Montreal!

So I kind of came up to Montreal yesterday without a plan, other than to sit somewhere pretty and grind through a bunch of wedding editing I'm desperately trying to stay on top of. (I'm in the middle of like 10 straight weekends of weddings. Which is superyay for my wallet, but not superyay for my wrists and eyes and fingers which do all the clicking and squinting and editing.)

So I was about to hit the border...and then it dawned on me that I had done zero research on what to see or eat or do...so I posted on Facebook and got a ton of amazing recommendations. Social media at its finest.

Within minutes of arriving in town, I was on my way to Olive + Gourmando, this funky little gourmet pastry/sandwich place that at least 4 people told me I HAD to check out.

I had the BEST Cuban sandwich I've ever had in my life. Seriously considering going back for another tomorrow.

Then I also went to another recommendation: Schwartz's.

For their signature Smoked Meat Sandwich. YUM.

I drove around the city a little...it's really really pretty.

The old port is pretty awesome.

And there's this housing project thingy Megoon recommended I check out called Habitat 67 or something. It's a bunch of concrete block apts. So very cool...

Anyway. I'm limiting my daily sightseeing to an hour by car.

 

So I went back to my hotel to do work by the pool. I'm so lame. Whatever. It's probably better than sitting in a yucky office all day.

And it's nice because in Canada my cell phone isn't working so annoying headshot clients and potential new clients can't call to ask me for answers to stupid questions that are all readily available on my website.

Oh also I had Poutine for dinner. And I'm still trying to decide if it was totally delicious or totally disgusting.

Closed Circuit Red Carpet!

I've branched out into doing red carpets!

A friend hooked me up with a contact and now I'm the go-to East Coast guy for a media outlet.

The pay isn't great. $300 per event. But they're only like an hour or two. And you get to spot celebs. So that is fun fun fun for me!

My first event was a screening for the new movie "Closed Circuit" starring Eric Bana, Rebecca Hall, and Julia Stiles.

It was a great one to start on because it wasn't like a huge premiere. There were maybe 30 other photographers (instead of hundreds) so the fight to get the shot wasn't as intense. Everyone gave each other time to get the shots they need before yelling and screaming to get the stars' attention and direct them.

And they were all SUPER friendly and helpful, offering tips on where to stand, how to not get in the way of others, how to shoot, general etiquette, etc etc.

The first people through were the director and screenwriter. These guys are noticeably less comfortable in front of the cammys. Plus they know none of us really care.

Then the stars walk in, introduced by their publicists so we know exactly who we are shooting and whose name to scream.

First up was Rebecca Hall who you may remember from her breakout role as Vicky in Woody Allen's "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" (his best film ever) or in Ben Affleck's "The Town".

She was SO tall and STUNNING.

So literally as soon as they hit their marks, the flashbulbs go NUTS. Each of 30 photogs (in thise case) fires like 10 shots a second hoping to get their money shot. And because of this you get TONS of crappy shots where other people's flashes are throwing off and overexposing your shots.

Meanwhile everyone is screaming "REBECCA! REBECCA OVER HERE!!! TO YOUR LEFT!!! REBECCA 2ND ROW!!!! REBECCAA!!!!!!!"

It is cray.

Then came Miss Julia Stiles.

Then came Mr. Eric Bana.

It was definitely a learning experience. Excited to do more!

After they pass through the gauntlet of photographers. They hit all the news outlets and interviewers. Common etiquette is to not fire your flash at them while they're being interviewed so that it doesn't show up in the video.

Oops.

We LOVES Celebrities!!!

LOVES a red carpet!!!!!!