darshan photography's blog

A Night at the Palace – Annual Errington Vaudeville

Darshan Photography — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 03:31:23 +0000

Dressed in red lace and a gigantic flamenco-style skirt, I thought I was ready for A Night at the Palace – but my Mom, in her corset, fishnets and sequined feather headband far outdid me. Mind you, I was a lowly audience member and she was one of the shining stars – particularly in the wild and saucy can can number. This is her third year performing in the annual Errington burlseque and vaudeville show, I’m hoping by next year I will be as brave as my Mom and get my feather boa and corset on – and then off

Photo Booth Madness!

Darshan Photography — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:33:51 +0000

Okay, I know I haven’t blogged in about two months. But I’ve been away! I got home two weeks ago from a month-long trip to India. (more photos on that later). In recent events, this past Friday I volunteered for the (watch for it, it’s a mouthful), Fairfield Gonzales Community Association. It was a gala fundraiser at the Ward room for a new Youth Space in Fairfield. I set up a photo booth and voila!– craziness and mayhem ensued.
Proof in the pudding:

Celia & Steve

Darshan Photography — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 03:38:34 +0000

Steve snagged himself one classy gal this past November 26. Celia was the star of the show in her custom, hand-made, one-of-a kind wedding gown, (designed by Maureen Patricia). We did some couples shots just before the ceremony and Steve looked like one happy fella when he walked in the room and saw Celia for the first time. I started shooting at 2:30pm and it was dark by 4pm; luckily the bride and groom were getting ready at the Fairholme Manor, the most beautiful Bed & Breakfast I have ever encountered! (Highly recommend this place – I think the photos prove my point . So doing all our photos inside instead of outside was no problem! The ceremony happened at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, a perfect winter ceremony/reception venue — who would have thought? Why the uber-creative Celia of course. Thank you Steve and Celia for a wonderful day, may you have a beautiful life together.

Cam & Mitali’s Summery September Soiree

Darshan Photography — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 06:45:50 +0000

Cam & Mitali were married on September 10 at my favorite Sooke venue: Craidelonna Oceanside Lodge. Weddings at Craidelonna always seem to strike the perfect balance between comfort and decadence… and Cam and Mitali’s wedding was a notable example of this harmonious combination. With around 40 friendly guests, the lodge seemed like an exquisitely beautiful home away from home. The weather was perfect, and it was refreshing to hear the different Hindi/French/English dialects smattering the airwaves at this international wedding.
At one point in the evening Mitali asked about my favorite moments were at previous weddings — I think the amount of tears shed by both Mitali and Cam as Mitali walked down the aisle makes the top of my list for favorite moments. Witnessing that kind of love makes me grateful to do this work.
Congratulations. May you share many more joyful tears together.

Gina & Sam

Darshan Photography — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 16:41:20 +0000

Bathtubs, donkeys and hay bales — oh my!
Welcome to Sooke — Gina and Sam’s wedding wins the official “funnest of the season” prize. The wedding party were all good friends or family — and I felt privileged to witness the love this tight crew had for one another. I was lucky enough to take photos at Gina’s sister’s wedding last summer, so I felt right at home.
The night before the wedding, the Groomsmen decided to shave a smiley face into the back of the best man’s head — although Adam was concerned about his wife’s reaction, he managed to be the life of the party for the rest of the day and give a riveting speech explaining the romantic circumstances of Sam and Gina’s fated first meeting…… It’s been close to ten years since they met in that Sooke Parking Lot, and on his wedding day Sam had a happy glow in his eyes whenever he looked at his beautiful wife.
Keep that glow glowing you two!

Joelle & David

Darshan Photography — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 23:54:38 +0000

It was the balmiest wedding I have ever shot in Sooke — which was perfect for Joelle and Dave as they had originally planned to be married in Guatamala. It may not have been Central American-style temperatures, but it was warm enough that many of the guests went for a swim post-ceremony.

