Michele Dyson Photography » Blog

So, it took awhile to get things in order, but I pulled together my favourite images of 2009 to share with all of my wonderful clients, friends and blog followers ( that still seems hilarious to me – strangers coming to my lil ol blog to check things out…seriously?  SO appreciated)!!!  Anyways, here are the fab couples. They really, truly were. I’m pretty sure I laughed my a** off , and made a fool of myself with every single one of you. So much fun…..thank you thank you a million times over for choosing me to document such an important day in your lives. I am so thrilled to be doing this, and can’t wait for what 2010 brings. I’d also like to say a very special “thank you” to Brooke for being my partner in crime….it seriously is double the fun having you to work with – I don’t know if anyone else could deal with my bossiness/quirkiness/flightiness as well as you do ! Stay tuned to us both as we put some amazing plans into action in the coming year……

Happy 2010!

Here they are…..finally!  The second batch of images from Cara & Mike’s After session. I think my readers have established that you guys are in the running for fave couple…each of your sessions have been so much fun, you’ve been full of creative ideas and open to suggestions from us as well. I think we made a good match:)  If anyone missed out on their engagement session make sure to click here as it’s definitely one I’m proud of…it was even featured on “Vintage Glam Weddings”…one of the most inspirational sites out there!  You can also click here for their wedding and here for the first batch of  ”After’s”. I’m still waiting on a video clip from them of the best first dance EVER ( choreographed hip-hop complete with RAD 80’s get-ups….ohhhh yeah)!  

Cara and Mike – really – could you BE any more fun..or any more patient ?!  I’m so glad I was the “chosen one” and cannot wait for the next session we do together! 

Merry Christmas to all my wonderful readers, and don’t forget to KEEP THE COMMENTS coming – 1 comment = 1 can of food donated!! Make me proud people!!!!

Mike has something against lipstick – I missed the smooch shot, but these next two were the aftermath:We realized after taking a bunch in this spot that there was a crowd in the building across the alley peering down from an overhead window….I think they might have had a bit TOO good of a view:) Shoes…..ohhhhh yah! Cara’s were  purchased in Penticton at Vintage & Vogue ; LOVE!Yummy colour!
I am completely smitten by this last image. Cara didn’t wear a veil for her wedding, but this one belonged to her Mum and she wanted a photo in it to give to her.   I think she pulled it off perfectly:) 

So, after such a fabulous wedding day I was a little anxious as to how our session would go. I didn’t feel as though the bride and groom were truly on board with the idea of getting all done up again, in the heat with what was sure to be many onlookers! Well, they showed up , the weather somewhat agreed; although there wasn’t a cloud in site we were able to work it out….and most importantly we had SO much fun! We had quite a few lookie-lou’s, people taking pics and even a restaurant worker who jumped in with his “eat my burrito” apron; it seemed harmless enough until he lifted it up…..WHOA! Good thing it wasn’t real is all I have to say;  I’ll leave those pics for J& J to view at home as they’re not completely appropriate for a family blog:)  One of the shots I wanted to get was something with a lot of color and an obvious Mexican feel; the first ceramic ones are a few of my faves. Jay and Janine’s request?!  A volkswagon. Hmmm….. considering there weren’t vehicles allowed where we were shooting I didn’t think it was going to happen. But luck was on our side, and instead of flagging a cab on the way back from the hotel I asked if they could flag us a VW. It worked! It was getting quite dark out, the ISO was cranked, but we got it….and bonus…..it’s GREEN!  VW’s were one of the many things that brought these two together so I’m thrilled we were able to incorporate one into the shoot. Guys, thanks for dragging yourselves away from the beach and taking the time to come out again….I’m pretty sure  you’ll agree it was worth it. 

Enjoy!!!

My fave..

Love.

Jay, you are one lucky man!Are they not the poster faces for Destination Weddings?  I think so:)So stylin, and I just lovvve the movement in this one; fave #2.Believe it or not, this great find was outside the Hagen Daz ice-cream shop; yum!Ummmm…..yeah, you two are seriously HOT!   
High ISO, blurry, grainy….and I don’t care! Love them:) Edited to add *** One forgotten image – I had to!

Thank you so much, both of you and each and every person who played a part in me getting to be included in your big day!

Last Thursday, November 19th I had the privilege of photographing Jay & Janine’s gorgeous oceanside wedding in the tropics. It was perfect. The dress, their shoes, the weather, even light seemed to hold on a teensy bit longer for us to be able to shoot a few on the beach. I first met Jay and Janine in Calgary just hours from when we flew to Cancun. Brooke was with me, as we’d just done a workshop with [B]ecker and J & J offered up their place for us to crash at (probably because the heard I SUCK at getting my butt outta bed and didn’t want me to miss the 4 a.m. wakeup call)! B thought I was a wee bit off my rocker to stay with people I’d never met, but through the emails we’d sent each other I had a feeling that I was going to click with these guys. And I was right…they were fab. So, early the next day 59 of their friends and fam met in Playa Del Carmen at The Iberostar Tucan Resort. Even my hubby came along for the ride:)  These pics are from the wedding day, and as I forewarned the bride and groom I knew it would be rushed. A 3 oclock ceremony with the sun gone at 5. So, I made them move, made em sweat, got a little bossy ( okay, a lot bossy)! and we shot until the last bit of light was gone….you can see proof from the night shot; that was minutes after I finished the last shot on the beach ( for you photogs,  I was shooting at ISO 3000)! I could seriously keep on writing about all the great details, but I’ll spare you and let the images speak for themselves. 

Make sure to tune in in the next few days for their After session….by far my fave; we’re talking mosaic tiles, hot pink brick walls, and a roadside bar with swings:) Yup, I was a happy girl! I promise you won’t be disappointed as they were rock stars!

