Real Moments, Real Awards: My Journey as a Vancouver Fearless Photographer
When it comes to wedding photography awards, the Fearless Photographer Awards are recognized worldwide as the gold standard. The numbers speak for themselves: in each round, 10,000 to 13,000 photos are submitted by hundreds of photographers from over 90 countries. Yet, only about 1–3% of images win, making it one of the toughest, most prestigious challenges in the industry. These awards aren’t about popularity, follower counts, or playing to trends. They’re about bold creativity, technical skill, and capturing real emotion. When you look at images that win Fearless Awards, there’s a difference: each photo is a one-of-a-kind moment, an honest story told in a single frame.
I’ll be honest, I sometimes scroll through other contests or social media feeds, and the voting can feel more like a popularity contest than a celebration of true artistry. That’s just not my style. The likes, the networking, the online attention—none of that has ever been my goal, and it’s not how our work is measured. For us, it’s always been about the story, the clients, and the quality.
Even after 17 years in business, Lauren and I would rather stay true to our vision and let our work speak for itself. If that wins awards from a panel of the world’s best photographers—awesome! If, instead, we quietly keep booking couples who see themselves in our images, who trust us and value what we do, that’s even better. We care deeply for our clients and the moments we’re honoured to witness. That’s why, at the end of the day, these “real moments” mean more than a trophy ever could.
See more from this wedding: Intimate BC Beach Elopement in the Mountains
Elopement Magic in Our Backyard: Why Couples Trust Our British Columbia Wedding Scouting
I’ll never forget this small wedding. When couples are planning an elopement in Vancouver or the Fraser Valley, they trust us to find ceremony locations that are both private and jaw-dropping. We’re pretty obsessed with thoughtful scouting, and sometimes the perfect spot is closer than anyone expects (at least for us)—like our own actual backyard, tucked away on a mountain lake right at the edge of a provincial park. If you want a West Coast elopement that actually feels wild, this is about as real as it gets.
Full confession: buying this house was complete chaos. We’d hoped to stay closer to the city, but our dream was to live somewhere with mountain views and direct lake access, and there’s never much choice for that in Greater Vancouver. We were running from one showing to the next, totally rushed, took a quick look around the park, and immediately felt that “oh sh*t, this is going to make things really complicated.” Even our realtor could see it—he put an offer in for us before we’d made it to the next house! Looking back now, it was the best decision ever, and honestly, this place has seen more photoshoots than anywhere else we’ve set foot.
There’s a wild variety here with a 360° lake and North Shore mountain views. On this elopement day, there were 40km per hour freezing winds sweeping across the water, but thanks to years of location scouting, we knew where to find the perfect wind shadow behind a little island. The sun absolutely nailed the timing, flaring perfectly across their micro-wedding. To capture that sense of “almost floating,” I stood with my lens practically in the water, shooting from the edge of a tiny jetty out in the bay. Two flashes helped us balance the fire of sunset with the epic backdrop, and the couple was totally ecstatic with how magical and unique their ceremony looked.
That’s why we’re different: We don’t just chase good light or wow-factor views. We help couples discover stories and spots that feel just for them. Whether it’s an elopement right in the heart of Vancouver or hidden gems like this one, every shoot is a blend of adventure, planning, and a little bit of luck. That’s what’s earned us awards like Fearless Photographer and why couples keep trusting us with life’s best moments.
Want more inspiration? Discover micro wedding venues in Vancouver or get ideas from our favourite BC beach elopements. If you’re dreaming of an intimate day with epic backdrops, check out our guide on the best places to elope in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland.
Candid Moments & Sentimental Simplicity: Wedding Prep in Vancouver
Some of my favourite photos happen in the quietest parts of a wedding day, in those early hours, just letting moments unfold as they will. During the morning prep, we usually shoot super candid. For this one, all I needed was soft window light, some patience, and an eye for the right moment. Mom slipped in, clasped a sentimental necklace around the bride, and everything just came together. Pure magic—that’s what this work is about.
There’s something timeless about stripping it back: the white glow of backlit windows, just the simple black and white of mother and daughter. No flash, no posing, just storytelling through real, emotional scenes. It’s those family moments you remember forever, and we love finding them, whether it’s a necklace passed down or just a laugh over coffee before the chaos kicks off.
For couples who want to soak in every honest, natural moment, our natural photo guide has more stories like this. They are photos that don’t just say “wedding,” but capture the actual feeling of being there, surrounded by the people you love. And for those who geek out on photography, you’ll find behind-the-scenes looks at how we use lighting (or keep it simple), because sometimes, the best shot is all about letting the light and emotion do the work.
Curious about the deeper traditions behind moments like these? Discover more unique family moments in our feature on Canadian wedding traditions.
Mother’s Tears: The Heartbeat of Vancouver Wedding Mornings
There must be something about mornings, especially those last few minutes before everything begins. Maybe you’ve noticed a theme here: mom reactions. It’s why I always keep one eye glued to my camera and one eye sweeping the room, never missing a thing. This time, it was a quiet moment that snuck up on us. The bride framed in silhouette, her mother wiping away a tear. Black and white was an easy choice; the emotion just popped in that simple contrast.
