itsgoodtorelate.com Relate Studios

BRAND SPANKING NEW BLOG + SITE UPDATES!

noreply@blogger.com (Juma) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:11:00 +0000

The new blog is here!!

I have to say great thanks to Dwaynne Villiers and his company VIRB (chooseavirb.com ) for creating this new blog for me, I needed to move out of the constraints of this current blog and he found solutions that fit me right. Its always hard for a designer to sit back and let someone else take the reins, but I could not have made a better choice with VIRB.

Thanks to my wife who allowed me to stay up late many nights working on these updates :-) and to Ayinde who has been shooting with me offically for less than a year (even though we have be shooting together from time to time for a while now) but has brought a new level of sight and creativity to flowfoto just by being there.

I've retro-posted almost all that has happened since January so there are LOTS of photos and never seen before pics for you to comment on and don't forget to subscribe to email updates.

You can bookmark the new blog http://flowfotoblog.com/

Thanks a bunch and see you there! Oh! I've updated the site as well...you can have a peek there too.

Flowfoto on FACEBOOK & TWITTER plus other developments

noreply@blogger.com (Juma) — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 03:02:00 +0000

Ok, Everyone I know I have not been updating my blog and it has been for good reason.

But first the easy stuff

You can follow me on twitter www.twitter.com/flowfoto and become a fan on FACEBOOK.

Come back to my blog on next Tuesday at 12:15 am (just after midnight) and you'll see what I mean, of if you join the Facebook group or follow me on Twitter you won't have to. Believe me it will be worth it.

Thanks so much for all your patience.

Juma

Damie & Ramona - Valentines fer sure!

noreply@blogger.com (Juma) — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 23:54:00 +0000

Ok its time to fess up,

We had a little private Facebook competition for Valentines Day Shoot with me. Members of my facebook group secretly nominated their friends...and Ramona and Damie won!!! They were nominated by Micky (did her wedding last year) and they were like, "We've never won anything in our life!" LOL.

On the shoot, Ramona and Damie were great, super kewl and my kinda sense of humour (you like dags?) makes me want to do another one soon...well, sometime :-)

Everytime I look at their pics I luv em' more.

Check it out!

I want one! Damie's tee is mucho kewl.

One of my faves

Yeah... he made the call :-)

This is what they do everyday.

R&D Shoot! Ted & Jasmine - Play that Music!

noreply@blogger.com (Juma) — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 22:55:00 +0000

Ted and jasmine are my peeps. They wanted a tiny session before their wedding so I turned the whole thing into a kewl R&D session.

In toto there were 5 photogs and one "assistant" courtesy Ayinde :-)

Needless to say the session rocked and the lighting ( au naturale) was some of the best ever! Yeah!

I'll be having these R&D shoots from time to time. At the moment they are absolutely free, I'll even lend the needy a camera, they are just intended to expose interested young photogs to a bit of kewl techniques and also to build relationship, which of course we know is much more important than photography.

Here are some pics of us in action! Oh and of Jasmine and Ted.

Ayinde getting in my shot...so what do I do? Shoot him!

Everything switched when Ted broke out the guitar...can anyone say "More than words" by Extreme?!!

The assistant :-) check out Ayinde's Mamiya - yes we are not only digital heads, film is the foundation.

Guys in action.

You need to write that down.

I look much cooler in these.

I've had my fill of this particular location (old church in chaguramas) so I let the guys shoot till they drop - here's Rich doin' his thing.

Kev getting in a few

Arvin taking the low road...

The sneaky behind the car bumper shot is one of the many techniques you can learn on a R&D shoot...as demonstrated by Mr. Isaac here :-)

Ayinde abandoned the shoot to spend some quality photographic time with his "assistant".

I was setting up the tripod (tripod meaning, the top of the car) and a car was coming...what is Ayinde looking at?

Hey!!!! The entire group from the day, no photogs were hurt while sucessfully completing this R&D shoot. Ya!! When is the next one?

Livia & Stefan - Beautiful

noreply@blogger.com (Juma) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 22:58:00 +0000

When Livia contacted me about her wedding it was pretty normal...then I spoke to her mom and realized "Hey! I know these people!"

