Helen + John: Engagement

Location: Eau Claire Market

Time: 7:45pm

Photographer: Clara Lee

Ada + James: Engagement

Location: Calgary South Glenmore Park

Photographers: Clara & Glenna and special thanks to our 2nd shooter,  Edward Lee!

Time: 7:30pm for optimal sweet sunset lighting

 

 

Ada + James: Preview

 

 

Joe + Laurie: Engagement

 

Location: South Calgary Glenmore Park + Weaslehead Park

Time: 8am (for non-harsh and back lighting)

Photographer: Clara Lee

Poser: Glenna Lee 

We were suppose to shoot with the talented Mr. Sun but our schedules conflicted!  Check out Mr. Calvin Sun’s photography for the urban raw and edgy look that took place later on the day with the fantastic Laurie & Joe: http://www.calvinsunphotography.com/work/laurie_joe/

 

 

Laurie + Joe: Preview

 

Ben & Pam Engagement Session

I got an email a few weeks ago from Pam asking if she and Ben could pose for a couple’s shoot.   Emails were exchanged about what to wear and what to bring with Ben’s intermittent interjections about what to do with HIS make up and potential modeling career.  I knew it was going to be a fun shoot – Ben is super animated, laughs at everything, Pam is super chill and up for anything – together they make a fine couple.  At the beginning of last week Rockstar emails Ben and Pam with a CONGRATS and cc’s me…and I’m all confused.  What’s up with the congrats?!  to which Ben replies, could you turn your shoot into an engagement session?  I was stoke!

We decided to shoot @ Prince’s Island Park.  I thought that was where Ben proposed, but it was the start of an evening that eventually led to the proposal!

They said they were up for anything, so i made them dance!

Can you see Pam clutching a stuffed monkey?  They brought Benny-Bear-Monkey which was given to Pam by Ben so that he could keep her company while he moves down to Houston first.  Sweet huh?

I told them to lie down on the grass…they were most compliant, even though their bottoms were getting really damp from the am dew!

They look so good!

This shot was taken by our trusty 2nd shooter, Edward Lee here capturing Pam’s winning smile.  More of his shots to come…

Ben stopped running…

Working the foreground/background pose…

Beautiful bride to be!

Good timing on the proposal, the fall colors were totally in our favor.

It was getting a little breezy so leaves were snowing everywhere.  We also got our 2nd shooter to shake up the trees a bit!

The afternoon sun was getting a little glaring so we decided to take a break and head out to Inglewood.  Costume change!  Loved Pam’s sweater. =)

Our 2nd shooter was also the fashion consultant and put together Ben’s outfit.

Inglewood has lots of character…a bit of urban decay if you will.

At this point Ben and Pam were naturally posing themselves – which i love.  The couple in their own element!

Ben teasing Pam, naturally…!

While i got pooped on by a pigeon and had to beg the diner to let me use their bathroom to clean up, Ben and Pam were still hard at work outside the diner…

And after four hours of fun, this was the last shot of the day – grande finale!   I spoke with Pam the next day and found out modeling is hard work, she most deservingly zonked out the rest of the afternoon.  Congrats you two, it was a privilege to photograph you.  We’ll miss you when you’re down in Houston – all the best!

Props to our 2nd shooter, Edward.  =)  Thanks for matte-tifying  their faces and shaking the trees to create the autumn feel in our photos!

Pam & Ben Engagement Session

Normally after a 4 hour photo session Glenna and I are completely wiped out. But Ben and Pam are a contagiously energetic couple, and our time with them just flew by!  Ben is the type of guy that will find everything funny.  Pam is willing to try anything and will do a 10k marathon on a whim.  Both were fantastically fun to work with – and it helped that they were willing to do anything for the camera, ‘cept take off their clothes (although Ben was close).  Here’s a sneak peek!  

One of the silliest shots of the day!  We were at Princes Island Park for most of the mid morning noon and then took some more around Inglewood.  We’ll hopefully have pictures posted by mid week – in the meantime enjoy the “Runaway Ben” shot!

Louise & Jon Engagement Session

Clara and I just got back from a jam packed but fun weekend in New York City and Long Island last night. Louise and Jon’s wedding is coming up soon so it was on the top of my to do list to finish their engagement photos when we got back. I finished them tonight – YAY! Here are a few of my favorites.

I really loved the location Louise chose to shoot because it not only provided us with many props to pose the couple with, it was meaningful to Louise and it was really a gorgeous school.

I got this whilst the couple were transitioning poses. Again i love the cool and casual shots where the couple are just laughing with each other!

We were standing in the school yard and even though Louise is a school teacher, i betcha she can still pass as a student! Gotta love them Asian genes.

