May 5th, 2023 . A personal branding shoot with a nutritionist.

Shooting with nutritionist Rosina Vecchio, was a fun experience. The goal was to capture images that not only showcased her personality and expertise but to promote her approach to food and nutrition. There was a bit of work on her part leading up to our photoshoot with food preparation but also to bring a range of fruits, veggies, ingredients and props. Here are some of thing I go over with clients when planning a personal branding photoshoot.

When working with professionals and branding, we always have at least a couple of consultation calls or meetings to talk about the vision, the mood, the location, lighting, props, makeup, wardrobe amongst other details.

For this particular project Rosina had borrowed a friends kitchen to shoot in which was nice and big, given us space to move around and the ability to create slightly different backgrounds for a variety of shots.

A few things to consider when you plan a photoshoot in a house are:

• how much ambient light there is.

• what are the colors you will be dealing with? Is it a neutral tones which is ideal in most circumstances or; are the walls dark or brightly colored which can affect the lighting and cast weird colors on someone’s skin. If there is a lot of color but nice ones, maybe you just need to coordinate your props and wardrobe accordingly.

• is the house really cluttered because that can quickly become a nightmare to deal with. If so, can we move stuff around if we have to?

• are the cabinets highly reflective? that can create problems because you can start seeing your own reflection in the images.

Here are some key tips to organizing a personal branding photoshoot:

Create your moodboard of ideas, colors, props, looks and share it with your photographer.

It’s important that you everything is discussed in detail prior to your shoot, so everyone is one the same page and understands the vision and what kind of images we are trying to create.

Make sure you have your shot list:

Create a list of shots you need and extra in case you have time. Make sure someone is checking things off the list as you go along. You don’t want to walk away from you shoot forgetting to shoot a shot that was on the list.

Decide what the style and mood with lighting will be:

Lighting is one of the most important elements of any photoshoot. For a nutritionist's photoshoot, it's important to create a bright and airy atmosphere that promotes healthy living. Use soft, diffused lighting to create a warm and inviting feel. You can also experiment with natural light by shooting near a window or outside in the fresh air.

Choose your prop wisely:

Use props that speak to your audience and matches your brand. Choose colors that will compliment and not clash with the surrounding colors include your outfits and color pallette on your website. You could bring fresh fruits and vegetables, a blender, or a glass of water, a lemon squeezer, cutting board, knife and other items that promote cooking healthy and nourishing foods and put in contexts. This will not only add interest to your photos but also emphasize the nutritionist's expertise and message.

Experiment with poses and expressions

Try to create realistic situations like making a salad, drizzling the dressing, squeezing a lemon and make sure. A nutritionist should appear knowledgeable, confident, and approachable in their photos. Try different poses that showcase your personality and expertise. Help the photographer be able to capture expressions such as a smile or a laugh that promote positive energy and health. This will make you potential clients identity with you and picture themselves being happy prepping and cooking health foods in their own kitchen. Remember you are selling you as a brand, not necessarily your service. Your client wants to work with you to inspire them to want to be better at feeding themselves and their family. That’s why it’s so important to show your personality in your brand. Be authentics!

You don’t have be in every shot:

Think of your social media needs and other advertising photographic content visual to post. You might not need to have your face in every shot. Set up some platters, bowls and props and let the photographer move in closer to get some details shots. Thinks quality and variety!

May 04, 2023 . Playing with shadows and reflections in photography.

As a photographer you can’t seem to help seeing things that maybe most people are not really paying attention to. It’s not that they are not paying attention necessarily but they just don’t see the things you see because it’s part of your job. I mean after all, that’s why people pay photographers. They pay for their ey and skill of seeing and creating images by using light, lines, shadows, reflections and other components all with the perfect composition.

Shadows.

Creating shadows in a studio space is like trying to mimic sunlight with your studio lights. As kids we all look and play with shadows on the pavement on a bright sunny day and it’s sort of the same in studio. To create shadows, you need a hard light. Soft light with a big light modifier helps to minimize shadows, so you definitely want to keep the light source a light harder. Just like the sun, when the sky is overcast, shadows start to disappear and if you shoot in midday sun on a very sunny day, the shadows are the most sharp.

The light source set at an angle to the wall, to cast a strong shadow. You can experiment with the distance and the angle of the light of your subject to achieve the desired effect.

Reflections.

You can find reflections everywhere but you have to look for them as they might not always be obvious. Look down and around to find them. They can add depth and a different perspective to your images. Experiment with angles and distance just like shadows to make the perfect composition. Nature provides lots of opportunities with reflections specially around any body of water. You can even find reflections in urban areas with building, windows or any shiny surface. Play around with perspectives and see what you can create.

