Byron Brydges Photography

Celia & James!

2010-10-31T11:36:00.000-07:00

When Celia and James sat down with us, they were so excited to talk about their big day which was to happen at the family cottage in Perth. Fitting given their personalities and interests.

We had a great day shooting, despite a smattering of rain. Here is their slideshow and a few pics!

Love this dress! Perfect for an outdoor wedding...

The boys paddled to the ceremony!

The dock was perfect for photos. I could have shot there all day.

The gorgeous bride!

We went into the beautiful little town of Perth for a few funky shots...love this one!

JB and C, we had a great time with you on your wedding day! Lots of laffs and plenty of reminiscing! Thanks a big bunch.

Lots of love,

BB and Mo

Stacey & Joshua!

2010-09-26T12:36:00.000-07:00

Check out the slideshow from Stacey and Josh's wedding...

A perfect day. A perfect wedding!

Much love,

BB & Mo

We've been featured in Wedding Bells!

2010-09-20T16:53:00.001-07:00

Go out right now and grab your copy of the Fall/Winter Wedding Bells magazine. In it, you will not only find everything you need to help plan your big day, but you will also find a really great feature of us! The photo is of Julian and Steve's wedding from May 2009.

Thanks to WB...again! They are such a great team and fab to work with.

Dom & Barry!

2010-09-16T19:00:00.001-07:00

Check out the pics from this amazing couple - Dom and Barry!

Lots of photos, so I'll let them do all the talking.

Here we go...

Check out their slideshow!

Amazing couple. Amazing day. Amazing photos.

Thanks again,

BB & Mo

Melissa & Brad!

2010-02-23T17:53:00.000-08:00

I think it's amazing that we live where we can actually have such a thing as a winter wedding. How many people on the planet can say they had something so special?!

And amidst that, perhaps even more amazing for me is the chance to shoot the wedding of really great friends.

I first met Brad about 5 years ago playing volleyball on the same team and immediately we got along like old pals. When he introduced me to Mel, it was the same thing. I liked her from the start and we always share a tonne of laughs whenever we're together. They are such a great couple and I hope Mo and I get to share in a lot more laughs with them.

On to the photos.

Here is Brad helping one of his boys get their duds on.

You have to love the expression of the bride just before she's about to get into her dress!

...and after it's on...

Something so classic about this one. I love it.

The handsome boys.

The gorgeous girls.

Because it was so cold outside, we had the chance to shoot indoors for a bit. A B&B called Gray Gables was where some of the beautiful interiors were taken. Isn't the bride a stunner?!

I L_O_V_E this shot! Like an 'Annie' shot for the cover of Vogue.

Haute!

Hauter!

The expression of Mel and Brad is perfect!

The groom cleans up pretty good himself!

A BB signature!

The hot couple in a classic pose.

When you shoot a winter wedding you always have to worry about the sun setting early. What do you do, you say? You make your own...

I adore this first dance shot. Adore.

Mel and Brad, thank you so much for letting me be a part of your big day. It was so fantastic to share it with you. Hope these pics always put a smile on your face.

Lots of love,

Mo and BB

Rebecca & Matt!

2010-01-05T20:33:00.001-08:00

What can I say about these two? Well, loving, caring, excited, emotional, carefree and kind are a few of the words that come to mind...and each one came to be on their wedding day.

I love the flower girls dresses.

We quickly planned a first meeting between Rebecca and Matt on the balcony of the Chateau. Rebecca's parents presented her and it turned out so gorgeous. Aww.

Chic. Chic!

The boys don't get enough representation on the blog, so here they are. I dig on this angle.

Isn't Rebecca so fab!

How much do I love this image??

Maureen took this wonderful angle!

Glo-Ri-Us!!! Rebecca is stunning...

The light the whole day was glorious. You'll see...

No, it's true, these two aren't models!

The man of the hour. Matt.

I simply adore this veil shot.

Stacey, of Marry Me Productions was so worried about the light for the ceremony. I think I chuckled to myself because I knew just how glorious it was. Take a look...

I mean honestly...

...and with a view of the beautiful Ottawa River!

The flower girls were soooo freakin' cute. Little heart breakers for sure!!

Some of the amazing details by Stacey, and also Jamie and the team over at Groovy Linens.

From the bottom of my heart, thanks you two, we so enjoyed your day!

BB & Mo

Vanessa & Jason!

2009-12-13T20:11:00.000-08:00

I have always said that we have the best couples. Vanessa and Jason were of course no exception! Mo and I travelled to lovely Perth to shoot their wedding at the Perth Manor, a quaint B&B in the heart of this beautiful town.

Speaking of lovely...

The girls helping Vanessa getting into her dress.

I love this mirror. It's a photographer's dream!

Wow!

Girls, take note of her choos...

Wonderful moment between Vanessa and her dad just before heading down the aisle.

Les boys.

Les filles.

And of course our couple!

What a great day! You two rocked it.

Thanks again!

Jessica & Adam!

2009-10-12T17:43:00.000-07:00

Everyone - meet Jessica and Adam. A warm, loving couple that had a phenomenal fall day in which to share their nuptials.

The bride.

Some funky stairs for one of our bride shots.

The groom.

Meet the boys.

Meet the group.

Haute and hot!

Love it...

I adore this shot! My fave of the day.

We've been featured in Wedding Bells!

2009-09-03T19:14:00.000-07:00

If you haven't already picked up your Fall/Winter 2009 copy of Wedding Bells, you should run out and get a copy right now!

Featured in Wedding Bells destination weddings, are Ryhan and Stephanie, whose gorgeous day took place in Prince Edward County at the amazing Grange Winery.

More information about their wedding and additional pictures can be found online here.

Julian & Steve!

2009-08-31T19:15:00.000-07:00

Such a sweet couple! Check out their pics.

I love this shot. My fave of the day.

Re-donk-u-luss!

A little BB signature. Woot!

Love it...Mo's fave!

These two braved the weather and put on their game faces for us. So much fun to work with.

Congrats!

Vanessa & Jason - the eSession!

2009-08-24T19:55:00.001-07:00

Recently we had the pleasure of shooting an engagement session for Vanessa and Jason at the arboretum (arguably the nicest arboretum in the nations capital). The light was great, there was no rain and we kicked it up a notch with these two...

Melanie & Richard!

2009-08-17T18:58:00.000-07:00

Melanie and Richard are a funky young couple that truly enjoyed every minute of their big day! They shared lots of laughs with family and friends....as it should be.

The shoes.

The dress.

The church.

The boys.

The gang.

Love this shot of the bride.

And this one...

And this one...

But I adore this shot of Mel and Richard!

Thanks again you two for making us feel like such a big part of your day.

BB & Mo

Deanna & Dan!

2009-08-13T19:28:00.000-07:00

Hi(atus) everyone!

Let me introduce you to Deanna and Dan and their glorious wedding day.

Meet the ladies.

We managed to take a few pics of the bride.

Can you blame us...

Let's add the groom. They are a gorgeous couple.

Fantastik!

Who doesn't love that late afternoon light?

Mark & Rachel!

2009-05-25T18:36:00.000-07:00

Mark and I went to high school and as it turns out to university together. Great guy with a funny sense of humour. I only met Rachel a few short months before they were married, and I knew we'd love working with her as well!

I'll keep the chatter to a minimum, and let the pictures do the talking.

Too bad for the rain, but they rocked it!

Thanks R & M!

BB & Mo

Reannon & Heath!

2009-04-06T16:39:00.001-07:00

Reannon and Heath are a fun-loving couple that really wanted some special images for their day. When I showed up to shoot them, they were raring to go!

Here are some of my faves from their day.

Possibly the cutest flower girl shot ever!

The ladies dresses were d-vine!

Haute couture!

Reannon is such a stunner...

Reannon and her gorgeous daughter Seven.

I love this pose...

