A couple of weeks back, I was able to spend some time in Wasaga Beach with Katie and Jeff for their engagement session. What I love about these sessions is that it really helps me to get to know my wedding couples and it helps them to get comfortable with me and my style of shooting. I call it a trial run for the wedding day!
I met up with Katie and Jeff at Katie’s parents place so we could get some shots with their new puppy Halle. Halle ended up posing for only a couple of shots, but the main thing is we got a few shots with all of them together! Having fur family members included in engagement shoots is so much fun and I so glad we were able to get a few of them all together.
Katie and Jeff have a long love relationship with the beach. Both Katie and Jeff grew up on the beaches of Wasaga and Katie’s grandparents home backed right onto the beach (and we were able to get a few pics there!). They also purposely bought a house together close to the beach! Naturally, they chose the beach as the spot for their engagement session. I was so excited when they told me, because any session that I can be shooting barefoot is perfection!
When I emailed them asking if they could share their love story with me so I could share here on the blog, I got a response from both of them! I love dreading the story from two different perspectives. Rather than combine them, I’m sharing them both here!
Our Love Story told by Jeff:
I met Katie in our home town of Wasaga Beach at our local Foodland grocery store. Katie was a cashier there and every time I would go in to shop and see her I would get so nervous I wouldn’t know what to say but I knew I wanted to pursue a relationship so I had to get her number. After years of talking I finally was able to convince her to let me take her on a date and our relationship began.
After being with Katie for a short while I realized this amazing person was the girl I wanted to marry and spend my life with. One of our favourite spots to spend time together is at the beach. I decided that I was going to propose to Katie on the beach during our upcoming vacation which we take every winter. We went for a sunset walk on the beach and I was a nervous wreck but was finally able to get down on one knee and ask my best friend to marry me.
I look forward to our wedding day and to celebrate our relationship with our friends and family. The thing I look forward to the most is standing at the alter and seeing her for the first time walk down the aisle. At that moment I’ll be the happiest and most grateful guy in the world watching the love of my life walk down to aisle and to become her husband.
Our Love Story told by Katie:
Jeff and I met around 8 years ago while I was working as a cashier at our local grocery store where Jeff did his shopping. Jeff was (and still is) a pretty shy guy so after a few months of me cashing him out, he finally worked up the courage to talk to me and we exchanged numbers. We spent the next couple years getting to know each as friends while Jeff patiently waited for me to agree to go on a date with him. I finally agreed to go on a date with him in 2011 and our relationship began shortly after.
Jeff and I both grew up on the shores of Wasaga Beach so naturally, the beach is where we spend most of our free time as a couple. In December of 2015, we escaped the snow for a holiday in sunny Cuba. While walking along the shore of a beach at sunset, Jeff suddenly stopped, got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife. I couldn’t think of a more perfect way to propose, and I couldn’t dream of a more perfect man to spend the rest of my life with.
I am looking forward to so many things on our wedding day, but what I am most excited for is the moment that Jeff and I get to see each other for the first time as I walk down the aisle. Being able to vow our love to one another in front of God, our family and friends is going to be the best day of my life and I cannot wait to marry my best friend!
Katie and Jeff are looking forward to committing their lives to one another in front of their loved ones on September 2 at Drysdale’s Tree Farm. I’m really looking forward to sharing in their day and capturing lasting memories for them for generations to come! Congratulations again to you both and many blessings to you as you continue to plan for your wedding day!
Here is a selection of photos from their final gallery. I had so many images from this session– a beautiful couple combined with a beautiful location equals lots of images!!
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Jumping in on the #2016 trend and it was so bittersweet to go through these photos and be reminded about the stage of life I was in 10 years ago. I really feel it was a building year. This was the year that I started to build relationships with my besties @lovebeestudios & @coppermoonrising 💗
Some major highlights were traveling to NYC with my mom and going to Georgia for the Pursuit Conference and meeting @katelynjames I was able to see Adele in concert which was the best experience ever!
I shot and shot and shot, mostly practicing my photography skills on my kids. I learned how to see light, how to see moments and how to let them unfold naturally.
We built relationships, grew friendships and explored the land. There were challenges as there are with each year but I’m so thankful that I see this year as a blessing!💗
So here’s to 10 years ago🥂and here’s to the next 10 to come!🤗
I’m late to this trend party but I still wanted to be a part of it!😂 So many of my sessions and weddings have taken me all over the place- all over the land, not quite the sea, but bodies of water count!🤗
It was fun looking through where I’ve all been this past year! I’m so looking forward to all the places and spaces, land and seas I get to explore this coming year!🥳
I’ve been meaning to share this beautiful extended family session! The Van Raay’s were all together over Christmas and wanted to capture some images of their family as it’s grown in the past year! Sweet little C was the star during this session!
@urbane.eight provided the perfect spot to dodge high winds and cooler temps on this day! Here’s some of my favourite images!🤩
Make sure to hit that follow button to see more family and wedding shares!🤗
I’m closing out 2025 with two of my favourite things- a beautiful extended family share and Fleetwood Mac!💗
The Konynenbelt family joined me at the U of L to get some updated extended family photos done! They were a great crew to work with and you’ll be able to see which two cuties stole the show!🤩
I know how much work it is to coordinate schedules, set aside time and gather everyone together, but guys, it’s SO worth it! Every time I photograph extended families, I’m always in awe of how from two people saying yes to one another as to how much life grows from there.
Here’s a sneak peek of our time together, they’ll have many more beautiful images coming their way!💗
2025 was filled with so many adventures, weddings, sessions and new family memories!
From a trip to Georgia in February to visiting family in October, to having family down, trips to mountains, driving all over Alberta for sessions, it has been an incredible year!🎉
And 2026 is shaping up to be pretty awesome too! My goal this coming year is to really establish a good client care experience. I am so thankful for you all and I want to continue to build an experience that is joyful and memorable!
Amanda & Delore’s wedding wasn’t just a joining of the two of them, it was a joining of two families! They are now a beautiful family of six!💗
During their ceremony they chose to signify this by doing a blanket ceremony. What a beautiful visual to depict the joining together of their new family!
I’m putting the final touches on this last wedding of 2025 and I can’t wait to get it to them before Christmas!🤩💗
✨ Amanda & Delore ✨ what a beautiful day to close out my 2025 weddings! They were surrounded by so many loved ones and dear loved ones watching from above.💗 So many personal touches were woven into their day. From honouring Delore’s mom who passed away, to incorporating birds of prey, and to their favourite date night spot, all of their day was so them!
We were blessed by beautiful weather, a tad bit windy, but gorgeous end of day light! Here’s a few favourites from their November wedding day!💗🤩
Oh and this was my first time I was able to photograph a wedding couple with an owl and a golden eagle- so cool!
Be sure to scroll all the way to the end to see my favourite image from the day!💗
Now that the bulk of my shoots are done and I can exhale, I get to look back on some of my favourite moments from this past season! 🤩
I never did share this stunning wedding party from Oriana & Connor’s wedding day! Not only did they look stunning, they were the best group to work with! They sure picked some awesome people to stand with them on their day! I love how the pale blues of the ladies dresses fit so beautifully with the surroundings of @thenorlandhistoricestate
Here’s some of my favourites from the formal photo part of the day!😍💗🎉
