Travel - Australia & New Zealand

I recently returned from one of my favorite trips I've ever done, 5 weeks in Australia and New Zealand! Although I've never been a big fan of photographing landscapes and I actually rarely travel with my camera, this time I put an effort into capturing the beauty around me, enjoying the process, and creating art to have forever. I had such an amazing time exploring and photographing these, and I love the end collection it forms. It was my first solo trip which made for a lot of quiet, relaxing days photographing and enjoying the incredible outdoors. l only brought one camera and used just one lens I hadn't touched in years, the tiny and super travel friendly, Canon 40mm lens. 

This may be something I start to do on more of my trips in the future but until then, I hope you enjoy! 

Australia

During my three weeks in Australia I visited Sydney, Byron Bay, Melbourne, and Wollongong. I soaked up the sun, swam, surfed, visited friends, hiked, and enjoyed many Tim Tams and espresso martinis along the way. 

New Zealand

For almost two weeks I travelled New Zealand, including renting a car and driving over 2000km in 9 days on the South Island. Though I travelled through many places, I spent nights in Queenstown, Te Anau, Invercargill, Dunedin, Wanaka, Lake Tekapo, and Auckland. I spent so much time in the outdoors, hiking, walking, reading, and driving. Kilometre after kilometre, I couldn't believe how dramatic the scenery was and no matter where you went, it never became boring or dull. It truly was an experience I'll never forget.  

What's in my camera bag?

Those who love photography know that gear is something we all enjoy discussing, debating, and of course, drooling over. Whatever you may use whether it may be Canon, Nikon, Sony....they all have the ability to take a beautiful photo. Many people will argue that one brand is better than the other but in my opinion it is all about preference, and I choose to photograph with Canon. After my first two Kodak point and shoot cameras broke, I bought a couple more Canon point and shoots. When I decided to buy my first DSLR, Canon was the natural choice. 

I often get asked at weddings or events what type of camera I use, what lenses I have, and what I use each one for. So, here I'm sharing 'what's in my camera bag' and the uses I have for each piece of equipment! Under some lenses you'll see an example of photos taken with that particular lens. You'll see just how much it takes to perfectly photograph a wedding, family, or commercial job. 

Let's nerd out together.

I couldn't begin talking about what's in my camera bag without actually talking about my camera bag itself. I upgraded to this ThinkTank Airport Navigator because I always struggled with fitting everything at once. I stubbornly gave up the idea of always carrying my bag on my body and switched to a rolling style. Game changer. I love how this packs everything in, is airplane friendly, swiftly rolls around, and can still trek to any beach, or field. My back thanks me for it. 

For shorter shoots with only a couple lenses, I’ll usually use my Peak Design Everyday Sling. I love it.
 

I like to use as little gear as possible to keep things simple and efficient. On a wedding day I am using only 3-4 lenses, and less for other jobs. 

Many photographers had been waiting for Canon to announce a new upgrade to the 5D Mark III for a while now, including me. In the Fall of 2016 when the Canon 5D Mark IV was announced I immediately pre ordered it to replace my aging camera body. Pieces were literally falling off my 5D Mark III it was so well used, so the update came at a great time. 

Once you get past the sticker shock, the 5D Mark IV is a beautiful machine. Overall, I haven't noticed any massive improvements over the Mark III, but the focusing is quicker and easier, highlights are less blown out, colors are better, and the touchscreen is surprisingly useful. I also have come to love the wifi feature to send photos to my phone. I've quickly fallen in love with this camera.  

I would be lost without my 70-200mm f/2.8 IS II lens. Chances are about 75% of the photos on my website and blog were taken with this lens. It is by far my favorite because of the way it matches my photography style with it's versatility, compressed blurry backgrounds, and sharpness. If I have a chance to use this lens over another, I'll pick this 9 times out of 10. 

*In the Summer of 2019, I upgraded to the new version of this lens and have seen a big difference in sharpness and focus.

Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 IS

Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 IS

Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 IS

The Tamron 24-70 f/2.8 is a fairly new addition to my equipment and now I've wondered how I went without it in the past. This is the only lens I have that isn't a Canon, but when comparing the Canon version to this, the Tamron was a clear winner for me because of the similar reviews, and the substantial cost savings. I now use this lens for mostly all of my wide angle shots, group portraits in tight places, and on the dance floor to show the whole crowd. It's versatile and a great new addition. 

Tamron 24-70 f/2.8

Tamron 24-70 f/2.8

When it comes to photos of rings, jewelry, cards, or anything else close up - this is my go to. The Canon 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS  is a great lens that improved my ring shots for one, and is also a nice lens for portraits. Unfortunately this lens stopped functioning properly. The auto focus no longer works right so I am stuck focusing manually until I can get it fixed. 

Canon 100mm f/2.8

Canon 100mm f/2.8

Here is a beautiful lens! The Canon 50mm f/1.2L is my 2nd favorite to photograph with. The 1.2 number means the background can go very, very blurry if needed which can make for some really great shots. I use this lens for single shots of 1 person or 1 item, during bridal/groom prep, and during cocktail hours or events when I am mingling amongst the crowd. All equipment photos in this post (besides this photo) were taken with this lens. I find the focal length perfect in many situations.

Canon 50mm f/1.2

Canon 50mm f/1.2

The Canon 17-40 f/4L lens is a great lens for landscape photography in particular. I purchased this lens during the days when I lived in Banff, Alberta and photographed a lot of scenic photos. After that, I used it for a lot of wide angle shots during weddings and commercial jobs. I found it had too much distortion on the edges so it's now taken a back seat to my Tamron 24-70.

Canon 17-40 f/4L

My newest lens is the Canon TS-E 24mm tilt shift. This is a crazy lens used primarily for architecture photography to keep all the lines straight and the perspective natural. I've only used this a handful of times so far since it is very specific, but the results I've seen have been awesome. Really happy to have this as part of my kit now. 

Canon TS-E 24mm

Canon TS-E 24mm

The Canon 35mm f/2 was purchased for situations where I wanted to be using my 50mm, but didn't have enough space. This mainly comes in handy in tight spaces where I don't have a lot of room to work but still want a low aperture and prime lens. 

Canon 35mm f/2

Canon 35mm f/2

I use three Canon 600EX-RT Speedlites for my flash setup. If I'm photographing with one on my camera, the other two are usually being triggered for an off camera flash. I don't use Pocket Wizards or any other triggers because the 600EX-RTs have a built in transmitter which allows me to use flash #1 to control flash #2 and #3, even from across the room. I've gone through multiple flashes in the past few years but have been really happy with these. Plus, the battery life is great.

Photo taken with Canon50mm F1.2 and Canon Speedlite 600 EX-RT

Photo taken with Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 IS and Canon Speedlite 600 EX-RT

In addition to my Canon flashes, I also use the relatively new Profoto A1 external flash. This is my go to for one light setups where I’m not triggering other flashes and only need one on camera. I typically use this for most of my dance floor photos, or really dark areas where I need flash for a quick photo. I also use this as a trigger for my big strobe, the Profoto B1x. The best thing about the A1 is it never misfires, it will go off 100% of the time. The light is also even and really nice. The downsides though are the steep price tag, and the low battery life.

Profoto A1 external flash

Backup Gear

Those are the 5 lenses I carry with me in my main bag to mostly every photo shoot. In the unfortunate event my entire bag ever gets stolen, lost, or dropped in the ocean, I always have a backup in the trunk of the car. My backup bag has a second camera and some essential lenses in the event of an emergency.

A Lowepro Nova 4 is a great little bag I picked up used a few years ago and with all the lugging and traveling it has done, there's not a single sign of wear. It's a quality product. 

My backup camera is a Canon 5D Mark III. Although now retired to the backup bag, this thing has been through rainstorms, being dropped multiple times, and has been banged around a lot, but it's tough. Some of my favorite features include the high amount of focus points, high ISO capabilities, and the in camera HDR mode for commercial photography. 

