Choosing the right professionals for your wedding is a personal decision and tends to lean on far more than just their portfolios alone. On a wedding day you spend so much time with your vendors, so having a connection with them makes the whole experience so much more enjoyable. We want you to have a chance to get to know your vendors a little better before you make that tough decision on who to choose. We reached out to our wedding professionals on your behalf so you can become better acquainted with them.

Meet Jessica Crandlemire, A Georgian Bay Wedding Photographer.

Jess is a wedding and portrait photographer raised in small town Ontario and no stranger to Collingwood. She has been immersed in the Collingwood community for much of her life and is beloved by all who meet her. Jess is full of energy, curiosity and playfulness. She will not shy away from climbing a tree to get a better angle on your wedding day, or laugh along with you during some of your happiest moments. Being photographed by her is a true joy, and it feels far more like you’re hanging out with a friend than with a vendor. In truth, you’ll probably end up friends by the time the shoot is over, if you weren’t already to begin with.

You can find Jessica’s website here: www.withlightandshadow.ca
Make friends with her on social media: @lightandshadowphoto

Destination wedding celebration by Jessica Crandlemire

Destination wedding portraits by Jessica Crandlemire

What's your favourite way to spark creativity and how do you stay inspired?:

Inspiration is everywhere, morning light, evening sunset, rainy walks, FOG! Joyful celebrations and soulful journeys, beautiful humans, even my spring garden gets me pretty excited. Often I feel most creative in a project that makes me a little uncomfortable, and a little challenged, with the time to let it unravel.

Tell us about your process. What can your clients expect when they inquire with you?

The process is different depending on needs and circumstances but with wedding clients in particular my goal is to get to know them and their particular story as well as possible before the day of the wedding. I want to bring authenticity to their story and honour it as best I can. I really like to have an engagement session, or some kind of little photo adventure so that we get a change to be in each other's company before hand. They get a feel for me, I get a feel for them, and we're friends already by the wedding day (really).

air stream wedding photos by jessica crandlemire

Bride adventuring in the forest by Jessica Crandlemire

How early in advance should clients reach out to you?

As soon as possible but life and realities are what they are and I am game to work with what life throws at me. In an ideal world we get a chance to have a shoot, chat a lot, and I get to help a little when it comes to timing for the ceremony early on. We photographers like to prioritize the light as much as possible so we love a chance to look at your timeline before it's set in stone.

What question(s) do you wish more clients would ask you when inquiring about your services?

All questions are welcome, I hope clients feel free to ask whatever questions make them feel confident about their day.

What's the one piece of advice you give all your couples?

Plan early, make your priorities then, and be willing to let go and enjoy the day. Not everything will go according to plan, but the important things will and you want to GO to your wedding. It should be fun.

first look photos on a bridge by jessica crandlemire

bride and groom kiss in forest by jessica crandlemire

What is your favourite wedding tradition?

I love when couples take a tradition and make it their own, turn it on it's head in some way. Whether that is helping each other get ready, writing their own vows, having a secret ceremony, pie instead of cake, or losing the shoes...I love it all.

If you could go anywhere tomorrow, where would you go?

New Zealand

What are your favourite moments to photograph at a wedding?

All the feelings. I love the getting ready process, the anticipation. I love the elation immediately after, and stealing a couple for a little golden hour alone time. I have most recently begun to fall more in love with the first dances. And I love kids at a wedding, they bring some of the funniest and most precious moments.