#Gomedia12

Over the past few days, the Yukon has hosted a few new visitors from around the world...

Go Media 2012 is an annual event which brings together international journalists to explore Canadian travel stories and destinations, and this year, the Yukon was chosen as the host location!

Yesterday, Gary had the opportunity to take part in one of the day adventures delegates were able to sign up for out at Mt. Sima.

It was a great chance to meet people from all over the world who work in the tourism industry as journalists, bloggers, and photographers.  And as a climbing instructor, let's just say Gary was in his element being able to combine ropes, heights and photography all in the same day....Not a bad start to the week.

So thanks to everyone involved in Go Media 2012!  The organizers did a fantastic job of showing off the Yukon, and we got to meet some amazing people from around the world.

Stay tuned over the next few days for some shots from the Photobooth at luncheon today as well...

One year and counting...

It's always a little bit of a shock when parents call us to book a one year session with their babies who just months ago were in our studio as tiny, little, "i'm gonna have you all wrapped around my finger" newborns.  They're so GOOD at that eh?...

Now, if it's that much of a shock to us, we can only imagine what it must be like for the parents themselves...They've now made it through a lot of the sleepless nights, thousands of diaper changes and 'first tooth' experiences and can't believe a full year has already flown by.

This family is one of those very clients, who were actually just with us 6 months ago for a shoot, and even in that amount of time, their little girl has changed SO much.  This time around, we opted for an outdoor shoot, and as you'll notice, although she is a pretty serious little lady, we got some smiles out of her along the way.

At this age, it's fun to take kids out of the studio setting and see them interact with the 'real world' now that they are exploring more, and it's always amazing to us to see their personalities come out now that they're a bit older.  Instead of newborn "i'm gonna have you wrapped around my fingers", they are larger versions who can communicate better as to what they want!  Even MORE leverage for finger wrapping!

And for all those parents out there who are willing their kids to stay small and not grow up too fast, don't worry too much....just rest assured that the next phase has some pretty great parts to it as well. (and hopefully more sleep)

Two Newfoundlanders walk into a studio...

Don't worry this isn't the beginning of a really bad joke...and technically both of them didn't actually 'walk' into the studio...

Today we've decided to share some images from a recent shoot we did with our niece Anna taken during her trip to the Yukon last month.  Normally she lives in Newfoundland, but she was up visiting family with my sister and brother in law for a few weeks.

So, my sister wanted some nice simple shots that really just focussed on Anna's expressions which as you'll notice, she has a lot of.  As with any baby shoot, we work on a time line, trying to get as many shots as possible in before there are any meltdowns.  For any of you out there with kids, you know that when they're this small (hey maybe even when they're older-who knows), their moods can change in an instant which can put a quick end to their 'modelling gig'.

On this day, however, Anna decided to surprise us all...she was full of smiles and more than happy to just check out the lights and laugh at her Grandpa. That was until we decided that we should introduce her to Bill Murray.  Now, Bill Murray is a 2 year old Newfoundlander, and although he's completely harmless, (one might even say 'lazy' or probably a better term would be 'extremely zen'), someone as tiny as Anna probably looks at him and sees a giant, hairy, baby eating monster....

Needless to say, we got Murray to lay down on our white seamless (which after the shoot was no longer white...this spring weather does not get along with long dog hair), and sat Anna down beside him. At first (as you'll notice from the shot), she was simply intrigued by the size of his giant head and the bone he was chewing on...but then it was as if she suddenly realized that due to her lack of ability to walk, she was trapped there beside the 'beast'! Sooo the tears began, parents tried to calm her, and Murray just kept on chewin'...

Alas, the photoshoot was indeed over.

The interesting note is that she's hung out with Bill Murray many times since and never has a problem with him-even when he 'sneakily' jogs by her and gives her a full head lick in one swoop...so i have my doubts that it was fear after all and instead more of a trick to get her mom to feed her. She's sneaky like that...

The only question we were left with was who drooled more on our white seamless...

Gary likes a good breeze...

