Cuba Si

Well, how nice was to be back in Cuba again this year. What a wonderful lovely land, such nice people and the music....oh my God the music... and the soft sweet smell of cigars, and coffee and rum. I brought a small (I think it was small, Eva on the other hand thinks it was a little on the large size) bag full of cameras, but the one I ended up using the most was my little Olympus E-P2... Small in size, but big in results... For the techno geeks in the audience, 12.1MP, shoots raw, 8 art modes, HD movie camera, interchangable lenses, not bad shutter lag, and is small enough to be travel worthy. Eva and I had a wonderful time even though we had switch hotels after the very first night... we hated the first location so off we went to Sandals. I had no idea how tired I was until I was forced to stop. No cell phone, no internet, nothing but sand, surf and sun... ok and some rain too, but it was wonderful. Here are some sample shots from Cuba, all images were taken with the Olympus, except the one of Eva.... That was taken with a Canon 5D markii and a 16-35mm L lense.

I can't wait to go back.

The bags are packed

Our bags are packed, my cameras are in my carry on and we are ready to go. The house sitter is on her way and our ride to the airport is almost here. Cuba. Si. Warm humid nights, warm sunny days...to relax, recharge and let the stress wash away... Unless the weather is cool, or rainy,,, then I will be shooting. Either way, what a wonderful holiday. Thank you Eva.

cerveza por favor

Bachelorette Boudoir

Congratulations! You are now married.  You have said all your good byes to your guests and you are back in your room, just the two of you...finally alone.. He looks at you with that look- the look that says "you have never looked as beautiful as you do today". Then you hand him an envelope. What's inside?  Beautiful, Sexy Boudoir photos of  his beautiful bride... Why???  To remind him that you also look beautiful at night.

For rates and/or to book a session, please contact me at staley_mark@hotmail.com  All sessions include a makeup artist, studio or location, photo session, and a framed 11x14 print and a cd of the finished retouched images. Photo books available as well.

Our packaging is green...

Who says green has to be plain, boring and ugly? All our packaging is as green as possible, not only because it's the right thing to do, but because they look so darn good. This packaging is inspired by the natural beauty of the earth. The essential element is the organic paper, a renewable source in the foothills of the Himalayas. They are hand made in North America. We owe it to ourselves and our children to do all we can, but it's nice to know you don't always have to settle for ugly to be green.

Cuba...

If I only had a solid month to travel and photograph this wonderful country, that would be heaven.  My wonderful wife is taking me away to my favourite place in the world next month and we are hoping to find a couple getting married down there and try and shoot their photos for them. The people of this country have such love and soul and dance in their hearts, they are among the sweetest people I have ever met. The architecture and cars make you feel like your in another world, one without some sort of advertisment hitting your senses every 10 seconds. A place where couples and young adults meet at outdoor cafes in the warm night air to talk and flirt... Cuba is a place where music is always around the next corner, the days are hot and the evenings humid, but yet it's like home... Cuban people are quick yet shy with their smiles, like a people unsure of how wonderful they really are, in a country that has yet to fully shine. The warmth is in everything, in the soil, in the air, in the water and in the hearts of the Cuban people. Like a fertile land in the perfect climate yeilds the perfect grape, Cuba's fertile land and perfect climate have yeilded some of the world's most wonderful people.

Two weeks ago I had the pleasure of photographing my good friend Gord and the horn trio of MIB Horns. These guys can really play, from Jazz, to Swing, to R&B and Blues they got it covered. Three wonderful musicians and very wonderful people, but I should never expect anything less, Gord always surrounds himself with great people. I felt a little like I was photographing 3 guns for hire... maybe I was in an odd kind of way...Anyway, it was a great shoot, Love these guys and I can't wait to hear them play.

Headshots

Happy New Year... here's to hoping that 2010 is a happier, less stressful and more prosperous year for everyone.

