Archive for the ‘Random Musings’ Category

Finao DWF’s 2008 Wedding Photographer of the Year

January 19th, 2009

I recently won a huge award.  It’s a great honor to have won first place in the Finao Photographer of the Year contest on DWF.  DWF is huge community of international wedding photographers.  All the best weddings photographers are members on this forum.  It was narrowed down by some judges, some of them are the [...]
 

I recently won a huge award.  It’s a great honor to have won first place in the Finao Photographer of the Year contest on DWF.  DWF is huge community of international wedding photographers.  All the best weddings photographers are members on this forum.  It was narrowed down by some judges, some of them are the top wedding photographers in the world.  Then the DWF community voted.  I think I’ll get a trophy in the mail too, because I noticed another winner had her trophy on her blog.  I will post a photo of it when it arrives!  Here’s the link to the contest:  Photographer of the Year

Here’s the winning image from Athyna & Jon’s wedding at the Palliser in May 2008.

dwf photographer of the year pictures photos

The Escalator

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Finao and Renaissance Albums

January 10th, 2009

I got my new albums just in time for Bridal Fantasy at the Calgary Telus Convention Centre.  Right now I am still offering 2 different brands for albums, Finao Albums and Renaissance Albums.  Kim and Duane recently received 3 Renaissance albums.  1 for them and 1 for each sets of parents.  Renaissance also gave me [...]
 

I got my new albums just in time for Bridal Fantasy at the Calgary Telus Convention Centre.  Right now I am still offering 2 different brands for albums, Finao Albums and Renaissance Albums.  Kim and Duane recently received 3 Renaissance albums.  1 for them and 1 for each sets of parents.  Renaissance also gave me an exact duplicate as part of their 20 year anniversary.  The quality of Renaissance albums is very impressive.  Although I have not sold a lot of them, because they are priced quite a bit more than the Finao line.

wedding album pictures
Albums, albums, albums!

I also received 4 more albums from Finao this week.  1 for Rebecca and Vedran, who’s album is simply stunning.  The metallic cover is a must see.  Julie & Ray’s album also came in.  They ordered a huge 12×18 album with canvas cover.  It is the biggest album I have had produced so far.  This thing was huge!  When it’s opened it’s over 3 feet wide.  The canvas cover should be very popular with clients.  Even Tiffany & Rob ordered one with a canvas cover.

For those of you coming to the show on Sunday (Jan 18th), all my sample albums will be there and the guest books as well.  And oh yeah… my magazine brochure is done.  Jameel, at Sure Print, did a great job.  I really think the magazine brochure was worth the investment, and I can’t wait to give them out to all you brides/grooms to be!

wedding album pictures
A close look at the thickness of the pages.
wedding album pictures
The books lay flat. The spines can be round or square.
wedding album pictures
Julie & Ray’s canvas cover album.
wedding album pictures
A peek inside Julie and Ray’s huge 12×18 album.
wedding album pictures
A peek inside Rebecca & Vedran’s album.
wedding album pictures
A peek inside my best of 2008 album.
engagement guest book pictures
Custom designed guestbooks from the engagement sessions.

JT Images

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Bridal Fantasy @ The Telus Convention Centre

December 22nd, 2008

For the past few weeks, I have been putting together everything I need for my booth at Bridal Fantasy.  I am very excited about the show and cant wait to meet more potential brides and grooms.  Rebecca & Vedran have graciously volunteered to stand in my booth and help me talk to brides.  What more [...]
 

For the past few weeks, I have been putting together everything I need for my booth at Bridal Fantasy.  I am very excited about the show and cant wait to meet more potential brides and grooms.  Rebecca & Vedran have graciously volunteered to stand in my booth and help me talk to brides.  What more can I ask for than for a live testimonial!?  My friend Shane, who works for Ellis Don, is helping me build my walls for my booth.  It’s going to be spectacular.  My sign will be made by Acrylic Concepts, and that should look amazing as well.  But the biggest news of all is the magazine brochure I am currently designing.  It’s fresh and very different from what all the other photographers are going to be handing out.  I really hope with everything I am doing, I will stand out at the show and be remembered in the minds of the brides.  If you are going to the show or thinking about going to the show, please stop by and say hi.  Below is the ad for Bridal Fantasy and a sneak peak at my magazine.  It’s the cover and back, which will be printed at my friends shop, Sure Print 3660 60 Avenue SE.

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Our one day tour of historic Washington D.C.

October 25th, 2008

When the workshop ended Friday afternoon, it was go time for Michelle and I take see as much of DC as possible.  We went and saw the White House (from a forced distance) when we arrived on Saturday.  Since the workshop ran morning till night during the week, we didn’t get to see much.  We [...]
 

When the workshop ended Friday afternoon, it was go time for Michelle and I take see as much of DC as possible.  We went and saw the White House (from a forced distance) when we arrived on Saturday.  Since the workshop ran morning till night during the week, we didn’t get to see much.  We walked quite a bit and Jonas was a little trooper.  Here he is waiting for the metro.

washington dc subway pictures

We decided to take advantage of the free walking tour of DC.  It was voted the #1 thing to do in DC.  Our tour guide was awesome and very energetic.  He taught us a lot about the history of the United States.  He works for tips and was worth totally worth.  It was hard trying to stop and take photos while trying to keep up with the group.  One day of site seeing was not enough.  We will definitely go back to DC sometime because we really enjoyed the city quite a bit.  The people were surprisingly friendly and there was just so much to do.  I was disappointed we didn’t get to hit as many museums as I wanted.  The only one we managed was the crime and punishment museum which was awesome.  We have to go back one day soon and bring friends along as well.

The Washington Monument is impressive to say the least.  555 feet straight up to forever immortalize their first president.

washington monument pictures

Here is the World War II memorial.  All 50 states and their territories are represented and each star on the wall represent a fallen solider.  I believe that’s what our fast talking tour guide said.

world war i memorial

The Vietnam War memorial was amazing.  The design, the look, the feel and the impact.  Of course it touches home a bit knowing these soldiers died for my people for our freedom.  I paid my respects with a moment of silence and read as many names as I could before losing my tour group.

vietnam war memorial

vietnam war memorial

The most impressive monument we saw in DC was definitely the Lincoln memorial.  So much history was made here including Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” speech.  The monument is definitely greek inspired.  But the statue of Abraham Lincoln was a sight to be seen!  WOW!!  It was magnificent.  I could feel his presence when I was in there.  I didn’t know too much about what all Abe did, but after doing some reading, I must say he was quite the man.  Americans could use a man like him again in power.

lincoln memorial pictures

lincoln memorial pictures

Here’s where Martin Luther King stood when he made his historic speech on August 28th, 1963.

lincoln memorial pictures

Time to hop the metro again and go home!!

washington dc subway pictures

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Montreal, PQ

October 17th, 2008

We finally made it to Montreal.  Michelle and I have always wanted to visit Montreal.  It was a quick 3 day stop over on our way to Washington D.C.  I have to admit, I love the French language.  I really do wish I could speak it more fluently.  I guess I know enough to get [...]


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We finally made it to Montreal.  Michelle and I have always wanted to visit Montreal.  It was a quick 3 day stop over on our way to Washington D.C.  I have to admit, I love the French language.  I really do wish I could speak it more fluently.  I guess I know enough to get by, but it’s not enough.  I am going to sign Michelle and I up for some French classes next year sometime.  It’s the first language I want to learn fluently and then Spanish after that.  I loved the architecture in OId Montreal.  All I could keep thinking was how cool it would be to shoot a wedding there.  I would die!  Too bad Calgary doesn’t have that kind of architecture as well.  I will definitely be going back to Montreal one day and spend more time there.  The people were great, the poutine was amazing and there was so much I didn’t get to see.

