The best kept secret in Nova Scotia

Picturesque, peaceful, and welcoming. These are the are the words that come to mind when I think of the place that has become my family’s second home. Petit Riviere is a quiet, beautiful community found in Lunenburg County on the South Shore of Nova Scotia, and it has been the back drop for many of my families most cherished memories. I believe it to be Nova Scotia’s best kept secret, but today I want to share it with you.

Finding Petit Riviere happened as a happy accident. On a Saturday afternoon many years ago, my wife Suzanne and I had taken a drive to explore Nova Scotia’s South Shore. We followed the LaHave River from Bridgewater and stumbled into Petit Riviere and then down Green Bay Road. Unexpectedly we found ourselves in our own personal heaven. We immediately fell in love with the rolling farmlands, the village, the homes and of course, the stunning beaches. It had everything we could ask for in a vacation spot, and we knew we would find ourselves here often from that day on.  

For a few years we stayed at the MacLeod Cottages, and then eventually sealed our relationship with the area by purchasing our own cottage. Since then the memories have been plentiful. Now, every summer, we have had the privilege to enjoy incredible cycling trails, clear night skies filled with stars and of course the world class beaches that surround the area. 

Speak to anyone who has spent time in Petit Riviere and they will tell you of the magic that lives here. It has a subtle way of reminding you what is important, and the value of slowing down. These shots exemplify some of that atmosphere.

As summer comes to an end, I feel compelled to share these sentiments. To remember that for a moment in time, just being can be enough. Things like, driving down the highway towards our cottage with the sun shining in on myself and those most important to me as we sing along to the radio, taking in the coastline with the morning sun, heading to our favourite spot. This place will shape my sons, I know this because it has shaped me, and for that I have so much gratitude.

For any recommendations in regards to Petit Riviere, never hesitate to reach out to us here at JIVE. What good is a gift like this if it can’t be shared.

September Newsletter 2021

What an incredible summer we’ve had here at JIVE. Between servicing new and returning clients, growing our team, and enjoying time off with family and friends, we feel so much gratitude for the past couple of months. As difficult as it is to say goodbye to summer moments, we are thrilled with our fall lineup and can't wait to keep working with individuals and businesses to bring their visions to life. For now, take a look at one of our favourite summer shoots with Fox Harb'r Resort and don't forget to check out this month's instalment of JIVE's Picks.

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Fox Harb’r Resort 2021

Fox Harb’r embodies luxury travel in Nova Scotia. The views, the amenities, the interiors and the staff at Fox Harb’r make it what it is, and it was an absolute pleasure to help capture that in still photography. Take a look at some of what we came up with and let us know what you think.

These exteriors are some of our favourite shots from the project, but that doesn't mean they're the only thing impressive about Fox Harb'r. Their new interiors are also breathtaking and add so much luxury to an already incredible destination.

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JIVE PICKS

I was absolutely blown away by Amazon's original movie Sound of Metal. Riz Ahmed's performance is one for the ages. Although it's a movie primarily about a musician dealing with the sudden onset of complete hearing loss, it's really a film about acceptance, and the gifts that come with it. Highly recommend.

St. Germain's album "Tourist" is unbelievable. Incredible grooves. Used to listen to this in the studio on repeat. Great background or foreground music. Make sure you play it loud.

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13 Keywords to help you communicate with your photographer

Sometimes trusting a photographer to deliver on your needs can be stressful and overwhelming. With years in the industry we have noticed one of the biggest disconnects between production staff and clients is production “lingo”. Being able to talk the talk will help ensure that you receive what you set out to capture, and will also put your photographer at ease with a clear understanding of what you are trying to accomplish. For that reason we have compiled a list of terms that will help both you and your photographer speak the same language.

VERTICAL vs HORIZONTAL Framing - This is incredibly important information for your photographer as it pertains to the final output. Depending on where the images are going or what they are being used for, one framing will work better than other. 

Where are these images going to live, ie. website, transit shelters, billboards etc.? 

Do you need them banner style, poster style etc.?

It’s very important to know the answer(s) to these questions prior to the shoot date.

Images - This one may seem silly, but some clients can become overwhelmed thinking photographs and images mean two separate things. Here is your confirmation that they mean the same thing!

Retouching - This is quite a broad term, but at its core it means manipulating a digital image to “improve” it. Although retouching extends well beyond this, it is essentially synonymous with “digitally improving”. Further - it can also pertain to doing things like composite work, which involves doing multiple exposures of a given scene to achieve the required look and effectively building the final image within Photoshop or Lightroom etc. 

File size for out put - How big do the images need to be to meet the required output needs. 

Deliverables - what the photographer is responsible for producing for the client. Think of this as the “final” product.