As wedding photographers, we've gotten to travel to a lot of great places for work...so far we've shot in Yukon, BC, Alberta, NFLD, PEI, Dominican Republic, Cuba and Mexico! Not a bad bonus to the job, although some of these destinations also come with their challenges...

To travel to other countries sounds like an awesome time, and for the most part it is, but working your regular job in a crazy new climate can also have some downsides...

Wedding photography is a genre which we think doesn't get enough credit. Often, people don't realize the amount of work and energy that really goes into them.  Not only are you working in both a creative and technical mindset all day, you also have to be ready to be flexible (as anyone who's been involved in a wedding knows, things don't always go exactly as planned), AND you're 'on' for up to 12 hours straight depending on the wedding style...So to take all of that and add on an extra 20 or so 30 or so degrees and...well...things get trickier!

Now, at our most recent wedding in Mexico, Gary discovered a trick to beating the heat of a destination shoot...You see, with the age we're at, we happen to have a lot of friends who are getting married, and often we are chosen to be their photographers. (Which each and every time is humbling and a huge honour!) The difference in this one, was that we were also both part of the wedding party! You'd think that might be an extra stress for us, but in the end-it had some major advantages...the main one being the fact that the groom had picked Kilts for his groomsmen....

See Exhibit A:

Turns out Gary loooooves shooting weddings in kilts because when that breeze comes off the ocean...well, things are apparently a lot more comfortable....

So we'd like to take the opportunity on this post to thank Nick and Heather for having us be a part of their day-it was a huge honour for us and we were SO happy to have been there to be a part of all the laughs and the special moments. You both looked incredible!  And Gary would especially like to thank Nick for introducing him to his new favourite outfit...  :)

And now for something completely different...

Over the past year, GBP has started to expand into the commercial market which has opened up our experiences to a whole other world of photography...

Initially, most of our work was focussed around families, weddings, portraiture, etc. and although we love that aspect of our job, it's also really important for us to constantly be pushing ourselves to explore new genres and techniques.

So needless to say, we were pretty stoked when we got a call regarding one of our projects late in the fall, which was something we had never really focussed on before-Hair photography.

We were approached by a local salon, Spa Zen,  who wanted to get some portraits done which would feature some of the hair colours and styles their stylists create.  Basically, they were looking for a 'product shot' which would feature local models, but have more of a focus on the hairstyles (ie. the 'product') than the people them selves. This was an exciting project as it required a new view on portraiture-a need to focus on a particular aspect of the 'look' without loosing the energy of the models themselves.  It also required the magic of hair lighting-a tricky little lighting technique which we learned could be a difficult task when working with dark hair and dark backgrounds...

But in the end, once the lighting was nailed down, we were able to get some great dramatic shots which featured the styles and colours of the hair without losing the personality of the models themselves. (Which we must say, were a great crew to work with!)

We actually enjoyed it so much we've been scheming with Spa Zen on some future projects...so stay tuned for more later this summer!

Destinations

The best part about shooting destination weddings for clients is the relationship you get to build with them throughout the week.

Normally with a wedding client, we have the consultation where we get to meet each other and get a feel for what they'd like out of their wedding photos, what their personalities are like, and learn a bit about how they met each other, etc.

Then comes the engagement session which is key to getting to know how they interact and also to get them used to having a big camera lens pointed at them. (Something a lot of people are uncomfortable with at first, because let's face it-it's not an everyday thing!)

Then comes the wedding day, and both of those meetings along with emails/phone calls in between allows us to get that base relationship built so that come their wedding day-we're not strangers walking in, but people they are comfortable with and are able to relax around.

Now with a destination wedding, you can take all of those experiences and add in the fact that we are at the same resort with the people for the entire week. So not only do we get to know them better, but we also get to know their family and friends...a connection which makes the wedding day photography that much more comfortable and relaxed.

Korry and Chad were no exception. We went to their destination resort having only met Korry once in person, and meeting Chad for the first time the day we arrived. But by the end of our time there, we had become friends, and it was actually sad to say goodbye!  (It helped that they are an amazingly fun couple...for instance, Chad actually had a new drink named and created that you could order at any of the bars by the time his stay was over)

You can't really go wrong with a  genuinely wonderful couple surrounded by a great group of family...So here's to Korry and Chad-we wish you guys all the best! (If we had a funkinator to cheers you with right now, we would!)

