Mélanie Doire | Wedding & Lifestyle Photographer

Starting to plan my 5 years in business anniversary party

2010-04-15T07:52:00.001-07:00

I met with Jen from “The Bytown Bride” to start planning for my 5 years in business anniversary party. If all goes well it should be sometime this August. I’ll be posting more information as I finalise the details.

“The Bytown Bride” is an Ottawa area wedding blog created in 2009 by Jennifer Carter, and written under the pen name Trixie Tulip. This blog site is intended to create a central location where Ottawa brides can get information about local vendors and ask one-off questions. This site is also intended to be a place where Ottawa vendors can showcase their work.

Jennifer is a local Wedding and Event Coordinator who has a WPIC Certification as well as a Destination Wedding Coordinator Certification. She has a passion for weddings and events that shows through when you meet her. Her excellent communication skills and attention to detail gets the job done.

The Bytown Bride

2010-03-21T10:03:00.000-07:00

Doire Photography is featured on The Bytown Bride.

I’m so happy to have met with Jen from The Bytown Bride last Saturday. It was great chatting with her and getting to know her.

The website she started is a great idea and a great tool for brides planning their own wedding.

You’ll find caterers, musicians, DJ’s, florist, bakers, photographers and so much more from all over the Ottawa valley.

Jen takes the time to meet with every vendor she profiles, and it’s great to have all that information from different Ottawa wedding service providers in one place.

Ottawa wedding Show

2010-03-09T05:01:00.000-08:00

Great Show!

The weekend was lots of fun and quite social! I would like to say a great big Thank-You to everyone that attended the Ottawa Wedding Show, especially all the brides, grooms, parents, bridesmaids, friends, children, grand-parents, neighbours and other vendors for taking the time to find out what I’m all about.

This is one of the first shows that I had time to socialise and speak with other vendors. I met a lot of friendly and interesting people and I would like to highlight a few of them.

Reno video production: I met both Sylvain and Gaetan and was impressed with their knowledge and friendliness. They were great to speak with and I liked that they provide bilingual services.

In touch media: From what I saw at the wedding show I would be happy to recommend this DJ company to my clients. Sorin was great. He was outgoing, friendly and passionate about his services.

Lia Sophia: The ladies at this booth where a real hoot! They were fun to talk with and they had a lovely display of jewellery. I also learnt that each piece of jewellery has a lifetime replacement guarantee. How amazing is that?

Cedar Closet Bridal Boutique: I met these ladies very quickly at the end of the show when I was hunting for a cart. They impressed me with their kindness and their skill in packing a van. Quite impressive ladies!

Thank you once again to everyone that stopped at my booth and I look forward to working with you in the near future.

Come see us at the Ottawa Wedding Show

2010-03-04T10:29:00.000-08:00

Come see what we’re all about this weekend March 5^th and 6^th at the Ottawa wedding show located at Lansdowne Park.

The show is free to the public and open from 10am to 5pm Saturday and Sunday.

We look forward to welcoming you into our booth #402 to show you our portfolio, tell you all about our services and to answer all your questions.

Erika and Jason | Wedding photos

2010-02-18T11:48:00.000-08:00

Erika and Jason got married in late January and couldn’t have asked for a better day. It was so mild out and the venue was so nicely decorated, the evening was a true winter-wonderland. Erika looked stunning in her dress and cape. I absolutely had to get them outside for portraits in the snow. I’m happy I did since I feel I captured the mood of their evening, and more importantly, both Erika and Jason love them.

Erika and Jason | Engagement photos

2010-02-18T11:46:00.000-08:00

Erika and Jason planned to get married in the evening at Strathmere in late January. Since they wanted day time photos of their venue, we opted to have their engagement photo session at Strathmere as well. Strathmere is such a great venue and everyone that works there is so friendly and accommodating. It wasn’t too crazy-cold outside the day we did the shoot and the sky was slightly blue. I had fun playing in the snow and getting Erika and Jason to pose with the snowshoes.

Gulnoza and Cedric | Maternity photos

2010-02-18T11:38:00.000-08:00

I photographed Gulnoza and Cedric’s wedding in August 2009 and have now had the privileged of capturing the maternity photos for their first baby. I brought my portable studio to their place and used a couple of backgrounds. The traditional black backdrop is one that I brought along, but what made it even more personal for them was to use one of the quilts she received as a present.

