AN IKEA WEDDING

Inspired by the wedding of Swedish Crown Princess Victoria (wed in Stockholm on June 19 2010) Ikea partnered with stylist Lo Bjurulf and photographer Denise Grünstein and created an ad campaign to highlight Ikea's newest products. Below is "Paper & Fold" and "French Romance", two of six fantastic table settings featured in the campaign. Yes, this is really Ikea. Check out the link below to view the rest - "Harvest", "Artsy", "Folklore", and "Wood On Wood". The clever and creative styling will surely inspire!

Paper & Fold

French Romance

Photo Credits: Agent Bauer

WEDDING DRESS WEDNESDAY

While Wedding Dress Wednesday usually consists of an image of a favourite wedding gown we've recently fallen in love with along with the bio of it's designer, we've decided to switch things up a bit this Wednesday and tell you all about a wedding dress sample sale instead.

We recently featured the stunning Rivini "Savia" gown designed by the one and only Rita Vinieris. We also let you in on the latest bridal boutique to open its doors in Carleton Place, Ashton Station Bridal, which exclusively carries the Rivini line.

Have you always wanted a Rivini gown? Well good news ladies, Ashton Station Bridal will be having a Rivini Sample Sale from July 10th to August 7th 2010. With over 150 styles to choose from, you'll save up to 70% on as-is size 8 sample wedding gowns! Ashton Station Bridal is an appointment only boutique so be sure to call ahead. Appointments can be booked by phone 613-240-7616 or email info@ashtonstationbridal.ca Happy shopping!!

Last day to enter Scott Kelby giveaway...

Today is the last day you can enter to win the Scott Kelby DVD "Mastering Camera RAW".

To be eligible all you need do is write a comment on ANY blog post by midnight June 30th (today) and we will pick (randomly) from those comments to determine the winner.

There is no limit on the number of blog posts you can comment on, the winner will be announced here on July 2nd.

Good Luck!

Grid hack from David Hobby...

I got this idea from a post David Hobby made on Strobist a few days back.

It's an easy, inexpensive, and fast DIY project that will improve your store bought or "home made" grids.

For subscribers (and you know who you are), because videos aren't pushed through you'll need to return to the blog or directly to our YouTube channel to watch this short (2 minute) video.

VIVA LA BABY!!

Before the rumours start flying, Viva didn't just have a baby. And while we know that many wedding coordinators also plan events, we've had to regretfully decline these requests in the past as Viva la wedding is and will always be only about weddings... except this once. When your BFF is expecting, who can resist the urge to throw her a baby shower to show her just how happy you are for her and how much she is loved?

Prior to the wedding season kicking into high gear, Viva (along with the help of a couple of our favourite wedding vendors) planned a little celebration in honour of a precious baby girl who was getting ready to enter the world.

Here are a few detail shots taken by the wonderful Melissa Johnston. Thanks to Flowers Talk for all the beautiful flowers and the Manzanita wishing tree, The Candy Store for providing the cotton candy and pink rock candy on a stick as well as the raspberry and lemon coconut macarons, and to Little Cakes who baked the delicious pink lemonade and vanilla cupcakes of course!

Melissa Johnston is also responsible for little Rachel's newborn shoot!

Some macro photography...

One of my favorite things to do after it rains is to wander through my yard and take some close-up photos using my Nikon 60mm macro (what Nikon calls Micro).

Luckily I live in Maine and there is plenty of opportunity to do this.

Motion photography...

We went to Old Orchard Beach last night for their balloon festival but sadly it was too windy to send them aloft.

So I decided to grab a few shots of the rides with slow shutter speed before we left.

Can't go back to the balloon festival tonight was we will be watching some muscle bound men in bejeweled man-panties.

Free Facebook marketing tools...

I wanted to share a valuable marketing resource for you photography business.

The good folks at HubSpot are (for a short period of time) giving away three resources that will help you understand Facebook as a business tool and providing the information that will help you develop a sound marketing plan.

They start with explaining what Facebook is, how it works, and and then walk you through the do's and don'ts of setting up a business Facebook page.

