{"id":1507,"date":"2016-09-01T15:16:54","date_gmt":"2016-09-01T15:16:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.jpegmini.com\/?p=1507"},"modified":"2016-09-01T15:16:54","modified_gmt":"2016-09-01T15:16:54","slug":"whose-tagline-is-2-small-asians-4-cameras","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.jpegmini.com\/es\/whose-tagline-is-2-small-asians-4-cameras\/","title":{"rendered":"Whose Tagline is “2 Small Asians, 4 Cameras”?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dave and Quin Cheung of DQ Studios are two of the most creative and successful wedding photographers<\/a> we know. This wife and husband team, from Calgary, Alberta, have won international awards for image making and they are experts in photography lighting and building client relationships. As if that was not enough, they are also the creators of Motibodo keyboards<\/a> for Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. Their focus on great imagery and unparalleled client service has allowed their business to thrive and grow amidst the ever-growing global competition.<\/p>\n

We had the pleasure and honor to interview Dave and Quin. We invite you to read and learn\u00a0how they do it all.<\/p>\n

\"\u00a9DQ<\/a>
\u00a9DQ Studios<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Tell us a bit about Dave and Quin.\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

We\u2019ve been married for almost 19 years, and shooting as DQ Studios<\/a> together for 15 years.\u00a0 It was a fateful backpacking trip through France where we fell in love with street shooting that made us want to pursue photography as something more than a hobby.<\/p>\n

How were the first few times you worked together?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

I think we were fortunate to be able to start our business together versus having one join the other\u2019s existing business.\u00a0 But it hasn\u2019t always been easy sailing to figure out how to work well together and make each other better.\u00a0 The first few weddings were stressful\u00a0but so rewarding.\u00a0 Back then we were shooting film we couldn\u2019t wait to get back to our basement where we\u2019d develop and print our own black and white prints.\u00a0 It was magical \u2026. And all-consuming time-wise LOL!\u00a0But what got us to where we are as a shooting couple who makes each other better was constant communication and a mutual respect as people and artists.<\/p>\n

\"\u00a9DQ<\/a>
\u00a9DQ Studios<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

How long did it take you to feel truly comfortable shooting weddings together?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cComfortable\u201d is a strange way to put it, as we still get a bit of the butterflies before each shoot.\u00a0 I used to hate that feeling, but have slowly learned to embrace it – it just means we still care and want to do our very best \u2026 Better than the last time we shot.<\/p>\n

How many weddings do you guys shoot per year?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

10-15 weddings.<\/p>\n

\"\u00a9DQ<\/a>
\u00a9DQ Studios<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On average, how many photos do you guys take in a normal day?\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cNormal\u201d is kind of difficult to pin down, as we shoot weddings of all faiths, sizes and number of events.\u00a0 The next 2 weddings are 3 or 4-day events, but some days will have only an hour coverage, and others will be over 10.\u00a0 But on a full 8-10 hour wedding day we will likely shoot 8-10,000 images. Our tagline isn\u2019t \u201c2 small Asians, 4 cameras\u201d for nothing \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

How many would you expect to give to a couple?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

About 10% of the take.<\/p>\n

\"\u00a9DQ<\/a>
\u00a9DQ Studios<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Walk us through a normal day’s shooting.\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Oh man \u2026 This is a loaded question! LOL!\u00a0 The next couple of weddings are Indian weddings with multiple, beautiful ceremonies.\u00a0 But more traditional \u201cwhite\u201d weddings will have Quin and I splitting up to cover the bride\/groom prep separately, then reconnecting and shooting from the ceremony forwards. Family formals, bridal party and couple time lead up to the cocktail hour where we set up our lights for the reception and dance party.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s the best and worst thing about being a wedding photographer?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Best: it has brought us to amazing places and created true friendships with our couples, some of which are now our closest friends!<\/p>\n

Worst: Being perfectionists and artists, we still have a hard time letting go of anything and thus we ARE the Asian sweatshop: we do all our own post processing in house.<\/p>\n

\"\u00a9DQ<\/a>
\u00a9DQ Studios<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What do you both find to be the most difficult thing about shooting weddings?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

I think it\u2019s a combination of the physical stamina needed to shoot physically like we do, combined with the mental focus of really understanding who and what needs my attention.\u00a0 It’s too easy to get into auto-pilot and just shoot what we\u2019ve shot before. The lost art of being truly present, and being present all day and visioning for our couples is hard work.<\/p>\n

