Orange Girl Photographs

New Website and new E-mail!!

2009-12-18T10:45:00.008-07:00

I am so thrilled to have worked with the talented duo at Infinet Design to create a new website and blog. I'm thrilled to have my website and blog located in one place. I'm excited to be able to offer a more comprehensive resource guide to my brides and grooms with my new venues and vendors pages including photographs which I hope will prove useful.

My website address has remained the same. www.orangegirlphotographs.com

Please note most importantly that I will have a new e-mail address. You can now reach me at info@orangegirlphotographs.com.

Beautiful wedding dresses on a budget

2009-12-13T21:09:00.006-07:00

If you know the dress you are looking for or you are comfortable buying a dress sight unseen there are some amazing deals at
Once Wed on used and sometimes new (the bride changed her mind after buying the dress) wedding dresses. If you are unsure if you can have a dress altered to fit make sure you ask your seamstress to look at the photo of the dress first before you buy it and realize you won't be able to alter it for you.

Wedding Etsy ideas

2009-11-21T18:03:00.013-07:00

I am absolutely in love with these beautifully made elegant and colourful raw silk wraps from Ireland. They are the perfect way to add some colour to your photographs and transition from a veil to something elegant and sassy for your reception. They come in all sorts of colours. I had a bride who had mentioned she originally wanted a red dress for her winter wedding. If she's not feeling that bold she could choose a red silk wrap for that pop of colour against the snow, it will photograph beautifully. They come in the most beautiful packaging as well making them a lovely gift to give to the bride.

I love this sweet custom linen ring pillow.

I think these Mr & Mrs hand painted signs would look so cute on the backs of the bride and groom chairs at the reception.

There are endless options for personalized Cake Toppers on Etsy.

I love looking at Etsy for personalized options for weddings and gifts. Everything is handcrafted so you can also feel great about supporting independent artists. The beauty of Etsy is that you can often request something custom from an artist, so get some inspiration from Etsy and get creative for your wedding.

I Love Etsy

2009-11-21T17:31:00.014-07:00

I think this You are my sunshine banner would be adorable in a baby's room. I've always loved that song.

If you haven't checked out Etsy before you really should. It is an online marketplace filled with handcrafted items of any kind. Pretty much anything you can imagine you can find there. I love buying gifts from Etsy they usually come with beautiful packaging and hand written notes. It's a great way to support artists.

I love this one too. You can find it by clicking here

Chateau Lake Louise wedding photography | Heather + David

2009-11-19T21:31:00.006-07:00

Heather and David had a beautiful wedding at The Chateau Lake Louise. Although it was a a really cold day the beautiful candles and warm colours that Heather and David chose really created a cozy inviting atmosphere. Their ceremony was sweet. I loved that their two dogs made an appearance complete with bow tie and pearls. I love the way Heather and David make each other laugh. They were so excited to be getting married and their excitement was wonderful to be around.

Thank you Heather and David for asking me to photograph your beautiful day!

Two Photogs * Thank you!

2009-11-15T22:23:00.005-07:00

Danna and Brandy are the brains and style behind Two Photogs trying to warm up on the outdoor shoot part of the day.

For any photographers out there looking for some inspiration you should check out the new blog by talented Calgary portrait photographers Danna and Brandy. They have created Two Photogs to share knowledge, post photo challenges and inspire other photographers of all levels.

I consider myself very lucky to have recently won a free ticket to Becker's Calgary workshop from Two Photogs. It was wonderful to get to see Becker in action and to meet a few photographers I have been wanting to meet for a long time.

Two Photogs is meant to inspire photographers of all levels so check it out for yourselves.

Thank you dearly Danna and Brandy for my prize, it really lifted my spirits to win and I am grateful for the experience. It was wonderful to finally meet both of you!

Gratitude

2009-11-10T18:12:00.008-07:00

I have entered a contest to win a free seat to Kelly Moore's workshop
In order to win I have to have the most votes. That's it, simple as that. Whoever gets the most votes wins.

Fingers crossed! I really feel that attending this workshop will improve my skills and inspire my photography. I am constantly looking for new inspiration and ways to improve my craft and this is a fantastic opportunity to do so.

Above is a photo of my handsome baby brother Pete in Vancouver from our rainy but beautiful week-end visit.

****EDITED TO ADD Well sadly I didn't win this time around but I really want to express my immense gratitude to everyone who supported me and voted. It was a powerful feeling these last couple of days to have everyone rally around for me and take the time to vote. I can't tell you just how much that has brightened my spirits. I feel even more grateful for the friends/clients and family that I have in my life who would help me to succeed. This experience has been one that has brightened my spirits and made me feel supported in a very real way. I can't ask for more then that really, that has been your gift to me and I am so very thankful!

Banff baby photography | Mattea

2009-11-08T17:50:00.002-07:00

I was in love with Mattea's beautiful eyes. Mattea's Mum ordered a big canvas of the image above and it is simply stunning!

Despite the rain and really cold weather we managed to get some beautiful photographs of Mattea. I was in awe over her gorgeous eyes. I was thrilled with the pink and orange theme, one of my favourite colour combinations. I feel truly honoured to be asked to document this family. I have now photographed their engagement portrait, their wedding, their pregnancy, their daughter at just a few monthes and now Mattea at 2. It has been such a joy to get to see Lynn and Troy through all these big moments in their lives.

Lynn is the amazingly talented woman behind Lynn Fletcher Weddings. Her passion and excitement is obvious in everything she does.

Lynn and Troy words can not describe just how grateful I am that you have trusted me to document your family. Mattea is simply gorgeous and I love getting to see you both as parents.

Canmore Engagement photography | Shelly + Colin

2009-11-06T17:28:00.000-07:00

Shelly is going to be an absolutely stunning bride!

I am so excited about Shelly and Colin's upcoming winter wedding in March. We decided to take advantage of some fall colour to contrast with their winter wedding photographs and Shelly and Colin came to Canmore on one of the most beautiful days fall had to offer. When Shelly mentioned that they had just gotten a new puppy named Cash (after Johnny Cash whose music I love) I begged her to bring Cash along for their engagement session.

I loved the outfits that Shelly and Colin chose they contrasted beautifully with the fall colour and made for vibrant photographs. I always love getting to spend time with my brides and grooms before the big day in order to get to know them a little bit better.

Thank you Shelly and Colin for a really fun afternoon! I'm sure you are STILL picking burrs out of your puppy and clothes.
I hope all the wedding planning is going smoothly. I can't wait for March.

Moraine Lake wedding photography | Mel + Denny

2009-11-05T14:53:00.000-07:00

Mel and Denny had a gorgeous day for their outdoor ceremony at Moraine Lake. Moraine Lake is one of my favourite places in the world. If you haven't been there you must see it.

I love intimate mountain weddings and Mel and Denny had an amazing day. An outdoor ceremony at Moraine Lake followed by an intimate dinner for family at the Chateau Lake Louise. Their dog got to be a part of the entire day. Mel and Denny had the cutest nieces and nephews as part of their wedding day, they were really excited when they were allowed to sit in the front seat of the Rolls Royce.

Thank you Mel and Denny for asking me to photograph your day. It was simply gorgeous and I am grateful that I got to witness it. Oh how I wish I had your dimples Mel!

Calgary baby photography | meet Cael

2009-11-04T14:25:00.000-07:00

This family has a special place in my heart because they are a realization of a dream for me. My dream of getting to photograph couples during the big moments in their lives. I have now had the honour of photographing Brenda and Dave's engagement portrait, their wedding, their first pregnancy, their son when he was just a month old and now Cael already up and walking around. It is hard to describe just how thrilling this is for me. To get to witness couples at their happiest moments and watch a family grow.

I just loved Cael's perfect little teeth and his blue blue eyes. It was amazing to me to get to see him walking around and to again witness how much his parents adore him.

Canmore baby photography | meet Jackson

2009-11-03T13:54:00.004-07:00

Jackson gets to practice his walking skills by making the rounds on this soft leather coffee table. He occasionally works on his teething along the way.

Jackson has amazing eyes. Such beautiful colours.

It looks to me like Jackson has perfect swimmer's form down already.

I first met Lisa when she handled all the legal work for buying our first condo. We feel very grateful to have lucked out on getting to work with Lisa as our lawyer because she has walked us through some big moments in our lives with incredible skill, knowledge and compassion. She has helped us with buying and selling a home, setting up my business in Banff and most recently she handled putting together our wills for us. I can't tell you what a relief it is to have our wills in place. There is so much more involved then just thinking about our physical stuff, the will also covers your ability to make medical decisions for your spouse if they are mentally unable to do so for themselves. If you haven't set one up already I recommend it and Lisa made it such an easy process for us.

I was honoured when Lisa asked me to photograph her beautiful baby boy. It was an opportunity to finally get to meet her husband as well. Lisa and her husband Rod have Grover Froese legal office and they are both warm, compassionate and kind people. Exactly the calming kind of personality you want when dealing with anything legal.

Jackson has such a sweet demeanor. He is very inquisitive and thoughtful. Jackson confirmed for me that the age where babies can sit up but not yet walk is my favourite age to photograph babies. I can't believe how many photographs Jackson was willing to let me take all without a single complaint. He is a sweet little boy with the most beautiful eyes.

Thank you Lisa and Rod for asking me to photograph Jackson. It was a joy to get to see you as a family.

Oak room at The Banff Springs wedding | Hope + Jonathan

2009-10-26T17:02:00.003-06:00

I was delighted to see the custom hanger Hope brought to hang her wedding dress on, it summed up the day perfectly.

Custom wood ring "pillow" found on etsy

Custom dirtbike cufflinks that Hope commissioned for Jonathan on Etsy.

I had never seen the Oak room set up this way for a ceremony before and I absolutely loved it!

Hope and Jonathan included a hand fasting ritual in their ceremony and I thought it was beautiful.

The view looking out of the Ivor Petrak room at The Banff Springs.

This is one of my favourite father and daughter moments. Captured just after their father and daughter dance together.

On this cold snowy day I am thankful to have this heartwarming wedding day to remember. Hope and Jonathan got married at The Banff Springs in a beautifully thoughtful, handcrafted, vintage inspired intimate wedding. Hope found all kinds of one of a kind hand made details to include from Etsy and Hope and Jonathan put a lot of love into collecting pussy willows to add to their wedding day decor. From the moment I met Hope and Jonathan in my office one thing was obvious that they felt lucky to have found each other and simply adored one another. Getting to see the beauty of their intimate Banff wedding was a treat. I loved the way they scheduled their day with a ceremony at 11am followed by a delicious lunch for everyone in the Ivor Petrak room ending with a carriage ride send off for the newlyweds in the early afternoon. It made me wonder why more couples don't opt for such a refreshing schedule. My favourite time of the day was the time they gave me for photographs. Getting to witness their excitement over being married was so joyful.

