Showing posts with label photography. Show all posts
Showing posts with label photography. Show all posts

4.5.11

A Picture Says A Thousand Words--A Photo booth Says More


 This is a trend that I feel is an amazing idea, wedding or any other kind of event you plan on running. Especially if you're going for the vintage/nostalgia feel that really gets your guests going and ramp up the excitement! Are you ready?! Get ready!

Now you're like "Oh my God, what is she talking about?" Well, c'mon. PHOTO BOOTHS of course! And now I hear you groaning, again (kind of like I was while researching this) "But there's nooo onnneeee in Winnipeg who rents them out, so stop teasing me with awesomeness!" Well prairie peeps, we were all wrong!


Why, you are asking, would I want this monstrosity at my fancy wedding? Well here are a couple of reasons that may convince you to get outside of your tulle encrusted box (taken from the PBROW site):

  • It's Unique! You'll be amazed at the buzz that's created once your guests see the booth.
  • It's Fun! You'll get pictures of your friends & family that you would never get otherwise. No-one can resist hamming it up, once the red light comes on!
  • Photo strips are wonderful mementos for you or your guests. You and your guests will enjoy having your picture taken on original film that will last a lifetime. Add a scrapbook for a truly treasured keepsake!
But that's not all! This company has AUTHENTIC, vintage photo booths available to rent (from the 50s and 60s . . . yes, in working condition!) So if you're still in it for the vintage, this is as close as it gets! Not only will they supply the booth, but props as well should you choose the Photo Pavilion (which lots and lots of swingin' couples are). And if Vintage isn't your thing, don't worry, they have New Generation, full colour photo booths in addition to black/white or green/white. 
 
Aren't you pumped?! I am! I've been looking around for a company that does this in Winnipeg for a while, ever since seeing such successful and epic wedding photo booths on Rock n Roll Bride or Green Wedding Shoes. Really gals, I know you're already hiring a fancy photographer, but now you can let your guests in on the fun, not just your bridal party! It'll also be something epic your guests will be talking about years after the wedding. Who doesn't want that? Visit their site for rental info and what's included in your rental package!

Contact Info:

204-955-9473

Email: info@pbrow.ca


17.3.11

Table for Two Engagement Shoot + BLF Studios

How thankful and humble am I that my friends want to be featured on the blog! Believe me, I feel way more incredibly blessed. Especially because of this soon-to-be prairie bride who I know and love!

Photo copyright Bond Freyer of BLF Studios

I've known Jen for a long time, and for as long as she's been with Adam. "He's a sexy soccer player and he plays the DRUMMMMMS!" she squealed to me after one of their first dates. Perfect start, I'D SAY.

Jen is pretty much the nicest, funniest, and most My Little Pony-centric person I know. In fact, after only knowing her for a couple of weeks, I presented her with the only My Little Ponies I owned, and she somehow knew the official catalogue names and years of their manufacture. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I love her very dearly. She's actually going to be doing some guest posts for us on her road to planning her June Winnipeg wedding! You have no idea how pumped I am for all the juicy details. So you better stay tuned!! Sigh. It's all the epic people in Winnipeg that make me long for it! I'm going to try my hardest to save up and fly in for this wedding, because just judging by these photos, I know it's going to be brilliant.

So the point that this gushy tangent eventually leads to: Jen recently got her engagement photos done! Which left me jumping up and down with more joy than I thought possible when it appeared on my Facebook feed. The use of ambient light and shadow here is really breathtaking. The focus of the shoot is also quite a departure from the norm in terms of environment - the first portion was shot at a popular Winnipeg restaurant in the main dining area. Later they moved to the chilly outside, and I must say, I do have a soft spot for winter shoots! Everything looks so bright and alive and romantic, especially the couple.

Photo copyright Bond Freyer of BLF Studios
So as you can see, we are very, very, VERY LUCKY, as the photographer, Bond Freyer, has been kind enough to let us post Jen and Adam's shoot here today for all of you prairie brides to ogle at! Oh lord, so lovely!

