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Katya Nova Photography bio picture

WELCOME, I'M KATYA NOVA...

... and thanks for sharing my journey of documenting Love! You'll find updates here a few times a week, as I always have exciting things going on. I love to capture moments in their natural ambiance, without forcing or rushing them. I also love making those in front of my lens look and feel like movie stars.

Yoga, foreign films, and Italian red wine rock my world. I sing in the car and love traveling alone. I'm also most probably going to cry at your wedding...

I believe Green is the new Black. My passion and commitment to making the most sustainable choices means using the highest quality eco-friendly albums and prints. 

                             *          *          *

Katya Nova is a Wedding & Lifestyle Portrait Photographer based in Vancouver, Canada. Available for Destination Weddings & Honeymoons.

Please e-mail me or use the 'contact' form.

I can't wait to hear from you and look forward to your comments!

    Warmly, 

                      Katya Nova. 

Boudoir. Betty.

I felt as if Betty was a girlfriend I haven’t seen in ages from the moment I stepped into her cozy Vancouver condo. We chatted, joked and laughed about what kind of a workout we are both getting on either side of the lens! This boudoir diva looks like she belongs on a Brazilian beach, sipping a cocktail out of a coconut or seducing someone terribly handsome in an Argentinean tango…

It was such a joy to photograph you, Betty. Here are some of my favourites…boudoir photographer black & white vancouver boudoir sessionI kept telling Betty every few minutes I had a new favourite shot of her. This one, still, is at the top of my list. You are so gorgeous!sexy classy boudoir vancouver photosAnd this one :) boudoir valentines gift vancouverI like this out of focus boudoir silhouette … Betty looks so dreamy.boudoir silhouette photoslingerie portraits photographer vancouvervancouver boudoir photographerclassic boudoir portraits vancouverbetty boudoir picturesI was mesmerized with Betty’s luxurious hair … boudoir diva canada vancouverunique natural boudoir vancouvervancouver portrait photographervancouver boudoir indian beautyview portfolio |   let’s connect on facebook & twitter |   email katya

January 31, 2010 - 22:54 Katie - Betty-These are great babe!

January 31, 2010 - 20:38 s h e r r y - These are gorgeous!! Betty has some AMAZING hair! :O Wow.

January 31, 2010 - 19:23 Betty - Katya you were definitely a lost long friend reunited :) It was wonderful to have met you. You are so beautiful and we had so much fun together during the shoot...and what amazing turnaround time. I feel so special! I look forward to seeing you again soon...Thank you xoxox Betty

January 31, 2010 - 19:11 Cat Watson - These shots are gorgeous and done so tastefully! 8 & 9 are my favorites:) Beautiful work!

January 31, 2010 - 18:49 Jakobg83@gmail.com - Beautiful pictures! Love no. 1, 4 and 5.

[b] workshop. vancouver.

[b]ecker [b]lew us away. [b]ig time. He has given two full days to the eager wedding photographers of Vancouver and I was lucky to be among them yesterday. Becker broke it down, speaking from the heart. He made us laugh and inspired us to take an honest look at our wedding photography businesses and do what it takes to rock it. We took notes tirelessly, as Becker talked about branding, giving the most killer experience to our clients, workflow, social networking, consistency, supporting each other in the industry, and of course the little things that matter so much. The workshop took place at Miranda & Reilly’s gorgeous Blue Olive studio and was organized by the awesome Tracey and Libby.

Check out Becker in action… [his shirt reads: "Nobody cares about your status updates"]  :)

becker workshop vancouverAnd some more action:
becker workshop canadaphotographer workshop vancouverLena & Jason of Jaylena Photography kindly volunteered to model for us. They are so sweet!!
[b] workshopvancouver photographer workshopjaylena photography becker in action shooting tipsHere I am, posing for Becker :)
shot by beckerThere it was, Sherry’s bright red bow in the midst of the gloomy Vancouver gastown alley.
photo workshop vancouverLast but not least, check out this wicked lunch Jonathan Heppner made for us!
blue olive studio vancouverview portfolio |   email katya |   connect on faceboook & twitter

January 31, 2010 - 19:43 Miranda - Hey! So great to see you this week - hope to catch up again soon! Definitely needing drinks in Vegas :)

January 30, 2010 - 22:47 Ekaterina - Isn't he a great inspiration? Great photo report:) Your lunch looked really yammy!

