Barb Cameron Wedding Photography

Go To My New Blog!

2009-12-22T09:52:00.002-05:00

I have left the land of blogger and have created a new wedding blog.

For future blogs (and previous postings), please go to http://www.barbcameronweddingphotography.com/

enjoy the new look!
Barb

Ottawa wedding magazine

2009-12-09T08:14:00.000-05:00

I am so excited to be a part of a new Ottawa wedding magazine! It is a virtual magazine! Flip through the pages as if they were in your hand. This magazine will be available at the Wedding Bridal Palace Show held at the Westin on January 9/10 and at the Ottawa Wedding Show at Lansdowne in March. Also, if you are searching now, this fab magazine will be available at all Bays and Home outfitter in the gift registry area.

Look for my ad on page 63 ladies! A big shout out to Marc and Stacey who were chosen as my gorgeous couple in my new ad. Definitely one of my favorite ads. Click on Stacey and Marc to look at their wedding!

Cake toppers

2009-11-28T18:43:00.001-05:00

I occassionally see the odd cake topper at weddings....go figure! I'm a wedding photographer. Some cakes call for toppers, others do not. However, if you are a bride who wants to incorporate some humor into her cake, please go to FUNNY CAKE TOPPERS. I am not saying you have to purchase from this company; it is only there to give you inspiration.
Here are some pictures to get you in the mood. Of course, the hockey themed one is my favorite!

Edited Photos vs. Digital Negatives

2009-11-23T19:26:00.002-05:00

Some brides and grooms still have a lot of misconceptions about what digital negatives are and more importantly, what they can do with them.

Digital negatives are small and unedited. There is no retouching, no resizing and not tweaked at all. Have a pimple...it will still be there. Some photographers will give the couple these files. The couple walks away thinking they have the "nice" pictures that are in their album. They soon realize that they have the unedited digital files. Most couples know nothing about photoshop, etc. and are unable to reproduce album quality images from their negatives.

Here is where Edited Photos come into play. These type of files are the images you see in my portfolio and albums, and on my website. The photos I showcase have been edited. More importantly, you as the customer receive the edited files as part of your package. I believe if the image is good enough to give to the couple, it is good enough to be fully edited.

In addition, there are two camps out there at the moment about whether or not wedding photographers should give the DVD of these files (edited or not) to the couple. I for one am the photographer who falls in the YES camp.

I believe in educating couples about what they are actually getting in their packages. I believe that couples should ask the following to their possible wedding photographer:

1. Will I receive the digital negatives?
2. If I receive them, are they edited?
3. If they are edited, are they edited fully or just minor (meaning, are they edited enough for enlargement quality)

Hope that helps with some brides out there who I am sure, are flooded with information from photographers. Happy wedding photographer hunting!

Spooky Spectacular Wedding for Danielle and Dan!

2009-11-02T12:00:00.007-05:00

Danielle and Daniel got married on Halloween! The wedding took place in Merrickville, just outside of Ottawa at the Baldachin Inn. I love this old building!

I started my day with Dan and his boys.

Danielle looked absolutely breathtaking in her wedding gown. The back of it was very elegant and sexy at the same time. She looked amazing! A little natural light was all I needed to capture these moments.

I am a details girl....so I always photograph the detail of the wedding. I find it gives a more sense of the overall day then just your typical wedding pictures. I good blend of slightly posed and a photojournalism approach ends up with stunning wedding pictures.

The ruins of Merrickville were gorgeous! The rain stopped just in time and create a beautiful sky.

The Bacdachin building is beautiful. The DJ was Greg Fedor of First Choice and come highly recommended! Email him at firstchoiceent@rogers.com

Thanks Danielle and Dan for a fantastic day!

Margo and Sean : Wedding Reception

2009-11-01T09:56:00.007-05:00

Let them eat cake! Margo had to have had the BEST looking wedding cake I have ever seen! It was designed by her and created by Icing on the Cake. Unfortunately I never got to taste it:(

However if it tasted as fantastic as it looked, I would say it tasted yummy!

I love the first dance and get to to capture the love between two people !

Margo and Sean played a neat game for getting them to kiss. People had to donate to the Canadian Cancer society "kiss" box. Having several family members battle cancer, it was very touching.

The groom's sister, Shannon, wanted something a little different for a shot with her man Christian...very sexy! Nothing like a little love in an elevator....

I want to thank the vendors who I was fortunate enough to work with (some repeated). I big shout out to Elissa at Ottawa Makeup Artists - she ALWAYS does a fantastic job on everyone's makeup and comes highly recommended. Alan from All Season's Wedding was the officiant. I just LOVE this company and having worked with many of their officiants, I can honestly say they're fantastic and again come highly recommended.

Thanks to a great and fun wedding party!

Lastly, I want to thank my Bride and Groom, Margo and Sean, for entrusting me to capture one of their most important days in their lives.

Margo and Sean Wedding : Part II

2009-10-30T21:00:00.009-04:00

Margo and Sean were married at the Crowne Plaza (in Ottawa) in the Penthouse. despite the rain, there was some beautiful natural light. The music was provided by Cadenza Strings and they were fantastic...absolutely fantastic.

One of my favorite things to photograph at a wedding is the emotional component. I love Sean's reaction to Margo when she reached the alter and I loved her reaction to Sean when giving her vows.

We travelled via Trolley over the Museum of Civilization. It was so much fun and a first for me. I highly recommend it if you have large amount of people to get to a destination for wedding pictures

After the Museum of Civilization, we headed over to Parliament Hill. I love Parliament but I especially loved it this evening because of the low cloud cover at the tip of the Peace tower. It totally had this London feeling to it.

