Choosing the best British Columbia Wedding Photographer for you
During the first few months of every year, I take time to go through all of the photos from the previous year that I’ve made with my awesome clients. My clients are the people who push me to be the best British Columbia wedding photographer I can possibly be. And in choosing my favourite photos from 2019, I get to re-live all these moments all over again. And that’s what photos are for!
My Favourite 2019 BRITISH COLUMBIA WEDDING PHOTOS
As a documentary wedding and family photographer, my photos are generally candid and unstaged. I rarely tell people what to do because they rarely know I’m making a photo of them. However, during portraits, I give lots of direction so everyone is comfortable and able to be themselves. Rarely do I make anyone look at the camera, and always do I make people feel good about the photos we’re making. In celebration of the relationship between my client and I, the following five photos are my favourite portraits from the year.
Erica and Tim under the Milky Way. I’ve always wanted to make a Milky Way wedding photo, and I finally got a clear sky on a dark night in the Slocan Valley, and a willing couple to make this image. We took a moment from their Vallican Whole Community Centre wedding reception to make this portrait under the stars. Erica said it was her favourite part of the wedding because it was a moment that they got to spend, quietly holding one another.
This is Alex with Amrit on the shore of Kootenay Lake. It was late fall, when the snow had covered the alpine and the trees were turning colour along the water. I personally feel there are not enough late fall weddings, and I wanted their portrait to show the variety of weather at elevations–a key character to Kootenay living and one of the things that make the Kootenay region so beautiful.
JJ and Todd were married in an intimate wedding ceremony on the shore of Kootenay Lake. It was storming all day and we weren’t sure whether the rain would hold off for their ceremony. While it didn’t rain, the sky gave us these amazing clouds. With the weather being a unique part of their day, I wanted to make a portrait of them literally in the clouds.
Alex and Amrit got married in Nova Scotia, but came to Kaslo for their private vow ceremony. This is a wedding portrait of Alex on the shore of Kootenay Lake. I feel the portrait is as much about the landscape as it is about Alex. Both are powerfully beautiful.
This is Lara and Luke in the backyard where Luke grew up in Balfour. I wanted to make a portrait of them where Luke played as a kid, but now he’s here with his wife, starting a life he likely never dreamed of as he played outside. Kootenay weddings are often in someone’s backyard, but it’s especially sweet when the yard is where you grew up, and now the child you’re raising with your wife can be part of this essential feature of your life. Lara also loves cats, and this cat just waltzed into the frame as we set it up!
My Favourite 2019 KOOTENAY WEDDING DETAILS
As a documentary wedding and family photographer, the details photos I make are generally in the moment. I tend not to set things up and would rather make photos of people using the details, rather than the detail by itself. When details have context, they tell more of your story. The following six photos are my favourite details photos from the year.
As JJ took her dress down from the hook, I made a photo from outside the building for two reasons. One, to show the venue where they were getting ready because the whole family spent the weekend there. Two, I was also hoping I could get a natural smile from JJ as she took down the dress. But way better than I could have staged, JJ’s daughter happened to peek out from the adjacent room. Her mom hadn’t let her see the dress, so this was her first chance. This photo describes some of their playful relationship, as well as the venue detail.
This is Zero, with his humans Cherie and Norm. Norm has really long dreads, Cherie has amazing tattoos, and Zero is the cutest dog in town. I love how his tongue matches her heart, and Zero really does have both their hearts. So rather than a photo just of each of those things, I combined them all in this frame.
Tara and Patrick’s wedding was incredible. Not only was it really emotional, but it was storming almost all day. I worked really hard to make a photo to symbolize the rain, as well as the emotion. Here, Patrick comforts Tara as a tear slides down her cheek.
Shoe and sock details! This was during their wedding game, and gave an active details photo of all the thought that went into their foot and sock choices.
They got married between downpours. A rainbow photo was only appropriate.
Tim and his mom cried easily. It was beautiful and clearly something they shared. So I made a photo of them having a moment collecting themselves. I imagine she did this many times for him as a child. And even as a married man, she’ll always be his mom and will still wipe his tears. It makes me cry, too!