Heath picked out this funky venue all by himself. It was superb!

Of course, a BB signature.

Best,

BB

Gera & Joe!

2009-03-15T10:05:00.000-07:00

It seemed like so long ago that I got an email from a woman whose name sounded very familiar. After we exchanged a few notes, we discovered that we both attended the same high school and her fiance and I played basketball against one another. Small world!

Both Gera and Joe are such a sweet couple and compliment each other so well. And both come from very prominent farm families in the area.

Gera's family came from Holland to start a successful farm in the Ottawa Valley.
A little taste of home...

A bride couldn't beam any more on her wedding day!

Gera's father grew a field of sunflowers just for the day.

I love this shot of Joe!

I know you probably won't believe me, but I caught this shot of the couple in wedded bliss just after the ceremony!

Maureen took this shot of the bouquet...fantastic!

We went up to an abandoned silo that overlooks the Ottawa Valley. One of my faves of the day!

Gotta love that sun flare!

This is what the first dance looked like from the balcony. I think there was around 800 people at the reception!

Gera and Joe - we certainly enjoyed our time with you. Add to that shooting in my home town, it was a super day!

BB & Mo

Janice & Thomas say I do...again!

2009-03-08T20:47:00.001-07:00

Janice and Thomas are two of our very best friends in the entire world, and when they asked us to take photos of them in celebration of their 10th anniversary it was a no-brainer for us. They are two of the nicest, most generous people you'll ever meet and not only do we love them to death, but we loved our session with them.

Check out their pics!

They are a hot couple, so our job was pretty easy...

I love this shot of Janice, she's such a gorgeous girl!

The happy couple!

Thomas is quite a stud himself...

And like all our couples, Janice and Thomas couldn't wait to see what we could come up with and more than willing to try it!

A BB signature. Lovely!

JJ and T, you are both absolutely the best. Happy Anniversary!

Much love,

BB and Mo

Rebecca & James!

2009-03-01T11:04:00.001-08:00

Hey gang,

So you may or may not notice a few changes around the blog. Images are bigger for your viewing pleasure. And the blog header is actually a photo from this wedding. It's a photo that makes you go "WOW"!

On to Rebecca and James. You might remember them from their engagement session late last year. They are a really genuine couple that were so excited to have their photo taken. Moreover, they have such a wonderful love for one another. I think that James even has the very first Valentines card that he gave Rebecca from high school...

James had his boys in white suits and gave them all pocket watches as gifts for standing with him.

This groomsman showed up a bit late, so they all helped him get back on track.

Rebecca's dress was a stunning Janine Adamyk creation.

Take note girls...

Love this perspective!

Bride getting into her shoes with help from her girls...so nice...

[sigh]

You may remember that the b&g love their dog (probably as much as each other!), so he made a guest appearance at the ceremony!

Possibly my favourite first kiss moment!

When you think we aren't watching, there is a good chance we are...

Love this version of the rings shot. No, I love it.

Simply stunning!

I A-DORE this image of the bride. Gorgeous.

And this!

This too!

The handsome groom!

And gorgeous bride!

The happy couple! (edit: the rain decided to come out but that didn't stop these two! Even Mayor Larry O'Brien commented on what troopers they were!!)

Nice to include a BB signature.

And we'll end off with the shot you see in the blog header. The dinner was well under way when I saw this sunset. I grabbed the bride and groom and told them we had to go outside to catch the last bit of amazing light.
Oh how I love this shot. (and no photoshopping!)

Rebecca and James - it was so great to share in your amazing day! We so enjoyed our time with you.

BB

Kristi & Marc!

2009-02-22T13:55:00.001-08:00

Kristi and Marc are just such a superb couple, and we had hardly a cloud in the sky on the day they said I do. They were fortunate enough to have an outdoor ceremony in the beautiful town of Perth along the Tay River. A wonderful venue that just invites a momentous event such as this.

Normally I include a dress shot or a some flowers, but I really loved their hotel room and some of the light, so we are starting with something new...

Kristi was so excited to get into her dress and do whatever funky things we could come up with. Love it!

As I was saying about the most fabulous weather...

I love what seems to be a stolen moment between father and daughter!

I would recommend a ceremony in the park for anyone.

Every time I see this image, it makes me smile. Bubbles in the air, the b & g's expression, the spectacular light...

The stunning girls!

Strike a pose ladies!

The boys.

We did a walkabout in town for a few quick pics.

Then we headed to the family cottage for some shots on the water. Sooooo worth it!

J'adore this one. My fave.

When we had our consultation, Kristi told me that she wanted something "epic". I would say that she got it...

Thanks K & M, you guys are so wonderful! We had a blast!

BB and Mo

Jenn & Koert!

2009-01-27T16:50:00.001-08:00

Ok, OK, OKAY!

It's been a while since I've posted a wedding. Agreed. But you'll appreciate the wait after you've seen some of the pics in this post and in posts to come.

Jenn and Koert are a rockstar couple - they both train for triathlons and in fact he actually coaches other triathloners. On top of that Koert is a firefighter. They are both super fit and it's a real testament to how hard they train.

Onto the pics. Jenn had a stunning dress.

Some of Koert's firefighting gear.

They had a lovely outdoor wedding at the Billings Estate. The weather was fantastic!

These two were so great in front of the camera...

Love the big doors and Jenn's pose. L-Oh-V-E it!

Sun flare...holla!

Rings. Pose. Click.

The kiss...

Like I said...rockstarz!

They said they wanted us to do our "thing". I think we did it.

Traditional, but still gorgeous...

What a couple, what a day!

Nolita Makeup is here!

2009-01-26T05:55:00.001-08:00

One of our best friends in the world has taken the plunge and decided to start her own business in the makeup industry. You may have met her before in a few previous posts, but if not, I'll introduce you again!

Everyone meet Shaghig.

She is the brain, face, and talent behind Nolita Makeup, and ladies she is VERY good! You need to go check out her site right now, especially if you are in need of a super-talented makeup artist for your wedding, evening gala, or just a night out!

Check out some of her handiwork on these gorgeous ladies, photos taken by yours truly...

Stephanie & Ryhan!

2008-11-21T05:24:00.001-08:00

Stephanie and Ryhan just might have picked the best day in the summer to get married! And they did it in style at a lovely winery in the scenic Picton, Ontario area. It was just gorgeous!

Here is Stephanie getting her makeup done by a friend...

I just adore this shot Mo took of Stephanie just after she got into her gown. Simply stunning! Possibly my fave of the day!

While Mo was with the girls, I was with Ryhan and his gents.

Doncha just love it when a guy opts to splash a little colour around. Snappy!

There was an amazing glass block wall just outside the honeymoon suite that was just begging us to snap a few pics in front of it. Worth it?

I'd say so!!!

Stephanie's dad walking her down the aisle in their lovely outdoor ceremony...

I just love how the bride is looking at her husband-to-be during the ceremony...

And their expressions just after they've said their "I do's".

Then we were able to walk around the vineyard and use some of that spectacular light!

How hot are these two?!

This is about as close as we could get to the vines, but I still love this shot!

More of that glorious evening light...

We were able to snag a few shots in and around the vineyard...

And the beautiful cake...

A funky dance shot taken in the tasting gallery.

What more can I say - great day, great venue, great couple!

Cheers,

BB

Vicki & Chris!

2008-11-18T21:56:00.000-08:00

Vicki and Chris are such a nice couple that were introduced to us by friends of ours. They are down-to-earth, fun-loving and were willing to have some fun with us! Not to mention, Chris is a big soccer player, so I knew we'd get along famously.

The makeup was done by one of my best friends in the whole world, Shaghig Reynolds, whose website is going live in a very short while. She did such a fabulous job as you are about to find out! Soooo, if you're getting married next year and need a very talented makeup artist, be sure to look her up!