The picture of them kissing in front of the Peace tower happens to be one of my favs...I love the color of Margo's hair

Stay tuned for reception pictures over the next few days and the absolutely best looking cake I have ever had the pleasure of photographing!

Margo and Sean's Ottawa Wedding

2009-10-27T22:29:00.008-04:00

Margo and Sean got married this past Saturday in Ottawa at the Crowne Plaza downtown. Despite the rain for most of the day, it was a fantastic and elegant wedding. I am a details girl and what impressed me the most about Margo were her details! I mean this girl could put Martha Stewart out of a job!

The first photo meant a lot because it was a pin sent my Margo's grandmother from Nova Scotia for her to wear. Unfortunately she couldn't attend the wedding and this was her way of being there. Very touching moment because all grandmothers are special :)

Margo's dress was gorgeous and had just the right amount of detailing on it.

Sean received a pocket watch from Margo as a present on their wedding day. In return, Sean gave Margo beautiful pearl earrings to wear on her wedding day.

Stay tuned for the ceremony shots and pictures from the Museum of Civilization and Parliament Hill!

Ashleigh and Dave : E-Session

2009-10-26T17:09:00.008-04:00

This weekend I had the pleasure of photographing Ashleigh and Dave in downtown Ottawa. Their wedding is next fall at the beautiful Hunt Club Golf Course. This is one of many favorites from our early evening session. I love the rim lighting on Ashleigh's hair and Parliament in the background

Dave and Ashleigh both have amazing eyes!

The light that came from the sky as the sun was setting was fantastic...very warm and really added to the ambiance of the photos.

A low angle and fall leaves in the background make for an excellent moment to capture.

The lights came on just as we were leaving and Ashleigh and Dave indulged me and let me take one more shot.

Thanks guys! Can't wait for the wedding next year! Enjoy your engagement!

Anne and Jason: E-session

2009-10-22T17:40:00.007-04:00

I met Anne and Jason in Ottawa earlier this year to discuss their wedding next summer and automatically felt at ease with them. Not only are they so darn gone cute, they are such nice people! We had our engagement session downtown last weekend near the Chateau Laurier and in Major's Hill park.

Quite often, it isn't the kiss that is intimate and romantic...it is that hint of an almost kiss (just a hint of it) that creates electricity in a photograph

Flirting is always a must when photographing a couple, whether it is an engagement session or a wedding session.

Anne and Jason both have amazing eyes that you can really can't help but look at in their photographs.

2009-10-20T09:28:00.002-04:00

Myriam and Alex's wedding photos will be posted on the galleries section soon. I am giving the couple a chance to enjoy their photos first in the comfort of their own home! I appreciate everyone's patience with these wedding photos. I like getting the photos up quickly, but with the computer problems I was having, it just wasn't possible. I can say that it was so nice to work with Myriam and Alex and their families. It was a beautiful wedding and a fantastic reception.

Alex and Mryiam Wedding Reception

2009-10-19T09:28:00.004-04:00

The reception of Myriam and Alex (held at the Canadian War Museum) was super fun! They had some exciting and hilarious games and we also got some more great shots inside. Myriam and Alex were game for anything! Love that!

One of my goals as an Ottawa Wedding Photographer is to capture the emotion of a wedding. In particular, the laughter. This laugh completely lights up Myriam's face.

This next picture is special. Special in the sense of the place and what it represents. The Architect who designed the building, designed in such a way that on the 11th month, on the 11th day, at the 11th hour, sun will filter through a man made "crack" in the ceiling and shine through the window in the picture. The light illuminates the tomb of the unknown soldier. The green at the bottom is water. I literally got goosebumps when it was explained to me.

These flower girls were adorable! Bring a mom myself, it always means so much capturing their innocence.

OK here is where the games began...Alex was blindfolded and had to guess which kiss was that of his new wife's. This expression is priceless and had everyone laughing in stitches.

Thank you Myriam and Alex for letting me capture your day!

2009-10-18T09:30:00.002-04:00

Woohoo! Back on line - for the moment anyway!

Here is one of the last photos taken at the Museum of Civilization of Myriam and Alex. I love the lines of the museum in the background and the colors.

We had time for some more pictures inside the Canadian War Museum. I have to say, there were some beautiful textures in this museum which added to the couples' shots.

Alex and Myriam took part in a Tea Ceremony. It was a first for me and I rather enjoyed it! What I like is that it not only celebrates Alex's culture, but I find it creates an intimacy within the families....very nice to witness.

Tonight will be a posting of more pictures inside the reception...provided I get back on the Internet and don't have any more technical issues :)

computer problems

2009-10-17T22:32:00.003-04:00

Sorry for those of you trying to see more of Myriam and Alex's wedding. I will hopefully be able to upload tomorrow evening or Monday morning. I love technology...just not when it refuses to cooperate :)

Alex and Myriam: Part II

2009-10-16T21:19:00.007-04:00

After leaving Ottawa, Myriam and Alex headed over to the Museum of Civilization for some wedding pictures after the ceremony. Despite the strike, we finally got started. This is one of my favorite places for pictures because of the warmth of the stone, the windows of the Museum and Parliament Hill in the background.

The following shot happens to be one of my favorite moments from the day. I know a lot of bride's like to work from a list of predetermined shots. However, this is a shot that more than likely isn't on a list. It's just one of those shots that some photographers can see. We went into the museum for 5 minutes to warm up and I looked up in the foyer and saw the ceiling and fell in love with it.

