Author: Dave

  • Travel Essentials For That Beach Vacation

    Travel Essentials For That Beach Vacation

    Being someone who loves traveling and taking photos, there are a few things I try to come in my bag when I go away. below is a list of items that will ensure you get the most out of your vacations!

    Dope Photogenic Beach Towel

                I don’t know about you but when I’m at the beach with all the obligatory beach shots my towel tends to either end up in the photo as an afterthought or as a main piece of the actual photo. That being said, having a beach towel that shoots well will go a long way.

    Tripod 

                For someone who shoots most of my content on my own, a tripod is SUPER CLUTCH! I have tripods for various occasions, some bigger and heavier than others. I recommend picking up a gorilla pod style of tripod for travels as it’s easy to carry, doesn’t take up much space if you are packing it in your suitcase and is crazy versatile for most situations.


    24mm Lens

    Being a photographer, I have a crap load of lenses in my kit. At times it can be difficult to pack all the gear you want to while packing clothes and everything else and still be under weight for your luggage. A 24mm lens is compact and is probably my favourite prime to walk around with when I travel anywhere.

     

    Extra Camera Batteries

    I cannot stress this enough! When you are traveling, you never know how long you will be out and about or when you’ll have a chance to charge up your gear. So having 2 extra batteries is a MUST. The last thing you want it s to spend the whole day shooting and run out of juice just as that perfect sunset happens and you standing there recording it to memory! SADFACE!


    Sunscreen

                I’m super hypocritical when it comes to this because 99% of the time it’s the one thing I always forget. But for those times that I do end up remembering to pack some it’s always a lifesaver. The sun will destroy your skin and make for a very uncomfortable vacation if you spend most of your day at the pool or beach.

     

    Lotion

    Anytime I travel a tube of l’occitane cream comes with me! (this is not sponsored) I actually love their products. I find when I travel sometimes shower water is harsh on my skin and I get all dried out after I get out of the shower. This stuff is great, not greasy, and absorbs into your skin super quick.

     

    What are your must haves?

  • 5 Things To Get Dad For Fathers Day

    5 Things To Get Dad For Fathers Day

    With father’s day fast approaching I figured I’d help you out and recommend some ideas to get the old man on his special day. He had to put up with you growing up, and for some, he STILL IS! So show some thanks and get him something he actually wants and not a dingy old man sweater!

     

    You really can’t go wrong getting pops a new watch! Being a guy watches are one of the only pieces of bling men generally rock so check out the Citizen AT8020-03L Eco-Drive watch, It’s dope!

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Wanna help keep the old man in shape, but can’t get him to the gym? One word, KETTLEBELL! The diversity of exercises you can do with just one kettlebell is incredible. Hell, get two and keep yourself in shape with him!

     

     

     

     

    Maybe your dad is a handy guy that likes to do stuff around the house, a new drill set is always a safe bet! That impact drill will make jobs that much easier! Not to mention generally around this time of year there are great sales on sets!

     

     

     

    Get him started on a new hobby maybe. If he’s the artistic type, learning and creating amazing photos is something that will last a lifetime! Keep those memories preserved of you and him!

     

     

     

    If like me, he enjoys spending his time with family and friends in the backyard, A BBQ is the BEST thing to get him IMO! I enjoy spending summers grilling up the perfect steak with pops and reminiscing about the good ole days.

     

     

     

     

     

    So these are just a few gift ideas that can ensure Dad has a fantastic Fathers Day! Don’t see something on the list you think would make for the perfect gift? let me know! Also Amazon.ca has a ton of great stuff available for his special day with same day delivery if needed!

    What do you plan on getting your Dad for Fathers Day?

  • Grooming Essentials For The Modern Gent

    Generally when people discuss beauty, the conversation is centred around women. Your average guy doesn’t really talk about his daily grooming routines, products he uses, or anything of that nature. As time goes on I’ve been noticing a bit more attention to the gents side of things and figured I would share some of the products i use and essentials I believe should be in every guys bathroom.

    FACE


    With the evolution of technology and ease of use for most products, some traditions are being lost over time. Mainly the straight shave! I know it looks intimidating wielding a sharp blade essentially to groom your facial hair. But let me tell you, it’s the best shave you will ever have!  Don’t know where to start?


