{seniors} windermere, bc: melody

A couple of weeks ago, I had the immense pleasure of spending an afternoon into evening with one of my oldest and dearest friends and her daughter, Melody, entering into her senior year of highschool down in Idaho.

We chose to do the bulk of the shoot at Melody’s grandparents rustic estate on Windermere Creek near the quaint little lakeside town of Windermere, before ending things atop neighbouring Mount Swansea.  It was a pretty perfect afternoon and the conditions were just plain magical down by the creek.  It was made all the more perfect as, like the surroundings, Melody looked… well,  just downright magical herself.

And while, as her mother’s friend, I’m pretty familiar with the story of Melody… this is what comes to my mind when I think of her now… sweet, magical Melody… when not scrambling over rocky crags on mountain-tops, lives among the deep green ferns that grow creekside, sipping sweet, fresh dew from lowslung leaves and blades of grass… and when she grows sleepy, she curls up in the satin petal of a wild calla lily, lulled into slumber by the tender lullaby of crickets and dragonflies and friendly toads who also call the banks of the creek their home…..

teehee.

{engagements} calgary|cochrane: michelle & ryan

I had the pleasure of shooting a wonderful Calgary couple this week… Michelle and Ryan.  With whom I will happily be sharing their wedding day this November in Playa del Carmen.  Whooot!

We met downtown Calgary to begin the shoot… way atop the ScotiaBank building…. after jumping the fence for a quickie on the antique train engine in front of the Calgary Tower.  Breaking. The. Law.  For what would turn out to be only the first time that evening!!

After taking in the views of downtown, in the wind, we made our way back down to play around in the alcove at The Hudson’s Bay and then in amongst the activity of Stephen Avenue… Friday night in the big city!

Michelle and Ryan have two wonderfully energetic puppies, Sidney and Gretzky (hmmmmm… badminton fans, perhaps?) and as we made our way out of the city we stopped by to pick them up before heading out to Cochrane to enjoy a little tranquility and the last of the yummy late-day sun.  There’s a fantastic spot overlooking the Bow River valley and the Rockies beyond… what will eventually be a public park but where, currently, the public is not allowed… but rules, schmules I say!  It was too pretty and perfect to NOT stay and take pictures!

And so we did.  A great shoot… and a great warm-up to the big event in a few months!  Great job, Michelle and Ryan… I’m so looking forward to doing this again in November… on the beach!

{engagements} fairmont hot springs: marnie & james

There’s an old boy scout motto, “Always Be Prepared”.  And, y’know, when it comes to drinking water, memory cards and Kotex, I’m all over that… however, somehow mosquito repellant doesn’t make the cut.  And FYI:  strangely, you can bat at mosquitos with your Kotex till the cows come home and… well, nevermind….

While I typically love to torture challenge my engagement couples, the pesky mosquitos added a most unpleasant element to our afternoon, doing their best to stymie our efforts as we explored all of the quaint little nooks and crannies Coy’s Par 3 has to offer.  And kudos to this special couple, because, despite the constant onslaught of mosquito attacks, Marnie and James were fun and easy-going and game to stand, sit- and swat!?- where ever I told them, all while striking each and every pose!  They were perfect!

Oh… and puppy, Wheelie, is a doll!

I look forward to shooting their wedding next June… and if this shoot is any indication, I’ll be able to launch torpedoes of pestulents and they’ll still be agreeable and cooperative and sweet and lovely, creating lovely pictures all over again!

{weddings} fairmont hot springs resort: kirsten & cody

Following up on our brief introduction only a few days before, Kirsten and Cody’s wedding day couldn’t have been more beautiful!

Given the brightness of the day after leaving the girls at their place in Spirit’s Reach, I met the Cody and the guys in the shade at the quaint, hidden gem that is Coy’s Par 3 to get started with portraits and await Kirsten’s arrival and “first look”.

Just a quick note about Coy’s (a big thanks to Bob, by the way for granting me free access to his golf course on a busy, Saturday afternoon in August!), I can’t think of a spot in the valley that offers such diversity in landscape that is so easily accessible… not to mention abundant in shade! I’ve shot there since (post to come very soon!) and expect to be back often.

Back to business… Kirsten looked fabulous!  She couldn’t have chosen a more beautiful dress, with a most perfectly cut neckline, I might add… there are many of us that just couldn’t have pulled that off nearly so beautifully!  The choice of the men in vests and no jackets?  Again, perfectly chosen… particularly given the hot day!

After getting the couple back a tad late, the ceremony was casual and brief and conducted with skill, wit and charm by Andy Stuart-Hill,  and held at Mountainside Golf Course, providing guests with the most spectacular view of the Rockies.

A truly lovely day… with an equally lovely couple!

{engagement} fairmont hot springs: kirsten & cody

This doesn’t exactly qualify as an official engagement shoot per se… as we were only supposed to be meeting over coffee to discuss all  the details of their wedding day (to be posted in coming days!).  But… as Kirsten was fresh from practicing with the hair lady- why waste good hair?- and, well, as I had my camera in the car anyways and the beautiful outdoors just seemed to beckon, urging, “take their picturrrrrre, taaaaaaakkkkeee their piccccccttuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrre“. Ok, so maybe that’s just the crazy little voice I sometimes hear in my head… either way, it seemed like a great way to get to know Kirsten and Cody better.

So, I handcuffed, bound and gagged convinced them that a little five minute quickie shoot was just what we all needed to adequately break the ice for their wedding, only days away.

And so it was… in this brief photographic introduction, I learned that, for starters, the camera loves Kirsten.  And, clearly, Kirsten and Cody are cute, cute, cute… and both smile and laugh really easily.  Which I love.

They learned… well, I’m guessing they learned pretty quickly that if the ol’  noggin’ ain’t screwed on just so… their photographer- the person they are actually paying to shoot their wedding?!- might actually leave it sitting under a tree somewhere!

So, to Kirsten and Cody… I thank you for your patience… and I can’t tell you how excited I am to post your wedding!

First things first.  To quickies….

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