FREE PASSPORT PHOTOS until Dec. 18, 2010

Well.. they're free with a minimum $5 donation to the KICX 106 Salvation Army Penny Drive.  Call the studio to make sure I'm available or to make an appointment.
705-322-2223

NEW CONTACT INFORMATION

PLEASE NOTE:  Our phone number has changed to 705-322-2223.

MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 3086, Elmvale, ON L0L 1P0

STUDIO ADDRESS: 4 Queen St. West, Elmvale, Ontario

Moving to Elmvale, Ontario

Store-front with mock-up sign.

I am thrilled to announce that I will be moving my studio to a new location; the quiet, quaint country village of Elmvale, Ontario.

The new studio will be located at 4 Queen St. West, just west of the main intersection of Hwy 27 and Queen St. West, also known as Country Road 92 - the road to Wasaga Beach. The building was most recently a hardware store that many people in the area will remember. It was purchased by Advantage Homes and completely renovated and updated, yet in keeping with the historical nature of the building.

We should be open for business on December 1, 2010. The more than 600 sqft space will be split into a reception area and studio, much larger than my current space so I'll be able to handle larger family groups, commercial work or other projects requiring more space than I have at the moment.

I'll post photos and progress reports as we get closer to opening as well as new contact information, phone number, etc. as things fall into place.

I'll still be servicing Barrie and the surrounding area, but from a more central location to my market area. Although it may seem out-of-the-way, it really is only 15 minutes outside of Barrie and in many cases, can be easier and faster to get to than travelling through Barrie. There's free parking on the main street as well as parking areas behind the building. 

Accredited in Fine Art Photography

I am very pleased to announce that today I received notification that my submission to the Professional Photographers of Canada for Fine Art / Photo Decor Photography has been accepted.  You can view my submission on my Mike Guilbault Photography Facebook page.


Accreditation by the PPOC: 
"The award proves that the photographer is capable of delivering above average quality photographs in a chosen category of photography.
Some of the criteria judges use in assessing Accreditation submissions are: impact, style, presentation, creativity, composition, centre of interest, colour balance, lighting, subject matter, print quality, technique, and story telling."

The category of Fine Art / Photo Decor is defined as: 

"Fine art photographs may consist of unusual photographs, individual images or a series of images. The range of styles and treatments varies greatly, from the classic B/W scenes to more unconventional images. In fact, conventional beauty, formal design and familiar subjects are often not components of fine art photographs and can include painterly effects, soft-focus, journalistic, snapshot type images, bizarre and erotic images and other unconventional approaches. Fine art photographs are usually sold to individual collectors, museums and business clients. Photo Decor is usually the term used to designate a print hung to decorate a room, whether in a private home, an institution, a corporate boardroom, a gallery, etc."

In Flight

I was browsing through some older images this morning and the thumbnail for this one caught my eye.  It's a photograph of the Canada Geese display at the Eaton Centre in downtown Toronto. It was an ok image - but by using some techniques that weren't available when I photographed it (2002) created a much more interesting image.

Digital photography has evolved into something much greater than traditional photography. The endless possibilities have enabled the modern photographer to take their creativity further than ever before.  

Industrial Robotics: Challenges

Large scale industrial robotics photography has many challenges.  In most cases, these items are too large, or valuable, to dismantle and bring to the studio, so we have to bring the studio to the client.
This 'machine' was assembled and tested in the client's manufacturing facility. It had to be photographed where it stood.
In other words - concrete floor, bad (fluorescent) lighting, dust, steel beams, a chip-board (un-painted) background and reflections of other machinery, tools, lights, etc. reflected not only in the glass, but also in the steel and aluminum frame of the unit.
This was photographed using 3 strobes and 2 speed-lights.  Post production work included reducing or eliminating glare and reflections to the point of rebuilding some of the structure frame within the image, close-cropped to insert a graduated background, slight perspective control, improve contrast and then optimized for print and web.

KIDS HELP PHONE - MILITARY EDITION!

