Finally getting around to posting these…

Here are samples of couture birth announcement cards for Kate Marie…. I will later share some of the images from Kate’s baby photo session.   Kate is such an adorable sweet baby just like her parents, Cybil and Jeff and it was such a treat to take their photos! More later..

Couture Baby Birth Card Announcements

Couture Baby Birth Announcements

Couture Birth Card Announcements

While  it was quite a departure for me to take photos of a non-living thing (a.k.a. ‘a home’), I enjoyed it nonetheless.  I did not have to make faces, be silly or goofy…I did not feel bad when the walls did not smile back at me…and I could not really have an intelligent conversation with the breakfast chairs and artichokes sitting atop the kitchen counter top.

The cleaners were finishing up when I came to set up. The architect, builder and the agents were also there checking on last minute stuff.  The house is  4,770 square feet on a 9,999 Sq. Ft. lot….and is on one of the nicest neighborhoods in the Bay Area.  It is three stories high and has 6+ bedrooms, 4+ baths, with a full basement: gym, wine cellar, wet bar, etc.  It is listed by Sunny and Dan Dykwel from Keller Williams Realty for $3.9 million.

Here’s their listing I pulled up from Redfin: http://www.redfin.com/CA/Menlo-Park/620-Windsor-Dr-94025/home/1700958.

Some photos to share:

Menlo Park Real Estate - High End Homes

So I was watching one of the episodes of “Say Yes to the Dress” this weekend from The Learning Channel.  One of the brides came in specifically to try on Austin Scarlett’s wedding gowns.  But as much as she adores Austin’s wedding gowns, nothing seems to fit her and she had to face the fact she might need to try on other wedding gowns from other designers. And so she did and she was much happier.

This episode reminded me of what I wanted to share with you a few weeks back regarding the importance of engagement photos. Selecting a wedding photographer is a combined exercise of personal preference and visual appeal, and as such, decisions are based primarily on the sample of work provided in the wedding photographer’s website.  However, one may be remissed if decisions are made solely on the photographer’s portfolio and a follow-up consultation with the wedding photographer.  Why? Because no matter how much you love your wedding photographer, you will never know if they are the “perfect fit” for you - until you try them…Herein lies the beauty of the engagement sessions…
 
My sister, Roxy, Toronto photographer and owner of Vanilla Skies Photography , photographed a wedding of a lovely couple a few weeks back.  She was not the original photographer the couples selected.  The couple just finished their engagement session with their original photographer and they immediately knew it was not a good fit.  The session was mediocre, and the photos less than acceptable. The website however, which the couples based their decision on, was stunning.  But they would not have found out about the discrepancy had the engagement session not take place …Whew!  That was a close call…the couple may have paid a penalty for canceling the contract but was it worth it to be with a photographer they trusted, they liked, enjoyed being with on their wedding day and whom they were confident can produce a lifetime of memorable photographs?  You Bet! 
 
Some photographers include the engagement photo session in their wedding offerings….take advantage of it!  And if it is not included, it does not hurt to book for one.  At the same time, take the opportunity to ask: “What if there is not a fit?”  What are their cancellation policies and contract terms?
 
An amazing photographer for one person, may not be an amazing photographer for somebody else….but the “fit” has to be there in order for both to create magic on the day of the wedding.  ( If I can remember right, next to the groom, the bride spends all her time with the photographer - so she better like the photographer unless she considers smirks and sour-sad- monkey-faced expressions as the new trend in bridal photos.) 
 
As wedding and portrait photographers, we do not just produce images…You can pay just about anyone with a digital SLR to do that…. As professionals and artists, we are the conduits to providing “that  amazing, wonderful experience to accompany the hundreds of memorable images captured on your wedding day”. That is why hiring the right wedding photographer is at the top of every bride’s priority list.   If we cannot provide that experience, then we would not have done our jobs.  So just as it is important for the bride and groom to have an engagement photo shoot, so it is important for us photographers to know that we can meet your expectations, and provide that amazing, wonderful experience on your wedding day.

**Owen Photographie offers “THE FITTING ROOM” — If you or anyone you know is engaged and planning their wedding…send an e-mail to: owen@owenphotographie.com for details.  You must mention”THE FITTING ROOM” in your e-mail to qualify for this offer.

Here’s the last set of engagement photos for Todd and Sarah.  Can you tell that I really enjoyed this shoot?  Like I said in my previous post, I take my cue from  my couple’s personalities and base the dynamics of the shoot on how comfortable they feel interacting with each other in front of my camera.

