Ambient Studios - Ambient Studios

We're Bride's Choice 2011!

Larissa — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 16:03:04 +0000

We are humbled and excited to announce that we have been selected as the "Bride's Choice" for 2011!

A huge thank you to all of our passed couples who shared their experience with us on Wedding Wire for future brides to benefit from. We've had an amazing time working with you all and can't wait to create new memory's in 2012!

Click here to view the full post and read more about this prestigious award!

2011 Hiatus for Ambient

Larissa — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 19:22:22 +0000

Dear lovely couples, friends, photogs & blog-wonderers, we have some big news...

Trevor & I are heading out on a travel adventure beginning in January, and as a result, we will not be accepting any 2011 wedding bookings.

It is official... Ambient Studios will be on hiatus for the 2011 season while we take some time off for our Honeymoon & to work on some personal projects abroad. We'll be traveling throughout India, Nepal and Africa over approximately 15 months beginning in January. We're both ecstatic to be heading out on this adventure, and will be posting photos as we go on our personal websites: www.larissaissler.com (still under construction, will be up and running later this month) and www.trevorlittle.ca if you are interested in checking out what we are up to!

We'd like to thank all of our fantastic clients from this passed season and prior years - we've really enjoyed working with everyone, getting to know so many awesome couples, and having the opportunity to be a part of such amazing Weddings!

4x5 film portrait at Taj Mahal, Agra, 2007

While we won't be in the Toronto Area in the coming year- if you find yourself planning a destination wedding abroad and would like to inquire about having us at your day in 2011, please feel free to drop us a line. If it's possible, we'll try to work something out and join you at your destination! Our itinerary remains flexible, so you just never know where we'll be at any given time! Please be patient with us though, as it may take longer then normal to respond to your email if it is send after January 11th, 2011 since our access to the internet will be periodic.

Please feel free to peruse the website for inspiration and ideas while we're away!

Cheers,

-Larissa & Trevor

....and, since a post just isn't a post without some photos, we leave you with a few of our favourite travel snaps from our passed trips- click here to view!

Mr. + Mrs. | We're Hitched!

Larissa — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 16:56:50 +0000

Yes... we were engaged in April and married in July - and let me tell you, it was awesome! With a yellow accent and a vintage camera theme, we pulled it all together in an intimate ceremony and a rockin party, just the way we had envisioned!

When 2 Photogs Plan a Wedding...

Larissa — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 17:14:20 +0000

Trevor & I decided that we had to share our invitations with you! We simply love love love the way they turned out...

As two passionate photographers we decided to try to turn our mutual obsession with photography into a theme. Since both Trevor & I enjoy shooting film on the side for personal projects it seemed only natural that we integrate this somehow into our day. (apart from actually supplying our photographers with film for their cameras of course!)

The result is a collaboration between Trevor & I and an invitation that took an assembly line of 5 to create. We had to make about 40 after all was said and done and I was lucky enough to have the help of my ladies and a little bit of wine! (Thanks girls!) It was tons of fun and completely worth it...

Guests received their invite in the mail, wrapped in brown paper & ribbon:

A few details of the film canister invitation:

Pulling the 'film' out revealed all the details guests needed about the day:

The guests seemed to love them and I thought we'd share our little DIY. A little something different, and a great precursor to our vintage camera themed day!

All images on this site are copyright Ambient Studios and its respective photographers. It is illegal to copy, download or use these images for any purpose.

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5-Star Client Review

Larissa — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 14:36:29 +0000

It is always so lovely to read a positive review from our clients... we are lucky to work with some of the sweetest, most adorable couples around! Jenn & Chester just posted this amazing review and we simply had to share it with you:

"My husband and I got married 1 year ago. Then, we temporarily moved out of the country right after our wedding, forced to leave printing pictures/albums for a while. We were just sitting down tonight to get going on that, and fell in love with our pictures all over again and were inspired to post a review.

We were pretty laid back wedding planners, choosing the first person that was reliably recommended to us for many of our vendors. But, with photography we were a lot pickier. We both felt that our pictures were the only thing we got to keep (aside from each other of course!) so that (finding someone who could really "capture" the day candidly) was where a generous amount of time, effort and resources should go. We combed a ton of websites and eventually met with 5-10 photographers. This was an important decision to us, and we can both be indecisive, but even after all those meetings, the choice was clear to both of us immediately. Trevor & Larissa had just started their joint company, so we didn't have a lot to go off of. But, what they did show us, was amazing. They were also very organized and professional but yet laid back and sincere/personal. And, we were instantly comfortable around them (which, for me was key, because I don't like getting my picture taken).

