Rachel Boekel Photography Blog

The A Family :: Brooks Alberta Family Photography ::

rachel — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:30:42 +0000

One of my last family session pre-baby!
It was the morning that the BC forest fire smoke swept through Brooks so the light was dim and kinda bland.
It didn’t affect the photos at all. This family of 6 with 4 young boys was ‘on’. It was so awesome.
If only I could have had all the energy they had! We cruised around the fields for awhile, but I think the boy’s favorite part was when I
asked if we could drag some furniture onto their gravel road which was being graded at the time.
Nothing like a little living room experience outside.

B & S married :: Calgary Alberta Wedding Photographer ::

rachel — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 15:36:10 +0000

Good Morning Tuesday!

We woke up to darker skies this morning thanks to the fog, not unlike B & S’s wedding day.
The day started out rainy and I stopped and picked up 4 giant unbrella’s on my way into Calgary that morning. You know, to be safe.
When I showed up to see B at the Fairmont Palliser the rain had already slowed and B wasn’t worried, just excited to get her wedding day on.

I talked about Dana Pugh yesterday (she did my maternity photos) and she was my assistant for B and S’s wedding.
As a 7 month pregnant photographer I was over the moon thankful to have someone who could effectively take care of all the detail and groomsman images.
Dana did a fantastic job.

B & S were married at the Grace Presbyterian Church in Calgary and we cruised through some great downtown locations for portraits
and then partied it up at The Ranche in Fish Creek Park for the reception. The day turned out beautifully and all the details came together marvelously.
B had done an amazing job of putting together her wedding day vision!

Meanwhile… Dana captured the boys.

Dana’s shot:

Dana’s:

These two details are Dana’s images:

We were lucky with a bit of light that squeaked through for some last minute sunset images.

Announcement :: Maternity Leave ::

rachel — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:22:27 +0000

It’s probably about time I spilled the beans!
Many of you know and many of you have been left in the dark. I have been waiting for my wedding season to be over
and my portrait sessions to be wrapped up and now that they are, well guess what?
I’m pregnant!

Geordie and I are expecting our first little person in 3 weeks.
Yes, 3 weeks!
Time has flown by. It was just December and we were just relishing in the excitement of the “we are going to be parent’s” news.
That news is 9 months old now but I feel like we are still not entirely sure what it means
We are looking forward to finding out.

I am taking a maternity leave until January and am currently booking weddings and any family sessions,
maternity & newborn sessions for 2011. Keep me in mind!

I was so excited to do a maternity session with the incredible Dana Pugh and Alicia Price in Okotoks a few weeks ago.
Dana has assisted me at a few weddings and was also the assistant photographer at our wedding last year.

It is so weird and awkward to be on the other side of a camera. It is so nice to have images of myself at this stage in my life though
and Dana and Alicia were ridiculously awesome to be photographed by!

Before this bambino arrives I have a lot of weddings to blog – stay tuned!

H & J on a August day :: Hanna, Alberta Wedding Photographer ::

rachel — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 19:58:56 +0000

I sneaked a few picture of these two a couple weeks ago.
Sometimes when I am photographing people I say ‘common, show me the love’ and I get some love and they show some love.
THIS LOVE though – let me tell you…. I didn’t even get a chance to ask for the love, the love was all there.
(That was 6 ‘loves’ in one sentence.)
I am so happy for H & J and their families and I felt so welcomed by everyone as I puttered around them all day.

H & J are both teachers and I am jealous of the parents who get to have their children taught by them.
They are compassionate, patient, and caring, and while I only witnessed one day of their ‘love’-ness, I know they have a gazillion more in store.
Thank you both for letting me be a part of your day and for being so overly wonderful!

This is one of my favorite shoe shots of all time. I love the brightness of the bridesmaids shoes!

H wore the necklace that her grandmother wore on her wedding day and that her sister also wore for her wedding.

My assistant for the day, Lauren Nielsen capture the boys getting their groove on.

I could photograph in Hanna, AB any old day!

A parting shot by Lauren.

