Steve and I are photographers, and thus, make photographs. But what you might not know is that we are also artists. And not just photographic artists, but multimedia artists.

You see, taking a photograph is just one part of what we do.

When we make a photograph, there are a lot of things that we have to determine before we can even take that picture. First, we have to choose the light, the equipment, the angle, the distance and the subject. Only then can we decide to make a picture. It is these determinations that set one photographer apart from another - in particular their use of light and how they choose to pose and compose their subject.

The next part of the process is what we do to the images once we get them into our digital darkroom. As visual artists, the actual making of a picture is just the first step in the process. The very best photographers already have an idea of what their finished image will look like, and so make the picture in camera with that in mind. Only then do they get to finish their vision by using the tools available to them to polish their image. It is this polish that further sets one photographer apart from another.

For many, the process ends there. For others, there is the album design and wall collections that they present to their clients, helping to choose the best pieces for ongoing display.

We are no different - we also finish our images and present them to you. We use slideshows and stills+ presentations to bring you back to the moments in the photographs. We also design albums for to get our clients started on what can be an overwhelming task.

But we do more. We take those photographs that we made, and we create art pieces with them. Not framed prints or canvases (which we do, in fact offer) but, Organic Art Pieces where the final piece is so much more than just the sum of its parts.

We use wood and concrete and other natural materials to make our photographs more than simply an image behind the glass.

There have been two very popular materials that we have placed in our clients' homes and we are just thrilled that one of those materials can now be matched with an Art Book cover. It's called the Bebbalicious (no, we didn't name it, but think it's kind of cool) and is the exact same material as that we use on one of our Art Piece Collections.

Here is a closer view of that Collection:

This is the material close up (warning, the colour in real life may be slightly different than what you see on your monitor):

And here are the incredible, Bebbtastic, Bebbalicious books:

What an amazing way to display Art, real bona fide art, on your clients' walls! And then, the ones you can't fit on the walls (because you know there will be way too many) can go into a matching Art Book! So fantastic!!

If you haven't seen these exclusive covers, check out Finao where you can order your own Bebbalicious Album Cover! And if you are interested in purchasing these Organic Art Pieces for your own clients, let me know - we are just sorting out how best to offer them and details will be coming soon!

And, did you notice, this is a brand new Bebbinar blog too! Long in the making, this blog is chock full of information, with more to come all the time. The top navigation will give you the 411 on the Bebbinars, while the body of this site is just like a regular blog and will have all sorts of entries.

One of the features we're looking most forward to is a before/after from our Bebblings. ampersant;nbsp;We're going to be showcasing some of the incredible studios that have been to our workshops and share the changes they have made since attending. ampersant;nbsp;

So, stay tuned....and enjoy!

BEBBINAR DATES, 2009

North Vancouver: May 26 - 28 with opening reception on May 25th at Bebb Studios

Brighton, UK: June 16 - 18

North Vancouver:November 3 - 5 witha opening receptiona on November 2nd at Bebb Studios

For all the details about our syllabus, fees, how to sign up, etc, please check out the different tabs in the menu bar!

I know, I know, I have to say that, right? Um...no! This was another amazing group of people who have bonded as Bebblings and have been Bebbified! (Let's see how many Bebb words I can use!)

We changed things up this time, because as effective as our previous program has been, we were getting bored. And we never want to get bored with what we're teaching. So, while we covered all the mainstays of a Bebbinar, the most important of which is reclaiming your life, we added some more shooting, did website critiques, and so much more!

We could write forever about what the Bebblings (or Bebbinis for Mel McLellan) mean to us, but we just want to show off some images. At the end of the day, after all, we are still photographers and this is our reward for all our hard work!

On the photography day (yes almost an entire day was spent on photography!) we wanted to show our students where to find, and how to see, incredible light. That meant teaching them to see differently and to look for the light before finding the location. (One of our favorite sayings is that the light often is the location).

So, here is Steve showing some of our students how incredible soft frontal light, how to make the background go black, and the importance of walking around your subject, rather than shooting hundreds of frames in the same light.

One of the things I love about photography is finding little pockets of light and using them to my advantage. As we walking from our first location, I just glanced over my shoulder and saw some really cool light under a set of stairs. It was off the beaten track and is something that you could walk pst every day without seeing it.

