Anemone & Micheal - engagement slideshow

I had a really cool photoshoot with Nem and Mike and need to share it.

You might remember their wedding back in November in Mexico, and that we did an engagement session that same week with them too. Since we were all together for the week, we all watched the slideshow at the resort and I never posted the official slideshow here online.

As I was putting it together I was reminded of the great time we had. This session was dubbed the "how to do an engagement session" as it had so many great elements to it. A great couple, sunny location, water, beach, sand, surf, fun and of course drinks! We even had some spectators watching us from the resort above. You can see them right at the end if you watch closely.

Click here to view Nem and Mike's engagement slideshow.

Mmmmmm I like this one...

I'm just working on some slideshows and I came accross this delicious shot from Nem & Mike's engagement session in Mexico.

Silhouettes are so cool.

Books books and more books

I've been talking about and reading lots of books lately. It's amazing that you can learn so much through reading, and that with every book you read you increase both your knowledge, which is useful for yourself and your life, and your worth to others, which can help them grow.

Just think, you are able to pass on information that can help others grow, and by sharing what you've learned you are contributing to the world. I'm a big believer in giving without expecting anything in return. Karma is a powerful thing. And really, when you help someone, and give from your heart for the sole purpose of helping another, don't you feel great?

I've compiled a short list of books that I've either been reading, have read, or want to read.

If anyone has any suggestions on some good books that they think I should read, let me know. I'm a sponge!


Book List
• Love is the Killer app, Tim Sanders
• Creating Customer Evangelists Ben McConnel & Jackie Huba
• Purple Cow Seth Godin
• Blink : The power of thinking without thinking Malcolm Gladwell
• The Tipping Point Malcolm Gladwell
• Customers.com Patricia Seybold
• Futurize You Enterprise David Siegels
• Date Smog David Shenk
• Selling the Dream Guy Kawasaki
• The Dip Seth Godin
• The Starbucks Experience Joseph Michelli
• All Marketers Are Liars Seth Godin
• Small is the New Big Seth Godin
• Meatball Sundae Seth Godin
• Selling the Blue Elephant
• The 4 hour work week Timoth Ferris
• The One Minute Manager Kenneth Blanchare
• Who Moved My Cheese Spencer Johnson
• Survival is not Enough Seth Godin
• How to win customers and keep them for life LeBoeuf
• Unleashing the Ideavirus Seth Godin
• How to Win Friends and Influence People
• Seven Habits of Highly effective people
• The Big Moo Seth Godin
• Free Prize Inside Seth Godin
• Permission Marketing Seth Godin
• The Big Red Fez Seth Godin
• Made To Stick Chip Heath
• The Anatomy of Buzz Emanuel Rosen
• The 22 Immutable Laws of Branding Al Ries
• The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing Al Ries
• The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable Taleb

Toronto Pictage User Group (PUG) meeting

Last night we had our monthly Pictage user group (PUG) meeting at Betty's in Toronto. It was a good turnout with three people from Niagara who I hadn't had the pleasure of meeting before. We talked about all things photography and shared lots of stories, experiences and techniques. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. To those who couldn't be there we missed you, and can't wait to see you all next month.

In attendance were:
Stacey Newstead of Stacey Newstead Photography
Matt Green
Adrian & Viktoria Van Leeuwen of Luminous Light
Davide Greene
Kim Machan of Radishes Design Studio
Libor Hemerka of Studio Images Photography
Todd McKinnon (starting his photography company soon)
Dean Oros of Images of a Promise
and Stacey who was sitting right beside me, but I didn't get her business card, and the attendance sheet missed her, so I don't have her info. Sorry! I do know she is a photographer / retouching artist though and showed us some great work!

EDIT I just got an email from Stacey with her info so here goes.
Stacey Fox of InLife, Digital Retouching Services
She is a "image editor first and foremost and a photographer "for hire" secondary".
Thanks for sending me your info Stacey!


Lots of discussions going on...everyone looks so serious...


The computers were out and technology and photos were being discussed!


There is Davide smiling away at me at the other end of the table.


There is no rest for photographers. I think he just booked a wedding!


Can't wait for next month!

Some shots I found from last year

Came across these images today and had to post them. It was from a shoot last year we did. Aren't they gorgeous?

How do you stand out in a crowd?

This video is so cool. And an interesting lesson about standing out in a crowd.

In business so much focus goes into advertising, getting your name 'out there', repeating your message over and over till someone hears you. Well, that way doesn't work anymore. Why? People have learned to tune out advertising. There is just simply too much. We don't have time to absorb everything, so we choose to ignore.

So how in the world do you stand out, if the public has trained themselves to ignore traditional advertising?

Be different. Be Bold. Get noticed. Sometimes, the easiest way to be different, is to do the opposite.

Take this video. A busy station, people hustling to get where they want to go, everyone moving all the time. Go go go. Then stop. Nothing. No movement. Literally.

So what gets noticed? Different. Interesting. Opposites. The new marketing of the world isn't about repetition or interruption. It's about something more. When you are marketing, choose to stand out. You will get noticed.

Sometimes not moving is your best move.

Enjoy!

Do You Dare?

I just sent this out in a email to lots of you. Within about 10 min I was flooded with responses, phone calls and inquiries. What a great response! Thanks everyone! I did want to mention that dates will be finalized soon and the pricing will be as well. In the meantime read below if you didn't get the email.

Chris


Taken from an email I sent earlier today.


DO YOU DARE?
For a long time, I didn't. I held back. I made excuses. I didn't dare. I lived and worked in my comfort zone and stayed there. But slowly, I realized I was stuck. And if I kept it up, this would be where I would stay for the rest of my life. I didn't risk. I didn't challenge myself. I didn't dare.

So what to do? Well for me, I left my secure job and started a photography business. I stopped making excuses and started making things happen. When faced with a challenge or opportunity, I dared. I didn't hold back. I started to notice my confidence increasing. My view of the world was changing. I was more daring and seeing more positive results than I ever had before! I was more confident than I had ever been in my life!

With this confidence in mind, we have created the "Do You Dare" photo session. These sessions aren't about creating 'sexy' pictures. They are designed to inspire your confidence and your courage. To be comfortable in your skin and who you are. We want you to feel great about yourself! Confidence is a choice and you are worth it!

Beauty is everywhere and in everyone. You don't have to have perfect skin or a perfect body to be beautiful. Confidence creates beauty, mystique and power.

We've partnered with our friends at White Oaks Resort and our sessions will take place in one of their luxury suites. You will enjoy a professional makeup and hair session prior to your two hour photo shoot. A $150 credit towards an album, hardcover photo book or your choice of prints is also included.

We are in the final stages of planning 4 dates for our sessions. Each date will have 4-5 spots available and they will be assigned on a first come, first serve basis.

Click here to be notified of dates and availability.

Remember:
dare to be different, dare to be beautiful, dare to be you.

Chris

PS - We are also having a contest!
What better way to launch our new sessions than with a contest.
Click here for your chance to win a free Do You Dare photo session.

My boy

They are growing up fast! Matthew is now into Indiana Jones. What do you think of the hat?

My girl

She is my whole world.

Random shot

It's been pretty cold and snowy lately. (Actually the past 2 days have warmed up, but I'm still feeling wintery). So here's a random shot from somewhere cold, but beautiful.