another ‘in home’ portrait session!

I spent the last 4 days in Brandon again and had a few adventures.  Firstly the drive through white-out conditions was tense – then an evening viewing some wonderful images at a “Wine & Cheese” Reception featuring some African images, then a maternity session and a portrait session!   I’ll be posting these from the last session to the first – so please come back to see the rest.

Inge and Michael first met on December 13th – 8 years ago.   As Inge says, “I knew from the first email that we exchanged – that Michael was the man for me!”   She was living in Brandon, Manitoba and he was living and working in Amsterdam!   They corresponded so frequently – it didn’t take long for Inge to fly out to Amsterdam to meet this English gentleman.  Well, that meeting sealed the deal – they were in love.   In less than a year, Michael came out to Canada to see Inge and meet her dogs and there was no turning back.   On March 8th, 2003 they got married in a little country church in Heathfield, UK and I had the honour and privilege of photographing their wedding!  After a honeymoon in the UK and Amsterdam, they moved back to Brandon.  Inge is a wonderful photographer and Michael is an Honorary Assistant Priest at St. Matthews Anglican Church in Brandon.  They just celebrated their 6th wedding anniversary and this past weekend they asked me to do some up-dated portraits.

I visit their home numerous times throughout the year and I knew exactly how I wanted to photograph them.   Sunday afternoon’s they usually have some wonderful music playing on the stereo – Thomas Tallis from the 16th century perhaps or Yo Yo Ma (St. Matthews Passion played at their wedding); the dogs: Hunter and Grissom are relaxing on the sofa; Inge and Michael have a glass of sherry or a glass of port and spend time together… sometimes chatting – mostly listening to the wonderful music.

I started off with some very casual and natural images and I had just finished up – when Inge gets up and goes over to Michael – and that is when I captured my favorite image!   The emotion in this image is something that can’t be captured often – unless the subject is willing to invite me into their ‘space’.  They are so happy with each other, and I believe the final image in this post shows that.  Thank you Inge and Michael for allowing me into your ‘little corner of happiness’ and for trusting me to capture these images – they are exactly how I see you both.

I really felt this last image needed somewhat a desaturation of colour – it has such a timeless feel to it – the vivid colour of their home needed to be muted for the feeling it conveys, in my opinion.

Later.