We grabbed the models, and the class, and headed into this little area to work with this unique light. There were two lessons we wanted to teach - using the light on the face and then using the same light in the background. Here are just two of the images from that area:

It was about high noon, on a bright sunny day, when we were shooting. And that was fantastic, because many people struggle with that kind of unforgiving light. So, on the way to a very bright location, we stopped for a moment to show our students how incredible another kind of light can be. In any urban setting (well any setting at all, but especially an urban one) light bounces in from strange places. In an urban environment, there is a lot of sidewalk bounce, and that can be tricky to work with. We wanted to show our students how one little area, and great bounce, could make for incredible imagery.

I'll have more images up soon - hopefully some will also be from our Bebblings! They really did a great job under very tough conditions. I also have some awesome images done with Radio Poppers and off camera flash - sweet stuff!

So, hang tight, we'll be adding more images very soon!

Like so many people that come to the Bebbinars, she was doing ok, but wasn't going where she really wanted to go. A gentle nudge or two, a couple of a ha moments, and the knowledge that she could do it were all she needed to take that leap. Leslie is certainly one of our success stories...she is doing what she loves, loves what she is doing, and still has time for her life.

And she still makes us smile everytime we see her!

In her words:

The Bebbinar gave me a whole new outlook on life and how I run my business. One of the best experiences of my life! Jen and Steve are 2 of the most passionate, caring, real people you will ever meet. If you have the opportunity to learn from them, do it! You will have no regrets.

To check out more of Leslie's work check these out: website, blog

Here are a couple of images that Leslie has on her blog right now!

steve + jen bebb (at the Chi-town bebbinar) quite possibly changed our lives and our marriage ... we are proud to say that we are officially bebblings!

It is humbling to read the kind words that our colleagues have to say about us, and we can't thank them enough for taking the time to write. Each are brilliant in their own right, and we hope that you will take the time to explore their work and maybe find inspiration from them too!

Here is our first Bebbimonial from Toronto based photographer John Edgar, in his words:

When I discovered Jen and Steve in college, I knew they where the benchmark. The work that they where doing was progressive, interesting, and not over the top. Five years later, I truly believe they are still the benchmark. In my conversations with them, I have been inspired, humbled, and awe struck. I am continually amazed that they have never stopped pushing the bar. With their fresh approach to client care, and an amazing understanding for what the market wants, learning from the Bebbs is an experience that is second to none. If I could give a photographer starting out in the industry one bit of good advice, it would be learn from Jen and Steve.

To see more of John's work, head on over to his site and blog!

That might be one of the most commonly asked questions that we get. The answer: YES!!!

We are excited to announce our new Bebb-on-One sessions!

These sessions are all about you - your studio, your business, your photography. Just you and no one else but you! We cater everything to your needs, so all of your specific issues are addressed.

No subject is off limits, so don't be shy!

When you sign up for a Bebb-on-One, the first thing we will do is sort out a date that works for all of us. That's right - we work within your schedule!

Once we have a date, we'll be asking you lots and lots of questions. And from those questions, we will create a Bebbalicious experience that is exclusive to you. This is anything but a one-size-fits-all experience. This is the pinnacle of custom - everything we do during our session will be for and about you! Yes, YOU!!

I know you have some questions, so let's see if this helps:

Can I come to your studio?

Of course - we would love to have you immerse yourself here for 1 or 2 full days! We will recommend a fabulous hotel, share meals with you, introduce you to our favorite coffee shop, and even hang out in the evenings. You will become a member of our family for 2 days, which means you might have to watch one of our kids play lacrosse. But, hey, you will be learning all about balance and how to achieve it.

Can you come to my studio?

Absolutely! And in some cases, that might be very necessary. But, we have to be honest, that will cost more. You see, we're a package deal - you don't get one without the other - so travel dates are definitely limited. And if it means missing one of our kids' events, we might have to wait before we can come to you. But, if we do come, and we can swing it, we would love to shoot with you (yes, a wedding!). So, don't be afraid to ask - we might say YES!

Would a Bebbinar be better for me?

That depends on what you're looking for, what your budget is, and how you learn. If you want to pay a little less, and be in a group setting, then a Bebbinar is perfect for you. But if you want something catered exclusively to you, then a Bebb-on-One might be just what the doctor ordered. I can tell you this - Steve and I offer the same level of commitment in both. But where we work with a group in one, we work just with you in the other. We work diligently to address individual issues and concerns in our Bebbinars, but obviously, we are limited by the fact that it is a group. A Bebb-on -One is intensely (and maybe even uncomfortably) focussed on you and your needs. The choice is up to you!