Hope and Jonathan it was inspiring to get to see all the thought you put into personalizing your wedding day for each other. It was filled with romance and passion and I feel so very lucky to have been there to see it all for myself. Thank you for trusting me to photograph your intimate wedding day.

Photobooth DISCOUNT just for Orange Girl blog readers

2009-10-21T14:47:00.003-06:00

The owner of The Photobooth Co. saw my excited blog post about their photobooths for rent and has offered a fantastic discount to any of the readers of my blog who mention they heard about The Photobooth Co. here.

Just mention that you heard about The Photobooth Co. on my blog and the owner will wave the travel fee normally charged to bring the booth to Banff!! How great is that? That means you'll save $200 just by saying you saw it here and they will take care of delivering the photobooth to Banff. Also if you're having a wedding in Calgary you can get $150 off the price of the rental by mentioning you saw the photobooth on my blog.

You don't have to have hired me for your wedding or event just mention you heard of the photobooth here and you'll get the sweet discount.

When Kevin and I got married I searched everywhere for a rental booth to rent for our reception but none were available at the time. When I photographed weddings in California photo booths started appearing at a lot of the weddings that I photographed. They are so much fun for guests and truly add to the energy of the party. Let's face it you're going to get much more sassy photos of your friends when a photo booth is involved. They are a really fun keepsake.

Remembering Edith

2009-10-19T18:13:00.002-06:00

These were all taken with my $20 plastic Holga camera with b&w film. I haven't shot with that camera in forever. I used to love to take pictures of Edith with it.

I just got back the scans of Edith from all the film negatives I have of her. My goal is to make a picture book this winter with all our photos and memories of her. I want to include all the nicknames we had for her because I'm afraid I'll forget them all. Looking through all our photographs has helped. It has helped us to remember all the adventures we had with Edith and all the big moments in our lives that she was there for. She was my test model whenever I needed to test out a new piece of equipment or try a new film and she was a patient model.

I have been surprised by all the moments that remind me of her and all the moments that seem empty without her presence.

Kevin and I have been overwhelmed and touched by the support that our clients, friends and family have shown us. Your kind words have really meant the world to us both.

It's probably not interesting for me to post all our pictures of Edith so I'll leave it at a few above. Seeing these has made me both smile and cry. I guess that's part of it.

Thank you to everyone who has left their words of understanding. You truly brightened our days and we are thankful.

goodbye to our dog Edith

2009-10-08T09:15:00.006-06:00

I've started writing this entry a few times and the words never seem right and the tears make it hard to continue. Somehow writing the words makes it seem final. We had to put our dog Edith down to rest on the morning of September 27th. It was the hardest thing that Kevin and I have had to do together thus far in our life together.

Edith was almost 12 and by the time we found out she had a tumor in her heart it was time to put her down so she wouldn't suffer anymore.

This has been especially hard on Kevin because he was the one to rescue Edith from the pound when she was a puppy. She was his girl. When I met Kevin he already had Edith and so Edith has been a part of our relationship since our first date. On our first date Kevin took me to what ended up becoming our favourite hiking spot in California for years to follow. The drive there was really curvy and as soon as we reached the parking lot to start our walk together poor puppy Edith threw up all over the back seat. It definitely broke the ice and seeing the way Kevin cared for Edith made me fall for him even more.

We have both been feeling a little lost. Kevin used to walk Edith in the morning and night and now those times feel empty for him. I didn't realize how much I talked to Edith during the day. I find myself going to say something to her and then soon realizing that she's not there. There are many moments that keep reminding us she is not there and how much of our days involved her.

Edith was there for our first date, she was with us when Kevin proposed to me, she was in our wedding photographs and she's been with us for every big moment in our lives together.

I always feel like I haven't taken enough photographs of Edith. One afternoon this week I dug through my old negatives to see what I had of Edith and was surprised to see her appearing more often then I thought. Our afternoon of pouring through old negatives of Edith really helped. We realized how many places she came with us and that she's had a good life filled with days at the beach, swimming in lakes and walking in mountains. It made us realize how much Edith inspired us to get out, to take an afternoon off to head to the beach together, to be together and enjoy where we lived. We took our negatives to the lab to get them scanned so we can put them all together in a book to look at them. I'll share a couple here when we get them back.

I asked Kevin to write down all the nicknames we had for Edith because I'm afraid that I'll forget them. Last night we smelled her favourite stuffed toy and it smelled like her and we worried about how that smell would fade. We tried to figure out ways to preserve that smell.

Edith was Kevin's girl and it has been hardest on him. It has been hard for me to watch him and know there is nothing I can do to comfort him. There are a million tiny moments each day where we are reminded of her absence.

For those of you who have lost a pet what have you found helps you?

Calgary family portrait | meet Aja & Jaxon...

2009-09-24T14:59:00.004-06:00

This is Jaxon making the "dogs bark". I was really impressed with his almost 5 year old "dogs". So cute and a sweet boy.

I arrived a little bit early and was surprised to see two very stylish beautiful kids smiling at me...just waiting for me to take their picture. I don't know what their Mum did to prep them but Aja and Jaxon were actually excited about our photo shoot and it was adorable. I played the best game of peek-a-boo I have ever played with Aja in the tree. Jaxon sung the most fantastic song, I couldn't believe he remembered all the words and with a little coaxing from Dad Jaxon showed me how to get the dogs barking. We had a tea party in the park with a very grown up china tea set and I easily fell in love with this family. I loved all the little games and cuddles they share together. It truly is a privilege for me to get to see families as they are, in love and laughter together. Many thanks are due to Mum and Dad who did an amazing job of "styling" the kids with beautiful clothes and most of all for all the cuddles, tickles and games you let me capture. It was a heartwarming afternoon seeing your family in action. Thank you!

Meet Aja...

2009-09-19T09:54:00.003-06:00

I wish all shoes had hearts on the bottom!

2009-09-17T15:38:00.003-06:00

Oh how I wish all my shoes had hearts on the bottom of them! These shoes made me happy. Aren't they perfect for a wedding day? If you're searching high and low for wedding day shoes with no luck I recommend checking out Zappos. I've found all kinds of orange goodness there before and Hope found these great shoes there, though I think she grabbed the last pair.

Banff family portrait

2009-09-16T13:46:00.004-06:00

I was really excited to finally meet Sophie and Neil's family. I met Sophie and Neil when I photographed their intimate sweet Emerald Lake wedding. Sophie was pregnant when I met her and I hadn't had the chance to meet their baby since. They came down to Banff to celebrate their anniversary and I got to meet not only their first baby but their second one as well. Sebastian is a gorgeous energetic 2 year old that was so fun to photograph. His little sister Isobel is the calmest baby I have ever met. She was full of smiles and it was easy to spend long periods of time just gazing into her bright eyes. I love photographing 6 month olds, they are smiley, can sit up on their own and they make for good photographs. This was especially true in Isobel's case.

Neil and I were talking about how incredibly lucky I am to get to have a job where I see people in their happiest moments. I have a unique and magical perspective on the world where every week-end I see people who have found love and I get to be witness to couples starting their families. I loved getting to have the opportunity to see Neil and Sophie as natural, loving and proud parents. Our morning together filled me with absolute joy. I felt happy the rest of the day.

Calgary family portrait

2009-09-15T13:38:00.000-06:00

I got to photograph these two sweet sisters in their home in Calgary. I am completely in love with big sister Chloe's perfect sweet curls. She loves to hold her new baby sister Celeste and give her kisses. Celeste is a peaceful sweet baby girl who loves to eat and cuddle and she barely made a peep the entire time we were there.

Syliva and Darin thank you dearly for asking me to photograph your gorgeous family. The girls were incredibly sweet and a joy to photograph. They are lucky to have such adoring parents.

Calgary family portrait | little man Hudson you charmed me

2009-09-13T19:33:00.002-06:00

Love those 2 little teeth!

When we showed up to photograph Hudson he greeted us with smiles right away. He charmed me with his smiles, his 2 little teeth and beautiful eyes! Hudson is loved very deeply by his parents and I think it shows in his happy attitude. He's a sweetheart. I feel very lucky to have met Jen and Craig when I photographed their wedding. It was an emotional heartfelt wedding day that I remember well and feel so very lucky to have seen for myself. Getting to see Jen and Craig become parents and witness the absolute joy that Hudson gives them warms my heart.

I feel so incredibly grateful that my job allows me to witness inspiring moments of love and joy. Jen and Craig thank you for your open sweet spirits and for the warmth you greet Kevin and I with. We feel so lucky to have met you both.

Canmore family portrait

2009-09-13T13:28:00.003-06:00

My bride Cat hired me to photograph her brother's family as a gift to him. I think it's an incredibly thoughtful gift. We met up in Canmore and had a fantastic morning with their girls Sofia and Kadience. The girls were so sweet with each other and well behaved and a lot of fun to photograph. Getting to see Cat's brother as the proud papa was really wonderful. When we showed up at their home Sofia was making us a "cake" that we could eat after our photo shoot. She had a blue t-shirt in a blue mixing bowl that she was stirring with a wooden spoon. She poured the t-shirt into her baking pan and slid it under the ottoman also serving as her oven and told us that the cake would be ready to eat when we got home. It was so cute and creative. Apparently Sofia gets to bake with her Mum often and that experience obviously also inspires her playtime.

Thank you Rhiannon and Rob for timing our session so perfectly. The girls were incredibly sweet and we loved our time with you.

Banff pregnancy portrait

2009-09-11T19:18:00.000-06:00

I first met Joni and Kent when I photographed their Banff winter wedding. It was one of my all time favourite weddings to be witness to simply because of the obvious connection that Joni and Kent share. I was incredibly excited when Joni shared the happy news of their pregnancy with me and told me that they would fly out to Banff to have me photograph them in this big moment in their lives. It is hard to express just how honoured I feel. I was thrilled to see them again and I loved seeing Joni so transformed as the last time I saw her she had long hair and wore a wedding dress. I almost didn't recognize her.

The morning of our photo shoot was absolutely gorgeous. Joni and Kent required very little direction other then me telling them where to stand, they just melt into each other. Pregnancy suits Joni beautifully, her belly was perfect and she just glowed.
After our shoot Joni and Kent treated us to lunch on the patio at The Banff Springs. It is funny that after all the weddings I have photographed there it was the first time I had sat on the patio and just took in the views. It was breathtaking and I loved the extra time to visit.

Joni and Kent I can't tell you just how much your kindness and generousity means to me. I was so excited to get to see you at this moment and I am thrilled for you both. Thank you for trusting me to document your big moments, I feel incredibly honoured.

