Tanya and Adam Wed- Ottawa Valley Photographers

Intimate ceremonies always touch our hearts!

Tanya and Adam were wed at Tanya’s Father’s home in Killaloe. The couple shared their vows and a sand ceremony with their family and friends. The waterfront property is GORGEOUS! The ceremony finished with a BANG as the couple set off a cannon that is on display at the home. Most of the formal pictures were done on this property and a few followed at the reception venue. We were happy to share in their day and Wish this couple a great future!

Vendor Love:

Hair: Trends Salon in Barry’s Bay

Bride’s Dress: Sinders

Bridesmaid’s dresses: Katherine Mullen Bridal

Suits: Moore’s clothing

Flowers: Killaloe Flowers

Decor: Ursula Jeffreys, Marie Dombroskie

Tent and Chairs: Valley Tent and Party Rentals

Caterer: Daryl Schroeder

DJ: Red Rock Music (Cam Gavin)

Highschool Sweethearts On Their Wedding Day – Ottawa Valley Photographers

Kaitlin and Jonathan met in High school and have been together for 13 Years. Their Engagement was 7 years long. However, after being with these two for only a few moments, it was as though they were still two young kids in love. The sparkle in Jonny’s eye when he looks at her is a clear sign of the love these two share. We have worked with this couple since last fall when we did their save the date pictures, and we had another chance this spring when we captured their Engagement session.

The Wedding Day was beautiful with clear skies and plenty of heat.  The couple was Married at The First Presbyterian Church In Pembroke Ontario. Formal Pictures were taken at a private residence in Rankin. The location offered beautiful rock cuts, trees, and fields. The Dinner and reception Followed at the Rankin Recreational Center. Where the Wedding Party, family, and many friends danced the night away.

Throughout the entire day these two never stopped smiling. Their Love was so radiant. The wedding Party was a great team and so much fun! Thanks for letting us be part of this milestone in your lives Kaitlin and Jonny! We wish you all the best in the future.

Vendor Love:

Hair: Chelsea Laporte

Make Up: Just Add Makeup: J.a.m studios

Dress and Bridesmaid’s dresses: Sinders Bridal House

Flowers: Kevin’s Flowers

Suits: Frasers

Shoes: Spring

Bride’s Ring and Necklace (Given by the Groom): Mappins Fine Jewellers

Groom’s Ring: Peoples Jewellers

Decor: Margaret Phillips

Videographer: Dan Kirkness – Video Keepsakes

Caterer: Good Enuf To Eat

Cake: Laura’s Sweet Themes

DJ: 2 Mics Mobile DJ Service

Update Your Headshots!

There has never been a better time to update your headshots for your business or marketing.  Why not try something a little different…instead of the boring traditional plain background pictures lets step outside the box and actually go outside!  Let’s put you in a more natural setting which can help make you look more approachable, more friendly, and more relaxed.  You can still achieve that professional look with a more natural and pleasant background.  We have such beautiful scenery in the Ottawa Valley, let’s use it!Call us to schedule your head shots for your personal business.  Office packages are also available.

Call us to schedule your head shots for your personal business.  Office packages are also available.

Visit our website for more detailed information.

http://www.specialtreasuresphotography.ca/business-head-shots.html

Please call us with any questions we are happy to help you pick a package that best suits your needs and budget.

Life’s a beach… Julie and Jody’s Wedding

This Wedding was a very memorable one…. right from the night of the rehearsal I could see an absolute excitement about the Groom.  Even though the Wedding day was very HOT, and Jody (like most men) , would rather have been not taking a zillion pictures… His love for his Bride was shining through. He was an absolute gentleman and I loved watching him pick up her dress, shoes, or flowers, without even asking. His concern was her comfort and happiness and it melted our hearts.  He got very emotional during the ceremony and it was honestly the highlight to my day… We just knew this couple’s journey was so dear and close to his heart.

