Lydia’s Acting Headshots
March 5, 2010A session with 10 year old Lydia, she’s got an amazing personality!
Allison and Kyle’s Wedding Slideshow
March 2, 2010By popular demand (aka polite requests) : ), here is Allison and Kyle’s slideshow that we surprised them with at their wedding reception in Nicaragua!
Heritage Hall Wedding: Allison and Kyle
March 2, 20101. Allison and Kyle’s wedding took place on that miraculous January day when the weather turned from a stormy downpour, to what we see in the photos below! When I arrived at the house that Allison was getting ready at, it was so windy that my car door flew open and my hair blew sideways as I stepped outside. This was the first time I was actually a little concerned about the weather on a wedding day, based on the torrential downpour and sideways rain we had in Vancouver for the days leading up to Allison and Kyle’s wedding. Who would have thought we’d end up with California style sun that day!?!?!
2. Another fun solo shoot, all by my lonesome! Solo shooting was how I started out photographing weddings back in the day, and I love the pressure and fast paced experience of solo shooting once in a while, so sometimes I schedule weddings this way. So don’t worry, I haven’t fired Mark or anything like that : ) haha! But because Mark wasn’t there that day, I needed some company in my car, so I got to drive around a car full of gentlemen (the groomsmen) all day! A pretty good replacement if you ask me : ) Ahhhhh the life!
3. If you haven’t guessed, Allison and Kyle hail from “the gang” (as I call them), as explained in Kristina and Brad’s wedding entry. It is always such a blast spending a wedding day with the gang, as they are surrounded by very supportive friends and family who all ensure that the wedding day is super fun and perfect- special thanks to Jess, who was the decor queen and did an amazing job!
4. We wish Allison and Kyle an amazing journey, as they serve in Nicaragua for the years to come. They had a reception in Nicaragua last Friday, where we surprised them with a slideshow of their wedding photos! Congrats Allison and Kyle! Thank you for an amazing day! I already miss your dimples Allison!
I loved the lack of privacy during Ally and Kyle’s first look. It couldn’t have been more perfect : )
becca: I love the last shot, are those kumquats!?
Michelle Dixon: These are beautiful. Love the light in the outdoor b&g shot. Stunning.
Andrea: Soo amazing Leslie! I'm still soo sad that I had to work that day! :( You did a fantastic job!
fran chelico: wow Leslie! these are really beautiful photos!
Krista: So beautiful! The ring shot is super cute!
Tanya: Fabulous photos Leslie. Love the dancing on the water picture.....
Leslie: Thanks everyone! I think they are kumquats...? or those mini oranges maybe?
Joanna: Gorgeous!! I LOVE seeing other HH weddings- every time I see it dressed up differently, I fall in love again!!!
Jessica Wilson: They are beautiful, as always!!! Love the dancing on the dock shot! Oh and thanks for the compliment on the decor :)
Lianne: @Joanna I totally know what you mean, I love looking at HH in all different weddings!!! It's amazing how different it can look!!! Beautiful wedding!
Stanley Park Pavilion: Shirley and Herb
February 23, 2010Silly, then serious, then silly, then serious, then silly, then serious, etc… there were so many tears, laughter, and joy during the events, I enjoyed the emotional roller coaster of Shirley and Herb’s wedding day, and love that the pictures match the true mood of silly, then serious, then silly, then serious, then….
Shirley: I LOVE THE PICTURES!...you and Mark did such a great job.
Leslie: Thanks Shirley~! way to rock the boots!
Tara: so fun!...and serious..and fun, and... :). The photos in the woods are my favourite
Carolyn Egerszegi: Love love love these Leslie!!! Terrific work, as usual. Favs are the two of the b&g jumping on the seawall and the one of the b&g on the seawall with the city behind them. Soooooo cute and fun and gorgeous! Love them!
Carolyn Egerszegi: Almost forgot... the 6th one down of the bride is outstanding... it completely stopped me in my tracks. Gorgeous!!!
Chelsea Wollmann: Gorgeous Dress!!!!
Beth: AMAZING!!! Seriously, wow! That last one...I'm speechless! That has to be the coolest location ever!!
Angela: I love the softness of the lighting in the second to last one. Very beautiful. And I'm jealous of their bikes.
Gary Bonar: Awesome as per usual. I'm loving your work guys!! Your moving up in my bookmark bar! G
Krista: The lighting is so beautiful in these! Okay I'm getting excited!
sara: bikes! love these!
