Sometimes we’re asked if the stories ever get old. In fact, very recently I was asked point blank: “Dude! How can you not be cynical yet? You know 50% of all these couples aren’t gonna make it!” But to the naysayers, I shrug my shoulders and confess that this *dude* is a romantic at heart. The sappier, the better, I say. And as for whirlwind romances? Bring them on. The camera loves love no matter how it came to be.

So that was my lead in to the story of Jen + Nick. A couple with a distinct amount of sass and presently involved in their own version of the quintessential whirlwind romance. Nick + Jen live in Ottawa and are returning to the Bay to cement their relationship in stone in just 11 days {we’re counting right down with you, guys!}. Technically they first met back in high school {“I was much too shy to go talk to him since he was so cute!”} and finally managed to exchange words during a chance encounter over yearbook photos in the cafeteria. But that was 1999 and their story only really begins in 2007.

So what gives?!! {Yes, we wanted to know, too!}

Well, along came this nifty little social networking tool that drifted into Jen’s world. It was 2007 and within an hour of reluctantly creating her very own Facebook account, she received a message from Nick saying “hey! I’m back in town and having a BBQ!” And who doesn’t love a good BBQ?! As luck would have it, the weather turned sour and that BBQ ultimately turned into the discovery of their mutual love for sambuca shooters at Jack’s. {insert a little giggle. had another couple last year that came together over a mutual passion for tequila shots.} At any rate, it wasn’t too long into their casual dating that Jen + Nick discovered they were pretty much inseparable. Never an awkward moment or a lull in the conversation, they could sit and yack all night. It was almost as though they they had been best friends their whole lives.

Here’s our fave part of their story… Having only been seriously dating for 3 weeks, Nick was offered a job he couldn’t refuse in Ottawa and asked Jen to come with him. She took that giant leap of faith, left TBay and has never looked back. Some would say that was crazy! We say AWESOME. Because sometimes you just have to leap and the net will appear. Two years ago Nick proposed to Jen at the beautiful market place restaurant in Ottawa, *Vittoria Trattoria*. She was completely unaware of his plans and when he casually asked if there was anything she’d like to see change in their relationship, all that came to mind was him putting his clothes in the hamper instead of leaving them all over the place. But alas her answer was, “nope! Things are perfect.” To which he responded, “well, what if things were to change and you’d be my wife?” Naturally the ring came out and jubilant yes’s ensued.

And so to all the Facebook haters out there; take it from us. You just never know who you might bump into again. For Jen + Nick, that crazy {and sometimes annoying} social media tool turned out to be the best version of cupid they could ask for.

Jen + Nick, hope you enjoy these images from your E-session in Ottawa this past May. Thanks for all your patience, and we cannot wait to roll up our sleeves and lay out the framework for documenting your wedding. Oh, and Jen, Sam says “Remain calm. It will all get done!” — Congrats from Alvis, Sam + Melissa

If you ever want to catch a really authentic glimpse into a couple’s life, tag along on a date with them sometime. Three weeks ago, we had just that opportunity and followed Laura + Jan around the beautiful cityscape of Ottawa, camera in tow, casually clicking away as they laughed, smooched, joked, and gazed lovingly at each other. We even returned to the *scene of the crime*…. also known as how it all began. And it goes a little something like this:

Mutual friends had been hounding them to connect on the hunch they would hit it off. Finally surrendering to the pressure, these two now lovebirds agreed and had their first date at a trendy/cozy little restaurant in Ottawa. Friendship and attraction grew into love and before long the conversations turned to marriage. {Naturally we are WAY oversimplifying this!}

Although Laura + Jan are both very private people, what we do know is that they actually travelled great distances to find each other. Jan was born in Prague, but grew up in Kuwait, later Phoenix and then Ottawa, where he currently works in the medical field for the government. Laura has become the missing puzzle piece in his life.  In between training for his various triathlons, Jan takes great delight in helping Laura with her tennis game. Conversely, she coaches him with his running and now together they are even working on some slick dance moves for their upcoming wedding!

