I met Penny through my dear cousin, Lisa, and couldn't help but instantly love her bubbly personality. Penny and her fiance, Tony, seem to LOVE to laugh which always makes my job way more fun. I can't wait to ring in the New Year photographing their wedding!! Have a look at some of my favorite photos from their engagement session! Feel free to contact me here, too, if you're engaged and looking for a photographer!
Here are some tips that I plan on passing onto my brides for their wedding days! Enjoy! · Planning your timeline -I’ll be contacting my brides a few weeks prior to your wedding to request a timeline with the where’s and when’s of your day but here are a few things to consider: - Wedding activities typically take longer than you think. If your ceremony starts and ends on time that’s awesome but assume it will take a little longer. -Are you having a receiving line after your ceremony? If so, do you want me to come pull you away from it after a certain amount of time or do you want it to just run as long as it does? Guests typically want to chat with you so during/after a receiving line so let me know if you want me to keep things on a tight schedule. -How much time have you set aside for photography with your bridal party? “Formal” photos vary in priority from couple to couple. I recommend between 2-3 hours for formals (less than 2 can be a little tight/rushed; more than 3 is rarely necessary).
· Prepping your Getting Ready space -Rarely is a house abundant in beautiful natural light and it’s definitely not a requirement but it definitely is an asset. Consider getting ready in a room with the best natural light. -Consider the overall look and details of the room you’re getting ready in. If you keep pinning images that have a bride admiring herself in a gorgeous, tall mirror then consider purchasing/borrowing a mirror so that photos like that are an option. If you have gorgeous details be aware of their surroundings (cluttered dressers, shoe racks, etc.). I’m a “shoot in your surroundings” type photographer so I shoot things “as they are”. I happen to think that a dresser covered in hairbrushes and makeup is just fine because it says something about the busy-ness and fun of getting ready but just be aware that if it’s there during photos it will likely be IN your photos.
· Bridal Boudoir -A few of my brides have allowed me to whisk them off to a private room for a quick shot of them in their bridal lingerie. Let me know if you’re game for this :)
· Getting into your dress -I’ve had some brides only want their mom in the room helping them get into their dress for a more “intimate” type feel as well as brides who want their bridesmaids helping them get dressed for a different vibe. Think about if you have a preference. -Again, consider a room with the best light. -Get into it earlier than you think. A lace up dress is never done up in 10 minutes (in my experience).
· Are you doing a First Look? -Are you doing a “First Look” and/or having all of your formals taken prior to your ceremony? This is becoming a common trend and can be really fun (not to mention that you might feel your “freshest” for the photos seeing as you just had your hair and makeup done)!
· Do you have a videographer? -If so, please let me know so that I can plan on having to work around them. Did you hire a professional videographer or is it a friend or relative? Do you feel like either the videographer or the photographer is a priority? These questions might seem harsh however there are reasons why I’d like to know the answers. You’ve paid a few thousand dollars to have me photograph your wedding; if a cousin is video-taping your ceremony (and/or the rest of the day) as more of a favor then it may affect my decision to cut in front of them at certain times to ensure I get an important shot. One bride asked her friend to video tape her ceremony and he set up his gear right in the middle of the centre aisle. Needless to say, he took away a lot of opportune shots by being there and so, in order to get what I needed, I had to step in front of his camera on occasion. On the flip side, if you feel that video is a priority then I can definitely work with/around a videographer with your understanding that I might not get certain angles/shots due to staying out of the videographer’s way.
· Consider an “unplugged” wedding (or at least an “unplugged” ceremony) I 100% understand that your guests want photos of you at your wedding and I’m cool with it. However, something to consider is the number of cameras, phones, even ipads that somehow seem to be snuck into that shot of you walking down the aisle. The industry calls them “Uncle Bob” (the guy who’s in the background or foreground of your wedding, always with his camera up, often in the way of your hired photographer). Like I said, it’s ok. It’s something that happens at every wedding. However, you hired me for a reason so it’s also cool if your guests are invited to leave their cameras away and simply enjoy your wedding :)
Image on left courtesy of Amber Wilkie Photography. Image on right courtesy of offbeatbride.com.
