Ashleigh & Aaron - August 2012 Wedding, Niagara Falls

Ashleigh and Aaron had an amazing wedding in Niagara Falls,Ontario. When Mike and I arrived at the hotel , Ashleigh and her bridesmaids were just starting to get their makeup and hair done, and were about to dig in to a healthy breakfast and watch one of Mikes favourite classics – Spaceballs.  

  One of the things we like most about Ashleigh is how much she laughs, and she and her girlfriends were so relaxed and chilled out, it was fun to shoot. 

After getting into her dress ( a community effort, as it usually is!), everyone was looking pretty fine, I must say.

Next, the girls travelled in style in the mother of the brides fabulous 1955 Chevy. When they pulled up to the Crowne Plaza Hotel, the girls were an instant tourist attraction and I spent a considerable amount of time doing crowd control. It’s funny how many people walk right up to the bride in the middle of a photoshoot!

After literally the quickest ceremony we’ve seen yet (15 minutes or 20, tops!) we headed off to discover all the fabulous places the Crowne Plaza and Niagara Falls has for photo ops.

 These little cuties were very helpful keeping everyone cool with the mini fans they brought  :)

Guys, how awesome are the top hats and canes? So dapper! 

 At the hall, we had a delicious meal of all the couples favourite traditional Croatian food. I love going to weddings where the food tastes like you’re at your Baka’s house for a Sunday meal.

For their first dance, Ashleigh & Aaron kept it sweet and low key  and one of their groomsmen serenaded them to Wheat Kings by The Tragically Hip. It was very cool and very sweet. 

Thank you both for having us out, we wish you both the very best! 

 

Paint Fight Engagement Photography - Albion Falls, Hamilton Ontario

We took a walk with Amanda & Trevor the other week to enjoy some of the beautiful fall colours that were just starting to bloom across the forest at Albion Falls .

 After taking one last toe dip of the season, they did exactly what one should do on a beautiful fall day.

They had a paint fight.  : )

Mhmm. That’s right, a paint fight engagement shoot!  We found a highly decorated bridge in Red Hill Valley that was the perfect backdrop for the duel.

It started off with a showdown.

And started off slow.

 

But then it got messy.

 

 And then really messy.

And then the messiest of all messyness.These two made a completely beautiful Rorschach Inkblot  of…their love :)  

*cue violins, fade out...*

 the end! :)
 

Ninja-Style Photography

When people ask us what our photography style is, I like to say its Ninja-Style. Now from what I know about Ninja’s, they get really mad when you claim you are a Ninja, and yet don’t actually follow the Ninja way.  Misrepresenting a Ninja never turns out good in the end. Therefore, to back up my claims, I present you with concrete evidence that, indeed, “It's not uncommon for Mike to be found perched precariously in a tree above an unsuspecting bridal party or silently somersaulting behind the last pew in the church” (taken from our website )

Exhibit A.

This is a beginners move in Ninja-Style Photography execution. Note the lack of foot holds, however the height and danger element leave something to be desired.

Exhibit B.

This shot does not accurately represent just how far up and precarious the situation was. This particular shot involved Mike taking off his shoes, rolling up his pants and wading through the river (I must note it had been sleeting earlier that day, so it was freezing) and scrambling up the side of a gorge that was lined with shale, all to get the intimate shot you see below.  I would say this would be a moderate move in Ninja-Style Photography.  During the reception speeches at Allasan & Mikes wedding, they thanked us and said “we knew when our photographer was off-roading on our engagement shoot, that they were the right choice for us!" Just doin' our job, guys. ;)

 And lastly, but certainly not least, Exhibit C.

This would be a classic example of expert Ninja-Style Photography. Mike does not think twice about missing an amazing photo op in the face of danger. Despite my anxiety and desperate wish for a big huge fireman trampoline to put under him, there really was no other way to capture the awesome hoops this 6”5 groom was shooting (his lovely bride also joined in,  but that’s a whole other post!). These great shots were taken by a guest at the wedding, and I do believe that a crowd eventually ends up forming and there are probably some Instagram versions of this spectacle floating out there as well.

First, the climb up, balance, and assurance to his sweaty-palmed wife that he knows what he’s doing. 

Don't you love the basketball, frozen in time there? :D

Don't be deceived by the shot perspective here, I was  on the top of a step-ladder here, on my tip toes.

Second, the set up.

Please note, there is a reason why we bought stretchy-paaants for him for photoshoots. Too many ripped seams

Third, the shot. 

 The backboard and the whole thing shook like crazy every time Dave took a shot. I think I actually turned away from the scene and couldn’t look anymore.

But you know what? It was all worth it in the end. Nobody ended up a quadriplegic, and we ended up with this kickass shot of Dave being a superstar. 

And there you have it, proof that Mike truly is a Ninja-Style Photographer.