This winter Silver Star wedding was literally picture perfect, and could easily have been a wedding straight off of Pinterest. Samantha was one of the kindest brides I have had the pleasure of meeting and she truly met her perfect match with Chris. The day started off with a beautifully decorated gold Christmas tree for family formals, snuggles and well wishes from the family pooches, a heartwarming first look behind the lodge, snowy bridal and family photos on the Silver Star slopes that all eventually lead to an intimate family candle and twinkle light ceremony where the bride sang her vows to her husband to be.

Long sleeved, lace wedding gown, the perfect shade of lipstick, silver hair and fuzzy brown moccasins was this bride’s attire that paired perfectly with the groom’s forest green suit and moose print tie!

Did I mention that at one point the couple busted out their skis and snowboard for a quick run?

After our winter family and bridal photos were finished we all went inside for a quick cheesy, BBQ-ed, quesadilla. At this time the family surprised me by singing happy birthday to me by sparkler! The fact that Sam and Chris’s wedding was happening up at Silver Star, the place where my husband and I met; and that the day they were getting married was my birthday, just meant that all the stars had aligned for me to be their photographer – but I never expected sparklers! This just goes to show you how kind this family was. Now I will forever share a very important date with a wonderful couple.

The whole wedding was so enchanting and fairly-tale-esque that you couldn’t feel the cold because you were so filled with love for this couple. I could go on forever about all of the little details Samantha added to her wedding, but I will just let you see for yourself.

I want to wish this newly wed couple all the best in the future of their marriage xoxo

Vernon Photography Info

All the following photos were taken at Silver Star Mountain Resort in Vernon,  BC, Winter of 2015. Canon 6D | 50mm | 24mm – 105mm | 35mm

Second shooter: Jake Hodder

I live for a good love story. I get the all caps LOVE kind of feeling for the journey that my couples go through before I meet them. So when Meagan & Brian told me their story I think I actually squealed with joy over how adorable it was.

How They Met

It all started with a Christmas party and a coworker in need. Meagan is a registered nurse (pretty much Wonder Woman) and one of her fellow co-workers wanted to find someone to accompany her boyfriend’s friend to a firefighters Christmas party. There was no way that she was going to pass up the opportunity to hang out with a bunch of firefighters! So her co-worker sent this mystery man Meagan’s number. One text lead to another… one lunch date and a Christmas party later they were engaged just shy of a year to the date.

How He Asked

Brian decided to take Meagan and their adorable little puggle ‘Abby’ up to Silver Star Mountain after a fresh snowfall. Little did Meagan know that Brian had purchased a new collar and tag that read “will you marry me?”.  Meagan held Abby to look at her new tag and with the softly falling snow and lights overhead Brian went on one knee and asked the question with a stunning emerald cut halo diamond engagement ring.

A true fairy tale engagement proposal! How can you not grin from ear to ear after hearing about their beginning?

I was so immensely touched that they chose me to photograph their engagement session and cover the wedding photography in September. Watching this couple grow and having them choose me to capture all their family milestones has been a highlight of my photography career. I am truly honored to be able to capture these amazing mile marker moments.

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Kelowna Engagement Photography Info

All the following photos were taken at Knox Mountain in Kelowna BC, Summer of 2016. Canon 6D | 50mm | 35mm

Meagan & Brian Historic O’Keefe Ranch Wedding (coming soon)

Below are a few of our favorite Kelowna and surrounding Okanagan Wedding location venues in no particular order:

Cedar Creek Estate Winery

Address: 5445 Lakeshore Rd, Kelowna, BC V1W 4S5
Phone: 1 (778) 738-1020
Website: www.cedarcreek.bc.ca

Sanctuary Gardens

Address: 3792 Carrall Rd, West Kelowna, BC V4T
Phone: 1 (250) 878-2116
Website: www.sanctuarygardens.ca

The Eldorado Hotel

Address: 500 Cook Road Kelowna  BC  V1W 3G9
Phone: 1 250 763-7500
Website: www.eldoradokelowna.com

The Lake House at Quails’ Gate

Address: Sunnybrae Rd, West Kelowna, BC V1Z 2N9
Phone: (250) 769-4451
Website: www.quailsgate.com

OAK Wines

Address: Summerland BC
Phone: (250) 485-2075
Website: oakestatewinery.com
Previously known as Evolve Cellers.
Gallery Full wedding gallery taken at OAK Wines

Bench 1775 Winery

Address: 1775 Naramata Rd, Penticton, BC V2A 8T8
Phone: (250) 490-4965
Website: www.bench1775.com

