Thanks for popping by.
My name is John Heil and I'm a wedding and portrait photographer based in Vancouver BC. I am passionate about making the everyday seem extraordinary and making people feel beautiful!
This here blog is where you'll find my recent work, random photos, daily ramblings and whatever other stuff I can think of. Most importantly, this is where I'll post the first shots of my kickass bride and grooms after their big days. I LOVE my clients and am sooooo lucky to get to work with such amazing people, giving back something they will cherish for life. I can't think of anything better than taking someones photograph and making them feel beautiful and unique when they view it. Doesn't everyone deserve to feel that way? It's incredible how much a photo can make a person FEEL, and I hope that seeing my photos here will do just that for you. FEEL something. This is my life, my passion, my dream, and I'm so lucky to do what I do.
Ok so I’ve been thinking about ways to spice the old blog here and have decided to start posting a bit more non-work related goodies….some of my favorite finds on the internet, yummy food discoveries, amazing photos….anything goes. Those that follow me on Facebook and Twitter know I’m always posting random links of favorite videos and clips that I stumble upon throughout the week, so, why not share them with the blog world right? Don’t worry, I’m not going to bore you with lengthly reviews or epic sized stories that have NO visual content *gasp* included. Its all about photos, music, art, food, culture….whatevs (but mostly music and photos).This week to kick things I’m off posting 2 super rad music videos. These aren’t new songs, but they are playing regularly in my house right now and both tracks have become favorites….. so enjoy!
First up, Michael Bernard Fitzgerald, who we just recently seen at the Alberta house during the Olympics-see the previous post for pics of the show! This is the video for the Care For You, one of my favorite tracks. I love MBF!
Next up, another one from last year, but super rad, it’s ‘Change’ featuring Wale, by Daniel Merriweather. Love love love this track!!!!! And the videos pretty sweet too. :)
ps: sorry Facebookers, I know you wont see those videos when this entry imports into there…apparently Facebook is behind in the times and cant import an embedded video to my notes. poop.
Vancouver is officially a changed place.
Wow.
The last 2 weeks have been so unbelievably amazing in this city. I just don’t think words will really explain the effect it has had on our city, the residents and everyone who was here and a part of this wild 2 week long event.
I gotta say, I had no idea what was coming.
None.
It was two weeks of complete, untapped pride and unity. I really did not realize how the spirit of sport would bring everyone together in such a way that would leave us feeling stronger, happier, more confident and more connected to our country then ever before. I now see how completely naïve I was to believe I would get through the Olympics without really being effected. Don’t ask me why I felt that way-that’s a whole other entry! Let’s just say, the hype and politics around it had me a bit turned off, but I can clearly see now that I wasn’t looking at the grand picture.
It has done so much for us. On so many levels. I’ve never in my life seen patriotism like I have in the last 2 weeks. Actually, I seen a lot in the last weeks that I never thought I’d see. Lol But it’s been amazing. Sure, now that it’s all over, things will settle and people will get back to their regular lives, patriotic fever will calm and the financial burden it has left will become the hot topic amongst many, but, I really believe it has all been worth it. We all have a signifigantly stronger sense of pride for our country, our city, and most importantly, the amazing athletes. It brought with it this shared sense of comraderary and left us soaked with pride for Canada…something I never ever imagined. It’s been pretty amazing watching our city go through this insanely huge event and I am so so glad to have been a part of it.
I’ve been working like crazy lately and actually worked through the entire Olympic stretch, so I didnt actually get to see all the events and venues that I would have like to.. I’m also not a big fan of line-ups and they were insanely long everywhere!! lol But, what I did experience, was nothing short of amazing…
I zip-lined across downtown Vancouver. When will I ever get to do that again?
I saw amazing artists perform live shows all for FREE
I saw beautiful and unique art installations everywhere
I witnessed a mesmerizing light show in the sky every single night (which I could control MYSELF from the internet-crazy!)
I listened to people from around the world walk down the streets of Vancouver saying the most wonderful things about our city
I saw people wearing Canadian memorabilia in ways I didn’t think possible
I experienced some pretty crazy adrenaline and emotion over watching athletes perform
I laughed with complete strangers
I bonded with complete strangers
I felt….a lot.
Thank you for bringing out an emotional side of me that I did not know the spirit of sport could do. I really had no idea.
