DIY grids and snoots...

Back in May I posted about making your own grids and snoots and have (finally) put together a video with several tips and tricks for using the resources that were listed to make your own.

As usual, if you are a subscriber you will need to return to the blog to view the video, or jump over to YouTube and watch it there.

And just in case you were wondering, it's 81 and sunny here at Disney World.

;)

Big thanks to Mark for his efforts in putting these videos together.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

Photo Credits: Cinnamon Toast New Media

INSPIRATION - THE ESCORT CARD

Photo Credits: The Knot

Happy Thanksgiving!...

It's 5am and I am sitting here thinking about what it is I am thankful for. I won't bore you with the list, but as blessings go I feel like a wealthy man.

I hope that today (and always) you are surrounded by those you love, that you feel blessed, and you carry hope in your heart.

There are those who are struggling and I hope even more for you... that people reach out to support and comfort you, that your burdens become lighter, and I pray that in the days to come you can worry less and love more.

Happy Thanksgiving.

THIS MONTH'S VIVA LA WEDDING Q&A

Q - Can you explain the difference between an escort card and a place card, or are they the same thing?

A - Escort cards are a must if you're hosting a large seated dinner. They go on display in a place that's easily accessible to your guests during the cocktail hour and communicate one crucial piece of info: what table they are to sit at for dinner. The tented card is traditional however brides are getting more and more creative and lots of variations of the escort card can now be found. As long as your guest's name and their table number is obvious, the design is really up to you!

Place cards go on the actual dining tables at each place setting showing your guest what seat they should sit at during dinner, once they've used an escort card to find their table of course! Unless you really want to structure the seating, place cards are optional.

VIVA'S BOOK CLUB - THE BIG WHITE BOOK OF WEDDINGS

Named “Top Trendsetter of The Year” by Modern Bride and “Best Celebrity Wedding Planner” by Life and Style Magazine, David Tutera is now opening his files to reveal a wealth of detailed information about planning the perfect day in his latest book The Big White Book of Weddings: A How to Guide for the Savvy, Stylish Bride. The same insight he gives to his A-list clientele is now at your fingertips!

Covering the entire wedding experience from brainstorming, budgeting, invitations, gift registries, food, music, traditional reception rituals, and even what happens after the wedding's over, Tutera has created a must-have for brides to be. Full of the personality that David brings to every wedding he plans and every TV show or magazine article he appears in, The Big White Book of Weddings is the book every bride needs to make her wedding unforgettable for all the right reasons!

The Big White Book of Weddings hits stores January 5 2010.

Other books by David Tutera - Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings (2010), Big Bithdays (2006), The Party Planner (2005), America Entertains (2003), A Passion For Parties (2001).

INSPIRED BY THE RED CARPET, WORN ON THE WHITE CARPET

Celebrity wedding planner David Tutera and special occasion dress house Faviana have joined forces to launch David Tutera By Faviana, a line of luxurious wedding gowns inspired by celebrity red carpet fashions.

“I have been planning and designing high-profile weddings for over 20 years and know what brides look for in the search for the perfect dress,” says David Tutera. “Walking down the aisle at a wedding ceremony is like walking down a runway. I am delighted to work with Faviana to bring celebrity style to the bride through red carpet fashion trends translated into wedding day styles at accessible prices. Every bride should feel like a celebrity on the biggest day of her life…her wedding.”

Each dress is appropriately named after a red carpet star and her head turning sense of fashion. Charlize, Cameron, Gwenyth, Penelope to name just a few. Viva's favorites? Eva (bottom left) and Fergie (bottom right). Both dresses start off full length for the ceremony (back of full length dress shown in pictures) with the lowest part of the skirt removable to reveal a short party dress for the reception. So fun and flirty! Perfect styles for 2010 as two in one dresses are an upcoming trend.

The collection is expected to be in stores in January 2010. We'll keep you posted on where you can get a David Tutera By Faviana dress in Canada.

Mark December 12th on your calendar...

I came across this today and wanted to share it before I headed out on my trip tomorrow.

Help Portrait has come up with a great idea for folks who own a camera.

1. Find someone in need.
2. Take their portrait.
3. Print their portrait.
4. And deliver their portrait.

From their website:

"The brainchild of celebrity photographer Jeremy Cowart, Help-Portrait is a movement of photographers, coming together in every major city, to use their photography skills to give back to the community.

On December 12th, photographers around the world will be grabbing their cameras, finding people in need, and taking their picture.

When the prints are ready, the photographs get delivered.

Yep. It really is that easy

And by the way, we don't want to see your photos. This is about GIVING the pictures, not taking them. These portraits are not for your portfolio, website, or for sale. Money isn't involved here. This holiday season, you have the chance to give a family something they may have never had before - a portrait together."

Luckily (for me) I will be back in time to participate and I hope you will seriously consider it as well.

If you are wondering what it would be like you can read about photographer Jean Labelle's Help-Portrait shoot here.

I am leaving on a jet plane...

Actually... I'm leaving in a minivan.

