Let me tell you the story of how and why I am now shooting with Nikon. I grew up with Nikon, having shot with the FM2, F90x, F100 and even with the Kodak DCS 760 which was modelled after the F5, and which was my first digital camera. It was as big and as heavy as a brick. I remember paying close to $18,000 for it. I then started shooting with the Nikon D100. I found that I wasn’t getting consistently great results with the D100, so I then switched to the Canon 20D. It served me well for a while and soon started shooting with the 5D and then with the 5D MkII. At the time, I found the quality of the Canon system to be better although I always preferred the ergonomics of the Nikon system. I had been shooting with two 5D MkII’s for a few years and was very happy with the results, as long as I didn’t shoot higher than 1600 ISO. I found the camera to be reliable and the focusing fast.

In May 2011, I photographed my gorgeous friends, Dave and Quin Cheung while I was presenting a workshop in Toronto. I photographed Quin as a modern day geisha and she looked absolutely amazing! It was a shoot that I had been looking forward to for quite some time. Several years earlier when I first met them, I remember saying, “I want to photograph you naked!” They freaked out a bit but then I replied, “Don’t worry, I’ll be naked.” We all laughed and have since become the best of friends. (By the way, I will be featuring the shoot in upcoming chapters of my educational web site, the Ice Society – www.theicesociety.com). During the shoot, I knocked over one of my 5D MkIIs and it fell off the wall and onto the sidewalk. The body cracked from the fall and was completely unusable. Since I always shoot with two cameras, I just accepted that I would buy a new one with with the insurance money once I filed the claim. The problem was, I was getting ready to leave overseas and would need both of my cameras and I didn’t think I would have enough time to purchase a new one before I left.

Rewinding my story just a bit and going back to January 2011 at the SWPP convention in the UK, I won their major award – the Photographer of the Year among 10 accolades. The prize that was given to me for winning that award was a brand new Nikon D3s with a 24-70mm f/2.8 lens. The rumours around the industry at that time was that it was the first Nikon digital camera to rival if not better any Canon digital camera, but I never even took the camera out of the box. I simply left the box on a shelf in my studio and didn’t think twice about it. It just didn’t seem worth it to me because I wasn’t about to invest in Nikon lenses and suddenly change everything I had because I would have to replace up to 8 lenses and still get another body.

But soon after I broke the 5D MkII, I borrowed a Canon 1D MkIV and shot a wedding with it because I was considering buying it to replace my broken camera. I enjoyed shooting with it the whole day, but it wasn’t full frame and I just love shooting full frame. Because I had become so used to shooting full frame, it just didn’t feel right to me. So I quickly dismissed that camera as being an option. Finally, my curiosity got the better of me and I pulled that Nikon D3S out of the box and shot with it. Three letters…W-O-W! Ignorance apparently is bliss! I had no idea how amazing the D3s was. When my friends and students would tell me that the D3s was the best DSLR on the market I would quickly dismiss them and say that it’s “the chef and not the oven” and didn’t need another camera system. I quickly purchased my favourite lens, the 70-200 f2.8 and a SB-900 Speedlight. The camera and buttons seemed comfortable again and the muscle memory I had built in my early career came back to me very quickly. The focusing was super fast and using focus points other than the center one was very reliable. The crowning jewel, though, of the D3s is without a doubt the amazing quality with high ISOs! I’ve never shot at any ISO above 1600. Now I find myself regularly shoot with ISOs of up to 10,000 quite comfortably. For a while, I shot with the D3s and the 5DMII was my back-up camera but I discovered that I hardly ever used the Canon again. So since June 2011 I have been shooting with the D3s exclusively and I have just invested in more lenses including the 24-120mm f/4, 85mm f/1.4, 50mm f/1.4, 14-24mm f/2.8, 105mm Micro, 45mm tilt shift and the 16-35mm f/2.8.

I can’t wait for the Nikon D4, and from what I hear is the best DSLR ever made. I haven’t had a chance to use it yet but I’m really looking forward to getting one soon. I am the first to tell or teach you that your camera is only a tool and that you make the difference. That being said, I am getting shots with the D3S (because to the great quality at higher ISOs) that I have never achieved before. Dare I say it, but the camera has made me a better photographer which is allowing me to provide even better results to my clients.

