carolyn egerszegi photography

new year. better photos. | photography mentoring with carolyn

2012-01-17T13:43:00.000-08:00

pei pei + chad | married

2011-09-13T14:49:00.000-07:00

Pei Pei and Chad's wedding day was everything I would wish for a couple as they start their new life together. A celebration filled with beauty, happiness, fun, excitement and affection. Everywhere I turned that day I saw the twinkling eyes of supportive friends and family filled with admiration for Pei Pei and Chad and their celebration of a love meant to be.

A few highlights from the day:

1. The bride. Who was definitely the highlight of this wedding for me (as she should be)! Pei Pei was absolutely stunning in her vintage 1920's inspired wedding dress and styling. It was plain to see that Chad shared my deep admiration for his bride's beauty too. He could not stop staring at Pei Pei all day and certainly knows what a lucky man he is to have captured the heart of a woman as smart and gorgeous as her. Which leads me to...

2. The groom. Who was as doting and in love with his bride as any groom I have ever seen (as it should be)! Chad is one of those down-to-earth, honest, sincere people who is considerate of everybody. Chad not only took care of Pei Pei all day, but the two of them were extremely kind and thoughtful towards me as well. I love attending weddings where I am made to feel like one of the family, as Chad and Pei Pei did that day for me.

3. The University Women's Club of Vancouver and Hycroft Manor. Which was one of the most beautiful venues for a wedding I have ever photographed. My work feels much more like play when I'm at a venue without a single bad angle and gorgeous light everywhere. I cannot wait to photograph another wedding there soon. In fact, if you're getting married at Hycroft Manor, send me an email today. I'll help out your budget and give you a discount on wedding day photography coverage just so I can work there again!

4. Vicki Gannon Photography. Who I was fortunate enough to have as my second photographer again. Vicki has an amazing eye and always delivers gorgeous photos on a wedding day. As I was going through her photos after the wedding, I had more than a few gasps (of wow) and major image envy because I wish I'd taken so many of her photos. Thanks Vicki!

5. Margaret Lai. Who was Pei Pei's makeup and hair stylist for the day. The bride requested her look be 1920's inspired and Margaret delivered the styling in magnificent fashion. I loved photographing Pei Pei with her hot red lips, perfect pin curl hair and birdcage veil. It was an amazing look, expertly executed by Margaret. Well done!

6. The bride's dresses. Which equaled four in total and Pei Pei looked amazing in each one. Let's play a wedding version of Where's Waldo. Can you spot all four dresses in the photos below?

7. The bride's dad. Who had the biggest smile plastered across his face all day. Other than the gorgeous bride and the handsome groom, the bride's dad is my strongest visual memory of the day. Every time I looked at him he was smiling from ear to ear. There's a shot of him near the end of this set of photos at the reception. He's laughing and smiling at something the bride's brother had just said, but trust me... that was the same look he had on his face all day. It was wonderful to see such a happy and proud dad.

8. The groom's mom. Who said one of the nicest things that has ever been said to me at a wedding. She commented to me near the end of the night that I must really love my job because every time she looked at me all day, I was smiling. It makes me feel blessed to have a job that never feels like work, but for that enjoyment to be recognized by others really makes my heart burst. I wasn't aware that I smile all the time while I am working, but I was truly grateful to find out that I do. (Or perhaps I was just looking at the bride's dad all day - his smiles were contagious!)

9. The DIY projects. Which made Pei Pei & Chad's wedding day beautiful, colourful and fun. Be sure to check "the details" section at the end of this blog post for all of the information about the borrowed, vintage, handmade and environmentally friendly DIY projects.

10. The food. Which was endless and delicious. I have never been to a Chinese wedding banquet dinner before, so it was all new to me. Course after course after course (12 in all, I think) arrived in front of me to the delight of my mouth and my stomach! The staff at Kirin Restaurant in downtown Vancouver magically kept the food coming and I happily kept eating. A big thank you to Margaret Lai and my other table mates who guided me through the whole meal.

That last highlight made me hungry, so I'm going to go eat lunch while I leave you with the photos. Enjoy!

I almost forgot to mention, Pei Pei and Chad are both competitive and accomplished fencers (which is how they met) so it was very fitting to use one of Chad's épée's for a ring shot:

The gorgeous bride!

One last peek before heading down the stairs:

There is something about this next shot by Vicki Gannon that I just love:

These next four shots by Vicki Gannon make me green with envy (I wish I'd taken them!):

Pei Pei giving me her best Top Model look... gorgeous (and you look pretty great too, Chad!):

The art deco design of the Marine Building in Vancouver was the perfect backdrop for Pei Pei's vintage 1920's styling, don't you think?

I love this next shot by Vicki Gannon:

The bride's happy dad on the right:

"Come on, eat this piece of candy Lady and the Tramp style!":

Did you find all four dresses?

Congratulations to Pei Pei and Chad. I wish you love and happiness together forever!

The details:

Bride's Dresses - (1) Vera Wang bridal sample found on the Weddingbee bulletin board, (2) a traditional chinese qipao that Pei Pei had made while visiting China over a decade ago, (3) a modern qipao from Fine Chinese Clothing, and (4) Pei Pei's mother's wedding qipao from the 60's
Bride's Shoes - Fifi by Filippa Scott bought from myglassslipper.com, vintage shoes from the 40s, and a pair of Nine West
Bride's Jewellery - Various vintage items from Pei Pei's mom and aunt, as well as newer gifts over the years from family
Bride's Birdcage Veil - DIY project - Half a meter of French veiling from Fabricana tea-dyed to ivory and pinned up with...
Bride's Headpiece/Jewellery - ... a sparkly hair comb her sister-in-law found in Taiwan
Bridesmaid's Dresses - Fine Chinese Clothing
Bride's Hair & Makeup - Margaret Lai
Bride's - Engagement ring - Chad's conceptual design with the jeweler at Po Kwong Jewellers
Bride & Groom's Wedding bands - Ravens' Refuge on etsy.com - by jeweler, Dan Palmer
Groom/Groomsmen Attire - Benetton
Stationery/Invitations - DIY project - Traditional Chinese paper cuts found on eBay and glued on to cards designed and printed at En Masse Media, an environmentally friendly & green printing service
Bouquets/Boutonnieres - DIY project - the Bride's stepmom hand wired and tied the floral parts and everything was put together with the help of other crafty house guests the night before the wedding
Wedding Cake - Yan Bakery
Ceremony Venue - The University Women's Club of Vancouver and Hycroft Manor
Reception Venue - Kirin Restaurant Downtown

charity: water | happy birthday to me

2011-09-05T13:53:00.000-07:00

In honour of my birthday on September 26th, my wish this year is to raise $390 for Charity: Water's 5th Anniversary September Campaign. Instead of sending me a card in the mail (as some of you do), I would love it if you would donate the cost of the card & the postage to Charity: Water instead.

Visit my donation page HERE.

Every drop counts. Thanks! xoxoxox c

sarah + volker | anniversary

2011-09-05T13:14:00.000-07:00

Congratulations on your first wedding anniversary Sarah & Volker!

jennifer + judd | anniversary

2011-09-05T13:11:00.000-07:00

Congratulations on your first wedding anniversary Jennifer & Judd!

meghan + scott | anniversary

2011-09-05T13:06:00.000-07:00

Congratulations on your first wedding anniversary Meghan & Scott!

teresa + geordie | married

2011-08-18T12:17:00.000-07:00

I can't say enough nice things about Teresa and Geordie! When I first met them, Teresa was extremely excited about her wedding and had a very bubbly personality. She couldn't wait to tell me all about her wonderful wedding plans. Geordie, like any other groom-to-be, was just happy to see his fiance so excited. I knew right away that we would be a good fit because I love weddings too!

Before I get to their wedding day, a quick story...

A few days before Teresa & Geordie's wedding, we did a pre-wedding walk through of gorgeous Grouse Mountain together. However, there was one small problem. On that day, Grouse Mountain was completely socked in with fog. We could barely see the hands in front of our faces, let alone visualize locations and settings for photos. It was a little disconcerting and Teresa was visibly nervous about their wedding day turning out the same.

Geordie is from Australia and they told me that one of the things he loves most about his new home of Vancouver is the beautiful city view from Grouse Mountain. In fact, it was the reason they picked Grouse for their wedding! Without the view, there would definitely be a damper on the day.

But... this story has a happy ending...

Of course, it was perfect weather on Teresa & Geordie's wedding day. When I stepped out my door in the morning and looked up at Grouse I saw no fog and immediately knew it was going to be a wonderful celebration!

A few highlights from the day:

1. The bride. Who looked gorgeous and happy all day. Teresa wanted her makeup to be fresh, light and radiant. I think she achieved all three. Don't you think Teresa looks like Zooey Deschanel? So gorgeous!

2. The groom. Who stared at his bride with loving admiration all day. Isn't that a groom's job on his wedding day? It didn't hurt that Geordie looked handsome too.

3. The weather. Hooray for sunshine! I'm so glad it was beautiful for Teresa & Geordie's wedding. Although the fog might have been cool for photography, the sunshine was what they were hoping for, so I'm thrilled that Teresa & Geordie got their wish.

4. The cake topper. Teresa ordered her cake topper from Lollipop Workshop on Etsy. Isn't it the cutest cake topper you've ever seen? I love the small details that make it uniquely Teresa & Geordie. Even the colour of their eyes is exactly right. A big shout out to Etsy for being the perfect place for brides to find unique and personalized handmade items for their wedding. Go Etsy!

5. The make up. I really cannot stress enough how important professional makeup is for a wedding day. A bride with professional makeup will look radiant and feel gorgeous, which really helps her shine on her wedding day. Teresa was no exception. Her professional makeup really matched the vision she had for her wedding day and she looked stunning. Well done to Colleen Kramm for your amazing artistry!

6. My brother. Since having his first child last November, my brother Gord has not been available to photograph weddings with me. I've been thrilled to shoot with Vicki Gannon instead, but when she wasn't available on Teresa & Geordie's wedding day, I begged my brother to come out of retirement to help me out. I love shooting with a second photographer like Gord because he is 100% reliable, 100% consistent and 100% skilled as a photographer. I was very lucky to have him at my side for Teresa & Geordie's wedding. Thanks Gord!

7. Grouse Mountain. Which is a terrific venue for a wedding in Vancouver. The view was amazing and the deck where Teresa & Geordie had their ceremony was a spectacular setting for a couple to start their married life together. I can't wait to shoot another wedding there one day!

8. The bride's corset. I never thought I would write about an undergarment as a highlight of the day, but isn't Teresa's corset gorgeous? She could have worn it as her wedding dress it was so pretty. (She bought it at Lace Embrace.) And speaking of undergarments, Teresa's underwear (not shown, sorry, the undies are for Geordie's eyes only) were really cute too. They said "forever yours" across the backside. Awwwww.

Okay... enough writing... time for the photos.

Thanks again to my brother Gord for a bunch of photos in this set below, including the getting ready shots of the groom, the tram, the bride's entrance at the ceremony, the first kiss and the reception details.... oh, and the adorable ring shot with the cake topper in this first shot below. I'm jealous I didn't take it, but Gord beat me to it! Nice work bro.

Isn't this little man gorgeous? I think he could easily be mistaken for one of the Pitt-Jolie kids!

Congratulations Teresa & Geordie!

The details:

Bride's Dress - David's Bridal
Bride's Shoes - The Bridal Gallery
Bride's Jewellery - the bride's something old
Bride's Veil - David's Bridal
Bride's Tiara/Headband - the bride's something borrowed
Bride's Corset - Lace Embrace
Bridesmaid's Dresses - David's Bridal
Bride's Hair - Ian at Colourbox
Bride's Makeup - Colleen Kramm
Bride & Groom's Rings - Diamond Deals
Groom/Groomsmen Attire - Moores
Stationery/Invitations - Wintons Social Stationery
Flowers/Bouquets/Boutonnieres/Centrepieces - V&J Plant Shop Ltd.
The Cutest Cake Topper Ever - Lollipop Workshop, Etsy
Reception Decor & Wedding Day Coordinator - Sweet Beginnings
Ceremony & Reception Venue - Grouse Mountain

love & free stuff | contest

2011-07-25T21:37:00.000-07:00

Introducing the Love & Free Stuff Contest

Who doesn't like LOVE? And who doesn't like FREE STUFF?

Nobody! That's who!

We all love LOVE and we all love FREE STUFF.

That's why Vancouver based wedding professionals Carolyn Egerszegi Photography, Nate Makes Films and Bailey's Brides have teamed up to create an awesome love-filled free stuff giveaway.

You can win all of this:

1) A photo engagement session with high-resolution images on DVD from Carolyn Egerszegi Photography.

2) A video engagement session with a 5-minute film on DVD from Nate Makes Films.

3) Day of Co-ordinating Wedding services from Bailey's Brides.

Total Value in excess of $1,200!

How can you win?

It's easy!

[THE CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED - CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNERS,MELODY AND JONATHAN. WE LOOK FORWARD TO CAPTURING SOME AMAZING MEMORIES WITH YOU!]

Simply click HERE to visit our contest entry page. Tell us about your plans for your wedding day so we can get to know you better. Then, tell us your idea for a memorable engagement session. Perhaps it's a re-creation of your first date, or a re-enactment of your proposal, or a romantic picnic in a beautiful location. Whatever it is, make it creative, make it romantic or make it beautiful. In other words, make it something we want to capture with our cameras.

The best idea wins!

Visit the contest site for complete contest rules & details.

Good luck and congratulations on your engagement!

[THE CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED - CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNERS,MELODY AND JONATHAN. WE LOOK FORWARD TO CAPTURING SOME AMAZING MEMORIES WITH YOU!]

hayley + paul | married

2011-07-24T09:35:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I had the honour of capturing Hayley and Paul's wedding day. They are a vibrant couple who were absolutely meant to be together. I have never seen either of them without huge smiles on their faces or a twinkle of love in their eyes for each other.

A few highlights from the day:

1. The bride. Who was radiant and happy from start to finish. When I showed Hayley and Paul their photos a few days ago, even the bride herself commented on what a great time it looked like she was having! I love being able to create photographs that remind couples not only of the details of their wedding day, but also of the excitement and emotions of their special celebration.

2. The groom. Who smiled every second of the entire day. Usually Paul's smiles involved staring at his beautiful bride Hayley, but I also love how Paul had a constant smile for all of his wonderful friends and family too. One of the groomsmen mentioned in his speech that he could not remember a time when Paul did not have a smile on his face. He is just that type of guy and it is one of the many reasons Hayley and Paul were made for each other.

3. The weather. Which finally turned nice (if only for one day) so that Hayley and Paul could have a gorgeous wedding celebration. I am not going to jinx my good luck, but [cough cough] if you look through my wedding portfolio, you will see a lot of sunny days. Just sayin'.

4. The beauty experts. When a bride looks and feels stunning, the wedding day (and my photos) usually turn out amazingly well. Therefore, a big shout-out is in order for two award winning ladies: Alina Friesen at Space Salon who styled Hayley's gorgeous hair and Felicia Bromba who made up Hayley's gorgeous face. Both of these ladies perfectly captured the essence of Hayley's personality and style with their work, allowing the bride to feel radiant on her wedding day. Their expertise and experience also meant that Hayley looked as perfect at the end of the day as she did at the beginning. A shout-out should also go to Felicia's assistant, who made up all of the beautiful bridesmaids too. Nice work ladies!

5. The Royal Vancouver Yacht Club. RVYC is a beautiful venue for a wedding in Vancouver. Set right on English Bay, with beautiful views of the water and the North Shore mountains, it offers a perfect setting for a romantic event. This is the second wedding I've photographed at RVYC and I hope to do it again soon. Oh, and it didn't hurt that the food was delicious and the dessert buffet was amazing!

6. My second photographer Vicki Gannon. I have been wanting to work with Vicki ever since I met her at a workshop last year. When we first met we were very surprised to learn that we only lived a few houses away from each other, so it only made sense that we would work together eventually. Hayley and Paul's wedding was finally that chance and I could not be more thrilled with Vicki's work. Normally I do not feature so many photos by a second shooter on my blog (after all, the idea is to feature my work and not somebody else's) but you will see many of Vicki's photos below because she did such an amazing job. Thanks Vicki. I cannot wait to work with you again!

7. The wedding party. Who kept Hayley and Paul taken care of and having fun all day. A special shout-out goes to two of the groomsmen in particular: one, who performed backflips on demand all day and another, who not-so-secretly hid a radio headphone in his ear to keep us all informed about game two of the Stanley Cup finals, which, if you have forgotten - we won, which explains the photo of Hayley leaping out of her chair during the reception.

Wow. I could write so many more highlights, but you probably came here to see the photos. Enjoy!

The next series of shots of the groom with his guys were all created by Vicki Gannon. I just love every image that Vicki made for Hayley and Paul on their wedding day. These photos are also an excellent arguement for why having a second photographer at your wedding is so important and why I include a second photographer in all of my wedding commissions. I cannot be in two places at the same time, so unless the bride and groom are getting ready at the same location, without a second photographer, the groomsmen will likely not make an appearance in the story of a wedding day until the ceremony.

Can you imagine a wedding album without these photos!?

Thanks again, Vicki! And now, more from me...

Some more excellent images by Vicki...

And back to me with the gorgeous, stunning, radiant, exquisite, beautiful bride...

An assortment of photos from both Vicki and I...

Portraits time... rawr!

I love this catch by Vicki... I was photographing the bride and groom when the Canucks scored a goal and Vicki caught this reaction from one of the groomsmen:

Hilarious!

Another goal by the Canucks... this time I caught it:

And finally, the bride's reaction to Vancouver's overtime win in game two of the Stanley Cup finals:

Cute story about the wedding pies, instead of cake: apparently neither the bride nor the groom like cake, so growing up they each had pies every year on their birthday instead of cake. It was only fitting then that they would have pie for their wedding day too, right? Now can you see what I meant when I said Hayley and Paul were absolutely meant to be together?!

How is this for a grand exit? Paul and Hayley sailed away together on a boat at the end of the night:

Congratulations Hayley & Paul. I'm thrilled for you both!

The details:

Bride's Dress - Dere Kiang from Action Liquidators (for an amazing price!)
Bride's Shoes - The Bridal Gallery, New Westminster
Bride's Jewellery - The Bay
Bridesmaids' Dresses - Le Château (who the bride tells me were awesome and found another dress in Newfoundland more than 6 months later, shipped it out for free and gave the bride an exchange and everything. Well done Le Château!)
Bridesmaids' Earrings - Le Château
Bride's Hair - Alina Friesen at Space Salon
Bride's Hair Veil Accessory - Action Liquidators
Bridesmaids' Hair Feathers - Emma Fl(H)air on Etsy.com
Bride's Bolero Top - Angelika Liv in Tel Aviv, Israel on Etsy.com
Bride's Makeup - Felicia Bromba
Groom's Attire - Cavalli from Harry Rosen
Bride & Groom's Rings - Spence Diamonds
Bride's Bouquet and Flowers - Annie Ly at Fleurtations Flowers
Ceremony & Reception Venue - Royal Vancouver Yacht Club
Invitations - designed by the groom
Wedding Pies - the Mother of the Bride made the candied pansies and both the Mother of the Bride and the Mother of the Groom made the pies together. Nice teamwork moms!

bailey + andrew | anniversary

2011-07-24T09:30:00.000-07:00

Congratulations on your first wedding anniversary Bailey & Andrew!

brooke + hunter | anniversary

2011-07-23T09:28:00.000-07:00

Congratulations on your first wedding anniversary Brooke & Hunter!

terra + brandon | anniversary

2011-07-18T17:19:00.001-07:00

Congratulations on your first wedding anniversary Terra & Brandon!

katherine + joe | anniversary

2011-07-08T16:57:00.000-07:00

Happy First Anniversary Katherine & Joe!

introducing | www.carolynegerszegi.com

2011-06-29T16:30:00.000-07:00

This is an exciting day for me! After a lot of hard work, time and energy, I am thrilled to introduce my new website to you at www.carolynegerszegi.com.

I have been building this website for a very long time and feel quite proud of what I have accomplished! I did all of the design and site building myself, with little help from Showit software. Not bad, eh?

Please click www.carolynegerszegi.com to visit my new site.

And now that I have added another layer to my online presence, perhaps it would be handy to know all of the places where you can find me on the internet:

Spilled Milk Photography blog - postings and photos from my portrait sessions with families, children, newborns and expectant moms.

Carolyn Egerszegi Photography blog - postings and photos about weddings and engagement sessions.

Carolyn Egerszegi Photography website - portrait, engagement and wedding galleries, rate information, an interview with me, contact and personal information - including childhood and recent photos of me - and perhaps even a few golden eggs... if you're keen enough to find them!

Facebook - updates and galleries from my most recent work. It's also a great place to engage in casual conversation with me. Be sure to click "Like" to stay up-to-date on what I am doing with my business.

Pinterest - the visual contents of my brain. Other than my website, Pinterest is probably the best place to look if you want to know more about the things I am interested in and the images that I love.

Twitter @cegerszegi - the verbal contents of my brain. Which, is surprisingly empty. I tweet maybe once a day (at best) because on Twitter I am really more interested in listening than being heard. Of course, if you want to know some of my most random thoughts throughout the day, please feel free to follow me!

Don't forget to update all of your bookmarks... and thanks for visiting!

weddings in bc | featured

2011-06-19T14:55:00.000-07:00

Bailey and Andrew's wedding has been featured again. Wow!

The number of times this wedding has been featured really speaks to Bailey's strengths as an event planner. All of her lovingly selected details and styling choices have really caught the eye of blogs and websites dedicated to featuring beautiful weddings.

Visit Part 1 and Part 2 of Bailey and Andrew's wedding feature in the Inspiration Room on WeddingsInBC.com today!

laurie + chris | anniversary

2011-05-27T09:45:00.000-07:00

Happy First Anniversary Laurie & Chris!

farah + mike | anniversary

2011-05-24T16:41:00.000-07:00

Happy First Anniversary Farah and Mike!

hayley + paul | engaged

2011-05-15T15:36:00.000-07:00

Hayley and Paul have no shortage of energy, playfulness or love for each other; three things which made their engagement session incredibly fun and easy for me.

When I said snuggle, they snuggled. When I said give me your best fake laugh (which always leads to the real one), they laughed like crazy. When I said look hot, they delivered with flying colours. When I said please blow this confetti everywhere because I'm obsessed with glitter and sparkles right now, they were more than eager to play along.

All-in-all, Hayley and Paul were a dream to have in front of my camera, which makes me insanely excited about photographing their wedding! I have a sneaking suspicion I will end the night boogying on the dance floor with these two.

Oh, and did I mention that Hayley has a love for Fluevogs and wore not one, but two pairs of hot Fluevog boots for this session? Too bad Hayley and I don't share the same size feet or I might have had to knock her down and steal her boots when we were finished.

With their wedding just a few weeks away, I will be sharing Hayley and Paul's wedding photos soon. In the meantime, enjoy their fun personalities in these engagement photos...

Hot Fluevogs alert #1...

Hot Fluevogs alert #2...

Have a great day!

professional series hardcover book | products

2011-05-14T10:15:00.000-07:00

In my last post I talked about how important it is to free your photographic memories from your computer and get images printed for display in your home.

One of my favourite ways to display photos is in a beautiful hardcover coffee table book like this one Brooke & Hunter commissioned me to create of their wedding day photos. I love how it turned out.

This one is a Professional Series book. The quality is amazing, with thick photo lustre archival paper and embossed names on a sexy Japanese silk cover.

I know Brooke & Hunter will get many years of enjoyment from this gorgeous documentation of their wedding day.

If you need help printing or creating books of your treasured photographs, send me an email. I'd be happy to give you advice or assistance!

imagewrap hardcover book | products

2011-05-13T15:40:00.000-07:00

I absolutely love the flexibility and freedom that digital cameras provide. With the advent of Facebook, Flickr, emails and blogs, memories and images captured with digital photography can be shared quickly and easily with friends and family around the world. The downside to digital photography, however, is the risk of beautiful photographs and treasured memories becoming trapped on computers where the are not shared and enjoyed on a regular basis.

It is for this reason that I love it when clients ask me to design hardcover books for them. A beautiful hardcover book, when displayed on a coffee table in your home, can be an art piece, a conversation starter and a reminder of the relationships, special events or quiet daily routines of your life.

I highly encourage anybody with digital photographs stacked up on your computer desktop to take the time to have some of your favourite images printed, either as a book or for display in your home, so you can be reminded of the beauty in your life without having to sit at a computer to do it.

Surround yourself with the images you love and your life will automatically be more beautiful.

If you're not sure how to print images, or make books, please email me and I'd be happy to give you some advice or assistance.

Below are some images of a book I designed last year as Brooke & Hunter's guest book for their wedding. I left lots of white space around their photos so friends and family could sign the pages. And as you'll see from the detail shots, the quality is excellent.

Have a look and then consider putting a book together for yourself today!

mother's day gift idea | photography basics with carolyn

2011-05-08T15:08:00.000-07:00

Do you have a mom in your life who loves photography and wants to improve her skills? Well, just in time for Mother's Day, this blog post is for you.

I'm bringing my blog out of hibernation to announce the perfect Mother's Day gift: a photography class... with me!

Over the years various clients have asked me for photography tips and tricks, so I thought it might make sense to finally offer an actual class for all those inspired beginners. If you own a DSLR camera, but really aren't sure how to best take advantage of all its capabilities or features, then my class is for you. Check out all the details below and then send me an email to sign up. My first class is less than 10 days away, so don't delay!

Happy Mother's Day!

vancity bride | featured

2011-05-07T10:06:00.000-07:00

After a long absence I plan on getting back to regular blogging soon. While I get everything ready for my big comeback, I thought I'd share with you a terrific website for Vancouver couples who are planning a wedding on a budget. It's called Vancity Bride and a wedding I photographed last summer was recently featured. Bailey and Andy's wedding was a wonderful event with many loving details and fun moments. In fact, Bailey enjoyed planning her wedding so much that she decided to start her own wedding and event planning business called Bailey's Brides.

If you're a Vancouver couple planning your wedding and need some help, be sure to call upon Bailey and her sparkling personality for planning assistance or visit Vanity Bride for a treasure trove of great information.

Have a great day!

kind words from wonderful people | raves

2011-01-02T16:38:00.000-08:00

I have been blessed by an embarrassment of riches in the form of wonderful clients. They are always my type of people... down-to-earth, relaxed, happy and most of all, in love.

The fact that I like them so much makes it that much more special to me when I receive a kind thank you note or an excited email about the images I have created for them. I am incredibly grateful to know that they appreciate all of my hard work and will enjoy their wedding day photos for a lifetime.

Here are a few snippets from the notes and emails I have received from some of my clients:

"AMAZING!!!!! The photos are absolutely AMAZING! Thank you so much for all of your hard work! So many photos to choose from!" - Meg & Scott

"It means something when the bride doesn't cry at her own wedding but does at the wedding pics??!! Thanks again Carolyn. I love love LOVE all the pictures!" - Bailey & Andrew

"Wow!!!! You are truly talented. Thank you so very much for making our day so special. Your presence there will be remembered by Chris and I forever. You made us, and everyone there feel comfortable... you felt like a part of our family. I don't have the words to express how grateful I am for your contribution to our very special day Carolyn." - Laurie & Chris

"Thanks for all of your hard work on our wedding day. You helped make the day go smoothly. The pictures are gorgeous!" - Brooke & Hunter

"The photos you took are truly worth a million dollars." - Farah & Mike

"I am so glad we have so many wonderful pictures to capture all of the fantastic memories of the day." - Jennifer & Judd 

"Thanks for capturing our big day so we'll be able to remember it over the years. We love the photos! We knew they were going to be great but we're still blown away." - Terra & Brandon

"Thanks again Carolyn for everything. You are truly amazing!!!!!! AMAZING!!!!!!!!! Have had a quick look through the photos and I love them all!!!!!! Thank you soooooo much. I won't ever forget our special day and am glad I have such wonderful pictures to remind me of it." - Katherine & Joe

"The photos are WONDERFUL!!! We absolutely love them, thank you so much! We are so pleased we found such a great photographer!" - Sarah & Devin

"It has been a pleasure to work with you and to have you record our special day - we couldn't be happier with the results!" - Sarah & Volker

Thank you to all my clients for such kind words!

sarah + volker | married

2011-01-01T16:31:00.000-08:00

You cannot imagine how thrilled I am to finally post Sarah and Volker's glorious wedding day! I'm delighted to share these images because Sarah and Volker were both incredibly romantic and hopelessly in love, which made photographing their wedding day a great joy and honor for me.

A few highlights from the day:

1. Love. I normally always put the bride as my number one highlight from the day - because the bride usually takes centre stage and wows me on a wedding day - but in the case of Sarah and Volker's wedding day, love took centre stage. Sarah and Volker were so in love on their wedding day that it was definitely the highlight for me. They would not stop smooching and making eyes at each other, even when I was trying to take some serious, less kissy-kissy photos. Although I'm not complaining... what a treat to spend the day with a couple so in love!

2. The bride. Who looked amazing and was only upstaged on her wedding day by the love between her and her groom. Sarah looked absolutely gorgeous and took everyone's breath away - especially Volker's. They elected to do "first look" photos before the ceremony and Volker was stunned by Sarah's beauty. He literally could not take his eyes off her. It was incredibly endearing and a pleasure to capture in photos.

3. The groom. Who looked dashing and stayed mesmerized by Sarah all day. I love weddings where the love between the bride and groom radiates throughout the day because it makes my work so incredibly easy. Volker could not have radiated more love towards Sarah if he had tried. I also love a guy who can pull off a purple tie with such panache!

4. The first look photos. Which is such a terrific way to keep the timeline of the day flowing nicely. Many couples prefer the big reveal during the wedding ceremony - which is understandably wonderful and romantic - but I personally love it when a bride and groom choose to see each other for photos before the ceremony. Not only is it very personal and intimate, but it frees the day up to spend as much time as they want for photos and allows the bride and groom to move straight from the ceremony to the reception without stopping for photos in between. I especially loved Sarah and Volker's first look photos, which took place next to The Westin Bayshore Hotel where they got ready. There was this wonderful grassy area near the seawall which was perfect for the big reveal and Volker's reaction to Sarah did not disappoint.

5. The Teahouse in Stanley Park. I've said it before and I'll say it again. I love the Teahouse in Stanley Park as a wedding venue. It's intimate, picturesque and the food is always wonderful. If you're getting married at the Teahouse, give me a call because I'd love to be your photographer!

6. Sean Norman. While I'm repeating myself, I'll praise Sean Norman again. I'm always so lucky to have him work alongside me on a wedding day. I think you'll understand why when you see his images below... or check out his post from Sarah and Volker's wedding day HERE.

7. The sightseeing tour bus driver. Who stopped his big red bus next to us as we were taking photos and insisted that Sarah and Volker hop on board for a few photos. I love a fun, spontaneous moment like that on a wedding day. Everybody was laughing... especially the tourists who started to cheer and snap photos of the bride and groom. My personal favourite laugh-out-loud moment from the day was when one tourist in particular horned in on Sarah and Volker's embrace and insisted on being part of their photos. Hilarious!

