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Welcome

Hi! My name is Jenn Best and I'm a photographer in North Vancouver, BC specializing in stylish weddings and whimsical portraiture. Really though, I just love photographing people; their personalities, their moments, their memories, their lives.

This blog is all about sharing the world as I see it. This is where I will share great photos of my amazing clients, great products for my amazing clients and all the things that are special in my life: the people, the places and the things.

Feel free to look around, stay a while and if the fancy strikes you, please leave a comment - that would make my day. Thanks for coming by and I hope you enjoy seeing what I see.

All my best, Jenn :)

MEAGAN & ETIENNE - Ontario Lakeside Wedding / TRASH THE DRESS / DAY AFTER SESSION - PART 2

September 1, 2010 – 11:01 am

Two days after Meagan & Etienne’s wonderful wedding, we topped it with a “Day After Session” (or some may know more commonly as “Trash The Dress”).  I don’t like to call it a “Trash The Dress” Session so much because I am in no way trying to ruin the dress.  I view these sessions as an amazing time to go around and take photos without the time constraints of the wedding day and withought having to worry if the dress get’s dirty.  After the session the bride will have it cleaned and everything is good to go.  Yes, there are some brides, Meagan included who choose to get their dress wet, either by being in the ocean or in a lake or something.  But honestly, You wouldn’t have even known her dress got wet and it barely got dirty.  It’s great when a bride says, “HEY, you’re only going to wear it once so why not put it on again and get some amazing shots?!”  Well that’s what we did.

We went all around the lake where Meagan’s Family has a cabin.  It was a pretty special time because the lake is at the lowest level it has ever been in at least 40 years.  So the shoreline was the largest they’d ever seen it and basically we took a majority of the photos in places that would normally be under water.  For the last half of the session we went to a few special places but I don’t want to spoil the surprise.

All I can say is that I honestly don’t think I’ve ever loved an entire set of images so much :)

There were so many amazing elements to this shoot: The location was just amazing, the light was killer, the clouds were breathtaking, the wind was perfect the whole time (personal wind machine much) and the bride and groom were fearless and working it!  All adds up to one perfect shoot.

To start, This has to be MY FAVOURITE SHOT OF A BRIDE EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER!!!  It’s going to be made into a big big canvas!  JUST STUNNING!!!  LLLLLLOOOOOOOOOVVVVVVVVEEEEEEEE!!!

This is a real shot people!  She is actually driving the boat here and did for everywhere we went.  The only thing we set up was that she took off her sweater so you could see the dress.

OMG!!! I could have shot Meag ALL FRICKIN’ DAY (and I almost did actually).

Love the movement of wind in this shot!

See what I mean about amazing light… Oh Man, I’m freakin’ out all over again.

And this is what I mean about personal wind machine - JUST AMAZING!!!

SO - Can you guess where these amazing photos were taken?

How about here!  The side of a dam!  OH, I COULD HAVE SHOT HERE ALL DAY!!!

It was quite cold though but you get used to it (or numb to it).

And last but certainly not least… the whole shoot led up to them jumping in the lake!  SO FUN!!!

Etienne went in a second time - CANON BALL!!!

Just love this shot… This is Scott’s shot of Etienne’s take off for his canon ball.  LOVE IT!!! Feels like something EPIC!

So - WHO’S NEXT?  COME ONE PEOPLE!!!! I LOVE THIS!!! You don’t have to jump in the water either (but it does make for fun times)!

By Jenn | Posted in Anytime, Uncategorized, Wedding | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 comments         Hide Comments | Add a Comment
  1. Lyv   -  

    L-O-V-E the shots at the damn!! I’ll do it!! hopefully it snows on my wedding day or day after that be so much fun!!

MEAGAN & ETIENNE - Ontario Lakeside Wedding - PART 1

August 31, 2010 – 4:33 pm

WOW!!! I have no idea how to write this post.  I have so many things I want to say and don’t know where to start and don’t even know if I have the ability to put into words how I feel about these two and their amazing wedding.

I feel blessed, really really blessed to have Meagan and Etienne in our life.  They moved here just about 2 years ago from Ontario.  I met Meagan at the job I worked at and after a few months of working together we really started to hit it off.  Neither of us can really remember how it started or when exactly we realized that we were becoming such good friends but it happened super fast.  And the first time Scott and I met Etienne and we all hung out together it was like we had all been friends for years.

Fast forward 2 years and their wedding was here. FAST!  Meagan always dreamed of getting married on the lake that her family has a cottage and where she spent all her summers growing up.  It really seemed that all the stars aligned and she was able to plan an amazing wedding at the fishing lodge her and her sister worked at for many many summers.

