Brian and Lydia's Wedding at the Museum of Vancouver

January 18, 2020 in Weddings

“I’m not keen on the idea of being asked to whisper into my friend’s ear as part of the photography”.
This was one of the things (paraphrased) that Lydia said to me as we met to talk about their wedding. With this in mind as I parked my car in the parking lot on their wedding day, I approached this wedding as I usually did: authentic and honest moments through a documentary approach. Brian and Lydia loved the photos and I definitely did not do any “whispering into a friend’s ear” suggestions to create them.

2019 Year In Review - A Lesson In Time Management

December 30, 2019 in #WeddingVendorBTS, Weddings, Family Photography

What an amazing 2019 it has been. At the same time I was learning how to be a Dad (my little one was 3 months old when 2019 started) I was learning how to juggle personal duties with photography work and everything in between. That’s not to say that I didn’t enjoy the work that I did (and I do hope for more in 2020) but 2019 really taught me the importance of time management. Having a kid is an amazing and rewarding experience but it definitely changes your life and your outlook on things… and poop. As such, I didn’t have time to blog this year and that allowed me to have a really good hard look back at the year was 2019 through this post.

Blue Water Cafe Yaletown Wedding - Alex and Vania

June 22, 2019 in Weddings

lex and Vania wanted something different for wedding photography. They wanted something more documentary and more about their family and friends. And while we did take some time to do portrait shots, group shots and wedding party photos, the majority of the day was spent with me doing very little interrupting or posing and instead letting things happen while I worked and ran around the scene to find the best and unique angles to capture some of the big moments as well as some of the little moments.

Van Dusen Gardens Cambodian and Vietnamese Wedding

May 20, 2019 in Weddings

FIRST: Huge thanks to Jumi Story for having me on as a secondary photographer for this wedding.

I won’t say much about this wedding other than I learned a little bit more about Cambodian and Vietnamese customs for weddings. The early morning tea ceremony was a bit different from the usual with the way it was done and there was an aspect of red string being tied to the bride and groom. I’ll let the photographs do the talking :)

What I'd Like To Say To Brides and Grooms

October 03, 2015 in Weddings

Dear future Bride and Groom,

If you really love the idea of documentary photography for your wedding then I want to be your wedding photographer.

I'm not about the posed photographs or manufacturing a moment to look great. I'm into film cameras, black and white photography and grabbing authentic moments throughout a wedding day. I'm about waiting and finding those authentic moments and weaving a story through them. I'm about being in the midst of things while doing my best to not be noticed. My photography is about friends hugging a groom, a bride sitting with her sisters while getting make up on, the expression on a groom's face as he nervously waits for his bride, a flower girl staring up at the bride-to-be with wonder in her eyes.

In the midst of all this, as I sit and look at the photographs I’ve taken of couples over the years, I think of this: Time is so fleeting and goes by so fast. Take a moment to breathe and enjoy the moment.

Regardless of whom you choose as your wedding photographer, know that the most important decision you will make is when you say "I do" at the altar to your spouse-to-be. Things fade over time but true love prevails over it all. Embrace your man/woman and love him/her with an amazing passion and keep that flame going even when the sweat pants come out and laundry needs to be done :)

Regardless of how a wedding day goes, know that the love that you've created with this special someone is more important and more rewarding than anything on Earth. Forge it well over the years and may the wedding day be just a start of a beautiful journey together.

Amen.

Sincerely,

-Jonathan Desmond-
Documentary Photographer
and a Member Of The WPJA