Inspired by the Biblical book and character of Ruth, this simple inspired styled shoot by Esther Funk Photography offers Vale + Vine readers a rich yet humble look perfect for a fall engagement session, bridesmaids' get-together, or rehearsal dinner....
Read MoreThis pastoral engagement shoot for Marta + Giovanni by Laura Rowe Photography is both pared down and stylish. Photographed on farmland near Hamilton, Ontario, the rural location offers sweeping views of fields and gives off an earthy sense of romance that lends itself to walking barefoot in the fertile soil...
Read MoreIt's the trifecta of engagement sessions: one part romantic lighting and location, one part couple in love and beautifully styled, and one part photographic brilliance. Isn't it amazing how a simple country location at just the right time of day can set the tone for a breathtaking experience? This languid Ontario landscape provides the perfect backdrop for an engagement shoot by Colorado fine art film photographers Brumley & Wells, who not only capture the setting with skill and intentionality, but also reveal their ability to pose Natalie and Nick in ways that are as flattering and natural as they are timeless and artful....
Read MoreMy favourite aspect of this Saltspring Island wedding photographed by Chelsea Jean Photography, is the photos that were taken in the shade of a sprawling storybook-style tree, especially the ones with the bride + groom's daughter. There's an atmosphere of familial comfort amidst the pastoral setting, and the tenderness depicted here really resonated with me. I love when children play an active part in weddings...not only do they contribute to the sense of wonder and joy, but they also represent the passing on of legacies.
Read MoreCouples wherein each partner is perfectly natural with one another are just so easy to spot, especially when there's a photographer in the equation--their unconscious smiles aren't the least bit contrived and their displays of unbridled affection are anything but posed. Michelle and Jon are one such couple and I love how effortlessly their comfort with, and love for ,one another is expressed in this engagement session by Heidi Lau Photography. Unaffected, relaxed, and obviously in love, Jon and Michelle make me grin as I scroll through each frame. It's a feel-good shoot with roots of love that run deep and I'm so honoured that to be given a glimpse into Michelle + Jon's beautifully celebrated love.
Read MoreYes, I realize this is a fall shoot, but there was no way I was letting this heartfelt engagement session slip by without finding a spot on Vale + Vine. I also thought it might provide some inspiration for early spring engagement sessions when the colour palette found across the Canadian landscape is chalk full of earth tones, but very little vibrancy. While it might be easiest to throw on some punchy summer colours or soft spring pastels, I actually think that reflecting back on fall hues works best when working with (let's face it) a somewhat drab landscape...you know, the kind after the snow melts, but the first shoots of green have yet to peek through? ...
Read MoreThe warm light during that hour before sunset is pure magic. If you're thinking about booking an engagement shoot sometime in the coming months (this IS the height of engagement season after all, and I know there are many of you out there already making plans!), definitely consider discussing the hour before sunset with your photographer as an optimal time for a portrait session. When the sun is low on the horizon, the shadows are less harsh, the lighting gloriously soft, and the temperature (of the light, not necessarily of the surroundings) is warm, casting a golden hue on everything it touches....
Read MoreI'm celebrating my birthday today at Vale + Vine with a wedding that took place on the outskirts of the rural Manitoba town where I lived throughout my childhood. I attended school and church in the little town of Oakbank, but my family's home was in the countryside just a few minutes' drive from Pineridge Hollow, where Julianne + Tjaden's bespoke countryside wedding took place. Pineridge Hollow is an event venue, restaurant, and boutique where a number of my friends and family have worked and even gotten married. Every time I visit Manitoba and stay with relatives just down the road, we dine here and wander the grounds. I return to my roots with orders of Ukrainian perogies (we Mennonites call them verenki), Manitoba farmer sausage, and bison burgers making my mouth water. Pineridge Hollow is only about a 30-minute drive from Winnipeg, but it's a cozy neck of the woods that allows you to leave the busy city scene for a time. It's an ideal spot for a country wedding in the Canadian prairies, especially one photographed by fine art film photographer Brittany Mahood of Winnipeg.
Read More
