I was surprised!  I had no idea that UNITED, a photography conference unlike any you would ever attend, would offer so many different kinds of classes/shoots for us to attend. There were classes that went over shooting details at a wedding, posing an engagement couple, maternity, glamour,  and so much more. Being a wedding photographer, I went into this conference thinking that I needed to sign up for everything and anything related to wedding photography. That since this was the field I chose to specialize in, there was no need to practice shooting the other sessions offered.

It was the end of the classes one day and we were all congregating in the main lobby. I saw a group assembling…trip-pods in hand, almost everyone dresses in black/dark clothing, and then Matt Kennedy addressing the group. For those you that don’t know who he is, PLEASE look him up. He is wildly talented, is a lighting master, a genuinely awesome person-teacher-friend, an he is pretty handsome, too. (Just ask his Kristin Cavallari TWIN of a wife, Carissa…she will agree I am sure!)

He is based in Vancouver, BC and was voted TOP photographer in his area in 2012 by the Wedding Industry awards. Holy awesome! 

Anyway, back to that night…..I approached the group and whispered in another’s ear…”what class is this?”  “Light painting with Sparklers with MK”. I totally knew what light painting was, but I truthfully didn’t have an interest in learning how to do it at first because in my mind….it had NOTHING to do with wedding photography….how could it possibly help me either improve my craft or build my portfolio???!?!?

I sat there for a moment listening to his speech about Light Painting Photography, who he was and how it has become a MUST have by his brides. Then he got me….he pulled up some images that left me completely shocked by my OWN reaction…I loved them! I loved it! He drew shapes and wrote words and drew around brides in the most creative and beautiful ways. He completely inspired me and opened my eyes that wedding photography doesn’t always have to be “traditional or cookie cutter”….and for me…classes I take do not always have to be about what I SHOULD be doing at a wedding. This indsutry is a fun one. Weddings are fun. Couples are NOT cookie cutter and if ever asked to do Light Painting at a wedding by my clients…I CAN NOW DO THAT!!! I learned a whole new trade/craft to ADD to my portfolio. I didnt waste time at this class. I had fun. Took a chance and lordy me it paid off. I just booked 3 WEDDINGS THAT REQUESTED LIGHT PAINTING….Before his class…I might have turned it down saying- “I don’t do that…Im not trained in that.” But guess what…Now I am….and I couldn’t be more greatful to Matt and this brilliant class for teaching me this new trade and for making me think in a whole new way that not only improved my business….but allowed me to HAVE FUN doing so! : )

Here are some images we got that night….(and mind you….I got to borrow someones tripod for a bit….because you NEEEED a tripod to do this type of photography….but the rest my camera was resting on the ground on a flip flop and camera bag….so not recommended….but hey…you rock what you got right?!?!)

Ok so this first one….a car ran through the image as we were shooting on an open road in front of the beach….but it added a fun effect, no?

Mikey and Samantha Smith from the Photography Smith’s, were so generous and gave up shooting to be our models for a few shots!

And then our final shot was on the beach spelling out UNITED backwards….ah-mazing he is!

To achieve this images we switched our lenses onto Manual, grabbed focus on someone holding a cell phone/light source by the faces of the couples we were shooting…..set our shutter speed anywhere from 20-30 seconds, left our aperture around 3.5-5.6, and adjusted our ISO as needed. IT WAS SO FUN. SO OUT OF MY ELEMENT. AND SOMETHING I WOULD HAVE REGRETTED NOT ATTENDING!

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Website: http://www.mattkennedy.ca/