Dinosaurs!! :: Chestermere Alberta Children’s Photographer ::

rachel — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 20:29:06 +0000

I got to spend some time in Chestermere, AB yesterday playing with Dinosaurs.
I grew up around a lot of boys so I must say that I am pleased to know most of their names. Little Mr. D did give me a run for my money though,
as I fumbled on few. He has just absorbed the information!
Here is just one that I loved from our session.

The B Family :: Millicent Alberta Family Photography ::

rachel — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 17:40:05 +0000

I love my job!
I get to meet the coolest people and go to the coolest places.
As an import to Brooks, being a photographer has really given me the opportunity to explore and be social in the community.
It is starting to feel as though I am connecting the dots in family and friends.
The B family had me come out to their farm for photos, which is one of my favorite things; photographing people in their own environment.

The evening was windy and threatening but the spirits were high and I loved watching the kids on their bike, hanging out, being free and just playing.
How I miss Summer Vacation

N & J Maternity Session :: Brooks Alberta Maternity Photographer ::

rachel — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 19:12:46 +0000

I had been plotting and planning this session with N for awhile. I had photographed N’s family before and couldn’t wait to have her and J to myself again.
The idea that I originally had for the session was becoming logistically challenging and then, on my way to a family session
I stumbled upon a clover field and got really excited. I was also excited that N & J were willing to truck their ottoman around
for me to the session, it was a perfect addition to the field and flowers.

N is due at the end of September and I am so ridiculously excited to meet their new little person.

I love these next two & can’t decide if I like them in B&W or Colour?

T & L married in style :: Canmore Alberta Photographer ::

rachel — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 17:02:02 +0000

As previously mentioned these two had some serious style and originality.
Buttons everywhere! The bridesmaid dresses and T’s Moms dress were all made by a friend in Quebec.
The bouquet was custom made and I was crazy about the boutonnieres. It’s refreshing to see something so different.
Oh! And T’s hair, how totally cool is her hair!

I felt very priviledged to be a part of T & L’s day.
There was a ‘joie de vivre’ going on that was vibrating and contagious the whole day.
As I edited these images I was smiling and laughing the whole time, I felt like T’s happiness was coming out toward me.
They flew out from Quebec to have their wedding at Silvertip Resort in Canmore, sight unseen.
I don’t think they could have had a better day!

I didn’t even have a chance to meet them until the morning of the wedding! They were delicious to work with.
*Can I say ‘delicious’? Seriously though, they were so….them,
which is a delicious feature to have from a photographers point of view!*

I hope you too can feel the joy of their day through the images. T didn’t stop laughing and smiling ALL DAY, it was awesome!

They practiced their strut down the aisle and they nailed it too!

How cool are these dresses?!

H & J Sneak Peek :: Hanna, AB Wedding Photography ::

rachel — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 22:13:52 +0000

Oh… hello! Long time no see.
It’s wedding ‘season’ what can I say. Kinda nuts around here these days with travel and work and well… life.
I’m back and ready to roar. I have so much to share. Lots of photos and some upcoming news.
BUT – for now…. a sneak peek.

When you meet a couple this in love, and they are surrounded by family & friends that are also so full of love….
it’s kind of a massive treat. This is a different kind of love. They just looked at each other with love, threw love with their eyes and bodies.
I did nothing but react to them being in love. No real posing, not real tips or hints. They just did. They just are.

I just watched and snapped some pictures.

This one… H took my breath away. She is such a stunning bride.

Love2Love :: Look Mom and Dad, I grew a flower! ::

rachel — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 22:07:05 +0000

Well, it grew! I should be happy. If only I could show you what they are supposed to look like.
Maybe it was the wind that stunted their growth? The howling winds of spring? Maybe?
I promise I loved it. I would drag Geordie outside with me to point to him its progress.
He would smile at me like I was a crazy women showing him a blade of green grass.

When I saw it was ready to bloom, I did the happy dance on my patio. Hands in the air and everything!
Today I saw that it bloomed. Like this. Like a little stunted by the wind flower.

There were windy days that I didn’t think it was going to make it this far.
It is an Oriental Poppy, or it’s supposed to be one. They are commonly described as “hardy” and “full.”
Maybe next year.

I can’t wait to drag Geordie out when he gets home!