Jennifer Kirk Photography

Product Photography Creatives for Sophisticat Fibre Studios - Langley BC

2012-02-02T16:33:00.004-08:00

Langley's Sophisticat Studios sells a variety of patterns for quilting, bags, aprons etc. I have a whole new appreciation for this fibre art after this project!
HUGE thanks to McBurney Junction on the Fraser Hwy one-way for allowing me to shoot in their beautiful space on a very rainy day. This location lent a diverse look to the overall collection.

If you have a product to sell, an investment in professional photography will help. Drop me a line to learn about how I work with your merchandise to create a fresh perspective and unique images for your business!
778-549-1588 or info@jenniferkirkphotography.com

The strongest family I know

2012-01-10T11:40:00.001-08:00

It's an honour to create the lasting memories for any family and especially for this one. Your strength moves me, J&D. From your wedding and onwards, thanks for trusting me with your precious memories.

Waiting...

2012-01-05T11:35:00.003-08:00

Just before Christmas I visited Marco & Maria to photograph her beautiful belly... baby is due on Valentine's Day, awwww! I've got to give credit here to Marco for keeping his gorgeous wife laughing throughout the session, and for picking the striped sweater for her to wear... nice job eh?
Thanks M&M... can't wait to meet your little one in February.

2011, that's a wrap!

2011-12-30T10:06:00.000-08:00

The end of a year always makes me think back and remember everything that has happened... while also looking forward to the coming year and of course, upcoming wedding season!
This wedding season took me to some new places and revisited a few of my favourites. I met a whole lot of awesome people. I photographed lots of newborns, mostly gorgeous little girls... maybe 2012 will be lots of boys??
I traveled back to Ontario as I do every year for a wedding but this time, it was for my friend, Abbey, who I've known since elementary school.
I began pursuing commercial and editorial photography in earnest, giving unique product shots to some pretty neat-o local businesses and launched a new area of my website to showcase this side of my business. I also photographed my first full advertising campaign for Well Seasoned A Gourmet Food Store. Did you happen to catch these cheeky ads in the Langley Times or Edible Vancouver magazine?

I always recommend Jayna Marie to my clients and it's always a treat to arrive when she's still finishing up!

In July, the world lost an amazing person. Son, brother, uncle and friend, Andrew Vaydo. Just 10 days after the loss of her brother, Katy joined me as planned to meet Heather in Calgary and walk 60km's in the fight against cancer. Walking for my fourth time, with two of my closest friends in their first event was an emotional, life-changing weekend. Our little team of 3 raised over $6200 and crossed the finish line hand in hand.

In September, 50 of Andrew's family and friends formed Team Andrew Forever, raised an astounding $10,000 and walked in Vancouver's Light The Night Event for the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society.

I photographed a Vietnamese Buddhist ceremony for the first time and the temple took my mind right back to Thailand, it was so similar.
In the afternoon, we shot around Coal Harbour and the light was best on the bike path. Most people were lovely, but some people take their bike path very seriously - we decided to create a few motion blurred shots to have a chuckle

My workshop to teach people how to use their fancy cameras was a success and I will be continuing in 2012... get in touch for info and I'll be keeping you up to date re: dates etc for these!

I ran my "Open Air Fabulous PhotoBooth of FUN" at a handful of events, including this one, a wedding photographed by my friend Audra, it was fun to see her in action!

I want to thank all of my wedding clients, business owners, new parents, clients of all kinds who chose me to be the one to create their photographs. Thank-you for a truly memorable 2011.
To my wedding clients for 2012... it's gonna be an amazing year and I'm already excited about each and every wedding that's been booked!

Pretty name for a pretty girl

2011-12-18T17:45:00.000-08:00

I love when parents of tiny baby girls are as excited about girlie things as I am, like pink tutus and pearls.
Lovely Elle has started her shoe collection very young, those are a pair of Hermes booties in the second from last photo!

Family photos are fun when they include lots of people!

2011-12-12T20:42:00.002-08:00

The whole family came out for this session, but Miss Emily clearly stole the show...

A new family of four...

2011-12-07T20:01:00.001-08:00

A few weeks ago I posted Sheri's belly photos, and when Lila Grace was just 2 weeks old I visited again to photograph them as a family of four.

Starting with three generations of women... pretty great that Sheri's mom was visiting from Edmonton the day I was there!

Family photos in the leaves

2011-12-04T19:56:00.002-08:00

Fall is always a busy time of year for family sessions and this year was no exception! There's a few more family sessions in the queue to be posted, so stay tuned!
It's been two years in a row now that I've photographed this family once the leaves begin to change colours. Last year little S was barely walking and this year she was throwing poses at me along with her big sister!
Thanks for having me along to document your lives as your girls grow up!
Enjoy!

Summer family session with the Osborns

2011-11-28T11:55:00.000-08:00

It's November and I'm so behind on my blogging that I'm posting a summer session.... ahhhhhh! Bask in the sunny warmth as we head towards winter!

Abbey & Alex at Copetown Woods

2011-11-17T08:46:00.004-08:00

This wedding was really special to me, not only was it my last one of the season, and it was in my home province of Ontario, but because I've known Abbey since elementary school. When Alex moved to BC for work, she decided to join him a few months later and contacted me through Facebook. Turns out that she and Alex were living just a few blocks away! We spent many hours chatting over coffee, lunch, dog play dates at the beach. (Alex and my husband have a LOT in common too!) I'm so glad she reached out and we became friends. I did their engagement photos in White Rock, and not long after that it was decided they would be going back east again. Before they left, we solidified a booking for me to join them for their wedding in October, one of my favourite months in Ontario. Here's just a tiny sample of the amazing-ness that was their wedding day, October 1st in Copetown, ON!

Abbey has a style all her own... I knew she'd be a stunning bride. With her gorgeous black hair, some smoldering eye makeup and a dress that was so HER!

We held a first look when Abbey arrived at the venue, it's one of my favourite series of photos of a first look.

