Now first - I hesitated on writing a blog post such as this, for fear of assuming a title of having a “man crush” on Mr. Chase Jarvis.  (The title was just a hook to get you reading - Although, I think someone at my table admitted to a man crush on him - right Luca?).  I want to make it PERFECTLY clear that I did not wait in the back ally by his tour bus, or sneak under any of room service’s trolley carts to his room…..but I am a fan.

A few weeks ago, I jokingly called out to Chase via Facebook/Twitter after someone was requesting an appearance in their city by saying “Since peeps are making requests, how about Toronto?”.  Surprisingly, he re-tweeted my comment mentioning that he was going to be in Toronto in November.

Long story short long, Chase was here thanks to CAPIC doing a talk about social media.  I followed up with Chase via email, and he sent me the details on where to be, etc.  I snatched up a ticket and headed downtown to check him out at the Gladstone hotel.  The talk was incredible, filled with relevant information and stunning imagery.  Chase’s usual goof and wit made it seem like the room of 150 people was like 10 people.  He danced to his rendition of a Madonna song - and always had a beer close by to keep things light.  I much prefer speakers that have beers in their hands, than laser pointers.  I guess that is why I sucked at college.

Flatteringly, (is that a freakin word?) Chase even used me as an example - which scared me a little.  In the middle of his talk he stopped and called out “Where is Adam…..Where is Adam Belnap…….?”

*Gulp*  I raised my hand.  Chase then came down off stage, shook my hand and in front of everyone and said “Nice to finally meet you”. 

So that is really the point of this blog post.  I have finally made it because I have had the blessing hands of Chase Jarvis touch my forehead, and therefore I am officially a better photographer than all of you.  Yeah - right.  That’s not it at all.  (And just to eliminate the creep factor - he didn’t touch my forehead at all….we just traded swine flu through a hand shake.)

Chase was using me as an example for his lesson, to show that through social media it has connected Chase and I, regardless of any status.  That social media puts you out there, affordably, and officially so that you can be recognized and acknowledged.  Chase has looked at my work, simply because of social media.  Chase even joked about watching my son take his first steps on skates by way of Facebook.  So yeah - maybe I was an example for Chase’s lesson because I am using social media to connect with people…or maybe the guy just thinks I am a stalker, and wants to be nice to me out of fear.

At the end of the night, Chase signed my book “To Adam, so great to finally meet you in person.  You inspire me, Chase.”  We got a picture, chatted for a second and then…….whoa, whoa….yeah you read that right.  Chase said I inspire him…..are you calling horse jizzunk on that as well?  Yes, maybe he was referring to my use of social media, however it is nothing to be inspired on compared to what he does and how many followers he has.  Or maybe he was talking about my photography……..LOL….Okay, I am laughing at that too.  Okay CJ…if you are out there, are you full of poo?  I appreciate that it makes me a big wheel….but really, you are full of poo.

Oh crap - I sound like a needy 13 year old girl at a New Kids concert. 

I saw Chase’s sidekick Scott taping the talk, so hopefully they come out with a video on it - because it is really a must watch.  Besides, how else am I going to proove that we are best friends? 

In short - there are a couple things that I realized about Chase after that talk:

1. He is taller than I pictured.
2. He is nicer than I anticipated.
3. His realness makes him smart and cool.
4. His book is kick ass. 

You gotta check out his book.  It is a collection of…are you ready…of iphone pictures!  There is a tonne of pictures, high quality images taken with a low quality camera.  He preaches that the best camera is the one that is with you, and that stunning images are everywhere.  This book prooves….it.

Find more about the book here- and buy it, and the app, and a t-shirt…and buy his other book, and send him a tweet, or a facebook, or a blog post, or an email.  Tell him Adam sent you. 

A couple pictures from the night:

If the wedding is as stunning as the invitation from Tammy and Zac - we are in for something special. 

I was so excited to see this invitation in our mailbox for their big day.  I am not sure if it is customary for the photographer to receive an actual invitation - but I was very honoured to receive one!  It is so special to be thought of in this way - that I had to blog about it (and to show off these awesome invites!)

Check these out!  Aren’t they beautiful?  I love the print and the font, the classic colours - and the layout.  If you could feel these, the paper is incredible - and these puppies have some weight to them!  (Be sure to click on the images to make them “big”.

Tammy and Zac live in Las Vegas, and are getting married in Lake Tahoe in December.  Tammy and I connected via my Twitter and facebook, and thankfully she likes my images!  They are flying us out to shoot their wedding in Tahoe in a few weeks - and we cannot be more delighted and honoured to be a part of their special day.