Napping Newborns

Ahhhh the elusive sleeping baby! We've been lucky enough to catch another visit at the studio here recently and are stoked to share the results with you!

The best thing about newborn shoots is the fact that they're so unpredictable.  As any new parents are aware, the little ones quickly take over and squash any sense of order or routine that you may have had in your life pre-baby.  With newborns, the world quickly starts to revolve around 4 things: Feeding, sleeping, pooping and diaper changes...And it certainly keeps photographers like us on our toes...

Early on we quickly got used to 'newborn scheduling' when it comes to our clients. Meaning, we book them, and then bank on them being anywhere from 5min-35 min late...(babies aren't exactly worried about running a few minutes behind...).  We also are used to taking 'snack' breaks, napping, not napping, crying, diaper changes, and even full mom or dad outfit changes when 'accidents' happen. (Yes we've had babies  pee right down the front of dad's pants in the middle of a shoot before...hilarious action shots to show them when they're teens)

But every once in a while you also come across a newborn that's calm, sleepy, and happy to just nestle right into the blankets for a snooze while we shoot.  And this is where the elusive sleeping baby shots are born...And it's also how, no matter how hectic life with new baby may get...we're pretty certain that looking at the little one all cozy, dreaming away about milk and fresh diapers...well, that can't ever get old.

How can a Time Machine be old??...

If there's one thing we love here at GBP almost as much as photography, it's music-and one of our recent shoots reminded us how lucky we are to have such crazy talented artists perform here in the Yukon every year (and how much more awesome it is when they're playing in your studio)...


As many of you may know, last week was Frostbite weekend- an annual music festival held in the depths of winter here in Whitehorse that features not only our amazing local talent, but also brings up incredible bands from outside.


One of our absolute favourite bands, Old Time Machine, was one of the featured artists this year and we were stoked to be able to do a shoot with them amongst their insane schedule.  


Now, band shots are a common discussion amongst us here at GBP...It seems they can be a bit of a 'pet peeve' for one of us (not going to name names), but let's just say you will never see us do a band shot that includes getting a bunch of guys, dressed in dark clothes, standing in a "V" with arms crossed, brooding angrily towards the camera... (Even though i'm part-owner, i'm 99.9% certain if I try to suggest that to Gary, i'll be fired...)


Now, Old Time Machine combines blues/folk with vintage electronics, so avoiding the "angry V" was exactly what all parties wanted...They were looking for some shots that were simple, clean, and incorporated a lot of negative space so they could be used in a variety of media, but still portrayed the style of the band.


What we ended up with were composites, all shot in our studio, focusing on minimal equipment (even though we're pretty sure they can each play about 50 instruments each), and some classic Edison lightbulbs to tie everything together.


And if you haven't heard them yet, make sure you check Old Time Machine out at http://oldtimemachinemusic.tumblr.com/

Brianne-1, Gary-0

Gary and I recently traveled to PEI over our christmas holidays...Why the h*** would we travel at that time of year you ask!?  Well it was a very important trip...one of my best friends was getting married and there was no way we were going to miss it...

Over the years we've obviously had a few friend weddings to attend and/or shoot.  It comes with the age we are at and the business we've chosen, but it reminds me every time how important the connection between photographer and couple really is.