Ok I know Charlie's Angels is over done and it is typically with the girls however....these guys were bound and determined to have a shot like it so here we go! No coaching was necessary...they knew exactly how to work it!

On a clear day, the window glass just reflects so nicely. It really is one of my favorite spots.

The Museum of Civilization has one of the best architectural features in the Ottawa area.

Working with natural light is always so much more pleasing to the eye. The sun was setting behind the museum and cast a warmth onto Myriam's face. Really beautiful.

Stay tuned tomorrow for some final shots from this museum before we head off to the War Museum. Another building with some truly remarkable architecture.

Mryiam and Alex Get Hitched! Part 1

2009-10-15T22:17:00.004-04:00

Sorry for my delay in getting these online. I am having difficulty with my operating system and have intermittent Internet.

Alex and Myriam got married on a windy but beautiful day just outside of Ottawa in an absolutely breathtaking church. The bride looked elegant and beautiful and the groom "had great eyes" - inside joke :)

I've always wanted to "catch" a flower girl peeking through the doors before walking down the aisle and this was my lucky day.

These were some of the cutest flower girls....and they loved the camera.

Also a first....a church with chandeliers. I loved how they added drama to the shot.

Of course I get the kiss shots but what I love getting....

is the reaction of the groom afterwards! With a classic "yes" Alex helps me catch this moment.

Only with a full frame camera and a wide angle lens can we capture both the couple and the lighting in the same composed shot.

Sometimes I am limited with where I can go during the ceremony however the Priest was very willing to let me roam...which is always a plus for the photographer.

Again, the architecture of the church and the lighting just helps makes this picture go from a typical recessional picture, to an extraordinary one...of course, Myriam and Alex have great big smiles to add to the warmth to this picture.

Shot down low with wide angle to include the height of the church. What a beautiful day and a great ceremony! Stay tuned for more pictures from our location at the Museum of Civilization and then onto the Canadian War Museum for a fun filled reception. Thanks for your patience as I battle with my computer!

Stacey and Marc Get Married: Their Slideshow!

2009-10-05T18:06:00.003-04:00

2009-10-04T21:01:00.005-04:00

ahhhhh....here we are...the fun shots with the couple and wedding party. Stacey and Marc had a few locations in mind for their photographs and because they left so much time for pictures, we got to all three: each location had a different vibe and result.

Parliament Hill in the background. Shots taken from the side of Chateau Laurier.

Old Glebe High School downtown along a graffiti wall! I was dreaming of this for weeks!

City Centre warehouses under an overpass....

Stacey and Marc: The ceremony Part II

2009-10-04T17:43:00.005-04:00

Stacey and Marc got married at First Unitarian Church. Bob Armstrong officiated and it was fantastic....he was full of smiles as was the bride and groom.

What I loved the most about this church was the windows and abundance of available light. It is always so much better to use natural light as much as possible.

Word to Big Bird! - no pun intended Stacey....I always say this :)

Stacey and Marc Get Hitched! Part I

2009-10-04T10:51:00.007-04:00

Each wedding is different but Stacey had the most unique veil I have seen! I had so much fun capturing both of their spirits and and giving personality. I big shout out to Erin, Leah, Todd and Steve for being such a fun wedding party and helping us achieve some cool looks.

Stacey and I are avid America's Next Top Model fans....we even created our own Tyra-ism....I wanted shots of Stacey with makeup being applied....unfortunately we had to pretend (the nature of the wedding day photography)....so we coined the term Fake-up.

Loved Loved Loved this veil. Stacey referred to it as "the nest"...but it went so very well with her dress and gave her an edgy/high fashion look.

She had an amazing smile that just lit up a room!

Beautiful natural light was all that was needed to capture her looking so fabulous!

Video of Melissa and Mike's Wedding At Strathmere

2009-09-30T21:50:00.003-04:00

Melissa and Mike: Reception fun

2009-09-29T23:11:00.003-04:00

Have computer...must blog! Love this shot. Melissa did a change of wardrobe for her first dance. She changed her shoes! She is all about rockin' the converse on the dance floor. Their first dance was well practiced and they gave the Stars on a certain dance show a run for their money. This was the last shot of the night but I had to start with it because it was one of my favs.
Saw this done before and I finally got a chance to try it. Who doesn't like a cute shot like this!

Very nice dip Mike! With just a hint of pink shoe thrown in for good measure!

Stay tuned for Melissa and Mike's DVD slideshow. You will not only see great shots but actual video incorporated throughout the day in this slideshow. I am hoping to have this up by Thursday night. Thanks for such a great day Melissa and Mike. Chandra and I thoroughly enjoyed working with you both!

Melissa and Mike: Couple time!

2009-09-29T00:15:00.010-04:00

Even though the weather didn't cooperate totally, we still managed to go outside and get some group and couple shots. I love Strathmere, but I have to say that I love the Lodge at Strathmere the best. The wood is wonderful and adds great texture and lines to the wedding photographs. Cheers to the boys who were great sports and jumped when I said JUMP! They tried to get me to make the girls do this shot but I would never do that to a woman in heels...after all it is all about the shoes!
Don my man! You had the BEST laugh and smile on a groomsman I have seen in a while! Love your spirit!

I would have to say that this summer, the new black is brown. The girls looked gorgeous in their brown dresses.

Strathmere has the best little nooks and crannies to take wedding pictures in. Each time I go there, I get a different look and feel to the wedding photographs.

Loved Loved Loved these boots! Thanks for bringing them Melissa!