On to the pics...every girls gotta have a proper pair...

This image is so ethereal to me. I think it is d-vine.

Vicki and Chris had an outdoor ceremony. It was lovely. Check out that light!

Love their expressions as they walk down the aisle after their nuptials.

Vicki with her girls. Aren't they hot?!

Chris and the boys cleaned up alright themselves!

Vicki was just enjoying her day, while I was shooting the guys. I turned quickly and got this...

On to a few pics of the happy couple. I'll let the photos do the talking...

Maureen's fave of the day.

My fave of the day.

Let's end off with a BB signature!

What a great day! Hope you enjoyed them,

BB

Megan Ashlee & Brandon!

2008-11-16T20:42:00.000-08:00

We had the good fortune of going to the quaint little town of Westport to shoot the wedding of Megan Ashlee and Brandon. Such a great couple to be around all day! And we were lucky enough to stay with a friend nearby that night...thanks Bruce.

The makeup...

They were ready to party right from the start and not even worried about the rain. Great shot of Brandon and Mo's fave of the day!

I love this moment during their ceremony!

This guy was such a little cutie...

The guys...

The girls...

Wonderful intimate portrait that Maureen took!

My version...

Megan looks like a couture model!

Brandon fairs pretty well himself! I love this shot!!

We eventually made our way into Westport and found a few funky places to shoot...

My fave!

Let's end with a bang!

Best wishes!

BB

Happy 70th!

2008-10-29T06:22:00.000-07:00

Happy 70th Birthday to my Mom and Dad! They each turned 70 within a few weeks of one another in September and October respectively. We managed to have a small (42 people!) gathering for them at my Aunt Betty's house with lots of turkey and a big cake made for them by my Aunt Helen. Always a great time being around everyone!

I of course took a few pics to mark the day!

My little buddy/nephew - Riley. What a cutie!

And his older brother Connor. I love this pic!

My brother and sister in law!

Me and Maureen had to get in on the photo action...

And of course the couple of the hour! Speaking of cute!!

Mom, Dad - we love you! Happy Birthday!

(sorry Stace, when I find a good pic, I'll post :) )

Lisa & Brian!

2008-10-23T20:13:00.001-07:00

Out of the blue I got a phone call from a girl I used to go to high school with telling me of her upcoming wedding. She was telling me that they needed a photographer and we fit the bill!

Lisa and Brian are a sweet, down-to-earth couple that spent some time with us before they said their "I do's". It was lots of fun and totally worth it. Although photos aren't high on Brian's list, he managed to pull it off and told me that he even enjoyed himself. I personally think he really got into it, you'll see why in a moment...

Tiffany from Ottawa Makeup Artists put on Lisa's makeup.

Tiffany did a great job! Doesn't the bride look fabulous?!

I loooooove this shot!

The groom seated. Awesome.

The bride seated. Awesome.

A vintage style shot against some nifty architecture.

Signature BB!

Stunning bride!

Maureen's fave of the day!

Love the uber-saturation of this pic...

As we headed to a different location, I snagged this shot...

O-M-G!

My fave of the day! I just love this perspective!

Maureen's other fave of the day. You can see why!

I just had to include this one in our feature...

The girls!

Let's end with a bang!

Another great day, another fab couple!

BB

Tammy & Phil!

2008-10-16T17:32:00.001-07:00

Tammy and Phil - what can I say about these two...? Both genuine spirits with lots of love for one another. Every time they were posed close together, Phil would always whisper something in Tammy's ear and she'd always laugh. Not giggle. An out and out laugh. You couldn't help but wonder what he said to her and it'd just make you laugh alongside them. It was like that all day, and great to be near them just to see how much fun they had.

Despite the rain they were still tough enough to weather the elements. Gotta love it!!

Tammy's shoes.

Doesn't the bride just exude happiness?!

I love this candid moment that Maureen caught as the girls were about to hop in the limo. Apparently someone ordered wind with the rain!

The inside of the church was gorgeous.

After the ceremony, we headed over to the Museum of Civilization for some pics because the weather wouldn't cooperate. I adore this shot of the bride. Stunning!

The flowers were fab!

Too many BEvERages...??

We headed outside hoping the rain would stop. It did...sorta...
Love it!!

A tender moment...

I love the kissy shots!

Tammy by herself. It is A-MAZING!!! What a backdrop! My fave of the day.

Add the groom. My other fave of the day!

'Nuf said.

The pose. The architecture. The result.

A great shot of the groom on a chair we found at the base of the steps. Maureen's fave of the day!

Is a shoot really complete without a BB signature? I think not.

I decided that I liked these shots so much that I would put them in a series. They make smile every time I see them.

I just love the perspective of this shot as we finish up shooting and head to the reception.

Thanks guys, what a great day it turned out to be. You were both real troopers to fight the rain!

Best,

BB

Dominique & Emile!

2008-10-07T19:13:00.000-07:00

When Dominique and Emile came over to meet me, you could tell they were meant for each other. They sat beside each other on my big leather sofa. But not just sat next to each other, they only occupied 1 cushion! It was just so cute and they held hands the whole time.

And if you wanted to smile and laugh all day long, you'd hang out with these two and their friends and family. You just couldn't help it. They were ready to party, celebrate and sing. And boy could they sing. I've honestly never (and I mean never) heard anything like it! It was magical, they just sang from the heart for Miles and Dodo!

Onto their pics...

Let's start with something fantabulous...the gorgeous bride...

Then we'll turn it up a notch with the boys in the hotel lobby. Booyah!

Dominique with her dad as they walk up to the Rockliffe Pavillion.

An emotional moment during the ceremony as the bride and groom say their vows. Not a dry eye in the house...

The girls in a BB signature pose. So sweet!

And Emile surrounded by his best men!

Dominique with her girls. They had the best smiles!

The bride and groom were never far apart...

Miles worked the camera!

The bride had such a quiet presence about her that I just loved. One of my faves of the day!

Don't get me wrong, she knew how to weave some magic for the camera!

I adore this shot that Maureen caught! Adore it!!

Not hard to believe that this is mine and Maureen's shot of the day! Such an honest expression...

People often ask me what could 2 photographers do that 1 couldn't possibly accomplish. Let me show you - I took this one...

And from the other side, my lovely wife took this one. Two distinct images, taken at the same time. Both fantastalicious!

Speaking of hot, how groovy is this one?!?

Let's end with the happy couple in classic pose. Superbe!

Merci D et E! You guys put up with my ridiculously poor french, but it was so worth it, and I hope you enjoy these images forever!

Mo et BB.

Julian & Steve's eSession!

2008-10-05T18:03:00.000-07:00

Hey all,

Been a while since I posted an e-session, and I thought you might like to see a few here and there. Julian and Steve are such a cool couple, she is so bubbly and bright and Steve's sense of humour kept our session light and fun!

Doncha just love when two people can look at each other this way?!

Kiss across the pond...

Love the ring!

Julian's eyes are so STUNNING!

More kissy-kissy (hey, they were good at it!)...

These two couldn't stop smiling when they looked at each other and it was just so genuine. I found myself smiling behind the camera watching them!

Great smiles...

Congrats you two, can't wait to shoot the big day!

Amanda & Darren!

2008-10-03T06:22:00.001-07:00

Amanda and Darren are a super-sweet couple that were so gracious and excited throughout their day. And did they ever turn it on during our time with them!

A big shout out to my friend Jen who shot with me while Maureen was recuperating from jaw surgery. She did a wonderful job and was not only fun to hang with for a day, but also made some stunning images.

Les shoes!

I love the perspective of this shot Jen took as the girls headed into the church...

And leaving the church after the ceremony...the light was perfect.

The bride and groom thought no one was looking!

Aren't the grandparents just the cutest?!

The groom loved his truck this much...

The boys being casual and comfy.

The girls being fresh, bright and beautiful.

