BRAVO PHOTOGRAPHERS BLOG

Just 8 days until the day...

2010-09-09T23:08:00.002-04:00

I get to marry my best friend,
my love.

Just 8 days until the day...
I will have someone to stand by me
every day after.

Just 8 days until the day...
I know where I'm meant to be.

Myra & Franz

2010-06-25T11:33:00.002-04:00

A slideshow of Myra & Franz's wedding album selections. Photography by Keri.

I know, I know, But I've been busy...

2010-06-15T00:37:00.002-04:00

Life can sure catch up to you....and if you're not standing on that surf board at the right time...well, bubble bubble...down you'll go!

This year is probably one of the hardest years for you in terms of planning and creating your dream wedding.

It happens to everyone.

You're so busy trying to plan the day, that you forget what it's really all about.

I know it's happened to me from time to time.

Rushing in the bustle of things to get things done.... and not stopping everything at least once a day to block the rest of the world out and say to our partner...I love you.

The Great Engagement Shoot by The Wedding Co.

2010-04-29T13:38:00.002-04:00

Yesterday I participated in The Wedding Co.'s "The Great Engagement Shoot" competition at the Steven Bulger Gallery

20 Photographers were matched up with 20 clients randomly. We had 1 hour to complete an engagement shoot, edit the photos, and submit one photo for the contest.

It was so exciting!

My couple was the lovely Carrie & Andrew. Together for 12 years...since highschool!! Such a warm and loving couple...I had a blast with them. We created a pretty cool photo together...

We've made the swtich...and it was for the best

2010-04-05T22:56:00.003-04:00

We have officially switched over to a brand new studio management system. This system will allow us to systematically produce 100% client happiness. With automatic reminders built in, our system now can help you stay on track in the upcoming months of your wedding. From photo sessions to product ordering, your experience is a breeze now....even easier than it was before. You have complete control over your photography experience. It's wonderful! Learn more at Shoot Q www.shootq.com

Our client launch date is April 11 (my 1 year engagement anniversary with Stephanie;)

You will receive email notifications quite soon.

Happy Spring!! It's going to be a great year!

Is your personal wedding website Facebook ready...?

2010-03-21T22:48:00.005-04:00

So....having your very own wedding website is all the rage these days.

But....do you really want to leave Facebook when connecting with family & friends??
We don't think so!!

So we're bringing your wedding website to the place you hang out the most...the big FB!

Check out a Facebook website sample of a fantastic destination wedding who used this website to share their experience.

Congratulations to Joyce & Tomi!!

CLICK ON THE WEBSITE PHOTO TO CHECK IT OUT!

ann + han ...the wedding album

2010-03-08T22:10:00.002-05:00

Ann & Han, it was such a great experience working with you. Here is a place to share your album images with family and friends who aren't able to be there to see the real thing. I hope you love it:)

NEW WEBSITE IS UP AND RUNNING.....Hooooray!!!

2010-02-06T14:00:00.003-05:00

After a long and tedious server update this past month, we are finally up and running with our 2010 website. New, sleeker look. New categories. And a whole new way to interact with the Bravo team.
For those who were waiting for the site to be up to contact us...now's your time. Visit the contact page and let us know who you are :)

We are so excited. 2010 is going to be fantastic!

If any element of the new site is not working.....please let us know. You are our #1 feedback source.

Enjoy

The servers are officially down

2010-02-06T11:21:00.001-05:00

We are having even more technical difficulties with our servers and we are having blackouts on our site! Gotta love technology!!

stay tuned...

2010 Website Launch Delayed

2010-01-12T22:17:00.002-05:00

Our launch for the new 2010 website has been delayed due to our server update.
We appreciate the overwhelming response from Canada's Bridal show.

For those that are looking for current pricing....please IGNORE the packages online. Our 2010 pricing is COMPLETELY DIFFERENT! Please use the contact form and we will send you our updated packages.

In the mean time, sit tight....here comes a cleaner and more easily navigable website. We think you're going to love its simplicity and speed.
We also have a few tricks up our sleeve for current clients....you are going to love what we can do to your FACEBOOK.

Stay tuned ;-)

2010 Canada's Bridal Show

2010-01-11T21:16:00.005-05:00

Our booth was a pretty big attraction at the show. We were happy to see so many couples planning their weddings in advance. In previous years, couples were leaving things until the last minute. This year it seems like everyone is trying to get a jump on booking dates as there are only a few key availabilities in Toronto. Destination weddings were also a big percentage of the couples that we have met. We met a couple who is traveling as far as the Maldives Islands south of India. How exotic and unique. We just love meeting couples who enjoy life and want to live each moment to the fullest. Although not all of us are as adventurous, I met a wonderful couple whom is renting an old Estate Home for their wedding week. How unique and interesting! It's nice to know that everyone wants something special planned for their wedding, in their own way. I am excited to see where 2010 and 2011 brings me, to capture the experiences of those that I am fortunate enough to be chosen as their historian.

