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re:action photography's Scott McQuarrie doesn't wait for the next shot... he goes looking for it Reviewing Scott McQuarrie, Owner & Photographer, re:action photography
When Scott McQuarrie, Owner and Photographer of re:action photography, delivers your wedding albums he wants you to be able to look at those images and step back into your wedding day to remember what happened, how you looked, and what you felt in those moments. He wants you to say, "Yeah, that was my wedding day." For Scott, a wedding day marks the beginning of a legacy, and he recognizes both the beauty and importance of that. It helps that he's as passionate and excited about your wedding as you are.
The re:action name earns its way onto a bride's must-see list because of Scott's unique angle and viewpoint on the weddings he shoots, something you can see when you browse his portfolio. Even Scott admits that he sees things, moments and events differently, making his work stand out with its own re:action signature style. "I think that I just find myself focusing on the details that maybe someone else wouldn't notice," he explains - particularly moments that couples may have missed.
As a professional photographer with an inspiring (and published) love story of his own, Scott knows the importance of the detail shots and of having an eye for design, which are disciplines, among others, that he continually evolves as the industry itself progresses. He also knows the impact of making shoots fun with his laid back (but driven) attitude, and for his brides, delivering a high percentage of photojournalistic memories and taking away their wedding day worries so they can just enjoy the celebration. Let us explain...
Personally speaking... For Scott, capturing wedding memories, events and people on 'digital film' seems to come naturally. He admits, "I've always been a photographer at heart." Scott says his father was his first inspiration for photography, but it was after he shot several weddings for close friends that re:action photography really began to grow and evolve.
Scott is entering his eighth year of photography while continuing his own personal goal of offering local brides a new perspective on wedding photography. "I want to give couples photographs that evoke feelings, emotion and memories." When we met with Scott early in 2009, he told us that he was preparing for his biggest and best year yet.
He also believes that photography should be a constant evolution, particularly since it's creative. "Photography should never be allowed to become stagnant," he said, after returning from a Vancouver photography workshop held by a Top 10 (in the world) Photography Studio.
Since Scott says he never wants to become stale or complacent with his work and craft, he is continually going to training seminars. The latest was a four day PhotoJournalism workshop with mentors including former Washington Post and USA Today photographers and a Pulitzer Prize winning photographer who reviewed and critiqued the attending photographer's images after their daily assignments. "It was a truly humbling and stretching experience," he told The Ring. He is also attending a lighting seminar in May 2009 so he can further his expertise in light, capturing the moment and anticipating moments. "These disciplines are in constant evolution and in a constant progression."
Scott feels that this constant training and experience with wedding photography have allowed him one very important thing. "I have perfected my ability to get the 'epic' couples portrait, and also get the moment that the couples perhaps missed or simply want to remember; and do it in a photojournalistic 'story telling' style." He adds that it's important to be able to do both of these, and to do them well.
re:action's style Scott's images are vibrant, crisp and make-you-look. When there are posed shots, they're most often fun or romantic. When they're covering the day, they're predominantly photojournalistic in style, filling wedding albums with several un-posed moments that his brides can't seem to say enough about. You can see the connection between the subjects in the images and often, even between the photographer and the subjects. "I don't sit around waiting for the next shot. I go looking for it."
Amanda and Dennis Zaborski had their engagement and October 2008 wedding photos captured by Scott. They told us, "Scott's use of colour and the composition of his photos is amazing... He took his time and made sure everything was perfect."
Scott's connection with his subjects is quite evident in their genuine smiles, which probably happen naturally since Scott is laid back enough to have fun with and be comfortable with. "People are often sorry to see me go at the end of the reception." But, he's not so laid back that he forgets he's has a job to do. "I am driven enough to get the images that need to be taken and the memories that need to be documented."
The part that Stacey McDooling loved most about working with re:action photography for her engagement shoot and August 2008 wedding photos was that it didn't feel like she was at a photo shoot. She told The Ring, "It was very candid, relaxed and most of all fun... Scott did an amazing job of capturing the moments we missed and through our photos we are able to connect with everyone that shared our day." She adds that from the first time she met with Scott, she and her husband felt very comfortable around him and knew instantly that he would be a great fit for their wedding day.
