The Mitchell’s Engagement Session at Elbow Falls in Kananaskis

A Snowy Spring Session

The Engagement Session along the Elbow River

When we woke up on the day of Diana and Troy’s session, the weather looked like it was going to take a turn for the worse. In the northwest of Calgary, a blizzard was beginning to whip up, covering the ground with four inches of snow. We were a little concerned, but at our studio, on the south side, we only had a little drizzle of rain. So, we called the couple up to gauge their thoughts. Instead of rescheduling, they opted to brave the weather! Michelle Suffolk-Walsh then popped over to their place and did an amazing hair and makeup job for Diana. The couple then got into their outfits, packed up their adorable seven-month-old daughter Amelia, and drove out to meet us at Elbow Falls.

Beautiful Beginnings at Elbow Falls

The waterfalls lie along the Elbow River, just southwest of Bragg Creek. The area has changed a lot since the flood in 2013. During the floods, the day use area washed away, and the landscape changed dramatically. But now, there is a broad floodplain which was perfect for our shoot. We walked out right into the middle of where the river once ran, which gave us beautiful views of the snow-dusted evergreens in the distance. The snowy trees extended off in a gradient, the dark green of the spruce fading out to a light grey sky.

We checked on Amelia a few times during the shoot, but she continued to snooze peacefully in the car with her grandma.

Although the weather created a beautiful soft light and extra depth, it was a little wet. Out came the umbrellas and raincoats! Over by the waterfall, Troy and Diana walked up to the edge of the water, getting as close as they could to the river. We moved into the trees to dry off and photographed the couple between the towering evergreens. We used the trees to our advantage, hanging Diana’s engagement ring on all kinds of foliage for some one of a kind ring shots.

The Elbow River Valley

We headed back to the car and moved out to our next location. Ten minutes along the highway to Bragg Creek, we found a ridge overlooking the Elbow River Valley. Diana and Troy changed into their formal outfits for the rest of the shoot. Thankfully, we were still ahead of the ever-approaching storm, so we got some truly epic shots of Troy and Diana over the valley.

Amelia was stirring, so it was time to set up family photos. She is adorable and was such a great little model. She sat patiently in the arms of her parents while we photographed the three of them in the forest.

After that, we wanted one more location. One of the beautiful log cabins along the Elbow River did the trick! The cabin had a set of rustic wooden garage doors that made a great backdrop. Amelia joined us again for the final shot, upon one of the picnic tables at the cabin. We had a fantastic day with Diana and Troy. They were so positive about the weather, and in the end, it provided us with some incredible looking shots. We hope you enjoy their unique images as much as we did capturing them!

View the Online Gallery

There is an online gallery of all their images that will be available for the next 30 days. From the online gallery, you are able to favourite images, order prints and share the gallery with your family and friends. The gallery can be accessed via the link below and you can contact Diana and Troy directly for their secure password.

http://JMphotosCA.shootproof.com/MitchellENG

We are so fortunate to have had the opportunity to photograph Diana and Troy’s engagement photos and we are really looking forward to joining them on their wedding day.

Want to share in the experience? Contact us today for a free consultation or to book a portrait session!

Some of My Favourite Photos From The Mitchell Session

The Mitchell Engagement Session Credits

Date | 4.24.17
Location | Elbow Falls
Photography by Jeremy Martel
Hair and Makeup by Michelle Walsh with Michelle Suffolk Walsh Hair & Makeup

Learn more about our studio

JM Photography offers Calgary brides the very best in wedding photography! Our unique style and best in class experience is one of a kind. Each wedding is treated with the greatest of care and creativity, resulting in breathtaking imagery. We also offer Calgary newborn photography, capture maternity sessions as well as family portraits.

We are one of the top studios in Western Canada, servicing the Calgary area, including but not limited to, Canmore, Banff, Cochrane, Chestermere, Airdrie, Lethbridge, and Red Deer. We also offer coverage in Edmonton, Vancouver and to destinations worldwide.

Jeremy Martel

A Calgary based wedding, family and event photographer that specializes in capturing the real moments of a couples story or event. He runs JM Studios and they offer couples, families, companies, corporations and brands the very best in modern photography. He began taking photos at 17 and has been captivated by mastering this art form ever since.