Booking a photographer for your wedding is an important decision because after the wedding is over, it’s their photos that you’ll have to remember the day by. 

Catering is one of your big ticket items in terms of wedding planning and should be booked about 3 months in advance, though earlier is always better. When booking a caterer most brides tend to forget about involving them into the logistics of the day which is a very important thing to do. Another thing that’s often forgotten is table space and how that works with your decor. If you’re planning on having a family style dinner, the food is gonna take up a lot of space!

It may seem like a shocker but if you’re looking to book a cake designer who’s fairly popular, you should look into booking them 8 months in advance. All cake designers will have a speciality so you should find one that specializes in the style of cake that you want. Most cake designers should also be able to work within any dietary restrictions. 

It's normal to assume that good video has a heavy emphasis on good visuals but that is actually a common misconception. If you want to know if a videographer is skilled or not, you should focus on how good their audio is. Think about what you watch on youtube. There are so many people that have mediocre video at best, but you put up with it because their audio is good. If their audio was poor, you probably wouldn’t bother finishing the video!

Wedding dress shopping can take a lot of brides by surprise because you should probably start shopping for one nine months in advance! It can take around six months for your dress to arrive with two months allocated for the alteration process. Normally you should have a perfectly fitted wedding dress within three fittings. 

Your venue is arguably the most important piece of your wedding day because you need to have booked a venue to have a wedding date! If you’re after a popular place, it’s recommended that you try to book the venue 1.5 years in advanced. Now, this can be tricky logistically as some couples aren’t event engaged for that long, but it’s just something to keep in mind. 

So you’re recently engaged, where do you even start? Planning a wedding can be daunting. With so many moving pieces it’s hard to comprehend where to begin. 

A common question I get asked is “Where should we have our photos done on our wedding day?”. It's pretty common for couples to have their portraits taken at the same spot as where their ceremony or reception happens. Sometimes both events happen at the same place!

From mountain top lakes to ocean side views, there are many options to choose from when you’re planning your wedding in Vancouver. Here are my top 5 favourite venues (in no particular order), in and around the city from.

Having getting ready photos is great because they help tell the complete story of your day. To get great getting ready photos you’re gonna need two things, good light and good space.

Wedding trends for 2019

You’re newly engaged and know you want to get engagement photos done as its good practice for the wedding so you’re thinking of where you can go. Here are my top 5 spots for engagement sessions that are in the Toronto/GTA area.

Against the backdrop of Stanley Park's Ferguson Point, Ronnie and Dave's elopement unfolded as we welcomed the gentle touch of rain. Join me as we dive into the unique love story of this Hong Kong couple.

From the easygoing getting-ready moments to the dance floor revelry, their day unfolded seamlessly between a traditional Chinese tea ceremony at home to VanDusen Botanical Gardens for portraits and finishing with a reception at Shaughnessy Restaurant. The portraits at VanDusen encapsulate the couple's natural connection against a beautiful garden backdrop, followed by a relaxed yet elegant ceremony and reception at Shaughnessy. A memorable twist occurred as Phil surprised Sharon with a practiced song after their first dance, adding a personalized touch to the festivities.

The wedding day started a little unorthodox Jessica and Evan got ready together, though Evan hadn’t seen Jessica in her dress yet. This was evident by the raw emotion that both of them showed during the first look. Strong emotions carried on through to the ceremony and the evening was topped with a nicely choreographed first dance as well as some wonderful speeches.

Surrounded by eight of their closest friends and family, Angela and Oliver got married in an intimate wedding ceremony in the woods. restrictions so they joined in over video call. I had fun trying to incorporate them into the photos. One of the things that I love about Pacific Spirit Park is how vast and beautiful it is. You could pick just about any spot in the park and it would be beautiful. Angela and Oliver actually picked out this exact spot themselves after making several trips to scout around the park!

Even though their original plans didn’t come to fruition, Elizabeth and Graham are probably one of the most visibly in love couples that I have ever photographed!

