best sooke wedding photographers

Glamorous and Adventurous Whytecliff Park Engagement Photos // Shirley and Darwin

Shirley and Darwin get glammed up to explore Whytecliff Park in their engagement photos in Horseshoe Bay near Vancouver // Victoria Wedding Photographers

Whytecliff Park is one of Vancouver areas most popular spot for engagement photos, wedding photos, and sunset viewing, for very obvious reasons.  With views of the ocean and the island, it feels like a remote escape, without having to leave the city.  This time of year it seemed that we had the whole place to ourselves.  This all made for a dramatic setting for Shirley and Darwin's engagement session as they explored the cliffs before enjoying a beach sunset in their formal gown and tie.  When we met Shirley and Darwin, we immediately infatuated with how sweet they were and how natural they are together as a couple, but we were blown away by how adventurous they were climbing around Whytecliff Park... in their dressed clothes! We were shaking in our own boots as we watched them navigate around the cliffs and trails looking as brave as they were stylish!

Devonian Regional Park Engagement Photos // Kayla & Cole

Kayla and Cole explore Devonian Regional Park in Victoria during their engagement session photos // Victoria Wedding Photographers

We've had a great taste of winter lately here in Sooke!  Today brought a gentle sprinkling of snow, a few nights ago we had gail forced winter winds here in the Victoria area. That didn't stop Cole and Kayla from venturing out for a gorgeous sunset at Devonian Regional Park during their engagement photo session!  

We met Kayla and Cole last year to talk about their July wedding at Prospect Lake, and we've been excited ever since!  It was fun to get out and enjoy an evening with them in Metchosin for their engagement photos.  Despite the wild winter winds, Cole and Kayla were all smiles and adventure we we made our way through the woods, and made our way on to the empty beach as waves crashed upon the rocks. They even put on brave faces as we perched them on a rocky cliff to get creative and take a panorama style portrait of them, as the sun went down.

Check out some of our favourites below!

Oak Bay Beach Hotel Wedding with Kristi & Kyle // Victoria Wedding Photographers

Kristi and Kyle's steamy, sunny September wedding at Oak Bay Beach Hotel in Victoria BC // Vancouver Island Wedding Photographers

Just like usual, September is our busiest of all the busy months for weddings and photo sessions!  We started the month with a bang, photographing Kristi and Kyle's wedding at Oak Bay Beach Hotel, which was organized to stunning perfection by Anouk of Persimmon Tree Events.
Since their Mystic Beach engagement session in April, we've been counting down the months until we'd get to photograph Kristi and Kyle again, this time on their wedding day!  We were treated with a warm sun, welcoming family members, a wicked cool bridal party, and of course, Kristi and Kyle's undeniable chemistry.

We love to be flies on the wall at wedding receptions and watch as family members see each other for the first time in a while, as strangers become friends, and as everyone celebrates the love between a special couple.  With Kristi's family from the very far west coast of Canada, and Kyle's family from the very are east coast of Canada, we were delighted to float around the reception and hear all the happy chatter, in mixed west and east coast accents, and to watch a blend of wedding traditions from both sides of the country.  One such tradition came in form of a very east coast bottle of Screech Rum.  You just cringed, we heard it.  We tried our best to hold our cameras steady while laughing at the polar opposite reactions between the west coasters and the east coasters after after the shot: pure poison to the westerners, the taste of home to the easterners, dance floor fuel to all!

Thanks Kristi and Kyle for having us there to share and photograph your amazing wedding! You're so fun to work with. We hope you love the photos! 

Mount Douglas Park Newlywed Photo Session // Ashley & Mike (and their pups!)

