Spring Shoots

Well two weeks ago I flew back to British Columbia after exactly 6 months (to the DAY) in the US where I was working on immigration paperwork with my fiance.  I cried a bit leaving (goodbyes are not exactly my favourite) and I cried a bit upon landing--actually breaking through the clouds over Vancouver to be precise.  It was SO GOOD to see the lush Coastal Mountains, ferries and barges surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, and the stunning city of Vancouver sparkling beside the water's edge. BC is GORGEOUS and was such a sight for sore eyes!  Anyway, that was actually before I landed, and when I landed, I hit the ground running.  The following day I had two photo shoots (one in Surrey, and one on Granville Island) with a third shoot on the Burrard Bridge in Vancouver the day after that.  Throw in errands that have been put on hold for 6 months, a sprinkling of people to see and blend that for a dose of chaos...whew.

But back to the photo shoots, because that's what this post is about and it's what you are here for!  Well for starters, I set off to the Muir household in Surrey where Heidi Muir swapped a family photo shoot for a much-needed haircut, along with a dye job and highlights. I absolutely love having a skill that I can use to trade for services...I'm very much a fan of both bartering and saving money, (blame it on the Mennonite in me!) as well as just spending time with people, so it worked out to be a fantastic trade for the both of us.  Heidi, her husband Josh, and their doll of a daughter Ava shot a whack load of candids at their place using some great natural lighting, and then headed off to the park across the street where Ava braved the cold and rain for a series of family photos.  Josh and Heidi are a really fun couple and Ava was so full of expressions and charisma that I just couldn't stop shooting!!!

Later that afternoon I took the Skytrain and bus back into the heart of Vancouver where I met up with Jason Bull & Laura Proce for one of my all-time favourite photo shoots.  First off, Laura is one of my best friends and bridesmaids, (and I hers as well!) as well as my former roommate.  She's been in so many of my photos (and has quite a flair for the dramatic as it is) that she was as comfortable as a subject has ever been in front of my camera and it shows. Jason and I had only met once last year for 3 minutes before I went AWOL for most of the year, or something like that.  Needless to say, he did a fine job of relaxing in front of the camera and the two provided me with some of my favourite engagement shots.  The shoot was on Granville Island which also held a lot of personal meaning for me, as it's where I did my photography degree from Emily Carr.  A best friend, a new friend, and my old stomping grounds--not to mention glorious lighting--I couldn't have asked for more!

Day 2, Shoot 3, and I was off to Burrard Bridge with Dan Withers and Leanne Kwiatkowski to shoot their engagement photos.  It was a short shoot but another killer combo: the blue sky and bright sun + the distinctive architecture of the Burrard Bridge + the most giddy, playful couple on the block.  I've known both Dan and Leanne for a few years now and they're a dynamic duo so full of life that photos of them just begged to be bright, strong, and vibrant.  Despite the harsh mid-afternoon light, I was able to work with what I was given and in the end, pleased by the results (as were they!).   I'll be shooting their wedding at the end of August, so keep your eyes peeled for more!

It was a busy weekend that snowballed it's way into an even busier week, and after I returned home to Vernon it was less than two weeks until I was on my way back to the Coast.  This Easter weekend was a wedding shoot for Dom & Bethany (Burnett) Humphrey, but I'll update you on that once the editing process is underway!  So hold tight, and stay tuned...the wedding season is in full swing and I'm on a treadmill that I can't get off!

Jaime