• Welcome to the Blog for Joel Yana Photography!

    My name is Joel Yana and I am a Lifestyle & Wedding photographer based out of Calgary. You can view a sample of my portfolio here.

    My main focus is on family lifestyle photography and new for 2011 I am now offering engagement sessions and wedding photography coverage.

    Check the blog frequently for updates and to view some of my recent work.

    Thanks for visiting. Enjoy!

Merry Christmas! – Calgary Lifestyle & Wedding Photographer

If your household was anything like mine earlier this morning, it was filled with the sound of kids waking early (wayyyy too early!), chomping at the bit to get at the presents under the Christmas tree.  Now that the morning mayhem has subsided, I thought I’d post up a few images from yesterday evening’s get together.  It was our second annual Christmas Eve family fondue, steak and prawn fest, and this time I thought I’d spice things up with a family photobooth and even my sons, my nephew and my niece joined in the fun!

The stars of the show were my Dad and my father-in-law.  My father-in-law quickly embraced the spirit of the photobooth and created some truly outstanding looks (and gestures!) that had us in stitches.  I put together a slideshow later in the evening and we all had a great laugh.

I liked the idea of the photobooth because it gets everyone to loosen up and have fun.  With all of the running around and stress that everyone seems to carry during the build-up to Christmas, I think it’s important to remember that Christmas isn’t really about presents and having everything perfect and “just so” – it’s about getting together with family and close friends and appreciating the great people, the fantastic experiences and the valuable life lessons that have blessed our life journeys.

Merry Christmas, and I hope you and your family enjoy a memory filled 2012.  I’ll leave you with a just a few of our crazy family’s photobooth pics. As for me, I’m resting up for another family get-together, this time at my brother’s place.  Turkey anyone?  Cheers.

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Absolute Dance – Calgary Commercial Photographer

I’m a bit behind in blogging – I was in New York City for a fantastic family wedding with my wife and two sons. It was nice to be a wedding guest for once not be behind a camera at a wedding for once!) It was an adventure for sure – Manhattan got hit with their first snowstorm of the winter while we were there!!!

Now that I’m back in town, there will be more posts to come very soon.  Stay tuned!

Before our trip I shot some new website and promotional content for Absolute Dance.  Absolute Dance is located in NW Calgary and offers fantastic dance and fitness classes for children as young as 3 years old as well as offerings for adults!  Here are a couple frames from that shoot.

©2011 Joel Yana Photography

©2011 Joel Yana Photography

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Autumn Weddings…and Giggles – Calgary Wedding Photographer

Enter Luc swooping in for a kiss.  Cue Jacquie giggling.

Here’s a frame from yesterday’s giggle session er, um, I mean wedding.  Cheers!

©2011 Joel Yana Photography

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Why I do It – Calgary Wedding Photographer

I’m gearing up for another wedding shoot tomorrow.  It might be the last one before autumn gives way to winter!

And as I was going through my checklist, charging batteries, cleaning my lenses, and everything else that goes in to prepping for a shoot, I asked myself what I love most about documenting a wedding day.

I came back to this image of Isabel.  Her first time seeing Colin in his tux.  I realized that I was able to document her honest display of emotion.  And in that moment she is realizing that this has become one of the happiest days of her life.

That’s why I shoot weddings.  Cheers.

©2011 Joel Yana Photography

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Environmental Portraits – Calgary Photographer

Yesterday I attended a full day lighting workshop offered by talented Crossfield photographer Kurtis Kristianson, owner of Spindrift Photography.  As photographers, we constantly strive to better our technical and artistic skills, and Kurtis’ workshop proved to be a worthwhile investment in lighting know-how and hands on instruction.  We spent a few hours in the classroom, and then Kurtis took the workshop participants outdoors for some instruction in the field, and finally he turned us loose to create our own setups.

Thank you, Kurtis, for a great day of learning!  Here are a couple creations from the day.  Cheers.

©2011 Joel Yana Photography©2011 Joel Yana Photography

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