· Family Photos -If you’re having family photos taken then create a family shot list (I’ll ask you for this a few weeks prior to your wedding as well). Let the family who you’d like to be involved know so that they stick around. -Obviously, I’ll photograph your family photos wherever you’d like but I would really recommend having them done immediately following your ceremony, somewhere right outside the ceremony venue. Family photos taken at a second location tend to take a lot longer than anyone plans for due to the number of cars that need to get to that second location.
· Go easy on the Pinterest requests -Pinterest is AMAZING for ideas and inspiration for planning your wedding. Photographers drool over the idea of shooting a wedding full of pinterest-inspired details but try not to get too caught up in “must-have” shots. I see so many pins that say “Make sure my photographer does this!” and “A photo with my groom doing a fist pump during the first kiss is a MUST!” I’m totally game for trying new things but, your groom might not do a fist pump while he’s kissing you and I always hope that my brides can just stay in the moment and go with what’s happening during their day. Also, I hope you’ve hired me for me and my personal photography style. If there are photos that you really want to try then maybe try to limit the list to around 5 ideas and then understand that I can take that idea and create something (rather than duplicating something) based off of it.
· Laugh and Love the skin you’re in -If you’re hiring me I’m assuming you’ve looked at my portfolio and liked what you saw. I’m also assuming that the things that might have drawn you in are, in huge part, the emotion, fun and laughter I’ve had the pleasure of capturing. I’m assuming you weren’t scouring images for stomach “bumps” or arm size or double chins. I’ve taken a bit of a stand on how I don’t do body altering in my images. Yes, I sometimes make a note of which angle is more flattering than another but I will not interrupt your groom from whispering something into your ear in order to make the scene “more perfect”. What could be more perfect that catching that moment on its own?? So I suggest you just relax. People are drawn to the real you, not a “perfect” you. So just be yourself :)
· Light -Sunny, hazy, photos taken at dusk won’t be the same as midday photos taken in January. Both can be awesome but they won’t be the same. It’s just good to know.
· What if it rains? -Consider bringing matching umbrellas for your bridal party (clear or neutral colored umbrellas are ideal) and maybe even coordinating rainboots. -Although I can absolutely give suggestions for both indoor and outdoor locations it is your responsibility to have a backup plan in place should weather require that we shoot indoors. Be aware that the majority of locations in and around the city require that they are booked in advance and typically come at a cost (even if you don’t end up using it) so I recommend looking into this a few months prior to your wedding.
· And what about snow? -You may not be able to have all of your photos outside during the winter but consider bringing some “cover-up” styling options for a few unique photo ops outside (scarves, cardigans, belts…even toques/beanies!). You’d be surprised at how far a bit of creativity goes!
· Additional fees, permits -Edmonton venues have definitely caught on to the fact that photographers want to shoot everywhere and, unfortunately, that sometimes means that you need permits for certain locations so please plan/book accordingly. -Please also plan to account for parking costs for your limo driver/bridal party transportation and your photographers.
· Food -Bring water bottles and “no-stain” type snacks for your bridal party. This definitely helps keeps energy and spirits up for pictures.
· Footwear -Walking around in heels for hours is draining even for an avid-stiletto wearer. Consider wearing and/or bringing comfy shoes for the walking around parts. -Consider shoes appropriate to your photography locations. Stilettos that sink into the grass if you’re shooting at a park are not fun for any bride/bridesmaid that I’ve seen. Plus, it gets dirt all over the spike of your shoe. Food for thought.
· Feed your vendors -If you have hired me to cover your reception then please have an assigned place for me (and my second shooter) to sit and eat (Don’t forget to feed your DJ, too!). Consider arranging for your photographer’s table to be served near the beginning of the meal so that we can be finished and ready for when the program begins.
· Are you planning a grand exit? -Credit is again due to Pinterest for the plethora of gorgeous “grand exit” ideas. Something to consider is that if you’re doing a grand “Everyone-hold-a-sparkler-in-a-row-so-that-we-can-run-through-it” exit simply because you want an awesome photo of it then remember to account for that exit in the timeline of when your photographer is still scheduled to be present.