8. The wine bottles. Sarah and Volker's guests each brought a bottle of their favourite wine for the bride and groom to start their wine cellar with. I absolutely love this as a gift idea for a couple who love wine. Each guest received a customized label to write a special message to the bride and groom, which they affixed to the bottle of their choice. All of the bottles were then presented to the happy couple at their reception. I'm sure Sarah and Volker will think of each of their guests and their wonderful wedding day every time they enjoy another bottle of their wedding gift wine for years to come.

I could write all day, but should probably move on to the photos... enjoy!

I love this next shot by Sean Norman...

I love this one by Sean too...

I love these next shots. I was laughing as I took them... especially when the tourist (bottom left) decided to horn in on Sarah and Volker's photo!

I love this idea as a wedding gift... wine with a special note to the bride and groom...

If you love the spontaneous photographs you've seen here, then please connect with me today to learn more about my wedding photography services. Click HERE to send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you.

The details:

Bride's Dress - I Do Bridal, Seattle, Washington
Bride's Hair Flower - Etsy.com ~ Feathers and Frills
Bridesmaid's Dress - Macy's
Bride's Hair - Suki's, West Georgia Street, Vancouver
Bride's Makeup - Spa Vida at The Westin Bayshore Hotel
Groom's Attire - Nordstrom Flagship Store, Seattle, Washington
Bride & Groom's Rings - Green Lake Jewelry, Seattle, Washington
Bride's Bouquet and Flowers - Kits Market, Vancouver
Ceremony & Reception Venue - Ferguson Point and Teahouse in Stanley Park
Invitations, Save the Date & Name Place Cards - Etsy.com ~ Two Turtle Doves
Wedding Cake & Cupcakes - Big City Cupcake on 4th Avenue, Vancouver

Congratulations to you both, Sarah and Volker. It was a wonderful day!

meghan + scott | married

2010-12-22T10:39:00.000-08:00

If you had told me when I walked out my door and into a torrential downpour on the morning of Meg and Scott's wedding that the day would end with a beautiful, blazingly sunny ceremony, a perfect sunset portrait session on the beach and a rocking dance-filled reception, I would have had a hard time believing you.

But that is exactly what happened on Meg and Scott's wedding day and I couldn't have been more honoured to be a part of it.

A few highlights from the day:

1. The bride. Who smiled and laughed throughout the day. Meg looked gorgeous and really loved working the camera next-top-model-style. Thanks Meg... you made my work easy!

2. The groom. Who looked oh-so-dashing himself, yet couldn't stop looking at his spectacular bride in awe.

3. The bridesmaids. Who did everything in their power to make Meg's wedding day just as she'd imagined it. I love that they had the music grooving while everybody was getting ready in the morning. It really sets the tone for the day. And extra kudos to one of Meg's bridesmaids who spent so much time doing everybody's makeup so beautifully - including Meg's - that she left almost no time to do her own. A good bridesmaid is selfless like that. (Although I won't name names because I challenge you to figure out who had the quick makeup job? I bet you can't tell because she looked gorgeous too!)

4. The groomsmen. Who were so funny and enthusiastic about the whole day. They had me laughing with their antics and great attitudes. Scott is obviously a very lucky guy to have such great friends.

5. Cecil Green Park House at UBC. Which was a gorgeous location for a wedding. I love the large open lawn and the huge porch patio that was perfect for a cocktail party after the wedding ceremony. (Although a big thumbs down to the parking lot nearby, which gave me a parking ticket for reasons too complicated to explain here. Wonk wonk wonk.)

6. The bride and groom's friends and family. Who made me feel so welcome and included in the wedding. I love it when I spend a "work" day with a great bunch of people who make a point of ensuring I don't feel like an outsider. Thanks, all.

7. The beach portraits. Gorgeous couple + beach + sunset = best wedding portrait session ever! Thanks to Meg & Scott (and Meg's mom) for insisting on making it happen even when the timeline was tight. I'm so glad we did it! An extra kudos goes to whomever prepared the adorable picnic basket for the bride and groom. Well done!

8. Sean Norman. Who was my awesome wingman again. He's a terrific guy so I'm always so glad when he agrees to be my second photographer for the day. Although he really needs to stop shaming me by posting photos three months sooner than I do!!! See what I'm talking about here.

Oooops. I seem to have gotten carried away with my highlights from the day, so on to the photos...

I love this next shot. It's the moment the torrental downpour stopped and the sun came out. Meg and her mom basked in the beauty of what the day held in store...

I love the way Meg is rocking the fierceness in this next shot...

And the gorgeousness in this next shot...

Me with the girls...

And Sean with the boys...

Every time I see these photos of the recessional, Stevie Wonder's Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours immediately pops into my head. The whole wedding party sure boogied down the aisle to that song...

These next two photos are by the amazing Sean Norman and two of my favourites from the day...

Isn't this next photo divine? You rock Sean!!!

This next image could be one of my favourite photos I took all year...

I don't usually comment on the DJ because the music isn't something you can "see" in photos, but in this case the DJ deserves a special mention for his awesomeness. He new exactly the right song to play and the right moment and kept it fresh with contemporary hits that got everybody on the dance floor. I just wish I could have stayed and danced all night!

Congratulations Meg & Scott!

jennifer + judd | married

2010-12-18T10:44:00.000-08:00

It's been too long since I've updated this blog, but I've been working non-stop throughout the fall and just didn't find the time to get some new photos posted. My apologies to the wonderful couples whose weddings I captured at the end of the summer and have yet to see their photos appear here!

One of those wonderfully patient couples is Jennifer and Judd, who were married on a gorgeous day in August in historic Fort Langley. I've always loved Fort Langley so I was especially excited when Jennifer and Judd contacted me and told me about their wedding day plans. Not only would their wedding be held in Fort Langley's quaint United Church, but the reception would be held in Fort Langley's picturesque Community Hall and feature a superhero theme. Superheroes? Who doesn't love a few superheroes to add some kick to a wedding day!? Fun!

A few highlights from the day:

1. The bride. Who looked elegant and glowing on her wedding day. I especially loved Jennifer's red rose bouquet which accented her classic look.

2. The groom. Who did everything to ensure his bride and guests had a wonderful day. There wasn't a moment that went by when Judd wasn't "checking-up" on everybody to ensure they were well taken care of.

3. The superheroes. Like I said, who doesn't love a few superheroes to add some fun and whimsy to a wedding day? Personally, I think my table "Colossus" was the best! A shy, gigantic Russian mutant who is impossibly strong, a talented artist and only wants to use his powers for the betterment of mankind is definitely my kind of superhero!

4. Fort Langley. Back in the day when I worked for Z95.3 radio, I used to drive all over the city doing prize giveaways and hosting promotional events. One of my favourite spots to visit in all of Greater Vancouver was always Fort Langley because of it's classic main street with its quaint shops and historic fort. On Jennifer and Judd's wedding day, beautiful Fort Langley did not disappoint once again and provided some fun backdrops for their photos.

5. Friends and Family. Who always make a wedding day special. Jennifer and Judd's guests all gathered to celebrate their wedding day and showed great joy in sharing in their special day.

I could type all day about Jennifer and Judd's joyful celebration, but since it's been so long since I've posted on my blog I should probably just get on to the photos. Enjoy...

The details:

Bride's Dress - Everything But the Groom, Langley, BC
Bride's Clutch - Everything But the Groom, Langley, BC
Bridesmaid's Dresses - Handmade by Maid of Honor's friend and Matron of Honor's mom - wow!
Bride's Hair - Melanie Beaudette
Bride's Makeup - Afterglow, Gurpreet Kahlon
Groom & Groomsmen's Attire - Moores
Bride & Groom's Rings - People's Jewellers
Bride's Bouquet and Flowers - Lisa Gregory Special Events
Ceremony Location - St. Andrew's United Church, Fort Langley
Reception Venue - Fort Langley Community Hall
Invitations - Michaels
Wedding Cake - Lisa Gregory Special Events

Congratulations Jennifer & Judd!

is this thing on?

