Following the adventures of Suzanne. My life with a camera celebrating love, life, family, travel and Fun! An Award Winning Photographer of Weddings, Family, Engagement, Maternity and Boudoir portraits based out of the beautiful Okanagan, Kelowna B.C.
www.eyesoflestage.com P: 250-869-9621
Thoughts brewing this concept began almost a year ago. The timing was just right we brought this all together to at last bring our vision to life. It was a cold winters day. Leaves had left the trees, ripe red berries had taken their place filling the thorny branches. The sound of wolves howling in the distance of the hills as darkness descended around us.Yes, that's right, wolves!! They brought the spooky Grimm inspired shoot just the right spirit. Wish they'd come a little closer so we could have had them in the images.
Beautiful dress was designer Pronovias of Barcelona 2013 collection - Zingara Cocktail dress
Another beautiful snowfall brought us all outdoors for a romantic elegantly styled wedding portrait session with models Toni and Dayton. The air was crisp and the snow was gently falling as we brought to life our vision of an intimate outdoor winter wedding.
Amy and Jeff truly are a special couple. There love so true and tender flows through to everyone around them. I joined Amy surrounded with her closest friends as she prepared for her wedding day. One of the most touching moments was when her friends circled Amy to join together to form a prayer circle. They then blessed Amy, Jeff, and their marriage, each friend taking a moment to share their thoughts. It was such a tender moment of such caring and love between friends.
I was so honoured to be present.
We arrived at Kopje Heritage Park in the Okanagan landing, the boys were waiting so handsome and dashing. Amy's brother sweetly walked her down the aisle bringing her to Jeff whose eyes were filled with tears. They were married in front of their family and friends under a beautiful tree on the edge of the Okanagan lake.
Following the ceremony we gathered the wedding party and family and friends for the formal portraits. The setting was a perfect background for Amy and Jeff's wedding colours of pink and white with the wild rose bushes growing so lushly on the grounds.
After a brief heavy rainfall the sun came out! We headed down to Carr's Landing for some portraits of Jeff and Amy. .....The light was so gorgeous and made for such romantic moments!
Amy and Jeff had their reception at the Okanagan Centre Hall. It was so beautifully decorated by the bride and groom and their family friends! Vintage touches filled the hall- lace, frames, birdcages, candles, and photos from their engagement session came together so elegantly.
As twilight drew near Jeff and Amy shared sparklers with the guests gathering together for a fun group photo. A fabulous way to end their evening!
To see a beautiful video or their Wedding day Brown Studio
I met Leah in a heart filled local Kelowna Orchard as she was filming her newest video ( soon to be released) for her song "A Simple Love". She looked amazing in her stunning red gown, like a heroine in a romance novel. I was there to photograph the stills to go with the music video Doug the Video Master was filming. It was such a fun creative collaboration!!
Red Hearts and a Romantic Red Gown, Simply Lovely.
To hear Leah's Song "Simple Love" and the rest of her album "Beyond Words" Click this CD Baby
It was a fateful day that I discovered Leah West's beautiful music. I was creating an engagement slideshow and heard Leah's song "A Simple Love". I fell in love with it and listened to it over and over again the way I do when I love a piece of music. Her name rang a bell and I looked a little further and found out my daughter's guitar teacher Tom Stinston is Leah's guitar player. Tom's been sending us invites to hear them play for a long time now, but we hadn't made any of the gigs yet. Leah and I became Facebook friends and then met the old fashioned way (Face to Face!) to have some fun shooting together. I just love her creative spirit, I could have photographed her for hours more. Funny how the universe works, we were obviously meant to collaborate, no denying it.
Leah's dress was so harmonious with the environment - The tumbleweed a perfect accessory- The Okanagan Lake and mountains a perfect backdrop.
Leah West is the winner of the 2011 BCIMA "People's Choice Award" and she was also nominated for 3 other awards, including "Songwriter of the Year" "Single of the Year" and "Pop/Contemporary Recording of the Year". Leah's songs are currently playing on both major and indie radio, as well as over 100,000 commercial buildings. She is consistently one of the most popular artists on Reverbnation, MyBand on Facebook, and has over 1 million plays on MySpace!
As the sun set over Leah and the lake the sky was tinted pink by smoke of the Bear Creek Forest Fire. So dangerous, but such romantic light.