A photographer's top tips for preparing a personal brand photoshoot.

1. First and foremost: Define who you are as a brand and have a clear vision of your photoshoot objectives. What are your values, mission, style and unique selling proposition? How to you want to present yourself and be perceived by your audience?

2. Make yourself a mood/vision board: Pinterest is a great tool for creating a clear visual communication that you can use for adding images that inspire you as you work on creating this vision easily sharing it with your photographer and other artists that might be working on the day of your photoshoot.

3. Select your photographer wisely: Look for a professional who specializes in personal branding and who’s style and aesthetics aligns with your brand and your voice. Find someone who has experience working with brands, entrepreneurs and professionals.

4. Plan your looks: Selecting clothing can be hard for some people and if you have the budget, an industry professional wardrobe stylist can be a great option. If the rates are out of your budget, asking for input from friends and even doing some shopping with the option to return the garments after your shoot is a good way to go. Photographers and stylist do it all the time. They shop, keep the tags on, make sure to be mindful with the items on the day of the photoshoot and then just return everything. Keep in mind to choose outfits that are consistent with your brand image and colors that will elevate your website if you have a color pallet associated with your products and branding.

5. Not all clothing translates well on camera: I always tell clients plan on bringing more than you need … just in case. Avoid busy patterns, large logos, or distracting accessories.

6. Strongly recommended: Since you’re investing into professional photography, at the very least, I highly recommend hiring a professional artist for your hair and makeup. Even if you’re used to doing your own and consider yourself well versed in makeup, having a pro on set is so valuable. Most photographers usually have a list of their favorites and having a team that is used to working together and understand each other’s cues can be so helpful.

7. You will need to select your location: Consider a location that can provide a visually interesting backdrop for your photos. Find a place or maybe it’s a couple of places that will be complimentary to your outfits, in your branding and speaks to your target customer.

8. Have your shot list: This is a must! Make sure you have list of shots that you want the photographer to capture during your shoot. It can be anything from headshots, product and/or lifestyle shots depending the type of business run or the brand you represent. If you provide a service, you may want to dedicate a portion of the photoshoot to lifestyle images of you actually physically interacting with your clients at the location of your business. This could involve more logistical planning but can provide highly engaging content for your website and social media.

9. Posing: Hopefully you have selected a photographer is good at helping people pose for the camera specially if you are someone who’s not used to being in front of the lense. make sure you ask. As silly as it sounds, practicing posing in front of a mirror can be very helpful in helping you see what you might be doing with your head and body. Watching the pros do on TV or Youtube is also an option. Mostly, just have fun with it! try to keep it fun and loose and move around. Most photographers are shooting in digital format and you only need a few great shots of the same outfit, so it’s better to try to give the photographer posing options then standing in front the camera and not moving. Don’t overthink it to much and don’t be shy to ask for guidance.

10. Sleep tight and don’t let the bedbugs bite: You want to show up well-rested and hydrated leading up to the photoshoot. An industry trick for women specially, is to ice your face before you head out the door. It will help reduce any puffiness. If and hopefully you have a makeup artist on set, all you need to do is show up with a clean, well moisturized face and dry hair. They will work their magic! And, a side note for those women who are not used to wearing much makeup, it never looks as heavy as it feel on camera. And a word of caution … if there is something you don’t like about your hair or makeup, please speak up and communicate with the artist. It’s much easier to fix or change something before taking millions of photos, then to try to fix things in post productions with photoshoot.

May 1st, 2023 . Brand identity and creating content that speaks to your brand.

When it comes to building a brand, compelling images are an essential tool for creating a cohesive and recognizable brand identity. As a photographer, I understand the importance of images in conveying a message or story. Your branding is the personality behind your products or services and the images that your company puts out to the world has to resonate with your target market … your persona. Visual elements like colors, typography and your logo tell the story of your brand. Whether your selling physical products or a service, images are arguably one of the most powerful components of branding to help show your potential clients who you are as a brand by displaying a visual story … and if done right they can get a clear understanding of the brand's offerings, values and mission without even reading a word. Strong images can really help establish an identity and voice that helps you shine over some of your competitors and build a framework of loyal and repeat customers that connect with you and your brand.

You want to hire a photographer that has a body of work with a style that aligns with the aesthetics of your brand can help create a consistent look and feel across all platforms from your website, social media profiles to your business cards and product packaging. Using your phone and other friend’s a family to take snap shots does not equal the value that a photographer can bring to a photoshoot with thousands of dollars of professional equipment and the experience behind the camera. They can create a collection of images that tell the story of your brand that will speak to your audience.