What an amazing year 2011 was! Melissa I had the pleasure of photographing over twenty weddings around Australia, USA, New Zealand and a gorgeous wedding in Greece. The year started with two memorable workshops in Los Angeles with all the registration fees going to the charity that Melissa and I started, the Soul Society We will be sharing details of how those funds, including other generous donations, will be distributed soon! Melissa and I presented a further nine workshops across the USA and Australia and also presented a seminar in Mexico. I had the privilege of lecturing in Japan a couple of years ago with the incredible Sandy Puc. Before I knew it, I had committed to a 33 city tour across the US on a bus. Yes, that’s right. Melissa and I, Sandy and her team and several sponsors lived on a bus and presented to thousands of photographers which was certainly a highlight of 2011 and an amazing life experience that we will be reminiscing about for years to come. February 2011 marked my 8th year in a row attending WPPI where I was thrilled to win my 7th International Wedding Album of the Year Award in 9 years among other accolades. I presented a seminar to over 3000 people in the Grand Garden Arena at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas – the very stage where I saw Bon Jovi perform the previous year! I also finally won the only wedding photography award that eluded me after years of trying which was the AIPP (Australian Institute of Professional Photography) Australian Wedding Photographer of the Year! Speaking of Awards, I was also honoured to be awarded Diamond photographer of the Year by PPA for the fourth year in a row.

Although 2011 was filled with some great experiences, it will always be remembered as the year I married my soul mate and best friend, Melissa. I cannot begin to express how madly I am in love with her. When I was escorting her down the aisle, I’ve never felt so much raw emotion in my life as I did in those moments. I thought my love for her on our wedding day was at its peak. After one year of marriage, my love deepens with every day that passes. We laugh all day, every day. We are in sync with each other and we have a true partnership in all that we do. She has taught me what true love is and what unconditional love is all about. I wish you the same joy. Everyone deserves happiness!

Without further ado, I am thrilled to present you our wedding video which was created by the incredible Matthew Scott of MTS Films. Believe it or not, he was the only film maker on the day. If you are interested, he also presents workshops to aspiring film makers around the world. Thank you Matt for an amazing film! And a huge thanks to our photographers, Ryan Schembri, George Fragopoulos, Luke and David Edmonson and my nephew Zane Ghionis. Special thanks to Jesh de Rox for writing and performing the song “Shivers” in our honour.

I begin 2012 as a resident of the USA with Melissa and we are set to spend 3-4 months in Australia and 8 months of the year in the US and abroad. 2012 marks the launch of the Ice Light, a continuous LED light source that I designed and which was created by Westcott. Click here for more info and to purchase. After four years of sustaining my educational web site, I am also pleased to announce that the Ice Society version 2 will be released early February. It will be iPhone and iPad friendly and have several more features and a more sexy and user friendly interface. We have several weddings, workshops and speaking engagements all over the world scheduled for this year and many exciting projects due for release in 2012.

I am sorry I have not updated my blog as frequently as I would have liked. My wife and my clients are my number one priority. That being said, I will attempt to update my blog at least every 2 weeks with all new work and several exciting announcements. As of today, I will be updating the “photo of the day,” everyday as the title suggests. Hope to see you, shoot you, teach you, have fun with you, sing karaoke with you, hug you, make friends with you and spoon with you soon! Yes, in that order!

Well… it probably makes the most sense to tell this story from my point of view (Melissa’s) because this truly was one of the most amazing days of my life. It’s so hard for me to even describe what an incredible two days I had just a couple of months ago. This man is just incredible.The thing is, we had already talked about getting married and were actually already started to make arrangements for the wedding. So there was never too much of a question as to whether I was going to say yes or not by this point! And because we had such a busy schedule and had so much to do before the wedding, I just assumed that the proposal would be very sweet, but very simple and quiet. And for some reason, I was completely convinced that he would propose to me in New York City since we were schedule to travel there the following week. It’s pretty obvious now just how off I was on my assumptions!

So we woke up on Tuesday morning and since Jerry had a meeting on the other side of the city, I was just going to walk to the studio while he took the car. We got ready, had breakfast and then said goodbye at the door and went our separate ways. Nothing odd, nothing different, just another day at work. I spent the day at the studio and was just in full-on work mode. We were leaving less than a week later to go on a 6 week trip so to say that we were a little busy at the studio was a total understatement.

