I am a graduate of the Alberta College of Art and Design and my years there gave me much more than my B.FA in photography, they gave me lifelong friendships and the most wonderful colleagues. Although there are still a number of my classmates living and working in Calgary, two of my faves moved to Vancouver and have built up their respective businesses and thrived. One of them is the fantastic Chelsea Hailes owner of Crinoline photography, and she was to be married the first week of October on the stunning Galiano Island at Bodega Resort. Her photographer of choice was none other than classmate and friend Jarusha Brown, owner of Jarusha Brown Photography. I’ve had a couple very successful workations in the past year and the thought of shooting in Vancouver and on the island was almost too much. So I did what any photographer might do with just an ounce of free time smack dab in the middle of wedding season… I asked to second shoot. It actually worked out perfectly, Jarusha had quite an extensive and large wedding to shoot the weekend before and was in need of a second shooter extraordinaire. I jumped at it and before I knew it I was off on a plane to YYV for a week to shoot and work our butts off. I wasn’t kidding when I said I planned this trip right in the middle of wedding season. Both Jarusha and I were enjoying our busiest seasons yet and so we hunkered down in her (and the wonderful, accommodating Colin!) and worked. And drank tea. And went for runs when we couldn’t work anymore. It was one of the best decisions I ever made; it was so amazing to sit with another peer and blurt out questions as they arrived in my head, sharing information back and forth, learning and listening. As a little thank you for letting me invade their space, I did a little session for Jarusha and Colin who were newly engaged. Also while I was there, I had the chance to photograph the cutest family. Meg, Matt and little Ruby. They make such a gorgeous family and I was so happy to capture them. All in all, the two weddings, the information sharing, the tea, the dinners, the runs, the family session; it was one of my best trips of the summer, if not the year.