This car showed up and the driver allowed us to use it for a few shots! I love when things like this happen, we get to create some fun images that are completely unique and best of all, unplanned... it just becomes part of the experience.

After the chilly winds we had for the shoot, it was a nice surprise to find the ceremony site bathed in sun and sheltered from the wind!

The reception began with two very important Macedonian traditions. First, the bread dance... a large loaf of bread is displayed while the guests dance in a circle. When the music ends, the bride and groom grab a side and pull, whomever comes away with the larger piece shall be the head of the household. Abbey won by a good margin :)

Next was the pig dance. Men dance around the room with bottles of wine, and of course the roasted pig, and guests toss money onto the platter to pay for the feast. I'm guessing the American dollar bills were used as they're much more fun for tossing than our Loonies! These two parts of the day were among my favourite moments, traditions are so much fun to photograph!

I want to point out all the DIY details for this wedding. Graphic designer Abbey did everything you see here, from the menu and favour design (little bird salt & pepper shakers, btw) to the decorated card box... and much of what you see was sourced on etsy... including the bridesmaid dresses! Simply amazing!

One of the engagement photos I did with them in White Rock during their time in BC decorated the cake table... many others were displayed on each table

Abbey & Alex danced to a beautiful song, Everlong by the Foo Fighters... made even more amazing because it was plated acoustically and sang by a friend

Thanks for having me along for the celebration, Abbey & Alex. I couldn't have asked for a better way to end the season than with friends like you. <3

Trevor Murray

2011-11-15T11:59:00.000-08:00

Listen for his new singles as an emerging solo artist on JRFM 93.7!
I first met Trevor as one of my grooms, and we've worked together on his publicity photos ever since. It's always a pleasure to have Trevor in front of my lens, he's a genuine down-home country boy and I think it shows! Bonus... listening to guitar strumming while I work!

Another growing family

2011-11-13T11:50:00.002-08:00

My beautiful friend Sheri and family as they are about to become 4...
(Baby Lila's newborn session coming up soon!)

Westwood Plateau with Ryan & Shalyne

2011-11-07T11:52:00.002-08:00

Golf-loving Ryan and Shalyne chose Westwood Plateau for their September wedding. Shalyne dressed at a friend's home nearby, the bridesmaid dresses were among my top favourites this season! Ryan has played on the continent's best courses and the tables were named after some of them. Great food is always to be expected at Westwood, and these two brought the laughs, dancing and fun!

Sofia Marie

2011-11-07T11:25:00.004-08:00

Sweet as pie! A future tea sipper to join our group...

Family photos in Toronto!

2011-10-23T22:59:00.005-07:00

In 2008, Mark & Steph along with 40 or so of their friends and family traveled to Italy (the town of Poppi, to be exact) to say their vows and celebrate under the Tuscan sun, I was lucky enough to be their photographer.
Maybe you remember this photo? It was featured in Real Weddings...

M&S live in Toronto, so it was only through Facebook that I "met" their new addition to the family, Leo.
After finding out that I would be in Toronto to visit my brother after shooting a wedding, Steph quickly booked a family session... and I arrived on an exceptionally rainy Sunday morning. As in, monsoon rain... it was crazy. Luckily, these guys have a fabulous house perfect for shooting in, and we ventured outside between the downpours...
Thanks for having me, Mark & Steph! It's pretty cool to document a growing family even though we live across the country from one another! It was great to see you and wonderful to meet Mr. Leo!

Really happy with how the session turned out even though we skipped a cool location that would have shown the awesome Toronto skyline in the background. I'm enjoying photographing families in their own homes lately, it lends a very personal touch to the images! What do you think?

A little taste of what's to come...

2011-10-23T22:52:00.002-07:00

There's still a bunch of shoots that I didn't include in this little teaser... there's lots of pretty pictures coming soon to the blog! End of wedding season spread into the popular Fall family photo season so I'm working on a massive backlog of photos... if you're waiting, they are coming soon, I promise! It'll be worth the wait.
Here's some of the projects coming down the pipes... everything from sweet little baby girls, to families and weddings, and some beautiful quilts in the other area of my business, creative product photography... more on that coming soon!

Derek & Jenn at Redwoods

2011-10-19T10:58:00.002-07:00

What can I say about Derek and Jenn? It was so hard to choose the images for this blog post because we had so much fun that day - it's difficult to choose just a few.
These two are so blatantly crazy about each other, it's a joy to be with them. Derek's excitement to have Jenn as his wife was counted down on facebook, it's hard not to be ecstatic for a couple that's SO EXCITED to get married!!
They share a love for wine (especially reds, which makes me love them even more) and named their tables after various wines. Redwoods is one of my favourite local venues and thankfully the rain blew away in time for the outdoor ceremony. A super fun wedding party, and a bride & groom up for anything!(one of my favourite images from the shoot in Fort Langley was taken in a bulldozed lot, that happened to have a cool background, can you spot it?) There were more than a couple other wedding parties in town that day and Derek kept us all entertained with his, ummmm, wacky sense of humour, shall we say?! ;) Enough words, enjoy the photos!

Socks are from Sock It To Me... out of the awesome city of Portland

This is just the sort of couple Jenn and Derek are... always having fun...

Ferguson Point with Joanna and Chad

2011-10-19T10:48:00.004-07:00

It couldn't have been prettier, Stanley Park in September with blue skies and a gentle breeze coming off the water as Joanna and Chad said their vows in front of a small gathering of family and friends. After some photos in the park it was back to their North Van home for a casual backyard reception.

True rivalry & love, Ben & Katie at the Olympic Village's Creekside Community Centre

2011-09-25T21:21:00.005-07:00

American Ben and Canadian Katie hosted a fun filled day completely themed around their Olympic rivalry, but at least they agree on one team... they're both Canucks fans! Check out the cuff links and garter...

A "first look" was held in Gastown, using the corner of a building. They were both so excited to see each other!

