Caylene + Tim Wedding
As I mentioned in one of my previous posts, backyard weddings are becoming the new normal, and also my favourite type of wedding. One of the main reasons why I enjoy photographing smaller weddings, is that you get to spend more time with the immediate family. Plus, they tend to be a lot more laid back, which lends itself to many more candid moments. Which I’m all about.
As I mentioned in one of my previous posts, backyard weddings are becoming the new normal, and also my favourite type of wedding. One of the main reasons why I enjoy photographing smaller weddings, is that you get to spend more time with the immediate family. Plus, they tend to be a lot more laid back, which lends itself to many more candid moments. Which I’m all about.
That’s not to say I still don’t enjoy the epic large weddings. I do hope we get there again someday soon. Case and point, this past weekend I had the pleasure of capturing Caylene and Tim’s backyard wedding. I got to meet both of their immediate families, I learned about the history of the house, and I got to witness some real sincere moments.
Even though it was a short day for me, I still came away with a lot of great moments, that I hope both Caylene and Tim will cherish for a long time.
Lisa + Claudio Pre Wedding Celebration
Lisa and Claudio were supposed to get married this past weekend, but because of what is going on, it had to be pushed back until May. Well, that didn’t stop Lisa from still doing something special this weekend, which is exactly what she did. The result, I very small and intimate together with her closest friends. Seeing as how I’m her wedding photographer, she asked if I was interested in capturing an hour or so of the small celebration. I of course said yes!
Lisa and Claudio were supposed to get married this past weekend, but because of what is going on, it had to be pushed back until May. Well, that didn’t stop Lisa from still doing something special this weekend, which is exactly what she did. The result, I very small and intimate together with her closest friends. Seeing as how I’m her wedding photographer, she asked if I was interested in capturing an hour or so of the small celebration. I of course said yes!
It was Lisa, Claudio and her bridesmaid in Lisa and Claudio’s beautiful backyard. There was champagne, decorations and of course wine and snacks. Over the course of an hour, a few of her closer friends dropped by to say hello.
It goes without saying, that both Lisa and Claudio got completely dressed up, which made for such amazing photos. She reminded me that I haven’t seen nothing yet, and that the wedding would be even better. I can’t wait for it to arrive, because I know it will be truly epic.
Being able to photograph Lisa and Claudio this past weekend felt so good. It hasn’t been the busiest year with clients so I’m very excited to have some sort of wedding and portrait season this summer. Hopefully this is a sign of things to come!
Jacqueline + Jake Wedding
My last wedding of the year was such an amazing way to end the season. It was another intimate backyard ceremony, with close friends and relatives. As I mentioned before, if there is a bright side to the current restrictions, it’s that I get to do a lot more of these small weddings, which I absolutely love.
My last wedding of the year was such an amazing way to end the season. It was another intimate backyard ceremony, with close friends and relatives. As I mentioned before, if there is a bright side to the current restrictions, it’s that I get to do a lot more of these small weddings, which I absolutely love.
My short day with Jacqueline and Jake started at the Tree Farm, where we did all the formal portraits before the ceremony. You pretty much can’t go wrong with the Tree Farm, especially in winter. It obviously helped that both Jacqueline and Jake looked like movie stars. We ended up using a couple different locations within the tree farm for the portraits, and both resulted in gorgeous looking shots.
It was then off to the ceremony which took place in their parent’s backyard. The whole decor and everything about it was the perfect accent to Jake and Jaqueline. From the blankets and gloves on the chairs, to the two violinists and all the details in between, it was a story book setting. Luckily the weather was perfect too.
It helped that Jacqueline’s mother has been collecting fur coats from vintage stores over the years. All the bridesmaids and some of the family wore them throughout the day and it levelled up the photos that much more.
After the ceremony we spent a bit of time getting some family photos as well. Of course, throughout my entire time with them, I made sure to capture an endless amount of fleeting and candid moments. I do wish I had a few more weddings in these last couple months of the year! I guess I will just have to wait until my busy 2021 season. :)
Kaylia + Emma Wedding - Kakabeka Falls
I am definitely seeing more and more small intimate weddings these days, and my latest one was with Kaylia and Emma at Kakabeka Falls. It was just them with a few of their family members. I was only there for the ceremony and some portraits afterwards, but it was more than enough time to capture a lot of great moments.
I am definitely seeing more and more small intimate weddings these days, and my latest one was with Kaylia and Emma at Kakabeka Falls. It was just them with a few of their family members. I was only there for the ceremony and some portraits afterwards, but it was more than enough time to capture a lot of great moments.