Michelle and Matt’s wedding was planned in three months, which if that wasn’t impressive enough, there was also a last-minute venue switch! They had originally planned to hold their wedding in their back yard but due to weather, they switched to Riverside Community Church who was happy to accommodate. Matt is from LA and a lot of Michelle’s family is from Malaysia, so over 100+ guests tuned in on zoom!

I had first photographed Isabelle and Jethro almost a year ago when we did an at-home engagement session. Since then, there was a small global pandemic so they had to make major modifications to their wedding but the show still went ahead.

Ellen and Kevin had originally planned an intimate wedding that would bring together guests from both Vancouver and Toronto. Due to covid, however, they decided to scrap their wedding and instead go for a simple elopement at Pacific Spirit Park. We were in and out in an hour!

Ashley and Daniel’s wedding had to be postponed due to the coronavirus so we did what we could for the time being, which included an elopement, some portraits as well as a partial wedding!

I’m really grateful that Vance and Ben still went through with their wedding and created such a happy time for everyone when things were about to become very uncertain.

Ceilidh and Will were such a laid back couple. It was raining on their wedding day and that didn’t bother them at all as they were all about having a great time. My highlight was definitely hanging out and taking photos at the bar.

Jess, Albert and their entire wedding party were so fun to work with. They were all just full of laughter and down for anything! The couple didn’t take themselves too seriously which really helped give the day a more laid back feel.

When you connect with the people that you are photographing it feels like the photos just come so easy. This was the case with Angelica and Tyler. I shot this wedding with Maricle Kang so I did the getting ready photos with the guys. There were lots going on in the house and it was so fun to chat with all the boys and their family while taking photos of whatever was going on.

Sonia and Raveen’s wedding was my first Sikh wedding and it was great to see all the festivities that happened throughout the day. They still had a traditional western reception with an outfit change which was a nice way to merge both cultures and traditions together.

Carolyn and Aaron’s wedding was my last wedding of the year and we definitely ended on a high note! I love how they did their vows in private, right after the first look. As a Taylor Swift fan, I was more than excited to see the couple have their first dance to “Lover”. That might have been the highlight of my day!

Melissa and Stephen had the most relaxed wedding at Yaletown’s Brix & Mortar restaurant. How relaxed? Well, I knew things would be different when I arrived and saw Melissa walking around in her wedding dress talking to her guests. Normally a bride is hiding before the ceremony so I asked Stephen if they did a first look earlier. Nope. Just wanted a relaxed wedding!

Sophia and Carl had a super laid back and intimate wedding with only 29 guests, most of whom came from the east coast! The got ready in some place, in rooms right next to each other. Sophia made her own dress; I think she said it took her around 10 months! Looking at it up close there's no way you could tell that it was homemade, it looks super legit. She made her veil too!

I turned up at Summer’s house where she was getting ready and she had some personalized details set up already. Those dried flowers you see are a collection of all the flowers that Jimmy has given her over the time that they’ve been together!

I had photographed Danielle and Chris’ engagement session last year and was happy to be asked to photograph their wedding at Van Dusen this spring! They had a small and intimate ceremony with just their closest family and we just walked around the park after for some portraits while also enjoying the sun. Even though the ceremony didn’t have personalized vows, the emotion was definitely felt as this was the first time that I’ve seen an officiant cry!

My favourite part of this wedding is how emotional everyone was. From the bride and groom to both sets of parents, everyone was crying! This wedding was shot with my friend Stephen Lee.

I actually managed to show up to the wrong wedding on this day. I was shooting this wedding for my friend Stephen and so I showed up at the address to where the guys were getting ready. I give the guys a call. No answer. No worries, I’m early. I’ll hang out for a bit. Then the building manager sees me and she comes outside. She asks if I’m a photographer who is looking for a wedding and I said yes. She then brings me to one of their rooms and I step inside and there's a bride. The bride stares at me. I stare at the bride. I showed up to the wrong wedding.