Way to go guys!

A few weeks ago, while trolling facebook….I saw a callout for something I had always wanted to do. 

Months ago, I had met Leanna Gosse at a workshop that we attended together in Toronto.  I remember sitting at the workshop eating my lunch, and this girl was wandering around - just taking funky detail shots.  She was looking at every corner, every wall, every ledge - looking for optimum spots to shoot with.  I was instantly impressed with her passion to get every last awesome shot.

So her status on facebook one day was that she was looking for a second shooter for an upcoming wedding.  September was going to be a busy month for me - but I had to act fast, and see if she would let me second shoot for her.  I had never second shot before, so I was a bit nervous - and totally would’ve understood if she had wanted someone with more experience in that respect.  But she said yes!

For those of you that don’t know - a “Second Shooter” is simply another photographer that helps the primary shooter for event coverage.  This usually includes splitting up some of the required pictures, taking shots of the details of the day, or candid moments that the primary photographer might not be able to grab because of his/her other duties.  Further, it is important for the second shooter to make the day easier for the main photographer.  Carry bags, get things that are needed, make arrangements behind the scenes, or hold lights and set up gear. 

It sounds like a bad job, eh?  All the grunt work?  NO WAY!  I had a blast with Leanna.  She lined up amazing pictures, had everything organized and easy to use - and was so great to see her work.  I think we collaborated well, and covered the day very well.  We shot alot - I think we went through almost 45 gigs of pictures!   I was so lucky to be able to work with her - I learned a lot, and loved seeing another photographer at work.  The one thing that I learned the most was to get more comfortable shoes!  (JK)

Also - we included a photobooth, which was a blast….and is defnitely something that I am going to try to incorporate more of.

So check out Leanna’s stuff - she is amazing!  I am currently trying to wrangle her up to do some shots for us…so get in line!

Wow.  I need this day to be a do-over. 

After coming off a great night last night at a Jason Mraz concert (which was so great!), I’d like to give this day back.  Can someone point me in the direction of the “returns” counter? 

Don’t get me wrong - there were a lot of great things about today.  Lots of gratitude for the opportunity that I had to document the Quinte Ribfest 2009 event.  After the Quinte Home Show Event that I participated in last year, I was looking forward to seeing some familiar faces from the Toronto Argonauts.  Through out the day, I took pictures of various events and stations.  One area encouraged the fans to donate to the Big Brothers/Big Sisters charity in exchange for an autographed portrait with the cheerleaders, (Hi Tasha, Melissa, Casey and Hailey!) as well as Walter Curry - the Argo’s defensive tackle. 

Also, Walter and the cheerleaders each took some time to show off their respective talents by helping the kids run through some routines.  Walter ran through some agility/quickness and passing drills……and the Cheerleaders put together a routine with the kids to perform for their parents.  It was great!  Also, throughout the day - we went around to the “Ribbers” and took some pictures with them too.  (That was hard for me - because the ribs smelled SOOOOOO good.).

So you are probably thinking “That sounds like a great day…..why do you want to give the day back”?

Well, after a great day shooting - it was time to head over to a jiffy print type place - and get the prints ready for autographs.  “Wait a second……something is missing.  I feel naked.”  I start to panic….WHERE IS MY iPHONE?!?!?!?!?!  Not in my pocket…not in my car….not in my camera bag..

We retrace my steps…..nothing.  We call it.  Nothing.  45 minutes goes by and  I give up - I will just wipe it out remotely when I get home, and cry.   I head off with my memory card in hand - ready to get them printed.  When I hit the 1 hour photo type place - I realize that I shot in RAW mode - which is not recognized by this photo kiosk!  Strike Two - Lost the love of my life, my phone - and just screwed up over 300 pictures.  I don’t have my laptop to convert these images to JPEG.  I decide to give up on the day - I just want to go home.

I hop in the car - with plans to speed home (1 hour away) and quickly convert these images, and get them printed.  The plan was to have the cheerleaders stop through on the way back to Toronto and sign them for me.  They are going to go have some yummy ribs, so I thought time should be good.  I think my speed bumps are behind me. 

I was supposed to meet up with a high school friend for dinner, and to catch up and wish him a happy brithday.  But with no phone, and being en-route to fix my mistakes - I had no way to contact him.  (Sorry Scotty Mack).