January 30, 2010 - 21:50 Vanessa Ng - hee hee, SPASIBA for the cute pic in your post!!! xo

January 29, 2010 - 23:49 tracey - hey doll! great photos!! can you send me the top one, with your watermark to post on the vanphotogs website? xoxo

January 29, 2010 - 21:22 Mandy Jill - I knew that was Sherry as soon as I noticed the head band! Becker is a great speaker - very inspirational and funny too. Glad I got to be at the SMUG to hear him.

January 29, 2010 - 20:29 Jacqueline - Love to see the photos. It truly was a rocking day.

January 29, 2010 - 20:04 Cat Watson - Sounds like such a great seminar! Hope I get to learn from him one day. And, that food looks pretty freakin' amazing!

January 29, 2010 - 19:48 s h e r r y - Yay! :) Yesterday was SO much fun, and just jammed pack with information! It was nice meeting you, and yay for bows. Haha.

January 29, 2010 - 19:17 Angela Hubbard - lovely! was such a fun day/night!

January 29, 2010 - 15:22 Cathy Empey - The whole day rocked! I am so glad we could finally meet up Katya! xo

January 29, 2010 - 14:52 Lena - Great post Katusha!! He truly inspired and motivated all of us :)

Grass is Greener in Vancouver.

Sometimes the world just needs to slow down. And if it won’t, you have to put your hectic errands on hold and remember why you get up each morning.

We sat on a damp log, enjoying every millisecond of this January Saturday - and everything was peacefully still. Soft chillout beats of my boombox mixing with rhythmic ocean murmurs. Vancouver has been my home for just over two months now, and I’m still in awe from the energy of this city and my ever-growing love for it. Can you tell?
vancouver rain bootsvancouver kits beachMy partner in crime for many things I’m so passionate about … sentimental memories, great friendships, witty humour, adventurous travel, good food & wine … Polina!
coffee on kitsilano beachkitsilano beach vancouverlog pictures kitsilano beach vancouverThis next one puts a smile on my face and makes me think of my mama. Every time we talk that I mention green grass and lush trees in the middle of winter, she turns to my dad on the other line and jokingly asks if they can please move to Vancouver :)
grass is greener vancouverkitsilano neighborhood pictureswinter in vancouver photosvancouver tulips flowersflowers vancouver streetsLove and inspiration are all around. And today I’ve decided on a new resolution … To treat myself to fresh seasonal flowers once a week. Hm, maybe on Mondays? That’s right. Here I go.

email Katya |   connect on facebook & twitter

January 29, 2010 - 14:28 Casey Parsons - i need to move to vancouver. stat.

January 21, 2010 - 10:41 Cat Watson - Beautiful scenery, I have heard good things about Vancouver:) I'm going to have my husband read this post so he will treat me each week to flowers ha!

January 18, 2010 - 20:50 s h e r r y - :) Always nice to be reminded that I'm lucky enough to be living in Vancouver! And yes, all the greenery in JANUARY! Granted, you did miss the epic SNOWSTORMS last winter :D:D

January 18, 2010 - 20:46 Rebecca - Oh how I love fresh cut flowers. :)

Vancouver Wedding Fair 2010. Boudoir Shoot Winner!

The Vancouver Wedding Fair January 9 & 10, 2010 at the Bayshore Westin was SMASHING, in both it’s literal and metaphorical sense! It was amazing to see so many beautiful brides, their diligent fiancees, and endless helpers - to carry rapidly accumulating amounts of flyers, brochures, business cards, and little gifts from Vancouver Wedding Vendors. Although this was only my 2nd show, it was so great to not only see familiar faces, but even give out a bunch of hugs during bathroom breaks, mostly to fabulous Vancouver Wedding Photographers!