Hey, whoever said being a model wasn't tiring?!

Speaking of models, doesn't Amanda look positively AMAZING!

Stunning! I love her eyes.

These poses are similar, but I just loved them so much, so I kept both for everyone to see...

A kiss to build a dream on (what song is that??)...

Mo's fave of the day!

And mine...I can't tell you how much I adore this one...

See what I mean when I said, they turned this out? Spec-freakin-tacular!

A couple of thank you's...

Thanks A and D, you guys were so nice and so easy to get along with. Having you both turn out the photo shoot (and not wanting to quit) was so awesome!

Thanks to my friend Jen, you were so much help to me and I think we laughed all day long, I owe you...BIG!

Diana & BJ!

2008-09-28T17:50:00.000-07:00

About a year ago I received an email from a girl I knew in university mentioning that she'd seen some of our work and wanted to get together to chat about her big day. She'd gone off to the T-dot to start her career and eventually met this guy and they fell in love. I said, absolutely let's sit down, have a coffee and take a look at a few albums. Well, when I met BJ and discovered that his Borat impression was way better than mine, I knew that we'd get along famously! A great girl, a great guy, a great day, a great party. Do I need to do any more talking? No. Just get to the pics, right?!

OK, here we go...

Diana's shoes!

The bride smiled and smiled all day long. This is a shot Mo took before Diana stepped out of the limo at the church. She's just beaming!

And after their nuptials, Diana and BJ walked down the aisle and I think their faces say it all...

Wonderful expression on the groom as he looks at the flower girl (who I believe was his niece) after the ceremony.

The happy couple!

So tasty!

I adore this shot, and it so happens to be Maureen's fave of the day!

Helloooo...isn't the bride hot!?!

Speaking of hot...

Groom cleans up pretty good too.

Boys will be boys. Gotta have a cigar.

You may have seen this one before, but it's just so nice, we'll show it twice!

I mentioned earlier that the bride smiled all day long. Isn't this a great shot?! It's my fave of the day. I just LOVE Diana's smile.

Nothing like a classic B&W!

We've never had a bride smile so much. And it wasn't something I ever had to ask from her. It was just such a perfect expression of her happiness! As you might have guessed, BJ's going in after the garter...

Thanks you guys, Mo and I had such a blast all day with you! You were both so warm and generous to us, and really worked it during the photo shoot. Not to mention, it was great to reconnect with some people I hadn't seen since university.

Kim & Shawn!

2008-09-09T18:49:00.000-07:00

When I met Kim and Shawn, I knew they were right for us. Easy going, fun, energetic and willing to put up with me and my crazy suggestions. Not to mention easy on the eyes!

We started the day at the Chateau Laurier where Amy of the Ottawa Makeup Artists was there to make all the girls look uber-fab!

Kim's dress was gorgeous!

Just before the ceremony, we had a few minutes to shoot just the bride. We couldn't have picked a better place. She seemed so relaxed before her 'I do's.

We did the group shots at the Museum of Civilisation. Meet the group...

Swanky couple, swanky background.

I simply adore this shot of the bride....I love the water droplets in the background, I love her expression...I...er....love...it!

But I have to admit that I love this shot even more. When Kim is with Shawn, they just seem to fit. Easy to see why it's my fave of the day.

It's not a complete profile without a BB signature!

Then we cruised over to the National Gallery of Canada for the reception and a few quick shots outside. Worth it? I think so...

Such a wonderfully tender shot...

A different perspective. Tasty!

Kim says she never looks good on camera. I think she's playing me. Annnnd I think she's absolutely radiant!

OK ladies - when I ask you to sit on the ground, I promise I'm not going to ruin the dress. And if you can have a pic like this....well, isn't it worth it?!

And now let's add the groom...voila...piece de resistance...

Some details that Stacey and the crew at Marry Me Productions put together at the NAG. I believe the flowers were from Flowers Talk. The place looked incredible and everything went off without a hitch...

Great shot of the first dance that Maureen took from the balcony!

Thanks to you both for a lovely day. You were both patient and willing and we loved working with you!

BB & Mo

Jacqui & Andrew!

2008-08-25T17:58:00.001-07:00

Jacqui and Andrew were a sweet military couple that were married at the Our Lady of the Airways Chapel near the airport. In fact the majority of their family is either a member of the Canadian Armed Forces or Police force!

The bride was not feeling an ounce of stress on her big day and it shows...

The girls got ready at the Chateau Laurier in a very swanky room. Isn't window light amazing?!

I ADORE this shot!!!

Possibly my favourite "getting out of the car" shot.

Okay, okay...we love our angles. This is sooooo lovely. Maureen's fave.

Jacqui's dad wore his dress uniform from the Edmonton Police. Love it.

The boys...

At ease gentlemen!

Gotta play a little and the bride was up for it!

The dress...

On to the happy couple...

Let's go for a walk!

I love the look a groom has for his new bride...

Mr. and Mrs. Doiron. [sigh]

Thanks you two! What a great day!

BB & Mo

Feature in Weddingbells!

2008-08-21T07:15:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone,

If you haven't already picked up your copy of Weddingbells, you should go out right now and do so.

The wedding of the lovely Jeney & Derek has been featured in this copy of Weddingbells!

We're so excited for them! You can also see the online slideshow featured in Weddingbells.ca

Thanks to Roseanne at WB for helping us with this!

Tara & Larry!

2008-07-31T05:38:00.001-07:00

Tara and Larry were married at 18 Restaurant in downtown Ottawa. It is a fabulous venue if anyone out there is interested. And the food is spectacular. Pics were done at the Museum of Civilization in Gatineau as the winds picked up and we could no longer stay outside. The entire event was coordinated by Stacey Price and her staff of Marry Me Productions. Check them out if you haven't already, they will take superb care of you!

Once I figured out that it was too windy to shoot outside, we snuck into a little alcove to capture a few pics. I love this one...

The B&G were up for anything, which of course makes my job all to easy. I love this one of Larry.

Let's zoom out a little...stunning!

Tara's got fab shoes, you have to give her that!!

I A-DOR-E this shot! Add it to the fave pile.

The gorgeous girls in a BB signature shot!

I absolutely love this close up of Tara, who incidentally was camera shy. Can you believe that?!?

I love Tara's expression here!

So tender...

Tara was in her comfort zone when she was with Larry as you'll see in the next 2 shots. Maureen's fave of the day!

What do you get when you mixed a stunning dress, a killer backdrop and a gorgeous bride? This...

I think this shot of the guys is fantastic!

Pink ties? On guys? Hellya!

Hey guys, relax.

Vintage shot on the steps of 18.

The ceremony was simply gorgeous...

An interior shot of 18 Restaurant.

The details!

Thanks so much you two for being so much fun to hang with and for putting up with me (especially when the veil flew off). We had a great time!

BB & Mo

Julia & Tim!

2008-06-26T19:14:00.000-07:00

Hi,

You might remember me as a bit of a blog slacker...well, I'm back and I'm bringing you Julia and Tim. They are a cool, fun-loving couple who braved the heat and sun just for us! After they realized they could handle the heat, we got into the shoot.

They had the most glorious light during their outdoor ceremony at Stanley's Farm...

Tim rented a TR6 to drive around on the big day. Great idea! And you know we gotta use it!

Driving off into the sunset...

So tender and beautiful.

The boys.

A few shots of the bride...

Tasty light!!!

The bride was beaming all day. I soooo love this shot!

And of course, the bride and groom!

'Mazing!

Wicked cakes on every table!

First dance - romance!

And we end off with a BB signature! So crisp, so bright.

J & T - we loved working with you, so many laffs and lots of warmth from your friends and family.

A very heartfelt thank you...

And you thought you were creative...

2008-06-05T07:19:00.000-07:00

This should serve as a wakeup call...

MUTO a wall-painted animation by BLU from blu on Vimeo.

