Erin Gilmore Photography

Trying to organize a wedding can be so tricky.  So much to do and so many things to consider.  Now place yourself across the globe in Istanbul and try it!  That is exactly what suyen and jarrod did.  Not only did they need to organize their schedules but the schedules of friends and loved ones from Shanghai, the US…all over the world.  I can’t get over the job that they did.   With a little help from Suyen’s friend Jeanette Kornelson, they put together a beautiful day at Cecil Green and their wedding was perfect.

Not wanting to miss any of the fun, we only had under an hour for the portraits so we stuck close by at Jerico and then raced back to enjoy the festivities.  I can’t think of a better day for two of the nicest people around.  Throw in an AMAZING speech from grandma and it was PERFECT!  I laughed so hard I cried.  Yup…that was a perfect day. Congrats you guys and I hope we meet again on world travels

Amanda & Brock love family. Nothing could be more clear. From the heirloom jewellery, to family tree, to the single rose marking the place of those there in heart, this wedding was all about family and the friends that are as close as family could be. In fact, this was just what a wedding should be. Love, laughs, and family, in celebration of a two people who have found each other amongst the craziness of life.

Expertly decorated by Radke Designs and perfectly executed by Miss Chelsea who kept things on track all day..gotta love having Swaneset experts on hand… everything was beautiful. It is so clear that you both are loved and cherished by everybody who knows you. Congrats to you both. XOXO

Today the kids and I headed off to meet Grandpa, and my sister Heather, her husband Chris and the 4 kids… Brittany, Bethany, Brooklyn, and Ben. The family was in from Halifax where they moved for the church several years ago. Once a year Chris comes out for a church conference but this year, the whole family came too so it was our first chance to get everyone together in a LONG time.

We headed to the fort at fort langley to see some era exhibits, pan for gold and then after a nice picnic, headed around town for some ice cream, and bags of candy at the candy shop. A few quick snapshots of everyone and it was time to call it a day. It was so great to see everyone….

Some people dream.  Some people dream in colour.  Some people dream in red, white, and polka dots all over..Kendra & Greg ar two of those people and their dream consisted of polka dots, chucks, tattoos, and pure awesomeness…i know that is not a word but there really is no better way to describe their wedding.

This wedding had everything and it was planned down to the smallest detail by Kendra and Greg to give their guests the best day possible.  Swinging procession, pretty white doves, tickle trunk of costumes for photos, candy bar and beautiful surrounding were just a few of the amazing things in store for the guests yesterday.  LOVED IT.

Now throw in how stunning Kendra and Greg looked and perhaps one of the coolest looking wedding parties EVER and you have the makings of a very fabulous day!  You guys were just plain AWESOME!!! Have a blast in Paris!

So you have been invited to a wedding….we’ve all been there and it is an exciting day to be a part of.  If you have been invited as a guest, that means that you are important to the couple and they are important to you.  In this crazy age of digital, we all want, and are able to, capture every life changing moment with ease and so i can understand the desire to capture every moment of a wedding of a friend or loved one.  It is exciting right?  It is almost like a challenge to see if you can get “the shot”.  You have to get the shot of all those family members together..i mean how often does that happen?  What if the photographer doesn’t catch the shot?  I hear you….I get it…but………the couple has hired a photographer to do exactly all those things and more…in most cases, the couple has worked very hard to select the perfect photographer for them and paid a pretty penny to have them there.

For many people the job of the wedding photographer seems easy…I mean how hard can it be?  Show up, snap some photos of a pretty girl in a pretty dress and then go home right?  Let’s get real…you can even see the pictures on the back of the camera can’t you?   With digital  cameras being so accessible and wonderous celebrities advertising how easy it all is (thanks Avril & Ashton!), respect for the work of the photographer seems to have almost disappeared all together.  There is so much more to it than just showing up and clicking a button. So much more.

There is the timeline, the coordination of dozens of people, the rules of the church, the lighting, the locations, the checklists, the creative styling, the consideration of families, the lugging around of tons of gear, long hours, no breaks, and hours of editing, just to name a few of the responsibilites of a wedding photographer.   In fact, wedding photography is arguably the most stressful type of photography there is.  There is no “redo”  We cannot ask the bride to walk down the aisle again because we missed the shot.  It is our job to “get the shot” and not just that one “money shot” that guests are seeking…we have to get the “money shot” hundereds of time over in a day.  It is no easy task.

