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there are times when i write about my escapades as a wedding photographer, and some days that i write about other stuff.
this is other stuff.
here are a few things i've realized lately.....
- every time my phone rings, my dogs jump up and run to the back door to be let out. i never trained them to do this, but they must have read the report about Pavlov's dog and thought it would be a good idea to test the theory on me. i think it's actually a reverse thing for them. i think they are actually training ME to jump up every time my phone rings, so that they can stop being ignored and let out more than once a day. smart dogs, but i'm onto them BIGTIME!
- i'm not as afraid if trying new foods as i once was. i tried Mulligwatany soup the other day, and not only was it curry based, but it was delish! i didn't try the sashimi, but come on people, FRIED EEL and raw oily fish? not gonna happen any time soon.
- i seriously dislike photos with vignetting all over the place. come on now......
does every single photo need to be surrounded in black blur? sorry, but i feel opinionated today, and i just can't take all that vignette!
- one more thing i don't care for is tilting. i was actually nauseous the other day, while i was looking at some photos that were all tilted to the left. it looked like everyone was just about to slide off the road or off the dance floor. too much, too much!!!! TOO MUCH TILTING!!!!!
- i am feeling the urge to sign up for Rosetta Stone and learn spanish. hey, why not?
- i think i might break down and get some artificial nails soon. my nails are so soft and split every time i try to grow them. it might just happen!
- i have never liked Shostakovich, but the orchestra that i'm performing with, is playing the 3rd mov't from his 10th symphony. it's actually pretty cool and i'm sorry for disliking this poor, misunderstood and oppressed composer. i will say, that if i am asked to perform something by Phillip Glass, then i'm walking out! Philip Glass's music makes me want to run over a cute little animal or something. shoot me now.
- i am excited about some new endeavours for 2010, and that includes advertising with www.everythingwedding.ca . i never really wanted to advertise with anyone, since i am a firm believer in word of mouth, but is such a good opportunity! YAY!
- i wish i could wear my Croc slippers everywhere i go, but i don't want to be judged by my footwear! oh, who am i kidding? i wear crazy shoes all the time, so why should i stop now!
that's the world according to me :)
what's a post without a photo?
it's my niece giving her baby a kiss!
HAHAHA!!!
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something in the wind.....
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126
last weekend i had the chance to set up a booth at the Wedding Odyssey in Windsor, which is a local wedding show (if the name didn't give it away).
i struggled with the thought of actually DOING the show, because i couldn't get any definitive answers from any of my colleagues, and to whether it's really worth the money to participate!
it was years ago that i actually even went to a wedding show, and i've never been to any of the Windsor ones, so i had no idea if they were even classy events!
i bit the bullet, wracked my brains as to how i could set up a booth that would both reflect me (and my slightly odd ideas) and reflect my branding. i wanted to stand apart from the crowd and be unique, which i think i accomplished.
there is WAY to much black curtain at these events, and way too many boring tables, so i stepped it up a notch and brought in some LIME GREEN!!!!
yep, that's my colour!
i do have to say, that the traffic at the show was awful! we had hours that would go by, and not one person would come down the hall to see us (or anyone else for that matter). we were stuck in the ghettos of the show, which was actually at the end of a very long hallway and not even IN the main room of the event.
i will never get a booth in the hallway again!
actually, i didn't really have a choice in the matter, because i was kinda late registering for the event and didn't have any choice as to which booth i could get.
i do have to say, that even though there weren't many brides/couples, the ones that i did meet and talk to, were AWESOME!!!!
i am so blessed to be able to meet the best people in the world, and i am always so honoured when i get chosen to document a couple's big day.
the other big thing that i loved about the show, is that i was able to hook up with local vendors!
i got to meet Sarah from 'It's Your Day Bridal', and we really hit it off. i have heard so much about her bridal boutique, from almost every bride that i meet with, and it's always good things! i guess 'It's Your Day' boutique in Lasalle (Windsor) takes a different approach to serving brides, and i've heard that their wedding dresses are GORGEOUS!!!
i can't wait to head over there myself and check out the dresses , and i think i'll take my daughter with me, since what 16 year old doesn't love wedding dresses!!
i was also able to meet and talk with Diane, of 'Designs by Diane'.
