Saying goodbye to your long-term pet is never easy, but these guys thought that a family photo session would be an appropriate way to spend their last evening with their dog. And so we did. Lila is a cute little dog but unfortunately an illness had her days counted. I’m so glad I was able to create these photos for this family so they could treasure the last day they had with their adorable little Lila. I’m sure she will be missed.
If you’ve never been to an outdoor wedding on a rural farm in Manitoba, you’ve definitely missed out. Especially if Jayda and Daniel are the hosts! Notorious for throwing awesome parties out at the farm, Jayda and Daniel certainly did not disappoint at their wedding celebration… in fact, they stepped it up big time!
To say it was a pleasure being a part of this wedding would be a huge understatement… being there to witness such a beautiful wedding and being at such a fun party was most certainly a huge highlight of my wedding photography season this summer! Jayda and Daniel are such a stellar couple made up of rock solid love and adoration for each other and the people that are near and dear to them. It was an honour being their photographer, and I couldn’t have been happier with how the day turned out.
From the beautiful DIY vintage decor, to the unique wedding party attire, to the fabulous food and the amazing live band, you really couldn’t have asked for a better wedding celebration! Not to mention the location – in the middle of rural Manitoba on a gorgeous family-owned farm property – perfect!
Jayda, you looked stunning. Daniel – your suit was a one-of-a-kind gem – together you made such a fantastic looking couple! Congratulations, you were a dream to work with and I wish you all the best as you embark on the rest of your life journey together!
This afternoon I shot my first winter engagement session of the year – nothing beats a good winter setting than what we find here in the heart of Winnipeg! We started the session at Sam’s Place and then headed outside to Assiniboine Forest with their dog Kieva. Both locations hold special meaning to Andrea and Rheal so it was a natural decision to use them. And it turned out great! I’m looking forward to posting more photos from this session, but I’m looking even more forward to photographing their wedding next summer!
Back in August, Chris contacted me with an idea for a wedding anniversary gift for his wife – a surprise family photo shoot! I was definitely on board and with a bit of quick planning, we set a date and Chris brought us to a great downtown Winnipeg location that he picked himself. I loved it!
Of course, I always have fun photographing the Hidlebaughs. They are good friends of mine and it seems like we’re never too far from another photo shoot together. In fact, since this last photo session, I’ve done another one with them. You see Bev’s baby belly in these photos? Well the wee one inside made an appearance in October and we had an oh-so cute newborn photo session just a few weeks ago… those photos will be posted soon too!
Congratulations Chris and Bev on 8 years of marriage and an absolutely beautiful family. It’s always my pleasure and I can’t wait for many more sessions in the future!
Back in the summer, I had the pleasure of meeting up with Kelly and her two favourite people at Kildonan Park for a fun portrait session. I was delighted to meet up with them, especially since I hadn’t seen Kelly in ages! Kelly and I both went to photography school together, and it’s always fun to reconnect with fellow photographers – and even MORE fun to take photos for them! We kept it casual and fun, walking around the park and snapping photos along the way. You can tell Kelly is beaming with love and adoration for both these guys – her eyes say it all, and it made the session that much more beautiful knowing that Kelly is happy exactly where she is. Thank you Kelly for a wonderful session, it was so nice to see you again!
Kristen and Trevor – where do I begin? I know I say this a lot about my clients, but these guys were a ton of fun and super laid back! And I’m not just saying it to say it… my wedding clients always end up being exactly like that. And I love it that way!
They had a beautiful wedding ceremony at Calvary Temple in downtown Winnipeg followed by some lovely family photos just a short walk from the church. The ceremony had an added touch of entertainment when the unity candle (flame in full force!) was knocked over during the quiet signing of the registry moment. The stand crashed and broke into a million pieces and fortunately (or unfortunately?) the flame was put out as it hit the (carpeted!) floor. Yikes! But Kristen’s brother came to the rescue and without hesitation re-lit the unity candle, so all is well in married land! We all had a good laugh, and lucky for us, the couple wasn’t phased by the horror of the unity flame being quenched so early on in their marriage! Good sports. 🙂
Their day followed with some photos in the Exchange District, St. Vital Park and a quick stop at their favourite coffee spot: Starbucks. We enjoyed a lovely reception at the Niverville Heritage Center complete with a custom-built photo booth designed and constructed by Kristen’s dad. Super creative! I should also give a shout out to Academy Florist for creating stunning floral bouquets for the girls. Once again, they outdid themselves.
