I have a confession. When it comes to blogging photo-sessions, I always have problems with the writing part. I am pretty sure that there are a lot of photographers that agree with me on that one. It’s not that I have nothing to say, I just struggle with WHAT to say. I’m a photographer, not a writer. Plain and simple.

Today though, I had an epiphany…I think. ;) There are so many moments from each and every wedding that believe it or not I will cherish forever….so with that, for today’s post I thought I would share with you a few of those moments from my perspective of Walt and Deadee’s wedding. After all, I can only write what I know, right? Here we go, in point form of course:

- First off, having the amazing Kyle Perison second shoot for me the whole day was enough to make my head explode (in a good way… if your head could explode in a good way, that is).
- Moments like the door games, when Walt and his crew had to dance like MC Hammer (and I of course was ‘volunteered’ to show them how).
- With the MC Hammer ‘tutorial’ came the video of me showing how (ya, thanks for that Kyle).
- The few quiet seconds in the room with Deadee just before Walt walked in to see her for the first time, and then stepping back while they embraced.
- Tea Ceremonies always get me because of the deep, sincere best wishes each family member and friend give to the bride and groom.
- Watching Deadee come down the aisle, and the look on her father’s face as he hugged Walt.
- The victorious ‘fist to the air’ Walt did as he and Deadee were announced as Husband and Wife :)
- Watching the waves crash on the beach as I snapped away.
- Climbing some really tall, weird playground-thingy to get a different perspective. (I like to climb.)
- Getting a High-Five from Walt after my dismount of the really tall, weird playground-thingy.
- Realizing Kyle shot video of me while up in the really tall, weird playground-thingy (I’m sure I’ll post it at some point).
- Entering Kirin Restaurant (starlight location) for the first time, I was in photo-location heaven ;)
- The look on Kyle’s face when one of the ladies at our table told him that the food he is putting into his mouth was beef tongue… when it was really just pork. He went white, it was awesome I’m pretty sure I high-fived her.
- The ‘Grab the Butt and guess which is my husband’s’ game :) Classic.

Walt + Deadee, thank you so much for everything. The day was absolutely amazing, and filled with love and memories that will be cherished forever.

To view Walt + Deadee’s slideshow, please click here.

Back in July when I met up with Rebecca and Lac for their engagement session, I mentioned that these two beautiful people are so awesome, people might explode when they saw their wedding photos! I hope y’all are still in tact!

I started in the morning at the Holiday Inn in Metrotown where Rebecca and her ladies were getting ready. I absolutely LOVE photographing the ‘getting ready’ portion of the wedding day! It’s so full of what I like to call ‘fluttering stillness’. Its very hard to explain but can be best described as the feeling one might get as a child the night before Christmas. You just KNOW its going to be amazing and you want it to come right now or else your head might shatter into a million pieces!!! Everyone tries to show ‘calm and collected, zen’ on the outside, but on the inside you can just tell that everyone is bouncing off the walls! Rebecca was no exception. In fact, she was the most ‘calm and collected’ out of everyone in the room, which led me to believe not only was she bouncing off the walls on the inside, she was knocking them down!!

As for Lac, again, no exception. When I saw him at the front of the church, standing there waiting for Rebecca, he too was calm and collected (aka inner-bouncy-lovey-happy-best-day-of-his-life). Now, I want you to go down to the bottom of this post and take a look at the 2nd to last of the images, the ones with the children dancing at the reception. When those church doors opened during the ceremony and the distance down the aisle between Rebecca and Lac grew smaller and smaller, the images of the two children dancing is almost exactly what I saw in their eyes. Their love for each other gives off a sense of such pure emotion, it’s almost like they have known each other since before they were born.

I just wanted to add here that I am a wedding photographer for a variety of reasons, but most importantly I believe is because of my undying passion to show the world as much Real Love as humanly possible. There is so much real, raw, pure 100% organic love in this universe and yet there is so much more to show. It is almost an untapped resource. It is the love that couples like Rebecca and Lac have for each other that will change this world, and nothing else.

Finally, I want to thank my 2nd shooter for the day Nick Beaulieu. He’s been my go to guy this year for helping me at weddings, and never once did he disappoint! He has more skills than a blindfolded circus bear on a tightrope! :)

Namaste,

Michael

To view Rebecca and Lac’s Wedding Slideshow, please click here.

