We Welcome A Resident Makeup Artist - Camila Notari

September 6, 2018

Camila Notari is our new in house resident makeup artist. Camila will be located in the front of our space in our portrait studio. We are so excited to have this international artist in house who has more than 17 years as a beauty professional. Her education started in her native Brazil and she has never stopped learning and improving her craft. Camila took several courses in schools and workshops with professionals and renowned companies in different countries such as Spain, Colombia, Argentina and Canada.

In Toronto she finished a degree in makeup where she has grown in her experience with all makeup styles, from beauty makeup, theatre, cinema, prosthetic makeup to creature & design. I was graduated in Art & Design Makeup at the Faculty of Makeup CMU. After that, I felt I needed to know more about the arts, so in 2018 I majored in Foundation and Art Design at George Brown College, also in Toronto.

To see her full portfolio visit her site online or click here for a PDF with samples of her work.

IN HER OWN WORDS

My soul is restless, my mind is always full of ideas, and I think the days should be longer so that I could fit all the tasks within 24 hours. I am passionate about my work, by the way, it was the time that I used to define myself with only a professional title; there are several Camilas within myself. I am an educator first, then an artist, makeup artist, mother, woman, passionate about photography, painting, sculpture and I love reading a good book. The smell of the book in my hands enchants me, but the ease of digital reading has conquered me! I love coffee, too; black and without milk!

CAMILA'S SERVICES INCLUDE:

Makeup & Hair Services

Whatever the situation is, makeup and hairstyle make all the difference. I will bring you a natural and flawless look for parties, weddings, or any special event you´re going through. The products in my kit are from the best professional brands, and my materials are disposable and hygienic for keeping your safety above all.

Airbrush Makeup

If you don’t know much about Makeup with Airbrush, it´s a pleasure to tell you this technique is the most suitable for photos. Who does not do selfies nowadays? It´s not only for special events; it´s for everyone that is looking for the best as makeup can bring. The result reached is a natural, waterproof, long lasting, and it is possible to camouflage tattoos and undesirable dark spots and scars. The airbrush makeup is highly used on tv shows, films and weddings.

Boudoir

A boudoir photoshoot is the best gift you can give to yourself or your beloved one. It´s the capture of a precious moment through the beautiful pictures in that unique life stage such as a pre-wedding, pregnancy or just the celebration of femininity and sensuality.

For the boudoir photoshoot, I always make sure face and body are in complete harmony. As an experienced Makeup Artist, I´m able to hide what you may don´t want to show such as scars, stretch marks and also your tattoos if you don´t want to show them for this occasion. I’ll do everything to make you feel confident and get the most enjoyable experience during your shoot!

Headshots

It takes only a few seconds to make a first impression, we all already know that. Your headshot is the responsible for the first contact with people you haven´t met yet. Said that have you just realized about the importance of having a professional makeup and hair for this occasion? Your image will represent who you are, and I can guarantee your hair and makeup will be natural in your photos, showing your best.

Maternity

Nothing can be more powerful to the than that this moment. To have a baby growing in your bump is with no doubts, one of the most incredible experiences in the life. The beauty you have facing right now will become a sweet memory sooner than you think, so why do not register this moment and show to your little one in the future? You will receive a delightful facial massage to prepare your skin to a natural and camera-ready makeup in a perfect match with your hairstyle.

Special Events

If you have a special event such as your graduation, a Prom, a party or even a pre-wedding photoshoot, having your makeup and hair done professionally, will bring you a relief when you I'll be holding and looking to the album in your hands in the future. I´m pretty sure you have been planning the perfect dress and accessories to use for this extraordinary occasion, and the makeup and hairstyle will make the final look stunning and impeccable like the moment to itself is.

16 Top Photographers Share the Best Advice They’ve Ever Received

January 24, 2018

Photo Week on CreativeLive every year offers a great resource to photographers. Here are the answers from some of the top photographers in the business which run the gamut from useful reminders to awesomely profound:

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“Make it personal. That is my ultimate goal in my business, no matter what the job is. From social media to volume events with 1000’s of kids: making it personal will help make my business successful.”
— Mike Fulton

“If I don’t go out and get what I want, it likely won’t be handed to me.”
— Brooke Shaden

“Remember to breathe.”
— Khara Plicanic

“Jump first, fear later.” This wasn’t advice that was given to me, but more of an idea that was instilled in me during my time interning for a nonprofit in California after high school. Big ideas are awesome and deserve to be tackled. I think it is so important to decide to do something or not do something based on how much you want to do it. Don’t think about the logistics or the cost, or the time it will take first. Think about whether or not you really want to do it or not. If you do, then just say yes to it and make it happen. Exhibit A: Planes. Can you believe that someone just said, we can do this? Now, there are humongous metal tubes floating through the air all of the time. Figure out what your plan is, and make it happen.”
— Ben Sasso