Enjoy the photos and a huge congrats goes out to Kristen and Trevor! Their love absolutely glows on their faces and the fun they have together is super infectuous! I couldn’t be happier for them!
Extended family portraits are one of my favourites to shoot – you’ve got tons of cousins, aunts, uncles, and of course the proud grandparents! It makes for happy dynamics and lots of different groupings and candid shots… so much fun. This family session was done at Assiniboine Park on a warm summer evening. These guys braved some pretty intense mosquito warfare, but fortunately for all of us, I had some bug spray in my bag and we all used it liberally! I’m glad we were able to pull off this session which included a few family members that had made the trip all the way to Winniepg from the UK. What a special way to capture these rare moments of togetherness when families are separated by thousands of miles.
I absolutely love small intimate weddings – and that’s exactly what Lise and Brent planned for their wedding day. I met them only a few short months before their actual wedding date and I instantly liked them the moment we sat down for coffee. Lise is an absolute sweetheart – genuine, warm and very personable. And it’s no surprise that she’s connected so well with Brent – he has a wonderful honest personality and a fun sense of humour. Together you can see that they’ve got a bond that doesn’t need any effort. Their love is comfortable and it’s real, and it was beautifully expressed in the way they planned their wedding event.
Surounded by close friends and family, they had a lovely ceremony at the Norwood Hotel which was packed with heartfelt words, great symbolism and intentional expressions of their love towards their family. Watching them get married was a huge honour and even though I had only known them for a few months, I felt super connected to the moment. And I’m sure it was exactly the way they intended it to be!
We started our day with a first look at Fort Gibraltar, followed by some photos around the Fort and at the St. Boniface Cathedral. The photography ended with the lovely wedding ceremony at the hotel and although it was a short day, it was definitely sweet! The evening went on with a dinner at the hotel followed by continued partying in their own backyard. What a great way to celebrate love with their friends and family!
Lise and Brent – I wish you all the best as you continue to grow together in your love. It was a pleasure being a part of your day!
Back in July I had a wonderful opportunity come up to do a portrait session for my childhood friend’s parents who are celebrating 35 years of marriage this year. Huge milestone! Nathalie and I go way back (kindergarten buddies!) but now that she’s living in Montreal, she regularly comes back to Winnipeg to visit her family. This year’s visit happened to fall around her parents’ 35th anniversary so she decided to organize a lovely anniversary/family portrait session together. We were also joined by Nathalie’s adorable little dog who also made the trek all the way from Montreal! What a cutie! I had a lot of fun with these guys and I’m so glad the shoot came together for them. I love seeing two people madly in love after all those years of marriage – what an inspiration! I wish them many more beautiful years to come… félicitations!
**Thank you to Lace and Lavender for providing some fun travel-themed props for the shoot!
2012 was a really great year for wedding photography and as I’m slowly catching up on blogging from this past summers’ shoots, I’ve been totally enjoying re-living some of these memorable weddings, especially Sylvie and Justin’s. You might remember their engagement photos — Sylvie’s crafty ideas and super creative ambition made me all the more excited for their wedding. And she certainly didn’t disappoint! Their wedding was full of creative accessories, most hand-made, with lots of personal touches and adorable decorations. Not to mention everyone’s attire – the guys looked spiffy in their grey suits and the girls looked absolutely magical in their dresses! Finally you had Sylvie and Justin – looking drop dead gorgeous and a perfect combination when the finally met up for their first look photos! Fabulous.