Paramount to Laura + Jan’s relationship is a mutual interest in celebrating their respective cultures. With Laura’s Finnish-Canadian background, Jan is learning to withstand the Finnish Sauna {and we’re told his time *in there* is significantly improving!} and also enjoy frequent helpings of Karjalan Pirakkas {naturally, made by Laura}. And with Jan’s Czech-International heritage, Laura has sampled his famous Schnitzel and is learning to bake the most incredible Czech Christmas cookies.

All this aside, these two busy professionals are now planning the wedding of their dreams back here in Thunder Bay this Fall. And this isn’t just any wedding; in fact it’s kind of special for us, too!

You see Laura’s mother is Rev. Deborah Kraft of St. Paul’s Anglican Church; a church that is near and dear to our hearts. But Rev. Deborah herself is also dear to our hearts. She has performed countless wedding ceremonies over the years and we can personally attest to her caring and respectful nature, along with the passion she exudes in talking about love and marriage. And if that’s not enough to get our attention, Jan’s mother — a classically trained opera singer — will be sharing her special gifts at the church that day, as well.

Laura + Jan, we’re honoured that you’ve asked us to document this momentous occasion. We are counting down right alongside you… In the meantime, please enjoy this handful of images from your Ottawa E-session. P.S. in case you are wondering how Laura’s back bends that way {trust us, you’ll wonder!}, she is a classically trained ballerina who, despite pursuing a career in law, never lost her turnout nor her incredible flexibility!

xo — Alvis + Sam

FYI: wearing a stunning dress to your highschool grad just might have the intended effect of knocking his socks off!! And in turn, it just might lead to happily ever after one day. Such was the case for our bride + groom to be, Kristin + Al. A few weeks ago we had the pleasure of shooting their engagement session on  location at their current resident city, Ottawa. In between the goofing off and their obvious affection for each other, the real story of how this union came to be unfolded. It’s got a little something for everyone, so sit back, grab a cup o’ java and enjoy!

Ahhhh highschool crushes. Those were indeed the days. Remember them? You’d tell your kindred BFF about the crush du jour and before long the entire school would know. In Al’s case, word eventually got back to him that this flirty, outgoing beauty wanted to take him to HER grad. The answer was a no-brainer and before long the two were inseparable. Fast forward to the Academia Years while Al studied at Queen’s and our couple managed to hang tough during a solid bout of long distance.

But ultimately, heartbreak would set in as the degree was earned, and Kristin was unsure if moving away from Thunder Bay was something she was ready for or not. Break-up number one ensued.

And even while Kristin found herself in another relationship, Al persistently and consistently did his best to woo her back; but she was admittedly just in a different place. Two years of dissatisfaction later and the two of them miraculously found their way back to each other. And to seal the deal further, Kristin packed up her life in TBay and moved to Ottawa which was a “huge” step for her. There has been no looking back, only looking forward and relishing in the joy of being together at long last.

Other random bits of info we gleaned? Well, they could not possibly be any more in love with their two cats, Farnsworth and Lemmiwinks, lovingly named by Al {who specializes in oddball monikers for both animals and people alike}. Not sure if this is public knowledge, but he’s been known to call his true love Kristin “Bootface”, “Weasel” and most recently “Mia” {well that’s kinda sweet, no?!}. But perhaps what stands out the most is the obvious balance these two exude. Kristin: joyful, exuberant, overreacting, high strung. Al: easy going, calming, soothing, romantic {see next paragraph}. It’s a thing of beauty, really!

And for their engagement, Al meticulously planned it out. The symbolism of his bended-knee proposal at the very spot he had given her her promise ring was not lost on Kristin. Somewhere out on the rocks at Chippewa is a place that has become sacred to them.

