snickerdoodle photography

As July draws to a close, I am finishing up work at the Snickerdoodle desk. Our first child is due in just a few weeks, shortly after my 40th birthday! Being a first time mother, I anticipate the next 3 months will be challenging and fulfilling. I am not looking forward to the lack of sleep. Therefore, if you are trying to reach me, I may be slow to respond but I am taking bookings for 2011 - my maternity leave is from August 1st through to the start of January 2011. 

Below are some photos from another local photographer and friend, Julie Williams, who also does weddings & portraits here in the mountains. I am thrilled with the series of photos she took of me & my husband with our current child (Raisin the Basset Hound). Check out more of her work on her website and blog by clicking on her name above. 

And if you are curious about BabyDoodle, please check here and the Snickerdoodle Facebook page, I’ll post photos every time I get a chance. 

It was a beautiful summer day on Saturday, but windy. I arrived early for Vera & Ben’s wedding vows at Two Jack Lake to secure the nicest spot next to the lake. They had planned an informal ceremony with some family in attendance. As a backup - due to getting a lot of unpredictable weather lately -  Vera had a booking at the Banff Springs hotel so that we could use the setting for their photos. We were glad to have it as an option due to the gusting wind. The last thing a bride wants after careful preparation is to have her hair completely unraveled at the beginning of her day. So after Vera & Ben exchanged vows we headed for the Springs and it was such a pleasure to photograph this elegant and gracious couple. 

Just a small sample for our time at the Banff Springs. More to appear on the Snickerdoodle website when I finally update it in July. 

I must have visited the Environment Canada website every three hours the week before Michelle & Jacson’s wedding. It was to be outdoors in a lovely location and we had loads of ideas in mind for shots in their canoe after the ceremony. But the preceding days were rainy and the forecast kept changing from sunny to overcast to rain and then finally it was to be thunder and lightening. 

But, as often happens with weddings, everything turned out just fine. We had some light rain during the ceremony but the clouds parted right on cue and we were able to spend a sunny afternoon on Vermillion Lakes with bride and groom paddling around in their trusty canoe, “Old Yellah.” Michelle decided on bare feet for the day and they looked lovely peeking out under her dress with an intricate henna design from toe to ankle. I have never had a bride & groom arrive for their photos with a canoe strapped to the roof of their car and then - in full wedding attire - efficiently remove it and launch it in a few minutes. I was rather impressed. It was a very Canadian thing to do. 

Below is a small sample of the photos from our charmed afternoon together.  

Spring arrived in earnest for Saturday’s wedding at the Canmore Ranch, after weeks of wintery weather. I heaved a sigh of relief when I saw the forecast. Jessica & Mike had an intimate wedding in a beautiful setting. The Canmore Ranch is right in the middle of town yet secluded amongst trees and bordering a stream, it is only accessed by a private driveway. It was my first time there. I love weddings in venues like this where there is so much privacy, people seem more at ease. The owners are very friendly and accommodating. After the ceremony we went downtown for some more photos with just Jessica and Mike. We had the added luxury of using Jessica’s Aunt’s purple, convertible, Barracuda. And as you can see, the bride was the driver.

I am posting some of my favorites here though I have not yet gone through all of the photos. 

 Jessica looks at her father as he walks her down the aisle, one of my favorite moments of the day.

I love it when the commissioner has a laugh during the ceremony. This is Patricia Compton.  

 Jessica & her proud mum.

 They have a very playful relationship and it was easy to catch them laughing with each other throughout the day. 

 Mike proposed to Jessica with a candy ring so we just had to pay a visit to the Olde Tyme Candy Shoppe.  

 Jessica has amazing skin. 

