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!

Victoria BC Sunset Engagement Photos // Jane and Nick (and Scout and Randall, of course!)

Jane and Nick's sunset engagement on their ocean property in Victoria // Victoria Wedding Photographers

You know us, we love any excuse to hang out with awesome people with awesome dogs to enjoy an awesome sunset.  It's even better when work involves all of the above!  Jane and Nick came up to Victoria from Seattle last week to enjoy a visit with family, and we stole them away for a glorious engagement session.  We didn't need to go far to embrace some epic Victoria vibes: we found the perfect romantic sunset setting right in the backyard!  

Last year we met Nick and Jane via Skype to talk about their upcoming wedding at Victoria Golf Club this year, and we couldn't wait to meet them and their pooches in person.  We were greeted with huge smiles from Jane and Nick, and lots of tail wagging from Randall and Scout. After some puppy play on the lawn, we headed over to relax on the adirandack chairs for a beautiful sunset.   Throughout the whole evening we were blown away by the natural, effortless connection and chemistry between Jane and Nick, and it was made all the more dramatic with the ocean breeze and warm sunset light.  We can't wait to see these two get married!

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!

Whonnock Lake Centre Wedding in Maple Ridge // Melanie and Matt

Melanie and Matt's intimate December wedding at Whonnock Lake Centre in Vancouver // Victoria Wedding Photographers

2017 was a fantastic year!  We travelled all around Victoria, Vancouver Island, Vancouver, BC, Canada, and globally to photograph some truly amazing celebrations.  It was so great to finish on such a high note, photographing Melanie and Matt’s intimate wedding at Whonnock Lake Centre in Maple Ridge.

 Late autumn weddings in Vancouver area always make us think rainy, foggy, misty delight, and always makes for a cozy warm indoor affair.  Melanie and Matt’s wedding was all of those things!  Whonnock Lake with it’s wooden beams strung with lights, the views of a mist covered lake, and floor to ceiling cathedral windows is the perfect place to host such an event.  We love weddings that end up taking place just before the cusp of holiday season, because they always seem that people are extra chatty, extra huggy, and extra emotional as they catch up with people they haven’t seen for a long time, meet new and interesting people, and celebrate the love around them.  It was clear that all Melanie and Matt’s loved ones and friends were having the time of their lives, and enjoying a memorable evening together: as we photographed the evening, it felt that we were photographing a big family reunion with so much closeness, photo booth fun, and dancing joy! 

Thank you Melanie and Matt for having us there to join your family and friends in such a personal and intimate moment in your lives. We hope you love the photos!

Thanks so much to Summer Rayne Photography for coming along to be our second shooter for the day! We appreciate your help and amazing talent!

An Autumn Road Trip Around Iceland // Matt and Sayde's Personal Adventure

Matt and Sayde's great big, landscape loving, road trip having, honeymoon - babymoon adventure in Iceland // Victoria Wedding Photographers

Way back when Matt and I first started talking and getting to know each other as friends, we talked mostly about photography, and camera stuff in general.  As time went on we chatted more about our hobbies, our childhoods, and things we had hoped to accomplish and do in the future - bucket lists, if you will.  One of the things that embodied all of those things was the experience of past travels, and dream of future travel. We made lists of all the places we wanted to visit, and shared photos of interesting landscapes from places we wanted to see.  Norway, Croatia, Australia, and beyond. One place that came up in almost every conversation and photo share session was Iceland, which crept quickly to the top of both of our lists of must-see places. Fast forward four years to 2016; we were getting married and we were planning a honeymoon to Iceland.  For those who don't know, 2016 was an eventful year for us as we moved to Vancouver Island, worked hard to establish our wedding photography in Victoria, and then got married ourselves.  We decided to wait a year and take our dream honeymoon in a less busy times!

With this postponement of our honeymoon came the most wonderful opportunity: photographing a series of destination elopements in Iceland.  Perfect! Not only would be be travelling, meeting interesting people, and photographing a place we'd been dying to see for years, but we'd also get the opportunity to get to know, and photograph, adventurous couples who were as filled with Iceland wanderlust as we are. You can find each of their elopements in our blog.

This post however is about our personal trip around Iceland in the days leading up to the elopements we photographed. We started our road trip in  Reykjavik and travelled counterclockwise around the ring road, stopping everywhere that made our jaws dropped.  Our jaws dropped almost every ten minutes down the road.  We were awestruck not only by the striking, and often times surreal, landscapes, but also by the way we often felt like we were the only people there, the way the sun hung so low along the horizon on autumn days that it seemed like sunset all the time, and the way the northern lights danced like rivers through the sky at night. So many times we found ourselves staring, or gasping, and asking out loud, "Could this possibly be real?!", as we tried to pinch ourselves awake from what felt like dreams.  