We went for a wander along the streets of Gastown

Found some pretty neat looking dogs!

Popped into Alibi Room for a drink...

Then returned to the new Creekside Community Centre in the Olympic Village for the ceremony and reception... pretty much the perfect venue for this wedding!

A few more minutes of photos around the Village area, and we found this restored ambulance! Pretty cool...

Check out the table decor, various tokens of Canadian and American-ism's along with Olympic trivia from around the world.

Thanks for having me along to capture your day Ben & Katie!

K Family

2011-09-14T13:20:00.005-07:00

Here's the story of how I know this family...
I first met Julie when she was a bridesmaid at Trevor and Kathryn's wedding... that's her on the right! (I've also photographed Kathleen's family, that's her on the left!)

I met Jakob at this wedding, and a few months later when he turned 1, we met up for a shoot on his actual birthday... cupcakes and balloons included! I can hardly believe how little he is, as I pulled these shots from the archives...

Fast forward to now! Well, a few weeks ago...
Back when Kyle and Julie were newly dating, they walked along the river in Pitt Meadows and Kyle pointed at a piece of land owned by his family, and told Julie that someday, he would build a house on it. They did, and it's the perfect place to photograph the K Family... in their own beautiful home and property. Here they are just before becoming a family of 4...

And finally, meet Lucy Ava... just 7 days old when this session took place! She was a perfect little model... easily soothed just by tucking her into a blanket for a few moments in between poses!

Thanks Kyle, Julie and big brother Jakob (and now Lucy too!) for having me document your family as it grows... it's such an honour to create your photographic memories!

2 week old Jamie

2011-09-13T11:10:00.001-07:00

A beautiful bridal shower, Vancouver event photography

2011-09-07T22:21:00.003-07:00

Just the details for this blog post, and there were many! J&S are getting married in November and I photographed J's bridal shower... this is a girl who has some pretty amazing friends. With her family back east, like myself, we chatted for a few moments about the importance of cherishing your "chosen family"... the friends you surround yourself with, when you are a transplant from somewhere else. Well J, you've done an amazing job of surrounding yourself with gracious and generous women. Thanks for including me so warmly at your shower!

Allison and Amin | Part I | The ceremonies

2011-08-15T16:56:00.004-07:00

Our day began at the Lumbini Buddhist Temple in Surrey. It's tucked away on a quiet street and the monks made us feel right at home from the moment we arrived.

This is Amin's grandmother, a monk at the Lumbini temple.

We arrive at St. Andrew's Wesley in Vancouver to prepare for the 2nd ceremony, Allison is changing into her dress while Amin is calm & cool outside the church

2 of my favourite shots from my amazing second shooter that day, Vivian... I just love the different perspective!

Allison and Amin | Part II | shoot and reception

2011-08-15T16:37:00.004-07:00

Continuing on... we arrived to a very busy day in Coal Harbour and found some pretty places to work with!

Never seen anyone so happy to eat a box of Girl Guide cookies... Starbucks was closed and it was about the only thing available for a snack in Coal Harbour

We decided to have a little fun and include some of the bikes that were whizzing by...

Back at the reception (Shiang Garden Seafood Restaurant in Richmond) Amin performed one of the greatest entrances of all time... I just wish I knew a little Vietnamese so I knew what he was singing about

A little fun with the ladies while touching up

Sweet little backyard wedding...

2011-07-28T20:25:00.002-07:00

Some of my favourite wedding days are those spent in the company of a smaller group, in a backyard, full of personal touches and charm. In this case, the backyard overlooked the ocean in White Rock! I loved the simple, chic teacup centerpieces, the bride's handmade dress, the laid-back elegance of this sunny-day wedding. The bride & groom wish to remain anonymous so this is just a small sample of the wedding day details :) Enjoy!

10 years... July 14th, 2001 - 2011

2011-07-13T11:58:00.004-07:00

Today is our tenth wedding anniversary. 10 years!!! Time really does fly when you're busy having fun.
We married young, and we have grown together. We have most definitely experienced for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, and it has made us stronger. I'm a lucky gal.

Our wedding was photographed in medium format film, and these scans are all I have in digital version!

Meg & Rich tie the knot in Whonnock

2011-07-13T01:05:00.007-07:00

Whonnock Lake, joins my list of favourite venues!

Meg and Rich were a referral from past wedding couple Salina and Neil. (great to see you both again!!) I love referrals, there's no bigger compliment. Meghan's enthusiasm was infectious... I loved hearing about how excited she was to marry her Richard. Meg loves coffee just about as much as I do, so most of our meetings morphed into coffee dates and when I woke up on a beautiful sunny day to meet the girls while getting ready, I was excited for them too!

We had an incredible amount of fun, their wedding party rocked (even if they did laugh at me feeling seasick on the wobbly floating dock) and Meg and Rich have an undeniable electricity that shines to the camera. Thanks for an unforgettable day you two... can't wait for you to see the rest!

Jayna Marie, my favourite hair and make-up artist - is a wizard. On her own, she always manages to prep multiple gals into even more gorgeous versions of themselves, always on time!
Here she is prepping Salina, one of my brides from last season.

If you've followed this blog you might know how much I love long veils, they're so much fun to play with! The wind kept picking up Meghan's veil, beautiful!

Meg worked her butt off, getting fit and ripped for her wedding day. When asked what she was looking forward to most about the day, her answer was "eating that cake". Well, the stand tipped over while they were cutting, and it fell on the floor. That look on her face is nothing short of "I REALLY wanted to eat that." But her trainer (who was in attendance) seemed happy! haha! Good thing there were lots of cupcakes.

This shot was captured during Rich's dance with his mom... I was later informed that the song has a very meaningful past with his family, I'm so happy to have frozen this moment in time for his mom.

The best part about this photo is the faces of the guys awaiting the garter toss...

At dusk, we sneaked outside for some more photos in the darkness of the surrounding forest, some of my faves!

