Michael Wachniak Photographer Blog » Engagement Session

Carrie + Oreste: Vancouver Engagement Session

Michael — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 00:18:12 +0000

Meet Carrie & Oreste. Grit and I have known Carrie for a few years now; we all met while working abroad on cruise ships! Ah yes, those were the days! :) Carrie happens to be an ‘ah-mazing’ photographer and has always been someone I have looked up to, so when the time came when she asked ME to shoot her wedding…the teeth went a chattering! It’s always a strange feeling when other photographers (hobbyists, pros, amateurs etc) ask you to shoot them…its an absolute great honour but at the same time you feel you are being watched and put to the test! I always get that feeling that I am being put under the microscope! Thankfully though, my inner-self (the one with the wings, not the pitchfork) whispers to me: “Well, there are a million ka-jillion other photographers out there but these guys hired YOU for a reason! Do yer thang, honey!”. (my inner-selves are cool like that!) Carrie, I love you and hope these images are EXACTLY what you were hoping for, and then some! Oreste, I’ve only met you a few times, but you are one ultra-uber cool guy. Despite the fact that you could probably take on the entire city of Vancouver in a bare knuckle fist fight, you aren’t at all held-back in showing your love for Carrie.

To all my readers, these guys are tying the knot in the Mexican Riviera in January 2011, which means you are going to have some MAJOR amazing photos to look at to kick off next year right! (oh, and it also means I have only six months to get into shape! I can’t look like my pasty-pear-shaped self on the beaches of Mexico…again… can I?)

Happy Friday everyone!

To view their slideshow, click here. :)

Joanna + Jamie: Hazelnut Orchard Enagagment Session

Michael — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 20:37:10 +0000

When Joanna emailed me saying she had access to a hazlenut orchard and wanted to use it as a backdrop for their engagement session, I was STOKED for two reasons: 1) Hazlenuts, hello?! LOVE EM. and 2) I haven’t seen it done before! Well at the very least, *I* have never shot in a hazlenut orchard before, let alone BEEN in one! I had all these amazing ideas of shooting at sunset, the rays of light peaking through the orchard…and when we got there on Sunday?…

..rain. Not just rain, actually…TONS of rain. Like, monsoon rain. Boo.

I am glad though that we both planned ahead and saw that rain was inevitable, and still the 3 of us wanted to trudge on and make the day fantastic! And we did. I think the images turned out beautifully. Besides, Joanna’s smile and Jamie’s charm and OBVIOUS love for Joanna could make any day sunny. That was pure cheese, I know, but its true. :)

Joanna and Jamie are getting married in August at Whonnock Lake, and its going to be fantastic! I can’t wait to see them again and meet their friends and family! :) Hope you like the images!

click below to watch their engagement slideshow!

Crystal + Brian’s Whytecliff Park Engagement Session

Michael — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 23:21:06 +0000

Yesterday I packed the photo gear into the van and headed through Vancouver up to Whytecliff Park for Brian and Crystal’s engagement session. I arrived a little early because I had never been there before and wanted to scout out some great locations for the shoot. Well, I can now honestly say a whole lotta good that did because there isn’t a single INCH out there that wouldn’t make for an amazing backdrop! Thank you so much guys for showing me this amazing place! You look absolutely fantastic in your images, you were so great and fun to work with and I can’t wait for your wedding this summer!

Teaser: Crystal + Brian

Michael — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 02:41:30 +0000

I was sifting through my images from yesterday’s engagement session with Crystal and Brian, and came across this little doozy. It was such an amazing session, and I think I may have found a new favorite place to shoot!

Check back tomorrow for the full blog post! Happy Sunday everyone!

Michael + Patrick : Las Vegas Engagement Session

Michael — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 22:57:37 +0000

I am deeply proud and humbled to share these few moments touching on the connection between Michael and Patrick. I have never felt the world go more silent and at peace than when I am witnessing precious seconds like these.

Michael and Patrick, even though our session only lasted a few hours, I realize without a doubt in my mind that the love you have for each other is the degree of love that everyone, everyone searches for. Thank you for this. Thank you.

Real Love is, and always will be.

Michael

Favorite Engagement Images 2009 + Cans for Comments Extension!

Michael — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 02:48:33 +0000

To continue with tradition, here are my favorite Engagement Session images from 2009! Enjoy.

CANS FOR COMMENTS EXTENDED UNTIL SUNDAY DEC 13th!!
Don’t forget to leave a comment! Every comment until Sunday = One can of food I will donate to the food bank!

Nikki + Dave: Engagement Session

Michael — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 23:05:50 +0000

Hello Friends! I’d like to share with you a glimpse into the beautiful connection between Nikki and Dave. They are two very beautiful people and it was beyond amazing getting the opportunity to see the following moments I am about to show you in person. The rain this particular day was a little crazy at times, but we didn’t let anything slow us down. We wandered around the streets in New Westminister for a while and then headed up to Deer Lake Park for a change of scenery. I am extremely excited to get the chance to photograph them for a full day on their Vancouver Wedding in May!

Walt + Deadee: Engagement Session

Michael — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 21:22:19 +0000

Walt and Deadee are getting married in October at the Oakridge United Church near Queen Elizabeth Park and having their reception at the ah-maze-ing Kirin Restaurant in New West. These guys put a lot of trust into me at their engagement session, (I REALLY wanted to try some night photos but had never done it up until their session) and for that I sincerely thank them for being my guinea pigs! lol! I am super happy with how they turned out! I am SO excited to see you guys again in October for your Big Day!

Yup, Totally diggin’ the red shoes!

Love this one!

True Love ;)

I STILL don’t have a clue what he whispered into her ear… and I think its best that way. :)

Fave #2! I love English Bay. *le sigh* (wait…thats french…)

(below) ABSOLUTE favorite of the session!

Finally we drove to Gas Town for some more night photos. I love the street lights!

Oooohhhh, FOX-Y LAD-Y!!!

Hey Walt, GQ called, they want their looks back.

Love EVERYTHING about this walking shot! :)

Melissa + Jim: Calgary Session

Michael — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 04:46:37 +0000

Melissa and I have known each other for a LONG time… like, wayyyyy back in “the day”. Her and I used to go to school together in Brooks, Alberta!

Although I just met Jim at the session, I could already tell how great of a guy he was. He is funny, friendly, basically the kind of guy that you’d want to hang around with!

These guys look like they have so much fun together and its so apparant how much in love they are with each other! Oh, by the way, both Melissa and Jim have extremely contagious smiles, I mean come on!!! Show me a person that can look at these photos without smiling!! I dare you!

No?

…I thought not. :)

Alana + Ante: Engagement Session

Michael — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 03:32:46 +0000

A few Sundays ago I spent some time with a very cool couple, Alana and Ante. Alana is extremely funny and SO gorgeous, and even though Ante SAYS he doesn’t like having his photo taken, he sure can work the GQ look in front of the camera! I can’t wait for your wedding in October guys!