I was approached by local stylist Tanya Yancie early in the planning stages and helped corral a portion of the 15 photographers who donated their time to document the day via the Alberta Strobist group. Brio salon is beautifully modern, family owned and operated. I was pleasantly surprised at how such a visually stimulating place could lay inside an unassuming retail storefront on one of the busiest streets in Lethbridge.

Rather than take portraits for the kids, I took a documentary approach so Brio could have an album to share their contribution with the community. 200 kids were affected by the movement this year, and were sent home with many grooming supplies donated from local businesses. I feel strongly that this will be an annual event, and I can’t wait to help out next Summer to help kids feel great about themselves, and give them a fresh start for the coming school year.

I met Chris & Melissa less than 48 hours before their wedding. Their original photographer had to cancel at the last minute due to a family tragedy. News of their need for a replacement photographer spread like wildfire through the support of photographers in Lethbridge and the surrounding area, and ultimately Chris and Melissa put their trust in my work (simply through the website, before even meeting! Yikes!).

Upon meeting them both the next morning, it became very obvious that Chris was a lifetime football fan. I had scouted a local pond for wedding locations previously but really wanted to do something special for this couple to make their photos shine. I pulled a few strings with friends and within hours had security clearance to shoot at the new stadium, which is still under construction.

I don’t think this is the last time you’ll see this great location in Lethbridge wedding photos, but it feels great to be the first wedding shooter to be able to do so. I covered the morning makeup and hair sessions, while Kevin McCarthy – my second shooter who drove in from Calgary with 24 hours notice, covered the guys. The service was held at University Drive Alliance church, with a lovely reception in Coalhurst, Alberta.

Thanks for putting your trust in my photography guys, it was a pleasure to work with you both on your big day!

I was somewhat cynical about Photoshopworld as a conference to attend this year. I’ve been certified for years as an ACE (Adobe Certified Expert) and ATCP (Adobe Certified Training Provider) in both Adobe Photoshop and InDesign – so I thought it would be nothing but a huge review session.

Boy was I wrong.

The first thing that struck me was the “play book” attendees receive upon registration. Each instructor (the “who’s who” of photography and photo editing) had outlined every session with notes and screenshots – meaning I could relax and enjoy the sessions, or read the notes from conflicting sessions. I would encourage every conference to follow suit.

There’s so many new features in the new version of Photoshop that even seasoned vetrans need time to reorient, or modify their workflow. I took in a ton of new subtle retouching techniques, to make sure your photos look like you – only the best representation of you! There are so many fake, pancake-faced wedding photos you can look at before wanting something a little more subtle. Only you should know a retoucher has worked their magic on your frames.

I had booked sessions with a few models to shoot in my off hours. I collaborated with the lovely and talented Tanya Plonka on some great shoots – it was fantastic having someone who can shoot alongside you and have completley original frames after the shoot. Tanya also took pity on me one night and modeled herself, thanks girl! Some local photographers are growing sick of my mantra of collaboration, but the quality really shows when you work together, proof is in the final frames.

I’m off to at least one more conference session this year in June, Don Gianatti is coming to Montana for his lighting-essentials.com workshops. I’m getting darn good at nailing studio lighting on location, but I think a few days spent with Don will bring my skills from good to great.

I leave you with a few frames from the evening shoots:

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Despite the success of his (now international) OneLight Workshops, and OneLight DVD tutorial for photographers – one quality brings Zack above the crowd. He has never forgotten his roots as an artist, his love for his family, or his passion for his craft.

Zack is a guest blogger on Scott Kelby’s blog today. I can identify a ton with Zack’s personal stuggle as an artist, and his cycle with self-doubt and need for peer acceptance.

I urge everyone, photographer or not – to take 10 minutes aside and listen to Zack’s perspective, it’ll ground you and hopefully impart some insight and perspective.

Well its officially been three weeks since I launched the new face of michaelwarf.com and great things are taking shape. Today’s bride-to-be is using Google more than ever to research photographers, and judging by the questions I’ve been asked – are really researching their stuff! I can already tell that this site has been hitting page one of internet search results, beause the emails and phone calls are picking up steam.

Book Your Wedding Photographer Today

I’m still a bit shocked by the amount of requests coming in for July and August 2009 dates, I imagined couples would have booked much earlier as local photographers I know are already booking into Summer 2010. If you are planning a 2009 wedding, the Summer months are prime dates – don’t be dissapointed and book your favourite photographer today. Like myself, many photographers offer payment plans and accept credit cards (great for honeymoon travel points).

I look forward to talking to many more of you in the coming months, and I would especially love to hear your photo ideas – I’d love to collaborate with you!

Photographers’ rates vary depending on where you live and the caliber of photographer you hire. The more expensive photographers usually command a higher price based on the quality of their work and demand for their services. This does not mean that a less expensive photographer cannot be as good. Photographers have to start somewhere, and there are always great up-and-coming photographers in every city. Sometimes you just have to search for them. There is a lot of great talent out there, so if you look hard you just might find a diamond in the rough.

Regardless of how much you spend — whether you spend a little more than you thought you would to ensure that you get exactly what you want or you have a budget that you absolutely must stay within — the most important thing is that you hire someone you both feel comfortable with. It’s important to remember that you are not just buying albums and pictures, but the person who will take those images as well. Ask friends and coworkers who have recently married for referrals. Make sure the photographer has a good reputation so your photographic experience is a positive one before, during and after your wedding.

Photography is one of, if not the most important, place you can invest your wedding dollars. In the end, after the flowers are dead and the food is gone and your dress ends up in a box in the garage, all you have left are the images your photographer shot. Those images, as they age, become more valuable.