And don't make the mistake of thinking "how good can this be if it's free?", I promise you it may be free but it's extremely valuable.

With 250,000 people a day signing up for Facebook it's a marketplace you need to be involved in.

You will need to fill out an "application" page to get to the downloads, but you won't be inundated with unwanted email, when I do get the occasional email from HubSpot I am thankful as it contains some kind of useful marketing information.

"On-Camera Flash" book review...

I know, I know, the goal of most photographers is to get their flash off camera, but let's be honest, there are some fast paced, fast moving events (like weddings, Bar mitzvahs, corporate events) where this is neither practical or even possible.

"On-Camera Flash" by Neil van Niekerk is the best book I have read on the subject of shooting with you Speedlight on your hot shoe (you can get it at Amazon for as little as $19).

Several things I liked about the book:

1. There are a bazillion light modifiers out there and though Neil talks about them the results he shows us in the book are achieved using a foam card and/or the stofen diffuser that comes with your Speedlight.

2. Too often authors will give us "easy" examples, not in "On-Camera Flash", Neil takes us to some difficult to light places (like a restaurant that is essentially a black hole) to show us how to light a subject.

3. This is probably the first book I've seen that shows examples of lighting both very fair skinned to very dark skinned people.

4. You will find sample images on almost every page (sometimes up to 4 images per page) and each is thoroughly explained, what made the shot difficult and how those difficulties were overcome, and done in a writing style that is easy to understand and follow.

Don't think you'll get this book as an easy way out, it's not a lazy mans solution. Neil will make you use your brain. The first two sections are the things you need to know before you even turn on your flash. Section 1 covers the direction, intensity, and color balance of light. Section 2 is the "technical" stuff like exposure metering techniques, flash modes, sync speeds, and how to add flash to ambient light. In section 3 he shows us how to use what we learned in the first 2 sections to take the shot and "get the light right".

If you own a flash and especially if you shoot event photography, you really need to own this book.

To learn more about Neil van Niekerk be sure to check out his website, it has a ton of information on photography from metering, composition, (lots about) flash, and equipment reviews.

To all you dads out there...

Happy Father's Day.

I hope this day is turning into a wonderful celebration of your fatherhood.

The best thing about today (for me) is not the cards, the gifts, or the fact that I am treated like a king (but only for a day), it's a day that focuses on how lucky I am to be a father.

And then it spreads out from there. How lucky I am to have such wonderful children, happy, healthy children, and that being their dad completes me.

I am sure there is a day here and there when they don't feel quite so lucky...

;)


I was driving to my brothers house for a family cookout and just a block away I saw this sign on a lawn and I couldn't help but think about the level of worry that was behind placing a sign like this on your lawn.

So to add hope to his Father's Day I am posting it here for all of you to see and ask that you forward it on to everyone you know with the request that they do the same.

And maybe, just maybe with a little help from people he will never meet Mark will find a kidney.

Happy Father's Day Mark!

Another great resource for you...

We have another resource for you, it is a combination of two of my favorites, Mark Wallace and Adorama.

Individually they are great but combined even better, kinda like the "you got peanut butter on my chocolate" scenario, you'll find the new team at AdoramaTV on YouTube.

The goal of AdoramaTV is pretty simple, to help us take better photographs.

In the video below Mark will introduce their new partnership and I encourage you to go check them out.

VIVA'S BOOK CLUB - WILLIAMS-SONOMA BRIDE & GROOM ENTERTAINING

The perfect shower gift for the couple just starting out as well as the couple who has everything, this lovely and stylish book features twelve celebratory party menus plus dozens of practical tips for the many occasions newlyweds will encounter during their first years of marriage.

Williams-Sonoma Bride & Groom Entertaining - Recipes for Celebrating Together offers guidance on every type of occasion with delicious recipes and detailed workplans for cocktail and dinner parties, outdoor entertaining, special celebrations and holidays.

My new man crush... Zack Arias!

I often write reviews for items/products that have something to offer photographers, sometimes it's a good solid product, other times it's so good it's hard for me to sit still.

This is just such a time, I am wiggling in my seat like a kid on his way to Disney.

