Enspire Foundation Presents: Resonance 2009

About a month or so ago I got an email from Sheryl, a bride whose wedding I shot last year (see Scott & Sheryl's Wedding lol). We've grown to be quite good friends over the last year, and it has been an absolute privilege knowing them, and so when she asked if I wanted to volunteer my photographic services for a good cause, I was all ears. 

The event: "Resonance 2009 Choir Festival" fundraiser, presented by Enspire Foundation. The proceeds went to benefit the Bulacan Community Project. 

"In May 2009, Enspire Foundation will send 30 young adult Canadians comprised of working professionals and university students from SFU, UBC and Capilano University's Global Stewardship Program, to help build homes in Norzagaray, Bulacan, Philippines."

I had an amazing time shooting the event, and felt truly blessed to be a part of such a great cause. Thank you, Sheryl.

If you would like to learn more information about the Enspire Foundation or if you would like to make a donation, you may click on the link mentioned above or click here.

Here are just a few photos of the event from last Saturday (Feb 21, 2009).

Tamara + Michael: Day After Session

Tamara called me about a month and a half ago and inquired about a Day After Session with her and her 'soon to be' hubby Michael. She told me that they lived in Portland, Oregon and already had a wedding photographer for their day, but since she grew up in BC, she wanted to have a session that just screamed 'Vancouver'....I totally got it. We set up a few locations, and when the day came (Valentine's Day...aka Tamara's Birthday!!! how cool is that?!) we had an amazing time! 

Tamara and Michael, I am very blessed to have met you. You are both very funny, very smart, very loving, and very comfortable around crazy people like me :)

Special thanks to Nick from The Other Angle for helping me out. You rocked the day with your wit, humor, and Red Scarf of Awesomeness! :)

This graffiti has been seen on MANY (and I mean MANY) photographer's photos, and when I finally saw where it was, I just couldn't resist. I just love how the same location can be shot so many different ways! Here is my take on it, hope ya like it!

LOVE THIS SHOT YOU GUYS!!! Seriously, if this doesn't end up as a 30x40" canvas in your living room, then *I* am gonna buy it as a canvas for MY living room!

...annnnnnd one for fun :) Go Mike Go! :)

Josh: Portraits

See Josh. Josh Rocks. Rock Josh Rock. :)

See? Josh Rocks. :)

P.S. I had a blast with you, Josh, hope you like the photos!!

I Think We Have A Problem...

Grit and I sometimes have a ....problem... with getting a nice picture of the both of us together. I just... I ... really don't know why... perhaps its all the FACE-MAKING, and EAR-BITING, and 'WET WILLIES'!!!!! Oh, the photos I could post... I bet I could make a full length slideshow with all the 'bloopers' we have had throughout our 'picture taking' relationship! :)

These shots below are just a quick sample of what MAY happen during a typical photo session. I should clarify for future clients... this won't happen at YOUR photo session (at least I hope not), I was referring to when Grit and I have our OWN photos taken.

These were taken almost 2 years ago to the day during a "Formal Night" when we were working on the cruise ship The Coral Princess. Ah, the memories...

(Note: The 'tux' is my work uniform on a Formal Night, trust me, only wearing it cause I had to.)

I'm so GLAD we are getting a chance to redeem ourselves in Vegas in a few days. We are heading down for the annual WPPI conference (think 'Star Trek Convention' but with Wedding & Portrait Photographers... and a few less Vulcans). We are heading down Saturday night, and then Sunday morning we are driving into the desert with Braeden (Ambient 11) and Gabe (PerspectivEye) for a REAL photoshoot of Grit and I!!! How Stoked am I?? VERY STOKED!

...I hope I don't pull that damn Zoolander face I always do...

And here's a few more... I thought I would combine a good photo of Grit with a good photo of myself (via Photoshop)...if thats how its gotta be to get a good photo of the BOTH of us (until Gabe and Braeden work their magic that is), then fine. :)

Have a great day!

Michael

Focus On The Good

I am a very firm believer in the phenomenon that is "The Secret". Whatever you focus on, and feel, becomes reality. If we focus on bad news, or being in debt, thats all we get... more bad news, and more debt. You even have to be careful HOW you say and think things too, as The Universe does not understand 'NOT wanting' something... for example, if you think "I am NOT going to be late. I am NOT going to be late", you will still attract the word LATE, even though you wanted the exact opposite. All it takes is a simple change of focus, to something like "I will be on time. I will arrive on time.", and as long as you honestly FEEL that, it will be so.

One of my favorite quotes from "The Secret" that really puts this into perspective is:

"Mother Theresa always said she would not attend anti- war campaigns but would always attend Pro- Peace rallies"  

According to "The Secret ", Anti-War in fact attracts just the opposite. Pro-Peace is the answer.

Which brings me to why I am posting this. There are many changes happening with my branding and the way that I am conducting business AND life for that matter, and one of the things I have done is purchased www.RealLoveIs.com . The web address, as you will see, simply links to my own photography website. (It may be a lot easier to some to type in RealLoveIs.com instead of MichaelWachniak.com lol) You may have noticed also either through emails or twitter or even on my website the words "Real Love Is.".  Its not a 'fill in the blanks' or even telling you that "MY PHOTOGRAPHY = REAL LOVE"... its just simply to tell you that Real Love exists. We all know that, its everywhere, this isn't news. I just strongly feel that it is one of those things that doesn't hurt to remind ourselves of every now and then. Love and Happiness. Positive Energy. Its really my attempt to give my little section of time on this Earth  a hand in the right direction. Whether its enough to change our focus, I'm not sure. If we all did something? Absolutely.

For today's post I'd also like to add this little gem. A photographer posted this on Twitter yesterday and it really struck a chord. A website dedicated only to posting Good News. I am sure there are plenty of sites out there that are doing this, and when I find them, I will post them. How AMAZING would it be to sip your morning coffee/tea and open a paper only to find nothing but good news. This is exactly what Glee Report is doing. I strongly recommend taking a peak.

Have a great day,

Michael

Engagement Session: Manna and Sukh

Last Sunday I headed down the street to the beach here in White Rock and met up with Manna and her fiance Sukh for a session by the ocean. The weather tried to keep as nice as it could for us, but there were times where my teeth were chattering just a bit ;)

Manna and Sukh though were troopers! They found that a little cuddlin' keeps you warm even on the coolest days!