Because it was raining, I prepared for some indoor candlelit shots in case we didn't get any shots outdoors. Well thankfully the gals and guys braved the elements and we did get some outdoor shots but we also got some amazing low light ones during the night. A big thanks to Melissa and Mike for going up to the loft in between courses so that we could get these images.

Tomorrow....coming soon....more night time shots with off camera flash as well as the reception.

Melissa and Mike: the Wedding Ceremony

2009-09-28T22:43:00.003-04:00

Maybe it's because I have two beautiful boys at home, that I love being able to photograph the "pretty things"...these flower girls completely fit this description. Not only were they so totally cute, they knew how to work a camera. I call this one my "mini me" look and is one of those shots that will more than likely never happen again. It's one of those be there at the right time kinda shots.

One of the things I like about Strathmere staff is their ability to adapt to the weather. Five minutes before the ceremony was to start outside, it started raining. However, thanks to Lisa (whose is amazing at Strathmere) Mike and Melissa were able to say their I DOs inside...Lisa and her team had the place set up within 5 minutes to accommodate the indoor ceremony.
Mike's anticipation for Melissa was classic.

I absolutely love capturing the eyes during a ceremony...they say so much don't they? No words are necessary in order to see the love between these two people.

Stayed tuned for the umbrellas and funky neon green rainboots!

Melissa and Mike get Married!

2009-09-28T01:02:00.008-04:00

Melissa and Mike got married today! It was at my favorite place, Strathmere! They are such a kind and warm couple and it was fantastic to capture their moments and tell the story of their day. Weddings just bring out the best in people!

Mike wasn't used to GQ'ing it up but made out quite all right:)
His groomsmen: Don, Kevin and Jason were great guys and a blast to work with!

I am a details oriented girl so I make sure to get all of the details of a wedding.

Melissa was so much fun and so completely organized! This is great to see in a bride! Her relaxed nature made it a breeze to catch the wedding events. Melissa's makeup was done by Elissa from Ottawa Makeup Artists and as always, she does a bang on job! Makes my life so much easier as a photographer when I know the make up is perfect.

Stay tuned for more tomorrow from Strathmere! I promise to include rainboots, umbrellas and the cutest flowers girls ever seen!

Ottawa Wedding Show

2009-09-13T21:19:00.005-04:00

Had a fantastic weekend at the Ottawa Wedding Show! Met a lot of brides and grooms. I hope the event was successful for your wedding planning. There was approximately 20 different photographers present so the brides had a lot of choice. This is a good thing. From my point of view, brides can quickly compare the prices and skill set of the wedding photographers - one stop shopping!
There are several factors that should go into choosing your wedding photographer:
1. ability - is the photographer skilled in low light conditions? In a dark church on a rainy day when no flash is allowed....this matters!
2. artistry - is the photographer just a general photographer or do they infuse elements of design into the picture? Can they create those WOW shots?
3. budget - money is a factor because every bride's budget is different
4. personality - you have to like your photographer because you have to smile at them all day!
5. samples - ask to see a sample of a full wedding from start to finish to see whether or not they can capture everything and are consistent with their photography
Hope the tips help and I get to meet you personally in the next few weeks ahead. Please email me for a consultation smile@cameronphotos.ca

Ottawa Wedding Show

2009-09-11T06:54:00.003-04:00

Attention all Brides! It's that time of the year again! It's the Ottawa Wedding Show held at Lansdowne this weekend! I will be there again in the same area as April....booth 907 beside the fashion show area. This show is a wonderful opportunity to meet many wedding vendors and compare skills. Please drop by and browse through my albums.

The Wedding of Karen and Marc at Strathmere

2009-09-07T16:56:00.005-04:00

Karen and Marc were married at Strathmere this weekend. What a gorgeous day! What a gorgeous bride! Strathmere is of course one of my favorite venues and Alison from Strathmere did an amazing job organzing the event. I love their fountain and always make it a plan to visit during couple shots. Amazingly, I get a different shot every time....this moment was highlighted by a rainbow due to the sun setting in the distance.

I adored my shot from Marie-France and Grant's wedding a few weeks ago in the wheat field. Even though the wheat was cut, the lighting when the sun goes down is breathtaking in this field and results in a beautiful moment captured for the bride and groom.

One of the nice things about Strathmere (and there are many) are the gardens. In order to get this shot, I often lie down on the ground shooting upward in order to get the structure and the couple.

What a beautiful family!

I love it when a groom looks at his bride with that certain look during the ceremony. It is one of the many emotions I search for when photographing a wedding.

Conversely, I love to see the bride giving the eye to her groom!

I normally take the ring shot in the flowers or on the cake, etc. But this time, I couldn't decide which to post so I gave you both! Love the sunflowers and they were a perfect choice for this wedding at Strathmere.

Thank you Marc and Karen for a fantastic evening and letting me photograph your wedding!

Shaun and Anik : Engagement Session

2009-08-27T14:36:00.008-04:00

Had a blast with Anik and Shaun this week in beautiful downtown Ottawa. These were taken just outside of the Chateau Laurier. They will say their "I Do's" in February!

Marie-France and Grant Part II

2009-08-17T16:04:00.004-04:00

Man it was hot!!!! I can't get over the heat this weekend and by some miracle, no one passed out from it.
I just love this capture of Grant after they kissed. No he wasn't nervous, he was just really hot! Special thanks for Jean from All Seasons Weddings who conducted the bilingual ceremony. Excellent as usual.

The flowers were so gorgeous! I loved the colors and the flower choice. Well done!

I live for moments like this. Grant's grandmother is a very warm individual and it was absolutely fantastic to have her witness the marriage of her grandson....very moving.

