What do you think of these as some new colours for William Ainsley? 

When I decided I needed to make a colour change, I tried to dig into some of the things I really like.  It is funny, after rhyming off some things that I love, they all had a consistent colour tone.  Then when I looked at the majority of my wardrobe….it too had the same tones.  I think I like these colours. 

Diet Coke, Cohiba Cigars, Good Coffee, Pistachios….these are all things that the colours were pulled from.

What do you think?  Email me or post comments.

From time to time I look at some opportunities to shoot area models.  I find that it lets me experiment with lighting, composition, and the post processing is fun as well.  Ironically, shooting models is not my main business but I think it is what I enjoy the most, and do the best.

Actually -  I enjoy it as much as the other types of photography…I mean, I like weddings, engagements, babies, etc  for different reasons.  I love the emotion, and the details of “life” photography.  With models I love the juxtaposition and drama that can be created.

So, I introduce Tori.  Some will notice that I have some “favorite” models.  Models that I have shot a few times - and will likely shoot more.  Tori is one of those people.  The things that make these models my favs are easy - they are flexible and easy going, they interesting and pleasant….and they are local.  (Obviously they are beautiful too!)  I had a lot of fun with Tori - and we got some great shots.  For being such a new model - she is a natural.  If you want to check out Tori, her Model Mayhem is #838263.

Being local is important to me - as I find the best shoots are the quick shoots.  I like that I can text Tori, find out if she is available - and in a few hours have some fun shooting.  We can simply drive around, look for intersting locations and get great shots.  Tori was very laid back and great to work with…and I look forward to taking pictures of her again soon!

So I put up a Craig’s List ad today for a wedding photography.  Advertising my services in discounted forums like that is not really my type of gig.  However, I do understand that it is not my full (and awesome) packages….it’s pretty limited - but I do think it is a pretty sweet deal for those budget brides.

And I don’t say “budget brides” in a negative way.  My and my wife did our wedding on a budget, and I honestly think it was something out of a wedding magazine.  (I am not bias either!).  I think that our ability to source high quality products, facility, and vendors - allowed us to literally have the wedding that we dreamed of.  (Yes…I was involved!)

Perhaps that is a part of why I got into wedding photography myself!  I loved the elements of the day, and the special moment that it represents.

So….I thought, why not put a discounted package on Craig’s List for people just like me?

Let’s see how it does…..

AB

Hey everyone, or anyone…..make sure you wear your hard hats and safety boots around here for the next little bit.  I am messing around with this new blog template (which I am liking so far) - so it will be a work in progress as I get it going.

Would love your thoughts on the changes!

I wanted to make some adjustments to my site, pictures, blog, etc, etc - so I decided that I would take a week off from the “real job” to work on these adjustments.  Well, very happily - the family is getting in the way of me accomplishing my plans.  No offence to any of you guys but it is so great spending days with my kids and not worrying about anything else. 

But, I was going through some pictures that I am going to be reworking, and re-adding to my website.  I thought that over the next few weeks I would just randomly post about past events/shoots that I have photographed.

This batch of images is from a shoot that a couple fellow photogs and I put together.  We ended up calling this shoot the “Frostbite” shoot because the day was so incredibly cold.  I can’t remember exactly what it was that day - but I think the temp gauge on my car said -14 degrees Celsius.  The shoot took place in downtown Toronto, around St. Lawrence Market and the Union Station/Skywalk.

In short - we took a couple models (one of my favorites, Erin) and her friend (one of my new favorites, Ian) and set them up with some Profoto gear.  It was a great shoot - and I hope when it gets warmer we can shoot them again.  I think I am going to need to put a section on my website just for all my pictures of Erin!  (You gotta admit though…she deserves her own section!)

I think we are going to get together soon again - and set up another shoot.  Stay Tuned!

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.