Liam | 1 year old

2010-02-18T11:32:00.000-08:00

Liam is now a toddler and I’m so grateful to have had the privilege of photographing him as a newborn, at six months and now at 1 years of age. He’s such a happy baby, so easy to photograph. It’s fun to crawl around with him.

Wedding Palace Bridal Show

2010-01-06T07:08:00.000-08:00

Great News!

We’ll be taking part of the Ottawa Wedding Palace Bridal Show this weekend, January 09-10 from 11am to 5pm at the Westin.

A last minute space was made available and we were happy to take it.

We’ll be launching our 2010 pricing and giving away some freebees, if you would like to see what we are all about come see us at our booth 223.

We look forward to seeing you there.

“Preventing the Loss of Precious Memories… Your Photos”.

2010-01-02T06:59:00.000-08:00

At Doire Photography “Our Focus Is You” and we want to make sure you never suffer the loss of your precious photographic memories.

In this article, I would like to discuss different backup methods for your family’s digital pictures.

I would be devastated if I ever lost any of my family photography, fun photos with friends or of my travels.

My recent computer crash at home meant I did lose some data. Fortunately, I didn’t lose any personal or professional photography because I have multiple backup systems for important files.

If I didn’t have this system in place I’d have been tearing my hair out, losing sleep and many people would be (justifiably) upset with me. Fortunately, this is not the case and nobody ever knew there was a problem.

Chances are your family has hundreds or thousands of digital pictures that are on a computer or a disc somewhere in the house. Ask yourself, ‘Is this the only copy of those pictures in existence?” There’s a good chance these pictures haven’t even been printed.

How would you feel if your computer was damaged or the disc was scratched and you lost your pictures? Imagine if you suddenly had no record of all the important events in your life going back to when you started using your digital camera.

If you have a backup system in place, that’s great. Count yourself as one of the few who do and keep reading. I might still give you one or two pointers.

The first thing you need to keep in mind is an important mantra I learned a while ago:

“A file does not exist until it exists in two places.”

That is vital information and the best guideline to help avoid losing digital pictures. Hard drives, memory cards and discs all fail eventually, it’s guaranteed.

Most of these solutions work on PC and MAC, are inexpensive, and allow you to store your backup outside of your home.

That introduces the second thing to keep in mind (and I really hope nothing like this ever happens to you): What if you have a house fire or your home office is burglarized?

Off-site storage is your insurance against the worst. Storing that extra copy somewhere else will be your strongest defence if something goes wrong. So, make a second copy and keep it separate from the original.

The simplest system I can think of is surprisingly effective: Every time you download photos from your memory card, burn them to a disc, label it and put the disc in a jewel case.

Then make arrangements to store it (and all other disks) with a friend or family member. Or even, tuck it into a drawer at work – so long as it is stored off-site. That way, should you experience the frustration and loss of a computer crash or memory card failure, your back-up is ‘safe’.

Now what if you have lots and lots of pictures? What if you don’t want to clutter up some other location with stacks of discs? Well there are lots of solutions out there for you.

The second option is to get a portable hard drive for your computer. Keep it in the same place you would have kept all those disks, and bring it home once a week (or once a month) and copy all your new pictures onto it.

Make sure the drive you buy has lots of space, and feel free to backup any other files that are important to you.

If you are unsure about how to go about doing this, then I’d suggest a neat product from Clickfree. It’s a USB cable that you plug in-between your portable drive and your computer. It’s a smart little thing that seeks out your important files without you doing the hunting, and then moves them all to the drive.

Clickfree makes many products, but I like that this one can be used with any USB storage.

If you are using one of the many popular photo organising tools, it probably has an option to export your pictures. You can choose to export them to the hard drive I just told you to buy, but, depending on the software, you might also be able to back up to a web album. If your software lets you, then backing up to the internet can be the easiest way to ensure the safety of your pictures.

Unfortunately, the storage space is often limited if free, and costs money for more space. It’s up to you to weigh the costs and benefits of getting your own drive, or paying for online storage. A huge benefit of the online galleries is that your friends and family can view the photos you open to the public.

Currently, the largest amount of free online storage is Skydrive from Microsoft (25 GB per account). It’s part of their “Live” package of applications. If you’re a PC user, it’s well worth checking out. If you choose to use the Windows Live Photo Gallery, you can even upload from within the photo viewer.