Our day of photos started in St. Boniface, then a quick pit stop at Garage Café, followed by some fun photos in the Exchange District and then on to the St. Norbert Monastery for the ceremony. We did the family photos and “just married” couple photos there, then moved on to Assiniboine Forest and then finally to the Qualico Family Centre for the reception. I had a blast with these guys – not only are Sylvie and Justin super easy-going and fun to be around, but they also have a great group of friends that added an extra element of fun and craziness to their wedding day!
Sylvie and Justin make a solid couple, a beautiful pairing of love. They’re totally into each other and their bond feels rock solid. Their ceremony and speeches were moving, and every glance and kiss they shared made you know that this love is a good one. So refreshing to see.
Félicitations vous deux! You are totally made for each other!
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Sylvie & Justin’s wedding was recently featured on Weddings in Winnipeg. Check it out here! And a big thank you goes out to Duncan McNairnay for being an awesome second photographer – some of his photos appear in the gallery below!
Back in August I had a wonderful opportunity come up to do a styled photo shoot with some talented local vendors here in Winnipeg. When Amanda of Lace and Lavender approached me with her vision of a tea party in the woods, I immediately said yes to jumping on board. And it wasn’t long before her enthusiasm got me inspired! My first thought was to get Academy Florist and Laugh Love Cakes on board… these two vendors have done work in recent weddings that I’ve photographed this summer, so I instantly knew that they were going to be an awesome fit. Even better was when they both agreed to take part in the shoot! Amanda and I were over the moon happy to have them on board (and the photos will show you why)!
This whole shoot would not have been a reality without the help of some fine ladies, so here is the official thank you list:
Amanda Douglas of Lace and Lavender – for your initiative, creative vision and amazing props
Lauren Wiebe of Academy Florist – for your beautiful flower crowns and floral arrangements
Kayla Milligan of Laugh Love Cakes – for your quick work, gorgeous (and delicious!) sweet creations
Katie, Lynzie, Sara & Amanda – for being beautiful models that were a delight to work with! (and for braving the mosquitoes!)
And if you’d like to have a styled photo session as an idea for a stagette, bridal shower, birthday party or a fun photo shoot with your girlfriends, get in touch with me and I can let you know how we can create a custom photo shoot for your event. It’s a great way to do something a little more fun and exciting with your group of friends!
The big day finally came after months and months of preparation and anticipation… and I (of all people) was brimming with excitement! Denley has been a good friend and photography buddy of mine for several years now, and since he photographed my wedding, I’ve been waiting for the day that I could finally return the favour. When I first met Crys a few years back, there was something about her that made me believe that she was THE ONE. She was smart, down to earth, super caring and insightful, not to mention a ton of fun. And I could tell Denley like her. A lot. So as their relationship progressed, it quickly became evident to everyone that this was a perfect match! They are a dynamic duo full of zest for life and passionately in love. They’re also generous, immensely kind and so much fun to be with. They are quality people and that is also made evident by the wonderful community of friends and family that surround them.
Their wedding day was spectacular – we had fantastic weather, great locations and a super photogenic bunch of people! I had a lot of fun with them and it was really hard to remember that I *was* working after all… although I have to say being a photographer while also being a guest is the best way to experience a wedding! I had a front row seat to everything and being responsible for capturing it all is a gigantic honour and a huge blessing. From start to finish I had a blast, and let me tell you, I experienced a wide range of emotions throughout the day! From blinking back the tears at the beautiful ceremony… to laughing my head off during the speeches and slideshow… and back to holding back the tears again as Crys’ sisters spoke beautiful words at the reception (or, shall I say, tried to speak despite all their sobbing!). The outpouring of love was amazing, and I’m sure Crys and Denley felt the intensity of it. It was awesome.
Thank you Crys and Denley for allowing me the great pleasure of photographing your wedding – it was a day to remember, and I couldn’t be happier for you that you have found true love with each other! You’re the best!
