Kaleena and Matt were married under blue skies and sunshine. More than 300 people watched them say their vows on beautifully manicured family property.
She was calm, composed and stunning. He was happy, eager and a tad warm in his suit. The faces of everyone involved say it all and I was honored to join them around the beautiful Cowichan Valley creating images with them. Railroads, farms, dirt roads and sunset fields? Amazing.
Thank you, for choosing me.
Buddha or not.
“When you realize how perfect everything is you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky”~Buddha
I've seen it debated whether Buddha really said this or not, and to be honest... I don't care who said it. It is perfect. I came across this image again as I was editing Sarah and Keith's amazing Hornby Island wedding, and just needed to share the quote, with the image.
On Saturday Shannon walked the Great Walk, (all 63.5km on the gravel road) not in pain and misery... but with her head tilted back, laughing at the sky. Sarah was so excited, so joyous on their wedding day that she kept smiling, laughing, and yelling to the wind how perfect life was.
Attitude really is everything. Get a good one and cherish it.
Sarah and Keith
The best part about Sarah and Keiths wedding on Hornby Island wasn't their stunning location/venue. It wasn't her amazing dress, beautiful flowers or her perfectly adorable shoes. Nor was it Keiths handsome tux, uniform or his immaculate and inspection passing shoes... it was them. Sarah and Keith. Although you could see the gratitude for everyone around them. It was just the two of them.
There are so many images I love, for so many reasons... but the main reason, in all of them, is that it was all real. I didn't ask for Sarah to throw her arms in the air {photo above} and shout into the wind "THIS IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE". She just did it all on her own. I didn't ask them to be so totally in love, so happy, and therefore have that ooze all over their images... they did that.
Sarah and Keith were married at the gorgeous Sea Breeze Lodge on Hornby Island. Have you been to Hornby lately? If your answer is no... why not?
Your love is inspiring and contagious.
Thank you for inviting me into your world, for sharing your moments... for allowing me, to capture a little bit of you.
I loved every minute of it.
Chantelle and Ryan
Often times in my life, a word, phrase, saying or theme will be swimming around in my head. Sometimes for a few days, other times for weeks. This one has been dancing with me for a few weeks now. Authenticity. Or being Authentic.
As a photographer it is my job to be professionally prepared. The gear checked, contracts signed, insurance in place, the planning the timing all organized, and then... on the day, being open enough to let the inspiration and magic of a wedding day seep into the images.
Chantelle and Ryan's wedding was at the Maritime Heritage Center in Campbell River and we didn't have a lot of time for images. As it usually happens during a wedding, things were running a bit behind, and I wasn't sure if we'd have enough time for Elk Falls, like we'd talked about. The amazing pale yellow Buick Skylark that they had to drive them around, stopped running. We were staying put. I was secretly excited as I had found an amazing tree on the property just before the wedding. We ventured down to the pier, and then the beach. To my delight, an unplanned and perfect low tide had left us the most stunning tidal pool with an amazing reflection. Unplanned, and awesome.
While I was shooting Chantelle and Ryan, I said "I can't believe we almost left here. This is amazing. I have the most perfect reflection of you guys in the pool. Perfect!" I was freaking out and jumping around and getting all caught up in everything and Chantelle said "That is so weird. My parents have a photo of them with their reflection in a puddle from their wedding day." Unplanned perfection equalling truly authentic images. We proceeded to let the magic of their wedding day, and our planned but unplanned perfection sweep us away.
I have photographed many weddings at the Maritime Heritage Center. I will hopefully photograph many more, but the most amazing part to me, is that still... the photos can be different. Unique. Theirs. As with any location, I'll likely not be the first photographer to find it. Or to create images there... but those images, those settings in those moments. Were ours. I didn't find the location anywhere, but from my own inspired moments. I promise, images are always best this way.
Their energy, their love. Their family, friends, locations. All an amazing opportunity to create art, that is authentic. I am so blessed.
Thank you both for sharing your moments with me, and allowing me to create images that I truly love.
Erv and Carey
"The first time I saw her, she was sitting at the bar at the Earls in Victoria, she looked so hot." He said.
Many roundabouts and different turns and some ten plus years later life would bring them together again, this time... both in the perfect place for each other.
I love, when life nudges you in the right direction, at exactly the right time.
The stars aligned. Not long later... Carey was looking at baby clothes. They knew. They just knew.
Along came Lucia. Their precious baby girl. Ten months later, at the beautiful Barcelo Los Cabos Resort, Carey and Erv would be married under the warm and beautiful Mexican sun. The waves would crash along the shoreline behind them. Their family and friends sitting, watching, supporting, smiling. They would hold hands, smile, laugh, cry and celebrate what they had found in each other. Light. Love. Warmth.
Erv and Carey are simply amazing. Together, with their baby girl they have created something seriously awesome. They are the real deal folks. I am so honored to have been chosen to photograph their wedding. May the universe continue to smile upon you three.