Turns out Livia was from my old hometown and my mom knows her dad...talk about coincidence. At any rate, when I met Livia and Stefan and knew immediately that they were going to be great to work with, they both have a snappy sense of humour and are just beautiful people, if I do say so myself.

They are back home now (brrr...) but enjoying their photos all the same.

Marie & Ayinde - A first for the second shooter

noreply@blogger.com (Juma) — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 16:16:00 +0000

For anyone who I've done a wedding for in recent time would have noticed that I now have a second shooter with me, well...most times.

My second shooter is Ayinde, a talented photographer in his own right and for a while the whole engagement thing has been hanging in the air for him and his girlfriend Marie.

So the phone rings yesterday and its Ayinde telling me his master proposal plan and of course, I'm included, after Ayinde realizes that he can't take his own photos :-) so off I go to the secluded spot where Ayinde has orchestrated a perfect "picnic" setting, including appropriate background music.

I came a bit late for the actual proposal but from the afterglow, I could see that things had gone well. I only stuck around for a couple minutes to record the important details because I'm sure they didn't want me spoiling the beautiful "just engaged" ambiance ;-)

Well done Ayinde and Marie.

This was the setting...Marie was actually pretty suprised when I appeared.

The Classic "tick box" proposal and after she said yes, he made her sign just to seal the deal.

The spread

The ring on some leftover grapes

Lina & Linus - A palm tree for my älskling

noreply@blogger.com (Juma) — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 16:44:00 +0000

This was smallest wedding I ever did.

Lina & Linus both very kewl people, Linda, Linus' sis who got some pipes (sang at the wedding) and Linus' sweetheart mom.

A grand total of 4.

I was really happy to do this for them though. From getting tips on RAW photography from Linus to forgetting my camera on the beach (yes i got it back) to ATM shenanigans in the middle of the night, there was no lack of excitement.

And no, I didn't fall into the water this time...

Linus getting a wee bit teary...

...but recovers nicely.

Ah yes...the trees

Just before I forgot my camera on the beach...it was somewhere around here.

Amla & Shayne Two shall become...

noreply@blogger.com (Juma) — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:05:00 +0000

If you ever met Shayne you'd understand what I'm about to say. He's the kind of person, you want around all the time...full or Charisma, industrious and witty...luckily, Amla is the sweet, intelligent girl, with the bubbly personality, who keeps Shayne's wit in check.

One thing is certain, they excellent people and they will have a long, lovely marriage.

Oh! The wedding photos weren't so bad either :-)

I must give credit where its due...this was all Shayne's idea, I just happened to have the camera, Big up Shayne!

All through the speeches he was up and down...didn't last the night though

Marchelle & Oliver - Uniquely Classic

noreply@blogger.com (Juma) — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 15:49:00 +0000

Marcie and Oli. They are like a two piece puzzle; different, but fit together perfectly.

Just like them this one was different, it was a kind of Caribbean, mixed with the 60's, some contemporary highlights, pinch of flair a dash of nonchalance but most of all massive amounts of fun.

I really enjoyed this one, not just the photography, but the wedding, I sang to the live ole' time calypso by Lord Relator and laughed till I almost couldn't hold my camera at the best lady's speech. Which I still maintain was the best of the night and the probably the best I ever heard since I've been doing weddings, although I couldn't seem to convince her it was but because I know she'll probably read this post; "Yes it was!"

You'll see what I mean below. P.S. Check out the dress

My princess GOOOOOOOOONNNNEEEEE!!! Far, far awaaaaaaayyy-eeeee

This is the speech I mentioned...I mean the girl was good...tasteful, witty and real. I'm not going to try to spell her name after we had so much trouble with the pronunciation, but she was good.

Really kewl shoe/question game, nice.

Sarah & Garvin - Fire and Ice

noreply@blogger.com (Juma) — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 15:16:00 +0000

Ever since the very first email, Sarah has been super excited about her wedding and when I met her for the first time I was like "yeah...this is gonna be an eventful one"

Between the candy, a conga line that somehow turned into random pool diving and soulja boy dance moves I think we covered all the interesting things that could possibly happen.