· Relax -Rarely is everything perfect and on-time at a wedding. Something may be forgotten. If you can, send someone for it. In the meantime, just relax and roll with it. You get to marry your Love. And that’s awesome.
Thought I'd share the gear I use (and some images taken with each lens)!
-two Canon 5D Mk II's
-Canon Speedlite 430EX II
-Canon Speedlite 580EX II
-Mini TT1 PockWizard Transmitter
-two PocketWizard Plus II Transceivers
-Canon 85mm f1.8 (My go-to lens! I love it so much I use it on 75% of what I shoot)
-Canon 50mm f1.4 (New-ish to my collection and quickly becoming a favorite)
-Canon 35mm f1.4L
-Sigma (Canon mount) 24-70mm f2.8
-Canon 28mm f1.8
And for editing I currently use Adobe Lightroom 3 :)
Have any questions? Feel free to contact me and perhaps I'll do a blog post on it!
I recently asked on my Aeris facebook page if anyone had any questions about my work or photography in general and was asked this question: "What kind of settings did you use in the church when you were shooting without a flash? Your indoor photos are so bright!"
First off, I have to admit that I'm pleased that this person didn't notice that I was indeed using a flash! It's nice to feel like my shooting isn't as big of a distraction to guests as it sometimes feels :)
Why didn't he notice my flash (as much)? Because I point it straight up :) Although the photo below (please excuse the awful quality of the stock image :/) shows it slightly angled forward, I tend to shoot with my flash point directly up or pointed slightly back so that the light bounces off (in most cases) the ceiling. The results of bouncing your light as opposed to shooting with your flash pointed directly at your subjects are numerous but a main example would be to avoid harsh shadows and the "deer in a headlight" look. There ARE ways to shoot with your flash facing straight at your subject; it does very much change the look of an image and can add dynamic effects if done correctly however I simply don't shoot that way. Maybe I will someday but the style you see reflected throughout my portfolio doesn't include "fill flash" (aka a forward facing flash).
At times when I'm using my flash I also may pull up my white card (a built-in card on certain flashes) that reflects a small amount of light forward even if I'm bouncing my flash off a ceiling. Below are images of both a flash with a built-in white card as well as a "make your own" version if your flash doesn't have one :)
Although I used my flash throughout this ceremony it often still needs a little "umph" in post-processing. Churches/ceremony locations often cast odd colors onto an image due to things like a "yellow-y" wood paneled ceiling/walls, paint colors, pew fabric colors, stained glass, etc. - all of which end up changing the overall tone of an image (If I shot in a room with red walls and a yellow ceiling things may come off looking a little yellow/red, yes?). So, in post, I can correct those tones/change my white balance to better reflect the actual colors that were present rather that objects/people with odd color casts on them. You can also adjust your white balance in-camera prior to shooting in a specific location but again, I usually tweak it in post.
Here are two examples of images I shot at a recent wedding. The images on the left are SOOC (straight out of camera) and were taken with my flash bounced off the ceiling (see specific settings under each image). The images on the right are after I tweaked them in post.
ISO 1250, f2.2, 1/160
ISO 1250, f2.2, 1/160
Do you have any questions? Contact me and perhaps I'll do a post on it! Please note that I don't by any means consider myself an expert on photography. I know what I've learned so far and, as I plan to never stop learning, I hope I'd have an even better answer in 2 years, then 5 years, etc. :)
I had a wonderful time last Saturday photographing Claudine and Lorne's lovely wedding. They chose to do their formal photos before their ceremony so we kicked it off with a first look (I love first looks!!!!). Afterwards we headed for Calvary Baptist Church for their ceremony. It was such a lovely and unique setup. Guests were seated at long tables instead of pews/chairs facing the front and it made for a wonderful, intimate atmosphere<3 Have a look at some of my favorite shots from the day!
Feel free to check out more of my wedding images in my portfolio or from my wedding blog posts! You can contact me here, too, if you're looking for a photographer for your own wedding!