Before I get into the seminar itself I am going to do something I have only done one other time in the entire history of this blog, take money out of my pocket to guarantee someone else's product.

I wrote about the Zack Arias 3 "Studio Photography" seminar that happened over this past weekend (here and here) to recommend that folks attend, let me tell you it was freaking incredible.

First, a few words about creativeLive, there is a reason you don't see much live TV, it's hard to do, and even harder to do well. Sure there was a couple (production) warts and foibles over the 3 days, but what a great job they did presenting this seminar. I think the folks who attended the seminar via the internet had a better seat than those that were present in the building.

They sent out reminder emails to seminar attendees each day reminding us that the seminar would begin in an hour. If you pre-purchased the seminar video downloads (I did), you got an email that the high def videos of the previous days seminar were available for download. For anyone who has done video work, that is a phenomenally fast turn around.

I can't even imagine how hard that crew worked to provide the product that they did and they have won me over, I am a creativeLive fan.

Second, the Zack Arias seminar. I don't even know where to begin.

The first day (about 4 1/2 hours) is lecture, it lays the foundation that days 2 and 3 are built upon. Zack covers exposure beautifully. He then covers lighting considerations, what you need to think about when getting your first studio space, and takes a bazillion questions from his live and internet audience.

Just as important (for me) was that I learned about Zack the man, how blessed he believes he is and the importance of giving back to others.

Q & A was a major part of the seminar all three days, chances are very good that questions you have been carrying around were asked by someone and answered (thoughtfully) by Zack.

Another theme that was carried through all 3 days was money, the financial considerations that we are confronted with when purchasing gear and supplies and how we can do it wisely and without wasting a penny.

I would call him "intelligently frugal".

Days 2 and 3 were all about shooting, first Zack would set up his lighting by using the back of the camera (for those who don't have light meters) and then did it again using a light meter.

And there was nothing taken for granted, he started with hanging up his white seamless, demonstrated how best to unroll it and even covered what the "swoop" should be as it comes down onto the floor.

Speaking of seamless, do you know how it should be stored? Why you should not use it over a rug? Or the best way to keep it clean? Zack covers that.

Zack demonstrates great posing tips, techniques for interacting with your clients that will help them be at ease, and respectful ways to deal with women in the studio with even the smallest of things like an exposed bra strap.

Another great demonstration was when he showed that if you set up your lights correctly you could shoot a person in all white then another in all black without changing a single thing and have a great exposure with both.

Wanna know the (shooting) difference between a softbox, beauty dish, octabank, shoot through, or reflective umbrella? Not only does Zack give you a good explanation, he gives you an even better demonstration (see sample images from the seminar here).

Should you shoot at your cameras max sync speed? It will probably depend on the kind of lights you are using (again, see seminar sample images here).

It would be impossible to touch on all the useful information that Zack covered over the 3 days.

Nothing was assumed or taken for granted regarding what viewers knowledge or what their skill level may be. Zack started at the absolute begining brought us through to the very end, never missing or skipping a single step.

If you are considering purchasing a DSLR camera or have owned one for years and have a studio this seminar is for you.

The downloads are available for purchase for $129 and if you are serious about taking a good picture, if you want to make good decisions when purchasing gear, or want to interact with a client in a way that makes them comfortable while demonstrating you know what you're doing, you MUST purchase the videos of this seminar.

I have no relationship with creativeLive or Zack, I don't get a penny if you make a purchase, and I was not given the videos (I purchased mine just like everyone else), so I have no incentive for promoting them other than the goal of this blog which is to make our readers aware of the resources that will help them become better photographers.

And I am such a huge fan and believe that this is one of the best instructional/training resources I have ever seen that the first person who purchases these video downloads and doesn't think it was worth every penny will get their money back. I will reach into my pocket and give you back your purchase price.

In closing I want to say that prior to watching this seminar I had a lot of respect for Zack the photographer, I now have a lot of respect for Zack the man.

Corvettes, Corvettes everywhere!....

This weekend there was a Corvette rally in Old Orchard Beach (Maine), with hundreds of these gorgeous cars. Never in my life have I seen so many vanity plates!

