Whistler Wedding Photography | Capilano Bridge | Christine & Cody

May 17, 2013 by Pascale Anouk | Leave a comment

When I first met Christine & Cody, they had plans to do a big wedding celebration.

A fairly traditional setting with a 150 guests.  Together we started planning the details the various elements of photography.  A couple of months into the planning, I get a phone call from them asking me if I would still consider being part of their wedding celebration if they changed the venue and format a bit to their original idea.  I was curious and impress at the same time.  The celebration didn’t feel authentic to them.  Both of them being fairly reserve and shy people the big wedding was definitely outside their comfort zone and after a heart to heart with their families everyone supported them in their choice to change things up.

So from 150 guest to 17!

From a hotel setting to an outdoor ceremony, suspension bridge and an intimate dinner.

I was so proud of them and their wedding was perfect.

Thank you Christine and Cody for always being you,

Pascale oxo

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Whistler Photography | A Mother’s World

May 12, 2013 by Pascale Anouk | Leave a comment

On a day like today even the most jaded spirits puts everything aside to celebrate motherhood and the wonderful woman in their lives.

It’s a title that I am starting to embrace with my head held up high, more now then ever.  As I get older (gee), I am witnessing such beautiful serendipity moments around me.  The pure unconditional love I have for my child is nothing I have ever experienced nor expected.  It’s a completely different emotion, it’s not the same that you have for your partner nor for your sister or your best friend, it’s in a league of it’s own, it’s wild and it’s so intense you have to surrender to it and just breathe.

I would of never expected to feel such a fundamental need to give her all of my being, my “forced” smile at 5am, my cuddles of comfort at 2am, my drive to colour just one more little pony or my last piece of chocolate (ok this last one is a lie, I still have some boundaries but to feel better about myself, I tell her it’s wine chocolate so she leaves it alone).  I also never expected to have so much influence in shaping this little human for the world ahead.  Damn, that’s a whole lot of pressure on someone that’s still figuring it out for herself.  But I have to say so far I could not be prouder of her and I.  She’s not perfect and except for my husband, we all know I am not either (please don’t tell him that, he still thinks I’m the bomb!)  But the truth is, besides all the added stress we mothers so easily put on our shoulders, I do think we are all trying to do our best.  If I can raise my girl to have respect and self worth for her mind, her body and her spirit and her environment, I think she will be strong enough to figure the rest out.

I’m not sure how my mom did it, I really don’t.  She worked non-stop, went back to school when I was 12, she was a part of every fundraisers and committees for my sister and I and did it all with conviction and passion,pretty much like she does everything in her life.

She never allowed for me to feel any less than I should because someone said so.  She never tolerated for me to feel sorry for myself or quit.  I was never allowed to speak badly about someone or be a mean girl.  My mother taught me to be caring yet strong, smart yet humble, independent yet allowed being vulnerable.  She made it so that I always felt proud, smart and confidant in who I was, to handle myself in any situation…not always gracefully but without self doubt.

And my dad you may ask, well he taught me how kindly a man should always treat me!

Now if I only can pass it all to my daughter and not mess her up too much, she should be well on her way.

Maman, je t’aime

Pascale Anouk oxo

P.S  I am sharing with you one of my favourite song.  This song shakes my very soul every time I listen to it.  I’m still not entirely sure what it was meant to be about but to me it’s about Motherhood; Happy Mother’s Day

Whistler Photography - Gadbois Photography

How time flies in a blink of an eye.

 

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Whistler Photographer | Pascale’s World | Time to let go

May 10, 2013 by Pascale Anouk | Leave a comment

Yesterday was one of those days where I understood the saying; it’s easier said than done!

As some of you know by now, I am helping my friend Michelle (Cancer Warrior) own her newfound beauty.  Together we are trying to redefine what beauty is for us.  Surely it can’t all lie in long hair and boobies.  I am witnessing countless example of society standard for beauty and frankly I’m vomiting.  I must confess, I’m a bit on a mission and my prime target market is my 4 years old daughter, I have a hard time understanding how we got here?  Don’t even get me started on Victoria Secret’s new brilliant idea to create lingerie for my girl’s age group, let’s give them a big round of applause for helping girls all around the world with their self esteem!  Don’t get me wrong, nothing wrong with taking care of yourself, staying fit and being proud of how you look but could we also equally acknowledge the beauty of a great mind, a strong independent woman.

So here I am on this mission while of course my daughter dresses up as a princess in pink every chance she gets and would rather wear a dress any day than jeans.  I know it’s normal and I have to pick my battles and believe me she is one smart cookie.  So here I am yesterday morning on my way to the hairdresser for her seasonal haircut.  My girl has gorgeous tick wavy long hair to her mid back.  Ok true story, I get stopped at least once a week by strangers who can’t get over her gorgeous eyes, lips and her beautiful hair etc.  I smile, roll my eyes and check the ego at the door.  So as I explain to my girl that she is going to get her hair trimmed, she informs me that she would like hers cut short.  Surely she doesn’t understand that cutting is somewhat permanent, surely this will lead to tears when she realizes that her long hair will no longer be, she doesn’t realize that she will not be Rapunzel when we do our little shows.  I explain that she is probably not understanding that cutting her hair means that it will remain short for a while and that when she wakes tomorrow morning it will still be short.

She tells me: “I understand and it’s just hair Maman”!

So as my heart is divided between pride and sadness nicely shadowed with a strong feeling of being the world’s biggest hypocrite, off to the salon we went.  She never changed her mind, she didn’t even flinch when the hair was getting cut, she was standing tall and proud with the biggest smile as I held my game face on and kiss my baby goodbye!

And this morning?….She was still owning it.

Sometimes, I feel we learn the biggest lessons in the smallest everyday life.  Lesson learned C, make sure you walk the walk before you can talk the talk!  Well-done baby girl, well-done.

Pascale oxo

Whistler Photography - Gadbois Photography

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Whistler Wedding Photography | Dig deeper, aim higher

April 30, 2013 by Pascale Anouk | Leave a comment

Let’s raise the bar up shall we?

I have been trying to buy in, trying to truly believe that this is what my couples want in their photography.

Details, Details, Details.

That’s what you would have to believe if you spend enough time looking at the wedding blogs these days.  Don’t get me wrong, I love my details.  They help each of my brides express their own story and brings their final touches to their vision. I am right there eager to photograph them to help tell their story, plus they are lots of fun.

I do think however that my job, my real purpose as a photographer, as a storyteller is to dig deeper, to aim higher. Don’t just capture the pretty; capture the real, the raw, the emotion, the connection.  To me there is nothing more rewarding (scary) to photograph than real emotions.  It’s not for everyone and you can’t get there if you haven’t earned your couple’s trust.  I would love to see more of that showcase in publications.

There is nothing sexier then a groom tearing up seeing his bride for the first time.  The trust in having me photograph a couple remembering a parent gone too soon.  The touch, the look of a grand parent or the spontaneous laughter between friends on a wedding day.

Let’s keep the “pretty” but let’s raise the bar to include more of the real.

Pascale oxo

Whistler Wedding Photography - Gadbois Photography

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Whistler Wedding Photography | Nita Lake Lodge | Real Wedding | Janice & Pat | Part 2

April 24, 2013 by Pascale Anouk | Leave a comment

The sun is shining, it’s warm, I think back of this wedding and how  it was grand.  Time share with you Part 2 of Janice & Patrick’s Wedding Celebration.  As you saw last week in Part 1, the day was filled with joy,emotion and laughter…the recipe for a stunning celebration full of perfect moments.  A gorgeous venue and staff at Nita Lake Lodge lead by the sweetest girl, Kathleen and grandiose decor from the amazing work of Marcie and her team at Bliss Event + Decor.

Enjoy!

Pascale oxo

 

 How did Whistler become your number one choice of where to tie the knot?

  • We have lived out East since university, so many of our guests were from Ontario and Quebec. As a child, the sea to sky highway was a special drive that I used to do with my dad. When I grew up and was able to drive, I would always drive the highway for stress-relief because it is so beautiful. Pat is a big skier and has many fond memories of Whistler specifically. Our favorite weddings that we have attended had all of the guests staying in one place- that is why we chose Whistler and the Nita Lake Lodge. Luxury, but with a un-pretentious atmosphere.

 

What was your criteria when looking for your dress and how did you know once you found it?

