ottawa photographer

The Quarry

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It is a really long time to wait for pictures you did back in December, but it was for a submission and our work paid off as it recently got published in Elegant Magazine. I just wanted to show off the work as I wait for tear sheets. I also want to thank the uber talented team that help me put this all together. 
Photographer: Van Tran
Assistants: Heidi Green, Steven Liang
Designer: Karissa Besharah
MUA: Chinenye Ifedi
Hair: Amber O'Callaghan
Models: Kayla Peplinskie & Christine Hager

http://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/1265521

Amber

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Last week, I worked with Amber Erlik (model) and Sara Yousuf (MUA) on some beauty Indian-style looks. Usually, people arrive with make-up and hair finished before the shoot, but this time I had the opportunity to do some video work for Sara and was there for the entire process. As I captured the make-up process, I understood why the "team" was always so friendly with each other already before the shoot. It is this getting ready process that really bonds people, which I happen to miss out most of the time. But now it all makes sense. Anyhow, here are some of favourites. And hopefully, a successful video to follow. Thanks to Pehnawa couture for the clothing and jewellery.

Laurinda

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I am very excited about this post because it is my first attempt at photographing a real dancer and I had a ton of fun shooting this gig.  I got an email one day from this contemporary dancer from Yellowknife who wanted me to photograph her in downtown Ottawa and in some water fountain. Did she really say water fountain? I always get nervous when people watch me do stuff, at least until I get into the zone and I lose sense of my surroundings, but this whole bit with the water fountain in confederation park increased my anxiety from day 1.  However nervous I was, it would have been 50 times worst for her.  She was the one who had to get into the water and interrupt the lives of every single person in the park that day.  Even the guy playing pokemon next to me stopped and starting taking video of what we were doing. He didn't think I noticed but I see everything. Anyhow, all I have to say is it was a ton of fun and I can't wait for the next "public" shoot! Thanks Laurinda and until next time. 

Mike M

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People are subjective in their taste for headshots or portraits; we have to face that fact. It is not better or worst, but just a matter of personal preference. This is why it is very important to exhibit work you want to do and images you want people to contact you to do. Sure you can do other stuff and are probably very good at it, but you don't like doing it so what is the point. Of course even when people come to you, they are just in the same ball park. Although I like all these images here, there are two I personally like more. But I get it, I probably won't want to use an unfriendly artsy photo for my business portrait either. So I guess this is a bad example, but now that I have written all this, I don't feel like deleting it all and starting from scratch as I am drawing a blank. My wife is starring and waiting for me to start binge watching Mr. Robot again, cause I forgot what happened in the story line to continue to season 2. 

Afropunk Fashion Shoot Continued

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Here is more from a recent fashion shoot I did with Chineye Ifedi (MUA), Erica Iffil (wardrobe), Nesserine Haidar (hair), and Lareinaa Aloysious (model). I am very slow at post production, I literally sit there for hours playing around with very little change. I hope you like this series in the sunset.

Dillon

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Recent shoot with Dillon. Dillon is a director for plays and theatre here in Ottawa. He came to me for a headshot and something non-traditional. We collaborated on a style, and this was what we ended up with. Funny thing was during the first revision,I had it real dark but figured Dillon would not have liked it this dark. So, I sent him a lighter version. He replied back, "Could you make it darker?".  This almost never happens.