Professional images are such an important component of brand recognition and can really help make a strong impression. Good quality images elevates a brand, creates trust and helps build brand awareness. Even if your target client doesn’t purchase the first time they discover your product or service, they will at least be likely to remember you as a well polished brand that had a clear communication of what your brand is all about.

Whether you’re professional providing a service or have service and/or product based brand, you need to create a story that will resonate with your potential clients and stays consistent across all platforms and sales tools. People don’t buy products only on the fact that they work, they buy products because they identify with the brand’s image, values and mission.

High-quality images can increase engagement on social media and other digital channels, helping to build brand awareness and attract new customers. If your visual message is consistent, they are more likely to remember you when they are ready to buy or hire your services.

Here’s what to expect if you decide to hire a professional photographer to work with:

• A consultation phone call to talk about your vision and photographic needs.

• A good photographer will ask that you provide them with visual examples (websites or social media accounts you admire or a Pinterest page as mood board). This helps get both the client and the photographer on the same page and establish clarity on the look and feel you are hoping to achieve from a photoshoot.

• Them comes an estimate with the photographer’s rates, then maybe followed by a conversation about what kind of budget you are working with and how many deliverables you hoping to get from this photoshoot. Sometimes it’s easier to problem solve the budget together until you can come to an production cost that works for you, the client, while also being respectful of the photographer’s time, equipment and expertise that person is bringing to the table.

• Then you plan the shoot: Will it be shot in studio or on location somewhere? Will you need models, makeup artists, wardrobe stylist or will it be smaller production with just you and your products?

• Keep in mind the cost of a photoshoot with a professional will not only depend on how long the shoot lasts and how many final images you expect but also on what responsibilities the photographer is in charge of to put together this photoshoot: location scouting, model research, finding props or putting an entire productions team together.

• Depending on the photographer and the size of the production, you will likely need to pay 50% up front to confirm the day and time of your photoshoot in case they need to turn other work away and usually you will pay the balance upon deliverables.

• Always have clear directions on your timeline for final images and make sure they can deliver the images on time specially if you have a product or website launch date.

• It’s always a good idea to have a list of shots for your photoshoot so you can tick them off as you shoot to ensure you don’t finish your photoshoot only to realize you forgot some important images you need.

• Because of the popularity of social media and behind the scenes, it’s not a bad idea to make sure you capture some real time behind the scenes while on a shoot as often these shots get some much engagement and be sure to show your personality. People like brands and products that have personality that they can relate to.

Here is an example of a shoot for a client with a telling a story with a cohesive look, feel and style.

Feb.16th, 2023 Athlete portraits collection

I’ve always had a passion and fondness for sports which have a little fear factor and a big exhilaration component. Action sports have played a big part of my life. I left home at 18, leaving behind the chilling winters of the East Coast of Canada in search of new adventures and in lure of skiing the big mountains on the West Coast. So I took a drive across Canada in mid January with two friends with only one vision in mind … to do some big mountain skiing! I was lucky to spend three full seasons in Whistler and probably skied up to 120 days a year. I mean, we skied our asses off:) getting enough sleep was no my motivation at the time. I worked in the evenings so I could ski all day and no matter what time I went to bed, I was up to hit the mountain for some fresh tracks on any given powder day. I coached the kids ski racing on Blackcomb on the weekends to get my pass and I was sorted. When you’re young and noone’s depending on you, all you need is a pass and a good pair of skis, some friends ready to charge the mountain with you and your having the time of your life. I didn’t think twice about any of the dangers of what and where I was skiing. I mean, how bad can it hurt if there’s so much snow.

After my stint in Whistler, my heart was stolen by another sport which soon was all consuming and all I wanted to do. The wind and waves were calling me. I started traveling to the Oregon to the Columbia River Gorge every time I could. After soon releasing this passion was leaving me, I packed up my things, signed up for college in Portland and moved myself to the charming town of Hood River, one the world’s well known windsurfing hubs. That is where I found my tribe as they say. Windsurfing is one of these sports where if you want to do it and do it well, it pretty much as to be your life. To go windsurfing once in a while is not going to get you anywhere, at least not where I wanted to be which was in the waves of Hawaii. I definitely didn’t need anyone pushing me to go sailing aka windsurfing anytime the wind was up. I was known for hitting the water at first light on the River when the wind was blowing and spent most windy days putting in marathon sessions on the water. Five, six hours was nothing. We were a crew of friends with a common passion that was unstoppable.