How much will this cost?

For two full days with us, the cost is $2500. Obviously, airfare and hotel are up to you, but we'll cover lunch, snacks, and your customized workbook and program.

This is just what I've been waiting for - how do I sign up?

Drop me an email (info@bebbstudios.com)and let me know what you're looking for. We will chat about what dates are best for you and all sorts of other things. Then, and only then, we'll direct you to an official sign up page. We want to ensure that a Bebb-on-One is right for you!

When Canon came to us back in September and asked us to look at the new 5D MkIi, Steve and I were overwhlemed with possibilities. We had a lot to say about the camera in general, but it was one particular feature that piqued our interest the most.

We started thinking of ways that we could use the tools we were being given to create something wonderfully unique for our clients. So, for the past few months, we have been working on this Fusion of stills, audio and video and the end result is a DVD to help all of you do the same thing.

So, the details

Fusion is Now, the DVD, covers the following:

~ adding Fusion to your coverage now
~ simple, basic and advanced Fusion techniques
~ working with audio on the wedding day and after the fact
~ editing and presentation from simple to complex
~ non-HDSLR solutions
~ strategies for different lighting conditions
~ tips and tricks

You will see the products that we produce and we'll share many more ideas with you: from strategies for single photographers, and strategies for different kinds of fusion, to different kinds of camera and audio systems you can use, to pricing and packaging.

At the heart of it all is our desire to stay true to what we love, which is still photography, while creating new ways to exceed our clients' expectations. Fusion isn't new, but we truly believe Fusion is Now.

The DVD pre-sale begins today with a sale. Until January 3rd, 2009, you will get $50 off the Fusion is Now DVD. Just click on this link and you will go right to our shopping cart.

We have so much more to share with you over the coming weeks - more solutions and more ideas!

But for now, we hope you will enjoy the trailer for Fusion is Now. To see the HD version, head on over to Smugmug to check it out.

And here is one shot on the 5D MkII: ISO 4000, f2.0, Shutter: 1/100

A few days ago, Steve and I had the opportunity to test one of Canon's brand new cameras, the 5D MkII. As one of the first people in the world, and the only wedding photographers in Canada to use the camera, we were very excited to get our hands on what we hoped would be a replacement for our current line up of 5Ds.

This isn't going to be an incredibly technical review - there are other sites where that information can be found. We know all that is important, but rather than debating the nuances of the technical data, we would rather tell you all about how it felt to use the camera, the kinds of conditions we were able to shoot in, what we think about the camera in general and the abilities this camera gives us to advance our craft.

The first thing we noticed about the 5D MkIi was the size of it. It is definitely more sturdy than our 5Ds. When the two cameras were placed side by side, you could really see the difference in how they were built. The improved weather sealing and the matte texture of the 5D MkII make it a really solid looking camera, and I'm confident it will withstand our unpredictable Vancouver weather. Officially, there is no difference in the weight, but it feels heavier. Maybe that's just because it looks so much beefier.

How the camera feels in our hands is important to us. It doesn't matter how fabulous a camera's specs are, if it doesn't feel good when we're holding it, we simply won't use it. We were able to use the 5D MkII both with and without the grip. Since I haven't used a grip since switching the digital, I definitely prefer my cameras that way, but I tried it with the grip and it was not cumbersome or difficult to hold at all. Sure, it makes it a bit heavier, but after just a few minutes, I didn't notice the weight.

One of the reasons I prefer not to use a grip is so that I can handhold my camera in low light situations. With the high ISO of the 5D MkII, that isn't really an issue anymore, so we may just go ahead and use grips again.

Aside from every other wonderful feature this camera offers, having the high ISO to work with already has me sold on it. I push my current 5D to 3200 when conditions warrant, but I prefer not to go above 1600. With the 5D MkII, I would have no problem at all regularly using ISO 6400 in reception settings. In fact, we tried out ISO 12800 and 25600 (which I have dubbed 'supersonic') and were very impressed with the results. More on that in a moment.

Personally, my favorite new feature is the Live View/Magnify combination. I use my TSE lens a lot and it can sometimes be a challenge to nail my focus every time (although, I'm pretty good at it). With Live View and Magnify, I was able to zoom right in on what I wanted in focus thereby ensuring every image was sharp. And in fading light, what would have been difficult to focus right the first time, became extraordinarily easy. We tried this out with the 45 TSE, the 85 1.2 and the 50 1.2 - the focus was bang on every single time!