Heather & Brandon in Stanley Park

2011-07-06T23:08:00.003-07:00

A sunny evening walk in Stanley Park, is there anything nicer? I don't think so either. We were serenaded by guitar toting teens, found a tiny garden area tucked beside a parking lot, and I learned that H&B make up some great poses when I'm not even looking.
The wedding's not til 2012 but the engagement party is this weekend! Congrats you two!

Aldila Boutiques, Spring 2011

2011-07-06T23:01:00.003-07:00

A little behind on this post, since Aldila is bringing in collections for Fall at this point, but posting anyway!
This shoot was done to provide material for a nationwide ad in Fashion Magazine... check out the finished version below!
I've worked with this lovely string of stores before, and if you haven't checked them out, be sure to do so for customized service and unique styles. Stores throughout the Lower Mainland, Kelowna and Calgary!

A growing family...

2011-06-22T14:59:00.003-07:00

This little guy's mom & dad were one of my 2009 wedding couples... I saw them again in 2010 when I photographed another family wedding. Soon after that they became my neighbours, and soon after that, Marcus arrived! Pretty nice to simply load up my arms and walk across the street!
I just love his baby blues, and the baby 'brush cut' hair!

Stephanie & Justin

2011-06-22T14:48:00.003-07:00

I had such a hard time choosing the images to blog from this wedding... Steph and Justin have a large collection of photos from their day which makes it difficult to choose just a few!
It's obvious to all just how in tune these two are with one another... and I loved their group of friends and family who surrounded them in lovely pink, shared in the day with many laughs, and made my job that day a breeze!
Enjoy S&J... just a very small sneak peek!

Steph and Justin added my custom open-air photo booth to their wedding package... much fun was had!

Heeey, who got caught in the photobooth?

Deb & Alan get married

2011-06-01T22:03:00.004-07:00

It's only the beginning of wedding season and I'm already behind on my blogging, oops! This wedding took place in April... a beautiful sunny day (are you listening, June??) and it got so warm down by the water at Burnaby's Barnet Marine Park I thought we were going to end up with a sunburn.
I loved Deb's shoes, a pop of colour peeking out from beneath the dress... and this usually-spectacled couple went frameless for the wedding day!
Welcome back from Hawaii Deb & Alan! Enjoy the photos!

Meghan and Rich's engagement session in Fort Langley

2011-05-14T22:37:00.003-07:00

Can you tell that these two were actually pretty nervous for this session? Me neither. I hope they're just as nervous on the wedding day, because they're hot hot hot!

Sunny day in the grass - Pitt Meadows Family Photo Session

2011-05-14T22:31:00.003-07:00

One of the many cool things about this job is photographing a growing family, bit by bit :)
This is Sheri, Chris and Josh... and soon there will be four of them!

The Pink Spatula, Worth Every Bite!

2011-04-29T14:44:00.004-07:00

I'm so very excited to share this project with you. Tina dropped off a whole pile of her homemade marshmallows, in various flavours, and gave me carte blanche along with creative license to create some cool images for her upcoming website overhaul. I had entirely too much fun creating pretty little environments in which to photograph marshmallows, using a variety of props and interesting findings, and a beautiful antique trunk I borrowed from my friend Katy. (thank-you Katy!!)
This is just a tiny sampling of the final collection of images... it was so hard to choose without going overboard. Stay tuned for the newly designed Pink Spatula website! She's much more than just marshmallows! (btw, you can find her marshmallows for sale at Langley's Well Seasoned, a Gourmet Food Store!)
Who wants to come over for s'mores? I have leftovers :)
Enjoy!

Fraser Valley foodie photography

2011-04-22T15:17:00.004-07:00

I've been doing some work for local foodie haven Well Seasoned and through my work there, I've met a handful of local chefs. The Fraser Valley has a burgeoning foodie scene, and let me tell ya'... it's pretty awesome (and yummy!) to be a part of it!
A group headshot session was formed, and I worked back-to-back with Tina Bacon of The Pink Spatula, Tasha Nagy of Kick Ass Cakes and Brian Misko of House of Q. Go check them out! Oh, and my work will be showcased in the new version of The Pink Spatula's website - stay tuned for that!

There will be similar group head shot sessions available again for chefs, food industry people etc... contact me for info and to book a slot!

Fraser Valley Twestival 2011

2011-04-03T16:03:00.005-07:00

What's a Twestival? It's a gathering of people for a night of fun and entertainment to raise money for a great cause. 100% of proceeds received through ticket sales were donated to Abbotsford's Canuck Place. All of the businesses who participated donated their time and talents for an amazing cause. Over $8400 was raised in one evening this year!
I had a blast running my open air photo 'booth'. It's available for events, parties, and of course, weddings! Contact me for rates and info.
info@jenniferkirkphotography.com
Enjoy the silliness... starting with... me!

6 month old Ryan

2011-04-03T15:53:00.005-07:00

I met this little man's parents waaaay back in 2007 (I think?!) at one of my earliest BC weddings. Pretty awesome to be called a few years later to capture the smiles and cuteness of their 6 month old son.
This first image is special because Dad pulled out a photo of himself at about the same age, and asked if we could recreate it... since Ryan looks so much like he did at that age. I think you'll agree... does he ever! Photo on the left taken with my iPhone :)
I had a good laugh as Mom & Dad were using their own iPhone to capture Ryan's attention. Gone are the days of rattles and stuffed toys... in 2011 we use technology to get the attention of the modern day baby! Ha!!

Now taking 2012 wedding bookings...

2011-03-27T13:22:00.003-07:00

The past few weeks have been so busy with 2012 wedding inquiries that I've officially opened the calendar for bookings. It's looking like a busy wedding season is already in the making!
Here are the albums available to you when you book a wedding package with Jennifer Kirk Photography. As always, no templates are used in the design - your album is unique in every way.
Most couples simply fall in love with one of the albums (they're all gorgeous but with different details!) and their choice is easy.
Let's meet for coffee or tea so you can see for yourself!