So at around 2:00 or so in the afternoon, the front door opened and we heard the chime that someone had just come into the studio. Sally turns to me and says, “Are you expecting anyone?” I replied no, but said it’s probably just Jerry who was coming back from his meeting. Sally went to check and came right back to say, “Melissa, someone’s here to see you.” Which is very weird. So I went to the foyer and there’s a cute guy, very well dressed and he said, “Hello, Melissa?” “Yes?” He replies “It’s great to meet you!” So I thought he was a client? Or maybe photographer? Then he follows that up and says “I have strict instructions to have you come with me immediately.” So I look out the door and there’s a black Audi right outside our door (We’re right on a pier so there’s never any cars allowed this far down….) with the back door open. He says, “So just get your bag and follow me.” I suddenly got so very hot and my face got all red. I ran back to the production room and was just fumbling everywhere. I somehow managed to tell Sally that I had to go and she kept asking “Where??” “Who are you going with?” (Sneaky little bugger – I actually believed she was just as surprised as I was!) And I kept saying, “I don’t know!” It was the most surreal thing ever! I went outside and the driver escorts me to the car and I’m trying to ask him where we’re going, but he’s just smiling. I assumed that he was taking me to a restaurant and that Jerry was going to meet me there for a really nice lunch? At which point, I was really bummed, because I was definitely not dressed for a nice lunch. I had dressed super casually because it was going to be a long day at work. But I was still thought it was so romantic that Jerry wanted to take me out for lunch.

You see, what had completely thrown me off was that my birthday was the following day. Combine that fact along with the fact that I was convinced he wouldn’t be proposing for another few weeks, and I really had no clue what was in store.

Then, the next thing I know the driver pulls up right in front of our building and he turns to me and says, “Okay. Now I need you to go upstairs and pack an overnight bag and then be back down here no later than 3:50.” Now I wish you could have seen my face. “A what?!? An overnight bag?? Where am I going? What do I pack?” The driver just smiles again and says, “Just go upstairs, pack your bag. I’m sure your questions will be answered when you go there.” (Thank goodness I had my keys with me by the way!) So then I thought, “Ahhhhh, Jerry must be meeting me in the apartment. How romantic!” I got off the elevator and ran all the way to the front door, threw it open….. and no one was there.

All I saw was a big Chanel box on the kitchen counter. I almost died!! I ran into the kitchen, totally forgot to close the front door and opened the box. I knew what it was instantly. There’s this adorable little bag that we’ve been looking at for ages and I knew right away that he bought it for me. When I opened the box, there was a card designed by Karl Lagerfeld right at the top and it said, “Meli-mou (which is a nickname Jerry has for me…) You’ll need this for dinner tonight……” And then I turned the card over and it said, “………in Sydney. xoxo”

Moments after walking into the apartment…

I had to read – and reread – that note over and over again. SYDNEY??? As in Sydney – the opera house and Harbour bridge Sydney. Right now??? Who does this!? Then I started finding the post it notes. And there were several. The first one said:

First – do not call or text me. (Which was good because I had my phone in my hand to do exactly that).

Next go upstairs and pack something very nice for dinner tonight (very sexy). [Just in case I didn’t understand what “nice” meant, I guess...]

You will have time to get ready.

Make sure everything fits into a carry-on bag.

And there were a few other very beautiful notes as well and at this point I was half giggling and laughing and half crying. All this because I was turning 34! Who knew??? Not only that, I still hadn’t even talked to him. I was DYING that all of this was happening and I had no idea that he had planned any of it. I was running out of time because the driver was still downstairs and I now had about 15 minutes to pack and go. I went upstairs and there on the floor was my carry on bag, already opened, ready to be packed. Which was crazy because *I* left after him that morning. I started wondering if he had just parked across the street and waited for me to leave that morning? When did he have time to come back? I was too flustered to even try to work it out. And laughing and crying. This crazy, crazy, beautiful man.

When I was finished, I ran downstairs and there was the driver. I got in the car and he whisks me away again. He asked me if I knew where I was going yet, but I swear to you… I still wasn’t sure. Surely we weren’t going to Sydney right now. First, who does that? And secondly, we had SO much going on at the studio, there’s no way he would have just stopped everything. As a matter of fact, the studio calendar for the following day was absolutely filled with appointments all day long. (It was all a conspiracy though…they were all fake appointments that Jerry had “planted” earlier in the week.)

So I looked at the driver and said, “Are we going to the airport???” And he just smiled and away we went! I was just beside myself in the back seat of that car. Just giggling and laughing and DYING to talk to Jerry but I had my instructions.

Finally, when we were close to the airport I got a text message. It’s from Qantas Airlines, of all people, and you’ll never believe it…the text message contained my boarding pass. A boarding pass for Sydney. So I’m just laughing hysterically and so unbelievably excited and my heart is pounding because I’m SURE I’m about to see him at last.

