2010
Posted on May 13, 2010
by admin 
5 The Wedding of Nina & Colin
Nina and Colin were married this past March on the 6th. By all accounts it was the ideal winter day for a wedding……….sunny with some snow on the ground! Our team joined them for the morning preparations where Alex, our editor and videographer realized within 5 minutes of arriving at Nina’s place that he was related to some of the guests at the wedding and that their families hail from the same part of Northern Greece (the Macedonian part). Which, as a side note seems to be a reoccurring theme with Alex!
The team told me that Nina and Colin were both very calm throughout the morning preparations which made shooting their wedding a real pleasure for the team and lent to an atmosphere of creativity. The ceremony was held at Aurora United Church and then they proceeded to The Manor Event Venue for the reception which had Sound Sensation dj’ing the party.
I watched the same day edit when the team returned and Nina, you were stunning and you can definitely see the connection between both you and Colin. I also have to say, your flowergirls and ringbearers were ridiculously cute!
Enjoy the Same Day Edit!
What We’ve Been Up To
We just returned from WPPI 2010 (Wedding & Portrait Photographers International) in Las Vegas this past weekend, held at MGM Grand. It is a massive event for photographer’s with more seminars than one could ever attend and a massive tradeshow, that literally took us a couple of days to walk through.
While we were there, Matt and I attended some of the seminars. The first one that we found particularly inspiring was put on by a great photographer from the Edmonton area named Jesh de Rox. I can’t begin to tell you how inspiring he was. I even cried, and if Matt was honest, I think he’d say he felt like crying! What is so inspiring about him, is his ability to really re-focus us, as people in the wedding industry. He brought us out of the “wedding industry” mindset that can so easily set in from having a busy schedule and reminded us what it is, that we actually do. We are privileged with taking pictures of people in love and capturing moments that for the rest of their lives, will remind them of how their lives together began. He talked about how life can get hard at times (we all know that) and reminded us how powerful the images that we take can be in those difficult moments, for our clients. It really made us think and has inspired us to add some new things to what we do. It is all too new to start talking about now, but stay tuned.
Then there was Jasmine Star. Wow! What an awesome woman and photographer. I had a chance to speak to her afterwards and realized that we had a lot in common….both Pastor’s Kids! No wonder she was such a great public speaker, it definitely comes with the territory.
Back at the office the rest of the Xero Digital team has been working like crazy on production. We stopped by this weekend to pick up some stuff and I looked around and so how much they’d completed. Matt and I definitely don’t say it enough, but we know that we are so blessed to have such an awesome team who we can depend on.
What I learned
Vegas turned out to be a bigger learning experience for me, than just in the areas of business and photography. I actually learned a life lesson and I wanted to share it with you. On the Thursday evening, which was our only semi-free time, we headed over to Planet Hollywood Casino . We spent a couple of hours walking around through the mall and having dinner and then needed to head over to get ready for an awards ceremony, when our plans got a little interrupted. While we were on the elevator the door slid open, and there on the floor just past the people exiting, a woman sitting on the dirty parking lot pavement was crying, as if she had lost everything. I wanted to get off and help her, but it all happened so fast the door had shut and we were on our way to our car.
I felt awful. Matt and I are people who more than anything want to practice what we believe in. In the scriptures, it is all summed up in a word…..LOVE. Helping her or at least trying to, seemed like a simple way to do that and we had just let it slip past us. On the way out of the parking lot Matt decided we should pass by where she had been sitting and quickly prayed that God would help us, help her if she was still there…..she was.
Turns out my new friend was struggling with something that all of us have struggled with at some point or perhaps still do…. insecurity (she named it that herself…I’m not a psychologist.). She immediately opened up to me as I asked her what had happened and if there was anything I could do. She’s just gone through a failed marriage and was now with a new guy in Vegas, that she had left her whole family for (including children) and he had just abandoned her, telling her that he could do “better”. With no money to her name and no one to turn to, there she sat. She repeatedly told me how she had always needed a man to love her and that she never felt good enough, and as soon as this man showed her attention, she followed him to Vegas.
