bebb|blog

We've moved!

2006-10-31T09:51:00.000-08:00

Hey Everyone!

I wanted to let you all know that this site is now officially our old blog. We've moved to a new site. We've really liked the blogger site we've been using, but we've been struggling a lot with trying to get it to look the way we want. I'm sure you've all seen the changes in format, images size, etc. We needed to find a solution that was little different than what everyone else is doing and that offers us everything we need.

So, what are you waiting for? Go check it out!

Kendra & Chad

2006-10-09T12:36:00.000-07:00

Great people, great light, great details = a fantastic wedding day!

Kendra and Chad are two of the nicest people we have ever met! Their relationship is strong and they are bound together not only by their love for each other but also by their love for their incredible son.

Here are a few of our favorites:

The ring pillow

Alone time

The little man with his mom - so cute!

Gorgeous cake

The view back towards the city as the sun was setting

The Life of a Wedding Photographer

2006-10-02T15:41:00.000-07:00

For those of you that follow our blog regularly, you will have noticed that we are a little bit behind in our blogging. In fact, we're 4 weddings behind right now.

Why is that?

Well, as self employed business people, Steve and I place certain deadlines on ourselves. And one of those deadlines is how long it takes to get your proofs to you. The thing is, we have photographed 20 weddings in the past 4 months. I know that averages out to just about one per weekend, but we have had weekends where we have done up to 4 weddings. In addition, this is the time of year that all publilcation deadlines for the magazines we work with come up. And we have three commercial clients whose websites we are launching in the next two weeks.

So, I wanted to give you all an idea of an average day at Tying the Knot. Steve and I have very distinct duties within our company, and we each put in 8 - 10 hour days. This is what I did last Wednesday:

7:00 Wake up and put on coffee.
7:05 Turn on the computer and start checking email.
7:10 Steve brings me coffee
7:30 Get breakfast for the kids
8:00 Get the kids dressed while all email is being sent.
8:25 Leave to take kids to school (they don't go to the same school right now, so we have to go to two different places).
8:30 Steve starts work on the computer.
9:40 Back home - answer more email.
Proof edit one wedding. Batch into 4x6 images for processing.
Start doing the photo edit for a commercial client's website launch.
While running the batch, send out three contracts for 2007 clients.
Answer more email.
Start the laundry.
11:45 Make lunch - eat at my desk while organizing files for an album design.
12:00 Batch the next wedding and start the edit.
While the batch is running in the background, edit high res files for portrait order.
1:30 Run errands.
2:30 Pick the kids up at school.
3:00 Make snacks, do some household chores.
3:15 Check email while the boys play outside
Continue to edit the second wedding.
4:30 Make another snack and get Logan ready for his after school activities.
5:00 Leave for Logan's kickboxing class.
6:30 Home from kickboxing - make dinner if its not already done.
Get the boys into the bath.
Play/Book time before bed.
7:00 Leave for a meeting at Ethan's school.
10:00 Home again - check and answer email that came in since 5:00.
11:00 Bed.

We do this very same routine (with a few variations) Monday - Friday. We usually have a wedding on Saturday.

When I write it all out like this, we look pretty busy. And we are. But the thing is that we are busy because we choose to be busy, we choose to keep the responsibility of raising our kids to ourselves and we choose to run the business ourselves. We like to be busy and we like to keep our personal touch in every aspect of our business. Everything that you get from Tying the Knot is personally worked on by Steve and myself. Everything.

So, the blog is a bit behind, but that's ok. Our clients are all receiving their proofs in the next few weeks, the orders for Chirstmas are starting to come in and we have 9 album designs to send out for approval. The blog will be caught up as soon as we finish all that!

Only 1 day left to Vote

2006-09-19T13:23:00.000-07:00

For those of you that received our latest news update, you'll know that we have been nominated for the 2006 International Photographer of the Year by bludomain. Well, we weren't going to campaign for votes, but what the heck! It's not everyday you get nominated for something like this and we'd be thrilled if we won. So, vote for us by going to info@bludomain.com - just type "The Bebbs - to win Photographer of the Year".

The voting closes tomorrow, so please vote now!

Original Art Prints

2006-09-17T15:02:00.000-07:00

We are so excited to announce our latest Art Prints - Original Art Prints.

Tying the Knot's, Stephen and Jennifer Bebb are once again leading the way in the creation of original art work for their clients. Ultilizing the timeless nature of their images and the nostalgic look of old photos, Stephen and Jennifer have created true works of art to enhance thier clients' homes.

We will still be offering our Signature Art Prints, which are distinguished by their crisp lines and sharp appearance. And we are thrilled to add the Originals to our Art Print line.

Here is a preview of one of our Originals:

For more information about how your images can become Original Art Prints, drop us a line at info@tyingtheknot.net. We would love to work on your favorite images and add them to your Art Collection, either on your walls, or in your Art Book.

On the Road

2006-09-08T15:10:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone!

Steve and I are the road this weekend for a fabulous destination event. It's a little bit out of the way and we're not sure how good the cell phone coverage or internet access is, so we may be unreachable for the next few days. We'll be back in the studio late Monday and we'll be answering all your calls and emails then.

For our loyal blog watchers, I'll be posting two weddings next week. Last weekend's and this weekend's, so keep an eye out for that. We also have a big announcement coming for all of you that are interested in portrait work.

See you all next week!

Eva & Felix

2006-08-28T13:54:00.001-07:00

We have had a year of the most wonderful weddings! I feel like I'm repeating myself week after week, but it's true - we had another fantastic day with Eva & Felix. I want to make a special mention of all the people that helped these two plan and coordinate their wedding day, especially Karia.

Eva's shoes

The Church

Their programs

This was taken while Eva was tying the rings onto the ring "pillow". She had no idea that I was taking it - I actually had to climb into a plant for this shot. I love how crisp her eyelashes are.

After the ceremony

Our new favorite photo locations

The First Dance

Award Winning Photo

2006-08-27T10:01:00.000-07:00

I am so excited to announce the Stephen has won another award in the very prestigious WPJA contest. This time he has taken second place in the Engagement Category! I'm so proud of him!

Any of you that know Steve and I know that we have a very healthy competition going with each other. We each try to out-do the other at every opportunity. It's all in good fun and it helps to motivate us to reach a higher level in our work. And while we are each other's biggest competition, we are also each other's biggest fan, and we get to share in each other's successes.

So, we add another award to the Tying the Knot collection!

Here is the winning image of Andrew and Jen:

2007 Commissions

2006-08-23T12:55:00.000-07:00

We have been receiving tons of inquiries about our availability for 2007. And most of the people that are calling end up disappointed as we have already been commissioned for their dates. This is especially tough for us as a number of these inquiries are from former bridesmaids, groomsmen, guests or referrals from some of our favorite clients!

So, if you are planning to get married in 2007, and you would like us to photograph your wedding, please call and check our availability before you book your venues. We are happy to give you two or three dates that we're still open so that you have the flexibility you need for your venue booking, but if you choose your date and book your venue before you call us...we may already be commissioned for someone else.

Priscilla & Jason

2006-08-22T14:11:00.000-07:00

I know, I know...I'm late blogging this wedding. But seriously, how do you even start with a wedding like this one? Priscilla and I have been in touch fairly regularly since November and I have to say that I could not wait to photograph this event. It was like getting a chance to hang out with an amazing friend the entire day. And to see her have her wedding unfold just the way she wanted...well it was priceless!

Priscilla is gorgeous! And she is made even more beautiful by the fact that she doesn't know how gorgeous she really is. Truly! And Jason is just such a great guy. These high school sweethearts compliment each other perfectly.

For once, I'm at a loss for words and I am going to let the images speak for themselves...

The shoes:

The Girls:

Priscilla:

During the trolley ride to the ceremony:

Waving to the guests:

On the way to the photo session:

Working with the couple:

And we can't forget the guys! These guys were awesome...they did everything we asked of them without question. I love this shot:

After some very emotional speeches, the dancing began:

And in what was an incredibly generous gesture, the next dance that Priscilla and Jason announced was the father/daughter dance. But, it wasn't a dance for Priscilla and her father (that came later). It was a dance for Jason's sister and father. Jason's dad had been in an accident before her wedding and while he was able to walk her down the aisle, they never had their dance together. Well, tonight they did, and they both were overcome by emotion throughout.

And that summed up, for me, the incredible people that Jason and Priscilla are. How lucky we are to have met them.

Congratulations guys!

Tying the Knot - Photographers of the Year?

2006-08-15T20:00:00.000-07:00

We are so excited that Tying the Knot is once again making news!

Steve and I have been nominated as one of the Top Photographers of 2006. I've taken the following from the bludomain blog so you can read all about it:

Blu's Photographer of The Year 2006 Nominees

** BluDomain has collected a years worth of data. Anytime someone mentioned another photographer in a "good way" we put a star next to their name. We finalized the list and it was obvious who other photographers admired, were inspired by, looked up to, and bragged about. Now just because you didn't make this years list doesn't mean you weren't on our "Stardom Map" The map was continuous and lit up our office, we used metallic stars. We had to cut the list and that is always hard however we are very happy with the results.
Now it's your turn to be inspired as I interviewed each one of them. Same interview different day. At the end.. you will VOTE BluDomain's 2006 Photographer of the Year. That photographer will win a $500.00 cash prize and more but most importantly the prestigious title of being Blu's Photographer of the Year 2006 and of course the trophy will be presented.

To read all about Tying the Knot, click here!

We are among some incredible company - truly the world's best wedding and portrait photographers - and we can honestly say that is an honour being nominated.

Lisa & Jeremy

2006-08-08T10:03:00.000-07:00

Lisa & Jeremy are two uniqiely beautiful people who knew what they wanted and their wedding reflected that. The ceremony was held in Williams Park under the trees. The entire bridal party was barefoot and their families and friends were encouraged to be dressed in their casual best. It was a day filled with love and family.

Lisa and Jeremy both got ready at Lisa's parent's home. While Lisa was having her make-up done, Jeremy was in the back yard enjoying the pool. She could see him the entire time which made her excitement level even higher. Lisa chose to wear a less popular style of dress, choosing something that reflected her style. She looked like a Greek goddess - she was stunning.

These two chose to see each other before the wedding and to have their photos taken at the park. Their first moments together were joyful - they are so obviously in love.

One of the most important parts of the photos was that they be outside, at the park, and involve water.

The ceremony was truly one of the most moving I have ever witnessed. When the worship song was sung and the entire group joined in the singing, the emotion that filled the air was palpable. I have to admit, I was also caught up in it and may have shed a tear or two. It was joyful and bittersweet as the song was also one that had powerful memories of Jeremy's mother attached to it. And while she may not have been there in person to witness the wedding, her presence was felt in the joy of the moment.

On a personal note, I have to say that Steve and I left the wedding feeling like we were family. The Wendlands are so welcoming and warm...and their dear friends, the Carlsons, are some of our favorite people. Everytime we see them we feel like they are family and we can't wait until the next time.

Lisa and Jeremy - thank you!

John & Christina

2006-08-08T09:55:00.000-07:00

Wow - I don't even know where to start with these two. What a fantastic couple!

I was so excited to get to the wedding today...John and Christina have such infectuous energy and they are so obviously in love. From the moment we walked into the girls' rooms at the Marriott Pinnacle, we felt right at home. Chirstina was relaxed as her hair was being finished. Everyone was having so much fun.

Here is a shot of her having the final touch up of her hair - unposed:

At Cecil Green, John and Christina made it official! In a ceremony filled with laughter and tears, these two affirmed what they already knew in their hearts. It was a touching moment.

After a light lunch and the Tea Ceremony, we were able to spend some time with these two and their bridal party. We took a few images around Cecil Green and then headed into the city. There was a fair bit of time scheduled for photos, so we decided to take it easy and keep everything relaxed. A game of pool and a little food was just what everyone needed.

