A Harmonica-Playing Wedding Photographer

Sometimes there isn't enough time to do a portrait sesh after the ceremony, so we spend a couple of hours before the ceremony making some cool pictures. I try to make things special when a Bride and Groom see each other for the first time on their wedding day. While photographing Christina and Andrew walking towards each other, I whipped out my harmonica and played an impromptu tune for them while shooting. They are an awesome couple and we had lots of fun!

Stop and take the picture

One of the things that I stress to my friends and to photographers that I mentor is that one has to bring a camera everywhere one goes to make good photographs. Many times, we are in a rush to get somewhere and think to ourselves, "That looks cool; next time I'll stop and get the shot!". Thing is, in regards to that moment, that day, that feeling, that light.... there IS no next time.

Often, when I'm driving from Whistler to Vancouver on the Sea to Sky Highway,
I'll be looking up at the Squamish Chief, or as it's more correctly named, Stawamus Chief in awe. The rock is sometimes revealed in steaming silver sunlight after a rain or after snowfall. This time, the snow made a beautiful contrast with the rockface.

We were on our way to a baby shower in Burnaby (actually, I was joining buddies for the Superbowl, Regina was going to a baby shower) and I DID pull over when it was safe and took one minute to get a shot of Diamondhead, and five minutes later, of the Chief. I'm glad I did! And took one more when we got to the top of Burnaby Mountain where we were watching the game.

WED Bridal Opening

~WED Bridal Salon~ Beautiful Gowns @ 3882 Main Street, Vancouver







On Thursday evening, many of the Shining Stars of the Wedding Scene gathered to celebrate the opening of WED Bridal at the Salon on 3882 Main Street in Vancouver. The Owners, Jo-Anne and Gemma put on a great party!

My wife Regina and I were lucky to have a few hours to attend. Our friends Lorena and Ian Chatwell {check out Lorena's great workout wear and lifestyle clothing} played Auntie and Uncle to our little sweetie Saphira, so we could have a night out and drink some wine with friends old and new.

The Gowns at this stylishly minimalist store are just GORGEOUS and can be customized to reflect the tastes of any discerning Bride.

Left to Right in the photo with the dresses are some amazingly talented people:

Photographers Leanne Pedersen,
Lynn Jaksa, Erin Gilmore, Miranda and Reilly Lievers, Wedding and Event Planner Tanya Peters, Photographer Camille Bensler and my LOVELY wife, Regina Noppe.

Some more talented friends that left before I took out my camera that I want to give a shout out to, are: Wedding and Event Planners Sarah Shore and Tara Thorp of Dreamgroup, and Photographers Angela Hubbard and Tobyn Ross.

There are several people I've forgotten but we have to leave to go to our friends Camila and Jason Parks' Welcome Home Party (from Brazil) in Burnaby.

Thanks again, Jo-Anne and Gemma, we wish continued Success!

Check out my Mini Slide Show

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Charles+Karina




My wedding Season 2007 ended on December 31st. I photographed a wedding until 8pm and then headed to Northvan to ring it in with friends afterwards...

As a start to 2008, one of the cool things was receiving this email from my friend Carla today. She was writing about her brother's wedding on New year's eve at Brew Creek Lodge in Whistler. What an awesome setting tucked away in the forest!

Thanks, Carla and Pius, for referring me to Karina and Charles for their wedding. They are great people and I enjoyed myself immensely (and it was great to see you both)!

Letters like this make my day...errrr, year! :-)


"thanks so much brian ... and we were also thrilled to see you "in action" on new years ... everyone was so impressed with your professionalism and energy (and practical jokes ... mostly charles ;) .. cant wait to see the pictures ... thanks again for making the day even better ... karina was very happy !!"

So, a little story, regarding the "practical jokes"...

You see, Karina, the bride, has a reputation for being serious about planning. Apparently she is the Queen of Lists and Spreadsheets. I didn't actually see ALL of them, but there were purported to be many! And, she was um... a bit anxious about everything going "as planned".

After photographing K & the Girls getting ready, I went to the lovely chapel next door to get ready to photograph the ceremony. There was Charles, at the top of the aisle with his groomsmen, his back to a crackling fire, waiting for his bride to arrive. The place was packed. And one could palpably feel the anticipation in the room. So, I walked up to Charles and apologetically told him that Karina had had an anxiety attack! And wouldn't be there for at least half an hour.

Silence. Dead Silence.

Now, he didn't know that this was wholly untrue, and that Karina was upstairs actually laughing (and crying) with her girlfriends... AND totally ready to go. :-)

Heh Heh.

Omigawd, the look on Charles' face was PRICELESS!

He looked at me as though he could believe me, but maybe, just maybe, my deadpan delivery was suspect.....

He looked very relieved when I told him the truth!

A minute later, Karina arrived, radiantly gorgeous, while my friend (and her brother-in-law) Pius played his guitar beautifully.

At the end of the night, Tammy, one of Karina's best friends and a bridesmaid, told me I really should change my motto from "Images Beyond Your Expectations" to:
"Images Beyond Your Spreadsheets".

Perfect. And I think they will be.... :-)

Happy New Year to Everyone!