2016: A year in Review | Calgary Wedding Photographer

2016

Around this time of year, people start sending me Christmas cards, but with little time on my hands here is recap of my 2016 as a Calgary Wedding Photographer. To say that the last 365 days have been an absolute blur would be an understatement. 2016 brought so many wonderful things in to my life, and I can’t believe how quickly it flew by! What an incredible year it’s been. One of the best and most memorable for sure, and the busiest yet! I thought I would write a brief review of this last year as the next one creeps up quickly. That’s the best part about life is you never know what’s coming up next!

Calgary Wedding Photographer

Where would I be without all of my amazing clients! This was my busiest wedding season yet as a Calgary wedding photographer (having moved my business from Ontario). I have so many people to thank for that! If at some point I’ve photographed you or are going to photograph you, I want you to know how truly thankful I am for your business. Being able to wake up everyday and absolutely love what I do is pretty rare I think. I couldn’t ask for a better career and am grateful that you have all trusted me to capture your special love stories or life adventures!

Styled Shoot

Near the beginning of the year I had to opportunity to shoot my very first solo styled-shoot.  Thanks to a few local wedding vendors we put together a beautiful styled winter wedding in the heart of downtown Calgary at CharBar restaurant. Our industry is full of incredibly talented people and it always amazing to see their vision and beautiful work. I am also extremely grateful to be a part of such an encouraging and supportive wedding community. We push each other to improve and create our best work, and I’ve become a better Calgary wedding photographer because of it.

Venue: CharBar, Event Planner: Amanda Dunville, MUA: Katie Kerr, Cake: Frost Cake YYC, Florals: Hen & Chicks, Decor & Rentals: Orange Trunk, Mens Attire: Espy, Bridal Attire: Pearl & Dot, Bridesmaid Attire: Frocks, DJ: Local DJ, Officiant: Tamara Jones, Rings: Adorn Boutique

Honeymoon

Just before the busy season began, my new hubby and I took ourselves to Vancouver Island for our honeymoon. We spent 5 days hiking the Juan de Fuca trail, which was some of the most beautiful hiking we have done in Canada. We managed to have perfect weather and all around had a blast. After living abroad for almost 4 years, we were glad to stay in Canada for our honeymoon and travel more of this beautiful country that we call home. After our hike, we spent a week surfing in Tofino and relaxing in our beach cottage which came equipped with a hot tub!

Ultimate Frisbee

This year also saw me taking a leadership role as one of five captains for my Ultimate team (Wild). It was a big learning curve trying to figure out how to balance both a demanding summer wedding schedule and summer team. I had an absolute blast and learned so much from my fellow captains and teammates. We finished fifth at the National Championships and I couldn’t have asked any more of this amazing team!

Coming up…

As I turned 30 near the end of the year, I felt encouraged to be entering a new decade. This year has many exciting projects and milestones ahead. I can’t wait to share them with you as they happen!

Lastly, here are some of my FAVOURITE IMAGES from this year. It was hard to narrow these down into a post that wasn’t irritatingly long. 2017, you have a lot to live up to!

xo LauraAn engagement session with snow, hiking, teepees, adventure, and lots of laughing A wedding party dressed in red stands in the Rocky Mountains in Banff with snow at their feet and mountains behind them A styled winter wedding shoot at CharBar restaurant in downtown Calgary sees the bride and groom getting married with the skyline behind them Pictures from a couple who are hiking the Juan de Fuca trail for their honeymoon A newly engaged couple sits on a park bench with the Bow RIver behind them at sunset A newly engaged couple and their dog pose on a bridge in Fish Creek Park with a beautiful treeline behind themA set of baby toes in black and white, a family holding their new child while sitting on their bed, a girl splashes in puddles in a bright pink rain coat, and a new baby on a clean white bed An urban engagement shoot with a couple standing in front of a brick wall and graffiti art  A cake smash shoot of a one-year old Asian girl in a bright pink tulle skirt and a onsie with the word one on it A black & white image of a bride slipping into her dress with her mo and bridemaids helping, a newly wedded couple standing in a forest, and walking down a dirt path hand in handA pregnant mother stands backlit against a window in the black tank top, and a maternity shoot of a husband and wife in front of a white fireplace A bridal party stands on a bridge, a bride looks on as her husband gently kisses her cheek, and the bride and groom stand in a forested park  A family of six all giving each other piggybacks while standing in a field, and four siblings wrap their arms around each other while looking out at the landscape A bride and groom kiss in a roadway lines with beautiful bright yellow fall leaves An engagement picture with the couple framed in a lake with mountains in the background, fall trees with bright yellow leaves, and a dramatic sky A sunset engagement shoot where the guy is lifting his lady with the sun directly behind them, and kissing in a field with bright yellow autumn trees behind them A husband and wife and their young daughter pose in the fall foliage surrounded by trees A bride smiles with her bouquet as she is framed by green leaves and kissed gently on the cheek by her husband An engagement session with the couple surrounded by fall foliage  A family of five walk hand in hand along a field of grass while all smiling and laughing A family with two young boys pose with a red wagon and with one boy on Dad's shouldersA couple pose with their dog and kiss amongst brilliant yellow fall foliage A little boy walks with the help of his mother's and father's hands, and then poses in a grey teepee A couple pose with their St. Bernard dog amonst grass and leavesCalgary engagement session in the Rocky Mountains at Grassi Lakes with the couple standing in front of a beuatiful mountain view A couple pose with their young daughter on a cold winter day surrounded by trees and yellow grass Balck and white images of a sleeping newborn baby and his parents kissing while he is wrapped in their arms

A young girls smiles at the camera while being held in her mom and dad's arms with a bright red wooden background Two identical twin girls peek over their parents shoulders at the camera An engagement session in Banff with the couple posing next to Lake Minnewanka with mountains in the background