Feeling awkward in front of the camera
As professional wedding photographers, one of the most asked questions we get from clients is about feeling awkward in front of the camera and what to do about it. It comes in different descriptions:
- “I feel awkward in front of the camera”
- “I’m not photogenic”
- “I don’t look good in photos”
- “I hate having my photo taken”
If you ever think any of those thoughts, this post is for you.
Why we all feel awkward in front of a camera
First of all, why do we feel awkward in front of a camera in the first place? In everyday life there’s rarely a moment where we experience a similar event. You don’t think about how to hold your hands while choosing a watermelon in the grocery store. You just do it naturally.
The feeling of discomfort only happens in situations where we become extremely self-conscious about how someone else (or a camera) perceives us. We want to look our best, but don’t know how to make it happen physically (because we never practice it). Next thing we know, our mind kicks in and tells us how awkward we must look to the outside world, and that it’s a lost cause. So we freeze up, or overcompensate, which makes us look uncomfortable or stressed and reinforces our mind in its ramblings (“see, I told you you don’t look good in photos”). Wash, rinse, repeat.
So how can we break this vicious circle of feeling overly self-conscious?
Tip #1: feeling awkward is normal
The first remedy against feeling awkward in front of a camera, is knowing that you’re not alone in this feeling. Except for professional models (and even they did when starting) everyone feels uneasy or nervous in front of a camera. We’ve worked with hundreds of clients from all over the world, with different cultural backgrounds, ages and religions. And all of them consistently shared a sense of feeling awkward in front of the camera.
I can relate. As much experience as I have being behind a camera, whenever Tanja aims a lens at me, I feel like a deer caught in a headlight. Sure it gets better with time and exposure (forgive me the pun) but that initial awareness of “I’m on camera” never goes away. All we can do, is work through it, which brings me to the second remedy: knowing it’s a temporary thing.
Tip #2: feeling uncomfortable is temporary
Tanja and I have worked with hundreds of clients, and every single one of them looked amazing in their photos. Not because they were experienced models, but because feeling awkward is a temporary thing.
During your photo shoot, it’s important to know that the discomfort doesn’t last. Knowing this is half the work, because it helps you realize that you too can feel relaxed and have fun during your photo shoot. The awkwardness is there, but only for a bit.
Tip #3: the awkward photos will never see the light of day
Guaranteed, your shoot will contain a few awkward looking photos. Way, way, less than all the amazing ones, but nonetheless. And that’s why our clients never see the entire photo set. We always pick the very best photos for them, and eliminate the rejects. I’m pretty sure that’s what any professional photographer worth their salt will do for you. Consider it an essential part of the ‘magic’ that a professional performs for you. Just like when you go to a restaurant: you want to enjoy the meal by eating it, not see how they prepare it.
Tip #4: trust yourself, and your photographer
When you booked a professional photographer for your photo shoot, you were convinced they were the best choice for you. So why second guess your own judgment? Trust yourself, and know that you’re in good hands with your photographer. They know exactly how to make you look your best in photos.
Tip #5: a drink on shooting day keeps the awkwardness at bay
Before every photo shoot Tanja and I sit down with our clients for a casual chat over drinks. The choice is always theirs, but we’ve learned from experience that a small amount of alcohol before the shoot is the perfect cure for nervousness. Take note, I said a little bit. For most people this means no more than one glass. You know yourself best, so dose accordingly.
Tip #6: you can’t feel awkward while playing
Play really is the best medicine against feeling awkward. Think about it: in play, you never feel awkward because you’re totally immersed in enjoying the experience. Even when playing a game of ‘be as awkward as you can’ will only add to the fun. Play makes you forget about your immediate environment, and enjoy the moment. Consequently, you’ll feel relaxed and at ease.
During our clients’ photo shoots we include plenty of games and interactive ‘poses’, designed to keep you immersed in the moment. You’ll instantly forget you’re in a photo shoot, and will show your most authentic and upbeat self, which reflects in beautiful photos.
Guaranteed success
In our 8+ years of photographing weddings we’ve never photographed a couple who were professional models. For a lot of them it was their first professional photo shoot ever. But they all looked consistently amazing in their photos.
Most if not all of them felt nervous at the start of our shoot, but we helped them work through it by making use of the remedies above. So if you’re still doubting if these tips will work for you, take a look at our blog.
And most of all, have fun!
Wells Gray Provincial Park road trip in Winter
In January of this year, Tanja and I went on a road trip to beautiful Wells Gray Provincial Park, home to a couple of Canada’s highest waterfalls. Our vacation consisted of snowshoe hikes in stunning Winter landscapes and cozy cabin life. Winter vacation at its best.
Traveling in Winter
As wedding photographers, we lead a very seasonal lifestyle. In our peak season, April through October, we live at ‘full speed’. On weekends we photograph weddings and engagement shoots around the clock, on weekdays we catch up on the back-end work (photo editing, emails and meetings). Once the weather turns grey and moody, things slow down and we get to take a vacation.
At first, traveling during the months of cold and rain seemed a serious challenge, especially in BC. Just take a look at our past trips. Through experience, we found our ways. Better backpacks, better shoes, better outfits (merino wool, seriously, get it) and winter tires for our car have widened our opportunities for travel in the off-season.
I also learned to appreciate the perks of traveling in the off-season. Less traffic on the road, cheaper accommodations and best of all: hardly any other visitors. The places that are consistently crowded with tourists in Summer, are completely deserted in Winter. Not to mention, the landscapes look entirely different, covered in snow and ice. Like this year, when we visited Wells Gray Provincial Park in the midst of Winter.
Wells Gray Provincial Park
Wells Gray Provincial Park had been at the top of Tanja’s wish list for a long time. Before going there, I hadn’t even heard of it (all I knew was that “there are a lot of waterfalls”). Like most of Tanja’s suggestions, the location was a gem in disguise. Hidden away in the interior of BC, the park is bordered by the Rocky Mountains to the East, and the Cariboo Mountains to the North. The park is accessed from the nearby village of Clearwater, BC.
Most of the Wells Gray Park can only be visited in the Summer months because of heavy snowfall. That said, plenty of locations remain available year-around. The park staff impressed me with their continuous plowing of important roads and parking lots.
