Fuji FP-3000B - APRIL FOOLS!

This is totally April Fools. While in Vegas @ WPPI waiting in line , these 2 jokers went into the store to put on their "d-bag" outfits. So, awesome. The best part, is they don't look like d-bags, and actually pull it off rather well. Freaking Ed Hardy...

Time to give back - Help me, help them - Benefit for Sarah O'Gwinn

***UPDATE!!! THE BENEFIT HAS BEEN EXTENDED UNTIL JUNE!!! THIS POST WILL BE AT THE TOP ALL WEEK. SCROLL DOWN FOR NEW CONTENT***


I have a dear friend named Sarah (she's been on this blog before) who lives just up the street from me. We don't see each other often as we'd like as we both are super busy with various aspects of life. However, when Weston was in the hospital Sarah was calling me daily to bring us dinners, offered babysitting, and anything else to help. At the time, I was really overwhelmed and completley appreciative and utterly blown away at her generosity as she was the one who stepped up out of nowhere for us in our time of need.

Fast forward to when Weston is home and well. I found out that all the while when Sarah was coming to my house with dinners and various offers of help, she herself was the most in need, not us.

How you ask, well here is Sarah's story...

Sarah had cancer for the first time at age 19. At that time tumors had engulfed her stomach. Doctors removed her stomach and the cancer was gone. We thought everything was fine. Sarah is now 34, married with two children. It is a miracle she is even alive. Three and a half years ago her cancer came back. She wrote this after finding out about the cancer for the second time:

“I have Cancer. I am 31 years old. I have a beautiful baby girl. I have a husband, his name is Andy. I love him so much. I have cancer, but it doesn’t have me. I have a family to raise, a husband to love. I am so young. I want more children. I want to live until I’m 95 years old. I have dreams and desires. I have purpose.

At times I have been afraid, but only for moments. I pray to my Heavenly Father and ask him for guidance, for strength, for life. I feel like it is not my time to go. I do not want to die. I am not ready. This cancer has reminded me how precious life is, how short, how important, and what is important; i.e. family, friends, faith, God, country, human life, people. We are surrounded by so many… Do we serve them, do I? I will. I promised Heavenly Father the day we went into the E.R. The day I thought I had a pinched nerve on my left shoulder, while I was waiting in the x-ray room, I knew something was wrong and I started bargaining.

When we were told I had Cancer in my abdominal wall, fatty tissue, next to that wall, liver, spleen, left ovary and left kidney. We thought it was a death sentence. Andy and I sobbed in each others arms. Andy called family. There were a lot of tears. Blessings were given, prayers were said. I do not remember what was said, but miracles proceeded that night. I do not think it was an accident I went into the E.R. I think it was because God wanted me to live, and learn something or help someone.”

Sarah is living proof that miracles exist. After her first battle with cancer doctors were unsure if she would be able to carry children, if nutritionally she could support a child. She was able to have Ella, when Ella was five months old Sarah was diagnosed a second time. Sarah did traditional chemotherapy, lost her hair- which was the least of her worries. Her initial doctor told her to go home and make herself comfortable. The end was near. There was nothing left to do. Sarah and Andy felt that was not good enough. They went to the Huntsman Cancer Institute. Here they found new doctors. Amazingly the doctor that specialized in Sarah’s type of cancer had recently moved to SLC from Texas. Sarah began a new cutting edge cancer treatment, chemo every day. And it proved to be successful. Sarah and Andy finally had hope and were working towards recovery.

In the spring of 2008 when going in for a regular CT scan, doctors were shocked to see a baby. Doctors had previously told Sarah she was sterile because of all the medication she was on. She would not have more children. Sarah’s doctors recommended they get an abortion. Sarah and Andy did not feel that was the path to take. Noah was born in October of 2008 a healthy baby boy. After all the exposure to medication and to toxic chemotherapy drugs, Noah shows no signs of trauma. He is now a healthy 18 month old.

Most recently Sarah went in for a PET scan. The results have shown the cancer is metabolically active, a smoldering fire, tumors have grown again. When asking doctors what others have done in her situation the response was “There is no one in your situation, others who have had your type of cancer have not lived this long.”

The future is uncertain. But with all the uncertainty, Sarah finds strength, faith and hope in God.

Sarah’s life is a miracle, she has touched many people. Sarah could be your friend, your neighbor, your sister, your mother, your wife. We are working on raising funds to help Sarah fight this cancer.

_________________________________________

So, here is what I want to do for my dear friend Sarah.

From NOW UNTIL JUNE any and all family portrait sessions will be donated to Sarah's treatments. Also, a special proofing site will be set up where all reprint orders totals will go to her as well. If we reach the goal of $10k raised, every family who participates in the benefit will receive a 5x7 disc from their shoot ($900 value).

You can view my family portrait pricing online HERE.

And if you are wondering what my family sessions look like, take a big gander HERE.


Again, all proceeds from all of the family shoots booked will go directly to Sarah for her treatments in battling this cancer. All checks must be made out to "Sarah O'Gwin" and all prints will be ordered from this specific proofing site:

http://benefitforsarah.instaproofs.com

I hope I can say thank you to Sarah for being there for me through this offering of my time and talents. It literally meant the world to us at the time when Sarah was there for my family.

If you want to book a session, please email me @

jonathan{at}jonathancanlasphotography{dot}com

Can't do the benefit and want to donate directly? You can do so HERE.