“However big your camera bag is, you will fill it.”
— John Greengo

“Every time someone books your highest package, raise your prices.”
— Vanessa Joy

“Face the dragon of fear. To me, this meant to go head-on with the things that scare you most. It’s empowering when you realize you can conquer them, and you most often realize they weren’t that scary after all — and the result is huge leaps in your learning, wisdom, and connection with new experiences. Difficult situations are often only difficult in our minds, and once we tackle them, they seem trivial in hindsight. Person-to-person communication is also greatly enhanced when we say the hard things that need to be said as soon as they need to be said. Oh, and my mom also used to share the advice she got from her mom: ‘Be sweet.’”
— Kevin Kubota

“Being a successful professional photographer has less to do with how good your pictures are and more to do with how good your relationship skills are.”
— Mike Kelley

“Don’t attempt to do EVERYTHING just because you need the money.”
— Erin Manning

“Lowering your prices doesn’t necessarily increase perceived value. In fact, when you have the lowest price in the marketplace, people may believe that your value and quality is the lowest. Don’t undervalue your work, because then others will undervalue it as well.”
— Lindsay Adler

“From my Dad: ‘Keep the focus.’ Little did I know how literal those words would be to my life’s calling.”
— Johnny Davenport

“The more ridiculous you look while taking a photo, the better that photo will probably be. Photographers can’t be afraid to get into strange and awkward positions to get the shot they’re after.”
— Pei Ketron

“Don’t take anything personally, it’s just business. If you don’t let things get to you, you’ll be much better off in this field.”
— Pratik Naik

“Stop blowing out your highlights!”
— Courtney Daly

“I was told to photograph 50 strangers in a way revealed something about them. Portrait photography is all about connecting with your subject. That’s a great way to learn how to do it.”
— Brian Smith

“Learn to see light.”
— Ryan Muirhead

This blog post was put together by Whitney Ricketts on creativelive.com

Meet Our Resident Artists

October 4, 2017

There is a great lineup of talent that we have at The Production Studio. We love the creativity that comes out of our spaces and not just in the various productions and photographers, models and MUAs that come through our spaces.

Here are all 8 bios of the resident artists who produce great work every day Paul Buceta, Rick Oliver Fitness Photography, Pires Photography, Figura Nua. Steve Roberts, RJA Photography, Billy Vasilios and Rayven Martinez. We have all of these profiles now hanging up in the common area of the studio to showcase who they are, their talent and their work.

If you want to inquire about our residency program, take a look online at www.productionstudio.ca/residency

WHY SHOULD YOU AS A PHOTOGRAPHER HAVE INSURANCE

September 27, 2017

Nobody is perfect, we all make mistakes. As photographers, we are expected to be both an artist and a service to the public. There’s always going to be a chance that your client is going to be so difficult, uncooperative, or possibly vindictive if they feel as though you’re not up to their expectations for whatever reason.

It is for this reason that every professional photographer should have their own liability insurance to protect themselves from being taken advantage of.

How Liability Insurance can Save You

If you’re getting a steady flow of work and you consider yourself to be fairly busy as a photographer, you will eventually encounter a situation where you have to make changes and cannot commit to a scheduled photoshoot. If your client doesn’t take kindly to this suggestion, they may turn on you and decide to sue you for a breach in contract, which they could win if you don’t have anything that states the ability to cancel at any time prior to the appointment.

Insurance can save you from being sued for a client’s negligence, too. Like, if they were to trip into a piece of your equipment and hurt themselves. Liability insurance can also cover you if for whatever reason your camera malfunctions and either ruins or renders the customer’s images unrecoverable.

Every potential scenario where things could go wrong, at no fault of your own, should be accounted for, because there are plenty of people out there who try to take advantage of small businesses and avoid having to share whatever losses incurred due to an accident.

Weighing your Options

While these things do happen, it ought to be noted that an occurrence like this is extremely uncommon, as a general rule you have most likely better chances winning the lottery, however, they do happen and in this manner it is imperative that you are not left exposed after a bad turn of events.

Still not persuaded? The other thing liability insurance can help with is damage to other’s property. This would cover you on the off chance that you harmed another person's property while doing your job. For instance, you could incline toward a divider and push a portion of it over with your weight as you are taking the photo! The fact that the divider was not sufficiently secure is no assurance in the courts. You would be in charge of the repair to it - all things considered, the client would contend that the property was fine before you stepped into it!

