We’ve decided to change things up a bit here at Magnolia Photographic! Instead of having a traditional website, we now have a blogsite! The benefit of a blogsite is that visitors will now see the very latest from us every time they visit - just scroll through the posts below, or check out the Categories menu to view posts from weddings, portraits, and more. You can also view my various Galleries, which are a compilation of past wedding and portrait work. If you’re already a client, you can log in to your personal online gallery by clicking on Clients (in the menu bar) and then following the instructions. There’s lots to see, so check it out and enjoy!
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 Posted in Weddings
Sara and Rene were married on Saturday! Their beautiful wedding was held at the always gorgeous Farmhouse Lifestyle in Pitt Meadows. More to come, but for now, here’s a sneak peek!
In the spirit of blogging and the idea that a blog is supposed to be a personal journal of sorts, I thought I’d share a little about my recent road trip. Last weekend, my sister and I made the trek to see our grandmother, who lives in Vernon (about 5 1/2 hours away). It’s been a while since we’ve been up there (she comes down to the Lower Mainland with relatives every now and then), and it was nice to be around the hills and lakes that characterize the Okanagan landscape. My grandmother - or “Nana”, as she is known to her dozens of grandchildren - is in her 94th year. Despite the fact that she is legally blind, she is still quite mobile and as such we were able to take her out to her favourite restaurant, relax on the patio, and even have a picnic on Kalamalka Lake. The photos accompanying this post are from that picnic evening on the lake - we had the entire area to ourselves, with a beautiful outlook over the colourful water (Kalamalka is a Salish word meaning “lake of many colours”). This particular area had special meaning for me because it was the spot where I used to go with my Dad and grandfather (my Nana’s late husband) for fishing. Now, years later, we had a wonderful time there on our picnic - a very special memory I will treasure always.
There are so many fabulous venues for a wedding in Vancouver - we’ve had the good fortune to see most of them throughout our 7 years of experience, so we thought we’d share some of our favourites!
Brock House - Jericho Beach, Vancouver - If you’re looking for a more heritage-style, classic venue, then Brock House is the place. This turn-of-the-century mansion sits right on Jericho Beach, and the ocean and mountain views are second to none. You can have your ceremony on the lawn overlooking the water, then carry on to your reception in a luxury tent bordering the home. This is truly a unique venue and an experience your guests will never forget! The food is also excellent, with a wide variety of options and choices. Photo opportunities abound on the property and along beautiful Jericho Beach and Park.
Terminal City Club - Downtown Vancouver - Fabulous service, amazing food, and a beautiful venue in the heart of downtown Vancouver. Recently remodeled, the club looks fantastic in warm, neutral tones that give the rooms a old-world, yet modern feeling. The buffet is truly delicious – the variety of food and the presentation is second to none. Guests can enjoy cocktails out on the balcony or inside either of the spacious ballrooms. There are great photo opportunities inside the club and in the many areas outside as well.
Kirin Restaurant, Richmond – Chinese cuisine at it’s best! The service, food, and presentation are excellent. The food is fresh, colourful and each dish is presented in a beautiful and appetizing display. As well, the décor of this restaurant is particularly modern, yet still retaining many traditional Chinese elements – perfect for photo opportunities! There are five locations in the Lower Mainland.
Richmond Golf and Country Club – This is the one of the best golf clubs out there for food, décor, and service. The club was recently remodeled with dark woods, luxurious furnishings, and funky chandeliers, complimented by the beautiful golf course view from the banquet room. The food is delicious – the outdoor barbecue buffet of steak, chicken, and salmon is superb – and backed up perfectly by an array of fresh salads, vegetables, pasta, cold cuts, and of course scrumptious desserts. The room is spacious, with an ample dance floor, and can be expanded for larger parties. There are lots of great photo opportunities just outside the club, or within a 10 minute drive around Richmond.
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I’m happy to say that our boudoir photography business has really taken off, and as such we decided to make a site dedicated to what we like to call “Secret Sessions!” It’s new, it’s snazzy, and you can check it out at www.secretsessions.ca
You’ll also see on the Secret Sessions site that we’ve just announced a new Marathon Date! The next Secret Session Marathon will be held Sunday, August 16, 2009, and times are booking up fast - so if you’d like to book a session, get in touch!
