My Blog

Get into your own shots!

Hey Gang,

I know I keep on talking about WPPI but it truly was an eye opener for me! Not just photographically but personally too.  Sometimes you get caught up with your work and I think its especially true when you do what you love.  I know this might sound silly but I really do eat, sleep, drink and think photography all the time not because I have to but because its my passion.  All that said sometimes you loose sight of things and not necessary forget but lets say you get side-tracked from whats really important in life and for me thats my family.  I think limiting the amount of weddings I do to 20 was a step in the right direction but its not enough, its not just the quantity of time you spend that is important but also the quality.  BUT what if you can combine your two loves? 

See Im so busy documenting my couples family history that I forgot to start documenting mine.  Getting my Leica has been so instrumental in documenting our family legacy. This all clicked for me when one of the instructors at the conference said the following.

"WE DONT PHOTOGRAPH OURSELVES FOR US, WE DO IT FOR OUR LOVED ONES"

So this weekend Im going out with my family, my camera and a tripod to document our family legacy. 

I'll stop rambling here but let me finish off with this.  If you dont have a camera go out and spend $100 and start investing in your memories but documenting your life. But more importantly make sure your in the photos.  DONT ALWAYS BE BEHIND THE CAMERA.

Much Luv,

bassem

 

Here's some shots from yesterday's adventures of rock climbing

The next two shots were captured back-to-back I just love Kennedy's reaction here!

I was feeling a little lazy and wanted to go out for dinner.  So we hit one of our favorite restaurant here in town.  Well Kennedy always gets ice cream for desert (thats my weakness too) but she always eats it to fast.  Both Lez and I know whats going to happen next.

Brain freeze at its best! *lol*

 

Me and my Leica :: in Vegas

Hey Gang,

What a gorgeous morning!  I got the kids this week at home for march break, I want to thank everyone on Facebook for the awesome ideas! But it was so funny when I asked Kennedy what she wanted to do today and she yelled out "Rock climbing" I'll have some photos up tomorrow with our adventures! *wink*

As most of you know I attended WPPI for the first time and the experience has been amazing to say the least.  I got to meet the ROCKSTARS of our industry such as Silvanna, Jesh, Jose Villa, Jerry Ghionis, and the amazing Joe Buissink whose work Ive admired for years.  I gotto attend Silvana's Master class and Im honored to be called her friend.  If you havent seen her work you gotta check it out, its breath taking!

So of course I brought my Leica with me for the trip and one of the highlights was I met the wonderful people of Like through my close friend Jamie and Linda at Leica introduced me to Riccis Valladares.  This gentleman is purely awesome.  He shoots all his weddings solely with his Leica's He has both the film M7 and digital M9 (droooling!) *LOL*.  It was really cool to speak with him and pick his brain a little bit!  *wink* OK enough already Bass just show me some shots!  Here are a few you can see the rest on my Facebook.

 

On our first day before the convention started Jamie took me on the Vegas strip tour and we happen to stroll upon this street magician in front of the Harley Davidson Restaurant.

I just coudn't resist

You gotta be proud of me I didn't gamble at all....I saved my money for camera toys instead! *lol*

 

 

Michelle + Brandon + me

Hey Gang,

I know, I know! I have gotten a few emails wondering where the heck Ive been considering I haven't posted in about a week and that uncharacteristic of me but I just got back from Vegas from this years WPPI and what a story that is.  I'll post some photos later this week.

So before I left I had shot Michelle and Brandon's wedding.  If you recall Michelle had booked me the week before and I had shot their e-session just a few days back.  The e-session was a blast so I was excited for their wedding!  Its such an amazing feeling when your surrounded with people that love each other, I get asked all the time how I capture the shots I do?  Its easy when people trust you they forget about you! *lol*  Not in that way but they become more relaxed and less concerned with the camera.  The biggest compliment I received that day was from my man Brandon.  At the end of the night he came up to me and said "Bass I have to admit when Michelle told me how much we were paying for photography I thought it was pretty expensive but seeing you work and how you made us feel all day was worth every penny"  He put the biggest smile on my face!  Its this statement that reminds me we as photographers are in lucky,blessed,important position and to never take that for granted.  Brandon my man thank you so much for your kind words that really touched me.