On Mother’s Day my husband was kind enough to help me with these photos. And yes, he did a lovely job documenting my belly at six and a half months of pregnancy! He even bought me a colorful shirt as a Mother’s Day present, which you see in the photo. So far I’ve been feeling very healthy (& happy) and both of us are excited about this new step in our lives. After over 11 years of marriage, we are becoming a family. (Even though, I must admit we have always felt like a family with the dogs standing in as very needy, drooling, shedding, wiggling children.) We are busy reading up on the basics and preparing our home for a little person. It is a huge change from our lives until now and we don’t have any illusions about the shock the transition will be for us. 

Though I’ll be winding down my summer bookings in the coming weeks, I will still be doing portrait sessions, as long as I am healthy and mobile. Please drop me a line if you are interested in having your photos done, up until mid July. And if you are booking your 2011 wedding, you can request pricing, I have already begun my bookings for next summer!

While home visiting family this spring, I took the opportunity to do some photos with my sister and her happy little family.

Nova Scotia often has the ideal portrait light - overcast, foggy even. Though people often hope for a bright day for their photos, it’s the grey days that are most flattering. The light is diffused which decreases facial shadows and people are not squinting from the sunshine. 

As you can see, we had one of those great portrait days; we climbed trees, hung out by the water and walked in the woods.

These images were done near Mahone Bay, one of the best places on the planet, where we used to live.

Looking for some ideas for what to get as a gift for the women in your wedding party? Or maybe you are planning to visit the mountains and you’d like to purchase something that is genuinely made in this area by a local artist? Whenever I visit a new area I find it difficult to pick up locally made products, often you flip it over and there it is, the Made in China sticker. If you are like me you should definitely check out Nik Naks.  

Trisha lives here in Canmore and she has been making her contemporary fused glass creations since 2007. You can purchase one of her cheerful pieces of jewelry or you can choose one of her sets of coasters from her online store. Each piece is unique due to the process involved in the glass fusion.

Check back with the Nik Naks website again too as I know she has new creations to be added and is also expanding to her line of products.

If you are planning a wedding in Banff but you do not live here, this might be perfect for you if you are planning a trip to town to book your location and vendors.

A local wedding planner is setting up a tour of the local venues, both indoor and out, to take place each Saturday afternoon from 1-4. You will be chauffeured around town and provided with an itinerary, information from the hotels and vendors. 

This is an ideal way for you to find out about all of the scenic spots in town and ask a lot of questions with one short visit. You can find out all the details on the tour and secure your spot by going to their website. You will note that Get Married in Banff not only offers wedding planning & wedding day coordination services but they also rent things like chair covers and chairs. Whether you are keen to do all of your own planning or would like a hand with some of the details, it is worthwhile to peruse their site. 

I have some very exciting news to share, we are expecting our first child this summer! Just imagine a babydoodle … 

As a result, I am not taking any more summer and autumn 2010 wedding bookings. Instead:  

- I will be offering my Sugar Package (for elopements) during the summer season, weekends too - up until the month of August (when I am due). I will not be able to fly, so (sadly) no helicopter weddings and I will only accept these as last minute bookings (2 weeks in advance) to ensure that I am healthy and strong on your day. 

- I will also be doing portrait sessions during weekends. The summer is a wonderful time to have natural outdoor portraits done in the mountains. They make great gifts for family as well as an ideal way to celebrate a milestone in your life. Check my Specials page (above) for seasonal specials. 

Why is this special? Most professional photographers are unable to offer these services on weekends in the warmer months as they already have weddings booked from May through October .

I was so worried about the weather for Erica & Jeff’s wedding in February - you never know when we are going to get one of our cold snaps here - but when I heard from Erica a few weeks beforehand she said she was thinking positive thoughts, it was going to be warm. And sure enough we had a mild, sunny day so we were able to visit many of my favorite spots in Banff. Below is a small taste of the photos from their day.

Both bride and groom looked stunning. I know Erica’s family could hardly hold back tears upon seeing her. And I am so happy to have been part of their wedding. It was a joyful day and both sides of the family were wonderful, gracious people. As usual I found myself tearing up during the speeches at the reception. I don’t think I was alone. I love weddings :-)

Tammy is a close friend and colleague - a very talented photographer. She is due with her first child in just a few weeks. I was honored to be the one to do her pregnancy photos and it was a lot of fun to spend a few hours with her and her husband creating some fun shots to remember her belly. Their dog even got involved, kissing her belly in one shot.  Below are just a few from our afternoon together. 

