Rachel Boekel Photography Blog » brooks alberta

Miss M and her Summer smile :: Brooks Alberta Children’s Photography ::

rachel — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:20:57 +0000

Summer light is such a gift! If you’re a photographer you know there is nothing like late night sun flares and fields of flowers.
All of that coupled with a happy little person = session perfection.

Little M was a pretty happy evening person and I can’t get over her giggles in the last series of pictures!

All grown up :: Brooks Alberta Children Photography ::

rachel — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 16:26:53 +0000

I haven’t planned and executed a session with my own family in a very long time.
Thankfully my sister-in-law is on the ball and snaps me out of my little world every once and awhile and gets me rolling again.
When I look back at old photographs of these little people I can’t believe how grown up they have become.
It is easier to compare through photographs than day to day. They each have distinct personalities and are so kind and caring and happy.
The girls keep an eye out on their baby brother and he in turn often thinks they are the funniest people around (after his auntie of course

This one is shocking to me – how did you get to be 5 years old? You were just a baby!

Okay maybe they’re funnier than me!

Young Mr. F :: Brooks, Alberta Portrait Photographer ::

rachel — Thu, 27 May 2010 18:24:48 +0000

I think some of my favorite sessions are the ones where I get to hang out with
kids one on one. F brought along his dinosaurs and tractor and we spend some time setting them up in the field
and then I got to spend my time photographing his interactions. He is quite the character and I think
the best photos are the candid ones so full of personality. We played in the dandelions, in the field and the park.
A perfect way to spend the afternoon!

This is definitely a favorite!

Be The Bride :: Lifestyle Wedding Photography, Brooks, Alberta ::

rachel — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 21:45:04 +0000

This is a project I have been sitting on for a little while – well a long while… 9 months actually.
Last June I put together an awesome Photo Shoot Day (that’s what I called it) and collaborated with some amazing artists; hair, make up , stylist, models…
It was a glorious day. My purpose for these photos was for my wedding shows this year and for something I wanted to call:
BE. THE. BRIDE.

Not like ‘bride’ which can sometimes mean crazy, over controlling and… (hey, I can say that, I was a bride last year
By ‘BRIDE’ – I wanted to mean ‘YOURSELF’. Be Yourself. Have a wedding that is a reflection of you (and your groom – obviously.)

The concept of this photo shoot was to photograph different brides… dramatic brides, classic brides and in an area that is so… Alberta, local.

I love weddings, originality and an expression of the bride and groom.
Weddings in rural Alberta are a treat and I mean that sincerely, I want more and more people to know that they can create a wedding day that celebrates
themselves and their roots and their place. This year I get to photograph a wedding in the middle of a corn field!! HELLO!

This is an example of a wedding I loved that Sarah Rhoads Photography did.
I like the idea of stepping away from all the shoulds and needs and haves of the industry wedding and creating a uniquely YOU day.
(With a professional wedding photographer there to capture it all, of course) ;)

Am I making any sense? Any sense at all?
I had seen the so totally cool Jasmine Star do a styled shoot way back when and thought to myself – YES! I can create this, I can show this idea.

I wanted to show what we can do in Brooks, Duchess, Rosemary, Rainer… anywhere. Anywhere that is you.

These images wouldn’t be possible without the amazing talent of:

-The Adora Day Spa in Duchess – Amanda & Lindsay gave me their whole day to make the girls look hawt.
-Vermehlo Hair – Crystal rocked the looks I was looking for!
-Angela’s Weddings & Things for lending us a few dresses.
- Mireille Stettler – She helped me bring my vision to life so I could concentrate on being behind the camera.
- Connie, Aleks, Melanie & Nathan who got up early and spent the day being bossed around – they were incredible models.
- Harry and Catherine who let us spend the day on their farm, crawling over all their cool stuff.

Please, tell me what you think – and post a link if you have a cool wedding share.

C and S :: Married Sneak Peak ::

rachel — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 23:12:30 +0000

S and C were the winners of a engagement session giveaway last year and I was so excited when they booked me for their wedding.

S & C wanted a winter wedding in the mountains and were married at Rafter Six Ranch near Canmore. We were so lucky
with a picture perfect day and even snuck into town for some ice skating and hockey. Here are a few sneaks.

The girls all looked like they were floating as they glided on the ice!

Congrats S & C – more to come soon!

J and M Tie the Knot :: Brooks Alberta Wedding Photography ::

rachel — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 19:52:31 +0000

A blog post you ask? An actual blog post with more than 2 pictures?
It’s here!
My 2nd last wedding of 2009.
I have to say that my last two 2009 weddings were both the coldest events that I have ever photographed.
I may have wondered if I would come out of them with all my fingers in-tact. (Lucky me I did)

J is from Canada and all her bridesmaids were are from Canada, M is from Australia and over half his groomsmen were Australian.
I can’t imagine coming to Canada from Australia and being asked to go outside in -30C in just a suit. They were tough.
However, lets take a quick peek a the girls in knee length dresses outside in -30C. They were extra tough.
I felt very lucky to be a part of J and M’s wedding day and love the images that we managed to snap while running in and out of the house.
Congratulations you two! I hope Australia is Hot and Happy!

I really like this image. This moment is one of my favorites at a ceremony. So much is said in gestures and eye contact.

J was one of the most relaxed, chill, totally ‘go with the flow’ brides I have ever worked with. It was such a treat to follow her around.
Her happiness for the purpose of her day shone through completely. Everything else was extra.

Here we go: -30C.

We snuck inside The Heritage Inn in Brooks for a few indoor images and to warm up our fingers and toes.

Love 2 Love – Cans for Comments :: Alberta Photographer ::

rachel — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 16:17:03 +0000

‘Tis the Season!
There is a big winter storm brewing in Southern Alberta today. I don’t know about you, but I’m kind of excited!
I figure if it’s going to be cold, it might as well be white. I’m a big lover of winter; skiing, skating, hot chocolate, christmas lights… the list could go on.
I love this time of the year to because it’s the season of giving, of caring and of sharing.

Last year I participated in ‘Cans for Comments‘ and I’d like to do it again.
It all started with Chris + Lynn Photographers in Vancouver and has grown 10 fold to include photographers all. over. the. world.

The gist of it is: For every one comment my blog receives in the next two weeks I will donate one item to the Brooks Food Bank.
It’s so easy… all you have to do is comment and you can comment more than once. I plan on blogging a lot in the next two weeks.
This is also a great way for me to participate in the community and give back to all the awesomeness my new home has shown me.
All the love they have shown me.

This is our Christmas tree. It’s our first tree together and I just can’t help thinking it’s precious.
Our home is a little tight so we keep it outside and every-time I round the corner to the door I feel like I am being welcomed home.
Sometimes I sneek peaks of it from the window. I’m not above loving my tree.
The next time I show you my tree I want the ground around it piled high with cans.

Thank you for helping me!