We took the bridal party on a walking tour of the city...I always feel so bad for the girls when we do this - their feet get so sore.

When the photos were complete, it was off to Kirin for the reception. Steve and I have been to Kirin many times (most recently at Becky and Darren's wedding) and we have never seen the restaurant look the way it did tonight. Chris' brother Dave took care of most of the details of the reception and he did an unbeleivable job. If he ever wants to go into wedding planning, Steve and I will promote him like crazy! Every detail was considered and it looked spectacular!

Thanks guys - we had so much fun with you all!

Alison & Mark

2006-08-08T09:44:00.000-07:00

Ali & Mark chose the most beautiful settings for their celebration: The Vancouver Club and St. Andrew's Wesley. The amount of time that Ali and her family spent putting the wedding together was evident from the moment we walked into the Club. Everything was still being set up and everywhere we looked we could see people working to make it perfect. And it was - the tables were stunning, the flowers were beautiful and the dresses were spectacluar.

Ali is an elegant beauty and she had Manuel Mendoza create a dress for her that complimented that elegance. It fit her perfectly and, like all of Manuel's creation, enhance her beauty. The dress was the perfect accessory.

Here is Ali waiting for the ceremony to begin:

After the ceremony and some photos around the church, it was off the the waterfront for some more photos. Ali and Mark rode in a beautiful old Rolls Royce driven by the lovely Mr. Joseph. It was such a pleasure to work with Ali and Mark, and their bridal party. They were a fun bunch and kept the atmosphere relaxed.

After photos it was back to the Club for the reception. The interesting thing about Ali is that she grew up in North Vancouver and we attended the same school. I'll admit, I'm a little older than she is, but I still wondered with the North Van connections if I would see someone I knew. And sure enough, Margaret and Glen Cobb were there. The Cobbs gave me my first job at the age of 12 babysitting their three children. It's always disconcerting to hear "Jennifer Henfrey?" and to forget for a moment that that was my name before I married Steve. It was so lovely to see the Cobbs and spend a very brief time catching up with them. Mr. Cobb paid me the lovliest compliment when her told me that even at 12 or 13 I was full of confidence and that he always knew I would succeed.

Here are some of our favorites:

Kaaren & Mark

2006-08-04T14:34:00.000-07:00

Even though we are in the midst of a 4 wedding weekend, I just had to take some time today and post about this wedding. I think Kaaren, aka Pickles, was the most excited bride we have ever had. Ever. She was literally bouncing, she was so excited to marry Mark.

It was one of the most emotional ceremonies that we have been part of. Everyone in the audience was crying, and even the Marriage Commissioner shed a few tears. This was a celebration of love that literally had no boundaries. You could see and feel their excitement with every moment that passed. Mark could not stop smiling the entire time, although I think I may have seen a tear or two in his eyes. And Kaaren just embraced the emotion of the moment and let her tears and smile co-exist. It was beautiful.

After their walk down the aisle, punctuated at nearly every step with a kiss, Kaaren and Mark were surrounded by family and friends and smothered with hugs and congratulations. There were tears in everyone's eyes as they embraced the couple. With all the touching moments take place around us, one really stood out to me. Mark and his father embraced under a huge tree and both were overcome. It was such an incredible moment that I had to keep the camera up to my eye to hide the fact that it brought me to tears. And still does as I write this.

We took advantage of the beautiful setting to take family photos, and then we had a few moments alone with Kaaren and her new husband. The sun was setting and the light only served to highlight the obvious love and happiness these two share.

And Kaaren loved her flowers, so I had to include one shot of the bouquet!

A Marathon Weekend

2006-08-03T11:22:00.000-07:00

Hey Folks! We just wanted to let all our loyal blog readers and clients know that we have a busy, busy few days ahead of us. We have four weddings this weekend - that's right four! We start this evening with Kaaren and Mark and then we have Ali and Mark on Saturday, John and Christina on Sunday, and Lisa and Jeremy on Monday.

If you're trying to get in touch with us, email is going to be the best way. We won't answer the phone when we're shooting, obviously, but we'll check our email every day.

Keep an eye on the blog next week - we'll have all four up as soon as we can.

And just in case you may have forgotten what we look like, here we are:

A huge thanks to the Boutwells for that gorgeous shot of us! And if haven't check them out lately, they have just launched an amazing new site. You'll find it here: www.boutwellstudio.com.

Kristin & Brennan

2006-07-30T09:53:00.001-07:00

Kristin & Brennan are two of the most beautiful people! And not just on the outside - they are both so sincere and kind hearted and so in love with each other. Steve and I were honoured to spend the day with them, their families, and their wonderful friends!

Kristin is a tall beauty, one that can carry a spectacular dress. And she chose a stunning gown! It fit her perfectly and still allowed her to be herself. And the bridesmaids gowns were in the most amazing colours.

After 8 years together, they tied the knot in Tsawwassen yesterday at their favorite park overlooking the ocean. It was the perfect backdrop for their vows! Every detail was perfect, even down to the sun coming out just as they began their walks down the aisle. After the ceremony, their guests showered them with flower petals!

One of the nicest things about these two is their ability to laugh together. They kept each other smiling all though our photo session with them. And they occasionally indulged us with a kiss or a roll in the hay.

In a recpetion filled with emotional speeches and heartfelt congratulations, one of the most incredible moments was when their friend Billy got up to sing them a song. Instead of doing a cover, like he had originally intended, he sang a song that he wrote for them. It was a spectacular success!

John & Christina's Engagement Session

2006-07-24T12:25:00.000-07:00

I haven't been posting engagement sessions lately, although we have done dozens of them recently. I'm going to try and change that and I'm starting with images from John & Christina.

We are so excited to work with them on their wedding day. And if the images from their engagement session are any indication, we are going to have a ton of fun. Here are just a few:

We've designed a really cool Engagement Guest Book for John & Christina. We've taken images from their session and put them in an album that can be signed by all their family and friends. This is a fantastic way to showcase images from the engagement session and to have a record of everyone that attended the wedding. To take a peek at this album, click on our slideshow link to the right and type "john". Enjoy!

Michelle & Duff

2006-07-24T11:50:00.000-07:00

"We'll be your Guinea Pigs."

That's what Duff & Michelle told us at their pre-wedding meeting. They gave us carte blanche to do whatever we wanted during their photo session. Anything. Ok, not anything - we did the photos before the ceremony, so we still had to get them, their bridal party, and all their fancy clothes to the ceremony relatively unscathed. But, what was so fantastic about this couple was not so much the fact that they wanted to be guinea pigs, although that was really cool. What we appreciated was the total and complete trust they placed in us to create some magic for them.

Duff & Michelle are truly two of the nicest people I have ever met. They both just sparkle with energy and life. Perhaps it comes from the fact that they have traveled and lived in so many places that they truly appreciate the life they have. Perhaps it's an energy that comes from them being together and in love. I don't know. What I do know is that to have that much life shine from within is something I wish we saw more of.

I don't want to give too much away from their wedding day, so we're just including a quick sneak peek today. I had a really hard time narrowing the images down to these few, but I think they give a real sense of the day, the couple and their love.

Sophia & Ken

2006-07-23T11:19:00.000-07:00

We are so lucky to be able to do what we do. We had another fabulous wedding yesterday with Sophia and Ken. It was the hottest day of the year yesterday and temperature records were shattered throughout BC. But we managed to hunt for shade in Vancouver's urban and waterfront areas. Everyone was a great sport as they followed us around the city.

After photos in Yaletown, Steve and I ran right into a protest on Robson Street. We were stuck in traffic for a little over 5 minutes, and we were just panicking! Luckily, the bridal party had managed to avoid the traffic congestion and knew we might be caught in it. They took advantage of that time to grab a little bubble tea and rehydrate before we hit the waterfront. It was great spending time with the entire group - they are a great bunch of people.

The recpetion was held at one of our favorite venues - The Terminal City Club. These guys put on a fantastic buffet every time we are there. After a wonderful meal, a game of Family Feud and some amazing speeches, the dance floor was opened for the first dance and "DJ Ichiban" did his thing!

Jen & Andrew

2006-07-23T10:44:00.000-07:00

What a great day! Jen & Andrew are such a warm and welcoming couple - we felt right at home with them and their families.
Blending two cultural traditions, Jen & Andrew tied the knot at Minoru Chapel where Andrew's parents were married in 1973. After a simple ceremomy that emphasized their love, we headed into Minoru Park for family photos.

There was a touching moment in the park when Andrew's dad showed me a photograph taken at his own wedding and they asked us to duplicate it. What was so important about that moment and that image was that Andrew's mother had passed away a little over a year ago, and wasn't there to witness her son's wedding. As you can imagine, it was a day full of memory and heavy with the weight of what was missing. But none of that detracted from the fact that this was also a celebration and we made an image that, I hope, reflects the original they showed us. We're not actually going to post that image here - we want them to share it privately first.

After the park, we moved on to historic Steveston Village. It was a challenge to find areas that weren't crowded with tourists and pedestrains as this is a very popular spot. But we took the bridal party on a walking tour of Steveston and, along the way, made some beautiful images.

Becky & Darren

2006-07-23T09:50:00.000-07:00

Becky and Darren are such a great couple! They are a crossover couple for us - Becky works at the PNE and we do a ton of their weddings, and she and Darren are friends with a group of people whose weddings we shot last year. It was so much fun seeing familiar faces in the audience.

With their ceremony at Swan-e-set, Becky and Darren chose a stunning backdrop for their "I do's". We took advantage of some of the scenery with familly photos and a little bit of the Italian Job on the long, winding road through the grounds.

After a few minutes in the grass and trees, we opted for a change of scenery and headed into Vancouver's urban neighbourhoods.

We borrowed a bike from a friend of Jen's who happened to be cycling past.

The Bridal Party was just as wonderful to spend the day with as Becky and Darren. And they were pretty comfortable with us and in front of the camera:

At the reception, Becky and Darren were surrounded by family and friends, all of whom were having a great time! The 10 course Chinese banquet was puntuated by a series of heartfelt speeches and funny moments. Like most Chinese weddings, there were some games played. From what I can tell, the sole purpose of these games is to embarass the bride and groom while keeping the entire room laughing. They're usually fairly tame and involve a lot of kissing. This wedding was no exception, expect for one of the games which involved a raincoat, shower cap, bridesmaids and whipped cream:

And I can't forget one of our favorite characters of all time: Ron. This guy was a groomsman at two weddings we photographed last year (Justin & Faye, and Tammy & Terry). He is so much fun, he keeps the entire bridal party laughing. While he wasn't actually in the bridal party at this wedding, we felt he deserved an honorable mention after he posed so nicely for the camera. I can't wait for his wedding day!

Playing Catch Up

2006-07-23T09:48:00.000-07:00

After running into our May 20th clients, Ann & Kay at our wedding last night, I was reminded of how far behind I am in our blog postings. I'm working on that as we speak and I hope to have our most recent 3 weddings up for you all today.

Hang tight, Ann...it's coming!

Diana & Steve

2006-07-06T18:52:00.000-07:00

I don't even know where to begin with this wedding. It was impeccably planned to every last detail and that planning showed as the day went off without a hitch. Kudos to Natalie and her team from the Frog Prince, and the decor from Wedding Design Studio.

This was a wedding that featured the very best in elegant event planning. Rich fabrics draped both the Church and Hotel Vancouver; the Royal Sevrice at the Hotel was stunning; the flowers from Granville Island were truly amazing; and the candy bar and chocolates supplied by Thomas Haas were very popular with all the guests; and the team of Kevin and Lacey from Fresh Perspective is always a treat!