It’s quite entertaining to see myself from the side - now I understand why I felt as if my face was about to fall off from smiling so hard! But I just couldn’t help it :)

I loved the vase with flowers Evan of Vancouver Boutique Flower-z brought me, what a nice touch!
vancouver wedding fair nova photography booth setupAnd a humongous thank-you to Vancouver dating coach Mick Lolekonda for helping me out all weekend - I don’t know what I would do without him!
wedding photography trade show exhibitorWe put in well over 20 hours over the weekend, not counting the booth set-up and tear-down… It was so great to go upstairs and crash at the Vancouver Bayshore Westin Hotel! I loved the view of Coal Harbor from the 9th floor, even though I didn’t get to enjoy it much. It was about 8 am on the Sunday morning when I snapped this shot before heading out again!
westin wedding photographer bridal showI decided to hold a prize draw for a Pre-Wedding Boudoir session for one lucky bride-to-be:
boudoir marathon draw prize vancouverAnd followed up with this announcement yesterday…
boudoir photographer vancouverI won’t make you wait any longer. The winner of a saucy Boudoir Photo Shoot is…

STACEY! (whose fiancee is BRADEN and their wedding date is JUNE 25, 2011). Congratulations, Stacey! I can’t wait to make you look like a movie star!

Thank you so much EVERYONE for your support, for those of you who are disappointed, why don’t we do a Boudoir photoshoot anyway? Please click HERE for details - the Marathon will take place Jan 30, 2010. Private photo sessions are also available.

Wait, there are four more winners! My friend and talented jewelery designer Jolie Mack is graciously giving away these gorgeous earrings. jolie mack jewelery designAnd the winners are …

PRISCILA (Wedding date July 2011)

JILL (Fiancee Omar, Wedding date Nov 12, 2010)

JESSICA (Fiancee Dan, Wedding date June 11, 2011)

MICHELLE (Fiancee Andrew, Wedding date October 10, 2010)

Congratulations, ladies! Phew, that was intense.

email katya | view wedding portfolio | let’s connect on facebook & twitter

January 17, 2010 - 19:33 jill - Very excited!!! Love your pictures....

January 14, 2010 - 20:43 Stacey - OH MY GOSH! I can't believe I won! Thank you so much Katya! I can't wait to do the shoot! I've been wanting to do a boudoir session ever since I found out about them and Katya does such nice work! My fiance will be so surprised when I present him with the photos! Hooray! ^_^

January 14, 2010 - 14:10 Cat Watson - oh wow, I love the concept of a boudoir shoot, so fun!

January 14, 2010 - 03:34 Jaclyn - Vancouver loves ya I see - congrats!! you are looking fanastic and your work is amazing as usual I see!!

January 14, 2010 - 01:35 Jolie - Oh Katya, how lovely to have seen you and Mick. I'm glad that the show was a success for you - it's a lot of work! Thank you for including Jolie Mack Designs and congratulations to the winners!

January 13, 2010 - 20:52 Mick Lolekonda - Anytime Katya... it was a pleasure working alongside you. Had a blast at the show and I have no doubt you'll blow Vancouver out of the water thanks to your talent!

Vancouver January 2010 Wedding. Robyn & Graeme.

I wore the ugliest pretty sweater I could find at Value Village to this one Christmas ‘ugly sweater’ party my best friend Polina dragged me out to. Glass of wine in hand, the last thing I expected was to connect with a gorgeous bride-to-be, whose wedding was a few weeks away … and she didn’t have a photographer!

Robyn & Graeme have a story. The kind you would believe to be an urban myth if you didn’t know them, the kind that you retell to your grandkids. And their kids. I’m afraid I can’t do the story justice, but I will give you a few quick facts… They became friends in Grade 2. Some years later, Robyn was the first girl Graeme asked out … but it was for his friend! As teens, they told each other everything about the one person they like - but didn’t admit to who it was. Well, all they had to do was … point at each other! But they didn’t. They then lost touch and reconnected only in University … and 7 years later Graeme proposed! The rest is to become history…

stylish wedding shoes vancouverRobyn’s best friend and incredibly talented Vancouver designer Malene Grotrian made this stunning one-of-a-kind couture wedding gown… The ladies’ hair was done by Blo hair salon, and the make-up - by the fabulous Jenna Fortin.malene wedding dress designsWhat’s a wedding gown without a little corset tightening!
malene grotrian couture wedding gown vancouverartistic wedding photography vancouvereuropean wedding photographer vancouver“Robyn, do you think he will cry?” … “Hm, one tear. He will cry one tear.” :) vancouver wedding getting ready portraitsThere was something about this first 2010 wedding that I was looking forward to most - the First Look… I was so thrilled when Robyn & Graeme agreed to see each other for the first time before the ceremony! We decided to meet in Gastown, in the character building of  Malene’s cozy studio. While Robyn was getting ready earlier in the morning, Beyonce’s ‘Halo’ came on and she casually mentioned that she loves the song and even considered it for their first dance - needless to say, I had the perfect candidate for the ‘First Look’ song to play for them on my tireless boom box!first look in gastown vancouver weddingAh! But let’s back up for a moment. Graeme slowly walked up the stairs to meet his radiant soulmate on the 9th floor… Standing in the light of his halowedding first look vancouver photographerelevator wedding photos vancouvervancouver wedding urban portraitsvancouver bridal portraits gastownThe weather was incredible for January, but it POURED, DRIZZLED, and simply RAINED the whole afternoon! Robyn & Graeme were such troupers, shedding their umbrella for me for some timeless urban bridal portraits. I loved my first Vancouver wedding in the rain. Loved it.vancouver wedding in the rainwedding vancouver rain gastownmodern bridal portraits vancouverI caught Robyn running into this Gastown alley as I tripped over a puddle… It’s out of focus, but I love the ‘runaway-bride’ effect!runaway bride vancouver weddingAnd a little saucy grunge of a typical Vancouver back alley.contemporary bridal portraits vancouvervancouver wedding photos rainRobyn is amazing. She is so kind, genuine, and gorgeous … I loved every moment with her!creative wedding pictures vancouver rainvancouver wedding photos umbrellaI was really excited to take Robyn & Graeme to the famous Vancouver Gastown Blood Alley…vancouver bridal portraits blood alleycreative vancouver wedding picturescreative wedding photographer vancouverThe perfect overcast sky over Stanley Park was our next location for more bridal portraits. By then I was so soaked, there was no point in hiding under an umbrella :) My faithful Canon 5D Mark II was being shamelessly tested for its waterproof features, but my favorite 50mm 1.2L lens fogged up… Before I took off the protective filter, here’s a portrait of Robyn I snapped… I actually love this effect!stanley park vancouver wedding photographerA moment later, the lens cover is off… Robyn, you are my star. And her gorgeous bouquet was made by her mom Patsy. So much love in that arrangement!winter wedding pictures vancouverbride groom portraits vancouver weddingbritish columbia wedding photographerThe ceremony time was approaching and we made our way to the Vancouver Stanley Park Wedding Chapel. Here are some adorable moments with Robyn’s nieces - figure out for yourself which one of the following happened first :) vancouver stanley park wedding chapelRobyn is minutes away from saying ‘I do.’mirror bridal portraits vancouver photographerstanley park wedding chapel ceremonyfirst kiss wedding photographer vancouvervancouver candid wedding photographerRobyn & Graeme had a beautiful reception at the Le Gavroche, an ambient French restaurant in an old Victorian house on Vancouver’s Alberni Street. Both Robyn and Graeme’s parents were such a blast! To the left, Graeme’s dad recalls seeing Robyn for the first time many years ago and thinking to himself, ‘What a babe!’ le gavroche vancouver wedding receptionThe little precious boots atop of this heavenly cake made by Graeme’s sister Amber have been in the family for over a 100 years. Robyn & Graeme, you are exceptional people, thank you so much for sharing your beautiful wedding with me! wedding cake traditionse-mail katya |  view portfolio | connect with katya on facebook and twitter

January 29, 2010 - 07:51 fiona@Wedding Photographer Edinburgh - Gorgeous. I really love your style, just beautiful. It's amazing how stylish an umbrella can look!

