She was very sick at home with a bad cold. He picked that night to surprise her with a gift that would change their lives forever. In the comfort of their home, where they like to spend time relaxing with date nights and watching re-runs of Seinfeld with their other love, Zorro, he proposed, tissues and all.

We started the engagement session at home, where the three of them are most comfortable, snuggling in the warmth of their room and then headed off to a nearby trail where they often walk their dog Zorro.

I can’t wait to document their story this coming September at the Chateau Cargill!

xoxo

Melissa

love, love, love this one…

treats?!

it’s not the kiss, it’s the moment before the kiss that gets me…

Laura, you’re stunning!

I’ve said it before, I always take something away from a shoot. During this one, I was reminded again that sometimes the perfect portrait is captured by just letting them be themselves. Posing a bride and groom is very different than “posing” children. These little guys are at their best when they are just being brothers, wrestling, making each other laugh and play fighting like brothers do. Sometimes giving too much direction can just ruin the shot and thus create a forced image. By letting them be themselves, I was able to capture them like they would be in their own backyard.

“A brother shares childhood memories and grown-up dreams” (author unknown)

xoxo

Melissa

Ok so the one below may not make the wall portrait but I bet it’s one they will look back on in twenty years and laugh about. The youngest being funny, the middle boy trying to stop it and the oldest just looks like he gives up. I love it so had to include it, lol. Boys will be boys!

Having them in school of course allows me to focus on work during the day now, which is blessing of course, but when I look at these recent pictures I did a couple weeks ago, I don’t see the little boys anymore, they are growing up so fast.

My little men. A true gift…

They say opposites attract. And I think they are right. They are so different in so many ways, yet the same too!

Ethan wants his hair done, carefully chooses his clothes each morning to look like daddy, complete with gel, Jonah will not do his hair and would be happy in ripped anything as long it is done quickly so he has play time…

Jonah needs quiet time to himself some days and Ethan thinks Jonah is the coolest thing on the planet…Jonah says “jump”, Ethan says “how high!”

Jonah is always protective when we go out, ensuring Ethan is close by, wants to hold his hand and is extra cautious. Of course it’s not all peaches and cream, they disagree and argue as brothers do…let’s hope they always protect each other…

Speaking of cautious, Jonah is the type of boy to wait, think things through and ensure he ready to proceed. We live near a skatepark and it was the first time using his rollerblades to go down the ramps. He waited for nearly ten minutes and eventually went down while I waited at the bottom. See, he still needs me!

Ethan on the other hand, well this kid has no fear. He will take risks and deal with the consequences later. He scares me but I admire his ability to just dive in…

One thing still remains, while opposites they may be, they are still best buddies, I think we are doing something right here!

Yup, it’s my new favorite!

See you all in September when Grade 5 and Grade 1 begins! Don’t forget to update your family photos this year! Us included!!

xoxo

Melissa

Emma is the type of girl who’s free spirit and self confidence is admired and her fun, bubbly personality makes you smile from within.

I love shooting when I am back home so if you are interested in booking a session, family, portraits, high school seniors or weddings, contact me! I would love to shoot more often close to home.

Keep smiling Miss Emma, it’s contagious.

Love you sweets,

xoxo

Melissa

A couple weeks ago I got to meet the newest addition to our family! I went back to my home town of 100 Mile House to celebrate my father’s 65th birthday and squeeze this little piece of heaven. There is nothing like going home. Mommy’s cooking, fires in the backyard, friends, family and the beautiful countryside. I had this spot in mind before we even came to capture the portraits of my cousin Justine and the precious little gem I couldn’t put down.

Introducing Jon Samuel, born April 10th at 9:22pm, weighing 7lbs 6oz.

I love shooting when I am back home so if you are interested in booking a session, family, portraits or weddings, contact me! I would love to shoot more often close to home.

Congratulations to mommy Justine and daddy John, he is amazing in every sense of the word.