So enough of the mushy stuff! We are thrilled to post some highlights from this Ottawa E-session. The chemistry between them seemed to leap right off the screen as we edited… leading me to conclude their August, 2012 wedding will result in equally gorgeous shots. Thanks for a blast the other week, guys. REALLY stoked to be a part of your Big Day and hope you enjoy this wee peak at some of what is coming your way. Cheers! — Alvis, Sam + Melissa

Our poor, neglected, lonesome blog. Fret not, little one. We’ve lifted the 6-week long blogging embargo and are finally back. Our excuses are many, namely life getting {happily} in the way and our focus being on family after an insanely busy 2010. But this post is not about us per se: it’s about you, and the possibilities that lie just ahead of our camera lens.

Speaking of possibilities, when planning your wedding one of the most critical decisions you make will be your photographer. Trust us on this one — it is a decision that will have a lifelong impact on your story for years to come! When we were married nine years ago in Costa Rica, we were naively much more concerned with logistics of the resort, who would preside over the ceremony and of course our guests… all important details. But while we did hire a photographer we clearly did not do our homework and the end result was nary a photo that we liked. To this day there is no album to show our daughters… just a few cute but non-professional images taken by family members. {Note: one of the most influential deciding factors for creating Bliss Pictures and tailoring our photography offerings exclusively to suit the wedding industry was directly related to our own experience or rather lack thereof on our wedding day!}

So consider this blog entry our public service message to all newly engaged’s out there: make an investment in a photographer {and cinematographer} that you believe can best represent the love you share and your values. It may not be us or even the next guy… just do your homework because there’s really no dress rehearsal for your wedding day imagery.

But I digress! Here is a couple that DID do their homework and to our good fortune, booked their October wedding with Bliss Pictures. Autumn + Chris were all about the meaningful personal touches and to this day we are still in awe of this bride’s ethereal beauty. Her dress was handmade jointly by she and her mom. Her bouquet was of stunning antique brooches and had to have weighed easily more than ten pounds! By contrast, Autumn’s wedding party carried bouquets of feathers… another homemade touch.

And so for this couple who fell in love through a fortuitous introduction in Toronto, their wedding day went off without a hitch. There was plenty of guinness flowing at their Valhalla Inn reception {decorated by the talented April of Silk + Cedar} as was illustrated by the spontaneous erruption of Ukrainian Dancing in tribute to their love. Perhaps the one detail that remains most memorable was our couple’s creative strategy for having their guests convince them to kiss. Oh “Mad Lib”, you never fail to leave us in stitches! For those of you considering this game and feeling simultaneously confident that your guests will go easy on you, consider this your fair warning!

Autumn + Chris: congratulations again on your marriage… and thank you for including us in your Big Day. You did your homework and we hope you feel it paid off. xo — Alvis, Sam + Melissa

Welcome to the blog, and thanks for stopping by! Pull up a chair, grab a latte and get comfy. Have you thought about your photographer yet? Ok, dumb question; otherwise we’d not have the pleasure of catching you here {though the word on the street is that this blog makes for a great distraction at work!}.

At any rate, we’re thrilled you’re engaged! And make no mistake, we want to hear every single gooey, ooh-ey detail. Was the proposal the kind that leave many of us slapping our existing husbands/boyfriends upside the head? Was it clever and sweet? Was it goofy? Was he nervous? Tell us! How about the ring? How did you feel when he slipped it on your finger?

In honour of all this excitement the Bliss Team is resurrecting our original *Spring Bling* booking promo. And it goes a little something like this… Book your 2012 or 2013 wedding with Bliss before May 1st and enjoy an overnight stay with breakfast at Thunder Bay’s most romantic hideaway, the White Fox Inn. Certain restrictions will apply.

And what is a blog post without some imagery to make it more interesting? This is a sneak peek of the sneak peek for our couple du jour Randi + Ryan. These pictures are hot off the press; their engagement session took place this past Friday. We’ll be doing a full blog of their story in the coming week, but in the meantime, here’s a wee preview!