Spahat Falls
For our first day in Wells Gray Park, we preferred to keep things easy. After a quick glance at the park map we decided to follow the main road to get a lay of the land, and stop at a few of the easiest hikes. The first stop on our route, was Spahat Falls.
The viewing platform for Spahat Falls was located withing a few hundred meters from the parking lot. It offered a view over the enormous crater and canyon that the Clearwater River has carved out of the lava rocks over time. All I could think of, was how enormous the falls must become during the Spring melt, as opposed to its then ‘modest’ size.
Majerus Farm
After our pit stop at Spahat Falls, we continued our drive through Wells Gray Park. At a certain point, we noticed a cleared space along the road that offered a beautiful view on Murtle River and Pyramid Mountain. It turned out to be the Majerus Farm parking lot for snowshoe hikers and cross country skiers. At the time we limited ourselves to a quick peek at the view.
We did come back to this location on our last day. The freshly groomed trails were a pleasure to use with snowshoes. We picked a 6 km hike that took us to Majerus’ Farm (a homestead that’s now in total decay) and then onwards in the forest.
Helmcken Falls
Our final stop for the day was the most famous highlight of Wells Gray Park: Helmcken Falls. I knew this not only because of the internet, but also because of the enormous parking lot. Just imagining the throngs of tourists that must visit the location in Summer, made me grateful to be there in Winter. The lookout deck and hiking trail were deserted.
Once I saw the Helmcken Falls, I did understand what the craze was about. They were stunning. The sheer size of the falls is humbling, and that was even before melting season had started.
Tanja had shown me a video of a brave ice climber who scaled the ice wall that surrounds the falls. The video seemed crazy enough, but seeing the actual scene was mind blowing. Climbing a wall of ice in freezing temperatures while getting soaked by the waterfall, no thanks. Kudos to the ones doing it, but I’ll happily pass.
The hiking trail along the canyon of Helmcken Falls is worth the hike too. It’s not too long, and gives you beautiful views of the surrounding mountain range and Clearwater River.
Dawson Falls
A few days into our trip, we felt ready for some serious snowshoe hiking. Friends had visited Wells Gray Park a few months earlier and tipped us about Dawson Falls in the Murtle River. There were view points for the falls on both North and South banks of Murtle River. We visited both of them, starting with the North side.
We parked our car along the road to Pyramid Campground. Months before, our friends had been able to drive all the way to the camping, and follow the trail along the banks of Murtle River. But for us, that was no longer an option. The road was only plowed for a few 100 meters. Mentally prepared for the additional distance, we trudged through the deep snow. Until halfway to the campground, we found a shortcut trail that led us straight to the river. It saved us a good chunk of time, and within no time, we looked out over the falls.
Before calling it a day, we did a quick pit stop at the South side of Dawson Falls, which offered a totally different view of the same waterfalls. The trail was considerably easier, but I did prefer the North viewpoint.
Moul Falls
The next ‘famous’ Wells Gray Park location on our list was Moul Falls (I still wonder if the ‘ou’ in Moul is pronounced like in yule, or like in mouth :)). Unlike the other waterfalls we visited, we could actually hike down from the top to the bottom of the falls.
After a long, but easy, hike through the forest, we arrived at the top of Moul Falls. The trail continued towards the descent, but signs warned us it’s slippery during Winter. Tanja and I felt brave, and decided to carefully venture forward and turn back if things would get too gnarly. They didn’t. Sure, it was slippery at times, but nothing our cleats couldn’t handle (Costco cleats for the win!). And the sight was totally worth the effort.
We celebrated our courageous attitude by taking a few self-portraits, assisted by the (way too heavy) tripod Tanja had lugged down for the occasion.
Cabin life
Besides gazing at a ton of waterfalls and hike through the snow, we had planned our vacation to contain a good portion of R&R. With that in mind, Tanja had found us a beautiful cozy, private, cabin on Airbnb. It was perfect.
Few things beat finishing a day of hiking and playing in the snow, with recovering in a toasty log cabin. Except for a sauna, and a camp fire with homemade deer smokies roasted on a stick :).
In search of nature, a change of lifestyle and a second business
Four years ago, we started to focus in our wedding photography business on working with spontaneous and adventurous couples. We didn’t chose these words randomly, but discovered them after an intensive process of coaching. They were the best representation of our life values. I emphasize represent, because they’re words meant to convey a tangible idea and image. We could’ve picked independent, bold, daring, curious or any other synonym instead. But spontaneous and adventurous worked best to sketch a vivid image.
The long version of our life values was: living life on our own terms, follow our internal compass (gut feeling), venture out in nature because it’s where we feel best, embrace curiosity and dare to show our craziest and goofiest side.
More than a brand
Initially, the process intended to give our business a brand by matching it to our authentic self. But the awareness of what was most important to us, impacted every aspect of our being. Together with our business (and wedding photography style), slowly but surely our personalities changed. The more we allowed ourselves to be our most genuine self, the happier we felt. We continued to learn about ourselves, and explored new interests whenever they bubbled up.
As we grew in our confidence and authenticity, so did our desire to share our experiences. And we wanted to elaborate on a lot more themes than just transforming our lives. Topics like reconnecting with our entire being (physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually), finding awareness through nature therapy and unplugging, and tuning into our gut feeling for guidance. Our wedding photography business didn’t feel like a suitable platform to elaborate on the subject of changing your life. At least not on a bigger scale. So instead, we decided to create a second business. Which happened during an epic cabin weekend in April 2018.
Horsefly, BC
Let’s first jump back to the Summer of 2017 when Tanja and I photographed a beautiful ranch wedding in a tiny village called Horsefly. Until the wedding, we’d never heard the name. That was, in a non-insect related context (our clients guaranteed us the village wasn’t infested by horseflies). Located 60 km East of Williams Lake, BC it’s a haven of peace and quiet nestled amidst lakes, mountains and forests.
As soon as Tanja and I drove into Horsefly, we felt there was something special about the place. The stunning nature, the peacefulness, the lack of cell phone connection and the overall atmosphere. When we drove home after the wedding, we rekindled our dream of living in a cabin in a remote region. And for me to become a full-fledged outdoorsman. But it also reminded us of our desire to start that second business.