Ok, enough mushy stuff here's our fun you + me from Michelle and Brandon's wedding!  Come back in a few to check out the rest of their day!

 

 

Me and my Leica :: Day Seven

Hey Gang,

Have I mentioned that Im loving this little camera? *lol*  Seriously though its so small I have it with me all the time and this has proven to be beneficial!  How many times are you out there and you say to your self "wish I had my camera" I dont say that anymore but I think Im starting to drive my family a little nuts.  I keep on hearing "dad do you have to bring out that thing" I tease them back and replay "thats no way to talk to your sibling" maybe I am going a little nuts! *wink*  On our way back home from seeing our Godson I saw this cool looking garage that, so I turned backed to see what my little Leica could do?  I gotta say that Im impressed with image quality, I cant wait to get my newLeica 28mm f/2 SUMMICRON-M ASPHERICAL.  I just hope it comes in time before Vegas! *wink*.  In this photo I was trying to capture the dark and moody feel but still maintaining the "rusticness" of the garage.

 

 

   

Married!! Kathryn + Mark at Otellos Banquet Hall in Oakville, Ontario

Hey Gang,

I still remember the first thing Kathryn said when we talked about her winter wedding, "I hope it snows that day!"  Here wish certainly came true, even though it had been mild for the past two weeks prior the day of her wedding it snowed and snowed and snowed! *lol*.  The E-session blast but with past experience I was worried that I might be too cold on their wedding day for them, geez was I wrong! I gotta give a big-ups to our awesome couple and their wedding party.  It was cold that day I had three layers on and I was freezing!  But we all made it and captured some kick a$$ photos while we were at it too! *wink*.  I know, I know, I know I keep on saying this but I love it when my couples decide to see each other before the ceremony, its the perfect calculation for amazing photos!  After the photos we head for the reception venue, Otellos Banquet Hall where the ceremony was being held.  What a beautiful ceremony it was, intimate with the closest family and friends to witness their marriage.  Then the party began!!  You can check out the rest of the photos on my Facebook!

Venue: Otellos Banquet Hall

 

All the boyz wore their old school Adidas, I wish I had of brought mine!       

This was a moment I caught with my Leica, I just love how quiet this camera is!

Can you say radiant, Kat you look absolute beautiful sister! Did I mention how much I loved your dress? *wink*    

   

Anyone that knows me knows Im a shoe fanatic! So when Kathryn showed me her Red Boots I just flipped.  Yes Guys can have a shoe fetish too! *wink*

I just loves Mark's reaction here!

I think this is my favourite photo from the day.  I just LOVE how happy they look!

I really like this one too from the reception. Yeah I have a hat fetish too! *lol*

I love these moments and I always consider myself blessed to be there to witness and capture them.

Big-ups to the Staff at Otellos for rocking out an awesome dinner and yummy dessert!

Mark is a HUGE Hockey fan....."Mark with the garter save!"

 

Haiti Relief Raffle Winner is....

Hey Gang,

Before I announce the winner I want to thank you from all of my heart to everyone that had purchased a ticket for this raffle.  As mentioned before all the proceeds were donated to the Canadian Red Cross Haiti Relief fund. My goal was to raise at $500 but Im so proud to say between yours and our governments generosity we surpassed that and raised $2180!! 

I know their can only be one winner of the raffle but the real winners here are struggling people of Haiti.  If you have not done so its not too late to make your donation even $5 can make a difference.

Because of your generosity and willingness to help our brothers and sisters of Haiti I wanted to do something special for all of you who purchased a ticket.  This summer I will be holding a {BASSEM} "Portrait day", this is where you can come and have a picture taken with your family or friend or fiance or boyfriend or girlfriend, mom or dad or both, sister or brother, your pet or even just of yourself.  I will email everyone the details who purchased a ticket.