Do these two look familiar? Of course!  You probably recognize Ashley and Mike from their Golden Eagle Golf Course wedding in June!  Instead of doing an engagement session prior to the wedding, Ashley and Mike opted to do a newlywed shoot, and we loved the idea.  No pressure from an upcoming wedding, no timeline constraints; just the two of them, basking in their newlywed bliss.  When they told us they were coming to Victoria, on Vancouver Island, we could not wait to photograph them again, show them around our neck of the woods, and catch up to see how life has changed for them over the past 3 months.  One of those changes came in the form of a sweet, clumsy, big-pawed, knobby-kneed great dane puppy named Franklin, a perfect companion for them and their 3 year old lab/mastiff, Dean. 

We met them at the top of Mount Doug to enjoy the gorgeous sunset light, and take in the views of Victoria area, and the Olympic Peninsula!  

Thanks Ashley and Mike for coming out this way, and spending such an awesome evening with us and your fur family! Hope you love these photos as much as you love life as newlyweds!

Tips for Looking and Feeling Awesome in Your Engagement Photos

Some great suggestions on how to look and feel amazing during your engagement photos, from Victoria Wedding Photography team, Pebble and Pine Photography.

Let's start with why we love engagement sessions so much!  We get asked a lot by couples if engagement sessions are a totally necessary part of getting married.  The truth is, they aren't.  You can get married without having engagement sessions and your marriage is still just as legal, haha.  However,  we've found that engagement sessions are so valuable because they are a great way for us to get to know our couples a bit more before the wedding.  It helps us to see how you interact with each other, get to know your dynamic as a couple, and how we can best make you feeling comfortable and confident in front of the lens so the wedding day is effortless and has a smooth natural flow to it.  It's also incredibly helpful and fun for our couples who are preparing for the big day.  It shows you how we work as a photography duo, how you feel being photographed, and help you to get more comfortable in front of our lenses, so that you have less to feel nervous about when your wedding day comes. 

 In our experience of photographing weddings, we've found that many of the couples we work with have not had professional photos done together before working with us.  They often have questions about how they can best prepare for the engagement session, so we've put together a handy little tips list.  That way, you can put your nerves at ease, and feel excited!

First and most importantly to remember; this is not a do-or-die list.  As with all advice, follow it to the degree that you're comfortable with, and that feels right for you!

Ability to move freely. 
Because we’ll be walking around, and getting the two of you interacting with each other, the ability to move around with ease is the best way to feel natural in front of the camera.  You want to make sure that you can wrap your arms around each other comfortably, and also be able to walk and sit down without worrying what your clothes are doing, or feeling restricted by them. We also love taking candid photos of you guys just spending time together, so the less you carry with you (purses, backpacks, etc), the more spontaneous the photos can be.  Some couples like to make sure they can keep their phones close by, or like to bring a small makeup/lip touch-up kit along which is totally fine. In those instances, we will usually just carry those things for you in our camera bags until you need them, so they don’t show through your pockets and clothes.

Wear the clothes, and do the hair and makeup style that make you feel like the most confident, comfortable, and vibrant version of yourself.
Keep in mind that when you look at your photos later, we want you to feel like your photos are a reflection of your true self, not a costumey version of yourself.
Our best advice is to not wear clothes, or get hair and makeup done to an extreme or style that feels unnatural or uncharacteristic of you. The best way to look good on camera is to feel like yourself! 
Brides who are planning to have hair and makeup done at the wedding often opt to have some hair and makeup for the engagement session, to see how it feels to be photographed with it done.  Typically it’s slightly more toned-down, and less formal than it would be on the wedding day.  The best way to look good on camera is to feel like yourself! 

Decide on a location you love and feel comfortable in.
We encourage couples to choose a place of significance to them, and a place they feel comfortable in.  We love engagement sessions to tell some kind of story and have a flow to them, so that you don’t feel like you're just standing in front of the camera posing the whole time. If you're in a place you love and are excited about, you'll feel more at ease in front of the camera.  This way we can get you interacting with each other to really capture your personalities, and your dynamic together.  A lot of couples choose walks on the beach or the woods in areas they like, or decide they want to have a date night, like a wine-and-sunset picnic somewhere.  Other couples choose to have their photos taken doing a hobby they enjoy doing.  We like to chat with our couples about ideas that work best to reflect their life together.