January 25, 2010 - 20:51 Leah - WOW! I love Robyn and Graeme so much already, but I must say Katya - you did a most incredible job of capturing their playful spirits - beautiful!

January 17, 2010 - 04:27 ajira - Gorgeous wedding. Your work is beautiful and emotive.

January 16, 2010 - 23:30 Michelle Faye - Wow, Katya. You even make gloomy Vancouver look breath taking. ;) Of course the beautiful bride in every frame helped too.

January 13, 2010 - 23:48 s h e r r y - These are beautiful! I love the details, and her dress is stunning! (I love her hair flower too). :D Love all the pictures outside- very Vancouver, with the rain and all ;D

January 13, 2010 - 17:38 Rob - all i can say is WOW! amazing, these are such great photos! what a great way to look back on such a special day!

January 13, 2010 - 17:03 Leanne - I love the stories and your work. Such beauty within each photo unravelling a love story worth documenting.

January 13, 2010 - 13:08 annabel - Amazing pictures! You both look stunning! Wish we could have been there xxxx

January 13, 2010 - 10:15 Lena - AHHHMAZING first Vancouver wedding!! You keep going like this, there'll be no stopping you!

January 13, 2010 - 09:56 Patsy Thomson - katya WOW! these pictures are amazing, simply beautiful you have captured the love Robyn and Graeme have for each other, their enthusiam for life and their love of Vancouver It was delightful to meet you I look forward to seeing the rest of the photos and thank you for the shot of the little silver shoes! Patsy

January 13, 2010 - 08:41 Robyn - PS. I love that you got me laughing at Jared's "she's a babe comment." That was so hilarious!

January 13, 2010 - 08:18 Robyn - Wow. Thank you so much Katya! You do a beautiful job of capturing the day!

January 13, 2010 - 07:07 Cat Watson - Honestly, so many favorites I couldn't choose! Shots in the red stairwell are fantastic, love the one of her standing next to the legs poster, too. I adored her entire look, from the shoes to the dress to the hair. Great job! And thanks for commenting back on the other post, so nice of you!

January 13, 2010 - 14:21 Tweets that mention Vancouver January 2010 Wedding. Robyn & Graeme. | Katya Nova Photography -- Topsy.com - [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Katya Nova, Christian Bucad. Christian Bucad said: aw, so gorgeous! RT @KatyaNova: Smiling ear to ear. First wedding of 2010 http://tinyurl.com/yjetzxl [...]

Under the Rain with Jamie Delaine.

Jamie Delaine is a dreamer. But not your usual kind. She somehow dreams bigger and brighter than most young women her age - at 19, she’s managed to create her very own magical presence. I’ve wanted to connect with her for a while since bringing my wedding photography to Vancouver, and we’ve finally made it happen this rainy Friday morning over coffee and lunch!

The world of wedding photography can be an exciting roller coaster for anyone with the passion and drive to come along for the ride. What Jamie and I have in common is that we like to take the ‘driver seat.’ Oh, and we are also both Leos born on the same day, August 1st! :)

I was really excited to talk shop with her and share some experiences as wedding photographers in Vancouver. One of the most inspiring things about Jamie is how organized she is - and I thought I was on the ball with that one … until she shared her workflow with me! I’ll definitely be making some changes in 2010 and making my clients’ experience ever more exciting and memorable!

We sipped green tea and chatted about our awesome Showit websites, working with second-shooters, documenting weddings in Vancouver rain, submitting to wedding publications, outsourcing, networking with Vancouver vendors, and of course, our dreams and goals for our businesses in the future. I also shared my 2011 goal of introducing Katya Nova workshops, and was happy to get some great feedback!

We even got a chance to come out and play in the rain with our twin Canon 5D Mark II’s with 50 f1.2L lenses (yumm). I am blown away with her photos of me! It’s such a treat, especially since I’m behind the lens all the time…

jamie delaine portraitsAnd here are a few of my absolute favourites of me :) Jamie, you rock!katya nova by jamie delainebio portraits by jamie delaineDon’t I look so happy and hopeful?! Looking up to catch the rain drops … looking forward to an amazing 2010!

view katya’s portfolio || contact katya

January 13, 2010 - 01:14 Angela Hubbard - angels.. both of you!

