ANYWAY, discussion came about of a new personal blog that I’ve started recently and I then told Shaun that one of my biggest inspirations lately has come from a blog that isn’t even a photographers blog, but one filled with the most amazing imagery and LOVE. The images on the this blog move me….a LOT.  Love, shared in every way possible, the good, the bad and the truth that goes along with it.  LE LOVE
It wasn’t until then that I found out that this is one of Steph’s favorite blogs as well, so much so that one of the photos on the candles at the reception had a quote from one of the images on the Le Love blog.  Things like this make me so giddy and excited it’s kind of ridiculous actually.  How random thoughts and verbalizing them to the person you are talking to can come across such coincidental, yet perfect things that make everything surrounding those thoughts just that much more amazing.  When Shaun told me which blog post they got the idea from I knew exactly which one he was talking about which was even more exciting….but then more thoughts went through my head….realizing that I think I was so busy trying to get shots of the details at their wedding that I think I completely missed that photo on the candle….then even more thoughts on how I wish I’d known BEFORE the wedding so I could have taken a picture of such an amazing detail.  A detail that isn’t about sparkle, or color, or extravagance….one that is truly from the heart and has so much meaning.

The title of this blog post…. i ♥ your ♥….this is what I am talking about, and this is exactly what Shaun & Steph’s wedding day was all about.

2.5 years ago I met Shaun while at a Jesh workshop with my now, bestest photog friend ever, Dana.  Who would have known that a love workshop (ok, yes, I know, it was about photography too) would result in, not only an experience that was life changing for  us all, but that it would bring us so close together…still…this many years later.  It was right after that workshop that Shaun met Steph. She was the bridesmaid in a wedding that he was photographing.  Yes, the photographer totally picked up the bridesmaid! (how awesome is that! haha)  I am a true believer that EVERYTHING happens for a reason.

When I got the email a year ago from Shaun and Steph, asking if Dana and I would be a part of their wedding day, I wasn’t even half way through reading it when Dana phoned me freaking out!  Not only had neither of us much wedding experience at all at that time, but we were being asked to photograph another wedding photographer’s wedding.  The best part about it all, is that we were asked to do it as equals, as a team, the 2 of us.  We couldn’t have felt more privileged…..AND intimidated! lol  All feelings aside, we knew we must do this and couldn’t wait for this wonderful day to arrive.

As I’ve said a few times lately….wherever you go, go with all your heart.  I think this is exactly what the 4 of us did this day. ♥

Music is a HUGE part of Shaun’s life.  Dana came up with the most fanfreakintastic idea to do some ring shots with an iphone and ipod (yes, she is brilliant isn’t she!)  Shaun, along with a few other wonderful people I had the privilege to finally meet, have a great music blog where they share their thoughts and musical love.

GUESS WHAT!!!?!!!  Yep, you guessed it….although I had no idea about the whole i ♥ your ♥ thing until after the fact, I still actually photographed it!!! YAY! I must also add that the cookies you see in that jar….ummm yeah, best chocolate chip cookies ever (i ate 3!!! lol).  They are Shaun’s favorite and they were all home made by someone who loves them dearly so they be could be shared with all of their guests.

Remember how I said little things can get me very excited, THIS did as well.  Hello wedding vows read from the iphone 4!!!!  If I could have, I would have grabbed one of the guests chairs and climbed up on it so I could have shot directly over Shaun’s shoulder to get this from the view I imagined in my mind.

Nice legs Lauren!  Ok, you too Rob.

All of the people who made it possible: (I totally stole this from Dana’s blog post hahaha.  You really should check out the stunning images she took from this magical day as well!)

Ceremony and Reception – Goose Hummock Golf Course, Gibbons Alberta
Band – Martin Kerr, http://www.martinkerrmusic.com
Dress – Holly Stalder, http://www.etsy.com/shop/hollystalder
Jewellery – My Lavaliere, http://www.etsy.com/shop/mylavaliere?ref=seller_info
Make up – Stephanie Maniaci, http://www.bellamiamakeup.ca
Hair – Exalte Salon in Edmonton, AB
Kilt rental – Scottish imports, http://anythingscottish.com
Flowers – the bride..with help from her mom & friends (and inspiration via @marthastewart & @andreahanki!)
Sound guy – Rob Saramaga… http://www.nuancesound.com

And the amazing Red Leaf Studios who photographed their ACTUAL engagement (see the images here: Red Leaf Studios) the images were used throughout the event in many creative and wonderful ways.

