Street Photography - How I Keep Myself Sharp
Believe it or not, photography is a lot like sports exercise. If you leave it for too long, your muscles get flabby and you have to recondition them to get back into peak performance once again.
I try to keep my photographic skills well-practiced so that when it's time to roll for an assignment, I am in peak form and able to deliver. How do I do this, you ask?
Documenting Chinatown: Vancouver's Chinese New Years Parade... LAST Year...
So it's taken me a while to blog this. Life became busier and wedding season went into full gear and I found myself with little time to edit my own personal work... but these last few months have been a great time for me to sit and look back at the year that was. As I sit here a week prior to the 2018 Chinese New Year Parade, I thought I'd share some of the major photo highlights from last year's 2017 Chinese New Year Parade.
Westwood Plateau Wedding - Stanley + Jen
It's funny how sometime time repeats itself. It was only 6 years ago when my wife and I were married in Burnaby Alliance Church and had our reception at Westwood Plateau golf course. I was pretty stoked to get to document Stanley and Jen's wedding but even more so when I realized they'd be getting married in the same places we did! In some ways, I got to re-live the experience of my own wedding day through them.
Westwood Plateau Golf Course Wedding - Jeff and Melissa
I've been to a number of weddings at Westwood Plateau. In fact, even my own wedding and my brother's wedding has been there. I love the venue and I love the food there. It's a great little hidden gem in Coquitlam.
Last year, Jody Nay asked me to second shoot for her. While it did take place at Westwood Plateau, it was the camaderie of friends and the closeness of family that made this wedding amazing.
Seaside Oregon Vintage Dress Photoshoot
Last year, as part of going on vacation in the beautiful place known as Seaside, Oregon, my wife and I decided on trying a photoshoot that involved a vintage dress and getting it utterly wet. Yup, we took this very beautiful dress and tossed her with it out to sea.
Kidding. Well, not really. See, we had this inspiration from an article we had read about a vintage find of some amazing photographs…
Documentary Family Session - Dana and Family
Being a documentary photographer means being a part of people's lives. I've found out over the years that cameras, film, technology and other things really have little to do with a photo... although, of course, you need these items to actually make a photograph. Yet, much of it is about connecting with your fellow human and relating on a personal level. Too many times I find myself hiding behind a camera to take photos only to realize that the best ones I take (at least to me) are ones where I've connected with people.
Yaletown Roundhouse Wedding - Ana and Matt
This wedding involved nerf guns. Yup.
Right after the first look and a few formal photographs, the bride and groom pulled out some nerf guns and started pelting each other and the groomsmen and bridesmaids with soft and harmless foam projectiles (yet another hazard wedding photographers have to watch out for on a wedding day. Hah! I kid!.... It's green goop and shaving cream).
All images taken while on seconding assignment for Jody Wiger Photography.
Whonnock Lake Wedding - Kevin and Lindsay - Seconding for Jody Nay
I remember driving up to this farm in Maple Ridge and seeing sheep. Being a "city-slicker" this excited me greatly. I don't see sheep very often. Maybe a cat?
There's not much I can really say in words about this wedding that my photos won't mention but perhaps I can give you a brief outline: I met Kevin and his groomsmen and photographed them getting ready in a little house on this farm in Maple Ridge. Jody Nay and I photographed the first look of Kevin seeing Lindsay as his bride-to-be and it was an amazing moment followed by champagne and walking out into the farm field.