SNAP Weddings – Photo and Video for Modern Couples

It seems like summer flies by much too quickly for us, so it’s always nice to get a chance to slow down some and photograph engagement sessions. The nice thing about engagement shoots is that they almost always start with dinner and drinks with the couple, so we have a chance to get to know each other.
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Jennifer and Francis are getting married at the end of the month, so it was great that we were able to squeeze in a quick engagement session before their big day! This quick engagement session became more than just a quick engagement session though, because Mike and I had way too much fun with these guys.

Jennifer is not only a fabulous and talented makeup artist, but she was also bursting with creativity. I love how Jenn wanted to involve her adorable little black apron in a spontaneous photo session in their kitchen. (I have wanted to do this for awhile now!!)

Francis & Jennifer were fantastic “models” to work with, and since they had convinced us that they were having as much fun as we were, we couldn’t resist shooting a few images after dark. (Mike’s favorite!)

Mike & Ashley Kitchen
SNAP Weddings, Calgary engagement photographer

Mike and I just got back home after a week filled with meetings, photo sessions and a great visit with friends and family in Calgary. We feel so blessed to be able to live and work on Vancouver Island where I can be close to my family and the ocean while being able to travel back and forth to Calgary from time to time to work with our wonderful clients there. We feel that It really is the best of both worlds, we miss Calgary very much!

We met with Tom & Leah on one of the sunniest warm spring days Calgary has seen this year. There were small patches of snow on the ground, and large pieces of ice floating down the river, but the sun was warm and the birds were chirping and it felt so good to be out shooting again!

Our trip to Calgary worked out perfectly, we managed to drive in just a couple days after a big snow fall and left to drive home a day before Calgarians got another huge and unexpected snow fall. We still can’t believe how we lucked out! To our friends in Calgary, we sincerely hope (and cross our fingers) that there will be no.more.snow!

Tom and Leah are such a fantastic couple. Not only are they beautiful people, but they are so sweet and so in love! Here are a few favourites from the shoot.

Ah, yes… the white barn. Even though we’ve used this location what feels like a million times, our clients keep asking… so we keep shooting. I really can’t blame them, I too just L-O-V-E the white peeling paint texture, and can imagine these photos looking great in a modern home!

Thanks for a great time Tom & Leah! We look forward to your wedding in August!

Ashley Kitchen
SNAP photographer

We had a great time walking around Eau Claire and Prince Island Park in Calgary with Marissa and Mike. It was a beautiful fall day, the leaves were still yellow and the air was still warm. Because my husband and I now live on Vancouver Island and work part time in Calgary with our clients, it felt so great to back at Prince Island for an engagement shoot. When we lived in downtown Calgary it was our tradition Sunday mornings to find ourselves a great place for brunch (such as the lovely Avenue Diner on Stephen Avenue) and then to burn off the calories on a big walk by the river.

We met Mike and Marissa for the first time before the shoot, and because we find it difficult ourselves to be in front of the camera we realize that it is probably not the most comfortable experience for our clients! It is always nice to sit and have some coffee – or in this case a passionfruit margarita, belini and beers (for the boys of course) beforehand. We think it makes all the difference to get to know your photographers first, so that you can be comfortable being yourself in front of the lense.

Marissa and Mike were naturals, and they kept up the giggles, flirting and smiles the entire time! Thanks for a great walk through the park you two!

Marissa and Mike will be having the time of their lives next year as they make their weddings vows in the beautiful country of Costa Rica! Congratulations to the two of you!

~Ashley

It often seems as if every engagement story has a common element to them. The guy has “the plan” – the idea in his mind of exactly how that magic moment is going to happen. The girl, unaware of “the plan”, thinks the guy is crazy.

On a trip to Japan, Bobby was going to propose to Hildy, and he knew exactly how he was going to do it. While on an evening cruise in the harbour, he was going to ask her. The problem came when they got off at the wrong train station.

Todd and Elaine are two of the sweetest people we’ve met recently. They met while at University in Ontario, and have spent more time apart than together as they’ve continued their studies. Todd finished his schooling in Calgary, while Elaine headed to Texas. We had to schedule this shoot the day Elaine arrived for a brief visit, although I’m sure you’ll agree that the travelling did nothing to damper the spirits of these two!

Pamela and Curtis are getting married this fall, and we have been looking forward to their wedding for a while! In the middle of our photo session, the sky broke loose and pelted the cement with heavy rain and hail! We found cover just in time (before we got caught) and waited out the crazy rain storm. After about 10 minutes the rain stopped, the clouds parted – and we had some lovely golden light to work with at the end of our shoot. It was totally worth the wait!

Some favourites…

Alexis and Jordan are high school sweet hearts! They have been a pair since FOREVER, and are tying the knot this fall! Mike and I are so excited to take photos of these two.

Alexis and Jordan are both so sweet and easy going, and it is easy to capture special moments between them. They are clearly just as in love now as they ever have been.

It has been an amazing, fun, and exciting summer for Mike and I. Sadly, we must face the fact that summer is actually coming to an end.

I’ve been denying the fact for awhile now as I’m sure most of you have!

Mike and I have been putting in a lot of overtime in the office to get all of our files in order, books designed, and photos edited, we really haven’t gotten out into the sunshine a whole lot! It was so nice to get outside and take photos in the warm evening sunshine, and it was especially awesome because we got to have some fun with Shawna and Kevin!

Before we headed out to the park, we snapped a few “family photos” of the couple with their newest addition, “Remy” the dog. We were impressed by their great parenting skills. They recently finished their puppy training, and are now helping teach the class! I know… it’s hard to believe that this guy is still a puppy! He is so big and so adorable.

The park by their house was beautiful, I just love the colors at this time of the year!

After a nice walk through the park, we decided to get into the car and find ourselves a nice place to get some “sunset photos.” Instead, we found ourselves at a big locked gate questioning whether we should hop it or not for a few shots.

Even though Mike was very hesitant, Kevin and Shawna were up for anything and we hopped the gate. There is just something so mysterious about abandoned buildings in the middle of a massive field.

We didn’t venture too far, we snapped a few photos before Mike convinced us to head back. (apparently he got into too much trouble hopping gates in his younger years)

… and we headed back to the car.

Shawna and Kevin, we are SO excited about your wedding in November. The colors and location and menu… oh my! We now have something super exciting to look forward to about winter!