Creating a new business
Then and there, we decided to not postpone things any longer. Within months, rough plans were drawn up together with our Belgian friend and co-founder, Eve. At the same time, we decided that a weeklong retreat was needed to hash out the details of our new venture. What better location, than the place that sparked our imagination in the first place: Horsefly.
We searched, and found, a beautiful cabin on AirBnB. It proved to be the perfect getaway: unplugged from city life and modern technology we felt ready to materialize our plans. For a week, we hiked in nature, watched the local wildlife, enjoyed the complete silence, and drew up our new business. Primal Pioneers was born.
Primal Pioneers
At Primal Pioneers, we tell the stories of our journeys towards a more fulfilling and connected life, by discovering our Primal Self (the most authentic self we all have). By nature, our journeys are an ongoing process, which we experience through trial and error. No one is born in this world with a manual for the perfect, happy and fulfilling life. Which is exactly why we’ve created Primal Pioneers. Because there’s value in coming together and sharing our stories. So we can learn from each other’s experiences, and support one another in the mysterious journey we call Life.
*** 2020 update, Primal Pioneers no longer exists, but the ideas behind it live stronger than ever. We now own a piece of land in Horsefly and are building our dream cabin! ***
Snowshoeing at First Peak Mt. Seymour
Three weeks ago, Tanja and I decided to venture out for a snowshoe hike at First Peak Mt. Seymour (officially named First Pump Peak). A few years ago, we’d visited First Peak on an early Summer hike. Strangely enough, I could vividly remember a lot of the scenery along the trail. Usually, my memory abandons me when it comes to remembering any aspect of a hike. But unlike last time, we prepared ourselves way better for this hike. Our physical fitness has improved majorly, and we could rely on our brand new hiking poles (thank you Costco!). They turned out to be an absolute necessity, especially for the final steep stretches of First Peak.
Snowshoeing on the North Shore mountains is always a lot of fun, not in the least because it’s totally free. A few years ago, we bought sets of quality snowshoes, and ever since, we strive to make our money back by doing free snowshoe hikes. And thanks to the provincial park organizations on both Mount Seymour and Cypress mountain, you can. Of course, both mountain resorts offer their own paid snowshoe trails. But if you ask me, provincial park Winter trails are just as good, if not better. The park rangers mark the trails with poles, and signage informs you about the avalanche risk.
As soon as Tanja had parked the car, a bunch of bold ravens who seem to own the ski resort’s parking lot greeted us. Tanja always gets overly excited when she sees (or hears) ravens, and usually responds with her impression of a raven’s call. The ravens were not impressed. I think so far she’s only convinced a seagull to reply, but that may have been a coincidence. Anyways…
Accompanied by beautiful Spring weather, we hit the trail. When we reached the overlook of Dog Mountain, (which we hiked to a few months before), the sun peaked through the clouds in the perfect way to spotlight the scenery. Tanja went crazy with the camera and telling me how perfect the light was. Until it wasn’t, then she went crazy telling me how imperfect the light was.
After the photographic intermezzo, we continued our hike up to the peak. At one point, we noticed a bunch of hikers and snowshoers coming down a slope, walking along an unmarked trail. They told us it was a ‘shortcut’ to First Peak, and although shorter, a little more challenging. Not exactly reassuring when you’re in avalanche area (a few months ago, a person was scooped up and injured by an avalanche near First Peak). So we decided against the shortcut and chose the marked trail instead. Perhaps we were overly cautious, but if you ask me, I don’t gamble when it comes to the mountainous backcountry.
Along the last stretch towards the top, Tanja whipped out the camera a few more times and took all kinds of cool photos of me doing adventurous stuff in the scenery. Sometimes I don’t understand where she gets the energy to do these things when we’re in the middle of climbing a mountain, but I admire her for it. And I love the results.
When we finally reached First Peak (which requires an additional climb on an unmarked trail, otherwise you don't get the view), the panorama made my day. I remember standing there in Summer a few years ago, feeling like shit because I was totally out of shape. But this time, I felt great. And not just because of the hiking poles :).
First Peak snowshoe photos
An unsuccessful hike to Davis Lake in Mission
Recently, Tanja and I attempted to hike to Davis Lake in Mission. And we failed. But that’s ok. Because it reminded me that adventures teach you about serendipity. And about preparation. Let me start at the beginning.
First of all, it's Jelger here. Tanja’s pretty swamped into editing some photos from shoots she recently undertook on her own. And although usually I carry the post-production workload on my own, she’s now immersing herself in the exciting world of color and contrast correction. So I decided to grab the proverbial microphone of our blog and tell you the story about our unsuccessful hike to Davis Lake.
Recently I’d bought the Backroad Map Book of Vancouver and the Lower Mainland because I’d like to explore lesser-known hikes. So two weeks ago, I started poring over the maps and stumbled on a tiny provincial park in Mission, BC, named Davis Lake Provincial Park. After confirming its existence on the official website, we decided to let spontaneity get the upper hand despite the late time in the day and drove to the supposed location of the lake. Bad decision. Or not bad, just not the smartest.
For those of you who have the Backroad Map Book, you’ll know that the maps are not the most detailed. But I figured Google Maps would fill in the gaps that the book left. I mean, how hard can it be. Right? Harder than you’d think!
We got to the vicinity of the lake and drove for a few kilometers along the unpaved road. Except, no lake, no signs, nothing at all. According to the GPS system and Google Maps, we’d already passed the lake. Strange, you’d expect some kind of clue for an official Provincial Park. So we drove the same way back. Maybe we’d passed the entrance. Nope. Nothing. Meanwhile, we’d ventured into territory without cell phone reception, which eliminated online sleuthing for clues to the mysterious entrance. So instead we asked a few teenagers in off-road vehicles, who hadn’t even heard of the lake/provincial park. Frustrated, we caved and drove back until our phones could serve us the help of a few bloggers.
Armed with hints and coordinates of where the entrance was supposedly hidden we returned to the spot we’d meanwhile passed not once, but twice! We parked and talked with a few helpful hikers, who unfortunately only could confirm that according to their maps the lake should be awaiting us behind the forest. “Success!” I remember thinking, even though meanwhile the time had advanced to an hour before sunset. But according to the map, the lake was no more than 15 minutes away.