January 12, 2010 - 13:58 Candice - Beautiful photos by BOTH of you guys - such talent and such beauties!!!!!!!

January 11, 2010 - 17:47 Vanessa Ng - Absolutely gorgeous, Katya. You are so savvy and smart -- it looks like you and Jamie touched on a lot of great areas during your session. Just remember.. the world is your oyster for 2010!

January 11, 2010 - 16:41 Katya Nova - Thanks for such a sweet message, Cat! All the best to you in 2010, stay in touch!

January 11, 2010 - 06:33 Cat Watson - Katya, I found you through Jamie Delaine's blog, so glad I did! Your site and blog are both beautiful, I will now be following you from Raleigh, NC:) And, the wedding post below is AMAZING! You captured the culture and traditions so beautifully. I absolutely love the shots in front of the plane, so editorial looking. Just stunning!

Zeina & Zak. Westin Hotel Wedding.

‘If Zeina & Zak live as heartily as they dance, they will have an incredible and prosperous life,’ I thought to myself, standing on top of a shaking chair, surrounded by dozens of glowing faces and dancing bodies, ducking and squinting away from the humongous goat skin drum by my ear. My chair wasn’t the only thing shaking, it felt as if the energy and love in the room would raise the roof! This was my first time as a wedding photographer at a Lebanese wedding. So let’s back up a little!

Having arrived to Edmonton during the coldest weekend (ever!) to document Zeina & Zak’s wedding, I was so lucky to have my dad driving me and keeping the car warm while I fluttered between Zeina’s and Zak’s ‘getting ready’ locations. I arrived just in time to witness an old Arabic tradition - Zak’s last shave as a bachelor … take a look:

last shave as single manbarber visit before weddinglebanese barber wedding traditionThe women danced and proclaimed joyous blessings ‘Ah Weeeee-ha’ and danced around the groom and his barber, who worked with the precision of a surgeon. Soon after, the men joined in, also managing to realize a sly plan to soil Zak’s face with shaving cream just as the barber finished his impeccable job!

lebanese wedding arabic traditionsAnother Lebanese wedding tradition followed, whereby the groom was to get dressed methodically by the men. His suit jacket, tie, watch, belt, and even shoes!
lebanese wedding dress traditionslebanese groom getting readyAlthough Lebanese food deserves it’s own blog post, here is a peek at the irresistible treats… Mmmmm… And the yoghurt dip - a personal favourite of my dad and I :)
lebanese food arabic weddinglebanese yoghurt dipIt was time to rush to the bride, I couldn’t wait to see Zeina! As I walked into the house, I couldn’t help but notice a white creeping cloud of pure -40c accompanying me … Quick, quick, close the door!
winter lebanese wedding Back inside, Zeina’s gorgeous bouquet.
zeina's wedding bouquetvancouver wedding photographerI love this shot of Zeina. She looks like a queen to be, surrounded by her princesses (and one little prince) :)
lebanese bride canadalebanese modern wedding photographyMoments away from seeing each other for the first time, Zak is looking out for his bride! Zaffeh is the traditional Arabic celebration, which symbolizes escorting the bride to her husband.
groom looking for bride zaffehfirst look bride groom lebanesezaffeh winter lebanese weddingI was so happy to sneak out to the Aviation Museum with Zeina & Zak for literally a few minutes, right after the traditional family portraits. I was hoping for some daylight photos inside, but the tired December sun went down so quickly! We still managed to get a few shots, and here are my favourites. I like the harsh ambient light and mysterious moodiness…
aviation museum wedding photos aviation museum photos bridalbridal portraits vancouver uniquemodern wedding portrait photographer vancouvermuseum wedding photo session planesZeina looked so beautiful. We got a few moments to spend together before the reception at the Westin Hotel.
westin hotel bridal portraits black white wedding photos lebanese brideThe traditional first dance… The videographer and I did just as much dancing around them :)
first dance lebanese weddinglebanese wedding reception chair dancebride groom lebanese receptionIt was so great to have Randy Lim of Limages second-shoot with me. We had so much fun together - here is one of his shots of the dance floor with a wide angle lens:
limages randy lim edmonton weddingview portfolio |  e-mail me

January 12, 2010 - 01:00 MattDJ - love...this...wedding!!! You perfectly captured the joy and emotion of their day Katya! Your work makes me smile! :-)

January 7, 2010 - 09:25 Steph - i luv that you captured a cloud! beautiful wedding.

