Archive for June, 2011

Have an ‘Unplugged’ wedding please!

June 25, 2011

If you are a bride please read this post! In the past few years, I have witnessed more and more guests view the wedding they are attending through a viewfinder and not being truly there. I have even seen a few fathers look upon their own daughter or son only through a viewfinder throughout the entire ceremony. How sad is that? Please read this article by one of my FAVORITE blogs, Offbeat Bride

Tell your guests to unplug <========click here:)

If you agree with this article, consider having an unplugged ceremony/wedding!

and keep checking back to Offbeat Bride for great wedding inspiration and tips!

cheers!

barbara

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Styled Shoot | Elizabeth Taylor Inspired Wedding | Ottawa Convention Centre

June 7, 2011

Ottawa Wedding Photographer

Barbara Ann Studios

Ok Today is my birthday and I am 39! Yeah that’s right, I said it! I am 39! Bring on 40 I say!!! Because I am loving life! I therefore thought today was a perfect day to blog this….

I love looking at wedding magazines that have over the top decor, ideas, and just plain ol’ pretty. It was no surprise then, when I got talked into doing a styled shoot. I always wanted to do one but only if it had a purpose. I just didn’t want to do a styled shoot for the sake of doing one. The stars were aligned this year when the Ottawa Convention Centre was finally being opened after a few years of construction. Then sadly, one of the women who I believe is the epitome of beauty and glam passed away. Elizabeth Taylor was truly one of the greats.

I then had a conversation with a friend down in Florida who, I believe, is the QUEEN of styled shoots: Tab McCausland and she blew me away with her Marie Antoinette Shoot, then her Little Red Riding Hood Shoot! She gave me the Bazinga I needed to bring this styled shoot to fruition. (yes I am a Big Bang Theory fan - love me some Sheldon). Thank you Tab and yes, I already have the NEXT shoot in my head all set to go!!!

I want to say a HUGE, HUGE thanks to the vendors that donated their time, their talent and their love of weddings to make this shoot happen…

Venue Ottawa Convention Centre thank you Lianna from the bottom of my heart

Makeup: Ariana Assadi Mua Most amazing Makeup Artist ever!!

Decor: Details Ottawa Loved those Chiavari Chairs Eugenia!

Dresses: Olivia Couture from White Satin these dresses are amazing! You MUST go there for your wedding gown.

Florist: Michelle VandenBosch your creative mind never ceases to amaze me. Brides are in great hands with you!

Cupcakes: Sarah J’s Cupcakes I seriously LOVE that buttercream ! People of Ottawa! You have to taste them!

Model: Delaney Holley     ….you are not only a stunningly gorgeous girl, you are one of the nicest women I know. Thank you:)

Enjoy my fav images and the quick video of some behind the scenes action:

Ottawa Convention Centre

- Canada’s Meeting Place
The all-new Ottawa Convention Centre (OCC) is now open in the heart of Canada’s Capital on the site of the former Ottawa Congress Centre. The OCC is Canada’s Meeting Place – the premier Canadian convention centre, conference, meeting and tradeshow facility, and event venue. Overlooking Ottawa’s Rideau Canal UNESCO World Heritage Site and surrounded by Ottawa’s national sites, cultural treasures, natural beauty and relaxed urban vibe, the new Centre is within easy walking distance of 6,000 downtown Ottawa hotel rooms.

Wedding Tip!!!

Consider cupcakes instead of cake. I can’t tell you how many cakes I have photographed that never get eaten. I mean NEVER! However, whenever I get to photograph a wedding with cupcakes, they are all gone by the end of the evening. Guests love them! They are cute, yummy and you can take them with you easily. If you are still grabbling with tradition, have a 6-9 inch round cake at the top that you and your new spouse can cut at the wedding and then take home with you. If considering cupcakes, please taste around! There is a difference! I have to say after eating a number of cupcakes at weddings (yes I am guilty) I can recommend Sarah Js Cupcakes hands down. Her buttercream is made from real butter and not filled with shortening. She also uses real flavors, not artificial. So when you order strawberry, you are getting real strawberries!  Finally she has a philosophy that the height of the cupcake should match the height of the buttercream…..ahhhhhhh…..I love that gal! Seriously try them. You will not be disappointed.

Photography Tips!!!!

To “thin” your face and to chisel a man’s face, have light on one side of the face and slight shadow on the other. One of my favorite locations to photograph a bride and groom is about 30 cm away from a window. This is hard to explain with words so let the pictures do the talking….

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Engagement Session | Dan & Sheena | Ottawa Tulip Festival

June 6, 2011

Ottawa Engagement Photographers

Barbara Ann Studios

Dan and Sheena are getting married!!!!!  Yay!!!!  I was soooo happy I took the opportunity to meet this couple. They actually changed my mind about working the weekend they are getting married. You see, it is the same weekend as the Ottawa Bridal Palace Wedding Show being held at the new (and gorgeous) Ottawa Convention Centre On Sept 10 and 11. I didn’t think I wanted a wedding in addition to a wedding show but I met them after speaking to Sheena on the phone….she is so sweet: I was hooked! Then I met Dan and I saw how they interacted with each other. WOW! Talk about a couple completely and utterly in LOVE! So I broke my own rule and have committed to their wedding on the wedding show weekend but it will be soooo worth it. Their wedding will be held at Saunders Farm and watch for some beautiful Fusion to top it off!

