Studio J

While casual portraits are what I love to do most, I also enjoy documenting events with my camera.

I like the spontaneity of an unfolding event. What I put the most effort into is close observation of the participants. I want to capture the moments that best tell the story of the day. The more I do these, I find it’s changing the way I look at things, even when I’m not photographing them. Looking for things that people do well and for meaningful, expressive images is making me notice those things, more and more.

Here’s a few from my coverage of the Fusion of Rhythm event put on by the Tamil Cultural Association of Waterloo Region. The level of effort and polish put into these performances was beyond what I expected. Some of these dancers were so obviously enjoying what they were doing, it added a great deal to the experience. Their movements and their facial expressions were evocative. They didn’t just dance with their bodies; their heads and their emotions were there too!

If you would like professional photography for your event in the Kitchener area, you can call me on the studio line at 519 589 1723 to discuss the details and pricing for your event coverage.

She describes her 1st day on the job to me as we’re driving home.
I took my kids aside, sat them down and told them, I want to know everything you’d like to do and learn here.
Brilliant!! …was my 1st thought. Her 1st day and she already grasps that her gymnasts will learn more, develop faster and enjoy themselves better when their motivation is engaged by learning what they want to learn.

We talk about coaching and motivation, about making things fun. She describes redirecting a gymnast to a new activity before the frustration of repeated failed attempts makes it too difficult to focus. I get the scoop on the gymnasts in her groups. She sees each person with their own desires and needs and changes her approach to suit them. I hear about her ideas on bringing along a shy person.

I’m getting goose bumps by now. How did you learn so much about being a great coach? I ask. There’s people who have coached for years that still don’t understand the positive influence they could be, if they could just take on your attitude and approach.

That’s how I learned from Laura and Marlene, she tells me. The coaches she changed gymnastics clubs for to follow them to their new club. I already knew they were something special; I’m getting a better idea now why.

What I thought was a good summer job for my daughter Kayla has transformed into a great summer job. The opportunity to try your best and stretch yourself at something worthwhile; the teaching, the leadership, the practice at helping individuals and groups, ….

Try learning that, operating the deep fryer all summer.

Kayla, I stopped genuinely worrying about what kind of monkey you would become when you got together with some grade school friends 5 years ago and organized a bucket brigade. Hundreds of emergency care kits went to Iraqi refugee families through the Mennonite Central Committee.

It’s silly that I didn’t know your good heart before then. I haven’t stopped noticing ever since.

I’ve been happy with you and proud of you for a long time now. On this occasion, I’m happy for you.

The new coach:

I look forward to the day when I learn Nicole is taking her bassoon to play professionally in a symphony orchestra. I do expect that to happen. Nicole thought it would be fun to run her portrait session as a modeling portfolio style shoot.

I think her images illustrate an important aspect of portrait sessions that I always want people to know. This is about advice for looking good; for the camera or for anything. What matters more than anything else is attitude! Faking warmth, mirth, connection, sex appeal is hard to do. If you adopt those states of mind though, it shows. Your expressions and body language naturally radiate your emotions and thoughts, without having to think of how to do it.

In my world, the mannequin-like disinterest and coldness often seen in high fashion photography is boring and unattractive. Physically beautiful people can be unattractive; it’s about attitude.

So what kind of attitude does Nicole have? Fun, relaxed, friendly, serene, sexy, sophisticated, contemplative, …. take a look and see what you think.

Nicole’s session video: