rollin with G-star Raw – edmonton engagement photographer

To say Dan is a bit of a character would be the understatement of the planet. Alisa rounds him out in all the good ways though, still letting his crazy bits shine through. Which makes them perfect for each other. If anything was achieved during this session it was Dan seeing the look he puts on Alisa face when this crazy shines through a bit more than she’d like. Anyone who know these two have seen this look. a lot.

Thank you two for following me around the back alley’s of downtown in search of trouble. We found it too but I’ll let Dan tell the story of the pat down.

xox michel

This is the look right here.. haha.. I just love it

Isaac of Isaac Varty films was with us for the session as well. The bark gave way on the log he was standing on to get this shot and he hit the ground with a soft thump. “I’m OK!, I’m OK!” he yells… as I look over and see him flat on his back, face covered in dirt, with his camera held up high still shooting. And that my friends is dedication! Now that I know he is safe I’ll have to admit it was most hilarious to see.

 

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Sarah

You hit this one out of the park, Michel! Beautiful!! Captured the awesomeness of the couple perfectly!!

Beautiful shots Michel!!!! I’d LOVE to hear the pat-down story ;)

when two people click, wtf face and mascot heads – fun edmonton engagement photography

Throughout our session a few weeks ago Andrew was doing a lot of whispering–I didn’t hear any of it but it sure made Christa laugh and that’s all that is important. These two have a connection unto anyone. A few weeks ago when visiting their wedding site, I saw Andrew sneakily buy Christa a scarf she was eyeing in the gift shop. When he gave it to her, she blushed a little and thanked him then said “You always spoil me” Amid the laughter and goofiness, these two are soft and thoughtful. I just love being around them. When Andrew told me about how he proposed to Christa I knew I wanted to document this love story. They are my kind of people.

Prior to the snowboarding season last year they were in one of the shops looking at some boards. Christa fell in love with one, so Andrew coyly mentioned that maybe he would buy her an engagement snowboard instead of a ring some day. To which Christa emphatically replied “YES!” The scheme was set, Christa takes her board in to get tuned up before a trip, Andrew buys the new board and the shop owner makes the switch. perfection. Arriving at the mountain, Andrew’s nerves are getting the best of him and Christa is noticing his jittery behaviour. He gets out of the car to get the boards but realizes that Muse is playing… “I can’t propose to MUSE!!” heading back over to the other side of the car to change the music to something more appropriate, he’s a nervous wreck! Christa finally comes around to his side of the vehicle commenting that she thinks its weird that he chose Michael Buble as his pump-me-up music and that’s when he shows her the snowboard, tells her all the reasons he loves her and asks her to be his wife. Now I mentioned that Andrew likes to spoil Christa, so of course he also got her a beautiful ring, at which this point, she needed to remind him to put it on her finger and of course said yes.

Ampersand Grey Fun Edmonton engagement photography

You two are awesome. Thanks for letting us follow you along into this love story with you. July is going to be so great!

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Donna my plus 1 – Edmonton Wedding photographer

Technically I shot my first wedding in Banff, pretty lucky huh? It was a gorgeous setting, the bride and groom were amazing, so in love and the ceremony so heartfelt. I wouldn’t know though because I was way to nervous to hear a thing. All I could hear is my heart thumping in my ears. Maybe it was because I had my head on a tilt the whole day – that’s a whole other story. The bride that day was my new friend, Donna. Donna and Terry came as a package deal when I got together with Matt. Terry and Matt have been friends since they were kids and now Donna and I found a new friendship. Yay for double dates! Over the years Donna became more than just a friend.

In the early years of my photographic “budding” Donna started to show interest in my photography and really championed me to push myself. She saw something in me? She likes photography? She craves voyeurism? Perhaps. What is true is her selflessness and how she has such an amazing character to see the buried spark in someone and does everything she can to help pull it out (without even being pushy). She is the best cheerleader and has an awesome positive attitude. She shines light and she loves with her whole dang giant heart. You just can’t not like this girl.

She is the sole reason I did my Wishful Thinking 365 blog and with her and Matt’s support I got through that year with the thirst to start “shooting” people. That year taught me that although I love the quietness behind the lens in an open field amid a snow storm, my heart sings when I get to interact with people. Sorry Mr. Adam’s, you can keep your landscapes, I’m moving onto people! yay. Donna was right there with me. She commissioned me for my first photo shoot, gigantic 5 foot canvas and couples shoot. So that year when she told me she was going to get a ‘big girl’ camera, now it was my turn to be excited for her. We planned photo walks and outings and I excitedly rambled through f-stop and shutter speed as best I could for her to understand. She was like a fleeting butterfly, (that’s just a nice way of saying that she had the attention span of a gnat) when surrounded by pretty light and sparky things–we all do in the beginning. Soon her pictures started to really shine and I saw that things were sinking in with her.

I started Ampersand Grey and Donna was once again right there with me. She joined my weddings in the beginning as my assistant, came to engagement shoots and became my other set of eyes behind her camera. She’d be carrying 3 jackets, our blankets for the clients, reflectors and lights, my bag, her bag and the clients bag–all with a smile and oomph. It seemed to me that the evolution of her position with Ampersand Grey was to be my full-time second shooter and she’s worked so hard to get here. I am beyond proud of how far she’s come and so excited about growing with her through the years. Ampersand Grey just got 2x better and I couldn’t be happier. The 2013 wedding season is going to be a rock our socks off kind of year. We have the most gorgeous, creative and in love couples lined up this year. I Can’t wait to watch you continue to shine, little grasshopper – thanks for joining this journey with me.

Michel xox

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'PEGGER

HELP !!! MY CHEST IS SOOO FAR OUT…AND I THINK MY HEAD’S GONNA EXPLODE !!!
LOVE YOU DONNA !!!

oh, this is what love at first sight feels like – edmonton wedding photographer

“We are all a little weird and life’s a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love.” Dr. Suess

When a newly engaged bride (or groom) sends me a message inquiring about wedding photography with us, I always ask them to share their story with me. I really love this email. Reading their love story always makes me excited to meet them and hear more about their wedding day. Are they fun, outgoing and silly? Or are they romantic, sentimental and soft. Reading Kaitlin’s email about her and James made my heart sing. Kaitlin shared with me all of those things (and even a nerdy picture!!!). Her and James are the male and female versions of one another and hanging out with last week gave me a peek into their awesome love story. Shooting their wedding in Edmonton this summer in front of all of their friends on the steps of the Magrath mansion is going to be epic. I can not wait!

From Katie’s first email – “I never understood when people would tell me ‘It was love at first sight’ or ‘I knew I would marry him after our first date’ I always thought that sounded so cliche and cheesey….But after that [first] weekend I was like “Oh. This must be what that feels like.”

I love engagement sessions so much for the reason that we can get out all that “in front of the camera” awkwardness out of the way so come wedding day the photos are breeze. I also love the time to develop the beginnings of our new wedding love team–having fun, being silly & most of all creating gorgeous in-the-moment photos for the couple. Oh! and Hot dogs!!!! All engagement sessions should end with hot dogs from now on.

Thank you Katie and James!!! yay for weddings!

Michel xox

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Awww I love these two!!!

Gorgeous Michel!!!

C h e c k   U s   O u t !