Kim & Chris!

2008-05-30T14:21:00.001-07:00

Back in March, we shot Kim and Chris's nuptials. They were married at the Congress Centre and selected to do their photos in the honeymoon suite and all about the hotel itself. We were stoked to try something entirely different as we tend to look for natural light in an outdoor setting. There was some neat parts of the hotel that lent itself to some drama and mood. Not to mention that their room was probably the largest hotel room I have ever been in. Normally reserved for heads of state, including Bill Clinton, The Queen and Bill Gates, it was all theirs...and ours...

Love this shot of the dress!

Of course, ladies have to have their shoes!

And bling!

You'll see what I mean by an extravagant room. Let's start with the floor-to-ceiling windows...oh, and by the way, meet the stunning Kim!

Yes, ohhhh yes. Glorious!

Loooooove it!

And the king sized bed...

Chris. Great eyes.

Chris and his brother.

We had wonderful, warm backlighting for the ceremony...

After the ceremony, we went on tour. This is between the elevators.

Heck, let's even use the escalator for a shot!

I adore this little secluded alcove in the hotel. I think it was an old phone booth area. Lucky for us.

My favourite of the day!

K & C, thanks again for letting us do our thing. You were both so warm and fun to shoot. And thanks for letting me use all my "!"'s.

BB & Mo

Lisa & Dino!

2008-05-28T20:59:00.000-07:00

Well, patient blog readers, a new post!

And worth the wait I hope. May I present Lisa and Dino. What an absolutely smashing couple to be around on the biggest day of their lives. The bride was wonderfully radiant, the groom, composed and at ease.

And what a talented couple they were. From the flowers, to the food, to the invites, there was very little that didn't have Lisa and Dino's touch. And for all they had done, they managed to smile and thoroughly enjoy their day, as it is meant to be.

Dino doing up a half-Windsor.

Dress and coat!

The invites. I believe Dino took the photos used on it. Very classy.

I love this shot Mo took of Lisa putting on the final touches...

Swanky profile!

Maureen absolutely adores this photo...and for good reason.

When we said to Lisa "OK, work it girl!", she bloody well worked it!!!

And worked it...

Still working it...

[sigh]

Dino's a bit of a watch guy, like me.

Bliss!

My favourite of the day. I adore this shot! Grace and beauty together.

You may have seen this image before...

Simple...relaxed...beautiful.

Dino hearts Lisa!

They even planned for an evening ceremony by candlelight. It was just so gorgeous. The pictures don't do it justice.

What bride doesn't want a 5-tiered cake?!?

Even a private seating area, where you could toast one another alone...fab-u-luss!

Lisa and Dino, we'd like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts! You were both such wonderful hosts to us on the biggest day of your lives and we just loved sharing it with you!

BB & Mo

Blogapalooza (Vol. III) - LeeAnn & Rick!

2008-04-25T18:40:00.000-07:00

And now....Vol iii!

LeeAnn and Rick are of course another amazing couple who were so wonderful to work with. They were such naturals in front of the camera and you'll see why...

LeeAnn just after putting on her dress.

I love this shot of LeeAnn as she gets ready by the warm window light...

The guys as they walk to the ceremony.

First kiss!

Fun group shot in that sweet afternoon light.

Killer shot of the groom's hands.

Maureen's favourite of the day!

We had to make use of this terracotta wall!

Maureen's signature shot! So lovely...

Wow!

Great shot of the groom.

I don't know what it is about this shot that I love so much...

Part of the signature collection!

The BB signature. Gorgeous.

My fave. I adore this one. Doesn't LeeAnn look absolutely stunning?!

Italian traditions are the best!

Let's end off with a bang!

R & L, what can I say? It was a blast!

Blogapalooza (Vol. II) - Chantale & Derrick!

2008-04-17T23:05:00.000-07:00

When Derrick Rice, an Ottawa photographer asked me to shoot his wedding at first I was a bit apprehensive as I know how discerning and particular the photographic eye can be. But at the same time I was very excited at the opportunity, hoping that we were chosen for our style. When I found out where he was getting married, the choice was a no-brainer.

Las Vegas, Nevada.

Would you turn it down?! I didn't think so.

In the end I didn't need to worry at all, as they told us to just 'do your thing'. It really makes the job easy when the couple is up for being sexy and having fun! And did they deliver!! Chantale and Derek were just the best, and superb to hang with for a day.

I wanted to pick so many more to post, but I had to cut it down.

Chantale and Derrick got married at Caesar's Palace. What an amazing hotel! Derrick loved it so much he had to have the socks!

I love this shot of Chantale's mother waiting for the ceremony to begin.

The light just after the ceremony was just glorious! Derrick's expression here is perfect, I love the way he is looking at Chantale!

More of that spectacular Vegas light...

Killer shot of the ladies by the Roman pillars.

And the boys. How cool does Derrick look?!

There were very few parts of the hotel that weren't inundated with people, so when we found one, we jumped all over the opportunity.

We stayed close to Caesar's Palace, and it had some amazing white walls that were just perfect.

How sexy are these two?!?!

I love the lines in this one...

I adore the next 3 shots....(Chantale is simply stunning)

And my fave of the day...oh, how I love it!

Chantale worked it!

Maureen's fave!

Caesar's Palace. 'Nuf said.

Let's end off with a BB signature. Their eyes look so crisp and so bright! (wouldn't yours if you were getting married in Vegas?!)

Thanks so much C & D, you guys are simply the best! You both were so accomodating and willing to do anything we asked. And Maureen and I felt warmed and accepted by your families, they are all stupendous people!

What an awesome day!

Blogapalooza (Vol. I) - Charlyne & Matt!

2008-04-15T11:52:00.000-07:00

Well...to put it lightly, it's been a while.

I've got so much to tell you!!

I've got so much to show you!!

Weddings.

People.

Events.

Travel.

And a few surprises....

To catch up, we're doing a BLOGAPALOOZA for the next while to get us back on track.

We're starting with Charlyne and Matt. This was a winter wedding that we shot at the Museum of Civilization. And we're going to give you lots for your eyes to feast upon.

A new take on the shoes shot!

Matt agreed to see Charlyne before the ceremony. He presented the bouquet to her. I love the sequence...

The museum had wonderful light.

Tender shot...

You may have seen this image on some of my promo pieces! I love it!

Elegant and beautiful.

What do you get when you mix side light, a swanky suit and Matt?? This...

Some silly fool pulled the fire alarm at the museum. Being hearty Canadians we headed outside and made use of the stunning backdrop. Yes, that is the Parliament buildings in the background.

How many couples can say they had a winter wedding? So gorgeous!

A nice relaxed portrait.

Shoes...with ATTITUDE!

We were able to get back inside to fire off a few more frames.

Charlyne and her maid of honour.

A budding supermodel...what a cutie!!

The museum has some funky architectural aspects to it. This is one of Maureen's faves!

I love that our couples are up for anything. Charlyne and Matt are no different. Stunning! Right out of Vogue!!

My favourite! Her eyes are absolute on fire!

A BB signature. My second fave...!

The happy couple with some swanky backlight...

Thanks so much you two! Whatever we asked, you guys totally delivered!!

Rebecca & James eSession!

2008-02-08T06:09:00.000-08:00

Just after the snow flew I had the chance to finally meet and shoot the engagement session for Rebecca and James. Of course meeting for the first time, one can be a bit apprehensive, both for photographer and subject. But as soon as we shook hands I knew we'd get along famously! They are a wonderful couple and despite the cold, rainy weather, they were up for anything. We started in the studio, and even got a shot of the family dog!

And a few more from the studio.

After a few studio pics, I suggested we go outside and they were totally for it! Did I mention I have the best clients?!?

James looks like a rockstar in this pic...

Stunning!

So haute!

I LOVE this pic. A different take on my signature shot!