Calgary family portrait | Taylor grows up too quickly

2009-09-09T19:08:00.001-06:00

When kids are involved I feel like my sense of time speeds by. I first met Michelle when I photographed her pregnancy, then her daughter Taylor shortly after she arrived and I just photographed Taylor above shortly after her first birthday. I was in awe seeing Taylor who I hadn't seen since her last photo session walking around. It is such a unique and privileged experience to get to see babies at big milestones and see their growth in huge steps. I was so excited about Taylor's portrait this summer as I couldn't wait to see how she had grown. I knew I would be surprised but there really isn't anyway to prepare for how dramatic it is. I feel incredibly lucky to have documented such happy moments for Chris and Michelle. To me these photographs will only become more valuable over time as Taylor grows up. I think Chris and Michelle are giving Taylor an incredible record of her childhood that she will cherish when she is in her 30's.

Banff Family portrait

2009-09-06T19:00:00.003-06:00

Isn't Jen beautiful?! I love her eyes.

This family came to Banff for family photos on what had to be the hottest day of the year. We headed to the lake and for ice cream to cool off and to me our morning together felt like a mini summer vacation. This family is so close being around them is inspiring. I loved seeing the way they hung out together, comforted each other, and played together. Deacon and Harper are so very lucky to have parents who adore them so. It was a morning I won't forget and I feel so very grateful to have experienced it.

Banff Springs wedding photography | Lisa + Darren

2009-08-24T17:36:00.004-06:00

One of the things that I love most about my job is getting to be witness to traditions that are new to me. One of my favourite moments in the morning was when each bridesmaid presented Lisa with a little blue box containing her something blue, something new, something old and something borrowed for good luck. It was a great way to create a ceremony out of a beautiful tradition of dressing the bride with good luck charms.

I was in love with Lisa's eyeshadow

The bride reveal was easily my favourite moment of the day.

Lisa and her Dad waiting to walk down the aisle together.

Lisa and Darren hired the incredibly talented Lynn of Lynn Fletcher weddings to take care of all their details. Not only was everything incredibly stylish but the day flowed beautifully thanks to Lynn's talent for reading the crowd and keeping everything filled with energy.

Lisa and Darren got their wish when the rain held off for their beautiful terrace wedding at The Banff Springs. The sun had everyone smiling. Lisa scheduled their day beautifully so that they got to enjoy their day to the fullest and soak in all the moments. With guests traveling from as far away as England it was important that they get to spend time with their friends and family. My favourite moment of the day was the bride reveal, I loved the way Darren looked at Lisa and kissed her tenderly on her cheek. The toasts were hilarious and Lisa and Darren's first dance was well beyond a high school shuffle they could really dance. Lisa and Darren brought The Suds in to play for the reception because it was the band they loved seeing whenever they stayed in Lake Louise. Their wedding day was laid back and filled with time to visit with those closest to them and get the dance floor going as soon as possible.

Thank you Lisa and Darren for a memorable day. Thank you for the delicious meal close to all the action and for making us feel welcome. It turned out perfectly and was a true reflection of your love for each other.

Planning and decor by Lynn Fletcher Weddings
Cake by The Banff Springs
Flowers by Nosegay
venue The Banff Springs
Live Band The Suds

Calgary family portrait | meet Willem and Libby

2009-08-23T17:26:00.002-06:00

Beautiful little Libby.

The credit for this photograph goes entirely to Willem who asked me to take a picture of him with his Alien light. When he turned off all the lights in his bedroom I was thinking "how the heck do I make a photograph in complete darkness?" but Willem knew exactly what to do to get the photo he wanted. Creative little art director already.

They had the most amazing huge windows in their house so I got to take advantage of some beautiful light. Hands down easily my dream house. I was ready to move in, furniture and all.

Although perhaps not the most flattering portrait of beautiful Libby this photograph cracked me up. I don't know how she made that face but it was a split second and it made me laugh out loud.

I was so excited to be invited to this amazing family's gorgeous home to photograph their two kids Libby and Willem. The backyard had a fantastic tree that I took advantage of for photographs. The parents told me that they thought Willem wouldn't be interested in allowing me to photograph him but he was such a charming little ham, he cracked me up all morning. Willem's daddy had just constructed a sweet little playset in the yard for them and Willem was really really excited about it showing me all the features. Nice to know all the hard work of constructing it was well worth it.

Thank you dearly for inviting us to your drop dead gorgeous home to document your kids playing and hanging out. They were amazing and we loved our morning with you.

The Juniper wedding photographs | Allison + Kristian

2009-08-21T17:05:00.004-06:00

Kristian gave Allison what has to be one of the most thoughtful romantic wedding presents I have ever seen on their wedding day. Allison and Kristian traveled to Italy and part of their trip included cooking classes because they are passionate about food and cooking. At the end of the class they were given the recipes that they had made in class. Kristian went online to Tastebook and created a custom gorgeous recipe book that included photographs from their Italian cooking class, all of the recipes and their personal notes from class. It was a huge hit and I think it's a fantastic heirloom for their future family to be able to have a book that includes all the recipes they have made together as a couple.

Beautiful natural make-up by Stephanie you can reach her at stylingsteph@gmail.com

Allison and her grandma after the ceremony

Kristian and his brother, tattoos and tux

Allison and her sister

The incredible view from the patio of The Juniper

Allison and Kristian held a beautiful intimate wedding at one of my favourite venues in Banff...The Juniper. It was a perfect celebration with their closest family and friends brought together to witness their wedding ceremony and enjoy a good meal together. It was a perfect reflection of Allison and Kristian's love of food. Even though the weather called for pure rain on their wedding day we didn't see any. It was a gorgeous day. Allison and Kristian scheduled their day beautifully with plenty of time for us to take photographs and time to enjoy their guests who had all traveled to celebrate with them. It was a day filled with tears and laughter.

Thank you Allison and Kristian for choosing us to photograph your intimate wedding. We really enjoyed the time we got to have with you for photographs.

dreaming of an orange kitchen

2009-08-04T16:40:00.008-06:00

It's no secret that I'm not a fan of cooking. If people ask me what I'd buy first if I won the lottery the first answer to come to mind is that I would hire a personal chef to do all my grocery shopping and cook me yummy healthy meals. I am the type of person to go into a grocery store and feel so overwhelmed with no idea of what to buy to make a meal that I'll leave empty handed or end up with $50 of breakfast items and nothing to cobble together a meal. Which is a shame because it seems when you reach your thirties most people spend their social time cooking for friends and inviting them over for dinner, this however is not a skill I possess. So I have no idea why seeing the fridge by Big Chill instantly had me dreaming about an orange retro kitchen. My dream kitchen would have the above appliances with an orange and white checkered vinyl floor and an orange diner booth to eat in. It does seem a waste for someone who doesn't cook much but a grilled cheese sandwich would taste amazing in a diner booth in my dream kitchen.

The Banff Springs wedding photography | Chanh + Richard

2009-08-02T20:56:00.013-06:00

Karyn performed a beautiful ceremony for Chanh and Richard complete with a beautiful reading about the origin of the wedding ring and it's connection to the heart.

I loved Chanh's transition from her veil for the ceremony to her hairpiece for the reception.

I had been looking forward to Chanh and Richard's wedding forever and it did not disappoint. The day start with the bargaining for the bride. It was a tradition I had not witnessed before and it was amazing.

For those who haven't the chance to witness this tradition I'll explain what I saw briefly. Chanh was hidden away in a room and Richard and his groomsmen approached the door knocked loudly and began to bargain for the bride. Crave cupcakes were presented, money was given and when that proved to not be enough the groomsmen were asked to perform embarrassing tasks to prove their dedication to the cause. The bridesmaid's did an a amazing job of coming up with tasks for the groomsmen to perform. What I came away with from this tradition was not only Richard's love for Chanh which was made even more obvious when Richard was asked to sing A capella and he chose to sing "I swear" A capella in Mount Stephen Hall, it was one of my favourite moments of the day that inspired tears in all of us that witnessed it. What also became obvious during this event though was the love the bridal party have for Richard and Chanh.

The tea ceremony was held on the terrace and was a wonderful way to honour their families. The ceremony was breathtaking on the terrace.

Connie Grace did an exceptional job of helping Chanh and Richard's wedding day vision come to life and her dedication on the day of to making sure Chanh and Richard had everything they needed was tireless.

Chanh and Rich thank you for your hospitality, your grace, your humour and for making Kevin and I feel so comfortable. Your wedding was spectacular and it was inspiring to get to see your love expressed so openly on your wedding day. Please tell your wedding party they were incredible!! Everyone should hire them. :) I guess since your best man has served that position more then once it is clear you had the best party with you.

Wedding Coordination by Connie Grace
Ceremony performed by Karyn

Banff anniversary portrait

2009-08-02T20:45:00.006-06:00

"Traditional wedding anniversary gifts are chosen from a list of materials that are designated for each year. The first wedding anniversary is symbolized with paper, and from there traditional anniversary gifts become more precious or scarce to reflect the growing number of years a couple has remained together."

When Jordan first wrote to me to say he wanted to purchase a portrait session with me to celebrate his first wedding anniversary for his wife I was honoured. I thought it was an incredibly romantic idea. Since photographs are paper it fit nicely within the tradition of giving paper as the first anniversary gift.

Jordan and Stefanie came out to Banff on a hot afternoon for their session and brought their bunny Fox to include in a couple of photographs. It was an amazing afternoon and I loved getting to see how much in love Stefanie and Jordan are. They are so at ease with each other and it made it a dream for me to photograph them.

Thank you Jordan and Stefanie for asking me to document such a wonderful moment in your marriage. I loved our afternoon together!

New website is live!!!

2009-08-01T19:11:00.004-06:00

I am thrilled to announce that my new website just went live! It's the same address check it out by clicking here. Make sure you clear your cache in your browser so you see my new website and not my old one. I have a lot of new images on there and I've added more rate information and testimonials. If you check out my "about me" page you can see a photograph of Kevin and I on our wedding day. Let me know your thoughts.

A huge thank you to all my couples and families who allowed me to share their images on my website.

The Banff Springs wedding photography | Cat + RJ

2009-07-21T10:14:00.004-06:00

Blue soled shoes, a sweet touch.

I loved Cat's veil which was the same veil her grandmother wore on her wedding day. I love seeing heirlooms used in a wedding. It was a beautiful personal touch.

Cat's father seeing her in her dress for the first time.

One of my favourites. I was peeking through the door as Cat waited to walk down the aisle.

My favourite photograph from their day.

I loved Cat's colours in the Cascade ballroom. This is a perfect example to show that chair covers are well worth the investment, they transform the room.

Cat and her Dad share a dance.

Flowergirl and her Dad getting crazy on the dance floor.

Cat & RJ had a gorgeous day. They were both so laid back and kind thoughtful hosts. Every guest, they even included Kevin and I, received a welcome bag with fun thoughtful personalized treats to welcome them to Banff. They had Maple syrup to symbolize Cat's Canadian roots and hot sauce to reference RJ's southern roots. Sweet and spicy.

Cat and RJ adore each other and were so excited to be getting married. They are kind fun people who seriously know how to dance! Cat's Dad handmade every place card holder and even had a whole table of handmade wooden frames displaying the wedding photographs of the grandparents.