But, stunning details aside, a wedding is nothing without a couple getting married. And Diana and Steve are the kind of couple that we adore. They are so full of life and love each other and their families so very much. For Steve and I it was like coming home after we had been away for a while - the families are the most generous and welcoming people we have the honour to know. We have photographed weddings within the family and wider circle of friends in the past and without fail we have been made to feel as though we are also family.

Diana is a stuning beautiful, made all the more beautiful by the fact that she doesn't know she's beautiful. And Steve could not wait to marry her! Together these two are an unbeatable pair. They take such joy in just being together!

Check out their slideshow HERE!

Ryan & Tiffany

2006-07-06T18:47:00.000-07:00

We had the pleasure of photographing Ryan's brother 2 years ago and we were just thrilled to get the chance to work with Ryan and Tiff. These two have an incredible energy about them - they are so obviously in love. Tiff just shone everytime Ryan glanced at her. What struck me most about these two was the obvious depth of their feeling for each other. It was truly beautiful to watch!

Here are just a few images from their day:

Tying the Knot on Newsstands

2006-06-17T10:21:00.000-07:00

If you haven't already picked up your National Post for June 17th, run out and grab one now! Tying the Knot is featured in the Post as one of Canada's best Wedding Photographers. Check out our tips about style, setting and storytelling.

Our thanks to Elliot and Kathryn for their spontenaity and trust which allowed us to make this image (sorry for the quality - it's a photograph of newsprint):

Tying the Knot Wins Again

2006-06-17T10:14:00.001-07:00

We are so excited to once again announce that Tying the Knot has another award to add to their collection. This time Jen gets the accolades. She has taken third place in the prestigious WPJA contest, reception category, with an image she made at Sarah & Korgae's April 29th wedding.

You can check out Jen's award winning image here - just click on reception. You can also see Jen's other winning images by clicking on this link.

Congratulations!

Cindy & JP

2006-06-17T10:14:00.000-07:00

Cindy & JP tied the knot in a day full of laughter. Cindy is incredibly radient with a beautiful smile. She and JP are so obviously in love and the day was full of joy. Cindy and her bridesmaids were such troopers as we dragged throughout Yaletown and then took them to one more spot before heading to the reception.

Here are two quick images:

Lindsay & Henry

2006-06-17T09:53:00.000-07:00

When Lindsay and Henry planned their wedding day, they left no detail to chance. It was exquisite.

Steve and I were lucky enough to have two sessions with them - an Us Session and the wedding day itself. Lindsay and Henry decided to take some pressure off themselves and used the Us Session as an extension of their wedding day portraits. The result was a lower stress wedding day and an opportunity to explore some of Vancovuer's less travelled locations without the time constraints that can come with a wedding.

The best part was, they had stunning portraits to display at their wedding:

And on the wedding day itself, the time and effort that Lindsay spent on the details was evident throughout the Vancouver Club. She chose two of our favorite companies for her flowers and decor - Boquets Floral and Upright Decor - and they created a stunning backdrop for Lindsay's wedding.

And Lindsay herself (along with some help from family) contributed to the decor with 999 origami cranes hung throughout the Club.

One other unique idea they had was a fountain that stood at the entrance to the dining room. With a bowl full of pennies available for wishes, the guests were encouraged to toss a penny full of good thoughts into the fountain. What a great idea!

Here are a few of our favorites from the wedding day:

Dana & Stu

2006-05-29T19:05:00.000-07:00

Another incredible Tying the Knot couple this weekend! Dana and Stu got hitched in style. Dana's understated elegance and grace was evident in every part of the wedding day - from the dress, to the dessert buffet. It was all in impeccable good taste.

The entire bridal party got ready at the Hotel Vancouver where Steve and I were able to spend some time with both the guys and the girls. Then it was off to St. Andrew's Wesley for a beautiful ceremony. Dana's father spoke with eloquance and passion at his daughter's wedding - his words impacted everyone in the room, including the Minister performing the service. His love for his daughter shone through his words of hope and advice, and his obvious love for Stu was quietly affirmed in his words.

Then it was off for another incredibly fun photo shoot. The entire bridal party was so very much fun! We all laughed an had an amazing time together. And in between the laughter, we were able to make beautiful photographs again. Dana and Stu fit so well together and the love they share was evident in every look they shared. Our favorite moments are those when they are focussed solely on each other - and there are a lot of them!

After photos it was back to the Hotel Vancouver where the team at Upright Decor and Boquets Special Events transformed the ballroom into a stunning backdrop for the reception. The staff and chefs at the Hotel out did themselves - everything was taken care of perfectly!

And when the first dance was over, the party started!

For a sneak peek of the wedding day, and to really see the party, click here.

Ann & Kay

2006-05-24T12:41:00.000-07:00

Ann & Kay tied the knot in an incredible two days of celebration! We spent Tuesday with them as they honoured their heritage with tea ceremonies - one in the traditional Chinese/ Filipino dress and the other in traditional Japanese attire. Ann was stunning in each of her outfits!

On Saturday, Steve and I were honoured to be part of the wedding day. After getting ready at the Marriott, Ann & Kay headed to Holy Rosary for their ceremony. As always, the church provided a stunning backdrop for their vows.

After the ceremony and family photos, it was time for the photo shoot. Steve and I are always challenging oursleves to come up with new locations - ones that we haven't been to and ones that are not overdone. Well, today we succeeded. With incredible light, a little bit of wind, and a couple that trusted us completely, we were able to make some of my favorite images ever!

When the photos were finished we moved on to the reception at the Pan Pacific Hotel. With the videographers (Jan & Jake) from Horizons by our side, we watched emotional speeches, the first dance, and a beautiful moment between Ann & her father. We felt truly blessed to be there.

We know that Ann & Kay are going to be friends for life and we feel so lucky to have met them!

Tying the Knot is All New

2006-05-12T20:29:00.000-07:00

After much time and effort, we are thrilled to announce the launch of the new and improved Tying the Knot website!

While all the galleries are stunning and the site is overflowing with incredible imagery, we are particualry proud of our "real love" gallery, featuring Sarah and Korgae's April 15th wedding. Those of you from the Vancouver area may remember how hard it rained that day. Their images are HOT and it is hard to believe that the weather was awful that day!

Check it out!

Break Free with the Bebbs

2006-05-08T13:51:00.000-07:00

Are you stuck in rut? Ready to move your photography and business to the next level? Are you ready to break free?

Come hang with us in Chicago this fall and learn how to break all the rules and take your business, photography, and relationships up a notch.

We’ll show you how we do it…how we work together, live together, raise children together; how we work with clients, and how you can do it too!

This is not a seminar for the complacent or the content. We’re going to challenge everything you thought you knew and everything that you’ve been told. At the end of these three days you will shoot differently, and feel differently about all your relationships.

Email us at breakfree@tyingtheknot.net to receive your exclusive invitation to this event. There will be no more details here: to get the scoop you need to get on the list!

Ali & Rod

2006-04-30T13:54:00.000-07:00

We spent yesterday with the most wonderful couple - Ali & Rod. They have such energy and spririt, and they are truly in love with each other. It is unfortunately rare, it seems, to find the kind of family bonds that we were witness to yesterday. Ali has two incredible moms - both of whom she loves dearly. And Rod has a wonderful set of parents as well. The bonds that these families have forged are something that I hope Steve and I can give to our own children. We felt so privledged to be part of their family for the day.

Ali is a beautiful girl. Stunning, actually. Her vivacious personality makes her outward beauty even more evident. And Rod is just an all around good guy. Together, they make an unbeatable pair. Their teamwork was evident in every aspect of the wedding day. From the programs and place cards, through to the meal selections and choice of DJ - these two created an amazing event.

Ali & Rod charted one of Vancouver's trolleys for the day. I always love it when people do this as the trolleys are way easier to get in and out of than limos are, and they are so fun to hang out it. Everyone can be together and the quaintness of the trolley helps maintain the energy level of the bridal party.

After the ceremony at St. Andrew's Wesley, we boarded the trolley for Granville Island, then Yaletown, and then onto the reception at the Terminal City Club. It was a great day!

Ali's father had passed away, but she carried photos of him with her the entire day:

And one of our favorite couples from 2005 - Lynette & Ryan. It was so great to see these guys again:

Sarah & Korgae

2006-04-19T15:45:00.000-07:00

There was a time, when we wondered if we would ever have the pleasure of photographing Sarah and Korgae. We first met them way back when we had our studio/ storefront in Yaletown. They booked us for a wedding over 18 months away...and then they changed the date. No big deal, we were able to book it again and transfer their retainer to another date. I think they changed that date too - but, again, we booked it, so all was well.

Well, they finally tied the knot this past Saturday in a ceremony full of laughter and love!

And they could not have been a more beautiful couple...seriously, you'll have to forgive the number of images we've attached this time - Sarah could not look bad in a photo if she tried!

And the party? Well let's just say it was still quiet when we left...

A Vow Renewal

2006-04-19T15:41:00.000-07:00

Most of you know that Steve and I have been married for a long time. We have two incredible children whose lives have enriched ours to no end. But, what we don't often talk about is the fact that we don't have very good wedding photos. They're ok, but they're not amazing.

So, we decided to do something about that. Steve and I renewed our vows at the Chapel of the Bells in Las Vegas. And we had four of the very best photographers in the world on hand to share it with us. We rented a slightly unconventional wedding dress, and had a slightly unconventional ceremony, but it was an incredible experience.

And then there was the photo shoot. What happens when you get four incredible photographers, and the city of Las Vegas as your playground? Well, check it out! Images from Doug & Chenin Boutwell, John Michael Cooper, and Vanessa Hall.

The Boutwells: (you can see more on their blog)

Viva Las Vegas

2006-04-19T15:33:00.000-07:00

Steve and I were able to attend the second annual DWF convention in Vegas this year! We went last year and were just stunned and overwhelmed with the information we absorbed. We took much of what we learned and developed a series of ideas to elevate Tying the Knot and raise the quality of all aspects of our company. We ended up photographing 56 weddings last year, which meant a lot of the ideas we had spinning had to wait.

Well, not this year. This year we have made a conscious decision to take fewer wedding commisions and to really focus on the aspects of our business that we want to grow. And part of that plan was to participate in the DWF convention.

We had such an incredible time in Vegas. We renewed acquaintances we met last year and made so many new friends! It is such a great experience - you rub shoulders with the very best in our industry and realize that, at the heart of it, we're all doing this for the same reasons.

It is an unbelievable feeling to be part of a greater community. And to be part of a community that embraces the art of what we do as much as the business is even more incredible. In fact, a whole new world of opportunity has opened up for us this year. We have learned the value of believing in yourself - and going after what you want. As a result, we will be offering a series of seminars this fall throughout the US, and possibly Canada. Stay tuned for more of that.

Sandy & Steve

2006-04-19T15:27:00.000-07:00

We first encountered these two at Lisa and Lawrence's wedding. They were at "that table". You know the one that every wedding has where there is a lot of drinking, a lot of laughing, and sometimes a whole other party taking place? Well, that was their table.

We saw them next at Allison and Kevin's wedding. And this time we sat at "that table" with them. And believe me, it was crazy! Sandy and Steve told us they were getting married on April 8th, but we were scheduled to fly out that night for a destination wedding in Mexico. But after spending the evening with them and realizing how much fun they really are, we agreed to talk about changing our flight.

Well, we changed our flight, and our plans for the Mexico wedding also shifted, so we were able to be with Sandy and Steve as they tied the knot.

It was such a fun day - full of incredible energy and excitement. These two have been together for a while, but their delight in each other is still wonderfully fresh.

Here are a few...

