Katrina & Adam ~ May 5, 2016 ~ Married at the Eldorado Hotel in Kelowna.
This is another one of those “American boy falls for a Canadian girl” stories. Adam is from Texas and he met Katrina while she was traveling for work. This photo was taken mid-day under bright sun, (not the ideal lighting) but in Spring the white flowers of the ??? field helped quite a bit to reflect some nice light back into their faces.
I often ask a couple to hold hands as they walk, and in many instances, the bride will need to hold her dress with her other hand. This means the groom will end up holding her bouquet; it’s not tradition, but I love the look of it. And Adam in very comfortable in his manhood, that it didn’t phase him at all. He’s a Texan, after all.
Alexandra & Mark ~ May 7, 2016 ~ Married at the Cove Lakeside Resort in West Kelowna.
There used to be a pageant in Kelowna called, Lady of the Lake. I first met Alexandra when she was a contestant. She was just a teenager then. Now she is a beautiful young woman, and she made a gorgeous bride.
This image was captured after they finished dinner. It was just after 7:00 PM and their guests were still eating, so we dashed out for a few quick Golden-Hour portraits. It was another harsh, sunny day, but this low sunlight is the best.
Kaitlyn & Joshua ~ May 14, 2016 ~ Married at Bertram Creek Park in Kelowna, BC
I worked with Kaitlyn’s mom a long time ago, and when she asked if I would photograph her daughter’s wedding, I was a little perplexed, as I still thought of Kaitlyn as a little kid. They sure grow up fast.
Brianna & Kyle ~ May 28, 2016 ~ Married at the Laurel Packinghouse in Kelowna.
Brianna was a dream to work with. She is one of those girls who make photographing her so easy. You just have to basically point your lens in her direction and press the shutter… Bam! you’re an instant professional. Kyle was no slouch either, and together this couple made my time with them so much fun.
As it happens, the summer of 2016 in the Okanagan was an extremely wet one. It rained a lot, but only on the days people were getting married, it seemed. Brianna and Kyle were the first couple to experience the odd weather. As we headed out to do some formal portraits, Brianna remarked that they came to Kelowna to escape the rain in Vancouver. As it happens, I love the light an over-cast sky provides.
Kim & Ian ~ June 8, 2016 ~ Married at Bottega Farms in Kelowna.
Second rainy wedding in a row, and it couldn’t have been better. The light was dramatic, and awesome.
Kim and Ian were one of those couples for whom the photography was paramount. Being a photographer himself, Ian told me that whatever I needed to do to capture great images, he was on board. Normally I only make suggestions about ceremony location, if allowable, but most often than not the bride will veto my advice. Kim did not. In fact, while at the rehearsal I picked out three good locations at Bottega, all dependent on certain lighting scenarios. If it was sunny it would be over there, if cloudy – there, and if it rained, then over there. I love it when a couple allows me to help them get great photos.
Nicole & Neil ~ June 11, 2016 ~ Married at Cedar Creek Winery in Kelowna.
It didn’t just rain on their parade… it poured! It started out as a light drizzle, but as soon as Nicole started down the isle, it came down like Vancouver in November! It actually looked pretty cool with all those umbrellas. Nicole took it in stride, and she had a great attitude about it.
Treny & Alex ~ June 12, 2016 ~ Married at the Hotel Eldorado in Kelowna.
This couple truly waited until they found the right one. In their forties, both Treny and Alex had never been married previously. They are a testament to the goal of others that forty is the new twenty. Both these guys had so much energy, and neither displayed the jaded traits of other couples in their forties.
Their ceremony was on the roof-top of the Eldorado Hotel, which has no shelter from neither rain nor sun. If rain is bad, then full on sun is worse. We dealt with it though. I always said that if I won the lottery I would build the perfect wedding venue – designed by a photographer, so it would be amazing!!!
Lauren & Brett ~ June 18, 2016 ~ Married at Sparkling Hill Resort in Vernon.
Sparkling Hill resort is quite amazing…even when it’s raining. Unfortunately that’s what happened right before the ceremony. Moving inside was no less special though. And no one got wet! Of course, the rehearsal was perfect, and I was excited about all the shots I was going to get. I did my usual planning by taking my sketch book with me and drawing all the important formal portraits. This forces me to stay in one spot for a few minutes, so that I can see everything, including potential distractions. I made sure to do this inside as well – just in case.
The valets at Sparkling Hill are a wonderful bunch of guy who have helped me get great photos in the front entrance by moving cars at my request. It helps to tip them well. The resort doesn’t do as many weddings as it used to because they find them to be a distraction from the restful spa-like atmosphere they strive for, so if you want your wedding at Sparkling Hill Resort, just keep in mind that it’s best to keep it a small affair, and quiet too.
