are more challenging than in the studio...but thats half the fun.

To see more of our Christmas family portraits take a peek at our site.

Ottawa Wedding Photography

We shot this wedding a couple of years back but I still think its one of the most interesting shoots.
Check it out on Youtube or better yet, call the studio and come see the full album...

Ottawa Glamour Boudoir Makeover

Soooo...we posted a Makeover on Youtube a few months back and so far we are up to around 800 hits. Take a look, but if you do, make sure to push the button indicating view in high quality. Thanks to Youtube`s new higher quality it looks great....here is the link.

Ottawa Christmas Portraits.

Its that time again...yay. As soon as the blahs of November are over we will get back to shooting outdoors or on location at people's homes. For now, here is a studio session that was lots of fun.
Our Centretown studio is equipped for shooting everything from motorcycles indoors to groups of 50. To see more of our portrait work....click away.

Youtube. Ottawa Wedding Pictures

I posted a wedding from last year on Youtube just for fun...well now it seems that its a hit with
over 2000 downloads in a few months. Here it is...enjoy.

The wedding took place at Stanley's Maple Farm near Russell Ontario. I remember the bride asking us if we would drive that far...lol. I told her we had recently shot a wedding in New York
City...!...so Russell was a cinch.

Oh...the horses were apropos...the Groom is a blacksmith.


Btw...pardon the poor quality of Youtube....come see it in the studio if you really want a good look.

Digital...DIY or NOT

Recently I have had some emails asking about customers printing their own digital files and making their own albums.
Is the customer always right...well, yes and no.

First off, let me explain that a raw digital file is just that...raw. When we shot on negatives we would never think of letting a customer take those negs to a lab and make prints...why...well because any print the customer could make would be half the quality we could get given our relationship to our color lab and our quality control.
So, here we are with the digital generation and they believe they can do it all themselves. The answer is yes, some can. But do they really do so....the answer is generally no.

More and more these days I am contacted by brides who tell me that "package" they thought
was a deal with all the digital files is their biggest regret...since the new hubby has not got around
to making up an album, and even prints for the parents two years later.

Lets face it, we all start out with the best of intentions, but reality creeps in fast.


I recently attended a seminar by a local photographer who said "I don`t really want the
hassle of dealing with the bride and groom after the wedding". I made a point of asking
about customer service and he scoffed...saying it was an "outdated" concept.
Well, I have seen over 800 photographers come and go in this city since I started my career...
I can`t wait for the tide to change and take these photogs with it...

Now when it comes to the technical side of this issue, let me explain a little about DIY packages. When we prep files for our prints our experts spend a half hour per file just to
make certain that the color, sharpness and retouching is perfect. How can a photographer
promise 500 color corrected files at some of the prices we see on the net...

I leave that to your imagination....

Do we offer DIY (do it yourself) packages...the answer is yes. Am I happier as an artist making
your prints....YES. As they used to say in Rome...Caveat Emptor.

Bride.ca

Got an email today that Bride.ca decided to feature our work to illustrate much of their site...cool.
Check them out.
The blog has a lot of fun ideas from across the country and has a really nice Canadian feel to it.

Ottawa Photographers

An Ottawa U student, Hamed Tinafer decided to make me his school project and created this
Wikipedia entry.....Wow. I am honored....and hey, its nice to think back on all I have done in my
career to date. Ok, enough resting on my laurels...thanks Hamed.

Ottawa Wedding Portraits

Looking for light is what we do...and this is what we make of it....

Editorial Wedding Picture

The editorial look of this shot really appealed to both myself...and the couple. We were at the
Museum of Civilization, a popular spot indeed. This one looked good in both color and b/w but
in the end, the album choice was in fact what you see here.

Ottawa Wedding Ceremonies

It helps when the couple have fun ideas like this....the only drag is getting a bubble on your lense and not wiping it off for the next set of shots. To shoot weddings well you have to be part technician, part McGyver, somewhat a Psychologist and maybe a little bit of a romantic.

Wedding Photographers Ottawa

They wanted no posed shots....but were glad we did this one. Wouldn`t you be....

Montebello Quebec Wedding

BW really added a timeless look to this shot. The whole gang was from New York city and
simply came to Canada to have a wedding at Montebello Quebec....really romantic location indeed.

