Monthly Archives: January 2013

The Urban Monks // Hook in my Mouth

  Category: Misc.

I love this song! The Urban Monks are a band that I first saw in concert performing note-for-note Beatles albums with the KW Symphony. Being a bit of a Beatles fan I took note and was sure to catch as many shows as possible. A few months later it turns out they had been hired to play at a wedding I was shooting (kate+andrew). They saw some of the footage and said, “wow, that’s really cool,” and since I was already digging their music, the idea to work together on a project came naturally. This is my first attempt at a music video; watching all the innovative videos in the 90’s was one of the things that attracted me to film making in the beginning (See Weezer’s video for Say it Aint So, another “guys jamming in a living room” style music video that I love, and drew inspiration from). Producing this has been a fun detour from my normal work and a great excuse to experiment. By now I’ve heard this song approximately 3.6 million times and it only gets better with each listen.

The song is called “Hook in my Mouth” by the Urban Monks. Composed by Pete Oldridge. Produced by Pete Oldridge and Rob McFee. Engineered by Rob McFee and Nick Iden. urbanmonks.bandcamp.com/

Lead voacals: Pete Oldridge // Bass guitar: Dave Neigh // Keys: Ryan Kimmich // Drums: Jonny Sauder

2nd Camera: Ben Kane // Best boy grip, PA, and BTS camera: Steven Yu

ella+james // Langdon Hall Wedding

  Category: Wedding Photography

Ella+James_Blog_872px (40)

December was a pretty mild offering this year. Ella and James’s wedding didn’t look like it was going to have any snow, that is, until the day before. You couldn’t have asked for better timing—in the summer you hope for a little sun, but in the winter you hope for that magic line between too cold, and just cold enough. The snow clinging to the branches in the above shot had fallen only hours before Ella and James had arrived. Details like that can’t be faked (not without an expensive movie crew on location) so it’s nice when you get lucky sometimes.

Ella+James_Blog_872px (18)

Ella+James_Blog_872px (65)

Ella+James_Blog_872px (33)

Ella+James_Blog_872px (62)

Ella+James_Blog_872px (61)

Ella+James_Blog_872px (1)

Ella+James_Blog_872px (64)

Ella+James_Blog_872px (57)

Ella+James_Blog_872px (63)

Ella+James_Blog_872px (12)

Ella+James_Blog_872px (9)

Ella+James_Blog_872px (43)

Continue reading →

kristen+jeff // San Francisco Engagement

  Category: Engagements

Kristen+Jeff_Engagement-1021

Kristen and Jeff moved from Ontario, Canada out to the Bay Area of California about two years ago. At first they only had each other and the insanely beautiful Cali weather to rely on but they’ve since built up a great new community of friends. Shooting their engagement photos (and an upcoming engagement video!) I was honoured to experience and document the new life they’ve built. Jeff’s a good friend of mine and training partner in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. When he asked me whether we should do the shoot in Cali or here in Southern Ontario, on one of their return visits, it’s not hard to guess what my suggestion was! There are few places I enjoy visiting as much as San Francisco (see this video), and was intrigued by the chance to use it as a shooting locale.

Kristen+Jeff_Engagement-1020

Kristen+Jeff_Engagement-1018

Kristen+Jeff_Engagement-1030

Kristen+Jeff_Engagement-1011

Kristen+Jeff_Engagement-1006

Kristen+Jeff_Engagement-1008

Kristen+Jeff_Engagement-1019

Kristen+Jeff_Engagement-2001

Kristen+Jeff_Engagement-1013

Kristen+Jeff_Engagement-1026

Kristen+Jeff_Engagement-1010

Kristen+Jeff_Engagement-1032

Kristen+Jeff_Engagement-1025

Kristen+Jeff_Engagement-1029

Kristen+Jeff_Engagement-1027

kate+andrew // The Feature Edit

  Category: Wedding Cinema

Kate and Andrew were kind and trusting enough to let me into very private moments of their day and not hold back at all. We had arranged for them to meet in a little clearing by a creek, in the shade of a gigantic tree, where they took turns reading vows to each other a few hours before the ceremony (sometimes called a “first look”). The experience was truly a powerful one, and something I won’t soon forget.

TL;DW (Too Long; Didn’t Watch): This is the 10-15 minute Feature Edit of their wedding! For their Highlight Edit, which clocks in at about 3 minutes, check out my previous K+A blog entry.  The “Feature Edit” allows a wedding film to breath a little, and really delve into the personalities and quirks of the couple. One scene in particular gets me laughing every time: look for the little red and white mushrooms in Kate’s hair, and the unique history lesson she invokes regarding them. If you fall in love with Kate and Andrew (which is very likely) and just can’t get enough of them, check out their engagement photos as well!