Monday, April 5, 2010

Sara & Steve: Edmonton Wedding!

Dan and I had the privilege to be part of Sara and Steve's March wedding in Edmonton, Alberta.  We arrived late on the Thursday night, scouted most of Friday, and then shot all day Saturday, and BOY was it AWESOME! 

We started in the morning at Sara's place.  She rents the top loft of an AMAZING heritage house, and we were allowed to use the entire house for creatives!  A photographer's paradise!  It was so overwhelming to be surrounded by such exquisite art and furniture and decor!  Our jaws literally DROPPED when we walked in the house.  HOLY COW!  We could have spent a WEEK there, but only had a few hours.  Regardless, we had lots of fun and it was a great experience! 



I took Sara's shoes and accessories and did creatives in the dining room.  I was literally running around to every room whispering to myself, "Oh my gosh....this is so overwhelming, there's not enough time!"

The front entrance of the mansion is so gorgeous.  The floor has a wonderful pattern and great morning light coming through the front door and windows.  Beautiful dress Sara!


Every room had an amazing chandelier, which serves has a perfect and elegant way to hang a wedding dress.  Sara wanted to get ready in this bathroom specifically, because it is like, SO gorgeous!  I asked if we could do just one shot I had in mind before she put on her dress....and thanks Sara for being up for it!  I shot through the door into the bathroom, with Sara in the bath tub.  It was cute when all of Sara's bridesmaids were behind me peeking through whistling and cheering!


Sara and her mom getting ready, and it was great to be part of this moment.  Sara wore her mom's veil from her parent's wedding.  So touching! 




Over at Steve's downtown loft, Dan hung out with Steve and the boys after dropping me off at Sara's.  You don't see a deer wearing an baseball cap everyday!


Dan got some sweet shots of Steve getting ready, my fav is the one above on the right :)


Steve's a fireman in Edmonton, and so there are tons of firemen trinkets around his loft.
 

After the boys got ready, then drove over to Sara's place to do some creatives, because GOSH this house is amazing.  But before that, Sara and Steve still wanted to have that moment of seeing each other for the first time, as they decided to do lots of creatives before the ceremony.  It was a great moment when Steve was standing at the doorway as Sara came down the lovely staircase and they met.  It was so romantic!




By now it's obvious that the front entrance is a beautiful location and a favorite of ours as we used this area for many shots!  Great posing and lighting by Dan, this shot of Sara is so pretty!


Sara and her classy ladies, everyone looks so elegant!


It's always fun to see what Dan shoots throughout the day, as I usually don't see them till the blog post.  No doubt he and the guys had a kickin' time around the mansion.  They definitely had a fun!  Look on...!


I'm not sure WHO found swords in the mansion, but someone did!  And what do you get when you mix groomsmen with swords, and Dan with a camera?  Voila!   (No groomsmen...or photographers were harmed during creation of these images ;)
 

Sigh....so happy and wedding-like....haha! Boys will be boys!




Dan discovered this really cool technique and decided to try it out at Sara and Steve's wedding.  Basically, he thew his camera up in the air with a fisheye lens on the camera and this is what we got!  Let us know what you think!


We just had to shoot in this cool sitting room, sweet windows, sweet floor, and again, sweet chandelier!  Everyone in the wedding party was so great and fun, we had an wicked time with everyone!


Just a few last shots of Sara and Steve before we left the house.  This was a special request from Sara, to get some shots of her and Steve incorporating the beautiful floors somehow.  I just love the image above on the right that Dan took!


Dan loves this image above that I quickly snapped...
Steve had given us this location to check out the day before the wedding:  Caffe Sorrentino.  He had made a call days before to clear with the manager for all of us to head over and take some photos.  Such a great idea!  The staff was super nice and the place is so cute and trendy!  Really good chai lattes too :)




I have to say that these two are so much fun.  They have so much personality and character, it was so easy to capture their essence.  They are such a sweet couple and Dan and I had a rockin' time with them. 




On to the ceremony at the Lendrum Mennonite Brethren Church.  The officiant is Steve's brother-in-law, and his sermon was hilarious and he got lots of people laughing.








Best exit ever!


As Steve is a fireman, it's of course so fitting to drop by one of the fire stations in Edmonton.  Dan and I dropped in the day before as well, and the guys there were so kind. They washed the trucks and tidied up, just for us!


Jumping shots always a fav!


As we were about to get Sara in the driver's seat in one of the trucks, Steve's trained ears picked up on a beeping sound coming from the truck that the rest of us hadn't noticed.  An alert!  Of course!  Just as we were getting really creative with the trucks, there was an emergency call! So unfortunately, the firemen had to leave right away with their trucks, but duty called! 