;)

I had only been shooting for about an hour when the rains came, so I did not get nearly the number of images I had planned on (and hoped for).

This was my first slideshow with Animoto and it could not be easier.

To make the upload process quicker I used lower res images, so I would not suggest watching it full screen.

Adobe Photoshop Elements 8 for only $49!...

For those of you in the market for image editing software Staples has Adobe Photoshop Elements 8 on sale for half off, you can pick it up for just $49.

The sale is for 2 days only, Sunday and Monday (June 13 and 14) so do not doddle.

The final price of $49 reflects both instant and mail in rebates.

If you want to learn more about what Photoshop Elements can do, tips, tricks,and techniques be sure to visit the Photoshop Elements learning center.

David Honl professional lighting gear...

I recently got my paws on the latest photo gear from David Honl, his Traveller8 softbox and a set of gels.

If you look in my "bag O' light" you'll see almost every product he makes (at some point I hope to have them all).

Most folks who have followed this blog know I am big into DIY gear, but there are some instances that it just doesn't make sense.

David Honl's gear is just such a case, take his GOBO, it's $14. I could make one for less (surely), but during the course of my photography career how many times will I have to re-make it? The materials, my time? Even if my DIY cost the same over time (I bet it would be more) they would never have the functionality of David's.

You probably have seen my DIY grids video, it was a fun project and they work great, but problem is I have three different size flashes, so I had to make three different size grids. I good bit of materials along with an afternoon of my time. For $29 I got David's grid that's large enough to fit any flash out there and takes up significantly less real estate in my bag and that's important when you are lugging bags of gear to shoot projects on location.

Lastly, there is a time and place for DIY and doing a product shoot for a company that is investing tens of thousands of dollars on an advertising campaign probably is not one of them.

In the interest of full disclosure, I'm not an affiliate nor do I get a penny if any you buy a single product. I only talk about things I believe in (see here and here).

Because of quality, functionality, and pricing I believe in Honl Professional photography gear.

(subscribers need to return to the blog or head over our YouTube channel to view the video below, sorry.)

THIS MONTH'S VIVA LA WEDDING Q&A

Q - My fiance and I have been living together for two years and already have all the towels, kitchenware and bedding we need but my mom still insists that we register. Besides the standard department stores that carry the typical items we already own, what else is there?

A - What was once unheard of, more and more couples are now choosing to live together before marriage. Excited to set up their home, a shopping spree to the nearest department store soon follows their move in date. As their wedding approaches and guests start to inquire about where the future bride and groom have registered, couples who now have a fully stocked home struggle to find items to register for. If you're one of these couples you'll be happy to read our next post. Boy do we have a solution for you!

THE NOT SO TRADITIONAL WEDDING REGISTRY

More and more couples are now marrying later in life which means many of them live together and may have even started their own family by the time their wedding day arrives. With all the staples needed to set up a new home already bought and paid for, a traditional wedding registry just won’t do.

Still wanting to give their guests options when it comes to a wedding gift, couples in this situation used to find themselves scratching their head not knowing where to turn. For all you couples out there that find yourselves in this predicament, please don’t fret, we have a solution for you!

Wedding Republic to the rescue! Wedding Republic allows you to create a gift registry that is uniquely yours. Here's how it works:

WR is essentially a cash registry however, by selecting and creating a list of gifts your guests get to see what their money is going towards unlike the traditional cash in the envelope approach. Not only is it easy and convenient for both you and your guests, nothing is off limits. By using a cash registry you can ask for anything... camping gear, money towards your honeymoon, donations to a charity close to your heart, or dinner out at your favourite local restaurant. And it gets better.

WR's Puzzle Piece feature allows you to register for more expensive gifts and break them apart into a puzzle. Guests can then buy a piece of the puzzle making big ticket items more accessible and allowing them to chip in on the same gift without knowing or even having to coordinate with each other. Check out this sample registry to see what we're talking about.

Sound like this might be just the thing you were looking for to solve your registry woes? Head on over to Wedding Republic and start creating your registry today. We told you we had a solution!