One of the things I love about Strathmere are the picturesque spots on the grounds. The swing is a classic romantic capture.

Love Love Love the wheat field and would love to photograph another bride there when I go back later on in September for two more weddings.

Marie-France knows how to give just the right amoount of attitude when I ask her.

One of my favorite shots of the couple from the day.

Marie-France and Grant Part I

2009-08-16T14:23:00.007-04:00

Marie-France and Grant got married in beautiful Strathmere but I headed out for some Bridal portraits first. Stunning and sexy are two words to describe this woman! More photos will be uploaded over the course of the next few days along with their love story...

I love the use of negative space when photographing a bride. They had this gorgeous red wall that just made the image pop. Just natural light from a window was used.

Marie-France looked absolutely stunning in her dress! I am a "princessy" girl and love beading and poof! What can I say it is the 80s girl in me! There is no denying that she made a jaw dropping bride.

Just the right amount of attitude for me in this shot...again all natural light

I will always get the group to bend at the waist and bring their chins up...it automatically slims the bodies. Beautiful shot because the family is so close.

What goes with a hot chick.....a hot car! Marie-France had her Uncle drive her to Strathmere in this gorgeous car.

Courtney and Shawn Part II

2009-08-11T22:41:00.006-04:00

Courtney and Shawn had a beautiful outdoor ceremony and the weather completely cooperated.

For years, I have been dying to shoot a wedding in Kemptville where I can take the wedding party to this abandoned wharehouse and the fantastic red wall! The colors of the wedding party just pop.

Merrickville, Ontario: the ruins and the canal system

The final shot of the evening was taken outside. I used a video light and off camera flash triggered with pocket wizards (behind the couple). Beautiful lighting for a beautiful couple.

Thanks Courtney and Shawn for letting me capture you day!

Courtney and Shawn Part I

2009-08-10T18:07:00.005-04:00

I had the pleasure of photographying in my home town this past weekend and it was wonderful! Everything was 2-3 minutes away from my house and working with Courtney, Shawn and the wedding party was a dream. I have to give a big shout out to my brave bridesmaid who went into labour at the reception!

First of all, I am very excited about these photos...I have dreamed of photographing a bride with a beautiful piano and my wish came true on Saturday. Courtney, you are stunning!

stay tuned for more over the next few days!

Sandra and Edgar Say I Do

2009-08-07T12:40:00.011-04:00

Grace. Class. Elegance.
Three words to describe Sandra and Edgar's wedding day as well as the characteristics of the bride and groom. What a beautiful couple and a memorable day. Here are some of my favorite's from the big event...

When I saw Sandra's dad coming down the aisle with her, I saw his lip tremble and it was very hard not to cry myself. The wedding took place at the beautiful St. Joseph's Church downtown near OttawaU.

I love this shot. I would love to know what they said to each other during the recessional to make each other laugh.

We headed over to the Museum of Civilization for pictures.

What a great bunch of guys....funny and willing to do anything! The stone steps are one of my favorite backdrops at the museum because of the warmth of the stone.

Loved loved loved the girls. This has to be one of my favorites from the day. I simply adore the reflection in the glass and the angle in which it was taken. Quite often I lie down on my side to get a better angle of the group.

I love this group shot! I try not to do the whole "stand in a line" shot and would much rather prefer to group wedding parties more casually. The result is always so much better.

This is why I love a beautiful veil. Sandra had a veil but also a fresh orchid in her hair which was stunning.

Again...on the ground...with flash to bring out the blueness of the sky.

How cool is this! They were introduced at the reception with a Mariachi Band. Absolutely unique and fun. The reception was at Billings Bridge Estate Museum.

These guys were so great and they were super nice.

The tent looked amazing and was a fantastic setting.

What a great day and a great couple. Cheers to a blessed life together!

Weddingbells.ca

2009-07-28T10:00:00.002-04:00

I am soooooo excited....one of the weddings I photographed is online @ WeddingsBells Wendy and Godfrey are a great couple so it is so fantastic to see such a unique wedding be showcased. I can't express in words how excited I am just about now!

Not done the wedding season yet although I am taking a break and enjoying some relaxation time with my family. Nine more "I DOs" to go this year.

An experience to remember

2009-07-23T09:06:00.004-04:00

Now I am a pretty positive person and I have come across some fantastic people in this industry. This season however, I have never been so rudely treated in my life from a particular wedding planner. I actually would not call her a planner, more like a tyrant with a clipboard. She claims to have emailed me her fabulous itinerary (where by the way she graciously left 30 minutes for family photos, wedding party photos and couple photos). This email came two hours before the wedding. She yelled at me at least a dozen times in front of everyone and basically told me that she is in charge and the photos are not important. She also yelled at the band, the DJ, the staff and severely ticked off the entire wedding party. She even got mad at the bride when she made an unscheduled bathroom break. When I thought I would never have to deal with this woman again, I came home to hear her yelling and being quite rude into my home answering machine. Once I got over that, I discover that she emailed me an even more rude message. In it, she claimed it was "her" bride and I was "just a photographer". Then she proceeded to tell me I was unprofessional and dressed like a slob. For the record, I had on black dress capri pants and a brown blouse. I guess the shoes gave her that impression - sorry I opted for comfort instead of my Jimmy Choos. If you have ever been a bride that I have had the pleasure of photographing, you know that I physically lay down on the ground to get the shot. I am sure wedding parties are quite happy that I don't wear a skirt.

All I can say to my future brides: please choose a wedding planner that has a great reputation. For that reason alone, I can't stress enough why you should go with http://www.eventsbystarfish.com/ as your wedding planner. I have personally worked with Aaron, Samantha and Amanda and they are completely professional, highly organized and are seamless in their approach to weddings. You won't be disappointed with their work and abilities.

