2016 has been a whirlwind of a year and we wouldn't change a single second of it. From our amazing clients to the tremendous human beings we are blessed to work with, and of course all the support from our friends and family, we can honestly say we feel so lucky to wake up each day living this exciting adventure. Our hearts are overwhelmed and full from everything we have been a part of over this past year and we know that 2017 will only bring even more excitement. We have taken the last while to reflect on what we felt was most extraordinary about this past year.
We created and launched our new brand: Undoubtedly one of the most pivotal decisions of the year for us was ultimately the decision to launch Isle + Oak. With the help of the immensely talented Jason Coburn of Thomas Morton Studios we successfully created a brand and an image that we feel best represents our vision for our company moving forward and a brand that will allow us to grow together with the industry. Isle + Oak represents the journey we have taken together in life and our upbringing on the West Coast. It represents what we love about wedding photography and working in this incredible industry. It is the start of what we know will be the adventure of a lifetime. Operating under a new name was a scary decision, but ultimately the most important decision we have made as a collective unit thus far.
Selfies: It should come at no shock to anyone that we spend a great deal of time with one another. We talk to each other all day, we spend our weekends together, we share our feelings and our troubles with one another. There are no secrets between us. We also take selfies. A vast number of selfies. We use them to reflect on accomplishments, to document special moments, to have a laugh and to enjoy life. Classic Millennial syndrome. We take them with our clients and with one another, and you better believe we keep them all! Sitting down and reviewing them is an adventure in itself.
We participated in our first destination wedding! Easily four of the most incredible days of our photography career. We were blessed to meet two wonderful people at a wedding show earlier this year who invited us to join them on their big day in Mexico. A couple of packed suitcases and two plane rides later we were by their side on a beautiful beach while they said "I do" in front of their families and closest friends. What an adventure. Their families were wonderfully welcoming and we were fortunate to learn so much about their culture.
Where Can you Find us? In an attempt to reach out more of you and build more of an online presence we have spent a great deal of time this past year making sure our social media accounts are more active and that Isle + Oak is featured more and more online. You can find us on Wedding Wire, Vancity Weddings and Weddingful (just to name a few).
Instagram: Instagram has quickly become one of our favourite elements of building our portfolio. Social media is now playing such a substantial role in our visually based culture and for 2017 we plan on maintaining an active instagram account as we feel it is an excellent way to keep in touch with each and every one of you, and an even easier way of maintaining an updated portfolio of our work. If you aren't already following us, we would love for you to stop by and check us out!
Clients: The subject where we get most choked up. Our clients. This wonderful, extraordinary group of people we honestly call family. You are all the most incredible lot of wonderful people we have ever met and we feel blessed to have even been afforded the opportunity to spend time with you. We value the trust you place in us. You let us into your world and allow us to join you on such a monumental day in your lives, which is honestly something we struggle to put into words. Each of you have individually played a role in making our job as special and incredible as it is and for that we are forever grateful.
These past handful of weeks have been spent editing and sifting through our work from the year. Editing season is alot of work but it is also a tremendous experience as we relive each day over again. The result of weeks of editing is that we have put together a collection of images from our year that we feel are special and best represent the time we have spent with each and every one of you. We want to thank you all again for an incredible year. 2016 was groundbreaking for us, but next year will be by far our biggest year to date and we have so much in store for you all.
Here's to 2016!
Thanks for joining us during this incredible year. Stay in touch to see even more in 2017!!