Garvin was laid back (As we photogs sometimes are...did I mention Garvin is an upcoming photog? Big up Garvin!) and Sarah was in the mix and you can see how it all went down below.

Awwwww...its ok Murray

Those are Sarah's legs splashing there and that's her brother Brian who was the main instigator, lol

Jan & Carlton - Overjoyed

noreply@blogger.com (Juma) — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 14:43:00 +0000

Whew! I've been itching to post for a bit now, just been ultra bz but Jan and Carlton is a good a place to start as any.

I did a couple shoot with Jan and Carlton last year...waitaminnit...its 2009...HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

Ok, back to the post, so yeah...I did that shoot, which I loved because its not everyday you get a couple that wants to do the whole industrial thing, usually its water or foliage but Jan and Carlton were game so I was looking forward to the wedding and seeing them again.

(I love to meet people that treat you like family because as I always say relationship is so much more important than photography.)

Save for a slight sprinkle at the start the weather was excellent and if there was any lack for sunshine you should have seen Carlton's face when Jan broke the corner on her father's arm.

You can find more sunshine below :-)

Carlton worked it and Jan massaged her brow :-)

Andre & Sherese - Trinidad & Antigua a gathering of families

noreply@blogger.com (Juma) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 21:06:00 +0000

I'm rarely at a loss for words but I'm not exactly sure how to describe this one, maybe its because I have too much to say :-)

This wedding was significant on many levels, none of which I can really get into.

Perhaps a simple summary will do;

Surrounded by family, Andre and Sherese were built, processed and matured. This was a wedding of two cultures but one, two persons but one heart, two individuals but one path. It was the right time, right atmosphere and it produced the accurate thing.

Well done Andre and Sherese!

Sherese looked stunning...GJ Dre!

On behalf of my wife and I...

These mills and the pineapple are icons of Antigua (Not to mention the 365 beaches) how could I not do some stuff here...

Tropical Power Coast 2 Coast '08

noreply@blogger.com (Juma) — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 23:19:00 +0000

Well, I don't normally do sports stuff, but lately I've been thinking about it and I decided that it would be a good Idea to take some photos at the Coast 2 Coast race this year. The race is a multisport race; running, cycling and kayaking over two day and its open to international competitors (and there were many). You can enter in teams with each man doing a leg or you can rough it and do it all yourself...which I must say is not the easiest thing for the average Joe.

You can check out the site here www.trinidadcoast2coast.com

These photo outings are generally done just for practice so there's not pressure of deliverables...(yes!!) and of course this allows you to not only have more fun with the whole thing but you actually get a chance to observe so that when you are actually commissioned you are treading on familiar ground and I'll always encourage anyone who is getting into photography (or in it already for that matter) to get out there and just do stuff, just shoot...and you'll realize that the experience is more valuable that any monetary compensation.

Of course I had to roll with my photo peeps...Ayinde was along for the ride (literally, as I had to do all of the driving through that rugged terrain...its times like this I wish I had a 4WD vehicle of some sort) and we were able to get there just before the start of the race.

I decided to make this a BLACK & WHITE affair to maintain some of the "artsyness" in the midst of the hardcore multisporting.

Check it out!

Chatting before the start of the race

Committee member Keron Kong talking to the mulisporters before the race.

Last minute prepping before the race...

Off we go!

Some people found themselves in early trouble...but got by with a little help from fellow multisporters...

Ayinde in action.

The last descent of the cycling leg...

Here is Abigail Hadeed one of Trinidad and Tobago's and the Caribbean for that matter top photographers, met her for the first time...friendly gal.

Cooling down after the first two legs of the race

Some final arrivals.

Alana & Chris - Home again

noreply@blogger.com (Juma) — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 18:31:00 +0000

Alana is another fan of mine and has done a fine job of converting alot of her friends, she once said in an email after noting that I had updated my site that she feels like a groupie...LOL.

I still remember when Alana first called me...it sounded like she just wanted to blurt out "just reserve that date!"