After going to school and sailing on the River for a couple of years, many of my peers and I decided to hit the big stage and make the move to the North Shore of Maui. Being from Monreal and growing up skiing, the powerful waves of Hawaii were foreign to me. Although I did spend the first year of my life in Hawaii, I didn’t have the luxury of growing up near the ocean and the waves. I distinctly remember standing at Hookipa, the most famous windsurfing beach in the world, on a big day wondering how a girl from Montreal was ever going to be good enough to ride out there. Well, as with anything practice makes perfect and working on your skills, it didn’t take long before I braved the ocean and it’s powerful surf to eventually spending my days sailing at Hookipa.

Playing in the surf is fun but it can also be stressful when it gets big or the wind turns offshore and you’re at the mercy of nature. Things can go sideways quickly if you don’t know what you’re doing or head out and don’t have the skills to handle the conditions. When you get nailed by a big set, you better not let anxiety sink into your brain. You need to stay calm, hold your breath and just go with the flow. All you can do is come up for a breath and duck underneath the next waves and wait for a lull in between sets to collect your gear or swim for it:) unless you have the unfortunate experience of getting slammed onto the rocks and hope that not ALL your equipment is broken or shredded to pieces and that you don’t end up with reef and rocks cuts everyone. If it sounds stressful, that because it was.

When they say have respect for the ocean, that’s because you must know that if you want to play there, you need to be aware of the possible dangers and consequences associated with it power and unpredictability.

Here are a few images I shot as part of a personal project I started and have not finished as our lives got interrupted by a little thing called Covid. Hoping to continue this project this year and will keep adding to my collection.

2023 . A new year! New hopes and dreams! New goals and challenges!

January, 5th 2023

Every January we seem to find ourselves reflecting on last’s years accomplishments, challenges, events and memories. We look forward to the new year as a new beginnings as if it was the new dawn that will allow us the luxury of recreating ourselves, our dreams and explore new ventures we’re forever longing for. It seems like the momentum towards a new future is always easier when you have the next 12 months ahead of you for really curating the life you really want and do all the things you’ve always dreamed of but never get the chance to because life in the now gets in the way.

We make lists of goals, we plan, we buy new calendars and personal planners, we join the gym and promise to give up all the nagging habits and transform into the very best version of ourselves in this new year!

Promises to ourselves, to other family members, to our careers and to the universe to be better, to achieve more, do more and stay focussed. On the radio, the hosts talk about new year resolutions asking the audience “ Tell us about your resolutions!” Gym’s send out the new year membership discounts which everyone jumps on thinking this is it: “I’m getting fit in 2023”. Yap! This is my year to get in the best shape of my life!

Admittedly, I’m guilty of it as I’ve decided this year is my time to get more consistent with putting out more blog posts and being more consistent with my email marketing. But what if there was no start to the new year, would we set out such goals and be in such a rush to hit the pavement running with so many dreamy expectations that we’ll stay the course and be consistent on all levels?

Now I’m looking back at the past couple of years in my work and life to dive into what areas of my life as a mother, commercial photographer and human being I need to work on to be better, do better and accomplish the dreams and goals that will help bring me closer to the future and the life I envision for myself and my business!

A few images from last summer’s fun down at the Jericho Sailing Center and Windsure Adventure Water Sports!

Summer breeze, clear blue water and a great appreciation for our natural world!

“ The Sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.”

Jacques Cousteau

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A day on the ocean can create memories to last a lifetime. On Monday, my brother, my son Finn and two of his friends had a little fun cruising Howe Sounds and around some of the nearing islands.

We left Squamish mid morning in windy, cold, cloudy conditions which was not necessarily reassuring weather to head out on the ocean for a day of fun in the sun with three kiddos. I mean, the boat ride alone is a novelty but I had prepared for a hot, sunny British Columbia summer day with watermelon, cold drink and paddle boards for some summer water time on our beautiful Pacific ocean. Clouds or no clouds the ride on the ocean surrounded by mountains, cliffs and the insanely stunning color of the water is a treat never the less.

Luckily as we approached warmer waters, we found a amazing sheltered bay for some swimming and paddle boarding fun. Just as we arrived the clouds graciously dissipated just enough to let the warming rays of the sun to keeping us just warm enough to enjoy the fresh water of the Pacific Northwest.

The kids had an amazing time, dropping in and out of the water, from Finn’s confident front flips, to diving contests, to paddle boarding. Even with the loud chaos of three kids splashing and thrashing around in and out of the boat, I managed to take in the breathtaking beauty of our environment, the ocean, the mountain, the trees and all the wonders of nature around me. Olivia said it well as we were driving back to Squamish at the end of a very waterlogged day filled with smiles and laughter. She looked at me and expressed how beautiful the scenery was and how the color of the water remind her of the Caribbean.