I have some thoughts to share with you on engagements….so stay tuned for my next post….

Engagement Photo Session in San Francisco

Engagement Photo Session in San Francisco

Engagement Photo Session in San Francisco

I hope that everyone had a good Labor Day Weekend. I’m sure Todd and Sarah did.  Congratulations guys!!!!  They got married last Sunday and are now on their  way to South Africa.  We won’t hear from them for another 2 weeks….

On an engagement photo shoot, as much as I coach or direct people on what to do, I really go by the personalities of my couple and how they interact with each other.  A lot of times, I’d let them just start talking, walking and looking at each other and then I take my cue on how they interact when they forget I’m taking their pictures, then I start clicking away…. Also, I try to incorporate different moods as you can see from my previous shots - I think they were a bit on the sexy side….

This next set is more on the friendly, heart warming side and I love how the smiles just came out naturally…What do you think?

Ok, so my last and final installment will be on the urban setting…so stay tuned….

Would love to hear from you.

Okay, one more for the day…tee hee.

Now, didn’t I tell you they are in love?

I love the fact that they are so game and they were really easy to work with… love it!

When people are in love, the positive energy they radiate overflows….and I’m lucky to be a recipient of that “love” energy this evening…. Todd and Sarah are getting married this weekend — far, far away on  VERY intimate setting…I’m not going with them … I am flying kites with my dear “birthday friend”…

Here is a sneak peak from the shoot….it is not  the original post processing I had in mind….but if you see my Twit, you will know that I discovered so many wonderful textures out there and I just had to play with them.  (hint, hint…follow me?  http://twitter.com/owenphotographs )

You will notice on my title heading that I put in Relationship Photography….I like that…because the experience today was so much more than just an engagement photo shoot — and as such, should not  be limited to couples who are “ENGAGED”.  It is a celebration of their relationship, and all the stuff that comes with it.  You will hear more about that later….that and plus many more upcoming changes and offerings with Owen Photographie.

Relationships takes work and when you see two people in love and so right for each other, sometimes you wonder, how can two people be this lucky….Well, I want to know because I love people who are in love….So I think I will do a series of blog post on Todd and Sarah…that and more pics to share…and they are NOT all vintage looking… stay tuned….and hey, feel free to leave me a message here.  And questions welcome too…

What is one more hug and one more kiss?  I’ve done it 98 times already that morning anyway…

The first day of school was bittersweet.  It really did not hit me until we were close to the school… No more Matthew and no more Daniel from last year.  Instead, a new set of friends awaited him.   He seemed o.k. and not too much affected.  But I felt a little sad.  His dad and I decided to keep Troy in pre-school for another year - his age is such that he can either be the youngest in kindergarten or one of the older ones in pre-school… we chose the latter.

A little tug at my heartstrings as I waved goodbye for the nth time. He is growing up - fast.   He is in a great amazing school with amazing and caring teachers and faculty.  And yet, I wanted to hold on for another more minute…. maybe 5…Is that ok? He is still my baby…

He is going to be ok…I kept reassuring myself….

I’ll be o.k. too.

These pictures were taken last Saturday, two days prior to FIRST DAY.

I am truly loving these gallery wrapped canvases… Take a Look!  I love the texture, the dimensional look and most of all, it is ready to hang on your wall.  Hope you like it as much as I do

What is the appropriate image resolution or size do I need for the web or for print? This question comes up every so often and I found this article from iStockphoto quite helpful and thought I’d post it here: I Resolve to be more Resolute: Understanding Resolution.

But before you do, here are also a few items to remember:

1) Terms

dpi – Dots Per Inch

ppi - Pixels Per Inch

ppc - Pixels Per Centimeter (European)

2)

Pixels – refer to the quality of the image

DPI – size measurement, affects physical output of file (print)

3) Dividing the number of pixels by the resolution will give you the maximum size you can print a quality image: So for example: 3000px/ 300 dpi = 10 inches. This means, you can print a good quality image of up to 10 inches max …(i.e. good photo quality from wallets, 4×6, 5×7 and 8×10).

At the same time, having a 72 dpi image does not mean that you cannot get a decent image print…

Now, of course, I hope that you will ONLY print your personal photos or photos that your photographers released to you for reproduction. Owen Photographie, family and children photographer And that is another topic for later….