Poplar Grove Winery

Address: 425 Middle Bench Rd N, Penticton, BC V2A 8S5
Phone: (250) 493-9463
Website: www.poplargrove.ca

Lindon House

Lindon House
1449 Ethel St.
Kelowna, BC V1Y 2X5
Canada
Phone: 250-317-8296
Website: www.lindonhouse.ca

Summerhill Pyramid Winery

Summerhill Pyramid Winery
4870 Chute Lake Road
Kelowna, BC Canada V1W 4M3
Phone: (250) 764-8000
(Extension 1 for driving directions)
Toll Free: 1-800-667-3538
(Extension 1 for driving directions)
Email: www.summerhill.bc.ca

Manteo Resort

Address: 3762 Lakeshore Road, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada V1W 3L4
Phone: (250) 860-1031 | Fax: (250) 860-1041
Website: www.manteo.com

Gatzke Orchard

Address: 3996 Irvine Rd, Lake Country, BC V4V 2J2
Phone: (250) 548-3444
Website: www.gatzkeorchard.com

Powers Creek Retreat

Address: 2810 Smith Creek Road, Smith Creek Rd, West Kelowna, BC V4T 1M5
Phone: 1 (250) 768-5528
Website: www.powerscreekretreat.com

Falcon Ridge Farms

Address: 579 Rifle Rd, Kelowna, BC V1V 2H2
Phone: 1 (250) 212-0755
Website: www.falconridgefarms.ca

Benvoulin Heritage Church

Address: 2279 Benvoulin Road Kelowna  BC  V1W 2C8
Phone: 1 (250) 762-6911
Website: http://www.welcometokelowna.com/benvoulinchurch/info.htm

Guisachan House Restaurant

Address: 1060 Cameron Avenue Kelowna, BC
Direct Catering Phone Lines
George (250) 470-2002
Restaurant (250) 862-9368
Website:http://www.worldclasscatering.com

The Harvest Golf Club

Address: 2725 K.L.O. Road Kelowna BC Canada V1W 4S1
Phone: 1-800-257-8577 or 250-862-3103
Website:http://www.harvestgolf.com

The Okanagan Golf Club

Address: 3200 Via Centrale, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada V1V 2A4
Phone: (250) 765-5941
Website:http://www.golfbc.com

Silver Star Mountain Resort

Address: 123 Shortt St, Silver Star Mountain, BC V1B 3M1
Phone: (250) 542-0224
Website: www.skisilverstar.com

Walnut Beach Resort

Address: 4200 Lakeshore Drive, Osoyoos, South Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada V0H 1V6
Phone: 1 (855) 936-5400
Website: www.walnutbeachresort.com

Laurel Packing House

Address: 1304 Ellis Street, Kelowna BC, V1Y 1Z8
Phone: (778) 478-0325
Website: www.kelownamuseums.ca

Durali Villa

Address: 5960 Old Kamloops Rd, Vernon, BC V1H 1P7
Phone: (250) 549-4949
Website:

The Cove Lakeside Resort

Address: 4205 Gellatly Rd, West Kelowna, BC V4T 2K2
Phone: (250) 549-4949
Website: www.covelakeside.com

Ryan & Jessica – also know as Ryan & Beck are one of those couples that you know should be together forever. A little shy at first but it didn’t take long for the two of them to warm up to the idea of me being in there faces for over an hour.

We started in the quaint little park where Ryan proposed to Jessica, and then headed up to Silverstar for a winter wonderland look. Little did we know that just the next day the Okanagan would get a huge dump of snow.

After the cold had really sunk in, and a few great photos captured, it was time to head back down the mountain.  This was a great engagement photo shoot and totally worth the cold – I look forward to their wedding in Vernon BC in the spring.

All the following photos were taken in Vernon BC, winter of 2015. Canon 6D | 24mm – 105mm

I believe in full transparency with my photography business, that’s why I am always an open book to anyone if they have questions. I also love helping in any way I can so I thought I would put together a list of some of the equipment I personally use. You can click on any of the images and it will directly take you to an Amazon page, full disclosure they are affiliate links.

I also teach photography classes where you can test out any of this equipment if you want.

PHOTOGRAPHY CLASSES

Equipment List:

I currently shoot with the following camera bodies:

Canon 5D mk III
Canon 6D

Canon eos 3 (35mm film)
Pentax 645 n (Medium format film)

This is THE lens. Whenever I get asked what equipment someone should invest in I always say to start with a 50mm lens. I have personally had the 1.8, 1.4 and the very expensive 1.2 but this is the one I have on my camera 90% of the time. Its lightweight, affordable (if i ever need to replace it) and you cant see much of a difference between the other lower aperture options.

