Some well known faces…

March 18, 2009

This is my portrait of a number of Canada`s Prime Ministers and Alex Trebek, which I shot for Magna and the CBC to promote the Next Great Canadian Prime Minister TV show that airs
today. I have photographed portraits of every Prime Minister from Trudeau to Harper and this
assignment is one I have carried out for 4 years on location in Toronto.
Sometimes I have to pinch myself when I realize that I am having a glass of wine with Kim Campbell or hearing John Turner describe me as his favorite photographer. Its always nice to
get together with them and this year meeting game show legend Alex Trebek was an added bonus.Behind the scenes…he`s funnier than on TV.

Now if I can get these guys to all smile on cue…imagine what we can do for YOU!

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Executive Portraits on location in Toronto

March 18, 2009



Here are the behind the scenes shots and final image of a series of executive portraits I shot for Magna International and CBC in Toronto to promote the Next Great Canadian Prime Minister TV show. I have been photographing PM’s for all of my career and have done portraits of every last one…from Trudeau to Harper. This year, Alex Trebek was the host and I had time to shoot some great stuff with the worlds most famous game show celebrity. He is a riot off camera…so we had a lot of fun.
This is my fourth year shooting the portraits for Magna International and my third year shooting the show for CBC….and their trust in my work is warmly appreciated. Not many photographers get the opportunity to do the work I do.

The final shots appeared on the covers of 7 major Canadian newspapers today with my credit
displayed from Coast to Coast. Mom and Dad…this post is for you.

The candids were shot by my assistant Frédéric Solenthaler…as you can see…I’m happy to be
out of the limelight.

http://www.couvrette-photography.on.ca/index2.html
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Fashion and Product Photography

March 17, 2009

I started my career shooting Fashion and Glamour for Ottawa designers and models. The experience was great and led me to assignments from international cosmetics companies. I keep the rust off by doing some local sessions with upcoming models and actors. This shot is part of a major ad campaign that recently appeared in Vogue and InStyle. We have worked with Jessica
Simpson, Clean, and Fusion Beauty creating websites, ads and posters.
Here is the website for Keratin…which I think is really nicely done. We also shot all the product photography that appears on the site and the packaging.

http://www.couvrette-photography.on.ca/index2.html
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Ottawa Life Magazine Editorial Cover

March 16, 2009

The current issue of Ottawa Life features our work on its cover . We had a great time shooting these stylish women in our studio and creating some cool executive portraits for the inside spread. I wanted to create a relaxed look and give it a fashionable edge. Preplanning the cover
layout was half the work….shooting the ladies…easy.

http://www.couvrette-photography.on.ca/index2.html
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Tom Hanson

March 13, 2009

Today I spent some time going over the portfolio of Tom Hanson who passed away suddenly at 41 yesterday. We met occasionally on assignments that we both carried out for Time and Canadian Press and only last week I was admiring his shot of Stephen Harper in Times Square.

Tom was one of the good guys. A great eye, and a concern for industry rights. He is gone too soon.

Live every day they say….condolences to his family.

http://www.couvrette-photography.on.ca/index2.html
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Couvrette Studio

March 13, 2009

Recently I decided to research the history of my building on Gladstone Avenue. The shape of the building always puzzled me and the City Archives finally solved the mystery.
Couvrette Studio was built in 1910 as a Livery (horse and carriage depot)by one of Ottawa`s top hotels, The Alexandria on Bank Street founded by entrepreneur Thomas Babin. By 1923 it became Horner Motor Sales, the first automobile showroom in the city. In the mid thirties it was the home of Progressive Printers and was heavily reinforced to hold huge presses on the second floor. The building is so solid that it easily withstood a car crashing in the front window last year.
Kinda reminds me of my company, which has withstood three recessions so far and counting. Yes, we started in 1977…making us one of the longest standing studios in the city.

Dollco took over the printing business and 430 Gladstone became one of Ottawa`s original hi tech companies in the late sixties.I purchased the building in the mid 1990’s and after extensive renos…voila, Couvrette Studio.

When I started my business there were 15 studios owned by photographers in the downtown core, bounded by Bronson, the Ottawa River, the Queensway and the Rideau River. How times change…now its just us……STABLE .you betcha! (its a joke,…livery (stable) oh well.

It sure would be nice to have some shots of horses and Model T`s in front of our building…maybe a project for the 100th anniversary next year!

http://www.couvrette-photography.on.ca/index2.html
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The Couvrette Building

March 9, 2009

Recently I decided to research the history of my building on Gladstone Avenue. The shape of the building always puzzled me and the City Archives finally solved the mystery.

Couvrette Studio was built in 1910 as a Livery (horse and carriage depot)by one of Ottawa`s top hotels, The Alexandria on Bank Street, founded by entrepreneur Thomas Babin. By 1923 it became Horner Motor Sales, the first automobile showroom in the city. In the mid thirties it was the home of Progressive Printers and was heavily reinforced to hold huge presses on the second floor. The building is so solid that it easily withstood a car crashing in the front window last year.
Kinda reminds me of my company, which has withstood three recessions so far and counting. Yes, we started in 1977…making us one of the longest standing studios in the city.

Dollco took over the printing business and 430 Gladstone became one of Ottawa`s original hi tech companies in the mid sixties.I purchased the building in the mid 1990’s and after extensive renos…voila, Couvrette Studio.

When I started my business there were 15 studios owned by photographers in the downtown core, bounded by Bronson, the Ottawa River, the Queensway and the Rideau River. How times change…now its just us……STABLE .you betcha! (its a joke,…livery (stable) oh well.

It sure would be nice to have some shots of horses and Model T`s in front of our building…maybe a project for the 100th anniversary next year!

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Ottawa Boudoir and Glamour Portraits.

March 5, 2009
Ottawa Wedding Photographer

Ottawa Wedding Photographer

Here are two more from the session…

Want more...click here!

Something prospective brides might consider when comparing photographers is how well they do portraits. Photojournalism is fine and dandy, but a talented photographer should also know how to make the bride look great. Frankly, even our assistants in training can manage to get a few lucky shots, but they need a couple of years training to do great portraits. Take a look at entire sites, and not just cherry picked wedding shots. Better yet, ask to see an entire wedding…thats when you really know how to judge a photographers talent.

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Ottawa Boudoir Photography

March 5, 2009

Here is a shot from a recent session in our Centretown Studio. Luckily this nice young lady was OK with us posting it online. At the studio we have hundreds of other sessions that we can show you. A lot of our brides are doing these as wedding gifts and of course Valentines Day is always a busy time for these sessions. For women who are too shy to shoot these with a male, we do have a female photographer on site.

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Ottawa Wedding Musicians

March 3, 2009

Looking for a referral to a wedding musician?
Well..here is one you might want to check out. She also has a neat
list of offbeat ideas for wedding venues and locations on her site.

http://www.louiseebeltoft.com/gallery/index.php

Another group of dependable professionals is http://www.classicalsounds.com/

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