Brian Zinchuk Publishing

Vegas, baby!

I’m just over the halfway point of Wedding Professional Photographer International’s week-long conference in Las Vegas. Wow, this is amazing. I’ve taken in several workshops each day, covering everything from posing (how to do 250  stunning poses in an hour and a half) to marketing to grad portraits. I’ve already filled an 80 page notebook with notes. It’s a good thing I brought three! I will probably fill at least one more.

The presenters are absolutely the best in the business. One has shot 3600 weddings! These are the absolute top in the industry, the ones whose work graces the front page of photography magazines, or even National Geopgrahic. I even had a chance to briefly talk to Joe McNally, the National Geographic photographer who has literally written the book (The Hot Shoe Diaries) about using small flashes like big strobes. His techniques has literally turned the photography world on its head in the past five years. His work has substantially changed the way I work. I now carry three flashes in my bag at all times.

McNally shot the first digital photo assignment for National Geographic ever, as just one of his list of accomplishments. He’s been to over 50 countries!

Funny thing is, I sat five feet from him during the previous session, and didn’t know it.

While I was disappointed that he essentially chose to do a slideshow presentation of his previous work (This is Afghanistan, this is the inside of a living human brain and is now considered one of the top 100 photos ever taken…), it was an honor to see him just the same. Indeed, I had even considered driving the 9 or so hours to Calgary to take part in his two day workshop.

The trade show has been absolutely amazing, and I only got through 1/4 of it today. There are so many cutting edge products out there, I will be offering a lot more innovative products. Some of these albums are to die for. I have also signed up with an online print provider that will allow you to order prints in almost any imaginable format and size.  More will be said about as I roll it out.

I’ll also be putting together some ideas for grad portraits.

Much, much more to come. I am very excited. This year is going to rock. I can’t wait!

This month I will be attending the premier wedding photography convention in the world – Wedding Professional Photographers International in Las Vegas! It’s a week-long convention with presentations from the best in the business. I hope to come back with a mountain of ideas and concepts.  Several of my friends are also attending, and they will be helping me out as assistants for some future weddings. When it comes to professional development as a photographer, this is one of the best opportunities out there. Watch here for further postings on WPPI.

And just a note: if you’re considering other photographers, you might want to ask them when was the last time they spent a week on professional development workshops? 🙂

Here’s the link to WPPI: http://www.wppionline.com/storage/2011/home.html

These were some BIG trucks.

The next three wedding bookings will have all travel expenses waived! Normally mileage beyond 100 km from Estevan will be charged $0.45 per km each way, or about $90 for a Regina event.

 This is a one time offer, and is on top of the $100 discount if booked by Feb. 14, 2011. It won’t last long, so don’t hestitate! Call now! 306-461-5599

Wedding sample album of 1930s theme wedding

It’s here! It’s here! My first layflat album is here!

I had hoped to have this in time for the Regina Wedding Expo, however, it takes a while to make these beautiful layflat albums. This is a 40 side (page) layflat album – the maximum size I can make. A 20 side (page) album is standard with all my weddings with my current packages. Adding the additional pages will be an option.

This wedding was themed in a 1930s gangster era, and was shot at the Chapel Gallery and Western Development Museum in North Battleford.

Here's the wedding party, in a flashback to the 1930s

You may notice a bit of a bright shimmer on some of the pages, depending on the lighting. That’s because it appears to be a form of metallic print. Very nice.

This album is produced by the professional lab that I am associated with – Technicare. (www.technicare.ca)

The album will be available for viewing at my friend Trina’s floral shop in Estevan – A Loving Touch. Her Facebook page can be found at http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=519483180&ref=ts

I am loading a few shots on here now, but for a gallery of the whole ablum, go to my main website here:

I can’t wait to do more of these. I plan on doing one for my Harley Davidson photography and perhaps another with my family photography in the coming months.

This is the preparation spread.

Just some of the things the bridal party should have

Over the years, I’ve found that the photographer sometimes becomes a bit of “the wedding planner,” the person who is expected to have all the answers. More than once, I’ve had people ask me, “Hey, what do we do here? You’re at weddings all the time…”

I soon started carrying a kit of basic supplies. This is just a partial kit. In it you would find the following:

1. Tide Pen – a must to remove stains. I used to carry Shout Wipes, but haven’t seen them in years.
2. Numerous safety pins. Note the large ones – those are just in case the bride’s dress has a wardrobe malfunction. I’ve actually had to use one or two of those.
3. Clothing measuring tape – think neck sizes.
4. Sewing kit you get at hotels. I collect one every time I stay at a hotel for this very reason.
5. Leatherman Wave multitool. I STRONGLY recommend each side of the bridal party have one of these. They are very useful in bending over the end of pins for flowers on collars, cutting threads, fixing nearly anything. I always have mine with me for that reason.

Items that are missing from the picture but will be in there when the time comes:

1. Granola bars – not just for me. Brides who refuse to eat anything are not happy campers. Make sure you eat something.
2. Halls – in case someone is coughing a lot in the church
3. Rolaids – someone may be having heartburn
4. Advil – in my camera bag, just because
5. Frozen, bottled water – lots of it. Dehyradration does not make for good pictures. It gets hot in July. Drink lots, and not just the wobbly pops!

I also tie ties.

Wow, the last two weeks have been busy! I spent a lot of time leading up to the Regina Wedding Expo getting everything  right, then had to slam into my production week for my newspaper. I am finally getting a chance to breath (for an evening) before going to Steinbach, Manitoba, to shoot a two-rink ringette tournament.

It was great to see all the people at the Regina Wedding Expo. We were certainly busy, barely having a minute to sit down. I’m not sure who won our framed print of an elevator and train tracks at sunset, but I hope they enjoyed it.

I probably spoke to at least 30 brides, and even a few grooms, and my associate, Jon, spoke to quite a few as well. I hope to hear from those people soon.

In several cases, there were two or three people asking about the same date. I take bookings on a first come-first serve basis, so don’t hesitate!

A lot of people seemed to really like the idea of having my special event printer there at the reception. It’s a new idea, and I hope it works out well.

I have a commercial-grade dye-sublimation printer that can whip out lab quality, dry prints in 17 seconds. During the reception, either I or my assistant will choose 20 shots from the ceremony and portrait sessions, do a quick edit, and load them onto the printer. Anyone who would like a print can get one, right then and there, for $10 each, and take it home that night. It should be great for Granny or Aunt Beth who may not have got the shot they were hoping for.

Over the coming weeks I will be posting more galleries on this blog, as well as a few tips I’ve picked up over the years.

Oh, don’t forget to check out my facebook page. Be sure to click “Like.” I’m thinking of offering some promotions in the future, and that’s most likely where they will be.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Brian-Zinchuk-Publishing/143779398994122

Brian