Also, when shooting in Live View, the camera is silent. You read that right: silent. Think about the advantages we now have in dark churches where the officiant doesn't want you distracting the guests with your shutter noise. A silent shutter and high ISO is a wedding photographer's dream.

The screen is simply fantastic with a resolution that surpasses anything else Canon offers! As you make an image and then review it on the LCD, it is simply stunning. So stunning, in fact, that we were concerned that the images would not look as good once we downloaded them. But, we didn't have to worry - they look great! After using the 5D MkII for the short time that we did, it was hard to go back to our 5D screens as they felt really small.

For photographers that are not yet proficient in nailing their exposure every time, Live View will facilitate their learning. You can adjust your Exposure Compensation and White Balance while in Live View mode, thereby taking any guess work out of the equation. You no longer have to make an image and then review it on the screen, instead you can use Live View and make all those decisions without the added step of chimping to ensure you nailed it.

There is a different battery, which I've seen people complaining about on a variety of forums. Personally, having another battery isn't going to deter me from adding this camera to our line up as soon as we can. If we get improved performance with a different battery, then that is fine with me.

It's funny the way things work...for the past three years, Steve and I have been working on integrating short video with our stills. For us, it's an additional creative outlet and something we have been exploring seriously. We have no desire at all to replace videographers at weddings. None. And this camera won't do that. But what it will do, which is incredible, is allow us to shoot video with all the advantages of our current lens line up.

Think about that for a moment, you can make video with a TSE lens, at the ISO of your choice. Wow.

Truly, we can go on forever about this camera. The more we thought about it, the longer we held it, the more ideas we came up with. It has been a really long time since a camera instilled such a sense of excitement in both of us. In fact, I am so enamored of this camera, that Steve had to fight me for a chance to use it. That alone tells me that it is something special.

So enough of all that. You want to see some images, don't you?

We only had the camera for a few hours, so we didn't get to field test it at a wedding. Because there are only two pre-production models in Canada, and they both needed to be in Toronto no later than this evening, the margin of error was too small to take a chance on getting it back in time. I can tell you that the entire time we were in Banff this weekend we were talking about how important the 5D MkII is going to be to us. The light (or lack therof) at both the rehearsal and reception this weekend were very challenging, which we are accustomed to. But knowing what this camera can do has made us very impatient to start incorporating it into our weddings.

Thanks to our incredible clients, Priscilla and Jason, we were able to put together a shoot for Thursday evening, at the last minute. The weather was overcast and we didn't start shooting with them until about 6:30 in the evening. The light was dim, to say the least, which was perfect for testing the high ISO range of the camera.

Unless otherwise noted, all images were made on a Beta model of the 5D MkII.

5D MkII (beta) ISO: 500, f2.8 Shutter: 1/160. The interesting thing about this image is that it was made made while shooting video. When shooting video, you can click the shutter at any time and create a still image. When you do that, there is a very small (less than 1 second) gap in the video footage. We can't show you any video until after October 1st, so you'll have to take our word on that for now.

Here is an image shot on the original 5D: ISO: 1600, f2.8, Shutter: 1/100. In this sort of lighting situation, we're fairly comfortable using 1600, although it would be nice to be able to push it higher.

And here is one shot on the 5D MkII: ISO 4000, f2.0, Shutter: 1/100

We also had the chance to test 12800 and 25600 (or supersonic ISO). These images were shot in our studio with mixed lighting. Both were AWB and both are SOOC (straight out of camera), resized for the blog.

ISO: 6400, f2.8, Shutter: 1/200 on 45 TSE lens

ISO: 25600 (supersonic!), f2.8, Shutter: 1/1000

This image was shot from a moving car, in the dark. We wanted to see if it was possible, and it is!

ISO 25600, f2.0, Shutter: 1.800

The following image is interesting: this is actually pulled from the video. Well, kind of. We didn't actually pull the still out of the video, but rather used the opening frame of the video (as it shows up once downloaded) and pulled it into PS. The image was not cropped - that's the way it was captured. I couldn't pull out the settings because this is a video frame, but it should have the same specs as the first image above (that image was taken during the filming of this video).

And finally, here is a short video clip outlining exactly what Steve and I thought about the 5D MKII literally minutes after using it in real world conditions: (a huge shoutout to the folks at Still Motion who put this together!)If you have any trouble viewing the video below, you can always check it out here

Bebbs - Canon 5D Mark II review from StillMotion on Vimeo.