I jump on the highway - traffic is slow.  It’s moving, but there is nowhere to open my car up and risk getting my license suspended for doing over 150km/hr.  I had to live with a steady 80-110km range.  I actually even drove the entire drive with no music!!  I just wanted to mourn the loss of my iPhone and marinate in the involuntary disconnection of the world…in silence.

It gets worse..but there is good news.  I get home, say hi to my kids - and my wife tells me that they found my iPhone!  Someone picked it up, and called some of my friends and family to track me down.  (But how do you track me down?  By my phone of course).  Thankfully, between everyone - and one of the cheerleaders-Melissa, they arranged to have the iPhone brought back to the cheerleaders.  (Big Shout out to Melissa…Dad told me all about it.  Thank you!)  WOW.  I am so appreciative to everyone knowing how important (and expensive) that phone is to me, and so thankful that a good Samaritan had enough honesty to find my iPhone it’s home. 

So - I get home and race down to my office to import the photos to quickly convert them.  “Lightroom has encountered a problem and needs to close”.  Ugh.  It restarts - and is checking for errors at a snails pace.  I decide to use my wife’s laptop to download the pictures to take over to the print kiosk.  When I get there - what is supposed to take 15 minutes, takes over an hour.   GREAT.   When the last 4 pictures are about to print….the machine needs a new roll of paper.  GREAT.  The person that knows how to switch the paper - is on lunch.  GREAT.  Thankfully - they get that worked out, but I am late.  The girls are waiting for me near the highway.  YIKES.

I finally make it to the meet-up spot, disheveled and dehydrated.  The girls are chilling in their sponsored Nissan Cube….umm….vehicle.  (Is that a truck, car, SUV….what is that thing?  I think the Argo’s logos, and the human contents are the only things going for it.)  They quickly sign the photographs for the charity event - reunite me with my iPhone - and hit the road again.

My day sucked but the girls were so awesome to help me out with fixing the problems.  I hope they weren’t mad - and if they were, I hope it was just because they had to drive that Nissan thingy.

I’m going to crash now, but as my Grandmother used to say “Tomorrow will be better”.  Until then - I leave you with a little snap of the girls.  (Okay - so looking at the following picture makes me think that my day was not THAT bad.  It had some issues - but getting to hang out with these awesome girls all day - I shouldn’t complain.)

It’s the middle of August already?  WOW - summer is flying by…and I am letting it.  I have been so swamped with so many exciting things - that it is tough to set aside some time for anything but a nap.  With the weather finally shaping up - I am looking forward to some time at the beach, as well as the Jason Mraz concert this weekend with friends.

I have been meaning to dedicate a post to a fun little photo shoot that Krista and I did for our 5 year anniversary.  At the beginning of this month was our big milestone - but with kids, and all the coming and going - we were excited to have a nice night in. 

We started with an amazing steak dinner - with all the trimmings.  It was so good - one of my favorite meals for sure!  Then after we put the kiddos down, we set up the paper, lights and camera to have some fun with a little photo shoot.  Here is some quick samples of our fun little shoot. 

Remember is are not fully edited!  When GQ and Vogue comes knocking….I will re-do these….ha!

First of all, if you want to find more about Dave and Charlotte, as well as their workshop, check them out here.  (Or visit www.daveandcharlotte.com).

I have to STRONGLY encourage you NOT to take this workshop.  I am a very selfish and jealous guy, so please do not take this workshop as it will make you a better photographer, get you amazing images, and get you thinking of ways to get better.  I want to keep this little secret to myself, so that I get better than you….so please, if you are a photographer in my area.  Do not take it.

But seriously….I am totally kidding.  Take this workshop.  It was awesome, and here is my take.

So, I was very nervous about taking this workshop.  I am not sure why I was nervous, because I knew that it was going to be worth it.  I was excited about getting the opportunity to shoot beautiful brides, beautiful details, and beautiful venues.  I was also excited about the chance to talk to successful wedding photographers that were totally cool, totally real, and totally genuine in trying to make me a better photographer. 

So we met at 10am at Berkley Church on Queen St. E in Toronto.  As I parked, I was almost in tears as to what a beautiful building this is.  Unfourtuantely, we did not get to shoot directly in the church as there was another event happening.  Instead, we were shooting in various awesome adjascent areas.  There was a court yard, a roof top, a bridal room, and a reception style hall.  All with great details and backdrops to shoot with.

The first part of the workshop was Dave and Charlotte talking about various topics such as blogging, social networks, slide shows, and marketing.  They also brought in as a special guest photographer to also speak and help by the name of Bryan Caporicci.  Someone told me that he was in his early 20’s….which just made me want to punch him in the face for being awesome.  Early 20’s?  Jeepers - I was so far from being awesome when I was that in my early 20’s.  I am quickly going to add Bryan’s website (here) to my bookmarks and stalk follow his work.

