11 years ago…
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11 Years ago last night, I met Deb for the very first time. I was at a mutual friend’s birthday dinner and I had gone to the washroom. When I came back to my seat I found this rather attractive brunette sitting in my seat. Well, I am a smoooooth talker with the ladies (:P) so I, of course, said what you should say in such a situation: “You’re in my seat.”
Awesome.
I didn’t really know anyone at the table except our mutual friend, and at the time I was very quiet around people I didn’t know. I overheard Deb and another girl talking about Chantal Kreviazuk, who was a favourite of mine at the time. I took that opportunity to start talking to this girl who had the nerve (!!) to take my seat earlier that night.
After a couple hours we all decided to go bowling. I had loosened up a little by then and felt a bit more comfortable around these people I barely knew. Anyway, if you know me at all you know that when I bowl, I go a bit… silly. I did one of my classic bowling moves, and of course got a gutterball. As I turned to walk back to the seats, Deb was getting ready to bowl. I looked at her, and she looked at me and I felt this instant connection. We were both laughing at my bowling, and I think that moment kind of froze in time. Here was this complete stranger who I’d never met before that night and at that moment, I knew I’d be seeing her again. It was probably the closest you can get to love at first sight.
That night, when I got home, I e-mailed our mutual friend and asked for Deb’s e-mail address. I got a reply in the morning and immediately sent her this e-mail:
Hello. This is Nick here, from Shila’s party. She gave me your e-mail address… I’m e-mailing you because I just wanted to say that i had a really good time there and I quite enjoyed talking with you, and I’m interested in getting to know u better, since we don’t really know each other at all 
Anyway, u can e-mail me at XXXX@XXXX.com (or just hit reply), or u can phone me at XXX-XXXX (my cell)
Anyway, u can e-mail me at XXXX@XXXX.com (or just hit reply), or u can phone me at XXX-XXXX (my cell)Take it easy
-Nick Beaulieu
I know, I have a way with words… 
This e-mail was TOTALLY out of character for me. I had never done anything like that. I’m glad I did.
I sent this e-mail EXACTLY 11 years ago, to the minute. 
I Love you Deb!! <3 Happy Meet-iversary!!!
Day 30 – 30 Day Blog Challenge Retrospective
One might think that with all of the blogging that’s gone on during the last 30 days, that we might be tired of it and be looking to rest for awhile. Well, yes and no. We both found that the act of blogging consecutively for 30 days to be challenging yet enjoyable and creatively stimulating. On a personal note, I found it to be quite cathartic just like in my old personal blogging days. Once I got back into the habit of writing and editing everyday, I quickly rediscovered my blogging voice again It’s so fun and enjoyable to be able to share thoughts, experiences and ask questions to the entire population of the internet! We really hope you enjoyed the past 30 days and although we won’t be blogging everyday, we will be posting more on a weekly basis.
Day 29 – Gemma & Kevin’s UBC E-Session
Gemma & Kevin are delightful, ridiculously cute together and too darned funny! I think we spent the majority of the session just laughing it up and cracking jokes, AND of course taking photos! We met up with them out in UBC and although we were worried about the rain, it held off until we were done (we love it when that happens!) It was cold out, but it was important for them to have their engagement photos done in January as it was their 10-year anniversary of being with each other! Super special and well worth the hand-freezing temperatures
With a height difference of a foot at least between Gemma & Kevin, I’m sure that this will be one of Gemma’s favourites 
Oh, and the dumpster? Well…we were walking to another location and Nick had a crazy idea of getting them into it. He asked, and they were more than willing to dive right in!
Gemma & Kevin, you guys rock! We can’t wait for all of the fun and excitement at your wedding this summer!
Day 28 – Seymour Building
During the summer Nick & I would sometimes go out and just shoot for fun with a few other of our photographer friends. We would just pick a night, get out there are just have a whole lot of fun! One night we went out and headed for a rooftop parkade to make use of the simply awesome Downtown Vancouver buildings for a backdrop. Anyways, as the guys were setting up some lights I decided to make use of the remaining light and snapped these of the Seymour Building. I really love the architecture of Vancouver and really must make a day of an architectural photowalk
What are your favourite buildings in Vancouver?
Day 27 – Film
This past Christmas I had asked for a Holga camera. Although we have a few other film cameras in our collection I wanted to try something a bit different. So I put it on my list and hoped that Santa would ask his elves to check out eBay for me. Well, Santa didn’t but I did receive a fantastic gift from my Dad: one of his old cameras I remember learning on them and then spending hours in our basement darkroom developing the prints. It is really one of my favourite childhood memories. So when he nonchalantly produced his Pentax Asahi MX and said that I could have it if I wanted it, I was really touched by his gift.
I started out with some colour film (Kodak 400 ISO) just to practice and to figure out the nuances of the camera. At first I found it a bit tricky to feel the f-stops on the old lens, but I quickly taught myself to just slow down and relax. After I did that everything just, ummm.. clicked I know that you have probably seen enough cat photos in the past 30 days or so, but here are a few more to add to that collection I promise it will be more interesting the next time I post some film shots as there are photos of people on the next roll to be developed.
Other than a less-than-stellar scanning job, the colours are close to what the prints show and I have not adjusted any exposures or done any sharpening. These are 99.9% SOOC (straight out of the camera).
I love this one because of the dust in the lens and the flare
I look forward to finishing off the current roll of film in my camera, and if there is something really special in there I will be more than happy to share
Day 25 – Self Portraits
Since we’ve started our business we have found that we are very rarely the subjects of photographs anymore. Of course, both of us are subjected to “standing-in” for test shots and for lighting tests, but other than that we are usually found behind the camera. And well, we kind of like that because sometimes we aren’t the greatest models… I am a blinker to the tenth degree and Nick either hams it up for the camera or just doesn’t know what to do. So, to switch things up a bit we decided that each of us would do a self-portrait. What this involves is a tripod, good lighting, a wireless remote trigger and A LOT of patience. You are the director, photographer, assistant and model of your own shoot! I’ve seen other photographers produce amazing self-portraits and I’ve just been in absolute awe of the finished product. They look so natural and beautiful and HAPPY! Through the process of trial and error with this challenge, I can feel assured that they might not have felt too happy during the process All kidding aside, we both had a great learning experience with this
So with no further words, here are our self-portraits.
Well, at least one of them looks happy
And… here I am.
Day 24 – Being Green in 2011
Hey there! How’s it going?
Deb and I try to be as environmentally friendly as we can be. We’re not driving cars powered by vegetable oil or anything (though I am eagerly awaiting my first all-electric car), but we are fairly conscious about what we do and how it’ll impact the environment. With the next wedding season coming up and all the awesome people we’re meeting for consultations, we’ve been thinking about all the different marketing materials we would normally have printed. It’s a lot of paper. Well… it’s the 21st century. I think it’s time for the future, don’t you?
For 2011, we have decided to have as little printed material as possible. Instead we will be using an iPad for pretty much everything that would be printed. For things such as price lists where you would normally take them home, we will instead send them to you via e-mail. We’ve been doing digital contracts for some time now, so this new strategy should eliminate the need for mass printing. There will be the odd occasion where we’ll have to have something printed, and in these situations we’ll be using recycled paper.
Do you think there are other ways for us to be green? Leave us a comment! We’d love to hear your suggestions
PS. “Being Green in Twenty Thirteen” sounded a lot better, however I didn’t think waiting 2 more years to be green would work… so… ya.