Introducing... Caitlin Cramb!

2011-03-16T13:13:00.004-07:00

Realtor Caitlin was referred to me by Caree Bray (call her for your mortgage needs!)and I just loved shooting these headshots for her. Caitlin wanted to avoid any and all "cheesy realtor photos" and we left the White Rock pier behind, opting to head to a fantastic group of property listings instead... where we had a lot of laughs as we worked. (It's the South Beach development, 15777 Marine Dr... can't miss it!)

With twitter, facebook, your website and business cards, a professional image goes a long way.
Drop me a line to book your headshot session. It's done quickly (less than 30mins), in a location convenient to YOU, and you get the disc. That's it. No confusion, no long boring photoshoots on a backdrop. NONE of my headshots are the same as another... all unique, and painless, I promise!

Well Seasoned - A Gourmet Food Store

2011-03-05T19:38:00.004-08:00

If you haven't yet been into Langley's gem of a specialty shop, Well Seasoned - A Gourmet Food Store, you're missing out.
I've done a couple of cooking classes there (Angie brings in chefs from all over the GVRD and Vancouver Island) and many of these recipes have become favourites.
My husband even took a sushi class... brought home a container full of rolls, and we've even had our own sushi night at home since.
So, needless to say when Angie asked me to photograph a couple of cooking classes along with some store/staff photos, I was pretty stoked. Working while enjoying yummy chef-prepared food?? Deal!!
Check it out...

After-the-wedding with Aslida & Paul... caliente 2.0 :-)

2011-02-10T17:31:00.004-08:00

Aslida wanted to wear her dress one more time... so we planned a shoot at the uber-sexy Ginger62 for this ultra-hot couple. I just love this set of photos... even my husband walked into an editing session and said "Wow... those are COOL."

I love after-the-wedding sessions... it's a fantastic opportunity to create some images that are completely different from the wedding. No dress-wrecking necessary.

Learn to use that camera!

2011-02-07T13:07:00.000-08:00

If you have a DSLR and it's driving you crazy this workshop is for you!
You're carrying around a heavy camera because you want to take great photos with it, right? Are you frustrated by not getting the results you want? You want to learn how to shoot in manual but you don't know where to start?
START HERE! I'll make it easier to understand than your camera manual, I promise!
You'll get one-on-one help, tips for shooting like a pro, and the confidence to take that camera off the automatic setting and start using it's full potential.

Space is limited so get in touch to reserve your spot. An optional photo wander will take place after the class to practice some skills!
This class is also beneficial to those who have a compact camera with manual capabilities (many Canon Powershot models etc)

Just for fun...

2011-02-01T12:31:00.004-08:00

So, I chose a location that was a little out-of-the-way... not too busy. But I guess it's pretty hard to ignore a sorta weird looking chair, a lamp and a chest of teacups, not to mention the GORGEOUS Tairalyn... all set in the midst of a marshy area beside the river. We had a fair share of onlookers! Tairalyn writes over at LahTeaDah... go take a peek.

New Year's Wedding Celebration

2011-02-01T12:24:00.003-08:00

Tracy and Mike (aka Parky) were married in Mexico and decided to host a New Year's Eve Bash to bring their friends and family together to celebrate. Tracy, lucky gal, got to wear her wedding dress all over again... even more impressive is that she did so 9 months after the birth of their son, Austin!
Lots of laughs, a super fun wedding party, and some BEAUTIFUL December magic hour sunshine... enjoy!

Stop using that camera as a point & shoot!!!

2011-01-27T13:17:00.004-08:00

2011-01-19T20:47:00.002-08:00

Brendan is the face behind BMG Automotive... a regular at any of the networking events I attend, and all-around good guy.
While we were shooting these, I asked if he was having fun, and got an enthusiastic "Yes!" followed by "It would be weird, and not fun, if you were a guy... but this is cool!" hahaha... no wonder that I tend to work with a lot of men for headshots??
If you're in need of a new image, for social networking, your website, or just for FUN (like this shoot!) then drop me a line. It's quick, painless and I promise to make you laugh a little, because everyone looks their best when they're laughing :)

Happy New Year 2011... Team Andrew Event

2011-01-19T20:28:00.002-08:00

This past NYE is one I'll never forget...
Last year, one of my best friends and her family began a journey that nobody wants to take, her brother Andrew was diagnosed with Large Cell Angioplastic Lymphoma, a particularly aggressive cancer.

After rounds of chemotherapy and naturopathic medicine to help the effectiveness of the chemo, it was determined that Andrew would require a stem cell transplant to save his life. None of his three siblings were a match, and doctors began to look elsewhere for a donor, eventually finding one through OneMatch.ca. If you aren't already registered, I urge you to take just a few minutes to educate yourself about this registry. Because of one selfless donor, Andrew received the stem cells he needed just a few days after this event.

Although he was unable to attend, he was able to be there through the awesomeness that is Skype... watching the event and talking with friends from his room at VGH where he was admitted on the morning on Dec 31st in preparation for his transplant.

To help his family with the mounting costs, we gathered to ring in the new year, to shout 'Cheers!' to Andrew on the big screen, to make sure that 2011 is the year that Andrew kicks cancer's butt.

Tairalyn, myself and Katy (Andrew's sister)

Buzz Collins, a comedic hypnotist performed. If you ever have a chance to see him perform in your city, GO! Hilarious!!!

Jen, new website head shots

2011-01-09T10:58:00.003-08:00

Pretty cool to be asked do do head shots of a fellow photographer. This is the lovely Jen of jmb photography, and she's so cute I could just put her in my pocket. Really, I almost can! She might be little but she's huge in talent and awesomeness.
This a just a small example of how Jen rocked it in FRONT of the camera for a change. I had so many favourites it was hard to pick just a few...

A look back at 2010!

