This is the last post of my Best of 2009 series. This last post is pretty special because usually after a long day after all the morning festivities (preparation, tea ceremony, pickup games etc), ceremony, portrait session, the banquet is the last event of the day and usually fatigue starts to kick in. However, through the fatigue, as photographers, we find that even if we’re physically tired, our creativeness never slows down. As always, the series of events that occur during wedding banquets are usually very emotionally touching through speeches and exciting that keeps us going like the Energizer bunny. And yes, Energizer is one of the many brands of batteries that I use.

Here are some of my favourite photos from decorations, cake cutting, first dance, games to bouquet toss, all from 2009.

Guests arriving at banquet hall

Banquet decoration of the head table

Cake cutting

The cake after cake cutting

Bride and Groom's first dance

Bride and Groom's first dance

The ring, during the first dance

Bride and Groom's first dance

One of many games for the new couple

Bouquet toss by the bride

A very cool but non traditional bouquet toss by the bride

Bouquet toss by the bride

The next installment of the Best of 2009 series is wedding portraits. I love doing documentary and reportage photo shooting throughout the bride and groom’s day, capturing every moment that happens. Each time, I’m also assigned a task to take some loving and romantic photos of the newly weds. Here’s a few of my favourite wedding day portraits from last year.

Happy bride after the ceremony

Bride and Groom in front of church

Bride and Groom for a posed photo after ceremony

Bride and Groom with a gentle touch

Bride and Groom walking across a bridge

Eye contact between bride and groom

A kissing moment during a rainy afternoon

Bride playing with her veil in the woods

Affection between bride and groom in woods

A silhouette of bride and groom

Selected photos were taken from various locations in Toronto, Markham, Oakville

Today Ming Pao Toronto released their second ever bridal magazine as a supplement to their daily newspaper. This is the second year which I have purchased an ad space in this magazine. A month ago, one of their marketing staff asked me to submit a few photos for them to use for an article regarding outdoor photography, this includes pre-wedding bridal photos as well as engagement photos. I provided three photos, one from Guild Inn, one from Main St, and one from an alley in Downtown, Toronto

Here they are.

Ming Pao Toronto Magazine Cover 2010

Ming Pao Toronto Magazine Story 2010

As many of my friends and past clients might know, one of my passion aside from my wedding and portrait work is concert photography, or simply music photography. Thinking back, the first time I seriously took photos for an event was for a concert by a band named ZiON NOiZ, I wound up taking photos for them for the next few years for various gigs on 35mm Kodak film with a Nikon FE. For quite some time I lost connection with photography and bands, but 3 years ago, I had an opportunity to kick start my interest in indies rock shows, with SFC, Spider’s Kiss from the Toronto Asian Indies scene. Through these bands and shows, I met a lot of great musicians and friends.

It has been a while since I took any music photos (aside from the promo shoot for Violets & Viruses back in November, read here), last night, The Ultimate Rock Show was held in Rock n Roll Heaven, the following four bands played and I had the opportunity to have some fun shooting some photos.
-Sunday Music Class
-Protocol – MySpace
-Violets & Viruses – MySpace
-The Drama – MySpace

Sunday Music Class

Sunday Music Class

Protocol

Protocol

Violets and Viruses

Violets and Viruses

Violets and Viruses

Violets and Viruses

The Drama

The Drama

The Drama

The Drama

Venue: Rock n Roll Heaven

The fourth part of the Best of 2009 series is going to focus on some ceremony photos. During 2009, I went to a lot of new churches, venues, and other event centers. As a photographer, it’s always fun and exciting to explore new places to photograph in. Whatever we do, we try to capture the most romantic photo for the couple. During ceremony, I never use flashes (although I’ve recently fell in love with off camera flashes), all ambient light. Here are some of my favourite shots from 2009.

Bride entering

Father of Bride unveiling Bride

During Ceremony

During Ceremony

During Ceremony

During Ceremony

Kisses after ring exchange

Kisses after ring exchange