    This is all you need to get started, no need to get crazy with non replaceable units, although they look great they may not be as practical to start off with. The Equinox Professional Barber Straight Edge Razor is all you will need to get that amazingly close shave. Just don’t forget to add a shaving brush and soap to get it all done right!

     

    HEAD


    Hair is so important, and usually overlooked by guys, using whatever is available in the shower usually  products left there by their significant other (totally guilty of this lol). There are some dope products out there that will keep your hair clean and smelling fresh too. Not to mention styling product that won’t make your hair crazy greasy and will hold whatever style your go for.

     

    K+S makes some good shampoo, don’t settle for regular clean hair, get that salon feel. They formulate their product for all kinds of hair and scalp conditions. So for an all around product I would recommend this set. It’s not CRAZY expensive, but think about how often do you really buy shampoo and conditioner? Well worth spending some $$ to look and feel good.

     

     

     

     

    Hair product is crazy important for you gents! depending on your style of hair, there are products available to keep it healthy while still looking good. Personally I try to stay away from waxes and anything that repels water, mostly because it sucks to wash out sometimes. Which is why I’ve gone with paste and putty type styling products, they give me the hold i need to achieve my desired look. and they aren’t overly heavy or difficult to wash out.

     

     

     

     

    An absolute must in any guys bathroom! A grooming kit for those touch ups between, salon/barber visits. If you want the well kept beard look or the constant 5 o’clock shadow. For those who like to ensure their under arms, chest, and other areas are nicely manscaped. ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL

     

     

    SKIN


    I don’t know about you but after I get out of the shower I NEED to moisturize, my hands and face for the most part. I hate moisturizer that is oily and doesn’t get absorbed by my skin within 5 min. To be honest I only use one product for all my moisturizing needs.

     

    L’occitane Shea butter hand cream is all I use…..it’s like Franks Red Hot….but for my skin. I PUT THAT S**T ON EVERYTHING!

    It’s does it’s job very well, and you won’t be having a hard time picking stuff up due to greasy hands right after. This is probably on of my favourite products on this list. Go out and spend the money to get it, you’ll thank me later.

     

     

     

    So thats a short list of products that you’ll find in my bathroom. You can find all these products on Amazon.ca and they will be shipped to your front door, no need to go to the store and have a scavenger hunt for anything anymore!

    what are your favourite products and rituals?

  • Mother’s Day Is Coming….Here’s What to Get Her!

    Mother’s Day Is Coming….Here’s What to Get Her!

    Mother’s Day, Christmas, birthdays, whatever the occasion, it can be hard to think of gifts for loved ones. So to help you guys out for Mommas Day, I’ve put together a small list of items that you might want to get her. It’s ONLY a few weeks away! All the photos are clickable and will make your life nice and easy and take you right to Amazon, no need to go search for ANYTHING! You’re welcome 😛

    Kindle

    Maybe your mom likes reading, if so and she doesn’t already have a kindle, now is a great time to give her one! Great for lounging around the house, reading on a plane, or even laying on a beach on vacation. Why leave the library at home when you can bring all your books in one handy dandy little tablet?

    Diffuser

    I love walking into a scented room, and these diffusers are the bomb. I actually keep one on my night table and throw in some lavender before bed and just fall asleep in a field of flowers every night. Awesome addition to any room and its aesthetic as it is functional! Mom can use it even as just an accent piece if anything, but I’m confident you cant go wrong with this.

    Essential Oils

    And if you’re planning on getting a diffuser for moms, and you’re just not sure what scent to pickup to go with it? Look no further, you can pick up a variety pack with all kinds of delightful smells to fill up the room. Mom’s gonna love this for sure!

    French Press

    If your mom is a coffee lover, I would recommend a stylish french press. Every to operated, helps make a fantastic cup of morning on afternoon coffee. My favourite part is the fact that it’s super easy to clean once your done with it. Mom won’t have to spend much time at all cleaning out this bad boy.

    Scented Candle

    Minus option one, everything more or less has to do with smell. Probably because attribute smells to different times, places, and situations in your life. So for my last suggestion, if you can’t afford to send her away on vacation, why not bring the vacation to her. A black coconut candle to freshen up the place and give you a taste or smell of that vacation life.

     

    what do you guys think? What are you getting your Mom for Mother’s Day?