Janet and Chris Day were married on September 22 2007 and hired Scott after falling in love with his portfolio. Janet told The Ring, "He offered a style that reflected what I wanted... A very contemporary, yet casual feel." Scott's photojournalistic style fit what they were looking for. "It's those details that, when looking back through the photos today, really mean the most to me. Some of my favourite photos he took are the candids of my family laughing over stories at dinner, and of my niece and nephews playing. The wedding day is such a whirlwind day for the bride that there are moments you miss and through Scott's attention to detail, I have those moments."
Tapping into his graphic design background and creative nature, Scott also aims to capture what he calls "the genius of the day." The church architecture, winter snow and a white wedding gown, expressions, interactions, group dynamics... "I try to absorb the day and really see it all in its pieces."
Pamela and James Sellner loved the photojournalistic style that Scott used for their February 2009 ceremony and April 2009 reception. "Each and every picture tells a story," Pamela told us, "it is amazing how well Scott can capture pure joy, love and emotion." She adds that Scott's love and ability to try different lighting and places to capture pictures allowed him to let his passion and artistic creativity flow, which resulted in great photos.
Weddings by re:action Scott shoots weddings because it's what he loves. "The whole wedding day excites me... I am excited about the opportunity of stepping into people's lives during one of the most intimate time in their lives; it is truly a privileged position, one that I am passionate about." He adds that he's especially passionate about getting a special and unique shot for his clients, "one that they wouldn't have thought about or dreamt of."
Scott says he's happiest when he gets time alone with the bride and groom on the wedding day or during their engagement shoot, "They get comfortable enough to let their guards down and we have a little fun with poses and photography. They can really be themselves, then." Scott says his main goal (aside from capturing great images, of course) is to take away as much responsibility from the bride and groom as possible. "I don't want my couples to have to worry about a thing," Scott told us – music to any bride's ear. "I don't want them worrying about locations, weather, timing, or most of all having great images at the end of it all. That simply isn't something that you should be worried about on your wedding day. It is a celebration; one that you should be enjoying."
Apart from the images themselves, Scott believes that having a photographer should be as much of an experience as any other element that goes into your wedding. "You can have fun with your photography. It shouldn't just be a chore. Ultimately, when it boils right down to it, those memories are all that remains after the wedding day." Scott says that's why when a bride and groom hire him for their day, he's there for them, even if it means working overtime. "I'm working for them. I'll do everything possible to capture the moments that mean the most to them."
Carrie Meszaros and Nelson Couto told The Ring that Scott really captured their friends' and families' personalities in their September 2008 wedding photos. "During the wedding and the reception, Scott was excellent at being unobtrusive but always getting wonderful shots that captured the essence of the day. His work was fantastic and we got many compliments on his lovely pictures."
Overall, Scott's motivation is also his biggest priority - to offer a new perspective on wedding photography and to take photographs that capture the story of the day as it happens. "I always go in with my goal of using photography to tell the story of your wedding day, not to dictate your story to you." As a reminder that he's living up to his goals, it's normal to hear "When did you take that photo?" or "That's exactly how Dad looks!" Scott admits that no matter how many times he hears those phrases, they still make him feel good about his work. "That's what makes my job rewarding. That's how I know I'm doing what I set out to do."
Emily & Aaron hired Scott for their June 30, 2007 wedding because they liked his photojournalistic style - they had been looking for a photographer that would capture the day. "We did not want thousands of posed pictures of just us and our wedding party," explained Emily. She said they found Scott's personality so warm and easy going that they were instantly put at ease and found themselves chatting for over two hours in their kitchen during their first meeting with him. "It felt like we had known him for years! He was also recommended by a local photographer that does excellent work and Scott's rates were very competitive."