Thank you Cat and RJ for your kindness. We loved getting to spend the day with you! Thank you to your families for being so welcoming to us and for making sure we knew where to sit for dinner. Congratulations on a perfect day!

Calgary family portrait | Amilia's 1st birthday party

2009-07-20T10:41:00.007-06:00

The tattooed lady face painter was a hit with everyone.

There was cotton candy, popcorn, hotdogs and burgers for everyone.

There were carnival games with prizes.

There was a petting zoo with baby animals from Butterfield Acres

Amilia's Uncle Dominic was the only one brave enough to pick Amilia up after she ate her birthday cake. :)

I've had a really hard time narrowing down my favourites from this shoot as there were so many fantastic details and colours to capture. I was honoured to be asked to photograph Amilia's 1st birthday party. I thought it was an amazing idea. I can only imagine how precious these photographs will be to Amilia when she is in her thirties to be able to look back on. They are the kind of photographs that gain even more value over time.

This was the kind of birthday party that if I had a yard and my birthday wasn't in December I would want for myself. It was absolutely dreamy in every way. When you entered the yard you were greeted by a balloon lined pathway, the sounds of carnival music and the smells of popcorn and cotton candy. There were games for kids to play and win prizes, a petting zoo full of baby animals and a fantastic tattooed face painter who kept the kids and adults entertained all afternoon. There was so much for the kids to do they were kept entertained and happy and the adults got to relax while the kids played.

The tattooed lady face painter not only did a gorgeous job with her designs but she could really read kids and keep them happy and work quickly so all the kids and even some of the adults got a chance to pick their favourite superhero or animal to become. The baby animals from Butterfield Acres were a huge hit with everyone, I was so excited to see them myself. If you live in Calgary you definitely have to check out Butterfield Acres for a really fun family afternoon.

The best part of the day for me was the huge smile on Amilia's face all day long, she clearly loved it. She was surrounded by her family and closest friends and she had a great time. Her birthday cake was handmade by her auntie Veronica and was obviously enjoyed to the fullest. Amilia eating her birthday cake are some of my all time favourite photographs.

Thank you for asking me to photograph such a big milestone in Amilia's life! It was a photographer's dream.

Things that make me happy #1 - UPPERCASE magazine!!!

2009-07-16T21:39:00.004-06:00

The new issue of UPPERCASE magazine just came out and I am sooo excited about it!!! Janine did an incredible job of interviewing my husband Kevin about his pottery and the way he works and I was thrilled to finally get to see the article. It's beautifully laid out and I love getting to read Kevin's words. The magazine is inspiring, thoughtful and stylish.

If you haven't already you can subscribe by clicking here. If you're in Calgary stop by UPPERCASE gallery in Art Central to pick up a copy.

To our friends in San Francisco stop by my favourite shoppe in the mission and pick up a copy there.

I'm so proud of Kevin. Thank you Janine for featuring Kevin's work in such an elegant way.

Things that make me happy #2 - my orange bike

2009-07-16T21:36:00.002-06:00

I haven't ridden a bike since I was a teenager. For some reason, maybe it was the colour :), when I saw the shop owner rolling out this orange cruiser as I walked by I decided right then I should get a bike.

I love it. It feels like summer and reminds me of carefree summers when I used to ride to Fish Creek park to take photographs of the old barn that used to be there.

Things that make me happy #3 - Mr. Dressup by Lisa Brawn

2009-07-16T21:28:00.002-06:00

I have been a fan of Lisa Brawn's work since Janine at UPPERCASE gallery first introduced me to it. When I saw that Lisa was having a show of portraits of notable Canadians at Stratus Gallery in Banff I was really excited to see it. I was drawn to this portrait right away even before I recognized who it was. When I found out it was Mr. Dressup I just had to have it.

I used to watch Mr. Dressup all the time growing up. I'm sure in some way his tickle trunk had an influence on my Orange Girl series. For those who don't know, Mr. Dressup is the Canadian version of Mr. Rogers. He always had a tickle trunk full of costumes that he would dress up in and there was always a fun craft to do. I adored that show.

I'm so happy to own a piece of Lisa's work and to have it be a portrait of someone who makes me smile and reminds me of my childhood.

Things that make me happy #4 - deer visit

2009-07-16T21:25:00.002-06:00

I am thankful everyday that I get to live in Banff. Yesterday I had the most magical deer sighting. This handsome deer was hanging out in the bushes at the end of our patio. I sat down to watch him and before I knew it he came over to me to eat the flowers that were in a pot just a couple of feet from me. It was incredible to get to see him so close up. He stared at me, ate some of our flowers and moved along.

Things that make me happy #5 - These Creatures

2009-07-16T21:17:00.002-06:00

Our 11 year old dog Edith has a bad back. We found this out when she stopped eating, she would happily eat if we handed it to her but wasn't eating out of her bowls. Turns out her back was so sore that she couldn't bend down to eat from her food bowl.

Since then I've been on the search for a raised food bowl and when I saw this one from These Creatures I ordered one instantly. Not only does it help Edith's back but it looks beautiful and I love that I could personalize it by choosing from a bunch of amazing colours and I got to pick Edith's favourite animal the squirrel for a little style.

Definitely check them out. They have them in all sizes for cats and dogs with lots of colours and decoration to choose from. You can even get a wall mounted version. They also have some beautiful bird feeders.

Silvertip resort wedding photography | Natasha + Craig

2009-07-13T19:00:00.004-06:00

Natasha and Craig are totally in love and very sweet and romantic with each other. It is clear they adore each other and have a deep commitment to their families. Natasha and Craig planned everything perfectly. We had lots of time for photographs, they had speeches after dinner so everyone could enjoy the menu they had picked out for them, and they had one of the best entrances into a reception I have ever seen. Everyone was seated for dinner, the wedding party entered and then a slideshow began of pictures of Natasha and Craig that had everyone in tears, at the very end used text they had photographed from street signs to spell "please welcome Mr. & Mrs. Topley" and then Natasha and Craig walked in to a standing ovation. It was a fantastic entrance.

The day was filled with lots of smiles and some sweet emotional moments. Natasha was even prepared for those with handkerchiefs for the bridesmaids that matched their dresses (see the photo above) which looked so much prettier then a rolled up ball of kleenex. I loved their wedding favours which were pizza cutters that said "a slice of love" to represent their love of pizza. It was personal and unique.

Natasha and Craig I hope you're having an amazing honeymoon. I can't wait to hear all about it! Thank you for being such kind hosts to Kevin and I we loved spending your day with you.

I'm craving cake

2009-07-13T16:34:00.003-06:00

I spent an incredible afternoon getting to photograph Amilia's first birthday party which was absolutely amazing. I'll share details soon when I'm able to edit all the photographs. The best part was that Amilia had this big smile on her face all day long. A girl after my own heart she definitely enjoyed her homemade cake.

I've got to find some cake of my own this afternoon!

Calgary baby portrait | Sleeping Sully

2009-07-11T21:26:00.004-06:00

made me smile

2009-07-10T23:08:00.001-06:00

My brother sent me the link to this video today and it made me smile. Thanks Pete!

meet Sully...

2009-07-04T21:23:00.006-06:00

I never take for granted the moments that I get to be witness to through my camera. When my friends Danelle and Dylan told me that their baby was going to be delivered in Canmore I asked if I could come by with my camera and I am so happy that they agreed. There are no words to describe what it is like to get to see a baby that is only 5 hours old. It is a magical time. It was so heartwarming to me to get to see my friends so in love with their newborn son and get to witness for myself their instant connection to the newest member of their family. Sully is a gorgeous sweet little man.

Years ago when I briefly lived in NYC I dreamed of getting to be a small town photographer and being able to document people's lives in their happiest moments. I first met Danelle and Dylan when I photographed their wedding. We became friends through that experience and I've since been able to photograph Danelle's first pregnancy, their daughterNavee, her second pregnancy and now the arrival of Danelle and Dylan's son Sully.

There has been nothing more rewarding for me to get to see couples in love and be there to document their big moments with my camera.

Emerald Lake wedding photography | Kelly + Adam

2009-07-03T10:40:00.005-06:00

Outdoor ceremonies are my favourite. Isn't that an amazing "aisle" to walk down?!

I love, love, love when couples snuggle up close to listen to the toasts. It makes for much better photographs.

Kelly and Adam had an incredible wedding at Emerald Lake Lodge. They had a pink and black theme and the decor Kelly and her family created was stunning. Kelly and Adam held their cocktail hour on the patio at Cilantro which I had never seen done before and it was gorgeous. Amazing views and they even had a signature pink drink to serve their guests. Kelly had really thoughtful table cards. Each table was named after a place that Kelly and Adam had been to together and each guest was surprised by a photograph of themselves with the name of their table on the back all placed in a little canoe. It was a great conversation starter when everyone looked at the photographs and so much easier then searching for your name. There were several tear inspiring moments throughout the day and it was obvious that everyone was there to celebrate with Kelly and Adam. We even had a moose sighting across the lake during the dancing. I think it was a nod to Adam's Newfoundland roots and surely a Canadian wedding blessing. I am so disappointed that Kelly and Adam's wedding was my last wedding at Emerald Lake Lodge for the year, it's an inspiring place.

Kelly and Adam I hope you're having an incredible time on your honeymoon! Thank you for being such gracious and generous hosts to Kevin and I. You made us feel right at home.

Venue Emerald Lake Lodge
Flowers by Willow Haven

Emerald Lake wedding photography | Erin + Stephen

2009-06-29T22:26:00.003-06:00

Erin and Stephen love to play Warcraft. They had their characters made into figurines that they used as their cake toppers. I love when couples find ways to personalize their wedding.

Barb from Cake Creations created this Warcraft castle cake from a photograph that Erin and Stephen brought her.

Erin's dad seeing her for the first time in her dress.

Erin's Mum and grandma arriving for the ceremony.

Stephen's parents watching the ceremony.

Happy faces after just being announced husband and wife.

A sweet moment after the bridesmaid's toast to Erin.

Erin and Stephen brought in professional lighting which transformed the space for dancing and created an incredible atmosphere for photographs.

Erin and Stephen had an intimate wedding at Emerald Lake lodge surrounded by their closest friends and family. They are both lucky to have parents that have been married for close to 40 years for inspiration. Their families were closely involved in all the planning and making sure that everything went smoothly. Erin's brother played beautiful guitar as she walked down the aisle and Erin's Mum worked really hard with family friends to create the decor for their reception. I loved that Erin and Stephen took their love of Warcraft a game they play with friends and family and found ways to incorporate it into their day, it made everything unique and personal. The connection that Erin and Stephen have with their friends and family is incredible to get to be witness to, they are a close knit bunch. Erin and Stephen thank you for greeting us with a welcome basket and continuing to show us immense generousity and welcome us into your day. Thank you to your families for their kindness. We feel really lucky to have been there.

Venue Emerald Lake Lodge
Cake by Cake Creations
Flowers by Willow Haven

The Banff Springs wedding photography | Shandra + Glenn

2009-06-28T22:06:00.004-06:00

The Mount Stephen hall at The Banff Springs is an incredibly elegant room for weddings.

It is rare to see a groom's cake in Canada. It is more of a southern tradition. Barb from Cake Creations did an incredible job of this suitcase for Glenn which featured luggage labels from Africa that hinted at their African safari honeymoon.

I had a serious crush on Shandra's Melissa Sweet gown that she wore for the reception. It is easily one of my all time favourite gowns that I have photographed. It was so elegant and suited Shandra beautifully. I love the way it moved when they danced.

I loved Shandra's headpiece. It was such a great transition from her veil during the day to her headpiece for the reception.

Shandra and Glenn held their wedding at the gorgeous Banff Springs and included my favourite combination of an outdoor ceremony on the terrace which offers stunning views as shown above and then held their reception in the Mount Stephen hall which is breath taking. Their decor included custom made linens, hand made menus and professional lighting that transformed the room. Bringing in professional lighting is the best investment you can make in getting incredible photographs of your reception. It adds depth and sparkle to your photographs and creates a unique experience for your guests. The lighting made everything come alive and I think it's a must have for Mount Stephen hall. Shandra and Glenn had guests come from great distances to celebrate with them and I think their wedding really showed off the rocky mountains beautifully for their guests.
Their wedding was elegant and full of style and inspired a great party.

Lynn of Lynn Fletcher Weddings brought Shandra and Glenn's wedding day vision to life. Lynn created a gorgeous day for them with stunning decor that was all custom created just for Shandra and Glenn. The day went perfectly.

Planning and decor by Lynn Fletcher Weddings
Cake by Cake Creations
Flowers by Nosegay
venue The Banff Springs
DJ - Ken of NRG music productions

Emerald Lake wedding photography | Kael + Kevin

2009-06-27T21:50:00.004-06:00

Kael's something old, borrowed and blue for good luck.

I love Kael's tattoo and her gorgeous eyes.

Kael and Kevin's son Pike walked Kael down the aisle. Kael was very happy to see Daddy waiting for them at the end of the aisle.

Oftentimes, like in this photograph, my favourite image is not the one of the first kiss at the end of the ceremony but the moments that follow the first kiss. I love this moment.

Kael and Kevin held an intimate wedding at Emerald Lake Lodge. Emerald Lake is one of my most favourite locations for weddings. There is something just magical and pristine about it. I loved that Kael and Kevin started their day with a bride reveal. A favourite moment for me and a chance for couples to see each other and feel relaxed before the day starts. We had incredible weather which showed off the lake beautifully. Kael and Kevin's ceremony was full of moments that inspired tears in everyone that witnessed it. Their son Pike stole the show in his handsome little suit and converse. Kael and Kevin share a strong bond and an immense love for their son and that really shined on their wedding day. I felt really grateful to be there.

Kael and Kevin I hope you're having an amazing honeymoon in San Francisco. I'm sure you're eating incredible food! Thank you for asking me to photograph the beginning of a new chapter in your family's life. Pike is a lucky little man.

hello mountain goat

2009-06-25T23:15:00.003-06:00

We are so fortunate to get to see all kinds of amazing wildlife here. It is rare that I have my camera with me to capture any of it. Luckily we were on our way home from a wedding at Emerald Lake (yippee Kael and Kevin!!!) and just happened to have my camera with a long lens in the back seat when Kevin spotted this very handsome mountain goat. I have only had one mountain goat sighting in my 5 years in Banff and Kevin had never seen one so we were both really excited. It looks like he's posing for me.

UPPERCASE magazine

2009-06-24T21:18:00.004-06:00

UPPERCASE magazine: Issue 2 preview from UPPERCASE gallery on Vimeo.

I am so excited about UPPERCASE magazine created by Janine of UPPERCASE gallery in Calgary. I subscribed and received the first issue which I've looked through cover to cover many times. I can't wait for the second issue due out in July. We might even get to see a little bit about my husband Kevin's ceramics in this next issue. If you haven't already head on over and subscribe. The money from subscriptions goes directly into funding production costs and allowing the magazine to continue. It feels great to support something independent that is so beautifully done. Lots of inspiration in UPPERCASE magazine.

new family member arriving soon...

2009-06-23T20:36:00.003-06:00

The last time I saw my friend Danelle she had just announced her pregnancy and she wasn't showing yet. When she came out to Banff to visit us today I was amazed at her beautiful belly and how quickly time goes by. I took a few quick photos in a 7 minute photo session. I was so happy that Danelle's daughter Navee was willing to model. I adore Navee's belt buckle and boots, a very stylish girl. It's only 10 more days before we get to find out if Danelle has a boy or a girl. I'm so excited!

Calgary family portrait | meet Fleur and Holden...

2009-06-22T15:29:00.003-06:00

This is my favourite photograph of Fleur from our portrait session last year. When she came down the stairs with her gorgeous curly hair and pretty dress on I was in awe of how much she had grown up in so little time. Kids really put the passing of time in perspective.

This is my favourite picture of Holden from last year's session. I can't believe how much he's changed in so little time. He's a rock star now playing wild guitar concerts for all of us!

I first met this family last year when they invited me to photograph their daughter Fleur and son Holden. I was delighted that they invited me back to their home this year for more photographs. I just could not get over how much Fleur and Holden had changed in that short amount of time. They are incredibly beautiful sweet kids with amazing eyes that I love to photograph.
I can't wait to see them next fall to see how they've grown.

Thank you dearly Kristen and Jon for trusting me with documenting your beautiful kids and how fast they grow. Thank you for all your singing and dancing to keep the kids laughing. It is so joyful being around your family and seeing how much love you have each other.

Calgary family portrait | meet Oliver...

2009-06-22T09:00:00.002-06:00

It's hard to describe but there is something really powerful and magical about getting to meet a baby who is only 7 days old.
I was really honoured when Alison and Aldo asked me to come photograph their newborn son Oliver. I photographed Alison and Aldo's engagement photographs and their wedding so when they told me they were pregnant I was really excited about getting to meet their baby for the first time.

Happy Father's Day!

2009-06-21T06:00:00.001-06:00

More from this beautiful family this week...

Two Jack Lake wedding photography | Ruth + Dennis

2009-06-20T22:39:00.001-06:00

Ruth and Dennis came up from New York with their closest friends and their families to get married outside at Two Jack Lake. They ended up with an absolutely incredible sunny day and even had a pair of Canadian geese in attendance for their entire ceremony.

I loved all of the stylish details that Ruth envisioned for their wedding day. To honour her groom's chinese heritage she incorporated a lot of the lucky colour red into their reception. I thought it looked amazing the way Ruth transitioned from her elegant pastel retro inspired lace dress into her red flowing gown for the reception. I think more women should consider 2 dresses, one for the wedding and an entirely different one for the reception! Her bouquet of flowers suited her ceremony dress perfectly and then her table arrangements at the reception fit her night look. Everything looked amazing together and really created a stylish personalized wedding.

Connie of Elegant Banff Occassions did an absolutely incredible job of coordinating everything for Ruth and Dennis who were planning their wedding long distance and didn't actually get to meet their vendors until the week of the wedding. Connie made sure every detail was taken of, everything was where it was supposed to be and set up so Ruth and Dennis could relax and enjoy the day with those who had traveled so far to celebrate with them.

Wedding Planning by Elegant Banff Occassions
Cake by Cake Creations
Flowers by Willow Haven
Cello music by Nigel

Emerald Lake Wedding photography | Shanika + German

2009-06-14T17:45:00.006-06:00

Shanika's Mum made her bouquet for her and as a sweet touch they wrapped the bouquet in a scarf that German gave Shanika. The scarf was the first gift that German had given Shanika.

Shanika and German had an intimate ceremony at Emerald Lake Lodge with just their families with them. Some of German's family had traveled from as far as Colombia to celebrate with them. It was a really sweet ceremony followed by lots of hugs. It was very touching to see Shanika's Mum smiling with tears rolling down her cheeks during their ceremony. Shanika and German had written personal vows that they read to each other which was a beautiful moment during their ceremony.

The timing of the day was perfect. They had sunshine for their outdoor ceremony and the sun shone brightest when they were pronounced husband and wife. A little rain fell just as we were finishing our photographs and I was very excited to get to use my new umbrella that I bought in Vancouver. The umbrella photographs turned out to be some of my favourite photographs with Shanika and German.

Shanika and German your love for each other is wonderful to be around. Congratulations on a beautiful ceremony! Thank you for choosing me to be there to photograph it for you.

Banff Engagement photography | Gillian + Josh

2009-06-14T17:35:00.003-06:00

Due to uncooperative weather it took some time to finally meet each other and shoot Gillian and Josh's engagement. I can say it was well worth the wait. It was really fun to do a summery engagement shoot. I loved all the thought they put into their outfits and fun props that tie into their wedding day like Gillian's beautiful blue shoes, the parasol and the peacock feathers. It made the shoot inspiring for me. I love love love getting to photograph engagement shoots because it gives me a chance to get to know the couple before their wedding day and I am even more excited about Gillian and Josh's wedding day now.

Gillian and Josh it was wonderful to get to meet you both! Thank you for being so creative and making the afternoon really fun.

Emerald Lake wedding photography | NeiLei + Ben

2009-06-09T10:27:00.003-06:00

Hair and make-up by stylingsteph@gmail.com I always love how natural and classic Stephanie's make-up and hair is, it's not going to look dated 25 years from now.

NeiLei and Ben opted to take their photographs together before their ceremony which I love, love, love!!! Doing the photographs beforehand allows me to take advantage of the natural light and allows the couples to get to spend more time with their guests after their ceremony. NeiLei and Ben planned their day beautifully which meant we had lots of time for photographs, they got to spend their cocktail hour with everyone and they scheduled their speeches for after dinner so everyone got to really enjoy the incredible menu that NeiLei and Ben had picked out. Since they were seeing each other before the ceremony for photographs I set up a "bride reveal" for them so they could still have the moment where they saw each other for the first time. NeiLei approached Ben from behind and he was only allowed to turn around after NeiLei placed her hand on his shoulder. It was my favourite moment from the day and an incredible moment to be witness to. It was sweet and emotional and a beautiful way to start pictures.

This was one of NeiLei's favourite moments from the day. Getting in the canoe with the man she was about to marry and being out on the gorgeous lake.

The flower girl and ringboy were brother and sister and they were the sweetest cutest kids. I was amazed at how well they got along and how polite they were. This photograph is a perfect example of why I adore outdoor ceremonies. It just would not of been possible to capture this photograph in an indoor ceremony where lighting is a challenge and more importantly I am restricted in my movements. Outdoor ceremonies allow me to take advantage of beautiful natural light and to move around with much less disruption to capture candid images.