That’s what we live for: photos so honest they press pause on the day. If I had to guess, that realness is exactly what the judges saw in this shot. Candid morning prep is one of our specialties, and you can see more of our favourites in our getting ready wedding photos guide and stories about being present in the moment.
Sometimes, those unforgettable family reactions from the grandma, the mom, and the bridesmaids holding back tears are why we love working as a team. Our two photographers examples show how having two sets of eyes means nothing gets missed, especially those emotional moments that only happen once.
Flower Girl Fumbles & Real Moments: Why Two Photographers Matter
One of the best things about working as a team is having every angle covered. Lauren’s usually up front, catching every laugh, glance, and stumble down the aisle, while I’m (Will) roaming, chasing those technical shots or little moments that might disappear in a blink. This one was all Lauren: the ring bearer and flower girl making their grand entrance, and Bam! Both eating it right there on the aisle. Classic!
I love moments like that. That’s what makes weddings real and memorable. It’s not polished perfection, but happy chaos. Would I maybe edit out that exit sign now? Probably. But back then, showing the “original” was a big deal and is one of those things that keeps changing in our field, depending on judges. Sometimes I look back and smile at what I’d do differently now, but honestly, the heart of the moment still wins.
Want to see more of the teamwork that goes into moments like these? Check out our two photographers examples (sometimes you only get one shot at the real stuff). For the more technical side behind-the-scenes—including lighting and how we capture the unpredictable—see lighting expertise in wedding photography.
British Columbia Helicopter Elopement in the snow
Epic Snow Angels, Helicopter Peaks, and the Trust Factor
Here’s another favourite: an elopement couple who totally trusted our knack for wild locations. Their brief was simple: find them a snowy peak that could hold their crew of vendors and a handful of guests. That meant two helicopter rides straight up Hope Mountain in the Fraser Valley: big thanks to Valley Helicopters for making it work.
The best part? At the end of the shoot, after the ceremony and other portraits, the bride wanted to jump in the snow and do snow angels out of nowhere. It couldn’t have been more perfect. One of my favourite elopement photos ever—total joy, freezing hands, and mountains forever in the backdrop. If you’re curious what goes into heli elopement adventures in BC, we live for these candid moments.
Bonus: We’ve been lucky enough to photograph their family photos back in the Fraser Valley since. These are the stories and relationships that make this job something special. If you’ve ever wondered why couples choose to go all-in for a helicopter elopement, see our reasons for helicopter weddings in BC—and how trusting your photographer leads to the most epic memories.
Helicopter Adventure Elopement in British Columbia
Summer Smoke & Helicopter Glow: Making Magic in Unpredictable Times
Believe it or not, this photo was taken almost in the same spot as the last one, just swapped snow for summer and a different viewpoint. Our location picks seem to have a habit of winning awards (no complaints there!). This was a true 2020 moment: the world had shut down, elopements were the only way couples could get married, and the smoke from wildfires blanketed everything. The bride was worried about losing the epic view, but I kept assuring her: smoke is just nature’s fog machine, adding mood and ambiance to the whole scene, especially during sunset!
For this shot, I put a flash inside the helicopter itself and lit up the couple right in the haze. It’s all about seeing the potential in crazy conditions—whether it’s wildfire smoke or a pandemic. Heli elopements in BC are always a wild ride, and no two are ever the same. These times proved that even when things go sideways, good memories (and award-winning photos!) can come from a little creative problem-solving.
If you want to see more of how we work around unpredictable weather, check out our lessons from helicopter weddings and our guide for picking winning Fraser Valley elopement locations.
Right Place, Right Time: My First Fearless Award (2015 Throwback)
This one brings back all the feels, my first Fearless Award in wedding photography! Even back in 2015, our couples knew we were different. They wanted something epic, and we went all-in to make it happen: the wedding was set up on a dock at Rockwater Secret Cove on the Sunshine Coast, with guests perched up on the rocks, looking down at the ceremony.
I’ll never forget hustling around to get every angle, even hopping into a little rowboat during the vows for a new perspective (no one went for a swim… yet!). The photo that won the award was taken while I was running backwards, just hoping I wouldn’t go headfirst into the ocean! Suddenly, a big gust of wind came, and the bride’s veil flew right off into the water. Out of nowhere, the officiant grabbed a paddle and dove onto the dock to save it before it drifted away. Sometimes you really do have to expect the unexpected and be ready to catch the moment when it happens.
It’s those unscripted moments, in wild West Coast locations, that keep us passionate about this job. If you want to see more of our award-winning candid photos or learn about unique coastal wedding locations in BC, we’ve got plenty of stories (and surprises) to share.
Ready for Award-Winning Wedding Memories?
Every photo in this post is more than just an “award”; it’s a real story, a real couple, and a once-in-a-lifetime moment we were trusted to capture. If you’re dreaming of an adventure, an elopement, or a wedding experience that’s authentically you, we’d love to help tell your story. From the heart of Vancouver and the Fraser Valley to wild mountain tops and hidden lakes, we’ll help you create and remember something extraordinary.
Contact Us to Start Your Adventure
Have questions, want recommendations, or just want to chat about your vision over coffee? We’re here for it. Let’s make your wedding photos award-worthy, too.