A straightforward mishap like this could cost hundreds, maybe thousands - something that could also leave a mark on your career, too. You can do your best to avoid doing business with people who seem unreasonable or suspicious, but there’s no guarantee that you won’t run a streak of bad luck and end-up losing a ton of sleep, money, and possibly business over an honest mistake while trying your best.

A Closer Look @ Our Spaces

September 14, 2017

The Production Studio is located on the west end of Toronto minutes from Sherway Gardens. Our 8500 sq ft building offers 4 unique studio spaces ranging from 1100 to 3200 sq ft. complete with 2 kitchenettes, washrooms.

All studios come with a raised shooting platform, a Hollywood mirror, makeup station, portable speakers, change tent, clothing rack, 4 c-stands, sand bags and extension cords.

Book online at www.productionstudio.ca/booking or email us with inquires at sales@productionstudio.ca

If you would like to rent out the entire building (studios 1-3 and kitchenette), the day rate is $700 CDN and a discount for multiple days.

Please take a look at our galleries below with floor plans and specs for each space, photos from various angles and daylight availability.

If you are a photographer looking for space, we offer a great residency program. It offers a cheaper rate to use our studios and a consistent location to help you build your brand.

Kitchenette

Studio 1 - 1100 sq ft

Studio 2- 1100 sq ft

Studio 3- 1100 sq ft

Studio 4- 3200 sq ft

81 Entertainment Produces Commercial - Gets Honourable Mention in Ad Week

September 13, 2017

We have been fortunate to have 81 Entertainment produce great content in our spaces. 81 Entertainment is Toronto’s premier video production service company specializing in commercial production and branded content. Trusted by small businesses and large international brands alike, 81 Entertainment’s range of expertise ensures each client receives the best in concept design and execution.

81 Entertainment received its (first!) honourable mention in AdWeek with one of the commercials they produced for Cougarlife.com earlier this year using almost all of our spaces.

Sets were built throughout the spaces creating a club, bedroom, bathroom and powder room.

Click here to read the full article on AdWeek - Cougar Life’s Rebrand Tells Women That Dating Younger Men Is Grrreat!

With the highest five to Director Jared Pelletier, Creative Director Justine Galea, Co-Producer Michael Chwastiak, DOP Chris Lew, Production Manager Joel P. Schneider, and Production Designer Lewis Belgum. Along with The Production Studio Ashley Hallihan Ontario Camera Rentals, alter ego amongst so many other talented individuals.

Some Great Video has Been Produced in Our Spaces

September 12, 2017

We have been fortunate to have some great productions shoot in our spaces over the past year. There have been commercials, music videos, web series, The Beaverton and small indie projects.

Here is a story that was published on Notable of a Toronto couple that broke up by creating a powerful video. This project was filmed in Studio 3.

THEY DECIDED TO DO THE PIECE TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR TOXIC RELATIONSHIPS – SOMETHING MOST OF US HAVE EXPERIENCED BY NOW IN OUR DATING LIVES.

“After several months of being apart and growing individually, I contacted her about an idea: to put rest to our past and create our own blank slate. We’re both performers and love Sia, so we decided to do our own piece to her song, Eye of The Needle,” writes Wadden. “This piece is inspired by our own past, Sia, and Marina Abramovic’s ‘The Lovers’.”

WATCHING THE POWERFUL VIDEO WILL REMIND MANY OF US OF A PAST RELATIONSHIP, AND THE MADDENING ROLLERCOASTER OF CONTRADICTORY EMOTIONS IT CAN BRING.

We Welcome Resident Artist RJA

September 7, 2017

Feeling like there was more to life than an intensive job and private family life, a chance google search found a workshop at The Production Studios that rekindled my love of photography.

Attending many many many.... many workshops, I was able to understand and breakdown the details needed to elevate myself from amateur hobbyist to a passionate artist that aspires to eventually rise up as a true professional photographer (some day!).

I enjoy many genres within photography and have produced many photos that I am proud of. Initially, head / beauty shots captivated me. Curiosity eventually rolled into boudoir and fine art. Now, I am taking my interests and focusing on Fashion to see what I can produce.

Should anyone wish to collaborate on future projects, please feel free to contact me.

Samples of RJA's Work

We Welcome Resident Artist Stephen Roberts

September 6, 2017

As photographers we live for freezing the moment. My passion in photography is for defrosting the moment. Rather than everything being completely sharp and frozen in time. I love to show movement and dreaminess and a sense of the surreal.