Ral & Danelle

2006-04-19T15:23:00.000-07:00

Wow, what a great day we had with these two! I always feel so lucky when I see two people so in love! And what was even more special about these guys was that they hadn't kissed, on the lips, for over a year! They decided that they would make their first kiss as husband and wife essentially be their first kiss.

As they time grew near,the excitement between these two was unstoppable. They both started bouncing around and fidgeting - they wanted to get kissing. And Ral, being the character he is, decided to prolong the moment a little more by stretching, and pulling some antics for the guests.

But when it happened - it was a kiss full of passion and hope and love! Everyone should kiss like that on their wedding day!

Here are some of our favorites from the day...
The theme running through the day:

We did the photos before the ceremony, so there was never a "kiss", but so many "almost" moments. It created a beautiful tension in the images.

And finally....

Stephanie and Paul

2006-03-15T15:59:00.000-08:00

When we walked in the door to Steph's home, we were embraced with such incredible energy and warmth. Her family is amazing! Everyone was so excited for Steph and Paul and they couldn't wait to get her into her dress and on the way to see her groom.

And Steph's dress was gorgeous. It was truly stunning in it's simplicity. Definitely one-of-a-kind:

And her shoes...comfy and classy!

The thing with this wedding day is that when we left our home in North Vancouver that morning, it was clear and actually warm enough that we didn't need our coats. And it was still pretty nice when we were with the girls as they were getting ready. But, as we headed over to Paul's place, the temperature started to drop and by the time we started photos, it was snowing!

Steph and Paul (and their entire bridal party) were such good sports about taking the photos outdoors. We were in Abbostford and there didn't seem to be a lot of places where we could hide from the weather, but we managed to find a few!

We want to give these two our biggest congratulations! You two are so fantastic and we were honoured to be with you as you tied the knot!

Kudos to Tying the Knot

2006-02-23T14:56:00.000-08:00

Tying the Knot has once again placed in the prestigious WPJA contest. Both of these images were made by Stephen: one you will recognize from our current ad in The Complete Wedding Directory, and the other was made on a very cold day this past January and can currently be seen on the front page of our website.

Congratulations, Steve!

Catherine & Alfred

2006-02-15T15:02:00.001-08:00

When these two tied the knot on January 26th, you could feel the joy in the room! Catherine is so incredibly happy and Alfred obviously loves her so much! We were so excited to be part of their celebration and incredibly flattered that they planned their day, in part, around our availability.

Through the cold weather and the potential downpour that come with a Vancouver wedding in January, Catherine and Alfred were such a joy! And while Alfred is a little shy in front of the camera, his new bride most definitely is not! She moved and smiled and gave us "that look" with little prompting. She was so excited about everything and it definitely shone through. We had such a great time with them on the shoot!

The ceremony and reception were both held in the always lovely Four Seasons Hotel. The staff there do such a great job - we know our couples will always get the very best treatment while they are there. The intimate gathering of family and friends allowed Catherine and Alfred to spend a lot of time with all their guests.

And we were also able to spend some time with Linda and Kyle, who we photographed last year. In fact, it was their wedding where we were fortunate enough to meet Catherine. Linda and Kyle are such great people and I was so happy to see that they are still madly in love...they only had to look at each other for it to be obvious. They had some big news of their own, and we have officially added them to the Tying the Knot baby boom list!

Here is a quick sneak peek from Catherine's wedding....enjoy!

Good Artists Copy...

2006-02-04T15:31:00.000-08:00

...Bad Artists Steal. At least that's what one famous artist once said. I wonder, though, if he would have made such an off-the-cuff statement in the age of the Internet.

I've thought a lot about the subject of where we find our inspiration and what we do about it. And I'll admit that I see images all the time that I would love to be able to produce. But here's the thing - I can't. If it doesn't come out of my head and my heart, then it's just not an image I can make. Steve and I spend very little time looking at the work produced by other wedding photographers - we find our inspriation in fashion, movies, music videos, the light outside and the people we're with. In other words, we use our own lives and those of our clients to create our work. Apparently there are plenty of other people who are working in the visual arts that don't have or use that skill.

Examples? Well, I'm not not writing this to call out other photographers who are getting "inspiration" from the work that Steve and I produce. That can't be helped...some folks just lack the imagination to come up with ideas on their own. From slogans, to attempts to duplicate our actual images, they're feeding off our ideas. And that's fine - there's room in the market for that kind of photographer.

What I am writing this for is to call out the folks that actually go into our websites and galleries and take images for their own use. Unbelievable, you say? Not so my friends. We have several images currently gracing the pages of web sites around the globe. None of which is being used with our permission or knowledge. Well, until we stumbled across them, that is. And here's the kicker - these images are all being used on websites that have a copyright disclaimer on their home page. This would suggest, to me at least, that they are laying claim to the design and content of their sites and don't want anyone else to steal those items. Hmmmm, it's interesting then that they have STOLEN our images. Not borrowed....STOLEN.

And these aren't images that were ever published anywhere but on our website. They are all images that were on our site prior to October, 2004 and so they have been used by these companies without compensation to us for over 18 months, at least and probably closer to over 2 years.

How long do you think they'll keep using them? Until they are caught? Until we send them a bill for usage rights? Until we name them and shame them right here and now? Until they find an image on our site they like more and just "borrow" that one (oh right, it's not as easy now that we've protected our images a little better).

So, what can we do? How do we, as artists and as wedding photographers, not only protect the copyright on our images, but also our clients' likenesses? These sites don't have permission to have our clients' images on them. Maybe we should have our clients go after them as well.

I want to know what you all think. How would you feel as clients or artisits yourselves to have your work ripped off the pages of your website and plastered all over a product that you don't know anything about? Let me know what you think. I'll put together some of your suggestions and then maybe we can find a way to stop this sort of thing from happening more.

And the irony is, if they had asked, we would have let them purchase one-time usage rights with all the proper releases for what is now a relatively low price.

Christine & Herman - January 15, 2006

2006-01-17T15:58:00.000-08:00

We first met Herman in September, 2004 at Jag & Tunde's wedding (more about them later). We had such a great time at that wedding so we were really excited when we got the call for this wedding. And then we met Christine. She is a straight shooter with so much incredible energy, and she kept me in stitches all day long.

This was such a great way to start off the new year. And an even better way to finish out the weekend. Christine was absolutely stunning and such an incredible pleasure to photograph. She trusted us completely and anything we asked of her, she did, despite the freezing weather. She has one of those incredibly rare faces that can be innocent one second and incredibly sexy the next. We had to keep reminding ourselves that this was a wedding - not a fashion shoot. But, in the end, we just went with our guts and made images that we have never had the opportunity to make before.

So, thank you - you and your bridal party were just fantastic to be with. We already knew the guys, but it was so great to see them again. And the girls...well, I felt like I was hanging with old friends. They were so relaxed and fun. I hope each of you had as good a time as Steve and I did!

Ahhhhh....weddings

2006-01-14T13:21:00.000-08:00

It has taken me all week to figure it out. I have had a sense of something all week long. I've been distracted, anxious, even a little nervous, and I could not figure out why. Even this morning, I had a vague sense of something tickling the back of my mind. I wondered if it was the 26 days of rain that we've had; or maybe it was the jerky photographer that ripped off our slogan this week; or maybe it was that my oldest child just turned 6 and I was feeling nostalgic.

And then it hit me - just now. I'm photographing a wedding today! I haven't picked up my camera for a professional wedding shoot for almost two months now and I am so excited that I can hardly wait. I'm watching the time change on the clock in my kitchen and it is moving so slowly right now. All the gear is lined up on the counter, the iron is plugged in, Steve's in the shower, my make-up is done, when can we leave? Now? Now? Let's go!

I've always known that I love my job, the same way that I know I love my kids - it's just there. Ok, it's not the same exactly - I could never give up my kids, but it's something fundamental to who I am. I am a wedding photographer. Say it with me people - Jen is a wedding photographer. How great is that?!? I get to walk into a room full of strangers, introduce myself with a "Hi, I'm Jen and I'll be one of your photgoraphers today", pick up my camera, bring it up to my eye, focus, compose...wait....click...and we're off. I lose all sense of time and duty to anything but the folks in front of me. All those issues that come with being a mother, a wife, a business owner, a friend, they all sort of fall away while I'm at a wedding. I get hit with a rush of adrenaline, I see light with so much more clarity than on other days, I witness commitment, and joy, and the bittersweet moments as parents watch their children take this huge step. And I get to make pictures of it all!

I don't think I've been this excited about the season starting before. We have two weddings this weekend and I have ideas that have been churning in my head these past two months, and I'm going to hear stories and see moments I haven't seen before. I am going to photograph a wedding. How incredible is that?

Can we go now?

2005 - A Year in Pictures

2006-01-01T13:43:00.000-08:00

As we move into 2006, we wanted to take a look back at 2005. We started this thread in July - it was titled Brides of 2005 - and we intended to create a record of all the weddings we photographed in 2005. So here it is: one photograph from each wedding that we we lucky to attend this year. It is almost impossible to define each wedding in a single image, but that is what we are trying to do with this record. Each shot sums up our feelings and impressions from each wedding. Some will show the couple, others a caught moment, others just the bride, and some just the details. And while each wedding is primarily about the couple themselves, the feeling that we are trying to convey doesn't always come with the expected type of image. So here goes:

Carla & Doug

Lauren & Chris

Lia & Bobby

Melanie & Brian

Christine & Ed

Clara & Paul

Justin & Olga

Linda & Kyle

Suzan & Shayne

Chantal & Adam

Sally & Adam

Ellison & Chris

Elissa & David

Julie & John

Lisa & Mike

Elana & Ivan

Faye & Justin

Cathy & Danny

Winnie & Michael

Liz & Doug

Elaine & Kelvin

Teresa & Ray

Helen & Simon

Christy & Matt

Nahri & Jason

Trisha & Chad

Ingrid & Christian

Lisa & Lawrence

Sharisse & Jim

Diana & AJ
Eliott & Catherine

A Tuesday Affair

Lisa & Eddie

Billie & Petto
Allison & Kevin

Daniel & Rachel

Chris & Joanne

Sandra & Costa

Denise & Adam

Randy & Crystal

Linda & Raymond

Tammy & Kevin

Jenn & Dave

Tammy & Terry

Ivone & Reza

Tanya & Darrell
Lynette & Ryan

Tracey & Mike

Merry Christmas to All

2005-12-23T10:11:00.000-08:00

To each and every one of our 55 couples of 2005 - Merry Christmas! I know that not all of you celebrate Christmas...so Happy Holidays, Happy New Year, Happy Chanukah, Kwaanza, and whatever else you may celebrate this season. We are so happy and blessed to have met you all. Thanks again for making 2005 one of the very best years ever!

And for those clients, old and new, who we did not see enough of (or at all) in 2005, we wish you and your expanding families the Happiest of Holidays as well!

As for us, we do celebrate Christmas and with two little boys in our house, it is just crazy right now! We do our best to limit the excitement level every year, but Ethan (our 3 1/2 year old) has finally figured out what the big deal is and he can't wait for Santa to come and visit him. Our (almost) 6 year old Logan has even offered to waive his usual fee for cleaning so that he will remain on the "nice" list. Although he has assured me that this offer expires after Santa visits.

While Santa is, of course, an important part of our tradition, perhaps the very best part is that our home becomes a gathering place for family and friends. I actually cook *gasp* Christmas dinner each year and even if it's not great, everyone still eats their fill at a very crowded table. This year my brother and his family won't be in Vancouver until the New Year, and they, and the chaos they bring, will be missed.

In the spirit of the season, we'll be taking a little time off. Well, we'll probably still check our email, but we've dedicated the next week or so to our children (they deserve it so very much!).