Thank you again, Shaun and Steph, for everything.  ♥ ♥

xoxo
Alicia

p.s.  shaun scade is THE best hugger in the world.  #forreal #justsaying #truestory

p.s.s.  I know I’ve already linked to Dana’s site twice now in this blog post, but I had to come back to add one more.  It seriously blows my mind how 2 people, with practically the same gear, the exact same light, the exact same subjects and same situations revolving around the day can see the world in two completely unique and different artistic ways!  You must go look at her images and see for yourself.  Dana’s Vision

p.s.s.s.  (wow, I haven’t done this whole p.s. thing since I was a kid….I wouldn’t be surprised if there some cooler hip way to do it now that I just don’t know about)  This was only part 1 of Shaun and Stephs love capturing.  They also hired Dana and I for a day after session as well.  Keep your eyes open!

seriously though.  i have been inspired lately in a way that words can not describe.  if you are an artist, you all know what it’s like to get in a funk artistically, it sucks….and it sucks real bad.  i was in one for the longest time it seemed this past year, nothing i did was really loved by me.  and if it’s not loved by me…..blah!!!  i know not all people are in this business for the same reasons as me, but loving what i do, i think, is extremely important.  anyway….i’m not in that blah funk anymore….yeah yeah!!!

i am in a completely new amazing place.  one that i truly don’t think i have ever really been in, both in life and in my work.  it’s like a inspirational creative natural high that just has taken over and i can’t get enough of it.  the most amazing thing about it all, is it isn’t only inspiration from others, it’s also from myself.  who knew one could actually inspire themselves?!!!!  hello, can you say amazing!  please don’t take that in a “oh damn, wow is this person arrogant”, it’s not like that at all.  it’s from the heart, it is what is inside of me, it’s what i feel.  it is those feeling that are coming from some of the work i’ve done lately, or even just an idea of something i want to do that is driving everything in my right now.  i am not caring what anyone else thinks, i am not worrying that my style might be changing (ummm yep, that is kinda happening….i think…or maybe it’s just growing?  i don’t know really, whatever it is i am ok with it though), i am not trying to really be like anyone else (although there are definitely lots of awesome amazing people out there who’s work, or words have inspired me in other ways as well).  i truly feel like i am just being me.

i blogged a little while ago…here, i’ll link to it…wherever you go, go with all your heart…these few words have meant so much to me lately.
feel what you are doing, enjoy what you are doing, LOVE what you are doing.  follow those feelings and don’t worry about anyone else but you.  i guarantee that not only will it maybe change how you feel about your own work and artistic style, but damn will it feel good!!!

i’m not going to re-read what i just wrote too much, so if it’s kind of all over the place, that’s how my thoughts have kind of been lately too lol.  i’m not sure if i got out everything i wanted to say, or if this will even be helpful to anyone or not, but part of my inspiration today was partially due to a few pictures i snapped with my iphone of my kids that i all of a sudden felt tremendously inspired by….which in turn gave me the urge to blog.  (i know, i know, i have been a horrible blogger lately!)  going back even further, before snapping the iphone pictures was my kids themselves.  they have inspired me like no other lately and that is why you are seeing them so much on my blog.  i have lots of other stuff i need to blog as well, and i will get to it, i promise, but my life has just felt so amazing lately and a lot of those feelings are because of them.  this is even more amazing because i haven’t really photographed them nearly as often as i should over the last….hmmm, well way too long.  yesterday daegen allowed me (after much persuasion…i tried not to bribe, really i did haha) to convince him to cut his hair.  he did want a hair cut, but he didn’t really know if he wanted the hair cut i wanted him to have.  so…anyway, he loved his new cut and with that came the urge to go clothes shopping. hello new daegen!  today he was shopping on jcrew pointing out all the things he wanted hahaha.  love it!

i’m totally going off track now.  today’s inspiration…my kids, my work, (my iphone haha), following my heart.
the stemming of the feelings for this blog post.
♥♥

the only thing else i have left to say is “i want to shoot my kids!”  :)

xoxo
alicia