Then after lunch….It was on, like donkey kong!  Everyone dove into their camera bags like we were a S.W.A.T team ready for a drug bust.  LOCK AND LOAD!  We divided into two groups to allow Dave & Charlotte and Bryan to walk around with the groups and share some ideas, techniques, and real-life wedding situations.  That was a huge highlight…as I saw first hand what a couple different lighting options can do in various situation.

We divided into groups of two (one to shoot, and one to assist) and got a few minutes with each model for our very own creative time.  My partner Brian (his website is here) was great, and I was lucky to be partnered with a photographer with my taste, (and love of gear).  He was a huge help…and we had fun, and fun with our models.

I will keep the details of the locations until my next post - when I post the edited pictures.  Although I am spent from the day, and still have so many things running through my head from the workshop…I think I am going to try to get some quick edits done tonight for your feedback tomorrow.

So today was a great day.  An awesome workshop, from awesome people.  Check out Dave + Charlotte, but remember….they are ONLY my friends now, not yours….and the workshop is ONLY for me, not you.  *nudge*

Any time you get to photograph chicks as cute as these - is a good gig! 

However, I am not referring to the beautiful cheerleaders here - I am referring to the baby ducks.  Okay, okay…so a baby duck is not called a “chick” either (they are called ducklings)….but it was still a great weekend. 

I had the pleasure to be a part of a weekend event by way of a great company, a great sports team, and a great charity.  As much as I hope they all enjoy the pictures I took for them, the weekend was sincerely my pleasure.  I was at the Rona Cashway Home Show event in Belleville this past weekend.  Rona brought along their favorite team members from the Toronto Argonauts to hopefully raise money for their local chapter of Big Brothers/Big Sisters.  My task, was document the booth activity and football toss competiton (with a host of local notable personalities) as well as allowing the vendors of the event to get their picture taken with the Argo team for a $10 donation to Big Brothers/Big Sisters.

The Rona booth was incredible!  And more than deserving of the “best in show” award that they received for having the best booth.  It included a great kitchen set up, an amazing deck/patio combination, and even a pond with a bridge!  This is where the most popular of celebrities stayed put.  The 12 one week old ducklings attracted passers by as they huddled under the warm heat lamp, or splashed in the water. 

They were as much of a hit as the Argo Cheerleaders.  I am convinced that one of them would have traded her pom-poms into take a duckling home, and the other was a little afraid of holding the tiny delicate cuties (but did great).  Melissa and Tasha have been a part of a few Rona Belleville events, and I am sure that they will always have an invitation to future events as well.  The kids loved them as they handed out “A” stickers of the Argo logo, as well as tended to the ducklings during the down times.  Personally, I understand that they have to stand a certain way, and wear certain outfits….but after spending a few hours with them I am sure that they did not get selected by the Argo’s just because of their gorgeous looks, and athletic ability…but because of their personality as well.  They are just good people, that make you feel like a long lost friend from way back.  They are perfect representatives of the Argos.

Along with Melissa and Tasha came Bryan Crawford, the #40 Running Back for the team.  Bryan as well is a returning guest for the Rona crew….and rightfully so.  I was so impressed with his constant ability to be everywhere, and talk to everybody.  Everyone wanted a moment, a photo, and autograph…and he never stopped.  I guess I have been a part of events where professional sports players sit at a table, give you one autograph while you snap a picture - and move on to the next like an assembly line.  Not this guy.  High fives for the kids, chatting with visitors of the booth, or even visiting other booths to sit in vendors bathtubs, or toss a few darts.  (Long Story).  I am sure that he is a great model for kids, as well as a great teammate.  Everyone seemed to love Bryan…well, everyone except for some Leafs fans that were in the booth when he mentioned he was a Habs fan!

It was a great weekend.  Big shout outs to everyone involved.  Bil (aka Dad), Ron, Julie, Clark - and the rest of Rona; Brian Evans, Bryan Crawford and Melissa and Tasha of the Toronto Argos, and of course the baby ducklings.  Everyone chipped in to have a great home show, as well as raise a bit of money for Big Brothers Big Sisters.  Their next event is the Quinte RibFest this summer - so I have to try to figure out a way to hold a camera, and eat a rack of ribs at the same time.

Overall, I am still buzzing from the experience.  I look forward to hopefully being a part of more events with this group.