My Top 20 Favorite Wedding Photos of 2008

I think one of the best parts of being a photographer (at least for me) is that when you look at one of your own photos, you can remember exactly what was going on at the moment it was taken. I can say with complete confidence that to ME, these moments really are frozen in time, and I will always remember certain things from each and every one! So, having said that, not only would I like to share some of my favorite 20 wedding photos of 2008 with you, but I would also like to share with you exactly what I was thinking when I took them! 

Warning: Please don't think I'm a dork, I'm only human! :P

***each quote refers to the photo above it.***

"I hope people don't think 'what a horrible photographer, he cropped her face out!!!'... All I want for this shot is a detail shot of the veil and dress!!!"

"WOW! now THATS a kiss!"

"How do I make this shot look like it ISNT taken outside in the freezing snow/rain in the middle of one of the coldest winters Vancouver has seen in decades????"

"There is NO way ANY camera can capture how beautiful this light coming in looks in person!"

- don't get me wrong, the lighting in the photo looks amazing, but really you had to be there. It truly was angelic.

"Stupid leaves! Stop moving so I can get the lens flare from the sun!!!!! AHHHH!" 

(I think I was tired) :)

I remember thinking to myself: "Please don't turn away until I take the photo! Please don't turn away until I take the photo! WOOHOO! She didn't turn away until I took the photo!"

"I-A-M-S-O-J-E-A-L-O-U-S-R-I-G-H-T-N-O-W" ;)

I was trying to make her laugh, so the first thing I said to her was (and in a rather high pitched voice): "Youuuuu're getting marrrrrried... Youuuuuu're getting marrrrrrrrried!" 

 yup... I'm a pretty fast thinker! :/

"The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly."

 (I can say this because the one on the right is my brother in-law) ;)

"Ben please don't drop her!!!! There's a lot of thistles around!!" - Thank God he didn't!

I actually remember just staring in absolute amazement during these moments, and even though there was loud music playing, I can still remember very clearly the WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH! of the flames.

I remember thinking this was so quiet and sincere, and even though I originally set this shot up (the veil over their heads), the truly beautiful moment was really between just the two of them.

I very clearly remember thinking "I am so lucky to have shot her sister's wedding a few years ago and now to be shooting her wedding. I really feel like part of the family with these guys. Thank you so much."

"Well, people certainly aren't going to wonder where this shot was taken!!"

This is my best friend of 15 years, Ben. At this moment I remember thinking that if someone came to us when we were 14 and said "Hey, when you grow up, YOU are going to get married, and HE is going to be your photographer!", we'd probably think they were 'A few fries short of a Happy Meal'! Well, it happened, and I will always be greatful to have seen my best friend married to the love of his life.

"No one will ever know this shot was taken in her garage..." ..oops! Guess they do now!

"Hrmm... I think it would look better if I Photoshopped that bench out of the photo later on." 

- Yup! :)

"What are the odds that the cruise ship I worked on for 6 months in the Caribbean would be going by us on the Sunshine Coast at this very second?" (it was doing the Alaska run roundtrip from Vancouver...it was pretty cool to see the Coral Princess again lol)

"Cool! These lights remind me of 'Close Encounters of a Third Kind'!!!!!"

"Hrmm... off-camera lighting... how hard can it be?" - hard? no. takes practice? yup! Chris + Lynn, I was totally trying to channel some vibes from you while taking this shot lol! 

Here's to a fantastic 2009 Wedding Season!

Namaste,

Michael