Environmental portrait - A portrait that is taken within an environment other than with a studio backdrop.

Tech scout - This refers to a planned visit to the predetermined location prior to the shoot date. This is meant to determine the shot blocking, lighting requirements, etc. to allow for less obstacles and surprises on the day of the shoot.

Composite image - This refers to combining multiple images into one final image. Again this could be using multiple exposures, along with adding photos that were shot specifically to be added to the overall image. 

Suppliers - These are the folks we hire on an ongoing basis as assets to the shoot. Their specific skill sets help us create a well rounded, high quality and polished products. For example suppliers we may bring in on a project include, but are not limited to: Animators, Audio techs, Casting, Wardrobe Stylists, Food stylists, DOP, DMT, etc etc. 

Proofs - These are what we send our clients after we have completed the photo shoot and edited all of the images down to what we feel are usable images. From the “proofs” the client then selects the images they want from and sends us back the selected file numbers for us to complete the retouching. Essentially, proofs are the first images the client sees before we narrow down and edit the final shots.

Brand Messaging - Brand Messaging means ensuring what we produce visually falls in line with the existing brand and sends the intended message. This is important when working with larger companies that have established brands. We need to understand the parameters of the company’s brand that we are working for to make sure we can deliver on their ask. We want to stay true to their brand and stay on message. This is why if we are working directly with a company, we will often ask for a copy of their brand guidelines. This will help inform how we capture the required shots.

Shot list - This is simply a list of the number of images that need to be captured. Examples would be - exterior shots without people, group shots, individual portraits, studio portraits, product shots, environmental portraits etc. Think of it as a sort of “to do” list when it comes to the shots needed.

Low light - This term refers to the condition of the light during a shoot. We often refer to ‘low light’ in terms of how a particular camera operates in low light conditions. We have cameras that are better at capturing images, (stills / video) under low lighting situations, so we will use those cameras when the conditions are such.

Client questions answered: Can you be present while your photographer shoots your content?

There are many etiquette questions clients may have that can sometimes feel daunting to ask - one that comes up often is whether or not the client can be present for the shoot itself. While working both directly with clients, or indirectly with ad agencies, we absolutely encourage that the client is present during the shoot. One of the main pillars to our success is clear communication, and there is no better way to communicate than in person, while things are in motion. The client being present for the shoot means we can all rest assured that we have captured exactly what is needed by the end of the shoot. 

We’ve even shaped our tool kit with client presence in mind by investing in technical gear that simplifies the viewing process during the actual shoot. For most of our photo shoots we use a device called a CamRanger, which is essentially an app based wireless transmitter which outputs the images we are capturing from the camera to an iPad and/or iPhone etc. This real time technology allows us, and the client to view the images as we are capturing them. This device has a host of bells and whistles, which we love, but its most valuable asset is providing instant visuals for the client to then give feedback on. Due to this approach, you can leave the shoot with the knowledge that we have captured exactly what you need.

Being present for a shoot has of course been affected by the global pandemic the world is currently facing. Through 2020 and now 2021 we have continued to adapt as restrictions call for, but still encourage team members to be present in a safe and controlled way. Currently, you can still be present while adhering to the mandated protocol of wearing a mask, practising social distancing & allotted gathering amounts etc. 

In this climate rules often change, but we have become proficient at adapting and pivoting to be able to work within the rules at any given time. 

All in all, asking to be present for the shoot is always an appropriate question to ask - and I would go even further by saying it is something that is universally accepted and encouraged. You are just as much a part of this aspect of the project as your photographer, and your eye is helpful!

Have more questions you would like answered? Let us know below:

The importance of putting a face to your business

We are constantly humbled by the work we have done in the professional realm. Whether working with Doctors, Lawyers, Financial Advisors or Industrial Planning we have felt privileged to be able to help represent the work they do visually and to help explain the service they provide to the community they serve. Trust from the public serves these fields of work, and that is why up to date, and meaningful visual content is so important.

Who are you?

What exactly is it that you do?

How does that affect the public?

These are the questions that the public will want answered before reaching out to you, or supporting your services - and we can help you answer them.

With our experience in these sectors, as well as our branding and advertising experience, we are proficient at making what you do clear to the consumer through a visual medium, whether that be photography or videography. This can be extremely valuable and can make you and your services much more approachable. The goal is always to have your personality and abilities shine through. Proper visual representation can make the consumer feel more comfortable and confident reaching out to you and discussing their needs. It’s an opportunity to connect to your audience before even making contact. It also helps to support your brand, or create one where there wasn’t before. All of this leads to good business and even better: growth.

We feel vetted in helping you and your team accomplish this. With experience in branding, messaging and our innate people skills we can help bring your work to life. Now, let’s chat about what we can do for you…