The Canon 40mm f/2.8 "pancake lens" is a fun lens that is incredibly small and compact. It's really easy to carry around and fits in a small bag perfectly. Although this is in my backup gear now, I used to use it for cocktail hour/event photos where I would be in tight spaces. This is actually the only lens I usually pack when I travel! It's super portable and fits well in a backpack. All of the shots on my Oregon & Australia/New Zealand trips were taken with this, believe it or not. 

The Canon 50mm f/1.8 (right side) is a lens I often recommend to someone who owns a lens that came with their camera, but is looking to purchase a new one. It's relatively inexpensive, light, and can take some nice photos with blurry backgrounds. 

The Canon 50mm Compact Macro let's you take close up shots of rings, jewelry, and other small details. 

Questions?

Give me a shout in the comments if you have any questions about what gear I use or why. Wondering what type of lens you should use in a specific situation? Advice on a particular lens? Ask me anything!

Thanks for reading! 

-Brady 

Kristy & Lincoln - Spring Wedding in Summerside

After photographing Kristy as a bridesmaid in Bethany & Brad's June 2014 wedding, I was so excited to get an email asking me to be the photographer for her own wedding day May.16th, 2015! There were many fantastic vendors, small details, and friends & family that came together to make it a spectacular day. It was hard to believe that just two weeks before the wedding we were blasted by a freak snowfall! 

Their wedding day included many special touches including a first look with Kristy and her Dad, and a visit to Kristy's grandparent's home before the reception. Lincoln & Kristy are the type of couple who are surrounded by loving families who want nothing but the best for these newlyweds. It was a pleasure to be there for the day and experience the love these two have for each other. 

Thank you Kristy & Lincoln, and to all your family and friends. Congratulations!!

A first look with Dad. 

We couldn't forget their dog, Kimby who was in on the first look too! 

How about these colors?! Kristy is also the talented owner of Radiate Happiness Designs, and handmade her own necklace, as well as the bridesmaid's necklaces.

Kristy & Lincoln chose to have the majority of their photos taken before the ceremony, and then off they were to be married!

Although Kristy's grandparents were unable to make it to the ceremony, they dressed up in their best clothes and waited at home all day for the newlyweds to arrive. It was a very special touch to have them still included, and to hear their marriage advice after so many years together. 

Lincoln is a huge baseball fan so we fit in a quick trip to the baseball diamond before the reception! 

ceremony - St james roman catholic church

reception - shipyard weddings & events

hair - laura morgan

Makeup - Aimee barker

flowers - Prestige Floral

bridal jewelry - radiate happiness designs

Decor - Once Upon a wedding

cake - elaine lock

LIMO - ECLIPSE LIMO

photobooth - instabooth pei

BAND - SUNDAY PUNCH

videography - my moving memories

photography - brady mccloskey photography

2014 Favorites

A collection of some of my personal favorite photos from the 2014 year. For many different reasons these photos stuck out to me as memorable in some way, whether it be the client's expressions, the memory of that moment, or even the technical side of the photo. These photos also document many of the places I've traveled to and the people I've met along the way. Photography has allowed me to capture countless memories shared with so many individuals. From January 1st to December.31st, thank you to everyone who invited me to share these moments with you. 

I hope you enjoy these as much as I do! 

This is Your Life, Make it Beautiful

Back in the winter of 2014, a former wedding client of mine, Stacey Wyand came up with an amazing idea to bring some smiles and positivity into the life of several PEI woman undergoing various stages of cancer treatment. Over the course of a few weeks, Stacey gathered the support of her wedding photographer, makeup artist, hair stylist, friends, and family to come together and organize a day of fun and laughter for 4 local women. With no motive and no backing from any organization, we set out just to do some good. 

Based on the viral video If Only for a Second, we had a plan to offer a one day makeover for the women. The ladies were treated to a stylist at Rikki's, had their nails done and hands massaged, and enjoyed free time to mingle with everyone. They were instructed not to look in any mirrors until their hair & makeup were finished. What they didn't expect when their reflections were revealed in front of our mirror, were the ridiculous hairstyles that were created for them! Even it was 'if only for a second', their cares and worries were washed away with the shock and laughter of how they looked :)

You can check out the video from last year, filmed by the talented Lowell Productions. 

