Part of being the best photographer you can be is by learning, experimenting, and challenging yourself to try new things. So that’s why when I saw that Fiona Hook from Image Studios was offering a class on family, maternity and newborns I jumped on it. Fiona is truly a great person, warm, inviting and informative – the perfect combination for a photography instructor.

The day started at 10:00am with introductions of the other students, where they were from and how they got into photography. You all know my story, but it was interesting hearing everyone else and what they were hoping to gain from Fiona’s knowledge of studio based family, maternity & newborn portraits.

Once the beautiful little baby girl showed up at the studio Fiona started to show us her tips & trick on how she does what she does. Of course she made everything look so effortless but she made sure that everyone was taken care of and knew what to do next.

Throughout the day Fiona had different families with different age groups come in to make sure we all got a wide variety of experiences and knew what things might pop up in a shoot.

Lunch was followed by an educational slideshow and a maternity shoot to end the day.

So I am now a bona fide Image Studio trained, family photographer who can cover any age from, newborns, infants, pre-teens, teens and even adults! Thanks again to Fiona Hook for offering this amazing educational experience.

Okanagan Family photographer

Their are so many details that can occupy the space in the reception hall; everything that represents your tastes and personality. Flowers can play a small role in your wedding or they can play a huge one. They can be understated or they can be all encompassing. I for one love, love, love (LOVE) flowers and incorporate them into my every day life as much as possible. Keep in mind that when it comes to weddings, flowers can often break the bank, but if you’re crafty you can have the bouquet of your matrimonial dreams. This is just a little motivation to  get you adding your own personal touch to your wedding.

Always consider what’s in season and readily available for your wedding date. Compromise is key, unless you want to pay out the nose for something that normally doesn’t grow at that time.

Think about your dress and your decor when choosing flowers. It should all mesh well, and following a theme is important if you want it all to fit together.

Don’t ever be afraid to try something new! It’s great to take inspiration from Pinterest or Facebook, but don’t let someone else’s taste dictate what your wedding is going to look like.

Florists are wonderful resources for gathering your flowers, if you don’t have the time they can arrange your bouquets based on your preferences, but again are the least cost effective. I use them for very particular flowers and stems that I can’t find elsewhere.

Art Knapps Nursery in Kelowna is one of my preferred resources for flowers, as is Enterprise Flower Studio. Costco (surprisingly) is another great place to buy large amounts of more common flowers at exceptional prices. As far as arrangements, Classic Creations is an amazing florist and I encourage you to consider her for your needs, if your budget allows (seriously, this girl’s got talent).

And speaking of inspiration, this is my classic, elegant take on the black and white wedding bouquet (with a spring twist).

I love mixing in hydrangeas to any wedding bouquet I make because it adds fullness & volume. They also last long compared to the other flowers, so you can keep them long after the wedding. However keep in mind that they LOVE water and the heat here in the Okanagan will make them start to wilt in a hurry. So make sure you have a place to put them when you’re not using them or when the photographer says that they have all the photos they need.

How to save money on your wedding bouquet:

• Choose flowers that are in season so your cost per flower won’t cost you an arm and a leg.
• Get creative, use something from your yard. Don’t have anything? you can usually get something that looks real at Michael’s, or a craft store.
• DIY? Shop around, don’t get all of your flowers at a high end florist if you don’t need to.
• Having a florist design and create your bouquet? Hire someone you trust, set a budget and let them do what they do best. Sometimes they will know a special deal on something that you didn’t even know existed.

a) White & Purple Tulip
b) White Rose
c) Dusty Miller
d) White Anemone
e) Dried Blueberry Bush Stems
f) White Ranunculus
g) Blush Spray Roses
h) Green Amaranthus
i) White Hydrangea