nathanael and melissa. married. a devonian gardens wedding.

I've known Nathanael for just over 10 years - we met through my brother-in-law and became friends. In recent years, he's been the tech wizard who's helped with my websites, invested his time and energy solving some of my electronic woes while I stress-cry in a corner and is generally just a calming online presence when I have no idea what I'm doing in computer-land (who am I kidding...actually it's been ever since I met him ;) ). We hadn't seen each other in person in quite some time when I got a text telling me that Nathanael had met someone and had proposed!! Melissa lived out of town in Athabasca and it never quite worked for us to all get together prior to their wedding so I was really curious and excited to meet her on their wedding day. The woman is lovely. As soon as I met her it made sense why they had clicked and why Nathanael had chosen her to spend his life with. She is beautiful and radiant. Good snag, Sir! They got married at the Meadowlands Baptist Church in South Edmonton and then we headed out to the Devonian Gardens for a few hours a photos and had a great time.

Congrats, Nathanael and Melissa! I am honored to have been there at your wedding both as a friend as your photographer. I hope you treasure this day as the beginning of a lifetime together <3

Check out more of my wedding work here!  To schedule a session or chat about your wedding shoot me an email at cheryl@aeris-photography.com or visit my contact form :)

katie and james. engaged. by edmonton photographer aeris photography.

I just loved meeting up with Katie and James back in April to photograph their engagement session. They're full of love and spunk and overall cuteness which makes my job so easy. What a treat to meet such incredible people through this job! Thanks guys - I can't wait to photograph your wedding in August!

Getting married? Check out more of engagement work here, my wedding work here and then shoot me an email so we can chat!

things that rock my world. blush magazine. an alberta lifestyle and wedding magazine.

I recently messaged Najla, the owner and editor of Blush Magazine and asked if she'd allow me to photograph her for my "things that rock my world" blog series. She obliged and I was stoked!! What a cool opportunity to meet with another small business owner, entrepreneur and dreamer! Blush, local to Alberta, features gorgeous Real-Life weddings, styled inspirational bridals with stunning details, and highlights hundreds of the best wedding vendors Alberta has to offer (See that gorgeous magazine cover below?  It was shot by local photographer Jill Coursen!  The bouquet?  Tickled Floral!  The gown?  From Delica Bridal!  Local awesome hardworking lady folk!). During the shoot Najla shared a bit of her journey to get her vision for Blush Magazine off the ground and then, once it had come to fruition, how hard she worked (for YEARS!!) to get it into mainstream stores. Blush is now published bi-annually and is stocked in Chapters and Indigo stores throughout Alberta. Be sure to check out Blush magazine next time you're wandering the aisles of those stores as well as the creative content that fill its pages!

Props to Jack'd Up Beauty Boutique for Najla's beautiful hair and makeup!

Noticed that gorgeous backdrop behind Najla? It's from the genius mind of The Paper Wedding by Carmen (Yes, it's made completely of paper!). She does work for tons of weddings and events so be sure to check out her work, too!

Know what else rocks my world? Check it out:

YEG Wed/POP Jukebox (A wedding blogger AND a killer DJ?? What?!!)

Eliasz and Ella (Banging bracelets and more from right here in Edmonton)

Beautygram (Don't send flowers! Send a Beautygram!!)

Lottie Da Designs (No joke - the most stunning bridal jewelry you have EVER seen)

Dani Press (Greeting Cards for this decade. Dani is da bomb.)

And hey, I shoot weddings, too!  Check my work out here and shoot me an email if you're looking for someone to capture your love!

edmonton wedding photography. styled winter bridals with colleen and perry. part two.

Last week I posted the first of 3 bundled-up styled winter bridal looks with Colleen and Perry, an incredible couple who dressed back up in their bridal wear for a chilly winter shoot. Part one featured a cranberry cardigan that popped so beautifully against the snow, along with a grey scarf, mittens and a cozy camping blanket (LOVE!! - Check out the post here!). Scroll down to see the last two looks: A turquoise cardigan with a dried lavender bouquet and, my favorite, a chunky knit mustard yellow infinity scarf! A great thing about any of these looks is that your groom can simply pop on a dark peacoat and look dapper with any of these styles!

Love. It. All.

Interested in chatting about your own wedding? Check out more of my wedding work here and shoot me an email to get in touch!

erin and martijn. engaged. edmonton engagement photography.

I was pretty stoked when Erin messaged me last year about photographing her 2014 wedding to her sweet Love, Martijn. I know Erin from when I was her junior counselor at a camp about 15 years ago as well as from her sister being a bestie of my cousin (and one of her bridesmaids [see pics here]; I just LOVE when the world seems so small that way, you know??!). Erin and Martijn chose Hawrelak park for their engagement photos which ended up being the perfect choice for this chilly winter session. Have a look at a few of my favorites from our time together as well as more from my wedding portfolio here. Feel free to shoot me an email if you're getting married this year and think I might be a good fit as your photographer!

cindy and graham. married. edmonton wedding photography.