Alana and Ante had an amazing wedding! I had the privelage of having two other photographers working with me for the day: the amazingly talented Nick Beaulieu and Kyla Kennedy! The three of us had an absolute blast. Kyla and I started with the ladies at the Hilton in Metrotown, where we met up with my lovely fiance Grit who had already been there 4 hours styling everyone’s hair! She did an amazing job as always, but thats besides the point. Nick was hanging with the guys at Alana and Ante’s new house (congrats again guys!).

The ceremony was filled with laughter and tears, and to top it off the light shining through the stained glass behind Alana and Ante was absolutely incredible!

After the ceremony we left for Deer Lake Park for our photosession. There was some amazing light and locations, and yet again I climbed another tree for a few photos … I won’t go into that much, but hey, if you love something, work it into your daily schedule, right? Photographers: If you need a different angle, climb! :)

As the sun was coming down, it was just about time to head to Nikkei Place for the reception. The speeches were hilarious and heartwarming, the dinner was perfect, and the dancing was out of control! :) About halfway through the reception I was feeling more of a guest to the wedding than the photographer! Everyone was so great and we had an absolute ball. Thank you guys so much for letting me be a part of your big day!

If you would like to view Alana + Ante’s Wedding Slideshow, please click here.

There’s one thing about being a Male Wedding Photographer… When someone mentions the word Manolo and your eyes widen like a kid in a candy store, people look at you.

Well actually, girls tend to high-five you and laugh, while most guys USUALLY stare blankly at you, wondering if Manolo was some kind of new reality show or fancy chocolate bar.

Truth is, its better.

Especially when its your wedding day. :)

Enter: Connie and Eric

My lovely 2nd photographer (and fiance) Grit started off at Eric’s parent’s house with the guys, while I was with the ladies at Brockhouse. Lisa and Kerri of Lisa Gregory Special Events were already working their magic with the decorations and everything was looking amazing! The ceremony was SO beautiful! I do have a bit of a confession I need to make though… I really try to do many things differently at every wedding, but there is one thing (in particular) that I keep consistant. At every single wedding ceremony I shoot I position myself at the front of the aisle so naturally I can get a photo of the bride walking up, but (and don’t take this the wrong way) I actually get more excited and emotional when I turn and photograph the groom’s reaction to seeing his bride coming towards him. Its that one moment where everything stops and the edges blur out…and right in the middle, crystal clear and glowing from the inside out, there she is. I don’t get choked up often at weddings (ok that’s a lie) but I’d have to say that watching the groom’s reaction is the one that usually does the trick. Eric was no exception to this. He’s a really awesome guy and had me laughing the entire day, but when Connie came down that aisle with her dad, Eric wore his heart on his sleeve. You could see every single moment together with Connie up until then was in itself a reason to stand there. And Connie of course, looking deeply into Eric’s eyes and smiling at the altar… those single moments with him up until then were exactly why she was there too. And every moment from then on afterwards? Well, thats just the icing on the cake. :)

Connie and Eric, thank you so much for inviting Grit and myself into your wedding day. We had an amazing time with you guys! :)

To view Connie + Eric’s wedding slideshow, please click here.

I first heard about Chelsea through my best friend Ben’s sister Amanda. :) I have known Amanda since she was knee-high to a grasshopper, and so when she said that her friend was getting engaged and that it would be AWESOME if I shot her wedding, I agreed! (and we both jumped and giggled like little girls…except she IS a girl, and I’m just…weird.) Finally Chelsea contacted me and immediately we hit it off. She and I had talked for MONTHS in emails and on the phone about her wedding, making sure everything was going to be absolutely perfect! We never really actually met in person until the day before her wedding :)

The wedding day was absolutely perfect! The weather was amazing, everything was on time, and everyone was so extremely caring and welcoming! They really did make me feel like family in the few minutes they met me! During Chelsea’s mom’s speech at the reception, she even thanked me in front of everyone for bringing her a raisin muffin from Tim Horton’s in the morning lol. (Ya, I was in the drive-thru on the way to the salon in the morning and thought it would be best to call everyone and double check that people were eating lol).

I also have to mention a quick little thing about Vance. He’s a pretty cool dude. He had me in stitches a few times, and thats pretty hard to do, as I am usually the one TRYING to make people laugh :) Also, for the record, his speech to Chelsea at the reception?….brought. the. house. down. Not a dry eye in the bunch. Rock on, bud!

If you would like to see Chelsea and Vance’s slideshow, click here. If you would like to BUY the slideshow on DVD, click here. :)

Thank you so much guys for letting me be a part of your big day! I had an awesome time with you at your wedding, and I am STOKED to see you guys again at Amanda and Ryan’s wedding next year!!!! :)