Being a dance dad, this is one of the reasons I was attracted to this art form, as well as long exposure landscapes and seascapes. I love to drag the shutter. I could be quite happy shooting for the rest of my life with shutter speeds of a second or longer…..

I am a huge lover of portrait photography. Sitting down with my subject conversing and trying to create a real emotional connection and pose from my sitter is an art form which is a wonderful challenge that I enjoy immensely. A great emotional portrait is not made in camera but on either side of it. One of my favourite portrait photographers Yousuf Karsh says it best: “When one sees the residuum of greatness before ones camera one must recognize it in a flash. There is a brief moment when all that there is in a man’s mind and soul and spirit may be reflected through his eyes, his hands, his attitude. This is the moment to record. This is the elusive moment of truth.

I am a resident photographer at The Production Studio in Mississauga. I am currently booked for my dance series and portraits shoots till October 2017. But I am always looking for models and professional dancers for my creative projects. If you are interested in collaborating with me I would love to hear from you….Visit my site www.floto.ca and book your shoot today.

Samples of Stephen's Work

Video of the Signature Series Workshop w/ Paul Buceta @ The Production Studio

March 1, 2017

Here is a video that we put together to show what we do in our intensive and Signature Series workshops. We want to create the best environment and talent to help you achieve your goals as a photographer, to help build your book and to allow you to have fun while doing it. For more information and to register for workshops check us out online at www.productionstudio.ca/workshops or www.meetup.com/ProdStudioTO

Don't forget that we can also assist you with all of your studio rental or commercial needs. You can find more information about that at www.productionstudio.ca

Signature Series | BTS of Our First Big Workshop

February 6, 2017

Take a look at the BTS of the first collaboration between photographers William Riquelme, Sean Lyn and Pires Photography. We have another workshop coming up on February 26th. This is one that you won't want to miss.

Check us out online at www.productionstudio.ca/workshops or on our meetup group www.meetup.com/ProdStudioTO

We officially kicked off the new space with a weekend of amazing workshops. Thanks to @cmr_photog for the video of the big day. 3 models, 2 MUAs, 3 workshop organizers and 23 photographers filled our 3 spaces Thank you to Pires Photography, Sean Lyn Photography, William Riquelme Photography who were the workshop facilitators.

We Welcome Rayven Martinez - Resident Artist

February 1, 2017

Filmmaker + Fashion/Fine Art Photographer and Cinematographer in Toronto, Canada.
(Fashion, Editorial and Commercial)

Rayven’s love for imagery began with a Canon A1 in High School shooting for Yearbook Yearly and School Sport Meets. After Graduating High School he had upgraded to a Canon 10's 35mm SLR with Prime Lenses started shooting Events. He had taken Art Workshops in his early 20's from Painting to Sculptor. Since those fledgling days, Rayven expanded his horizons to the Film Industry and found himself Directing, Managing and Producing Videos, while maintaining his passion for Photography. He has work for Grants such as BravoFact, MuchFact, OAC (Ontario Art Coucil), The Canada Council for the Arts, Tele Film and OMDC (Ontario Media Developement Corporation).Some of his clients include: Sony, Visa, Samsung, Rogers and TIFF.

On the side, this shutterbug can be found watching films from his Criterion Collection, Animations by Studio Ghibli and Tim Burton. He loves Horror movies from Director Dario Argento's Films, to Old Classics to New. A Collector of Vintage Films and Cameras, his most current set includes a Horseman VCC Converter Tilt-Shift and Polaroid SLR 680.

Rayven knows how to stay on the Budget learning from working as Producer and Production Manager on Commercials and Music Videos. He also knows how to work on a pressure specially important Deadlines!

Written by Roseanne Dela Rosa Ricasio (Editor Wedding Bell)

For inquiries please contact: Rayven@rayvenphotography.com
Website: www.Rayvenphotography.com (Under Construction)
Porfolio: www.500px.com/Rayven

SAMPLE WORK

We Welcome Billy Vasilios - Residency Artist

January 31, 2017

I was 8 years old when my mother first let me take a photo with her bulky Polaroid instant camera.

Even though it was 1979, I can still remember the feeling, the weight, and the joy of being able to capture real, genuine moments.

It wasn’t long after that my appreciation turned into a passion, and that passion led me to a career.

Having studied Journalism at Humber College in the 90s, I decided to merge my two interests of photography and journalism, and dive into the diverse and wonderful world of photo-journalism.

It’s been many years since those initial days, but that same journalistic tendency to genuinely appreciate that around me and to find ways of capturing it organically has stuck with me ever since.

Flash forward to today, and I now find myself shooting everything from beauty to commercial and everything in between.