Jonathon
Best Wishes to everyone that I connected with at the Bridal Show, and Happy New Year to all!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2010-01-01T13:48:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year to all our friends (new and old), colleagues, and partners.

2009 was a fantastic year for us. We were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to connect with so many couples in love. Each experience has delivered an intimate understanding of the human element in photography. As such, our style and our work has been evolving at a wonderful pace. Each new advancement in technology has brought a new level in our ability to photograph; and each new understanding for love in each other has encouraged our ability to photograph with deeper feeling and emotion than ever before.

Our 2009 collection will be released at Canada's Bridal Show on January 8, 9, 10 at the Metro Toronto Convention Center. We will be at booth 1607 (on the East Side).

We will also be releasing our brand new 2010 website.
Cleaner, more sophisticated, and now even easier to navigate and connect with us.

Stay tuned on Twitter & Facebook for the update.

Happy New Year to Everyone

Merry Christmas! Happy Chanukah!

2009-12-24T12:23:00.000-05:00

Wishing everyone the best for this holiday season!

My Christmas / Chanukah Gift to You...a poem

It is the time for giving,
Giving thoughtful gifts,
The kinds that make children smile—
The ones on their wish lists.

But, I just want one gift this year,
And it's the gift of happiness,
Because you see,
Unlike toys and jewelry,
Happiness can last a lifetime.

So, instead of a list of wishes
That goes for miles and miles long,
This year, I want something more;
Something you can't just buy at a store.

Yes, it's the gift of happiness,
A gift that makes one blessed;
For it is such a powerful gift—
That is so remarkably priceless.

Trying something NEW

2009-11-28T13:33:00.001-05:00

We are going to be uploading slideshows of our couple's selections for their wedding and engagement albums. We feel that this is a more true representation of what our clients expect to see, rather than putting up a few select images of our choosing. This is the real deal...what you see is what you get.

Ann & Han Engaged

2009-11-03T20:28:00.003-05:00

We met Ann & Han (cutest names!) at the MTCC Canada's Bridal Show. We hit it off, so when they asked me to drive to Niagara Falls with them to capture the location of their first kiss (under a waterfall....how adorable!) I was in 100%. These are the images they selected for their engagement album.

Lisa & John - June 6, 2009

2009-10-29T15:35:00.001-04:00

Diana & Peter - May 30, 2009

2009-10-29T15:02:00.000-04:00

Tanya & Nelson - July 11, 2009

2009-10-29T14:38:00.001-04:00

Sneak Peak of '09 Collection

2009-09-17T20:02:00.005-04:00

We've never been the type to flaunt our work to the world or display the intimate moments of our couples' day. Art seems a bit more special when you are the only one who gets to view a piece. But if we were to give you a sneak peak of what's to come in the 2009 collection. This would be one piece that everyone must see!

Congratulations Ann & Han. Your day was magnificent!

A few new changes

2009-08-01T15:01:00.002-04:00

So we've been pretty laid back when it comes to our blog. We have been serving our clients 110%, which means that there is little time left over to properly connect to everyone else. Well, as you can see, we've been making a few minor changes to our blog appearence and are considering moving from blogger to wordpress...but the jury is still out on that one.
Over the next few weeks, you should be seeing some of our most recent work. Stay tuned.

{LIFE} Simple elegance

2009-04-15T01:07:00.002-04:00

40 years from now, you will not care how creative your photographer was on your wedding day.

50 years from now, you will not care what kind of crazy equipment your photographer used.

60 years from now, you will not care if your photographer was popular.

You will only care that your photographs represent the truth.

Work And Learn Seminars

2009-04-09T21:35:00.001-04:00

[LEARN] 3 new seminar dates have been released on the site. In our company section under education you will find a drop down menu. Seminars are limited to 12 Photographers.
These seminars are focused on photography and what it means to take good photographs right in the camera without a lot of photoshop work.
Our winter seminars focus on the post processing of photography and will also include album and product design.

Posted with LifeCast

Lots of New Features

2009-02-26T20:42:00.002-05:00

This week we have released several new features on our site. Clients now have the ability to review and sign contracts online and pay their deposit in the comfort of their own offices. This is in an attempt to further streamline the photography business and help our clients get through the wedding planning process a little bit easier. Bravo is a highly integrated company with new technology that is constantly being released. Bravo clients will continue to enjoy being on the cutting edge of these new and exciting changes.