I had the crazy privilege of photographing my good friends Tom and Colette at their wedding this past Saturday. Even though they're up in Edmonton we went down to their hometown of Calgary for their wedding. The ceremony was lovely at Colette's home church and the reception was gorgeous at the Calgary Zoo. Have a look at a few of my favorite shots from their wedding! If you like them you should check out more of my weddings either here or here. Feel free to contact me if you're looking for someone to capture your wedding, too!
I recently had the privilege of photographing a bridal session for Meghan and Kyle. Meghan is a local florist (Flowers By Meghan) and has made several gorgeous bouquets for some of the styled shoots I've done in the last 6 months. Check out the two she made for this session!
Are you one of those people who loves seeing before/after shots? I totally am. I LOVE seeing how some of my favorite photographers get their shot SOOC (straight out of camera) and what their final image ends up looking like. Once you've got shooting down, a photographer's editing is the other half of the equation; the other half of what summarizes their style and makes them unique. It took me a few years to discover what kind of editing I seemed to lean towards so it'll probably take you a while too. Once you figure it out it is SO FUN (as you can start to envision how your own personal tweaking will lend itself to your image as soon as you shoot it) and SO LIBERATING (as you no longer feel like you need to replicate every style out there)! I'm pretty comfortable now in my shooting and editing. Yes, I LOVE learning and growing and will never stop but still, it's fun having my own personal style of creating images. Have a look at a few of my own before/after shots!
Feel free to peruse the rest of my site and give me a shout if you're looking for a photographer for your own wedding!
I am beyond excited to now offer glam sessions as part of my services! What's the difference between glam and boudoir? Well, I really really want to offer beautiful photos to every woman and I feel that the term "boudoir" carries with it the "clothes off" implication. Glam can be anything! Whether you want to look soft and sensual, a little more risque (great gift idea for your anniversary ;) ), or simply stunning (a great gift for yourself!)- Glam is for you! Due to the fact that Glam can be sensual in nature I want to put it out there that I understand the importance of discretion. The few images shown in this post are shown with full permission and, at my own discretion, aren't anything I wouldn't feel confident showing my grandparents :) I do have more images available for viewing upon request.
Contact me if you want to go glam!
My husband and I got to meet up with our friends this past March when both of our trips to Puerta Vallarta overlapped for a few days. Rebekah was an absolute gem and had excitingly agreed to bring down her wedding dress so that I can take some destination bridals with her and Kerran. They didn't hesitate (well, Rebekah didn't hesitate lol) to jump in the ocean and roll around in the sand to get some fun shots. Their hotel was a bit unsure of us visiting to take photos so we had about 25 minutes to get it done! Thanks, Rebekah and Kerran, for your trooper attitudes :)
You know when people come into your life and then your life becomes richer because of it? That's what it's like with Lee-Ann and Mike. I worked with Lee-Ann for several years (and got to get to know Mike along the way). Both of them are full of the smiles and optimisim that are crazy contangious. I love it. And I love them! I can't wait to photograph their wedding this September!!
Cindy and Graham came all the way from Fort McMurray for our weekend engagement shoot this past January. It was sooo chilly but we made it work by having a nice little coffee break inbetween outdoor shots. I can't wait to photograph their wedding this July!
Winter is here which means, unfortunately, that wedding season has slowed to a halt (for me at least) until next year. I have learned this year that I love shooting weddings more than anything else and as soon I shot my last 2012 wedding in September I started dreaming of how I can keep doing what I love during the cold winter months. Enter Pinterest browsing. I scoured the internet for creative winter weddings/bridal sessions and, although I found a few ADORABLE ways to style your dress for your winter wedding formals, the majority of styling options seemed to be typical – white coat, white shawl, white hand muff, white, white, white. I know that if my wedding was in the winter that I definitely would’ve been looking for some inspiration that was a little different than those options. I thought of a few themed ideas and then handed those concepts over to my ridiculously talented stylist (and blogger), Lyndsey (Over My Styled Body). She spun life into my dream for this shoot and, combined with the most ridiculously awesome vendors, we were able to shoot four gorgeous concept looks. If you’re a winter bride or know a winter bride feel free to pin or pass on these looks. Hopefully they’ll unleash some new creativity for you, too!