In the wee hours of November 24th we (me and my gaggle of girls) are heading off to North Carolina for Thanksgiving / family reunion celebration and as if that wasn't enough we leave from there and head to Disney for a week with my mom and stepdad.

I don't share this with you just because I'm squealing like an excited little girl, but also so you'll know that for the next 2 weeks posting on Weekly Photo Tips will be more fluff than substance (mostly images I capture during my trip).

Speaking of images, if you know of any cool shooting opportunities in the Raleigh North Carolina or Orlando Florida areas PLEASE leave a comment or drop me an email.

And for you funny folks out there, I know Disney is a cool shooting opportunity, I was thinking of something outside the park.

;)

The only down side is I'm going to miss my dogs. When my wife saw the 2 pages of instructions I put together for the person coming to stay with our dogs she just walked away shaking her head and mumbling something.

You can click on the image for a better view of my three girls (the image will open larger in a new window).

MMM... S'MORES!

Looking for a late night treat to serve your guests at your winter wedding? What could be better than the gooey goodness of s'mores? There's something nostalgic about them... bringing back childhood memories of roasting marshmallows over a fire and smushing them together with graham crackers, melting chocolate in between. Set aside a special table at your reception to display all the ingredients and when the timing's right, encourage your guests to dig in!

Photo Credits: West Park Photography

More on the LiteDome xs...

Yesterday I posted a review on the LiteDome xs (watch the YouTube video here) and I wanted to share some images from a recent shoot where the only light source was a LiteDome xs.

All three of the images were taken using a single Nikon SB-800 in a LiteDome xs (hand held), and a 4' x 4' white reflector.

That's it.

It's very lightweight and portable which made moving from shooting location to shooting location quick and easy.

Click on any image to view larger (and in a new window).

Review of the LiteDome xs by Photoflex ...

Recently I reviewed theDavid Honl DVD "Light" and in it he uses the LiteDome xs from Photoflex extensively and since it hit my doorstep, so do I.

This is a great little softbox, I use it on a light stand in the studio, I use it hand held outdoors or on location, in fact rarely do I shoot and not use the LiteDome xs.

The quality of the materials and the construction is outstanding.

So is the price, it has a "suggested" retail price of $79.95 but you can get it for less (Adorama has it for $75 with free shipping).

This past Monday I lent my "bag of light" to a friend who was shooting Inuit artifacts for a major university and of all the flashes, pocket wizards, flim flams, and doo wizzies that I gave him to use he liked the LiteDome the best.

It is not uncommon to get the same two responses from other photographers when I show it to them, the first is "wow", the second is "where can I get one?".

You're probably thinking "Scott is pretty wishy washy on this one, I wonder if he likes it?".

;)

If you want more details check out the hardware, components, and instructions here.

Better yet, take two minutes (and forty seven seconds) to watch the video below and I think you'll get my point (subscribers - make sure you come back to the blog to view the video or watch it on YouTube because videos still don't get pushed through with your subscription, sorry).

LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW!

Photo Credits: James Christianson

SHOE BLING - BLING IT ON!!

Canadian company Erica Giuliani was founded in 2008 after discovering a hot new trend emerging in the fashion industry and identifying an untapped niche in the market. From simple clips and sparkly shoe strap jewellery to stylish boot sleeves and cozy fun fur leg warmers, their fierce collection of accessories (also known as "shoellery") instantly transforms your plain jane footwear into fashion statements. These accessories can easily be applied to your shoes or boots allowing women to mix, match and customize their looks.

Designed in Italy, the accessories are made from a variety of materials and divided into collections depending on their style. Popular with brides-to-be are the shoe clips and sparkly shoe strap jewellery, turning your regular wedding day shoes into something unique and really special. Prices range from $20 to $125 a pair.

Here are some of Viva's favourites!

THE MAN-GAGEMENT RING - DIAMONDS CAN BE EVERYONE'S BEST FRIEND!

You heard right, man-gagement ring. Don't laugh, we're not kidding. The engagement ring for men is a trend that's growing in popularity. Women are no longer the only ones telling the world they're taken with a little bling. More and more women are buying engagement rings for their future husbands and more and more men actually want to wear them. Infact, the demand for man-gagement rings has grown to the extent that high end designers are now including them in their collections of wedding jewelry stating that couples are looking for new ways to celebrate their love and publicly declare their intent for life long commitment before their big day.

Some skeptics just aren't buying it though and believe that in this rough economy the groom's engagement band is just a sales tactic, invented by jewelers to trick young couples into spending money, and don't believe there's a man out there who would be excited about showing off his shiny new engagement ring to his pals. The tradition of his and hers engagement rings however is said to date back to the 15th century. In many European countries couples exchange matching gold bands before tying the knot. Now the male engagement ring is starting to catch on here in North America too.

Brides.com conducted a pole asking women if they'd consider buying their fiancé an engagement band. 45% said yes. Would you?

Photo Credits: Scott Kay

BRIDAL BOOT CAMP

When November arrives and the temperature drops we seem to forget about the leafy green salads and fresh fruit we couldn't get enough of in the summer months and try to beat the cold weather blues with a plate of warmth.

