Archive for July, 2011

Hello everyone!

As I am sure you are all aware today is the big day- I head off to Newfoundland for my 2011 Photo Tour! I look forward to it every year! Now that the stress of packing (a mere few hours ago) has warn off, I may not be able to contain myself! While I will have cell phone, and email access throughout my trip, there may be days when I am in remote locations (like my Nan’s living room) and will be taking a few hours or days off. Fret not, if you need to reach me, I will contact you as soon as I am working again. You can still reach me at (780) 271-7082 or email at islandmistphotography@gmail.com

I still have 3 remaining NL sessions available throughout August if you are interested in booking a photo session. I don’t just shoot weddings, I love to photograph couples, families, babies and bellies as well!

Even if we don’t have an appointment for photos, I would still love to see you! Touch base and we can set something up!

XO,

Amy


I met Brittany and Jesse through Kelly and Cam (The most recent wedding on the blog). Brittany had long before booked a session with me, and when I sat down to eat dinner, we were sitting next to each other. It’s always so nice when I have a chance to meet my clients before they get in front of my camera. Of course, being Cam’s brother, Jesse was a grooms man so I had a chance to meet him as well!

We all headed out to Rundle Park for some fun couples portraits on a super hot, super mosquito filled day a few weeks ago. It was really fun hanging out with them, even if I am still tortured with nightmares of how many mosquitoes were all over me! Anyone who has done a session with me knows I spend a good bit of time on the ground- not the best idea that day! Troopers though, they didn’t complain or seem bothered by the little beasts!
Brittany has the most beautiful blue green eyes I have ever seen. I think they are green, and look again and they are aqua! So pretty!
It was awesome hanging out with you both! Enjoy the rest of your summer together! You are an awesome couple!

xo,
Amy

The weather in Alberta this summer has not been good for my mental health. It’s been dull, and wet, and blah. A lot like Newfoundland weather, just without the fog. Every time I get all psyched up for a session, the sky opens up. Last week, I was supposed to meet up with Meenakshi and Samar. As I drove across the city I could see black clouds really low over the city with angry lightening bolts thrown in for good measure. I hoped it would clear up, and it did, two days later. So Thursday when I arrived on a beautiful day at the Royal Alberta Museum I was thrilled when rain started pour down on my truck. I dialled up Meenakshi to break the bad news for her, and in a super hopeful voice she asked if we could wait 20 minutes. I am so glad I agreed! Almost as soon as I got off the phone, I looked out my back window and the best rainbow every had shown up. Unfortunately, this beautiful couple didn’t make it in time for the rainbow to be in photos with them, but I think it’s beautiful.

I am so glad Meenakshi asked me to wait the 20 minutes, just look how beautiful these two are. She is absolutely stunning. I love how the gold in Samar’s clothes makes Meenakshi just pop! I always love this type clothing, and I am mildly jealous that dressing up for me is a Skort and a Cardigan!

Meenakshi had packed extra outfits for them to wear, and I was so disappointed that almost instantaniously after they changed their clothes the sky literally opened up and the rain came down in sheets. We were left racing for our vehicles! To no avail, I was absolutely soaked and I am sure they were too! It was so  much fun though- well worth the damp ride home!

All the best to you both, I hope you have enjoyed your little sneak peak! I will be in touch with the link to your proof gallery soon! xo,
Amy

Emylya is a big two year old girl now! We go waaaaayyy back. All the way to her first birthday party where we met. It was epic.

So I was super excited when Cheryl (who calls me Awesome Amy- just sayin’) wanted me to meet up with them for family photos this year! The birthday party timing wasn’t working out but they all got up bright and early and met me at Rundle Park for some family photos.  When I say ‘they all’, I mean it! There were a great big group of them- extended family, and a million combinations!

 Above you will find Cheryl’s Mom and Dad who are just adorable. As a side note, Cheryl is expecting and her mom is so fun that while I was frantically yelling for her to get ‘out of the tree’, her mother was egging her on!

Below is a 3 generations shot!

  A fun family shot. You have no idea what they had to pull out of my ears to get that adorable grin!

There are loads of other photos, family members, and combinations of family but I taunted Cheryl with a preview prematurely and now she is at her computer waiting to see these! I hope you enjoy! Blizzards are on me this time!

xo,

Awesome Amy

I have known Kelly and Cameron for quite a while now, and it was after I shot their first photo session (on a frosty afternoon in the dead of winter) that Kelly professed her need me to photograph her wedding. Shortly after that- Cam proposed. Yes, in that order. I love Kelly because she is one of the most downright genuine people I know. She immediately draws you in, and you can’t help but love spending time with her. It was my ultimate pleasure to photograph their wedding.

You should know that this wedding was more than 2 years in the planning. I can’t even believe how quickly the two years flew by. I spent the days leading up to the wedding sketching how I wanted to incorporate the Mustang convertible they had rented for the occasion, the St. Albert Farmers Market (just outside Pose hair salon, where she was getting coiffed) and their outside wedding ceremony on the balcony of the Edmonton Golf and Country club (directly looking over the river valley with an amazing view of downtown) into their photos.