  • I actually chose a dress that was completely different from everything I said I wanted and everything my family and friends expected. For a girl that prides herself on being a tomboy, I didn’t think I wanted to feel like a princess. When I put that dress on however, that is how I felt and I loved the feeling. It was the type of dress that I knew I would never wear again and that was exciting for me. My taste has always been classic “with a twist” and this dress certainly fit the bill.

 

Describe your design elements and the inspiration behind them.

  • The intention was to be classy but with a touch of fun (ie the candy bar). We wanted to add personal elements to our day that many people wouldn’t know the significance of (the purple pansy in my bouquet, old family wedding photos to remember where we came from, the candy gift was from the first company I worked for, we flew in Macaroons from Quebec as homage to our Quebec years, mom’s candlesticks from her wedding), etc

 

What was the number one piece of advice given to you while planning your wedding and what would you pass on to newly engaged brides to help them in the coming months?

  • Make it your day- It is easy to get overwhelmed with all of the details and options that are out there. Know what matters to you and what you can let go of. The day will go by quickly and in the end, all that matters is that your friends and family are around you to marry the person that you love.

 

Vendors and suppliers;

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Whistler Wedding Photography | Nita Lake Lodge | Real Wedding | Janice & Pat | Part 1

April 18, 2013 by Pascale Anouk | Leave a comment

A gorgeous wedding at Nita Lake Lodge in Whistler.

Janice & Pat met in their final year of University at Queen’s in Ontario.  Pat and Janice became friends and then following university, they moved to Toronto where they became roommates. Having been close friends for 7 years, they finally clued in that they were meant to be together.  They were apparently the last two on Earth to realize this connection!  And the rest as they say is history.

Having been living in separate city’s for two years (Toronto and Montreal), Janice came home one night expecting her Montreal condo to be empty…When she opened the door the entire condo was lit up with candles, there were beautiful flowers, with her favourite bottle of wine, Pat was waiting at the end of the hallway for her with the ring in his hands. He got down on one knee, told her “why” she was the person he wanted to spend the rest of his life with and asked her to marry him. She of course said yes! He then proceeded to make her a beautiful dinner. “It was an amazing, chill evening. Just like we like” said Janice.

 

What was your criteria when looking for your dress and how did you know once you found it?

  • I actually chose a dress that was completely different from everything I said I wanted and everything my family and friends expected. For a girl that prides herself on being a tomboy, I didn’t think I wanted to feel like a princess. When I put that dress on however, that is how I felt and I loved the feeling. It was the type of dress that I knew I would never wear again and that was exciting for me. My taste has always been classic “with a twist” and this dress certainly fit the bill.

 

Is there a part of your wedding that at first you didn’t think much of it but in retrospect was a very pleasant surprise? 

  • The “first look” with Pat. I loved that we were on the railway- it was so us. In a big white dress on the filthy railway and loving all of it. I absolutely LOVED the anticipation of walking up to Pat. It was such a beautiful (and private) moment of the day.

 

  • I also loved the whole aspect of all of our friends and family together in one place for a full weekend. We have never felt so loved. It took us a while to get used to being the centre of the attention but it was an amazing weekend.

 

Stay tuned….Part 2 of this gorgeous wedding will be featured in our next post.

Pascale oxo

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Squamish Photographer | Soft Launch | The Year I Died

April 11, 2013 by Pascale Anouk | 1 Comment

On Tuesday April 2nd we held a private event to celebrate the release of local author Michelle Pammenter Young’s new book entitled “The Year I Died”.  The book chronicles Michelle’s past year; her battle with a rare and aggressive form of cancer as well her experience with death.  It is an inspiring story of how she managed to work through grief, pain and loss as well as to come to terms with her own mortality.

Local realtor Julie Quinlan and I organized the evening with the help of Rental Network.  Guests were greeted with a glass of champagne as they entered the venue, the home of friend and local mortgage broker Michele Ellis.  The guest list comprised of supporters of Michelle’s “Giving Cancer the Boot” campaign as well as close friends and family.

As Michelle was having major surgery to remove her cancer on Thursday April 4th, we decided to keep this book launch small.  I first heard about Michelle from a mutual friend Julie Quinlan and was so moved by Michelle’s story that I contacted her with a suggestion to create a documentary film to share her message with the world.

The evening was also an opportunity for the exclusive announcement of the documentary project and to let guests purchase a signed copy of Michelle Pammenter Young’s book.  The official “public” book launch will take place some time in late June, early July and will coincide with the first release and viewing of the documentary film.  Keep an eye on Our Blog and Facebook for an announcement of the exact date.