So, to summarize: in our opinion, the 5D MkII will quickly become the camera of choice for wedding photographers. It has all the features that we need, allows us the freedom to advance our craft without constraint, and will likely act as a catalyst for the convergence of two complimentary mediums.

On paper, the 5D MkII is pretty impressive, but the written specs don't do it justice. This is the first camera, in a very long time, that is more advanced then Steve's and my current knowledge base. And yet, in spite of the 'newness' of this camera, it is not difficult at all to adapt quickly to the new configurations, menu and features. If you have used anything from Canon's line up before, you will be able to use this camera very quickly. Although, we do recommend reading the manual thoroughly.

And while there might be some debate about the finer technical issues of the 5D MkII, we believe that once photographers have a chance to see, feel and use this camera, the benefits will far outweigh anything else.

Is it a revolutionary camera? Well, that depends a lot of whether we, as a group, have the foresight to see the potential in what Canon has given us. In my personal opinion, this camera changes everything - and I cannot wait to integrate everything it has to offer. We haven't been able to sleep just thinking about the possibilities and where we can take this.

November can't come fast enough for me!

Steve and I are so excited to be featured in an incredible new resource for wedding photographers:"Professional Wedding Photography: Techniques and Images from Master Photographers" by Lou Jacobs, Jr. (Amherst Media). We haven't seen the book yet, but I do know that we have at least 15 images and several pages of great information..

We are also so honoured to be in the book with some of our favorite people: Andrena Douglass, Jennifer Dery, George Weir,The Boutwells, John and Dalisa Cooper and Cliff Mautner.

Here is the Amazon review:

Containing interviews with the top 10 wedding studio owners in the country, this indispensable reference offers a variety of opinions on everything from art and business philosophies to scheduling, handling retainers, writing contracts, and executing effective marketing plans. More than 15 images from each pro demonstrate classic and cutting-edge techniques -- as well as each photographer's signature wedding portrait style -- and are accompanied by details on recreating the scene. Additional tips on inspiring expressions and moods, modulating lighting, and adjusting composition while keeping clients relaxed during this emotionally-charged event are also included.

I hope that you all enjoy it!

It's always fun to head to Las Vegas for WPPI. It is a time to reconnect with friends we see only once or twice a year, check out the latest and greatest at a fabulous trade show, and to make new friends.

We had a couple of photo shoots, a few meetings with sponsors, and some fabulous meals. We have so much to share later on, but for now, here is the view from our hotel room at the Paris. We picked up a tilt shift lens just before our Vegas trip and I just love the way this image has such an old world feel.

We'll have a lot to say about this particular lens in the next while.

For now, though, we're back at home, spending the long weekend with our kids. We'll be back in the studio on Tuesday.

We know how fortunate we are to have found the career that inspires us. We appreciate the trust our clients place in us. And we are grateful everyday to be in our clients' lives.

What we didn't know, when we started this journey, was that we would also have the opportunity to share our experience and knowledge with others in our industry. The Bebbinar experience is one that truly humbles Steve and I as our attendees entrust us with so much, open their hearts and minds to our ideas, and embrace all that Steve and I have to offer. The talented, fun loving, kind, quirky, gentle, honest people that come and sit with us for a Bebbinar inspire Steve and I in so many ways.

So, first and foremost, a thank you to Audra, Alan, Scott, Jeremy, Kenny, Elizabeth, Kim, Erica, Sam, Rico, Gracci, Libby,Laurie, Heather, Ral and Danelle, for allowing us into your lives, both personal and professional, and for giving so much of yourselves to this process. Thank you. (As you guys post your images on your blogs, I'll link to your sites so everyone can see them!)

As always, we started the Bebbinar with our one and only rule: no egos, no excuses! With that out of the way, we dove right into an intense eight hours that challenged all our attendees to think about every aspect of their photography, business, and lives. Our businesses, as photographers, are so entwined with who we are as people, yet so often we don't see that correlation. The relationship between who we are and what we do is so tightly bound, that knowing more about ourselves as people can only serve to enhance our business.

The second day began with an impromptu tutorial in the benefits of ShootQ. This is a system that has truly shaved hours off Steve's and my work flow each week and everyone wanted to know more about it. We quickly ran through the processes that we use, and everyone was amazed at how little time we had to spend on the mundanities of our business and how quickly we could get back to the other things that need to be done. Following that, we dove right into off-camera lighting.

