Victoria Engagement Photography - Kelsey & Tristan

It was a busy week filled two engagement sessions, multiple new consultations and a wedding this past week in Victoria, BC. Today was my first day back at home on the mainland and I'm so happy to be posting this engagement session of a dear girl I knew from high school in Victoria.

When Kelsey emailed me to let me know her and Tristan were engaged, I was floored! Another incredible girl I went to high school with was tying the knot! Kelsey was the bubbly, friendly girl in our class. So when she contacted me to photograph their engagement photos I was so incredibly excited. Not only was she beautiful but Kelsey was the smiley gal that everyone wanted to be friends with and her smile lights up a room which hasn't changed a bit. Tristan the handsome knight who asked for Kelsey to be his wife is sweet and thoughtful of his to be wife. Whether it was giving a hand to her while she climbed the beach rocks or opening doors - he was always considerate of his soon to be Mrs.

Amidst friends while out for a bite, Tristan proposed his love for this gorgeous woman and asked her to be his wife. The two designed her gorgeous ring from her parent's engagement ring. How amazing is that! I love the history behind this love story.

I met Kelsey and Tristan at the Dallas Road Breakwater in Victoria for their engagement session on Valentine's Day and we photographed by the water on that breezy day. With winter sessions it's always a good idea to have an indoor alternative for part of the session, and what better of a location that screams Victoria than the Fairmont Empress Hotel. After wandering the hotel we then walked downtown Victoria streets. Whenever I go back to Victoria, I am constantly reminded how much I miss the city!

Happy Valentine's Day - BC Wedding Photographer

Here's to the days where we stay in bed longer than we should. The days where we cuddle on the couch under blankets watching movies without a care in the world. Walks in the park. Driving by neighbourhoods we'd like to live in. Picking our favourite houses and dreaming about back yard bbq's with friends and family. Drinking our favourite wine and being okay if I fall asleep early. Rubbing my back constantly and being fine if I whine wanting more 'back touchies'. Brining home flowers, just because. Being okay with eating comfort food with me on a 'bad' day. Not saying anything if I burst out in tears while watching movies... or disneyland commercials. Challenging me and my decisions or opinions -(( I still feel that towels belong hung up on the bathroom hooks, not on the door.)) Here's to all the many things our partners do for us, the little, the big and the in between! 

Hope you all enjoy your Valentine's Days big or small. Happy Valentine's Day. <3 div="">

Bride's Choice 2013

I love getting surprises in the mail and this pretty award came in the mail! I feel so lucky to have such amazing brides that made this possible! Thank You again!

In the spirit of family day yesterday - I hope you all had a relaxing long weekend! We're off to the island this week for engagement sessions, consultations, and a wedding! This winter has been so incredibly packed, it's been amazing! Can't wait to post our first wedding of 2013 on the blog! Lots of exciting features coming as well *cough* Wedluxe *cough*. Yes! I'm so excited to have a feature with them!

Here's so an exciting week in Victoria! 

Langley Wedding Photography and Langley Destination Wedding Photographer

I'm still dreaming of summer sun and heat over here blog followers! Very excited in the coming months  to show off some pretty editorial reveals and publications featuring weddings I photographed from last season! Figured I'd keep up with the theme of sunshine and heat - leaving you with a sneak peak at an editorial photographed in Victoria with some very fun models! Some of you may recognize them... And the following photographs are of Mahla & Chris' beautiful Dominican Wedding! 

Today I spoke on the phone with an incredible bride and hit it off right away. And then the big question came up "Are you available for our date?".... insert 'DUN DUN DUN' that sound that plays in the horror movies when something is lurking around the corner. My stomach churned as I listened to her fabulous plans, details and venue knowing that I would not get to be apart of it. I smiled while talking to her on the phone, collected her email information to forward her onto some photographers I know of who might be a good fit and available. But a piece of me sighed because I had this amazing connection with this bride and was immediately excited about her, and her future wedding.

This call today just affirmed my feelings about photography, art, and weddings aren't just a job or a business. Rewind to a girl, years ago. Insecure and unsure of her place in this world. So unsure of what to do, who to be, and how could my art could help others. 

