Paperhearts Studio

My friend the lovely Justine Ma (whom I and a bunch of others adoringly call Ting) is a crafty individual indeed! While being an amazing graphic designer and starting her own calligraphy company (she is also the designer of our logo!!) Justine had time to make sweet and simple button earrings, of which I am a proud owner of a pair. <3 Visit her blog and check her out, she is a favorite friend and a great businesswoman! Also included are a couple shots from a wedding I shot featuring her fine work.
 xoxo  http://paperheartsstudio.ca/home.html plus you can buy her sweet earrings at Bamboo Ballroom on Whyte Avenue!

 The brown ones in the middle below are MINE! Woo!

Nikki Trash the Dress Teasers!

I don't why I keep calling them teasers, I think it's because I need you to know that we are not finished editing them? In any case, I need to post these. Both Nikki and I were begging Penny to edit a couple to show off since they show a sliver of how much fun we really had!! I wish I got the chance to fling paint all the time because I know I haven't laughed that hard in a really really long time. Enjoy a taste of these, and there's more awesome ones to follow!

Magical aren't they?

Tiffany and Brandon

It's always a sticky situation you find yourself in when a friend gets married. Part of you wants to be just a participant, a reveler of the day, while the professional in you is aching to have control. Control over the light, the styling, the composition, the mood of the pictures... it is such a fight within to figure out what is best.

 For my best friend Kristin's wedding, I shot the whole thing with Penny and had to shoot through tears of joy. It was so special to be there, and I'm proud of the pictures, and glad of the time we spent together. However it's twice as exhausting to shoot your friends when you're emotionally involved because you have to set aside your own feelings to be as objective as possible. For Michelle's wedding, I was strong, mostly because she already had another photog in her pocket so I felt she was in good hands. But Tiffany's wedding was a serious struggle. Mostly because I knew she was in a tight spot and needed someone, but also because I love her and wanted to be a part of the whole thing, not just an observer, but an active participant.

 The great start to the day was the fact the girls came to my place so I could do their make up, so we drank sparkling wine, listen to Edward Sharpe, and wound ourselves up for the day. I helped Penny shoot the formals, and then I took a few moments to sit back and take it all in during the ceremony. I shot when I felt like it, and sat back when I didn't. I'm glad it was me (and Penny, Penny mostly...)  but mostly I'm just glad the light was good, the air was sweet, and good friends were wed on a happy autumn eve. I love my girls and we danced until the wee hours when we could see our breath and the wine had seeped into our bones in blissful warmth. 

We shot mostly natural light, with some flash interspersed throughout, but the sun kept going in and out of the clouds so we used what we had which was pretty good.

These are just the teasers, with more good things to come.

 The whole thing was out at Tiffany's aunt's farm, whom I adore. She had the greatest acreage I've seen in a while, and these charming men named Kiwi and Pickman were nice accessories.

 All Tiffany has ever wanted is to be a princess, and she finally got to be one for a day.

I love the background behind the cake. 

 Bubbles! I started this trend, just so we are clear.

 Best ring shot of the year. Eat your heart out Penny! Haha! (We always compete to take the best ring shot)

 I love this shot of Penny, it shows what she will do for the love of the picture. She had a busted toe when she climbed up there, but you'd never know.

Nikki and Owen teasers!!

Whenever we tell someone we shot a wedding in Hanna, Alberta the response is always the same. "You know that's where Nickelback is from, right?" Yes we know. Whether you are a Nickelback fan or not, Hanna has a bit more to offer than just rock bands. Although Penny and I are a bit biased since when we arrived there was a parade. Oh you know, no big deal.

Nikki and Owen brought us into their idyllic little town and shared a few hidden gems with us. My favorite place hands down is the decrepit and crumbling roundhouse, which is an old train repair building that is just aching to be restored. If you fix it, I will live in it. Just sayin'. Other memorable haunts are the Hanna Doll Museum which was creepy and yet sweet all at the same time. Only if you focus on the fact that they were all loved, and maybe don't focus on the ones missing eyes. *shudder*.

Not only did we have a fantastic time shooting with Nikki and Owen and their fabulous wedding party, but the trip also gave me a chance to take Penny into Drumheller - one of my most favorite Alberta attractions. We visited the hoodoos, ate ice cream, and generally got lost. Oh, we also stopped at the Last Chance Saloon, an antique selling barn in the middle of nowhere, and the Sun Valley farm where we bought tomatoes and broccoli.

These are just a few teasers to whet your appetite for good things to come. And stay tuned for our Movember calendar!!!