A New Day for Photographers

2009-02-05T16:34:00.003-05:00

Photography is changing. Every day there are more and more photographers trying to break into the wedding industry. Each year these newcomers are disappointing thousands of brides. These brides probably love the work captured by their chosen photographer, but are extremely annoyed when they don't receive their products for months, if not years later. This has changed wedding photography into a "Do it Yourself" industry where amateur photographers are charging below par wages for sub-par work and service. Giving couples their wedding images only on DVD and leaving it up to them.
Most photographers can not manage a business properly and their clients suffer for it.

That's why Bravo is the first company in North America to give photographers the opportunity to interact with their couples in a personal way...and leave the time consuming work to the production and administration team at Bravo.

Photographers enjoy a fantastic quality of life while still making 100% of their service fees. The company earns their profits from the products they sell; which means less markup to the customer and a faster turnaround time.

Ask any couple who is discontent with their wedding photographer...they will most likely tell you that they were unhappy with the service after the wedding.

That's what makes Bravo the smarter choice.

Top 25 Experts Editorial in "The Wedding Ring"

2009-01-27T20:20:00.003-05:00

We have been fortunate enough to be considered among the top 25 experts in our field in Toronto. When The Wedding Ring approached us, we were flattered to say the least. This is the company that prints BRIDAL NEWS magazine! During our interview, the writers asked us about our business and the way we run things at Bravo. They were surprised to see how streamlined our business was and the fact that we paid our photographers so much while making a minimal profit for the company (and still finding money to donate to charities). We were able to share a great deal of information about us and they have written a fabulous article about our company and services.

You can see the article here: http://www.gta.ontarioweddingring.com/vendors/photographers/bravophotographers.html

Back to Regular Hours

2009-01-26T17:54:00.002-05:00

It has been over 2 weeks from the bridal show at the MTCC and we are back to regular consultation hours this week. Tuesday & Wednesday evenings 6:00, 7:00, 8:00PM time slots. You can see our consultation and photographer availability through our live calendar by going to the calendar page on the Bravo website. Booking a consultation is super easy too...just enter your information, the date and time that you prefer, and you should receive an email confirmation back shortly. You will also see your name in our calendar within 24hours, which will also confirm your appointment with us. Bravo Photographers is run very efficiently using online systems, so that your upcoming busy months will be a breeze when working with us.

Bridal Show @ MTCC

2009-01-12T17:45:00.002-05:00

Thanks to all who attended the Bridal Show at the Metro Toronto Convention Center this weekend and stopped by our booth. Everyone had a great time and the show was a huge success. So many new faces and so many interesting stories. We will be happy to serve you in booking consultations throughout the week and into next week...every day of the week. We return to our normal schedule on January 26, where we meet couples on Tuesday & Wednesday 6-9PM.

The New 2009 Website Has Been Released

2009-01-08T18:37:00.002-05:00

With great pleasure....we'd like to let you know that the new website has been updated and released to the public. We'd like to thank all of you for your patience and support. Since we are in the first few weeks of the release, we do anticipate that there may be a few links that don't work properly...or a few pages that are not displaying correctly. With your help in identifying these, we will have everything running perfectly as soon as possible.

You will see many new features on the site. Some of which are not available yet, but they will be soon. Our new website is a clear an concise way to understand the workings of our studio and allow potential couples to clearly budget and book the photographer of their choice with minimal time over the phone or in consultation.

We know that everyone is extremely busy these days and that everyone appreciates a well-designed and useful website. We have been listening to you...and this new website is your answer. We hope you love it!

Plugging away

2008-12-02T20:22:00.001-05:00

Our website is nearly done everyone! Thanks for your patience...we know you're going to love it. We will be releasing it on January 1st to ring in the new year!

And We're BACK

2008-11-24T23:47:00.002-05:00

Hey everyone! After a lightning fast summer and many wedding bells heard, we are back to the blog. We've had some delays in hosting the new site but everything is still on schedule. The new website will be launched for Canada's Bridal Show at The Metro Toronto Convention Centre on January 9-11...we hope to see you all there :)

We'll try to keep you updated as the weeks go by for the launch of the 2009 website. We are still taking appointments and the calendar is being updated daily. If you are interested in booking an appointment, just check our calendar to see which day works for you and then give us a ring....not your ring..silly....a phone call :P

chat soon

LensFlare Films "Trash The Dress"

2008-07-23T13:21:00.006-04:00

The highly anticipated video of the highly exclusive photo shoot with Ms. K. :)

Trash The Dress from Lens Flare Films on Vimeo.

new friends from Japan

2008-07-08T13:59:00.005-04:00

A wonderful opportunity to photograph two wonderful people. Peilun & John, I wish you both the very best wherever your love takes you next.

Video Blogs are Great!

