It’s all the little things that make each wedding unique, and boy, did Sandra and Steve ever go all out and put a personal stamp on their wedding day.  This wedding was just FULL of meaningful details and moments.  From the invitations that Sandra designed herself, to all the centrepieces and decorations at the reception that they custom made to fit their theme, to the wonderfully personalized gifts they gave to their wedding party, you could tell every detail had been thoughtfully looked after.  Every part of the day was also packed with special events, like the bagpiper leading into their ceremony, the bluegrass and blues bands that played during their reception, the fireworks display at the Great Woods campground, and the campfire/weiner-roast to cap off the night with their friends. It’s a wonder that everything took place in a single day.

You’d think just all that would have made for fabulous photo opportunities, but there was even more: Sandra’s parents’ home in Lockport was an absolute goldmine for shooting.  From the room full of antiques, to her mother’s mini hairstyling salon, to the sheds full of heavy equipment, to the vast flower gardens in full bloom… I was like a kid in a candy store!  On the way to the reception in the wedding party RV, we even stopped along the way to do some big prairie sky shots in a field with this fabulous old farmstead.  Such a rich wedding and so many great photos.  Congrats again to Sandra & Steve!  Here is just a tiny sample of some of the many, many great images from the day:

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Continuing my catch-up with the portrait sessions squeezed in between the weddings, here is a sneak peek into a session I did with the Lo family at their house.  Evelyn and Chung Yung had recently just welcomed their newborn son into their family, and with her parents and her brother’s family in town to visit, we managed to get the whole family into the pictures.  It was an interesting shoot in that it felt like we were switching gears every second shot – from serene newborn pictures at one moment, to hustling and bustling candids of the adults chasing after the toddlers the next!

Again, the great thing about shooting on-location at someone’s home is being able to capture some of the details and context of their lives.  Some of my favorite shots included the rocking horse that Evelyn’s father had hand-built for his grandchildren.  Another whimsical favorite: the newborn baby unintentionally striking a kung fu attack pose.  A quick handful from the session:

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DJ and Erica were coming up on the due date for baby #3 and couldn’t decide whether to get maternity photos or newborn photos.  So in the end, we did both!

You’d think the first session would be all about the belly, but their two little daughters – Becca and Bella – had different ideas.  Bursting at the seams with energy, ideas, and just awesomely crazy hair, it was hard not to make them the stars of the show!  But we did get manage to get some pics of the belly, and even squeezed DJ in for a shot or two.

It wasn’t long thereafter when news came that the Seales had welcomed a little boy – Andrei – into their family.  Within a week, we went back into the studio so that we could catch Andrei while he was still in the “brand new baby” phase.  Brand new baby he might have been, but this little guy was unreal – lifting his head and looking around like he was already a 2 month old.  Both DJ and Erica are avid volleyball players, and naturally wanted a shot of the little guy with a ball.  But his strength of neck + his strength of will made it super difficult to get the shot, as he kept pushing himself or the ball away (ironically, he had no qualms about hanging about with a football though…).

Between the fun shots with the girls, to the cool maternity and newborn shots with DJ, Erica, and Andrei, it was a tremendously enjoyable shoot.  It was also neat to witness/be part of what sometimes feel like the overnight transition from big belly to little, new baby.  Congrats to the Seales family!  Only a handful of many, many shots I liked:

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Weddings out in the country are great – big prairie skies, new places to shoot, and usually a nice drive out beforehand.  As opposed to the mad dash through traffic for city weddings, I enjoy a mellow highway cruise (especially when the weather’s nice) where I can let my mind ease itself into its creative space.  The trip out to Camp Morton for Kendra and Dave’s wedding certainly fit the bill – a sunny and pleasant drive through the sleepy prairie morning.

While it may have been a sleepy and quiet morning outside, it was anything but when I arrived at Misty Lake Lodge where the couple was getting ready.  I was thoroughly impressed at the number of wedding attendants that were buzzing about in each condo!  It was a hub-bub of activity as they were getting themselves ready amidst a flurry of food, hairstylists, and little ones running around – not to mention Kendra and Dave’s two little boys at the centre of all the action.  Then it was a quick jaunt over to Camp Morton, where a really nice and heartfelt ceremony took place under a picture-perfect backdrop overlooking Lake Winnipeg. Despite all this, Kendra and Dave’s little boys again threatened to steal the show with some very cute and amusing little antics during the service.

The portrait session was a treat – between the fields, beaches, and flower gardens, there was no shortage of great picture opportunities.  We even capped off the day with a quick stop at this great little heritage village in Arborg.  So many great places to shoot!  Congrats Kendra & Dave!  Here’s a sneak peek into the day:

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