Archive for July, 2011

I have a really cool story to share.  Our baby girl Evelyn is almost 6 months old I can’t believe how time has flown!  When I found out that I was pregnant, I was excited to learn that our friends (and former wedding clients) Stephanie & David were also expecting.

And…it turned out that Stephanie and I were due on almost the same date, and we had the same doctor!  We had a great time being pregnant together.  And we were both overdue together…as we waited for our babies to arrive we wondered if they would be birthday buddies!

We ended up going into the hospital on the same day, and our little baby girls were born just a few hours apart.  As it happens, Sydney was born at about 12:30 in the morning the day after Evelyn so they have different birthdays. It was amazing to go through the experience with our good friends.

Here we are in the hospital with our new little bundles.

Edmonton newborn photographer

Grey nuns hospital

I can see a lot more photos shoots with these two girls in the future.  Here they are at 1 month:

Baby photographer

Here we are 6 months later.  Syd is a little fashionista thanks to Stephanie, and Evelyn’s headband is courtesy of another awesome client-turned-friend Laura who also welcomed a little girl this year!  I have absolutely no skills whatsoever when it comes to sewing or knitting so I’m in awe of what these two mamas can do.

Edmonton baby photographer

Edmonton child portrait photographer

Edmonton baby photographer

Baby headband

Admittedly, this session was done a while ago.  Christy didn’t want to see them until she and her family moved into their new house because she didn’t want to be tempted to order them without knowing where to put them.  So…without further ado…

Christy is a wonderful local photographer who specializes in family/maternity/newborn portraits, and we’re lucky enough to have had her as a second shooter for wedding for the past several years.  I often joke that I wish I could clone Christy.  We’ve been good friends for a long time, and our kids are becoming fast friends themselves.  She and Ronnie are a loving couple, and their kids are adorable.  What more can I say?

edmonton photographer

Edmonton family photographer

edmonton family photographer

Child photographer edmonton

Baby photographer alberta

Alberta family portrait photographer

alberta child photographer

Edmonton river valley photos

This shoot was such a sweet idea.  Brandie & Mike just marked their eleventh anniversary and wanted a portrait shoot to celebrate.  They spent a lovely weekend at the Hotel MacDonald.

Anniversary photos

A happy coincidence found Michael at the Hotel MacDonald during a wedding as well, so he was able to capture this unique setup. Very fitting for a wedding anniversary!

Hotel Macdonald wedding photographer

Edmonton anniversary portrait photos

I’m not sure which of these next two images I like more – what do you think?

Hotel Macdonald anniversary party

Edmonton portrait photographer

I clicked with Farzana & Aly right away.  We had a great conference call, they wanted to snuggle my little ones when they came over, and we bonded over bug spray during their engagement session.  I’m looking forward to their wedding coming up at the end of the month!

Muslim wedding photographer edmonton

Edmonton engagement photographer

Edmonton enagement photos

And, Farzana is a girl after my own heart (ie, a fellow shorty). She’s so cute!!

Edmonton engagement photos

engagement pictures edmonton

Joanne & Jon had a beautiful summer wedding. I probably sound like a broken record when I say that our clients tend to be very relaxed and chilled out but this could not have been any more true of Joanne & Jon. They are a sweet couple whose love and faith will ensure them a happy life together.

The door games in the morning were so much fun – Jon had to do everything from singing a song to Joanne in Chinese (admittedly not a talent of his), to wearing a beautiful pink bikini top, eating wasabi, and writing a poem for his bride to be.

chinese wedding getting ready edmonton

Chinese wedding edmonton photographer

Chinses wedding morning door games

Chinese wedding morning door games

During the ceremony at River West Christian Church Joanne had a sweet surprise for Jon when she serenaded Jon.

River West Christian Church wedding

River West Christian Church

Joanne & Jon both attended the University of Alberta for Engineering, so it was the perfect location for some architecture-inspired photos. (Special thanks to Christy for finding me these blossoms!)

Flower blossom wedding photos

University of Alberta photographer

University of Alberta wedding photos

Le Marchand Mansion wedding photos

Edmonton river valley wedding photo

Joanne & Jon’s reception at the Dow Centennial Centre in Fort Saskatchewan was exquisitely decorated by Classy Affairs. Jon’s family owns and operates Centennial Catering and the food was mouthwatering. Guests were treated to a wide variety of dishes including cherries jubilee which was flambed in front of their eyes.

Fort Saskatchewan reception

There were more fun games during the reception and Jon got a chance to turn the tables on Joanne by serendaing her during the reception!

Dow centre Fort Saskatchewan reception

Jenn is one of those brides who planned every moment of her wedding exquisitely.  When Jenn first inquired with us over a year and a half ago, she said something very special: ‘I’ve been looking at photographers for years and your work amazes me! I’ve always though photography is the most important part of a wedding, aside from the bride and groom of course ;) ’ Jenn and I hit it off right away, and I looked forward to her wedding to Kyle for months.

Did someone say Jimmy Choo?

They were married at Grace Lutheran Church.

I absolutely adore Jenn’s dress.

So, as with so many couples this year, Jenn & Kyle were treated to a bit of rain on their wedding day, but as we arrived at the reception the most beautiful light hit this little meadow. Perfect timing.

The reception at Blue Meadows was beautifully decorated. I love Jenn’s take on the seating chart!

A sweet ring shot (sorry, couldn’t resist the pun). Kyle bought Jenn oreos when they were dating, so they had a special place at the wedding.

This is not your typical father-daughter dance!

Jenn & Kyle – you wanted to throw an elegant party, and that’s just what you did. Thank you so much for including us!

Angela & Aritra love each other so much they got married twice! First, a small wedding at the Devonian Gardens just outside Edmonton, and secondly a Bengali-Hindu wedding in Calgary. Thanks to our second shooter Wil for working with Michael for both events.

The plan was for Angela & Aritra to be married outdoors at the beautiful Devonian Gardens. Mother Nature had other plans, and instead they moved everything inside the Japanese Pavilion. It was a beautiful place for the couple to get ready prior to the ceremony.

Yes, these two make a gorgeous couple! Angela & Aritra are both body builders, and Angela is also a model and photographer. Michael found it very enjoyable to work with a couple who poses so naturally.

It was really important to Angela that she have photos in the gardens so Michael made it work even though it was POURING.

Their Edmonton reception was held at…can you guess?

The Moose Factory!

Fast forward one week and everyone re-connected in Calgary for the Hindu ceremony (and big party afterwards!)

I love this shot of Wil’s:

The sindoor is applied with Aritra’s wedding ring.

Wedding, or a still from a Bollywood movie?

Angela had to guess which one in the lineup was Aritra.

Every once in a while a photographer will have a shoot that is just perfect. You have a great connection with the client, flowing inspiration, beautiful weather and location, and everything just falls into place.  That’s how Nicolette’s session went, and I walked away from it with such a high.  The images aren’t elaborate or cutting edge, and they don’t need to be. She loves them and that’s what matters most.

Nicolette’s little guy came along to help her celebrate her graduation.

Coincidentally, someone just had a birthday….and what’s a birthday without cake? I figured I could win him over with a cupcake. It turns out he liked me anyway, but the cupcake didn’t hurt!

Thank you Nicolette, I had a great time with you and your family!

This little sweetheart, in addition to having a fantastic name, had a wonderful disposition. He completes a set for his mom & dad who now have three beautiful children. Welcome Andrew!

The Sparrow Family came to us from our membership with Modern Mama – are you a Modern Mama? Their older daughter was so sweet and playful and she connected with Michael right away. They welcomed a new little cutie recently and used the opportunity to update their family photos.