These two contacted me about a year ago for their Kamloops ranch wedding. It is a little bit of a drive, but the venue seemed interesting. We sat down at Starbucks to start our planning process, and from there on I learned they had a working ranch. Yup, complete with in use barns, horses, a pond, and even a waterfall. I started to get pretty excited.
Fast forward one engagement shoot and one year later, and I found myself with our bride balancing a ring on a snout. There must have been 30 people around me, all busy setting up. Someone was tearing up flowers, and putting them in a white cowboy hat for the flower girl to scatter. I counted four dogs, and I could hear horses off in the distance.
Although I had a list of pinterest photo ideas on my phone, I soon realized we’re going to be the one making a list before long. I learned about the boots, all different colors and designs, decorations everywhere, a vintage carriage for the wedding gifts. It didn’t end. I’m not even kidding when I tell you I spent over an hour systematically checking off every box for every detail shot. And it was incredible.
At around noon, I headed towards the hotel where the boys were getting ready. It was a lot of guys in a pretty small space. We had belt buckles and cowboy hats everywhere.
Fortunately, both look great in photos. I took a few group shots and a portrait, then headed toward the ranch.
I soon realized that the animals were going to be a recurring theme in this wedding. Every time we had a shot set up, we’d have a dog nonchalantly stroll into the picture and pose with everyone.
Before long, it was time to assemble the dress. I was expecting things to be a little more chaotic with five bridesmaids, but everyone was so well organized.
It’s no secret that I love big dresses. As a photographer, you can just see all the options just open up to me. So many poses and backlights are possible! We’re also trying to get shape and curve, and a large dress has a very broad range of shades.
The ceremony went as predicted. It was very emotional, with hand written vows. Our groom had to look away for a moment to gain his composure when he first saw his incredible bride.
But it all went to plan. Before long, I found myself in front of a beaming bride and groom.
You’ll notice I have a lot of black and whites. No, I’m not being lazy, I just haven’t figured out what I’d like my colour palette to be quite yet. I’m thinking yellow/blue for the evening shots (Lapis Blue and Primrose yellow for you colourists out there) and perhaps Island Paradise with hints of Pink Yarrow for the morning photos. Greenery (Patone 15-0343) was colour of the year last year, and since then I’ve been obsessed with adding splashes of it here and there. Heck, in my chatters shoot, I even colored the eyes good ‘ol 0343.
When we have a frilly, fluffy dress, we take full advantage. Note the colour the grass and bouquet there. For the nerdy folk out there, that’s some analogous colour theory for you. And lets talk about the dress. All the shades and gradient lines. I was a very happy photographer.
Our groom couldnt stop smiling the whole day. He couldn’t help it. I would pause for a minute to switch out my lens, and I’d hear him crack jokes or talk about how he just wanted to kiss her. Good thing we’re both sappy romantics. Look at that expression. That’s what I love in photos. He’s going to remember that wedding day when he just couldn’t stop looking at his bride, he’ll be reminded every time he sees this photo.
We drove back up the reception area, stopping only briefly to feed the horses.
Back at the ranch, a young boy was having trouble exercising self control. We had tiny cakes in small mason jars. Each one was topped with an oreo or a strawberry. I’ve seen a lot of desserts, but this was next level. I don’t even want to think of how long it took to prepare these.
They were gone in no time. I looked under my table and found a puppy.
After the speeches, I hopped into the back of a pickup truck and we headed up the mountain. The recent fires had ensured a fiery red sunset. This place has significance, because we did the closing shots for the engagement shoot there. First time in jeans, the second time in a wedding dress.
The wind was blowing furiously, and so I reluctantly delivered these two back to the reception.
Instead of a cake cutting, there was a branding ceremony. I’m a huge fan, because it involve fire, wood, and metal.
Nothing like your own custom branding to seal the deal. Then, the first dance. One of the dogs nonchalantly sauntered into the middle of the dance floor and lied down. He wanted very much to be part of this first dance.
Keep in mind, this is only a sampler – for the full gallery, you’ll have to wait a few weeks! Expect a highlights album in two weeks (or so). If you personally know the bride and groom, feel free to contact me here. Let me know who you are, along with the bride and groom’s name, and I’ll make sure you get a link to the finished album!
If you know someone who’d like to see this sneak peek, feel free to click one of the share buttons on the bottom, to share and tag them! Although I try to get the word out, many important family members don’t know about these samplers.
If you look a little close at that photo, you can see a little boy getting his own view of the back of the projection screen.
And so this is where I’ll have to leave you! Thank you for reading this far. I put a lot of time and work into these sneak peeks, so it’s great that everyone loves them just as much as I hope they will!
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