Match your engagement style vibe to the atmosphere and style you’ve planned your wedding. 
Weddings nowadays have become less of a traditional mould, and more of an expression of your relationship.  Chances are, you’ve planned your wedding to reflect your personalities, your style and taste, and of course your eccentricities.  We recommend matching your engagement style to fit amongst the same general style of your wedding, and your own personal style.  Some couples consider themselves more outdoorsy and adventurous. Some couples vibe with boho, whereas others are more modern and edgy, etc.  So to avoid feeling uncomfortable or inauthentic to yourself, we usually recommend couples dress in what Matt refers to as, “casual plus, or better".  It's a spruced up version of your own real, personal style.  For example, a couple we shot last year, during a beach sunset, described their outfit choice this way, “we chose outfits to that we would wear to a beachfront patio, on a night out for dinner and drinks with good friends we hadn’t seen for a long time.”   

Complement each other’s style. 
This is not a suggestion to wear a matchy-matchy couples onesie outfit, though that would be hilarious. We do, however, recommend your clothes complement each other’s style and scale of formality. We’ve found most couples have a similar style anyways, but we just throw this in as a tip.  For example, if one of you is in a suit jacket, the other might not want to wear those oh-so-cozy LuLus and gym top.  Or, if one is in a brightly coloured, patterned summer dress, the other probably wouldn’t be rocking the Johnny Cash all-black-from-head-to-toe look.  You're both individuals, but these photos show how you complement each other as two equal parts of a whole.

Play off the season and location.  
This all goes with the goal of feeling comfortable and natural in your surroundings. We want you to dress and feel awesome for the weather, and location you're in.  Heels aren't always the best shoe choice for snowy mountains or sandy beaches. If you're planning to rock a strapless dress at the top of Cypress in the winter, bring along a cute jacket to wear.  If you're planning a romantic summer sunset on a hot beach, leave that parka at home and wear layers instead. 

I know, I know! This isn't one of Andrea and Eddie's engagement photos. But we love their use of vibrant colour and eccentric prints to show their personal style. Don't be afraid to be bold, friends!

I know, I know! This isn't one of Andrea and Eddie's engagement photos. But we love their use of vibrant colour and eccentric prints to show their personal style. Don't be afraid to be bold, friends!

Don't shy away from bright colours or prints, but avoid fluorescent neon materials. 
Bold prints and vibrant colours can be a great way to show your personal style, but be weary of fluorescent and neon.  Think Olivia Newton John in her 80’s aerobic leotards.  While these types of colours are mostly seen in workout and road-worker attire to promote visibility and road safety, they have started to pop up in regular style as well for a visual punch.  Great in real life, but these fluorescent and neon colours are so reflective that they’ll reflect their own colour onto your skin in photographs.  If these colours are on the front of your shirt, they will often cast their colour up onto your face and your partner’s, even on a cloudy day. (We’ll have a photo in the blog to show an example of this effect.)

A good night sleep, proper meals, and lots of water! 
This is just a general rule for day to day life, but it applies to the day of your photoshoot as well.  If you’re nervous the night before, try to hit the hay early to make sure you’re not tired the evening of your session. If you’re busy with hair and makeup on the day of, make sure to allot time for food and water through the day of your the photo session.  It’s the best way to look vibrant, feel refreshed, and stay excited through your photos together. Plus, as we all know, it’s hard to smile and feel lovey when we’re hangry. 

 

These are some of our prep / attire tips. But again, only follow these to the degree that you’re comfortable with, and don’t feel restricted by.  We usually spend a few minutes at the start of each photo shoot to let you guys know what expect so that you know how to interact with each other and the camera during the photoshoot. We’ll shake out all those nervous, awkward feelings at the start so you guys can feel awesome in the photos! 