Her story isn’t so different from lots of girls/women. I had just spent the day looking at all the beautiful people of the Las Vegas strip and feeling like I didn’t measure up. (Trust me, being 3.5 months pregnant in Vegas is not fun!) An hour earlier if I had seen her in the bar I may have envied her, but now with the false eyelashes dropping off and sitting on the dirty pavement I heard her heart and looked past the facade….she needed to be loved! She asked me to pray ( I hadn’t said a word about being a christian) and I did. She told me that she knew God had sent me because she had just prayed that he would send along someone to help her ( I love God moments!). We finally were able to contact her boyfriend and we drove to meet him. I told her that I would continue to pray for her, she told Matt to never forget to cherish his wife and his relationship (gotta love that! LOL) and with that she exited the car and went back to her life. In the end I don’t know how much I helped her, but she definitely helped me. I, like her, will soon have 4 children, she told me she is a singer, I used to be a singer (in church circles), she loves to write, so do I……..but she hadn’t dealt with her insecurities and it was eating her life up and all her potential. I am sure that all of that was coincidence, but I felt like I needed to learn from it. What I learned is that, insecurities need to be dealt with because they don’t magically go away with age and that relationships and the giftings you have need to be nurtured, so that as I get older I don ‘t look back at what could have been. It made me so thankful for the amazing friend I have in Matt who wants to see me be all that I can be, as cheesy as that sounds. It made me also think about all the weddings that we attend and all the details that we get caught up in, like the dress, the flowers, the program running smoothly and that is beautiful and fun, but we can’t ever lose sight of what is really happening……..two people coming together in life, to support eachother and love eachother, no matter how they look (even when they are 3.5 months pregnant with their 4th baby!). That is truly awesome and that is true beauty and that is what we feel so privileged to photograph.
Thanks for reading!
Cheryl
I have thought a lot about what to say when writing this blog, because there are really no words for the “awesomeness” of this fantastic couple. We met Tali and Dave about this time last year and then the fun began. What I mean by that, is that, there was an instant connection between us and Tali (we didn’t see as much of Dave in the beginning). I started to get these really long emails (she is a self professed long email writer), but I didn’t mind at all because they were so funny that when I saw her name pop up in my inbox I couldn’t wait to see what she had written. Tali is one of those people that no matter what form of communication she is using her personality shines through. In the time that we have gotten to know her she has been a person that authentically is herself and who she is, is a complete pleasure.
Then came Dave..and I have to say that he just may be one of the kindest people that we have come across. Again, so genuine, funny and happy. The chemistry between the two of them was undeniable and made for a fabulous engagement session back at the end of the summer at the CNE. That was where we really got to know Dave and we saw just how perfect these two are for eachother. They laugh together, tease eachother and enjoy eachother in such a refreshing way. The engagement session felt more like a group of friends hanging out and taking some fabulous pictures. It definitely helped that Tali loves pictures and they were both game for anything…..even posing with livestock…LOL!
Needless to say we were so excited for their big wedding day. I couldn’t wait for the images to get back into the office so I could see how it all unfolded. The pictures are beautiful, as was the bride and groom. Heather came back into the office with the same observations that we had all made. Tali and Dave….you two are fabulous, your happiness is infectious and you were definitely made for eachother.
Congratulations Guys!!
She looks like Hollywood here! One of my favorite images of Tali.
Can’t you just feel the love? They are so cute!
This is another one of my fave’s. Not only do they look great, but it looks like they are dancing in an ice hotel.
I love the old hollywood feel of the photo above.
A big thank you to all the other wonderful vendors that we worked with .
Total Party Concepts – Wedding Planner
St. Kitts and Nevis Wedding Photography
We hadn’t really heard of Nevis until Yana visited our office to discuss having Xero Digital shoot their wedding there. We were told that it was beautiful, but words did not prepare us for how beautiful it truly is. It isn’t your typical carribean destination. The island is very tiny, with a very small population and the scenery is practically untouched. When we arrived at The Banyan Tree Bed and Breakfast and I stood on the veranda, I swear I almost cried. It felt exactly like you were in your own private paradise. After a quick drink (Ting…I had no idea it was made there), we headed off to The Montpelier Plantation Inn. Yana and Carlos could not have picked a more beautiful spot for their intimate wedding ceremony.
I love this photo! It totally has a Gilligan’s Island feel to it. These are definitely shoes that Ginger would have worn! (Did I just date myself?)
Look at those colours! This was definitely the perfect spot for the ceremony. It was scorching hot and the sun was blazing down, but I think totally worth it.
I think that this is my favourite shot of the day. I love the soft, dreamy lighting.
After the beach shots, we headed back to Montpelier for some photos just before their wedding dinner.
The dinner area that they had set up was breathtaking. It was something straight out of ” The Bachelor”. Matt and I both agreed that it was, by far, the most romantic scene we’ve seen at a wedding.
Congratulations Yana & Carlos! Thank you so much for allowing us to document your wedding day.
