Andrew Snucins Photography

There is a particular bond formed around the fires of hunting camps under stars and forest canopies the world over. It is the shared understanding of what it means to be a hunter, a provider, and how that bond connects the men and women involved in the outdoors. Kelsey and Owen have taken that shared passion and used it as the foundation to build a life together that will endure any mountain storm. They are both two of the most passionate and deeply honest people I know. The type of people anyone would be fortunate to call friend, as I am. On a day surrounded by laughter and smiles, I feel like I spent more time returning hugs and handshakes than taking photos. And knowing the type of people Kelsey and Owen surround themselves with, that comes as no surprise. Congratulations you two, may the wind always be in your favour, your trails well marked, and your aim true.  All the best my dear friends.
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Photography: Andrew Snucins / Stacey Krolow
Dress: Aglow Bridal Lounge (http://www.aglowbridallounge.com)
Hair / Makeup: Styled by Muah (http://www.styledbymuah.com)
Catering: Nourishing Gourmet (http://www.nourishinggourmet.ca)
Venue: Rainbows Roost (http://www.rainbowsroost.com)

Matt and Teresa were married at McQueen Lake near Kamloops. For two of the most technological and plugged in people I have ever met, their blend of country charm and geek-culture made for a wedding day in which I spent more time laughing and trying to find every sci-fi / fantasy reference than taking photos. Surrounded by friends and family their wedding was an example of how weddings should be, with smiles, laughter and love creating an event that will not soon be forgotten by anyone there.
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As for the wine: “The choice of Jem’Hadar and Photographers everywhere!”
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Congratulations you two. And to fit the theme, a quote from Middle Earth:
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“When Winter comes, the winter wild that hill and wood shall slay; When trees shall fall and starless night devour the sunless day; When wind is in the deadly East, then in the bitter rain; I’ll look for thee, and call to thee; I’ll come to thee again!”
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Photographers: Andrew Snucins / Stacey Krolow
Hair / Makeup: Ra Hair Studio http://www.rahairstudio.com
Catering: Hop n’ Hog http://www.hopnhog.ca

As you grow older you look at people differently. The qualities that you admire and respect change. And so it’s with that in mind that this blog post description is a bit different than the norm. I remember standing in the wheat field at the end of the day, fourteen plus hours of shooting under our belts, and with golden sun painting the grass in rippling waves you could faintly smell the ocean on the wind, and the birds wheeling overhead broke the evenings sky with cries of joy. My second shooter Chris and I stood there in companionable silence for a time, satisfied in a days work. The silence ended when I noticed the groom and bride walking out of the reception area to continue thanking guests. I leaned towards Chris and said “They are quite the couple aren’t they” Chris nodded and smiled. This simple line could mean a few things,  that they were a good couple to work for, or perhaps, they were overall, a great pair of people. But I said that line with more in mind as I looked at Luke, his hands constantly moving to shake hands, pat shoulders, give re-assuring hugs, or pick up anything that needed moving, offering to help with everything despite it being his wedding day.
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The sentence was said with the realization that Luke is the kind of man that other men admire. The kind of person you would want your son to grow up to be, or the type you’d hope your daughter to marry. Then watching Erika, her laughter mirroring the cries of the birds overhead in its joy, the realization that she is the type of person anyone would want to be friends with. An anchor in the centre of Luke’s whirlwind her analytical mind was balanced by a passion that was noticeable the moment you walked into a room.
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I mentioned these points to Chris and with a rueful chuckle he started to make his way back to the reception to set up for the first dance photos. Calling over his shoulder he said “You coming Andrew?” and I realized I had stood there for some time, watching the type of people that surrounded Luke and Erika at their wedding, and with a bit of bemusement understanding that these qualities were not unique to them, but qualities their families and friends shared. An incredible group of people on a day straight out of a fairytale.
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And as I waved to Chris to walk on without me, I checked my camera straps and batteries as I have countless times before, and with a glance towards the sun as the last rays of light disappeared over the horizon I made my way back towards the sounds of laughter.

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Thank you Luke and Erika, for allowing us to be a part of such an incredible day.
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Photography: Andrew Snucins / Christian Tisdale
Hair: Tash Chooi: TLC Hair Studio
Makeup: Jenna Tackaberry
Flowers: Kenmar Flower Farms
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The land of Fire and Ice. A place where the people and culture are as essential to the landscape as the moss in the high mountains, and tall grasses of the plains. The birthplace of myth and legend the beauty of Iceland welcomed its son Helgi Runar Olgeirsson and his soon to be bride Brittany Bechtel home with open arms. For one it was a homecoming. For the other, a welcome to a family that extends from sea to sea across the rugged landscape.
We spent a day touring the waterfalls for some ‘engagement’ photos in handcrafted Icelandic wool sweaters. This was followed by one of the most incredible weddings I have ever been a part of. Helgi’s family welcomed Will and I with the familiarity of long lost sons, and from the moment we stepped off our planes, Will from the UK and myself from Canada, we felt as if we too were home. The people of Iceland have that effect on you.
Now, less than a week later, as I stand on a hillside in western Canada, watching the sunset, I think back to the winds of Iceland. The smell of the ocean mingling with the heady scent of loam and earth. I think back to sitting in humbled silence as an entire wedding stood and sung Icelandic songs during the reception, guests from over seven countries uniting in a shared love of Helgi and Brittany.
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Thank you Helgi and Brittany. For the experience of a lifetime in a land lost to time.
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Í landi elds og ísa býr þjóð, þjóð samofin sinni menningu og landslagi eins og mosinn í hrauninu og grasbreiður dalanna. Þetta mikilfenglega land goðsagna bauð velkomin heim son sinn Helga Rúnar Olgeirsson og hans verðandi brúði, Brittany Bechtel. Ekki var einungis um heimkomu að ræða, heldur einnig þing þar sem tvær fjölskyldur, sem undir venjulegum kringumstæðum eru aðskildar, með haf á milli, runnu í eitt.
Við eyddum einum degi á ferð um landið, tókum svokallaðar trúlofunarmyndir þar sem eins litar lopapeysur léku lykilhlutverk. Á eftir kom eitt stórkostlegasta brúðkaup sem ég hef nokkurn tíman tekið þátt í. Fjölskylda Helga tók vel á móti mér og Will líkt og um sína eigin syni væri að ræða, og frá fyrstu skrefum okkar frá flugvellinum þótti okkur, Will frá Bretlandi og mér frá Kanada, eins og við værum komnir heim, gestrisni Íslendinga hefur þessi stórkostlegu áhrif.
Nú ekki nema viku seinna, er ég stend í ónefndri hlíð í vestur Kanada og horfi á sólarlagið er mér hugsað aftur til vinda Íslands, hafgolunnar og kynna minna við landið. Ég mynnist þess að hafa setið hljóður er brúðkaupsgestir sungu með í þekktum Íslenskum lögum þar sem gestir frá fjölda landa komu saman til að deila þeirri ást sem ríkir milli Helga og Brittany.
Takk fyrir Helgi og Brittany, fyrir einstaka upplifun í landi í tíma tíndu.