One of the biggest parts of wedding photography has to do with the business behind it. How did you go about learning that part, realizing that you need to constantly bring in money, set budgets, etc?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Dave helped run his parents\u2019 family business for years. Though not formal training, it was a great place to observe, test and refine ideas which we can put into our business today.<\/p>\n

\"\u00a9DQ<\/a>
\u00a9DQ Studios<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Can you describe your workflow after a shoot?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

After the shoot, we download all memory cards at once using Photo Mechanic 5 and make triplicate off-line copies of all RAW files.\u00a0 I then use PM5 to export the embedded JPEGS to make selections from on my laptop.\u00a0 I run these through JPEGmini Pro to save space on my relatively small Laptop<\/a>, and really like to be able to work anywhere to select images.\u00a0 Selections are made using Motibodo for Photo Mechanic 5<\/a>, then the selects are run through Motibodo for Lightroom<\/a>\u00a0and exported using the JPEGmini Lightroom plug-in<\/a>.\u00a0 About 15-20% of these we\u2019ll pull into Photoshop and run our favourite actions on them<\/a>.\u00a0 Once the final cut is retouched, we rename and run them through JPEGmini Pro<\/a> to make sure everything is neat and tidy and ready to deliver to our clients.<\/p>\n

What are you guys doing to specifically market the creative services you offer?\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Two best methods of advertising for us have been referrals and our online presence.\u00a0 We\u2019re also finding an organic growth in maternity\/newborn\/family portraiture as our couples grow into new family dynamics.<\/p>\n

\"\u00a9DQ<\/a>
\u00a9DQ Studios<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Where do your influences come from as far as a creative vision go? \u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

It truly comes out of our core beliefs in life: God, family, the world around us and the experiences we\u2019ve been blessed to have.\u00a0 Our lives have been shaped in unique ways and we truly believe everyone, after learning and copying from those we admire, shoot out of who we are \u2026 This is more than style or choice, but the very core of our art and relationships.<\/p>\n

Speaking of creativity, how do you help photographers in your workshops push the envelope?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Inspiration is a big part of it: showing people what\u2019s possible with simply seeing, thinking or using tools differently.\u00a0 But then also equipping them with the tools and techniques, and allowing a safe place to fail.\u00a0 It\u2019s important that people understand some parts of photography are hard, and that they will fail.\u00a0 But to say its ok and have a place where they can fail forward – towards making the images they see in their heads.<\/p>\n

\"\u00a9DQ<\/a>
\u00a9DQ Studios<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Where are your masterclasses about and how long do they run?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

We\u2019re really flexible and have taught full 1 and 2-day masterclasses where we cover topics as broad as seeing light,\u00a0 mastering off-camera flash, post process and business and sales.
\nWhere is the 1 place you haven\u2019t been that you\u2019d love to do a shoot and\/or do a workshop in?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

We\u2019ve been blessed to shoot and teach in some amazing places, but would love to visit ITALY!<\/p>\n

What do you both do with your spare time?\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

What spare time? LOL!\u00a0 Between running DQ Studios, creating Motibodo solutions<\/a> (first for ourselves then shared to the photography community), we have 2 great boys we love to hang out with.\u00a0 And we blog our personal junk here: http:\/\/notsoancientchinesecrets.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\u00a9DQ<\/a>
\u00a9DQ Studios<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you could give one piece of advice to aspiring photographers what would it be?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

When you think you\u2019ve shot enough and got your shot, keep shooting and thinking and feeling \u2026 Shoot More!<\/p>\n

Try JPEGmini Pro For Free Now!\u00a0<\/a><\/h3>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dave and Quin Cheung of DQ Studios are two of the most creative and successful wedding photographers we know. This wife and husband team, from Calgary, Alberta, have won international awards for image making and they are experts in photography lighting and building client relationships. As if that was not enough, they are also the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":1508,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1507","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"blocksy_meta":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"wps_subtitle":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.jpegmini.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1507","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.jpegmini.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.jpegmini.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.jpegmini.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.jpegmini.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1507"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blog.jpegmini.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1507\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.jpegmini.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1508"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.jpegmini.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1507"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.jpegmini.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1507"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.jpegmini.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1507"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}