We definitely spent a lot of time talking about the wedding.  All of Meagans family and friends live back east so I was happy to provide as much support and share as many ideas as I could for this wedding.  We spent hours looking at blogs and talking about flowers, and hair and makeup and dresses and details, and details and details.  And it all came together so amazingly.

I always enjoy the weddings we are a part of but this was just amazing.  I could not have been or could be any happier for these two.  I know what it’s like to marry your best friend and then to watch one of your best friends marry their best friend was just so … amazing, wonderful, fabulous… insert any word here.  Thank you to you both for having us be such a big part of your day.

Enjoy just a few of my fav photos - trust me there are a lot of favs, it was hard to choose.  ALSO soon to come, PART 2 - their DAY AFTER session, more commonly known as TRASH THE DRESS!  It is one of the best things I’ve ever done.

Meagan’s beautiful Mikaella wedding dress - JUST PERFECT for her

A few details: her great grandmother’s pearl necklace and an adorable hair piece

Meagan’s parents found this perfectly shaped moss pillow in the forest around their cabin

I LOVE This moment during their first look - Etienne was SO EXCITED to see his bride :)

I was very obsessed with Meag’s dress and how it blew in the wind - LOVED it!

Ah, I think my heart just skipped a beat - look at the wind blowing her hair

There were soooooooooooooo many amazing details for this wedding and many of them hand made by Meagan’s family and friends, especially her parents and grandparents.

Meagan’s grandfathered made these birch holders for all the place cards.  Each table was named after a place Meagan and Etienne traveled too.

Aren’t these adorable!  Her grandfather made them.  A FAMILY OF birch deer - wish I could have fit these in my suitcase.

How’s this for a perfect spot for a ceremony!

Again, more handmade details - Moss baskets and birch tags.

This was just SOME of the most perfect and amazing light during their ceremony

This is when the thunder started and the black clouds moved in… FAST!!!! it was a teency bit nerve racking

MARRIED!!!! (please note:  these two are being showered with birch bark confetti that Etienne spent hours hand cutting into tiny confetti size pieces… *sigh* that’s love)

And right after the ceremony… guess what moved in.  RAIN!!! We also later found out that there were tornado warnings in the area… OMG!!!

So after the crazy rain and more in the forecast and crazy gusts of wind to come the decision was made to move the reception site.  Everyone thought it was rather hilarious and happily chipped in to move the reception tables.

Meagan’s grandmother made all the birch vases for the centerpieces.  I just loved all the details from the handpainted rocks, to the ferns and birch pieces all over.

Despite the rain glitch… their wedding was a real celebration.  FUN TIMES!!!!

And for the most perfect first dance EVER!!! On the dock at sunset *sigh*

Oh, and not sure if anyone remembers their awesome sunset engagement shot… well we recreated a wedding version to rival the first one.  TOTALLY WORTH IT!

And for more adorable details.  Meagan’s grandfather made special cupcake stands out of birch (as well as that cute little horse used on the candy table).  And her grandmother made flower daisies with individual marshmellow petals and flower roses with individual candy petals.  They also had butterfly cupcakes.  All handmade by Meagan’s family.

Have I mentioned how much I love slideshows… especially ones with embarrassing pictures :P

Etienne’s brother perfomed a French Canadian sock dance which is basically a crazy dance wearing crazy socks and people give money - THIS WAS FUN!!!

And to end the night… it’s bonfire time!

By Jenn | Posted in My life, Uncategorized, Wedding | Tagged , , , , | no comments         No Comments | Add a Comment

ELLEN + GERARD - Deer Lake Park & Nikkei Centre Wedding / Burnaby Wedding Photographer

August 31, 2010 – 1:39 pm

Ellen and Gerard are just one of those couples… perfect in every way.  They are honest and sincere and absolutely adorable together.  The way they love each other just seeps out of them and can be seen in every glance and every smile, every word they speak to each other and in every touch.  They are always so happy and joyful and I think that was exaggerated 10x more on their wedding day.  Ellen was super calm the morning of her wedding but I could just tell that she was practically bursting at the seems to see her groom.  Their day was beautiful and simple and a barrel of laughs thanks to their rockin’ wedding party.  At a few points during the bridal party photos I was laughing so hard I couldn’t take their picture.  Thank you Ellen & Gerard for having Scott and I be a part of your beautiful day!