Please also visit the websites and/or facebook pages of my vendors who helped me make this shoot happen. I couldn’t have done this without each and every one of them <3
Photographer: Cheryl Lukasewich from Aeris Photography Assistant/2nd Photographer: Alora Stephanyshyn from Alora Marie Photography Hair: Shauna Wheeler from Anela Salon Makeup: Becky Gendron from Beyond Eden Makeup Styling: Lyndsey Forest from Over My Styled Body Gowns: Amanda Loren from Borrowed Beauty Bridal Gown Rentals Flowers: Meghan Anne Sydney from Flowers By Meghan Cakes: Jen Martin from Scratch Etcetera Chairs: Lisa Boettger from VisionCraft Furniture Models: Stephanie Violet Simpson and Tyler Stammers
I was able to put together a styled hipster-themed session earlier this winter. I found Ashley, a cute-as-a-button local girl while I was awkwardly zumba-ing at my gym and got up the nerve to ask her if she’d model for me. Turns out she’s also a local photographer (Photos with Ashley) and runs another huge project on the side (Love Letters 2 Strangers). Random way to connect with a “colleague”! So Ashley and her Love, Kyle, came out gave me the honor of photographing them. Check ‘em out <3
I also must give a shout out to some awesome vendors for all their hard work:
Photography by Me Aeris Photography Assistant/co-shooter: Alora Marie Photography Stylist: Lyndsey Forest from Over My Styled Body Hair: Simone Pettigrew from Hair by Simone Makeup: Becky from Beyond Eden Makeup Flowers: Meghan from Flowers By Meghan
Props, too, to Wallish Greenhouse for letting us use their space. They provide poinsettias during their off season so consider them if you need to place an order.
Photographing Karly and Tim was like a breath of fresh air. If you know Karly then you're likely laughing a lot because she's hilarious. She comes across as very joyful and very quick to giggle. I loved meeting her and Tim out at her parent's acreage. We got some great shots (and they have a freaking donkey!!!).
Check out some of my favorites from my time second shooting for Capture It! Photography!
Check out more of my portfolio here and shoot me a message if you're looking for your own wedding photographer!
Happy sigh. I love my job. I love love LOVED getting to hang with Marni and Doug this past Sunday. The day was incredible, the weather was perfect, Marni was stunning… I couldn’t have asked for anything more. Not only was this wedding beautiful and the wedding couple a lot of fun but I also got to learn a lot! Weddings that celebrate and involve different cultural traditions are easily some of my favorites to shoot and photographing this Jewish wedding was a first! I got to learn about the Ketubah (wedding contract/piece of art) and the Chuppah (4 post tent/canopy) as well as witness my first Horah (Jewish dance). LOVE!
Thank you, Doug and Marni, for inviting me in to share your special day.
I’ve known Kathleen (and her humor) for a few years as we used to work together but I had NO IDEA that her friends were right on par with her sarcastic wit lol. I had a BLAST watching this bridal party in action; they laughed the entire day and had the best attitudes the whole way through (taking photos can be grueling!). Kathleen and Ryan, thank you for choosing me to capture this incredible day (and thank you for the kind words you said at your reception that had me holding back the tears).
Here’s a few more of my favorites from your special day. I hope you love them as much as I do and I hope they help conjure up memories of all the love and laughter that was kicking around throughout our time together.
If you like what you see feel free to spread the word, like my facebook page, check out my website, etc. etc.
I love my job. I had such an incredible time photographing Brad and Tara’s wedding. They have got to be the most encouraging, affirming couple that I have ever met (they almost made me cry a few times from their compliments about my work). They had such a genuine attitude towards me I just couldn’t believe it. Bah! Enough about me!
The day was stunning. Tara and her bridesmaids were beautiful and her daughter was the cutest flower girl you’ve ever seen (and her and I were “best friends” by the end of the night, I learned! lol). The groomsmen were a blast and all around we had such a fun time.
Tara and Brad, THANK YOU. You’re why I love doing this so much.
Have a look at some of my favorites. If you like what you see please tell your friends about me You can also support me by “liking” my facebook page and checking out my website!
Shannon and Brian's wedding is coming up this June and I can't wait! Check out this gorgeous couple's engagement pics!!