THE TRADITIONAL WEDDING REGISTRY

Is moving into a new home the next step in celebrating the beginning of your life together as husband and wife? If so, unlike many couples now marrying later in life who already live together and have had the time to set up their home prior to getting married, you’re starting from scratch.

When it comes to selecting items for your registry it's easy to get tempted into including non-essential gadgets and appliances only to find they end up collecting dust in your cupboards months after the big day. Like a great pair of jeans or that little black dress in your wardrobe, it's important to have a solid base for your registry. Created by Weddingbells, here's a list of 10 essential items that will never go out of style.

1. Fine China - Traditionally fine china has always been at the centre of any wedding registry. While you may be hesitant to include it for fear it's too expensive or you'll never use it, it is something you'll have forever and could even pass on to your children one day. Fine china comes in both bone and porcelain and tends to be more expensive than everyday china. It's a worthwhile investment that will make home entertaining a treat.

2. Stemware - Including stemware on your registry is a must. You can register for both crystal stemware and casual stemware, depending on how you plan to entertain. It's important to include white and red wineglasses, as well as champagne flutes and beverage glasses. Also consider the style of your china to be sure everything co-ordinates. Ideally, you want to register for at least as many glasses as settings.

3. Bed Linens - Considering we spend a third of our lives sleeping, it makes perfect sense to include plush and cozy bed linens you can both enjoy on your registry. Be sure to include at least one set of quality cotton white sheets. When looking at the thread count of Egyptian cotton, the higher the number, the lighter and softer it feels.

4. Everyday Dinnerware - Also referred to as everyday china, some couples may choose to register for everyday dinnerware in addition to or instead of fine china. It's more affordable for your guests, with many standard five-piece place settings starting at $30. White is a great basic if you're starting to build a collection, and don't feel like bone china or porcelain is off limits, especially if you're only going for one set of dinnerware.

5. Pots & Pans - Now is the time to upgrade to the quality you wish you had. Since quality does matter, don't be afraid to include name brands like Calphalon, Le Creuset and All-Clad. Be sure to register for some pieces separately (open stock), so you can accommodate guests with a variety of budgets.

6. Knives - Every kitchen needs a good set of knives. Higher quality knives have high carbon, stainless steel blades, sharpen easily and also resist rust. The basics to consider include a chef's knife, utility knife, paring knife, serrated knife and carving knife. Be sure to test each knife in your hands. It should be comfortable and well balanced.

7. Bath Towels - Like bed linens are basics for the bedroom, bath towels are basics for the bathroom. Look for 100% cotton towels, which are the most absorbent. Consider registering for three sets per person, also taking into account additional sets for guests.

8. Everyday Flatware - After you've chosen your dinnerware, ensure that your flatware matches the number of settings. A traditional setting includes a dinner knife and fork, teaspoon, tablespoon and salad fork. When choosing material, stainless steel is a great everyday option because it doesn't rust, tarnish or chip.

9. Bakeware - Every newlywed nest needs bakeware. Even if you're not a big-time baker, you'll want to include cookie sheets, muffin tins, a cooling rack or two and a casserole dish. Aluminum bakeware is a sturdy option and many also have non-stick coatings, which will help make cleanup easier.

10. Mixing Bowls - No matter what you're preparing in the kitchen, mixing bowls come in handy. Look for a set of bowls that are available in a handful of sizes and can be stored within each other. Glass bowls are the most versatile because they can be heated on the stove or in the microwave, while stainless steel are light and won't chip or break.

While The Bay and Sears have always been the “go to” places when it comes to the classic wedding registry, we couldn’t end this post without including one of our faves.

Located at 471 Sussex Drive in Ottawa, Zone offers bridal registry services for the fashion forward couple looking to add a little style to their home. Whether it’s the Oxford Bench, the Bella Serving Plate, the Trapeze Wall Frame or the Sonnet Pendant Lamp – from furniture to lighting to kitchen and bathroom accent pieces there is something chic and unique for everyone!

Photo Credits: Luster Studios

I love content aware fill...

