I haven’t been posting much because I haven’t been shooting much.  For a primarily wedding and outdoor photographer, winter can be a slow time. I thought I’d post some of my favourite shots from last year’s wedding and portrait shoots (especially for those new to my site).  I started this website and blog in April 2009, when I was on vacation in Ireland.  This post consists only of stuff previously posted to the blog, because my computer has been having some issues and I don’t have easy access to my files (safely stored on an external hard drive) at the moment.

I love shooting weddings in a photojournalistic style, but I also love a good artistic portrait.  Weddings are such a great opportunity to get a great photo of yourself, because you’re dressed up and looking your best.  The photo below on the left is from a trash the dress shoot with Steph and Steve.  Steph looks like a super tough model here, in the tunnel to the waterfall at Goldstream park.  On the right is my favourite shot from Mikayla and Chris’s wedding day portrait session.  I thought the park they chose was fairly generic and wasn’t sure what to do to make it special, but I think this amazing tree really makes the shot.  Doesn’t hurt that there’s a gorgeous couple kissing under it.

I started doing some high school senior portraits this year.  It was so fun working with these girls.  They really got into modelling and had such great spirit.  Of course, I’m a sucker for graffiti (and pretty dresses).

A couple more shots with an urban feeling.  The shot on the left was taken around sundown outside of Fan Tan Alley.  We’d wanted to get some shots in the alley, but it was locked up.  This shot makes me glad it was.  He looks like such a rockstar.  The shot on the right is my friend Irene in the alley beside the Yates parkade.  I think she looks beautiful and totally fits in with the background.

The below are from my first couple shoot ever.  These two were really cool and accommodating to all my cheesy pose suggestions.  I think they turned out pretty great.

Another sweet wedding portrait.  I think these two were feeling a little tired and a bit uncomfortable in front of the camera.   This shot gives a sense of peaceful happiness, of two people who always manage to find comfort in one another.

Yet another adorable couple.  These are my friends Lauren and Andreas, who got married in 2009.  I missed their wedding because I was traveling back from my vacation, sadly.  I’m so glad they asked me to do this shoot for them.  I love watching them together.

I love this photo of my friend Lynn, who was an ever patient model when I was portfolio-building.  I think she was goofing around with this model-like pose, but it worked out amazingly.  I love the way the sun outlines her figure.

I love this shot from Mikayla and Chris’s backyard wedding.  I think it embodies the spirit of their wedding, where they broke out the champagne immediately after the ceremony.

The classic wedding shot: The Kiss.  I love this one of Lyndsey and Brennan for many reasons: the smiling officiant, the awesome tattoo, the glowing light on her back, her dress, the kiss.

I loved the bridal party’s gangster-style outfits at Steph and Steve’s wedding.  I love the way the hats make this photo and I couldn’t resist processing it in an old-fashioned black and white style.

Another couple of shots from Katie and Hannah’s joint senior portrait session.  There were so many amazing shots from this session.  I had a really hard time deciding which to blog about in the first place.  These are two of my faves.

I think this is actually one of my favourite shots of the year, aeshetically.  I love the way the light falls on Steph’s face as she braves the cold water at the base of the Goldstream waterfall.  It was quite dark by the time we got there, so this lighting was created by one flash on my camera and another being held by Phil above and to the right of Steph.

This shot is the result of me randomly snapping as Lyndsey and Brennan were moving from location to location.  I love how detailed the flowers look.

And one shot from my Ireland trip of the castle on the Cliffs of Moher.  Did you know you can get married in that castle?  If you do, please hire me.  This was one of the most stunning views I’ve seen in my life.

Here’s to a 2010 of many more beautiful photos, stunning brides and happy grooms, and meeting lots of amazing people.