Today we captured the final instalment of the 'Guns & Hoses Challenge' for the upcoming Walk for Kids Help Phone on May 2nd in Barrie. Of course, not to be outdone by our 'civilian forces' our troops from Canadian Forces Base Borden were quick to take up the challenge as well.
It was great photographing these fine soldiers as they are from the same unit my Dad belonged to when he was a member of the Armed Forces - the Electrical & Mechanical Engineers (E.M.E.). Back when my Dad was in the unit, it was called the Royal Canadian Electrical Mechanical Engineers (R.C.E.M.E.). This particular group consisted of Weapon Techs and we photographed them in front of one of the historic cannons at the Canadian Forces School of Electrical Mechanical Engineers (CFSEME).
Thanks guys for a great shot to help out a great cause!!

Cheers

KIDS HELP PHONE #2

And to take up the challenge of the Barrie Police for the Walk for Kids Help Phone on May 2nd, we have today's contenders, the Barrie Fire Department! These guys look more than ready to meet the challenge - don't you think!?

Click here for more information or to get involved with the Walk for Kids Help Phone.

I found a great way to keep in touch with friends, family and customers. I've been wanting to print some greeting cards to do this, but the minimum orders are huge, I can only use one photo (or one collage of photos) per card and they can't be individually customized. That's where SendOutCards came in. They allow me to choose from thousands of Greeting Cards or I can create my own with my own images! I can send one card out at a time, or to multiple recipients. And each card can be customized including my own hand-writing!

I liked the system so much, I bought the company!! Nah.. just kidding - but always wanted to say that. So instead, I've become a Distributor and now not only can I use the system (all online by-the-way and very easy to use) but I can sign people up to do the same - AND - YOU can earn some extra money too!

Check them out at SendOutCards.com. You can sign up directly using my Distributor (ID) number, 99639, or if you'd like more information or to try a free card, please contact me directly.

Cheers!

WALK for KIDS HELP PHONE, MAY 2, 2010

Today I'm proud to participate in a very worthwhile cause, the Walk for Kid's Help Phone taking place on May 2nd, 2010 all across Canada, including right here in Barrie.

As part of the event, there will be the "Guns & Hoses" Challenge featuring the men and women that serve our community in so many ways. This photo is the first group that we photographed - the Barrie Police Service - featuring the Police Chief himself along with four of his posse. Visit again to see who else is taking up the challenge!

Click here for more information or to get involved with the Walk for Kids Help Phone.

Photo-shoot at Pantages Hotel, Toronto

Had a great time in Toronto last week photographing the Cosmopolitan and Pantages Hotels. I've uploaded a few of the image to my facebook gallery under the Commercial Album if you'd like to take a look. Celebrities such as Elton John and Queen Latifah have stayed in the Penthouse Suites of the Cosmo and they both have some amazing rooms, spa and architecture to photograph. And no, I didn't get to stay in the Penthouse suite! :(

Doll Face

What a sweetheart! Channing came in for her portrait this week and what a pleasure to photograph. The entire session lasted about 15 minutes, tops, but in the that 15 minutes we had an amazing amount of keepers considering she is only 11 months old. This is one of my many favourites.

Tiffany & Sean's Engagement Portrait

What an amazing location!
I travelled to Tazewell, Virginia (USA) over Christmas to photograph Tiffany & Sean's Engagement portrait.
This image is one of my favourite and works extremely well in B&W. On Tiffany's father's farm is a this amazing tree and what a great 'prop' for the photo-shoot.
Copper & Coal (their Black & Chocolate Labs) were semi-cooperative and we managed to get a few great images with them too. They didn't sit still long though. It was quite the hill we climbed on the ATVs (thought I was going to go off backwards with my equipment on my back!) but well worth the effort. With any luck, during the wedding next July, we'll return to the tree for some great wedding photographs.

Cheers Tiffany & Sean. You guys were awesome to work with.

Fallen Giant

Tiffany & Sean were gracious enough to allow me some time to photograph this amazing tree (guess they could see me drooling at the prospects). The deep contrast between the sky and tree made this one of my favourites. The trunk was large enough to accommodate the couple as well as the two dogs, which didn't have any trouble running up and down it.