So once we arrive at the airport, I thank the driver, run inside, get thru security and dash to the gate….and no Jerry. So then it finally dawns on me that he wanted me to get to the gate first and now he’s going to walk up on me. So I run to the bathroom, make sure I look okay, sit down and I wait. And wait. And wait. And now we’re about to board the flight. They call my row number – and still Jerry’s not here. Is it actually possible that he’s not even on this flight? Which worries me because my instructions ended at the airport. That’s why I assumed he was on this flight. I have nowhere to go after this.

I drag my heels but finally board the flight and I’m in the second to last row so I can see the entire plane in front of me. Every last seat was filled. And of course, no Jerry. Now I have to sit on this flight, giggling like I’m an absolute nut case and try not to die from excitement before getting there. I was in the middle seat, and I swear, my seatmates must have thought I was crazy. Halfway through the flight I stood up because I just could NOT sit still anymore and went to the back where the flight attendants were sitting and I was so nervous and so giddy that I just started chatting with them. One of the girls said, “Are you going to be in Sydney for long?” And I replied, “…….I don’t know! I didn’t even know I was coming to Sydney when I woke up this morning!” And then I told them the entire story. By the time we landed, they were giggling and so excited for me and kept saying they wanted to meet this gorgeous man who would do this crazy thing and for a 34th birthday. They were convinced that Jerry was going to be at the gate waiting for me – so did I – because that’s where all of the instructions ended. Oh my goodness – I can’t even express how nervous and excited I was. My heart was POUNDING! It was crazy!

Because I was in the back of the plane I was one of the last ones out and I had this little mini entourage with me. It was hysterical! I had the two flight attendants and another passenger who just joined into the conversation as well and they were following me out of the plane so they could go see Jerry for themselves. They were speculating that he would have flowers and that he was going to be waiting for me – it was all very exciting!!! So we finally get to the end of the walkway….and there’s NO Jerry.

Now I’m wondering…was he supposed to be on that flight? Did he miss it? Where am I supposed to go now?

So I slowly started walking towards baggage claim and don’t you know? There was another cute, very well dressed guy with a sign that said, “Ms. Tirado” just walking towards me. Can you believe this?? I know I couldn’t. It really felt so surreal. I was just dying to see Jerry and just kiss him and squeeze him. So I started laughing again and said, “Oh! Oh! That’s ME!!!”

So this man took my carry-on bag and I started following him. He introduces himself and says that he’ll be taking me to my destination. To which I reply “…which is??” And he looked at me like I was an absolute idiot. “You mean, you don’t know where you’re going?” And I was only too happy to my story yet again. “No!” says I. “I have no idea! I didn’t even know I was coming to Sydney went I woke up this morning!” And I promptly launched into the entire story again. I was so giddy! Meanwhile, he is putting on an oscar-winning performance and telling me that he had no idea and what an unbelievable story this is. But everyone’s been telling me this all day so far and by now, I’m not buying that line too quickly anymore. So I kept asking, “Do you know Jerry? Have you spoken to him? Where are we going? Is it a hotel? We’re not going to a restaurant yet, right?” So he started pointing out the sights as we were driving by, I think to shut me up. These drivers were so amazing. They were so into making me believe them. I truly fell for it. I only found out later that both drivers knew everything all along. They were brilliant.

Finally we pull up in front of this hotel and I just melted. It was RIGHT on Sydney Harbour (It was this hotel: http://sydney.park.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/index.jsp?null).

Then just before he steps out, the driver says, “Now. I need you to upstairs and get ready for dinner. I will be ready to pick you up in exactly one hour. Stay in your room and when I come back to pick you up, I’ll call up to your room. There will be some wine and snacks in the room, just unwind and take your time getting ready.”

Do you know what it’s like to be completely not in control of something? I’m always in control! I’m always the one that knows where we’re going, where we have to be, what time we have to be there. Now I’ve just spent an entire day not even knowing what my next step will be. I can’t even describe to you how luxurious, how pampered I felt.

The bellman took my carry on bag as I stepped out of the car and he said, “I’m so happy you could join us, Ms. Tirado.” Which is really bizarre since I hadn’t told him my name yet. Then he leads me inside and a man came out from behind a desk, shakes my hand, leads me to a chair and says, “We’re so happy to have you here, Ms. Tirado. Please have a seat here.” And at this point I can’t stop smiling wider than should even be legal. I just flopped in the chair and said, “Okay. I’ll sit. I’m just going to do what everyone tells me to do. No problems.” And they guy laughed. He said, “Now, I have some keys here for you.” Of COURSE you do! You know my name and you have some keys for me already.