Without further adieu (and because I promised Matt I wouldn't write a paragraph for each photo about the geology of each location, and the saga histories that revolve around them), here's a few highlights from our trip!   Make sure to check out the drone video at the bottom as well! 

Clouds over Reykjavik.

Taking pictures of Matt taking pictures.

Making some friends.

Gullfoss, along the Golden Circle.

Sayde overlooking Faxifoss.

Matt makes a break for the black sand beaches.

Flying over Reykjanes.

Road selfies are the road-trippingest selfies!

Dramatic clouds and lighthouses galore.

Tiny man, big cliffs.

Matt checking out Seljalandsfoss.

Birds eye view of Seljalandsfoss.

Pregnant photographer portrait of a pregnant Icelandic horse.

Sayde and the sunshine.

Matt at the end of a rainbow, at the bottom of Skogafoss.

Overlooking expanses of black sand beach under the Dyrholaey cliffs.

Dyrholaey.

Little Matt, biiiig waves!

Can you spot Sayde?

Watching the northern lights from our hotel room, and FossHotel.

Tiny Sayde perched on canyon cliffs.

Iceland in a nutshell: sheep and waterfalls.

Dodging puddles, or auditioning for a Gap ad?

Too many cameras to juggle. It is a real struggle.

Never enough Icelandic horses.

Matt fighting the wind!

So much mist at Godafoss.

Matt perched over Berserkjahraun lava feild.

The very famous, very photogenic Kirkjufell.

Sayde controls the ocean, just so you know.

We also made a video featuring footage from our drone throughout Iceland!  Check that out below:

Rocky Point Park Engagement Photos in Port Moody // Nicole and Brad

Nicole and Brad grab coffees at Creekside Coffee Factory and take a stroll at Rocky Point Park in Port Moody // Victoria Wedding Photographers

We always love photographing engagement sessions because it gives us an opportunity to capture something a couple really loves to do, and give a sneak peek into their dynamic and story.  A lot of our couples like to head straight for the woods and the beaches because that's where a lot of BC folk spend much of their free time!  And we do love our free time!  When Brad and Nicole suggested they'd like to grab some coffees before heading out for a stroll, we were immediately excited to try something new. We started our morning out by meeting Brad and Nicole at Creekside Coffee in Coquitlam, to get our fill of coffee and flirty cuddles.  These two were all giggles as we snapped photos of them and their yummy lattes, chatted about their wedding plans, and talked about their newly adopted pup!  After we were all caffeinated up, we hit the dock to continue some photos and admire the mist covered mountains and cloud blanketed skies.

Thanks Nicole and Brad for a sunday funday of photos! We can't wait for your 2018 wedding at Hearthstone Brewery!

Sayde's Iceland Maternity Photos // Victoria Wedding Photographers

Victoria Wedding Photographers take to Iceland for some Maternity Photos 

When we started planning our trip to Iceland, we knew right away that we wanted to shoot some elopements while we were there!  We had an amazing time working with Jessika & Mack, Meagann & Neil, and Farrah & Lance for their big Icelandic destination elopements, and were so glad that they decided to join us on an adventure across such a beautiful country. 

A few months out from our trip date, we got the big news; Sayde was expecting!  As exciting as this was for us, one of our first thoughts was, of course, "What about Iceland??".   With some quick math and reassurances from our doctor, we confirmed that she would be within the "okay to fly" window at the time of the trip.  From that moment, we knew that Icelandic Maternity Photos would definitely be something we wanted to do! 

We connected with Trista at Reclamation Design, our neighbour, and talented fashion designer.  Trista's designs and creatives all her gowns from reclaimed lace and crocheted tablecloths to promote sustainability in the fashion word. She has been taking the bridal and maternity world by storm.  Her delicate and flowy designs were a match made in heaven for the spots that we stopped to photograph, flowing with the chilly Icelandic breezes.  And by chilly breezes, I more mean freezing gales....on some days.  :p

Our approach to shooting maternity photos in Iceland was to see what we saw, and stop if something jumped out at us during our travels!  This made for some fun challenges for Sayde, who would change into the dress in the car.  At 7 months pregnant, was a bit of a task!  But she was an absolute trooper, getting in and out of it with (relative) efficiency as we travelled across the country.  Not to mention being out in the cold wind wearing just a lace dress!  