Diane is a Windsor event and party designer, who has done some phenomenal work at weddings i've worked at.
i also have a current bride who can't stop talking about the awesomeness of Diane, so i just had to meet her and let her know that i really appreciate her reputation in the area. we had a nice chat, got to know each other a bit, and i admired her booth filled with BLING!! LOL!
i do have to say, that i did feel terrible for some of these brides-to-be, since by the time they finished walking around the show, they were laden with 20 lb bags of flyers and magazines, and had been bombarded with vendors JUMPING out at them and trying to sell their wares. many of these poor girls had such a glazed-over look to them, it was pretty overwhelming to a good chunk of inexperienced wedding show attendees!!!
i have already decided that i would like to do the Wedding Odyssey next year, since i would like to see what happens when i get a booth INSIDE the main room and not in the ghetto hall, and i would also really like to get a booth at the other wedding show that Windsor offers. Unfortunately, the Wedding Extravaganza (which have shows in the fall and winter) has a waiting list for photographers, which is something like 2 years to get in! seriously people?
here is a photo of my booth, which though small, was pretty darn cute (if i do say so myself).
John Lyons Weddings:
Your booth looks awesome Michele! I agree though, I wasn't happy with the turnout either! See ya,
j
Daniel:
Wow, I love the colors of your booth. Yes, it is cute indeed. I hope you got some wedding photography bookings from it!
(01.18.10)
Judene:
Great display. Great choice with the lime green. I agree to go to the Cioccaro next year... if you insist on trying another show(lol). I did the Cioccaro last year and I found that most of the couples there, also sign up with The Wedding Guide. Something to look into, in terms of advertising.
(01.24.10)
Boundless Photos Weddings:
Great looking stand that you have there, love the collage of small prints
(01.28.10)
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the wedding show ~ the Wedding Odyssey Windsor
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125
hi all!
it looks as if i'm joining the ranks of thousands of wedding photographers before me, and i'm getting a booth at a local wedding & bridal show!
The Wedding Odyssey is here in Windsor , this coming weekend. the event is being held at the Ciocarro Club here in the city, which is just off Walker Rd, south of the 401 (look for the signs).
i'm a nervous wreck!!!
i have never built a booth, have never been to a wedding show even as a guest, and it's tough to know what to do or expect.
i've been scouring the internet and wedding forums, trying to look at photos of other booths, see what other wedding photographers like to do, and get a sense as to the best way for ME to build something.
you see, i have some pretty clear ideas about what i like and dislike, and one of the things i dislike the most is conformity!!!
i like to be different, i like to be myself, and i just like being me.
i have a tiny little spot at the show, down at the end of some long, dark hall, so it's been tough to know how to proceed with designing something that will not only showcase my photography, but help to get people at actually NOTICE me at the end of this dark hallway.
i think what i've come up with is fun and original, and i'm looking forward to putting it all together.
i think i will do a mock-up tonight, in my living room , so that i can get the full effect.
it's CRAZY!!!
if you're coming to the Wedding Odyssey, please make sure that you stop by and say hello.
i would love to meet some new people!
since no post is complete without a photo, then please enjoy the following.
i'll just let you know right now, that if you hire me and you have kids at your wedding, then i WILL BE TAKING PHOTOS OF THEM!!
i LOVE kids and the silly things they do, and there's nothing more fun than kids dancing.
this one makes me smile :)
Elle:
Good Luck!!!! I hope it goes smashing for you! I am heading off to the PPA I was hoping you might be around. It would have been nice to catch up.
(01.09.10)
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Wedding Odyssey { windsor ontario wedding & bridal show }
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Engagement sessions are FUN!!!!
There is something exciting about getting to know my wedding clients on a deeper level, and nothing gets people to open up more, than to get them out in the snow!