However from seeing them together its quite evident that Alana is a groupie for one person and one person only...Chris :-) (who happens to be photog himself)

Even though they both have been living abroad for sometime they just had to come back home for their wedding and some cavorting in Tobago.

They are back to their second home now but I just got Alana on Facebook a minute ago and she said blog away!

Talks Sir Ken Robinson: Do schools kill creativity? This may explain me (and a whole lot of other people)

noreply@blogger.com (Juma) — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 17:48:00 +0000

You have to watch this!

Talks Sir Ken Robinson: Do schools kill creativity?

"Juma does well...but is restless in class" This was the comment in almost every one of my end of term reports when I was in primary school and I still have the book to prove it.

I was sent this video by my programmer compatriot and I've watched it four times over the past hour (and its 20 mins long)...really this excellent you should watch it especially everyone who has a degree :-) It makes sense and will get you thinking.

WATCH VIDEO >

Marcia and DK - Think Pink!

noreply@blogger.com (Juma) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 19:49:00 +0000

Well Marcia has been one of my biggest fans for a veeeeeeeeeeeeery long time...as a matter of a fact, she contacted me, booked her wedding then proceeded to convince all her peeps to get me for their weddings including her best friend Glennis whose gallery is currently on my site.

Pink was the order of the day and Marcia ensured that it was there in abundance, there was even a pink chocolate fountain...sorry its not in this set of pics.

She's back from her honeymoon and she gave me the OK to blog away!

Representing with the pink Trinidad Weddings Bridal emergency kit...you go girl!

The rain evicted us from UWI...

Marcia sees her cake for the first time :-)

Uncle Cobo (or Corbeaux for the cultured among us) exploring his eats options

Marcia unsuccessfully trying avoid being in the pic

Facebook "big ups" are always nice...

noreply@blogger.com (Juma) — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 13:52:00 +0000

Thanks Abby (Got to love the hubby too!)

Joyce & Andreas - Quite the pair!

noreply@blogger.com (Juma) — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 16:09:00 +0000

Joyce's father, Ramoutarsingh contacted me from Germany about his daughter's wedding some time ago, unfortunately I wasn't available to do the wedding (bummer) but he was determined to get some pics from me because Joyce really wanted them, so we arranged a post-wedding photo shoot (No people we did not Trash any Dresses).

Needless to say the family is "wunderbar". They truly are excellent fun loving people and because of them now I have an excuse to go to Germany even though Joyce's father insists on calling me "Mr. Bannister" LOL!!!

Here are some pics from the shoot.

This is quickly becoming one of my classic moves...hmmm...I have to think of something new.

Abby & Neil - Looooooong awaited

noreply@blogger.com (Juma) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 23:10:00 +0000

Abby probably has the record for booking in advance with me...it was such a long time ago I can't even remember the actual date...or month...at any rate, the Trinidad leg of the wedding came and went just as quickly as you can say "I do". Thank goodness someone was there to capture it...waitaminnit...that would be me :-) Wish I could be in NY, but Blue Daisy will take good care of you I'm sure!

Abby and Neil haven't even seen any of these pics yet but she said I could Blog em' for the masses.

that's me in the middle there...if you hadn't figured it out...photo courtesy Joy (Thanks Joy!)

Site Upgrade Preview

noreply@blogger.com (Juma) — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:34:00 +0000

For all my blog readers before I actually give direct access...and for everyone who is featured, feedback is always welcome.

see site here >

thanks

Juma

Robin and Brian Wrapped in Blue - Destination Anguilla

noreply@blogger.com (Juma) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 20:25:00 +0000

Well we're back in Trinidad and even though I had internet access in Anguilla...who has time for a blog post when you're in Anguilla?

Where do I start? Should I start at the most appealing beaches ever (Sorry Tobago but I still wouldn't give you up for the world) or with the uber kewl couple themselves, Robin and Brian or with the HE-MAN! (and the masters of the universe!) and My Little Pony on the Cake?

Maybe I should just do it in point form because its way too much to type.

Ok here goes.