This is Errol. He came in about 2 months ago for some portraits. He wanted some photos that showed his business side as well as his casual easy going side... these are 2 examples of what we came up with. By the time Errol's photos were done, he ended up with all the shots and 20 retouched, processed and finished images. Errol is a soft spoken intellegent man with an wonderful Africian accent, (forgive me as I forgot the exact country he came to Canada from.) He was so pleasant and warm, yet there was a hint of seriousness about him. I wonder what I would be like if I moved and settled half way around the world in a country with a completely different climate and language. I think Canada is a much better place now that Errol is here.

Be true to yourself, but be kind this year. Everyone is under much more stress than any other time in resent history... and for God sakes, smile and laugh... it's the best medicine for stress.

Portraits... among other things

I love shooting portraits. There is a intimate connection between the photographer and the model, a moment where they trust you... and at that moment the "guard" goes down and they let you into their world. Portraits are like that, boudoir is like that and weddings are sooo like that. With a wedding, everyone gets into spirit and then they seem to forget I am there... and in that moment I get to capture those special moments, the ones you can't possible pose... the laughs, the tears and the utter joy in the faces of all those who attend. I try to let the spirit of the day come through in my photographs... But weddings also include a portrait element.. Photos of the Bride and Groom, the wedding party and the loving families. I love what I do... and for that reason alone, I am blessed.

I would also like to take this time out to wish everyone a Healthy, Happy and Prosperous year for 2010...

A quote to remember...       

     There is only one success--to be able to spend your life in your own way.

                                                                                                                                   Christopher Morley

btw... I am now on Twitter as well.     http://twitter.com/MarkusStaley

Band Works

A good friend Eddie brought his band in for some photos yesterday and I thought I would post some of the individual portraits... I am still working on the band shots... some of those will be posted on my next blog. I love how dark and deep these images came out. I want to take a moment and remind everyone to drive safe and sober this holiday season and to charish your time with your loves ones. The only thing we can never regain is time. Make it count. May whatever God you pray too bless you with health, wealth, laughs and joy this coming year... I pray 2010 is better for us all.

Just a little note to let everyone know, summer wedding dates are filling fast. However, if your planning on a winter wedding, we have special rates for Jan, Feb and March. Please contact us for details. You can save a lot of money having your wedding in the slow wedding season. Many wedding services offer discount pricing, and so do we. Please contact us for off season pricing.

Cousins

I grew up in a big extended family when I was little. My mother was from Quebec and she had many brothers and sisters, and as a result I had many, many cousins. So many I can't even remember them all. Family gatherings were often and crowded with Aunts and Uncles and cousins and Grand parents... well you get the idea. I was at Eva's Aunt and Uncle's (Thia and Thio if your greek) 50th wedding anniversary a while back, and what a fun gathering it was. This is Matteo and Alexander, I am sure they will remain close till the end. They both managed to have a great time together without video games, without ipods and they even managed to stay out of trouble. (something I never mastered as a child). Life is about connections, life is about family, life is about love. I wish I had been closer to my cousins, I miss them, all of them... every last one.

Meetings with Couples all last week.

What a wonderful week. I was able to meet with a bunch of couples that are looking to find the right photographer to shoot their very special day. I booked one, and 2 other couples will most likely book. I met with one wonderful bride to be and felt that we wouldn't be a good match, I did suggest some other photographers that might be better suited for her. I won't just book a couple to get the job, if I don't feel a real connection with the couple then I won't book them. Wedding photography is a very sensitive kind of work, you have to have a connection, you have to be sensitive to what the couple is really about. I love getting to know new people, I love being a part of their lives if even only for a few hours. I feel honoured when a couple books with me, and I do everything I can to give them everything I have to give. I feel so lucky to be shooting weddings, it feels right.

because we love what we do... it's that simple.