So to each of you - hold your loved ones close and remember that without them, all the other amazing aspects of your life would not be as sweet. My boys are the very best thing in my world, other than my husband, and we are so blessed to have family close at this time of year. We can't wait for 2006 to start and to embrace more people into our growing Tying the Knot family.

Happy Holidays Everyone! We'll see you in the New Year.

Let's get Blogging!

2005-12-16T14:15:00.000-08:00

We love our blog! It is such a great way for us to share a little bit of our lives with clients, friends, and other photographers. We get to give a little sneak peek of our work, as well as express how we feel about our clients. We can let everyone know what we're up to and how much we enjoy what we do.

But I think the best part, so far, is that our clients are blogging too! We can only share such a small part of each wedding day, but our clients can tell their whole story on their own blog. So, we wanted to share some of those blogs with the people who check in here.

This week: Ivone and Reza, our Ocotber 15th clients. Check it out! You'll learn a lot about their wedding day and you might see a little bit of us in action.

The Art of Blending In

2005-11-30T14:34:00.000-08:00

I often see and hear the word "unobtrusive" used by wedding photographers. In fact, I'm guilty of using it myself. But, let's be honest - there is nothing unobtrusive about two people, four cameras, waist belts full of gear, and flashes going off. People know we're there, we can't hide it. But, what we can do is blend into the crowd. Steve and I have found a way to take any situation and work within it. That means sometimes, when all the guests are madly taking pictures, we join in and capture not only the subject of all their interest, but also them as well. Or sometimes, I'll put the long lens on the camera and shoot close-ups from a distance. We adapt to each situation as it arises.

But most importantly, Steve and I have tons of fun at each and every wedding we photograph. And to illustrate that point, our good friends at Cloud Nine Creative sent us this little clip of our May 20th wedding. I am sure that our other videographer friends are sitting on a plethora of material that demonstrates what I mean, but we'll get started with this one...enjoy!

I'm planning to add many more images of the two of us at work - both to show our professional side and to show how we keep things upbeat. We're hoping a few more of our videographer friends will contribute to this post, but we have a number of images that we made while working this year. My favorites are all of Steve, of course, but he has some great ones of me too! Keep watching! And don't forget to let us know what you think - we invite and welcome comments on any of our posts. We want to know what you all think!

Tying the Knot Baby Boom

2005-11-30T14:21:00.000-08:00

What an amazing year this has been! We photographed 55 weddings in 2005, and we are now finalizing all the editing. We often chat about how fortunate we are to be able to spend a little bit of time with so many amazing people. We witness so many different religious and cultural traditions that we would not otherwise be exposed to. How lucky to have some insight into the traditions of other cultures...everyone should have the opportunity to see that love and marriage are, at their core, universally beautiful. Our children reap the benefits of what Steve and I are able to see as we have a rich understanding that we can pass on to them. Knowledge breeds acceptance and tolerance and we are so blessed to have gained some of that knowledge.

One of the most amazing aspects of what we do is that it never ends with the wedding. So many of our couples go on to have children and we get to see their families grow. It has been a relatively slow process with most of our couples choosing to wait a little before starting their families. 2005 seems to be the exception to that. I think at last count, 7 or 8 of our couples are already pregnant and 2 have already had their babies!! And I just found out about one more couple that is expecting! Having my own kids makes the news of our expanding Tying the Knot family even more exciting. I can't wait for all these new babies to arrive to we can make more pictures with our extended family.

Congratulations to each of you !

Tracey & Mike

2005-11-12T14:16:00.000-08:00

What a wedding! These guys are so incredible - they have such amazing energy and are so full of life! From the minute I walked into Tracey's room at the Opus I was captivated by her. She has such spirit! She was so excited about marrying Mike and that energy was shared by everyone in the room with her. Priscilla, aka "DG" (one of our brides for next year) was with Tracey and her happiness for her friend was so incredible to see. Aurora did a fantastic job on Tracey's make-up and Tracey just shone. Tracey could not wait to see Mike:

And Mike? Well, I didn't see Mike until the walk down the aisle, but he's not so bad either. The first thing I thought when I saw him was "shaken, not stirred" as he looked just like James Bond. He could not have had a bigger smile on his face as Tracey walked towards him. And that smile did not falter once through the evening.

After the final rose petals fell on the ceremony at Brix, it was off to make pictures. And what incredible pictures we made! Mike & Tracey put complete trust in Steve and myself and I can't thank them enough for that. Anything we asked, they did and the result is simply amazing. These two are the perfect example of what putting complete faith in your photograper can lead to. I could fill the blog with images of just these two - they're that good!

The session with us was just a very small part of their day...the reception continued at Brix and was full of family and friends. The sense of excitement and happiness that I had first felt the Opus carried into the reception and everyone was having a fantastic time. The emotional slide show was followed by even more emotional speecches. It was amazing to watch the effect that these two have had on the people in their lives. We felt incredibly special to have been included as part of their celebration.

"DG" and the girls got on the dance floor early and by the time Steve and I left the party was in full swing.

I can't say enough how much I enjoyed the time I spent with Tracey and Mike. In truth, I'm still smiling about it days later. These guys reminded us again why we love what we do! Congratulations to you both!

Steve and I had a really tough time narrowing it down, so we decided to post more than usual...it's just that good!

Priscilla, aka "DG"

2005-11-12T14:08:00.000-08:00

At Tracey and Mike's wedding this past weekend we had the pleasure of getting to know Priscilla a little bit better. Personally, I adore her. She has a quirky personality and she is so much fun just to chat with. She also got a little bit tipsy (just a little tiny bit) and promised to send an apology email the next day - which she did.

The thing is, Priscilla is a beautiful girl and although we tried very hard, we couldn't make a bad picture of her. Not during her impromptu fashion shoot, not during the ceremony, not at the bar, and definitely not while she was dancing. I know that her fiance tried as well, but I'm willing to bet that he also failed at his attempts to make a less-than-flattering picture.

So, we are expecting great things from her at her own wedding next year. I fully expect to see the energy and spirit that I saw at Tracey & Mike's wedding...in fact, I am expecting more. This girl can work the camera (and it doesn't hurt that she's gorgeous) and I know that we will make incredible images with her as well. And Tracey will get her chance to be "DG" at Priscilla's wedding, as she is in the bridal party.

Priscilla, we adore you and can't wait!

David Williams - Day 1

2005-11-01T19:18:00.000-08:00

Steve and I were so excited to throw open the doors of our studio today and welcome David Williams, as well as twenty other photographers, inside! We knew that this Master of Photography was going to have a lot to offer us. We started the day with some AV's and were able to get a sense of the work David produces. The first thing I noticed was the simplicity of his composition and the warmth of light in his images. He emphasized over and over again the importance of keeping it simple and exploring your creativity. Photojournalism has been such a buzz word in wedding photography for so long and David had this to say on the subject: photojournalism is about telling the story...you can still interact and direct your subjects and tell that story. Of course, I'm paraphrasing what he said, but I really appreciate the truth to his approach - it's not about labeling yourself and sticking to only what that label is, it's about finding the key elements to further the story and using your skills, talent and creativity to tell the story.

We spent much of the afternoon making images that David calls "Detail Miniatures". It's something that Steve and I do, but not to the same extent as David. His reasoning for these images is simple: the details provide the context in which the story is being told. How very true that statement is. A wedding is a cultural ritual and to understand the ritual, you must first understand the context in which it is taking place - details do that. So, he let twenty photographers loose on our studio in an effort to demonstrate that beautiful details can be found anywhere. I am very curious to see what each person found and made images of. I know that I looked at the studio with a new eye and I was able to create some artisitic, some graphic, and some architectural details that I had not neccesarily seen before. It was also kind of creepy to have that number of people with cameras crawling around the place - it felt a little like we were being stripped naked in front of an audience!

I am going to add images as the seminar continues, but right now I am exhausted and need to head to bed. David has certainly made me think and for that I am so grateful and excited to hear what's coming next. Now if only Evrim would keep his damn camera out of my face!

Lynette & Ryan

2005-10-31T14:47:00.000-08:00

I was concerned that as we photographed our 51st wedding this year, we might find ourselves without energy and inspiration. I shouldn't have worried - Lynette and Ryan have a contagious energy that we drew from as the day progressed. Steve had mentioned to me that they would do anything we asked of them - and so I asked. The result is pure magic! We made images that reflect joy, passion, love and laughter. And we found incredible inspiration in their love.

We have only had time for a very quick edit...I knew which images I wanted to see and I went straight to those ones this morning. Lynette trusted us enough that she did what we asked without question and the result is truly beautiful. Here are three of my favorites:

Tanya & Darrell

2005-10-31T14:40:00.000-08:00

What a great day! These two are so lovely apart and they are truly amazing when they're together. We have seen a lot of weddings over the past few years, but I honestly believe that I have never seen a groom more captivated by his bride then Darrell was today. He could barely tear his eyes away from her long enough to watch where he was walking! It was so touching and I felt overhwlemed by their obvious joy and love.

And it wasn't just the couple that was fantastic - it was their entire bridal party and their families as well. They all embraced Steve and I like old friends and we felt honoured to spend the day with them all. It was a beautiful ceremony and a stunning reception. The guests were having such an amazing time - you could barely chat over all the laughter in the room!

I am working on a few images for the blog right now...I have to confess that while I was going through their day, I actually caught my breath at the incredible emotion we captured in their photos. The images that Steve and I made are stunning (if I do say so myself) in their simplicity and beauty. I can't wait to show them to Tanya & Darrell.

You have our warmest congratulations and deepest thanks for letting us share your day!

Ivone & Reza

2005-10-31T14:35:00.000-08:00

I felt like I knew Ivone long before I actually met her. She and I have chatted by email a lot over the past year and it was a real treat to finally put a face to the personality I already knew. What a couple these two are. I think they are two of the kindest, most toughtful people I have ever met. Steve and I felt so lucky to be included in such an incredible day.

I will have many more images to post as we edit their photos, but for now I have a small teaser for them. This was taken during the "Newlywed Game"...

Each detail was carefully thought out and presented in a stunning display:

Thank you so much - we truly appreciate the fantastic people that you are!

Tammy & Terry

2005-10-31T14:25:00.000-08:00

This wedding had it all - a fabulous couple, a wonderful bridal party, and an amazing group of family and friends. Steve and I were looking so forward to hanging out with these guys. Tammy and I hit it off right at the start and I knew that we were going to have fun. From the beautiful ceremony at Cecil Green, through all the photos, and the reception at the Pan Pacific, Tammy and Terry kept the energy up and spirits high!

The highlight of the night, for me, was when Tammy sang to her parents and the entire room (including myself) was in tears. She is a fabulous person and her love of family and friends was evident in her constant smile. She and Terry are so great together - it is a match that was meant to be!

As we edit their wedding more, we'll add some images. But, for now, here are a few details:

The Grand Wedding Showcase

2005-10-21T12:08:00.000-07:00

Steve and I are so excited to once again be part of the Grand Wedding Showcase, aka Creme de la Creme. This year's show is being held at the stunning Vancouver Club and will feature many of Vancouver's very best. In fact, I don't think there is a better group of vendors in any of the shows our city offers (if I do say so myself).

We are madly preparing for the show on Sunday - right after a late night shooting on Saturday. We just know that we'll have incredible brides join us for the absolutly divine experience. It's a Parisian them, complete with street lamps and great little cups of coffee!

We can't wait!

A Personal Project

2005-10-14T13:07:00.000-07:00

We have been so fortunate, as a family, to have both our boys attend an incredible preschool. Not only is it parent participation, so we are part of our chlidren's first educational experiences, but it also has the most incredible teacher. I was honoured when they asked me to make photographs of the school for their marketing. I found that, as a whole, the building and the materials within it were overwhelming. Can you imagine how overpowering it must be for a child. So, I literally got down on my hands and knees to view the school through the eyes of a child and I was amazed at what I found.