When we met this couple their Daughter was just a baby…. and on the big day… we realized how much she had grown. It was so great to see how their love was also expressed through her. What a wonderful unity to capture!

The day itself, was HOT HOT HOT, and sunny. But it was a perfect day for a beach Wedding! The couple was married at The Sands on Golden Lake, one of our personal favorite venues in this area, and their formal pictures were done along the shoreline and across the road in a field that belongs to The Sands as well.  Before we started shooting the wedding we took some beautiful pictures of the Spa ( which we will include in a blog at a later time), and after we were done it really struck me that this location was so perfect for this couple. It is so intimate and serene…. peaceful and fulfilling. It feels like a perfect place to start the rest of your life together.

Before the Ceremony began, we captured a few images of the bride and her ladies getting ready.  Lisa and I fell in love with the Bride’s shoes and the Dress immediately….  Then the Bride and Groom’s little 2-year-old princess showed up and the excitement in Julie’s face when she saw her daughter made me want to cry. It was beautiful.  We realized shortly after that the flower girls would be 3 little 2-year-old princess’ and fishy crackers were being passed around frequently as they awaited the Ceremony to start.

The ceremony was very personal and intimate. It highlighted all that we love about our couple. It was an emotional ceremony and it was great to be a part of. I love watching and capturing the couple’s daughter walk up to her mommy and daddy several times throughout the ceremony. I loved that she was just left to be a part of the union! Beautiful!

The formal pictures were  very easy to accomplish because of so much love, friendship, and cooperation from the entire Wedding party. Such a great group to work with! During the private couple photos, again in the heat of the day, you could almost feel this couple’s energy. It was truly like time stopped in those moments and they just felt the Love they needed to feel for these photos to be real.

Julie and Jody we were honored to be there capturing your moments and we wish you a lifetime full of many great memories and much love!

DeRailed Band Photo Shoot ~ Ottawa Valley Photographers

It is no secret that our family and music go hand in hand,  so it probably comes as no surprise that Steve and close friend Chris are working on recording a CD!  It is a long process to get a CD ready for recording and Steve and Chris have been writing their own music, and lyrics…I have been lucky enough to hear some of the songs they are working on and so far I am loving it.  I am probably the one family member with the least amount of musical talent, but I take pictures and band promo shots were needed, so this is where I could help…Jenn has more musical talent than I do but we still rock the photos better than we would rock the recording studio so this was our way of doing our part and being able to help out.

The band is called DeRailed…so, we wanted to do the pictures on old railway tracks but finding them in Renfrew County is really hard to do. (If you have any suggestions where we can find some please leave us a comment or email us: specialtreasuresphotography@gmail.com) We luckily have a great piece of land where we hunt every year and there used to be rail tracks that ran right along the edge over an iron bridge (It is actually an OLD wooden bridge so I have no idea why we call it the Iron Bridge!) It made a great location for pictures.

Thanks boys we had a great time helping get your promo shots done and are so honoured to be a part of this awesome adventure!!  Can’t wait to hear the finished CD!

Special Treasures Photography is Looking for High School Reps!

Special Treasures Photography is looking for High School Reps from the class of 2013 and the class of 2014!

We are so excited to offer this special program for area high school students.  High school students are energetic and love photographs so we want you to help spread the word about Special Treasures Photography.  We will give you the chance the chance to earn credits toward a full session and your digital gallery of images, just for sending referrals our way.  The High School Rep program is open to any students from our area high schools in Renfrew County!

What is a High School Rep?

 

Senior Reps are students who represent Special Treasures Photography in exchange for credits toward the cost of their own senior portraits. You will be an exclusive spokes-model for Special Treasures Photography. All you have to do is show off your portraits to your friends and family.  It’s that easy!!!  With each referral you’ll also earn credits toward your full session and your full gallery of images on DVD.  It is possible for a rep to save hundreds of dollars on the cost of their own senior portraits by referring their friends and classmates to our studio for senior portraits.