Laura & Jeremy ~ June 25, 2016 ~ Married at the Watermark Hotel in Osoyoos.
Osoyoos is a vacation spot during the summer. It’s hot. Hotter than most spots in BC, so of course you want to be wearing a suit in the middle of the day in July, right? Of course! Laura wanted a group photo of her wedding party in the desert. I love a challenge. I attended their rehearsal the day before their wedding, and afterwards I scouted locations for their formal portraits. I found a great spot for their desert group shot. The problem was, it had to be at 1:00 PM. For those of you who know a little about photography, this was the least desirable time to take pictures in a desert. We dealt with it though, with the help of my California Sun Swatter and my trusted assistant. The only issue I ran into was the fact that I left my camera sitting on my black camera bag under the sun and it shutdown due to over-heating. It was extremely hot to the touch. I’ll be honest, I was a little worried. No time to fret though, so I got my other camera out of another bag in the car, and away we went. It was a successful shoot, but lessons were learned; a soft-shell beer cooler is a perfect bag to store your camera on a hot day.
Shylyn & Clint ~ July 2, 2016 ~ Married at ShyLynn Ranch in Salmon Arm.
Clint had to be the happiest groom I’ve ever had the pleasure of photographing. He didn’t stop giggling all day. I met these two during my first visit to ShyLynn Ranch for a meeting and scouting trip. The drive is awesome, and the scenery is amazing. If I could live out here and do weddings all summer long, I would.
By a happy coincidence, Shylyn found her venue namesake, (except for one “N”) and knew right away she had to be married there. Clint and Shylyn made the trip from Cold Lake, Alberta a few months prior to their wedding day to meet their vendors and visit the ranch. I came from Kelowna to meet them, and wanted to spend the rest of their time with them. They were that much fun. I got excited for their wedding, as did they.
I’ve often thought of buying a golf cart to use at weddings to shuttle the bride and groom to all the photo locations I choose. If there is one suggestion I would make to any wedding venue in the Okanagan, it would be to invest in a good golf cart that can fit four. A bride in shoes can get a bit grumpy if she has to walk for more than a few hundred feet at a time. And a ranch is not conducive to high-heel shoes.
Nora & Cody ~ July 22, 2016 ~ Married at The Paddlewheel Hall in Vernon.
Look at Nora’s wedding gown. Isn’t that cool? You can tell she’s a fun person. To prove it, she got down and dirty during the tug-of-war on the beach. She didn’t bat an eye as she climbed into a gunny sac, (dress and all) to race, (hop) against her new hubby. And she was still grinning ear to ear as she and Cody danced their first dance as husband and wife.
Kerri & Alex ~ July 31, 2016 ~ Married at Linden Gardens in Kaleden.
I traveled to Vancouver for Kerri and Alex’s engagement session. The highlight was the few minutes we spent at Sunset Beach. For their wedding, the Vancouver weather followed them to Linden Gardens in Kaleden. It was a bit scary at one point during the ceremony when many of the guests wondered if the wind would bring down a branch or two. I managed to capture Kerri ducking as a clap of thunder interrupted her vows. People laughed it off, nervously, but in the end, the sun came out and the party took off without a hitch.
Ashley & Bryan ~ August 20, 2016 ~ Married at MacMillan Farms in Kelowna.
Ashley is a wedding planner by trade, so I knew things were going to run smoothly. I normally like to take my couples out during the golden hour for some romantic photos, so when I mentioned this to Ashley and Bryan, they told me I had free reign when it came to the evening schedule. This photo was captured just South of Quail’s Gate Winery on the West side. We just missed that kiss of sunlight on their cheeks, as the sun had gone behind Boucherie Mountain. My bad. Timing is everything. Nevertheless, we managed to get a great image.
Fazeela & Byron ~ August 23, 2016 ~ Married at Summerhill Winery in Kelowna.
On her own Fazeela was so shy, I wondered if I was going to be able to pull her out of her shell. With Byron however, she was as comfortable as can be. Together this beautiful couple was so at ease.
Their guests came from many different countries, ending up at Summerhill Winery to celebrate with Fazeela and Byron.
Kalene & Blair ~ August 27, 2016 ~ Married at Silver Sage Stables in Coldstream.
Kalene and Blair both work in the entertainment industry out of Vancouver. Kalene is a photographer as well, so I was a bit nervous about being judged on my methods. My worries were for not though, as Kalene was a dream to work with, and Blair just did what Kalene told him to do. Silver Sage Stables in Coldstream was where the wedding took place and it was awesome. Windy, but awesome!