(Some of the locations that were used: Exchange District, Winnipeg Art Gallery, Assiniboine Forest and Qualico Family Centre)
Yesterday was my very last wedding shoot of 2012 and I’ve got to say the season ended on a super high note! I couldn’t have asked for more than what we had yesterday… a beautiful ceremony, perfect locations, a super fun wedding party and a stunningly gorgeous couple that was just overflowing with love for each other! Here’s a sneak peek, and stay tuned for much more…
Thank you to everyone who made 2012 a wedding season to remember! I have the best clients and I can’t imagine being happier doing anything else! Thank you!! See you in 2013 for more weddings!
When I first photographed Danielle and Jon last year for their engagement session, I had a really good feeling about their upcoming wedding day. These two make a solid couple, they are a ton of fun and the love they share is as strong as can be. They’re so into each other and that really is the simple secret behind a great photo!
Their wedding day was absolutely magical – rumbling storm clouds in the distance, warm summer air and a beautiful setting at Bridges Golf Course. The rain held off up until we were done our outdoor photos which meant beautiful dark skies contrasted with the brightly coloured landscape! Perfect! Félicitations Danielle et Jon… votre amour est inspirante!
I had the wonderful pleasure of meeting Laura earlier this summer for a lovely headshot photo session at the Forks in Winnipeg. Laura is a super talented and highly celebrated pianist and she needed some fresh new headshots for her professional career. I had a great time taking these photos for her and not only is she an incredibly warm and passionate person, she’s also full of energy and an all-around amazing person to be with. We also made the connection that she was my friend Rachel’s piano teacher! And little did we know that we would both see each other again at Rachel’s wedding that I photographed just a few weeks ago! Small world. Or perhaps it’s just that Winnipeg is a small city. 🙂
All the best Laura as you continue in your many successful endeavours!
Earlier this summer I had a wonderful double photo session with three beautiful families and whose kids were the stars of the two shoots! Their connection? They’re all cousins! (and apparently really good friends too!)
I had a great time running around the Nature Playground at Assiniboine Park with these kids on two separate days. They were such a dream to work with (so much energy, so many smiles and so cooperative!) and the photos turned out great because of their wonderful participation. Ok, there may have been some bribing with stickers and gum… but who doesn’t like stickers and gum?!
Here’s a highlight from both sessions. Enjoy the cuteness overload! 🙂
It’s kind of nice when I can say that it sort of feels like I go waaaay back with Ashley and Chris… although we only met about a year before their wedding, we’ve had countless get togethers, meetings and photo shoots since then, and by now it feels like we’re old pals! And that’s a pretty easy thing to come by with them… they’re super friendly, a ton of fun and an amazing couple. You can’t really ask for much more! It’s been an absolute pleasure working with them and when your clients are this much fun, it hardly feels like work.
Ashley and Chris were married earlier this summer at the Gates on Roblin and had the most perfect July weather for their big day. The outdoor ceremony was beautiful, the wedding party was super fun, the photo locations were awesome and the reception was a riot! There were lots of tears (of joy, of course!), a ton of laughter and seeing all their close friends and family gather together to celebrate their love made you truly believe that this was something worth more than words can describe.
I’m grateful to have been a part of it (and grateful that Chris was well enough to go on with the big day despite his recent neck injury!!), and I hope that these photos will serve as a reminder of the strength and beauty that their love creates. Congratulations you two, I look forward to future photo shoots together!
PS: You may have noticed that I am way behind in blogging… it’s been a crazy busy summer! I’m doing my best to blog everything before the snow arrives, but you can always visit my Facebook page for all the latest updates! Most of the day-after sneak peeks can be seen there and I update it way sooner than I do on my blog. Check it out here!
*** and to see more of Ashley and Chris’ photo booth, check out the photos here or check out their photo booth coffee table book here!***
Erica and Will have many reasons to celebrate – not only are they preparing for a gorgeous 2013 wedding, but they’re also gearing up for the arrival of a little bundle of joy! A lot of excitement is just around the corner and so we took advantage of a beautiful summer evening to take some photos to celebrate the love these two share. We incorporated a few baby bump photos in the engagement session, and finished off the session with something a little sweet… ice cream! I love these guys and can’t wait to not only meet their baby (soon soon!) but also to be their wedding photographer next year. A huge congratulations is definitely in order (!) and stay tuned for more photos after their wedding next summer!
