We’ve been busy!! Erin and Graham got married on the hottest day of the summer…just a tease for now…more spicy photos to come soon!
Join element photography on facebook! Be the first to know!
Archive for August, 2011
Bhut Jolokia - boot-jole-o-key-a -
makes me think of gypsies, or maybe a decrepit japoly from the neighbors backyard. Bhut Jolokia sounds fun, sounds like a good time right?? Mmm not so much. Meet the worlds hottest pepper. The hottest pepper in the world. Guinness can vouch. And, so can Chris.
Mikkel + Chris are an exceptional couple, their laid back, warm personalities are comfortable and inviting. After spending a bit of time with them, you cant help but want to spend more time with these two. One evening a week before the wedding I headed over to their private piece of Okanagan paradise for a visit. These two make you feel immediately at ease, we joked, we talked about travel, love, wild mushrooms and you got it, Bhut Jolokia’s. Chris is the Executive Chef at Burrowing Owl Estate Winery and taught me that night about those crazy peppers that he actually grows in his backyard! wild!
M + C committed their lives to each other on a summer evening in their backyard. An intimate and private ceremony surrounded by a handful of very close friends and the vineyard. Simple and so romantic. The following week they hosted 50 of their family and friends for a wedding celebration, again on their beautiful property. Located on a hillside surrounded by peach orchards, and vineyards and big beautiful trees. Mikkel + Chris entertained their guests with the most delicious meal, prepared and presented by Chris himself. Everything was attended to, right down to the last detail. The food was impecable and likely the best meal I will ever have. Wedding dinner WIN! Mikkel had requested a mini session with her best gal, Rocket. Great idea! These two have a friendship that is super tight and why not photograph two gorgeous gal pals?
Later I escaped the crowds with Mikkel + Chris for some peaceful wedding portraits in the peach orchard. The air was full with the fragrance of ripe peaches sweetened by the sun. Amazing. Thank you so so so much for the wonderful evening, one of the best.
Find element photography on facebook!
Chantel + Patrick, you guys are crazy, zany and so much fun!! These two are on a working holiday in the Okanagan for the summer, sweet hey? I think so. Planning for a wicked adventure abroad and saving their pennies to do so. Estimated time of departure? This January. Destination? Unknown…or maybe a just little unknown. These two fly by the seat of their pants and I like it. Chantel is a pharmacist too, so we got to know each other this summer as co-workers.As well she is a talented yoga teacher! Patrick a high school teacher and Sumac Ridge wine server extraordinaire! Not only did I have the worlds best locum to work with this summer, M and I made fun new friends too! Thanks for the great times this summer Chantizzle and for keeping me energized at work with your mantras and positive spirit!
smokin’ whoa!
then the sunset! so we experimented with low light…i like it, the texture kind of reminds me of my film days!
holy doodle this summer has been jam packed with couple’s sessions, engagement sessions and even a few family sessions! Its been a busy one and one of the most common questions I get asked after booking is…
“Erika you fashion guru you, your photo style is so outrageous we want to look great for our upcoming session, what on earth do we wear??”
(do people really ask that? yes. just like that? no. was that a little over-the-top? hehe maybe. Im no guru…but lets see what I say in response anyways)
“…Im certainly no fashionista, although I like to try! I do know that couples that go a little out of their way to dress and look extra great for their session never ever regret it. And while they look and feel extra fabulous their photos come out looking that much better!”
Then I share some of the following tips to help my clients get their creative juices flowing. Remember this is the fun part! The images below are items that I like personally, just like the items you select to wear should reflect you personally! Hopefully this helps to boost your inspiration!
Helloooo gorgeous couple, meet Adam + Lyndsay! Lyndsay and first connected at our photo hero Jamie Delaine‘s workshop this past June. We pretty much chatted each other’s ears off during our down time at Jamies studio. We have so so so much in common. She pretty much covered all of it in her super sweet post she blogged after shooting us for our One year anniversary! Check it out!!
L + A were heading to the Okanagan from New Westminster for a weekend of family time, and I had to make sure I saw her too! I just cant get enough of this girl and her antics! Dinner date it was! Lyndsay’s so fun she suggested we cover a low key mini sessions with our hubs while we catch up, pre-dinner. The evening of frantic texts began flying back and forth, we’re late, no…WE are going to be late. So we changed the location from Summerland to Penticton for dinner and the Hooded Merganser (one of my favs!) and decided if we both got there in time we will still sneak in a shoot.