***A HUGE thank you to Instaproofs for sponsoring this benefit. If you are looking for a solution for your proofing, they are IT. End of story :).

I'm speaking @ BYU today

If you are @ BYU, I'll be speaking @ 1pm today @ the HFAC in room B-228. I'll be presenting the platform I did @ WPPI called "I'm not just a wedding photographer". See you there.

Oahu Hawaii

Some personal work shot on Oahu, mostly on the North Shore of Oahu. To me, this is heaven on earth. Mark my words, one day I will teach @ BYU-Hawaii in Laie and will live there with my family.

Want a print for your walls? You can view more images and order prints HERE.

Kristopher Orr

The coolest Canadian I know.

Film is Not Dead - V. 4.0 Testimonial - Amelia Johnson

To describe attending The Film Is Not Dead Workshop in just a few mere paragraphs is kind of like trying to put on a girdle that is four times too small; itʼs insufficient! I have known Jonathan from two perspectives, as his client and as his student. I once sat as a callow bride-to-be before Jonathan and asked, “Why film?”

Upon searching for a wedding photographer I asked some friends for suggestions. I made it clear that I needed an Ace. “Jonathan Canlas” was of course the response. I had the pleasure of working with Jonathan from a clientʼs seat, then as a fellow photographer. I have seen both sides of Jonathan and I can say that the Man is an
absolute Genius.

After the first day of the Workshop, I called my fabulous husband and said, “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I am frightened to think of having not ttended. I feel like my life is changing.” I felt like gravity no longer applied to me. I felt pure delight during every moment of lecture and shooting. Jonathan answered all of my questions and left me blown away at his prowess. A veil of ignorance, having long loomed over me, obscuring my vision, quickly slipped away, like a master pulling a cloth out from beneath a house of cards.

I have often read comments on The Blog that praise Jonathanʼs artistic ability and nonpareil vision. What people fail to realize is that this man is a double-edged sword! His stunning talent is equal to his business sagacity. I have been in the arts for a very long time and I have met many talented artists whose abilities sink into anonymity for the shear reason that they are not business people. Talent, unfortunately, does not always add up to success. Jonathan has bridged the gap between artistic genius and business know-how. Jonathan is a business Mastermind. He shared key insights that were nothing short of brilliant.

The information obtained at Jonathanʼs workshop was astounding. Crisp, clear,
simple and yet revolutionary. My fingers felt arthritic as I frantically typed his every word. The Film Is Not Dead Workshop is nothing short of life-changing. His seminar was a tornado of life-changing information, sweeping us to greater heights.

As Jonathanʼs pictures have a “Thatʼs so Canlas” quality to them, I had expected to learn a mountain about his style of composition, his manner of posing. I was delighted and surprised by Jonathanʼs goal, to help us discover our own style. He wanted us to refine our visions, and he gave us the tools to soar from there.

Jonathanʼs manner of teaching reminded me of economics. In economics, there is no one set subject, rather a vast array of tools to help one find answers to questions. Put yourself in the hands of a true master, and watch with wonder at what will unfold before you.

-Amelia Johnson


If you are ready for the "tornado of life-changing information" and want to get "swept away to greater heights", drop me a line. There are 3 spots left for San Diego and only a couple left for Park City!

And ps, Amelia, you are awesome.

Happy Birthday Callie

I know she does not make it on this blog all that much (she HATES me taking her photo) but she is literally responsible for everything I am as a person personally and professionally. I can't begin to tell you what an amazing person, mother, and wife she is. All of my success in every aspect of my life is literally because of her. It will be 8 years this year since I made the most important decision in my life. 8 yrs, 5 kids, and so many memories later, life could not be better. So here is to you Callie.

I love you Callie. Muchos, muchos. Happy Birthday, now lets pack up the car, the baby sitter is here and we're off to SLC!

Editing the first batch of scans from my sister in law's wedding...

I knew when I took this, I got what I was looking for. There were 3 frames total. 1 smiling and one of him laughing at me as I was all up in his grill. This is my wife's uncle. He is a hay farmer in Paragonah UT. Salt of the earth this man is. But this frame, this frame tells the story of hard, hard work. Much, much more coming from this wedding very, very soon.

EDITED...

And here is another frame to prove the one above is actually from a wedding. My girls are TOO cute.

Film is Not Dead - V. 4.0 Testimonial - JB White

The Film Is Not Dead Workshop is the best workshop out there, period. It doesn't matter if you shoot film, digital or wet plate collodion. If you haven't shot film before, you will certainly learn all the technical aspects of shooting film. But the workshop is so much more than just technical information. Jon challenges you to refine your own personal vision as a photographer. All through the workshop I kept asking myself "what do I want to say as a photographer". This, in my opinion, is where most other workshops fail.

Jon was great! He was totally approachable about any topic, big or small. The class size was just right. And the amount of time spent in lecture and out shooting was perfectly balanced.

I left the workshop feeling rejuvenated as a photographer and excited to implement the ideas that came to me during the course of the workshop.

And after the workshop is over, the learning doesn't end, you are actually just getting started. You then have access to the Film Is Not Dead Forum which is absolutely the best forum on the internet. It is a great community, comprised of only workshop alumni, all with the purpose of helping each other grow and succeed as photographers.

Oh, and the food! Don't get me started. Everything about this workshop is top notch all the way around. If you are still on the fence about attending, just go...you will be glad you did.

-JB White

If you are interested in the workshops, there are 3 spots left for San Diego and 3 spots left for Park City. Email me for details.