Year In Review | 2023 - Part I | Kendal + Kevin | Calgary + Banff Wedding Photographers

Wow… and just like that another year comes to a close. It’s seriously hard to believe that we’re in 2024 already (wasn’t it just 2019?) Not sure if others feel this way, but here we are at our annual Year-In-Review post!

If 2022 was a successful marathon, then 2023 was more of a 10k. We loved all of the larger-than-life energy that 2022 brought, but we also recognized that it wasn’t sustainable for us (as a business and as a family). With that in mind, we intentionally blocked off 4 weeks in the summer and moved to Vancouver Island for a month (a summer holiday? Wild!)

Truthfully, it was a bit scary to turn away work in our prime booking season but it was 100% worth it in the end. Getting to hang with our son Brighton was magical. Exploring tidepools, swimming in the ocean and wandering trails in the rainforest gave us so much life and energy. We were able to spend time with good friends and even had Kevin’s parent’s join us for a week. Life was nice and slow. It almost gave us a nostalgic feeling of those summers from our childhood. While we won’t be able to do this every year, it was a good reminder to balance things out a bit more (our work is our passion, but play is ever important too!)

Despite the slightly slower pace, our 2023 season was still packed with some breathtaking celebrations. Each year as we reflect, we’re blown away by the variety of our work and how lucky and honoured we are to be chosen by our couples. From the Rowing Club in the heart of Vancouver, to a sunrise hiking elopement in the Canadian Rockies, we were a part of so many beautiful and joyous celebrations. There’s definitely a common theme with all of our couples - they’re so kind, funny, have good taste (obviously) and are surrounded by friends and family that love them (we didn’t know so much love could exist out there! It’s so incredible to be a part of it all!)

In the next few months we have some projects that we’re super keen to complete (some work related (…hello much needed website refresh) and some home DIY stuff as well). These dark days of winter give us a chance to breathe and think about our place in the wedding world. Having shot over 200 weddings together, we see that as much as trends shift (is the ‘Dutch Tilt’ seriously coming back!?), beneath that thin veneer of change, things generally stay the same. We have a pretty good grasp on what speaks to us and our clients when it comes to weddings: Joy, Intention and Love. Three words that encapsulates different things for different people, but all can be commonly tied together as real and timeless. Following these values leads to some pretty damn good wedding days!

We’re about to take off to Vancouver Island once again for some rest and relaxation, but afterwards, we’re anxiously looking ahead to 2024 with so much excitement! We have so many bookings in stunning locations (hello Banff, Canmore, Lake Louise, Fernie, etc.) and we can’t help but feel like this year is going to be special.

First... a look back at some of our favourite moments from 2023: