Some Creative Exercising

Every once and while things get a little boring and stiff at the studio. Yeah, I know. Hard to believe. I'm sure you're saying, "But, not you Brian!" Oh, yes. It's true. It happens once and while.

So, I like to bring in a model to let me do my own thing. Where I'm not under the gun of the client. Cara was the young lady that helped me stretch my creativity.

As you can see she's quite the talent in front of the camera. I'm very much about relying on the muse and let that shine through. I hope you'll agree that she shone through.


I also got to try out a new lighting style which I think is very flattering. Let me correct myself - the lighting style is new to me, but it's been around for many a year. The lighting that you see in three of the four images is created with a "ring flash". For those photographers out there who don't have one I highly reccomend you purchase one. It's lots of fun.

One of the things that drew me to asking Cara to pose for me was an uncanny resemblance - at least in my opinion - Canadian singer Lee Aaron. Have a look and see for yourself. Tell me what you think. Hence the black and white pose. It reminded of the two times I got to see Lee Aaron in concert here in the Sault. That image reminds me of her "Metal Queen" days.

If you are an aspiring model and want to build a portfolio I am available for sessions. Or if you think you might make a nice addition to my portfolio drop me an email. You can see some of my other images at this online community also - Model Mayhem. I'll leave with a couple more of Cara.

My New CD Is Here!

Some of you who get my emailings know that I have been working on a CD of music. Well, it's finally here!

You can listen to a few of the tunes from the album at my myspace page - click there to check it out.

I know it's a little weird to have a CD of music coming from a photographer, but it's been one of those things on "life's little check list" that I finally got done. I really enjoyed the process and , who knows, maybe there'll be another in the future.

The songs may have some appeal to folks from Sault Ste Marie. I wrote about some things from my childhood that I'm sure many of you will also remember. And others are just fun songs. It's all very fun and I hope you enjoy listening to it.

If you'd like to purchase a copy you give me a call at the studio (705-942-5419) or drop me an email brian@tremblayphoto.com and we can make arrangements to get you one. They go for $15.

Chamber of Commerce Take 5

Yesterday at the Art Gallery of Algoma, I cosponsored a Take Five event. If you're not familiar with the Take 5's they are a networking opportunity for businesses to get together after work, socialize, network, have some refreshments and just get to know each other.


Being that it was a nice the turn out was a little on the low side, but there was still a good turn out. The Art Gallery put on a nice selection of food and drink for all to enjoy.


And to add to the fun there were prizes donated by myself. I gave away two portrait sessions, a copy of my new book Grass Roots Marketing and a print from my new line of inspiration images called Success Visions. Congrats to the winners of those prizes.

I'd like to thank everyone for coming out and I hope to see you at the next Take 5 taking place at the Great Northern Resort and Conference Centre on May 6.

A Favourite Photo Session

As I mentioned in the previoius post I've stopped providing on location graduation portraits. I find it has an assembly line feel and usually the students aren't prepared for it and are just hoping to get it done and out of there! Those that call me wanting their grad portraits done in the studio are looking for something of a higher quality and not so rushed. I like that because I get to give them my best under optimal circumstances.

This young lady was one of them. Aimee not only wanted her graduation portraits, but wanted to try some "other" different kind of images created especially for her. I love it when I hear those words and the client lets me loose creatively! Here's what we came up with.

Aimee is also a good example of how to be a good subject and maximize the chances of creating an outstanding portrait. She was herself and let her personality come through and also took direction from me very well.


I find the biggest issue with a portrait subject is that they try to hard and end up stiffening up in front of the camera. When it comes to portraiture, I find you really can't do anything wrong in front of the camera. And, as you can see from Aimee's session, you don't always have to have a huge toothy smile to create a great portrait. Some of my favourite portraits by the masters are those where the subject isn't smiling and sometimes they aren't even looking at the camera.


I like to tell my subjects that in order to have a pleasant expression on their face all they need to do is think of something pleasant. It could be about a vacation you just took, your pet cat or the someone special who might be looking at the image.

So, don't think of your grad portraits as just another picture. You can take it to the next level and create some outstanding images that your friends, family and you will treasure for years to come.

If you might be interested in having portraits like please contact me or drop me an email and we can schedule a consultation for you.

Grad Photos

About this time of year (and possibly earlier) students from high schools, universities and colleges are commemorating their achievement by having a portrait taken. Usually it's not the students idea - it's a proud Mom wanting a portrait of her son or daughter.

The schools usually contract out a photographer to do the job in assembly line fashion. I know. I've done it. In the end, most don't end up liking their photos. That's one of the reasons why I have stopped all "assembly line" type portraiture. I find I just can't deliver my best in the less than optimal conditions that are given. In the studio I have much more control and the atmosphere is much more conducive to the creativity required for the portrait.

And, there seems to be a stigma that goes along with being the "high school" grad photographer. I remember the one high school I did the students were asking when the retakes were before they even had their photo taken! That didn't work for me. I decided that was the end of on sight grad photos.

Graduation portraits allow me to use a classical style posing because the images are supposed to be very formal and reflect the scholarly aspect of the portrait. But, once and I while I like to throw in something non traditional. Many of the grads also decide that they would like to create some portraits that don't involve the gown and cap. That can be a fun time and become something you'll treasure for a long time.

In U.S. the high school grads don't do the "cap and gown" shot. They create amazing portraits with their photographer that can sometimes resemble something from a fashion magazine! I've had the pleasure of creating some of those for my U.S. clients. It's great fun!

So, if you happen to be a graduate this year and are not happy with your grad photos, give me a call. If you have the "proof sheet" from the school photographer, I'll give you $25 off any grad photo collection.

Michael Losier Comes To Sault Ste Marie!

As many of you know I was first introduced to the Law of Attraction by the movie The Secret. The minute I heard about it I started to spread the word about this new way of thinking that can change your life. I was amazed that no one I spoke to had heard about this. I was glad I was able to introduce them to it.

Since then I have been a constant learner of how to use the Law of Attraction. I've read many books by some of the teachers in the movie. Like: James Arthur Ray , Bob Proctor , Joe Vitale, and Neale Donald Walsch. Now thanks to my friend Julie Hryniewicz-Hache has brought another teacher to Sault Ste Marie - Michael Losier. Michael has written a great book simply called Law of Attraction.

Michael can teach you how to use the law of attraction in your life and get you a start onto this great method of thinking that, if you use it regularly, can make some dramatic changes in your life. I'm living proof! I hope it will introduce you to the Secret movie, the book and many of the teachers that you will see in that movie.

Michael's seminar will be held at the Great Northern Resort and Hotel here in Sault Ste Marie on April the 6th at 1pm - 4:30pm. I am a proud sponsor of this event and tickets are going fast! But, I still have a few more. They are $39 in advance, so if you'd like some please give me a call at the studio.

If you're looking for that missing element in your life; if you're wondering why you can never get what you deserve in your life, then this seminar is for you! I'll see you there!

Jeff Healey

The music world has lost another guitar great when Canada's own Jeff Healey passed away March 2, 2008. I don't normally post about rock stars who pass away, but I got to photograph this one.

Jeff had just finished a concert at the old Memorial Gardens in the summer of 1991. The Leslie Spit Treo had opened for him. He was touring to support his new album - Hell To Pay. There was a rumour running around that Jeff might be showing up at a local bar to jam with the band. The only bar that had a great local band going on that night was The Brick Yard and the great local band was The Lost Locals. I made a couple of calls and did confirm that's where it was going to happen. I made sure I had camera in hand.

Well, word spreads like wild fire in this little burgh and a quite a few others found out. The little bar - next door to where my studio now is - was starting to jam up; as you can see from the photo here.

The heat of the summer started to bake the the old historical brick building and the sweat started to build on those attending. Everyone glistened like a fat man running a marathon. Just before Jeff arrived, his then bass player, Joe Rockman, was seen checking out the bar. I knew he was coming.

Healey arrived with his entourage, ordered some drinks and then Jay Scali from the Lost Locals decided to call up the blind guitar legend to the stage. My camera was out and pushed my way to the front and began to record the event.

I only remember one of the two or three tunes that he did with the band - I Shot The Sheriff. But it was an electric night. As he played on the heat and sweat charged the atmosphere into a memorable rock 'n' roll moment.

I've been a musician on and off since I was fourteen years old. When I got back into it, Jeff Healey was one of those guitar players I was into. His unorthodox playing method made his genius all the more intriguing.

I didn't get to meet the guitar player that night. He was whisked away as quick as he came in. It wasn't until a few years later that I got to see him
play on the Michigan side of the St. Mary's River at Vegas Kewadin. It was a small lounge and Healey filled it with his big sound. Afterwards I spotted him in the hallway outside the lounge and got a chance to tell him how much I admired his guitar playing. He was humble and appreciative.

At one of those two shows, I acquired this pick of his.











Jeff has a Sault Ste Marie connection with family. He has an aunt and a cousin here. He will be greatly missed.