We loaded our survival kit from the car and ventured into the dense forest. It’d be our first true hike off the beaten path. Hell, there was no path! But I was prepared. Every 50 yards or so, I tied some flagging tape to a clearly visible spot, checked my compass and pushed forward. Except… every single tree looked like its neighbor! And even though I could still catch a glimpse of our car in the distance, as soon as I’d turn around I lost all track of direction and location. It felt… hard, and somewhat intimidating. But onwards we went. Until we hit a pretty big gully. Too big to breeze by, and no way around it.
We stopped, and I felt quite frustrated. I had imagined the process to be a lot easier, to be honest. And instead, I felt like an unprepared idiot. Tanja suggested we do the wise thing and return to our car (which was a ridiculous 10 or so minutes away). Not in the least because the sun was about to set. After much fretting, I concurred. But it took me a while to gain perspective on my situation.
Here’s the deal. Born and raised in Belgium, I never experienced true, uncharted wilderness. Sure there are forests in Belgium, but I always joke about them that it’s pretty much impossible to get lost in them. Just keep walking in a straight line for a few hours, and sooner or later you’ll end up in a village. It makes it hard to truly gauge the inherent risk of BC’s vast nature. Sure, I’ve heard and read about it, but never experienced it as such. So far, Tanja and I have pretty much always stuck to trail hiking. But now, with my newfound desire for more off-the-beaten-path adventuring, I’ll have to step up my game, by learning to actually use that compass and get some detailed topographic maps of the territory. I’m already working on improving my skills in these areas.
As for Davis Lake Provincial Park. More online research taught me that despite its official status, the whole thing suffers from severe administrative neglect. Vandals have removed the signs, and the entrance trail is overgrown, making it virtually impossible to spot from the road unless you’ve got exact coordinates. Which I do now.
Before leaving the area, we goofed around on a nearby clearing and took some photos of each other. But we’ll be back for the actual lake. To be continued.
Photos of our attempt to reach Davis Lake
Off the grid in Squamish
This post about the two of us driving on unpaved roads in Squamish is going to be different. For the past few weeks I’ve been writing about the amazing experiences with our clients in the past season. But life is not all work. At least it shouldn’t be. And that’s exactly what this post will be all about. How sometimes life gets in the way. Of anything and everything. And how we try our best at coping with it. And as a teaser: you’ll find out why you always see photos of me (Jelger) in nature, and not Tanja.
For the past few years, Tanja and I have been gradually tapping into a typical Canadian hobby: hiking. We genuinely love getting out in nature to counter the hustle and bustle of being wedding photographers. Especially in peak season (April through October) when we’re consistently working one to two weddings per weekend on top of our usual weekday workload.
Working that much easily sneaks up on us, in that we don’t get ‘off of work’ anymore. In those moments, it’s easier for us to say “I’ll quickly take care of this email” or “I just want to finish up this batch of editing” than telling ourselves it’s ok to take time off. Which is why we’ve made Mondays our mandatory day off. And ideally, we spend those Mondays out in a patch of BC’s beautiful rugged nature. Ideally.
What I didn’t mention before is that when our lives get stressful, it’s often easier to find refuge in the online world than to go out and climb some rocks or dangle our feet in a river. Social media are always available and willing to serve us the random nuggets of gossip and uninteresting information that apparently our brains crave. It’s the perfect solution. Until you put the phone away. Which brings me back to the ideal scenario.
Ideally every Monday morning would greet us with sunshine and birdsong, prompt us to energetically jump out of bed, whip up a healthy breakfast in no time, and race to our car. Next we would enthusiastically drive to a lush forest or a babbling river. And of course all the while we’d be accurately documenting things in photo and video so we can share the hell out of it. If only…
Usually our life looks more like this. Wake up with a sore body from all the standing, walking, running, squatting, stretching, crouching and lying that creative photography requires. Shuffle to the kitchen while huddling ourselves in the first piece of clothing (or blanket) that crosses our paths on the way to the coffee machine. Nestle into a cocoon-like pose in our loungy cushion corner while letting the espresso do its job of mentally unfurling us. An hour goes by glancing at a phone or book.
Finally either one of us (usually Tanja) says: “we should go on a hike”, which is consistently followed by “sure, sounds great” by the other (usually me). Silence fills the room until I’ll say: “where?”. Which is when either Tanja knows a random location she’s picked up, or we sighingly grab our phones and hope to find a location online. As soon as we’ve settled on a location, it likely takes us another hour to scrounge together whatever we need before actually leaving. But the good news is that once we’ve hit the road, we are enthusiastic about getting out in nature.
The documenting part is still a mixed bag though. Often the stress and fatigue leave me feeling that a camera is the last thing I want to touch. So it’s Tanja taking the photos. Which is why there are so many photos of me, and not her. And it’s also why I like to hunker down in cave-like spaces, looking like a wounded animal.
On one of these trips, we decided to explore one of the unpaved roads in Squamish we’d discovered in Google Maps. Additional bonus: no cell phone reception. Which would force us to remain unplugged.
We had no idea where we were going. And neither did it matter. Doing things completely different is often the best remedy for being stuck in a rut. Exploring nature, instead of Facebook. it was rough to get there, mentally that is, going through the above scenario. But what mattered was that we did it. And sometimes, that’s enough.
Ps. on our way home, the sun was setting so we did a pitstop at one of our favorite provincial parks: Porteau Cove.
We went back in Fall...
Also in Squamish
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Cypress Falls Park engagement shoot: Fiona and Daniel
Fiona and Daniel chose Cypress Falls Park in West Vancouver for their engagement shoot. It was an outstanding choice given their spontaneous and adventurous nature. But there's a lot more to tell to this story, so let me explain.
Tanja and I are wedding photographers for spontaneous and adventurous couples. You’ve probably read this on our homepage. We didn’t randomly pick these two words (actually there’s a third one, candid). They were the result of a long and intense process of soul searching. So to us, they’re not just words. They’re fundamental values that function as a compass in life. To ourselves, and to our clients. Because since we started to celebrate these values we meet the most amazing clients. And often enough they teach us about making these values even more profound in life. Like Daniel and Fiona, who took us to an all new level of adventure.
