wedding · Colette + Alex · Victoria BC

In photography by webmeister Bud

This is Colette + Alex. They were married May 23 at the lovely Church and State Winery.

20150609 - Colette + Alex-0001Canon EOS 70D · Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM · 95 mm · 1/750 s · f/2.8 · ISO 100

Colette’s rings were absolutely stunning. I’ve never seen an engagement ring with the stone set along the side like that. Very cool.

20150609 - Colette + Alex-0002Canon EOS 70D · Tamron 60mm f/2.0 macro · 60 mm · 1/350 s · f/4.5 · ISO 320

Here comes the bride.

20150609 - Colette + Alex-0003Canon EOS 70D · Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM · 35 mm · 1/500 s · f/3.5 · ISO 125

This was a wonderfully unconventional wedding. Besides the fact that there was no wedding party, the first look, formals, and family portraits were all before the ceremony, meaning no long wait for the guests before the reception. Were I The King of Wedding-ing™, I’d schedule more weddings this way.

20150609 - Colette + Alex-0004Canon EOS 70D · Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM · 120 mm · 1/500 s · f/4.5 · ISO 100

They had their first look on top of Mt. Tolmie, where they embraced in an oddly similar fashion to their engagement shoot. Can’t say I had much to do with that at all. Okay, well . . . maybe a little.

20150609 - Colette + Alex-0005Canon EOS 70D · Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM
L: R: 35 mm · 1/350 s · f/4.5 · ISO 100 · · · 35 mm · 1/350 s · f/6.7 · ISO 1600

From Mt. Tolmie, we walked (that’s a joke) to Cadboro-Gyro Park, a favourite of mine for many reasons, not the least of which is that’s where my wifey and I were married (on the pirate ship, me hearties!).

20150609 - Colette + Alex-0006Canon EOS 70D · Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM · 35 mm · 1/125 s · f/4.5 · ISO 100

It’s always a good day when I can push two grownups on swings for the sake of photography.

20150609 - Colette + Alex-0007Canon EOS 70D · Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM · 35 mm · 1/3000 s · f/1.8 · ISO 100

This wedding heralded the return of my indispensable second shooter, Meaghan Konopaki. Always professional, always full of ideas, and always with some sort of leopard print on her person, Meaghan is a true talent, and it’s a pleasure to work with her.

Do check out her collection from this wedding on her website!

20150609 - Colette + Alex-0008L: Canon EOS 70D · Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM · 18 mm · 1/3000 s · f/1.8 · ISO 100
R: Canon EOS 5D Mark III · Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L · 35 mm · 1/5000 s · f/1.4 · ISO 100 · Photographer: Meaghan Konopaki

One of the neat things about having a second shooter is that you can totally get two angles of the same moment!

On the left is a shot of Colette I took while Meaghan was getting the shot on the right. It’s like magic!

20150609 - Colette + Alex-0009L: Canon EOS 70D · Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM · 31 mm · 1/2000 s · f/1.8 · ISO 100
R: Canon EOS 5D Mark III · Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L · 35 mm · 1/6400 s · f/1.4 · ISO 100 · Photographer: Meaghan Konopaki

Alex is . . . a reserved sort of gentleman. At least that’s what his family tells me. =) There may have been the odd time where it took a little prodding to loosen him up.

For this pose, where he’s looking up at Colette while she stands on a park bench, Alex was a tad stoic in his expression, so I asked, “Hey Alex? D’ya think I could have a little less . . . stunned . . . in your face?” CRACK! Big smile, photo taken, aaand scene.

20150609 - Colette + Alex-0010Canon EOS 70D · Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM · 21 mm · 1/3000 s · f/1.8 · ISO 100

Here are some of the details of the day: an adorable heart-shaped flat white made by the kind folks at Uptown Starbucks (where the day began), and Colette’s beautiful bouquet from Kenmar Flower Farm.