The one thing that hasn’t changed is my love for capturing things as they actually happen.
It’s why I pride myself so much on not just taking great pictures, but on creating great environments to have a really memorable shoot.

Because when clients look back at my pictures, I don’t just want them to see joy, I want them to remember it.

To check out more of my work head to: www.vasilocity.com

Biography written by Ashley J. Hassard

Signature Series | BTS w/ Della Pham & Pires Photography

January 19, 2017

Take a look at the BTS video with Della Melinda Pham and Pires Photographyy at The Production Studio as they help to design and create amazing portfolio images for photographers.

Thank you to everyone who came out and made the day such a success. We are looking forward to the next collaboration between these two photographers in our spaces on Sunday, January 29th. For more information visit www.productionstudio.ca/workshops or sign up on our meetup page www.meetup.com/ProdStudioTO

The Headshot Intensive Toronto March 2017

January 17, 2017

The Production Studio is excited to announce that world renowned photographer Peter Hurley will be bringing SHABANG! to our studios in March.

PHOTOGRAPHER

Peter Hurley is a premier portrait and headshot photographer with studios in New York City and Los Angeles. He is known for the genuine expressions he captures in his actors headshots and executive portraits.

EDUCATOR

He is an expert on human facial expression and has spoken on the subject for TEDx, Google, Apple, Microsoft, Adobe and GoDaddy to name a few. Peter is also a Canon Explorer of Light and teaches his signature photography workshops all over the world. He is the author of the recently published book The Headshot the definitive guide to headshot photography.

SIGN UP

You can sign up via the buttons below linking to the two events at our studios and check out the video for more information.

THE HEADSHOT INTENSIVE - MARCH 11-12

The Headshot Intensified - March 13

Importance of Studio Space for Photographers

December 30, 2016

The studio is a professional photographer’s second home away from home. It could even be located in your actual home, but it should be a setting that you can feel secure and free of distractions. Designing your studio space is also important, it should look and feel separate from a bedroom, for example. It needs to be built around productivity, so we’re here to give you some tips on what is best to focus on for building the perfect photography studio.

Residency Program

The Residency Program at The Production Studio is a great way to start utilising a space where you have little overhead and can run your photography business out of. Meeting clients in a professional space can help you land the deal and give you a home base to operate out of. For more information on the residency program click here. Remember, with 4 spaces to shoot out of there will always be one available and we can make any custom package to suit your needs.

Maximizing Space

When it comes to renting out a studio space for photography, space is everything. Don’t underestimate the importance of space to work, move, and think in. This is about comfort and the ability to grow as a photographer. Space also allows for more creative freedom, capturing your subjects without relying on zoom too heavily is key. Headspace is also important, try to get a place for your studio that has elevated ceilings to really take control of your lighting.

Convenience and Class

Where your studio is located is almost as important as the studio itself. If you only focus on the cost of rent, you might end up with a studio that is either located in a spot that is not in close proximity with your own house or is located in a drab industrial district, which could turn off clients. Appearances can and do matter, so consider this when planning your studio location.

Controlling your Craft

Sunlight is certainly ideal, however controllable light is more vital. So, in the event that you have access to common light that you can't control, it’s better to pick a spot you'll need to falsely light that you can control.

Expansive, upscale, open gathering places are super helpful for a photography studio. A flatscreen TV makes a pleasant expansion to the waiting room – demonstrating your portfolio pictures or motivating art videos.

The camera room ought to be separate from the business room. If not totally discrete, the two ought to be isolated by separation or themes. The main thing you ought to do in the camera room is shoot. Everything else needs to happen elsewhere.

A changing area is another great idea. The changing area ought to offer good security and ideally, be no less than a porta-john to consider simple outfit swapping. The changing area ought to offer a little seat and table and in addition places to hang garments. A lavatory can serve as a changing area insofar as it's sufficient for allowing a person to stretch their arms and legs around.

Intangibles

A reliable power grid. You ought to expect that a normal studio will utilize significantly more power than the customary office workspace. By and large the camera room ought to be white, dark, dim or nonpartisan in shading. This keeps away from inadvertent reflections. And, finally, keep your studio stocked with lots of comforting items for all the senses: healthy snacks, beverages/alcohol, mints, and music playlists for different personalities.

Studio 4 - A Great Creative Space

December 21, 2016

Our 4th studio space has opened and has lends itself to many creative and commercial projects. Spanning 3500 sq ft, this space has already been used for photography and video projects.

Combined with our existing 3 spaces, The Production Studio now offers over 8500 sq ft of shooting space, two load in bays, two kitchenettes and 4 bathrooms. Contact us at sales@productionstudio.ca for a custom quote or for more information.

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