It’s a strange thing to look back at images I’ve taken nearly a year ago. As an artist, a year can mean a lot of growth and change in style, and while I can point out changes between Darren & Laura’s engagement images from last December and images from sessions I’ve had in the last month, my hope is that anyone could point out that their session shows the same focus as my recent work: a focus on the connection the couple has and how they are together! This will always be the most important aspect of my work.
We’re only FIVE sleeps away from Darren & Laura’s December wedding and I can’t wait! As I didn’t have a blog last year, these images haven’t really been shared, but I’m happy to post them here today!
I think I met Laura in 2002; despite being a year apart in school, we met in band class where we both played clarinet. I’ve come to increasingly realize just how small Victoria and even BC is with all the networks I’ve become a part of, but when you’re from the Saanich Peninsula area, it seems the world gets even smaller and Laura and I crossed paths again last summer when I photographed Chris & Angela’s wedding and Darren was a groomsman! Darren & Laura got in touch with me pretty soon after that wedding to be their photographer – I love it when couples choose me as their photographer after finding my photography through friends!
Laura was actually introduced to Darren through Chris (from the wedding mentioned above) in 2006. Their friendship grew quickly and dating soon came after that. Three years later Laura flew off to Greece with a class from her studies at UVic; during this time it became crystal clear to Darren just how big of an impact Laura had on his life, so he got moving! First up was asking Laura’s Dad’s permission to marry her and then came the search for the perfect sapphire engagement ring before she returned home in May! Darren’s proposal took place on the top of Mt. Finlayson and because of a previous joke Darren & Laura shared, Laura thought for sure she was getting a Walmart ring to go along with their joke…until she saw the Michael Hill jewelry bag that Darren pulled her ring box from as he dropped to one knee. As Laura put it on their wedding website:
“Darren ask me to be his wife and I responded with, well not words so much as glee and tears and hugs. Darren says I never actually said yes, however I did throw my arms around him, begin to cry and accept the ring, I think that’s a pretty big yes.”
Laura & Darren – I’m so excited to photograph your “I Dos” this Saturday. Wishing you a forever filled with many more happy “Yeses”.
This is Laura’s gorgeous sapphire ring! Luckily, even as Laura was away in Greece, she was able to offer Darren a folder of inspiration images she had started gathering on her home computer for the type of ring she was hoping for!
Just a day after we had this session together, I had the opportunity to photograph Laura’s family as well and we had so much fun at Island View Beach. I can tell this weekend’s wedding is going to be a party for sure and I’m looking forward to celebrating with these beautiful people again.
ash - soo adorbs! and the light.. mmm! you rocked it, courtney!