See ya!  Good luck!


The firemen at this hall were kind enough to still let us use the inside of the hall...


Sexy!!


This is my favorite shot of the day, because it just shows how comedic and fun Sara and Steve are!
 

And yes....an epic shot of course!


Sara was craving some slurpees, so we make a pit stop at a Mac's before heading to our next location.  It was a beautiful sunny day, and it was even a little warm!  So slurpees were totally justifiable.


Our next location was at the staircase to a parkade right across from the University of Alberta.  Fortunately our bride and groom were willing to hike up to the sixth level!!  The light here was SO amazing!  Good thing we had those slurpees 'cuz it was hot in this staircase!






After the staircase, we headed out to the roof top!






Yes....Dan was dangling off the side of here to get the shot.  God forbid he dropped his new lens!! JK ;) I think we should invest in a harness for Dan...



The U of A has this really cool yellow building called the Butter Dome (if I remember correctly).  Thanks again Sara and Steve for willing to get up on this high ledge!  Man, we ask our couples to be daredevils sometimes! 




Steve must have connections all around the city.  He pulled some strings to we could get into Fort Edmonton for some photos for FREE!!  Such cute buildings!


Sara pulled out this cute cute cute blue antique umbrella that totally matched the theme of Fort Edmonton, and Steve had a wicked cane.


Reflections!




Umbrella and cane!


Our last building at Fort Edmonton was the little white church, great shot Dan!


Of course there were little firemen trinkets around the reception hall at the Edmonton Country Club


Steve's nieces and nephew were so adorable, and loved the camera!


We almost forgot we were in Edmonton, until the Oilers jerseys came out.  Sara's parents were celebrating their patriotism to the Edmonton Oilers, and pointing out to everyone that Steve (a very talented and gifted hockey player) is a hockey star!  There was one guest who is a Canucks fan, and they totally picked on him and made him put an Oilers jersey on!!  I went up to him later and jokingly said us photographers had his back haha!
 



Tower of cupcakes!


An on to the dance floor for the first dance, and the father-daughter dance...





Dan and I truly feel so blessed to have been part of Sara and Steve's wedding.  It was so great to get to know them better, and to see that these two are hard-core Christians and value a God-centered relationship.  It was a really inspiring to see such faithful people, and it honestly inspired Dan and me to be more Christ-like.  Sara and Steve are such kind people, and most of all FUN!

Thank you to everyone we met at the wedding, everyone was so kind to us!  And it was awesome to see Ashley and Cory again :)

And thank you Sara and Steve for such a memorable day, it was a delight to have been there!

Check out there slideshow HERE!

Check out there PhotoBooth HERE!

God bless,

K&D

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

SAAVY BRIDE SHOWCASE - MARCH 28th, 2010!


Hey y'all!  We will be at the Saavy Bride Showcase  at the Coast Plaza Hotel Downtown Vancouver on Sunday March 28th, 2010!  There's a really trendy theme going on that Kerry Reid and her team from the Fair Godmothers Weddings have organized for the show :)

Come check out some great vendors and some fashion shows and some yummy treats.

Need tickets?  Just give us a shout and we'll email you some!

Hope to see you there!

K&D

Hello Edmonton!

That's right, Dan and I are heading out tomorrow for Edmonton, Alberta to photograph Sara and Steve's wedding!  We met these two awesome people at Ashley and Cory's wedding in Summerland just last September, and they have invited us to be part of their wedding day :) "See Sara & Steve below being silly and fun @ Ashley & Cory's PhotoBooth"

We're really really REALLY excited to be hanging out with Sara and Steve, and seeing Ashley and Cory as well!  Sara has sent images of her dress over and it's so PRETTY!  Everyone will just have to wait and see!  

We're also excited to be hanging out with Amanda from Lightside Photography and Hayley and Michael Shandro from Shandro Photo!!!  We're going to do a brunch Friday morning before Dan and I head out scouting for the wedding. 

Looking forward to a super awesome weekend ahead!  

Toodles,
K

Image Questing It Up! A BIG Learning Curve

Hey all, it's been a while since we've blogged without posting images.  Oh wait!  We never have!  This is a new and strange concept for us; to blog without having photographs to go along.  Prime example: as I started writing this, Dan peeked over and said, "What are you blogging?  We don't have any pictures to post!??!?"  Dan and I have had this mentality that blogs are a tool to share photographs with....and.....that's about it.  This is SO WRONG, I've learned!  I have never been the type to get into this social media thing either, so I've never really even liked blogging or face-booking....and don't even get me started on Twitter!  All until a few days ago, I have been stubborn and reluctant. 