We made it in time! hooray!
We walked and gabbed, and walked and snapped, and walked and gabbed some more. I laughed, alot. Its my knee-jerk reaction to unusual situations. It happens often and its loud and contagious. We shared tips about client interactions and posing, what we love what we dont love, who is the biggest nerd and how we met our sweethearts. Dinner was delish and the company irresistable. We look forward to seeing you both again really soon!
L + A just celebrated their 2 year anniversary, a week before our 1 year : ) Congrats and Hooray some more!
im a little bossy…this is what happens when M takes the reigns. we are working on this.
Follow element photography on FACEBOOK! Can’t wait to meet you!
this is so great, this is so great beacaaause this is the second shoot I have done this summer for old Uni classmates! The first one was Catherine + Ryan, who welcomed a baby girl on August 1. Now I got to spend the morning with Brooke + Scott and their adorable little boys Grayden + Declan. Brooke + Scott were in the Okanagan for a holiday with family and cruised through Osoyoos for a photo session first enroute to Kelowna for a family wedding. It was so sweet to see them again after 4 years and to see them with 2 little boys! We caught up and snapped away and then near the end of the the session Grayden decided his beloved stuffed bear Scout needed to go for a swim…er drown. Nearly drama but Scott being the super dad that he is saved Scout in the nick of time. Phew. So he was a little soggy. Session wrapped up just as the heat was turning up so we headed out for lunch!
Thanks S + B for coming to visit, I really enjoyed it! see you again soon!
When Leah and I first connected via our emails we hit it off instantly! Conversation was so light, easy, she had a vision for what she wanted out of her family photo session and my style of photography seemed to fit her vision. Perfect! I love it when my clients come to me with creative ideas for their photo session. It makes the planning stages so much more fun and gets everyone on the same page right off the get go! Leah wanted a photo session that would reflect her families, fun-filled, sun-drenched summers in Osoyoos on the lake. After a few cancellations due to our unseasonal soggy July we found a night that co-operated for both of our busy schedules and we set out to soak up the gorgeous sunset.
Thanks Glen, Leah and girls for your positive energy and creativity! See you on the beach : )
Stay connected with our shenanigans ! Find us on FACEBOOK!
M and I took a mini vacation to Vancouver Island to relax and to catch up with family and our good friends! We completed a gorgeous hike at Shaw Creek where the trees are supersized and the lush fern and moss undergrowth made it feel like you were walking on clouds. We learned that red dye no. 9 makes me a bundle of crazy energy and a whole lotta fun! The boys worked on M’s bro’s new home together, I went to the spa. : ) Spent a few nights porch monkeying with our bests’ Doug and Jamie from Out of the Storm backpacking adventures. Business is starting to pick up for these two and the building looks awesome! A must to check out if you or someone you know is planning to hike the West Coast Trail or any trail, or going anywhere awesome. Or maybe you know someone who needs someone awesome to go with them? Either or! We spent an afternoon on Shawnigan Lake wake skating behind a 15ft tinny using a a surfboard (make do with what you have right?). best day!
We caught up with the Skoretz family too! Remember that gorgeous barn we got married beside last summer? Well…that farm yard is in for a bit of an upgrade thanks to Macdonald + Lawrence. A second barn is being erected on the property. A one-of-a-kind timber framed event barn is currently in the works. Each timber hand selected for its own unique characteristics, every brace curve shaped from naturally bent trees. no metal nails, all peg and dowling. This project is one that near to our hearts. We are so proud of their courage and excited for Bird’s Eye Cove Farm and what is in store for them. Follow the progress HERE.
We squeezed in a baby bump photo shesh for our friends Catherine + Ryan , who welcomed their baby girl Aug 1, 2011! yay!
We wrapped up the holiday extravaganza with a impromptu silly session on the ferry while trying to think of what we could do on the ferry. It was fun! Last stop our Walter cousin get-together in Coquitlam to snuggle the newest addition and chow a tasty BBQ!
More of this beautiful family coming very soon…
