Here's our top tools for camera cleaning … without spending big bucks
1.       Pressurized Duster: Yup, the thing that you use to blast all the gribblies out of your keyboard can be used on your equipment, too. When using these air cans, make sure to ‘shoot up’ instead of down, and use quick little bursts. With prolonged use, the cans will tend to get cold to the touch and even expel some liquid if pointed down.
I use the canned air for getting dust out of lenses, inside and outside; as well as camera bodies. It’s a good first-line product for cleaning to remove the surface dust.

But what happens if the dust doesn’t want to move?

2.       Blower Brush – You’ve probably seen these little gadgets, a big plastic or rubber circle with a brush on the end of it. These things are great for removing objects that are a little more clingy than what the pressurized air can remove. Important to note, if you think something needs a little blow, use the air can or the blower brush – never blow onto glass or into you camera. You will send spit along with the air, and could possibly cause more troubles.
Blower brushes are readily available as part of a basic camera cleaning kit. You don’t need to spend a lot of money on these kits (unless you really want to throw cash away), usually they’re for sale around $10 and include a few other cleaning devices that we’ll get to shortly.

What about waterspots or gunk that’s REALLY on there?

3.       Cotton Swabs and Cleaning Solution – These guys should be part of that cleaning kits we referenced in the blower brush point. All you need is a drop or two of cleaning solution, then use the cotton swab to gently rub the area. If on glass, make small circles, starting from the middle, and working your way around to the outside. You can use the dry end of the swab to soak up any remaining moisture. Make sure you don’t touch the swab ends before cleaning as you might transfer some of the oils from your fingers to the swab.
If the lens is especially dirty, you may want to use the microfiber cloth that should also be included with your cleaning kit.

That’s pretty much all you need for some basic cleaning! I recommend doing a light clean like this pretty regular. Before you plan an outing, take a look at your equipment and determine whether or not it could use a clean – the five minutes you invest could save you from awful images!

Wow, those money-grubbing photographers – wanting you to use a pro lab to print the images in your online gallery… the audacity! But are they actually trying to make more money off you, or offer a legit service?

Clients of RyKie Images & Events quite enjoy sharing their online image galleries after a shoot. Through this gallery, people can order high-quality prints from a professional lab through a few easy clicks of a mouse. These prints are delivered right to your door!

The drawback – they’re not available within one hour. This is the only advantage of a drugstore photolab. But how does the quality compare? Well, it simply doesn’t. As you can see from the graphic that we’ve borrowed from Amanda Jackson Photography, different labs offer different (and not flattering) results.

Look at the pro-lab image as compared to the image that came straight out of the camera. See a difference? Not much, eh? Exactly. When you use a pro printing lab like we do here at RyKie Images & Events, what you see on the screen is what you’re going to get. No guessing, no regrets. The cheap guys? Well, they’re cheap for a reason.

Another reason why photographers will discourage clients from using a cheap photo lab is because it cheapens the image. Also, when someone else is looking at that print you had made at the one-hour place, they may judge the quality of work on that image. In other words, if you print your images and they turn out looking like garbage, people will think your photographer is to blame.

We strive to offer the best prints and products to our customers. That’s why we prefer to use a pro lab instead of printing at Costco or WalMart. 

Probably the highlight of our summer thus far has been shooting Shaun and Julie Umscheid’s wedding. Why? Because it took place at a demolition derby.

Now Shaun and Julie have been avid fans of this sport, and are quite popular in the demo derby circuit around these parts. So, it only made sense to have their ceremony before the Vulcan Demolition Derby back in July.

Brides and grooms strive to have a day that reflects who they truly are, and the Umscheid’s certainly reached that benchmark! Shaun and a few of the groomsmen were even entered in the derby, taking home some of the top prize money to boot.

We started the day documenting the bride getting ready, and there was a fantastic abandoned yard nearby. Julie’s hobby (or shall we say, obsession) or re-purposing vintage items. You can find out more about that on her Facebook page. Given her cool hobby/obsession, she knew the abandoned yard very well, and we shot the ladies in and around the house.

Now, fast-forward to the ceremony, and the bridal party made a memorable entrance. The stands were full of people, and the gents roared into the ring with the bridesmaids riding on the exterior of the cars (remember, these are derby cars – only one seat!). A berm surrounded the field for safety, so each pair walked a sheet of plywood over the berm and onto a flat-deck trailer.

The reception was nothing short of amazing. Remember Julie’s hobby/obsession? Well, she decorated the entire hall with her re-purposed items. From the backdrop behind the head table made up of old doors, to a photo booth area where guests could take iPhone selfies, and a one-of-a-kind reclaimed metal tile serving as a guest book, she had every detail down.

 I absolutely loved working with the Umscheid’s, they are a fun-loving, cool couple, and it was an honour to be part of their day – and to work with them again! Shaun had actually recruited me last year to shoot at another demo derby…..the one where he proposed to Julie.

Well, the annual Brooks Medieval Faire finished another crazy year. Seems like every edition is much larger than the year previous, and Number 12 should be no exception. Great weather and entertainment is a perfect combination!
We didn't stick around too long this year due to previous commitments, but did manage this little video - we hope you enjoy it!