It’s getting late here in DC and I hardly got any sleep last night.  We leave tomorrow to go home and we will miss DC.  Michelle, Jonas and I had a really good time here.  I have so much to tell when I get home about the things that I learned and the people that I met this week.  I can’t wait to share it with the rest of you.  But I am working on 4 hours of sleep and I really wanted to get something up on the blog for those of you who have been wondering about me.  I have lots of emails to reply to, and if you have inquired about your wedding, I will get back to you shortly.  I want to leave you with a couple cool shots I got of us dans La Ville Souterraine or in the underground city.  How else I am supposed to do a family portrait with me in it, right?

JT Images

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New weddings added to the gallery!

October 7th, 2008

I just added some more weddings to the “their stories” gallery on the main site.  The new ones added are John & Dara, Ray & Julie and Janice & Michael.  I hope you enjoy the galleries as much as I enjoyed shooting their weddings.  Each has it’s own love story that was not only wonderful [...]


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I just added some more weddings to the “their stories” gallery on the main site.  The new ones added are John & Dara, Ray & Julie and Janice & Michael.  I hope you enjoy the galleries as much as I enjoyed shooting their weddings.  Each has it’s own love story that was not only wonderful to be a part of, but touching as well.

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Website updates and other random musings

October 4th, 2008

Today was a beautiful October day and a perfect day for an outdoor wedding.  I am still here in Edmonton after shooting Janice and Mike’s wedding at the Edmonton Golf & Country Club.  A very nice private golf course, and may I add, the prime rib was some of the best I have ever had… [...]


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Today was a beautiful October day and a perfect day for an outdoor wedding.  I am still here in Edmonton after shooting Janice and Mike’s wedding at the Edmonton Golf & Country Club.  A very nice private golf course, and may I add, the prime rib was some of the best I have ever had… even better than Mother Tuckers!  I will process their photos in the next few days before we (as in Michelle and Jonas) leave for Montreal then Washington DC.  We got some really good stuff, so I can’t wait to get cracking on it.

Just over 1 more week until I get to meet and learn from the master Jerry Ghionis.

I want to update my featured galleries as well because I have been told people want to see more in those galleries.  I thought it would be too much to have too much, but apparently it’s not.  Plus, there were a few excellent weddings stories that still need to be told on there.  Like Julie & Ray and Dara & John. Watch for those coming really soon.

The Flames looked good tonight.  Again, the Oilers had no business even being in that game.  I know it’s only preseason, but it never hurts to lay the smackdown on the Oilers.  I can’t wait for the season to start.  I can’t wait to see how my fantasy teams are going to match up with all my friend’s.

So, I’ve been wanting to change my about me page on my site for a while now.  Everytime I read it, it just sounded too commercial for me.  I mean, was it really “about me”?  It was more about my photography and how I came to be where I am today.  But really, I wanted people to know me before they meet me.  Maybe we could find some common interests that will help us connect a little better, even before we even meet.  After all, I could tell my potential brides and grooms about my photography experiences when we meet in person anyway.  So here’s what I wrote:

I love my wife and son, they are my whole world.
I love my Calgary Flames.  They are almost my whole world.
I am a hockey junkie, good thing games are played during the wedding off season.
I have traveled to many countries and loved every culture I have experienced.
I want to learn more languages one day so I can meet new people.
I still haven’t been to South America or Africa.
I have 2 wiener dogs named Hercules and Ginger.
I fly fishing the bow river to free my mind.
I always release my catch unharmed.
I love Hawai’i because it’s 28 degrees every day of the year.
I scuba dive to escape from reality.
I wish I was a dolphin so I wouldn’t need a tank.
I love snowboarding in fresh power and catching big air.
I karaoke because I think I can sing relatively ok.
I will sing any Spice Girls song.  No need to dare me either.
I wear Diesel jeans because they are the best.
I want a hybrid to help save the planet.
I’m a Mac because I don’t know what a PC is.
I love Big Macs because they are delicious.
I am on Facebook because everyone else is.
I recycle because it’s our duty as citizens of this planet.
I vote because it’s our duty as citizens of this great country.
I love movies.  I am inspired by film.
I am a wedding photographer because it’s what I am most passionate about.
I want to meet amazing couples who love the art of photography.
I make memories for life.
I think you should click contact to talk to me, so I can learn more about you.