I am so in love with these images!

xoxo

Melissa

With a powerful and beautiful ceremony at the Coquitlam Alliance Church, surrounded by family and friends nearest to their hearts, richard+maria, started a new chapter together. A new chapter as husband and wife, coming back to their home will now have a whole new meaning.

After the ceremony we jetted off to Rocky Point Park for formal portraits and then headed out to the Pinnacle Hotel At The Pier in North Van to finish our photos before the reception. I loved their color choices of pastels and ivory and the color coordinated candy bar at the reception was true hit!

I wish you a lifetime of cozy nights, scavenger hunts (that is how he proposed!) and love. Never stop loving.

xoxo

Melissa

Thank you for including me on your special day, it was an absolute pleasure getting to know you this past year.

(Special thanks to Melanie Sia for capturing the “groom getting ready” and second shooting during the ceremony!)

Vendors Include:

Venue for ceremony: Coquitlam Alliance Church

Venue for reception: Pinnacle Hotel At The Pier

Bridal Gown: Maggie Sottero  Purchased: The Bridal Gallery

Bridal Shoes: Enzo Angiolini

Bridal Party Attire: Golden Brides

Hair and Make up: Refresh Salon & Spa

Groom’s Suit: Tip Top Tailors

Flowers: Patricia Walach

Cake: Cakeaters

Wedding Song: All My Life by K-Ci & JoJo

Wedding Coordinators: Eve Garlick (Coquitlam Alliance Church) and Norma Bogart (Pinnacle Hotel)

Caterer: Pinnacle Hotel At The Pier

Wedding Favors: Cake pops by Cake-Pop Passionista

DJ Service: Absolute DJ

Minister: Daniel Zopoula

Rental Companies: Chair Decor

Song Walking down the isle: Canon in D major

Second Shooter for “groom prep” and “ceremony”: Melanie Sia

as the couple was sitting for a portion of the ceremony, i loved it when the minister took the time to sit with them…

love their color choices of pastels and ivory, so beautiful!

seriously, you are so stunning maria!

 To view more, check out the slideshow! Congratulations!!!

Richard + Maria Wedding from Melissa Montgomery on Vimeo.

Almost 8 years ago, Lance and got married in the most beautiful location I think I’ve ever seen in Cabo San Lucas Mexico.  A destination wedding at it’s finest, the place where he proposed, our secret spot that warms the heart of all it’s beauty.  While I was just starting out in photography land, it didn’t really occur to me to ensure we chose our wedding photographer, I mean one was being provided in the “package” we chose with our wedding coordinator in Mexico, on a side note, she was fabulous by the way, the photographer…not so much. I just assumed it was covered and moved on to other details in planning a destination wedding. Oh how I was wrong. Very very wrong.

Looking back now at my photos is painful in every sense of the word. They are not good. I believe that is why I am so passionate about photography now because I could not bare to have a client feel like I do in relation to their wedding images.  Yes, we as photographers all start somewhere and yes we charge little to get into the game when we first start, I get it, I’ve been there too and am thankful for my friends and clients who took a chance on my inexperienced self when I first started. This post is not about that or picking on those who are just starting out, I get it, really I do.

Now that I am experienced, poured my soul into learning this industry, my camera, courses, business development and marketing, it just comes down to the old saying, “you get what you pay for”. Yes it was my mistake for not researching and doing the homework, but even as part of the package, the photographer portion of it was only $775.00. Today, if I was looking for a photographer for my wedding I most likely would not even take the time to look at someone who charges that little only because with that price, comes inexperience or beginners. That is only because I know the industry now and know the difference between great images and not so great ones. Again, I get it, we all start somewhere. I hear over and over stories similar to mine because we have not invested in the right photographer.

Passion. It’s what drives me. I am so thrilled when a client is in tears of joy or over the moon excited when they see their photos. I love going the extra mile to help plan the wedding day, take extra time with the edits, ensure my clients look and feel their best. I am obsessed with it all, maybe I have my own photographs to thank for that.