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I also have the following lenses:

100mm (Ring shots and lots of blurry background)
85mm (Portraits)
35mm (Storytelling shots, lots in the frame, family photos)
24mm-105mm (Large group photos, landscape)
70mm-200mm (Ceremony shots, this is my second shooters favorite lens)

Instant film camera hybrid. So this little camera is a new/late addition to this equipment list but I thought since I shoot film it would be a great keepsake of an event to give a client on the day. I then can make multiple copies, view and edit options before printing and send them out electronically! super fun and a great way to share film.

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This is the film you need for this Fujifilm Instax Mini camera:

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This is a newer, updated version of my camera roller bag but it has some of the same great features that I couldn’t live without. All of the lens slots are customizable, so you can made the bag “fit” what you need it to. It also has this great option to turn it into a backpack. I have definitely used this when out in the woods with my gear.

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Equipment is pricy and when you have it all together in one bag it’s a little nerve-wracking. I have found adding an Apple AirTag into a hidden pocket of my bag helps put my mind at ease.

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A light meter is essential for shooting medium film. I have tried the phone app versions, and the less expensive versions but the Sekonic is hands down the best option. They also hold their value so if you want to re-sell them there is a fairly good market. You can also try to find them second hand on Facebook but you have to be fast on the messenger with that one. (film camera only)

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I use these Panasonic batteries for my Sekonic film light meter and they last forever! (film camera only)

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These macro filters were one of my first purchases, before many of my lenses. I still use these on my film camera all the time and they are perfect! I got them in my largest lens size so I don’t get any vignetting on the images. I just use this adapter ring to fit my 75mm film lens, you can find it here.

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This defuser disk might be one of my most used items. I love that its an all in one (white, silver, gold, black). I have also made a cover for it that I use for all of my detail shots at wedding. The Okanagan it bright so I am constantly having my assistant using it to remove some of the harsh sun off the subject. It also works as a fan and a place to put items that you don’t want to get dirty. This one is the perfect size, anything smaller wouldn’t be as useful and larger ones turn into kites with the slightest bit of wind.

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I have a few of these continuous video lights that I have on hand for darker getting ready rooms, product photography, events and receptions. Its great because you don’t need to bounce your on camera flash off of something, especially if the room has a lot of warm wood tones, or has high or black ceilings. They are dim-able and you can change the colour temperature of them. Extra batteries for these is a must and you can find those here. I also have an extra changer I keep in my car, just in case, you can see that here.

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Off camera flash speedlights. I will be the first to tell you that flash is my least favourite thing about photography, but it is a necessary item to make sure you have enough light for your scenario.

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I am all about soft natural light, so this is something I picked up to help with that. It goes over your off camera flash and defuse the light. You can have it on a stand or it come with a handle and you can have your assistant move it around your subject for you. Its very well made and gives beautiful defused light.

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I have since upgraded my on-camera flashes, and let me tell you that this little piece of equipment is not all created equal. These round head flashes create an even lighting look to your photos (no shadow on the bottom of a subject) and they are super easy to use and adjust on the fly. You just move the button wheel at the back for more or less light. I now use the Newer NW-670 TTL flashes to light up the background or have behind my subjects while dancing.

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Flash batteries. I also picked up an extra battery with a charger so I always have a backup, however after shooting with these Newer Z1-C flashes for a few weddings I can confidently say that they last at full power for at least 2.5 full wedding days!

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Light stands, you need em and I haven’t had to replace any of these “very” affordable ones and I have had them for years at many weddings and photo shoots.

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This item is a little more fun, and a new addition for me. Its a tripod stand for your phone. Its super lightweight and comes with its own bag. I use this when I do surprise proposals so I can send a video to you right after. I have also used it for some behind the scene shots and a first look.

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This is definitely a less used item in my kit, but it gives you so many options to play around. I was looking for an ND filter but this set comes with an adapter (so it will fit on all of your different lenses) and some fun colour options. You wont want for anything else with all of these addons. These filters are the key to getting great ladndscape photos and being able to get those slow shutter speed photos (soft waterfalls).

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Film stock:

Kodak Portra 400 (35mm & 120 medium format) I use this film stock when I am in open shade, on overcast days or indoors. I rate it for 200 (box speed) and meter for the shadows.

Kodak Portra 160 (35mm & 120 medium format) I use this film stock when it is sunny outdoors. I rate it for 160 (box speed) and meter for the shadows.