Ah yes, comfort food! Mac & cheese, hearty beef stew, chicken pot pie, mushroom ragout... feeling comfy yet? You may also be feeling like your True Religions are fitting a little tighter than they used to.

As if planning your big day wasn't stressfull enough on it's own, what about the pressure to drop a dress size or two? If losing weight before your wedding is on your to do list and ordering your Vera Wang in a smaller size isn't motivation enough to get you moving, why not try boot camp? It may be the kick in the booté you need to get yourself slim and trim for your big day.


Booty Camp Fitness is a women's only boot camp. 8 week (16 booty camp sessions) and 4 week (8 booty camp sessions) packages are offered at several locations in the Ottawa area including Kanata, Barrhaven, Gloucester, Hunt Club, New Edinburgh, Downtown, The Glebe and Westboro. Register now for sessions starting the week of January 11 2009.



Survivor Boot Camp If it's bridal boot camp you want you'll find it here, offered in small group private sessions at the location of your choice. Starting your bridal boot camp program at least six weeks before your wedding date is recommended. Regular boot camp sessions are also offered in Kanata/Stittsville and Centerpointe with the next one running from November 30 2009 to December 18 2009.



If boot camp just isn't for you, here are theknot.com's five basic common sense tips to help you lose weight for your wedding - and stay healthy too!

1 - Drink Water

Skip the diet soda and start getting your fill on water. Besides being good for you, water helps your body get rid of toxins, and constant sipping can help keep you from over-snacking. So grab a bottle you can tote around with you and figure out how many refills you'll need to get your daily fill. Eight glasses a day is a good round number, but the amount of water your body requires is really based on your weight. How much do you need? Divide your weight in half. The resulting number equals the ounces of water you should be drinking every day.

Tip for the taking: Get a filtered water pitcher for better-tasting water, and add a few lemons or limes to your water bottle to give it some flavor.

2 - Slim Down Servings

Gargantuan servings are one of the main calorie culprits of weight gain. Start with small portions and take more only if you're still hungry. Experts even suggest that it's better to eat four or five small meals with moderate portions throughout the day than to have two or three large meals.

Tip for the taking: Carry healthy snacks with you when you're on the go like fruit, nuts, or granola bars. Healthy munching will not only keep your energy levels up, it'll also keep you from binging on a big meal when you finally do sit down to eat.

3 - Fill Up On Fruits and Veggies

If you fill up on fruit and vegetables every day, you'll have less room for more fattening treats. To keep your snacks interesting, find a good produce store where you can pick and choose from more than just carrots and celery sticks. Stash some exotic fruit in your bag for when you're running errands or at work. While you're at it, buy a good knife to make prep work on fruits and veggies painless and quick.

Tip for the taking: When cutting back on calories, it's crucial you take a daily multivitamin. Lack of vitamins and iron may leave you tired and inclined to reach for a candy bar or fatty snack.

4 - Cut Back on Booze

A celebratory drink can cost you 150 calories or more. And that's if you only have one! Even if you're in the habit of having just a few drinks a week, cutting back on alcohol can save you hundreds of calories in the end. Save the cocktails for the special occasions coming up and sip water instead.

Tip for the taking: Can't give them up entirely? Try alternating alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages so you won't feel left out of the festivities.

5 - Exercise!

Yes, this is an obvious one. But seriously -- do something (anything!) to get moving. Twenty minutes of exercise a day will do wonders to boost your energy and kick-start the calorie burning process. Walk to the grocery store, take the stairs at work, or at least do a few laps of window shopping in your local mall. If you're serious about shedding inches, aim to do 30-45 minutes of aerobic exercise (running, cycling, swimming) three or four days a week.

Tip for the taking: Choose a time of the day when you usually feel motivated and energetic -- that way, you'll be more likely to stick with it. If you're a morning person, hit the gym before work. But if you're the "don't talk to me till I've finished my coffee" type, an evening or even a quick lunch workout may be better for you.

THE FIRST DAY OF WINTER

Winter officially begins in a little less than a month (December 21 2009) but you'd never know it was just around the corner with the weather we've had in Ottawa these past few weeks. While most of us are quite happy with the milder temperatures and lack of snow, Viva la wedding is currently finalizing details with clients for their upcoming Winter weddings who are keeping their fingers crossed this isn't a sign of snowless months to come.

To the couples out there hoping for a white wedding, these pictures are for you!

Photo Credits: The Knot

HOOKED ON PRESTON

If you weren't already hooked on Preston before leafing through the images in his most recent book Celebrations, I bet you are now.

The Preston Bailey website is just as spectacular. Be sure to take a look at his Before & After Designs. The transformations are unbelievable!

Interested in hiring him to design your wedding? Start saving your pennies. When asked the starting price for one of his functions Preston replied “a lot” - seating for 1,000 and elaborate flower arrangements are routine. A girl can dream though, can't she? Exploring Preston's ideas and drawing from the creativity displayed in his collection of books may be a little more realistic for the average bride to be.

Here is the entire Preston Bailey collection. Each book equally inspiring as the one before it.