You really can’t ask for a better backdrop than the Falls. Luckily the weather held up and it was a nice overcast day. It was the perfect way to start the day, and I really do hope I keep getting the opportunity to shoot small weddings like this!
Courtney + Braden Wedding - Stepstone Centre
One of my last weddings of the year took place earlier this month with Courtney and Braden. It was at, what I think, is one of the best spots in town, Stepstone Centre. The last time I had shot a wedding there was around 5 years ago. So I was very excited to do so again.
One of my last weddings of the year took place earlier this month with Courtney and Braden. It was at, what I think, is one of the best spots in town, Stepstone Centre. The last time I had shot a wedding there was around 5 years ago. So I was very excited to do so again.
My day started just after noon, with the girls getting ready. This took place in a beautiful little guest house. I made sure to capture some initial photos of Courtney’s gorgeous wedding dress. After that, it was just a matter of getting unique and fleeting moments. Before the girls were all dressed up, we stepped outside and got a nice group photo of them, and then a short while later, one where they were all in their wedding attire.
As with most of my weddings, the atmosphere was pretty laid back, with a little bit of nervous energy. That energy got a little bit more intense as they did their first look though. I could just feel the happiness and I hope that I was able to convey that with some of the photos.
Because the ceremony was still a couple hours away, we actually hung out for a bit and then did all the wedding party photos in the forest. It was so nice not to be rushed or in any hurry. Plus, it gave everyone a chance to just enjoy the day. Once were done doing the photos, I spent some time getting detail photos of the venue and decorations.
As guests started to arrive, I did thing, and documented the day as I saw it. Outdoor weddings are always a pleasure to photograph, but with constantly changing light, I did have to work my angles and look for the best ones. But I love that challenge, and it’s one of the things that makes weddings fun for me. The unpredictability.
The ceremony was so beautiful! It went be fairly quick for me, but it was a short ceremony, which I think is a good thing. I don’t think many people these days want to sit through a long drawn out ceremony. The violinist they had playing set the mood perfectly.
Courtney and Braden also hired a caricature artist for after the ceremony and also at the reception. I obviously made sure to get some good photos of him showing off his amazing talent with couples throughout the day. Just like before the wedding, after the wedding was spent mingling with guests and enjoying the beautiful day. We did a few family photos while everyone was gathered together. I’m sure those photos will be much appreciated.
The reception was just as fun as the previous part of the day. The speeches were amazing, and there were a ton of laughs and also happy tears. Receptions are where I really capture a lot of pure moments, and some of my favourite photos were captured during this part of the day.
Just before my time was up, Courtney and Braden followed me to the dock on the river to get a few photos of just them. It was the perfect end to a very eventful day for me. I’m so proud of these photos and I truly hope Courtney and Braden enjoy them as much as I do.
Lastly, throughout the day, I managed to capture a some video clips here and there. You can view that highlight film below. Neither of them asked for it, or even expected, but I always try and surprise couples when I can!
Jennifer + Carmine Wedding
One of my last weddings of the year took place at Valhalla Inn with Jennifer and Carmine. I was so excited to spend a day with such a beautiful and kind couple, and also the rest of their family and friends. The good thing about the times we are in now, is that weddings have no choice but to be smaller and much more intimate. I really do enjoy smaller weddings, I almost feel like I’m part of the family. My day started with the getting ready shots. It was a nice way to ease into the wedding day.
One of my last weddings of the year took place at Valhalla Inn with Jennifer and Carmine. I was so excited to spend a day with such a beautiful and kind couple, and also the rest of their family and friends. The good thing about the times we are in now, is that weddings have no choice but to be smaller and much more intimate. I really do enjoy smaller weddings, I almost feel like I’m part of the family. My day started with the getting ready shots. It was a nice way to ease into the wedding day.
As with almost all of my wedding photography, I focused on candid, natural moments. I get so much joy out of anticipating and reacting to split second things throughout the day. Having photographed so many weddings over the course of my career has definitely helped my timing, but I am always evolving as a photographer.
After spending about an hour photographing the getting ready portion of the day it was time to move out to the outside courtyard, which is always such a lovely venue to get married. Rain threatened most of the day but it held out long enough to fit everything in, which I was super thankful for. The ceremony itself was very sweet. Anytime a dog is the ring bearer, means it’s going to be a good wedding!
The ceremony and the remaining portion of the day was very relaxed which was perfect. Everyone was super easy going. Once the ceremony was done, everyone kind of just relaxed for a bit. The videographers took the newlyweds aside to shoot some footage and I tagged along to get some nice candid ‘behind the scenes’ moments. The cake was eventually served along with a wonderful array of meats, cheeses and fruits.
