The boy is 18 today

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Hard to believe it's been 5 years since I photographed him.
I still adore this image. I always will. It was the first time I ever pushed myself to get past my fear of approaching someone I didn't know who I wanted to photograph.
I feel like this image opened a door for me I never stepped through. I feel like I'm always at the edge of defining my style and I sense there's something more I need to discover about myself as a photographer.
It's like that feeling of having a word lingering just on the tip of your tongue.
I believe this image is the closest I've ever come to finding my voice. 

He's the Bees Knees

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"What do you call a bee that gives milk instead of honey? A BOOBee!!"
This is the joke I told Governor General Literary Award winner Mark L. Winston.
Thank goodness he has a wonderful sense of humour and an adoration of bees.
I recently met Mark when the Arts Council of Canada chose me to photograph him for the 2015 Literary Awards.
Mark is a world renowned expert on bees and won the prestigious award for his non-fiction book, Bee Time: Lessons from the Hive.

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Amanda + Clare | Steamworks Wedding

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Photographing the 'first look' is one of my favorite parts of a wedding because the moment can be so emotional.
Amanda & Clare were married October 3rd in Vancouver, BC and decided to have a traditional first look. They did not see each other the day prior to the wedding and had not seen each others outfits. We held the first look at the Bill Reid Gallery courtyard where they used to meet for lunch. I couldn't resist prolonging the anticipation by making them pose back to back for an extra few agonizing minutes.
Their elegant and romantic ceremony was held at Steamworks atrium in Vancouver’s historic Gas Town in front of a gorgeous window that overlooked the harbor.

Special thanks to my talented Assistant Photographer: Maylies Lang
Make-up: Jeannie Frost LONDONFrost
Floral Arrangments: Lois Keane Flowers
Amanda's Suit: Balsam Tailors
Clare's Dress: Isabelle's Bridal
Ceremony/Reception Venue: Steamworks/TheLanding
Officiant: Ann Moore

 

Emily + Christina | Pemberton, BC Wedding

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Emily & Christina contacted me after seeing one of my previous weddings featured on the Bicycle Built for Two website.  They requested that I take equally beautiful images of their wedding.  I was up for the challenge and excited for their day, as it was also my first ‘destination’ wedding at the beautiful Spring Valley Farm in Pemberton, BC.

What struck me most about this couple was their gift for creating family. Their immediate families attended the wedding and also the family they had nurtured with their closest circle of friends. This is a couple that opens their arms wide and we experienced that in profound way when we found that they had set a place for us at their banquet table.
It was an honour to photograph their day and to be included in the celebrations as well.  

Assistant Photographer: Maylies Lang
Venue: Spring Valley Farm 
Caterer: The Collective Kitchen  
Ring Design: Pernilla Goldsmithing
Flowers: Flowers and Jules
Floral Arrangement: JP Catungal
Attire: Top Man (suit) and Dessy Collection (dress)
Seamstress: Lilannes Bridal (on 10th)

Vancouver's East Side Pride

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I knew it was going to be a joyous and colourful day at Vancouver Pride's East Side Pride event. This was my first time attending the event and I spent most of my time flirting and reuniting with folks I hadn't seen in awhile. Here's a few shots I did get in between the festivities.