Empress Avenue Media Updates Archives

May 12, 2021

5 tips for taking stunning outdoor photos

Empress Team Photography Empress Avenue Media Updates, Photography Tips

Here are 5 tips for taking photos outdoors this spring and summer from our resident editor and motion graphics animator Milla Sampaio.

1. get a feel for the space

Purple Flowers by Milla Sampaio

Take a few minutes before you get started to take notes about the lighting where you are. Track the sun position before you start so you will know where to stand in relation to your subject. Cloudy days are better for photographing people with light skin, the clouds work as a big diffuser. If it’s sunny and your subjects are fair-skinned, look for shade. Prepare in advance by checking the weather forecast and schedule the shoot for optimal sunlight (try early morning or late evening) if possible.

Another note about the light is that you may not be able to rely on what can see when you’re outside. Your vision and the camera screen might be affected by the sun, so trust your numbers. Also most cameras work slowly if you are using the display and it is tricky to trust what you see there.

2. know your equipment

Steps by Milla Sampaio

Things don’t wait for you in nature so be prepared to make last-minute changes and work fast with the camera settings. Practice ahead of time to make sure you are comfortably able to adjust settings as fast as possible.

3. click often, edit later

Try to take pictures of the same thing with different settings. You probably won’t have time to check your work after every click and that natural moment won’t wait for you, especially if it involves an animal sighting. Autofocus is your friend when timing is of the essence.

4. be ready to work with your subjects

Long exposure only works for landscape. With animals and babies, you need the shutter working as quickly as possible so the subject(s) won’t be blurry.

Be aware of your influence. If you are taking photos of animals, try to be silent and move slowly and only if necessary. Don’t be nervous, try to steady your heartbeat, as animals can often sense your feelings. Try not to make them uncomfortable. Close your eyes for a few seconds if they look your way (if it’s safe for you to do so) so they know you are not a threat.

5. dress for the occasion, be prepared

Extra batteries and SD cards are a must, but bring as few pieces of gear as you can so it won’t limit your movements. Use comfortable clothes and don’t be afraid of getting dirty.

September 23, 2020

principal photography begins on tug of war documentary

Empress Team Film Production, Press Releases Empress Avenue Media Updates, press release, youth sex trafficking on Vancouver Island

Press Release: Local Documentary Tackles Youth Sex Trafficking on Vancouver Island

Tug of War follows Mia Golden as she works to protect vulnerable teens from sex trafficking and gang recruitment.

We are honoured to be able to acknowledge incredible work that otherwise goes unnoticed in our communities through innovative documentaries that shed light on fascinating people and important ideas. We love to encourage the community to reflect on important issues and movements, and to respond thoughtfully and intentionally.

“Tug of War will pull the curtain back on growing issues affecting young people in our communities.”

Local counselor and filmmaker Mia Golden conducts interviews during the production of new documentary, Tug of War.

We continue this work with Tug of War, a powerful point-of-view (‘POV’) documentary written and produced by our very own Development Coordinator, Mia Golden. Before her work at Empress even started, Mia spent years protecting vulnerable young people from predators and gang recruiters as a youth counsellor.

“Exploitation is taking place in every community and every neighborhood and isn’t limited by class or background.”

Empress Avenue Media is starting principal photography this week on this new independent documentary.

Tug of War follows Mia and her work partner as they walk the streets of Victoria BC, supporting young people being targeted for sexual exploitation and gang involvement. Tug of War is an emotional story about the tussles between parents, predators, police, youth, and community stakeholders.

“No one is immune, and everyone is a potential target.”

We are proud to finally announce this incredible project, that will hopefully initiate new dialogue and inspire the action needed to protect vulnerable teens in our communities. Our full press release is below.

Media Release – Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020

Local Documentary Tackles Youth Sex Trafficking on Vancouver Island

Empress Avenue Media Inc. is starting principal photography this week on a new independent documentary about sex trafficking and gang recruitment of youth on southern Vancouver Island. Told through the eyes of local counselor and filmmaker, Mia Golden, Tug of War will pull the curtain back on growing issues affecting young people in our communities.

Empress Avenue Media – based in Cobble Hill in the Cowichan Valley – will follow Mia Golden and other members of a specialized team called MYST (mobile youth services team), comprised of 2 counselors and a police officer. MYST’s mandate is exploitation-prevention in all 13 municipalities of the Greater Victoria Region.

MYST reports steady increases in their caseload over the past few years. Of note is the impact of both social media and the opioid crisis playing significant roles in this disturbing trend. Police officers, counselors, street nurses, social workers, and policymakers are struggling to keep up with the demand to support those in need. Well over 1000 people die every year in BC from Fentanyl, and Victoria has the 3rd highest illicit drug overdoses of all BC communities.

Predators have quickly come to realize that being online allows for easy access to youth. The explosion of social media, easy accessibility to the internet and pornography, and the normalization of highly sexualized and often violent content are issues that contribute to the exploitation of young people. Exploitation is taking place in every community and every neighborhood and isn’t limited by class or background. No one is immune, and everyone is a potential target.

Through interviews with past survivors, front line workers fighting to support vulnerable youth, and parents fighting to get their children out of harm’s way, Tug of War will provide insight into the realities of what is taking place in young peoples’ lives, and what we can do to reduce the risks and protect our children from these predators.

Funding for Tug of War made possible through the Province of British Columbia’s Community Safety and Crime Prevention Branch.

About Empress Avenue Media Inc.

Empress Avenue Media Inc. is a film production and digital media startup based in Cobble Hill, BC. The company provides commercial film, interactive and graphic design services, as well as producing independent features and coumentaries. The company’s debut documentary. Penny Girl (2019), is a profile of Victoria philanthropist and Jeneece Place co-founder Frankie Edroff. Learn more at empressave.com

For more information contact:

Mia Golden, director
mia[at]empressave.com

Joseph Boutilier. producer
joseph[at]empressave.com

Download the PDF version of this press release here.