So Yesterday I want to the Canadian Red Cross here in Cambridge and asked them to choose the winning ticket.  Sharron of the Red Cross was so kind to volenteer.  The winner will recieve a complimentary portrait session:

Value of the portrait session: $500

Portrait session includes: 1-2 hours of coverage, $300 credit towards albums or enlargements, DVD of full resolution images with licence for personal printing. 

AND THE WINNER IS........

 

 

 

Kathryn + Mark + me

Hey Gang,

First thing is first WAY TO GO CANADA!!  For a country that has 1/10 of the population of others is amazing that we earned 14 gold medals, a new Olympic record!!!  I think what was most amazing was seeing Canada's support and enthusiasm towards this years Olympics and especially towards our athletes.  This past weekend I had the pleasure of documenting a real sweet couple and real Hockey Fans! In the spirit of the festivities Kathryn and Mark thought we'd dedicate our "You+me" to our MOST AWESOMENESS Canadian Athletes!

 

p.s. I will be announcing the winner of our Haiti Raffle tomorrow!

 

 

 

Michelle + Brandon Engagement Session downtown Cambridge, Ontario

Hey Gang,

Don't you just love it when you get a gift you weren't expecting! That's the feeling I got when Michelle and Brandon asked me to book their wedding last week, yeah that's right last week! Michelle hand told me they weren't planning on having a photographer at their wedding but after seeing her friends photos that I had shot she just had to have me. How awesome is that, I was so flattered but most of all honored. As with all my weddings its such a blessing to be the person to document their day to capture all those once in a lifetime moments, I know I say this all the time but I just get all excited thinking about it! So they booked me last Thursday and I shot their e-session on Saturday and I'm super stocked for the wedding this coming Sunday! Here are some pics from their engagement session, you can see the rest on my Facebook.

Oh yeah I almost forgot I got to play with my Leica and I’m LOVING IT!! *lol*

 

 

 

Photo-tip :: Best Cheap Lens

Hey Gang,

Time for another photo tip!  Ive been getting a few emails lately asking what lens should I get?  My first answer is to get the best you can afford but not every has the budget for a 24-70 F2.8G ED, or the new 70-200 VRII or the super new 24 F1.4G each lens runs about 2K each.  But dont loose hope every camera manufacture makes a standard 50mm lens usually f1.8-2.8 which is great for low light situations.  These lenses run for about $150 but you can find them used for about $100.  Now your asking "am I really going to get a quality lens for $150?  The answer ABSOLUTELY!!  For $150 you get a super light, sharp and bright lens perfect for almost any situation.  You put that lens on a cropped sensor body and you have the great portrait lens, put it on a full frame body and you have a perfect all-around lens great for street photography.  But the proof is in the pudding I recently did an e-session with Michelle and Brandon this past weekend and pulled the lens out for what I was expecting to be a few shots, I actually used it for almost the whole shoot.  What I particularly love about this lens is its a prime (no zooming) and it forces you to use your feet to get closer or further from my subject or different angles.  Well enough talk here are a few shots from this amazing lens.

 

Heres a link to help you find a 50mm lens for your camera 

 

 

Boys and their toys :: my new Polaroid Camera

Hey Gang,

I must have jinxed it when I mentioned yesterday that I was loving this weather! *LOL* Yesterday I posted about my late Christmas gift Lez and the kids got me which I’m still waiting too see the photos. I called my lab and they told me to relax it’s only been one day and it will take about a week! *LOL* So what does a person that loves film but wants instant feedback get? a Polaroid camera makes total sense! I picked up the instax mini by Fuji and started playing around with it the other day.

Lez and I are re-doing the kids bedrooms; Lez is the fashion/interior decorator of the family so I’m told! *wink* Other than using my lifting, moving, painting, nailing skills which are limited as it is I would also print up some photos. I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to play with my new camera and use the polaroids from it. The collage below are scanned Polaroids that taken by my new Fuji Instax Mini 7. You can see the rest of the photos on my Facebook