Today is Tuesday. For most people, this is a normal day – nothing special. To others, this might be a special day to celebrate, whether it’s a birthday or an anniversary of some sort. Today is a special day for me to celebrate… but before I tell you why, I do need to send a shout-out to a special couple, Chris and Zvica. They are celebrating their 2nd wedding anniversary today and I was there with them. In fact, Chris and Zvica share an anniversary with me, as today is the second birthday of Aperture Lane!

​          Yes, I’ve done video work before Aperture Lane, which mostly consisted of  small events and creative projects, but September 29, 2013 was when the concept of Aperture Lane was brought to life. It was two years ago this day, on a Sunday, that I pulled up to the Bronte Harbour in Oakville, Ontario with Shannon Robbins who was the photographer for the same event (and my ride!).

​I anxiously tried to get all my shots before the ceremony started, running from the gazebo to the reception hall and back several times with my DIY camera gear (at that time) with just pure adrenaline keeping me aware. I did my “homework” and I had shot another wedding just over a month before so I understood a few things. However, no amount of preparation could have prepared me for the crazy roller coaster ride the last two years have been!

​          I’ve realised over these years how much I love to retell a good story. I’ve also realised that a good story can really bring people together – thus, my tag line:

stories bring us all together

          By the way, if you’re wondering what happened at the Bronte Harbour, check out the first Aperture Lane wedding video at the end. From DIY touches to expensive décor; from weddings to baby showers; from the Prairies to the East Coast; from agnostics to Muslims; I’ve had the privilege for celebrating with different people that I wouldn’t have otherwise been able to meet had it not been for the first step of faith to venture into the unknown. If someone told me I would capture the mother of the groom getting flipped in a greenhouse, translate speeches from Japanese, or fly to another province to film a wedding, I would have laughed in their face. But, I am humbled.

I’m not writing to spill my résumé or give a motivational speech about chasing your dreams. No, I’m writing this post out of intense gratitude. This thankfulness is not just to my first Aperture Bride (I like the sound of that), but really to all the people who have played a part in making Aperture Lane what it is now. I have a LONG way to go, I know, but I figured I would practise gratitude now so it can be a part of the foundation of my future success.

SHOUT-OUTS

– Thank you to my amazing Aperture Lane couples and clients who trusted me and my team to capture some of the most important events of their lives and telling their stories. Thank you for the referrals and reviews too, of course!

– Thanks to my shooters and assistants, Andrea, Nick, Jensen, Zim, Yasser & Lisa, without whom the cinematography of each event would not be possible. You guys keep me sane, complement my skill sets and make carrying all those bags and cases not so bad…

– Thank you to the supporting cast, who have helped me with things like my accounting (which I hate), babysitting (sometimes insisting on doing it for free!), design work, tech support and the like. Again, keeping me sane and allowing my business to run!

– Thanks to the friends and family who have been supporting and encouraging me to keep going, whether by word, by deed or by watching, liking, and sharing all the videos that go up!

– Thanks to the other vendors and volunteers who helped make each event beautiful, made them run smoothly and kept the smiles on my brides’ faces (not much I can do with frowning people in my field)

– Thanks to Michael Gebben and the amazing Jumpstarters community that has helped me reach heights not otherwise possible in such a short time. I have truly gained confidence, clarity and connections.

– And most of all, I want to thank my wife, Meghan, whose strength of character, patience, perspective and faith have fuelled my tenacity and courage in this time.

If you have any words of encouragement or advice, please feel free to leave a comment!
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To God be the glory!

Happy Birthday Aperture Lane!