This image is the first one I've used the new Photoshop CS5 feature "content aware fill" on.

This past weekend there was a cruise held at a local shopping center which meant a rather unattractive parking lot, along with people and buildings everywhere.

So I shot tight but it did not change the fact that there was things reflected in the chrome that I did not want in my image, so I select what I wanted removed, used the content aware fill option and shazzam, IT WAS GONE!

If you click on either image they will open larger and in a new window so you can see them in more detail.

And yes, I did do more to the edited image than remove reflections.

Lightroom 3 has arrived!...

Adobe announced the release of Lightroom 3 yesterday.

If you've been using the beta version it will expire at the end of June so you have a few more weeks to use it before it will self destruct (with a sizzling sound along with a mist and smoke rising from your keyboard).

If you didn't play with the beta version you can download and test drive a fully functional copy of version 3 here (for both Windows & MAC).

For all of you who own previous versions of Lightroom you can upgrade for $99.

And whether or not you are looking to improve your Lightroom skills or trying decide if you want to purchase version 3 you will want to visit the new and improved FREE Lightroom 3 Learning Center brought to you by the good folks at NAPP.

Zach Arias... Part 2...

I wanted to add a couple things to yesterdays post.

First, I didn't give you all his links, so here are links to his website, his blog, and his One Light workshops.

Second (and the main reason for the second post), since posting I listened to another interview of Zack done by Rangefinder Radio which is filled with great information, pertinent to anyone who is serious about being a photographer.

You can download the interview here, and get the feature article of Zach done it the April edition.

Lastly, even though I will be attending the "Studio Lighting" workshop I have pre-purchased it because I know it will be something I will refer back to again and again.

After listening to his interviews I get the feeling Zach holds himself to a pretty high standard so with this workshop he will be swinging for the fences (for you non baseball fans you can figure out what that means here), I think it will be something pretty spectacular.

Wanna spend 3 days with Zack Arias?...

I know what you're thinking, "Hell ya!".

Followed by "but he's not coming to my town" and "even if he was I probably couldn't afford it".

All wrong, regardless of where you live you can attend this 3 day workshop (without leaving town, heck, without leaving your house) and you can attend it for free.

Yup, free, zip, nada, nothing.

So let me ask again, wanna attend the 3 day "Studio Lighting Workshop" with Zack Arias?

The catch? you need to register at creativeLIVE before all the "seats" are gone. That's it, that's all you have to do.

creativeLIVE is the brainchild of Chase Jarvis and how it works is simple, you can watch their seminars live (and free) no strings attached, but should you not be able to "attend" live you can buy the entire 3 day workshop (recorded) for a ridiculously low price.

The Zack Arias 3 day seminar (8 hours each day) is free when you watch it live and only $79 to purchase the downloads.

So head over to creativeLIVE to sign up for the Zack Arias workshop, or one of the other (free) outstanding workshops they have coming up.

Back to Zack for a minute, I was listening to one of his interviews last night and he had a great suggestion for building your business/portfolio. He mentioned a specific piece of glass that cost almost $1,900, and too often folks will buy it because the think it is important to their photography business. Zack's suggestion was if you really want to build your business purchase the same glass used and with the money you saved spend 2-3 days in the big apple shooting/building a "New York Portfolio" for your website. I thought that was freaking brilliant.

You can listen to the entire interview here.

Let me close with one more piece of hero worship, this is one of the most innovative portraits I have ever seen, it's of 30 people shot with a single flash.

Lastly, watch the video below to learn how you can win a real/actual seat at the 3 day workshop in Seattle, yup, you can be one of the studio attendees, sipping that great Seattle coffee and that would be free too (well, the seat would be free, not the coffee)!

Win a Scott Kelby instructional DVD...

Not sure if you caught this at the end of my review of Scott Kelby's "Mastering Camera RAW", but we are giving that DVD away to one lucky reader.

To be eligible all you need do is comment on ANY blog post between now and June 30th, there will be a (random) drawing on July 1st to determine the winner.

There is no limit on the number of post you can comment on, the winner will be announced here on July 2nd.

Good luck.