I had such a lovely time on Saturday photographing Cindy and Graham's wedding <3 The couple (and their bridal party and the majority of their guests) are not from Edmonton but decided to have their wedding here as an "equally inconvient" option for everyone attending (Graham's words lol) as they came from here and there and everywhere. Thanks to wedding planner, Christina, from Sweet Bliss Weddings they were able to pull off their own "destination" wedding. I'm so glad they did because then I got to be a part of it!! Have a look at some of my favorite shots from throughout the day.

Since you're here feel free to check out some of my other weddings here and then shoot me a message if you're looking for a photographer for your own wedding!

wedding photography tips and information. aeris photography. edmonton wedding photographer.

Here are some tips that I plan on passing onto my brides for their wedding days! Enjoy! · Planning your timeline -I’ll be contacting my brides a few weeks prior to your wedding to request a timeline with the where’s and when’s of your day but here are a few things to consider: - Wedding activities typically take longer than you think. If your ceremony starts and ends on time that’s awesome but assume it will take a little longer. -Are you having a receiving line after your ceremony? If so, do you want me to come pull you away from it after a certain amount of time or do you want it to just run as long as it does? Guests typically want to chat with you so during/after a receiving line so let me know if you want me to keep things on a tight schedule. -How much time have you set aside for photography with your bridal party? “Formal” photos vary in priority from couple to couple. I recommend between 2-3 hours for formals (less than 2 can be a little tight/rushed; more than 3 is rarely necessary).

· Prepping your Getting Ready space -Rarely is a house abundant in beautiful natural light and it’s definitely not a requirement but it definitely is an asset. Consider getting ready in a room with the best natural light. -Consider the overall look and details of the room you’re getting ready in. If you keep pinning images that have a bride admiring herself in a gorgeous, tall mirror then consider purchasing/borrowing a mirror so that photos like that are an option. If you have gorgeous details be aware of their surroundings (cluttered dressers, shoe racks, etc.). I’m a “shoot in your surroundings” type photographer so I shoot things “as they are”. I happen to think that a dresser covered in hairbrushes and makeup is just fine because it says something about the busy-ness and fun of getting ready but just be aware that if it’s there during photos it will likely be IN your photos.

· Bridal Boudoir -A few of my brides have allowed me to whisk them off to a private room for a quick shot of them in their bridal lingerie. Let me know if you’re game for this :)

· Getting into your dress -I’ve had some brides only want their mom in the room helping them get into their dress for a more “intimate” type feel as well as brides who want their bridesmaids helping them get dressed for a different vibe. Think about if you have a preference. -Again, consider a room with the best light. -Get into it earlier than you think. A lace up dress is never done up in 10 minutes (in my experience).

· Are you doing a First Look? -Are you doing a “First Look” and/or having all of your formals taken prior to your ceremony? This is becoming a common trend and can be really fun (not to mention that you might feel your “freshest” for the photos seeing as you just had your hair and makeup done)!

· Do you have a videographer? -If so, please let me know so that I can plan on having to work around them. Did you hire a professional videographer or is it a friend or relative? Do you feel like either the videographer or the photographer is a priority? These questions might seem harsh however there are reasons why I’d like to know the answers. You’ve paid a few thousand dollars to have me photograph your wedding; if a cousin is video-taping your ceremony (and/or the rest of the day) as more of a favor then it may affect my decision to cut in front of them at certain times to ensure I get an important shot. One bride asked her friend to video tape her ceremony and he set up his gear right in the middle of the centre aisle. Needless to say, he took away a lot of opportune shots by being there and so, in order to get what I needed, I had to step in front of his camera on occasion. On the flip side, if you feel that video is a priority then I can definitely work with/around a videographer with your understanding that I might not get certain angles/shots due to staying out of the videographer’s way.

· Consider an “unplugged” wedding (or at least an “unplugged” ceremony) I 100% understand that your guests want photos of you at your wedding and I’m cool with it. However, something to consider is the number of cameras, phones, even ipads that somehow seem to be snuck into that shot of you walking down the aisle. The industry calls them “Uncle Bob” (the guy who’s in the background or foreground of your wedding, always with his camera up, often in the way of your hired photographer). Like I said, it’s ok. It’s something that happens at every wedding. However, you hired me for a reason so it’s also cool if your guests are invited to leave their cameras away and simply enjoy your wedding :)

Image on left courtesy of Amber Wilkie Photography. Image on right courtesy of offbeatbride.com.

· Family Photos -If you’re having family photos taken then create a family shot list (I’ll ask you for this a few weeks prior to your wedding as well). Let the family who you’d like to be involved know so that they stick around. -Obviously, I’ll photograph your family photos wherever you’d like but I would really recommend having them done immediately following your ceremony, somewhere right outside the ceremony venue. Family photos taken at a second location tend to take a lot longer than anyone plans for due to the number of cars that need to get to that second location.

