Review is written by Staff @ The Ring and is based on • Interviews with this vendor • Interviews with past brides
Two Tone Studios is a Guelph-based company owned and run by award-winning photographer, Kurt Brown. Kurt has been shooting weddings for seven years, has had his work shown in art galleries across Southwestern Ontario, and has built up quite a reputation with local couples. With images that range from contemporary to photojournalistic, packages priced to win over any bride, and a newly added destination wedding photography package, we imagine that Two Tone will continue to be busier with each passing wedding season (and have been told that during our visits with Kurt each year). Staff at The Ring sat down with Kurt to find out more about what Two Tone Studios has to offer. Let us explain...
Certified, experienced & awarded
Kurt Brown has a lot to offer couples who walk through the Two Tone Studios' doors. He graduated near the top of his Applied Photography class at Sheridan College in 2003, an accomplishment that surprised even him, since he originally planned to train in Graphic Design. It was when he took an elective photography class as part of the program that he decided to switch career paths. As Kurt tells The Ring, "I fell into photography, then fell in love with photography." While still a student, Kurt won an award for 'best advertising image in show'.
For the first five years of his wedding photography career, Kurt shot for a well-known local studio house. He says he shot over forty weddings throughout his time there, both as a second shooter and a lead photographer. Today, he's even more in his element, running his own Two Tone Studios, which features a cool client consultation area, studio shooting space and an impressive in-house digital facility.
As a married man himself, Kurt says he can relate to what a bride and groom go through to plan their perfect wedding - and document it in image form. He has made it his goal to deliver a wonderful visual record of the first day of your married life with an artist's eye for detail and a talent for adapting his photo skills to any situation.
Kurt admits that he's a country boy at heart. He grew up outside the little village of Ayr with a love for the outdoors, which can be seen in many of his artistic and landscape images. Kurt has even won several photography contests and awards for some of his photographs.
Capturing your wedding story
Of all the different types of photography, Kurt's inspiration, he says, is wedding photography. The images are vivid and beautiful - a winter bride in a flowing cape with a gloved hand stroking a white horse; an engaged couple gently embracing on the crest of a bridge in a beautiful park; a black and white shot of a ring bearer clutching a scarlet red teddy bear...
It was partly Kurt's portfolio that convinced Cindy and Stephen Thomas to hire Two Tone Studios for their engagement and May 2010 wedding shoots. They loved how Kurt plays with lights and shadows, giving his pictures more depth than regular photos. "We love that he has this natural ability to see a plain situation and be able to make an amazing picture out of it," they add. "Kurt has an amazing eye for great pictures, he goes above and beyond."
Kurt describes his shooting style as photojournalistic and relaxed with a mix of fun poses and must-have portraits. He says couples can expect to get images of the important moments, the fun stuff, the people and ultimately, the memories and sentiment of their wedding day. On top of Kurt's friendly personality and eye for taking great photos, Cindy and Stephen also felt that Kurt went above and beyond with regards to making sure they got every picture they wanted at their engagement shoot and their wedding. "It's like he understands that it was our day and was eager to help capture that moment for us... Especially when capturing those candid moments, Kurt is able to capture the shot without breaking the moment."
Two Tone Studios on your wedding day
Consulting is important to Kurt, who makes it a priority to meet with and get to know his brides and grooms. He says it's important to him to learn as much as he can about the unique style and taste of the bride and groom. This was one thing that Katie Keane Wozenilek and her husband Josh liked best about working with Two Tone Studios for their August 2009 wedding photography. Katie says, "I felt that our photographer got to know us beforehand and took the time to figure out what we wanted - this definitely helped on the day-of in getting shots that had the look and feel we were going for." She adds that Two Tone was "creative, flexible and willing to work WITH us (as opposed to dictating to us what they think we should do)."
Kurt keeps a simple philosophy - 'your day, your way', which means as the bride and groom, you have a lot of input. Kurt offers gentle direction and suggestions but really just wants his couples to have fun and let him deal with shoot details, trusting he'll get the shots they want.
When Cindy and Stephen met with Kurt for the first time they found him to be friendly, easy going and very willing to work with any of their ideas (even if that meant driving all the way to Scarborough). "Meeting and working with Kurt was a very easy going experience," they add. "Kurt has a really friendly, yet professional personality. To give our first meeting a personal touch, he had an information package that had been personalized with our names. It was simple, but definitely a nice touch."
To Kurt, doing his homework is equally as important as keeping with his philosophy. He says this is key to shooting the story of your day - knowing as much as he can about locations, expected lighting, must-have shots, and all of the little details that he considers it his job to take care of.
Kurt prefers to shoot your wedding on his own but if needed, he'll bring in an assistant who can work as a lighting technician and second photographer.