2011-01-03T21:51:00.002-08:00

In no particular order whatsoever... I generally tried to use photos that aren't already posted here on the blog. I enjoyed choosing the photos, as I do every year for the recap. It always brings a smile to my face as I remember the good stuff that comes along with any wedding day.
Happy New Year, may 2011 bring you all that you dream of.

Cindy & Brent... the awesome couple that actually jumped in the ocean at the end of their engagement session. In March. Yep.

No, I didn't get to shoot the actual wedding in Hawaii. But an evening of dancing and fun at the Dockside Bar & Grille on Granville Island makes up for it. Almost.

Abbey & Alex... I'm so glad we became friends.
I've known Abbey since grade 7 or so... she moved to BC to join Alex who was here for work. Shortly after their engagement, Alex's work took them back to Ontario. I miss coffee dates and lunches with Abbey but I get to shoot their wedding in October 2011, at a really cool venue, Copetown Woods.

This moment is always a treat when Jayna is doing your makeup. She doesn't really let you see until it's all done! My brides are always blown away at how gorgeous they look, and that's why I always recommend Jayna. The best part? She's just as happy as they are when they see the makeup!

Every time I see photos on facebook of Jenn & Derek's outings, there's often wine involved! It only seemed right to include it in their engagement shoot as well! (I always know who to ask or a good red recommendation!)

Best friends...

Erin and Weller danced to Nina Simone's "Feeling Good" and their sultry, sexy and playful dance was an inspiration to one of the song choices for my new website

Sometimes you just gotta go with the flow... like when you find yourself shooting in a potato field!

There's so much funny going on here I don't even know where to begin.

Leah and Jeff, kept me laughing along with them all day!

The day I learned what an 'abacus' is... (don't ask!)

Sometimes the flash of a guest produces this happy mistake, love the light behind everyone in this shot!

A wedding that takes place on the hobby farm the bride grew up on produces all sorts of cool photo locations, like the old play fort!

Margo & Ryan danced to their favourite Pearl Jam song... and we placed a lyric into their album design... "But now here you are, and here I am..." can you guess it?

There's something unforgettable about a great trio of sisters...

I love the story of how this couple met... Paul asked Aslida her opinion on shoes at the mall. I guess they were nice... and they were married in Aslida's hometown of Hermosillo, Mexico in December.

Proud dad moment at Nicki & Travis's wedding in Whistler... if you haven't enjoyed dinner at the Rim Rock Cafe you should... best wedding meal ever!

Noemi and Russ... classic beauty through & through

Sarah and Brian, who rocked a shoot in gritty Gastown with some stylin' hats (I love hats!!)

Casey, the bride who crinkled her nose in happiness all day long, who never hesitated to hug every dog she met on her wedding day (there were 2!) - and who I'm happy to now call my friend!

Ewa & Chris... gave me the wonderful opportunity to shoot a wedding along the shores of Lake Huron, my 2nd home. Their wedding took place a whopping 5 minutes from my parent's home, on the lake I spent my entire childhood swimming in. This photo was taken while enjoying one of the area's world famous sunsets over the lake.

This seagull was hanging out on the ledge of the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, tapping (not so politely!) on the window, there was food visible and he wanted in!

1, 2, 3, funny faces!!

Now offering custom photobooth for your wedding or event!!

2010-12-28T14:16:00.003-08:00

Just a few shots of the hilarity that went along with the photobooth I set up at a recent corporate Christmas party. JKP is now offering this service, an open-air 'booth' for your guests to have a little (or a LOT!) of fun. Have it in place during your photo shoot between ceremony and reception (it's an awesome icebreaker)or after dinner, as entertainment for those non-dancers. Whatever way you choose to include it, we'll supply the photographer, the props and lighting, and some nifty cards to direct your guests to the online gallery, which will be available within a week of your event.
Contact me for more details, and yes, you'll get the images on disc.

Piche family

2010-12-24T16:01:00.004-08:00

Lucky me, I've photographed Maureen and Kirk through their engagement, wedding, pregnancy and now once again on the 1st birthday of their daughter, Bryn.
I just love these two, it was a very cold morning in Richmond but we survived, and Bryn smiled the whole time. Enjoy!

Tony Z, team promo material shoot

2010-12-05T19:46:00.002-08:00

Buying or selling in the Cloverdale area? You might want to call Tony Z and his team, they'll take good care of you, I promise!

Noemi and Russ

2010-11-24T00:31:00.004-08:00

Noemi and Russ were my last big wedding day of the 2010 season. I'm happy to report that after a bunch of rainy days, the skies stayed dry during the afternoon, and even though we had a great indoor photo location we got to stay outside, even if it was a little chilly.
I love a longer ceremony, complete with readings by family and anecdotes told my the minister of Noemi and Russ's church. And after a heartfelt ceremony we emerged outside into the sun! Not bad for Oct 30th!
Noemi was stunning in her lace-shouldered gown and a last minute addition from her mom, a jacket that matched her ivory dress so perfectly I'm not sure I believe it wasn't made for it.
Back at the reception we found a room decked in twinkly lights and candles, perfect to warm up as the rain began to fall.
Noemi and Russ, thanks for choosing me to photograph your beautiful wedding!!

An after-the-wedding shoot with Casey & Tony

2010-11-08T16:15:00.005-08:00

An after-the-wedding shoot doesn't have to 'trash your dress'. It's more about the opportunity to create photographs in an environment that you wouldn't be able to include on the wedding day. It's an excuse to wear that dress again (c'mon, who doesn't want to wear their dress again??) and just have FUN. We spent an afternoon doing just that, a gorgeous, warm afternoon in October at friend Sandy's property in south Langley, hanging out with the ponies. Flash, the one with the beautiful markings, had never been ridden by Casey before. It took a few tries, but eventually, and without harming the dress, Casey was bareback riding! Flash was confused by Casey's bare feet... and insisted on licking them... which was funny because it produced the now-famous-crinkly-nose we all love.