Here are a few more photos from the Kimm and Jason’s shoot. Hope you enjoy!
The next day we took the dress from Kimm and had a little fun taking pics with it around the grounds of the resort.
I love these images. I thought they completely give the idea that they had been shipwrecked on their own abandoned island.
We had seen this old mill on our travels the day we all went on our road trip and made a mental note that it would be a great location to stop by during their shoot. We are so glad we did.
Kimm and Jason also have a great son, named Zach. What a great family photo!
No destination wedding shoot is complete without a fabulous sunset shot.
The past month and a half has been an absolute whirlwind for us at Xero Digital. The month of December kicked off with the wedding of Kimm and Jason in beautiful Jamaica at the Grand Palladium Resort and Spa. They could not have picked a more beautiful location. I know this sounds really cheesy, but one morning when I walked out of our room (which had a gorgeous ocean view) it literally took my breath away. We don’t always travel as a couple to destination weddings, nor are we the only ones at the studio that shoot them, but it just so happened that Kimm and Jason are family to my very best friend. So this was an awesome opportunity for me, to not only assist at such a gorgeous wedding, but spend sometime in the Carribean with my best friend.
The truth is, by the end of the trip Kimm and Jason weren’t only clients of Xero Digital, but they truly made us feel like family as well. A few days before the wedding, they took all of the guests on a road trip to experience the sights and sounds of Jamaica and also included us. The road trip ended off at Rick’s Cafe which is a famous place for watching sunsets. Patrons also have the opportunity at cliff diving, which my best friend did immediately upon arrival (see why I love her so much!).
One of the funniest moments for me, on the wedding day, had to be when we arrived at Jason’s room to photograph the boys getting ready and found all of them standing around the ironing board with an utter look of bewilderment. I stood back for a moment but quickly saw that left to their own devices, this would not work out well. So I quickly jumped in and ironed their shirts.
The wedding area there is beautiful. Although that day was extremely hot, the gazebo is positioned under a canopy of trees and overlooking the ocean to reap the benefit of the sea breeze. Kimm looked stunning as she walked down the path toward Jason, and the smile on Jason’ s face was infectious.
Thanks so much Kimm and Jason for allowing us to share this part of your story with you and trusting us to document it. It was a blast!
Now, when do we go back?!?!?
I just wanted to let everyone know that we will be exhibiting all weekend at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre for Canada’s Bridal Show. Xero Digital will be located in booth number’s 214 & 216. You can’t miss us, we are the big white glowing booth with glass albums. If you have been considering our services for your upcoming wedding, feel free to stop by. We will be there all weekend answering questions and displaying our work.
Have a wonderful weekend everyone !
Xero Digital
We had a blast with our last wedding of the year at the wedding of Dimitra and Tony. With most of the holiday activities over and done with, we were excited to end the year with a bang with a same day edit to cap off the year. We love the challenge of creating a highlight of a couples special day that touches on all of the emotional highs and sharing it with those closest to them. It serves as a great momento and perfect end to a great day. Congrats Dimitra and Tony! Best wishes as you embark on the start of your lives together.
Alex
Video Department
We just returned from a huge adventure with our three children. Due to the busyness of this years wedding season, we barely saw our children…….at all (thank God for my awesome mother in law, who watched them day in and out for us). Because of that, we felt that we really needed to get away with them and spend time just being “us”. So that is exactly what we did.
We spent the Christmas season visiting my sister (who recently moved to Sydney to attend Hillsong) and our Aunt and Uncle in Sydney, Australia. We also spent a few days in Beijing visiting one of our dearest friends, who since moving there has learned Mandarin very well. He was able to act as a tour guide for us, which was such a huge blessing. I have to admit that we barely took any photos. Which I know might come as a shock, but we didn’t want to be so focused on managing the equipment. We just wanted to focus on building memories with the kids. That being said I still wanted to share a little highlight of the trip with our readers.
Everyone thought we were crazy for setting out on such a huge journey with a 4 year old, 6 year old and an 8 year old, but the kids were amazing. I think it helps to be tiny in economy class,because you can just curl up on the chair and fall asleep. It was myself who had difficulty with the long flights. We are still all suffering from jet lag, especially our son who has been consistently visiting with me at 4 am to discuss why he did not received Optimus Prime for Christmas (we had to order him, he was sold out everywhere!).
Anyways, I hope you enjoy the photos and the little sneak peek into our family. From all of us at Xero Digital Inc. we hope that all of you had a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year! Here’s to a prosperous 2010!
