Portraits of the Women's Olympic Hockey Team.

The Golden Girls.

Take away the Jersey, Gold Medals, skates and helmet, and the women underneath are beautiful, genuine and marvellous people to photograph. I was hired a day prior to the shoot, and was given creative freedom. I decided to go the route of shooting dark, personal portraits; [my favourite style].

For a long time now I've been enamoured by the photographs of Joey Lawrence. His dark, moody, intimate photos inspire me. In creating these photos I took a page from his look-book. I wasn't going for light, bright and cheery, but rather up close, personal and perhaps a little somber. 

A fun fact, the women here were not photoshopped. That's what they look like in real life.

With that said, enjoy, and share around. 

I can't show 3/4 of the photos I shot as they have the Olympic Jerseys. 

Hayley Wickenheiser: Image copyright: Hockeycanada.ca

Hayley Wickenheiser: Image copyright: Hockeycanada.ca

Hayley Wickenheiser: Image copyright: Hockeycanada.ca

Brianne Jenner: Image copyright: Hockeycanada.ca

Marie-Philip Poulin: Image copyright: Hockeycanada.ca

Laura Fortino: Image copyright: Hockeycanada.ca

Meaghan Mikkelson: Image copyright: Hockeycanada.ca

Natalie Spooner: Image copyright: Hockeycanada.ca

Natalie Spooner: Image copyright: Hockeycanada.ca

Natalie Spooner: Image copyright: Hockeycanada.ca

Natalie Spooner: Image copyright: Hockeycanada.ca

Meghan Agosta-Marciano: Image copyright: Hockeycanada.ca

Meghan Agosta-Marciano: Image copyright: Hockeycanada.ca

Catherine Ward: Image copyright: Hockeycanada.ca

Catherine Ward: Image copyright: Hockeycanada.ca

Catherine Ward: Image copyright: Hockeycanada.ca

Catherine Ward: Image copyright: Hockeycanada.ca

Caroline Ouellette: Image copyright: Hockeycanada.ca

Image copyright: Hockeycanada.ca

Rebecca Johnston: Image copyright: Hockeycanada.ca

Jennifer Wakefield: Image copyright: Hockeycanada.ca

Genevieve Lacasse: Image copyright: Hockeycanada.ca

Jayna Hefford: Image copyright: Hockeycanada.ca

The gold Medals of Jayna Hefford: Image copyright: Hockeycanada.ca

Most of the photos used an octa-bank and beauty dish as the main light. Both on the same side of the face, unlike the below photo. The beauty dish I set to half power and the octa-bank [fill light] is immediately behind the beauty dish and at a much lower power. 
Most of the photos had a soft-box as a rim light, and spot light on the background. All of the lights are Alienbees. 

Behind The Scenes.

Rad

Color me Rad is a 5k run for a local charity. Not timed, just colour. And the best FAQ I've ever read. Period. 
Click photos view larger gallery. 

Under the influence of McNally with Jen Maslak

Jen is a very genuine, beautiful and fun person to work with. Not only is she a model, but also a mom and a floral designer [and yes she's talented!!]. I just met her that day, and worked with her for 2 hours, and already we talked like friends that had known each other for a long time. It made the shoot much more enjoyable. 

This shoot was inspired by Joe McNally, a truly gifted photographer, I'm one of his many admirers.  I bought the book 'Sketching Light by Joe McNally' almost a year ago. I flipped through it several times, and then put it on the shelf, feeling inspired. I created great work. So the other day as I was cleaning my room [thank god my mom doesn't have to see it] and rediscovered his book. I read it front to back. I again felt über inspired and asked on CFC if anyone could help me. Jen volunteered. 

I left my tripod at home [couldn't find the base plate] even though I knew we'd be shooting long exposure. So for some of these shots I had to trust my stability and IS lenses to keep the photos sharp when shooting at 1/15 second handheld, you try doing that! 

All these shots were taken at Big Hill Springs just 20 minutes north west of Calgary.  

Matt & Rossana Keay Wedding

I met Matt and Rossana for the first time in the Devonian Gardens a few months ago. I didn’t have a lot of experience shooting a wedding solo, as I was used to shooting them as a second shooter hutterite-style. Which is to say, we don't photograph any of the ceremony or reception, only group/family and photos with the couple. But they looked at my work and gave me a chance.

The day started in Hotel Arts, with steaming dresses, applying makeup, styling hair and for the men it started with a hot shave at London Barbers. I was grateful for the schedule sent by the wedding coordinator, Cheryl. A two page, minute-by-minute breakdown of the wedding. Which we surprisingly stuck to. It was vital in ensuring I captured the beautiful moments from both parties which were separated by a floor in the hotel.

After the ceremony, which was short and beautiful we all drove to Shaw Millenium [skate] Park in a limo. Matt is a skateboarder. We transformed the graffitied walls, the dirty concrete and skate bowls into our studio with some help from a powerful Alienbee Strobe.  It was at that time that I realized why I was so skinny. I run a lot when shooting.

After two hours of shooting, we drove back to the Hotel for the reception. A pink flamingo room greeted us, a theme set by the folks at Fusion Bollywood.

During the reception the Maid of honor, April, performed a stunning rap song about the couple. I was surprised by that one, and utterly loved it. And then there was the money dance. The guests pinned money onto the bride and groom and then danced with them to the music of the bride’s dad.

I felt ecstatic at the end of the day. I knew the photos were good. I have high expectations for myself, and that day passed every one. I want every wedding I shoot to be better than the last.

Thank you Florian Lim for your help on this fantastic, sunny day. And thanks to Rosanna and Matt’s friends and family for making it such a fun day.

Thank you Matt and Rossana for allowing me to be the witness on your wedding day. It was an honor.

Converse Shoes.. Yankees Hats.. and Skateboards

IMG_5854.jpg