Digital mastery
Two Tone's in-house digital facility is set up to produce anything you need for your wedding spread and even your prints are done at the studio. Kurt's start in the industry coincided with the digital revolution, so he found himself immersed in and learning to master all things high tech along the way.
His style is all-digital and his graphic design talents mean that post-production can result in unique, one of a kind wedding albums. As a wedding client, you can expect to have access to an online digital proof gallery and get a proof album on CD.
Pricing your photos
Kurt offers professional photography for weddings and includes time, enlargements, 400 or more proofs, engagement sessions, editing sessions and more.
Two Tone's auburn package is $2500 and offers a personalized wedding consultation with Kurt to discuss details and times. You'll receive a free personalized engagement session and online proof album. Brides can look forward to a creative editing session with Kurt to talk about the scope of the day's photography needs such as wedding photos, albums, a slideshow, etc. This package includes six hours of photo coverage. Two Tone also provides a twenty page custom designed album, two coffee table books, a CD of all of the images, and pocketbooks for wedding attendants.
The studio's nine hour package, the imperial, is priced at $3800. Kurt promises he'll capture speeches, tears and toasts and all the fun shots of your evening. In addition to the auburn package, this package offers a twenty page guest book, thirty page album, an assistant, a slideshow of selected wedding images to display at the reception and guarantees 500 proofs in the digital proof album.
Described by Kurt as "the perfect solution for the wedding couple who just want it all and save in the end" is the zephyr package at Two Tone Studios. For $5450 (which is over $800 in savings!) you add to the imperial package, a second shooter, a deluxe flushmount wedding album, and 550 proofs designed in a proofbook with a DVD proofing (three copies of each).
Katie and Josh felt that Two Tone's prices fell within their budget and that, value-wise, they have a lot to offer. They add that "Kurt was great - very personable and accommodating, and concerned about doing a good job for us... [Two Tone] tailored the package for our needs."
Kurt also has tons of extra goodies in-store for you to add to your packages or book on their own, like bridal portrait session (trash the dress), proofbook package, for the parents package, pocketobok package, and more – but you’ll have to meet with Kurt to find out more details about these fun add-ons. The coolest thing Kurt has added to his services recently is his partybooth package. For $200 (for two hours, set-up and tear down), you get a white or black backdrop at your reception space where guests can venture to the booth and a designated photographer will capture the moments. Oh, and fun props are included.
You can expect any wedding package you purchase at Two Tone to include engagement photos. This photo session is ideal for Kurt to get to know you and your future husband, and discover your style and how you react with the camera.
Enlargements and thank you cards start at $1.25 each and go to $150 for a 20x24 print. Prices are guaranteed for up to one year after your wedding day.
"Two Tone's prices were better than anything we found anywhere else," say Cindy and Stephen. "In our situation we felt that Kurt gave us more than what we thought we were going to get."
Destinations with Two Tone...
Kurt shoots events most often within the K-W, Cambridge, Guelph and Brantford areas, with no travel fee. For destinations more than thirty kilometres outside of Guelph, he's happy to shoot, but with an additional, small fee to cover travel expenses and time.
Or, if you're thinking of traveling beyond the borders of Ontario, Kurt would love to go with you. Basically, you pick and pay for Two Tone's Canadian wedding coverage cost:
6 hour - $1250
9 hour - $1850
12 hour - $2450
Plus, you pay for their flight and room and Kurt will exchange the total amount you spend on the flight and lodging into studio credit, which you can spend on anything you want from Two Tone's list of products and services. Be sure to book this as soon as you know you'll be having a DW as Two Tone will only be running this promotion for the 2011 season.
Custom designed, contemporary albums
Kurt uses his graphic design background to custom design wedding albums, approaching each page layout by hand - with guidance from the bride and groom. Two Tone provides your images in a cool leather album that comes in a variety of colours.
The albums come in regular and large sizes. Kurt says that his parent albums make excellent gifts for mom and dad. They come with retouched photos of your choice.
Our favourite thing...
When we met up with Kurt recently, he told us about a new engagement package he offers, which we happen to think is a great idea that would be a ton of fun for couples. It's the destination engagement session. For about $2500, the session includes limo transportation to and from Niagara Falls or Blue Mountain, four hours of photography, one night accommodation at a four star hotel or resort, and a large canvas of your choice. This would make a great date night for newly engaged couples, and you get your engagement photos done while you're at it!
Details, details, details
• Booking should be 6 to 12 months in advance but Kurt welcomes last minute bookings.
• If it happens that Kurt can't shoot your wedding, he has associate photographers who he's happy to recommend.
• A non-refundable deposit of $500 is due at booking for all packages.
• The balance is due when you pick up your proofs.
Two Tone Studios is a Guelph-based company owned and run by award-winning photographer, Kurt Brown. Kurt has been shooting weddings for seven years, has had his work shown in art galleries across Southwestern Ontario, and has built up quite a reputation with local couples. With images that range from contemporary to photojournalistic, packages priced to win over any bride, and a newly added destination wedding photography package, we imagine that Two Tone will continue to be busier with each passing wedding season (and have been told that during our visits with Kurt each year). Staff at The Ring sat down with Kurt to find out more about what Two Tone Studios has to offer. Let us explain...
Certified, experienced & awarded
Kurt Brown has a lot to offer couples who walk through the Two Tone Studios' doors. He graduated near the top of his Applied Photography class at Sheridan College in 2003, an accomplishment that surprised even him, since he originally planned to train in Graphic Design. It was when he took an elective photography class as part of the program that he decided to switch career paths. As Kurt tells The Ring, "I fell into photography, then fell in love with photography." While still a student, Kurt won an award for 'best advertising image in show'.
For the first five years of his wedding photography career, Kurt shot for a well-known local studio house. He says he shot over forty weddings throughout his time there, both as a second shooter and a lead photographer. Today, he's even more in his element, running his own Two Tone Studios, which features a cool client consultation area, studio shooting space and an impressive in-house digital facility.
As a married man himself, Kurt says he can relate to what a bride and groom go through to plan their perfect wedding - and document it in image form. He has made it his goal to deliver a wonderful visual record of the first day of your married life with an artist's eye for detail and a talent for adapting his photo skills to any situation.
Kurt admits that he's a country boy at heart. He grew up outside the little village of Ayr with a love for the outdoors, which can be seen in many of his artistic and landscape images. Kurt has even won several photography contests and awards for some of his photographs.
Capturing your wedding story
Of all the different types of photography, Kurt's inspiration, he says, is wedding photography. The images are vivid and beautiful - a winter bride in a flowing cape with a gloved hand stroking a white horse; an engaged couple gently embracing on the crest of a bridge in a beautiful park; a black and white shot of a ring bearer clutching a scarlet red teddy bear...
It was partly Kurt's portfolio that convinced Cindy and Stephen Thomas to hire Two Tone Studios for their engagement and May 2010 wedding shoots. They loved how Kurt plays with lights and shadows, giving his pictures more depth than regular photos. "We love that he has this natural ability to see a plain situation and be able to make an amazing picture out of it," they add. "Kurt has an amazing eye for great pictures, he goes above and beyond."
Kurt describes his shooting style as photojournalistic and relaxed with a mix of fun poses and must-have portraits. He says couples can expect to get images of the important moments, the fun stuff, the people and ultimately, the memories and sentiment of their wedding day. On top of Kurt's friendly personality and eye for taking great photos, Cindy and Stephen also felt that Kurt went above and beyond with regards to making sure they got every picture they wanted at their engagement shoot and their wedding. "It's like he understands that it was our day and was eager to help capture that moment for us... Especially when capturing those candid moments, Kurt is able to capture the shot without breaking the moment."
Two Tone Studios on your wedding day
Consulting is important to Kurt, who makes it a priority to meet with and get to know his brides and grooms. He says it's important to him to learn as much as he can about the unique style and taste of the bride and groom. This was one thing that Katie Keane Wozenilek and her husband Josh liked best about working with Two Tone Studios for their August 2009 wedding photography. Katie says, "I felt that our photographer got to know us beforehand and took the time to figure out what we wanted - this definitely helped on the day-of in getting shots that had the look and feel we were going for." She adds that Two Tone was "creative, flexible and willing to work WITH us (as opposed to dictating to us what they think we should do)."
Kurt keeps a simple philosophy - 'your day, your way', which means as the bride and groom, you have a lot of input. Kurt offers gentle direction and suggestions but really just wants his couples to have fun and let him deal with shoot details, trusting he'll get the shots they want.
When Cindy and Stephen met with Kurt for the first time they found him to be friendly, easy going and very willing to work with any of their ideas (even if that meant driving all the way to Scarborough). "Meeting and working with Kurt was a very easy going experience," they add. "Kurt has a really friendly, yet professional personality. To give our first meeting a personal touch, he had an information package that had been personalized with our names. It was simple, but definitely a nice touch."
To Kurt, doing his homework is equally as important as keeping with his philosophy. He says this is key to shooting the story of your day - knowing as much as he can about locations, expected lighting, must-have shots, and all of the little details that he considers it his job to take care of.
Kurt prefers to shoot your wedding on his own but if needed, he'll bring in an assistant who can work as a lighting technician and second photographer.
Digital mastery
Two Tone's in-house digital facility is set up to produce anything you need for your wedding spread and even your prints are done at the studio. Kurt's start in the industry coincided with the digital revolution, so he found himself immersed in and learning to master all things high tech along the way.
His style is all-digital and his graphic design talents mean that post-production can result in unique, one of a kind wedding albums. As a wedding client, you can expect to have access to an online digital proof gallery and get a proof album on CD.
Pricing your photos
Kurt offers professional photography for weddings and includes time, enlargements, 400 or more proofs, engagement sessions, editing sessions and more.
Two Tone's auburn package is $2500 and offers a personalized wedding consultation with Kurt to discuss details and times. You'll receive a free personalized engagement session and online proof album. Brides can look forward to a creative editing session with Kurt to talk about the scope of the day's photography needs such as wedding photos, albums, a slideshow, etc. This package includes six hours of photo coverage. Two Tone also provides a twenty page custom designed album, two coffee table books, a CD of all of the images, and pocketbooks for wedding attendants.
The studio's nine hour package, the imperial, is priced at $3800. Kurt promises he'll capture speeches, tears and toasts and all the fun shots of your evening. In addition to the auburn package, this package offers a twenty page guest book, thirty page album, an assistant, a slideshow of selected wedding images to display at the reception and guarantees 500 proofs in the digital proof album.
Described by Kurt as "the perfect solution for the wedding couple who just want it all and save in the end" is the zephyr package at Two Tone Studios. For $5450 (which is over $800 in savings!) you add to the imperial package, a second shooter, a deluxe flushmount wedding album, and 550 proofs designed in a proofbook with a DVD proofing (three copies of each).
Katie and Josh felt that Two Tone's prices fell within their budget and that, value-wise, they have a lot to offer. They add that "Kurt was great - very personable and accommodating, and concerned about doing a good job for us... [Two Tone] tailored the package for our needs."
Kurt also has tons of extra goodies in-store for you to add to your packages or book on their own, like bridal portrait session (trash the dress), proofbook package, for the parents package, pocketobok package, and more – but you’ll have to meet with Kurt to find out more details about these fun add-ons. The coolest thing Kurt has added to his services recently is his partybooth package. For $200 (for two hours, set-up and tear down), you get a white or black backdrop at your reception space where guests can venture to the booth and a designated photographer will capture the moments. Oh, and fun props are included.
You can expect any wedding package you purchase at Two Tone to include engagement photos. This photo session is ideal for Kurt to get to know you and your future husband, and discover your style and how you react with the camera.
Enlargements and thank you cards start at $1.25 each and go to $150 for a 20x24 print. Prices are guaranteed for up to one year after your wedding day.
"Two Tone's prices were better than anything we found anywhere else," say Cindy and Stephen. "In our situation we felt that Kurt gave us more than what we thought we were going to get."
Destinations with Two Tone...
Kurt shoots events most often within the K-W, Cambridge, Guelph and Brantford areas, with no travel fee. For destinations more than thirty kilometres outside of Guelph, he's happy to shoot, but with an additional, small fee to cover travel expenses and time.
Or, if you're thinking of traveling beyond the borders of Ontario, Kurt would love to go with you. Basically, you pick and pay for Two Tone's Canadian wedding coverage cost:
6 hour - $1250
9 hour - $1850
12 hour - $2450
Plus, you pay for their flight and room and Kurt will exchange the total amount you spend on the flight and lodging into studio credit, which you can spend on anything you want from Two Tone's list of products and services. Be sure to book this as soon as you know you'll be having a DW as Two Tone will only be running this promotion for the 2011 season.
Custom designed, contemporary albums
Kurt uses his graphic design background to custom design wedding albums, approaching each page layout by hand - with guidance from the bride and groom. Two Tone provides your images in a cool leather album that comes in a variety of colours.
The albums come in regular and large sizes. Kurt says that his parent albums make excellent gifts for mom and dad. They come with retouched photos of your choice.
Our favourite thing...
When we met up with Kurt recently, he told us about a new engagement package he offers, which we happen to think is a great idea that would be a ton of fun for couples. It's the destination engagement session. For about $2500, the session includes limo transportation to and from Niagara Falls or Blue Mountain, four hours of photography, one night accommodation at a four star hotel or resort, and a large canvas of your choice. This would make a great date night for newly engaged couples, and you get your engagement photos done while you're at it!
Details, details, details
• Booking should be 6 to 12 months in advance but Kurt welcomes last minute bookings.
• If it happens that Kurt can't shoot your wedding, he has associate photographers who he's happy to recommend.
• A non-refundable deposit of $500 is due at booking for all packages.
• The balance is due when you pick up your proofs.