 

Feel free to check out some other blogs here:

Whistler Engagement Session - Kerri and Nik at Green Lake

Kerri and Nik's Wintery Engagement Session at Green Lake in Whistler // Victoria Wedding Photographers

It was a bright and sunny day.  Snow seemed to glow from the tops of Whistler’s Backcomb range, birds sang and darted about through crisp air, cedars towered at the edges of the ice-coated lake, couples smiled at each other as they walked hand in hand, and the magical sounds of Notorious B.I.G echoed out into the world from Nik’s Spotify playlist.  The tone was set for his and Kerri’s engagement session.

With a mid-summer wedding on the calendar, Kerri and Nik were keen to do their engagement photos during winter.  What better place than in Whistler to capture a snowy themed story.  We met on the edge of a lake in Whistler, surrounded by mountainous views, and walkable trails.  When Nik and Kerri first stepped out of their car, they pulled with them a bag full of HBC everything. Hats, mitts, they mentioned they also had scarves, but most wonderful of all was a very delicately folded, vintage Hudson Bay wool blanket.  Nik told us that this blanket meant so much to them; it is one of the very first purchases his grandmother made when she immigrated to Canada.  

We knew right away that our session with Kerri was going to be a delightful dichotomy of sentimentality and hilarity.  We were not disappointed.  We explored the edges of the lake together, taking equal break time to cuddle under their blanket, tumble around in the snow, enjoy a snowball battle, and of course, bust into song and dance when the best songs showed up on their aptly named, Engagement Session Playlist.  

Thanks Kerri and Nik for the laughs, and the stories. We can’t wait for the wedding!

Thank you for stopping by to check out our wedding photography. If you'd like to know more about our lives as Pebble and Pine Photography, Creative Victoria and Vancouver Island Wedding Photographers, you can read About Us

Minoru Chapel and UBC Boathouse Wedding - Phil and Bernice

Phil and Bernice's Masquerade Wedding in Richmond  // BC Wedding Photographers

When we met Bernice and Phil, we talked a lot about their love of all things quirky and creative.  At their engagement session, they brought along their homemade Bomberman cosplay costume to get silly with.   It should come as no surprise that Bernice and Phil wanted to do something creative and unique for their wedding.

The day of their wedding came in the middle of a Vancouver snow storm. It was such a great time for us to visit from Vancouver Island - it was a winter wonderland!  A blanket of snow on the ground, and billowy snow hugging bare branches, a hedge garden sprinkled gently.  With the Minoru Chapel perched close by, it was a perfect scene for their first look. 

After a cozy and intimate ceremony, Bernice and Phil, their bridal party and guests headed over for a tea ceremony, and dinner at UBC Boathouse. 

As a special surprise for their guests, Phil and Bernice's evening had a masquerade theme.  During the reception Bernice, Phil and their guests guests all donned a colombina mask, enjoyed some live music, and dined by candlelight.  

Thank you to Bernice and Phil for having us along to enjoy your unique and wonderful wedding!

Thank you for stopping by to check out our wedding photography here in BC.  If you'd like to know more about our lives in BC or as Pebble and Pine, Creative Victoria and Vancouver Island wedding photographers, you can read About Us

Capilano Suspension Bridge Engagement Session - Sandy and Jeff

Sandy and Jeff Explore Capilano Suspension Bridge During Their Engagement Session in North Vancouver // BC Wedding Photographers

Back in March we announced the launch of our new website, and wanted to celebrate by giving away a very special photo session at Capilano Suspension Bridge.  Sandy and Jeff were easily our most enthusiastic couple, entering the contest the most of anyone.  It paid off, 'cause it was their names we pulled out of the box at the end of the draw.  We couldn't wait to meet them!  

What a pleasure working with Sandy and Jeff, and getting to know them.  If there was an award for most laid back and patient couple, they'd win it for sure!  With ever-present smiles on their faces, they waded with us through crowds of people, precariously perching on swinging bridges, and swaying walk-ways, waiting for the perfect time for us to capture the moments that happened between them.  