January 6, 2010 - 11:15 s h e r r y - Beautiful images! I love all the women's and girl's hair! They buns look so fabulous. The photos inside the Aviation Museum are also very rad!

January 6, 2010 - 10:54 Papa Igor - Very fine work!! I know HOW cold it was that day, but your pictures are sooo WARM and tender!hank you.

Spilled Milk & Sweet Showit.

Getting the perfect website…. Sigh. For every photographer (and many other artists) there is a certain period when the question “do you have a website” makes you break out in a sweat a little bit. And maybe even stutter slightly. Because it’s, errrr, under construction. I really struggled with what I wanted for mine. And being a complete doorknob in technical matters of handling a computer, I knew I would have to hire someone who is awesome at exactly that - website design. I also knew that once you go Showit, you don’t go back! That’s where Nick Haskins and his great team at Spilled Milk Designs blew my socks off and designed something that truly fits. They took the time to get to know me as a person, to learn things that had nothing to do with designing a website at first glance … and that’s what created magic. If you put trust in a professional to materialize your brand, make sure you give them all the right tools. Otherwise, it’s like looking for a memory card in a haystack (hehe). 

showit website canadaMany of you commented on my logo font - indeed, it’s a tribute to my Slavic roots! It’s an old Russian font and I looove it. 
showit spilled milk website designI love what Nick of Spilled Milk Designs has done with my ‘Nova experience’ room. I really want to connect with you and make you feel as if you know me after you’ve visited Katya Nova Photography! Do you feel like you know me? :)
showit wedding photographer I’m also head over heels for the Registry page they’ve created for me - it allows photography clients, their family and friends to get photography gift certificates in different denominations! 
wedding photographer vancouver showitI hope my face on the web will make many people smile… Just the way I try to do the same in person!

January 25, 2010 - 23:08 Jill Lussier - Hey Katya, Your photos and narratives bring those very special days alive for everyone viewing them. Its interesting to see how your personality, your sense of fun and humour, your sensitivity to the moment, comes through your photos. You are well on your way to having a very successful career. Have you moved to Vancouver yet? Do you still have Polina and Justin's wedding pics somewhere? I would love to show some friends. Congrtulations Katya!!! You are creating a career out of your passion and you so deserve success. xxoo Jill

January 2, 2010 - 04:03 Cathy Empey - Beautiful! Totally beautiful! Congrats and happy new year!

January 2, 2010 - 03:40 Katya Nova - Thank you so much! Yay :)

December 29, 2009 - 03:08 kristel wyman - i love your new site! it's totally you. :o)

December 29, 2009 - 00:27 s h e r r y - Ahhh! It looks great, Katya! :)

December 28, 2009 - 18:18 Angela Hubbard - GORGEOUS like you. such a wonderful site you have :)

December 28, 2009 - 16:38 Karen ReVelle - Katya, I love love love it! So happy for you, it showcases your work soooo beautifully! I, incidentally, am "constructing" my own site right now and plan to have it up this week (before Jan 1st -- you may hold me accountable!). Just gorgeous! May much more work come your way in 2010 and ever-after, as a tribute to your wonderful new site. :-)

No Place Like Home.