It was fun to be able to photograph something different than what I’m normally used to. Loved working with all the colours and the unique traditions. Not sure if it’s just because I’m not used to photographing India ceremonies, but I felt like there was a lot more anticipation for the bride compared to western weddings. The reveal of the bride seems to be an event on its own.

Jessica and Andrew’s wedding was the perfect way to wrap up another amazing wedding season. Their venue was beautifully decorated by Flowerella and Sweetheart Events and my favourite detail is the leather jacket created by Beth from Sweetheart Events. Isnt it amazing?!

When Yvonne and Aaron first got in touch with me about their wedding in Toronto, I was so excited. They are the sweetest couple and I couldn’t wait to shoot their wedding!

Rain was in the forecast and it rained in the morning so it was just too risky to have the ceremony be outside.  As soon as we stepped out for the first look though, the rain had stopped! The sun even came out when we went outside for more portraits after the ceremony!

The wedding ceremony took place at Coal Harbour which is always beautiful, especially on a clear summer day that we had. After the ceremony there was a big cheer from everyone, and then the celebrations began. 

When Amber and Chris first got in touch with me about their outdoor wedding in Squamish, I was so excited – they were planning the most fun and relaxed wedding with an outdoor ceremony, outdoor reception and the venue even a lake to swim in! 

When Pilita and Francois first got in touch with me about their Burnaby Mountain Wedding , I was so happy! They were planning the most romantic and laid back wedding with an outdoor ceremony, an acoustic guitarist and even a photo booth for the reception. Pilita and Francois are the loveliest people and I couldn’t wait to shoot their wedding!

My favourite thing about photographing Anna and Chris' wedding is just seeing their relationship together. The love and excitement that they have for each other is like that of a couple that just started dating. Throughout the whole day they looked so happy just to be in each others presence which is really inspiring.

Katie and Chuck met at a dingy saloon swing dance event in Calgary, where they used to live. Years later, I’m glad they’re still dancing because they threw down a first dance to remember!

Check out this sunset engagement session at Tower Beach, UBC, featuring a couple’s playful dog. Candid, intimate moments against Vancouver's beautiful backdrop capture the essence of their love without the cheesiness.

Kai-Jing still remembers the first meal Ronald made for her. It was the worst spaghetti that she’s ever had. Luckily, they weren’t together then; just staying together as they were part of the same figure skating team . Years later they would connect again, and this time Ronald would ask her out. They’ve been together since and I love the fun loving chemistry that they share together.

It’s not too often that you meet a couple who first connected in ninth grade, but that was the case with Kim and Eric. Ten years later they’re engaged and I’m excited to be shooting their wedding!

It was the warmest day of the year so far and Anita and Phil were full of laughter as we playfully explored our way through all the nooks and crannies that Whytecliff Park had to offer.

When it snows in Vancouver, you go shoot. Had such a great time playing in the snow with Andrea and Alex. Their dog Coda hung out and joined in some photos too!

Had such a great time photographing Kaeli and Adam for their first engagement session that we had to do it again! This time they wanted a backdrop that would match their wedding venue which is Fraser River Lodge. It was a super fun shoot and I even got to try some new techniques. Look forward to photographing their wedding!

Ellen and Kevin came into this shoot telling me how awkward they are in photos, but I didn’t find this to be the case at all! Perhaps it was their quirks that made this shoot so fun and personable.

Deer Lake Park is a popular spot for wedding photos, especially if any part of the wedding is happening in Burnaby. During wedding season it's not uncommon to see limo after limo in the parking lot in what can only be described as a wedding photography queue. Recently, however, I went on a walk on the other side of the park and found that it has much more to offer than the more popular side.

Kaeli and Adam’s engagement session is pretty much as organic as it gets. We started at their home as they wanted to get a few photos with their dogs. Then we headed out and walked around to their favourite spots around Commercial Drive. First, we stopped by their favourite wine shop before heading to the local park. We finished with some drinks at Fets Whiskey Kitchen before calling it a day.

Caulfield Park is one of my favourite places to do engagement sessions in Vancouver. The thing I like most about Caulfield is the diverse landscapes that it offers for photos. There’s a small forested area, there’s the rocky beach, and of course the water.

