I got to shoot an engagement session in Toronto, this past weekend outside the ROM, which is located on Bloor and Bay. The weather was really awesome, and Christine & David were so much fun to work with, and I really cannot wait to blog their engagement session.

Meantime, I leave you with my most favourite photo from the last maternity session that I did with Alicja and Eddie, in Mississauga, at their parents house.

Every time I meet up with a future bride and groom, they always tell me, “We don’t need an album, only the disc. We will just print them ourselves.” But the truth is, most couple will not print their photos, or will keep on pushing it back…until it’s too late.

Now, brides and future brides, fast forward to 40-50years later. Your grand kids are playing hide-n-seek around the house, and they decided to hide in the attic, near some really old dusty boxes. Oh, look what they found, but they’re not sure what it could be! It’s something flat, shiny, and it has a hole in it. As curious as kids are, they decide to show it to their mom.

Kids: “What is that?”
Mom: “Oh, it’s a DVD. Back in the day, we used it to watch movies, pictures, and even listen to music.”
Kids: “What’s written on the DVD, mom?”
Mom: “That would be your grandma’s wedding photos! Wow! It’s been a really long time since I saw those. I don’t think grandma knows that she still has this DVD.”
Kids: “Can we see them? Can we? Can we?”
Mom: “I’m not sure, kids. I don’t think that it’s possible anymore.”
Kids: ” “
Mom: “We used to have a DVD player, but it doesn’t work anymore, and I don’t think that we will be able to find any. Computers used to have DVD readers too, but not anymore.”

Now, let’s take a look at another case scenario, but this time, you bought an album.

Kids: “Mom, look what we found! Who are they?! *Kids pointing at the bride and the groom in the album*”
Mom: “That’s actually your grandma and your grandma, on their wedding day!”
Kids: “Grandma looks so beautiful, and Grandpa looks so handsome!”
Mom: “Let’s show it to your grandparents! I’m sure it will bring back some great memories.”

In today’s digital world. Most of our photos never see the light of the day. We’re not talking about just wedding photos, but any photos for that matter, like family photos, pets, vacations, etc. All those photos will most likely end up on your computer, uploaded on Facebook (What if Facebook ‘died’ ?), and will never be looked at again. Technology changes so fast, and you never know when your DVD will become unaccessible.

So, will you rather

a) Get only a DVD, and save a few hundreds, or
b) Get an album, and save your memories forever?

See more of this album

I had so much fun photographing Sabrina’s and Ray’s winter engagement session in Downtown Toronto! I was actually hoping that it would snow, but unfortunately that did not happen. But overall, we had a blast! Those two lovebirds were having such a blast during the session, and inside it made me very happy, and at the same time very surprised! Sabrina and Ray, you guys were a lot of fun to work with, and I really can’t wait to shoot your wedding in May! Anywho, here are the photos:

Click on the images for larger versions.

Creative engagement photography

Like I mentioned in my previous post, I could not wait for my wedding season to begin. It has not begun yet, but I definitely got to shoot today. I shot my very first business portrait! Some photographers say that business portraits are so lame and boring, but I thought that it was really fun! Well, maybe it’s because I got to work with really fun clients!

Anywho, I just wanted to post my favourite shot from this session, and I’m sure that you guys will love it too. I actually wanted to do something different, compared to the typical business portraits that you’ve seen out there. I believe that Sarah has never done this before, but after a few minutes of shooting, she felt comfortable, and she actually posed herself that way. In this image, you can definitely see confidence and a relaxed personality, and I think that’s what business portrait is all about. Representing who you are, and she definitely nailed it.

And here’s the post processing of the shot that I really liked:

And for all you, lighting nerds: AB800 shot through 47″ softbox top-right of camera.

It’s that time of the year where brides and potential brides ask me: “Do we really need to have an engagement session done ? “

The answer is ‘Yes!’ I’m not saying ‘yes’ to earn more money, well, I’m actually not earning an extra money from engagement sessions, as they are already included when you purchase a wedding package from us. There are many reasons why you should have your engagement session done. Let’s answer those questions.

Why should we have our engagement session done?

Engagement sessions are very important to me, so should it be to every couple. The engagement sessions allows you to getting to know me a bit better and vice versa. More importantly, it also allows the couple to get more comfortable in front of the camera, because having a big camera shoved in your face for more than 8 hours is not something that you can get used to overnight. Moreover, engagement sessions also allow you guys to have fun, go crazy, and forget about the rest of the world and pretend that there’s only the two of you… ( and me ). You will also get to display the photos, if you so wish, at your reception and brag about it ( Make sure to not overdo it, people might get jealous ).