It was Summer when we met this fun duo for the first time. Despite the season, it was a grey and chilly day, urging us to find shelter in a coffee shop. The hours passed by in a blink as we chatted about all things important in life. Which led us to their engagement shoot. Tanja and I always encourage our clients to get the most out of it by combining it with an adventurous activity. Daniel and Fiona hardly hesitated to bring up one of Daniel’s hobbies: rock climbing. It was the perfect idea: a beautiful couple in an outdoor, rugged location while doing one of their favourite activities.
A few months later we gathered at the location Daniel had scouted out: Cypress Falls Park in West Vancouver. We hadn’t discovered this gem that’s fitted snuggly into a residential neighborhood at the base of Cypress mountain and home to the Cypress Falls. Cypress Creek spectacularly cascades its way down the steep rocks until it finishes in the deep ravine it has carved out with its own sheer force. The canyon turned out to be Daniel’s playground. But first, we had to get there.
Daniel had barely led us down the hiking trail when all of sudden he banked right and sped down a steep slope. Only when Daniel told us it was a rock climber’s trail, I could see vague signs of usage. Eventually we came to an even steeper drop where a few rocks and tree stumps made for an improvised ladder. Tanja and I followed down. And then there was the hardest part of the journey: crossing the Cypress Creek. Unfortunately the water was too high to skip from rock to rock, leaving us the choice of turning back or getting our feet wet. For me this was a tough choice: cold water hurts my feet. Badly. Which is why I always turn down Tanja’s offer to join her polar bear swims.
But this time I wanted to be there for our clients. So off came the shoes and socks. And with the camera clutched to my body as if my life depended on it, I waded through the (what felt like) freezing water. Meanwhile Daniel threaded back and forth through the river (carrying bags and persons on his back) as if it was a hot Summer day. Temperatures must be relative :). After we’d passed the creek a short scramble up and down rocks and tree roots led us to our shooting destination.
Daniel, belayed by Fiona, scaled the canyon wall with agility that a chipmunk would envy. But what I loved most was when Daniel let hang himself upside down next Fiona and held her hand. Could it be more spontaneous and adventurous?
I have to give a shout-out to my courageous spouse. She braved the ice cold water of the river, to take the ‘finale’ photo of the day. I’m still grateful for her for doing it, and the result was definitely worth it.
Shout-out too to Daniel and Fiona. They are truly a hell of an adventurous couple. Thanks for teaching me about the new levels you call everyday life :). You two rock (pun intended)!
Deep Cove engagement shoot: Ashley and Dan
Ashley and Dan contacted us while they were in the middle of big life transitions. Planning their destination wedding in Mexico, packing boxes to move from Vancouver to Edmonton as well as finding work in their new hometown. It makes the days that Tanja and I moved to Vancouver sound like a cakewalk. But they managed.
They told us about their idea to have an engagement shoot in North Vancouver’s Deep Cove. It’s where it all started, with their first hike together to Quarry Rock. Funny enough, that’s also the first hike Tanja and I did back in 2012.
It was our first wedding anniversary and I wanted to surprise Tanja with the little adventure. I’d arranged a car-share to get us there and proudly led Tanja up the mountain. We had barely arrived at the big rock with its lookout over Indian Arm and the surroundings, when my phone rang. It was the car-share company who had received an alert of the car I'd rented. Apparently I had forgotten to turn off the car’s headlights and the battery was about to die. Chicken as I was in those days (I probably would decide otherwise now) I made us rush down the mountain. But we were too late: the car battery (and the car-share's unlocking module) was dead as a dodo. Lesson learned. Sometimes a romantic moment is more important than calling BCAA. But enough about us.
Ashley and Dan love the scenery of Deep Cove because it’s so typically West Coast. And we couldn’t agree more. So we set the date for a Saturday that both our schedules allowed. Unfortunately it was already late in October, which meant we were playing hit-or-miss with the weather. Usually we’re quite lucky. This time, not so much. As Vancouver gave us its best downpour we huddled over the steaming coffee at Deep Cove’s famous Honey’s Donuts. We crossed our fingers for the rain to end but it didn't happen. We rescheduled for one week later and said goodbye to each other.
A week later, we met again in front of Honey’s donuts. This time we started the shoot right away since the clouds were already packing together. The dramatic sky was the perfect backdrop though. While walking along the beach we ended up on the pier. As we photographed Ashley and Dan, a tiny boat came into view and headed for the pier. We continued working when the boat moored. A guy stepped onto the pier holding a door and offered it as a photo prop. I hardly knew what to say, it's not every day you get a door offered into your photos. But Ashley and Dan, spontaneous as they are, happily accepted the door and cranked out their best ‘peek-from-behind-the-door’ photos. Beats a peek-from-behind-the-tree hands down. Well done guys, well done. I had a hard time taking photos because I couldn’t stop laughing :)
After we closed the door on this part of the shoot we worked in a few more spots around Deep Cove. Finally we finished the night with beers and lots more laughter at a nearby pub.
Thanks again for the fantastic night Ashley and Dan. And shout out to Dan for giving us the tip about Sayulita which we ended up visiting on our vacation in Mexico.
Cates Park Deep Cove engagement shoot: Minette and Florian
It was still Summer when we first met Minette and Florian. Chatting over coffee while lounging in the afternoon sun of a North Vancouver coffee shop. I remember how excited Tanja and I got when hearing about their wedding plans. They've picked the property of Florian's parents for their full-on ranch wedding: the Sunshine Ranch in Horsefly, BC. Yes please! Of course, that was just icing on the cake. We were already sold on how amazing the two of them were.
We bonded over two of our big passions: love of food and adventure. I (Jelger) am a big fan of making food from scratch, and am increasingly trying to get closer to the source of what we eat. Ultimately, I'd like to hunt for the meat that we consume, rather than buying it in store. Which brought us to Minette's story of how she grew up in the outdoors, and learned hunting and trapping at a young age and continues to enjoy the former.
Florian on the other hand didn't grow up hunting. Instead he enjoyed a food-first lifestyle thanks to his Swiss parents who used to be artisanal butchers. Something they'd promised would be an important aspect of the wedding. It adds to the excitement of Tanja and me, our European nature continues to drive our love of food :)
Of course there's more to life than food, and so we got to talk about the plans for their engagement shoot. Since Minette grew up in Deep Cove, they chose that area as the location for their shoot. It made for a perfect harmony: the engagement shoot in Minette's hometown, the wedding in Florian's. Additionally they wanted to include their two playful dogs in a couple of the photos. Tanja and I loved the idea because they're just as much part of their family :).