Please keep an eye out for our next portrait session together... Think Gorgeous Red Gown, Red Hearts, Red apple Orchard. Simply Lovely for the video creation shoot of her amazing song "Simple Love"
Leah West's Favourite Photo!
Want to learn more about Leah and her beautiful music? Links right below...
I woke up this morning to a wonderful email from Wedding Bells magazine . I was thrilled to discover that the editors (who now hold a warm place in my heart) had just featured one of my weddings!! Dallas and Todd were married July 25, 2010 at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. It was an amazingly beautiful wedding full of the regality reserved for royal couples. Todd was so handsome in his Royal Canadian Mounted Police red serge, Dallas so beautiful in her Maggie Sotterogown. Dallas' father, a retired Vancouver Police officer proudly escorted his daughter down the aisle.
Dallas + Todd's Wedding ceremony in the Ivor Petrak Room, Fairmont Banff Springs
A Gorgeous Red and White Wedding
I asked them how they met.... She said: "Todd and I met at St.
Paul's Hospital in Van. I was working ER and he was doing security prior to
getting on the RCMP. I walked up to him and told him I needed the patient restrained and he said no problem, then told me he'd seen my
profile on facebook. At the time I had a picture of myself in this red
turtleneck and braids from when I was about 6 years old. I told him to add me
and the rest is history.........
I think what attracted me
to him was that he was a nice guy. Here was actually this really sweet guy. I loved that and loved his eyes.
He said: "I had seen her working
before in the ER and knew her name, thought she was really good looking and saw
she was friends with some of the same people on Facebook. As Dallas mentioned
her little girl picture with pigtails was on the site and thought it was
hilarious that someone would put their childhood photo on there so let her know
that I saw it. She said to add her, I said I would when I got home, she said,
"What you'll poke me and I won't even feel it..." and well as she
mentioned, the rest is history. I really love her smile and
her sassy, witty humour and demeanour.
I know you were curious to see the photo!
Afternoon Reception in the Mount Stephen Hall- Fairmont Banff Springs
Oh, how I love the Island. The beauty and power of the open ocean make my heart swell. I was very happy to have the pleasure of making another visit back to Tofino on the west coast of Vancouver Island. I was here as the photographer for the lovely bride Rachel and her handsome groom Ian.
Truly high school sweethearts, Rachel and Ian had been in love for 16 years after they first started dating in grade 9. Their history together gave them such a comfortable, loving air together. I overheard Ian saying to Rachel at one point in the day "I told you back in Grade 9 when we first started dating that I was going to marry you, and look it came true!" They were so sweet together. Ian treated Rachel like she was his princess and she looked every bit of one in her couture silk dress designed by Martina Liana.
Rachel's dress was stunning and looked so elegant set against the raw beauty of the west coast of Tofino. Her look had a romantic vintage inspired feel. I loved her custom black sash and the silk flower in her hair which played up her gorgeous dark looks with a Spanish flair. The details always bring that extra special touch to a bride and Rachel put special care into each and every detail.
I was watching Ian while Rachel was getting her hair touched up (ok, it got a little messed up frolicking on the beach for the photographs!!) and Ian was just relaxing and looking at Rachel with the most tender of looks. The he began telling her how beautiful she looked and how her dress was more beautiful than he ever dreamed. His words were so heartfelt it brought tears to my eyes.
I've posted a little video below for you to see all the details and the wedding day as it all came to be. The music was inspired by the engraving Rachel had done on the inside of Ian's wedding band. It said
"Love Your Girl"
Here are a few favourite photographs of mine from their Wedding portrait session. You'l notice that their fur baby Minnie was never far from them, becoming an important part of their wedding memories! Isn't she adorable?!
The Long Beach Lodge Resort was a phenomenal resort located on the best beach on the West Coast. Every experience there was perfect, the venue staff was meticulous to each and every detail. www.longbeachlodgeresort.com
Once a year at least I get a chance to spend some time with my sister-in-law and her kids and once a year I get the pleasure of taking their portraits. These are a few of my favourite photographs of my nephew Leino who has the most beautiful, soulful eyes and such a handsome little charmer. I'm sure all the little girls at elementary school have crushes on him!
