Jenn and Jeremy in Lake Louise!

Romantic perfection, that is the only way to describe the afternoon that I spent with Jenn and Jeremy in Lake Louise! I had so much fun with the two of them because they are undeniably in love with each other! We were at Lake Louise on a rather busy day but it didn't matter, they were the only two people there in each others eyes! Just to make things perfect, the sky was blue except for a few perfect fluffy clouds, the color of the water was at it's emerald perfection and did I mention that Jenn and Jeremy kiss really well? I am really looking forward to their wedding. I have met most of Jenn's family but it's always great to see how families mesh together! Weddings really are the greatest!

Lindsey and Jason!

Nothing could have prepared me for the emotional impact of photographing my nieces wedding! She is the first person that I have been able to watch as she has grown up from a small child into a woman getting married (which also means that I am getting old!). I had so much fun being a part of this day! Watching Lindsey grow into a woman has been a great experience in itself but the icing on the cake has been watching her fall in love with Jason! Lindsey and Jason are a dynamic duo out to conquer the world together! They share a passion for life that inspires everyone around them! Jason is a perfect match for Lindsey with his calm laid back demeanour. Lindsey is an equally good match for Jason with her constant enthusiasm and energy. I look forward to watching Lindsey and Jason fall even more in love with each other as the years go by!

Nichole and Carlos

There is nothing quite like a wedding in the middle of a nation-wide celebration! Nichole and Carlos' wedding was a celebration like no other! It's true that it was a challenge to create stunning images in a crowded park without a mass of strangers in the background, but you can't buy that kind of energy anywhere! Nichole, Carlos and their bridal party were a blast to be around and they certainly made my job easy. Not to mention the fact that both Nichole and Carlos could be top models (can't wait to see their kids!). Aside from the fantastic celebration, there was a subtle echo of romance throughout the day. It was fascinating to watch Nichole and Carlos interact with each other. They have this way of holding each other in their eyes, really, it was neat to see the way they looked at each other! Definitely a storybook romance! Their wedding day was the perfect match too as it went so smoothly that it could only be described as storybook! And as a side note, I never thought I would say this, but I love Teachers!

Melissa and Colin's Wedding

Melissa and Colin had a fantastic wedding day! It was one of those events that you look back on after it is all done and ask "Could it have gone any more perfectly?" I really enjoyed hanging out with the two of them as well as their bridal party! I was constantly laughing when the groomsmen were around. I was also loving the dramatic skies all day long! Wow!

Stephanie and Ralph Engagement

I love whenever I am able to incorporate elements of a couples personality into a photo session! Stephanie and Ralph and Ralph are horse people through and through. Ralph grew up in the southern Alberta lifestyle while Stephanie, an recent transplant from out east, has been deeply converted (you would swear that she was born and raised from here laid back, happy personality!). Including their horses created a richer environment and gave me a fuller canvas to use to create their portraits. Their horses had as much personality as they did and seemed every bit a part of their family. Just to make things even sweeter, we were in my favourite place on earth, the Elbow Valley area of Kananaskis! Wherever I travel around the world, nothing speaks the quiet peace to my soul quite like this beautiful valley. I have spent countless days here exploring both the environment around me as well as the beauty within me. It is like photographing someone in my backyard here! I have to say that my favourite part of this session was watching how perfectly Stephanie and Ralph suit each other though. It was like spending an hour or two in a beautiful romantic comedy! What I really appreciated was the quiet adoration that have for each other. They were always so thoughtful and considerate of one another! Thank you Stephanie and Ralph, you are a shining example of true love!!

Bonita and Pat

I love photographing people in the mountains! There is a different feeling when people are out there. There is a higher level of comfort when you are in the mountains. Kananaskis is one of my favourite "locals only" spots. It is far removed from the tourist traps of it's bigger sister Banff. It has a more laid back, "down to earth" appeal to it. I loved being in this environment with Bonita and Pat. I related so much with them, I am a city boy who loves to explore the mountains and then return to my comfy home at the end of the day! Both Bonita and Pat were very comfortable in front of the camera during their engagement session and we all had a great time with a few laughs to boot. I also took the opportunity to experiment a little with slow shutter speeds and off camera strobes for some dramatic lighting.

Little Warriors Charity Auction 2011

I had the extreme pleasure last month to attend the Little Warriors charity auction at Calgary Bentley. I felt completely changed after listening to the guest speakers that bravely shared their personal stories about being sexually abused as children and the long reaching effects that these terrible events had in their lives. Glori Meldrum, founder of Little Warriors, is one of the most engaging personalities that I have ever met. I admire her tremendously for having the courage to talk about her own experiences in order to bring greater awareness to the public about child sexual abuse. I was particularly impacted when she warned against the attitude of blaming our government for not providing more resources to both prevent child sexual abuse, and to care for victims in the aftermath. She reminded us all that the responsibility lies squarely on our shoulders to pressure our elected representatives to do more than what is being done now. I urge all of you reading this to go to the Little Warriors website (http://littlewarriors.ca/) and find out how you can educate yourself on how to prevent child sexual abuse and how to reach out to those who have been abused. Thank you Glori for making a difference in the lives of those affected by sexual abuse!