I learnt from our photographer of what not to do. Give the bride a break if she needs it. I remember telling Lance at one point I am going to need a minute to wipe the dripping sweat off my face and the whole time the photographer was pushing us to hurry up because we needed to “beat the light” before it got dark. We did not get one appetizer or time with our guests at the ceremony site. All very rushed and not planned at all. Oh, did I mention I am sweating and have a red face in most of photos. Super hot. I also got only one picture with mom and well it’s not good.

I cringe when I hear people say, “oh my friend (or uncle or family member) is going to photograph the wedding, he has a great camera”. I think back to my images and think, “yes, but does he know how to use it?”. I get it too, we are all on a budget, especially with a wedding, but if we did it over again I would absolutely hands down have photography as the number one on my list. Not just because I am one now, but because 8 years later, I hate my wedding images and really that’s all you have to look at. The most beautiful day of my life and I am a sweaty hot mess and have very few images that I like to remember that day.

I pride myself with quality images, meaning I’ve studied on how to technically capture that perfect image. Most of our wedding images were shot on “automatic” mode and have a 6 megapixel resolution (most professionals use manual mode or other modes so you can create the perfect image with settings and my camera and is 23 megapixels). That’s right, my gal left it up to chance, put it on automatic and hoped it focussed right and captured the images she wanted. Ya that’s perfect on a wedding day! lol

So in the end, it is what it is. I am thankful for our friend who was there to capture some better shots for us and have learnt from the whole experience. I can not stress the importance to research your photographer and find one to fit your day. You have one day, one shot and all that remains of your wedding are the images and your distant memories.

Let’s take a look!

My dress is not dirty, her camera was. On almost all of our pictures there are two “dust” spots on every photograph. That means the inside of her sensor in the camera was dirty because it appears on every image. True professionals have that taken care of and do regular “tests” on the camera, prior to every wedding and every shoot. (Most of the pictures were also overexposed creating loss of detail in the background).

The below picture is blurry and the dust spot again on the shoulder.

The ring shot. Nice right? Well you may not see it but the hands are the sharpest part of this images, not the ring. If you’re doing close ups, the thing you are focussing on needs to be the sharpest thing in the photograph.

I was just wondering, do you think the videorgrapher got the shot? I mean, I don’t think he was close enough. When working with a team, communicate before hand on where you will be standing, I mean really.

Oh the emotion on the wedding day. The tears, the smiles, the hugs…This is one of my favorite images. Nothing says emotion like the back of my brother’s head and my husband’s arm…so sweet. Really one of my favorites! lol

This one I actually like. Really I do, it’s Mexico and it was funny…Mondguery, Montgomery, kind of the same? lol

The wedding party. This is just painful. I love the random guy in the background, the distracting light on my veil (at least photoshop it out) and this pose is just horrible. No connection with the group at all.

My sweet lovely in-laws. My second family. This would have been a great shot except the background is what’s in focus, not the couple which is the subject of the photo. Focus on the couple!

This is just all around great. Super great lighting, I know night photography is more difficult but really, let’s plan ahead and ensure this doesn’t happen. Oh and good advice here, just pose them in one big long line with distracting elements. 

The ring shot. So unique and original. OK, I know wedding photography has advanced and become more modern in the last 8 years but nothing says a great detail shot like hand over hand, over flowers surrounded by…candle light? lol

So do your research. Ask questions, meet with your photographer and view samples of work before committing to someone. Don’t take a chance on one of the most important days of your life. Learn from my mistakes and hire a true professional!

xoxo

Melissa

I am in love with these portraits!!

Time to update my own family’s photographs this year! Have you booked yours?

Thank you “N” family…you are a beautiful family. Check back tomorrow for this lovely mamma’s portrait session we did and learn about how you can host a stella and dot trunk show and get free jewellery!

xoxo

Melissa

So many more to come! Stay tuned!

Have a beautiful honeymoon in Hawaii!

xoxo

Melissa