Ok, darn, you convinced me. Now, where should we have our engagement session done?

Anywhere! The beach ( wait, we don’t really have a beach in Toronto… ), a park,Wonderland, downtown Toronto, Badland National Park, etc…
Or somewhere that holds some meaning to you both. Maybe where you first met, or where he proposed. If you cannot think of anything, then i’ll take over from there.

After that’s done, what do we do with those photos?

Oh boy, there’s so many that I can think of right now!

• Post them on facebook and brag about it!
• Get a custom signing guest book from us, so that all your guests get to peek at them at your reception.
• Order a giant print from us and have it displayed at your reception.
• Make a slideshow, and project it on a giant screen at your reception.

What should we wear for our engagement session?

Great question!

Thumbs up:

• That hot dress that you recently bought!
• Clothes that fit. Gentlemen, avoid baggy pants and oversized tshirts, it will make you look larger than you are
• Comfortable clothes that you can jump, sit, run around in
• Bringing different outfits is always a good idea. A very casual dress and a classy one.

Thumbs down:

• Bright white shirts
• Tshirts with writing on them
• Sleveless shirts.
• Exact matching outfits ( It might look cute, but in 10 years you’ll probably be like “wtf?” )

Anything we should bring?

• Accessories!!! Anything that will make your engagement session fun and unique! Oversized sunglasses are full of win!
• If you’re going to wear high-heeled shoes, make sure to bring flipflops or running shoes or simply something that you feel comfortable walking around with for a long time.
• If you have dogs, make sure they tag along!
• A big board that says ‘Thank you!” with your name or your wedding date on it! Who knows, it might end up being useful

No blog posts would look interesting without a photo! I will leave you with this.

Jeannette & Will in Toronto - March 13, 2009.

I got the chance to second shoot for Gary Goldberg last year, and the wedding was absolutely amazing! The location is just stunning and it was so much fun to hang out with the wedding party. It was like hanging with old friends. Anyway, have a look.

Gary, thank you for having me as your second shooter.

Clayton and Jennifer, thank you for being such a wonderful and fun couple and thanks for having me as one of your photographers.

Main photographer: Gary Goldberg – fastfocus.ca
Second Shooter: Jeffrey Chan Tin – icherishyou.ca

Venue: Pillar and Post

This morning I received an email from one of my former clients, Neil Uppal, Sun Satellite‘s drummer, telling me to check out a link. To my surprise, my work had been published on Mississauga.com this morning! On August 24th, 2009. I did a photoshoot with Sun Satellite, somewhere in around Lakeshore: Photoshoot in Toronto with Sun Satellite.

Wow, that’s one awesome Christmas Eve gift! Thanks for sending me the link Neil!

You can find more of my work here: http://jeffreychantin.com/blog

I just can’t tell you how lucky I am! On the 28th of November, I got to second shoot another Toronto wedding with my good friend Leanna Gosse + it was my very first Chinese Wedding, yes, they even had the tea ceremony. I never saw a Chinese Tea Ceremony, so it was pretty awesome to be part of one! It was just a fantastic wedding day, it was quite cold, but the bride & groom was so fun to work with that the cold didn’t even bother us. Anywho, I will leave you with these wonderful images that I took.

Main Photographer: Leanna Gosse of Lee Weston Photography

And then we grabbed Amy & Allen during dinner time, took them outside to do another quick shoot with us, behind the reception hall! I think that the photographs turned out pretty amazing. Thoughts?

Alannah and I have been friends since high school, and have done two previous photoshoots together this year; however I didn’t post them here, simply because I don’t think that they would be wedding appropriate. No nudes! But one was more of a sexy theme, and the other one was a zombie photoshoot. However, it’s definitely not your typical zombie photoshoot, quite gory actually…not for the weak! You can find them here: http://jeffreychantin.com/blog

I did another photoshoot with her this weekend, it was about -4′c, but sunny and no wind! The sun acted as a backlight and the snow, on the ground, as a giant reflector which helped a lot to illuminate her face. But I was comtemplating really hard, as to or not post them here, and now I get to share them with you!!!!! Isn’t she just a gorgeous model ?

and her boyfriend.