When your family, friends or classmates have their portraits done at Special Treasures Photography, we ask them who referred them.  When they give your name, a $25 credit is applied to your account for each referral to the studio. This referral credit applies directly toward the cost of your own full portrait session and your entire gallery of images on DVD

For example, suppose you refer five friends to Special Treasures Photography…you will receive a $25 credit for each friend, for a total of $125 credit toward your own pictures!  Refer 10 friends and you have $250.00 in credits!

So, the more people you refer the more credits you get for your own pictures!

This is an exceptional opportunity to have your portraits taken AND save a TON of money on your High School Senior portraits.

All we ask of you is that you help promote our work to your family, friends and classmates by handing out your Rep Cards to everyone that needs their picture taken and posting your images on-line!

What Do I Get For Being a Rep?

 

• Free Mini Session

• Referral Cards

• 5 Watermarked Images to use on Facebook

• 1 Facebook Timeline Cover Photo

As a REP you receive a FREE mini photo session from which we will print Rep Cards of you to give out to your friends and classmates.  You will get at least 5 watermarked images to post to Facebook and use as your profile pictures.  You may also post the images to other social media sites you use.  Please contact us for more information and a full description of the High School Rep program.

How do I get chosen?
Fill out an application and tell us about yourself. The more your personality shows through, the better. Our decision isn’t based solely on your grades or activities/clubs you are involved in. We are just looking for someone who is outgoing and willing to work hard as our High School Rep.  High School Reps are chosen based on the information you provide in your application. We are looking for a variety of students who want to show off their personality and are comfortable in front of the camera.

What if I Still Have Questions?

Please feel free to call us: 613-628-9222 or e-mail: specialtreasuresphotography@gmail.com

You can also visit our website: http://www.specialtreasuresphotography.ca/ or find us on Facebook

PLEASE NOTE: You must have your parent/guardian’s permission to participate, we are happy to meet with them and tell them all about the program.

It’s Wedding Weekend at White Tail Golf Club – Ottawa Valley Wedding by Special Treasures Photography

Well the weekend is almost here, the first long weekend of we love the think of as the summer season.  Affectionately know to Ontarians as May 2-4.  For two friends it is their wedding weekend, and they have been busy planning their Special Day!

Jenn and I went to do a walk through of the venue they have chosen for their formal portraits with the wedding party and we are thrilled to be shooting at White Tail Golf Club in Eganville.  It is such a beautiful location.  So Mother Nature please take note…sunny skies would be appreciated this weekend as we capture some beautiful images of this wonderful couple.  Colleen and Eugene, we are really looking forward to spending the day with you and are just so thrilled with this gorgeous location you have picked.  Thank you to White Tail we appreciate you making room for our group.

About White Tail:

Whitetail Golf Club is one of the finest golf courses in the Ottawa Valley.  They offer an exciting golf experience matched with friendly service in a beautiful, full-service clubhouse.

The golf course includes 18 challenging holes, measuring 6500 yards, carved into the rolling hills of the Ottawa Valley, just outside the town of Eganville, near Renfrew and Pembroke. The scenic view from our licensed clubhouse and patio is breathtaking and refreshing – The perfect spot to relax after a great round of golf.

White Tail Golf Club has won the Flag Staff Reader choice award for the third year in a row!

Visit their website for more information: http://www.whitetailgolfclub.ca/welcome.php

See you on the course!

What Should I Wear for my Portrait Session?

We get asked this question often so I thought I would take a minute and give you a few hints to help you look your best for your photographs.  For family and individual portrait sessions try to find outfits that you are comfortable in, if you are comfortable you will feel more relaxed during the session this will result in better photographs.

Remember to choose your clothing that reflects the location and the season you have chosen.

For families, co-ordinating colours and out fits work well.  Try and avoid wearing all the same colour or matching everyone’s outfit. A peek at our Pinterest Board “What to Wear – Ideas for Sessions” will help.