Wedding at Cordon Bleu

Coming down the "aisle" outside the Cordon Bleu on Laurier Avenue

Photojournalism / Ottawa Wedding Photographers

This "leaving the house"shot was one of my favorites from a Lebanese wedding. We also photographed her sisters wedding a couple of years before this one and it was nice the see
the whole gang again. I posted this shot because it really is true photojournalism. It really happened this way and we did not stop them three times to pose it. I see a lot of photographers calling themselves photojournalists but when I go to their sites I see images that will be the cliches of the future.
Much of what I see as "photojournalism" is just a series of badly lit shots passing for "art".

What do I see..

=Photoshop filters thrown on to rescue technically bad portraits in which the brides dress is a white explosion and the bridesmaids skin tone is something from a horror flick.
= Images that someone tries to pass for art but don`t even have even basic technical qualities
like proper color or lighting of the subtle colors of the dresses.
=The ones that will really be dated fast are those wide angle shots from below that people think are cool now, but are just the cliches of this era. Why someone would want to make themselves look twisted up on their wedding day..who knows. Then again, I never did the double expose the music sheet on the brides head..lol.

We are both portraitists and photojournalists and have been doing so all along....To see some recent editorial and photojournalism...go here. For a few examples of our photojournalistic wedding images go here. Great images never go out of style! We have been shooting candids
throughout the studio's history...I am just glad that now people are actually putting them into
their albums.

Are there good wedding photojournalists in town...yes, a handful. For most, its just the latest label to try to make a sale.

OK...Rant Off.

Vietnamese Wedding in Ottawa

The opening shot from a Vietnamese wedding album. One of the nicest aspects of this biz is seeing all the culture,costumes and cuisine at their celebrations. To view a lot more of this wedding...click right here...

Candid Photography

Kids make for some great candids. These three mugged for the camera all day long.

Ottawa Italian Wedding

An overcast fall day didn`t stop the girls from having a bit of fun.

Montebello Wedding

Ahh..digging back in the archives is fun. This is a shot from a Montebello wedding a few
years back.

Ottawa Wedding Photographer

Sooo....I dug back and started thinking about some of my faves over the last couple of

years. This is a page from the digital album of an Italian wedding at Sala San Marco.

Yes...the food was amazing.

Upper Canada village is such a great location...

Sala San Marco... all decked out.

Ok... we went a little wild here... infrared and filters.

One of our photojournalism snaps by my assistant....and yes, the rain did clear.

Just kicking back at the Museum of Civilization... some guys know how to have fun.

These are two noted musicians... I won't drop names... and yes, these

are their stage outfits. The shot was done in our studio on Gladstone Street.

Ottawa Wedding Photographers

So what I`d like to do first is post some of my faves over the last couple of years and

tell you a little bit about our style....

This engagement photograph was done this spring in my studio on Gladstone Street. The couple were a lot of fun to work with...and it really helped set the tone for their
wedding shoot a couple of months later. Many of their wedding images are now up on our new Flash site, which can be viewed here.

Here is the first wedding EVER at the new Metropolitan Bible Church...

We had a great time shooting at the Mill in Perth this summer. The area is full of great locations, some of which are also on the new Couvrette Site.

Got Bikes? We are the only studio in the city with the ability to shoot motorcycles in a controlled lighting setup. How about bringing your bike in for a coooool engagement portrait.

Here is the first shot of one of my favorite coverages of this summer...Bring on those Italian
Weddings.

Yes... that IS her home, not the Chateau Laurier. We covered this wedding last summer on a beautiful day at her house on the St. Lawrence Seaway. Sara was such a nice bride, relaxed, cordial, and yes, on time for the shoot.

A bit of photojournalism by one of my photographers at a fun country wedding...

Serge captured this one in an elevator... good one buddy.

Here's one I got on a crazy rainy day... we could not resist this old barn as we drove by on the way to the reception.

Once again, Serge caught this shot at what must have been his most fun assignment of the summer.

Okay... so we played with this one a bit in Photoshop.

If I was entering this in a competition I would probably entitle it "Runaway Bride"... but no, she did stay for the wedding.

I shot this at the Bride's parents soybean farm silo this fall. Who knows what you will find when you get out of the city. In Ottawa, some fancy architect would charge you a fortune to put this post modern look on your house...lol

Who says studio portraits can`t be cool...

This was taken at Strathmere... sometimes I see things at locations that many photographers walk right by...

What do you do when a couple comes in for an engagement portrait in full Korean Wedding dress... this was my solution. Somehow they wouldn't have looked right in a gritty street or running through a park... Each couple has a unique image... and our job is to find out how to capture it.