Jay, Janine and all of your seriously amazing friends and fam…..I had such a great time and really appreciate you having me; now somebody else get married away…..I’m addicted!!!Are you kidding me?! Janine, you are stunning.  Doesn’t Jay remind you of Hugh Laurie…aka: House??! 
I just adore the expression on her brother’s face here……Does she not look like she could just burst here?! Love.The boys giving us a little groove after the ceremony….Okay, so there’s a bit of a story behind these next two;  these guys are all “city-folk”, and although I’m no country-bumpkin, when it comes to getting a great shot, I will do what it takes. Well, I’d spotted this little cluster of ruins off the side of the road and just had to get us there for a few shots after the ceremony. Well, there were bugs. Big bugs. And lots of em. Of course I didn’t care, even laid on the ground for a couple while getting eaten ALIVE ( I’m not kidding….27 bites just from that afternoon; ouch)! Well, although we got these two, there really aren’t any others….they are literally slapping each other, screaming (boys too)  and/or ripping off clothes in the rest. But come on….soooo worth it! This may be may fave…..I love how real this moment is. These next two were shot at ISO 3000……meaning it was NOT good light.Believe it or not this was taken just minutes after finishing up on the beach; ISO 200, no flash of course. Ain’t it purdy!? 
And the ring shots….it was a bit of a problem as each time I remembered about the rings it was dark out. I shot the first in their jewellery shop, not having a clue really as to what I was doing and the other 2 were shot just before I hopped the bus to go home. Good thing I didn’t pack the macro or there would’ve been an entire post dedicated to their rings!

Yup, they’re for real…..super hot, super stylish and superDUPER fun in front of the camera. My fave thing?! They were amazing listeners…..I have a tendency to get a bit bossy; well, let’s face it – I am Queen Bossypants, can’t help it. But hey, it worked, they laughed, and we squeezed in a lot in some fast fading light. Janine and Jay, thank you thank you thank you for bringing me to Playa with you, for trusting me without ever having met me ( little did you know what you were in for)! and most of all for letting your real selves shine through in your photos. It was an amazing week, and I feel so very fortunate to have played a role in your day. Hope you enjoy the peek…..more to follow once I finish some blog catch-ups! 

As a photographer, I love it when I’m not the only one who has a vision. When the couple “brings it“, the images are able to go to a whole new level. The location, the styling and the interaction between each other are all equally important. Well, Cara + Mike have proven at each of our 3 sessions that they most definitely have what it takes.  Cara isn’t embarrased to admit she studies America’s Next Top Model…..wouldn’t you agree that is shows? I mean, come on – she has mastered “the smize”!    For the first part of this session we started out at one of the firehalls here in Penticton where Mike is now an official firefighter. I was obviously excited when they informed me that there was a vintage truck….and Graham, thank you for the offer of lighting one of the buildings on fire for us; if we’d had more time it would have happened!. Spring session, perhaps?!  Thank you Mike and Cara for being so creative and open minded, and for inspiring me. It is shoots like this that keep me moving forward. 

Stay tuned for more from their After session…..

An obvious fave……Mike, you are my most stylin’ groom to-date. 

Yup, the sky was that crazy, and the sun was pouring down on them like honey. Love. This one make me smile; laughing pictures are most definitely my faves:)

This session was special for me as it was my very first morning session. I am not what you would call a morning person. At all. Note the 2 a.m. blog posts and you’ll understand why. I of course have to get up with the kids, but I am definitely not ready to face the world until closer to lunchtime! We started the session at 8 a.m. and the sun wasn’t yet over the mountains….we got to shoot in open shade and then had 15 minutes or so with some more dramatic lighting while chillin’ at the creek ( I’m pretty sure Christine was frozen – what a trooper)!  These two were seriously fabulous….so very comfortable as you can see even from this shot below – this was the first frame of the day and is one of my faves. Thank you guys for taking Cara  + Mike’s word and trusting me to get some “after” photos for the images you missed out on for your own day, and thank you also for opening my eyes to such killer locations. They were just stunning and I will be trekking out there again I’m sure….maybe just not so early!  Really though, it was so worth it and I had a wonderful time. Hope you enjoy the images!

AYKM?????  For real, Christine has this incredibly natural beauty that is so easy to photograph. Simply stunning. Chris, you are one lucky man!!
I loved how this moment when the sun broke over looked as though they were in a spotlight – I’m sure they did as well as it was their only moment of warmth the whole time we were out!My definate fave of the day – Oooooh, I am just crazy over birch trees….now to find somewhere I can sneak a few branches for some Christmas decor!!!!

Edited to add  ** I almost missed this image but am glad I came across it. This was one of the last shots of the day and you can just see the sun coming up over the trees; what a difference it made in the lighting…yum!

You may remember this couple from their uber-fabulous engagement session……they were such great models that their faces even ended up on Vintage Glam Weddings blog, making me, of course…very proud:) Well, they didn’t disappoint when it came to their big day. Each tiny detail was unique and reflective of the couple, and surprises seemed to pop up around every corner. From the purple jeweled shoes to the birdcage veil Cara “forgot” to tell me about…and their first dance. The dance. WOW! Once they get video up I will make sure to upload it for all to see, because it was spectacular! After a complete outfit change into full-on 80’s inspired hip-hop gear, Mike and Cara busted through the reception doors to the beats of Boom Boom Pow. The choreography was amazing and the played the roles to a “t“. It’s going to be tough to top that one I tell ya!

Thank you to everyone involved…..Heiress Salon for the do’s , Mac for the makeup and Linden Gardens for keeping your venue looking so beautiful. And a BIG thank you to my fave second shooter, Brooke Bowland for helping me out….SUCH a great time!

Thank you so much to both of you for choosing me; I loved every second of it…..

Michele