NeiLei handmade her gorgeous feather hairpiece. I thought it looked so glamourous and elegant.

NeiLei and Ben's wedding was one I was looking forward to for a long time. They had chosen my favourite location, Emerald Lake Lodge, to get married and they crossed their fingers for good weather to allow them to have an outdoor ceremony. The weather was stunning and their day turned out beautifully. NeiLei and Ben had the support and laughter from their incredible wedding party and their gracious kind families. The connection between NeiLei and Ben was a joy to be around and they made the entire day fun and filled with emotion and smiles. From the bride reveal to Ben's toast to NeiLei I was in tears several moments throughout the day. It was the way a wedding should be... a couple in love sharing their vows with the people closest to them and enjoying each moment.

Thank you NeiLei and Ben I loved being there for your wedding. Many thanks also to your families who were so kind to my husband and I, their gracious words meant the world to me!

In my driveway yesterday

2009-06-09T10:25:00.002-06:00

Looking out my window to see these two handsome elk in my driveway is just one of the many reasons I adore living in Banff. I feel so lucky to get to see wildlife from my window.

Calgary baby photography | meet Kingston...

2009-06-09T10:20:00.004-06:00

Is that a tiny smile I see?

I was very excited to get to meet Kingston at just 12 days old. His parents were so calm and natural with baby Kingston and so obviously very much in love with the newest member of their family. Kingston was an amazing model letting me place him in a basket for magazines. I love the name Kingston.

Thank you for asking me to photograph your beautiful boy! It was such a joy to see what an amazing team you are and how much Kingston is loved by you already.

Sara and Aaron are married!!

2009-06-02T20:59:00.005-06:00

Sara had her brother and sister-in-law as their witnesses for the wedding. They are newlyweds themselves.

There is something really incredible for me about getting to witness an intimate wedding. My job allows me to see things that I wouldn't otherwise get to see without my camera and I am so grateful for it. Sara and Aaron decided to elope in Banff and between myself and my husband, Sara and Aaron, Robin their wonderful officiant and Sara's brother and sister-in-law we made up the total wedding guests at 7 people. Sara and Aaron got married in a gorgeous field overlooking Banff and then we spent some time taking photographs around town. I was very excited about Sara's custom made dress and the heart balloons she brought with her for photographs.

Sara and Aaron I will never forget getting to be witness to your beautiful ceremony. Thank you for the honour of capturing the day for you. We had so much fun with you around town and I loved seeing just how in love you are with each other. Congratulations on your perfect wedding!

Peony love...

2009-06-02T17:37:00.004-06:00

One thing I always love about Leo's bouquets is not only are they beautifully crafted with careful attention to detail but he often includes a flower that adds a lovely scent. I loved this peony bouquet he created recently. I notice all the details like the way the flowers are evenly arranged, the leaves perfectly framed, the ribbon perfectly tied and the stems cut sharply at their edges. It makes a difference. This bouquet left me smiling for it's sweet elegant classic vintage feel but then I loved it even more when I noticed the sweet peas tucked in lightly throughout which gave this bouquet an amazing scent. I think in a perfect world a bouquet should not only look great but smell beautiful as well. Leo also incorporated the bride's grandmother's vintage brooch on the stems which was a nice sentimental touch.

In other news Lisa has launched her Haute Wedding Design Blog and I love seeing her ideas. Lisa and I share a lot in common in that we love weddings with lots of vibrant colour, adore weddings infused with the bride and groom's personalities and we both love colourful sassy wedding day shoes and peonies! Check out her new blog for inspiration. I can't wait to work with her on a wedding to see her incredible style and passion at work. Lisa is a wedding planner focusing on creating stylish mountain weddings for her lucky couples.

Banff Engagement photography | Chanh + Richard

2009-05-19T20:45:00.005-06:00

Kevin and I had a fantastic afternoon photographing Chanh and Richard and getting to know them a little bit more. They treated us to drinks on our favourite patio and we had the opportunity to hear more about their wedding day plans and life in general. Richard talked about Chanh's talent in the kitchen especially when it comes to making her family's chinese food recipes. He spoke about her chinese food with such appreciation and love that it sent Kevin and I into a serious craving for chinese food. We ended up driving for a fix 2 nights in a row! Although I'm sure it wasn't up to Chanh's skills, it had to do. Chanh and Richard love food, wine, traveling and family and it was obvious they know how to live life filled with laughter and love.

I am beyond excited that I will have the opportunity to photograph my first tea ceremony at their wedding this summer. I've always wanted to photograph a tea ceremony. The best part is that they are departing with tradition so none of us have to get up at 5am to witness the ceremony, instead it will be a civilized 12:30pm affair. Which means a relaxed morning for Chanh and Richard and a fantastic party that night. I can't wait!

Silvertip Canmore wedding photography | Denisa + Andrew

2009-05-19T14:02:00.007-06:00

The flowergirls were exceptional. I've never seen two sisters that age get along so well. It was very sweet to see.

The ringboy holding his own in a stare off.

Patricia Compton did a beautiful job with officiating Andrew and Denisa's ceremony.

Andrew and Denisa were lucky to have their grandmothers in attendance.

Denisa and Andrew ended up with a gorgeous mountain day. We started the day off with a bride reveal which is always one of my favourite moments. Their ceremony was heartfelt, filled with humour and tears. I loved their idea of a cake table. I'd never seen that done before. The cake table definitely had the flower girls full attention. Andrew and Denisa's wedding turned out perfectly, it was intimate, personal and filled with laughter.

Thank you Denisa and Andrew for asking me to photograph your wedding!!

Calgary baby photography | meet Charlotte...

2009-05-17T13:04:00.003-06:00

I loved the calming blue walls in Charlotte's nursery.

I of course LOVED this orange bear given to Charlotte's Dad by his grandma when he was a boy.

I love this sweet moment between Charlotte and the little pig Charlotte's great grandma gave her.

I was so excited about getting to photograph Charlotte. I photographed Charlotte's parent's wedding and so I was honoured when they asked me to photograph the newest member of their family. We debated whether to photograph Charlotte when she just arrived or wait until she was able to sit up on her own around 6-8 monthes. I have to say I am really happy we waited. Charlotte was incredibly charming, full of smiles and sweet expressions. There is so much you can do with a baby that age because they are full of personality and not yet able to run away from you. :) Charlotte is a beautifully happy baby. She is incredibly sweet and alert and smart. I loved her cheery nursery but most of all I loved seeing how much in love her parents are with her.

The Juniper Banff wedding photography | Amy + Leo

2009-05-11T09:53:00.006-06:00

A hug from Amy's Dad as he gives her away.

Parents watching the ceremony

Often times my favourite moments are the ones just after the first kiss.

Showing off the beautiful ring.

The view from the patio at The Juniper is one of the best in Banff, just gorgeous.

I love engravings on the inside of rings, a sweet little hidden secret.

There were some beautiful emotional toasts to the bride and groom.

Friends of Amy and Leo provided the live music which added great energy to the party.

Amy and Leo had a beautiful intimate emotional wedding day celebrated at The Juniper with just their closest friends and family. It was perfect! I loved that Amy wore her long hair down, it looked romantic and her fur gave a feeling of vintage hollywood glamour on their chilly wedding day.

Thank you Amy and Leo for asking us to document your beautiful wedding!

Calgary baby photography | meet Greyson...

2009-05-06T17:30:00.006-06:00

I first met Kim and Duncan when I photographed Duncan's brother's wedding. Duncan's brother and sister-in-law gifted Kim and Duncan a photo shoot with me for their newborn baby when he arrived.

Kim called me right away and I was able to photograph baby Greyson when he was just 7 days old! I could not help but watch Kim and Duncan so at ease with their new son and realize that they were only 7 day old parents. They are an amazing team and such natural parents. I was in awe getting to meet such a new little man. I loved the little cowboy boots that Kim's sister who works at the Calgary Stampede bought for Greyson.

Congratulations Kim and Duncan on the arrival of your beautiful son.

A very lucky baby

2009-05-06T11:51:00.006-06:00

I think of pregnancy portraits as an important historical family document. The only picture I've seen of my Mum pregnant is one where she is far away and out of focus and I wish I had something more to see. My favourite photograph of my Mum is one where she is holding me up while I try to walk in a hilarious sheep like outfit. I love seeing what a young mum she was and seeing us together.

When I was asked to photograph pregnancy portraits for Amy and Ed I was really excited and felt honoured that I would get to document such a big moment in their lives for them. Amy and Ed are so obviously in love and beyond excited about their soon to arrive baby, it was really such a joy to be around all that excitement. I love the above photograph because it shows how much they already love the little bean who is yet to arrive.

Calgary baby photography | meet Sofia...

2009-04-30T21:19:00.007-06:00

I love this series.

Family shoe photograph with Sofia on her toes like a ballerina.

I loved Sofia's and her mom's shiny red shoes together.

Sofia is the most active baby I have ever met. Her feet and arms were in constant motion. She is sweet and observant and has the most adorable cheeks. Sofia's parents were so welcoming to Kevin and I as they gave us a tour of their beautiful home. It was really inspiring to see their family so in love. I think that may be my favourite part about photographing babies is getting to witness how much love is expressed for the newest member of the family. Sofia's parents have an amazing wall that is dedicated to family wedding photographs and beautiful black and white portraits from their family history. I can't wait for them to add the photos of Sofia to their family history wall. Sofia is lucky to be going on a trip to spend time with her great grandmother. They have a framed print of the four generations of women which I think Sofia will be lucky to be able to see when she is older.

Have a fantastic family trip!

Calgary baby photography | Wilson and his big sister Georgia

2009-04-30T21:08:00.004-06:00

This might be my favourite photograph. Wilson is a lucky little man to be loved so deeply.

Georgia is simply gorgeous!

I absolutely loved the tutu and wings that Georgia got from the easter bunny. I love the way her little dog is peeking over her shoulder in this photo.

Georgia's and her Daddy's shoes together

Having photographed Georgia in the past I was really excited about meeting her little brother Wilson. They are gorgeous sweet happy kids. I love being witness to how much joy Georgia and Wilson bring to their parents and how much love is shared in their family.

Thank you for asking me to document your beautiful family! I feel honoured to do so.

growing up

2009-04-14T18:49:00.005-06:00

On the left is Georgia and on the right is her baby brother photographed at around the same age. I can't believe how alike they look.

I am amazed by how quickly Georgia has changed. I first met her at around 6 monthes and she is now 2 years old.
Isn't she gorgeous?!!! I had to compare photographs from my 3 sessions with Georgia, they grow up so fast.

I first met Kristal when she asked me to come and photograph her beautiful baby girl Georgia. I've since been back to visit their family to photograph Georgia once more and now most recently I came to photograph their beautiful new family member Georgia's baby brother Wilson.

I was immediately struck by how much Georgia has changed in the little time since I saw her last. She has curly girly hair!!