I had the pleasure of meeting with a wonderful couple last week to book their wedding and discuss their special day. When I asked them what it was they liked about my work, they responded both my price and the images. They told me that this was one of their favourite. It is also one of mine. This is Marrel and her father during their dance, Marrel's father got to sing to his little girl for one last time. He was so so proud of his little girl, he told me so many times during the evening, he was actually glowing with pride. These moments are what we try to capture, the little hidden stories,  the love, and the joy.

We love what we do and we hope it shows.

Glamour/Boudoir Party at Glam Last Night !!!

Eva and I hosted a great fun little Glam party at Glam Studios last night. The tunes were pumping, the girls were dressing up and posing and having a blast, the nibbles were all spread out and the disco ball was turning... Three good friends decided what their boyfriends needed for christmas was some hot sexy photos of them., and for three weeks the girls prepared with lingerie shopping and shoe shopping all for their Glam Party. I hope the fellas don't find out how much fun they had, cause I think this is a gift that was as much fun to give as it will be for the guys to receive.

Sorry no photos... this was a private affair, and thats the way we keep all our boudoir clients images. Private.

Here are some more images Eva and I got of Tana and Cody. I love working with my wife. We make a great team.

When you go out in the woods today, you better be in disguise... What a wonderful, wonderful day to be in the woods. Two of my dearest friend's daughter got married in the winter, and today we decided to have a little wedding portrait/trash the dress photo shoot. We really didn't trash the dress too much, as we want to really trash it up in the spring/summer. So here are a few shots from todays session. Tana and Cody are a young fun couple and we wanted to show that in the images. We had a blast playing in the leaves and trying to keep Eva from making them laugh when they were trying to be serious...

It really is special to be able to photograph a couple that are sooo in love. Eva and I feel honoured that Tana and Cody allowed us to photograph these two the way we see them. May your marriage last as long as both your grand parents Tana... and Cody, may your marriage seem like a moment, even if Tana tries to make it feel like forever. I jest... To Tana and Cody... OPA!!!

www.markusstaleyphotography.com/weddings

Hello Everyone.

Happy Halloween... one of my favourite holidays for sure. I just wanted to show off my new business card design, cards are still getting printed, but I should have them soon. I love the design of these.

Tomorrow I have a trash the dress shoot and next saturday an all girl boudoir party. My good friend Domenic has been asked to do another episode of Party Momma's. My studio partner Will is off on a month long travel of Canada, gaining wonderful documentory images and stories along the way. And Eva and I have been running around doing all the leg work on the new house and consulting with brides and grooms-to-be about their wedding day photography requests, no wonder we are a little tired today. I hope you all have a wonderful evening, Eva and I plan to stay home, hand out some candy then open a bottle of wine and watch Dexter... once the little goblins have all gone home to their beds.

nighty night... don't let the Vampyre's bite.

www.markusstaleyphotography.com

www.markusstaleyphotography.com/weddings

Autumn

The weather has been all over the map this last week. Warm one day and blustery the next, a perfect fall. However the trash the dress shoot got washed out for today. Tomorrow I am in studio shooting a boudoir client and on both monday and tuesday evenings, I have a meeting with couples their wedding photography. I love the fall. I have a designer person doing some layout for my portfolio wedding album, it's going to look smashing. I can't wait to show it to couples. Here is another bridal image. I love her spirit and I love her dress.

I had fun at Brook's Farms today with Lizzie and Tyler. Pumpkins, hay, corn, apples, hay rides, corn maze, zombies, fresh air and sunshine, what more do you need?? Carrie and I have wanted to take some photos of her children for a while now... but kids are kids right?? So... we went where to kids are. I highly recommend you take your youngsters there for a fun day. These are a few of the best of today.

Go... go have fun at Brook's farms, before it's too late.

More photos of Rich and Julie.

The one thing I try to do with every wedding I shoot, is to tell the story. I strive to capture the emotion and beauty of the couples love story, without being in the way. I try to give them photos that inspire, that reflect fashion, art, photojournalism, and sensitivity. I am striving to take wedding photos to the next level, to create individual personal art images. I love what I do. I hope it shows.