The beautiful couple!

Thanks gang, it was great to hang out with you and Mo and I are both very much looking forward to shooting your big day!

Blue Bamboo Yoga!

2008-01-27T08:00:00.001-08:00

Hey Everyone,

A while back I had the chance to shoot Stephanie Vincec, the owner of Blue Bamboo Yoga. She wanted some updated pics for her yoga studio as well as her in action as she was launching a new website. Also she plans to open several studios in the Ottawa area to service the growing interest in yoga. I walked into the studio not knowing a thing about yoga. I quickly learned that yoga is for men, women, children, babies, pregant women, young, old, injured, fit...aka everyone. Stephanie's studio is very warm and inviting and she is a very knowledgeable instructor capable of servicing the particular needs of her clients.

Let me introduce you to Stephanie Vincec - the face of Blue Bamboo Yoga!

Her classes include Mom & Baby...

As well as Maternity yoga...

I mentioned above that classes range in experience level and she takes care to give instruction and guidance to her clients.

Stephanie spent some time showing me some of the more intricate poses and techniques. I consider myself a reasonably fit guy, but after trying some of the poses, I quickly realized that I had no flexibility and no strength required for yoga!

Like I said, the studio is filled with warmth and the yoga frog I'm sure will attest!

So, if you're looking to get into yoga if you have a stressful work life, would like to get more fit and flexible for your sports, have a lack of concentration or energy, or would just like to try it out, I definitely encourage you to go see Stephanie at her studio, you will not regret it!

Images of the Year!

2007-12-31T09:26:00.000-08:00

As 2007 comes to a close, it's time to take a look back at the year that was.

The following is a collection, in no particular order, of my (not Maureen's, she'll probably want to post her own) favourite photos that made up our wedding season. Going through these images was fun, because each had it's own story to tell be it funny, happy or sad. I wish I could have included more, but alas, I have to draw the line somewhere. I hope you enjoy.

The engagements...

The weddings...

We had a wonderful year, spent with wonderful clients. To them I would like to give a HUGE THANK YOU!!!! You were all so great to work with.

To our 2008 clients - we are very much looking forward to seeing you soon and working with you!

Have a very Happy New Year!

Love,

Byron & Maureen

Julia & Pat!

2007-12-13T08:43:00.000-08:00

You may remember Julia and Pat from their eSession a while back. The ceremony and reception were both held at the NAC in Ottawa. A lovely venue, if you need some ideas.

They are a quiet, but fun couple and were more than willing to put up with me on their big day. I don't think they could have picked a better day for their nuptials and we had such a blast with them!

Maureen captured this fun shot that I think is pure Julia!

I love this shot of Julia getting her finishing touches applied...

I never seem to put enough guy detail shots on the blog. This is a cool one of the groom's tie.

Wonderful expression as Julia gets out of the car.

The ceremony...

Each time Pat looked at Julia, he couldn't help but break a smile!

Fab ring shot!

The beautiful bride and her beautiful sister!

I'm a sucker for 'walking off into the sunset' shots.

Hollywood!

A gorgeous shot that Maureen took. I love it for its faded, vintage feel.

How gorgeous is this bride?!

[see comment above]

They were so easy to shoot...

Pat's expression is perfect!

We found this funky wall and Julia worked it!!

And killer dress details, to go with a killer backdrop...

Being late in the year, we ran out of time quickly. This is one of my favourites of the day. Framed by some trees and the Chateau Laurier, does it get any better??

OK, so this is also one of my favourites. We've been playing with off-camera flash. I think it worked out, but I'd love to know your thoughts...

You know I'm always going to end the post with an awesome pose. Feast your eyes on this!

Boswell Christmas!

2007-12-06T17:24:00.000-08:00

I had the chance to shoot the Boswell family photos again this year for their Christmas e-card. When we talked about it, the boys were very excited about Santa coming! And with all the snow we've had lately, I'm sure they'll be watching for Rudolph and his bright red nose to help Santa on his long trip!!

On behalf of the Boswell's, they would love to send you their Christmas wishes for peace and joy this holiday season and a very happy New Year!

Heather is the face of Fusion beauty products, and can be seen on TSC Saturday, December 22nd, 2007 and on HSN January 2nd and 3rd, 2008.

As well, be sure check out her blog.

Jeney & Derek!

2007-12-04T20:02:00.001-08:00

OK. This is going to be a long post. So before you sit down to read, grab a java, bowl of popcorn, knitting needles...you get the idea.

I don't want to do a whole lot of babbling, as I think the pics speak for themselves. I will precede them by saying we had perfect light almost the entire day. Couple that with great people, willing to entrust their photographer fully and you come up with this...

A new take on the shoes and dress shot.

The shot of the guys didn't make the short list, but we loved this one.

Killer shot of the groom on the church steps.

Maureen waited outside to capture the bride by herself, waiting to walk down the aisle. Wonderful moment!

Great moment between the b&g during the ceremony...

Gorgeous.

A more tradional pose, but I love the lines in this shot.

The ladies were all very beautiful! Notice anything else? ...only 1 brunette!!

Kick a$$ profile shot of Jeney & Derek!

And from straight on. How hot are these two?!

More kissing!

This was such an awesome backdrop that we had to use it.

The bride just looks so AMAZING in this shot!!!

Jeney and Derek were so relaxed in front of the camera and it shows...

Like I said, very relaxed. Derek is working it. Notice his awesome tailored suit. Swanky.

We found this grungy set of bars by a dumpster and I knew we had to make use of them.

I believe this was the pic of the month a while back. You can see why...

These guys really were up for anything.

Jeney. Stunning.

I can't tell you how much I love this image. I am submitting to PDN's top knots photo contest. Wish me luck!

Need a break yet? I told you this was going to be a long post...

Kissing....again. Hey, they were good at it!

Funky perspective shot of J and D. Took me a while to see the little dog.

Where we shot we had sooo many options. I loved the colour of this wall, but the 'stand in front of the wall and pose' shot has been done to death. This is what I came up with.

And last, but not least, a BB signature shot! Still one of my favourite poses! Don't they look smashing!?!

What a great day of shooting! I hope you all enjoyed.

BB

Krista & Andrew!

2007-12-02T09:49:00.000-08:00

Last year I got an email from my cousin, who I had heard was getting married but due to our busy schedules had never got the chance to meet this gal I had heard lots of good things about. Oddly enough, our first encounter was me bringing some albums and samples over to their house to show off. With her sense of humour, I knew we'd get along famously and when they booked me, I realized it would be less of a job and more of a family reunion!

We headed up to the lovely Chateau Heritage Golf Course the day before to check out the scenery and potential shooting locations. How can you go wrong in the Quebec countryside?!

Here is a pic of Krista being prepped by Amy of the Ottawa Makeup Artists.

I love this shot of her beautiful dress!

Look in the mirror...

I absolutely adore this image of Krista as we head out to shoot the ladies!

We discovered this nook on our walkabout. Wonderful portrait of the bride before the ceremony.

The gorgeous girls!

Krista's beautiful cousin visiting from NFLD. She had amazing blue eyes...

Relaxed shot of the boys.

A wedding photoshoot wouldn't be complete without a shot of the b&g kissing! Am I right?!

S-T-U-N-N-I-N-G!

Love this sequence as the rain sprinkled down...

(Maureen's fave...I must say, I agree)

Don't they look hot?!

Colours are fab!

A BB signature. Love it!

A wonderful day to spend with your cousin and welcome another cousin into the family!

We love you both.

Marry Me Productions!

2007-11-22T13:39:00.000-08:00

Last night I had the chance to go to a vendor appreciation night, put on by the wonderful and uber-talented Stacey Price of Marry Me Productions at the very swanky Foundation Restaurant. It was her way of thanking vendors that she had the chance to work with in 2007. But, turning the tables, I'd like to thank her and all the staff at Marry Me Productions for making us all feel welcome and feeding us!