A couple of weeks later, on a beautiful Summer night, we gathered at Cates Park in North Vancouver's Deep Cove. The dogs were a hilarious challenge to photograph. As soon as Florian opened the truck's tail gate, the dogs ran around like crazy and trying to catch the rubber duck the couple brought along. Luckily, Minette could pose them perfectly in a couple of shots.
During the shoot, Florian cracked us up several times with outrageously funny ideas and random jokes. That, and the fact that the couple looked like models for a denim advertising campaign.
Minette and Florian, thanks again for working with us, and for the amazing times together. Can't wait for your wedding at the Sunshine Ranch this Summer!
Check out more photographs taken in Deep Cove and Cates Park here!
Exploring Crescent City, California
It was mid October and Tanja and I had barely finished the wedding season when the 'big fatigue' hit me. I knew it would come, because it does so every year. The unofficial end of peak work season has become synonymous with 'time to recover'. Six months of working 6 to 7 days a week tends to do that you. And just in case I'm sounding negative, I'm not, I actually love it! Being able to give everything to my work is the best feeling in the world. But I digress.
Unlike last years, we'd prepared ourselves: a weeklong vacation in a lovely little AirBnb (called 'Rlyn's Place') in Crescent City, a tiny town on California's gorgeous Northern Coast. Best of all, we'd share the trip with our dear Belgian friend Eve.
Since we only had a week to spend, Tanja and I decided to drive the entire stretch in one day. Saturday morning, 5 am, we hit the road and arrived a good 14 hours later.
In the first few days, we explored Crescent City's beautiful beaches and scouted out the sea lions we'd heard when walking along the coastlines. It turned out the smart bastards were lying right in the middle of the harbor, probably waiting to feast on the leftovers of returning fishing boats.
During those days, I felt tired and numb. Which told me to do as little as possible. And I did exactly that. During daytime, I enjoyed the gentle rushing of the ocean and faint whine of the fog horn. And at night, the three of us shared wonderful, deep conversations about life over delicious Mexican takeout and wine.
A few days later, the sunny weather had changed into clouds and rain. We left the beaches and went to explore the amazing old-growth forests of Jedediah Smith Redwood State Park. I loved the walking along the trails between giant ancient redwoods. It's a unique feeling that makes me genuinely love the West coast. Not to mention, the soothing effect of nature on an anxious mind. We finished the night with what had meanwhile become a ritual: talks over takeout and wonderfully affordable wine. It still hurts how much cheaper alcohol is in California, or rather, how expensive it is in BC :).
In the days after our visit to the forest, the weather continued to deteriorate. So we drove South along the stunning Highway 101, did a quick stop at a pasture full of elk and spent a day in the city of Arcata. All of us loved the laid-back vibe of the hippie-esque town, and we sheltered from the rain by drinking coffee, shopping for clothes and browsing esoteric bookstores. Another wonderful day of hardly doing anything.
On our last day in Crescent City, a big tropical storm had arrived. The gentle ocean had transformed into a roaring thunder, with 10-feet high waves that crashed brutally on the beaches where we'd lounged just days before. And yet, there was something magical about it. It drew us in. Better than watching tv. So the three of us stood on the cliffs experiencing nature's raw power until we were chilled to the bone. And I loved every part of it.
Mission horse ranch pre-wedding shoot: Carrie and Kei
Carrie and Kei emailed us after they’d seen the photo of Andrea and Eoin in front of the running horses. Carrie told us she loved horses and dreamed of having a pre wedding shoot with the animals in Vancouver. Tanja and I loved the idea and we set up a skype call with the Hong Kong based couple. Within a matter of weeks, Tanja managed to transform Carrie’s dream into a wildly awesome photo shoot.
Things started off with logistics and they were challenging to say the least. The shooting date would be at the end of the Summer so weather would be a gamble. However since Carrie and Kei would fly in from Hong Kong just for the shoot postponing was not an option. Next up was finding a suitable shooting location. Finding horses to ride is one thing. Locating horses that can handle standing still to take photos is a whole different chapter. Not to mention the fact that Carrie would be wearing a bridal dress. Our past bride Andrea had trained her horse for months to the feel of a bridal dress on its back. Tanja found the perfect solution: Mustang Stables in Mission, BC, a ranch with horses trained to work in movies.
A few weeks later, under a grey and gloomy sky, Tanja and I drove to Mission. I don’t think I’ve ever consulted the Accuweather app so many times in one day. After some back-and-forth, we discovered the ranch’s hidden entrance in the forest along the road. Shortly after Chunyen from Formosa Bridal arrived, who’d cooperate with us on the shoot for makeup, hair and bridal dresses. And finally Carrie and Kei had found the hidden entrance too. Meanwhile, the grey clouds had packed together and the first rain started to fall. All I could do, was consult the Accuweather app. It promised a clear afternoon.
While Chunyen did her magic, Tanja and I scouted the ranch grounds as well as the surrounding areas, including the nearby Cascade Falls Regional Park, an unexpected surprise and great tip from the ranch owner.
For starters we took Carrie and Kei to Cascade Falls. In addition to horses, they wanted to show the stunning West Coast nature in their photos. We couldn’t have been in a better location. The couple bravely went along in all the scenes we led them to: the suspension bridge next to the roaring falls, the banks of the gushing Cascade Creek and along the forest trails. Finally, while leaving the park, I glanced in the rearview mirror and noticed the beautiful yellow colored leaves on the trees that lined the street. We quickly parked the cars and took photos of the couple in the fall setting until thick rain drops urged us to return to the ranch.
The final part of the day, was the ‘piece de resistance’. Carrie and Kei would get to ride horses as we took their photos. The rancher led two beautiful, groomed horses out of the stable and helped Carrie and Kei mount them. So far they’d only ridden smaller Asian horses. Slightly intimidated at first, the couple impressed me with how quickly they found their groove with the animals. And the rancher was always nearby for the moments when a horse decided to test its riders authority.
We strolled around the ranch grounds, hunting for good light and photogenic backgrounds. The couple did fantastic, as did the horses except when they decided to snack on nearby greens, which did make for hilarity. Time flew by in a blink.