We love the resulting photos, and hope you do as well!  And it's pretty special that one day we will get to share them with our little girl, due January 2nd!  

McKenzie Bight Engagement Photos // Amanda and Alex and puppy, Kenzie

Amanda and Alex (and their puppy Kenzie) explore the trails at McKenzie Bight in Victoria during their engagement photos // Victoria Wedding Photographers

If you know us (or even just passed us on the street haha), you know we're crazy about dogs. You can imagine the excitement we had this month when we photographed not one, not two, but three engagement sessions in a row that featured our couples' furry best friends!  Our most recent were Amanda and Alex, and the new addition to their family, Kenzie, who was named after one of Amanda and Alex's favourite Victoria trails, and the location of our engagement session with them: McKenzie Bight Trail.

With the rain storms that have been pouring down on the west coast lately, we ended up hitting the sunny-autumn-day-jackpot on our photos with Amanda and Alex.  It was fun to get to know Alex and Amanda as we explored around the trail that these two have grown so fond of,  and to watch as sunlight filtered through the leaves, as their puppy dashed around up and down the trails, and as heaps of seals floated around the base of a river waiting for fish as the sun dipped behind the hills.  Amanda and Alex have such a great connection, and have so much fun together that we just can't wait for their Metchosin wedding at Pearson College next year.

Thanks so much for spending a fun afternoon with us, Amanda and Alex! We hope you love your photos as much as us!

Bastion Square Engagement Photos in Victoria // Stef and Ryan

Stef and Ryan explore Laurel Point, Bastion Square and Parliament in downtown Victoria during their engagement photos // Victoria Wedding Photographers 

We love getting the opportunity to work with other creatives, and other photographers. We're especially excited when other photographers trust our vision, style, and personalities to have us come photograph their wedding day!  When Stef and Ryan hired us to photograph their upcoming wedding in Ucluelet, we were over the moon to get these two photographers and their weiners on the other side of our lenses.  Made you blink: they have weiner dogs.

With Stef's love of Victoria, and her frequent visits to Vancouver Island to see friends, we knew that Stef and Ryan would really want to get their engagement photos taken right here in Vic.  With an end-of-season holiday planned, we lined up their holiday with our schedules to make sure we could get together!  Joining Stef and Ryan on their holiday would be their sweet dachshunds, Farfel and Harvest, and of course, heaps and heaps of November rain.  But as you know, when the ran comes, the tourists go.  We ended up spending the afternoon with them strolling around Laurel Point, and running through alleys in Bastion Square without seeing another soul. We had the city to ourselves it seemed and our laughter echoed through the empty streets!  

Thanks Stef and Ryan for braving this dark and rainy day to have some rainy day fun, and a seemingly post apocalyptic adventure with us! We can't wait for the wedding!

Foggy, Rainy, Puppy-y Engagement Photos at Mount Douglas // Melanie and Matt

Melanie, Matt and their puppy Nova explore Mount Doug in Victoria during their rainy engagement session // Victoria Wedding Photographers

With Melanie and Matt's December wedding fast approaching, we were so happy to hear they had a bit of time to take for themselves to visit friends in Victoria!  What a perfect opportunity for us to do some engagement photos with them, and meet their sweet puppy, Nova.  Having photographed at Mount Doug in the summer, we thought it would a great place to go with Melanie and Matt. We daydreamed about sunkissed autumn leaves trees at the base of the mountain, and miles and miles of stunning views at the top, that they could experience as out-of-towners.  Well, everything works in theory! Ha ha ha! The fog and mist rolled in creating a very dramatic atmosphere around the whole mountain, which was pretty amazing to take in. We were pretty excited for the images it would create.  The rain followed shortly after; starting up the second we took the lens caps off our cameras.  Being outdoor wedding photographers on Vancouver Island's wet coast, we've gotten comfortable working in all types of weather, but we were so glad to see how easily and enthusiastically Matt and Melanie embraced the rain and fog!  They were all laughs and giggles as their puppy dashed through puddles, and as their clothes became drenched in rain drops.  Even with the dense fog at the top of the mountain, we were still able to take in some spectacular views as tree tops and hills jutted out here and there through the mist. It created an isolated feeling, blanket-like atmosphere: perfect for enjoying some cuddles under their umbrella together!

Thanks Melanie and Matt for dancing and skipping in the rain with us, and bringing silly sweet Nova along for us to meet.  We're excited for the wedding!

Reykjavik Elopement in Iceland // Farrah and Lance

Farrah and Lance elope in Iceland at the Blue Lagoon, black beaches, with a sunset vow exchange at Seljalandsfoss // Victoria Wedding and Elopement Photographers

We met Farrah and Lance through our friend Emma of Emma McCormmick Creative, and were so excited when they told us that they wanted to elope in Iceland and have us there to take the photos!  Like all of our couples, Farrah and Lance had their own unique way of doing their elopement, and we loved photographing the whole experience.  Farrah and Lance had a not-so-secret elopement, and even had a handful of family members and friends along to share in the day.  A mini wedding! We  love it!  

The day started out dark, with rain clouds looming over Reykjavik and as far as we could see: we assumed that our lucky weather streak had run out.  Our only option for the day was to follow the road in any direction that might lead us towards any sort of light. What a great decision that ended up being!

Black lava rocks, topped with bright green moss is what covers most of the Reykjanes Peninsula where we decided to head.  At Blue Lagoon, the vibrantly blue pools of water cut a contrasting path through the green and black blanket. They're made all the more vivid by their stark white silica borders.  For Farrah and Lance's first look, it made for a very surreal setting, even as rain threatened to pour on them.  From there we headed east, where we were treated to black sand beaches; their grassy dunes stretching for thousands of acres. Here we found an absolute absence of people, and warm sunlight bursting through dense fog, creating an otherworldly and romantic atmosphere.  

Farrah and Lance had saved their vows just for Iceland, and they were hoping to be able to exchange them at a waterfall at some point through the day.  As the day wound down and the sun began to set, we made our way further east to Seljalandsfoss, stopping along the way to visit with some Icelandic horses, and trying to coax them into cuddles with the promise of apples. We made it to Seljalandsfoss just in time for a glorious sunset, which couldn't have been more perfect for Farrah and Lance's romantic vow exchange.

Thank you Farrah and Lance! We had such a great day with you and your squad, chasing the light, fishing for horses, and walkie-talkie-ing like truckers between our vehicles!  Congratulations to you both, we hope these memories last forever!

Snaefellnes Peninsula Iceland Elopement // Meagann & Neil

Meagann and Neil elope amongst basalt columns, waterfalls and lava fields in Iceland // Victoria Wedding Photographers

 

In our experience photographing three destination elopements in Iceland, on back to back days, we took away so many highlights to reminisce about.  We loved getting to know our couples' different personalities, how they met, and what their lives were like back home, away from this dreamland.  One thing we weren't (but should should have been) expecting was the way all three of our couples would plan and execute their elopement in their own special way.  It only magnified the romance factor of an already romantic way to marry, and we felt it gave us an even more intimate look into the couple's relationship dynamic.

If you read Jessika and Mack's elopement blog from the day before, you know that they had legally married in their home state of Colorado a few days before they left for Iceland.  They had exchanged their wedding rings, but saved their vows for their big day Iceland.  As well, Jessika's wedding dress made it all the way to Iceland without Mack seeing it, so they could get ready the traditional way; without the groom seeing the bride, even though they were going to be in the same apartment at the time!   

The following day we met with Meagann and Neil at their hotel to start the day at their Reykjavik hotel, where they'd get ready together to share the anticipation and excitement of the day.  We found it so romantic that Neil would be the person to help Meagann into her wedding gown (insert 100 heart-eyes emojis), before they looked each other up and down with huge smiles, and headed out the door.  Meagann and Neil also legally signed their marriage papers in their hometown in Ontario, where they had exchanged vows and wedding bands.  The unique twist that we love, is that while the two had their wedding bands, Meagann had not yet seen the beautiful custom sapphire engagement ring that Neil had made just for her.  What a treat for us to get to see her face as Neil opened the little wooden box for her during their ring exchange ceremony. And what better place than an isolated area of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula; at the foot of a waterfall, and overlooking an endless field of bright green, moss-blanketed lava, veined by a river speckled with swans.  The warm light shining through overhead clouds, and the misty wind that danced through Meagann's hair and gown only added more drama to an already dreamlike day.  After their ring exchange, we explored more of the Snaefellsnes peninsula area, that Meagann and Neil had fallen in love with their first few days in Iceland.  They showed us areas that we hadn't had the opportunity to explore on our first trip to the area, and it felt like casual day out adventuring with friends as Neil pointed out all the quaint homesteads he was for sure planning to retire to when it came time.  We took in the impressive basalt column cliffs, took a drive through the incredible Berserkjahraun (mad-man's lava field), and they finished the day with some beachside cuddles at Djupalonssandur (the black lava pearl beach).

