Luke & Erika | Married | Saanich, BC

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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