"What Not to Wear" -Photography Preset Version | Klutch Photography| Vancouver family photographer

Stacy London from "what not to wear" had the right idea. Stop it with the trends, and stick with classics that fit you well!

I get it tho; everybody loves a trend! Sadly over time, we tend to regret some, not all of the "trends" we opted in on. Personally, I vomit in my mouth a little when I look back at some of my fashion choices. I would have thought FOR SURE they would have lasted the test of time.

This is also how I feel about my photography preset choices I made back in the day with MANY of my images. And to add salt in the wound, Facebook keeps haunting me with all of my bad decisions! Every morning I grab my phone and see a popup... "Want to see your memories from seven years ago"? Duh, of course I do, it's like an unfortunate car accident, you have to look! And then the next five minutes are all about the feels, except it's this one… #regrets! I'm so mad at those presets choices I made back then more so than the time I ate a golf ball size of wasabi on a dare!

I feel so passionate after all these years, that if your images can tell a story or feel some emotion, all you have to do is add a simple "accessory"! Can you hear Stacy saying that!? No need for an entire wardrobe add-ons, with more accessories on top of accessories!

After ten years of photographing families, babies and all else in between, I've finally have grown into my photography shoes. I know what I like, and what I want now, and 30 years from now AND that is not a REHASH of a film preset in all of my images!

I only alter my images to pure black and white, no more of that sepia crap! My colour images get the same R E S P E C T (insert the song while you read it, its' way more fun! No seriously, try it again!) with minimal fake looking alterations. This folks, is what I like to call the "simple black dress" effect! When you walk into the room everyone is looking at you, not your outfit...same goes for the image! What's inside the image is speaking to you, not the " preset" you chose. The "black dress" will make your image stand the test of time. I think I'm going to change my name to Stacy Ferreira Stoddard London! Greg might like a "new wife"?! I can see it now..."Hey Stacy, what to go into the bedroom and see if these pants are fitting properly?". Yikes, I take that back! Seriously tho, why can't I have this much insight while I dress myself in the morning.

I know, your thinking "Dina or Stacy....(whomever you're calling your self now) cool your tits, it will last, you're overreacting"! I'm telling you truthfully, and from my heart, and from my own experience ...it won't! Save your selves the horror that I have to relive every day, stop the dramatic presets while you can!

Don't be another dated looking image statistic! Be the simple black dress.

THE IMAGES BELOW WERE ALL TRENDY AT ONE POINT.

Sepia with a green overlay.

Soft lines with a overall blue hue.

Orange Polaroid vibe

SEPIA

HIGH CONTRAST AND BLOWN OUT HIGHLIGHTS

Vignetts and a strong green undertone…

Dina’s Instagram feed….

The ONE thing I would never do again with my kitchen renovation! | Klutch Photography | Vancouver family photographer

The thought of a new kitchen is pretty dreamy, right? It was our time, well it was sort of time for a new (er) kitchen. We’ve been in our home for 13 years, it was a new build when we bought it, but we never got to select any of our kitchen or house finishes. Even though they were all new, they were never the finishes I would have chosen if I had the option. So the kitchen being a home depot special was starting to look a little tired. Not to mention that 10 months prior we had a small faucet leak, which caused some internal counter damage, which then caused our “new faucet” to literally manoeuvre better than a five speed gear shift when you turned it on. This went on for months, like 7 months of race car driving while doing the dishes! Painful.

This shit show of a faucet reminded me of a kids book called “If you give a mouse a cookie”, the idea is, you start with “one thing” and that one thing will lead to many other things you had “not planned” on doing! That’s how the birth of a new kitchen started. But let's be clear, we were ONLY going to replace the counters, faucet and sink. Hard no on everything else, said Greg (hubby). Just typing that makes me laugh, as that was not what was going to happen! As a trained interior designer, a half-assed renovated kitchen was not in my plans!

The only problem, I have a husband with a “perception” of what a kitchen should cost and what “he likes” in a kitchen (k, let me be clear, I’m all for opinions cause were in a partnership, BUT the man doesn’t cook, clean or use our kitchen)! I was up for the challenge, I knew I could convince him on the backsplash, and the new light fixture. That part would be easy! But selling him on was updating the cabinets, that would require a miracle as they were in fantastic shape and looked almost new. My problem with them was not in the style of them, I LOVE a good shaker, it was the colour! Medium wood in 2019, reads as dated, old and very dark looking.

So the journey began, I emailed several companies who specialized in painting cabinetry. I know what you’re, ” Dina, you’ve lost your mind, painting cabinets is a terrible idea”, “ They never turn out the same or as you get with a factory finish”.

I’m not going to lie, I had that exact fear myself.

It was the only option, why you ask? Cause, If I went to purchase a new cabinet style guess what kind I would choose…wood SHAKERS in white! So let’s take the old shaker cabinets off and replace them with white factory shaker cabinets for a minimum cost of $30,000! That makes no senesce what so ever as I don’t poop dollar bills. Hence why the inquiries began!

I contacted three companies, one didn’t bother to email me back, one quoted me through email, and the last company Kitchen Makeovers (they came recommended twice by a local nosy neighbours site) emailed me right away and asked if I wanted a free in-home consultation/estimate. I loved that idea, as I had a lot of questions that I would need answered before I said “yes to the dress”!

Tanya (founder/owner) arrived at my door, chipper and prepared. She answered all of my questions before I asked them, not kidding. She’s clearly passionate about her business and stands behind the quality of the refinished products they produce. Her knowledge and honesty are not normal in this day and age. Which sold me!

We booked in that week, and yes I got Greg on board! He was still not thrilled at the idea, but he was trusting my judgment. I’m serious when I say, this wasn’t the funnest thing to do, lose your kitchen to a refresh but the reality is after it’s done you never look back. The cabinet refinishing was the fastest part of the whole renovation process. The reno took 6 weeks, and the painting only took 3 DAYS, THAT’S IT! Your MINDS BLOWN RIGHT.

No joke, Greg was really impressed (if you know my husband well, that is not a common occurrence that happens…him being “impressed” with anything that is), he said he “liked it”(Just like Mikey and the Life Cereal commercial)! Mean while I’m literally weeping with joy ( As you can tell we’re complete opposites)! They look as though we originally bought them from stock, they looked seamless, smooth, and fresh! It’s utterly impressive the quality of work! And let me repeat this, there in your home for 3 days, that’s it!

I was so impressed with the finished product that I wanted to promote how amazing this process is, so Kitchen Makeovers is offering all my friends, family & followers a discount of 10% off if you book in before January 31st, 2019!

Use promo code: KLUTCH

So the one thing I would never do again if I need to renovate a kitchen is to hesitate in using Kitchen Makeovers to repaint my cabinetry, and you shouldn’t either! Call 604-599-5501 or email them today for a free in-home estimate. Make sure you use the promo code KLUTCH to get your 10 % off!

www.kitchenmakeovers.ca

BTW- The colour we chose was Chantilly lace!

BEFORE

Write here…

AFTER

East Barriere Lake Shuts Down 2018 /Klutch Photography / Vancouver Documentary Photographer

As I enter into documentary photography more, and leave behind more, and more of the posed photography (minus the quickie sessions), I really wanted to document this crazy group of EBLer’s wrapping up 2018 in traditional lake style with an all ages party at the J & C’s Cabin.

It’s all low light, no posed moments. Just these amazing humans, making memories well into 2019.

#EBL

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