As for the other wedding planner, I won't mention her name on this blog because that would identify the couple and I can't do that to them. Their wedding was beautiful, the pictures fantastic and they were a joy to work with.

Margo and Sean E-Session

2009-07-16T21:40:00.027-04:00

Some wedding photographers will tell you only to blog about 1 picture or 2 - their reasoning: let them wanting more. I say the heck with that! I had a great session so I am gonna post away!
How can a potential bride really see what the photographer can do if you don't post a lot? Anybody can take 1 or 2 great shots - my 9 year old can. So my philosophy is to show what I can do and create a clear picture....

Had a great engagement session with Margo and Sean on Tuesday downtown. The weather was perfect! This is one of my favorites of the night. I need to do more night time photography. I love the line of perspective of the streetlamps and how the sun is bursting above them creating wonderful back light.

In order to create dramatic skies, use flash with an aperature of about f11.

There's something about the lines of the steps that just draws me.

Look for the light.....that's what I always do. I will almost always ask the couple to look towards the light. I don't use flash just for the sake of using flash. I fiind it washes out the scene.

More lines! Friends that know me know that I am NOT a math girl...yet I always search out symmetry in my shots.

I felt like I was spying on them:)

I will often ask my grooms to kiss her on the cheek but smile when you do it....they look at me like I'm crazy. Hey it's all about the shot!

Margo and Sean were standing over my the railing and I softly said Margo's name. The result was a slow turn and sensual look....just what I was hoping for. Often the tone of my voice will dictate how my clients will react.

Love a classic silhouette. I never take a silhouette with a couple kissing. I ask them to slowly begin to kiss and I catch them before they make contact.

I don't just photograph posed shots. Often enough, my favorite pictures are typically the ones where the couple is interacting.

Holly and Steve

2009-07-07T11:44:00.010-04:00

Now that the Bell man came to fix my internet connection, I can post freely!

Here are some more picks of Holly and Steve's wedding a few weeks ago.

One thing that I love about photographing weddings is the ideas I see from Brides. In stead of the normal "Holly"/ "Steve" placecards, they had "Steve's Wife" and "Holly's Husband"...very cute.

Their reception was at the Glebe Community Centre...what a gem of a place! Beautiful architecture.

Holly and Steve Part II

2009-06-30T07:52:00.012-04:00

As promised, here is more of Holly and Steve....stay tuned Thurdsay for more!

The weather cooperated and Holly looked radiant walking with her proud father. Elmo (their dog) looked so cute also!
These are some of the moments I love capturing...those quick glances back at the guests.

Don't you love it when Mother Nature completely does her thing and gives a shot of wind just when you need it! You can't plan for these moments. But I always plan on being camera ready.

Like I said previously, I am a daddy's girl and these were some of the most touching moments I have ever witnessed. Beautiful. A moment for everyone there.

My job as a photographer is to capture all moments. Not just the semi posed ones, but to capture the moments that are not planned and not on any list. These are the photos that make you remember the day and the emotion behind them. Often they end up being my favorite.

Holly's veil was long and gorgeous so I used the most of it. Her girls all looked stunning and I LOVED LOVED the chocolate brown dresses. The cut looked amazing on all of them.

Nothing like a classic Reservoir Dogs for the boys...

2009-06-28T15:01:00.014-04:00

Welcome to the love between Holly and Steve...two breathtaking people. There is no question that Holly is gorgeous but she is also a super nice girl. There are so many shots I want to post here that I will just post the ones prior to the ceremony. Stay tuned later on in the week for the rest.

The first photo is my favorite from the Bridal portraits session and I was too excited for words when I captured it.
Whenever I get a chance, I use reflections. Totally double the pleasure!

This is fantastic! Look at the expression on her face! I think this was right after Shaun started into his Russell Peters imitations (Steve and Holly are huge fans).

I use natural light as much as possible. All you need is some light, a window, and some shades or sheers.

I've seen bling in my life (especially with this job) but Steve's choice of rings had to be one of the best I have ever photographed.

Holly has fantastic eyes....add a veil and some natural light and that's all there is to it.

I love photographing brides and creating negative space. Simple yet effective.

Ok Holly is the coolest wife there is (at least Steve thinks so). Holly arranged for Steve to have this Dodge Viper for the wedding day....he was completely drooling.

Ok I admit it, I am a daddy's girl.....and there is no doubt about it, Holly is too. It's moments like these that make me cry. Nothing is more powerful than a bond between father and daughter.

2009-06-23T23:52:00.019-04:00

Last weekend was the wedding of Janet and Colin. The boys got ready at Brookstreet Hotel (one of my preferred vendors) and it is my absolute favourite hotel ever! It is classy and elegant with great clean lines for photography.

The foyer at Brookstreet has the best natural light I have seen in a hotel-of course the Porsche in the back ground was great too. Nothing however can take away from the good looks of Colin.

Next it was off to Janet's house. I absolutely love catching reflections during the day. Janet had her makeup done by http://www.ottawamakeupartists.com/. They always do a fantastic job on any of the brides of have photographed. Janet looked stunning and just beamed.

Janet's flowers were my favorite and they came from http://www.trilliumfloral.ca/ ....absolutely stunning! Her hair was completed by Dorothy http://www.blushes.ca/ .

