Matt & Julianna (& Toby) Stanley Park Vancouver BC
Updated: 6 days ago
It had been long, tiring weekend and I was headed for another one. I pulled the tray down in front of me and opened my laptop for some flight-home editing. The guy sitting next to me on the plane looked over his shoulder and asked what I was working on. Despite my exhaustion, I told of my long weekend of weddings and photo sessions as well as my plans of attending the Canada Photo Convention 2014 . His name was Matt. After a few minutes of conversation I found out he was from the area of Canada I was heading to. He was returning from a short trip to Las Vegas, which became more significant later on. We continued talking during the flight. As a Canadian local, he offered me advice for scenic photo shoot locations, which I gladly took. (All of his suggestions ended up being perfect spots.) The plane landed and we parted ways. Later that weekend; however, I received an email from Matt saying he and his wife, Julianna , loved my work and hoped for a photo shoot before I returned home. I was thrilled! We set out with their dog, Toby, to Stanley Park, one of the most beautiful places in Canada. Besides being a cute, fun couple to photograph I discovered Matt played poker professionally . Further, he won a World Series of Poker event back in 2011. According to some, he was considered a celebrity. I couldn’t believe I randomly met and photographed a world champion poker player with his wife and dog. You never know who you will end up meeting. I’ve learned to be brave and take chances introducing yourself to the strangers around you. Find out about their lives. Sometimes it can lead to cool friendships, great advice, not to mention, beautiful photographs.
How a conversation on an airplane became a Stanley Park photo session
I met Matt on a flight while working through photographs from a busy weekend. He asked what I was doing, and we ended up talking about photography, travel and the Vancouver area. He offered local suggestions for places to photograph during my trip to a Canadian photography convention. We said goodbye when the plane landed, and that could easily have been the end of it.
Instead, Matt wrote to me later that weekend. He and his wife, Julianna, wanted a session before I left. We took their dog, Toby, and made photographs at Stanley Park. It is one of those reminders that a casual conversation can become a real connection, and eventually something that stays in an archive for years.
For a couple session with a dog, I like to build in time for a few frames with everyone and a few photographs of the couple alone. A familiar handler can help when the dog needs a break. We should check the current park and leash rules and choose an easy route rather than treating the session as a race between scenic spots.
What I remember most is how unlikely the whole thing was. I had boarded a plane tired, opened my laptop and ended up meeting people who became part of a new photographic story. Sometimes the work begins before the camera is even out of the bag.
Photographed by Mantas Kubilinskas, a documentary and editorial wedding and engagement photographer known for natural, story-driven imagery.
