Apr

27

family-portrait-vancouver-birthday.jpg Mamie Lizee celebrates her 85th birthday with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren in Maple Ridge on Saturday. (Photos by Julia Pelish)

When Mamie Lizee’s children and grandchildren were thinking of what to give her for this year’s birthday the perfect gift idea came to mind. On Saturday, the members of the family who live in the Lower Mainland gathered for a family portrait to celebrate Mamie’s 85th birthday.

“She loves her family so much that we thought that was the best thing to give her,” said her daughter Carol. “It’s what she will enjoy more than anything else.”

The year Mamie was born William Lyon Mackenzie King was in his first term as Prime Minister, nine million people lived in Canada and a team from Vancouver battled for the Stanley Cup. Different times, indeed.

portrait-family-birthday-event.jpg Mamie’s hometown was Port Arthur, Ontario, which no longer exists. It amalgamated with Fort William to form Thunder Bay in 1970. By that time, Mamie had spent more than three decades as a British Columbian. When she was nine years old, she and her family migrated west, settling in the Webster’s Corner neighbourhood of Maple Ridge. Mamie said the biggest change she’s seen in the area is the increase in “the number of people” and “all the buildings”.

The 85th birthday party was held at the lovely Maple Ridge home of Mamie’s son and daughter-in-law, Alan and Barbara. Among those present were Carol’s daughters Nicole, Kim and Angie and their children. Family members in Saskatchewan and Alberta were missed but are sure to be there for the 100th year celebrations!

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Apr

25

mothers-day-heirloom-portrait.jpgRosa and baby - Signature Portrait by Julia Pelish.

Breathe,
Inhale aromas of delicacy,
chocolate and chrysanthemum wings,
Nose spices and make one your favourite thing,
Let rich essences seep to your lungs,
Fill them up like tea,
Sigh now,
Exhale your worries,
Those are for me
to breathe,
I stand watch, ready to snatch them,
Beastly fiends and pointy ghouls,
We’ll wrap them in a ring
and launch them to the moon

Rest your head, close your eyes,
Just breathe for me

(Original poetry copyrighted by Julia Pelish Photography)

Apr

25

event-birthday-photography-vancouver.jpgWhat a face! Adorable Anaya just turned 1-year-old! (Photo by Julia Pelish)

Princess Anaya celebrated her first birthday on Saturday in Surrey with her family and closest friends, including Minnie Mouse!

By the end of the festivities, faces were covered with paint, icing and smiles. Mom (Rekha) and Dad (Edwin) joined in the fun as Anaya got started on Year 2 of life with lots of well wishes and gifts. With grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins all on hand, she held court in the clubhouse and captivated everyone with her beautiful grin.

I had a blast photographing the party - how could you not with a room full of delirious kids?

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Birthday girl Anaya parties with Mom, Dad and Minnie Mouse at the Clubhouse. (Photo by Julia Pelish)

Apr

23

corporate-photographer-vancouver-covers-great-bear-rainforest-event The Bill Reid Gallery hosted revelers who contributed to a stupendous fundraising drive. (Photos by Julia Pelish)

A day after the world celebrated our planet, members of Vancouver’s philanthropic community gathered for the benefit of one particular piece of extraordinary territory in our province.The Great Bear Rainforest was the headline attraction for concerned corporate citizens and conservationists at the Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art on Wednesday night. Attendees cheered the completion of international fundraising efforts that brought in $60 million to help protect the 21-million acres of temperate rainforest located in the Bute Inlet.

The achievement was hailed as “a great beacon of light” for environmental protection, according to Tides Canada Foundation board member Alan Broadbent. The national public foundation, which is focused on social justice and environmental causes, organized the celebration and also raised $4 million in Canada.

In January 2007, the Great Bear Rainforest Conservation Campaign Fund was created in a watershed moment for shared environmental programs. The federal and provincial governments teamed with businesses, non-government organizations, First Nations communities and charities to contribute a total of $120 million to preserve the forest, which includes 30-storey red cedars and an array of wildlife such as the rare white Kermode bear. The Canadian government pledged $30 million to help finance the project, a figure that the B.C. government matched.

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Apr

21

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The Svorinics (from left): Tony, Gina, Kristofer, Stephanie, Dominik (aka the Human Sports Encyclopedia) and Marin. (Photo by Julia Pelish)

You know you’ve got great kids when they go all out – including out in the cold – to celebrate your birthday. That was the case for Gina Svorinic, whose gift this year was a family portrait.

With Burnaby Mountain just up the road from the family home, we couldn’t resist photographing them in the flower gardens and amid the snowy grounds on Sunday. The entire clan contended with the unusually chilly weather and it paid off with some wonderful photos while the sun was out.

Afterwards, we retreated to the Svorinic home for portraits in the orchid-filled living room with Mom, Dad (Tony) and the kids – Marin, Stephanie, Kristofer and little Dominik, the Montreal Canadiens’ fan who was eagerly awaiting Monday’s Game 7 of the NHL playoffs.

The happy gang will soon have a beautiful heirloom to grace their wall for years to come – awesome choice for a gift, kids!

“She’s the greatest mom in the world and this was just a little something we did to show her how much we love and appreciate her,” Stephanie said.