This is Sandy... owner of the property. She was keeping the horse's attention by opening and closing my paper umbrella... which was spooky if too close, but quite fascinating at a distance!

p.s. Casey & Tony happen to be rockstar realtors... does Tony Z ring a bell? Now it will, next time you see a sign. I can't say enough about how much I love these two, so if you're in the market give them a ring. Next week I'll be meeting the rest of the Tony Z team for their team shoot... watch for it!

New website coming...

2010-11-02T12:19:00.002-07:00

You may have noticed that the website is down... it's just in limbo while I switch hosting companies etc in preparation to launch the new site. It'll be back soon... and full of new images, better than ever. Thanks for your patience!!

Family photos for Fall

2010-11-02T12:13:00.002-07:00

One of my favourite families, who've called me to document their family when they were 3, then newborn Sophia, and now as a family of 4. Now's the perfect time for family photos, perfect for Christmas cards! Limited sessions available!

Leah and Jeff at the Museum of Vancouver

2010-10-18T17:25:00.004-07:00

I loooove when my clients and I are on the same page. I wanted to shoot at Granville Island and when Leah sat down in front of me at our planning meeting she said "Let's go to Granville Island, ok?!" Yes!! I also love that Leah and Jeff are ALWAYS laughing. I left all our meetings with a sore tummy from laughing and I knew the wedding day would be much of the same. It was! From the moment Leah began her walk down the aisle, the part of the ceremony when the officiant said the wrong name (and it was her sister's name!), our Granville Island wander, and a rockin' grand entrance to Bad Company's song 'Can't Get Enough (of your love)'... Leah and Jeff's determination to have fun was apparent all day long.

Laughter right away, as Leah motioned to all the guests... "C'mon, stand up!!"

While some couples may have cringed at a name slip-up by the officiant, that's definitely not Leah & Jeff's style. How about a really, good laugh instead?

Did you notice Leah's awesome red lips? Yeah... they kissed off but Jeff was a good sport...

Jeff looking good in his houndstooth jacket, and red pocket square (oh, how I love a dash of red!)

ok, I've had some gorgeous bridesmaids this year but seriously... is this not the sassiest group of girls you've seen? LOVE the headpieces, similar but each a little different!

I hear the 'sexy walk' really just means 'avoiding goose poo'

Leah's laugh... it's one of her best features :)

The decor, truly unique and provided by House of De-Lovely in Langley. These centerpieces were entirely fresh... fresh basil, peppers, apples, grapes... so cool!

Casey & Tony, downtown chic

2010-10-12T10:03:00.003-07:00

In Casey & Tony's world (real estate) it's all about Location, Location, Location. Wedding photography often comes down to Timing, Timing, Timing... which certainly came into play this particular day! After driving through some torrential rain to arrive at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, it cleared up in time for the ceremony. And stayed cloudy for the family photos... then the sun made an appearance for the rest of the shoot! The weather wasn't the only timing factor this day. Our shoot consisted of a wander from St. Andrew's-Wesley church along Hornby Street to the Vancouver Art Gallery, then across the street back to the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver for the reception. We spent some time at the building with the gorgeous tile work beside the Sheraton on Burrard. Upon leaving the wedding, that same building was roped off, a Hazmat situation was underway. (Hopefully we don't grow a third eye or something... but the photos are pretty sweet!). When we arrived at the art gallery, there was another wedding party on the steps. They gave us a few minutes to shoot, and we noticed the usual banners that adorn the building had been removed. As we left the area, they were being rolled back into place. How awesome, to shoot at this building without the usual distractions from the architecture!
Thanks to Kerry at Fairy Godmother Weddings for introducing me to Casey & Tony and for her behind-the-scenes magic!

This excited, happy face continued all day long... I've never seen a bride so excited... it was contagious!

Ceremony kiss photos are nice, but my favourite moments often occur just after the kiss ('we're married!!!') and during the signing, when the witnesses are what most people are looking at and the couple is whispering to each other in the background...

I've always loved the reflection of the Hotel Vancouver in the windows of this building, especially fitting as the reception was held on the rooftop...

I couldn't help but notice as I was taking this photo, doesn't Tony's dad Ralph have an amazing smile???

And here I am with this awesome couple, who kept the day full of laughter... who joined us for a mini break after the shoot complete with coffee & room service! Thanks Ami, for this shot!

p.s... You might remember this couple from their engagement shoot. No surprise that Casey's love of dogs was apparent on the wedding day even though Skye and Sako were enjoying a day at camp... Casey managed to cuddle with the Fairmont's hotel dog ambassador, as well as a random puppy on Hornby street! (Imagine the face of the owner as Casey picked up the wriggly, muddy puppy in her wedding gown!)

Sarah & Brian in Gastown

2010-10-03T23:46:00.002-07:00

Sarah & Brian were actually married a week prior to this shoot, you can have just as much fun shooting before OR after the wedding!! I just loved the hats they wore in some of the shots - something a little different... I sort of wish more people weren't afraid of great hats :)
Awesome to meet you guys, all the best!

Erin and David (Weller!) at Monk McQueen's

2010-09-21T12:26:00.005-07:00

It's actually somewhat difficult to think of the groom as 'David' when literally everyone, including Erin, call him by his last name, Weller. Somebody made a speech about not believing him when he said "My name is actually David" after knowing him as 'Weller' for so long. So, in keeping with everyone else, I'll call him Weller also!

Erin and Weller met initially in Australia, his home country. They re-met again, this time in London, England, when Weller found Erin in a London tube station after a particularly bad night. (There's a good story here, trust me.) He took her home, tucked her in, and literally became her knight in shining armour. My words, not theirs. They've had many more travel adventures and with another chapter of travel in their lives coming up, it was a beautiful day spent in Vancouver with friends and family from Australia and Canada... complete with plenty of Aussie/Canadian rivalry! Erin & Weller were going for a chic "Sex & The City" vibe for their reception and the rainbow of colours worn by their guests lent an amazing burst of colour to so many of the photos. I've never seen so many HAWT cocktail dresses in one place in my entire life!