On our ride back I also started to notice all the clearcutting of the forest which you don't notice when you’re driving on the Sea to Sky and have your eyes on the road. As a started counting the spots I could see, I wondered how much more clear cutting of our forests that I couldn’t see with miles of mountains hidden behind the ones lining Howe Sound. Mesmerized by the color of the water changing from one shade of green to the next as we started heading back into colder and even colder water towards the entrance of the Squamish river, my mind wondered more questioning if one day if future generations will be able to share a similar experience or if this place would still look the same once climate change has reach catastrophic levels that our natural world would be changed forever. I consider myself a generally optimistic person but I don’t feel so when I read about the health of our oceans, forests and the never ending, mind boggling environmental disasters that we humans have created and still are creating for our kids and our kid’s kids, if they will even consider having offsprings of their own one day.

PORTRAIT PHOTOS DON'T NEED TO BE PERFECT. THEY NEED TO BE HONEST!

After being a photographer for over 10 years now, I can honestly say that some of my favorite portraits are the ones that feel honest and natural.

A good portrait is when you can feel the person’s energy in their eyes with or without a smile. As a photographer’s it’s my job to guide my clients on how to present their bodies and faces to the camera to look their best. If you ever wonder why a headshot session takes over an hour to two hours, it’s because it takes time for most people to learn what they are doing with their body and face until they get to a place where they understand the subtle nuances of their facial expression and whether they feel more natural when they’re smiling or not. Working with models is a different story. If they have experience, they know what to do and how to move. Actor’s are different. Although they are used to being in front of a moving camera, doing stills often feel foreign to them and need coaching just as much as the realtor or other cooperate headshot client.

I recently had the opportunity to do a headshot marathon day at Vancouver’s actor’s union UBCP with a bunch of various actors. It was interesting meeting so many actors in one day of all shapes, gender, ages and ethnicity. I look forward to working with them again.

I’ve learned over the years, that most people don’t love getting their picture taken to begin with and will avoid going to get a professional headshot because they’ve only ever seen themselves in snaps shots taken by family or friends in less then perfect lighting. I think most of us want to look our very best in profile photo for LinkedIn , but we also want to feel genuine and look like ourselves. So my job as a headshot portrait photographer is to put all the pieces together to create images that truly represent the very best version of that person in front of the lens.

Sometimes that means being a problem solver because not everyone is going to love themselves or understand what is it about the photograph that they don’t love or are no comfortable looking at. I mean lets face it, it’s really hard to look at a photo of yourself when you don’t love it.

I had a client once who came to my studio to get her headshots done. She hired one of the professional hair and makeup artists I use. After her hair and makeup was done, I gently guided her in front of the camera and started taking her picture. I was using very soft natural looking light mixing filtered window light and strobes. We looked at the images together and she did not like the way she looked. I have used this lighting on so many women over the years and the usual response is that they never seem themselves look so good. It wasn’t the lighting. We kept trying. We toned down the makeup and changed the lighting. After what seemed like an eternity, she still didn’t seemed to be in love with anything. I saw her start to get more and more uncomfortable and teetering on the verge of tears.

That’s when I decide, ok, nothing is working so I need to change my approach completely. I told her to go in the washroom and take off all the makeup. She was not used to wearing makeup and so I thought at least that might eliminate one problem. I turned off all the strobes and sat her by the window using only available light. I photographed her for about 10 minutes and then we looked at the images together again. Finally I was winning! She loved the images. I was exhausted but felt so relieved that my client was walking out the door with a satisfied heart and feeling pleased with the outcome.

CBC’s Heartland actor Jordan Burtchett

THE FAMOUS CANADIAN TUXEDO STARTED IN VANCOUVER

There's something about the Canadian Tuxedo!  I always wondered where the name came from, why it's a thing and not reserved to just cowboys.  So I did a little web search and found out that back in 1951, Bing Crosby was apparently almost denied entry into the Vancouver Hotel because he was dressed from head to toe in denim.  It was Levi Strauss who got wind of the story and actually designed a denim tuxedo jacket for Crosby.  Since then the Canadians have adopted the outfit and named it the “Canadian Tuxedo”.

I have to say there's a feeling that goes along with wearing denim with denim,  like you're some kind wonderful.  I mean how many models, Rockstars, celebrities and famous western characters have we seen wearing the jean on jean outfit.  The Gap, H&M, Calvin Klein and most other major jean brands have used the look over and over again in ad campaigns.  I guess you don't need to live on a farm or ride a bull by the horns to pull it off!