Old school black and white. No pun intended…=)

Louise showing off her pretty ring. Clara and I thought the fire escape Jon is sitting at is ornamental but apparently the kids do use it for class changes and fire drills.

I think after this shoot i’m in love with pictures with green, nice finishing touch to the handsome couple.

Louise looks so safe in Jon’s arms! I have to share that from lying on the grass i aggravated my nerdy allergies, but the green – I like its touch so it was worth it!

It’s not a complete schoolyard feel without having a schoolyard fence!

Louise and Jon were so obliging to anything we suggested as poses. Thanks guys for being so easy going!

The faraway look – they’re actually looking at Clara and doing a darn good job looking good at the same time.

So happy that the golden drops of sunshine had a few moments to grace the couple. Butter, non? Can you get a sense yet at how pretty the Hillhurst sandstone school is? Maybe I’m overly in awe because my elementary/junior high school was designed to look like a brown shoe box.

Just chilling out and showing off them pearly whites. We had to untie a few school lamented notices from the window lattice first before we got them to sit down and almost forgot to fasten them on again after we were done!

I like this shot, i think Louise looks like a HK movie star, and Jon a manly man!

Congrats Jon and Louise! It was an honor to take your photos, thank you! Let us know how your big day goes, maybe we can catch up before the school year starts. Tropika? =)

Louise and Jon’s Upcoming Wedding

Louise and Jon went to highschool together, were acquaintances for the longest time but serendipitously crossed paths last year at a mutual friend’s wedding where they really noticed each other. They’re now engaged with the wedding fast encroaching in mid-August. Louise is gentle in spirit and Jon is, well – HUGE! When Louise mentioned she wanted photos done at her school where she taught, i had no idea how beautiful the building would be until we got there. Not only was it sandstone, it was shrouded by verdant trees and shrubs. The forecast for the day didn’t look good – a hailstorm even blew by downtown Calgary that afternoon, but by the time we met up with Louise and Jon the sun was beaming a warm late afternoon glow on the happy couple. Here’s a preview of their engagement shots, i thought the couple looked absolutey HOT!

Didn’t i tell you Jon’s huge?! And Louise’s skin? Like butter, so gorgeous! What’s her secret?!

Clara and I are off to NYC for a wedding this weekend, will blog more next week!

Gloria and Paul’s Engagement Photos

We first met Gloria when we were in pre-school at a summer camp. She was the only other Asian girl there so of course there was a natural gravitation towards each other! We had one playdate with her and then never heard from her since.

Glo moved communities in junior high and landed at our school. We became fast friends and when Gloria mentioned to her mom that she met a set of twins, her mother inquired if we were the same twins from the summer camp days. After comparing notes we giggled in bemusement and confimed that indeed we use to know each other!

Gloria totally made our junior high years most memorable and i wouldn’t have chosen any other girl to have gone through those years with. We ’studied’ together, were mall rats, tied up the phone lines like crazy since we didn’t have internet or call waiting, plucked each other’s eyebrows, experimented with makeup, talked about our crushes, and as cheesy as it sounds talked our future, hopes and dreams.

Even though we went to different universities and Glo ended up moving to different cities around the world, we kept in touch – and Glo realized all her dreams. She studied in California, became a lawyer and met the most wonderful man that she’ll be marrying this summer.

Gloria and her man, Mr. Paul. I’m elated that Gloria found such an awesome guy. He’s witty, fun, calm and a natural compliment to Glo. They’ve been dating over 5 years!

During our trip to Vancouver we had decided to try out a restaurant in Stanley Park, Sequoia Grill Tea House. It’s perched on a beautiful lawn over-looking the water and surrounded by trees and gardens. After ordering our appies we took off to the lawn to catch the sunset.

I wanted to capture how leggy Glo is. If it were me lying there i’d only take up half the bench.

She is almost 6 feet tall with heels. I felt like a munchkin pretty much around her all the time in junior high. Thank goodness for heels now!

Paul looking pensive. I’ve always been jealous of Glo’s skin. It’s like milk. Absolutely no retouching is done on her face!

Paul is British! He moved to NYC with Glo and she says that he’s actually lost a lot of his accent!

Glo and Paul watching the sunset and the boats sailing calmly by in the water. I love Vancouver!

This was taken the next day a few hours before Sylvia and Gavin’s wedding while we were trying to stroll kitsilano beach. It was raining!

Despite the rain, Glo is ever so stylish and still wore a hot fushia summer dress! It was cold though, good thing she has Paul to keep her warm! Rockstar, Clara and I are behind the camera bundled in sweaters!

Glo and Paul were a joy to vacay with and i wish we had vacationed more together in the past. So the countdown begins for Glo and Paul for their wedding in Long Island this coming August. I can’t wait you guys!!