Old man winter: you can pack your bags and get the he** out… We’re no longer fans! Twice in the last month you single-handedly initiated annoying car accidents with our new Kia Soul and on the most frigid days of the year to boot, one of which during our shoot with clients Ali + Mike. Good times, good times. Thankfully, this fun-loving and extremely patient couple rolled with the punches {just like our car! bahahahahaaaa} and wound up with not one but two engagement shoots {both during extreme cold temps!}.

So here we are, delighted to showcase the love shared between Ali + Mike, whom we observe love life, laughing and each other to pieces. And in case you’re wondering, never doubt where you might bump into your future significant other. For these two that happened to be the emergency room at the hospital… and now they’re tying the proverbial knot July 30th! We’re confident Ali + Mike’s wedding day will be beautiful, emotional and most notably car-accident-free. For their specific e-session, they wanted simplicity and beauty… a walk in the city; a walk in the park. Their imagery is one-part urban and one-part nature which reflects both sides of their carefree personalities.

Guys, here’s your sneak peek and once again, God bless for just rolling with the punches. If you can get through your married life with the same sort of mantra, it will be a long, fulfilling and happy one {at least that’s been our experience in our first nine years of marriage!}. Warmest wishes, Alvis {along with Sam + Melissa in the editing room}.

And now to their city-scape e-session… hangin’ out on Bay St.

Yikers, it’s been ages since we posted. What’s new, you ask? Hmmmnnn… basically since January we’ve been knee-deep in editing, meeting with new clients and most recently some sugary white powder sand! Last week we had the privilege of spending 7 days of fun and sun with wedding planner *extraordinaire* Bethanie Foster and film-maker *guru* Martin Kramer as they exchanged vows before 30 of their nearest and dearest in Punta Cana.

February 1st 2011 was all about letting someone else take the reins for our detail-oriented bride. And yet in true Bethanie-style, every single aspect of the week-long celebration was executed with panache and included her warm signature touches, from the lovely custom-created welcome beach bags to the handmade wedding lanterns and table décor. The backdrop for all this splendor was Punta Cana’s stunning Majestic Colonial Resort, and let us be among the first to give it an exuberant two thumbs up! Every corner of greenery was meticulously manicured. The entertainment rocked {as did the *Spice Girls*, during their memorable rendition of “It’s Raining Men” on Karaoke Night!!}. And the rooms were downright dreamy. But best of all, was the beach. And we’ve seen a beach or two in our lifetime, but this one ranks at the top for its overall perfection. For Sam to actually go in the water, you have to realize it’s gotta be something special. Ahhh……can still feel that sand squishing between our toes.

But I digress. Back to our happy couple! Performing their 3:00 p.m. ceremony was none other than Jeremy Landon, another brilliant film dude {we know from experience!} who layered in just enough of his clever personality amidst the moving vows. All in all, the entire thing went off without a hitch; not even overshadowed by the two-hour late missing bridal attire. Other highlights we won’t soon forget include the incredible ring box handmade by Chris {Bethanie’s Dad who was also celebrating his official retirement from the police force}, and the look of pride on nephew Collin’s face as he walked down the aisle with it grasped firmly in his tiny hands.

And so without further ado, we are excited to post this blockbuster sneak peek of imagery from your Big Day, Bethanie + Marty. We were honoured to have been asked to represent you… both as clients and as friends. There is only one more thing to say, rustle yourselves up a Mamajuana and drink up! Here’s to married life… may it be as sparkling as that ocean we already miss. Ok, that was a little hokie, but it comes from the hearts. With much love and affection, xox — Alvi + Sam

p.s. I lied // There’s always one more thing left to say, or as Sam says, that infamous *last word*. Bethanie: you are a BEAUTIFUL bride. But what’s coolest is you have no idea that you are.