Yesterday marked the last of the three day Image Quest convention at the River Rock Casino in Richmond.  Starting this past Sunday, about 150 wedding photographers, portrait photographers, maternity photographers (you name it) were graced by a handful of top notch people in our industry, including our own local Blue Olive Photography.  Among the speakers we had, I must say, to Dan and me, the star of the show was Jasmine Star - no pun intended :)  We discovered her just less than a year ago, and we are amazed by her success.  Today we met her, I practically had to drag big shy Dan by his hair to say hi to Jasmine in person during the break (Dan has like the biggest crush on her, it's soooo cute).  Jasmine.  She is SO down to earth and personable.  I won't go on and rave about her as Dan and I could spend HOURS and HOURS totally drooling over her and we just might in another blog post, but really, Dan and I LOVE her.  Do check her out!

Basically, I've quickly been converted to a believer that online social networking and marketing is SO important and it WORKS!  I've always been so turned off by people who jump on the band wagon, who do whatever because everyone else it doing it....yuck yuck yuck.  However, this workshop totally opened my eyes! 

I'm going to try to keep this to the point and not derail like I used to in my diary when I was in grade 7.  This three-day convention has HUGELY affected us.  The entire event was geared to social media, having an online web presence and the many different marketing tools that we all are able to implement.  There's no doubt that Dan and I have learned LOTS and that we have much to improve on our company.  We've acquired information that is REALLY important, imperative and beneficial and we are so excited about it!!!!!  However, this is not the point of this blog.  I should just learn to say what I'm trying to say and stop sugar coating!  I'm learning guys, this is my first blog post sans photographs!

Ok, so what I'm trying to say is that it's ironic that being at this event and learning about social networking and marketing, the key message that I took away is:  WHO ARE YOU?  So cliche I know, but really, who am I?  (I can't speak for Dan, I'll let him express himself in his own ways).  I am honestly one of those people who doesn't have this figured out yet.  Out of the 5 speakers, 3 made it crystal clear exactly what is important to them, and it is this that makes them who they are. Their family.  Their TIME with their family.  They are all about their family.  THIS is their success.  THIS is what I took away from a business marking convention! I'm not trying to say I didn't get anything else out of it, of course I have notes upon notes of what each lecture was on and I can't wait to start improving our business skills.  But the biggest thing I learned is that before Dan and I can start to truly be artists, before we can really connect on a personal level with our couples, before we can start building our vision of Stone Photo, we have a WHOLE lotta soul searching to do.  Dan and I of course care and love each other tremendously, and we care tremendously for our families and our close friends.  We just need to remember that it is these people that make us who we are.  It is these people who care about Dan and me.  And we have completely been caught up, and all the business stuff and technical things about running a business has really cluttered our minds and has lead us off track from who we are and why we do what we do. 

I admit I am not very good at articulating myself sometimes, and I know this whole shpiel will come off as soooo corny and it oozes cheese to some, if not everyone who reads this, but this is honestly what is tugging at my heart.  This is so funny I find, because I've felt for a long time that there has been something missing in our business, in our work, in ourselves and pretty much in my life.  And here I find it, and it's being validated by world top photographers at a MARKETING convention!   Oh how the ways of world works.

Ok, so I could have said all that in like 7 sentences or less, but that wouldn't be me. So now that we've sort of figured this out, I hope you will start seeing many more blog entries without an engagement session or a wedding attached.  Coming from me who did not believe in social networking or "living your life online", I will do my utmost to be more active and honest on this blog.  I want to start sharing with whoever wants to read.  I want to vocalize our challenges, our failures, our success with whoever is willing to listen.

Wow, this is so liberating!  I feel like a have a load off my chest!  Blogging is like therapy!  I highly recommend it ;)

I hope that tomorrow morning, I don't regret writing this.  I am a VERY guarded and private person and I sometimes do things or say things without thinking it through and I know I'll cringe at some point about what I've said in this blog, but this is how I feel NOW at 1:47am on Wednesday morning and that's that. 

Thanks for listen to those who have invested the time, and if there's even anything to respond to, I would love to hear anyone's thoughts.

G'night,
Kat

Monday, March 15, 2010

Van & Eric: E-Session at Kits and with Cherry Blossoms!

Vancouver Engagement Session

We were stoked to meet up with Van and Eric again for their engagement session, it had been a while since we last saw then in July 2009.  They suggested a great idea of doing some shots at Kits beach, and then head down to Burrard Station to catch some of the cherry blossoms.  Here's a list of top cherry blossom locations in Vancouver:  http://www.vcbf.ca/cherryviewing/maps

Dan and I had a great time hanging out with these two, and they looked so great dressed up in formal attire!  Thank goodness it was a beautiful sunny day - it rained cats and dogs the day after! 

