For British Columbia-based photographer Kim Jay of Kim Jay Weddings, her approach to any wedding is always the same: arrive prepared, and stay cool and have a calm approach throughout the day. For couple Callie and Zach’s wedding on the very scenic Galiano Island, off the coast of Vancouver Island, Kim arrived the night before as to not have to worry about logistics and ferry schedules on the day of the wedding.

“It was actually perfect because I got to meet the bride and groom and their loved ones before the wedding got underway,” she explains. “I find it’s always nice to know the key players going into the day, and it was great to have some friendly connections with their guests.”

Fly on the Wall

Once the day got underway, the photographer took a hands-off, documentary approach. “Callie and Zach expressed how important it was to have coverage of their friends and family interacting, which was music to my ears, because I love focusing on candid interactions,” she explains. “They had a very diverse group of people from all over the world come to their intimate celebration, so weaving in that aspect with the beauty of the location they chose for their big day was helpful.

Challenges and Solutions

Of course no wedding comes without challenges, and this one was no exception. “This wedding was at the very beginning of my 2019 season, so I’m wasn’t feeling quite in the flow, which is pretty normal for the beginning of any season. On top of that, the bride and groom, along with all the members of their wedding party, were in the photo and films industries, so was a bit nervous at the beginning of the day. But I arrived on site early to get my bearings, and I allowed myself 15 minutes of quiet time before I started shooting to get in the right headspace, and it did the trick.”

Another hurdle to overcome was that it ended up being the hottest day of the year and without a cloud in the sky staying hydrated and cool was a a bit tough. “I always pack snacks and sip on water whenever I can, but given the hustle and bustle of the day, it’s easy to forget to nourish myself when I’m focused on others. Technically, though, the day went off without a hitch.”

Gear Choices

Technically speaking, Kim says she always shoots with two very different focal lengths for any aspect of the day to help with the storytelling. “When it came time for portraits and cocktail hour, I traded my 35mm for my Canon 50mm f/1.2, because I like to be a touch closer and I love the creaminess the 50mm gives me. For the sunset portraits (like the one above) I brought out my Canon 45mm f/2.8 Tilt-Shift lens. It is a manual focus and can be a bit tricksy with the tilt-shift aspect, so it’s not the ideal lens to use when I’m in crunch time. But because I knew I had already got all the shots I needed, it was the perfect time to play. And I just love the images we got! The tilt-shift adds a layer of magic to the images, especially at sunset.”

Intimate Vibes

What counted most, the photographer sums up, was that the wedding had a beautifully intimate vibe throughout. “You could tell that the guests cared deeply for Callie and Zach, and the couple wove many personal touches into the days’ events, which made it feel fresh and thoughtful. Zach’s father, who has sadly since passed away, carried out the ceremony and brought in different pieces of both Zach and Callie’s cultural roots. Whenever I get the honor of documenting a day where people step outside the mould and make the day their own, I feel very grateful.”

GEAR OF THE DAY

Cameras: Canon 5D Mark IV (x2)
Lenses: Canon 35mm f/1.2, 50mm f/1.2, 45mm f/2.8 Tilt Shift and the Sigma Art 85mm f/1.4.
Miscellaneous: Holdfast Moneymaker straps, which I’ve used for the last 5 years, and can’t speak highly enough of it; it saves my neck and back!

Check out more Weddings of the Week, and email Jacqueline Tobin with submissions.