The first dance shots are definitely among my favourite of this wedding season, I love playing with off camera flash and sometimes the stars simply align... A sultry, sexy and playful dance to Nina Simone's 'Feeling Good'.

We begin with Erin and her gorgeous gown from Something Blue. I heard it so many times that day... "She looks like a skinny Marilyn Monroe!!"... she indeed was stunning...

There's a story behind this shot... and it's got something to do with goats. My favourite part about taking this photo was the sound effects that went along with it...

Absolutely gorgeous floral work by Granville Island Florists and decor by Bridal Beginnings

Debra and Jamie... one year to go!

2010-09-12T22:10:00.004-07:00

I first met Debra and Jamie at the Ontario wedding of Ewa and Chris. Debra and Jamie met 6 years ago when Jamie was working on Debra's apartment building back east. Jamie eventually brought Debra a coffee, but apparently it took him about 2 weeks to actually ask her out. This engagement session took place September 4th, exactly one year until their wedding! Jamie's been away for weeks at a time for work, he'd just come home in time for this session. Suffice to say, there was a whole lot of happy embraces during this shoot... and a lot of whispering... hmmm... Whatever was being said it made Debra smile and laugh constantly... and I just love the outcome!

Kari & Patrick Jones-Jones :)

2010-09-09T18:35:00.003-07:00

Kari & Patrick, high school sweethearts, and they already share a last name.
After getting to know these two a little bit better during their engagement session, I was really excited about the wedding day... we had so many laughs! They're both scuba divers and are planning their delayed honeymoon in Australia.
After a sun soaked ceremony we made our way to the shoot location, a dilapidated barn beside what turned out to be a potato field. The light was awesome, the boys had fun exploring, we didn't get kicked out... good times!
Kari's dress was a custom creation by Pure (something)clothing co. - a local dressmaker I'm very fond of.
Thanks for sharing your day with me, the day that 2 Jones' became 1.

This is Amber ripping it up on the dance floor to her favourite song, 'All the Single Ladies'... it was awesome!!

A very merry un-birthday Tea Party in Wonderland

2010-09-01T22:09:00.003-07:00

When my friend Tairalyn over at LahTeaDah throws a tea party, it isn't any ordinary tea party... but a full-fledged trip down the rabbit hole into Wonderland. Complete with tea menus and yummy tea delicacies.
Enjoy!!

Katy, wearing her couture-inspired Chesire Cat design... if only I had a mind that could come up with this stuff!

Margo & Ryan's idyllic Whonnock wedding

2010-08-24T09:38:00.003-07:00

I already loved this wedding as I was driving onto the property in Whonnock, a hobby farm where Margo and her 2 sisters grew up. Margo's mother Janet had been very busy, arranging beautiful pots of flowers all over the place, decorating the garden arbour for the ceremony, tending to the gardens that spread all over.
Margo's sister, and bridesmaid, Amy was the florist. I only wish I could link to her website but it's not her actual occupation... can you believe it? These were some of the most amazing floral arrangements I've ever seen... she made the bouquets, the centerpieces... wow. Even cooler is that the hydrangeas and some really chic spiky plant in Margo's bouquet was pulled from the garden. And this thing was HUGE... 'makes your arm muscles defined as you hold it!' Amy told me!
There was homemade jam (in 3 different flavours!) and many, many little personal touches by family and friends.
Thanks M&R, for including me in your lovely wedding day... no bears, no poison ivy, good times :)

Love seeing my work on display... so cool!

Engaged on the West Coast Trail... out came the hiking boots for a few minutes of fun :)

Janet, and her brothers... I just love the laughter in this photo...

I just love this series of images - a moment between Margo and her Mom

Margo and Ryan danced to a beautiful live recording of Pearl Jam's 'Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town'... one of my favourite songs!

Casey & Tony, Skye & Sako, an evening in Coal Harbour

2010-08-10T17:52:00.003-07:00

Today when I met Casey she said "It sort of feels like I've known you forever!" as we lounged on the back deck with fur kids Skye and Sako... their beautiful labrador retrievers who joined us for the engagement shoot. Maybe it's because we share a ~~obsession~~ passion for our dogs, maybe it's just because Casey & Tony are super fun to work with (I can barely call it 'work' with these two!). We even ended our shoot with some gelato, gotta love that!
Whatever it is... I can't wait for more nose-scrunching funny laughter from Casey on the wedding day in September!
And maybe some JapaDogs. :-)

Thanks to Kerry at Fairy Godmother Weddings, I know this wedding is going to be an event to remember.

Baby K

2010-08-08T23:58:00.004-07:00

3-week-old Kiara was the most perfect model I've ever had for a newborn shoot. She fell asleep as soon as I arrived and stayed that way for 40 mins while I molded her into the poses I wanted... actually, she only woke up after she'd had enough of being perched atop a pile of towels. 15 minutes later, she was sleeping again. Just enough time to show us some of her lovely personality! She even saved the 'hey! I'm not diapered!' accident til the very end... :-)
So, what do you do when you have a happy, snoozing baby and a whole bunch of fun things to work with? (Including some nifty RCMP boots & hat) Enjoy the photos below... it was an absolute delight to photograph this little bundle of joy!

To book your newborn session, please give at least 2 weeks notice so the shoot can be booked within 2-3 weeks of your baby's birth.
For your convenience, newborn sessions take place in your home, the studio is brought to you! See website for details.

Aslida & Paul, muy caliente!

2010-08-04T13:29:00.002-07:00

Aslida & Paul are marrying in her hometown of Hermosillo, Mexico in December... we spent an evening together in Coal Harbour for their engagement photos. They met in the most random of ways... shoe shopping. Paul decided to ask Aslida for her opinion on some shoes he was trying on... smart man! And I love how he proposed... with the last box during moving day... to Aslida's complete surprise.