At Kits beach, we stopped by the Watermark Restaurant and borrowed their staircase for some candid shots.  This was a great find, so simple to shoot through glass, and we love how these turned out!







Using my reflection to frame up Van and Eric...love this shot!



Dan and I joined Van and Eric inside to get some power shots!  Dan did a great job of setting this one up :)



Van is so gorgeous in this shot!  Great lighting, great pose, great expression! 



We were just about to leave this location having just used to staircase, when we spotted a little bench and a cool gigantic lamp/pot...thing...up in the corner.  I quickly wanted to snap a few shots and try out a pose we saw world renowned wedding photographer Jerry Ghionis teach in an online workshop.  I shot it without expectations, but we both ended up shooting some cool shots!  Love the vintage feel Dan gave these images in post!



Gettin' a little artsy! 



The Watermark Restaurant is a great architectural building!


Van brought a cute Japanese silk umbrella as a prop and it was great to use!  Van makes this session look like it's warm out....it was quite chilling down by the beach.  Thanks Van for being so brave!



Shoes shoes shoes....such a great accessory.  Van got these fancy Nine West shoes for a steal of a deal at Winners



We all packed into Eric's car and headed down to Burrard Station to capture the cherry blossom season.  This location has cherry blossom trees all around, and serves an attraction to many...many with their cameras who snapped shots of the lovely bride and groom-to-be :)



This is one of my favorites of the day.  Such a photogenic couple!








The sun was great and exactly where we needed it to be.  We loved how Van and Eric interacted with each other.






We felt confident we had lots of great images and we were happy with what we had done.......but I knew Dan had one more shot up his sleeve that he wanted.  He gets that look on his face, and wanders around looking for the best spot, then sets up the couple and does a few test shots, and shouts, "YES!"  That was this shot.  And the next. 

We had a fantastic time with Van and Eric, we're sooooo excited for their wedding on July 31st!

Thanks for a great shoot!

Kat & Dan


Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Malinda & Dean: Beautiful, Quirky, and Classic ;)


We have been so richly blessed with family who support us, friends who cheer us on, and wicked awesome clients who let us photograph them on the biggest day of their lives! And we make them do silly, ridiculous, things ;) NOTHING compares to the joy we get from what we are so privileged to do. We get to witness and capture all the happiest moments and spend the best day of our couples lives with them.


Okay maybe one thing compares: when that couple are two of the nicest, funnest, and quirkiest people you've EVER MET! Malinda has been a long time friend of mine (Dan) ever since the good old Sunday school days and high-school jazz! And Dean, the quirkiest person on earth, once compared my facial structure to that of a banana. Never quite got that one Dean...lol


Here is their wedding day, enjoy!

bride




The girls getting ready. On the right are Anna and Erica, more high school friends! And of course the beautiful Malinda (top shot) by the window. Malinda's mom has amazing talent and designed and made Malinda's wedding gown.

groom

Dean was already dressed and watching the Olympics when I arrived, but we just needed to get a few dress'n up shots. Dragged him away from the TV for a few snaps.


Mother of the Groom with two cute little flower girls, Dean's little nieces!


Brian playing some sweet and mellow tunes as everyone walked in. He actually builds guitars and effects pedals too. Really makes me wish I'd dust off my ES-135.


There they are again!




A few shots of Malinda during the service looking so pretty.







A few candid shots the two of them right before the family shots....


After some family shots in behind the church, we all headed to a local park in Tsawwassen, Diefenbaker Park.








These guys just wouldn't stand still, and no normal smiles either! Look at the girls and how they smile so nicely! But who likes normal!?!? We want real expressions!


We thought this was cute, if you look closely, Malinda is wearing rain boots! We prepared for the worse, but thankfully we had amazing weather.


These two are squash players, so we planned a quick drop-in session at the Bayside Squash Club for an impromptu game.








Just down the street from the squash courts, Kat saw this field-ish meadow-like area. Whatever it is, we got some great images in tall grass, reeds....wheat things.









Also just outside the squash courts was the Canada/USA border. Half of this photo is Canadian, the other half is American! Dan was standing on the Canadian side while Kat was lighting from the US side. She's actually standing on the giant cement divider in the left of the photo. Yeah...Kat broke the law. Criminal at large!


Back to the South Delta Baptist Church for the reception and games and plate licking! The top left photo is of two contestants who had to lick strips of peanut butter and chocolate off a glass plate. The winner was the first table to serve up at the buffet. What a fun and messy idea!








Thanks Malinda and Dean for having us along. We're thankful to have been a part of your wedding! Our best wishes and prayers go out to you. Have an awesome time at DisneyLand!!!





Your friends,
Dan and Kat

PS.  We'd LOVE LOVE LOVE to hear your comments!