I have to tell you that Stacey is a superb Ottawa wedding coordinator. I've had the chance to work with her in 2007, and I know that she does a tremendous job when a bride walks into the salon, church and reception stress free. This means that all the stress of the day has been handled by Stacey and her amazing staff. You will immediately be warmed by her personality and charm. I suggest that if you're a busy bride & groom looking for someone to help you make your day a perfect one, call her today! She is booking up very fast for 2008.

I took these pics from Derrick Rice's blog. He was the only smart one to bring a camera! Here is a pic of Derrick, me and the amazing Stacey Price.

I also got the opportunity to meet a number of other Ottawa photographers whose names I know of, but never get the chance to meet as we all tend to be working from similar schedules. All great people, and successful photographers to boot!

In order is: me, Derrick Rice, Andrew Geddes, Ron Zeitlin and Andrew Van Beek.

Again, thanks to Stacey, Anna, Tracy, Chriss and Tiziana for a great night. Looking forward to working with you in '08!

Melina & Brad!

2007-11-18T19:01:00.001-08:00

Melina and Brad were probably one of the most easy going couples we've ever worked with. Truly relaxed and stress free, they really made our day so easy. When they initially came to me, they said that they wanted something different. Urban, modern, gritty, and funky. We searched all of Ottawa to get them different, and came up with a number of poses and ideas that we thought would capture their personalities.

Here is a funky make-up shot.

Melina checking out her beautiful dress in a mirror.

A new take on a traditional image.

Mel being helped out of the limo.

Maureen caught this as they were preparing to walk down the aisle.

I love the perspective...

Melina and Brad wanted different...we gave them different...

Nothing better than pillars and concrete to reflect the gritty, urban feel to their images.

Brad's expression is perfect. And wonderful space in the frame.

The group on some rusted stairs...

The boys, relaxed as ever...

I love this portrait of Melina! She looks fab!

Graffiti on a burned out old rig. Need I say more?

Oh my...a new favourite. Love their expressions, love the pose, the door...LOVE IT...

Melina didn't stop smiling all day. I don't think she could have if she wanted to!

Okay, another favourite! Brad is working it.

The stunning bride! Simply gorgeous.

I believe Maureen said "Soooo girly!". I couldn't agree more!

Brad was on at this point! Great portrait.

They had their reception at the Cube gallery. What an amazing venue - surrounded by art, live music and food. It was really unique, just like them!

Loved working with you two (and your family and friends)!

BB

10 things...

2007-11-14T10:06:00.000-08:00

Here are 10 things you might not know about me:

1. I am a huge football fan - that is soccer for those not in the know. My team - Manchester United. I know, I know, but I've been on the wagon since...well, since forever. Ryan Giggs would be my favourite player. 34 years old, left footed and still blazingly fast.

2. I shave once a week. Why? Well, to be honest it just hurts to shave. Really no other reason. By day 6, I start to look like a lumberjack.

3. I don't sleep well before weddings. Generally, I spend the Friday before a Saturday wedding prepping. Going to our shooting location, checking the light, charging batteries, testing equipment etc etc. Those things usually don't bother me, what usually gets under my skin is wondering what new pose or interesting idea I'm going to try as I want, ultimately, each couple to have some very unique photos for their album. When the camera clicks its first shot, the nerves are gone and it's game time.

4. I broke my collarbone walking my dog when I was 13. Well, more like a slow jog. Embarrassing. She wrapped my legs and arms up with the chain so that I couldn't put my hands out to break my fall. I had to wear this really geeky strap that made my arms stick out the sides for like a month. Hey, it's hard for a kid at 13.

5. I shed a few tears when my childhood dog died. Me, along with everyone else in the family I suppose. I loved that dog. Loved it. She was the best and so smart. I wasn't mad at her at all for #4.

6. I am a self taught photographer. No BA or BFA. Once took a college course, but I had read so many books by the time I took the course that I didn't get much out of it. The teacher was so mad at me for not taking notes. That is to say that I wouldn't be afraid to take another course or am not up for learning, because I learn new things every day and am fully aware as to how much more I have to learn.

7. I once got stopped by the cops for doing 113km/h in a 50km/h zone. Ticket was like $365. The reason - late for an early morning tee off.

8. My favourite movie is Braveheart. Being of partial Scottish heritage, this movie made me want to go out and buy a sword screaming at the top of my lungs..."Freeeeeedommmmmm!" I've seen this movie like 100 times and every time I watch the movie I get chills on the back of my neck. Especially the scene where William Wallace rides in to the village on his horse just after they kill his wife.

9. I can sing all the words to Johnny Cash's song Boy named Sue. I love all of his songs.

10. I love to have my Tim Horton's coffee (2 cream, 1 sugar) with a raisin teabiscuit. Each one seems to make the other taste better. Weird. Maureen thinks I'm nuts.

I'm going to tag Derrick Rice, Andrew Geddes and Sam and Mary to see if we can keep this going. (see previous post for their blogs).

Enjoy your day!

Who do you stalk?

2007-11-13T11:11:00.000-08:00

I get asked from time to time who's blog I follow. I would more or less consider it blog stalking, because I'm checking their blog every morning over my cup of java and oatmeal.

This is my speed dial of bloggers:

Jessica Claire - jessicaclaire.net
She is a superstar shooter, living in SoCal. Primarily a natural light wedding shooter, she has a way of capturing everyone in a very fresh, clean way. I love her stuff.

The Becker - beckersblog.com
Again, a great wedding shooter living in the golden state. I enjoy his images, but moreover enjoy his free spirited approach to blogging and his don't care attitude about expressing his opinion. Lover of all things Apple.

Chase Jarvis - chasejarvis.com/blog
A wonderful commercial and stock photographer. Do a youtube search for this guy, you will love how he accomplishes his shoots. Just amazing. I love this guy.

Jenn and Steve Bebb - bebbblog.squarespace.com
Oh my, are these guys amazing wedding photographers. I have so much to learn from them. They are based in Vancouver Canada, and were voted one of the World's Top 10 Wedding Photographers in 2007 by American Photo. Stellar, stellar, stellar. Just wish they'd blog a bit more (much like myself). Recently Jenn paired up with Jessica Claire to shoot Gary Fong's wedding (an industry icon himself, no longer shooting weddings) If you only had 1 blog to check out today, pick this one.

Chris + Lynn Jakksa - chrispluslynn.blogspot.com
International wedding and portrait photographers based in Vancouver. They are a wonderful husband and wife team, who so easily capture emotion, but are unafraid to tackle the elements and low light conditions to create truly one-of-a-kind images for their clients.

Nate and Jaclyn Kaiser - theblogisfound.com
Wonderfully talented duo who put a wicked spin on what might otherwise be considered fairly mainline photography. Brilliant in their approach. Brilliant in their execution.

Jeff and Julia Woods - jeffreywoods.typepad.com/
Can you believe this guy used to work 2 jobs to support his wedding photography passion. Such was his talent and mental strength that they now rightfully charge a premium dollar for their premium product and service. Currently, one of my fave photographers to stalk.

Jasmine Star - jasminestarblog.com
Only 2 years in biz and this girl has already taken the wedding photo world by storm. Learned by some of Cali's best and brightest (Mike Colon, David Jay, The Becker...), she has created her own niche and is now taking names.

Bludomain - bludomain.com/blog.cfm
My current web hoster. Wonderful product, fun, funky blog.

Nick Onken - http://www.nickonkenconnection.com/shoptalk/
I like this guy. Cool. Laconic. Collected. Great imagery. Talks about more than just photography. Currently has plans to write his own travel book.

***UPDATE***

Hey, how could I forget my Ottawa brethren?! Sorry gang. Some e-props for you.

