Architectural marvel

Photographer: Anirudh khusape
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Jaipur city

Photographer: Anirudh Khusape

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THANK YOU FOR ANOTHER GREAT YEAR!!

As we always do at the close of each year, Viva la wedding would like to take a moment to thank all the wonderful people we’ve had the pleasure of working with in 2010 and embrace the year ahead.

We feel honoured to have been chosen by so many fabulous couples this past year as their preferred wedding coordinator and are grateful for the bonds we formed not only with these couples but their families as well. We enjoyed being a part of each and every wedding we coordinated over the past twelve months and want to thank you all for allowing us to be a part of your special day. We wish all our 2010 couples a happy and healthy future.

Of course these weddings would never have been possible without the hard work of the many exceptional wedding vendors we are fortunate to have access to in the Ottawa area. Viva has developed outstanding relationships with some of the most established and reputable industry experts the city has to offer. Thank you for your talent, professionalism and willingness to go above and beyond to make our couples happy. Viva la wedding is looking forward to working with you all again in 2011.

Forward to 2011, Viva is excited to continue building the bonds now forming with our 2011/2012 couples. From simple and intimate to simply extravagant, Viva is thrilled about every single wedding that lies ahead. Not only will we be coordinating at some fun new venues, along with our old favourites, but we’re excited to welcome some new vendors who will be working on our weddings as well. Collaborating with our tried and true wedding industry professionals as well as embracing some newer wedding vendors now on the scene, Viva la wedding couldn’t be happier about our couples’ upcoming weddings and the year that lies ahead!

Happy New Year from Viva la wedding and All The Best to everyone in 2011!!

Photo Credits: Platinum Floral

Night Drive

Photographer:Siddharth Menon

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Shadow art

Photographer: Anirudh Khusape
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Something old is new again... Trade Secret Cards...

We have reviewed Trade Secret Cards in the past (the Strobist version here, the Chase Jarvis version here) and as you read the reviews it is pretty obvious I LOVED them both.

What I liked about them was that they were not meant to be copied exactly as displayed, but to inspire. By seeing the final image AND the complete lighting setup it's easy to follow (and understand) how things were done (how a lighting effect was achieved), what could be done with light (the possibilities), and to stimulate your own creative juices enough to go out and try something new, different, and adventurous.

Well Trade Secret Cards have been improved in two (big) ways, first the size... each lighting "card" is significantly bigger. When it comes to old men like me bigger (print) is better and second, because the old version were individual cards you could more easily "misplace" a card.

The new cards are bound in book form, but each page is also perforated as well so if you prefer to remove one (or all) you can, the best of both worlds.

One thing has not changed, the quality. The cards are done on firm card stock, they are beautifully printed, and are also coated so should the need arise you can wipe them down without the fear of harming them.

And even though they are now bigger and better, the price has increased only slightly, so please, head over to Peachpit Press to check them out (and order yourself a set). You can also find them at Amazon and/or Barnes & Noble.

Below is a video we did demonstrating the difference between the old and the new cards, I also show how I added my own little hack to the new cards so please check it out.

And for you subscribers, perhaps one day Blogger will push through video with your subscription, but until then you will either need to return to the blog or head directly to our YouTube channel to watch this video.

A very Merry Christmas to you!...

I love this time of the year, for different reasons as I grow and age... when I was a child... when I got to see Christmas through the eyes of my children... and now the simple joy of being the kind of person I wish I was all year round.

But it all started because of my mom.

She was a single parent with 5 children (2 girls, 3 boys) and we were poor, real poor (though I didn't know it at the time). We lived in the projects in Boston and my mom would struggle to make ends meet with some pretty crappy jobs, cleaning other peoples homes and taking in their laundry.

Two things I remember, being happy and the hope of a wonderful Christmas. No matter what the year had held for my mom, when Christmas came it was magic. It seemed no matter what we had asked Santa for, we would find it under the tree on Christmas morning.

I knew there had to be a Santa because there was no way my mom could afford to buy us these things.

When I got a little older and knew the big guy was more myth than man I couldn't figure out how my mom did it... because by then, I knew we were poor.

Then one day stumbled upon five envelopes that were rubber banned together. One had my name on it and the others had the names of my brothers and sisters. Each envelope had the exact same about of money in it, all in one dollar bills and change.

Then it hit me, these were Christmas envelopes, after a long day of cleaning houses my mom would take some of that money and split it evenly between those 5 envelopes. And she did this after every basket of laundry, after every dirty house, all year long. So by the time Christmas came, my mom could make the magic happen.

Though at the time I understood the process, I could not truly appreciate all her hard work, her sacrifices, and the things she did without until I was older. As I write this it still amazes me.

It was then that my happiness no longer came from the gifts, it came from knowing how much we were loved.

I hope the same for all of you, that your life is full of love and family.

I hope there is always food on your table and those you hold most dear are sitting around it.

I hope your home is warm and your heart is happy.

I hope as you look back you see happiness and as you look forward you see nothing but joy.

I hope... because hope is a lesson that my mom taught me.

In closing, a picture from a not to distant Christmas past... when my girls were believers... and they left goodies for the big guy and his reindeer.

Merry Christmas everyone.