Here are a few other tips:

• Wear pants that hang long.  It will make you look taller and more slender.  Your pants will also look better if they start at your hip line.
• Avoid shorts and capris pants; these make you look much shorter than you are.
• No prints or patterns.  The prints and patterns that are considered very stylish today may be out of style in 6 months from now. By wearing solid colours you are less likely to look back on your      photos and say “Why did I wear that?”
• Avoid clothes with logos and/or writing.
• Blouses that end at the hip; this give a nice definition to your shape.
• Men may tuck in their shirts, but women should avoid blouses and shirts that tuck in.
• Wear tightly woven garments.  Sweaters and other loose knit fabrics will become see-through in      flash lighting, which will show your under garments.  This does not make for a flattering      photograph.
• Avoid dresses and blouses with high waist lines like the Empire style or tops and dresses with belts or gathers as they flair out.
• Dresses should be a straight cut without a defined waistline this will give you a slimmer look.
• Try and avoid white, it can make your skin look pale and washed out.
• Have a look on our Special Treasures Pinterest Board for a few ideas.  We have an entire board with lots of ideas for the entire family. Click Here.

If you still have questions feel free to contact us: specialtreasuresphotography@gmail.com

A Winter Family Session in Ottawa Valley

I love family sessions!  I love the challenge of capturing kids.  Kids are busy little people, who often don’t want to just sit and smile, the younger they are the more of a challenge they are, but I love it.  Kids are fun, and the truth is I get to act silly for a couple of hours making funny faces and telling silly jokes or stories to get their attention.  Getting adorable shots makes it all worth while.  A special thanks to A & P and the entire L family, we had fun with both of you and your children are just adorable!

PictureDefence.com ~ Image Theft Affects all Photographers including Ottawa Valley Photographers

I know I promised the next blog would cover Wedding Websites and I promise I am working on the Wedding Website blog but but I thought this topic was VERY important.

As many of you know I am a moderator on the Phototips forum. (www.phototips.biz)

Recently Jimmy the owner of Phototips podcast, blog, and forum has written a few blogs about someone on Facebook stealing other photographer’s images and using them as his own.  As photographers we work hard to capture beautiful images and when someone steals your images and uses it as their own it is shocking…it is also against the law.

Last summer I had to contact a photographer whose wedding and engagement session we were hired to capture.  It came to our attention that he was using some of our photographs on his website and Facebook page.  Our solution was simple (a solution that I pursued with Jimmy’s help) I wrote him a letter and asked him to either remove the images or to put a note on each and every image that said the image was taken by Special Treasures Photography.  He removed the images. We chose not to pursue the fact that much of his website is a copied and pasted version ours, our clients know our work speaks for itself, but the answer is not always as simple.

To help photographers when this happens Jimmy created a website called PictureDefence.com that offers a detailed step by step instructions on how to handle this situation using the proper methods when it happens to you.  While this is written mostly for US photographers it also applies to Canadian photographers and we need to be active in making sure that this behavior is not allowed to continue.

Remember it is against the law to use, alter, edit, and post without credit to the original photographer!

To See Jimmy’s blogs by clicking one of the links.

http://www.phototips.biz/2013/01/did-facebook-consent-to-image-theft.html

He followed that up with:

http://www.phototips.biz/2013/01/phototips-members-take-down-30-websites.html

So what can photographers do?

Visit and support www.PictureDefense.com and spread the word!

http://www.phototips.biz/2013/01/help-someone-stole-my-images.html

Fall in Love ~ C & E’s Fall E-session ~ Ottawa Valley Photographer

Even though we had an over cast cool morning that was threatening rain, this couple was awesome, you could just feel the love and happiness, and we are so excited about shooting their wedding next May!  Their adorable daughter is already so cute she just might steal the show and she will melt hearts for sure!