Ottawa Market Walkabout

You may have seen some of this wedding in the new Ottawa Wedding Magazine. It was one of our faves of the summer. We have lots more samples at the studio and free copies of the mag.

http://www.myvirtualpaper.com/doc/coylepublishing/ott_weddings_virtual/2009120801/

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Summer IS coming.

Man o man...it was a hot day to shoot a wedding. The backyard pool sure helped the reception, though I was disappointed nobody jumped in. I would have, but I was working.

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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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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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.

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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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.

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.

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!

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...

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/

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 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.
Update FEB 2010, check out the top of our blog for a post entitled Oh Canada...which was held
at Centurion...
http://www.couvrette-photography.on.ca/blog/

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.

UPDATE Feb 2010...check out our newest blog entries...lots of shots of local venues.
http://www.couvrette-photography.on.ca/blog/


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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. To top it all off...we don`t even charge for our 30 years of
experience in the local wedding industry.

Btw..for anyone wanting to start a career in Wedding Planning...the course mentioned above 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.

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.

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.

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....

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 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.

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....

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.

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.