This photo doesn’t look like a typical detail. But it’s a detail of where they used to go make out!
My Favourite 2019 KOOTENAY WEDDING PARTY PHOTOS
As a documentary wedding and family photographer, the wedding party photos are a fun time to get everyone interacting, so I can make lots of in the moment photos that show their personalities. I tend to set up scenarios and make them do funny word games, which really brings out peoples’ relationships. They’re always tons of fun. The following three photos are my favourite wedding party photos from the year.
Erica having a moment with her maid of honour. Tim having a moment with his best man. I couldn’t have directed the perfection in this image. This is why I let people just be themselves–this is so much more rewarding than anything I could make up!
Matt is the pillar among his friends–he’s always there for everyone else. So we made a photo reversing that relationship.
This is a more typical stand-and-look image. I always make a “safe shot” like this. But this one is one of my favourites because you can see how hard it’s raining, but they still look fantastic. I really love rainy weddings, and I love the symmetry of the lines and shapes in this image. Added bonus: this is the Big Orange Bridge, affectionately known as BOB to the locals.
My Favourite 2019 KOOTENAY WEDDING RECEPTION PHOTOS
As a documentary wedding and family photographer, the wedding reception is FULL of everything I look for throughout the day: symmetry, emotion, details, personalities, and all the feelings. By the time the dance floor gets rolling, everyone has forgotten that I’m there, and nearly every one is ready to cut loose. This is also when the most unbridled excitement happens. Where the rest of the day tends to be happy tears, the dance floor is full of silly, skill and smiles. The following eight wedding reception photos are my favourite from the year.
A time for reflection during the speeches, when everyone is the room is listening to how grateful the couple is. This is such a special moment for the couple.
This little wedding guest was totally in her own world, while grandpa and his granddaughter danced nearby.
Kyle surprised Britney with a strip tease for their first dance. I love the looks on their faces, caught in the act, while someone cheers from the crowd.
Everyone is having a good time right here. Every single person. So much fun!
Ring detail during their first dance. I love the connection here, both in their hands and their heads.
Every day of the week. That is all!
The wedding dance floor is a great opportunity to make layered images–photos where there are multiple stories being told. Here we have the obvious couple spinning with her face in focus through their arms, but also the couples to the left and right–the left are totally into each other and the right are welcoming people to the dance floor. Then, a gem, far to the right. One of the groomsmen with his shirt unbuttoned. Ready to party.
And this is about suspense. Wedding games are another fun time to layer people with different reactions. We know something is about to happen, and the different expressions of suspense are fun to look at.
My Favourite 2019 KOOTENAY ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS
The engagement session is less about getting your photo taken than it is about us getting comfortable with one another. These sessions are integral for me as a wedding photographer. In order to shoot documentary photography the way I do, these sessions give you a sense of how I work, and what it’s like to be around a camera. Plus, we get to go somewhere we won’t have time or access to get to during your wedding. The following are my favourite seven engagement photos from the year.
The first snow of the season! The last larch of the summer! The cutest hug in the world!
Toques, glaciers, plaid. It doesn’t get much more stereotypically Canadian than this!
Shannon and Fraser are really good dancers. The light was also really good. Win-win!
Justine and Stephen are from Grande Prairie Alberta. When out-of-town clients book me for their wedding, we always find a way to meet somewhere for their engagement photos. This is in Jasper National Park. I was up there for running trip, and they went there for a romantic weekend. It worked out perfectly, as did that larch matching the highway lane line!
Kane is such a good boy. Erica and Tim wanted to bring him to their engagement photos, and of course, the answer is always yes whenever a dog is involved. He wouldn’t be joining them t their wedding, so it was really important that we made photos with him. This photo is also really special because Kane recently passed away. So here he is, with his people, in the clouds.
Just a sweet romantic meadow make out sesh.
They’re from the coast, so I found a location where they could be reminded of that for their engagement photos. I caught their reflection in the water, and waited until their furry friend took a drink.