I just loved Ellen’s dress and shoes

And…. I L-O-V-E when bride’s do fun things with their details like this…

*sigh* Isn’t she just adorable, and stunning, and beautiful and gorgeous…

Their first look was adorable

Oh, Ellen… just GORGEOUS!!! and loved the roses all over her dress

I especially love the way Gerard makes Ellen smile… just melts my heart

I also always love it when the wind catches the veil

When the father of the bride gives away his daughter it’s always an emotional moment.  I love the look on Ellen’s dad’s face, he’s so proud and he’s giving Ellen’s hand right to Gerard.

I really loved the architecture at the Nikkei Heritage Centre

The food was very important to these two, especially Gerard and Two Chefs and a Table DID NOT disappoint.  The prawn and lamb lollipop appetizers we’re DELICIOUS.  My mouth is watering again just looking at these.

Simply love this moment from their first dance

During dinner Ellen changed into a traditional Korean dress.  This was her mother’s when she got married, and so was the pearl necklace.  L-O-V-E.

It was also Ellen’s Birthday so the day was doubly special :)  Gerard surprised her with a birthday cake and 200 people that they love to sing her happy Birthday!

And to end… I love this shot Scottie took of Ellen and I as we’re leaving the photo sess.  HAVE to make sure the dress stays clean :)

By Jenn | Posted in Uncategorized, Wedding | Tagged , , | no comments         No Comments | Add a Comment

* OUT OF OFFICE * (again)

August 10, 2010 – 8:36 am

Well we’re leaving Vancouver once again.  This time on a jet plane.  We’re off to Ottawa and then the middle of nowhere :P  for a beautiful lakeside wedding in Ontario.  We won’t have any internet access once we leave Ottawa so we’ll be unplugged for the next week - CCCRRRRRAAAZZZYYYY but totally looking forward to it.  We’ll be gone until late next week and then get to enjoy an awesome wedding when we get home.  Hope everyone has a good week.

Here’s a shot to leave you with that I took last night on my way home from shooting an awesome engagement session.  LOVE VANCOUVER.  Goodbye West Coast.

By Jenn | Posted in Anytime, Motivation/Inspiration, My life, Personal, Uncategorized, Wedding | no comments         No Comments | Add a Comment

KATHERINE + IAN - Granville Island Engagements / Vancouver Wedding Photographer

August 10, 2010 – 8:31 am

Last night the weather finally cleared up a bit and it was time for Katherine and Ian’s engagement session.  Katherine and Ian were not only perfectly coordinated for their colourful session but really are super sweet together.  I love meeting my couples and watching how they interact and these two definitely have a way of communicating and being together that is so natural and gentle.  They also have an adorable little Woodle (Wheaten Terrier with Poodle) named Bella and she is just the cutest thing.

Thanks guys for the fun time!

I’ve shot at Granville Island many times and ALWAYS love using all the colours.  This though was the first time I actually made a point of getting a bunch of them so we could do this - RAINBOW!! So fun!

By Jenn | Posted in Engagement, Uncategorized | Tagged | no comments         No Comments | Add a Comment

KATE + JASON - Saltspring Island Wedding

August 9, 2010 – 10:28 am

WOW!!! I honestly don’t know what to say about this wedding or where to start.  Hmmm, maybe with the fact that Scott and I absolutely adore Kate + Jason and that we’ve been looking forward to their Saltspring Island wedding ever since they booked.  We just love the Southern Gulf Islands and getting to shoot their engagement session on Mayne Island and their wedding on Saltspring Island has been such a treat.  Of course the Gulf Islands come with their own charm and challenges; like say having the ferry from Tsawassen break down and get into an accident about 4 days before the wedding.  And then there was the weather.  Oh, summer on the West Coast.  When you’ve had such a long strech of sun and the weatherman says light rain on a Saturday you think “ahhh, maybe it will rain but probably not” and not too mention the gulf islands get less rain.  Well IT POURED!!! But Kate and Jason were troupers and their army of amazing wedding peeps marched on to prepare the wedding and wouldn’t you know it… the rain stopped about 5 minutes before the ceremony.

Their day was amazing amazing amazing amazing amazing!  Everything from Kate’s parent’s beautiful lake-side property, to the flowers, to the details, to the food, to the L-O-V-E and to the STUNNING light we had to shoot with and just to EVERYTHING was just perfect.  THANK YOU Kate and Jason for having us with you on this wonderful day!!! Enjoy your roadtrip!  Oh, and the pics below are just a FEW FAVOURITES!!! Love them ALL!!! Seriously, ALL OF THEM!

By Jenn | Posted in Uncategorized, Wedding | Tagged , , , | 1 comments         Hide Comments | Add a Comment
  1. cBo Events   -  

    LOOOOOOVE the pic of the guys smoking the cigars! another beautiful photo session, Jenn Best!