And then July 9 finally arrived and I see this…..

Seriously- it’s a good thing that things inside Pose were cheery and lively, because the outside was having none of it! I have always had great luck with weddings and weather, but that wedding was meant to have rain it would seem- buckets, and buckets of rain.  

 We got ready to go to the wedding back at Kelly and Cameron’s new house in St. Albert and they have an amazing closet. Yes. Closet. There’s enough room to live in there if a disaster happened. It’s the size of a full bedroom. So that was the perfect place to hang her dress. Here she is, admiring it after we had it hung for photos. What a stunning bride and she’s only wearing her ‘Bride to Be’ shirt! Just wait until you see her in her dress!   Future brides, take note- Dresses that need to be laced make for plenty of photo opportunities, however this is because it takes plenty of time. When the brides dress laces, and the bridesmaids dresses lace, make sure you leave plenty of time to get ready! The girls made it do the church (errrr golf course) on time, but it could easily have gone array!

These are my favorite wedding shoes ever. They are Barbie by Town Shoes. I had a hard time visualizing them as Kelly excitedly told me about them at Second Cup, but the minute I saw them I was smitten. Totally her!

 And while I was smitten with shoes, Kelly was smitten with Cam, who called and admitted he was nervous. Adorable!  Is this not the most adorable walk down the aisle you have ever seen?  

The rain poured out of the heavens all day, but then finally there was a break in the waterworks. We all rushed to St. Albert’s Red Willow Park so that we could shoot family formals and bridal party shots. We lucked out long enough to snap the family photos (despite gale force winds) and a few shots of the newly weds before the clouds rolled in again. The sky turned as black as night and drenched the pour bridal party who made an early departure back to reception. The poor girls were absolutely soaked, but they all remained composed and beautiful, even if their hair was dripping for a little bit!  Seriously, what a stunning bride.  An impromtu dip during the first dance never disapoints!  And the ever important Father Daughter dance!

Kelly and Cam, I wish you all the very best together. I am so touched that you invited me into your lives and allowed me to capture one of the most special and intimate days of your lives. It was a pleasure getting to know both of your families and spending the day with you. Congratulations!

xoxo,
Amy

Just in case you’ve missed my super excited Newfoundland visit countdown, I am less than two hands full of fingers away from setting my two feet on the rock!

The best part about going home for a visit is spending time with my friends and family, but I love the ocean, the rocks and the history so much that I can’t put my camera down while I am there. I am happy to have a working vacation. Because I love what I do, if find it so funny that I have had countless messages wondering if ‘I would mind’ doing a photoshoot while I am there, and the short awnser is always, “Don’t be silly! I would love to!”

So, if you are one of the silly crown who thinks you would be ‘pestering’ to book a session while I am there for the entire month of August, to you I say, don’t you be so foolish! I still have select days for family, maternity, boudoir and engagement photos set aside, AND I am available  for some, AND I would love to see you for photos!

The other thing I should mention is that I have so many awesome weddings in Newfoundland in 2012 (my sister’s  included- look out world, i’m told I have to wear heals!). What does that mean to you? Well lots if you are planning on tying the knot in 2012. I am available for consultations for weddings in June, July and August in Newfoundland. Yes ladies (and gents!), I am at your service! So let’s grab a coffee (or something fun!) and sit down and have a chat about your big plans. If anyone is third in line for excitement after the bride and groom, you might think it’s your mother, but no, no, no, it’s me (just don’t ask me to wear heels!)

Go on, what are you waiting for? Shoot me an email so we can get the ball rolling on something amazing for you!

xo,
Amy

Oh, and just because blog posts are more fun with a photo, please enjoy Kelly and Cameron’s intimate moment (before we got drenced with rain!).  A full blog post will be along shortly, but this image is one of my favs this year and I just need to show you, right now! 

islandmistphotography@gmail.com
(780) 271-7082

McGrath Mansion Wedding, Edmonton, Alberta

  
I have been driving past the McGrath Mansion on Ada Boulevard on my way home for the last 5 years, longingly staring out the grounds and just waiting for my chance to shoot there. So you betcha I was stoked when Trish and Adam told me their ceremony location! It’s an absolutely beautiful Edmonton wedding ceremony location, and it’s a Edmonton wedding photographer’s dream. Open shade, plenty of open area’s for photos, some traditional looking back drops with some elements of fun, I loved it there!
McGrath Mansion Wedding, Edmonton, Alberta

McGrath Mansion Wedding, Edmonton, Alberta

I think it’s because I am so close to my own dad that I always get a little choked up when the bride hugs her Dad as he ‘gives her away’. I have been known to shed a cheesy tear or two during the Father Daughter dance, later in the evening as well. I happened to really like Trish’s parents (a lot to do with the fact that he forgave the foible with the hanger on the mantle) so I love that I caught this moment. There is no posing that look of love ladies and gentleman, that’s a real moment right there!

