Today I take you on a quick break away from the usual wedding related posts to bring to your attention an important cause that I took part in last weekend. It all started when I was contacted a few weeks ago by makeup artist Rhia Amio who I had previously worked with on Jenny and Brad’s wedding back last summer. She was wondering if I’d be interested in volunteering my photography services in a Hope for Haiti fundraising event. This beauty benefit would bring together many professional makeup artists, hair stylists, product sponsors, and photographers to raise money in support of Haiti. Attendees gave a small donation and enjoyed an afternoon of being pampered with makeup, hair, photography, free food, and generous surprise gift bags! I was one of the photographers who took some before and after photos of everyone but I also got to sneak in some videography which I always enjoy but seldom have time to indulge in.

Check out some of the photos and video! Also remember to do your part and donate today! www.redcross.ca/helpnow

Here are some of the people who helped make this event possible:

MAKE-UP:
Rhia Amio (http://www.artistrhi.com)
Joy David-Tilberg (http://make-upjunkie.blogspot.com)
Maggie Ng (http://www.maggieng.com)
Ande (http://www.makemeoverservices.com)
Donna Marie (http://www.makeupbydonnamarie.blogspot.com)
Nicole Robinson (nahmakeup@gmail.com)
Jennifer Min
Bernadette Howard
Delia Lupan (http://makeupbydelia.ca)

HAIR:
Suzie Choi Bridal Hair (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Suzie-Choi-Bridal-Hair/155570319978?ref=ts)

PHOTOGRAPHY:
Spencer Fu (http://spencerfu.com/blog/)
Nadia Cheema (http://www.nadiac.com)

CUPCAKES:
So Into Cupcakes (http://www.sointocupcakes.com)

SPONSORS:
CARGO (http://www.cargocosmetics.com)
BALMSHELL (http://www.balmshell.com)
Mary Kay (http://www.marykay.ca)
Shoppers Drug Mart (http://www.shoppersdrugmart.ca)
Face Atelier (http://www.faceatelier.com)
Vidal Sassoon (http://www.sassoon.com)
Cake Beauty (http://www.cakebeauty.com/home.asp)
CoverFX (http://coverfx.com)
LIFT Beauty Boutique (http://www.liftbeautyboutique.com)
Brill Communications (http://www.brillcommunications.ca)
Vasanti Cosmetics (http://www.vasanticosmetics.ca/can)
Lash Extensions by Maggie Ng (http://www.maggieng.com)

INTRODUCTION:
I took a bit of a break from work the other day to finish editing a video of a recent birthday party I attended several weekends back. Here’s a quicky summary as fFamily and friends gather to celebrate Victoria’s “sweet 16th” birthday party. Festivities included BBQ, dancing, presents, and over four different kinds of cake. This is also the first time that I had the chance to play with the video recording features of my relatively new Canon 5D Mark II. It looks like it definitely requires a whole new creative skill set compared to photography but I think I did an okay job with the camera and just a Canon 24mm F1.4L and 85mm F1.8 lens. Look forward to more videos in the future! It’s pretty neat that still camera technology has now evolved so we can film videos as well!

INTRODUCTION:
A couple weekends ago I had to pleasure to photograph staff of the Yoga Tree yoga studios based in Richmond Hill, Ontario. The owners of studio are none other than Debbie + Jason who I will again have the pleasure of photographing for their wedding in October. There studios super clean and modern and I can’t wait to enroll and try out some yoga! They even do baby yoga (see photo below). Check out some of the talented instructors of Yoga Tree in the rest of this post.

TECHNIQUE:
For this session in the middle of the day, the sun was out in full force. Normally we as photographers shun this sort of light but if we just embrace it and learn to use it we get many more useful photography hours during the day! All these shots were done using natural light and zero reflectors or crazy light modifiers like the Gary Fong Dong. Just position the subject so that the shadows don’t interfere with your subject’s faces/bodies and you’re good to go! Spend less time worrying about your background, camera settings, or flash output power and concentrate on getting your subject to give you a nice large genuine smile.

PHOTOS:

Introduction:
This weekend some friends and I participated in the Canadian Cancer Society’s “Relay for Life” event in Toronto. Our team raised over $2000 to support cancer research this year as we took part in the 12-hour outdoor relay/camping event. It was my first time really camping outdoors and it was surprisingly cold outside in the middle of the night. I think we all had a lot of fun taking part in the activities like walking the track, dodgeball, volleyball, cookie-decorating, movie watching, and free food eating! It was definitely a night to remember. Below are some photo highlights of the day. Thanks again to all who supported “Team Mophia”!

Photos:

INTRODUCTION:
I haven’t had a chance to work on Alvin and Rebecca’s first series of engagement photos yet because last weekend I was away at our church’s family retreat. This year’s event was held in Reedeemer University in Hamilton. I didn’t know what to except coming in but basically the retreat ended up being time for families to share what’s been in their lives with their family, friends, and god. It was a hugely emotional affair and tears of sadness and joy can be seen everywhere. I just got back from the trip and couldn’t help but to post a few of my favourites.

TECHNIQUE:
Before the trip I splurged and got a new Canon 135mm F2L telephoto lens which will definitely come in handy in the 2009 wedding season. I used this weekend to test drive the lens and 95% of the shots are taken with it. I really REALLY like this lens and will try to find more opportunities to use it even though it will be tough to use indoors. There’s just something magical that comes out of this lens. It is just fantastic in getting candid shots of people when they least except it because as a lens this 135mm is considered quite compact and small for the amount of reach this thing allows. The F2 aperture allows me to freeze motion and isolate my photo subjects from the background with its shallow depth of field. Unfortunately as this is still a telephoto lens without IS, I still need a fast shutter speed to negate the effects of motion blur caused by unsteady hands, and thus ISO needs to be pretty high up there when indoors. But boy are the shots worth it.

PHOTOS:

*I got a new monitor but haven’t had time to calibrate it yet. Colours and exposures may be slightly off for now*