Each item in the classroom took on new power and significance when I viewed it through a child's eyes. I felt powerless to really capture the essence of what a school brings to it's children. I needed to look at each item individually and not be influenced by the whole. I needed to find the feeling that each peice evoked. It was an incredible challenge.

Here are some of my favorites:

The entire gallery can be viewed here. Thanks so much for letting me be part of this!

Jenn & Dave - October 1st

2005-10-06T19:56:00.000-07:00

We got home from Jenn and Dave's wedding last night feeling so great about the day we spent with them! And what a day it was! Dave is a firefighter with North Van City and he was able to have the convertible old fire truck come out with us! After the ceremony, Jenn & Dave hopped into the cab of the truck and I got to ride along with them as we made our way down to Crab Park for photos with the truck. It was an eventful ride as it was a little tough to find third gear...and I was blown around like a dog with it's head out the window! I was able to get onto the back of the truck and make some very cool images! (Did I mention how incredibly jealous Steve was that I was in the truck?)

When we arrived at Crab Park, we really wanted to have the North Shore mountains as our back drop, so we had them pull the truck up onto the grass. It was amazing fun! Jenn & Dave were so easy to work with and their bridal party was willing to climb all over that truck! It was fun until the VPD showed up to chat with the driver (it turns out a security guard had called the police on us!). The officer took down the driver's information and cell number and sent us on our way with a stern warning.

Off we went to Yaletown with a quick stop at the old firehall in the Downtown Eastside. Beautiful building - creepy neighbourhood!

In Yaletown we spent some time with Jenn & Dave and we really saw the spark they have between them. They are truly a beautiful couple! As we made our way back to the Limo Bus to head for the reception, we noticed the the driver of the fire truck was again chatting with the VPD. It turns out that the police computers have his license as expired, even though the date on his actual license is 2006. He can't drive the truck back to the station! Wow.

We headed off to the reception with Jenn & Dave and the bridal party (except for the groomsman who had to drive the truck back to North Van). We had a little more time with these two and we used it to work our way around the Law Courts and onto Robson Street.

Back at the reception, the party was starting! During dinner there were great speeches...all incredibly emotional. There was even a time after both Dave's brothers spoke and during Dave's speech that I felt myself welling up, and I noticed Steve felt it too. It was truly beautiful and touching and sad and happy all at once. It was perfectly heartwarming and we felt touched to be part of it.

With tears gone, the party really started and when we left, Dave's buddies from the Fire Department had arrived, the bridesmaids were all dancing, the DJ was doing a great job, and everyone was having fun. After a quick trip to the girl's bathroom to say goodbye, we headed home.

All I can say is this group of people is fantastic! We are so lucky to have met them all, worked with some already and more in the future, and to now count Jenn & Dave (and Denise and Adam) among our friends.

Congratulations! We'll be posting images in time for Jen to see them when she visits her MOH in the big apple (we wouldn't want Chrissy to miss out!).

To All our Clients

2005-10-05T12:40:00.000-07:00

Steve and I wanted to take a few moments and say something directly to all our clients this year...THANK YOU! We have worked with so many amazing people so far (with a few more still to come) and we are lucky to now count so many of you among our friends.

It's been an interesting year for us. Most of you have no idea that my mom has been battling breast cancer - she is now fine - and that has thrown some extra stress into the mix for Steve and I. We've also watched both our children go off to school this year with the oldest heading to Kindergarten and our youngest to preschool. We moved into a great new studio, and this has been our busiest and best year to date! We passed the 300 wedding mark this year and we are looking forward to the next 300!

On the professional front, I made the full transition to digital this season (although I still shoot film for those clients who requested it before I switched). It has been a steep learning curve as the technology of digital is so different than that of film. So it has slowed us down a little bit. Where we used to take our film to the lab and have them do all our post work, we're now doing it ourselves. It's taken a bit of time to develop a truly cohesive approach to editing and we very much appreciate the patience and understanding that you have all shown us. We want to provide you all with the very best product possible - and we're doing that. This year has resulted in an incredible body of work, from both of us.

We have been able to stretch our boundaries and push ourselves outside of our comfort zones. We challenge ourselves at each and every wedding to find, create, and try something we have never tried before. Not every attempt has been successful - but most have been wonderful suprises. It can be something as simple as finding a new location, or as complicated as playing with light. It has a been a really fun project. Having clients that trust us and are willing to do what we ask without question has led us to incredible artistic growth and we thank each of you for that. We are truly able to make art out of the ordinary and we are so grateful for that.

Enough of my rambling - back to editing! Keep on eye on the blog in the next few days as we hope to catch up on all our images and revive the Brides of 2005 post. We're even hoping to start a thread about the funniest things that happen at weddings, so if you guys remember an odd or unusual, or even disasterous thing that happened at your wedding, let me know and I'll include it.

Once again, thanks to each of you that we have already worked with and those who we'll be with soon!

Tammy & Kevin - September 24th

2005-10-02T10:53:00.000-07:00

I first met Tammy as she was waiting outside the church today. She looked so beautiful and a little nervous too! My first thoughts when she got out of the car were of how elegant she looked - I couldn't wait to start working with her.

After the ceremony and Family photos, we were off to Coal Harbour to start our photos. The light was tough down there and Tammy and Kevin seemed a little nervous about the number of people watching them! I can only imagine how disconcerting it can be to have total strangers not onbly staring at you, but also taking your picture or videotaping you. Steve and I both knew there was great potential here, so we pushed through and we made some beautiful photos. It was time to move onto a more urban setting around the Imperial Palace...and away from an audience. We took advantage of the architecture and light in that area and we were able to see the love and friendship these two have found in each other. And we found Tammy's inner diva!

We wish Tammy and Kevin the happiest of marriages! Congratulations!

Linda & Raymond - September 18th

2005-10-02T10:48:00.000-07:00

What can I say about these two? It was our third wedding this weekend and I was worried about our energy levels...but I shouldn't have. These two were just so full of life and love that it made our job easy. It was such a pleasure to be with them. Linda & Raymond are so obviously in love. They could barely take their eyes off each other. It was so incredibly sweet to see.

Steve and I felt so at ease with these guys. Their genuine sincerity and friendship made us feel as though we had known them for years. That is the way we loke to do our jobs and these guys made it easy for us.

We are so very happy for the two of them - we know their's will be a lifetime of love and joy!

Randy & Crystal - September 17th

2005-09-20T15:28:00.000-07:00

We have been looking forward to this wedding for a long time! Randy and Crystal are two of the most amazing people we have ever met and we just knew their wedding was going to be fantastic. And it was! With the stunning golf course at Swan-e-set as their backdrop, Randy and Crystal tied the knot surrounded by their favourite people. The decor was stunning, but the bride made jaws drop.

After the ceremony there were a few quiet moments with the bridal party as we started the photo shoot. With a few gentle nudges and a small game of golf cart derby they loosened up and we really got to see what a great group they are. I don't think the carts at Swan-e-set wil ever be the same. In fact, I didn't know you could make golf carts do half the things these guys made them do!

Our time with Randy and Crystal was filled with laughter. These two are not shy and they were gracious enough to trust what we asked them to do. Cystal has eyes that will stop you cold and Randy has the biggest grin I have ever seen. Apart, each of them would stand out in the crowd, but together they are unstoppable. So in love, so happy, and so full of life...how could we not have a great time with them.

I wanted to include a few words from Randy in this blog...to me it sums up the enormity of what we do and the incredible impact weddings have on us. I hope that he won't mind, but these words brought me to tears and made me realize why I love my job.

When attempting to describe the two of you, that is literally the only word that comes to mind, WOW, both in professionalism and personality. Your work speaks volumes, but the thing that I believe makes the two of you so special is your personalities. Both Crystal and I feel we had two of our best friends photographing the wedding, and were truely saddened when you had to leave us. I cannot tell you, how different this wedding would have been without the two of you. Crystal typically doesn't like to have photographs taken of her, but with the two of you, seems ready and comfortable at a moments notice. Just a small example of your talents.

Emotions are torn at this point, we are so unbelievably excited to see your work and just how good the photo's turn out, I am sure they will be the center piece of many walls in our home, but we are also a little saddened by the thought that we may not have the opportunity to be with the two of you each and every weekend. You came into our lives as photographers, and will always remain as friends.

Here are a few. I think they speak volumes.

Denise & Adam - September 16th

2005-09-17T09:43:00.000-07:00

I don't know how these two did it! They planned their wedding from Washington, DC and I can only imagine how tough that was to do. They had a lot of help and I think the fact that Jenn was planning her wedding as well offered Denise some inspiration! However they did it, it was beautiful!

The forecast for the day was (on Wednesday) "brilliant sunshine" but when we woke up that morning it was more like a torrential downpour. But, in true Vancouver style, by the time we were scheduled to begin photos, the rain had stopped. And by the time they said "I do" the sun was shining and it was truly brilliant!

These guys are a fantastic couple! They are full of energy and spirit. I don't think a moment passed when they weren't laughing together. Even during a speech which had the entire room in tears, they were able to giggle together. This was truly a celebration! These guys let nothing faze them - nothing was going to slow down their party (not even the DJ who got off to a rocky start). Once the dancing started, everyone was on the floor.

At the end of the evening, for us, Denise's brother and his friend got up to play for the party. Opening with "Suspicious Minds", these guys had the whole group singing with them! As we left Darren was still playing. What a great gift to give the newlyweds.

Thanks so much for having us with you - Congratulations!

Sandra & Costas - September 10th

2005-09-17T09:33:00.000-07:00

We have been so lucky this summer to have a run of fantastic weddings. And this one was no exception. Sandra and Costa are such incredibly wonderful people. They each have a gentle spirit and kind hearts. They waited a long time for this day and their planning certainly paid off!

There was a lot of thought and detail that went into this wedding...Sandra and Costa transformed the Roma Hall into an incredible setting and Sandra's mom made almost everything in the wedding that required sewing - including the bride's and bridesmaid's dresses. I'm not sure how she was able to do it all, but she did.

After the ceremony at St. Augustine's, we travelled to Granville Island for photos. It is always so much fun just to gather everyone and start to walk. We stopped at unique and interesting little spots to create photographs and even paused to dance when one of the street performers sang for them. This was the first time the bridal party has danced in the streets of Granville Island and it was a great moment. Once we finished working our way past rusting metal wall, parking garages, and the through the market, we stopped at Sandbar for a quick drink. The folks there treated the bridal party with such kindness - even providing some complimentary appetizers.

Then is was back into the Porsche for Sandra and Costa and off the Roma Hall. Along the way there was a small incident with a seagull, but they laughed it off and it became one more moment from their day.

We really enjoyed our time with these two - Congratultions!

Chris & Joanne - September 5th

2005-09-17T09:24:00.000-07:00

After photographing two other weddings this weekend, I was worried about how much energy we would bring to Chris and Joanne's wedding. I shouldn't have worried - from the moment we arrived there was such a sense of exctiment in the air and the last two days became a distant memory.

When Joanne arrived at the church, I was stunned by her classic beauty. For a moment I stood in the room with her and just stared - ideas began to race through my mind and I knew that this was not going to be an ordinary wedding day.

After the ceremony and family photos, we headed into town for our time with the bridal party. What an incredibly fun bunch these guys were. The girls were all stunning and just glowed with happiness for Joanne and the guys, well, they were up for just about anything - ok, probably anything.

The inspiration I found earlier with Joanne came to fruition when I realized that this was a bride who knew exactly what to do in front of a camera. It is often an incredible experience to work with couples who are not used to being photographed and to help them find their inner glamour. With Joanne and Chris, we bypassed that entire process and went right into incredible photographs. Both these two were willing to do what we asked and more. Joanne moved her head and body like a pro, and Chris worked the camera like he had been doing it his whole life. And the bridal party? Well, lets just say that they were memorable.