I know now that it's something real that I can offer to couples. Something that means so much. And I want to be apart of it. And something so huge they offer to me; to be invited to a date so intimate and important and provide them with beautiful images. I know in my heart I am meant to be doing this. I like to think it's normal to sometimes feel like we're on shaky ground, unsure, and uncertain. But I try to not be afraid of chasing what is important to me, finding my place and making things happen. I know this is what I should be doing, because I've never wanted something like this so badly so here is to six years with a camera and counting. 

Wedding Album Design - Dreaming of Sunshine

I am craving sunshine and heat right now so the biggest perk of my job right now is designing beautiful albums from the late summer. I'm living in the photos of the sunshine and bright colours. Last blog post I showed on the blog was of the finished product a photo-book album. Today I thought I would post digital design proofs. I send my couples a PDF of the design of their album before it goes to print. This way they can make sure they're happy with the photo selection and placement. Its their album after all and keepsake so I'd like them to make the final decision.

The designed pages I am posting today are from Danielle and Stephen's back yard wedding, you can view the photos here. During a pre-wedding consultation couples have a chance to see all the album options when we discuss booking their wedding.

I hope you enjoy the mini-escape to the summer sun with these photos!

Wedding Albums - Vancouver Wedding Photographer

Wedding Album design season is what I like to call winter. We had our last wedding on December 12th and I'm so very excited that January has been filled with album making and client consultations for 2013 remaining dates & 2014! I feel so blessed that 2013 is 90% booked! We only have a few dates left. I'd really like to thank all our amazing couples who have have written such kind words about us on Wedding Wire Dragonflight Photography Reviews. Without your kind words giving confidence in future couples and your referrals I wouldn't be able to be living my dream of creating art and photography. I live in real life fairy tales all year - with couples who are getting married. Many of these couples once clients have now become friends. I feel so overwhelmingly excited to share in so many couples lives! I was re-reading those amazing reviews this past week as I need inspiration to write a description about us and figured it would be best said by previous couples.

I needed to write a description for editors at various publications along with submitting wedding photos for features. With help from Verlon we sat and looked at my screen blankly trying to think of the words; just puzzled what to write. It felt like a giant ode to our amazingness and let's write how much more awesome we are than everyone else because I've been to school and been featured and blah, blah blah. I just wanted couples to read what was important about us, not all the fluff. Thanks to one of our couples Vruti & Dave (tying the knot in July), she wrote me earlier in the week and said we were "amazeballs" and then it was just the only thing we could think of. I was so tempted to write the description including it but we opted for "vino sipping connoisseurs" in its place. I wrote what I would want to hear as a bride - don't worry we have you covered. You can TRUST us, like you would a best friend. 

A photographer spends a lot of time with you on the day of and I tell this to all my couples that I meet with. Love the style of photos but also feel comfortable. You will know if you found the right fit. We have tied ties, bustled bustles, rescued broken bouquets, saved stained dresses all while making sure we get the photo of your groom looking at you teary eyed as you walk down the aisle. 

I figured since I haven't posted any album design photos in a while, I'd show off Jolene & Ben's photo-book album. I design the layouts myself and the couple does the final approval. Photo-book albums are a great way to include almost all your photos from the day of instead of printing hundreds of 4x6in prints. This photo-book option is available with packages or I also offer an amazing italian album with thick metallic pages and an acrylic cover. I'll post some photographs of that album next.

I think the best part of working on the albums is reliving the wedding days of my couples. Remembering all those moments that went into the photographs and finding new favourites from the day of. And then to see all the photographs in print just feels amazing. All those special details couples have worked so hard on, showcased in photographs.

This blog post was just a giant love fest for clients and new clients! I'm so very excited to be involved in your lives in such a special way. Thank you. 

Vancouver Family Photographer - Introducing Danika

When a family thinks of me for photographing them each year as their children grow - it's such an honour. Bruna & Dan called me a few years ago to photograph their newborn baby Isabella and since have photographed her cake smash and family photos. This January it was to introduce baby Danika to the world!

naturally big sister was a star in front of the camera.