2010-10-26T11:47:00.000-07:00

As you may have noticed, I've been noticeably absent from my blogs lately. Noticeably. For people who notice things like that.

Thanks for stopping by to see what I've been working on. I love it when people enjoy my photography - although it also makes me sorry for not posting more often! In my defence I've been swamped with fall family portrait sessions and need to get a whole pile of photos edited in time for holiday card season. Once I've caught up on all my work I'll return to regularly scheduled programming.

In the meantime, check this out... Bailey and Andy's gorgeous wedding has been featured on four different blogs. Yes four... including Bailey's own Wedding Planning business site. Visit the posts by clicking each of the links below and thank you to all of the wonderful bloggers who featured my photographs...

Brenda's Wedding Blog

Wedding Bee's Gallery of the Day

And again at Wedding Bee

After Thought Composer

Bailey's Brides

Thanks again!

And finally... I still have a few different weddings waiting to be posted, so keep checking back for the following gorgeous couples:

Ciao for now!

brooke + hunter | married

2010-08-12T07:40:00.000-07:00

This is a little bit embarrassing, but it's taken me almost two months to update this post and my blog. I am not still in Hungary. I returned home safely and have been hard at work with family portrait sessions all fall which have been keeping me very busy and subsequently away from blogging.

I should get back to editing photos, but I thought I'd quickly mention a few words about Brooke and Hunter's wedding. I just loved this day. Everything was so relaxed and simple that I felt at ease from start to finish. Brooke and Hunter were married at Lowden's Lookout at Prospect Point in Stanley Park, which was special for them because the picturesque spot is named after Hunter's dad.

Following the ceremony, the bride and groom's portrait session could have been one of my favourites of all time because Brooke and Hunter let me choose the location. I couldn't recommend this more highly to couples getting married. Let your photographer choose at least some of the portrait locations because I was able to scout the location myself and choose a spot where I knew the light would be perfect at the right time of day. As you scroll below I think you'll see why choosing a great location with great light is so important because Brooke and Hunter looked gorgeous!

Finally, I loved Brooke and Hunter's reception at the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club (or RVYC to all you cool kids out there). Hunter sails with the Canadian National Team, so it was only fitting that the reception be held at his home club. And it didn't hurt that the location allowed me to sneak the bride and groom out at sunset for a few photos with more gorgeous light.

Although as you'll see from the following photos, it wasn't difficult to make these two look amazing.

Congratulations Brooke and Hunter. Thanks for letting me be a part of your wonderful day.

Enjoy the photos...

I love it when I'm scrolling through the photos after the wedding and I notice that I was capturing this next photo at almost the exact same time as my brother was catching the one that follows.

Brooke helping pin on her dad's boutonniere...

And one of the groomsmen helping Hunter straighten his tie...

Perfect timing!

This next photo makes me laugh. One of Booke's bridesmaids set off the car alarm while trying to lock up the car. I guess that's one way to announce the bride's arrival...

I should mention that Brooke and Hunter are not the kind of couple who are big into PDAs so I didn't push them too hard for a lot of smootchy-smootchy photos. But, what would wedding portraits be without at a least one shot of the bride and groom kissing, right?

So... I had to be a little sneaky about things.

While I told Broke and Hunter I was taking this photo...

I was actually taking this photo...

Which led to this photo...

Sorry Brooke and Hunter. It had to be done!

Congratulations you two!

bailey + andrew | married

2010-08-10T07:27:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned in my last post, Bailey and Andrew's wedding was the first time I'd ever worked alongside a team of videographers. I like to think I work incredibly hard at a wedding to capture every moment of a bride and groom's special day, but I must admit that Randy Yuen (and his second shooter AJ) matched Sean and I step for step. They really did an amazing job of capturing every detail of Bailey and Andrew's wedding and brought an extra energy to the portrait section of the day. Check out their highlights video to see what I mean about not missing a single detail...

Bailey & Andy Highlights from randy//FIRST LANGUAGE FILMS on Vimeo.

Wasn't that terrific??? Excellent work Randy & AJ!!

I should mention, that Randy is just starting his wedding videography business... so please email me for his contact information. I'd be happy to give it to you and I definitely recommend his work.

bailey + andrew | married

2010-08-08T01:59:00.000-07:00

It's been an incredibly busy fall for me so I have put my blog on the back-burner for a while until I get all of my photos edited and delivered to all of my wonderful clients. But, I've certainly waited too long to update this post with all of the details (scroll down to the bottom) and a comment or two about Bailey and Andy's fun and fabulous wedding day.

There are many things I remember about photographing this day... Bailey's effervescent personality, Andy's can't-wipe-the-smile-of-his face attitude, a wedding party full of all kinds of awesomesauce and, of course, the heat. It was a hot one... like seven inches from the midday sun. Hot.

But the heat didn't deter everybody from rocking out the photos and bringing all the love and emotion at just the right moments throughout the day.

A few highlights from the day:

1. The bride. Who outdid herself on the wedding details and looked gorgeous too. Bailey can plan a wedding like nobody's business. A girl after my own heart, Bailey proved that love truly is in the details. I adored all of the fresh and simple touches that Bailey incorporated throughout the day which made Bailey and Andy's wedding unique. And did I mention that Bailey looked gorgeous? Yes. She looked gorgeous. (And I have proof. See photo evidence above and below.)

2. The groom. Who was incredibly happy all day. Every time I turned around Andy was laughing or smiling or gazing adoringly at his bride. And he looked pretty handsome too. Bailey sure said "I Do" to the right guy!

3. Gastown. Vancouver is such an incredibly gorgeous city with a million different locations to choose from as a backdrop for photography, but Gastown is certainly one of the best. I just love the cobblestone streets, the old gas lamps and the stone buildings. And who doesn't love a stinky alleyway for a few photos too?? Okay, I could have done without the stinky alleyway, but luckily my photography doesn't come with smell-o-vision, so who cares as long as it looks great!?

4. Videography. I've never worked with a videography team before, but I have to say it was a wonderful addition to the day. I really loved the creativity and energy that Randy and AJ brought to the everything we did.

5. Sean Norman. Who is an awesome photographer and a great guy. I'm always so glad when I have Sean to support my photography throughout the day with his creative eye and relaxed energy. Thanks again Sean!

(Note - photos by the amazing Sean Norman where watermarked on the images below. To see more of Sean's photos from Bailey & Andrew's wedding, visit his blog HERE.)

I'll stop here because there were so many more wonderful highlights throughout the day that I could go on forever... the up-for-anything wedding party, the emotional "first look" photos, the beautiful church, Bailey's gorgeous purple shoes, the hilarious shoe game and the yummy candy bar (my daughter especially loved the bag of treats I brought home for her)!

Let's just move on to the photos, shall we?

Enjoy Bailey & Andy's beautiful wedding day...

This was my first time working alongside a videography team. Randy Yuen and his second shooter AJ did an amazing job documenting the whole day. Check out Randy hard at work here and stay tuned in my next post for the embed of their video highlights.

Congratulations Bailey and Andrew!

The details:

Wedding Planner Extraordinaire - Bailey, the Bride, of Bailey's Brides

Bride's Dress - The Bridal Gallery (Maggie Sottero - Melissa Brooch)
Bride's Hair - Groom's Cousin
Bride's Makeup - Bride's Sister
Bride's Shoes - Le Château

Bride's Veil & Jewellery - eBay

Bride's Rings - Verragio Diamonds, Siba Jewellers & Ming Diamonds

Bridesmaid's Dresses - Bryans

Groom's Ring - eBay

Groom's Attire - Debonair Formal

Bride's Bouquet & Flowers - Sandy's Wedding Services and Rentals

Parasols - Bride's from a store in Gastown, Bridesmaid's from Craigslist

Stationery - Michaels

Ceremony Venue - Chapel of the Epiphany, UBC

Reception Venue - Thaes Koerner House Graduate Centre, UBC

Videography - Randy Yuen, First Language Films

Wedding Cake & Cupcakes - Anna Elizabeth Cakes

katherine + joe | married

2010-08-06T00:36:00.000-07:00

Updated - August 24 - I'm back from vacation now and thought I'd update this post with a few more photos and some words about Katherine & Joe's beautiful wedding day. I must admit, the thing that stands out the most (after how incredibly happy & in love the bride and groom were that day) was how incredibly HOT HOT HOT it was. I think I literally almost melted into the floor a few times over the course the entire day's events.