Before the wedding Jennifer had asked if we could do the portraits at Trowbridge Falls. That was an easy answer of course. So once everyone was nice and full and relaxed, we all met over at the park. It took a bit longer for some people to arrive but it was a great opportunity to get some more photos in the parking lot of the wedding gang. Plus, we actually headed into the park ahead of everyone else to get some photos on the nice bridge overlooking the water. Those ended up being some of my favourite photos from the entire day. It was an off and on light drizzle, but in all honesty, I’m glad it was overcast. It made everything look that much better.
Once everyone arrived, we made our way down to the water and did all the family portraits there. The rain started coming down a little harder so we used the cover of the bridge to cycle through the group shots. That meant I was out in the rain, but I’ve been in much worse situations. Plus, it was barely raining. We finished off down on the water with a few quick portraits of the beautiful couple, and then it was time to head back to the cars. When we got back to the parking lot, we got a few more family photos with their grandmother who had such a great sense of humour. I loved the way she talked.
The last stop of ‘my’ day with the couple was Tim Hortons. Yup. You heard that right. The reason being that that is where they first met. So it was only fitting to get a photo there. Along with one outside, I captured a couple nice ones of Jennifer and Carmine sitting at a table. It was such a perfect end to the day for me. I still can’t get over how many moments I captured throughout the day. Below are just a few highlights, but some of my favourites nonetheless.
I still can’t believe wedding season is almost over. Even though it’s been challenging (for everyone) it’s has still been memorable and full of nice surprises. As I write this, I have my last wedding of the season tomorrow. I only hope it is as beautiful as this one!
Devin + Mitchell Wedding - Shebandowan Lake
Devin and Mitchell got married earlier this month at their camp on Shebandowan Lake. Even though a few of my weddings have been postponed until next year, I was thankful to be able to still shoot theirs. It was a small and intimate outdoor wedding. Luckily, the weather cooperated, although, it would have been nice if it was a little cooler! The location was Devin’s camp on Shebandowan Lake which is an absolutely gorgeous setting.
Devin and Mitchell got married earlier this month at their camp on Shebandowan Lake. Even though a few of my weddings have been postponed until next year, I was thankful to be able to still shoot theirs. It was a small and intimate outdoor wedding. Luckily, the weather cooperated, although, it would have been nice if it was a little cooler! The location was Devin’s camp on Shebandowan Lake which is an absolutely gorgeous setting.
My day actually started in Thunder Bay, documenting the girls getting ready. I ended up spending over an hour with them which meant I had a plenty of time to capture some really candid moments. Plus, it was a very laid back atmosphere.
Once I was done with the ladies, I did the 1 hour drive out to the camp. Anytime I get to do that drive, I look forward to it, as it’s very scenic. After arriving at the camp, I got some quick shots of the guys hanging out. Shortly after, most of the guests started arriving so I spent the rest of the day outside documenting the rest of the day.
The ceremony took in the backyard right on the lake. You don’t get much more picturesque than that. Everyone made their way down the long stairs down and found their seat, or in some cases, some standing room. One of my favourite moments was Devin’s Father walking her down the stairs. I could just feel the emotions during that moment.
After the ceremony, we did the family and wedding party portraits, followed by a few minutes with just Devin and Mitchell on the stairs. Other than that, the rest of the day was extremely casual.
The first dance took place where the ceremony did. With the sun being much lower, the lighting was much better, which made for such beautiful photos.
By far, the best highlight of the day happened after the first dance, when Devin and Mitchell decided to run down the dock and jump into the lake, in their full wedding attire. I was so happy I was able to get a few keepers from that moment. I also made sure to get photos of other people jumping in as well. I regret not bringing my swim trunks with me! I definitely could have gotten even more unique shots if I were in the water. Plus, it would have been a quick way to cool down.
The rest of the evening I simply walked around and got a whole bunch of candids of people. I also found the time to get my drone up into the air to capture some aerial shots. And last but not least, I also recorded some video throughout the day, and made it into a short highlight video. I wasn’t asked to do so, but I did so anyways. :)
Lisa + Joel Backyard Wedding
My first wedding of the year was just as beautiful as I hoped it would be. Lisa and Joel decided to have a backyard wedding with just a few of their closest friends and family. As much as I enjoy shooting large weddings, it’s these intimate ones that really resonate with me. Before we arrived at the backyard ceremony, we started the short day at Seaman Park, right by boulevard lake. That’s the where the first look and the formal portraits took place.
