Canton, Massachusetts-based company gets recognized for creating memories of weddings and special events that are big on style and substance.

CANTON, MA
Dmitriy Dribinsky and Dina Konovalov, co-owners of the Canton-based photo and video studio A Dream Picture, will mark the 4th anniversary of their business at the end of January.

A Dream Picture specializes in creating one-of-a-kind memories of weddings and other special events through photography and videography. The company’s work is well-known in bridal circles; its staff has covered ceremonies and receptions at venues big and small. Clients have come to rely on A Dream Picture’s expertise in covering all styles of weddings and special celebrations, as well as corporate events and fundraisers. The company’s been front and center as the sole videographer of bridal guru Grace Ormonde’s annual wedding show in Newport, and its photography work has been featured in weddingchannel.com’s “Real Wedding” section, and on the cover of the New England issue of “Perfect Match.”

Dina and Dmitriy, who both emigrated from Russia as adults, met stateside at a series of local Russian bridal shows where they were both showcasing their work: his, video –- and hers, photography. “It was artistic love at first sight,” says Dina. “We spoke the same language, had the same vision, and decided we could be more powerful and effective as a team than working separately,” she adds.

The pair started the company in Dmitriy’s basement, and as they took on more clients, found office space in Canton that suited their growing business well. “Canton is such a central spot, and since we work everywhere from Newport, Rhode Island, to downtown Boston and beyond,” says Dmitriy, “it’s worked out really well for us to build our base here.”

What makes A Dream Picture unique, say its owners, is its truly customized approach. Dina and Dmitriy agree no two weddings or events are ever the same. “We shoot a lot of ethnic weddings, from Chinese to Russian, to Italian, and each one is so different. We let the event and the people tell the story,” adds Dina, “there’s no standardized method to what we do.”

A Dream Picture has made a name for itself with its high-end wedding photography and videography. Many clients like the journalistic or European “high-fashion style” that shines through in the photos, and the cinematic approach Dmitriy takes when capturing the moving images of a once-in-a lifetime day. Still, the studio has taken on corporate work for local charities like ALS, and is a popular choice for Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, Quinceaneras, Sweet 16 parties, same-sex weddings and other special events.

One trend A Dream Picture has witnessed recently is a focus on family photo albums, and “family history” videos, where staff will spend a whole day with a family, documenting their day-to-day life, and combine it with a montage of other special moments from over the years. They’ve also produced high-definition videos for websites, marketing videos and wedding videos for IPODs, so couples can travel light with wedding video to show to family and friends.

“So much has changed since we started the company,” admits Dina. “The technologies, have changed, and the trends in wedding photography and videography continue to evolve.” Nowadays, video slide shows and same-day editing on site at weddings are very popular, so guests can enjoy a pre-produced “love story,” or snippets from the wedding ceremony shown in between the salad course and the first dance. “Brides and grooms today want more production value at their weddings,” says Dmitriy. “They treat the day more like a special event…they want to keep family and friends entertained.”

A Dream Picture now has a staff of eight, including four photographers and four video artists, and Dina and Dmitriy have plans to add a wedding consultant in the near future. They’ve even expanded their offices, building out a larger space with a flat screen TV and dozens of mounted photos where clients can view their range of work and services. They would like to add additional services, like bridal boudoir pictorial gifts for grooms, and an on-line gift registry for their services.

Both Dina and Dmitriy say they love what they do, whether it’s an intimate celebration or a party on a grand scale. And, they admit, they continue to reap the rewards. “We tell our clients, ‘if we made you cry, we’ve done our job,’” says Dmitriy.

So what’s next? “The sky is the limit,” says Dina. “We’d like to be able to capture the special moments of a lifetime for our clients, from a couple’s engagement, to their wedding, the birth of their children, and other big milestones,” she adds. “We want to be their first call when they have something to celebrate.”

A Dream Picture is located at 636 Washington Street in Canton. Its team of wedding photographers and videographers offer a balanced combination of various styles to produce a wide range of photo albums and cinematic video on DVD. A Dream Picture was one of the first companies in the area to offer High Definition (HD) Wedding video. For more information, visit www.adreampciture.com.