Jeanelle and Francois are getting married in Canmore in March. We did their engagement photos on Saturday while it was still snowing. They have chosen to do a candlelight evening ceremony with their closest friends and family. I think it will be lovely. I am especially excited to see Jeanelle’s bouquet as she has ordered a button bouquet from Etsy. Winter weddings require a bit of creativity when planning as you have to take into account the cold and snow which can be tricky for fresh flowers, high heels and strapless gowns. But I think Jeanelle has it covered. 

Here is a small sample of the photos from Saturday.

What should I wear for my engagement portrait session?

Your photos should reflect your style, so try to wear something that you know you look good in. Don’t wear something you wouldn’t normally wear as it may make you feel self conscious. But here are some things to consider:

- If you plan to wear high heels, bring a pair of flats for getting around as the best spots for photos sometimes require a bit of walking or even scrambling. Snickerdoodle sessions can be quite active. 

- Accessories in bright colors can add a great deal to your photos. If you can’t decide, bring along a bag of them such as hats, gloves, scarves, jewelry, umbrellas ….  Props can be fun too, if you want to ride your bike, go skating or fly a kite. 

- Avoid bold patterns and logos.

- Avoid solid black or solid white.

- A miniskirt may be a problem as you’ll be sitting, standing and moving around a lot.

- Avoid baggy clothing as it will add bulk. 

- You can bring along a second set of clothes for a different look - one could be casual and the other dressy.

- Keep in mind that you won’t want your photos to look dated too quickly so try to pick something classic. 

- Try to coordinate your colors with your partner, though you don’t have to match!

- Dress for the weather! I don’t want you to be pale blue. You can always take off your coat for a few shots but plan to be outside for up to two hours and the mountains are notoriously unpredictable. 

- Apply makeup slightly heavier than usual it is often not as obvious through the camera. Even better, schedule a hair appointment the same day and ask if they can apply your makeup too. The pros have the advantage of expert training and the ability to see you in three dimensions. 

Wouldn’t it be fun to have your own wedding website? Not only will it make it simple for you to post all of the information for your wedding day but you can cut down on the paper going back and forth. You can post photos, have a map to your wedding location and even have your guests RSVP. There are a number of companies offering this service but Ewedding has a user-friendly, free service that has several attractive themes from which to choose. 

I recently set up a new package for couples planning to elope. This is very basic coverage for people who like to keep it simple and it only applies to elopements (I have another package for wee weddings):

THE SUGAR PACKAGE | $1200 :

- Two hours of professional photography; coverage of your vows as well as portraits of the two of you at the location(s) of your choice
- Personal online proofing gallery where you can choose your favorites
- All images are color corrected and have general retouching but you can choose 6 of your favorites to get the full retouching treatment. All sorts of magic can be done; removal of blemishes, skin smoothing, slimming, color boosting, application of photo filters for a dreamy effect and so on. Don’t be shy with your requests.
- $200 credit to spend on printing. Your photos will be available for online ordering. So you can apply your credit any way you like. Choose from a wide variety of print sizes to beautiful custom made albums or even a canvas print.
- Disk with all your photos to keep, free of watermarks and ready to print.
- BONUS - if you need a witness I can sign my name on the line too. 

PLEASE NOTE: This package can only be booked a maximum of 3 weeks in advance and is available year round. 
 

I’ve been a bit late to the punch with Facebook for Snickerdoodle even though I have been on Facebook since their first days online. Now I look at my fan page and see that I am very lonely indeed :(

Become a fan and I promise to keep you amused with postings, fresh images and miscellaneous epiphanies. 