Thank you Meagann and Neil for letting us be the ones to peer in and capture such an intimate and personal milestone in your life.  We had so much fun driving around an area of Iceland that meant so much to you, and hope these photos hold a life time of treasure for you! 

 

  

South Iceland Elopement with Jessika and Mack // Victoria Destination Wedding Photographer

Jessika and Mack adventure from Reykjavik to share personal vows and a glorious sunset in Vik during their South Iceland elopement  // Iceland Elopement Photographers

We had already been in Iceland for ten days prior to Jessika and Mack's elopement date. We had circled Iceland's Ring Road to enjoy a lot of the sites, and were treated to amazing autumn sunlight, which hung low along the horizon that it seemed all day everyday was golden hour.  A photographer's dream!  However, the three days leading up to their wedding were the three most treacherous weather days we experienced so far.  Three entire days of racing wind, up to 115 km/h at times.  Three entire days of pelting,  cold and stinging rain. It left me and Matt passing worried glances back and forth to each other as the elopement dates drew closer. We knew Iceland's weather could be intense and unpredictable, and we were bracing ourselves for that.  It was hard to deny ourselves a bit of worry since all our couples had travelled so far to come her to elope with us, and it was beginning to look like we may not even have weather that would be safe enough to photograph them outside!  Jessika and Mack came all the way from Colorado in the US for their wedding, and we really wanted to send them back with images that reflected the experience of their whole trip!

We woke up on the morning of Jessika and Mack's elopement to clear skies and zero wind.  The excitement was immediate and overwhelming, which is evidently magnified 100x when dealing with pregnancy hormones. Enter a relieved and impossible-to-contain happy weepy Sayde.  We planned to meet Jessika and Mack at their airBnB apartment where they would both get ready for the day, without seeing each other, before their first look in Reykjavik!  

From there we travelled a popular-for-good-reason route along the south of Iceland, stopping to visit some Icelandic horses, heritage sites, and a few of Iceland's most famous waterfalls.  We seemed to have some curiously coincidental luck the whole day. Not just with the weather turning out great, but with the areas we stopped to photograph in.  When travelling a popular route, it's expected that we were going to have to share the area with tourists and other visitors.  that day however, it seemed we were either arriving to locations as most people were leaving, or leaving locations as most people were arriving.  At Skogafoss this was made very evident as we photographed Jessika and Mack, with very few people around, right in front of the waterfall.  For a few minutes, any existence of the outside world was e blotted out by the sounds of crashing water made by this colossal falls.  It was just the two of them and us in the whole world, it seemed. As we wrapped up and turned 180 degrees to head back to the car, our eyes widened to the sight of 4 coach sized tour busses unloading simultaneously, and their 200 passengers all stampeding slow motion in our direction.  It was like waking up from the most surreal and beautiful dream to realize a zombie apocalypse had started, and the hoard had found you.  The four of us raced back to the car, dodging other bodies as we went, and breaking into fits of laughter as Jessika and Mack got tangled in a cluster of people who were desperate to take a cell phone photo of the two of them in their wedding attire. Once we were all safe in our car we all broke into a fit of laughter over what had just happened, then we travelled all the way to Vik where we wrapped up our day with Jessika and Mack's personal vows isolated amongst black sandstone formations, and watched a glorious sunset from the top of Dyrholey's jaw dropping cliffs. 

While we loved photographing Jessika and Mack in such a unique and interesting environment, it was even better watching their excitement, the ease of their connection together , and their sweet and personal way they interact together.  Riding around in our little hatchback all day with them was such a great way to get to know them better and really take in the magnitude of what this elopement, and their relationship together means to them.

Thank you Jessika and Mack, for travelling all the way from Colorado to elope in Iceland with us! It was such an unforgettable experience! 

Cheakamus Centre Wedding in Squamish // Kristina and Dan

Kristina and Dan's wedding in the mossy rainforest of Squamish BC // Victoria Wedding Photographers

You probably recognize Kristina and Dan from their Golden Ears Park engagement photos in September! Well, last month we travelled to Squamish from Vancouver Island to photograph their amazing rainforest wedding at Cheakamus Centre. This was the first wedding we photographed at Cheakamus Centre since our own wedding, and we were so excited that it would be Kristina and Dan's wedding! A super adventurous couple in a rainforest surrounded by mountains?!?! Sign us up: it's obviously going to be an epic day!