Isabelle and Jethrow’s engagement session started at their home. I love shooting at couples homes because I feel like your home can tell a story about who you are.

Sonia and Raveen’s engagement session started with a picnic at the Rose Garden at UBC before we headed off to the Asian Centre for more photos. The Asian Centre has been one of my favourite little spots to shoot at when I’m at UBC. We finished off by heading down to Wreck Beach where I tried playing with a slower shutter speed to capture motion.

Vanessa and Srdj’s engagement session took place at one of my favourite spots, Porteau Cove. They were super fun to work with and they also brought along their rescue dog, Balto who was a treat to hang out with as well.

Paige and Ryan’s engagement session at Caulfield rocks was full of laughter. We had actually rescheduled the shoot multiple times due to weather and last minute I had someone reschedule so I’m glad to have been able to slot them in on such a perfect day for photos!

Summer and Jimmy have been to a lot of places together so for their engagement shoot, they wanted to go to a place that was new to them. After suggesting a bunch of locations we settled on Whytecliff Park.

We started off Stala and Einers engagement in a quiet wooded spot next to Second Beach at Stanley Park. They brought their dog Chewie along for photos so I made sure to get those first. After we went by Lost Lagoon before wrapping up the shoot at Second Beach.

For this engagement shoot, I showed up super early and walked around the neighbourhood as Tania and Spencer said that they had spent a lot of time in the West End when they first started dating. I’m glad that I was able to find some new spots that worked well for photos before we made our way to Stanley Park for sunset.

Alex and Paul wanted to do their engagement session at Fort Langley as they have had a few dates there before. I’m always down to go to places of significance to the couple so I was happy to accommodate! It was great to be back there as I hadn't shot there in years, and even found a new spot, thanks to Paul!

Working with Dana and Lloyd was so much fun. I love how spontaneous they were. Case in point. As we were driving to the next spot I was looking at the skyline of Vancouver and said out loud, this would be a nice spot for a photo with the view and all but there isn't anywhere to park. Lloyd just stopped the car in the middle of the road (there wasn't anyone behind us in sight), we dashed out and took photos for 30 seconds and then left. The result is the first shot you see here.

I didn’t come all this way not to use the bluffs for the photos so I asked and I received. We shot all around the bluffs until there was basically no light out. Couldn’t have done it without such a fun couple!

I wanted to try my hand at something different and wanted to try something to push my documentary work. The chaos inside a commercial kitchen has always piqued my interest ever since I started watching Gordon Ramsay shows as a kid so I decided to get in touch with Fable Restaurant to see if I can shoot the team prepping for brunch.

This was my second trip to Toronto. Though this time I went to shoot a wedding, I still made sure to take some time for myself to have some fun.

I’ve always wanted to go to Banff, I just didn’t think I’d go when it was -30 degrees there. I’ve always been terrible with the cold. Once the temperatures dipped below 10 degrees, it's cold for me. To say I had some reservations about going to Banff when the average day time temperature is -10 degrees in the winter was a bit of an understatement. I thought I would come back home as a human Popsicle.

Winter getaway

Every now and then I like to get in touch with a fellow local creative and photograph them working on their craft. For this shoot I photographed Robbie from Electric Neon Company at his workshop and he showed me the ins and outs of making neon signage. Check out the photos below!

Recently I had the opportunity to photograph a behind the scenes look at how Lauren from the Juice Truck makes her fruit art!

Onwards and upwards! Here is my year in review for 2017.

Another great trip to Kelowna!

A visit to one of my favourite places.

Finally made it to the east Coast of Canada! Been to New York, been to Asia, but haven't been to the east coast in my very own country. Click within to check out the photos! Definitely worth a read if you're gonna be visiting Toronto soon, or plan to visit anytime.

Aventures in Hong Kong. Click within to see the photos!

Great views with some great people and some nice summer heat was exactly what I needed after the busiest wedding season that I've had yet. Click within to check out the photos!