After photos it was off to Brock House for a cocktail party before the reception. Steve and I did not stay past the time when everyone sat for dinner, but if the hour we spent there was any indication, this group was going to party!

I want to thank both Chris and Joanne for the friendship they extended to us - we are thrilled that we were part of your wedding day!

A classic beauty:

Tying the Knot wins another award!

2005-09-12T12:38:00.000-07:00

As part of the prestigious and exclusive WPJA (Wedding Photojournalist Association) we enter competitions where we are judged by some of the best photojournalists in the world. Each contest receives thousands of entries for each category and the judges recognize the top ten images in each category. In fact, according to one of the judges, this is an incredibly tough contest to judge as the quality of the entries is so high.

We are extremely excited to announce that we have taken fourth place in Creative Portraits. When competing against photographers that are the very best in their fields, it is an absolute honour to have been recognized as one of the best in this category. We are also the only Canadians to place at all. Here is the award winning image:

Congratulations to Jen who made this photo on a very rainy day in May!

The Champ

2005-09-09T16:22:00.000-07:00

Sensei Blake Lirette - the Champ.

Steve and our son Logan attend classes at Champions Academy where they are fortunate enough to have World Champion Sensei Blake in their school. To look at him, you see a fighter - shaved head, confident walk, strong stance. But when you talk with him you find he is one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet. He epitomizes the good in martial arts - discipline, strength and commitment and it is an honour for us to have him be a role model for both our boys.

Steve was able to spend a little time working with Blake outside the gym. Ladies, I think you'll like what you see! I wasn't there (darn it) but I was able to see the results and they are hot! We may post more later, but for now we have a teaser...

Rachel & Daniel - September 4th

2005-09-09T13:57:00.000-07:00

After over four years of long-distance dating, Danny and Rachel finally did it! In a beautiful ceremony rich with tradition, Danny and Rachel tied the knot under the chuppa. It was the Rabbi's first wedding and he was eloquent in his service. This was one of the most beautiful chuppas I have ever seen!

Held at the Four Seasons, this wedding was full of elegance. The guests were in black-tie and the ballroom was stunning! Mark coordinated the whole event and really poured all his energy into ensuring the entire day was perfect!

Family and friends came from all over the world, including Israel, and they are some of the nicest people I have ever met. During the speeches, Danny's brother said a few words and his joy for his brother shone through. I don't think there was a dry eye in the room!

When the dancing started, everyone hit the floor! I'll have to find out who the DJ was because he was one of the best I have ever seen! There was all types of music and all types of dancing - great fun for everyone.

One of the best moments, for me, was when Danny's dad came and thanked us for keeping our calendar open for this wedding. I have to say, it was our pleasure.

We stole away with them at the perfect time of day:

Allison & Kevin - September 3rd

2005-09-09T13:50:00.000-07:00

Allison and Kevin tied the knot at Westwood Plateau among family and friends. It was a beautiful ceremony conducted by a favorite officiant of ours. During the receiving line, after the ceremony, the joy was all over both their faces as they greeted their guests. Allison had a hug for everyone, even those she hadn't yet met.

After that we headed to the Burnaby Museum for photos and then on to the Hyatt for the reception. Allison and Kevin really paid attention to the details of their wedding. From the cocktail reception through to the dancing, everything went beautifully. Allison was stunning in her traditional red gown and Kevin couldn't stop grinning! This is one very happy couple!

One quick mention about the table we sat at - those people are nuts! But seriously, what a great group of friends these guys have. Our table was full of people that Allison had gone to high school with and they were really a great bunch. And then there was Sandy and Steve (we keep running into Sandy at weddings!) who made an impression that will not fade anytime soon! I think these two kept the dance floor occupied the entire night!

Allison and Kevin - thank you. Your gentle spirits and obvious love are incredible!

Billie & Petto - August 28th

2005-09-09T13:41:00.000-07:00

I think Billie might just be the sweetest girl I have ever met. When I walked into the locker rooms at Furry Creek she was sitting all alone while her bridesmaids and family were upstairs decorating. She had such a serene manner that I was immediately drawn to her.

Billie & Petto decided to have their ceremony at Furry Creek. But they only invited family and a few very close friends to the ceremony and had a big reception at the Radisson in Richmond later that day. To get everyone to the golf course, Billie & Petto chartered a bus! And right on time, it arrived at Furry Creek. That's how the day went - on schedule. In fact, I think Billie is the first bride we have ever had that started her ceremony early.

After photos and luch, Bille & Petto, the best man and maid of honour, Steve and myself and Kevin and Lacie, sped off to Yaletown for an urban session. These guys worked the camera like experts!

And then it was time for the reception. Wow - what a great time! The speeches were heartfelt and Petto even serenaded his bride. Their friends were really having fun, but no one had more fun then Petto's sister (enough said about that!) and a few other people at our table. I can honestly say that Petto changed into more outfits than I have ever seen a groom change into.

Thanks guys!

Lisa & Eddie - August 27th

2005-09-09T13:38:00.000-07:00

Lisa and Eddie ran away to Italy and got married! No, they didn't take us with them, but they did have two other couples join them in a whirlwind tour of Italy that culminated in their wedding. They came home in time to have a reception on the day they had originally scheduled for their wedding. And we were there to spend it with them. We wish you guys the very best and thank you for having us with you as you celebrated your wedding!

Photographers and Katrina

2005-09-08T18:48:00.000-07:00

As you all know, Katrina has devestated areas in the US. It's hard to imagine what it's like there to try to find food, shelter and safety. Everyone there is hurting in some way. Some will get help...most will not! Of special concern to Steve and myself is the plight of photographers in that region. We're self-employed which means we don't get benefits, empoyment insurance or many of the other things that those of you working for someone else not only receive, but likely take for granted. Photographers work on a contract basis, from job to job. As a result, if something happens and they can't work, there is no money, no medical, no food, no home. New Orleans is a key destination spot for weddings in the US. There are not going to be any more weddings in New Orleans any time soon. No weddings = no money.

Steve and I are fortunate enough to be part of a greater community of photographers. One that spans borders and crosses boundaries. This community has set up a charity called P.H.O.T.O. (Photographic Industry Helping Others To Overcome) that is geared specifically to help photographers. 100% of the donations are going to help photographers in need - 100%.

There are two ways you can give:

Donate via Visa/ Mastercard

Donate via PayPal

We have temporarily shifted our focus from the fun aspects of our blog and want to spend some time on this much more serious issue. Steve and I have already donated funds. If we were closer to this disaster we would open our home. I know that many of you would as well. Please help, in whatever way you can. No one person has to do it all - if we each do something small it becomes something huge.

Thanks so much to each of you - we'll be blogging again soon!

Kindest Regards,

Jen & Steve Bebb

Back to Blogging

2005-09-06T11:58:00.000-07:00

For all of you that loyally check our blog, you might have noticed that we haven't been posting lately. Today, we're back at it! Steve and I have photographed five weddings since our last post. We have also done some commerical work for the North American and World Kickboxing Champion, as well as the photography for the PNE. It's been a little crazy these past two weeks, but we've locked ourselves in the office and we're now working hard to catch up.

This week we will post all five weddings as well as a little bit from the commercial shoot.

Keep checking back...we should be posting more soon!

A Tuesday Affair

2005-08-24T12:44:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday, August 23rd we had the incredible good fortune to photograph one of the most beautiful and elegant affairs I have ever seen. This couple decided that they could either invite a load of people to their wedding and have a regular event or they could invite only the people they were closest to and have the kind of wedding they really wanted. And what a wedding they had. With 30 invited guests, these guys were able to pull out all the stops!

Tanya at Milestone Events helped our bride transform the tent at Brock House into a stunning Art Deco inspired room. The centerpieces were elaborate candelabra adorned with white feathers at the top. The tables were coved in black linens with sheer white chair covers. The chargers were glass with beaded edges and each of the women in the room received a Swarovski crystal necklace handmade by the bride. Every detail was perfect, down to the champagne stands lined up with bottles of Dom Perignon chilling.

Our bride's dress was made by the fantastic Manuel Mendoza. Originally our bride, who is nothing but muscle on a small frame (can you say size zero?), had planned to wear a sheath dress. But then she tried on a gown with a fuller skirt and, as she described it, this girl inside of her (that she had never met before) clawed her way to the surface and she just had to have it. Manuel certainly delivered - it was one of the most elegant gowns I have ever seen. It fit our bride perfectly and she was stunning!

But more important than the details was the couple. These two are so very much in love - it shone through their eyes the entire night. They waited a long time to find each other and the obvious joy they share in their discovery is inspirational. He could not stop looking at her - and she just glowed under his gaze. I found myself wanting to capture the moments they were having with each other and I was reluctant to interrupt.

But, we were short on time, so we raced to the beach and caught the last 20 minutes before the sun set. Our bride knew what she wanted and she worked with us to get it. We all ran down the beach to find the perfect locations for them and they did everything we asked them to. Those moments together were so important to all of us and I cannot wait to see the images that we made. I don't know if we'll be posting them here, but I think they may be some of the best work we have done. I am looking so forward to sharing them with our couple.

Our warmest congratulations to you both!

Kathryn & Elliott - August 21st

2005-08-23T13:10:00.000-07:00

What a weekend we have had! First an incredible wedding on Saturday and then Kathryn and Elliott on Sunday. WOW! Kathryn is one of the most beautiful girls I have ever met - her personality and beauty combine in a stunning package! Elliott, well he's not so bad either. Alone they both shine, but together they just glow!

Every aspect of this wedding was perfect. The bridesmaids dresses were a gorgeous shade of green and Kathryn had shoes to match. Paul from Red Room did Kathryn's hair. She wore it down - it was the perfect blend of romantic and sophisticated. Her dress, well the photos of her dress will speak for themselves. All I can say is it was perfect for her.

Kathryn and her parents left the Opus Hotel in a horse drawn carriage for the ceremony at Brix Restaurant. This girl would stop traffic just by walking down the street and she definitely stopped traffic on her carriage ride. The ceremony at Brix was just the right combination of emotional and light. Elliott may have shed a few tears, but he also provided some humour with his asides to the crowd.

After the ceremony we took the bridal party on a whirlwind shoot through Yaletown. We did not have a lot of time and we really wanted to pull out all the stops for these guys. Elliott has been been following our work closely. He knew exactly what he wanted, yet he trusted us to give him more than he had even imagined. Elliott is a big-time actor and is very comfortable in front of the camera. But it was his camera-shy wife who really burned up our lenses. Her total joy in marrying Elliott shone through and she worked the camera like she had been doing it her entire life!

The reception was beautiful. Brix is such a great location! The room was full of family and friends, each of whom was thrilled to be there. The MC was kind of nuts, but he kept the mood light and the evening flowed. The speeches were full of emotion. I may have even shed a tear or two myself. The only people in the room Elliott didn't say thanks to were Steve and I, but that's not really his fault as the mic was dragged from his unwilling hands!

I can only say this...thank you! Steve and I are thrilled to have shared this with you and we are even more thrilled with the images that we made. At every wedding we challenge ourselves to go even further than we have before and to create art from real life. Thank you for trusting us to make art with you.

Our very handsome groom:

Wow!

It just got better:

and better:

These shoes were so great they deserve two shots - Steves:

and Jen's:

Diana & AJ - August 20th

2005-08-23T12:36:00.000-07:00

Diana and AJ tied the knot on the most glorious of Vancouver days. It was beautiful (and hot). This day was planned down to the very last detail and went off without a hitch. Diana spent a lot of time on this wedding and the result was fantastic! Every detail was thought out and it showed!