Sheri + Andrew have big hearts and big brains. Let’s just say that if the category of *Biology* ever came up in a round of Jeopardy, we’re pretty sure they won’t gaffe the Daily Double!

These two Arizona State, Biotechnology PhD students are madly in love and will cement their relationship in stone this August. Their story begins nine years ago, essentially during highschool, when Sheri asked Andrew to attend her semi-formal. We could easily say the rest is *history*, but that would be glossing over some pretty informative years of studying, moving, researching, etc. After completing their undergrads {both in Biology} at Lakehead U, they found themselves pursuing additional higher learning at the University of Toronto where they each completed their Masters. And if that weren’t enough punishment {for those of you itching to get out of school}, their path led them to Scottsdale, Arizona where they are completing their own independent research to culminate in their respective dissertations. Phew. Big brains. Big hearts!

In their downtime, you might find them at Home Depot snatching up materials for rennos on their recently purchased home… Self-described as *low-key*, Sheri + Andrew are connected in life through their own pursuit of higher learning and through the deep love and mutual respect they have for each other. For their engagement session, we opted for a place with meaning and headed out to L.U. It proved to be the perfect place for some winter frolicking and photo snapping.

Sheri + Andrew: we’re stoked to work with you this summer. Thank you for being such good sports on our snowy e-session day. Hope you enjoy this sneak peek of imagery… and Happy New Year!

It’s been a dog’s age since we posted anything remotely personal on this blog. And rightfully so, it is meant to showcase our most recent client work. With the holidays upon us, however, and family in all parts of the world these days, we couldn’t resist putting up a few images from our trip home to Sudbury and Ottawa, where we took some time to just live in the present and hang with our girls Piper (7) and Saffron (2). And in case you find yourselves wondering, yes, this is about as typical as it gets with us: no sleds on hand so why not just grab some trusty cardboard and make do?!!

To our family in Guatemala: Mom, Dad, Natasha + Rod + Maple, Jonathan + Shalem…. we miss you a tonne and wish you were here! Say hello to the volcanoes and bring us home some Antigua coffee, please! To our family in the Middle East: Dagmara + John (+ and all our kindred bandmates)… counting the days until you make that requisite journey back home. Though you are so bloody far away (it’s hard to fathom where on earth Oman is!), you are in our hearts and we love you dearly. To our family in Sudbury: Mom, Dad, Inese + Freddy + Cody, Laila + good ol’ Mojo…. thank you for spoiling us rotten, for making numerous feasts fit for kings and for putting up with the yammerings of our little ones.

Life has blessed us in so many ways; but often we find ourselves caught up in the ever infamous pursuit of *more*. We are grateful for our health, for our two loving and mischievous daughters, for our supportive and unwavering families, for friends that love and accept us shortcomings and all and for this career which allows us such an intimate and poignant glimpse into this crazy little thing called *love.*

Happy Holidays to all our clients, former and new; and may 2011 bring you an abundance of your own blessings to count.

xo, Alvis (the man perpetually behind the camera and gratefully never in any of the shots!)

We’re not going to bog this blog down with our usual ooey-gooey, lovey-dovey superlatives… But do not mistake our *less is more approach* as disinterest. Au contraire. We are incredibly excited about working with Lucie + Kevin next October, 2011. We’ll be bringing the Bliss *entourage* down to Sault Ste. Marie for the entire weekend!

About six weeks ago amidst a chaotic week of moving from Sioux Lookout to Blind River, Lucie + Kevin came up to TBay to take advantage of some lucious fall colours and the opportunity for a second Bliss photo shoot {we count this one as their actual engagement session, though you may remember their winter *warm-up* session done last year}. They were hoping for some perfect shots for their Save the Dave cards… and something tells me they’ll have a tough time whittling it down to just one! Enjoy your sneak peek, guys. We wish you all the best of this holiday season and thank you for your patience. p.s. give our best to Mika!

xo — Alvis, Sam, + Melissa