Alykhan & Salima's Wedding

I believe it was around Christmas time a year ago (2007) that I met Alykhan and Salima. We met downtown at a Blendz coffee shop, and I remember how quickly we hit it off. Within minutes we were already swapping stories and laughing, it was truly like meeting with old friends. On top of that, the more they discussed their wedding plans with me the more excited I got! I remember thinking "Wow, a four day wedding, huh?"... I have seen time and time again how much craziness and excitement gets packed into ONE day, what's FOUR days going to do?!

Well, see for yourself. The photos tell more than I ever could with words.

I gotta pitch in here for a sec... I won't say too much, but these next two collections of photos are actually ceremonies the night before the wedding day. Salima gets a beautifully fragrant paste rubbed onto her skin to beautify her for the next day, while Alykhan on the other hand... um... you have to see it to believe it. 

Ok, onto some cleaner photos :)

We had a chance to shoot at the Stanley Park Inn before the reception, and I automatically fell in love with this little B&B.

First Dance

This collage just melts my heart every time I look at it. So simple, nothing really fancy on the photos...just pure love. 

Alykhan and Salima, thank you so much for letting me be a part of your celebration. I had an amazing time and I feel so blessed to have met your family and friends. You all truly are a perfect example of Real Love.

Special shout-outs to Tracey for helping me out with the day! You rock, Miss Thang! :)

My New Year's Resolutions...ish.

ok, so we have now approached the time of year when we all attempt to muster up the 'willpower' in preparation of creating our ideal Selves.

translation: New Year's Resolutions.

Here are mine, in no particular order... keep in mind these can (and often do) change at any moment... hopefully I'm not alone ;)

1. to not lose WEIGHT, but to lose body fat %. I want to be a lean mean, 'scrubbing-clothing-on-my-washboard-abs' machine! And with Acapulco coming in April, I gotta hurry!!! Exercise starts tomorrow, as do the weigh-in and measurement-taking! YIPES!

2. to shoot more photos for myself...let me rephrase, to go on more photo 'roadtrips', to take more 'landscapes at sunrise' shots, and hopefully without a 'holy crap I am being chased by a bear' experience lol!

3. to keep a better record of my personal money management. I like knowing where my money is going and what I can tweak in order to save even more money! It would be nice to own a house in 2010! :)

4. I really would like to delve deeper into the whole "Mike should learn to speak German" thing... its going to be tough enough for me to understand as it is in July when Grit and I go visit her family and friends in Germany, but it would just be really cool to carry a conversation with Grit in German. 

5. I AM going to blog more :) I always get so busy with things that it always gets put on the backburner. I have tons of things to say, and in MY opinion anyways, most of it isn't too bad lol. Just take a look at my personal blog (The Roaming Mind of Norm) when I worked on cruise ships! I occasionally go back to have a read or two for nostalgia's sake, and end up reading for an hour or so lol. Besides, there is going to be MANY cool things in 2009 to blog about! :)

6. I am going to spend more time with the TV, cell phone, and computer off. Sometimes I get so caught up in technology and being constantly 'plugged in', I forget what silence sounds like, and how good it feels to hear absolutely nothing. Yes, more of that please.

7. To tie in with number 6, I would like to read more. In fact, reading PERIOD at this point would be fantastic!  Among other things, I think reading helps with the imagination, and one can never have too much of that!

I am sure there are more, and when I think of them, I will be sure to add them on here!

What are YOUR NewYear'sResolutions?

Happy New Year!

2009! Holla! 

Grit and I literally stayed on the couch ALL day haha! The "Back to the Future" trilogy was on tv today, and we watched it in its entirety 1.5 times! I know, we ROCK! :)

There are so many things to look forward to this year, and I am STOKED beyond all belief! 

Some highlights include:

- a new blog and website (coming VERY soon)

- Sunshine! ...eventually...(so much rain and snow, I forget what sunshine feels like lol)

- WPPI 2009 in Las Vegas in February!

- Shooting a wedding in Acapulco, Mexico in April!

- Shooting a wedding in Italy in July!

- Vacation in Germany in June/July!

and so much more!!!!!

I will also be updating the blog WAYYYY more frequently and in the days to come you can expect to see news on a few things that happened in December, such as my Cans for Comments , Christmas, and Alykhan and Salima's AMAZINGLY AWESOME wedding!

I hope you all have an amazing year, and I am so excited to get things rolling! :)

Michael

Cans for Comments!!

Hello Everyone!! 

I was doing my regular 'blog-stalking' rounds today, and as I was reading the blog of Chris+Lynn I was completely moved by their post, and I'd like to not only share it with you guys, but to join in as well. 

As it stands now, a growing handful of Vancouver photographers are participating in something called "Cans for Comments". From now until midnight on Friday, December 12th (next Friday), for everyone who posts a comment on ANY of my blog entries, I will donate one canned good to The White Rock / South Surrey Food Bank.

Please be sure to click on the links below to view some great work by some amazing photographers, and don't forget to leave a comment!!!

CJ Scott 

Erin Gilmore
Amber Hughes
Chris+Lynn
Lori Miles

Jamie Delaine

Tracey Heppner

Blue Olive Photography

Bebb Studios

John Heil

Kristel Wyman

Alana Couch

Shandro Photo

Crystal Genes

Dolce Pics

“If you can't feed a hundred people, then just feed one.” - Mother Teresa

This is How I Kick It!

Check my flow, Uh! :)

(had a little 'creative time' after hanging with my 6-year-old niece Kaia today)

P.s. please don't judge me by my dirty bathroom mirror :\

A Little One

Its been a LONG time since I posted, so I thought I would post a few cute photos of a recent session I did. I have never shot a newborn session before, so I was unsure of what to expect, but I had such a great time! How did I do?

I have a lot of updates and exciting news to share soon, I can't wait to tell you!

p.s. Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends in the US! Be sure to eat an extra plate for me :)

Vancouver View Magazine

At the beginning of September, I had been asked to take portraits of one of the top cops in Canada for an upcoming article in Vancouver View Magazine. I had a blast with Shinder Kirk and Kuljeet Kaila and when I saw it on the shelves today I flipped out! I totally forgot it was coming out in November! The first time I had photos in a magazine was last September but it just totally makes me giddy when I see it in public! Every single time I walk past it, I always want to go to the nearest person and be like "Hey... see these photos? Ya, I shot them... Ya, I'm kind of a big deal... Autograph?" 

... I kinda turn into that guy from the McDonald's commercial...

"See that Angus Burger... ya, I invented it."