Saturday, May 30, 2009 Posted in Weddings
Saturday, May 30, 2009 Posted in Weddings
Our dear friends at Marliss Productions are offering a very special promotion for a limited time. They’ve put together some packages designed for those on a budget or clients looking for just a bit of movie artistry coverage on their big day. Here are the details:
Are you budget conscious, but don’t want to sacrifice high quality and style?
Have you considered videography for your wedding but chose not to invest due to budget?
For a limited time we are offering the opportunity to obtain high quality Marliss Productions style with two new special budget conscious packages:
CEREMONY HIGHLIGHTS: $1200
Have your ceremony captured in signature Marliss Productions style. This is the moment you’ve been working so hard to plan. We will capture the sights, your guests, the sounds, the details, and the emotion.
We will film incredible highlights of your ceremony with two cameras and edit it artistically to 2 or 3 of your favourite songs. We will also edit it on the same day so that you have the ability to share it with your family and friends at your reception or quietly enjoy it as a freshly married couple in the morning all snuggled up!
This will be a memento you and your family will cherish forever!
CEREMONY AND PHOTO SHOOT HIGHLIGHTS: $1800
Same elegant ceremony coverage and we will also come along to one of your photo locations and capture stunning moving images of you and your bridal party.
This will also be edited on the same day as your wedding so that you can enjoy the moment right away!
You deserve to have these moments captured with artistry!
Please contact Marliss Productions for details.
www.marlissproductions.com
weddings AT marlissproductions DOT com
604.232.4552
*pricing does not include taxes
Wednesday, May 13, 2009 Posted in Couples
We had the most beautiful evening for Kristina and Chris’ engagement session - warm and sunny, just like them! These two are seriously in love and it really was a pleasure to photograph them - their happiness and joy at just being together was so genuine and true. All that mushy love made them easy to photograph! 
What was especially rewarding was the email I received from Kristina when she saw her online gallery of engagement photos (I hope she won’t mind if I post it here!):
“THEY ARE GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! they totally capture our love for each other and how much fun we had that day! eeek!!! i have been checking my email like 20 times a day for the last few days cuz i’ve been so excited! and they were so worth the wait! i am so confident that we picked the right photographer for our wedding, the search was well worth it to find you!!!!
thank you again so much Laura!!!”
Wow. That really warmed my heart! Thank you to Kristina and Chris for choosing us to be your wedding photographers - we can’t wait for your big day in October!
I wrote this little article a while back, and I thought I would post it here as someone out there might find it helpful!
There are so many resources pointing you to so many photographers – it can be a bit overwhelming! How do you look at them all and decide who to go with?
After consulting magazines, online directories, friends and family, and other resources, start checking out the websites of various Vancouver wedding photographers online. You’ll soon get a sense of the many photography styles being presented, and it won’t be long before you’ll know exactly what kind of photos you’d like for your big day.
You’ll probably find a few photographers whose work you love – contact them to find out if your day is available and then set up a meeting. Nothing is better than a face-to-face conversation to determine if the photographer is right for you! Remember, you’ll spend many hours with this person on your wedding day, so a personality match is a must! You’ll also get a chance to see the products they offer first-hand – some will offer wedding albums, prints, framing and more – some will offer photography services only. So take a close look at the products available, as this can also be an important factor when choosing your wedding photographer.
During your meetings with photographers, there are a few questions you might want to ask:
-What is your style and approach to wedding photography?
-Do you have some good locations to suggest for my wedding day?
-How long have you been a photographer?
-Can I see a full wedding (not just an album)?
-Do you bring back-up equipment?
-What is included in your packages?
Ultimately it’s important to choose your wedding photographer based on their work and personality; if you connect with both, then you’ve found your match!
My wonderful friend Liza is expecting her second child this July, and I was honoured do her maternity photos. While father Shaun was at work, we used some different spots around her Vancouver home as well as a really cool brick wall just outside. Most importantly, we had (soon-to-be) big brother Cohen along for the photos. The photo above is probably the cutest photo I have ever taken - little Cohen seems to think he has a baby too, and in that photo he’s showing me where it is (as is mommy!) Seriously - how adorable is that?! I saw Cohen for the first time just 11 hours after he was born, and I can’t express what a special experience that was, and how great it’s been to watch him grow and change. I’m so looking forward to meeting the new little guy, and experiencing those feelings all over again!
What a beautiful day and a beautiful venue - and a beautiful couple too of course! Janet and Karsten had a perfect May day for their wedding, with the ceremony taking place at 
by Vancouver wedding and portrait photographer Laura Millin
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