Downtown Ottawa wedding photo locations

So you've taken care of most of the major decisions: the venue has been booked; you've hired the officiant; and the photographer. Wait, you haven't booked your photographer yet?!? I can help you with that! 

Now, with these crucial decisions out of the way, you can get down to planning some details, such as considering the kind of backdrop you want for your wedding photos.

Discuss photo locations with your photographer, who will have some great ideas. If you're getting married in or around downtown Ottawa, you have many spectacular options readily available! Here are a few of my favourites:

Parliament Hill - Gorgeous architecture and landscaping, within easy walking distance of downtown hotels and churches. An added bonus is the attention you'll get from the tourists -- always fun!

Museum of Nature - The natural light in this place is amazing for wedding photography! This is a popular wedding venue, but even if you are not having your ceremony or reception here, for a small fee it is available for photography.

Rockliffe Park - Beautiful quiet park setting and the pavilion is a great setting for both ceremony and photos.

A great new option to receive your wedding photos!

Almost every day, it seems, there are new ways for couples to enjoy their wedding photos. Innovative packaging options abound; even for those of you who simply want your images available digitally, so you can reproduce your wedding photos in your own way and in your own time.

A current trend is for photographers to give couples access to a web site where they can go and download their photos. I don't like to make you go after your photos. When you pay a professional to look after the photography at your wedding, you shouldn't then be made to go get your images! You should have something tangible to show for your investment!

I'm a big fan of the USB flash drive. It's a compact and convenient format for delivering your collection of wedding photos - and it makes a great keepsake! With a USB drive, I can customize the photo files (which have already been carefully edited) to match your needs (.jpg, or .tiff, higher resolution, etc.). I also customize the drive itself, and its package, to provide an additional personal touch and add a bit of elegance.

The flash drive can be packaged a number of ways... I like being able to offer some prints along with the digital version of the images; something you can frame, use in any wedding album you select or create - or share with family and friends. Check it out below!

Let me know if you have any questions about this beautiful option for your wedding photos!

   

Val & Marty - and Carter!

With the holidays behind us, it's time to get caught up on some bloggery! Here's a peek at the wedding of my good friends, Val and Marty, a couple of months back. They put together a beautiful ceremony followed by an amazing party at Lago! A great night! But, how can you go wrong with free socks for everyone?!

 
 

 

Holiday gala - perfect time for portraits!

The Conference Board of Canada held their annual holiday gala in the Trillium Room at the beautiful Ottawa Convention Centre this year. So great to see everyone dressed up and celebrating the season!

Custom USB flash drives

There are a number of options for wedding photographers when it comes to presenting the final package of photos to their newlywed clients. More and more, the choice of brides and grooms is to simply purchase electronic versions of the photos along with copyright permission. This way, they have full control and can use the photos any way they please, creating their own photo books or enlargements.

But even here, with technology changing constantly, there is a great deal of choice in how those electronic files are delivered.

DVDs or CDs are the 'traditional' format for sharing electronic files and allow for some beautiful presentation packaging that can become a cherished memento.

Some photographers are now offering a cloud photo sharing option where they don't give their clients any package of images at all - electronic or otherwise. Rather, they upload the photos to a cloud storage service and provide a  link and password. It is up to the newlyeweds to download the files. I'm not sure why a couple would pay a photographer to make them go get their photos for themselves. I think it's better, when a couple lays down money for photography services, that in addition to the service of a talented professional, they receive something tangible in return that can become a keepsake of their wedding day.
  
Lately, I have been delivering clients' photos on truly beautiful custom USB flash drives. These compact drives have clear crystal bodies contained in metal edging that gives a distinct, sophisticated look. The couples' names are laser-engraved in a custom design right onto the drive. The drive itself is presented in a beautiful box with a faux-alligator finish, engraved with the couples' name in a custom design. Have a look:

Alysse Loves Hair!

I got to spend some quality time with Alysse a couple of weeks ago and we took the opportunity to shoot a portrait for her hair styling business. If you're planning a wedding in the Toronto area or would just like to try a new look, check her out at AlysseLovesHair!

 

 

International Space Station

Earlier this week I went out to a dark spot near Carleton Place to try and capture some images of the Perseids meteor shower. Although I was only out there for a short time (it was a weeknight, after all), I did see half a dozen falling stars. Unfortunately, they always seemed to be just out of my camera's field of view. I did, however, manage to get a couple of shots of the International Space Station as it passed overhead. 

ISS heading for the Big Dipper

ISS moving out of the Big Dipper

ISS fading out of sight as it heads towards Cassiopiea

ISS fading out of sight as it heads into Cassiopiea