TINA + JEFF - UBC / SHIANG GARDEN WEDDING - Vancouver + Richmond Wedding Photographer

August 4, 2010 – 5:05 pm

Okay, so I was already over the moon about Tina and Jeff after their engagement session and so I couldn’t wait for their wedding.  The day did not disappoint.

Tina was just absolutely stunning in ALL OF HER 3 DRESSES and I couldn’t stop taking pictures of her the entire day (I know this is my job but seriously, I was excited).  Jeff was all smiles ALL Day from when he saw Tina walk down the aisle to when he was being roasted by his buddies and of course while sitting next to his beautiful wife through dinner.  Tina + Jeff set aside 3 hours of time dedicated to their photos and it was WONDERFUL.  With absolutely no stress over time we were able to shoot all over the UBC campus (where these two first met) and create some amazing images.  Their reception was full, full, full of love and laughter.  And I was yet again reminded of how much I love Tina when I saw her reception was Harry Potter themed :)  Oh, and funny story… Tina and I have an issue with mosquitos :P  We’re both pretty prone to bites and we both got eaten up at their engagement session.  And then wouldn’t you know it - she got a bite within 2 minutes of the photo session on the wedding day… what the…  I got one too but seriously, we seem to have issues.  In any case, she was a trooper.  Their wedding party was an absolute blast so thank you to all (even if those from Australia have different ideas of what the word “drop” means) :P

And of course a special shout out to the beautiful Vivian whose wedding we shot last year when she married Samson.  It was so great to see you again.

Thank you Tina and Jeff for having us be a part of your day and for feeding us such yummy yummy food :)

By Jenn | Posted in Uncategorized, Wedding | 2 comments         Hide Comments | Add a Comment
  1. s h e r r y   -  

    :) Lovely images. LOVE the big window for the getting ready shots.

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CARMEN + NIZAM - Marine Drive Golf Club / Vancouver Wedding Photographer

August 4, 2010 – 4:16 pm

WOW!!! What can I say about this wedding other than it was AMAZING!!! It was a beautiful day of not only celebrating the marriage of Carmen + Nizam but also so much of their cultures.  Complete with a Chinese tea ceremony and a Muslim marriage ceremony, even a lunch stop at Wendy’s and a hilarious reception at the Marine Drive Golf Club - so much fun!

Carmen looked absolutely stunning in ALL THREE of her beautiful dresses.  And talk about culture - she had a Chinese, Indian and Western wedding dress - LOVED IT!!! oh, and who wouldn’t love a bride whose shoes have GOLD HEELS!!!

We also always love being a part of such a special day and watching how much love the family and friends have for the couple and this wedding was no exception.  Both sets of parents couldn’t have been happier, and not just for their own children getting married but also for the joining of their families and the “acquiring of new daughters and sons”.  The day was soooo filled with laughter especially at the reception during all the speeches, their hilarious newlywed game provided by the MC’s and even during their cake cutting where Nizam had a cute joke up his sleeve.  What a party!  Thank you Carmen and Nizam for having us be a part of your day.

By Jenn | Posted in Uncategorized, Wedding | no comments         No Comments | Add a Comment

CARMEN + NIZAM - Deer Lake Engagement Session / Vancouver Wedding Photographer

August 4, 2010 – 4:00 pm

I think it is absolutely impossible for Carmen and Nizam to NOT have a good time with whatever they are doing.  These two are hilarious together and have a very contagious sense of goofiness.  They both live in Calgary so we squeezed in their engagement session a week before their wedding.  Though the sun just suddenly dissappeared and we almost got rained we had so much fun strolling around Deer Lake park and the Shadbolt Centre.  And how awesome is it to come across a pile of wood and a stack of green barrels and your clients trust you enough to sit on uncomfortable sharp rocks to take pictures in front of them.  Thanks Carmen and Nizam for the fun session.  Stay tuned for your amazing wedding photos to come next.

By Jenn | Posted in Engagement, Uncategorized | no comments         No Comments | Add a Comment

LAYLA + ALI - Kerrisdale Engagement Session / Vancouver Wedding Photographer

August 4, 2010 – 3:45 pm

Just before we headed down to Oregon last week we squeezed in a BEAUTIFUL morning session with Layla + Ali.  These two are adorable and amazingly attentive with each other.  They really are gentle people who love to laugh and smile and just be with each other.  They live in Kerrisdale and it was so nice just strolling down the main street and the boulevard and exploring this beautiful place and just hang out.  Thanks Layla + Ali for such a wonderful morning.  Can’t wait for your September reception.  Enjoy some of my favs!

By Jenn | Posted in Engagement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | no comments         No Comments | Add a Comment
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