Kristal had the great idea to schedule baby Wilson's photoshoot so that he would be around the same age that Georgia was when I first photographed her. When I met Wilson I could not get over just how much he looks like his sister did at that same age.

I have to say I love photographing babies at this age. Right around the 6 month mark at the time when a baby is able to sit up on their own. They are so interactive and smiley. Or maybe I have been spoiled by Kristal's smiley babies.

While I work on the rest of this family's photographs I am grateful. Grateful that I am privileged to be able to document this family growing and to be witness to the deep love that Mum and Dad have for their babes.

Calgary baby photography | Beautiful Georgia & Wilson

2009-04-13T17:48:00.004-06:00

more to come next week...

meet Tillie...

2009-04-09T21:50:00.007-06:00

When Janine posted a photograph of Tillie the orange bear handmade by my favourite childrens book illustrator Renata on her blog I called her up immediately and told her that Tillie was coming to live with me. My favourite childrens book Nikolai, the only bear was illustrated by the incredibly talented Renata Liwska and when I saw her hand sewn bear Tillie I fell in love.

Janine put together an amazing care package for me which included my first issue of my new subscription to UPPERCASE magazine. I literally ripped open the package put Tillie up beside my work station and sat down on the couch to read the magazine from beginning to end.

If you haven't done so already head over to Janine's shop to subscribe to UPPERCASE magazine. It is a beautifully designed magazine filled with inspiring creative people and ideas. When was the last time you got something inspiring in the mail?

Kevin's banana bread

2009-04-07T19:33:00.005-06:00

Not only did Kevin bake the banana bread but he served my piece on my favourite plate that he also made for me.

My husband Kevin has recently gotten into baking me treats. He learned how to make a banana cream pie because he knew that has always been my favourite pie, too bad I didn't get a picture of that I ate it up too quickly. Tonight Kevin made his first loaf of banana bread for me. It made the house smell heavenly. It was so beautiful I had to grab a quick photograph of it.

Kevin is the most thoughtful, giving, kind, gentle man that I know and I feel so very lucky to be married to him. Not only does he work really hard for me and my clients on wedding day shoots by carrying all of my heavy equipment so I can move quickly and capture the photographs that I want but he is there to support me in so many thoughtful ways everyday. I am thankful for the business type stuff he takes care of but it is the many other little things he does everyday that make me feel so grateful for his love. It is easy for me to miss meals when I get busy but Kevin has taken to making me homemade sandwiches and inviting me to sit down for lunch with him. He always gives me the side of the table that has the view of the mountains and he brings me my favourite juice. It makes my day.

Tonight's banana bread was extra special to me because of the way he served it. Kevin presented my piece on my very favourite plate. Eating a warm piece of banana bread that Kevin baked from scratch on a piece of pottery that he made with his own hands made it that much more special.

Kevin also made a point to use the cinnamon that Bernie & Jamie brought us back from their exotic honeymoon, that made the whole thing such an incredible gift. Thank you Bernie & Jamie for your gift!!!

Tonight I feel so very grateful for having such an incredible husband.

Winning images in WedComp competition!!!

2009-03-25T22:46:00.008-06:00

I entered some images into the WedComp competition back in January. I hadn't heard anything and was a bit disappointed until recently I was browsing their website and was surprised and delighted that in fact some of my images did place in the competition. The nice part about this competition is that a small part of the proceeds go towards donating to Thirst Relief International

I am very grateful to the incredible couples who asked me to be their photographer and gave me the opportunity to witness some moving moments and the kind of love that inspires me.

The Juniper Banff wedding photography | Claire + Mike

2009-03-22T11:51:00.013-06:00

Claire and her beautiful sisters.

The very charming ringboy who is holding a labradoodle toy to represent Claire & Mike's puppy Charlie.

Charlie...Claire and Mike's labradoodle.

Claire arriving for the ceremony.

Claire and her Mum added lots of sparkly lights and candles which made a huge difference in the photographs and created a beautiful atmosphere.

Claire and Mike's wedding cake by Cake Creations featured all the names of each guest in attendance. I thought that was a great way to honour the guests that joined them to celebrate.

Claire and her Mum dancing.

The morning was very exciting at the girls cabin where they got ready at The Juniper. A gift from Mike arrived in a pink box with a stunning diamond studded bracelet for Claire to wear on their wedding day. I loved her reaction to the gift seen above, I'd say it was a hit. I loved Claire's sassy attitude shown in the pictures of her in her sexy heels before she got into her dress behind the curtain. The entire day was filled was excitement from everyone involved.

I absolutely adored Claire's elegant glamourous dress. It is always inspiring for me to see a unique dress. It suited Claire perfectly and I loved that it was a dress that flowed with Claire, it was clear she was wearing the gown and not the other way around.

Claire and her Mum did an amazing job of creating a beautiful warm evening atmosphere with lights and candles in abundance which made a huge difference in their dancing photographs. It added so much sparkle.

Thank you Claire and Mike for having me there to photograph your wedding. I loved seeing all the excitement present in every moment of the day. Thank you Claire for your enthusiastic e-mails, you made my year!

Chateau Lake Louise & Banff Springs wedding photography | Lauren + Greg

2009-03-22T11:32:00.007-06:00

Lauren's dyed hot pink J Crew shoes were incredible. I loved them!

The groom's beautiful sister and bridesmaid to Lauren.

Lauren moments before leaving for the ceremony.

The Victoria room at The Chateau Lake Louise.

There wasn't a dry eye in the room during the ceremony.

The hot pink looked incredible amongst the snow. I think colour is so important for a winter wedding. It makes the photographs more vibrant.

The bridesmaids came prepared with winter boots for the ice.

My favourite photograph of Lauren and Greg together.

Lauren's younger sister gave a wonderfully sweet emotional toast and Lauren came up near the end to hug and kiss her sister.

I am a HUGE fan of Cake Creations little snow couples. They even have little twig arms that embrace each other around the back.

I love this photograph of Lauren and her Dad during their dance together.

I have never seen such a spectacular winter wedding day at Lake Louise as the day Lauren and Greg had for their wedding. The trees were heavy with snow, the sunshine was abundant and warm and there was no wind. It was absolutely amazing. I've always felt that bright colours work best in winter weddings and Lauren and Greg's wedding is a perfect example of that, the hot pink looked incredible and really added vibrancy to their photographs. I only had the chance to meet Lauren and Greg the week before their wedding. Lauren's e-mails are some of the sweetest most enthusiastic I have received and meeting her in person lived up to her online presence. Lauren and Greg and lucky to have met each other. They share similar interests and clearly adore each other. Their wedding day was full of emotion and laughter.

Lauren and Greg had a unique wedding where they held their ceremony at The Chateau Lake Louise and then thoughtfully hired a bus to take all of their guests to The Banff Springs for their elegant reception at The Banff Springs. I thought it was very creative and gave them the best of both worlds. I loved that they hired buses for their guests so that the guests could just take in the views and enjoy the day without having to negotiate winter driving conditions. Lauren and Greg are thoughtful like that.
Their early afternoon ceremony was followed by food and refreshments for their guests at The Chateau while we took pictures outside on the ice. Which in another stroke of luck had just been freshly cleared. I would of liked to have been a guest at this wedding as it was a fun carefree day.

Thank you dearly Lauren and Greg for having me there to photograph your picture perfect wedding. I loved getting to know both of you.

The Nakoda Lodge wedding photography | Christy + Matt

2009-03-22T11:17:00.006-06:00

Christy's elegant dancing shoes for their amazing first dance.

Matt's ring is really unique and includes a rough diamond in it.

Christy and her Mum just before they walked down the aisle together.

The wonderful Robin White officiating the ceremony.

Christy's stunning bouquet by Vicki at Elements Floral. A perfect example of why I feel colour looks amazing for winter weddings.

I love that Christy's twin brothers played the role of her bridesmen.

Nakoda Lodge has an amazing view.

I loved all the details and beautiful textures in Christy's dress with her fuzzy wrap.

Christy put so much work into designing every detail of their wedding day. Here are the cupcakes created by Cake Creations.

The groom's gorgeous niece hanging out during the toasts.

Christy and Matt had a beautiful winter wedding at The Nakoda Lodge. Every detail was beautifully designed by the couple.
Christy and Matt took dancing lessons which paid off when they treated everyone to a performance for their first dance. Christy and Matt both have really fun families that were such a big part of their day, their wedding party consisted of their siblings which I thought was very sweet. It is always rewarding to me to see a couple who truly enjoys their wedding and flows throughout their day.

Thank you Matt and Christy for asking me to be your photographer!

The Stratus Gallery Banff wedding photography | Stephanie + Dave

2009-03-21T14:13:00.008-06:00

The photograph above is one of my all time favourite photographs. It captures Stephanie and her Mum sharing a laugh before the ceremony, I love how you can see how similar they are when they laugh.

There is some Ukranian in their heritage so they invited an accordian player to play the music for their ceremony, it sounded amazing in the gallery

Stephanie and her Dad moments before they walked down the aisle together.

The beautiful private room at Fuze where they celebrated together, it even had a window on the left that overlooked all the action in the kitchen.

This wedding was a very sweet intimate wedding held at 2 stunning unique locations. The intimate wedding consisting of only Stephanie's and Dave's families in attendance was held at the beautiful Stratus gallery in Banff. The gallery was formerly a dance hall generations ago so it seemed fitting to hold a ceremony in a place where there was sure to be celebration and love found in Banff's history in that very space. Rick Kunelius performed the ceremony and kept us all on our toes and made the ceremony an event by moving each moment of the ceremony to a different location because he felt inspired by the beauty of the gallery and wanted to take advantage of the space. They started the ceremony by the fireplace and the vows were shared in another spot, the rings exchanged somewhere else and the final kiss and announcement of husband and wife somewhere else. It made for a lively ceremony.

Stephanie and Dave are incredibly sweet and absolutely adorable together. It was such a joy to witness their beautiful ceremony and see how close they are to their wonderful families.

After their sweet ceremony we headed outside for a few pictures before returning to Fuze where Stephanie and Dave had a relaxed dinner with their families.

Stephanie and Dave thank you for your kindness and warmth, it was such an inspiration to photograph your ceremony and see the love that you have for each other and your families. It was a really special wedding day.

For the brides out there planning their weddings I have to say I was really impressed by the outstanding service provided by Cheryl at Stratus gallery and although I was not in attendance at the dinner I have experienced the incredible service and food at Fuze in the past.

Emerald Lake family photography

2009-03-21T13:42:00.007-06:00

Photographing this family was an incredible experience for me. It started with the first e-mails I received from Cory the Dad. First of all it is unusual for me to receive a portrait request from Dads it is most commonly the Mums who contact me. Cory was really passionate about photographing his family. I wrote him and told him that I don't do family portraits, not in the traditional sense of all 4 people looking at the camera and smiling. He told me that he would be happy with "smiling faces, grumpy faces, tears and tantrums...they are all good. ". When he went on to tell me how valuable he thought photographs of his family would be and he described his wife as "hot" I knew I had to meet this lucky family. Wouldn't all wifes love to know that their husbands describe them as "hot"?!