My first wedding of the year was just as beautiful as I hoped it would be. Lisa and Joel decided to have a backyard wedding with just a few of their closest friends and family. As much as I enjoy shooting large weddings, it’s these intimate ones that really resonate with me. Before we arrived at the backyard ceremony, we started the short day at Seaman Park, right by boulevard lake. That’s the where the first look and the formal portraits took place.
I met Joel in the trail off to the side of the park where he anxiously awaited his future bride. It was a very serene moment, and definitely one of the highlights of the day for me. Once Lisa arrived, Joel made his way to her and from that moment, their wedding day began. We then headed down to the rapids to get some family photos first, then some of just Lisa and Joel after everyone left. Thunder Bay has so many great spots to photograph right on the water, and Seaman Park is one of them. You really can’t walk away with bad looking photos from there.
On our way to the house, Lisa and Joel wanted a few quick photos at The Hodder, as this is where they first met. Of course I said yes! We soon arrived at the house after that and I spent about 30 minutes capturing a lot of the details and some candids of everyone in attendance. It was such a laid back atmosphere, which I think comes through in the photos.
The ceremony itself was short and sweet, but not without its beautiful candid moments and emotions, which I always try to document. Afterwards everyone just hung out for a bit, and we got some more portraits against the beautiful backdrop that said ‘LOVE’ on it. The kids listened so well when they needed to, and I was super impressed. Once they were done their photos though, it was back to running around and having fun. I made sure to get some of that excitement.
The last part of the day for me was the first dance. As everyone watched, the kids ran around with bubbles, laughing and running. It was the perfect end to a perfect wedding day. I’m so thankful I had the chance to meet Lisa and Joel, and be a part of such an important day!
Also … along with photos, I snuck in a little bit of video here and there where I could it. I surprised them with a short little highlight film from the day. The ultimate compliment was Lisa saying she had tears as she watched it.
Top 100 Wedding Photos 2019
Well, another year down and hopefully, another great one on the horizon. Looking back on all my weddings from 2019, really made me appreciate how lucky I am to be able to do this job. Year in and year out I get to meet so many amazing couples and families. Then I get to share my story with them and give them memories that will last for generations. I can’t think of a more rewarding job.
Well, another year down and hopefully, another great one on the horizon. Looking back on all my weddings from 2019, really made me appreciate how lucky I am to be able to do this job. Year in and year out I get to meet so many amazing couples and families. Then I get to share my story with them and give them memories that will last for generations. I can’t think of a more rewarding job.
If you would rather see a nice slideshow to music, click on the video below. Otherwise, keep on scrolling.
Brandon + Anna Wedding - Fort William Historical Park
My last wedding of 2019 took place at Fort William Historical Park. I couldn’t imagine a more beautiful location to end such an amazing year. Once I arrived I met up with Brandon and some of the wedding party at the main entrance. We hopped on the shuttle bus that eventually took us to the park, which is where everything was taking place. Once we got there, Anna arrived, and we made our way in. After gathering everyone in the wedding party and the immediate family, we continued on and photographed all the portraits.
My last wedding of 2019 took place at Fort William Historical Park. I couldn’t imagine a more beautiful location to end such an amazing year. Once I arrived I met up with Brandon and some of the wedding party at the main entrance. We hopped on the shuttle bus that eventually took us to the park, which is where everything was taking place. Once we got there, Anna arrived, and we made our way in. After gathering everyone in the wedding party and the immediate family, we continued on and photographed all the portraits.
There is no better place in Thunder Bay to photograph wedding photos than this location. There are endless backdrops and an immense amount of character and history. Plus, Brandon and Anna looked the park. It was honestly one of the most beautiful weddings I have ever had the pleasure of covering.
We spent the next hour or so wandering around the park and stopping at various locations doing bridal party photos as well as family ones as well. It was super casual, and the weather was actually quite mild for the middle of the winter. This portion of the day actually went by super fast. I could have easily spent another 2 hours photographing Brandon and Anna but the ceremony was starting shortly.
The ceremony and reception took place in the Canot du Nord building right by the front gate. It was fairly small and intimate wedding. Throughout the ceremony and reception and just did my thing, capturing moments throughout. I also made sure to continue to get family portraits on request. We even went outside just after sunset to get some portraits with friends and family. The lighting was absolutely perfect.
I stayed just until the speeches were done, but that was more than enough time to tell their story through my eyes. I’m very excited for yet another year of weddings, and I hope it’s even better than 2019!