There’s no place like home. You can say it and mean it after a long day of work, shopping, or after a vacation. But it’s extra special during Christmas. Since coming to Canada, my parents and I quickly started celebrating not just our Orthodox Ukrainian Christmas on January 7th, but everything from mid-December onwards! It’s easy to get in the festive mood when everywhere you look, there are bells jingling, lights flashing, people smiling and … giving. This year is no different - Christmas started a bit early for me and kind of hit me over the head - with the coldest weekend in North America, yikes! I combined our early Chistmas with Zeina & Zak’s wedding (which is coming soon), and check out how barricaded we were! I was sneaky enough to ask some dear friends to visit me at my parents’ Edmonton home instead of coffee or dinner dates :)

alberta snow coldest cityAnd here are are the snugglers and the cuddlers of the house - these tender creatures are Masya (the lighter one with a baby face, named after a comical Russian cartoon character Masyanya) and Liska (she has seven toes, purrs like a tractor, and can be worn as an accessory around your neck).photographer cats homeBack in Vancouver, Mick and I were blessed to get an invitation for Christmas dinner from our new friends Zdenka & Ardin - we met them at the Vancouver Wedding Fair back in October and instantly clicked (I can’t wait to be their Victoria wedding photographer next July!) I must admit, I was so happy Ardin was the turkey master!  Despite being a vegetarian, I cook meat for others all the time… but stuffing a turkey? I didn’t sign up for that! :)
vegetarian cook turkeyFirst Christmas morning in Vancouver… I slept in as always! And got a little surprise of a Christmas tree and a singing puppy, whom I rapidly named Rudolph. I didn’t ask much of Santa this time around. Just to bring me beautiful weddings with life-loving brides and grooms for 2010. Yeah!!
christmas tree katya nova

January 6, 2010 - 21:30 Mick Lolekonda - Liska! My favorite cat in the whole wide world with 7 toes (miss her). Nice dog... should have got him a parachute just in case ;) How do you always managed to make colors pop and have such sharp images? I'm feeling hungry now...

December 26, 2009 - 21:46 s h e r r y - :) Merry Christmas!

Boudoir… Angela.

Richard greeted me from the living room couch with the warmest smile, as Angela led me through the cozy corridors of their character home to their bedroom. I usually prefer to hold boudoir photo sessions in clients homes - there’s always a unique perspective and a more comfortable atmosphere. This boudoir photography session was a real treat … check out the simple gorgeous decor!

boudoir photographs boudoir photos vancouverHere’s Angela … absorbing the soft beats of Buddha Bar. 
black white boudoir photossexy boudoir pictures how to pose in boudoirbw lingerie photosThis is one of my favourites … who could ever get this magic in a studio?!
boudoir photos black catblack and white photos women vancouver boudoir photographyI couldn’t resist asking Angela to jump into their fabulous tub at the end of our session. I love the soft natural light coming from the window above! Richard must have been at least a little curious as to why the water was running while we were shooting - and thank goodness he didn’t let it overflow :) 
boudoir in bathtubboudoir photography bathbeautiful boudoir colorAngela, you are such a remarkable femme fatale! Thank you so much for trusting me, letting me portray your beauty, and inspiring women everywhere to give and get the gift of boudoir! I will be announcing a Vancouver Boudoir Marathon soon, so stay tuned! A boudoir surprise photography session could be the perfect gift for you man. But on second thought, any day can be a Valentine’s Day…

view portfolio || more boudoir || book your boudoir photo session …katya@katyanova.com

January 29, 2010 - 17:40 Jeremy - The first one with the cat is fantastic! the others are wonderful too.

December 22, 2009 - 23:36 s h e r r y - Oh woooow. These are STUNNING!! <3 <3 I love the ones with the cat- very personal.

December 22, 2009 - 18:50 amee - oh my god, that last photo is my favorite, but they are all so so so gorgeous. What else would one expect from either of you!

December 22, 2009 - 18:22 Sarah Funk - Oh I copied what Amber said. I didn't read her comments first. :o)

December 22, 2009 - 18:21 Sarah Funk - WOW!! These images are H-O-T!!! Beautiful! The tub ones and the one from the door way are my favs!

December 22, 2009 - 14:24 Amber Hughes - Wow... these are HOT Katya! Fantastic job... I love the colour of the wall in her bedroom, and the first shot with the cat is just so real and beautiful. Love them! :)

December 22, 2009 - 12:02 Angela Hubbard - OMG - these shots are so amazing! you are quite the talent! go Katya!

January 13, 2010 - 20:38 Vancouver Wedding Fair 2010. Boudoir Shoot Winner! | Katya Nova Photography - [...] Boudoir… Angela. [...]