We kicked things off with a sweet first look at Cheakamus Centre, on gorgeous blue-green duck pond, with Dan and Kristina's bridal party peeking from a far.  Their outdoor ceremony was tucked in an intimate forest grove surrounded by moss, towering trees, and turning leaves.

With their rings exchanged, and vows proclaimed, Kristina and Dan, their friends and family partied the night away with silly reception games, memorable speeches, photobooth antics, and dancefloor shindigging.  

Thanks Krisitina and Dan for having us their to capture your wedding! We hope you love the photos!

Beacon Hill Park Elopement in Victoria // Kaiti and Mike

Kaiti and Mike's secret September wedding in Beacon Hill Park in Victoria // Victoria Wedding Photographers

With September being our busiest month, and the month of our anniversary, we weren't really expecting to have enough time to really celebrate our anniversary.  With so many wedding on the docket, we figured we'd probably spend the day editing, consulting, updating our portfolio, catching up on social media, or meeting with couples.  As it happens though, we were given the opportunity to do something very special on the day of our anniversary.  When Kaiti and Mike approached us with their elopement so secret that we'd be the very witnesses on their marriage certificate, we knew that would be the most memorable way to spend our anniversary.  We couldn't wait for the day to hurry up and arrive so we could spend it photographing, witnessing, and celebrating he marriage of a fantastic couple who would end up sharing the very same day! What a treat!

Kaiti and Mike came from the Mainland to elope in Victoria, and to spend a couple days enjoying the city. We met the two of them on that sunny September afternoon in Beacon Hill Park for their intimate elopement amongst a secluded grove of Garry oaks. What a gorgeous place to exchange such heartfelt felt vows, and rings. After their official ceremony, we spent time exploring around the park and beaches nearby, taking in the sights, the sunlit fog, and wedded bliss!

Thanks, Kaiti and Mike, for including us in such a great day, and congratulations on your marriage!  We hope you love the photos!

Church and State Winery Wedding with Lindsey and Brent // Victoria Wedding Photographers

Lindsey and Brent's summery September wedding at Church and State Winery on Vancouver Island // Victoria Wedding Photographers

We first met Lindsey and Brent at Victoria's Modern Bride Wedding Show back in January, and have been eagerly awaiting their Church and State wedding since we did their spring time engagement photos. Wow, how time flies!  

Even though their wedding fell on an autumn day, Lindsey and Brent were still treated to summer sunshine.  What could be a more perfect way to start off a summery wedding, than with a private first look between bride and groom, under a willow tree, in front of a duck filled pond, in Beacon Hill Park in Victoria?!  To add a cherry to an already intimate first look, Lindsey and Brent took the time to read each other some very personal and emotional vows, before heading to the ceremony with family and friends. 

Church and State is already a top notch, rave-worthy venue, but throw in the organization and stylings of Borrowed and Blue Events, and you've got an unforgettable atmosphere for a wedding there: equal parts welcoming, breathtaking and intimate.  We always love speech time during weddings because it gives us another little peek through the window into our couple's lives, and Lindsey and Brent's family's opened those windows wide.  We finished off the night as the music cranked louder and these two and their friends left everything on the dancefloor (mostly just a lot of shirts)!

Thanks for having us there to celebrate with you, Lindsey and Brent, we hope you love the photos!

Linwood House Wedding on The Sunshine Coast // Bo and John-Paul

Bo and JP's ocean front wedding on BC's Sunshine Coast // Vancouver Island Wedding Photographers

If you've followed our work you've seen that we've photographed a lot of adventurous, spontaneous and genuine couples, who cut their own path and do things their way.  Bo and JP are shining example of that! They had so many handmade details to their day, added a lot of personal details into their decor, and it was clear they put a lot of thought into their guests' enjoyment of the wedding!  When we woke up to an absence of sunshine, on the day of their Sunshine Coast wedding, Bo and JP weren't even fazed.  Their outdoor ceremony and reception in Gibsons would continue on as planned, regardless of the pelting rain and the ominous clouds that seemed to stretch farther than than the horizon. No sheltered Plan B necessary!

Sometimes unexpected things happen at weddings that leave us in awe, and such a thing happened during Bo and JP's wedding that left us marvelling to this day.  The rain poured down as guest arrived to the ceremony with beaming smiles in their best raincoats, huddled under umbrellas, and found their ran sprinkled seats.  The rain continued as JP and his groomsmen made their way to the front of the ceremony site and greeted their guests.  And of course, the rain remained as Bo's bridesmaid and man found their way to the front.  Everyone stood with eager eyes waiting for B to be walked down the aisle.  Bo came around the corner to walk down the aisle, and the second John-Paul's eyes landed on her, and the smile spread across his face, the rain stopped. That. Every. Second. 