20150609 - Colette + Alex-0011L: Canon EOS 70D · Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM · 35 mm · 1/250 s · f/3.5 · ISO 1250
R: Canon EOS 5D Mark III · Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L · 35 mm · 1/8000 s · f/1.4 · ISO 100 · Photographer: Meaghan Konopaki

Have you noticed how beautifully soft all the shadows have been thus far? That’s because, to that point, the wedding photographer’s dream weather prevailed: partly cloudy skies.

Everyone thinks they want full-blown beautiful sun for their wedding, but trust me: ya don’t. Hard shadows, squinty eyes, and shielded faces (see below) aren’t the most flattering in your photos.

That’s why, just as the ceremony began, I gave the sun the stink eye for peeking out from behind the clouds.

20150609 - Colette + Alex-0012Canon EOS 5D Mark III · Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L · 100 mm · 1/1250 s · f/2.8 · ISO 100 · Photographer: Meaghan Konopaki

Sock game was strong at this wedding. Clearly, I need me some more awesome socks.

20150609 - Colette + Alex-0013L: Canon EOS 70D · Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM · 120 mm · 1/125 s · f/5.6 · ISO 200
M/R: Canon EOS 5D Mark III · Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L · 100 mm · 1/800 s & 1/200 s · f/2.8 · ISO 100 · Photographer: Meaghan Konopaki

A bit of a hiccup with the lines made for a nice little break during the ceremony.

20150609 - Colette + Alex-0014Canon EOS 70D · Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM · 70 mm · 1/500 s · f/4 · ISO 200

I love the intimacy of rings. It’s so sweet to see rings touched and regarded after they’re put on by your almost-spouse.

20150609 - Colette + Alex-0015Canon EOS 70D · Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM
L: 200 mm · 1/500 s · f/4 · ISO 200 · R: 200 mm · 1/1000 s · f/4 · ISO 200

And, just like that, Colette + Alex were married!

20150609 - Colette + Alex-0016Canon EOS 70D · Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM · 200 mm · 1/1500 s · f/4 · ISO 200

Here’s another Meaghan shot: Colette peeking over her bouquet.

20150609 - Colette + Alex-0017Canon EOS 5D Mark III · Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L
35 mm · 1/1000 s · f/1.4 · ISO 100 · Photographer: Meaghan Konopaki

I’ve long wanted to shoot at Church and State, and it was as glorious as I’d envisioned.

Melissa, the event coordinator, gave me the full tour in advance of the wedding, and I was able to easily plan out shots like this one.

20150609 - Colette + Alex-0018Canon EOS 70D · Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM · 19 mm · 1/3000 s · f/4 · ISO 100

The reception, as receptions tend to be, was lots of fun. But no more fun was had than by the two adorable flowergirls in attendance.

20150609 - Colette + Alex-0019Canon EOS 70D · Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 EX DC HSM · 12 mm · 1/125 s · f/3.5 · ISO 800
Strobist: Canon 430EX II, 1/32 power, on camera, ceiling bounced

EDIT: Since this post originally went live, I’ve received permission from the parents of both flowergirls to feature them more prominently. Click here for flowergirl cuteness overload!

20150714 - flowergirls 2015-0004Canon EOS 70D · Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM · 19 mm · 1/3000 s · f/4 · ISO 100

After my jaw surgery last year, I took it easy with my recovery, so it’s been a slow start to wedding season, but I’m back at full power and full love for this wonderfully intense kind of photography.

This was an absolutely gorgeous wedding all ’round, made extra-interesting with the unique structure of the day’s itinerary.

20150609 - Colette + Alex-0020Canon EOS 70D · Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM · 35 mm · 1/250 s · f/2.5 · ISO 1600

What about you? You gettin’ hitched? Need a wedding photographer? I’d love to chat with you!

=)


Ceremony and reception: Church and State Winery
Officiant: Sherry Lynne Easthom
Florist: Kenmar Flower Farm
Cake: Ooh La La Cupcakes
DJ: Copper Collar DJ&VJ Services