Snickerdoodle Photography

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If you are looking at the Snickerdoodle site over the next week, please let me apologize in advance for any disruptions. I am changing the website to include a fresh color scheme along with the new logo. And this has made me re-think other parts of the website too. 

I designed and maintain the Snickerdoodle site, I come from a design background so I enjoy the ability to change the website to suit my needs on an ongoing basis. That being said, I would welcome any feedback, positive or negative from the user perspective. Please do let me know if you have any problems or suggestions in the comments section below. 

Introducing the new snickerdoodle logo (above & below), a much more fashionable, willowy, graceful (ahem, younger) version of myself wielding a camera. Though the wild hair is very fitting - it seems to acquire a personality when I am working at weddings - breaking free of its lashings and curling about my ears.

I am very excited to be able to add that punch of color throughout the snickerdoodle web site. Soon I will be launching a fresh new Snickerdoodle website. Stay tuned for that. 

My graphic designer also sourced out a company that uses 100% post-consumer recycled paper and veggie-based inks to print new cards and letterhead for me which works well with my hope to be as environmentally affectionate as possible. Right now most SnickerContracts are signed digitally, along with correspondence being via email & telephone, your proof galleries are displayed online before choosing photos for albums and prints so that paper is used only when necessary.

While I was looking at the printer’s website I noticed that they also offer a wonderfully whimsical product and I had no choice but to put in an order. In a few weeks I will have my own temporary tattoos available. They will feature my camera-toting redhead. 

If you like my logo and are in the market for one yourself you should check out JR Creative here in Canmore: http://www.jrcreative.ca 

T’is the season for winter weddings and I am excited to work with my clients to find ways to embrace the winter. As long as couples are willing to challenge some traditions we can have a great time creating fresh images on their wedding day. 

• Bouquets of fresh flowers will freeze on a winter day and then wilt. That would be a shame, as I know how much care and attention went into choosing your flowers. There are plenty of alternatives such as button bouquets which you can buy or make (see samples at Princess Laserton or at Etsy.com), feather bouquets (Emplume) or even buying a unique & colorful clutch purse to hold in your photos. You could opt to leave the flowers inside while we do outdoor photos and wear a bright pair of gloves, perhaps with a detail of rhinestones or pearls. There are a plethora of ideas at the Offbeat Bride, a great blog for creative alternatives.

• Shoes will be much too cold even after a few minutes and may even be hazardous in slippery conditions. How about a warm pair of boots? They could even be your something blue. If you are determined to wear your shoes, bring a pair of very warm slip-on boots to walk to the locations. My assistant helps keep track of your belongings while we are shooting. 

• Accessories! You can buy scarves for the men that match your colors, matching gloves & wraps for your bridesmaids.

• Cover up and stay cozy. Some brides will bring a blanket or a coat along to slip on in between shots. But why not search for a cloak (some bridal shops or even costume shops will rent cloaks), a shawl or a beautiful formal coat (the men should have a good formal coat too) that will enhance your outdoor photos? You can stick with a white or ivory coat or have fun with color. 

• Underneath it all, no one needs to know about the warm tights or even long underwear. It makes a world of difference when you are in a chilly breeze. You can remove that layer when you freshen up before the reception.

• Bring along a thermos of something warm for in between shots. Everyone can enjoy a mug of hot chocolate and that will add to the experience of your photos. 

• For sporty couples we can incorporate winter activities like sleigh rides, tabogganing, skating, snowshoeing, cross country skiing…

• Another nice touch is to have some hand warmers for everyone, these are the size of a tea bag and you can keep them in your pockets to warm cold fingers. You’ll find these in ski shops. 

If you have any ideas to add please feel free to put them in the comments section. 

Snickerdoodle is located in Canmore, Alberta, just outside the gate to Banff National Park and only 20 minutes from the town of Banff. It’s a heavenly place to get married and I am pleased to be part of so many weddings that take full advantage of the grand backdrop of the mountains. 

I’ll be posting recent work here for you to see what I have been up to as well as local services and vendors that you might want to check out while you plan your mountain wedding.