John & Serena's Vancouver condo wedding

When I first spoke with Serena on the phone, I became immediately excited as I realized she was a fellow Brit! Then when I met with John and Serena, I knew I had to shoot their wedding!! We shared the same love for Vancouver and dogs, so I knew it was a match made in photography heaven. They're easy going and nothing could bring them down on their wedding day- Serena had the biggest smile on her face the entire day. It was great! 

John and Serna decided to get married in the garden of their condo building. Now this sounds kind of unusual for a wedding venue (a first for me) but when you see how gorgeous the garden is, I'm sure you'll understand their decision. Luckily, some of the blossom trees were in full bloom and the weather was amazing! 

John got ready in their apartment, whilst Serena stayed with their best man, Lisa and then she put her dress on in the building managers office. Which was another first for me, a bride getting ready in one end of the room whilst Sharon was working at her desk on the other. After the wedding ceremony, we took some shots in the garden and on their neighbours balcony then they headed to Tapshack (their local pub) for some drinks and grub. This was such a fun wedding, my face hurt from laughing and smiling. I've put together a few highlights of their wedding story..

Celebrant: Lisa Hartley from Simply Ceremony (http://www.lisahartley.com/)

Pub: Tapshack (http://tapshack.ca/)

Best of 2016

Wow! Putting this blog post together was no easy feat, but here I present to you, some of my favourite images from last year. A lot of these images are personal shots from my trips to Vancouver Island/America/England/Iceland/Scotland. 

For me personally, last year was amazing, from starting a new job, going part time so I can focus more on my own business, travelling home to celebrate a friends wedding, and taking Ryan so he could meet my family and friends. Spending lots of time with friends on Vancouver Island, making some unforgettable memories. Having visitors from home, some of whom I hadn't seen for years and of course making new life long friends! Oh and how could I forget? Last January, I got my permanent residency for Canada!!

Thanks to all clients, old and new for choosing me to document your memories, it's such a privilege to be part of your milestones. I'm so excited to see what 2017 brings! 

Edison Mae

Since moving to Vancouver, I haven't photographed as many babies and families as I did when working in the UK, so it was a surprise and a delight when Natalie asked me to photograph her precious new arrival, little Edison Mae. Surprise because I actually worked with Natalie before her maternity leave, and I know she has worked with many other very talented photographers in Vancouver. So it's flattering to be asked to photograph such an important time in Natalie and David's life, it's exiting, exhausting, new and I'm sure all kinds of wonderful with a bunch of other emotions squeezed in there that I haven't yet experienced!! 

The thing I loved most about this shoot was observing how in love Natalie and David are with Edison, it truly warms my heart and I hope I captured it. I tried to keep the shoot as organic and natural as possible by capturing little in between moments that they were unaware of. In this case, it helped immensely that we were shooting in their own home, where they're most comfortable. So if you're thinking of having some family photographs taken then I'd hugely recommend this type of lifestyle session, especially if kids are involved as new environments can often be very distracting for them. Also, natural light is always welcome, so OPEN up your blinds and let the light in. 

Matthew & Olivia

If you know me, then you know I went back home to the UK in August for a friends wedding. I didn't shoot my friends wedding, although I may have captured some slightly intoxicated shots which I will post next!! The first day I was there we had gorgeous weather, which for the North of England is a blessing and must be taken advantage of. Armed with my camera and golden hour fast approaching, I headed to the nearest beach (Alnmouth, Northumberland) with my brother, Matthew and his girlfriend, Olivia as my subjects. 

Photographing your family can definitely have its challenges, it can sometimes feel awkward and they don't necessarily want to get romantic in front of you. Luckily for me, these two are naturals in front of the camera and don't take themselves too seriously. 

But when I look at these images..I just can't help but think..WHERE ARE THE MOUNTAINS? I'm spoilt for mountainous backdrops now that I live in BC.