We always try to build a relationship with our clients before we shoot their weddings. Whether it's through an engagement shoot, over coffees or even through the wonderful technology of Skype, we always try to meet and get to know each other before working with them on the big day.  It makes a world of difference to actually know a bit about each other.  We hear the stories of how they met, talk about the nerves of getting everything ready in time, and even vent about the worries of "crazy Uncle Joe" putting on a scene in the middle of the reception.  (Don't fret...every family has something)

This way come wedding day, we're not strangers walking in and getting all up in your business...we're a trusted team who is there not only to shoot, but also to remind you to take some breaths, relax, and soak in the day. (we've been to a few of these things over the years after all and in the end, Uncle Joe will just become and amazing story for the kids one day)

There was no need to build a relationship with this couple though, as I went to university with the bride when she had first met her future-groom.  Considering the group of us girls called him "the best boyfriend we never had", it was only fitting that we were all there with them on their big day. It was a day full of laughs, happy tears and many exaggerated stories just like any good wedding should be...and being in it, I had the added bonus of sitting and sipping champagne while Gary had to run around working.  Brianne-1, Gary-0.

I'm gonna pay for that one....

Now onto the photos...

How I Shot the Rendezvous Magazine Cover

I have had a few people asking me for some more details on the how I shot the rendezvous cover, so I thought I would do a post on it.

Ok so I knew what I wanted: 1 image of 4 girls and an antique car all looking amazing with a 1940’s feel too it. So the fist step was to draw-up some sort of mock-up to have it approved by the Rendezvous people (Turns out Brianne has mad stick-people drawing skills too).

ya.....

Once the idea was approved we had to figure out how to make it happen.... with a tight budget and a tight shooting timeline. So the options were to shoot it all at once, or to shoot it in pieces and put it together later as a composite. The problem with shooting it all at once is that that it would take allot of money, people, gear and time... funny... all things which we don't have! So composite it was! The key to a composite of this nature is to make sure you have everything consistent allowing for an easier time in photoshop piecing all back together. So that starts with your camera on a tripod which never gets moved, and a manual exposure and a fixed focal length lens... then the only thing that changes is lighting, focus and models! First I had 4 photo doubles stand in for the ladies so we could figure out our composition.... which I knew was vertical orientation with negative space on top and bottom of the frame to allow for text. Once we figured out that part, I locked down the tripod.... duct-taped the crap out of it to the floor and hooked up a pocket wizard with a motor drive cable (to remotely fire it and the lighting). 

You can see the high teck duct-tape !

Then it was shooting time... So on manual exposure and focus (again so nothing changes) I shot a ton of images of the car and of the luggage only changing the lighting position and type. With the pocket wizard this worked really well, cause I was able to do this all very fast and by myself. I was able to just run around with 1 light on a wheeled boom stand shooting and repositioning the light. 

Me wheeling the boom stand around

I didn't care about light direction cause my plan was just to light the crap out of it and make a surrealistic nighttime type look anyways... so having the light coming from a specific direction didn't matter for this shot. Once the car was done we setup up and shot each of the girls separately... making sure we got the best possible image of each of them. The girls lighting setup was pretty simple... I used one 4’ soft box as the main in front of them, then had a bare bulb kicker on the sides to give them a little bit of highlight and separation from the dark background. Interesting thing I learnt was that dark fur is like a black hole for light.... it takes allot of light to register on the fur... but then by that time your blowing out the skin... was tough to balance. Doing it this way also had other logistical pluses, like while I shot the car the first model was having hair and make-up done... then when I was shooting her the next one was being prepped, this way we needed only one make-up person and one stylist...cheaper! 

Brianne doing an amazing job on the props

Sharon and Denali

who is this guy?

Over all view of where we were working

Next came the photoshop stuff and that was pretty straight forward process of a million layers and just painting in things I liked from each different shot. The only cool thing was I was able to use gravel from another shoot in the summer and place in the bottom of the image while maintaining all proper shadows... I was stoked that it worked out so well.

So thats about it.... 

I would like to thank: 

- Mike Collins at Rendezvous Society for great ideas, art direction, and tasty snack table

- Brianne Meister for being an awesome photo assistant and stylist, and set designer, and mad stick-man drawing skills

- Lyndsey Hamilton for her super resourceful stylist skills, and knowledge

- Sharon Speiss for all the lovely make-up and hair work she did for us.

Setup:

Canon 5d mk2

85mm 

Tethered to laptop shooting to Lightroom 3

Fired by motor-drive Pocketwizard

Lights used - 3 Alien Bee B800’s controlled by more pocket wizards

Finished Image