We felt very honoured to be with Diana and AJ. Diana has followed our career for a long time and always knew that we would be her photographers. I am so happy that she got her wish and we were able to be part of such an amazing day.

With family and friends looking on, Diana and AJ were married at the newly renovated Christ Church Cathedral. After that it was on to photos downtown, and off to the reception. I have to say the reception venue was beautifully decorated. I think Diana's, and my own, favorite thing was the pink trees - stunning.

We have a few of our favorites here! Congratulations!

Another beautiful bride:

The dress - she has such a tiny waist!

What a fantastic couple!
Who can resist this guy?

Us - In Action!

2005-08-17T14:28:00.000-07:00

At every wedding we photograph, we have two things happen. First, someone always, and I mean always, asks "Are you the photographer?". And second, people always want to take our pictures. So, we've decided that we'll post the images that guests take of us at weddings. Send them in, people. We know they're out there! And if they are not really bad (I mean make us look bad, nothing to do with how they're shot) we'll put them up here. I will update this post as often as I get images from weddings. It could get nasty, but it should be lots of fun!

So, let's get started...

These photos were taken by 'dking' at Lisa and Larry's wedding:

Here is one from Elliott and Kathryn's wedding:

Sharisse & Jim - August 13th

2005-08-16T12:57:00.000-07:00

What can I say about these two? I absolutely adore this couple. They are just so cute! They have been together for a while and it is obvious that they have grown closer over time. All I can say is that it was a real pleasure to spend the day with them and we were both honoured to be able to make images with them.

It will be hard to narrow it down, but here are some favorites:

Lisa and Lawrence - August 6th

2005-08-08T12:31:00.000-07:00

It was strange to be at this wedding and run into clients from three and four years ago. Ben and Phyllis were there with their two little boys and Wendy and Ken had their son at the wedding. When you photograph someone's wedding, you keep that picture in your mind and it freezes each couple in time...to see past clients with their kids is really incredible and exciting! It felt a little bit like Steve and I knew everyone - we even met a wonderful bride who wanted to book us for her wedding next year. Even though we were unavailable she made a point of coming to chat with us and let us know that our work made her cry! How sweet!

Lisa and Lawrence (Larry to everyone but his mom) "tied the knot" on a hot Vancouver day. They planned this day for a long time and it went beautifully. Lisa is a spunky gal who brings a ton of energy and excitement to everything she does. She says what she thinks and it's usually funny. We had so much fun with these guys. The whole bridal party was great, but the bridesmaids and I really hit it off - great girls! Everyone kept the mood light and the day went by so quickly!

These guys were surrounded by a wonderful group of people. From the Ulitmate team table to the friends from work, everyone was commenting on what a fabulous couple these two are. We completely agree!

Congratulations! Here are our favorites:

The bridal party:

Steve loved Lisa's Prada glasses so much he almost took them home:

Ingrid and Christian

2005-08-02T20:54:00.000-07:00

Wow! I don't know what else to say but WOW! These guys are amazing! This was not a wedding in the traditional sense as they got married last year, but this was a wedding in every way that counted! Ingrid and Christian (along with help from family and friends) planned a stunning celebration - all from their home in New York.

La Terazza was the background for this event...a beautiful restaurant perched on the edge of Yaletown, this venue has it all. The decor, the food, the service - it was all impeccable. Ingrid had the help of the incredible Kevin to coordinate her day. He made sure that every detail was taken care of so that Ingrid and Christian could enjoy their day without interruption. And they did. Christian used his photography and design skills to create the seating list and the table place names - this is one talented guy!

Ingrid shed a tear before the ceremony. It showed just how in love these two are. The Latin boy from New York and the Asian girl from Vancouver should never have met, and that they did reaffirms my belief in that one true love. They are both gracious and kind people and together they are going to be an unstoppable force. Their families and friends gathered from all over the world and you could feel the joy as these two groups joined together. It was such a pleasure to be a part of this wedding.

Steve and I are so thrilled that we shared their celebration with them and we look forward to spending more time together in the future. Congratulations!

We had a tough time picking out favorites so here's what we narrowed it down to:

Trisha and Chad - the wedding day

2005-07-31T10:51:00.000-07:00

What a fantastic day! Often when we come into a wedding with great expectations, it's not what we expect. Today's wedding surpassed all our expectations! It was so elegant with a black and white theme. Every detail was taken care of, from the black and white flower girl's dresses to the black chair covers and white linens at the reception. Stunning!

This might just be the biggest bridal party we have ever seen. There were 8 bridesmaids, 7 groomsmen, 3 kids and the bride and groom. That's 20 people! We've shot weddings where there were less guests than that. Every one of the members of the bridal party were amazing! They were all beautiful, tall and so, so nice. The kids were just adorable and so sweet the entire day. And not one person was shy in front of the camera. These guys were willing to ham it up.

This wedding was not about details and food and all the other little things that go into a wedding. This wedding was all about Trish and Chad. These are two of the most loving people I have ever met and they just oozed happiness. I don't think either of them stopped smiling the entire day! They are so full of life and joy, not only with each other but their families and friends as well. We always feel so lucky when we are part of a day like this. Just being near them is like getting a big hug!

Congratulations, guys!

The beautiful bride:

Chad (he's pretty hot too!):

The stunning couple:

The guys (need I say more?):

The Italian Job (Chad & Trish style):

Trisha and Chad

2005-07-30T10:22:00.000-07:00

I first met these two at Justin and Olga's May 7th wedding. Through a bizarre set of circumstances we suddenly became available on Trish and Chad's wedding date and they hired us right away! I didn't know they would be at Justin and Olga's wedding, although Steve had mentioned something to me in passing about clients being there. (I should always expect to see past and future clients at every wedding - they are always there!) As I was scanning the audience as we waited for Olga I spotted this great looking couple. It turned out that this pair of gorgeous people were our clients!

A little later in the day Steve was able to capture a couple of shots of Trisha and Chad and he got a pretty good idea of how things might go on the wedding day.

We called Trish last night to confirm the details for today and she was so excited! This is a bride that can't wait to meet her groom at the alter. Even before the wedding we knew this couple had energy and joy to spare. They know how to laugh together and that is always such an amazing thing to watch. I can't wait to get to the wedding today!

Sally & Adam

2005-07-29T09:46:00.000-07:00

When we worked with Sally and Adam they were our third couple of the weekend. We were really worried about our energy levels and making sure we had enough left for them. We didn't need to worry - Sally and her bridesmaids were so lovely to be with in the morning. Sally was so happy and excited and the energy was just so positive.

When we finally saw the two of them alone together after the ceremony, we could really see what brought them together. They were just the most wonderful couple! It was fun to see the best man again (he had been a groomsman at Suzanna and Charlie's wedding last year) and to hear his speech. The joining of two people and two cultures was seamless with Adam's father speaking to Sally in Chinese and with both families participating in the tea ceremony.

We worked with Angela and Bruce for the second day in a row and really worked out the flow we need to all work together. We're looking forward to working with them more in the future. On a side note, Angela is an amazing designer and she is the mastermind behind some design projects we have on the go (more on that later).

Congratulations, Sally & Adam!

The bridal party: we dodged rain that entire weekend and had to take advantage of the overhangs our city offers. These guys were really great sports!

The uber sexy Bruce and the very talented Angela:

The Brides of 2005

2005-07-28T09:44:00.000-07:00

Steve and I spend a lot of time talking about our business. We are always looking for new ways to be fresh and different while maintaining our integrity. One of the ideas we've been tossing around is creating an annual book of weddings. We thought about taking one image from every wedding we photographed in a calendar year and putting them into one of our cool Italian albums. It's kind of like an almanac - a record of where we've been and and perhaps a forecast of where we're going. The thing is that we don't want to wait until the end of the year to show off all the incredible stories we've been part of this year. So, this morning, we decided to create the online version of our book. We'll be updating this post as the year goes on, adding images as we do them. No commentary, just names. A record that speaks for itself as we continue on this journey. An image that we believe encapsulates the feel of that wedding day. Wish us luck - this is ambitious to say the least!

Carla & Doug

Justin & Faye

2005-07-27T10:18:00.000-07:00

On Canada Day, these guys tied the knot! As the poster kids for the CGA program, we knew they would look great through the lens, but we didn't know we would have as much fun as we did. What a great couple! When they looked at each other, you could see why they were together. They were so kind to us and so willing to do anything...they even made the web site!

Just a few days after their wedding they jetted off to Hong Kong for another reception and then to Hawaii for a honeymoon. They need the break after all the excitement.

The wedding was at the Sutton Place Hotel and the decor was fabulous! The speeches were heartfelt and full of laughter. "Justin's Eleven" was a smash hit (Kevin at Fresh Perspective did a fantastic job) and when he sang to his bride there wasn't a dry eye in the house (because of the sentiment, not the singing).

We are so happy for these guys and feel truly honored that we were with them when they tied the knot! Congratulations!

Nahri & Jason are Tying the Knot

2005-07-27T10:07:00.000-07:00

What a great couple! These guys were last minute bookers and we are so excited that they found us! Steve had an engagement shoot with them late last week and they plan to display some of the images at their wedding this Friday - that's right people, this Friday! We sweet talked our lab into getting the prints done in time...they will look fantastic at the wedding.

These guys are hot! Check back next week for shots from the wedding.

Tammy & Terry's Engagement Shoot

2005-07-27T09:53:00.000-07:00

Steve took Tammy and Terry out for their engagement session last night. They hit the gorgeous sunset light at Jericho Beach at just the right time. We just love shooting into the sun and magical romance it brings to each image...

I was lucky enough to meet these guys at Justin and Faye's wedding on July 1st. Tammy and I had a quick chat and I found her to be a really great person. I am looking so forward to their wedding in October.

They have this little dog that is so important to them...in fact the location of the shoot was based partially on being able to include "Pie" in the shoot. Steve adored the little guy and now he really wants to be a doggy daddy again.

Christy & Matt - July 23, 2005

2005-07-26T09:16:00.000-07:00

On Saturday night, Christy and Matt tied the knot at the beautiful Capilano Golf & Country Club in West Vancouver. Christy and her bridesmaids were absolutely stunning, and great fun. I think this might be the best looking bunch we've ever seen (yes, the guys looked good too!). After an emotional ceremony and a quick trip to the beach and the Village for photos, we came back to an incredible setting for dinner and speeches. You could definitely feel the love in the room.

A huge thanks to Soha at Countdown Events who kept everything running smoothly and made sure that Christy's day was perfect.

Steve and I had such a great time. Christy and Matt were so happy together - kissing was not a problem! Congratulations guys!

Here are a couple of our favorites:

The girls:

Cupcakes:

Jen & Soha:

David A. Williams Coming to Vancouver

2005-07-25T09:34:00.000-07:00

Steve and I are super excited that the crazy Australian photographer, Mr. David A Williams, is coming to town in November. We are even more excited because we're hosting him! It will be irreverent, hilarious fun having him here - and we might learn something along the way.

So far we've only put the word out to the folks at DWF, and I think they'll fill the spots. We're a little nervous as we're not really well known over there and it's our studio and our work that everyone will be seeing (in addition to David, of course). It's always a little freaky to know that other photographers are viewing your work - especially folks who aren't used to us.

David might do part of the seminar at our house. I guess that means we'll have to finish the renovations and clean the place up. Oh well, having a tight deadline always makes us work harder.

Our new blog

2005-07-25T08:53:00.000-07:00

Here it is...our blog! We've been thinking about doing this for a long time and we're finally getting it done. We're really excited to share this with our clients and friends. We can keep everyone up to date with what we're doing and maybe share a little sneak peek with our clients.

Welcome Everyone!