Laura Millin: So beautiful! I love the ones in the trees, reminds of some mystical scene from Lord of the Rings!
keri travis: Fun and beautiful! You're totally moving up on my bookmark bar too! :)
The Wedding Dance Party of 2009
February 10, 2010I had so much fun shooting the dance coverage at Allison and Ramsey’s wedding last summer, that it needs it’s own special blog entry. Allison and Ramsey chose to have an Interactive DJ for their wedding. Interactive DJs are exactly as it sounds… interactive. They listen while guests give speeches and cue up and play music when appropriate (think of the band on The Tonight Show, when they pop music in after jokes or when guests are walking up to the stage), and they also organize the dance portion of the evening and try to get nearly all guests involved in the dancing.
I have seen many interactive DJ’s this year at our weddings, but none have come close to throwing a party as perfect as Allison and Ramsey’s (held at Furry Creek Golf Club). Half the credit goes to the amazing Jordan, founding partner of Beyond Sound, and the other half goes to Allison + Ramsey and guests for their energy and enthusiasm. You see, if you choose to hire an interactive DJ, you have to be 100% committed to boogie on the dance floor and take part for the first hour or two of the night in order for the concept to work. You, as a couple, cannot sit back and hope your guests will take part in the activities that the DJ has planned. This is one reason why I have seen Interactive DJs fail at weddings- *you* have to be proactive! Just like Allison and Ramsey were!
Sarah and Jeremy! - one of my 2010 couples: : ) 
A total blast! Interactive DJs aren’t for everyone (especially if you don’t want to dance), and this summer had many rip roaring parties with some of my favorite and extremely talented “non interactive” DJs as well, but if you know you want a fun guided program for the first part of your dancing, consider one like this!
Zack Peterson: I love your lighting at receptions Leslie. And that dance looked super fun!
Jennifer: fun fun fun! I have never heard of dances like that before but it looked like a good time
Angela: I love that you can tell which songs they are dancing too! ...a little bit softer now...a little bit softer now..."
Leslie: Haha angela-- you're totally right!!!!
Burnaby Wedding: Justyna and Simon
February 10, 2010I know I go on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on about how it’s totally fun when it rains at a shoot (though my camera gear does not think it’s fun anymore) …. it just simply *IS* fun in the rain as long as everyone involved are cool people : ) ! I have never seen Deer Lake Park look as magical as it did on this rainy January day!
Makeup artistry: Megan McHollister
Venue: Hart House Restaurant
Ceremony: Burnaby Village Museum
Beth: GORGEOUS!!! Those outdoor shots are absolutely perfect!
Krista: The fog/mist coming off the water is beautiful!
Lisa M: Wow, amazing shots!!!
Jemima: Love the first picture - reminded me of the iconic 'American Gothic' by Grant Wood. =) Your blog makes me so happy!
sharon: This set of photographs are absolutely beautiful Leslie! Beautifully capturing of the scenes and the couple!
keri travis: These shots are so lovely and touching. Love them all!
Joanna: The picture with the fog rising off the water, and the branches at the top may be my ALL TIME favourite! Awesome!
melia: Gorgeous work in the rainy park!
Joanna: I am IN LOVE with the colours- SO vibrant!!
Karen Dyke: Love the one with the striped sweater!
sharon: Leslie, you take the best color contrast photos!
Alana: Wicked!! I LOVE them!!
Olga - Dott Photography: So pretty! I would love to have had pictures like that when I was preggo! Congrats to the future baby and mama :)
The Great Cake Cutting of 2009
February 2, 2010This one definitely goes down in history! Remember Kristina and Brad? They had an amazing farm wedding last summer, and this was their cake cutting- the “great cake cutting of 2009″!
Things started off much too perfectly. Look at the perfect hand placement:
So cute and innocent.
More cute play.
Oh but it’s all ok, just a cute little smoosh of the cake to keep the crowd interested.
“That was alright”, thinks the crowd.
But wait there’s more!
… and they’ll live happily ever after! I would love to know what went through Brad’s mind just after he smashed the cake in her face!
Chelsea Wollmann: haha...LOVE THIS Leslie!! you captured it perfectly!!
Tamara Hodgkin: brad was probably thinking "man i am so going to pay for this!" love the last photo though absolutely stunning!
Jessica Wilson: Best cake cutting ever + best photographer ever= Perfectly captured memory! Awesome Leslie :)
Jen W: LOVE THIS! What great shots! Except now I want some cake :)
Andrea: I'm SO glad you blogged this!! Great job!!
Lydia: Thank for my beautiful pictures Leslie. I had so much fun with you. Love Lydia
Leslie: the youngest person to leave a comment on the blog!! : )
Fiona: Love it!!
sara: pretty =)