Ahem, as I was saying, all of the photos, including the very cool video below are courtesy of Winnipeg's own BLF Studios, who specialize in weddings in both Winnipeg and Western Cape, South Africa. Check out some more stills from the shoot at Bond's blog for the studio. There's so much stunning effervescence to this shoot and the others, and if you're tempted to have Bond and his mad skills present for your own engagement, wedding, or just for portraits, check out his portfolio (endless supply of eye-candy for you!) and when you've been obviously wowed, contact him here. And for that extra somethin'-somethin', as always, follow Bond on Facebook for his latest work!

Wanna see the whole brilliant shoot? Why, here's the video for it! Enjoy and be inspired prairie brides!


11.3.11

DIY Boudoir Photoshoot

Courtesy of Scout Magazine
Well ladies, let's get down to brass tax here (if the photo didn't do that already) - while your wedding will be a show of elegance or romance, and you'll be spending the day putting your love center stage for your assorted friends and family, there are some other things you can do to keep it interesting . . . not in front of your family though. Grandma doesn't need that at age 92. (Or she might be a firecracker, who knows).

Prenuptial boudoir photoshoots have become an increasingly popular trend these days, along the same vein as pole dancing lessons with the ladies has become an acceptable option for a fun night out. Why, though? Seems kind of out of left field, but let's take stock. Who doesn't want to show their husband-to-be what they've got to look forward to the rest of their lives? It's like a bachelor party starring you that only they're invited to. The photos will last a lifetime, the same way your wedding day photos will, and let's face it: it's an amazing confidence boost to go all out and be your sexiest for the man you love.

But a lot of girls (like me) either can't or aren't willing to tack a second photoshoot (if you did engagement shots, then make that a third) onto their already ballooned wedding budget. But never fear! It is very easy to get the same quality and genuine sexiness by doing your photoshoot with one special person who knows your assets best - YOU.

So here are some helpful tips to creating a successful DIY boudoir photoshoot right in your own boudoir! You will only need two things for this assignment: one, your sexy self, and two, a digital camera with a timer.

Tip 1: Set Up Your Space

Photo copyright Charlie Gillespie-Rodie
So most important, where will your shoot take place? Bedroom? Bathroom? Basement? Livingroom? Set it up with a few key embellishments like throws, pillows, rugs, etc. The mood that you want to create will, first and foremost, be established by where you're located. Although you're the focus, you don't want your surroundings to detract. If you're trying to go for a sexy vintage look and you have a huge Jonas Bros. poster in the background, I don't think the end result will bode well. But if you're looking for, say, a toussled bedroom theme, then go all out! Mess up those sheets, roll around artistically. You know the drill. But most of all, make sure the environment of the shoot reflects you.

Tip 2: Establish Your Character
Photo copyright Laura Meyer Photography

So this theatre talk really translates to - who do you want to be on this shoot? Feisty firecracker? Demure maiden? Vintage buxom beauty? What you wear, how you do your hair, and all of your accessories are going to reflect this. Go all out when choosing your style and wardrobe! You can wear as much, or as little, as you see fit to really illustrate your theme. It's also like treating yourself to a spa/beauty day. Plan it from your hair to your shoes to the lace on that sexy thong. Ready for your close up?









Tip 3: Camera Placement

Now, I will admit that, as anniversary gifts and such for my boyfriend, I've taken my fair share of 'personal' photos, and this tip is important. Where you're going to place your camera is vital to capturing the full extent of your artistic intentions. Now, what do I mean by this? Simply put, you need to put that camera somewhere so that it is aimed directly at what you're intending to photograph. If you have a tripod, even better. For those of us who are impoverished but still well intentioned, I pull out my dresser and make a tower of books until the camera is high enough to accommodate all of the space I wish to capture. This is where a viewfinder is a godsend, because you can keep adjusting based on what you're seeing there. Take a few test shots to see if you need to zoom in or pull out just enough. Takes some fiddling, but it's worth it.

Tip 4: Dramatic Lighting, Anyone?


As I said earlier, you know yourself best, and since social networking has taken over, we all know what light suits us best in photos (especially while trolling through pics from your friends parties, and so on). Are you paler? Do you get washed out easily with the flash? Do you better suit natural light? Before taking any of the final pictures, do a few test runs with the varying settings on your digital camera to see what works best. If you need more focal lighting, remember that lamps are your friend. Again, when you bring them into the space, test out to see what needs brightening or toning down, both subject and environment wise. It can take a bit of time and fine tuning, but the end result will definitely be worth it.

Tip 5: Snap Snap Snap!