We had lots of fun swinging from the treetops with you, Sandy and Jeff.  We hope you got your land legs back, and that you love the photos!

Thanks for checking out our work!  To see more, view the links below.

Thank you for stopping by to check out our wedding photography. If you'd like to know more about our lives in BC, or as Pebble and Pine Photography, Creative and Modern Victoria and Vancouver Island wedding photographers, you can read About Us

  

Outdoor Rainforest Wedding in Kitimat BC - Kaylee and Travis

Kaylee and Travis Get Married in The Mossy Forest in Kitimat at Minette Bay // Victoria Wedding Photographers

We took a trip up to Kitimat, BC recently to visit Matt’s hometown roots, and to shoot two very beautiful weddings.  Kaylee and Travis were one of our couples that week, and their story is one we truly love.   Kaylee spied Travis for the first time while he was playing a gig with his band.  She told us that the minute she saw Travis’ cape dangling from his shoulders while he was up on stage, she knew he was someone she wanted to know.  It wasn’t a surprise that Travis’ outgoing personality would draw Kaylee’s attention, since she has been a long time lover of cosplay, and has an astonishing gift for creating costumes.  It shouldn’t come as a surprise then, that Travis proposed to Kaylee, in costume, at an Anime Revolution convention.

On the day of the wedding, with the threatening rain, Kaylee and Travis were calm and casual.  The rain didn’t bother them, and they intended to do their outdoor ceremony regardless.  The rain worked out for the better, in our opinion at least.  Mossy forests glow green when they are dampened, distance mountains turn blue, and hovering mist creates a dramatic backdrop, perfectly accentuating Kaylee’s purple hair and white gown, and Travis by her side.

Following some intimate photos in the woods, and by the water, Kaylee and Travis met up with their guests for what would be a hilarious, touching, and memorable reception.  It was evident that their guests and wedding party put a lot of effort into creating speeches, and a slideshow that perfectly represented Kaylee and Travis’ life together.  Even their anime-proposal was printed on their guitar pick favours, a perfect blend of two aspects of their lives.

Congratulations, Kaylee and Travis! We hope you enjoy the photos!

Thank you for checking out our wedding photography.  If you'd like to know more about our lives in BC, or as Pebble and Pine Photography, Creative and Modern Victoria and Vancouver Island wedding photographers, you can read About Us.

Stormy Steveston Engagement - Char and Josh

Charlene and Josh Outrun a Storm in Steveston During Their Engagement Photos // Victoria Wedding Photographers

Last week was our first time meeting Charlene and Josh in person.  We got to know a little about their story over a Skype chat a few months ago, and learned about their elaborate and fun proposal.  A day long proposal to be precise.  The day he popped the question, Josh sent Charlene on an Amazing Race style scavenger hunt.  With a friend in tow to document the adventure, Charlene was sent from place to place, from clue to clue, to end up at the Capilano Suspension bridge where Josh was waiting… to trick her with a bracelet.  Later that evening Charlene and Josh met up with family and friends at their church, where Josh proposed (for real) in front of all of them!  We loved the story.  An adventure proposal?!  How amazing is that!  Charlene and Josh sounded like a couple we wanted to get in front of our lenses.

Since Charlene is currently doing her residency in Minnesota, we decided it would be a great opportunity to do their engagement photos when she came back in the summer for a week.  We had a date picked to meet up in Steveston for a candid picnic themed engagement session.  The day we picked was rainy and dark.  All.  Day.  Long.  So, we picked our back-up date and that was it, we would do it rain or shine!  The day rolled around and it seemed we were going to have a little bit of both: rain and shine.  Like troopers, Charlene and Josh braved it all.  When we got to Steveston the sky along the horizon looked promising, but the large black, wet looking cloud above us was threatening.  We walked and talked with Charlene and Josh (and some curious swans), trying to keep ten steps in front of the rain, quite literally.  The looming rain was never able to keep pace, but created such a unique setting for Charlene and Josh’s outing in Steveston.  We’re always so grateful that we get to shoot so many couples who are willing to roll with the punches, and embrace the unknown!  Afterall, that is one thing marriage is all about.