Because of the tremendous success of 2014, our team was so eager and excited to bring this event back for 2015. On a sunny Saturday in February we returned to Cymbria Lions Club to do it all over again with 5 incredible new ladies! Our 5 enjoyed mingling among themselves and the volunteers, drinks & snacks, and having their hands massaged and their nails painted. We even had prize giveaways including trailer rentals and camping at Marco Polo Land! 

This year we were excited to have Joel from Serious Media to film the day and the reveals. 

All hairstyling and nails were done by the talented Sharon Keller of Bounce! Hair Studio who also created our wigs for last year's event. 

One was unable to make it but we were so happy to have 3 of our ladies from last year's event come back to say hello again this year! Looking great! 

Holly Ryder from Priti Makeup Artistry volunteered her time again this year as well! 

Finally, after makeup and clothing were finished, our ladies came into a separate room where one by one their wigs were applied and they sat in our stool. Waiting on one side of a full length mirror was Joel filming it all, and on the other was me, photographing it all. 

Remember that they had no idea what to expect when they opened their eyes. Enjoy! 

This sign was found the morning of our event last year, and since it fit the theme of our day so well we had to include it. If you scroll back up, you'll notice one of our volunteers, Gaylene had the words tattooed on her arm in honor of her Mother who participated this year. 

From left to right, the amazing team who brought this event together:

Brady McCloskey, Gaylene Colborne, Joel MacDonald, Sharon Keller, Stacey Wyand, Holly Ryder, Michelle Gallant, Valicia Wyand, and Dianne Wyand. 

Part 2!

In April we invited the ladies back for a 'reveal day' at the PEI Brewing Company where we encouraged them to bring along family and friends to come watch the video and view the photos. We all laughed and enjoyed another happy and fun event!

This event has been an incredible experience for us all and we were thrilled to bring laughter and relaxation to these women who have gone through so much. It's an important thing to help others in need and we are fortunate to be able to do so. Watch out for next year because it will be even bigger and better than before!!

A special thanks goes out to all of those who organized, donated, or gave their support in many ways:

• Emerald Isle Property Management

• Bounce Hair Studio

• Priti Makeup Artistry

• Serious Media

• Rikki's Clothing

• Cymbria Lions Club

• North Rustico Co-op

• Marco Polo Land

• Wyand's Trailor Rentals

• O'Connor Glass

• PEI Brewing Company

To finish off, you can view the video of the event right here :)

--

Recap - East Coast Survival Guide

This past weekend I travelled to Halifax to attend Applehead Studio Photography 's East Coast Survival Guide Photography Workshop. Since traveling to Philadelphia last year for Cliff Mautner Photography's Lighting & Skills Bootcamp, I decided to do at least one in person educational experience a year, on top of online learning. I've been following Applehead's work for a while now and when the opportunity to attend their workshop came along, I jumped at the chance! The photography duo of Liam & Steph have a incredible creative eye and their flash and editing styles were something I really wanted to learn from. They were recently named the "Best Wedding Photographer in Halifax" by The Coast. 

16 of us came together for 3 full days of tips for running a successful photography business here in the Maritimes. In between a ton of laughs, we covered everything from client communication, contracts, and marketing, to photographing, editing, and workflow. Though I was mainly soaking in all the information, I managed to take a few behind the scenes photos too:

No matter your skill level, any photographer knows that a bright, sunny day at a waterfront is one of the most difficult situations to photograph in. We photographed on the Halifax waterfront where Liam & Steph walked us through some of their techniques for managing these locations. 

The lovely Kyle & Kristie from the video team Lowell Productions  came over to be our models for the day! Otherwise know as "Canada's Cutest Couple", they were great to work with! 

Getting the shot, from anywhere. 

Our second volunteer couple being photographed by us all. 

Back at the studio on Saturday night we all tried out a few new flash techniques for shooting in reception style lighting. Looking forward to using some of these to make improvements to my own method. 

Being in the creative industry I think it's especially important to never stop learning. Every so often it's refreshing to step out of your comfort zone, do something different, and gain some new inspiration to take your work forward. Workshops are a perfect way to share ideas with like minded people. 

Group composite taken by Steph & Liam! This group was fantastic. We shared many laughs, and drinks throughout the weekend! I learned a lot from them alone, and can't wait to cross paths again.

While there, I finally updated my head shot! Thanks Steph for the new photos! 

A few previews of our hashtag #EastCoastSurvivalGuide on Instagram! Stuffed beaver and all. 

On our drive back home on Sunday evening, CHERYL PERRY PHOTOGRAPHY , RIKI SULIS PHOTOGRAPHY , and I stopped at the Confederation Bridge to take a few photos...

All in, the weekend was incredibly helpful and I came away with a ton of practical tips for business going forward. I'd highly recommend Liam & Steph's workshop to anyone looking to pick up some new knowledge. Whether you've been photographing for two years, or ten, you can never have enough education. Now all that's left is to wait for wedding season to officially begin for me! Just 3 more weeks until Kristy & Lincoln's big day!

5 Quick Tips for your Engagement Session

Today, let's talk about engagement sessions! It's that time of year where many wedding couples are starting to think about their engagement sessions before their weddings this Summer and Fall. I love these sessions, and have photographed so many couples across PEI in many different locations. Here I wanted to share 5 little tips so you can make the most of your own photo shoot. 

The main reason I include a complimentary engagement session with every full day wedding collection is because it allows us to get to know each other and for the couple to become comfortable in front of the camera. A lot of my clients will show up feeling a little nervous and unsure what to expect at first, and I totally get that. For many, this is the first time they're being photographed by a professional apart from their high school or post secondary grad photos! They may be scared I'll ask them to do a bunch of crazy things, stand in awkward positions the whole time, or be generally uncomfortable. They quickly realize that's not the way it goes. Being photographed is much easier than expected, and quite enjoyable! The truth is, as a photographer my job is about 50% photography, and 50% knowing how to work with people.

You can take incredible photos but if you don't know how to make people feel comfortable, you're not going to achieve the look both you and your clients want. An engagement session introduces you to your photographer with a 'practice run' of sorts, letting you see first hand how they work. I've had many people tell me (even the guys!) how easy and fun their engagement session was and that's what I strive for. 

1. Before the shoot, I often let my clients choose the location so that we photograph somewhere unique and special to them. From baseball fields, to pumpkin patches, to beaches, and farms, I've been taken to many beautiful locations across PEI, all special in their own way. I recommend choosing a spot that has meaning to you such as a favorite spot to visit together, and old date location, or a family member's property. 

2. I encourage clients to add special touches to their session including one of my favorite things.....dogs! Bringing along your dog can help add a fun and light hearted dynamic to your session. Even if your dog runs around and is only in a couple photos, you may enjoy the familiarity of having your four legged friend there with you. Plus, they're a special part of your life so why not have them in your photographs too?

3. In addition to pets, some other objects can be fun to bring along such as handmade signs, a cozy blanket, sports equipment, paint, or balloons. Feel free to bring what you like, or nothing at all. If you do, just make sure to keep it simple and easy to carry. Either way, the photos will be beautiful! 

4. "So, what should I wear?" I get asked this question a lot. I always tell clients to simply wear what they know is going to make them feel comfortable and relaxed. I've had couples show up in everything from dresses and heels, to shorts and sandals - it all depends on what look you're going for, and where your session takes place. Consider bringing along a light sweater or different pieces of jewelry if you'd like a quick and easy outfit change. If you're having a hard time deciding, take a look through my Portrait section on my website for some examples of what others have worn.

5. Lastly, relax and have fun! No part of working with me or any photographer should be stressful. It's a great feeling to come away from a session with photos you're proud of, ones that you will print and hang on the wall for years. Feel free to think outside the box if you want to too. There are no rules, it's your hour to enjoy so have fun with it! 

If you've had engagement photos taken before, what was your favorite part? Any tips you'd like to add? Share them in the comments!

Brady