Janet had one of the best expressions on her face that I have ever captured during a wedding. I love the way she is looking up to Colin. Beautiful expression and an example of what I love to photograph. Their wedding and reception took place at the Kanata Golf and Country Club. Janet's friend conducted the ceremony and it was BEAUTIFUL! I highly recommend Kathleen for anyone's wedding. Kathleen can be found at http://www.marriagestomortgages.com/ ....the ceremony had the right touch of humor, intimacy and warmth that all brides look for.

Janet and Colin join together two families....these are some of the best "kids" I have seen. These young adults were obviously so happy to see their parents get married.

The night ended with a kiss in front of the setting sun.

2009-06-10T17:29:00.002-04:00

Well I am glad to know that my clients read my blog on their honeymoon, check, out their pictures on my site and have drinks for me when I ask them to when they go down south! Photographing Kim and Greg's wedding was really so much fun and goes to show what kind of great people they are. Check out their pictures on my website *under Online Galleries.

I have another wedding coming up this Saturday - keeping our fingers crossed for the weather - at Kanata Lakes Golf and Country Club. I have a feeling the wedding of Janet and Colin is going to be very intimate and romantic.

I have started booking up for next year already and would love to make your day special. Photographers usually get booked about 1 year in advance so meet as many photographers as possible. Like I tell all of my clients, you need to interview a number of photographers and you have to like them (because you have to smile at me all day!).

Reception Shots from Kim and Greg's Wedding

2009-06-08T22:17:00.018-04:00

I think reception shots are just as great to have as the other "formal shots". We get married and what do we want...A kickin' party! Why not capture the moments that are just as fun? Kim and Greg's wedding was a blast. A huge party that went on for a long time.

2009-06-07T12:37:00.009-04:00

As promised, here are some additional shots from Greg and Kim's wedding last weekend. Bright day so the sun was put to good use. This was a blast of a party and everyone had a great time. The atmosphere was electric and I am sure it went on well past the time I left. I am posting reception pics later on today.

"Kissing shadows "was Kim's idea and I LOVE IT! I love it when Bride's come to me with ideas about what they want for their photographs...it totally helps me see their vision for their big day.

Sneak Peek @ Kim and Greg's Wedding

2009-06-04T10:49:00.006-04:00

Kim and Greg are enjoying a much earned Honeymoon on warm sunny beaches! What a great couple...fun fun fun...what every photographer wants to work with! They were up for anything and their personalities shine in each picture. Here is a sneak peek of some of their shots. Keep checking in for more pictures throughout the week. Kim and Greg...if you are checking in from down south....have a pina colada for me please!

Gotta Love Ottawa Weather

2009-05-31T20:44:00.009-04:00

Ok I normally only blog about weddings and engagements because that is my business...however there is something about Ottawa weather that intrigues me. Maybe it's the Maritimer in me where we feel the need to always discuss the weather....that being said, today was very interesting and my boys Jack and Luke, were all to willing to pose in the hail. I hope my flowers survived!

Brian and Ivy E-session

2009-05-29T20:38:00.016-04:00

When do I get nervous? When I have to photograph another photographer! Seriously though, I had a great time with Brian and Ivy last weekend at McKenzie King Estates. Beautiful weather, Ivy's gorgeous and Brian and I talked Photography geek stuff the whole time. Visit Brian's site at http://www.bhphotography.ca/ !

2009-05-24T09:23:00.008-04:00

Had a blast Thurdsay night at Dow's Lake for an engagement session. Very windy but warm...my reflector kept on getting blown away! Tulips were coming to an end but this romance was blooming away! Congrats Josee and Stephen!

Wendy and Godfrey Wedding Video

2009-05-18T10:43:00.004-04:00

Here's my latest wedding video from Wendy and Godfrey's wedding at the National Aviation Museum held last week.

Airplanes, Fencers and a Beautiful Bride and Groom

2009-05-11T09:35:00.008-04:00

It was different, classic and fun! Wendy and Godfrey had the most unique wedding I have ever had the pleasure of photographing. First of all, it was located at the National Aviation Museum which is a stunning aspect of its own. In addition, Wendy was a fencer in the Beijing Olympics and wanted to incorporate it into their wedding. The result was a truly unique experience with some amazing shots.

E-Session with Karen and Marc

2009-04-28T21:30:00.014-04:00

Had a great time this past weekend with Marc and Karen and their beautiful baby boy! Despite the somewhat chilly weather, we got some great moments on Parliament Hill. Their wedding is this fall at my favorite place...Strathmere.

Events by Starfish @ Billings Bridge with Hot 89.9

2009-04-18T18:36:00.026-04:00

I had a blast today photographing "28 Days of Lust-Haves and Lipsticks" at Billings Bridge Mall! Events by Starfish (www.eventsbystarfish.com) organized it and as usual, went above and beyond the call of duty. Ladies, if you are searching for a superb team to organize your wedding, enlist the creative minds of Aaron and Samantha from Events By Starfish. I have personally worked with both of these event planners and they are professional, creative and extremely personable.

Also present was my girl Race from the New Hot 89.9 (www.hot899.com) and in keeping with my fav radio station, she was full of energy! Luvs kittens too! What can I say? I'm a Hottie!

Here are some shots from the event...

Every weekend there is something at Billing's Bridge Mall for the next 4 weeks....check it out and enter to win an e-scooter! Today they had free mini-manicures, makeovers and massage!

Wedding Show FEVER

2009-04-05T20:05:00.004-04:00

I am back from the Ottawa wedding show held at Lansdowne Park this weekend. What a blast! It was great meeting everyone...it was a bit chaotic at times but all the brides held on. I want to give a special shout out to Sara, Diana, Jennifer, Tara, Melissa, Simone, Stacey, Lise, Leslie, Ashleigh, Karen, Shannon and of course my brave grooms to be: Trevor, Jason and Bill. It was great meeting with everyone and I hope I got a chance to talk to you about what Barb Cameron Wedding Photography can do for you. If not, drop me a line and I'd be pleased to answer any questions you have for me. A big thanks to an amazing photographer and friend, Chandra.