Your legacy One of the things we like about Scott is that he really seems to get it. "I was at my in-laws' home and saw a wedding photo on their wall. It was an image of my mother-in-law's Great, Great Grandmother's wedding photos. That's when it really hit me. These photos mark the beginning of a family's lifetime. They're the representation of a legacy. And getting those images is my job, and my passion." That's why he goes into each event knowing he'll be putting that legacy in print, and that he's there to make it the most positive experience possible.
And even though re:action has been in business for eight years since Scott came to this realization, his passion hasn't faltered and he told us recently that with every wedding he shot in 2008, there were images that he was truly excited about. "There were moments that the couples have told me that they will cherish for years to come."
Having followed re:action's growing company over the past three years, staff at The Ring can admit that we're always re:inspired by his work each time we meet with him. If you've ever seen his portfolios or bridal show displays at local shows, you'll know why.
Scott and re:action never run short on presentation. With personal, beautiful coffee table album options, professional retouching and a belief in the unlimited possibilities of digital photography, Scott has a lot to offer local weddings. But he also makes sure to tell everyone that he meets that "all of the album designs are beautiful of course, but they're also timeless. They won't go out of style. You'll still love them for generations to come."
Scott offers several album options including customizable, contemporary coffee table style albums that give you control over the layout and organization of the photos. They are available in several sizes.
For couples who love anything creative or abstract, Scott recently started offering canvas prints, designed to be hung in the bride and groom's living room. They're not head-on shots or regular portraits, he says, but usually that off-angle style photo, or detail shot.
Since Scott always wants to make sure that he has everything a couple wants, he recently added guest books with engagement photos in them and custom thank you cards to his product list.
Choosing a coverage option... Scott has packages that start at about $2000 for six hours of coverage; all of the packages include digital negatives and unmarked proofs. He admits that he has fun sitting down with couples to walk them through wedding collections and through their options. At the same time, he's tweaking packages to work within their needs and budget as he goes. "Ultimately, those memories are all you have left of your wedding. And I know that. When a bride and groom choose me, they can expect me to work diligently and do everything I can to capture the moments that mean the most to them on the wedding day."
"re:action photography's prices fit right into our budget," Stacey told The Ring. "... we were able to find a competitive all-in-one package price that met our needs and exceeded our expectations." Carrie and Nelson had a similar experience with Scott's flexibility and told us, "he listened to what we wanted rather than having his own agenda."
Pamela and James found it very helpful to sit down with Scott and look at all of the work he has done and go over all of the different post-wedding printing options. During the meeting, Pamela told us, "I let him know what I absolutely had to have captured at the wedding, and he took notes to make sure those photos were taken." She adds that every time she and James met with Scott he was very professional and made sure everyone was always on the same page. "He also made sure to find out the names of the people in our wedding party so that he had a heads up on the actual wedding day."
Scott usually shoots alone, but he does have an assistant if the day requires it. He does not usually work from a shot list, but he ensures that all the needs and wants of his bride and groom are met. He "likes to be fluid," catching the day as it unfolds, but also wants to make sure that you're satisfied with every detail.
He prefers the unlimited possibilities and instant feedback of digital. He also makes sure that every picture is perfectly touched up to ensure you look your absolute best.
Amanda and Dennis told The Ring that they loved working with re:action, "We never had a problem setting up times to meet with Scott and he would even work around our busy work schedules. Our consultations were usually casual in nature at a local coffee house (yet still professional). In a way, it felt like we were meeting with an old friend." They added that re:action's prices were very reasonable, especially considering the quality of the images and the dedication that Scott put into their wedding day. "re:action fell within our budget and the quality was well above some of the more expensive photographers we looked into. Not to mention, Scott was with us all day so I would have to say the value was pretty much unbeatable."
- The Staff at TheWeddingRing.ca * Prices are all approximate and are subject to change and verification by authorized staff and management of re:action photography. |
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Scott
McQuarrie invites any questions you may
have, or he welcomes you to set up an appointment to view his
portfolio in person. You can contact him by phone at 519-501-5001,
or by email at