Joelle’s family was amazing to work with. Laughing and crying in equal measure, any groom would be lucky to inherent such a genuine and caring set of in-laws. At one point in the day Joelle’s step-father was in tears and he was speaking to Dave in French, Joelle translated that her step-father was saying how much he loved Joelle, how Joelle had grown up with him since she was a little girl, and how he wanted to make sure Dave was going to look after her. Soon everyone was getting teary-eyed, myself included.
Somehow I don’t think he has to worry — Dave told me that the first time he saw Joelle, he told her that she was the girl he was going to marry. It’s plain for anyone to see that he is totally enamored and devoted to his wife. You two are amazing to witness. Much love to you in your life together.

David & Samantha

Darshan Photography — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 21:52:21 +0000

Oysters, fortune cookies and cigars, shiny silver shoes and dancing on the bed…… Samantha and David were married in Sooke, at Samantha’s parent’s house. The house was full of beautiful art, and was such a beautifully constructed home it was a work of art in itself. Samantha’s entire family has a keen eye for beautiful décor – which makes for a happy photographer.
The ceremony took place on the deck of the home overlooking the ocean. Sam insisted she wanted to keep the photos candid and casual, but David and I coerced her into a five-minute photoshoot after the ceremony. Her beautiful long, black hair makes a striking portrait against her white gown, and the green forest with afternoon sun shining through the tree’s made for a perfect backdrop. This was a beautiful wedding, and the guests were a lot of fun. Congratulations and thank you!

Fran & Richard

Darshan Photography — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 16:47:43 +0000

As I walked down the driveway to the bride’s parents house, a small boy asked if I wanted to see the fairy garden. It was a shining indication of the day to follow. Kid’s came running down the trail ahead of the bride — throwing flowers and laughing. They joined the circle of guests and the bride and groom stepped into the center. With their community around them Fran and Richard completed a beautiful ceremony which drew on many traditions — but focused mostly on love, love, love. We did some photos after the ceremony and the bride and groom took a little boat ride down the canal to the site of the reception, a couple houses down the way. There was a lot of laughing and playing all throughout the day — kid’s and adults both. I love backyard weddings, especially one’s where I feel like I’m right at home.

Catherine & Paul’s Wedding Wonderland

Darshan Photography — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 22:29:14 +0000

It was hard to believe we could find better (or tastier) props than the french fries, and strawberry sundaes we used on our engagement shoot with Paul and Catherine — but for their wedding day we managed to step it up with popcorn, chandeliers, firetrucks and tractors! I ask you this — what’ll we do if you have us back for another shoot? Fly to India, or maybe go on Safari……. Hmmmmmmm.
Anyhoo — Catherine and Paul were married in sunshine-y Sidney, and had their reception at the lovely Sea Cider Farm and Ciderhouse. The food was all-local straight-up goodness, and so was the company (with a few out-of town exceptions, most notably — the particularly exotic bride and groom). Apple orchards and photobooths, dancing and dandelions, hula hoops and shoes in the air. A night to remember forever and ever, and they lived happily ever after…………….

Rebecca and John’s Royal Wedding

Darshan Photography — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 03:09:50 +0000

We met John and Rebecca for the first time a week before their wedding. As soon as they walked in the door the photographer in me rubbed my hands together in glee. These two had style and were gorgeous to boot I knew the wedding would be classy with lots of fun detail to shoot, and I was right!
They brought over a limo from Vancouver that could fit their 10-person wedding party — they just don’t make limo’s that big here on the island. Hatley Castle and the gardens surrounding set an epic and royal backdrop for John and Rebecca’s ceremony. We took photos in gazebo’s, on bridges, with flowers and towering castles in the background. Doesn’t really get more scenic.

A member of the wedding party commented to Dustin at the end of the night “I’ve never seen photographers like you guys, you climbed tree’s to get the shot, you and took us to the graffiti ghetto and you spent the whole day with us.”

I think I’m going to take that as a compliment.

Thanks for a great time you two!