Derrick Rice - derrickrice.com/blog
Check him out! He's only been in biz a few years (correct me if I'm wrong D) but his burgeoning photography business is taking Ottawa by storm. He's an East Coast lad whose pics and personality please all his clients.

Andrew Geddes - andrewgeddes.blogspot.com
Andrew is another talented capital city photographer. By putting a new spin on traditional wedding photography, he is helping us shape photography in this great city. Have a look at his latest work.

Sam and Mary - smphoto.wordpress.com
Great stuff from this duo. Creative, intelligent portraiture really set these guys apart. I love their lifestyle sessions and hyper-realness to their imagery.

For the rest of the Ottawa photographers out there, you had better hop on the blogging train. It's such a great way to connect with clients. I think Susan Stripling said it best "People come to your website once, but they visit your blog daily". Keep it updated, and folks will keep coming back to see what you're doing in your life and what new, unique ideas you've added to your brand.

If you have a few spare hours...or days, go check them out. All do amazing work in their own field and are very involved in giving back to the photographic community. Some do workshops, some give out their secrets and what made them successful on their blog, some show you videos on youtube. All are educational, but moreover all are interesting and fun.

Enjoy.

The speed of Digital!

2007-11-08T07:24:00.001-08:00

Something for your mind to chew on today.

I get asked all the time if I get worried about everyone owning a digital camera these days?

The simple answer is NO.

And here's why...

Alongside digital SLR's, manufacturers are making wonderful P&S cameras with anti-shake, anti-dust, self-cleaning, built in video cameras, noise reduction....the list goes on. And for next to nothing! Which is amazing, and I'm so glad for it. It's driving down the price of the camera's that I've got on my Christmas wish list for one thing, and secondly, I'm proud to be part of an industry that is no longer so financially exclusive. It's exciting when I see 7 and 8 year olds with their own camera fighting for a spot when the bride and groom walk down the aisle!

But I digress...

My point was that despite the fact that cameras are so cheap today, packed with so much amazing shooterness (yes, shooterness!), all the basic photographic rules still apply. And if you don't know how to use to your benefit or control, you'll have a hard time 'getting the shot'. The aesthetics, the light, the composition, the attachment to the subject, when to shoot - these things haven't changed since the dawn of the photographic image. You can shoot and shoot and shoot until you're blue in the face, and say that you'll fix in photoshop, but what have you learned? You've 20 shots of the same thing with the same mistake. And you'll continue to make that mistake.

People ask me why they should pay me for my services when their uncle who owns a digital SLR, is an avid amateur, will shoot their wedding for $500 and give them all the images untouched.

Same reason you don't take your car to a plumber. It's going to seem like a plumber fixed your car.

Why would you give the responsibility of capturing the biggest day of your life to someone clearly isn't going to get you exactly what you want? You want images you will cherish the same 20 years from now as you do today.

This just emphasizes my point. It's great that everyone at a wedding today has a camera. Will they get some great shots? Yes. Will they capture some great expressions? Surely. Anyone can get lucky.

We're not in the business to get lucky. We work very hard to get you the shots that you hired us for in the first place. And do it fast. We scope out the venue, check the light against the time we'll be shooting. I storyboard all my weddings, and I have a shot list (I'm not talking about the Bride w/ Dad and Mom list) that we stick pretty closely to. We have our eye on details and moments, and using top end professional equipment that we know not many other folks in attendance will have and set us apart in that respect.

So, does it bother me that camera's are loaded with options and a ridiculous number of features and everyone owns one?

Once again, no. I'm glad that the advent of the digital era is upon us. It's allowing everyone to be able to take photos of events in their lives. Photos that will probably be around for a long, long time. Never has it been easier to upload pics to your own website or blog, or load an album into Facebook and connect with old friends or family across the world. That's truly remarkable!

Do I think I can take a better photo than the average shooter? I think that I have all the tools and knowledge and preparation to providing you with the best possible photos on your day. I think I come very well armed to give you some pretty special photos. Photos that you may not find in anyone else's album or on their wall or above their mantle.

Have a great Thursday!

Byron

Quick update!

2007-10-31T15:27:00.000-07:00

If you've been trying to contact me at my old address...it likely won't work for you. Please start using my new email address:

info@byronbrydges.com

Sending messages to my old address will bounce. Just wanted to give everyone the heads up in case you were frustrated with your email bouncing. Several people have told me so.

Sorry for the inconvenience,

Byron

BIG NEWS IS FINALLY HERE!!!

2007-10-29T14:13:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone!

Well I have to tell you that I'm just so excited about this post, because I've been dying to tell you all for so long about our big news....

Our NEW WEBSITE has just launched! I won't spill any beans as I want you to check it out all for yourself, but I will post this pic as a little teaser.

Go and take a look around - let me know what you think!! Comments good or bad and honest critiques are always welcome. I hope you enjoy the new look and feel of the Byron Brydges website as we were so stoked to put it together!

Now, stop wasting your time - go to www.byronbrydges.com to see it for yourself! And don't forget to turn your speakers up...

Virginia & Andrew!

2007-10-14T17:24:00.000-07:00

Virginia & Andrew. You may remember this couple from their engagement shots that we did of them from waayyyyy back in the summer. She, with Julia Roberts eyes, and his, Mel Gibsons. If you thought they were a hot couple then...check 'em out on their big day!!!

I love this shot of Andrew's sister as the makeup artist does her lashes! Tasty light.

Something about a bride's expression as she slips into the gown on her wedding day...

Andrew and his posse!

Let me prelude this by saying that normally I don't do this type of shot as I find it a little on the cheesy side, but on their day I thought what the heck. I told Andrew I wanted to do it and I believe his words were "Nooooo....". Generally, I share his sentiment.
Looking back, I'm glad we did it.

His expression cracks me up every time I look this. Not to mention the hang time!

A shot during the vows.

Virginia with her Mom and sisters. They are all so close.

Maureen's fave of the day. Can't say I blame her...!

Hollywood!

OK. The bride. How hot is she...?!

Love this perspective. So sweet.

They're bringing sexy back!!!

And my shot from the front.

Bride and Groom. Need I say more? We took this at the Experimental Farms, in Ottawa. Quite close to the old observatory.

Funkay!

One of my faves.

How lucky am I to shoot the engagement AND wedding?!

Next I expect maternity, infant, family, anniversary... :)

Photo of the Month - October!

2007-10-12T14:30:00.001-07:00

Being that it's fall in the Great White North, we must celebrate! And what better way to do that than honouring Mother Nature by giving her the PoM photo. She deserves it!

This is the view from our front window.

As Canadians, we fully accept that there are 2 seasons here - this winter and last winter.

Hey-OOOOOO!

Amy & Brian!

2007-10-08T13:24:00.000-07:00

We drove to Montreal to shoot Amy and Brian's wedding. They had their pictures taken on the McGill University campus and then were later married in the same lovely church that the groom's parents were married.

This is now on our 'all-time favourite church shots' list!

They had agreed not to see one another until they got to McGill to shoot. It was a wonderful moment that we all got to take part in. I love Brian's expression as Amy walks up behind him...

They got each other gifts. She got him a new watch (I too am a watch fanatic!!) and she received a beautiful pearl necklace. Here he is about to put it on her.

Maureen got this shot of the girls. I think the expressions on each of them is just perfect!

And while she was shooting the girls, I was off with the guys. Here is my fave of them!

Amy is such an expressive girl. She has a beautiful, happy smile and you can't help but smile yourself!

I don't think Brian stopped smiling all day. Especially when he looked at Amy.

See what I mean!?

We love our sun flare! Pizzazz!

McGill has some great old stone pillars and steps. We had to use them. This is Mo's fave!

PERFECTION! We love this shot...

The very happy and very photogenic bride and groom!

Awesome couple!
Awesome day!
Awesome shoot!

You guys are...well...awesome!