Additionally, Dan I think wins groom to be of the year…as a surprise to Sheena, he flew her (and I think some friends) to New York to go to Kleinfelds to pick out her wedding dress! That has got to be the most amazing and romantic thing I have ever heard of!!  Enjoy some of my fav images from their engagement session.


Ottawa Tulip Festival

This beautiful festival happens every year around the middle of May. Stunning array of tulips sent directly from Holland and this festival attracts visitors from all over the globe.

Wedding Tip!!!

Weddings are expensive! I get that! I understand how every bride wants to have the most spectacular day ever. One very quick way to cut expenses and either save money or afford the vendor you really want, is to cut the guest list. I am not saying omit your grandmother:) Sometimes just cutting the guest list by 10 can make a huge difference in your wedding budget. I wish I did this for my wedding because there were 10 cousins (who I never really saw anyways) who were invited but didn’t show – but I still had to pay for their plates.

Photography Tip!!!

Don’t get into the habit of storing your pictures all on your computer and never printing them. I am a poor, poor example. I still have my boys hockey pictures from 4 years ago on external backups. I need – and so should you- to make albums. Whether or not you have children, your photos are your memories. Don’t let Facebook become the virtual photo album. Take all of your photos from a given year and make an album out of it. There are great companies that provide affordable albums. Check out PhotoBookCanada for a great and affordable album. What better way to make fun of our hairstyles and clothing with our children or friends in years to come than having a physical album everyone can look at.

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Brockville Wedding | Megan and Andrew | Wedding by the water

June 3, 2011

Brockville Wedding Photographers

Barbara Ann Studios

Megan and Andrew got married in the beautiful city of Brockville and it was an equally beautiful day to photograph. Not a hot stinky mess like we have been getting lately:)  Still, the church was air conditioned and I was very thankful for that! Andrew wore a suit instead of a tux and I think this is becoming a trend. It is great to see men being able to wear their suit again. Brides on the other hand….more on that further down under my wedding tip.  Enjoy some of my fav images from the day!  I might add that Megan “almost” fell in the water when we were shooting….A speed boat (I think on purpose) passed by and the dock was rocking quite a bit from the impending waves. Andrew held on to her like a good husband should :)

Brockville Golf and Country Club

http://www.brockvillecountryclub.com/ contact them for more information on their wedding venue!

Wedding Tip !!!

What to do with that wedding dress huh? Well, there some options. You could keep it for sentimental reasons and a lot of brides choose this. Some even have their mothers or someone else make something with the gown such as baby’s christening gown or bassinet. Another option is to sell it either privately or at a consignment shop. My fav consignment shop is With Love Bridal Boutique located in Stittsville  AND if you are a bride who still does not have her gown chosen yet, why not start there if you are looking for a more affordable choice.

Photography Tip!!!

When getting pictures taken of you and your girlfriends, place one foot forward (like the actresses do on the red carpet), push your hips back, lean slightly forward with your chest and put your chin up. You will drop some pounds and look great! Because our hips are the furthest away from the camera, they actually look smaller. Also, by lifting our chin up, it stretches out our necks, causing our skin to be smooth and give the appearance of lost weight. TRY IT! Guaranteed your friends will look at you in the picture and say “wow you look fantastic!”


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Brockville Wedding at Fulford Place Museum | Liz and Eric

June 1, 2011

Brockville Wedding Photographers

Barbara Ann Studios
 I am going to try something new from now on….I know I have some consistent visitors to my blog and I do apologize for my lack of blogging:) To make it up, I am going to post a photography tip and a wedding tip with each post. Also, I will set aside Wednesdays as my Wedding Wednesday time to blog about something wedding related to help brides/grooms/couples with their impending nuptials!

Alrighty! Back to wedding photos!  I had the pleasure of photographing a very cute couple on the day of their wedding. They just needed me for their portraits and I was pleased to be able to take them to Fulford Place Museum located in Brockville. This “house” is amazing. It is a 200 year old mansion that is now the property of the government and turned into a museum with all it in it’s original glory. Enjoy the images!


Fulford Place Museum

Brockville Wedding Venues | Highlights of the house are the gorgeous ceilings and stained glass, the beautiful drawing room in a mixture of Louis XV and Louis XVI styles, and the impressive Jacobean style dining room

Photography Tip!!!

When taking pictures of children, get down to their level! They are smaller than us and sometimes a change in perspective changes up the look of our photos!

Wedding Tip!!!

If in the wedding budget, invest in a wedding coordinator. They more than likely will save you money in the long run! Not only that, the good ones have the ability to help you in the direction of your wedding decor wise, put out “fires” the day of the wedding and make the running of your wedding day so flawless. I highly recommend coordinators Lynn Lee of Weddings Unveiled and Joan-Anne Cantley of Viva La Wedding.

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