A few highlights from the day:

1. The bride. Who was gorgeous and radiant and so incredibly happy all day. Katherine seemed almost unfazed by the heat because she was too busy being in love with Joe.

2. The groom. Who didn't pass out in his handsome dark suit. Seriously. I can't believe nobody passed out from the heat, especially the boys in their suits. Well done lads!

3. Swan-e-set Bay Resort & Country Club. Which was a stunningly gorgeous location for a wedding. Despite its remote location, I think it's one of the best spots for a wedding in the Greater Vancouver area.

4. The bride's makeup. I have to give a shout out to Felicia Bromba, who did the bride's makeup. I thought the heat would have left poor Katherine all shiny and melted, but her face looked gorgeous all day. I don't know if Katherine was powdering her nose behind my back, but her makeup was so great that I didn't even need to retouch the photos!!

5. The bride's hair. Which looked so romantic and beautiful. I especially loved the orchid that held it all together. I just love orchids! Kudos to Victoria Kuzma who did Katherine's hair.

6. My brother. Who was my second shooter for the day. He kept me well hydrated and caught some great photos too. It's wonderful to work with another photographer who always has my back. Thanks Gord!

7. The flower girls. Who were so adorable and so well behaved! Cute cute cute!

8. The ring bearer. Who was a great sport about modelling the wedding program for me. Thanks!

9. The cupcakes. Because they're cupcakes. And cupcakes are delicious.

Now for the photos...

I should mention at this point that I wasn't completely daft from the heat and forgot to take photos of the ceremony. They're not included here because the bride and groom wished to have some parts of their day remain private. But trust me, it was a gorgeous and romantic ceremony!

Congratulations Katherine & Joe. I'm so happy for you both!

The details:

Bride's Dress - Alfred Sung, Viva Bridal Boutique, Kamloops
Bridesmaid's Dresses - Victoria's Secret
Bride's Hair - Victoria Kuzma
Bride's Makeup - Felicia Bromba
Bride's Shoes - Aldo, UK
Bride & Groom's Rings - Philip Stoner, UK
Bride's Bouquet and Flowers - The Matron of Honour, Devon Eisenberger did all the flowers. Gorgeous, eh? You can contact her at Newell Flower Shop in Kamloops
Marriage Commissioner - Gaylene Shapka (she was terrific!)
Getting Ready Venue - Dewdrop Retreat Bed and Breakfast, Maple Ridge
Ceremony & Reception Venue - Swan-e-set Bay Resort & Country Club
Programs, Menus & Reception Stationery - Tammy Lyon, Uniquity Invitations
Favour Boxes - Michaels

Chocolates - Hotel Chocolat in Leeds, UK
Wedding Cupcakes - Nina J. Hemmes, Tartlets

terra + brandon | married

2010-08-05T00:09:00.000-07:00

Terra and Brandon celebrated their wedding on a gorgeous, hot, sunny day surrounded by friends and family and tons of love. I spent the morning with the girls getting ready and just loved how happy and excited Terra was the entire time. It's always a special treat to be part of a wedding when you know that everything is as it should be and the right girl is marrying the right guy. I'm so happy for you both, Brandon & Terra!

A few highlights from the day:

1. The bride. Who looked radiant all day, and as I said above, was truly thrilled to be marrying Brandon. I love it when everything is right in the universe.

2. The groom. Who is such a kind and sweet guy. You could tell how much he loves Terra by the way he kept her laughing and smiling all day.

3. Sean Norman. Who was my awesome second shooter and amigo for the day. I've admired his photography for a long time now and was incredibly thrilled to work with him for the first time at Terra & Brandon's wedding. I've posted a few of his photos below, but please visit his blog HERE to see more of his amazing work from Terra & Brandon's big day.

4. The colour pink. Which made the day look bright and happy, just like the bride and groom. Terra had the pink details done to perfection. So fun.

5. Smurfs. Who served as a perfect prop for some fun ring shots - and if you follow this blog, you know how much I love to rock the ring shots!

6. Terra's Grandpa. Who sang the most beautiful song to Terra and Brandon during the speeches. I always cry at least once during every wedding, but this song was so touching and sang with such heartfelt love, that I absolutely lost it. Thank goodness for autofocus because the tears in my eyes as made it almost impossible to photograph Terra's reaction (see below). I think I actually went into the ugly cry!

That's about it... I'm actually on vacation right now, visiting family in Hungary... and typing on a Hungarian keyboard with all the letters mixed up and in different places which is proving to be a bit frustrating so I'll stop here!

Congratulations to you both, Terra and Brandon, you're a perfect match.

Enjoy the photos...

I love these next two shots which Sean took as the guys were getting ready...

I think this next photo was the only shot I got in focus because I was crying so hard when Terra's Grandpa sang to the bride and groom...

I love this little casanova in the next photo. I guess he was feeling the emtion of the day because here he is moving in for a little kiss...

Congratulations Terra and Brandon!

The details:

Bride's Dress - Tiffany Bridal
Bride's Hair - Noor at Pizazz Hair Design, Lougheed Town Centre
Bride's Makeup - Paris Studio, Lougheed Town Centre
Bride's Rings - Ben Moss Jewellers

Groom's Rings - Mappins Jewellers
Bridesmaid & Flower Girl's Dresses - Tiffany Bridal
Bride's Bouquet and Flowers - Svetlanna at Queens Park Florist
Marriage Commissioner - Lorrie Williams
Ceremony Venue - Rose Garden, Queen's Park, New Westminster
Reception Venue - Centennial Lodge, Queen's Park, New Westminster
Wedding Cake - Cat at Sugar Fix Cakes

jen + buzz | anniversary

2010-07-04T11:15:00.001-07:00

Happy first anniversary Jen & Buzz!

laurie + chris | married

2010-06-30T15:36:00.000-07:00

Laurie and Chris were married on a suprisingly cool afternoon in May, but nothing could cool their spirits in what was an incredibly beautiful and loving day. When I expressed my concern over the bare-shouldered bride's warmth, the marriage commissioner, Diane Brown, stated simply, "don't worry, they'll have their love to keep them warm." And she was absolutely right. Chris and Laurie glowed throughout the ceremony and laughed, smiled and glowed their way through the whole reception. Their love definitely kept them warm.

(Well, perhaps except during the portraits, when the bride's hands literally turned blue, but even then, Chris did everything he could to keep Laurie warm!)

A few highlights from the day:

1. The bride. Who looked elegant, sophisticated, happy and full of love. All day.

2. The groom. Who looked dashing, handsome, happy and full of love. All day.

3. The bride and groom's friends and family. Who were an incredible bunch of people. What a lucky bride and groom to have such a loving group to celebrate with on their wedding day. Not to mention, that I, as a complete stranger to them all, felt extremely welcome throughout the day. They treated me like family which is a great way to spend a "work" day.

4. The shoes. There is nothing that says love like some hot, red, Stuart Wietzman shoes. Okay, shoes may not say love to everybody, but they say love to me!!

5. My sister-in-law, Janny. Who assisted me throughout the day and kept right on top of all the details to make sure everything looked picture perfect while I captured all the memories.

6. The bridesmaids. The bride's nieces were such a sweet threesome. I can't believe how patient, polite and poised they were all day. Even when the goosebumps were creeping up and down their cold arms during the ceremony they didn't break their smiles.

7. The poem I Carry Your Heart with Me by e.e. cummings. Which was read by the bride's sister during the ceremony. Can I just say that taking photos through tears is extremely challenging?!

8. The bride (again). Who, as mentioned above, during the quick portrait session was so cold that she turned blue. Not even Tyra could have made cold look so hot. Rawr. Way to go Laurie!