McGrath Mansion Wedding, Edmonton, Alberta

Um? Above and below… I think they were both happy to be there :)

McGrath Mansion Wedding, Edmonton, Alberta McGrath Mansion Wedding, Edmonton, Alberta McGrath Mansion Wedding, Edmonton, Alberta McGrath Mansion Wedding, Edmonton, Alberta McGrath Mansion Wedding, Edmonton, Alberta\

I loved this unique element of Trish and Adam’s ceremony. Because I couldn’t make it to the rehearsal, I was given a heads up that this was going to take place, buy Julie, their wedding planner. All of the members of the wedding party gathered around the couple, and took turns passing the ring around to say a short prayer. I have never seen it done before, and I think it was so special!

McGrath Mansion Wedding, Edmonton, Alberta   McGrath Mansion Wedding, Edmonton, Alberta  McGrath Mansion Wedding, Edmonton, Alberta   McGrath Mansion Wedding, Edmonton, Alberta McGrath Mansion Wedding, Edmonton, Alberta McGrath Mansion Wedding, Edmonton, Alberta

McGrath Mansion Wedding, Edmonton, Alberta  

McGrath Mansion Wedding, Edmonton, Alberta

 

McGrath Mansion Wedding, Edmonton, Alberta

McGrath Mansion Wedding, Edmonton, Alberta 

McGrath Mansion Wedding, Edmonton, Alberta

The reception was held at the Sawmill Banquet & Catering Centre and let me tell you- it was delishous. I like chicken as much as the next gal, but the steak was perfectly cooked, and well, a loaded baked potato- yes please!  

 You know you are doing a great toast to the bride when this happens…. (Thanks Adam’s Dad!)  

  

Thank you both again so much for letting me be a part of the biggest day in your lives. I absolutely want to keep in touch (though I can’t say we will ever go for a stroll in the McKinnon Ravine again!)

xo,
Amy

Welcome to the first of a series of blog posts in which I will tell you about how much I love Trish and Adam.

Now, you may be asking yourself why I am proclaiming my love for a couple that I only know because I am their wedding photographer. Were I an astrophysicist, a milk maid, or a race car driver, surely our paths would never have crossed (except for the possibility that Trish being a nurse might have had to help me after a car wreck because – as you will see shortly, I am clearly accident prone). But I digress. I love them.

 I love them because they are in love with each other to no end. I love that they both know exactly what they want. I love that they mountain bike (even though I never will, despite their best efforts), that they rode a bicycle built for two in their super fun engagement session, and they push me to do things that I normally wouldn’t (ie. climbing on a ledge, run down super menacing hills, and ride bicycles built for two.)

 I also love that they pick fun photo locations, like ravines, in which, while attempting to be all brave and adventurous like I took a major slip and fall (while talking about slipping and falling – thank you universe) and knocked my leg just about off  my body. I also love them because they didn’t laugh about the fact that my black pants were completely soiled in rather unattractive mud in a rather inopportune location  for the duration of the day and evening I spent with them.

Ok, now- get ready…. This picture chokes me up. Lots of brides just get ready with their bridesmaids, and I get it. But a precious few still have their moms with them while they get ready. Trish’s mom and dad were there to help every step of the way, from making snacks for the bridal party, steaming bridesmaids dresses, lacing up Trish’s dress, and helping to put on her garter. I had originally selected a photo of her helping to lace up her dress, but they I saw this one and my heart melted a little. Trish is posing for a photo that she thinks is being taking of her, totally unaware of what’s happening behind her. But the best part of the photo is her mom, who is totally unaware that she is in the photo. Look at the expression on her face. It’s love, pride and cinnamon buns all rolled into the one gaze. Moments like these, ladies and gentlemen are the reason why it’s so important to involve your parents in your wedding. It’s a big day for you, but it’s just as important to them.

This is the finished Trish Product. She is a vision of loveliness. And, because her and Adam are awesome like chocolate cake, they asked me (yes, THEY ASKED ME!) to do a First Look! Now, perhaps you don’t know what a First Look is, perhaps you are a bit superstitious and don’t want to see the bride before the ceremony, perhaps you haven’t seen these photos to know exactly why you need to do a first look, either way, you NEED to do a first look. Just watch……

Now! Do you see what I mean?! Absolutely the best idea ever. The groom seeing his bride for the first time, being a private and intimate moment? Not having to wait until she gets to the end of the aisle to tell her how amazing she looks? Ample time for intimate portraits and bridal party shots before the ceremony so there’s more time for family and visiting after the wedding and before the reception. Yes please!

Because I went a little blog crazy with these images, you are going to have to wait until tomorrow to see Trish and Adam’s ceremony at the McGrath Mansion. But trust me, it’s worth the wait!

xo,
Amy

I am busy working away on a full blog post for Trish and Adam but in the mean time, I wanted to share with you a sneak peak. This one literally is a sneak peak. I love it! These two are just awesome and I can’t wait to share more of their fantastic McGrath Mansion wedding with you!

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