The last suggestion I’ll make is a comprehensive backup solution online. It is Carbonite. Carbonite is a small piece of software that will back up your entire computer (or parts of it) to the companies secure storage. They are extremely reliable and your data is secure from prying eyes.

The cost is $5 (American) per month for unlimited backups from one computer. They have a free trial period, and last I heard, when it comes time to sign up, if you use the coupon code TWIT, you qualify for 10% off for the life of your subscription.

Carbonite works anywhere you have internet access so it’s perfect for laptops and travellers.

In future newsletters I will be talking about different ways to organise your digital pictures and the programs that help you do this. All of the backup suggestions I suggest will not affect the way you organise your pictures.

If you’re not already following one of the suggestions I’ve presented (or other backup solution), please save yourself the heartache of losing all your family’s digital memories. In the case of a computer crash or burglary, I want you to be able to recover as much as possible.

If you have any questions or would like help with any of these (or other) solutions I would be happy to assist you or tell you where you can get more help.

If there is any subject related to photography about which you would like to learn more, please send them to me and I will be happy to include them in my articles so everyone can benefit.

Thank you for your interest and I hope my articles are useful to you.

Engagement | Melanie and Paul

2009-11-07T08:45:00.000-08:00

This photo shoot took place at Hog’s Back Falls and Melanie was a real trooper because she climbed down this not-so-safe trail with high heels. I didn’t force her to do that, she wanted too.

Engagement | Tabitha and Patrick

2009-11-02T08:38:00.000-08:00

This couple did their engagement photos at Andrew Haydon Park near Britannia Beach. We had originally attempted to do the shoot 2 weeks earlier but there was a thunder storm and a massive amount of water. We all decided that rescheduling would be a better and safer idea. Good thing we did because the day we chose had a perfect blue sky, the sun wasn’t too strong, Patrick and Tabitha where really entertaining to photograph and we got to see a Great Blue Heron.

Wedding | Brooke and Steve

2009-10-16T08:28:00.000-07:00

Brooke and Steve got married in St. Peters Church in Cornwall, Ontario. The reception took place at the Cornwall Golf & Country Club. The wedding party was entertaining and lots of fun to photograph. They had a lot of great ideas for funny moments. The couple did their formal portraits near the waterfront. This beautiful location has a gazebo, a bridge, a small stream and great fall colour.

Wedding | Colleen and Ben

2009-10-11T08:15:00.000-07:00

October 11^th was a really cold day in Ottawa and peoples skin where actually turning colours. Ben and Colleen got married at the First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa. This church is lovely and bright in the daytime thanks to amazing windows. The formal portraits were in the church gardens with wonderful autumn colours. The ceremony took place at the Britannia Yacht Club and it was nicely decorated.

This day was really cold but the sky was breathtaking so we all agreed that goose bumps were worth it.

Wedding | Lyne and Denis

2009-10-10T08:03:00.000-07:00

Lyne and Denis had both the ceremony and reception at the National Art Centre on Elgin in downtown Ottawa. It was a lovely environment and a beautiful day for photography. The NAC and downtown is always a pleasure to shoot in, with so many locations for formal portraits.

Engagement | Valerie and Jason

2009-10-03T07:59:00.000-07:00

This couple had a great story to share about how they met and they wanted their engagement photos to reflect that. So we did the shoot both outdoors and indoors at Tabaret Hall at the University of Ottawa. They met in the stair case.

Maternity | Nathalie

2009-09-27T07:56:00.000-07:00

Nathalie is a regular client and I had the privilege of capturing her growing belly at 6 months. We really had fun with this shoot. Again, this is why I love my portable studio; it really shows in the photography when your client is comfortable and at ease.

Engagement | Brooke and Steve

2009-09-23T07:51:00.000-07:00

These two are fishing enthusiasts and wanted photography that highlighted their lifestyle. This shoot took place in Cornwall on a rainy evening in late September. It was lots of fun and I got to capture some great moments.

Destination Wedding | James and Nicole

2009-09-12T07:41:00.000-07:00

This was a destination wedding I photographed in Kelowna, British-Columbia. The ceremony and reception took place on a fantastic property overlooking the lake and the city of Kelowna. The wedding party danced down the aisle, the weather was perfect, and the party stayed outdoors all night. What a great time they had! Nicole even had a surprise for James under her dress.