· Go easy on the Pinterest requests -Pinterest is AMAZING for ideas and inspiration for planning your wedding. Photographers drool over the idea of shooting a wedding full of pinterest-inspired details but try not to get too caught up in “must-have” shots. I see so many pins that say “Make sure my photographer does this!” and “A photo with my groom doing a fist pump during the first kiss is a MUST!” I’m totally game for trying new things but, your groom might not do a fist pump while he’s kissing you and I always hope that my brides can just stay in the moment and go with what’s happening during their day. Also, I hope you’ve hired me for me and my personal photography style. If there are photos that you really want to try then maybe try to limit the list to around 5 ideas and then understand that I can take that idea and create something (rather than duplicating something) based off of it.

· Laugh and Love the skin you’re in -If you’re hiring me I’m assuming you’ve looked at my portfolio and liked what you saw. I’m also assuming that the things that might have drawn you in are, in huge part, the emotion, fun and laughter I’ve had the pleasure of capturing. I’m assuming you weren’t scouring images for stomach “bumps” or arm size or double chins. I’ve taken a bit of a stand on how I don’t do body altering in my images. Yes, I sometimes make a note of which angle is more flattering than another but I will not interrupt your groom from whispering something into your ear in order to make the scene “more perfect”. What could be more perfect that catching that moment on its own?? So I suggest you just relax. People are drawn to the real you, not a “perfect” you. So just be yourself :)

· Light -Sunny, hazy, photos taken at dusk won’t be the same as midday photos taken in January. Both can be awesome but they won’t be the same. It’s just good to know.

· What if it rains? -Consider bringing matching umbrellas for your bridal party (clear or neutral colored umbrellas are ideal) and maybe even coordinating rainboots. -Although I can absolutely give suggestions for both indoor and outdoor locations it is your responsibility to have a backup plan in place should weather require that we shoot indoors. Be aware that the majority of locations in and around the city require that they are booked in advance and typically come at a cost (even if you don’t end up using it) so I recommend looking into this a few months prior to your wedding.

· And what about snow? -You may not be able to have all of your photos outside during the winter but consider bringing some “cover-up” styling options for a few unique photo ops outside (scarves, cardigans, belts…even toques/beanies!). You’d be surprised at how far a bit of creativity goes!

· Additional fees, permits -Edmonton venues have definitely caught on to the fact that photographers want to shoot everywhere and, unfortunately, that sometimes means that you need permits for certain locations so please plan/book accordingly. -Please also plan to account for parking costs for your limo driver/bridal party transportation and your photographers.

· Food -Bring water bottles and “no-stain” type snacks for your bridal party. This definitely helps keeps energy and spirits up for pictures.

· Footwear -Walking around in heels for hours is draining even for an avid-stiletto wearer. Consider wearing and/or bringing comfy shoes for the walking around parts. -Consider shoes appropriate to your photography locations. Stilettos that sink into the grass if you’re shooting at a park are not fun for any bride/bridesmaid that I’ve seen. Plus, it gets dirt all over the spike of your shoe. Food for thought.

· Feed your vendors -If you have hired me to cover your reception then please have an assigned place for me (and my second shooter) to sit and eat (Don’t forget to feed your DJ, too!). Consider arranging for your photographer’s table to be served near the beginning of the meal so that we can be finished and ready for when the program begins.

· Are you planning a grand exit? -Credit is again due to Pinterest for the plethora of gorgeous “grand exit” ideas. Something to consider is that if you’re doing a grand “Everyone-hold-a-sparkler-in-a-row-so-that-we-can-run-through-it” exit simply because you want an awesome photo of it then remember to account for that exit in the timeline of when your photographer is still scheduled to be present.

· Relax -Rarely is everything perfect and on-time at a wedding. Something may be forgotten. If you can, send someone for it. In the meantime, just relax and roll with it. You get to marry your Love. And that’s awesome.

lisa and brad. married. tofield wedding photography.

I had the unbelievable privilege of photographing my cousin’s wedding last June. Even though the forecast called for rain it ended up being a gorgeous (aka scorching) day for their outdoor ceremony! Lisa (and her sister, Tracy) have probably been the cousins that I’ve been closest to my whole life. Being a few years older than Lisa, I used to coerce her and Tracy into playing with my hair (head rubs!) for hours at our family gatherings. Years later I was the older cousin that got to babysit them (although it was just less like babysitting and more like hanging out with my friends, watching movies and ordering pizza with the money left by my Aunt and Uncle…good times). We got even closer after the loss of their dear brother, Tim, and then even closer after Lisa and I got to be roomies for a while before I got married last year.

I was pretty stoked when Brad asked Lisa to marry him (in a combine…lol) and even more happy to be able to hang with her and help capture her wedding day. Brad, you got a good one.