Melissa + Brandon Wedding - Best Western Plus NorWester Hotel
Melissa and Brandon’s entire wedding day took place at the Best Western Hotel here in Thunder Bay. If I had to shoot at wedding at just one hotel, this one would definitely be at the top of my list. It did rain the whole day so it was completely indoors but that’s what often happens this time of year. Regardless, it was such an amazing day to be a part of.
Melissa and Brandon’s entire wedding day took place at the Best Western Hotel here in Thunder Bay. If I had to shoot at wedding at just one hotel, this one would definitely be at the top of my list. It did rain the whole day so it was completely indoors but that’s what often happens this time of year. Regardless, it was such an amazing day to be a part of.
The good thing about a completely indoor wedding is that you often get to spend more time with the couple, which is exactly what happened with this one. It was very laid back and casual. It was almost like I was just hanging out with the Melissa and Brandon. I prefer it that way because it allowed me to capture a ton of candid photos.
I jumped back and forth in the early afternoon between Brandon and Melissa getting ready. They were both super relaxed and it showed through in the photos. Brandon bought all the guys in his wedding party watches, that as far as I could tell, they had to put together. It was very cool and something I had never seen before.
After a few hours it was time to get the ceremony started so everyone headed down to the main ballroom. This is where the reception would eventually take place so it was very convenient, and perfectly decorated. It was an intimate wedding but a busy one for the room nonetheless. I don’t think there was an empty chair. Looking around in the crowd I could see all the proud family and friends. I could also feel it too. Of course, as I expected there were some laughs during the ceremony too, which is always a good sign.
Once the ceremony was done, all the family and close friends made their way upstairs where we did some family portraits. I would have preferred to do them outside but the weather had other plans for us. Nonetheless, it was actually kind of nice having all the family in one room like that. Melissa and Brandon also made their announcement about her pregnancy which surprised a lot of people!
As I mentioned it was raining all day but that didn’t mean we couldn’t get outside to do some bride and groom portraits. We simply used one of the balconies. Since it was cloudy, the lighting was absolutely perfect. Those are definitely some of my favourite photos of the day.
The reception was just as fun as the rest of the day. There were the first dances, a shoe game and some very moving (and funny) speeches. Melissa and Brandon also revealed on their slideshow that they were having a baby to the rest of the wedding guests. It was during their first dance which was perfect timing. I hope both Brandon and Melissa have an amazing life together!
Kim + Curtis Wedding
My day with Kim and Curtis started with Curtis and the guys at their house. It was a nice way to ease into the wedding day for me because I essentially documented the guys getting ready. They were all pretty laid back, as is the case with most weddings. I spent about an hour with them. We eventually made it outside for some family portraits and even more great candid photos. It also gave me a chance to meet all the guys in the wedding party, as well as a lot of the family too.
My day with Kim and Curtis started with Curtis and the guys at their house. It was a nice way to ease into the wedding day for me because I essentially documented the guys getting ready. They were all pretty laid back, as is the case with most weddings. I spent about an hour with them. We eventually made it outside for some family portraits and even more great candid photos. It also gave me a chance to meet all the guys in the wedding party, as well as a lot of the family too.
I then made my way to the girls at Valhalla Inn. They were having a good time getting ready and there were a lot of laughs. It was a bit hot in the room so I felt bad for Kim getting into her dress but she had one of her bridesmaids fanning her with a magazine so that helped! Eventually, Kim’s mom and dad arrived for the first look. I think that was one of my favourite moments of the day.
The ceremony took place at St. Patrick’s Cathedral which is a very beautiful church. I especially like it because it is quite bright and well lit on the inside. As most photographers can attest to, churches don’t always have ideal lighting. It was a beautiful ceremony and I had plenty of time to move around and look for unique angles and moments. As the ceremony was finishing up, I took a quick peak outside and noticed the weather was holding up. This was great news because it meant we could go to the Tree Farm to do all the wedding party portraits. That is exactly what we did.
The Tree Farm is by far one of my favourite places to do portraits. It’s almost impossible to not come away with great photos there. It obviously helped that Kim and Curtis are an amazing couple too. Plus, the entire wedding party had a great sense of humour. We did a mix of fun and serious photos out there.
It was eventually time to head back to Valhalla Inn for the reception. Upon entering Kim and Curtis had each guess get their photo taken with a polaroid camera and then had them place it in the sign in album. I wish more couples would do that, as it’s a great idea. Plus, it allows me to get a lot of candid photos of guests arriving. From there the ceremony flew by, and as you can see from the photos below, I’m pretty sure everyone had a good time. I wish Kim and Curtis a long and happy marriage!