I was just trying to still work out exactly how Jerry made all of this possible. We’re together 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I mean, I should really know if he was planning something! Here I am, sitting in the MOST BEAUTIFUL hotel I’ve ever seen and being treated like royalty. Two pretty blonde girls peek out from behind a door and give me a big smile and welcome me. It’s like everyone was in on this except for me. Crazy!

So the hotel man shows me to my room and I promise I’m not exaggerating about this…he opened the door. And I remember nothing more about that man. I don’t remember him saying anything, I don’t remember him leaving!! He opened the door and I saw the most spectacular room with the most breathtaking views I’ve ever seen. I must have been in a daze. The room was so huge and there was a giant balcony…..with a full on view of the Sydney Opera House RIGHT OUTSIDE the door. It was like I could touch it.

This room was so big that I was just running into the rooms back and forth, back and forth, because I didn’t even know what to take in first. Then I kept wanting to go into the bathroom, and I kept walking into the *closest* instead! Three times that happened to me. Wanted to go to the bathroom and I walked right into the closest. Remember Pretty Woman? The movie? I completely felt like that. (…without the prostitute part, as Jerry likes to point out every time I tell this story.)

Then I saw this GORGEOUS arrangement of flowers on the table that included my absolute favourite flowers. How did Jerry find them? I have no a clue. Then were a dozen chocolate covered strawberries. And a note that said simply, “See You Very Soon….” I can’t even describe all of the emotions I was feeling by this point. I love this man so much that words can’t describe. Who does this???

So now I’m really soaking it all in. First thing I did was take a shower. Do you know how cool this room was? I was in the bathroom (which is made up of 2 separate rooms, by the way) and as I’m in the shower, I have a direct view, through the room, out the balcony, to the opera house. I said out loud in the shower, “I’m taking a shower and looking at the Sydney Opera House.” It was unreal.

I then got out of the shower and then started getting ready for dinner. I got dressed, did my makeup perfectly, my hair, everything. I know knew that Jerry was obviously at the restaurant waiting for me. And that I was going to meet him there. So now I’m REALLY getting excited and my heart was starting to pound. And I just wanted to quickly get there so I could see him.

I had just put my shoes on when I heard a sound by the door. I remembered seeing housekeeping in the hall earlier so I thought they were thinking of coming in to do the turn down service. So I hurried to put the “Do Not Disturb” sign out and just as I turned the corner in the room…..THERE he was.

Jerry had just walked in and he was so perfect. He was all showered, in a beautiful suit and tie, his hair was all perfect and he just looked so BEAUTIFUL. There’s really no other way to describe it. It caught my breath – literally. I ran and he just gave me the most massive hug ever. And I could have stayed there forever. I was so happy and so…..amazed….at the entire day and so in love with him for going through so much just to give me a surprise.

The emotions I was feeling at this moment are indescribable. Even now. Because I was expecting to see him at the restaurant, there was no build up at all when I turned that corner and saw him. I just wasn’t expecting him to be there at all. And because of that, the emotions that I felt at that moment when I saw him were so….raw. They were so real. I was just completely and madly in love with him and just so happy to be right there in his arms.

This was the absolute best surprise of my life. And then before I could even think, or breathe, he went down on one knee and he asked me to marry him right then and there.

Moments after Jerry proposed to me…

To say that it was perfect is an absolute and complete understatement. It was beyond perfect. Perfect doesn’t even begin to describe it. It was just breathtakingly beautiful. And still, that was just the beginning of the evening. We then had the most spectacular dinner at restaurant with floor to ceiling 360 degree views. The restaurant spun around slowly so we had incredible views of Sydney the entire evening.

Then he surprised me AGAIN the next day and we went to Bondi beach to meet our good friends, Ryan and Jess Schembri for lunch (who also helped to plan the Sydney leg of my surprise) and then he booked a harbour bridge climb for the next day, too. It just never stopped.

He put so much effort into this. Down to the dummy appointments in the calendar to make me believe that we were completely booked out all week.

Anyways, I could go on and on and on, (and I probably will when I tell you this story in person), but I think it’s safe to say that I’m going to be spending the rest of my life with a really amazing guy.

~ by Melissa Ghionis