The barn and wheat field were decorated beautifully by the amazing Yuriko Larson from Vintage Origami and Janice Robillard of Crocus Floral Design, who did all the florals. And Blair did what I absolutely love, by renting a classic car and driver. I think we over-did it by using the car in so many photos, but hey… it was worth it!
Cherri & Curtis ~ September 2, 2016 ~ Married at Sunset Ranch Golf Course in Kelowna.
I don’t think I’ve laughed as much in the back of a limo as I did with these two. I rode with them from Sunset Ranch Golf Course down to the Delta Grand Hotel in Kelowna where we were to do pictures. The Dolphins Fountain is a great meeting spot, but for some reason many people confuse it with the Sails Fountain at the foot of Bernard Ave. It’s a good thing for the instant communication that cell phones allow us these days, or the wedding party would have been partying on their own.
Richelle & Mark ~ September 4, 2016 ~ Married at 50th Parallel Winery in Lake Country.
Richelle and Mark happened to attend a wedding I photographed the year before – Check out Marlee and Trevor at the Harvest Golf Club, It was beautiful – so the expectation is always there to perform to the same level. Fortunately for me, Richelle and Mark were amazing. Two people who were easy to photograph, and were willing to do whatever I asked. I can’t say enough about my brides who don’t care so much about getting their wedding dress dirty.
I have to confess something with respect to this image – it wasn’t me that captured it, it was my second photographer, Jamie. Sure, I set them up and was directing them, but Jamie happened to see this shot, and even though he was holding a reflector at the time, he managed to snap this picture of this authentic moment.
Monique & Curtis ~ September 10, 2016 ~ Married at Sandy Beach Resort in Naramata.
Believe it or not, these two are actually paying clients. I know, it looks like I hired a couple of models and did a staged photo shoot. Their wedding was held at Sandy Beach Resort in Naramata, BC. This picture was taken at Deep Roots Winery in Naramata. The owners were kind enough to allow us the use of their vineyard and surrounding property for photos. One of Monique’s main requests was a photo of her and Curtis in a vineyard. We managed to get of images, of course, and I’m always pleased when I can fulfill a bride’s requests. But this image was captured just outside the vineyard, where the sprinklers don’t reach, and the desert provides a totally different look – a look I love. Of course, I always seem to find locations that are not conducive to high-heel shoes, or keeping a wedding dress clean. Monique took my advice though, and wore some comfortable, and very practical running shoes. It’s funny how something as simple as comfy shoes can make a big impact on photos.
Michelle & Ryan ~ September 17, 2016 ~ Married at the Harvest Golf Club in Kelowna.
The Harvest Golf Club in Kelowna boasts some pretty spectacular views, and when you put a bride a groom in the photo, it becomes magical. It was raining when I took this picture of Michelle and Ryan. I was actually excited because they both looked so… well, less than happy. I was also too far away to direct them, so I just kept snapping away. Their demeanor fit perfectly for the scene, and when I showed them this picture, they loved it. I’ve actually come to really appreciate the rain during a wedding; it’s by far easier to deal with than the sun.
Ka Man & Chi Man ~ September 18, 2016 ~ Married at Summerhill Winery in Kelowna.
I get to meet a lot of couples in my line of work. If I’m lucky, I will meet some future friends as well. That seems to be true every year. 2016 was no different. If I go to Vancouver or Calgary, I’m sure I could email some former couples and we would be going for dinner, and reminiscing about their big day. I always have fun, and it’s cool to share with them, my perspective of their day after we are removed from it by a bit of time. Below are a few portraits of all the wonderful couples with whom I shared a most special day. Congratulations to all my 2016 couples!
Karrie & Scott ~ September 24, 2016 ~ Married at Sanctuary Gardens in West Kelowna.
Late September is probably the best time to hold an outdoor wedding ceremony in the Okanagan. The tourists have gone home to their jobs and schooling. The traffic has diminished to a tolerable level, and the vegetation is still full. This wonderful couple came from Calgary to have their wedding in Kelowna. The ceremony was held at Sanctuary Gardens in West Kelowna, with their reception at the Laurel Packinghouse in downtown Kelowna. The sun was in the perfect location during this autumn ceremony. I wish it was like this all summer long.
Sara & Bryden ~ October 1, 2016 ~ Married at the Hotel Eldorado Hotel in Kelowna.
It didn’t just rain on their parade… it poured!
Kelsey & Kevin ~ October 15, 2016 ~ Married at Hillside Winery in Naramata.
It didn’t just rain on their parade… it poured!
Anne-Marie & Shane ~ December 31, 2016 ~ Married at Summerhill Winery in Kelowna.
Remembering your wedding anniversary shouldn’t be too hard, since it happens to be on New Years eve. These two married at Summerhill Winery, and then held their reception at Lone Pine Ranch.