It used to be that the official photographer was usually one of the only people at the wedding with a camera but now the photographer’s camera is one in a sea of LCD’s and flashes snapping wildly throughout the day.   After countless encounters with guest paparazzi’s that have ranged from mildly annoying to outwardly disrespectful,  I have comprised this list of guest do’s and don’ts to hopefully educate guests on what we do and help make the wedding day and the job of the wedding photographer in the digital age just a little easier….

DO’S

1. come and enjoy the wedding.
2. spend your time figuring out what to wear…not what camera gear to pack
3. the ceremony is a special time…sit back and experience it
4. mix and mingle with guests…meet new people and reconnect with old friends
5. smile…you never know when you will be caught on film
6. take photos while the photographer ISN’T there…the couple will love you for it!
7. share the photos you take with the couple…after all it is their day
8. ask the photographer if you have questions about taking photos on the day

DONT’S

1. don’t tell the photographer that their camera must take really great pictures…it’s the photographer that captures the image…the camera is just a tool to record it
2. don’t ask the photographer photography questions…we love to share knowledge but we are extremely busy during a wedding and have to focus on the task at hand
3. don’t stand up or move around during the ceremony to take pictures…it is distracting for everyone and ruins the official photographs the couple wants
4. don’t stand in the aisle during the procession or recession…once again…it ruins the official photographs
5. don’t try to get the bride and groom to pose for “a quick picture” after the ceremony…they are on a tight timeline and it’s not fair to everyone else
6. don’t stand behind the photographer to take photos while they are shooting…they are getting the exact same photo from their photographer
7. don’t take photos during family photos…it makes it very hard for people to know which camera to look at and the result is terrible family photos
8. don’t stand in front of the photographer during the cake cutting or first dance…i know you WANT that photo but the photographer NEEDS that photo

I know that most people that engage in some of the above mentioned dont’s, do so with no ill intent…they are simply caught up in what is an exciting and amazing time.  It can be easy to get lost in the moment and forget that there is someone there trying to do a very important job for the couple.   Just try to consider them and respect the job that they are trying to do and all should go smoothly…the result will be better photos for the couple and a more enjoyable day for you the guest…and trust me…the photographer will be so greatful..  I know I am!

XOXO ~  Erin

I still look back on the gorgeous Michelle as one of the main reasons I got so passionate about wedding photography. Hard not to be inspired when your subject looks like Michelle! When Michelle contacted me to ask me to photograph their upcoming addition, I jumped at the chance. I knew I would be just as inspired.

we met up at my new favorite locale and after shooting some more mainstream maternity shots with Marco and super cute Harlowe, I convinced Michelle to get creative with me. Good thing the location had relatively few people around and it was a warm day.

Thank you Michelle for trusting me enough to disrobe in public and capture maternity in a way I have always dreamed of…

Nothing touches me more than when one of my wedding couples asks me to capture a new addition to their family. I don’t actively promote newborn photography…weddings keep me busy enough…but it is impossible for me to say no when I get the opportunity to photograph the next chapter of my couple’s life.

Today I had the honour of photographing baby Nathaniel, the gorgeous son of the equally gorgeous Jamie & Dave.

I had been waiting for this one FOREVER! Marc actually booked me before he proposed to Tricia…now that is an organized guy. Since Marc works for my web guru…he knew my stuff inside and out so when he asked me to capture the big day I was super excited. When I got to meet Tricia I was even more giddy.

Tricia had a vision for her day and it was going to be amazing. They held their day at the family home on the lake and what better way to arrive for the ceremony than by boat…are you serious? AWESOME! The backdrop was stunning and it just had the perfect blend of style and down home sincerity.

We held the photoshoot around the grounds but snuck into a farmers field just down the way to capture some romantic images. Anyone who has worked with me knows I will do pretty much anything for the perfect shot…well I found out the price of that commitment…laying down in a field that contains poison sumac…not cool….. My legs have red burns all over…doctor says 7 – 10 days and no itching and i should be all good… Was it worth it? Yup..anything for Tricia & Marc.