I’m still in the middle of busy wedding season, but an extra perk about September is that families are all geared up for autumn photo shoots (the best kind!). This morning I found myself in this family’s beautiful back yard. A little chilly, but the sun was warm and so were the smiles! More photos coming soon…
Back in July I had the great privilege of photographing Cheryl and Matt’s engagement session – this photo session was pure delight! Our shoot ended up falling on what had to be one of Winnipeg’s hottest & muggiest summer evenings ever – but despite the conditions, these two pulled off such a fantastic series of photos. And really, I wasn’t surprised – they are such a perfect picture of love: completely and utterly into each other and never taking a single moment for granted. They’re incredibly adorable together and what they share is real. I have no doubt it’s true love. These types of sessions are exactly what makes me love my job so much – I can’t ask for anything better. I was excited to shoot their engagement photos but now the real count down is to their wedding! Only a few weeks away and I’ll get to photograph their love on the day they tie the knot. Can’t wait!
It’s always a pleasure working with up and coming actors and taking headshots for Robert’s actor portfolio was no exception. In just under an hour, we managed to get three different looks and a variety of photos. He was great to work with and I wish him all the best as he pursues his acting endeavours! Hopefully we’ll see him on some bigger screen sometime soon!
Last winter, Jocelyn’s sister Kim contacted me to say that Jocelyn had tried to book me for her wedding but wasn’t able to because I was already booked for her date. Kim knew her sister really wanted to have me as her photographer, so she decided to surprise her sister with a gift certificate for an engagement session with me. Jocelyn and Glenn got the gift back in May at their wedding shower and a couple weekends later, we finally had the pleasure of meeting up for the session! It was a gorgeous day at Assiniboine Park and a ton of fun with these guys. Jocelyn and Glenn are full of life and energy and we had a lot of laughs throughout. They’re adorable together and although I’m sad I’m not available for their wedding, I’m so glad we had the chance to have this photo session together!
For more photos from their session, check out their image gallery on my facebook page.
Back in June I had the great pleasure of photographing my friends’ maternity session out in Steinbach, Manitoba. I had been looking forward to this shoot for so long and when it finally came, I was well justified in being eager to shoot it: it was epic! Jocelyn and Matt are not only model material, but just all around amazing people who share a deep love and connection with each other. Seeing them so in love all while expecting their first child together was nothing short of spectacular. And to add to it all, a storm had just passed over and the clouds were ready to break for the evening sun. Yup, epic. And so the rest speaks for itself in images. Congratulations Jocelyn and Matt, I know you’re going to make amazing parents to little Smith!
Janna and Dean got married back in mid-July, and although many weeks have passed since their wedding, and many weddings have been photographed since then, I still think back to their wedding day with great joy and warm fuzzy feelings (and not just because it was a super hot day!). I met Janna and Dean in early Spring and it didn’t take long for me to fall in love with them. They’re one of the sweetest and cutest couples ever – not to mention incredibly warm and a ton of fun. I was overjoyed to have been able to capture their engagement photos and soon after, their beautiful wedding day.
It was an honour to witness their union in the context of such a beautiful service and gorgeous church (All Saints). After their afternoon brunch reception (how fun is that?), we met up at Assiniboine Park for some photos. The wedding party was just as fun as they are, so being in good company and surrounded by a bunch of happy people made it super easy to photograph the true essence of their day. And of course, we finished off with the quieter portion of the photos – the alone time I get with the couple to capture the true love and connection that these two share. Absolutely beautiful, I have no other words to use.
Congratulations Janna and Dean – your hearts are now one, and I know you are off on one solid footing together. I wish you nothing but the best, your love is inspiring.
Thank you to all the cute kids and their parents who stopped by my very first kids photo booth today! I had a great time meeting everyone that came by. Also a big thank you to Momstown for asking me to celebrate with them at their 5th birthday party event!