We also liked that we would get 2 talented photographers who knew how to shoot together and whose personalities and styles complemented one another so well. We weren't disappointed! They were like that through the whole process. We never had a moment of worry if they would pull through in any way. Never felt the need to check up on anything. They just did their thing the day of the wedding and a couple of weeks later gave us hundreds of pictures that truely captured our day. We can feel what the weather was like, what we and others were feeling, the fun atmosphere . . . And there are so many pictures of friends and family that are "so them", which, with us far away, are great to have. So, we got exactly what we wanted. Great candid pictures and a relaxed, positive experience to go along with them!" -Jenn & Chester

Check out this review and others on Project Wedding!

E-Shoot | On The Other Side

Larissa — Fri, 28 May 2010 20:21:27 +0000

First of all, I cannot BELIEVE it has taken me this long to put this post together - between planning and the kick-off of the wedding season things have been pretty crazy around the office. But... better late then never, right? ;)
~~

So, as you probably know already Trevor & I recently got engaged :D and as a result, we now have the pleasure of seeing things from the other side. This, of course includes the fun of planning, and putting together a wedding + party for our family and friends. So, it goes without saying that as photographers we're pretty picky when it comes to choosing someone we would feel comfortable standing in front of the camera for...

{click the image above to read on & check out more photos}

Big News....

Larissa — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 14:57:23 +0000

As some of you know Trevor & I just got back from an amazing trip down south to Kentucky where we enjoyed laid back camping and hit up some world class rock-climbing at The Red River Gorge. Between climbing in the 25 degree weather, camping, and meeting other climbers from all over the world it was shaping up to be a very memorable trip... and then Trevor went ahead and surprised me with a proposal!!!

It was perfect and completely us - as you can imagine the rest of the trip was amazing and we're already planning our return in the Fall.

We were excited to share the news with everyone (and I've been DYING to photograph my latest jewelry addition) so here are a few pics of the ring that Trevor so sneakily picked out and hid for almost 2 months. All I can say is GOOD JOB BABE! She's a beaut! (although I might be a little bit bias.) hehe.

I LOVE it!

Click on the image above to view the full post!

Toronto Wedding Society Feature

Larissa — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 15:11:36 +0000

We're very excited to announce that we have been selected as a featured Toronto wedding photography company on the Toronto Wedding Society Blog! :)

It's a great place to source out vendors from the GTA, gain inspiration and see the latest trends. Be sure to stop by and see our feature here it includes never before seen photos from Erin & Ryan's stunning wedding in downtown Toronto last August, you don't want to miss it! While you're there, be sure to leave us a comment or two, 'cause we loooove feedback.

Cheers,

-Larissa & Trevor

Taste Verses Trend

Larissa — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 12:16:09 +0000

I recently put together a little something for our friend Denise over at Weddings Jubilee about choosing a wedding photographer that best suits your style and wanted to share it with you all!

___

Taste Verses Trend: Choosing A Photographer that Suits Your Style

As you sift through a sea of magazines and bridal shops, reality TV shows and wedding expos it becomes quite clear that the ‘current trend’ dictates what we see and can often influence our opinion. Like most other creative industries, the wedding world is bombarded by many changing trends each season from colours to place settings to dresses to center pieces. But one must be mindful to also choose what best reflects their own taste and personality – after all, this is a very personal day, and you wouldn’t want to end up with memories that don’t reflect your style.

I can speak first hand as a photographer when I say that when it comes to being influenced by trends in the industry, wedding photography is no exception. We see a wide variety of fades float in and out of the industry at a steady rate, from post-production variations to photo booths to specific poses. At times a new trend can be beneficial to the industry – but one must be mindful not to jump onto a bandwagon without evaluating your own personal tastes first.

For example, when I first began shooting weddings there were some very strong post-production trends floating around, some of which are still being used today. Black and white photos with a colour accent were all the rage – you know the ones, where the couple is in black & white and the flowers are in colour? Another trend of the time was overlaying text onto images such as “eternal love” or “just married” to compliment the photo. Now, more recently we see an increase in faux textures overlaid on images, antique finishes, the addition of film grain, or a desaturation of colours for a more muted look. Ultimately, trends will come and go and couples will either love them or eerr…not, but when it comes to photography it is important to keep in mind that these photos will eventually act as your memories of the day. You may love the way these effects look now, but will they stand the test of time?

One such trend, or rather shooting style that has quickly established itself in the marriage market is documentary wedding photography, sometimes referred to as wedding photojournalism. While this is a bit different than the post-production trends we were chatting about earlier, it has emerged onto the scene quickly and the term has made its way through the lips of many-a-bride in the planning stages.

