Brittany Esther PhotographyCalgary » Brittany Esther Photography

Gill Family | Calgary Photography

Brittany — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 12:01:16 +0000

I have to confess something. I have been neglecting my blog something dreadful. There are weddings to be posted and sneak peeks to be made. I have to confess something else. After being chosen to document peoples’ weddings, families and life events the next best thing to me is blogging. I love it. I love choosing the images that will best tell the story of the day or session. I love being able to press that ‘publish’ button. Blogging is pretty much the definition of therapeutic for me. So, on that note, the lack of blogging is not on account of boredom but rather the lack of proper time in a day. When and if you come across extra time please some my way. That would be absolutely lovely.

On that note I couldn’t help throwing together this small(esque) blog post at 5:30am. This family makes me smile so much.

Enjoy!

Kelly and Adam | Just One

Brittany — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 02:55:32 +0000

I just walked in the door from Kelly and Adam’s engagement session.

Lovely light. Lovely couple.

Lena and Michael | Calgary Henna Party

Brittany — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 03:30:42 +0000

Lena’s parents held a henna party at their home just a couple of days before Lena and Michael became husband and wife. The henna night is full of pre-wedding ceremonies and generally spans the entirety of the week – however the couple and their friends had an absolutely delightful time celebrating the upcoming marriage in just several short hours. I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about their culture and enjoying their absolutely amazing humour.

After enjoying some of the most amazing sweet food I have ever had the Sagan began in which a token gift is offered by the bride’s parents to the groom and likewise by the groom’s mother to her future daughter-in-law in the form of money or sweetmeats.

This was followed by the Haldi ceremony in which family and friends prepare the couple for their forthcoming wedding by applying a tumeric paste typically to their hands, feet, and faces of the couple as it is known for improving complexion. It is also known to turn those already of a lighter complexion yellow – hence the not so overly enthusiastic reaction of Michael on account of one of his groomsmen (said with a hint of sarcasm).

By far the most touching ceremony had to that of the Choora ceremony. Lena’s only brother placed bangles that had been in buttermilk on Lena’s wrist and presented her kaleereas, or golden metal dangling plates attached to a steel bangle or ‘kada’. Lena was then blessed by five happily married female family or friends.

The henna portion of the evening begun by Lena’s sister-in-law applying the first design to the palm of her hand. Each of the ladies and the children then had henna applied to their hands and upper arms – absolutely breathtaking designs.

The evening ended with the Jago ceremony. Jagos are the colourfully decorated steel jugs with candles in them – carried on the head of the maternal family’s heads accompanied by singing and dancing, it is a way to alert everyone to the joyous ceremony to be held.

Needless to say it was an amazing evening to photograph.

Enjoy.

Lena and Michael | Just One

Brittany — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 06:14:14 +0000

Lena and Michael | Henna Party

Brittany — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 05:30:55 +0000

Lena and Michael are getting married this Saturday in a traditional ceremony but tonight was the henna party. More to come shortly.

Desirae and James | Just One

Brittany — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 05:28:44 +0000

Desirae and James are getting married at the end of this month! More to come shortly.

Personal Work

Brittany — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 07:47:46 +0000

Hurrah. Another announcement of sorts.

Photography is such a personal venture. Every shoot I learn more, I develop more, I love it more. Truly I grow every time I pick up a camera. I have started a separate blog to post my personal work and thoughts – in short it’s really a continuation of the work you see here. You’ll see I have added a link to it in the menu (look up, further up, okay a bit to the right now. Perfect. Right there). It’s called Wandering Homebody.

A sampling of the images. Enjoy!

Oh and PS next up is a wedding. Excitement from the home team!

Trisha and Matt – The Engagement

Brittany — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 08:34:26 +0000

Such a delightful engagement session. Trisha and Matt were so kind in allowing us just to meander through the town of High River, no particular destination in mind, just taking in the sights and sounds. We were there on a Sunday and it was eerily quiet. Anyone who drove by would somewhat curiously stare but wouldn’t say a word. All but one or two shops were closed in the area and I swear there should have been some tumbleweed blowing down the street.

Trisha and Matt are getting married at Emerald Lake Lodge in September and I am so thrilled to be their photographer. They are such a fun and loving couple. Enjoy!

Feel free to leave a comment. Love to hear from you :)

Megan and Cody – The Engagement

Brittany — Thu, 26 May 2011 21:08:03 +0000

Oh Megan and Cody. So much to say about Megan and Cody. They are such a fun-loving genuine couple. Honestly, I am certain I haven’t laughed more at a session than I did with these two.

How they met is such a delightful story. Megan caught Cody’s attention at the local hockey rink in Lethbridge – rather, Megan’s hair caught Cody’s attention at the local hockey rink in Lethbridge. He says he did not even see her face but he knew he had to meet this girl with the gorgeous red hair (and it is eh?!). It required mutual friends to introduce them but as we can all see now it’s a love story.

Enjoy!

Thanks so much for looking. Love to hear from you!

Megan and Cody

Brittany — Fri, 13 May 2011 06:36:52 +0000

Such a Canadian couple. Such a Canadian engagement.
More to come.