I’ll finish with this super cool clip of the sound of Vancouver erupting when we won hockey gold on the final day of the Olympics….the sound of the proudest city in the world at that one moment in time. Hearing this gave me chills all over and made me so damn proud and happy that I was a part of it.
I’ve probably watched it 20 times because it immediately takes me back to that rush we all felt….it was really an unbelievable feeling. The video ends at 3 minutes, but this sound went on for almost a day in Vancouver. It was amazing!
Skip to 1:20 to hear when Canada wins gold!
ok here’s a few random shots too!
Yes, we are in full spring mode here with Cherry Blossoms, Tulips and Daffodils blooming everywhere!!
The MBF Show at Alberta House was amazing! So glad to finally see him live and meet him too.
Walking down Granville one night we stumbled across a mad crowd of people and noticed Michael Buble giving an interview!
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE sporting events like the Olympics, World Cup, European Cup. Maybe it’s because growing up it always meant we got together to watch, the men would be on the floor directly in front of the tv pounding the hard wood with some kind of hope of helping their athlete finish faster and then we would walk down Commercial dr, Nonno would buy us a gelato and we would wave our flags and yell and cry and yes bond with complete strangers. I wanted this for our city, it was so much better than I could have hoped for-I was so proud to share it with my children and hope that they will remember these days with the same fondness I remember!
Your photos are stunning John, yup, I’m crying, and happy to let you know that I am:))
NancyMarch 3, 2010 - 3:58 pm
Amazing shots as always! I think the Vancouver Olympics changed Canada, it was amazing to see so much patriotism!
Heather JohnsonMarch 3, 2010 - 5:01 pm
Love your post. I wish I had the chance to check out the amazing show that was the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Thank you for sharing your experience with us, your photos are great too!
Here’s a few more photos from Janaki & Jessi’s Terminal City Club Wedding last week! What an amazing couple! I had such a great time with them and can’t wait for their first Mr & Mrs Session next month!
Today I finally launch a new website for John Heil Photography! The old site needed some freshening and streamlining so I’ve spent the last few days making some minor changes and updates. Ok, it started out minor and ended up as a complete re-vamp. Some pages are still under construction, so bare with me while I finish those up – I couldn’t wait to launch it! As a promotion to celebrate the new site, I’m offering an awesome new booking bonus to all new wedding clients! Every couple who books a wedding with John Heil Photography before March 15th, will get a bonus custom designed guestbook included in their package! These are a HUGE seller in my business and always a big hit at weddings. I adore these books! I love designing them to match each clients personal wedding theme and then watching the guests ooh and ahh over them at weddings! Always a big conversation piece. So, if you’ve been thinking about booking, get in touch to take advantage of this promotion! I’m about %75 booked for the 2010 so dates are slimming out – get in touch soon!
As a side note, I’ve had some amazing reviews from my clients this week on my Wedding Wire Page and I want to again thank everyone one of you who’s left me such great feedback. You seriously ROCK and I feel so incredibly lucky to have such awesome clients. THANK YOU
This weekend I had the immense pleasure of shooting 2 beautiful wedding ceremonies for Janakie & Jessi. My first wedding of 2010! Friday night was a beautiful Sri Lankan ceremony held Sangam Palace in Surrey, followed by Saturdays western ceremony held at the Terminal City Club in Vancouver. Both days were spectacular and it was such a treat to be along with them for their special days. Congratulations guys and thank you again for allowing me to be a part of the ceremonies & celebrations!
thanks to my fab assistant Aaron for the lighting on this shot – brilliant idea – probably my favorite shot from the weekend!
Oh wooow! The first photo is SOOO colourful. And in the second photo, I’m really diggin’ that blue beady thing on her back. (A necklace?) I think it looks awesome in front of that waterfall (???)…
The photos look fab! Do you mind if I post the glass shot on the club’s wedding blog(with your watermark and a link back, of course.) Also, if you’d like me to include a couple of more photos, let me know – I’d be more than happy too.
Cheers,
Kate
MarbelFebruary 16, 2010 - 4:25 pm
Hey John!
as a fan of all of 20your work….I truly love the last glass pic!wicked work as usual
MT
This week to kick things I’m off posting 2 super rad music videos. These aren’t new songs, but they are playing regularly in my house right now and both tracks have become favorites….. so enjoy!
by John Heil
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