Photo courtesy of Fleur Avenue
Take as many photos as your snapping finger will allow! In fact, even when it gets tired, take ten more. The point is that in the end, you're going to be deleting quite a few, but when that's all done, you will still have tons to choose from for your final album. That being said, also make sure to stay fresh and fun, and try out a variety of poses (naughty, nice, discreet!) - especially those poses you aren't usually comfortable with. You'll really surprise yourself when you review the photos afterward and some of what you consider to be 'awkward' poses turn out really sexalicious. 

And if you're still hesitant about the outcome of such a wild day, remember that every time you look into that camera, you're looking right into your man's eye, and that'll definitely give you the energy to keep rockin' it. Stay positive knowing that this shoot will a) make him feel like the luckiest guy on earth and b) pump the both of you up about your big day even more so than before.

It's also a good excuse to go out and buy new lingerie, isn't it?

♥Miss Bee

14.2.11

Ethnic Fusion/Non-denominational Weddings

Courtney and Jamit Dhaliwal, courtesy of Winnipeg based LuckyGirl Photography

Perhaps a random topic to some, but I know this issue has come up more than once even amongst my girlfriends. I grew up with friends from a variety of cultures, some raised strictly traditional and other vibrantly liberal. Still, it didn’t stop us from mixing, and it was just one of those amazing miracles that, sixty years ago, would have been cause for socio-political alarm. But anywhere you go in the country, you have to accept (and, of course, love to death) that mixed-race couples have become an increasingly visible and normal aspect to the Canadian landscape.

However, even though the social perspective of it has shifted, it doesn’t make the ceremony planning any less difficult, especially if either family is very traditional or bride or groom puts a great deal of importance on their faith or culture. But it’s not just the type of religion that is put into question here—what if one of the partners is agnostic? Atheist? What if they are strictly against having a ceremony that is remotely religious or cultural whatsoever? Is there room to compromise? 

Hopefully, if it’s an important topic on either side, you’ve already discussed this wayyy before you decided to tie the knot. But I do know that, still, even if you have, it can continue to be a source of contention when it comes down to deciding the focal point of the day: the ceremony. 
 
Just take a deep breath. Relax. Here are a few tips to keep it together, and to do it prairie style.




1.       Whose wedding is it again?

♥       This wedding is about you and your future partner. Plain and simple. If either one of you does not feel comfortable having a traditional wedding, or if those around you are uncomfortable with a religious/cultural ceremony, do not feel pressured into ‘performing’ on the behalf of others. Whatever the case may be, remember to personalize your wedding and tailor it to what’s important to you. Live rock band taking you down the aisle to The Sweetest Thing by U2? Go for it. Having a reading or two from Corinthians during the mass? Do it. Going the fabulous route complete with henna and three day ceremony? Though I’m in no way trying to promote an ignorance to the wishes of family and close friends, always keep in mind the people whose beliefs the ceremony should always fit: yours.

2.       Take turns

♥       One of the easiest ways to handle a mixed union wedding is to focus on one culture or faith during the ceremony, and the other at the reception. Both are equally important, especially for involving your family and friends. 

3.       Inspiration

♥       Looking for inspiration to spice it up? Look to your unique culture for ideas and incorporate some tradition with some modern takes on certain aspects. Do you speak a different language? Maybe include it in your program or invite somehow. Hire a band specific to the culture or faith represented (choir singers, Celtic fiddlers, Indian folk singers—you name it, they exist!). Make the ceremony decor reflect the colours or even flowers of your cultures. Shake it up! Involve your family and guests too, and show them how proud you are of your cultural or faith-based identities.
1.       Plan it!
♥        And if it is getting extremely overwhelming, turning overjoyed into ordeal, help is close at hand with a variety of wedding planners at your disposal. My personal favourites in Winnipeg are Events by Emma or Bodas Savvy Weddings.

Above all of these though my lovely brides and grooms: enjoy. You’re fusing lives here, and culture, religion, or even the lack of it is an integral part of who you are. Always remember to make it yours, make it happy, and own it!

Now tell me all you out there in prairie blog-land: are you planning a mixed faith/culture ceremony? A non-denominational one? How are you going about planning and what kind of barriers are you facing? Suggestions for where to go to find officiants? Talk to us in the comments below!

♥ Miss Bee