With the rain gone, and the umbrellas folded and put away for the rest of the day, we carried on to Linwood House to enjoy a day of photographing Bo and JP's connection, their lust for life, all the personal and handmade touches they put into their day, and all the antics of their friends and family.

Thank you Bo and John-Paul for having us there to capture such an amazing day with you, your family and friends. 

Travel Photography - Exploring the PNW Coastline with a Kiwi

Hey all, Matt here!  I figured I'd share a bit of a personal/travel blog.  This past August, we found ourselves with a rare weekend off.  You need to understand that, as wedding photographers, a weekend off in August is a bit of a holy grail. It's typically one of our busiest months....a month that we rarely see friends or family, and spend most our days (aside from Saturdays, where we're shooting), with our faces illuminated by a computer screen.  

So special an occasion was this August weekend off, that a good friend of mine from New Zealand decided he better take the opportunity to come experience a Canadian summer, and hopped a plane for a visit. Having previously only experienced Canada in the winter, Larryn's impression up until now from travels through BC was similar to the clichés......snow and cold, fireplaces, igloos.  

Upon Larryn's arrival in our hometown of Sooke, I set about showing him everything that makes this area so beautiful.  Larryn is a talented photographer himself, specializing in astro photography and landscapes, so we set out to capture as much of the beauty of the places we visited as we could!  

It was also fortuitous that the Total Eclipse happened to fall during his visit (totally unplanned), so we decided to travel down to the "Zone of Totality" in Oregon to experience it firsthand.  Pretty amazing!  Definitely have it in the calendar for next time.

Below are a selection of my photos from the trip.  For the photo geeks out there, these photos are a mix of shots from a Nikon D750, Canon M3, Mavic Pro Drone, and of course the trusty ol' iPhone. 

Sheringham Point Lighthouse, just outside Sooke in Shirley. 

Shortly after capturing the first photo of the Lighthouse, the fog came rolling in fast and heavy.  They sure don't call it "Fogust" for nothing!

After the fog came in we left Sheringham Point and headed to Jordan River where we photographed this row of pilings.  The fog on the horizon actually made for a great backdrop, creating an "infinity" effect where typically you can see the Olympic Peninsula in Washington.  

Travelling further up the coast to just outside Port Renfrew, where we had to get a shot using the drone of this bridge across a giant river valley.  Hard to tell the perspective, but it's probably 100 feet down to the water below the bridge!   That's us standing in the middle.

This is a giant Douglas Fir tree known as "Big Lonely Doug".  It's a bit of a 4x4 to get to, but well worth the trip!  We've taken almost every visitor we've hosted up to this location.  Doug was used as an anchor point to haul in other trees that were logged from this clearing, then for whatever reason he was left standing, the lone tree in the field.  For additional size perspective, check out THIS SHOT from a previous trip, with Sayde standing at the bottom of the tree! 

Botanical Beach near Port Renfrew.  We had a GORGEOUS sunset on the evening we were down here, but unfortunately we weren't able to capture at its most ideal moment, because a BEAR wandered onto the scene!  Still though.....this island makes an awesome subject.  

(This shot by Larryn, I am pictured in it).  The bear we encountered crossed behind me on the beach, and showed a keen interest in our bags of photography gear.  Larryn, being from the land of NO natural predators, was particularly fascinated by the encounter.  So much so, that it actually made him a bit of a celebrity down in New Zealand.  Read more about that here. 

Headed down the Oregon Coast, one of our first stops was Cape Kiwanda.  Always dramatic, always beautiful.

Larryn walking with Haystack Rock in the background.

Haystack Rock, Cape Kiwanda OR

Cape Kiwanda, OR

This was a little lookout we found as we were driving the coastline.  A pretty amazing perspective of the Netarts Bay peninsula. 

Finding a clear spot to photograph the eclipse was a bit of a challenge!   When we woke up in the morning near Depoe Bay, OR, there was a heavy fog sitting over the water.  We ended up driving a fair ways inland and stopping in a random little pull-out on the side of the road where the fog was cleared.  We of course didn't plan well enough to find any eclipse glasses, so we were VERY fortunate that other people stopped in the same location had spares for us!