9. The groom (again). Who did everything he could to keep Laurie warm, including, but not limited to, giving up his jacket and furiously blowing on her hands, all while still looking dapper. And who also held the bride's bouquet for a few photos, despite his fears over having his man card revoked. Thanks, Chris!

10. The Teahouse. Which is a wonderful venue for a wedding reception. The staff are always so efficient and friendly and the food is always excellent.

11. The speeches. Which were both hilarious and heartfelt. I was halfway between laughter and tears the whole time. Seriously Chris, your prom date?? And the speech by Chris' brother really pushed me over the edge. Did I mention already that shooting through tears is challenging?

Gosh, there were a lot of highlights. Enough already... time for some photos!

Isn't the bride's mom gorgeous? I thought she looked so elegant!

Ahem, Chris... is that your man card slipping out of your pocket???

Shot through tears...

Congratulations again Laurie & Chris. Thanks for inviting me to be a part of your special day.

The details:

Bride's Dress - Lisa's Bridal Salon, New Westminster
Bride's Hair - Jasmine at Pomp & Proper Salon, Vancouver
Bride's Makeup - Buffy Sherreitt
Bride's Shoes - Stuart Weitzman at Holt Renfrew
Bride's Purse - Lord's Shoes
Bride's Earrings - Lisa's Bridal Salon, New Westminster
Bride & Groom's Rings - Kajsa Edvinsson of Kyza Designs
Bride's Bracelet - Gift from Bride's Mother, who was given it on her 16th birthday!
Flower Girl's Dresses - Hand sewn by the Bride's Mother (wow!)
Bride's Bouquet and Flowers - Tracee and Laura at Kit's Market
Marriage Commissioner - Diane Brown (Diane is wonderful - she also married my brother and his wife!)
Getting Ready Venue - Times Square Suites on Robson Street, Vancouver
Ceremony & Reception Venue - Ferguson Point and The Teahouse in Stanley Park
Favour Chocolates - some made by the Bride's Mother, some purchased in Sidney, BC
Favour Boxes - Michael's
Wedding Cakes - Whole Foods

farah + mike | married

2010-06-23T13:14:00.000-07:00

As the story goes, Farah thought Mike was "scruffy" and Mike thought Farah was a "snob", so both accordingly set out on a journey to prove each other wrong. Fast forward to last month when the scruffy guy and the snobby girl were married on a gorgeous day in May.

A few quick highlights:

1. The bride. Who did not stop laughing and smiling all day.

2. The groom. Who did not stop laughing (with) and smiling (at) his beautiful bride all day.

3. The amazing Indian details. From the bride's incredibly detailed and beautiful sari to her necklace, headdress, prayer beads and mehndi, everything was spectacular to look at and fun to photograph.

4. The sun. Which pushed through the impending rain and saved the day. Way to go sun!

5. The wedding location. The Ismaili Jamatkhana and Center in Burnaby is an incredible masterpiece of architecture. It's just a shame that it's so well hidden from the street. If you are ever driving along Canada Way just east of Boundary, be sure to turn south on Curle Avenue to have a look. It's a spectacular building. Here's the map link.

6. The cake topper. There's just nothing that says love like a ball and chain!

Congratulations to you, Farah and Mike. I wish you a lifetime of happiness together.

The details:

Bride's Sari & Groom's Outfit - Punjab Cloth House, Surrey
Bride's Hair & Makeup - Sarah Thomas
Bride's Mehndi - Hasna's Mehndi
Bride's Rings - Michael Hill
Groom's Wedding Band - Shamin Jewellers
Bride's Necklace, Bracelets & Earrings - Punjab Cloth House, Surrey
Bride's Prayer Bracelet - Gift from Bride's Parents
Bride's Anklets - ACE Jewellers, Surrey
Wedding Cake - Jocelyne Chow at Krazy Kakes
Cake Topper - Michael's
Ceremony & Reception Venue - The Ismaili Jamatkhana and Center in Burnaby

Special Note:

The Invites, Favors, Labels & Gift Boxes were all made by the Bride. Farah has her own business, so if you want her to create some beautiful handmade items for your wedding, visit her website at Handmade by Pops.

farah | mehndi party

2010-06-20T18:03:00.000-07:00

When bride-to-be Farah asked me if I would photograph her Mehndi Party, I really didn't know what to expect because I'd never been to one before. I obviously knew what Mehndi was, but I'd never seen it done and really didn't know much about the tradition of Mehndi. I did know one thing, that it would be interesting to experience and certainly beautiful to photograph, so I was excited to be there with my camera!

The whole evening did not disappoint. Farah's Mehndi artist, Hasna, was lighting fast with her syringe of henna and created the most beautiful and intricate design all over Farah's arms, hands and feet. I was amazed by the incredible detail that went into her work - and Hasna was especially talented at copying a design from a photograph that Farah had been dreaming of for her wedding day since she was a teenager. It was such a delight to see Farah's dream come true and as you'll see from the photos Farah was delighted too.

Stay tuned for Farah's wedding day photos with her new husband Mike in the next post.

Contact Farah's Mehndi artist, Hasna, by visiting her website at hasnasmehndi.com.

brooke + hunter | engaged

2010-05-01T12:45:00.001-07:00

To say that I'm really looking forward to shooting Brooke and Hunter's wedding this summer would be a small understatement. Why?

Because gorgeous day + plus gorgeous couple = well, see for yourself...

intentional adornments | jewellery design by samantha page

2010-05-01T12:26:00.000-07:00

A long time ago I took some product shots for a lovely gal named Sami. She's a friend-of-a-friend and I did family photos for her a while ago. While we were doing the family session, Sami showed me some of her beautiful, hand-made jewellery and asked me for a few tips on how to take great photos of her work to post on her Etsy shop. One thing led to another and I ended up taking some photos for her, but completely forgot, until now, to post them here on my blog (I don't think I'd even really started this blog when I did the photos). So, they're a little bit late, but still worth showing off. Doesn't Sami do a wonderful job with her jewellery?

My favourite piece is the one that Sami custom made for me according to my exact specifications. My daughter, Csilla, loves the colour purple, so I asked Sami to make a clustered pendant of all purple stones. Check out the first shot below to see what Sami created from my request. Gorgeous, eh?

And the best part was that Sami made an identical, mini-me version of it for Csilla. She was beyond thrilled.

Anyway, as I'm typing this I was thinking about my brides who might be looking for the perfect piece of custom made jewellery for their wedding. I love Etsy and everything that hand-made work represents, so if you're a bride and need the perfect piece of jewellery for yourself or your bridesmaids, perhaps check out Sami's shop. And since she's in Vancouver you could even save on shipping!

Enjoy...

bailey + andrew | engaged

2010-03-18T10:23:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure if there is a limit to how many times a photographer should say cute! during an engagement session, but if there is, I certainly exceeded the limit on this one. Bailey and Andrew oozed sweetness, fun and love throughout the entire session leaving me with nothing better to say as I looked through the lens than cute, cute, cute!

(I'm sure they were relieved when we moved into the more romantic portion of the session and I started to say gorgeous! instead.)

Of course, when Bailey suggested that balloons be involved in the photos and I showed up with a giant, pink balloon we all knew we were in for a playful - and cute - time.

You see, it's not my fault if couples bring out the cute! in me.

Anyway, before we get to all the cuteness - and gorgeousness - I first have a confession to make...

I can't take credit for this first shot above. One of my favourite photographers, Caroline Tran, did this shot once and I've always wanted to duplicate it. I wish it had been my idea, but it's still so fun - and cute - to see Andrew being carried away by a balloon.

Thanks for the inspiration Caroline!

Now, on to the fun. And oh, by the way, it was cold and raining throughout a good portion of this session. Bailey was in short sleeves and didn't complain or stop smiling for one second. Not to mention that Andrew did a great job of keeping her warm. Way to go you two! I can't wait to shoot your wedding in July. It's going to be a wonderful day.