What really struck me about this family was Cory's obvious love for his family expressed in his e-mails. We chose to do their photo shoot at Emerald Lake because it is a special place for them since they were both engaged and married there.

It can't be easy to have 2 kids under the age of 5 and I think Cory and his wife Carolyn's gift is that they love, appreciate and cherish each moment. They know how precious their family is to them now...right now in this moment. It was really wonderful to see a family that is so close and loves spending time together. Cory and Carolyn's kids are so lucky to have parents like them.

Their son Andan is very entertaining and so polite. He told Kevin that he was "happy to meet him" ,this from a 4 year old. My favourite moment was when I complimented Andan on his new snow boots and he explained to me that they were his "flying boots". Oh really I exclaimed and how do they work? Andan went on to tell me that there is a button, when I tried to find the button he explained it was on the bottom of the boots so I couldn't reach it "and besides the batteries are really low right now....plus they are really dangerous for adults". Brilliant!

Thank you Cory for expressing your love for your family, it was such a joy for me to be witness to. I loved meeting all of you.
Thank you for bringing out the brightly coloured toques and clothing which made all the difference in capturing vibrant photographs.

The Rimrock hotel Banff wedding photography | Natasha + Brad

2009-03-21T11:56:00.006-06:00

The adorable ringboy.

I love the way Natasha looked at her Dad as he walked her down the aisle.

I love this picture of Natasha's parents during their ceremony. I love that they are holding hands as they watch the ceremony.

Natasha gets a hug from her grandpa.

I loved the colours in Brad's suit and tie, they went beautifully with Natasha's bouquet by Forget-me-not flowers in Banff.

Natasha and Brad had a beautiful intimate wedding with only their families in attendance at The Rimrock Hotel in Banff which was perfect for their intimate celebration. They braved the February cold and held their ceremony outside to take advantage of the view on the terrace. Robin White did an amazing job of officiating the ceremony as always. The sunshine was beautiful that day and the wind a bit mean but having their ceremony outside was breathtaking. Kevin and I had a lot of fun with Natasha and Brad around Banff taking pictures before they headed inside for warmth and dinner with their family. It was a relaxed sweetly emotional beautiful day all around.

Thank you Natasha and Brad for allowing Kevin and I to witness your intimate ceremony. We loved spending time with you!

Calgary baby photography | meet Caleb

2009-03-13T18:30:00.008-06:00

This pillow belonged to Caleb's mom when she was a baby. I loved it, especially since my brother's name is Peter and we used to read Peter rabbit stories often.

Caleb's mom asked me for a baby foot shot with her husband's hands. It turned out sweetly.

Caleb's mom said this one is Caleb telling me that I have 3 more seconds to take his picture, notice his fist ready to strike!

Someone else was eager to pose for me as well, I loved how the kitty's eyes matched the heirloom chair.

I was totally honoured when Virginia and Richard asked me to come and photograph the newest member of their family baby Caleb. I photographed Virginia and Richard's wedding 3 years ago. I love photographing babies in their home because they are most comfortable and often times there are treasures to find like the heirloom baby rocker that Virginia had which passed down through the generations of her family. I was amazed that Caleb at just under 3 weeks old was so aware and focused already. Thank you Virginia and Richard for asking me to photograph Caleb, he was a perfect model.

CW2 featured on The Bride's Cafe!

2009-03-10T10:51:00.007-06:00

I am so excited to see that one of my favourite weddings from this summer is published over at The Bride's Cafe.
Carmen & Cory's wedding was one of the most unique weddings I have photographed. What made it special was that every detail was personalized. They held a very stylish high tea on the beautiful terrace at The Banff Springs and invited all their closest friends and family to wear their favourite hat to the reception. The theme being a high tea their placecards were different tea packages and their flowers were held in beautiful tea canisters.

Head over the The Bride's Cafe here and here to see their photographs.

Not only do Carmen & Cory and I share a love of orange but they also share the same initials as my husband Kevin and I do.
Now when they write to me it is addressed to KT2 and from CW2! I loved the theme of their invitation that highlighted CW becomes squared.

I loved that Carmen wore two gowns. The second one was perfect for their beautifully accomplished first dance as it allowed for lots of movement. I think more brides should consider a gown for the ceremony and photographs and another gown for the reception that shows beautifully during the dance and is more fluid for the reception.
Her gowns were custom designed by Lisa van Hattem

Wedding venue on the terrace of The Banff Springs.

Cake by Cake Creations

The Bride's Cafe treats me to a Beegee Bag!!!

2009-03-05T10:28:00.009-07:00

The Bride's Cafe is a very stylish blog created by Janie of Janie Medley Flora Design. Janie features real weddings from all over and provides inspiration to all brides through her posts. If you are planning your wedding it is definitely worth dropping by the cafe for some inspiration.

If you pay careful attention occasionally Janie will feature a giveaway on The Bride's Cafe. I was paying attention and noticed that Janie had been given a Beegee Bag to give to her readers. I left a comment and was beyond thrilled when I found out I had won! I think Beegee Bags would make the perfect bridesmaid gift in matching wedding colours. Bridesmaids always need a stylish clutch to hold their essentials in and I love that it is a gift that they can use everyday.

I love that mine arrived in The Bride's Cafe colours. It is so elegant and I love carrying it around. I realize it's probably meant for a more formal occasion but I love to take mine to the post office and grocery store to make running errands a little bit more fun for me. I'm not a girly girl at all so the Beegee bag is such a big treat for me.

Thank you Janie!

The Bear and Bison Inn Canmore wedding photography | Justine + Michael

2009-03-05T10:04:00.008-07:00

I LOVED their style. They looked amazing.

Justine and Michael sent me this thoughtful beautiful gift a couple days after their wedding that warmed my heart. I love antique cameras and this one is particularly gorgeous. Wrapped in sparkly orange paper I laughed when I saw the elegant orange gloves. I had never photographed a ceremony in -30 degree weather before and while my camera showed no signs of recognizing the cold temperatures my fingers were absolutely frozen at the end so the gloves were a perfect thoughtful gift to send along. Though I doubt I will have another couple as brave as Justine and Michael!

Justine and Michael met through friends at a climbing gym and it is obvious that their passion for each other and climbing will continue to find them pursuing adventures together. Justine and Michael held an intimate wedding at The Bear & Bison Inn in Canmore that was a perfect reflection of them and their love for their families. It was the most original unforgettable ceremony I have ever photographed. I will never forget it and neither will their guests! It was important to Justine and Michael to have a winter wedding in the mountains. The Inn has a small gazebo outside perfect for ceremonies. The guests were treated to hot chocolate and baileys and there was a small fire at the front of the ceremony area for people to gather around. What you maybe can't tell in the photographs is that it was at least -30 C that day and the wind was mean. Justine's dress didn't even have a crinoline or anything to offer her some layer of warmth, it was just a thin layer of silk between Justine and the winter weather.
It didn't phase them at all. It made for an amazing memorable ceremony. Everyone else had the luxury of being wrapped up in down coats and toques and holding hot chocolate in their hands while Justine and Michael braved the cold and exchanged rings and vows and kisses smiling the entire time. The only give away was the way their hands shook when they exchanged their rings.

I absolutely loved how stylish both Justine and Michael looked. They were elegant with a touch of retro glamour. I love seeing couples infuse their wedding day with style and personality and this wedding was very special. Justine and Michael adore each other and it's obvious.

Michael and Justine thank you for asking me to photograph your beautiful day. I have never attended a more unique ceremony and I loved every minute of it. It is obvious your love keeps you warm in all kinds of weather.

Thank you dearly for your thoughtful gifts. Your camera sits on the bookshelf beside my desk so I see it everyday and I had been searching for gloves exactly like those for monthes with no luck, they are perfect!

Banff Engagement photography | Mel + Dylan

2009-03-05T09:55:00.007-07:00

Mel has the most gorgeous eyes.

I am photographing Mel and Dylan's wedding next January. I was thrilled when they decided to head out to Banff for some engagement photos and a chance to get to spend some time together. They came prepared with ice skates and a sled, scarves toques and a sign, all of which we put to good use, but perhaps my favourite photographs are the ones of them close together. They are adorable together. I loved that they laid, rolled around in and threw snow. Mel and Dylan came down on one of the most beautiful blue sky days we have had.

Mel and Dylan your wedding seems so far away to me now because I'm so excited about your wedding after getting a chance to spend some time with both of you! I will be counting down the days along with you.

Buffalo Mountain Lodge Banff wedding photography | Heather + Trevor

2009-03-05T09:54:00.005-07:00

Isn't he adorable?!!!

I love their expressions in this photograph.

This is one of my favourites from the day. As Heather and Trevor were exchanging rings I noticed the ring bearer straining his neck to be able to get a better view of the rings he had carried down the aisle being exchanged.

This image requires a little explanation. Instead of clinking the glasses to get Heather and Trevor to kiss people had to first stand up in front of everyone and demonstrate the exact way they wanted the newlyweds to kiss and then Heather and Trevor would be required to imitate their moves. Needless to say this kissing game is not for the shy because Heather and Trevor's guests really put them to the challenge and Trevor delivered on this one!

Heather and Trevor are incredible together. They met in school and have been together a long time so it was so heartwarming and emotional to witness their wedding vows to each other. Heather and Trevor got married at the beautiful Buffalo Mountain Lodge here in Banff and they braved the cold wind outside for a few pictures. Their first dance was one of my favourites, they
were so happy and sweet together.

Congratulations Heather and Trevor!!! Thank you for asking me to be there to photograph your wedding.

Calgary baby photography | meet Lachlan and his puppy Winston...

2009-03-04T21:35:00.009-07:00

The canvas prints that Allison ordered from our first two sessions together. It is amazing to see Lachlan as a toddler already.

I feel very lucky to have photographed Allison's pregnancy which included their beloved and now sadly passed sweet dog Jake, Allison and Ian as they welcomed their beautiful boy Lachlan as a new baby into their family and they recently asked me to come by just shy of Lachlan's first birthday to photograph Lachlan and their mellow adorable puppy Winston. It was absolutely amazing to see Lachlan so transformed from the tiny baby I first photographed to the hilarious sweet big blue eyed gorgeous toddler he's grown into. Whenever the phone rang Lachlan would say something close to "Lacka, Lacka, Lacka" and for a week afterwards everytime I heard the phone ring I could hear those words and it would make me smile. As you can see Lachlan is already totally into the phone. Lachlan is so lucky to be so obviously loved and cherished by his parents. I couldn't get over Lachlan's gorgeous blue eyes.

Allison and Ian thank you dearly for welcoming me so openly into your home to photograph your beautiful family. It is always inspiring to see the love and fun you have together. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!