Winters in the Sault are usually full of snow and cold and weather that you just do not want to go out in. Then there is this winter. Over the past month there has been more nice days in a winter than I can ever remember. Sun shining, snow glistening and weather in which you actually want to be outside in. Rachelle and EJ were able to nab one of those great days for their engagement shoot in the middle of February.

By chance (okay I’m saying EJ planned it) we were out on the Saturday of the semi-final of the Scottie Tournament of Hearts being played here in the Sault. For those of you that don’t know the Scottie’s are the Canadian Women’s Curling Championships – a big deal in this curling obsessed country. The day after the shoot EJ was heading off to Sudbury to play in the provincial playdowns for a chance to represent Northern Ontario at the Brier (the Canadian Men’s Championship). EJ’s team ended up smoking everyone in the round robin, moved on to the playoff portion and won the tournament. KERBOOM! (Jes is going to hate me for typing that but how can you not kerboom there?). So long winded story shortened up, EJ and his team from the Sault are representing Northern Ontario at the Brier all because he had a photo shoot with me the day before leaving. So athletes if you’re going on some big tournament, give me a call.

The shoot began at the Soo Locks then we made our way into the downtown core. Rachelle and EJ started off the shoot a little shy as most couples do but a few minutes in Rachelle took over. Running ahead, planning new areas, keeping EJ and I on track and not talking about curling.

Thanks for the great morning guys! And good luck in Halifax EJ.

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The Sault Ste Marie and Algoma District Alzheimer Society is celebrating their 25th year in service on Saturday, March 6th at the Marconi Hall. The event will honour the people and moments who have brought the organization to where they are today. As part of the event there will be a silent auction running from 6PM-9PM where you will have the chance to bid on a complete Lifestyle shoot from me. This includes the actual shoot and a DVD of the final pictures from the shoot ready for you to print.

Now what exactly can you use this shoot for? Basically anything you can think of. Family shots, an engagement shoot, a shoot with you and some friends, a solo shoot where you are the centre of attention; I’m ready to go all out and have some fun with this shoot. I have included some shots from Lifestyle shoots this year below and you can also see some more by following the lifestyle shoot link or the engagement shoot link.

A little birdie also told me that there will be a fabulous cake there from Jeannette’s Custom Cakes ready to eat, mmmm.

Tickets for the event are $50.00 each which includes a meal. You can purchase them by visiting the Alzheimer Society at 633 Albert St. E, calling 705-942-2195 or visiting alzheimeralgoma.org for more information (you cannot purchase tickets from the site).

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Two Saturdays ago I had the opportunity to be interviewed by SooNews on their show Primetime hosted by Susan Hunter and Andy Martens. The interview came about with my involvement in Soo PodCamp which is a local unconference happening this Saturday at Sault College. You can get the full details on the event from their website – it is free to attend so if you have nothing else going on I suggest you come out.

I will be hosting a session currently schedule for the afternoon titled “It’s Okay To Be Awesome” which will be a look at the pros and cons of using social media to help build your small business and how being you can aid in that.

The two part interview can be seen below.

Also incase you haven’t signed up yet or seen it I have launched a new Facebook Fanpage.

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Laurel and Ryan’s winter wedding here in Sault Ste Marie was my last shoot for 2009 and the year definitely ended on a high. You may remember Laurel and Ryan from their engagement shoot which was just up midway through January.

The morning started off with me meeting up with the girls at Headlines Hair and Day Spa while they were getting ready. Their ceremony took place in a historic chapel located at Mockingbird Hill Farm in the city’s north end which you gained access to by walking down a snow covered path. The setting was small and intimate with the chapel being warmed by a small fire place. We were then treated to a sleigh ride after the ceremony to sneak in some of the bridal party shoot. The day was gorgeous but the temperature began to dip fairly quickly and luckily the bridesmaids came prepared for the cold with long johns and boots. I may have fallen off the sleigh. I should have probably fallen off more than once but a couple of the groomsmen caught me. We ended the day off at the reception site of the Grand Theatre getting in some more shots of the bridal party and of Laurel and Ryan.

Thanks for the great day guys!

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Year One – in the beginning we wanted it to be awesome and I believe it was.

This post is actually coming a little later than it should but it still needs to be made. This big photography thing known as Curt O’Neil Photographer has now officially ran for just over a year. It has been an incredible journey to get to this point where I had the opportunity to meet and work with amazing couples, families and friends. The acceptance to what I have been doing and what I want to do has been more than what I could hope for and I want to thank all of you for that.

This was a big year for me which included launching this business, getting married and visiting Hawaii. Jes and I love the idea of travel and seeing the world and experiencing what it has to offer. As we move forward with this business the opportunities are starting to present themselves for us to be able to do it along with others and share in their special moments with them. The first of such adventures being Italy this summer.

I wouldn’t be able to complete a recap post without thanking some of those involved in getting me to where I am. The first person being my wife Jes – always keeping me grounded and having a goal in sight. From there I have to name a few photo friends who have helped me along the way whether they know it or not Allison, Gareth, Mike, Jordan and Mark. Thanks for your insights, your friendship and your ideas on the random things I’d ask. Also to the crew at WFF thanks for being there and being that tight knit community.

I’m looking forward to the challenges ahead and to hope to keep bringing the awesome. To stay in contact with what we are doing here you can follow us three ways:
Subscribe to the RSS feed for the blog: http://www.curtoneil.com/feed/
Join my brand new Facebook page (I’m moving from a group to a page): http://www.facebook.com/curtoneilphotographer
Follow my ramblings on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/curtoneil/

Below are some of my favourite shots for the year. Some won’t mean anything to you but they the moment, the shot, the people all mean something to me. It was hard just narrowing it down to this. I left out anything that was fairly recent and anything that was far back. It’s a snapshot. I also still have shoots from 2009 to finish up and get on here as well.

Thanks again to all of you and don’t be afraid to leave a comment below.

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