This has been one of the nicest Octobers that I can remember for taking pictures – cool and crisp days with big blue skies and that slightly softer light from the autumn sun.  Though a little breezy, Amanda and Dwayne picked as nice a day as you could ask for to do their engagement session.  I met them at the St-Boniface Basilica and got to take some great shots of them in that golden afternoon light.  Though we started out with just Amanda and Dwayne, it wasn’t long before we decided to rouse the little man Jackson, who had fallen asleep in the car on the way to the shoot.  It didn’t Jackson long to shake the cobwebs out and start motoring around and exploring the church grounds – he must have felt pretty rested because we must have followed him around the entire ruins a good two or three times.  Most importantly, his catnap didn’t mess up his awesome little mohawk.  Some faves from the session:

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The past year or so has given me the distinct pleasure of seeing a lot of my wedding couples from the past and photographing them again as they transition from a couple to a family.  I fondly remember working with Tiffany and Ken on their engagement shoot – it was one of the very first times I’d ever pulled out lighting for an on-location shoot and I recall fumbling around a bit and smiling politely as I did a little “learning on the go”.  I’d like to think I’ve since gotten a bit better with my lighting, and though I’m sure I had my share of bumbling around again, hopefully they found the shoot a little smoother this time around!

At least Emily didn’t seem to mind – for being just a little one, she was amazingly patient with me as we started out shooting at the St-Boniface Basilica and ended up in the studio.  From what I could tell, Emily seems to take after her mom’s sunny elegance and her father’s cheery expressiveness – she had some of the most expressive eyebrows I’ve seen on an infant, and she would made this great little face every time she was anywhere near facing the sun (with Ken’s acting background, I’m sure she’ll have no shortage of inspiration for expressions).  It was great to meet you Emily!

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I’ve done my fair share of Filipino weddings and have worked with some pretty big wedding parties, but I think the entourage for Ariane and Ryan’s wedding takes the cake – this one nearly filled the stairs at the St-Boniface Basilica!  And though it’d be easy to get lost in a group that big, Ariane and Ryan never had a problem standing out from the crowd – with their great smiles and quickness to laughter, they were easily one of the most expressive and easy-to-photograph couples I’ve had the pleasure of working with.  It also didn’t hurt to have their cute little son Alexander around to help steal the show.  Congratulations to the newly married family!  A few sneak peeks:

Chris and Cassandra were just in front of my camera a few weeks back for their engagement photos, so it was an easy transition to start shooting their wedding.  It was the third East Indian wedding I had shot this summer, but this one (like the others) definitely had its own unique feel and it was an interesting to observe and capture the subtle differences in the customs and details.  The ceremony took place under a canopy that Cassandra’s father had built himself, and offered a lot of great moments: Chris gamely making his way through the traditions for the first time… the parents clearly enjoying and feeling the moment… what I thought was an unreal amount of rice they poured on each other’s heads…

Once again Cassandra and Chris gamely followed me around in my whimsical hunt for pictures, and though the day started with a few nerves, the photo session went smoothly and by the time the ceremony and reception had rolled around, everyone was right into the swing of things.  Congratulations you guys!  A few sneak peeks: