top ten :: 2008 :: happy new year!

here are some of my faves from 2008 — from weddings, portrait sessions, and my personal life.  i had almost 30 photos that are my faves from the year, and sort of randomly selected ten of them…

this is definitely my favourite detail shot from the year…

for a band i photographed in january…

i can’t even identify what i love about this photo.  i know it’s not technically a top ten, but there’s something about it that i love so much…

this one is so much better bigger…. there’s something about zin’s face that is just so perfect…

and, without question, my favourite photo from 2008….

julia & dean :: wedding.

julia and dean live in philadelphia, but had their wedding in poulsbo, washington, where julia grew up. i think it would be really difficult to plan a destination wedding, but they really did an amazing job… which makes sense, considering julia’s an event planner. the wedding was held at the BEAUTIFUL kiana lodge… i just couldn’t get over how amazing the whole place was!

julia, getting ready at her parents’ home…

i was absolutely crazy about her gorgeous dress. seriously, all my brides have such good taste!

julia said she basically picked her dress based on these shoes, which were one of her first wedding purchases. they’re so beautiful, i want a pair!

after julia was all ready, we headed off to the big grocery store (yes, you read right…) for some portraits…

there is a long series of photos like this. as soon as we pulled into the store, i knew i wanted to take some photos in front of the rows of shopping carts! to get it, all the bridesmaids held a shopping cart steady while i climbed in and took the photos from above…

i love the lady staring at julia…

julia’s face cracks me up here…

then, we headed over to the kiana lodge, and after julia and dean first saw each other, we hung out and took a few shots around the lodge…

i love that moose. so much. oh, and i love julia and dean too…

then, it was time for the ceremony. the minister read the most beautiful apache wedding blessing…

“Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be shelter for the other

Now you will feel no cold for each of you will be warmth to the other.

Now there is no more loneliness.

Now you are two persons but there is only one life before you.

Go now and enter into the days of your life together

And may your days together be good and long upon the earth.”

i got so excited when i saw this woodpile, i knew it would look amazing in photos…

julia and dean chose THE BEST BAND EVER (well, excepting u2) to perform at their reception. i wanted to stay all night and listen to them…

i love watching parents watch their children’s first dance… here’s julia’s wonderful mom…

the essentials…

a shot of one of the band members from outside…

julia and dean, it was such an honour and a pleasure to meet you after so many long months of planning. i’m so glad it was everything you wanted, and i hope you’re having a ridiculously wonderful time in hawaii… i’ll phone you if i ever end up in philadelphia. )

:: a few of the other amazing vendors that made this wedding spectacular ::

videographers :: the super kind and talented paul and holley from

four seasons films, asheville north carolina.

best cake/desserts (especially the banana tarts) :: sweets & savories.

leigh & leslie :: wedding.

i would say that leslie is probably the calmest bride i’ve ever photographed. she was so calm, it made me nervous. when i first met up with her and leigh, i could tell they were super laid back, and their attitude carried them through the wedding day beautifully. their priorities were as followed: marriage, family, friends. and then food. because the food was really good. and you obviously can’t go wrong with cupcakes…

i first went to their condo, and got a few detail shots… leslie’s gorgeous classic dress…

my second-shooter fran got this amazing shoe shot. i seriously love it so so much! wish i had taken it!!

i love the feeling of motion in this shot right after leslie put her shoes on…

i love the next few shots taken during “the reveal…” leigh was so mad at me for making him wait to see leslie! ;o)

i just love leslie’s face when she sees him…

fran captured leigh’s touching reaction too…

so then, we all headed over to granville island to take a few photos there. i love these two sort of abstract photos of leigh & leslie stepping out of the elevator…

granville island is wonderful. and (less so) wonderfully busy…

then it was ceremony time at ferguson point…

i love how even when a noisy plane flew overhead, and everyone looked up and laughed, leigh’s eyes stayed on leslie…

the reception was held at the sequoia grill…

another reason i love leigh: he hates dancing. but i guess leslie loves it, because he surprised her with a first dance, which clearly meant so much to her…

this is one of my favourite moments of the day… leslie’s father watching her mother, who is watching leigh and leslie through tears…

then, we headed down to the beach for a few sunset shots. sometimes, i really love out of focus shots…

leigh and leslie first met while playing volleyball with this same ball… i love that they wanted to do these shots…

leigh and leslie, i hope you’re having the time of your life in italy! looking forward to seeing you when you return!

another shot from keith & leanne’s wedding…

so, for their wedding, my best friend graeme came along to assist and take a few photos when he got a chance. well, in going through his shots, i found what i would call the best cake shot taken that day — and this is directly out of the camera, no editing whatsoever. so, good job graeme. if anyone needs a professional cake photographer, he’s your man. no, he won’t shoot cookies… just cakes.

keith & leanne :: wedding :: part two.

ok, where were we?  oh yeah, the trip to the reception site.  well, keith and leanne were up for anything, and we had a great time meandering on over, stopping for some photos when it fancied us…

we were in search of a horse, but ended up at a charming little shop (which seems to operate on the honour system)…

possibly my favourite close-up photo ever…

this photo makes me so happy… i can’t believe i lived most of my life unable to see the beauty in light…

last stop before the reception…

i don’t have a photo of this to show you, but we had pulled pork sandwiches and potato salad and cole slaw and corn bread for dinner… so.  good.  (ok, truthfully, i do have a photo that i could show you, but pulled pork isn’t the most visually appealing food, especially compared to the beauty above and below…)

with the last few minutes of light, we did what we could… this is my favourite shot that jackie has ever taken.  i hope this black and white/grainy processing is what she had in mind when she took it…

what kind of tree is this?  whatever it is, i love it.  my last photo of the day…

here’s me, michele, and, in case you forgot their names, leanne and keith… i love all three of them!!!  (i look like a flamingo…)

see why a two-parter was necessary?!  keith & leanne, i hope you are having an amazing time on your honeymoon… i can’t wait to find out where you went for your secret honeymoon!

keith & leanne :: wedding :: part one.

i have to make two posts for this, because otherwise, it’s just way too much awesomeness. crazy beautiful orcas island, crazy beautiful wedding, crazy beautiful couple…

you know it’s going to be a great day when you arrive to the gorgeous bride getting ready here…

and then you see this amazing custom cicada dress…

and then you see the amazing wedding planner michele there, keeping everyone calm and helping things run smoothly…

and then you check in on the guys at the ceremony location, and they’re all super cool and hilarious and model-esque (as you can see)…

yeah. that’s how you know it’s going to be an amazing day.

i had to take one more shot of leanne’s wonderful dress before she put it on…

i love this photo my wonderful assistant jackie took of leanne “slipping her dress on…”

but all the work getting ready was worth it when keith and leanne first saw each other before the ceremony…

such an amazing spot for a wedding…

(side note, this groomsman/supermodel (see above)/guitarist/singer is responsible for getting me re-hooked on an amazing ray lamontagne song, which is literally keeping me up at night…)

i love how excited they are to officially be married!…

still excited…

a quick touch-up before some of my favourite photos ever were created…

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and here’s the part where you realize i’m a total jerk…

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to be continued…

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but seriously, check back tomorrow!!!

i am the luckiest…

i have been working for 14 hours straight, and have at least 2 more hours of work before i can go to bed. in this little two week time frame, i had/have 3 weddings, 4 portrait sessions, and a 2-day workshop. i also have to design two albums (and edit all of those weddings/sessions), plus lots and lots of business/accounting stuff… and you might think i’m complaining… but all i am… is grateful.

just one year ago, i wanted so badly to have a growing photography business, and to be able to share in one of the most wonderful days for a couple… over and over. it honestly made me cry, i wanted it so much. and now, here i am, making real progress towards my goals. i’ve been able to travel and witness real love every day. and it honestly makes me cry, because i am so thankful to have a “job” i love so much. i’ve been extremely fortunate to be trusted by you, despite my being new to this industry, and i can not thank you enough. you’ve allowed me to share in your life, but know that you’ve shared in mine too, and you all mean more to me than you’d believe. this has been the best summer of my life — and i can’t wait for next summer, because i already know it’s going to be even better. i have some beautiful weddings with amazing couples booked for next year (i’ve had to pinch myself a few times, they’re so wonderful), and i look forward to meeting those who i will have the pleasure of photographing next year (and beyond).

and because no post is complete without a photo, here’s a teaser from keith and leanne’s absolutely gorgeous wedding last weekend… hoping to have the full post up tomorrow…

love love love,

kristel.

lara & steve :: wedding.

i used to be a really decent writer… until i got a camera. and now, here i am, typing and re-typing a paragraph to express how much i adore lara and steve. and i just can’t do it. so, (since i have a camera,) i shall show you pictures…

lara & steve decided to get married in the back yard of her parents’ home in white rock. it was incredibly personal to lara and her family, having built the home together, and it was her mother’s chance to show off her amazing garden that is so special to her.

the ring bearer, pointing out where he kept the rings…

i’m seriously tearing up here, just thinking of what a beautiful person lara is — inside and out. i was so honoured to be a part of this wedding, because it was so evident that what mattered to her and steve was not the esthetic, but the people that were there with them.

their first kiss as husband and wife…

this was the best moment of any wedding i’ve ever been to. after steve & lara were married, steve said the most beautiful words to lara’s daughter about how important she is to him, and how he will always love her and protect her… and this picture makes me cry… to see how steve struggled to express how much keyanna means to him, to see keyanna’s proud face, and to think of how much it means to lara that steve loves her daughter so much…

ugh. i’ve been putting off writing this entry, because it’s honestly too emotional for me. this is lara’s beautiful and brilliant mother, who reminded me to be so grateful that i have found photography and that i am able to actually earn a living on something that means everything to me. she is the first non-photographer that told me she loves watching light, and how it illuminates everything, and can recognize the quality and simple beauty of light. i know this sounds silly, but i think that if you can find beauty in something as simple as light, you can always be made happy. and she is just so gentle and kind and she’s one of those people that says every word with love. i can see why lara is so amazing.

ok, now that i’m crying, here’s a plain-old fun shot…

i know that i’m going on and on about lara, but steve is just as amazing a person. seriously, his words to keyanna were so amazing, and just to see how much all his friends and family care for him, and had such good things to say about him… i love this family so so much!! i look forward to seeing all of you again soon!!

and just because this baby is awesome…

checking in…

ok folks, i’m so sorry i haven’t responded to the insanely long list of emails i must respond to.  i was out of town and shot three weddings and two portrait sessions in 7 days, and yesterday, after the third, just crashed.  i just woke up after a 12 hour sleep.  i absolutely must run some errands today, but i promise to respond to all of my emails by tonight.  thank you so much for your patience!!

lots to come, including…

lara & steve :: wedding

kristen & nick :: couple session

my travels to orcas island

keith & leanne :: wedding

leigh & leslie :: wedding

destination portrait sessions.

as  you can tell from my blog entries this summer, i am available for worldwide destination weddings.  i am also available for worldwide portrait sessions.  perhaps you’d like to return to the university city where you met, or your favourite vacation spot — for your engagement photos.  maybe you are planning a family vacation to disney world and would like someone to document it — let me know!  my destination portrait packages are all-inclusive — they come with the session, all of my travel costs (airfare, lodging, etc.) and a disc of all high-resolution images!  destination packages start at $750… contact me for further details!