You guys were fabulous and thanks for trusting me to tell your story…XOXOXO

I cannot tell you how looking forward to this wedding I have been all season. A day later I am still wondering if there were any beautiful people left in Vancouver since they were all at the stunning wedding of Monika & Kent! These two are magazine cover ready and made my job sooooooo easy. I almost even forgot that this was my longest wedding of the year…welll…almost. My back feels it today!

Everything about this wedding was perfect. From the Valentino shoes, Mori lee gown, sweet veil, to the the GQ gentlemen’s attire. Perfectly assembled and perfectly executed. It was perfect..have I said that yet?

We first headed to Jerico and then off to Granville Island for some fun shots, complete with birds, a crooner, some tappers, and a market full of fun. Back to downtown we arrived at the reception at the lovely Vancouver art Gallery to enjoy the festivities co ordinated by the lovely Samantha from DreamGroup.

Thank you Monika, Kent, and everyone for being a constant source of inspiration yesterday…you were amazing!

A few days ago, greg, kendra & I got together for a last minute engagement session. They needed a few shots for custom wine labels that they were creating for the big day on July 17th. After a few weather rainouts…we finally made it out for a quick session near the studio. Can’t wait for the big day!

Yesterday was the wonderful weekday wedding for Lisa and Ron at the always fabulous Hart House… I love Hart House. Everything about it is amazing. The setting, the food…and don’t even get me started on how fabulous the staff is. Sonja who heads up catering is such a treasure. She is always so accommodating and willing to go the extra mile to make sure that the events go off without a hitch.

So now that we have established how much I love Hart House…let’s talk about Lisa & Ron…they are two of the most organized people I have ever met. I think they come by it honestly after having met their families! It was so nice to work with a couple that had it all figured out. Nothing was left to chance and the wedding was perfect. They made sure by hiring the oh-so-crafty Jeanette from Delovely Creative who worked her magic on Floral and Decor, a perfect dress from Melissa Sweet, yummy cake from Thomas Haas, and the charming videographers from WeddingShoot.ca.

The day was perfect..from first glance to final hora! Congrats you guys.

Earlier this week, I was invited down to shangri la here in Vancouver to experience the launch of their fabulous new branding “it’s in out nature”. It was a fabulous event complete with wonderful entertainment, and delicious food. Being able to watch the making of the new brand commercial in their in house theater was amazing. So happy that this venue is the new home for aislewalk!

Yesterday was the first of many Brock House weddings for us this year. I could not have asked for a better wedding to mark the occasion. Brenda chose to get ready at Opus Hotel in Vancouver and can I say how much I love her for that? the room was amazing to shoot in and the lobby always makes for some killer images. We were doing all the bridal photos prior to the ceremony so we set up a first meet with Graham in the suite complete with make shift blindfold. So much fun!

Brenda and Graham did it their way. Gorgeous accessories from Jeweliette, stunning floral from Evan at Flowerz, and amazing personal touches that Brenda found from Etsy.

We meandered around Yaletown with the party for some shots and then off to Jerico to capture some West Coast vibe before heading back over to Brock House for the ceremony and the reception. The weather was perfect and with a locale like Brock House, it doesn’t take much to make it amazing! Throw in an amazing sunset and we can chalk this one up to a perfect day! Congrats you two! Can’t wait to get together once you get back from the honeymoon.

I got to spend my birthday at the fabulous wedding of Darien & Neil. It was a small, intimate affair with close family and friends that started off at the quaint Sylvia Hotel. We got the first glimpse of Darien’s flirty Melissa Sweet gown and the guys leaving for the ceremony on their bike. LOVED IT! After a small ceremony on overlooking the ocean, it was off to the limo to grab some bridal portraits around Stanley Park and then back to the reception at the lovely TeaHouse. Such a sweet day. Thanks guys for making my birthday extra special!

Let me tell you a little story..

girl meets boy
girl dates boy
boy is smitten and falls in love
boy proposes marriage
girl says yes
couple picks me as their photographer
wedding day is awesome
couple goes on the honeymoon
several months later….
girl calls me
time for maternity photos
now that is what I call a honeymoon!

When Aleasha called and gave me the good news, I was so thrilled. To be able to shoot the wedding, maternity and baby photos for a couple? AMAZING!

Tonight was the maternity session to be followed soon with some adorable baby pics….good luck Aleasha and can’t wait to meet the new addition!