Actually, since I'm a talker and i love hearing about what makes people tick, i don't really need a snow storm or anything else. One of the things that i adore about being a wedding photographer, is that i get to meet so many wonderful people.
If you are a potential bride or groom, and you are reading this post, please note that i don't like to talk about the weather, the stock market, or politics. Fluff conversations are not my thing, because i love to hear about where you grew up, how long you've been dating, how the proposal took place, and i especially want to hear all the gory details about your wedding! I want to hear about your wedding dress, the awesome bridesmaid's dresses, the gorgeous invitations and your honeymoon plans!
i like to be open, honest and real.
it's just me, and i can't change.
i guess that's why i adore engagement sessions so much. Engagement sessions are relaxed, fun, and a good time for me (as a wedding photographer) to get to know my clients a bit better. It's tough to talk on a wedding day, for obvious reasons, so during an engagement session, feel free to talk away!!
laugh, laugh, and laugh some more, and if you have time, nail your beloved with a snowball!
Rob and Leslie are getting married in April , at Willistead Manor (here in Windsor), and i have the honour of being their wedding photographer. i have heard a rumour that there might be muscle cars at this wedding, and i'm hoping that the rumours are true!!
oh, and i have a special place in my heart for Leslie, and it has nothing to do with photography.
as a special treat to my 2010 clients, this year i made each of my couples a homemade treat. i LOVE making candy at Christmas, and this year i made a few of my favourite sugary treats and mailed some off to each couple. Leslie and Rob ended up with some of my pralines, and i got the most wonderful compliment from Leslie.
Leslie grew up in the south, and she swears that my pralines are as good as any southerner can make!
yep, i am definitely tickled with that kind of compliment.
anyways, here are a few of the highlights from the day
isn't she GORGEOUS?!!
Julie :
Beautiful images Michele!
I love them all, but especially 10, 11 & 12!
What fun you all had!
(01.01.10)
Pamela:
Absolutely beautiful.
(01.02.10)
Ronni Haslett:
I love all of these! I haven't seen someone rock an engagement in the snow! You did a fabulous job!
(01.11.10)
Seattle Wedding Photographer Kirk Mastin:
I love these engagement images. What a great couple and a fun session. Looks cold though. They are good sports!
(01.18.10)
Sandi:
Love these! What wonderful pictures to remember this season of their lives together!
(01.18.10)
Knoxville Wedding Photographer:
I really like the ones that were next to the old, broken down building. The color in the bricks and in the siding really pop in the snow. Nice!
(01.24.10)
The Prague Wedding Photographer Kurt Vinion:
Wow! Beautiful images Michele! I am sure the clients are quite pleased!
(01.25.10)
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Rob & Leslie {windsor ontario wedding photographer}
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123
it has been a couple of weeks since my last blog entry, but now i'm back!!!
i decided to take a little break from computer stuff and blogging, but i guess i need to get back to business and get this blog up and running again. small hiatus is now over.
today i met up with Leslie and Rob for their engagement session, and as you can see from the photo, we had some FUN!!!
Rob and Leslie live in Arizona, but they are getting married here in Windsor this coming April. Willistead Manor is where they are getting married, and i can't wait!!!!
for 2010, i have been blessed with the most wonderful, kind, adventurous and fantastic couples that a wedding photographer could ever get.
every time i think about the AWESOME weddings that i have booked for 2010, i get all choked up.
i can't believe that i have been given the honour of documenting all these great weddings and special moments in the lives of such fun and interesting people.
oh, and if you book me to photograph your wedding or your engagement session, then be prepared to be asked to get into a snowball fight with your betrothed.
dress accordingly!
Lesley:
Whoa! This is awesome!
(12.29.09)
Renee:
Hey Michèle, I haven't stopped by in a while, but I see you have been up to some lovely, lovely shoots. I'm totally digging the winter e-sessions. I just did one last week too, and they are so totally fun even though it's freezing! Can't wait to see more :-)
(01.18.10)
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Rob & Leslie {windsor ontario wedding photographer} ~ sneak peek
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I'm with ya on the vig & tilting.
(01.20.10)