I am booking meeting times over the next few weeks so please give me an email. Just a reminder that if you book with me prior to May 15th, you receive a free full flash website for your engagement/wedding (a $95 value). Now I am going to put my feet up and pour a glass of Pino Grigio that my thoughtful husband had chilling for me!

Wedding Show at Lansdowne - free for Brides!

2009-04-03T19:06:00.002-04:00

All Brides who see me at the Wedding Show and book by May 15th, receive a free website for their wedding!This is a full Flash Website. It comes with seven (7) free pages: Home, Our Story, Event Details, Accommodations, Guestbook, Contact/RSVP, and Online Ordering link.You will be able to edit & update every page of your personalized website and keep your family, friends and guests informed during your engagement and upcoming ceremony.

April 4 and 5th ... booth #907 by the fashion booth...come see me!

Website was down....sorry

2009-03-30T17:26:00.003-04:00

There were some unfortunate technical problems over the past few days. My hosting company did not renew my domain name and email so I apologize if anyone was trying to contact me. What a week to do it! Only a few more days until the Ottawa Wedding Show. I am so excited to meet as many of you as possible! I will have many examples of albums at my booth so please do stop by.

2009-03-23T21:19:00.005-04:00

All Brides who see me at the Wedding Show and book within 3 weeks of the show, receive a free website for their wedding!

This is a full Flash Website. It comes with seven (7) free pages: Home, Our Story, Event Details, Accommodations, Guestbook, Contact/RSVP, and Online Ordering link.

You will be able to edit & update every page of your personalized website and keep your family, friends and guests informed during your engagement and upcoming ceremony.

Wedding Albums

2009-03-22T16:24:00.005-04:00

Just came back from the Pro Photographer's Trade show in Ottawa! I am loving these Wedding Albums. Ladies....prepared to be wowed! There is nothing that makes me happier than finding a supplier that is fantastic and is Canadian! With the economy the way it is right now, it is important more than ever to keep it Canadian! Unfortunately, I can't get samples until about 4 weeks so they won't be there for the wedding show. I will have them if I meet you in May for a consultation however:)

Ottawa Wedding Show

2009-03-16T20:28:00.001-04:00

It is that time of year! I will be participating in the Ottawa Wedding Show being held at Lansdowne Park this April 4 and 5th! Come by my booth (#907 - right beside the fashion show stage) and say hello! Check out sample wedding albums, my packages and what I can bring to the table for your wedding. As a business woman, I know that there is a lot of choice out there when it comes to photographers. Come see what sets me apart from the others.

2008-11-16T18:38:00.003-05:00

I can't believe that the year is almost at a close. Another season of beautiful brides and nervous grooms. I would love to thank all the brides and grooms who trusted their beautiful moments to be captured by me. Without that trust, I wouldn't be able to do what I do and for that I am grateful. Like David Letterman, I have compiled a Top Ten List of favorite moments/pictures of the year and the stories behind them.

Chandra and Anthony had back to back to BACK thunderstorms all day. This is one of the photos we were able to catch complete with a real rainbow to sweeten the deal.

Aw...Chris and Merrill...February cold and a February snow storm. It snowed 61 cm that day! This was the only picture we got outside (in Merrickville). What normally takes a 12 minutes
ride for me to get home, took 70 minutes.

Annette and Sheldon had a very romantic wedding in Quebec surrounded by nature, family and friends. I had just gotten a new lens and was excited to try it out. The result was a picture perfect face where her eyes just sparkled. A very classy bride with pre wedding photos to match.

Julie and Kamil.....I love this shot! Very simple but I found very effective.

Kelly was stunning and I just love this angle. The eyes just pop and I love how the dress blurs just beyond her face. Very classic picture for a classy bride.

Tarrah and Jeff had beautiful day for their wedding at Billing Bridge Estate Museum. This photo was taken with a monopod about 2 metres in the air.

This couple gets another mentionable photo: a classic dip outside of the museum.

My boys .... my boys.... Alyson and Mike are such a fun couple and this photo relects the lengths the boys were willing to go to in order to get "the shot".

Another classic shot from Alyson and Mike...can you guess which groomsman split his pants. It took us a few minutes to recover from the laughter....again what a fantastic couple!

I couldn't end this blog entry without this photo. I love it. I was totally channelling America's Next Top Model when I took it. I different lighting technique was used and the bride was thrilled with the results.

This is the bonus photo for the year...it was taken just a few weeks ago and I was really excited about the location (Notre Dame Cathedral in Ottawa). It was three photos photo merged into one. It was the honorable mention:

Simone and Lawson Greenberg

2008-11-06T19:55:00.001-05:00

WOW! Stunning Bride. Stunning Church. Romantic Reception. Simone looked absolutely breathtaking and I can only describe their wedding as classy and romantic. The only thing I was upset about was the buckets of rain that fell that day. However, I was so excited to go through the pictures taken on Oct. 25th, 2008. Here are some of my favorites from the

day...

Kim and Greg Engagement Shoot on Parliament Hill

2008-11-06T19:33:00.003-05:00

Kim and Greg's Engagement Shoot was full of energy and was made even better by the weather on Parliament Hill. They are such a cute couple and are obviously very much in love. Here are some of my favorite captures of the day.