If your kids stopped by my photo booth, you can head over to my facebook page to view the complete gallery and claim your free photo. Enjoy! 🙂
Last night I had the great pleasure of working on this stunning styled photo shoot in the woods: a vintage tea party inspired theme with delicious cakes and fresh flowers! Everything came together wonderfully well all thanks to the very talented vendors who got involved:
Lace & Lavender (for providing the table setting and styling it)
Academy Florist (for the table top flower arrangements and flower crowns)
Laugh Love Cakes (for the cakes and cookies)
Also a huge thank you to my models: Amanda, Lynzie, Sara and Katie – who endured the ferocious mosquitoes!
Here is a sneak peek of our shoot… but of course more photos will be showcased once the entire shoot is edited. For now, you can stay connected to the latest updates over at my facebook page (where the rest of the photos will likely be posted there first when they’re ready!).
Meet my friend Rachel: a super sweet person with a warm heart and a great spirit of determination and ambition. Last winter, the man of her dreams proposed to her at Christmastime – I couldn’t be more thrilled for her! Daniel is amazing person, and as I’ve grown to know him more over the last year, the more I’m realizing how perfect of a match they are together. They make an incredibly strong team all while being so adorable together! So when Rachel first told us she was engaged, not only was I super excited for her, but I also secretly hoped she’d ask me to do her wedding photos… and when she did ask me just a few days later, I said yes without hesitation! It always brings me great joy to photograph a friend’s wedding – there’s a level of closeness that is added on top of all the wonderful wedding amazingness that happens… and you just can’t beat that.
We had a beautiful engagement session in late Spring – and if this is any telling of what their love & chemistry will be like at their wedding, then I am all the more excited to shoot it! Only a few short weeks away… so make sure to stay tuned for their wedding photos. 🙂 Congratulations you two!
It might be a little strange to see a winter photo session on the blog in the middle of the summer (or perhaps quite refreshing?) but these photos were definitely overdue being posted on the blog! The photos first made an appearance on my facebook page last February, but in the rush of things, they never made it to the blog. At least, not until today.
Meet Erica and Roby – quite possibly one of my favourite winter engagement sessions ever (along with this other one). I first was introduced to Erica and Roby through their wedding photographer, Will Au, who also happens to be a good friend of mine. But since Will now lives in Edmonton, he suggested to them that they get me to shoot their engagement photos since Erica and Roby live here in Winnipeg. I was honoured to fill those big shoes (Will’s a tremendous photographer) and so delighted that the session worked out so well. I also heard rumours that these two lovebirds got married just a few weeks ago, so if you’re curious, you can check out their wedding photos here.
Thank you both for such a lovely session, you were an absolute pleasure to photograph. Congratulations on your wedding and I wish you nothing but the best as you continue on your journey of love!
This year I (will) have (had) the pleasure of photographing several friends’ weddings, but none stands out more than yesterday’s: the wedding of my very own wedding photographer! It’s great to return the favour and even better to have been a part of the celebration. I get no greater joy than to be a part of a wedding as a photographer, and that job holds so much more meaning and heart than when it’s for good friends. Congratulations Crys and Denley, you looked stunning and your entire day was gorgeous! Enjoy the honeymoon, and stay tuned for more photos coming up in a couple weeks…
Summer wedding season in Winnipeg started just a few weeks ago with lots of sun and a super fun couple – what more could I ask for?! It was an absolute pleasure to witness the celebration of Pam and Steve’s love and union in a beautiful old church in Norwood. The ceremony was simple, elegant and meaningful. Loved it. We then made our way to the exchange district for some photos with the wedding party which included the ever-popular Kings Head mid-wedding-day pit stop. Relaxing in the middle of your wedding day with your wedding party is the best!
We then took a few more photos at Red River College before finishing off the portrait session at Assiniboine Park alone with the couple (my favourite part!). I always cherish the time I get when the couple is alone in front of the camera – such a sweet way to end an afternoon of wedding portraits.
Congratulations Pam and Steve! It was an absolute delight being your wedding photographer – your love is real and it’s comfortable, and I wish you nothing but the best for many years to come!
