Element Photography

i love  j.crew. their style. their jewels – layers + layers of them. their photographs. their flats collections. their typography.

i even love the perfect size of their catalogue and how it fits in my purse, just right!

if there was ever a clothing company that could convice me that i could be cool too if I dressed like this…

its them. see what i mean?

brides - j.crew does weddings! get inspired. you can be connected with your own stylist from j.crew to help you coordinate your wedding party looks! they’re pretty much the best thing since, um sliced bread.

i wore j.crew pearly bracelets + my girls each picked their own j.crew dress.

I’m still in disbelief. I almost deleted the email by accident on my iphone. I paused a second and instead opened it without reading the subject line in full. I burst out in a fit of giggles (alone) in the coffee room at work. I stared at it for what felt like an eternity as it sunk in. I was just chosen by Weddingbells Magazine as “One of the 25 most inspiring wedding photographers of 2012″. say whaaat?! me? so fun. Thank you Weddingbells.ca for being so supportive of photographers like me and for the acknowledgement.

Make sure you check out the link. There’s a heck of a lot of talent going on over there!

Thank you to my brides + grooms for your quirky creativity! High fives everybody and back flips (if I could). Thanks for the massive support!

Hey guys! Here we go BIG announcement. Via video. For the first time!!

Please excuse the hiccups, twitches, rapid eye movements, umm’s and gahhhs. Its realllllly hard to talk to a camera. Honestly, how many times can i say “awesome” in 53 seconds?? Awkward much? hehehhe

Quick re-cap…

How to play

1. Find your favorite bride + groom on the element photography facebook page in their “CONTEST” album

2. Click the LIKE BUTTON to cast your vote. No need to do anything else. easy peasy! No comment votes required. But feel free to leave love!!

Thanks for playing : ) Happy Hollllla-days!!

Recently I had the opportunity to travel to Maui with my girlfriends. Travel to Maui with my girlfriends who are going to a wedding. Travelling to Maui with my girlfriends who are going to a wedding and I get to shoot the wedding. I get to shoot the wedding!? Yes please!! I had planned to go to Maui with my friends Rachelle + Kim, one who was attending a wedding while we were there. It came up in conversation with the bride Jenn that I was coming along with my camera and she was curious if I would be interested in photographing their wedding. Of course I was interested!! We connected online and met for the first time on the beach in Maui a few days before the wedding. So perfect!

Jenn + Mike were married at the Wailea Golf Club. A morning wedding, on a beautiful lookout with ocean all around. It was a gorgeous day and everyone was so excited for these two to finally tie the knot! Jenn + Mike had nearly 80 guests fly in from all over Canada to celebrate with them! Based out of Regina, Jenn + Mike met through work connections nearly 3 years ago. Word is they were compeitiors in the cattle biz.  They’re “cattle people” as their friends would say, many of whom are also in the same industry, cows, tractors or farming…you name it. The BEST kind of people! Everyone was so so fun!! Cattle people dont let you play shy, they dont even let you think about it!! After the wedding ceremony we shared a delicious lunch at the resorts famous restaurant Gannons. Famous for being the set for the Jen Aniston movie ‘Just go with it’!

Photos were snapped on the golf course grounds and then at the locals only  ’secret beach’. A gorgeous tiny cove tucked away from the hoopla. The wedding party were brave and climbed over the rocks, dodging the waves and ocean spray! Lots of laughs were shared, no one fell in and no one fell down. Thank goodness!  We wrapped up photos just after lunch and headed over to the pool where guest had changed into their skivvies and the party continued poolside!

I fell prrretty hard for these guys and their families. Thanks for the great celebration and friendships! Enjoy your photos and the Agribition social!!

PS. for more beautiful photos of this amazing island check out my personal reflection HERE.

Rachel + Bobby high school sweeties married in early September on a stunning lakeside property surrounded by all their family and friends! It was evident from the first time I met R + B that they shared a very close and intimate connection with each other. They fell so easily into any pose I suggested and the warmth in their smiles was so genuine. Bobby wrapped Rachel up in his arms and she just fit, perfectly. Meant to be.

The whole day Rachel + Bobby were together with their mutual group of friends who encouraged this relationship right from the get go. I had such a great time working with this wedding party, big wedding parties can be intimidating but this team was on board and up for anything. Everyone was just so happy!! It was contagious!

I was head-over-heels for Rachel’s Maggie Sottero gown. I have a small obsession with one-shouldered anythings. This style suited her to a T. simply gorgeous! And her outrageously sparkly cuff bracelet and earring were the perfect finishing touch!  Her girls sported versatile dresses, all the same dress just wrapped 4 different ways! Bright flowers from my favorite local vendor Polka dot Door added just the right amount of bright color, complete with billy balls!

Great big thank you to Rach + Bob for including us as part of your wedding day!

Brides’s Gown – Maggie Sottero from Bliss Bridal

Bridesmaid’s dresses – Isadora Clothing

Menswear  - Grant King

Flowers – Polka Dot Door

Hair – Innervisions

Makeup - Jamie Dochuk

Bride’s Jewelry - Anna Bellagio

Just a little notice to readers that October is booked in full, still some availability in early November. Im thinking we will have late fall color well into November  - as you can see so far not much has changed! Drop me an email if your interested in booking a session!

Its been a busy fall so far I can hardly keep up with myself! We can check Thanksgiving off the list, and my first destination wedding – just home from a gorgeous Maui! Last wedding of the 2011 season too! Amazing to reflect on the last couple months, I cant believe I was able to shoot eight weddings from May to October! Incredible growth and experiences for me meeting so many fantastic couples and their families along the way! Thank you so so much to everyone who has commented on my blog page, shared, read one of my features on other blogs, and liked element on facebook. I cannot express how much I appreciate your support! Looking ahead the rest of October is jam packed with fun filled family sessions and then life will slow down again, and for that I am thankful too. My hubby misses me and it will be nice to settle back into a routine!

next up on the blog? Rachel + Bobby’s Oliver wedding!  stay tuned ; )

Keep up with element latest blog posts, availability, contests, and friday fab five! Find us on facebook!