We finished the day off with photographing Carrie and Kei on various spots around the ranch in the early sunset.
Carrie and Kei, thanks again for working with us to realize your dream pre wedding shoot and for braving the rain. You two are amazing! Stay adventurous!
Mission horse ranch pre-wedding shoot photos
Vendors Mission horse ranch pre-wedding shoot
- Hair and make-up: Formosa Bridal
- Ranch: Mustang Stables of Mission BC
Snowshoe adventures at Cypress Mountain and Mount Seymour
Hiking in a snow covered forest. Sounds easy enough, right? It probably is if you’re either Canadian or well informed on the best methods. Until recent, Tanja and I were neither.
Five years ago, the two of us moved from Belgian to Vancouver. Weather-wise it hardly made a difference, as long as we stayed within the city limits. Belgium and Vancouver have mild, wet Winters with hardly any snow. And if the latter happens, hang on tight, because those few centimeters of frozen water mean snowpocalypse in both places. But I digress.
When Tanja and I had arrived in Vancouver, one of the very first items we bought were skis. In Belgium, skiing used to be a luxurious, once-a-year experience that involved driving to the Alps in Switzerland, Austria or France. And since it was such a rare event we’d rent our skis. In Vancouver on the other hand it’s a matter of driving up one of the mountains in your backyard. So as soon as we got here, we excitedly bought our own set of boots and skis.
Whenever skiing on the slopes, I’d see signs announcing snowshoeing, and remember thinking: “What’s so special about that?” It seemed so ordinary compared to the thrill of flying down the slopes. Little did I know. Call it the ‘old, Belgian Jelger’.
In the Summers I got a taste of another local hobby. It took me a while to get my feet wet and a couple more years until it stuck, but eventually it got under my skin: hiking. I don’t know whether it was Canada or British Columbia’s stunning nature, but it worked.
These days, I love a good hike. And whenever Spring comes around, Tanja and I can’t wait to get back to our adventure hikes. Which are some of the best stress remedies available by the way! Unfortunately, as much as I love the hikes, they are a seasonal thing. You can’t really hike on top of a couple of feet of snow (without expensive snowshoes). Or can you…
That’s what Tanja and I thought a year ago. So we decided to give it a try. Courageously, we grabbed our hiking boots, and sped up Mount Seymour. We were convinced we didn’t need any snowshoes! You can probably guess that our good intentions were not enough to keep us afloat. For a good 2 hours we plowed through the snow, only to realize we were less than halfway down the (ungroomed) trail. We’d learned our lesson.
Another year went by. And we enjoyed a lot of Summer hikes, but then Winter came back. And because skiing isn’t the same as experiencing nature, it left me feeling locked up inside. Sure there’s parks in the Lower Mainland that are doable in Winter. And we tried a lot of them. Tanja even wrote a blogpost about them here.
However, two months ago, a few of our Belgian friends (most of them with Canadian partners) invited us along on a snowshoe hike. “Why not?” we thought and picked up some rentals at MEC. I didn’t have a clue on what to expect, but hey, at least it was worth a try.
It was December 24, and because of my (half) German background, Christmas Eve is more important to me than Christmas day. I’m always a sucker for Christmassy things, and this was definitely a winner. The Winter landscape on Mount Seymour and the snow-laden pine trees were wonderful. And that was before I’d put my snowshoes on!
As soon as our group shuffled along the snowshoe trail, I felt excited to be out in nature again. Of course, having good company helped too. Especially when one of our friends shared a thermos with hot coffee at the top of the mountain.
I am a convert. I was wrong, Canada, and I’m sorry. Snowshoeing is awesome. A couple of days after that hike, Tanja and I bought a great set of snowshoes. And a thermos.
Bring on the Winter hikes!
PS: We would love to do an engagement shoot during a snowshoe hike. Get in touch if you feel up for it!
Cypress Mountain: Black Mountain snowshoe trail
Mount Cypress Hollyburn snowshoe trail
Mount Seymour Dog Mountain snowshoe trail
Capilano Suspension Bridge elopement: Flor and Craig
One of the perks I (Jelger) love about being a wedding photographer is that I get to discover some of the coolest places Vancouver has to offer, such as the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. Of course, I have our amazing clients to thank for it in the first place. In this case: Flor and Craig.
Living in the US, they had chosen Vancouver for their destination elopement wedding. Together with their guests, they flew out here and planned a day throughout the entire city with the help of Liliana, from Lili & co. weddings.
In the morning, we started out at Blo Blow Dry Bar in Yaletown, where Flor got her hair and makeup done. During her getting ready, I zipped back and forth to the AirBNB apartment in Tinseltown where Craig got dressed.
For their outdoor wedding ceremony, Flor and Craig had chosen Stanley Park’s Ferguson Point. A perfect choice, because the gentle slope next to Vancouver’s Tea House in Stanley Park offers a spectacular outlook on the adjacent Pacific Ocean. The weather gods must have been listening in when Craig softly spoke his heartfelt vows to Flor, because as if on cue drops of rain fell and masked the tears of everyone listening (and that may or may not have included myself).
After the ceremony, Flor and Craig gave us a real photographic treat: lots of time, and lots of scenery. From Ferguson Point we quickly descended the stairs and walked along the Seawall towards Third Beach. But the best was yet to come: Flor and Craig planned for formal portraits at North Vancouver’s Capilano Suspension Bridge.
We expected a tiresome long drive across the Lions Gate Bridge, since it was a Sunday afternoon in Vancouver. But we had the smoothest drive there. Yay for more photo time!
The Capilano Suspension Bridge Park offers more than just what their name tells you. A couple of years ago, they opened an additional attraction called ‘Cliffwalk’, a suspended walkway that curves along the steep cliffs. And of course there’s still the long suspension bridge itself with its vertigo-inducing height above the Capilano River.
When photographing, Tanja and I are always looking for something new, something different (as probably every photographer is) which is a challenge of its own. Add crowds of tourists and you’re in a whole new ballpark. Challenge accepted :). Check out our behind the scenes photograph below.
While Tanja asked, begged and entertained the crowd to wait a few seconds before stepping onto the Cliffwalk, Flor and Craig had the walkway to themselves. And simultaneously, I photographed the two of them having fun from the viewing platform above. It’s still one of our favourite photos to date.