Thanks Charlene and Josh for being so adventurous, we think it totally paid off!  We can’t wait to see what happens on your wedding day, and be there to capture what will surely be an adventure.

Thank you for checking out our wedding photography.  If you'd like to know more about our lives in BC, or as Pebble and Pine Photography, Creative and Modern Victoria and Vancouver Island wedding photographers, you can read About Us.

Merridale Ciderworks Wedding - Tarilyn and Joel

Joel and Tarilyn's Summer Orchard Wedding at Merridale Ciderworks on Vancouver Island // Victoria Wedding Photographers

Man, we sure love a wedding on Vancouver Island.  Merridale Ciderworks is one of Vancouver Island's best outdoor wedding venues.  It's private, it's remote feeling, it's beautiful, it's intimate. It has delightful food, and guests, and couples rave about the times they have there.

The day of their wedding took place on Tarilyn’s grandma’s 67nd wedding anniversary, and was very sentimental. It was easy to see how celebrated Joel and Tarilyn’s relationship is, and how happy their wedding guests were.  Family and friends were all participants during the ceremony events, and were a constant mob of hugs, smiles, and tearfully joyous congratulations throughout the afternoon and evening.  Their glasses were raised high following all of the heartfelt speeches, and clinked often for eventful newlywed kissing – which, of course was followed by a chorus of Ooh’ing and Ahh’ing!   Bride and Groom, in similar fashion to their engagement photo session, could not keep their eyes off each other.  Whether they were dancing, jumping in the photobooth, talking to guests, or across the room from each other, Tarilyn and Joel’s eyes were glued to one another the whole day.  After sneaking them away from friends and family to do a few more portraits among the twinkle lights, we left the couple to dance all through the night together.

Thanks so much Tarilyn and Joel, for inviting us to be part of this very very special day.

Joel and Tarilyn had a lot of amazing, local vendors!  If you’re planning a wedding on Vancouver Island, be sure to check out their work:

Venue: Merridale Estate Cidery / Merridale Ciderworks  //  Florist: Daisy Chain Florists //  Hair: Rosa Harris  //  Wedding Gown/Shoes: Lisa’s Bridal  //  Bridesmaids: Everything But The Groom  //  Wedding Favours: Sweet Little Things Bakery  //  DJ: HiWay Productions – Ron Larson //  Officiant: Barbara Densmore

Thank you for reading! For more of our work, please visit our facebook page!

Thank you for stopping by to check out our wedding photography. If you'd like to know more about our lives in BC, or as Pebble and Pine Photography, Creative and Modern Victoria and Vancouver Island wedding photographers, you can read About Us

Craidelonna Lodge Wedding in Sooke - Lindsey and Mike

Lindsey and Mike's Outdoor Beach Wedding at Craidelonna Ocean Edge Lodge in Sooke BC // Victoria Wedding Photographers

I love travelling for my photography, and jump at pretty much every opportunity that I get to do it. When Mike and Lindsey contacted me about shooting their wedding at the Craidelonna Oceanside Lodge, I was pretty excited because it looked like just an amazing location on the water.  Located near Sooke, BC it was a great opportunity to go spend some time on Vancouver Island. I love coastal BC!

When I got to the lodge I was immediately stoked on the location!  It was so picturesque and well landscaped.  My excitement over photographing this wedding was compounded again when I saw the care that had gone into the decor of the wedding. Lindsey’s attention to detail with her place settings and general decor was amazing, and matched the overall flavour of the lodge so well.  Combined with the natural beauty of the surroundings, we were able to get some beautiful shots.  Hope you enjoy them!

Thank you for stopping by to check out our wedding photography. If you'd like to know more about our lives in BC, or as Pebble and Pine Photography, Creative and Modern Victoria and Vancouver Island wedding photographers, you can read About Us.