“love you to the moon and back” – said the note that Tyler wrote Amanda that she read through tears as she got ready that morning. “that’s our thing, it what makes us – us.” she told me

Amanda + Tyler were married on a sunny afternoon at the Liebel residence here in Osoyoos,BC. The wedding party danced their way down the isle with the biggest smiles on their faces, you could tell everyone was so excited for this day to finally arrive. With vineyard for as far as the eye could see and a stunning view of lake Osoyoos A + T said “I do!” literally surrounded by their family and friends.  Amanda + Tyler opted for a traditional ceremony, the pastor did a great job of speaking about the importance of a strong marriage foundation, we were reminded of the values and strength of  our daily commitments to our partners. A great refresher for everyone their who had already tied the knot! As the sun shone down Amanda + Ty spoke words of commitment to each other. They laughed as Amanda did her best to get that ring on Tyler’s swollen hand and they both could not stop smiling all the way through the ceremony.

An outgoing and fun-loving couple Amanda + Tyler attract really fun friends. Go figure! The wedding party was a riot! We whisked away with them shortly after the ceremony wrapped up group photos quickly so we could spend a little more time alone with just the newly weds. We moved on to some more quiet and romantic locations and snapped away as the couple cuddled and whispered to each other, enjoying a moment together in their big day – just the two of them. Wrapping up at the hockey rink where we met up with the wedding party again for some crazy times on the ice. Tyler and Amanda met while he was playing hockey in the States, and has a long history with the sport. Needless to say the two of them have spent many hours at the rink while they were dating and so it was only fitting to hit the ice together for some fun photos!

Thanks A +T, your friends, and especially your families for their hard work getting the Liebel property picture perfect for such a great day!

Bride’s dress – Pronovias - Viva Bridal Boutique

Men’s shirts – Express

Bride’s flowers – Polka Dot Door

Bridesmaid’s dresses + shoes – Le Chateau + Payless

Bridesmaid’s flowers – Brides’s and Blooms

Jewellery – designed by the bride

hair – beyond beauty

makeup – Christine Fritz

I have been super busy wrapping up the wedding season with one more left to shoot next week! What an awesome summer it was!  Today we  round off the week with a sneak peek from A + T’s big day! Stay tuned for the complete post before the end of the month!

My oh my, what a wild and wacky bunch! The photo booth was a heroic success at Rio + Jason’s Spirit Ridge wedding. We had so much fun laughing to the brink of tears watching their guest get their crazy on!!

Love us? like us? tell us! find us on facebook

Where to even start with how much I loved, loved working with R + J. Their quirkiness and creative, easy going style had me hooked from the start!  The day I received the email from Rio asking if I would be available to shoot their summer wedding I was jumping for joy on the inside (and grining from ear to ear on the outside). I’m in love with Rio’s sense of style, her genuine personality, her passion for life, and her business Queen Boutique.  I just knew her wedding would nothing but exceptional! And she didn’t let me down .

Rio + Jason are from two amazingly different countries, but two of the best. Jason comes from Australia and met Rio while travelling and working in Canada. The two crossed paths one night at Flashbacks in Kelowna and tore up the dance floor. They hit it off instantly and have been inseparable ever since (Rio even included a framed note from Jason from the first night they met as part of the reception decor!).

Lovingly deemed “the other royal wedding” Rio + Jason said “I do” on a gorgeous sunny day at Spirit Ridge Resort in Osoyoos.  Guest were invited to wear eccentric fascinators and stunning derby hats – so fun!!

Rio + Jason spent the morning chilling out with each other. They helped each other get dressed and prepped for their wedding day. He helped her secure her stunning hair piece, she helped him with his tie, he zipped her into her gown, and she made sure his shirt sleeves were rolled up just right. These two are so, so sweet.

We set off for photos before the ceremony, just us and the lovebirds. It was such a great time trying out a variety of unique locations and we wrapped up in plenty of time for them to relax before they walked down the isle. The ceremony took place on the rooftop patio at Spirit Ridge. Hugs and kisses were showered on them after their emotional ceremony, and champagne and appys were passed around as Jason’s brother toasted to the newlyweds.

A palette of yellows and army green covered the reception on the patio at Passa tempo. Fresh flowers came from polka dot door, lanterns lined the patio, and wine favors were provided by LeVieuxPin. The guests rocked it, and I mean totally blew it out of the water in Rio’s home-made photobooth, complete with chandeliers! (Watch for Part 2!!). Everyone laughed till their bellies ached as friends shared stories of the couples’ antics and adventures through the years. And then they danced the night away under the stars.

I throughly enjoyed every minute of this day.

Rio + Jason, thank you so so much!!

dress – j.crew

flowers – polka dot door

gems – queen boutique

brides hair piece – esty hats by cressida of England

grooms outfit – le chateau

desserts – dolci deli

Did you stick with me till the end?? Im glad you did : ) Phew, that was a marathon!

Just another little note: Rio + her dad danced to my unofficial favorite father-daughter dance song Daughter in the water. Love it.

Special thanks to the Connell + Smith families for being so hospitable and welcoming. Thank you Jo + Rio for sharing the wedding planning details, I thoroughly enjoyed the after hours in Queen gushing over the ideas! You all are some of most inspiring people I know!

e xx

Photobooth photos coming NEXT! Find us on facebook and be the first to know!