Wedding | Sheila and Andrew

2009-08-29T07:35:00.000-07:00

August 29^th was a rainy day in Ottawa, but fortunately we had planned to take the formal portraits in City hall. Everything went as planned and we had lots of fun. We then went to the East India Company for the ceremony and reception. The decor was great; there were lots of colours and texture and sculptures to use for backgrounds.

Wedding | Mellisa and Tim

2009-08-15T07:28:00.000-07:00

Mellisa and Tim had a wonderful ceremony and reception at the Calabogie Peaks Resort in mid August. It was a really hot day and everything looked hazy. Once the sun started to go down the lighting became amazing and helped give a romantic feel to a lot of their photographs.

Wedding | Gulnoza and Cedric

2009-08-07T07:14:00.000-07:00

We did the formal couple photography before everything started. This was great because they where felling fresh and they were able to spend time together to relax and have fun before the ceremony and party. Doing the couple photography first is strongly recommended but it’s not for everyone; especially if you’re traditional.

Gulnoza and Cedric had their formal portraits done at Le théâtre de l’île and Mackenzie King Estate. The ceremony and reception took place at the Rivermead Golf Club in Gatineau.

Family/Engagement Photos | Lyne, Denis and Juliette

2009-08-05T07:09:00.000-07:00

Lyne and Denis wanted some engagement/family portraits done. So we opted for a quiet location in Rockcliff Park. Juliette slept most of the time but once she woke up I captured some great moments with her.

Wedding | Cindy and Rick

2009-08-01T06:52:00.000-07:00

This couple got married in the St.Anthony of Padua Church on Booth Street and had their reception at the Glen Mar Golf & Country Club on in Stittsville. The formal photos at the golf course had some added entertainment because the clients and I each got a golf cart and I had a driver assigned to me. My driver had a heavy foot and awesome turning skills.

Pet Photography | Benson

2009-07-21T06:23:00.000-07:00

After photographing Colleen and Ben for their engagement portraits, they asked me if I would photograph their new puppy Benson.

Benson is such a great dog, full of high energy and great facial expressions.

Post Wedding Photography | Eric and Jennifer

2009-07-14T06:45:00.000-07:00

This couple hired me for just a few hours on their wedding day. It took place on a weeknight at the Chimo Hotel. They wanted the event photographed but wanted their formal photography done separately. So we planned for a post wedding photo shoot at the Experimental Farm a couple days later. This is always a great option, especially if you’re worried about the weather. For this couple, it let them have more time and less stress both on their special day and at the later shoot.

Wedding | Krista and Norm

2009-07-04T06:39:00.000-07:00

This week, the rain never stopped except on that day. The good old French saying “Accroche ton chapelet sur la corde a linge, pour influencer Dame Nature!” (Put your rosary on the clothesline to influence Mother Nature) holds true to me more than ever.

This wedding was unique, simple and lots of fun. The ceremony was outdoors at the bride’s parent’s back yard. The reception was held at the Ramada Inn in Cornwall, Ontario.

Engagement | Mellisa and Tim

2009-07-02T06:32:00.000-07:00

This session was interesting. We had an evening shoot booked and when we got to the location it was pouring rain. We had umbrellas and good energy, and had lots of fun. This couple is really cute together, they just did their thing and I was there to capture it. I loved it. Half way through the shoot it stopped raining and we took advantage of the fair nearby. When the sun came out the light was breathtaking.

Engagement | Krista and Norm

2009-06-29T06:12:00.000-07:00

This shoot took place in Krista’s parent’s back yard near Cornwall. It was a great property to work on; lots of good backgrounds and props. We had schedule this shoot near dusk, so you have to imagine how bad the mosquitoes were.

High School Prom | Rebecca

2009-06-24T06:29:00.000-07:00

My friend asked me to photograph her daughter and her friends before their high-school formal. The graduates where all nicely dressed in vibrant colours and all matched each other, very fun event to photograph.

Engagement | Colleen and Ben

2009-06-14T06:15:00.000-07:00

This couple has amazing chemistry together and they were great fun to photograph. The shoot took place at the Mackenzie-King Estate in Gatineau Park in mid June.