We finished the day off at Gastown’s L’Abattoir. The location was a pleasant surprise. Working in restaurants throws all kinds of curveballs (lighting, small space). Instead we entered a spacious, beautifully lit private event room.
But best of all: Flor and Craig invited Tanja and me to join them for a delicious dinner. Couldn’t say no to that. That, and toasting with a ‘Craig’s mom’, the until-then unnamed cocktail the maitre d had created for Craig’s mom.
A big thank you to Flor and Craig for the amazing day, and to Liliana, who made everything run effortlessly.
PS: This wedding was recently featured by Rocky Mountain Bride magazine. Check out the feature here.
Capilano suspension bridge elopement photos
I was not exaggerating when I mentioned Tanja begged the crowd to give us a minute alone. ;)
Capilano suspension bridge elopement vendors:
- Event planner: Liliana from Lili & Co. wedding + event design studio
- Florist: Celsia Florist
- Cake artist: Jenny Bakes
- Hair and makeup Flor: Blo Blow Dry Bar Yaletown
- Ceremony location: Ferguson Point Stanley Park
- Photo locations: 3rd beach Stanley park and Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
- Reception venue: L'Abattoir in Gastown
Fernanda and Marcos' honeymoon shoot in Stanley Park, Vancouver, BC
She hesitantly dipped her toes into the wave and shrieked. Despite the warm Spring night, the ocean was still freezing cold. Her newly-wed husband chuckled and grabbed her hand a little tighter. The last rays of the setting sun covered them in dramatic, golden light.
Fernanda and Marcos had just gotten married in their hometown of Cuiabà, Brazil (the geographical center of the South American continent) and were honeymooning in Vancouver. Marcos, a former swimming athlete who is way too modest about it, had previously lived in Whitehorse, YK for 1.5 years and wanted to introduce Fernanda to Canada and the West Coast. Coincidence or not, it felt as if they’d brought the sunshine with them, giving us the warmest April days in years. Few locations are as enchanting as Vancouver on a warm Spring or Summer day, and the couple was sold. Hearing them pondering about perhaps moving to Vancouver made me smile. It’s how Tanja and I felt too on that Summer visit back in 2010. Not to mention the fact that both of them are lawyers too. It must be something about the profession that makes one rethink his or her career choice early on :).
For their photo shoot, we wanted to celebrate Fernanda and Marcos’ love for nature, adventure and traveling, so we picked a couple of Stanley Park’s highlights: the blooming tulips of the Rose Garden and a romantic sunset at Third Beach. But most of all it was about them: two gorgeous people, head over heels in love, being spontaneous and playful.
The moment I loved the most? When Fernanda bravely walked barefoot into the ocean waves and shrieked when she felt how cold the water was. Meanwhile Marcos gently held her hand and lovingly watched and giggled. Stunning.
Fernanda and Marcos, thanks again for working with us. Stay spontaneous and adventurous! And be in touch whenever you’re back in Vancouver :)
honeymoon shoot in Stanley Park
Looking into having your own honeymoon photos taken? Get in touch with us today.
Visiting Vancouver or new to the area? Check out the official Stanley Park website for some location inspiration!
Adventure series: Crystal Falls with Robin and Mat
Rock and Crush
For the second part of our Adventurous Series, Tanja and I met up with the fabulous Robin and Mat of Rock and Crush. A website devoted to “celebrating weekend warriors - the regular adults with regular lives and limited time who get their outdoor fix away from the Grind.” The adventurous duo loves to explore the not-so-threaden paths with their adorable puppy Lucy in tow.
The hike: Crystal Falls
On an early Saturday morning we met them for an easy walk to Coquitlam’s Crystal Falls.
Hiking in the early morning, an unfamiliar habit for us. As it was for Robin and Mat until they adopted Lucy. The cute dog quickly converted them into early birds on the hiking trails. But there is a silver lining to a hike in the brisk morning air. You’re out there by yourself, instead of trying to dodge chatty tourist crowds. Tanja and I couldn’t agree more :).
As for the hike: it’s an easy 7 km pretty flat trail that ends abruptly at the Crystal Falls. The path seemed to continue across the water, but crossing it felt a little too dodgy for all of us. The somewhat hidden trailhead at the foothills of the Westwood Plateau is definitely worth coming out for.
The two of them had hiked it a couple of months earlier. And blogged about how it’s an excellent Winter hike Check out their blogpost and notice how much Lucy the puppy has changed in just 3 months!
Robin and Mat
Robin grew up in the Lower Mainland and accustomed to an outdoor lifestyle. While living in New York City for a couple of years, she became aware of how much she missed having natural surroundings. Eventually she moved back to beautiful British Columbia and picked up where she’d left off.
Mat on the other hand grew up in Toronto, but discovered the vast outdoors thanks to his job as a geological engineer. Inspecting mining sites, hydroelectrical dams, tunnels, they all require him to physically go into ‘wild’ nature (where hiking trails are unexistent, and bears rule all). On top of his proficiency in gauging abandoned mineshafts and railway tunnels, being an avid scrambler (the stage between hiking and climbing, I had to look it up too :)), Mat shares one of my big passions: homemade sausages.
Together the couple loves to find unexplored places in British Columbia with their 90’s Mitsubishi Delica which will soon become their second home. Coming Summer, they’re going on a 6 week road trip, kicking things of with their wedding on the sands of the Pacific shoreline in Tofino. Followed by a chain of wedding receptions with family and friends who live throughout the North American continent. Follow their adventures on their website!
Solid advice
To end things we’ll leave you with Robin’s best advice:
“One of the joys of adulthood is being able to make your choices. If you want to live more adventurously – whether that means weekend road trips without a direction, early morning hikes up big mountains, or challenging yourself to try new dishes or go to new places – make that choice, and follow through. We’re all busy. We all have too much to do. But if being in the mountains or on the road is what brings you joy, do it.
You will remember how you felt the first time you woke up somewhere in a tent more than you’ll be remembered for the extra hours at work. You’ll appreciate your partner more when you share incredible experiences together, than when you spend every weekend cleaning in order to have the perfect house. You’ll love yourself more when you get attuned with your spiritual side by spending your time outside, than when you lose 5 lbs by forcing yourself to the gym every 6 am. It’s your life. Make it memorable.”
