I don’t think I could have said it better than in the bigger letters above that first image. Many of our ground staff are pilots, and after a year or two on the ramp, they have their flight training and their first step into commercial aviation piloting is taken. Not me. People ask what the hell I’m doing on the ramp, and I tell them each the same thing… For the fun of it. Because I like it. Because I have access to photoshoots that are truly unique. Because I can fly to Norway for under $300. Because the people are awesome. Because I don’t need it, but because I want it. Because in the summer, sunset after sunset on the ocean never gets old.

Sometimes I just love to talk about how photogenic a couple is together, I mean actually dwell on it because I find it fascinatingly perfect. Enter Chris & Joanne, two who are exactly that. Chris & I have been trying to organise this for some time now, but it’s proved to be challenging with our schedules because if he isn’t off flying our aircraft, I’m busy sending them out or maintenance is working on them in the hangar. I met with Joanne at YVR, and we waited for Chris to finish his pairing and then beat the very aircraft he was flying over to the company hangar on the other side of the airport where we went to work in front of the camera.

Photographers, I know you know those shoots where it is entirely effortless knocking out image after image because your clients are so comfortable, and at such ease with one another it feels like you can shoot all night… This ranks extraordinary high there for me. And we probably could have done, but the boys at maintenance needed the aircraft and the mosquitos were RELENTLESS. I’ve never experienced them like that before. I have 8 bites on my neck alone. Insanity.

And for maybe the first time in my life, someone else put more effort into their hair than what I usually do. Or maybe it just seemed that way with Joanne helping you fix those headset flat spots, Chris ;) Enjoy you two, and all the absolute best on the 14th for your wedding day!

I love so much that each one of us has our quirks, and every one of us is the most unique expression of who we are and who we have become as a fantastic consequence of life. Every single one of us on this insanely beautiful planet. I especially love the way we come together as couples, and the absolute oneness and purity to the word unique in all of that. Megan & Mike are romantic, they’re… how can I say this politely, guys? …completely & entirely embracing of who they are individually, and what they have and still are creating together. And it inspires me. I mean it, guys – you’re probably reading this and laughing because we had the most open, fun, ridiculous, outrageous and random 24 hours together for the first time we’d ever met, but I mean it. Seriously.

So I’d spoken to Megan a few times on the phone, but it was focused more toward missing bags and full aircraft hold areas. We may have even e-mailed a few times just prior to deciding we’d have a ‘client meeting’ to discuss their wedding on the island next summer. Well, that was B.S. What client meeting? We don’t even know what that means. Ha, let’s be honest here right. So I dumped one of my shifts at work, and then got on a half hour flight from Vancouver to Campbell River on Vancouver Island where I was greeted by Megan & Mike, and my boss Barrie. (Hi Barrie! Thanks for letting us do the shoot on the ramp – it was AWESOME and we appreciate it!)

Honestly, I could write a million words about these two, and how much fun we all had. How great it was arriving as… well, not even really strangers, but as meeting for the first time, and leaving with an awesome new friend… erm… client. Megan, I’m not even going to open up the BFF can of worms. I know Jen will see this, and I don’t wanna get in trouble.
(P.S. Mike – you SUCK at Wii bowling, and the next time I crash on your couch – there is NO WAY things will go as poorly for me. Book it. Ha!)