As with any trend you will find that many photographers will adapt to mimic or learn the ropes in order to accommodate a couple’s request. While it’s nice to be a part of the latest trend, I’d like to reiterate once again, that it’s important to first recognize which style you are drawn to instinctively. Some couples are a great fit for a documentary style, while others are more comfortable with a creative fashion photographer, or a more traditional approach. Like anything, the first step is to understand what you are looking for.

So- let’s break it down:

What is documentary wedding photography?
Documentary shooting is a candid, unobtrusive approach to photographing your wedding. For a documentary photographer the goal is to cover your day as a story by capturing genuine moments and interactions between you and your guests. Most documentary photographers aim to blend into the background to the point where you don’t even notice they are there.

How is it different?
Instead of spending the majority of your day posing for the camera, couples are able to interact with their family and friends naturally. This means, for example, that instead of posing for a photo with your father in the morning before the ceremony, a documentary shooter would work to capture the look on your fathers face as he first sees you in your dress. Real, genuine moments are the main focus rather than posed memories or directed group shots.

Is it right for me?
As with every trend or style, the fact that it is popular right now does not necessarily make it right for you. You should be honest with yourself and be sure to choose a style that best suits your personality. After all, your choice of photographer and their shooting style will dictate the printed memories you are left with after everything is said and done.

Here is a rough guide to a few of the current photography styles and generally what they include. Of course, every photographer is unique, but this will give you a good basic of understanding to start from:

Traditional Style
- Most of the images are posed, with people smiling and looking at the camera.
- Formal, posed group shots with your family & friends are taken.
- The photographer will offer lots of direction to you throughout the day, for example: tilt your head a little, place your hand here, etc.
- Photographer is usually open to utilizing a specific shot list that you can provide and will follow it throughout the day.

Fashion Style
- Posed, creative photos with an edgy feel.
- Lots of direction is given and the goal is to achieve that model/fashion look that you see in magazines.
- Props are often used to create interest and sometimes there is a story line involved and a specific photo location is utilized.
- Lighting is usually used off camera, is very dramatic and adds interest to the photos.
- Strong poses with attitude and personality are created.

Documentary Style
- The photographer will offer little or no direction throughout the day, and blend into the background as much as possible.
- Images that depict true emotion, moments and interactions are the focus for the majority of the day.
- Photos of the couple consist of very candid, natural moments between the pair, sometimes on site or at an alternate photo location.
- The story of your day is captured through images and you are left with a set of images that showcase the entire day from beginning to end.

Fine Art Style
- There is a mixture of image types, many are posed, some include eye contact with the camera and others do not.
- Current post production trends are often applied to images to create a unique look or feel.
- There is usually an element of drama and/or a unique perspective to the photos created through the photographers angle and or creative cropping.
- Special lenses or effects are often utilized to add drama. (tilt-shift lenses, fish eye lenses, lens flare, etc.)

Keep in mind that some photographers will offer a service that is a combination of two styles or a mixture of a few key elements, so be sure to keep searching until you find a fit that is right for you. It’s hard to break everything down to only four categories, but hopefully this will act as a good starting point for those of you who are beginning your search.

Still not sure what which style is for you? The simplest way to decide is to begin looking through a few different photographer’s portfolios, and get a sense of which images you’re drawn to. Ultimately, you want to be comfortable with not only your photographer’s style, but their personality as well.

As a quick side note, it’s important to recognize that photography style is a very personal element and is unique to every photographer, because of this it was difficult to narrow down four choices to highlight for you here. Keep in mind that while a company may aim to shoot with a specified style, you should ensure that you are able to see a portfolio created by the actual photographer that you will be working with on your day. Believe me when I say that even given the same situation, no two photographers will produce the same image.- this is one of the things that makes photography so awesome. So, remember that it’s key to have access to and be comfortable with the portfolio of all the photographers who will be joining you on your day.

Happy hunting brides & grooms!

Cheers,
- Larissa

Guest Blogging!

Larissa — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 16:19:02 +0000

As luck would have it we had the pleasure of being neighbours with Denise and her lovely husband Merrill at the National Bridal Show back in January, and we hit it off right away. Denise is a Toronto & Destination Wedding Planner and owner of Weddings Jubilee, located in the East end of the city.

She asked us to put together a little something for her blog and we were happy to oblige! The idea was to help couples during their photographer selection process, give them a bit of background to understand a few of the main styles that are offered and hopefully make the whole process a little less daunting. Choosing a photographer that suits you personality, style and budget as a couple can be tricky, but hopefully this will start you off on the right foot!

Stop by the Weddings Jubilee Blog and check out our guest post "Choosing the Right Photographer for You". We've loaded it up with lots of advice,a few photos and even a quiz just to spice it up a little at the end!

Thanks to again Denise for the invite to be a part of her blog!

And be sure to let us know what do you think - should we guest blog more often? :)