Rileigh & Kelly's Engagement session at Elk Lake and Mt Doug in Victoria, BC

Although I didn't know her at the time, I actually went to elementary school with Rileigh. I was a few years older, and as the rule seems to be when you're young, you mostly just talk to kids in your own grade. Fast forward a few years and Rileigh's long time best friend Farrah is now my brother's wife, and in the lead up to my brother's wedding last year I had the chance to meet and get to know Rileigh and Kelly, so I was thrilled when they asked if I would be their wedding photographer. On Wednesday we met up at Elk/Beaver Lake in the sunshine before heading to a busy Mt Doug for a beautiful sunset, followed by wings and beer at Smuggler's Cove pub. Here are a few favourites

Jesaka & Ryan's engagement session in the Highlands of Victoria, BC

Every so often I get the chance to work with old friends, people from soccer teams, elementary or high school, past jobs, and it's always such a blast to reconnect with people at a totally different stage of life than when I last knew them. I went to Esquimalt High School with Jesaka and Ryan, but haven't had much of a chance to see them since high school so it was really great to catch up both during our shoot and around a fire pit with some beers this past weekend. Little did we know beforehand that we would also be treated to a light show in the sky with the northern lights making a rear appearance in Victoria. Check out some of my favourites from this fun and relaxed engagement session in Victoria on a private property on the side of a mountain in the highlands. ( Fun Fact: In high school I was incredibly close to getting the exact tattoo that Ryan ended up getting in the middle of high back, the legendary Led Zeppelin record label's Angel from Swan Song records. I didn't end up getting the tattoo but it was cool to see what I had envisioned on Ryan's back, and as it was a pretty muggy night he was pretty comfortable without his shirt for a bit. )

Sydney & Steve's engagement session on Piers Island - Victoria BC Wedding Photography

Sydney and I go way back, back to flipping burgers and being dummies at Mcdonalds at our first job back when we were 15, so when she contacted me saying she was getting married and wanted me to be there to shoot the photos for her and Steve, I was thrilled. We talked about some location possibilities and as soon as she mentioned that her dad owned some property on Piers Island just off of Swartz Bay on the Peninsula I was on board. We hopped on a little charter boat and did the short cruise to Piers Island before zipping around the mini road that encircles the island on a golf cart, exploring the woods, climbing up trees, drinking beers on the beach and enjoying the sunset as we pulled back to the Canoe Cove Marina. Getting to do engagement photos on Piers Island was a real treat, it was beautiful, it was quiet, and it was somewhere new, and Sydney and Steve and their awesome sense of humour shine through in the photos, here are a few favourites.

Victoria Wedding Photography - Kaylyn & Aaron's Wedding at Morningside Estate

Sometimes you meet people and you just instantly get each other, you share a sense of humour, a way of looking at the world, maybe a few common interests. That's what it was like when I first "met" Kaylyn and Aaron over Skype, they were taking a lunch break from skiing and were skyping me from their phone in their car. These two are wonderful, authentic, intentional people, as were their friends and family, and we had such a great time working together. Those same words could totally describe their wedding day; authentic, intentional, filled with laughter and tears and wonderful moments. Everything was intentional, from their guests all building Kaylyn's  bouquet 1 flower at a time, to everyone taking part in them "tying the knot" and the words and the moments that were shared during these exchanges. The get together was part of an ongoing, week long celebration of their relationship with each other and their closest friends and family that started in Victoria, headed to Tofino, and then finished off where they live in Nelson. We were treated to an incredible meal with loads of wine and tons of laughs. It was all hosted at a venue that was so well suited to this type of intimate and intentional gathering that is just off the Malahat called Morningside Estate. The beautiful, personalized ceremony was performed by Barbara Densmore who really made the ceremony feel special and unique to Kaylyn and Aaron. Okay, enough gushing, onto some photos.

Danielle & Matt's Engagement in Gordon Head - Victoria Wedding Photography

I first met Danielle a few years ago while shooting one of her best friends' engagement session up at Mt Washington. We got along really well while shooting with Ellen and Jamie so I was stoked to see her name in my inbox a couple of years later letting me know that she was getting married! Matt and Danielle live and are getting married in Kelowna, but they knew they were going to have a chance to visit Victoria over Christmas time which gave us the opportunity to shoot their engagement session. It was pretty chilly grey day but the rain held off while we explored parts of Gordon Head around Danielle's grandparents' home. After a coffee break to warm up we finished off up at Mt Doug, here are a few favourites!