  • New Gear I’m Picking Up In 2017

    New Gear I’m Picking Up In 2017

    So for all of you that follow me on Instagram you know that I love taking photos and recently have started shooting video projects (mostly for Mel). So I figured I would layout some items that I’m thinking of picking up to add to my arsenal of awesome stuff in order to be able to create great content!

    So what do I want that I don’t already have?! Well truth is that I have everything I need to shoot photos, but now that I’m starting to venture into the world of audio and video, I noticed that I’m lacking a few things if only just to make life easier for myself. One rule that I have mostly followed is not buying high end stuff unless I know that I will need it right now. As you may know, I have recently partnered with Amazon and become an Amazon Associate so I will be bringing you cool stuff that I come across, and purchases I plan on making on a variety of things so stay tuned!


    DJI Phantom 4

    Lately I have fallen in love with drone footage, the amount of amazing B-roll you can shoot using one of these bad boys is absolutely incredible. I have the DJI Ronin Gimbal and strongly stand by their products, so naturally I’m inclined to pickup one of their drone units.


    Neewer 7″ HD Monitor

    Now that I have a DJI Ronin, first thing I noticed that it’s pretty damn hard to look at the onboard screen to monitor video scenes as they are being filmed. To get around this I’ll be picking up an external monitor that I can mount on the Ronin itself and not only can I monitor, it’s also like twice the size!


    Neewer 18″ Ring Light

    This one isn’t so much for me as it will be for Mel, she has started shooting more and more Youtube videos with her talking into the camera, outfits videos, hauls, etc. This ring light will provide all the necessary light needed in order to properly expose a scene.


    Rode Video Mic

    Audio is probably one of the most overlooked areas when shooting video, as such unless you want to invest in a body pack lav kit, this is a great alternative especially if you are shooting on location.


    Aputure LED Lighting Kit

    Again another set of lighting, because at the end of the day, light is everything when it comes to photo and video. I will be booting up some shows for clients, this site, and my gaming site, so investing in a good set of lights is essential. especially now that LED continuous lighting is more readily available and pretty affordable.

     


    Polaroid Variable ND Filter 77mm

    Complete control of lighting on bright days is UBER important! variable ND filters allow you to determine the light that your lens has access to. Think, sunglasses for your camera!


    Amazon carries these along with a wide range of other products that suit most budgets. So don’t forget to check the reviews on products before you buy and make sure to do your research and you’ll be sure to find stuff that suits your needs!

    What gear will you be picking up this year?

  • The Nordstrom Warehouse Sale IS BACK!

    The Nordstrom Warehouse Sale IS BACK!

    Do you like sifting through what seems like endless racks of designer goods? Do you like getting Designer clothes and shoes at super affordable prices? Then this sale is for you!

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Now that the radio personality intro is done, Here’s the low down. Styledemocracy is hosting another Nordstrom warehouse sale at the International Center on Airport Road. So essentially a giant convention space just filled with all kinds of brands for quite reasonable prices. So what did I end up snaggin? Well for $207 I managed to get some pretty dope pieces. Managed to sift through and find a Pair of OG Jordan 1s, 3 Tees (Obey, G-star, Zanerobe), 1 Junya Watanabe Alpaca hoodie, and a Zanerobe spring jacket! All in all I’m super happy with the pieces I was able to find. Now keep in mind I tend to shop for more streetstyle pieces, If you are looking for looking for more formal brands, suits, they got you covered.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    The sale also has high end designer section, where you can pickup brands like Balmain, Loewe, Vince, Moschino, Etc. I was actually surprised and super happy to see a larger selection of guys stuff this time, and there was A LOT of stuff to choose from. The sale started today and will be on until Friday, So get down there and go get yourselves some bomb deals!

    Details Below:

     

    When:
    Monday, April 10, 2017 to Monday, April 17, 2017

    Monday: 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm
    Tuesday to Thursday: 11:00 am to 9:00 pm
    Friday (Good Friday): 10:00 am to 9:00 pm
    Saturday: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
    Sunday: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
    Monday (Easter Monday): 10:00 am to 5:00 pm

    Where:
    The International Centre – Hall 6
    6900 Airport Rd.
    Mississauga, ON

    Let me know what you picked up!