The eclipse itself was such a unique experience in the Zone of Totality, and so hard to describe in a way that really portrays it.  The day literally turned to night, the temperature dropped significantly....crickets started chirping, birds went silent.  It was eerie and awesome all at the same time.  I captured this series of the moon crossing the sun. 

I also thought this shot of the sun just emerging (called the "diamond ring" effect) was pretty cool.

After the eclipse we travelled back up the coast, stopping at Cape Meares. 

We were back into the heavy fog here, and it was SUPER windy!   The pathway down to the lookouts.  

Foggy water out from the coast at Cape Meares. 

Cape Meares Lighthouse. 

Fog for days.

Cannon Beach has special meaning to Sayde and I, so I was excited to get back there to shoot more photos again!  Larryn and I spent the afternoon/evening at the beach, capturing a beautiful sunset, and getting the opportunity to do some drone flights. 

Larryn getting a snap shot close to sunset at Cannon Beach.

Setting up a shot.  You can see the fog still sitting on the horizon behind Larryn.

One of my shots of sunset as the sun disappears behind the smaller rock at Cannon Beach.

A neat portrait of Larryn standing in the water after sunset with the moon above him, getting his angle at Cannon Beach.  

 A long exposure post-sunset of the rocks at Cannon Beach. 

Campfires on the beach with the giant rock formations looming in the background. 

With Larryn being an expert astro photographer, I had to try my hand at a couple shots.  I'm sure his night photos from the beach will be much more impressive, but I'm pretty happy with these as a first attempt. 

A second shot of the Milky Way at Cannon Beach.

We headed further up the coast, stopping in to see this shipwreck at Fort Stevens State Park at the very Northern tip of Oregon, near Astoria.  What this picture doesn't reveal is that the beach was packed with people all over the place, and we got pounded by waves to get the shots!  We were regularly diving to save our gear from getting knocked down by waves.  

After Fort Stevens, we headed just across the giant Astoria bridge (which is also really cool....sorry no photo taken), and camped out beside a really awesome spot we had scouted out on the way down, hoping to capture a dramatic sunrise.  We were not let down!  I only wish the tide was a little lower as these pilings in the water were quite a bit more visible when we saw them on the way down.  Still though....that sunrise!  

A second shot from the same sunrise.  Capturing this was almost worth the no sleep.  The roadside camping location we chose was silent when we rolled into it around 1am, but what we didn't realize was that around 4am it turns into a busy trucking route, and it sounded like semi trucks were driving RIGHT THROUGH our tent.  Not much sleep that night.. 

Following the trip to Oregon, we headed back to Sheringham Point for Larryn to shoot a timelapse of the night sky with the lighthouse.  I captured this portrait of him shortly after sunset. 

I also took the opportunity to shoot some drone footage of the areas we visited.  I'm far from an expert video editor (or drone pilot, at this point), but check out the video below for a taste!

All in all it was a pretty awesome trip, and I was glad for the opportunity to take a short rare summer trip during our busy part of the year!  Showing an international friend around also gives you some fresh perspective on places you've been before, and I definitely learned a few things about photography from him as well!  I look forward to trying some more astro photography in the future.  Please make sure to check out Larryn's work as well, and for more of our landscape work, check out our gallery here!  

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! 

Lighthouse Park Maternity Photo Session in West Van // Lindsay and Darren

Lindsay and Darren explore Lighthouse Park during their maternity photo session in West Vancouver // Vancouver Island Maternity Photographers

Having photographed weddings for half a decade, we've gotten to know, and celebrated with so many amazing couples over the years.  We always love the opportunity to meet up with them again after their wedding to see how life has changed for them since they said their vows.  For Lindsay and Darren, much has changed in the two years since their Victoria wedding at Church and State Winery. One of those changes will come in the form of parenthood!  When they told us the news we were sooo overjoyed for them, not just because their baby is due just shy of a month before ours and we're super-duper biased, but because we think they'll make the most wonderful, caring, silly, and down to earth parents for a little human.  It was even more exciting when they asked us if we'd capture this little moment in time, to celebrate such a huge life milestone, and the adventure to come.  Oooobviously we were dying to it!

We met up in West Vancouver to explore the cliffs of Lighthouse Park, wandering around in the space between the glassy ocean and the blanketed sky.  We spent some time catching up on everything from the past two years, people watching, admiring the climbers, and holding our breath during those moments the sun rays fanned out through cracks in the clouds. 

Thanks Lindsay and Darren for letting us capture this special time!  We can't wait for you to meet your little one, and to become the awesome parents we know you'll be!