... 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.
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Katya Nova is a Wedding & Lifestyle Portrait Photographer based in Vancouver, Canada. Available for Destination Weddings & Honeymoons.
I’m sitting here, in snowy Edmonton, anxious to share my ‘trash the dress’ beach session photos with you… I’ve decided to do things a little differently this time - and post the actual wedding & ceremony images last. Jessica & Ryan are amazing together… I just stood back and let them glow! The day after the wedding, we met at the stunning Barcelo Maya Palace beach for the ‘trash the dress’ beach photo session.I love this next one…We met on the beach at around 4 pm, expecting sundown just after 6 pm. Little did we know, it would start raining! Of course, the first thing you pack with you when going to a Mayan Riviera wedding vacation is an umbrella. Not! In the next few photos, the warm drops are not quite a nuisance, and the light is so soft and delicious. Check out this beach stroll - I love it when both bride and groom venture out to ‘trash the dress.’ I held my breath, as Jessica & Ryan gently stepped into deeper waters. The beach at Barcelo Maya is amazing, but a bit rocky in some spots. I held my breath tighter - now with a death grip on my camera, as I followed the couple into the waves.They make it look so easy, don’t they? Here’s the memory of laughter, salt on our lips, and the sound of crashing waves… Can you tell it’s still pouring rain? Here are Jessica & Ryan falling back into the water! I wish I could show you a picture of what I looked like here - none of us had a plastic bag to protect my Canon 5D Mark II (although it’s apparently pretty water-resistant), so I emptied my big black shoulder bag, put the contents under a lawn chair on the beach, and held it right over my head, just so that I could barely see what I was shooting! It worked, and probably got a giggle or two out of Jessica :) How cool are my brides exactly? Cart wheel cool. That’s right, Jessica is upside down. In her wedding gown. In the rain. Top that! The sun peeked out for a few moments, as if rewarding us for our persistence. We celebrated love. view portfolio | e-mail katya | let’s connect on facebook& twitter
Polina and Justin have been my most photographed couple, and for a good reason! There’s a beautiful fountain I came across in the secluded residential area of old Glenora, which was the perfect setting for a day-after creative session. Polina was excited to wear her mermaid gown again, and I made her bouquet out of my leftover birthday flowers! We made the best of the stops at the local Sobeys and wine boutique, getting a few more ‘congratulations’ along the way and picking up some goodies for the picnic. The evening was magical. Check out some of my favorites:
I don’t think I’ve ever gotten up that early on a Saturday. As I drove up to the farm on the outskirts of Nisku, I felt my stomach sinking and tingling with anticipation and excitement - today I would photograph 9 brides! Well, pretend brides … 9 amazing, gorgeous, and unique models from Hi-Fi boutique modeling agency. The day was so intense and rewarding - the most incredible collaboration I could dream of!
A big thank you goes out to Fiona McNair of Hi-Fi and her girls - Kristina, Kalen, Iryna, Kristen, Paige, Paige W, Sarah, Hana, and Danee - you were unreal. And so patient! The gorgeous one-of-a-kind gowns were provided by designer Lan Van Rooyen - thank you so much for bearing with our artistic visions and letting us take the dresses where no bride has gone before! The make-up artistry was provided by the talented Nicola Gavins - check out her blog HERE. Thank you Danielle Aitken for doing such an amazing job with the hair despite breathing hairspray all day! Thanks to my wicked assistant Kemi Sonuga - her blog HERE and model Iryna - for being such an inspiration and trooper (she changed into LuluLemon and assisted me most of the day, holding the reflector, climbing walls, trees, and fences - you are awesome). Thank you so much Candice (Popik Photography) for sharing the magical farm of your aunt & uncle and being such warm, fun, and talented ‘partner in crime’!!
I will now tease you with a few of my favorites, two of each girl… More to come in a few days!
Ahhh, Amanda Valdes. I was lucky enough to shoot this stunning woman on a gorgeous Friday afternoon in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. One of the many things I love about this neighborhood is that despite the extravagant presence Amanda had, amplified by the obnoxiously fabulous gown and veil, no one seemed to pay us much attention. Here, anything goes!
Amanda is a talented actress and dancer in New York City, with an aura about her that will sweep anyone off their feet. And their reflectors.
I love this next one…
We met on the beach at around 4 pm, expecting sundown just after 6 pm. Little did we know, it would start raining! Of course, the first thing you pack with you when going to a Mayan Riviera wedding vacation is an umbrella. Not! In the next few photos, the warm drops are not quite a nuisance, and the light is so soft and delicious. 
Check out this beach stroll - I love it when both bride and groom venture out to ‘trash the dress.’
I held my breath, as Jessica & Ryan gently stepped into deeper waters. The beach at Barcelo Maya is amazing, but a bit rocky in some spots. I held my breath tighter - now with a death grip on my camera, as I followed the couple into the waves.
They make it look so easy, don’t they? Here’s the memory of laughter, salt on our lips, and the sound of crashing waves…
Can you tell it’s still pouring rain? Here are Jessica & Ryan falling back into the water! I wish I could show you a picture of what I looked like here - none of us had a plastic bag to protect my Canon 5D Mark II (although it’s apparently pretty water-resistant), so I emptied my big black shoulder bag, put the contents under a lawn chair on the beach, and held it right over my head, just so that I could barely see what I was shooting! It worked, and probably got a giggle or two out of Jessica :) 
How cool are my brides exactly? Cart wheel cool. That’s right, Jessica is upside down. In her wedding gown. In the rain. Top that! 
The sun peeked out for a few moments, as if rewarding us for our persistence. We celebrated love.
view portfolio | e-mail katya | let’s connect on facebook & twitter
Also, click below for a saucy slideshow below…