Then it was outside to embrace the ever-changing Vancouver weather. Nadia, who is a wonderful make-up artist here in Vancouver, was our beautiful model! We've known Nadia for a few years now and we have always wanted to photograph her. We couldn't wait for this to happen!

Once outdoors, we worked on finding locations, seeing light, using video light and off-camera flash to enhance the scene, working with clients, and a number of other concepts. Some folks stood back and watched, while others got right into it. At times there were 17 cameras pointing at Nadia and she worked it like a super model!

Here are a few of our favorite images of Nadia:

I also really like the way this image looked square (for a great action that really makes this easy, check out Parker J's stuff)

A doorway and beautiful light:

Quietly waiting. I love this shot for a lot of reason, but mostly because it was taken inside the studio, in not-so-great light, without her awareness. I love the mystery in this image:

the last one for now:

All these images were made within a 2 minute walk from our studio! One of the exercises we do is to find locations in otherwise unattractive areas - which is something we have seen our attendees struggle with. Who know what the most important thing to look for in a location is? To find the answer, sign up for one of our Bebbinars! ;-)

Our final day was focussed on workflow and the keys to the 4 day work week (yes, it is possible!). We demonstrated how we are able to efficiently process a wedding, how to streamline and maintain the work flow in all aspects of our business, and how we can be home at night to tuck our kids into bed. Giving everyone the tools to reclaim their lives is our favourite part of the Bebbinar! After the one-on-ones and some crying, we wrapped the final day at 2:30am (so I guess technically it was Thursday). It was home to sleep and then up early to take the kids to school!

Ral and Danelle, grads of v1.0, were with us on Tuesday and Wednesday. They were there as reps for the fabulous Finao, but they also helped us out by photographing the Bebbinar in progress. Check out some of the images of the Bebbinar in action:

The Bebbinar World Tour is starting in April and there are still a few seats left in each city. These are the only cities that we will be teaching in until our Australia/New Zealand tour in October. Please don't wait to sign up...they are almost full and we are limiting the numbers to keep the groups intimate! For more information, or if you have any questions at all, drop me an email at signmeup@bebbinars.com and we'll take care of that for you! Don't be afraid to ask our alumni their opinions - in fact we encourage you to do that. Then sign up! We'll see you all on the road!

This afternoon brings the start of our second Vancouver Bebbinar. We're joined by a group of incredibly talented photographers from Canada, the US, Ireland and Mexico. After having a chance to look at some of their work, we are truly humbled that they entrust us with their education.

We have revamped the program after receiving wonderful feedback from our October attendees. More shooting, more worksheets, more real, honest solutions...it is going to be so fantastic! I'm hoping to try live blogging during part of the Bebbinar, but we'll see how that goes.

We're going to be immersed in the Bebbinar until Thursday morning and we will return all your email and phone calls at that time. I can't wait to share the results of this Bebbinar with all of you!

The photo above was taken by the wonderful Mark Adams of ShootQ (who has offered a wonderful promo to our attendees). We'll tell you more about our other incredible sponsors as the week goes on!

Steve and I were absolutely thrilled a few weeks ago when Professional Photographer Magazine asked if they could feature us. It was even more exciting to find out they wanted to use our image for the cover! We share the magazine with our friendLaura Novak who will be joining us at our October Seminar. She is one smart cookie and deserves all the attention she is getting.

I borrowed this image from Laura's blog as we wait for our issue to arrive. I'll add more images once we receive it.

I cannot tell you how much this moved me. To know that our words and our images have impacted someone else is a truly amazing feeling. Teaching is something that we are new to, and we sometimes question if it is worth it - the time we take to prepare our seminars is a huge commitment. We quite literally spent close to 90 hours preparing for our talk at DWF. But when you get a message like this one, and we have received others as well, it reinforces why we wanted to teach in the first place.

We never really thought that we did anything different or interesting - we just did our thing, the way we wanted to. I think because so many photographers in Vancouver also use the city as their studio, we kind of assumed that everyone else, everywhere else was also doing the same thing. In fact, we worried that our presentation wouldn't resonate.

It is so important for us, as photographers and people, to explore what moves us, what sets us apart and what inspires us to be better. We feel so lucky to had some influence on the changing face of wedding photography and to inspire others to move beyond what is expected and comfortable and to find the thing that challenges them to be better.

Ali, thank you so much for taking the time to send us this email - you have no idea how much it means. I'm so proud of you and you are doing a beautiful job. I'm looking forward to seeing you again.