Apr

19

vancouver-photographer-engagement-portrait.jpg Chris and Nicole, and their shadows, are all heart. (Photo by Julia Pelish)

You could almost hear the pealing of wedding bells when Chris and Nicole graced Stanley Park recently for their engagement portrait session. The delightful couple were photographed with the cherry blossoms in bloom and the sun shining as we got outstanding shots of them along the seawall and near the rose gardens. The bride and groom-to-be were also treated to an exquisite sunset as they posed overlooking Howe Sound from Ferguson Point before the end of the session.
It reminded me of the reasons we’re so lucky to have Stanley Park. Not only does it ensure that prime property in our city is kept public but it allows for some of the most picturesque scenes of Vancouver.

Chris and Nicole’s ceremony is scheduled for July 26 in another one of our glorious sites, Cecil Green at UBC.

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Chris and Nicole sure do have eyes for each other. (Photo by Julia Pelish)

Wedding photography gallery

Apr

13

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Yosem and Gabbie had perfect weather for their delightful wedding. (Photo by Julia Pelish)

If you were wondering what lucky couple in the Lower Mainland picked Saturday for their ceremony, here’s your answer.
Yosem Reichert-Sweet married Gabrielle Sheung at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Gardens at 11:30 a.m. on the loveliest day of 2008, April 12. The special day featured a high temperature of 19 degrees Celsius and clear views of the coastal mountains.

The festivities started early with a funny and charming rendition of the Chinese Wedding Door Game at the home of the bride’s parents in Richmond. Yosem and his groomsmen bowed to the commands of the bridesmaids and hammed it up to the delight of everyone, including Gabbie, who peeked outside from an upstairs window.

Once he was finally allowed to cross the threshold of the front door, Yosem was greeted by happiness banners and Gabbie’s beaming, resplendent face from above. As he climbed towards her, he voiced all the reasons for his love, a move that had her in tears long before he reached the summit.

The emotions for all welled up at the formal ceremony in downtown Vancouver’s Chinatown. The couple were married by Justice of the Peace Ken Dong and in front of more than three dozen guests and attendants in Sun-Yat Sen’s intimate Scholar’s Garden.

The next stop was Stanley Park, where Yosem and Gabbie were photographed under cherry blossoms similar to those stitched on the bride’s gown. The reception followed along the calm waters of the Fraser River at the picturesque UBC Boathouse.

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Apr

9

wedding-photography-rain-vancouver.jpgBrent and Mary, hiding from the rain. (Photo by Julia Pelish)

Vancouver weather can threaten to dampen even the most special occasion but that doesn’t mean you still won’t love your wedding day or manage to make it an even more memorable experience. With the right planning, your wedding photographer will ensure your pictures will be just as special as if they were taken in glorious sunshine. How can that be?

Well, experience is one factor. Photographers have worked in a multitude of situations, as their portfolios demonstrate. They’re used to challenges and will adjust accordingly. With rain, in particular, there are a few reliable options that can create a romantic portrait of any bride and groom.

The under-the-umbrella photograph is beautiful for many reasons. It evokes intimacy with its beneath-the-covers sentiment and also togetherness in difficult times because it attempts to block out the world. It represents chivalry, of husband protecting wife. And from an aesthetic perspective, it is an elegant object that brings a sense of softness with its rounded shape. Props can add uniqueness and personality to a photograph and the functional umbrella is one of the best at doing so.
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Apr

3

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The right wardrobe complements the setting and mood of portrait photographs. (Photo by Julia Pelish)

“What should we wear?”

I hear that question so often from portrait clients and the initial reply is, It depends.

With a wedding it’s easy to narrow down the style of clothes. Traditions are in place with the wedding gown and suits, so the input of the photographer is rarely asked for. Portraits, though, are much more unique in terms of wardrobe selection and in some ways even more reflective of personal tastes.

What I emphasize is be yourselves but keep certain guidelines in mind. For instance, should you wear jeans? I say, It depends if you’re comfortable being photographed in them. If you are, then jeans are absolutely fine. Just about any piece of clothing is fine, actually. What you want to do is make sure your clothes don’t clash with those worn by the others in your group. So mixing stripes with patterns and colours that are incompatible isn’t ideal.

Generally, long sleeves are preferable on men and women, and V necks accentuate women’s figures better than round collars or turtlenecks. My preference is on elegant dress that’s coordinated to match. Black and white are always ideal colours because they blend well with just about any setting. Earthy tones are also good choices, especially for outdoor shoots.

Whether it’s a couple dressing for an engagement portrait or a family photograph, the wardrobe selection is one of the details that’s key to creating a classic, polished portrait. Clothing can be utilized almost as a prop to create a mood or atmosphere that when combined with the perfect setting will transform and elevate the image into a piece of art that evokes both beauty and emotion. More than that, the wardrobe will keep the focus where you want it – on you and the people you care about. When you’re in the photograph together the attention shouldn’t fall on clothing that stands out for the wrong reasons.

Be sure to ask your portrait photographer about wardrobe selection prior to your session. My portrait packages include the option for a professional wardrobe consultant, although most clients tend to use the tips written in this post as a guideline. If you want to know more about this subject, feel free to contact me.

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