The Hills are Alive | Deanna & Stephen Wedding

I met Stephen and Deanna for the first time a few days before their wedding up in glorious British Columbia. Obviously, they had seen our photography before and we had chatted a bit from a distance, but other than that, we were meeting on relatively new terms. Usually when it comes time to shoot a couple’s wedding, we have had some time to build rapport and trust. It helps when we have some ideas that might seem a little strange. Not this time. Within the first few minutes of meeting, I was without warning taking each of them into the bathroom at the Starbucks..by themselves…and having them answer these random deep emotional questions into a handheld recorder. Nice to meet you both!

Looking back, though, I can see how they came to trust so easily. When you are in a wonderful relationship with the person of your dreams and you are about to join with them for the rest of your lives, you are living in a place of joy, peace, contentment, and trust. When you so completely trust the other person in whom you are placing your hands forever, then other small things like trusting a photographer are as easy as they come.

This couple was something special.

It was a long, hot, and wild day where we ran all over the amazing area of Chilliwack, Harrison Lake, and Agassiz. We had the most detailed and specific timeline for the day that I have ever made. To make it even more interesting, my priceless Shannon was not there with me. She was back home in St. Louis by this time shooting a wedding on her own. This led me to me leaving my camera bag on the side of a Safeway in the middle of our crazy running around. Above all, though, it was a day I know I will never forget. These two people…so in love…so ready for the next steps in their lives, were ready for everything. Deanna the adventurer even let me drag up a massive hill to stand by the amazing Bridal Falls Waterfall. It was more fun than I can put into words. This was the fifth wedding I have photographed in the area, and each time…it just gets better and better.

So honored to be a part of your wedding. Thank you for trusting me to not get you killed 🙂

P.S. Even though my Shannon was not with me, I was not without support staff. Massive thank you to Shawn and Keri Harvey for being there with me and helping keep me on schedule and hydrated and (mostly) sane. You might not have shot a single photo, but you were a massive part of these images. You two are the bestest.