Michelle’s book, “The Year I Died” is now available for purchase on Amazon in both paperback and eBook format.  To find out more you can read Michelle’s blog at www.pammenteryoung.com or become a supporter on her Facebook page www.facebook.com/MichellePammenterYoung.

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Whistler Wedding Photographer | Real E-Session | Carrie & Curt

April 9, 2013 by Pascale Anouk | Leave a comment

Meet Carrie & Curt.

They are in love and they are gorgeous to see together.  They came for a quick visit to Whistler for a fun E-Session in the snow.  I couldn’t help myself get so excited knowing that she was also sporting the cutest 5 months old belly.  The couple is expecting their first child in September and are already planning a beautiful wedding in 2014.

Enjoy some fun images below and a little show at the end…

 

And here is a little show

Pascale oxo

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Vancouver Photographer | Project Skin MD

March 27, 2013 by Pascale Anouk | Leave a comment

Project Skin MD

I have been so blessed with exciting projects I am asked to participate in. A few months ago, I was contacted  by L’Oréal to photograph a gorgeous new skin care clinic in Vancouver called Project Skin MD.  I can’t even start explaining everything I love about this clinic.  It is one of a kind.  It’s unprecedent location, decor, space, staff knowledge, state of the art treatment and not to mention how friendly and approachable everyone there is.

Dr William McGillivray is at the head of this amazing team as some of you may know him best for receiving some of his care at his Whistler clinic.  Skin Ceutical, a beautiful active cosmetic line of L’Oréal, is their product line of choice and simply divine.

But I will let the images speak for themselves and invite all of you to go visit next time you are in Vancouver, you will love it, I know I did and I am now hooked!

Pascale oxo

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Squamish Photography | Pascale’s World | Meet Michelle

March 16, 2013 by Pascale Anouk | 1 Comment

How can I contribute to this world?

How can I make a difference?

How can I help?

In this last year, my understanding of these questions has become crystal clear.

I have always look at doctors as the obvious in the ability to save lives!  I also knew that in order to help people, I would have to find a different skill as I am the first one to faint in the ER so the odds where NOT in my favour for this one.  All along taking for granted what I did for fun, what I loved doing and what made me feel whole, not understanding that a true gift only comes alive when it is “not just something you do” it is part of who you are!  The moment I started understanding that not everyone was able to pick up a camera and capture a moment , an emotion, a memory, I got it.  I have been searching how to make things better around me, how to help, how to ease someones pain and it was under my nose or should I say around my neck all along.

I was a fool, I had not seen the most important help I could provide.  Help someone tell their story, Shine light and bring attention to their message.  Help them in their journey to capture memories and leave a foot print for other to witness and cherish.  Don’t get me wrong this makes me shake most of the time in hoping to always be authentic, true and pure in my intentions.

I think in pictures…always. I listen to music and there is a film, a story line, a moving image that unfold in my head constantly and in the last year, I have started to realize that not everyone does that.

So call it a gift, a skill and an addiction, a sick personality disorder, it’s what I do and to an extent it’s who I am.

And so from a friend of a friend this wonderful lady named Michelle crossed my path a few months ago and she and I have connected in one of the most intense way I have yet experienced.  She has a story, no let me clarify this SHE HAS A HELL OF A STORY and it needs to be heard…by everyone.  She is a WOMAN, a FIGHTER, a WARRIOR, a MOTHER, a WIFE, a DAUGHTER, a SISTER, a FRIEND, a WRITER, a SURVIVOR and yes she has CANCER, she has that too.  I have never met someone with so much drive.

So I will keep a few surprises up my sleeves for what she and I have in the works but Michelle has just released her  Memoirs titled:  “THE YEAR I DIED” and I helped her create the visuals for the book cover as well as a little sexy headshot which she rock with her new short hair!  We are both so proud of the results and now it’s time for everyone to read her story, you need to do this and she has promised me there is humour in it.  Isn’t it time we all step out of our comfort zone and come together to celebrate BEAUTY & STRENGTH , it is so rarely showed in our society with women and so beautifully portrayed here.  It’s time to allow yourself to be moved and inspired.

I know I did and I am better because of it.

Click here to purchase a copy of the book.

Thank you Michelle

Pascale oxo

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