Left Trinidad
Stopped in every Caribbean island possible to get to Anguilla (The lady at the airport tried to convince us to stay in St Kitts)
Met Shurwayne Winchester
Landed in Anguilla and Got to Lloyd's
Got a car
Ate
Met Robin and Brian (Brian thought that my HADOKEN! Street Fighter 2 message tone rocked - right back at ya Brian and I'll email it for you and Jason)
Visited a couple of beaches and took pics - no swimming yet
Mini Couple shoot and Wedding rehersal (Met the family - Aunt MiMi is quite interesting)
Finish Couple shoot (Great fun and met a friendly, water going, goat chasing dog. Robin would have taken him home if she could)
Wedding (Fun getting ready, teary eyed ceremony and more teary eyed reception - I mean if you saw the slide show Robin's dad put together you would have popped a tear or two yourself not to mention the speeches)
Dance (OK GO's here it goes again was my favorite)
Eat Cake
More Dancing
A full day of Editing
Meeting the newly hitched couple in the middle of the night to deliver the photos before they left for their honeymoon which brings me to the question: When you get married in Anguilla...where to you Honeymoon. The answer: Somewhere else!
Drove around the entire island in an hour or so...
Almost missed our flight
Blog all about it

In the end a good time was had by all and I have the pics to prove it!

OH BTW there are no wedding pics here as you will notice, will get those up in another post.

Veteran Calypsonian, Winston Bailey, better know as "The Mighty Shadow" in Piarco airport...actually we saw lots of other artistes as well...They apparently were on their way to the St Kitts Music..um...Festival I think its called, but don't quote me on that

Brens and Shurwayne Winchester - Soca Artiste extraordinare. We actually were on all the same flights with him till St Kitts and just to note he really carried himself differently to some of the other artistes a real T&T ambassador

Brens and I on the "maxi" plane looking through the window

What she was looking at...nice

Lloyd's Guest House - excellent breakfast and nice people - they are possibly the oldest establishment of this kind on the island, celebrating 50 years in the business next year

Brens and I at breakfast

A peep at Cap Juluca

Robin, Brian, Brens and I checking out the reception area

The kewl couple themselves, looking forward to the big day

Checking out possible wedding photo locations...but look at the water

Brens and I on some random beach...probably Shoal Bay West..I think

Another beach

Lunch at E's Oven, nice girl that served us, curried goat and other stuff, we struggeled for two days straight to get lunch, because after 12:30...lunch in Anguilla (At least all the good stuff) is basically done. We loved the kewl little pots they served the goat in.

Me...doing something or the other, I only noticed the bottle when I looked at the pic afterward, what if I had slipped on it???

Inexplicable froth from what I think is some pond or sumptim, its was just frothy all the time.

An accident in Anguilla...amazing.

Heart pose (my idea :-)

Having fun

Day we left Lloyds, the lady in the pic is Merlin one of two of the ladies that took care of us while we were there

I'm in Caribbean Belle - My first Magazine Interview! Yaaaaaa!

noreply@blogger.com (Juma) — Wed, 28 May 2008 15:38:00 +0000

I've been keeping this quiet for a bit because I wanted to manage expectations and my anticipation but now that its out I can say...Yaaaaaaa!

A few months ago I was contacted by Salisha Baboolal of image-engineer (image-engineer.com) to do a Movers and Shakers interview with Caribbean Belle Magazine for their wedding edition.

Very Kewl.

Apparently Simone of Trinidad Weddings suggested me (Thanks Simone!) She's doing great work at trinidadweddings.com.

Well the Magazine is finally out and the article rocks!

Well as you know due to editing and phrase restructuring some things were slightly adjusted but Salisha managed to keep the integrity of all my responses so its pretty much me, which to me is more important that being in the magazine in the first place. I was glad I didn't have one of those "Waitaminnit! I didn't say that" experiences.

I really want people to go out and get the magazine so I'll only give a sample of one of the interview questions here.

BELLE: So why did you choose wedding photography over other fields?
Juma: I wanted to do something that was relationship oriented. Wedding photo Journalism - telling your story via your wedding pictures - gives me the chance to work with real people and real personalities. I try to capture my couples pouring out their hearts and translate that pictorially for them.

This is the actual magazine and article.

On the Cover: T&T Miss World and Miss Universe Ladies in Heather Jones no less

The actual article, with a few of my favorite pics over the past year.