Yeah, it’s a little different, but I like it.  It’s about…. well… me :)

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Only a few dates left for Summer 09 and other ramblings

September 10th, 2008

I only have a few Saturdays left for summer 2009 (1 for August), in case you have been thinking about booking me.  The dates have filled up way faster than I expected.  Thanks to everyone who have booked me for 2009, most recently Erin and Paul, Bekke and Mike, and Melanie and Rick.  2009 going [...]
 

I only have a few Saturdays left for summer 2009 (1 for August), in case you have been thinking about booking me.  The dates have filled up way faster than I expected.  Thanks to everyone who have booked me for 2009, most recently Erin and Paul, Bekke and Mike, and Melanie and Rick.  2009 going to be a good year and by then, I’ll have even more crazy ideas.  The Jerry Ghionis workshop I am attending in Washington DC in October will up my game 10 fold.  Just like the last workshop I did with David Beckstead.  When you get an opportunity to shoot with and learn from 2 of the top wedding photographers on the planet, you do it.  Jerry Ghionis, as some of you may already know, is my idol.  But before all that crazyness, I can’t forget about Janice and Michael’s wedding coming up in Edmonton.  We will finally get to shoot their engagement session on the 20th, then it’s the big day on October 3rd.  Should be a BLAST!

My Finao sample albums are coming soon.  As soon as I get them, I will take photos of then and show them off here on the blog.  I just finished Tiffany and Rob’s album and it’s simply stunning to say the least.  Watch for it here.

Jonas is turning 1 in just over 2 weeks.  I can’t believe how fast he’s grown up.  Take a look at these awesome invitations Michelle made for his birthday party.  They look amazing and so professional.

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Here one day, gone the next…. and 1 sneak peek of Dara.

August 31st, 2008

After yesterday’s super cool outdoor wedding in Mackenzie Town, I am now sitting in a hotel in Vancouver getting ready for a Just Us session tomorrow.  Check back in a few days to see how it goes!  Dara & John’s ceremony went without a hitch as the rained stayed away and really warmed up.  For [...]
 

After yesterday’s super cool outdoor wedding in Mackenzie Town, I am now sitting in a hotel in Vancouver getting ready for a Just Us session tomorrow.  Check back in a few days to see how it goes!  Dara & John’s ceremony went without a hitch as the rained stayed away and really warmed up.  For a photographer I couldn’t ask for more than the overcast skies I had for the ceremony.  The photos at first glance are simply beautiful.  But since they are on their honeymoon for the next week and half, everyone will have to wait till they get back to see their photos….. of course I’ll give you a sneak peek. Only 1 though and it’s beautiful Dara.

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How QuiKeys has improved my workflow and saved my life.

August 26th, 2008

When anyone shoots a high volume of weddings with an average of 1500 photos per wedding, there has to be some sort of organization for the work after the shoot. Most clients probably do not realize the amount of work involved for me after shooting their wedding. I have to pick out th good ones [...]

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When anyone shoots a high volume of weddings with an average of 1500 photos per wedding, there has to be some sort of organization for the work after the shoot. Most clients probably do not realize the amount of work involved for me after shooting their wedding. I have to pick out th good ones from the bad ones. After that, I decide which photos are the best and suited for the gallery. If a DVD of the images in requested, I then also have to filter out which photos are DVD worthy. Once that is all done, I go through every individual image and process it to give it my JT Images look. It is still a lot of work, but the workflow system I got from DQ Studios, called Quikeys, has vastly improved the time it takes to do all these tasks. With the time saved, I can do what is most important, spend more time with Michelle and Jonas. I can’t wait see the new RAW module they got for Lightroom. If it’s anything like what they have done with this system, then it’s going to kick serious ass. Thanks to Dave & Quin for making this available for fellow wedding photographers like me. :)

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