Laura + Darren : 30th Birthday
On Friday night, I photographed something I had never photographed before! A birthday party! I love birthday parties! Why haven’t I done this before? ;) But let me back up before the party to the evening before. On Thursday evening I met with the adorable Laura and her fiance Darren at their apartment to talk about their upcoming wedding on Granville Island in September. I had so.much.fun talking with these two–we totally clicked and their wedding pretty much sounds like everything I want for mine. So obviously I am excited! The next evening was Laura’s 30th Birthday Party! Laura and Darren invited 30 of their closest friends to Cobre Restaurant in Gastown (in downtown Vancouver) and I was there to capture the festivities. Darren is a blogger as well and created the Vancouver blog Timing and Delivery which reviews services, restaurants, businesses, etc, throughout the Lower Mainland. Make sure you check out this post he wrote about a girl named Jamie Delaine! At the end of the evening we were able to sneak out for a few portraits of Laura+Darren together before the evening ended! Gastown is beautiful in the evening with vintage looking streetlamps lining the road. Perfect for photos, but dark! The whole night was definitely a challenge for natural-light-photographer-me. The party was darker than any reception I have ever shot before. I was manually focusing my camera the whole evening–which I have never done! Manual exposure? Yes. Manual focus? No. Good thing I like a challenge. Here’s the results!
Mmm, you know I love detail shots.
Birthday toasts!
I loved the atmosphere of the candles.
I loved the decor of the private wine room Laura and Darren rented out.
Laura said, “This is the first actual 30th birthday card I’ve received with the 30 on the front!” when she opened this. :)
Some of her girlfriends pitched in and got her a gorgeous Tiffany’s necklace!
Are they not the cutest?!
I love the shot on the left. So classic.
Laura and Darren have a goldendoodle doggy named Gallagher, or G for short. We honoured him with this shot becuase he wasn’t able to make an apperance at the party!
Let’s just say these two are fun, adorable and goofy. But you got that from the photos right?!
Jamie, these are stunning! I love how you were able to capture this special night! THANK YOU bunches :) -L
It was so much fun to meet you.
You truly have a gift! We look forward to you shooting our wedding!
I love all of these, Jamie. It looks as though you were really able to get comfortable in your surroundings, and find a nice groove. The candidness of these are brilliant, truly fantastic. Love the last few dedicated to just the two of them as well – superb.
Fantastic, as always!! It’s obvious you are not just a brilliant photographer but also a genuinely good person – you can tell in the photos that these people feel at ease with you. I am so glad that I found your work and can keep up with all your photographic endeavors!
Wow I never would have guessed that the low-lighting was an issue…these look beautiful!! And I love her vest, such cute detail in that back!
I love how you got photos of daughter, Laura, and Darren outside. They look like models! It is so wonderful that you captured the love and happiness that they share.
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Aww, they are too cute! :) You did a good job shooting manual! (even though your pics are always good, regardless of anything you do different!) I normally shoot manual for everything. But, I just started using AV. Not used to it yet though…but getting there! lol
Hi Jamie! I’m a new reader of your blog/website. You’re such an UH-MAZING photographer!!!! I LUH-LUH-LOVE YOUR STUFF!! I’ve not been through your WHOLE website/blog yet, but I’ll have to another time—(I’ve been spending forever on it already) ;) I could look at your stuff all day! I am a photographer trying to grow my business some. Your work is my fav, and I’ve seen many photog. stuff! I look forward to following this site:-) God bless you and your work!
Jamie you rocked it !! I always love your detail shots, and even though you were faced with shooting manually you totally pulled it off !! They look amazing as always :)
Wow, you continue to amaze me! It seems like I’ve said that before, but it’s still true. Love those first four pics!