I was really impressed with this caption, had no idea Salisha was putting this in

Ebony and Miro Lieben Sie Tobago

noreply@blogger.com (Juma) — Thu, 15 May 2008 20:31:00 +0000

Ebony and Miro are a really excellent couple and their wedding was just as lovely.

The Venue Canoe Bay Tobago, kinda bumpy to get there but once you're there its worth it. The wedding was on the shore of Canoe Bay and the weather was great.

Well I got to Tobago the day before the wedding and they had a cocktail shindig for their families. So everyone was breaking it down on the dance floor and boy did I see some moves.

Abigail did this wedding with me so I had to pick her up at the airport and the plan was to take her to meet Ebony and Miro and get back to the guest house and change to be ready in time for the wedding.

Let's just say that didn't exactly happen that way and I ended up in the wedding with my jeans and a polo on, dirty sneakers and uncombed hair and to top it all off when I was taking portraits I tripped on a rock walking backwards and fell in the water. Of course you know a photographers reaction to a fall...hands or more specifically, camera in the air. I recovered quickly though, actually I jumped right back up and said "let's go" even though at that point my foot was lancing in pain, It was like Murphy's law in effect i tell ya! But hey, the show must go on. So I acted like I was on an episode of "IRON PHOTOG".

On the bright side my jeans were now wet and sandy so I had a reason to change them, YAY! The clothes came in handy after all.

After that things went smoothly (thank goodness!).

Here are some pics.

Break dancing at the cocktail party...one of the many moves on the night.

Ebony on the balcony of the villa before leaving for the ceremony.

She floated down those stairs believe me...

Oh the Anticipation!

A little sunset stroll never hurt the photos...

OK now for a "laginappe" as we say here in Trinidad, well all of my faithful blog readers may know that I have been training the multitalented Abigail Liverpool over the past few months and trust me she has been taking to the thing like a Trini to a parking space in Trincity Mall on Saturday Afternoon. She did really well in Tobago and I'm happy to show a couple of her shots.

Just to prove I was there...

Same stair shot but different approach and angle...beautiful

Good eye to see this...That hat just stands out

Well done Abby!

Warner go to Benihana? (Retroactive post)

noreply@blogger.com (Juma) — Thu, 15 May 2008 19:57:00 +0000

(Should have been posted in March)

Yes, Yes...I know the title is corny...ok now that we have gotten past that, lemme write sumptin.

Ok so Brens and I were kind of just heading down the highway to home and well I was famished, so we randomly swung in to Trincity and headed to Benihana.

So we get there and we're led to a table at the back, where it seems that two more people are needed to get things started...how convenient, here we are!

So we sit down and across from us is another couple and to our right (right next to Brenda and to my surprise) is Fifa Vice President, Jack Warner.

Mr. Warner is a pretty kewl fella when he's not in parliament. We ate, joked for a few, then he offered to buy us (Brenda and myself, by that time the other couple left) dessert and being Ice Cream lovers we obliged. Then again, how often do you have Jack Warner buying you dessert?

Thanks for the hook up Mr. Warner.

Check the egg...I had my turn and almost flipped it on someone's lap :-(

Our Chef (and entertainer) for the evening, had some kewl tricks up his sleeves.

Lobster tail, ordered by Mr. Warner, would have had some myself, but I can't touch shellfish ;-)

Brenda and Mr. Warner, only too happy to take to a pic with my lovely wife.

Tobago strikes again - Retroactive Vitali Family post

noreply@blogger.com (Juma) — Thu, 15 May 2008 19:41:00 +0000

(This should have been posted since February)

Well, I've been so busy I have tons of retroactive posting to do...and not to mention many updates to the site.

OK...Family shoot in Tobago, with the coming together of three generations and three families. Nice. Offically this was the Vitali family shoot but Mom and Dad and Sis got in on the action.

Here are some pics from the shoot.

Roman is quite perturbed when he is de-cookied by his sister with assistance from Dad, just look at his face. lol.

Ali with his nephew and son.

Up we Go!

The Entire Family.

Daddy's little girl