2008-06-18T18:42:00.003-04:00

Trash the Dress

2008-06-13T19:43:00.003-04:00

I have had a rare and unique experience with a client who authorized this post :) Thanks K.
Ms. K was engaged in a long term committed relationship and found out her partner was unfaithful right before their wedding. She still had the beautiful dress and was reluctant to sell it for money. We decided a therapeutic "Trash the Dress" session was needed. haha
It was an amazing day for everyone involved and an empowering experience for K. :)

new appreciations for weddings

2008-06-09T10:34:00.003-04:00

I have always known the stress of wedding preparation and the months, if not years of planning that goes into making a wedding extravagant. However, on Saturday June 7th, I learned first hand the pressures that is placed on the individuals of the bridal party. You see, I was the best man for the first time in my life to my best friend of 11 years. As a photographer, I see everything that goes on during the day. As a best man, I have seen everything that goes on behind the scenes and I have felt the emotion around the day. This was one of the best experiences of my life. It has changed the way that I will see weddings forever and will undoubtedly change the way I capture weddings from now on.

waiting in a restaurant...

2008-05-25T13:38:00.000-04:00

I ask myself sometimes if other photographers would wait 30 minutes in a restaurant for their clients to arrive for a special meeting arranged on a sunday afternoon?
does this improve or impact my photography? at the very least it improves the service for the client. we need to raise our standards for customer enjoyment in the process of wedding photography...not only on the day of the wedding, but throughout the entire experience.

Help Us Help The Children

2008-05-09T15:21:00.003-04:00

A great evening of friends, music, and good-will. Last night I volunteered to cover The University of Toronto Help Us Help The Children event at "El Mocambo" on Spadina. The bands were full of energy and the crowd had a great time. Thanks to all that put their time into this event and good luck with the main Charity event on May 10th. If anyone is interested in donating anything (time, money, hugs ;) let me know and I can make the appropriate arrangements for your kind gesture.
You can view the entire image collection by clicking on the "View your Event" Link.

Special Offers

2008-04-16T15:47:00.003-04:00

This week, we have sent out a handful of emails to select brides and grooms who are eligible to receive a special offer from us. If you are having trouble accessing your offer page, please let us know. This special offer is only intended for the specific individuals that received an email from us.
Bravo Photographers are working together with LensFlare Films to bring you this special offer. Visit them at www.lensflarefilms.com.

We work extremely well together and that's why we decided to make this a joint venture by offering a couple of couples ;) a break on their wedding package.

Looking forward to working with you all in the future!

A Spring Shower

2008-04-09T14:16:00.003-04:00

A beautiful blend of Italian decor and Persian style made this bridal shower absolutely exquisite. Spectacular details, delicious food, and fabulous entertainment created a night to remember for all those who attended. Here is a sample of the night that was Tasha's bridal shower.

Las Vegas Photographer Convention

2008-04-03T03:01:00.002-04:00

March 16 - March 20. I was able to get away for the week to attend the world's largest wedding photography convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. Up until Saturday March 15, I was still unsure if I would be able to make it, but a good friend of mine took care of me and hooked me up with the largest suite The Venetian Hotel had to offer. 1500 sq. ft of luxury! It's too bad that I didn't get to see much of it as I was attending seminars from 8:00am - 10:00pm every single day!!
The seminars were incredible though. I got a chance to connect with so many amazing photographers and human beings. Sharing ideas and concepts to help each other out was the highlight of this trip. Bringing back to Toronto so many new possibilities for every new couple that enters our office made this trip worth every penny! I am so excited to share with you everything that I have learned and I can't wait to take our finished product to the next level. I will be going back next year for sure.

Website Updates

2008-04-02T19:01:00.004-04:00

We have been updating a few components of the website over the past couple of days. We have added a brand new Calendar tool to our Packages page, which will clearly show you when we are booked in the future. If you have been to the website in the past then you will need to refresh your cache memory in order to see the updates.

Internet Explorer Users:
Click on Tools
Click on Internet Options
On the General Tab, go to "browsing history" and click "Delete..."
Click "Delete Files" under "Temporary Internet Files"
Then reload www.bravophotographers.com

Mozilla Firefox Users:
Hit Ctrl + Shift + Delete
Only check "Cache"
Click "Clear Private Data Now"
Then reload www.bravophotographers.com

You may do this at any time in the future to see the most current version of our website. If you need any help doing this or you can't see our updates, please email or call us.

First Blog

2008-03-31T17:29:00.006-04:00

This is our first blog and we are excited to connect with you through this great medium. Our blog will be a way for you to learn about us as well as share your thoughts with us and future friends. You will get to see some of our latest work and some of our past work. We hope you enjoy this interactive experience!