15% discount for Capilano students!

I loved my time at Capilano University, and I have many fond memories there. That's why I'm permanently giving a 15% discount to all current and past students of Capilano! All you have to do is show me your Capilano ID and I'll knock 15% off your wedding photography package.

There are lots of hidden codes on our Facebook and Twitter that will help you save money on your wedding. Just today, we were able to offer $1,000 in savings to a client just because she knew where to look. Hopefully, if you're a Capilano student, this will help keep more money in your pocket.

Benjamin Luk Photography is available for assignment at BLPwedding.com.

Italy in 2016?

(Photo by David Iliff. License: CC-BY-SA 3.0.)

In 2003, I visited Italy for the first time. Florence, Siena, Sorrento and Positano are still cities I remember vividly. In 2010, I started to fall in love with Italian wine. For my grandfather's eightieth birthday, we shared a bottle of 1999 Barolo. My first girlfriend was Italian. I met her on a plane to Rome. Her family fed me the best Italian food I'd ever tasted. Even now, I still get excited over a frattaglie menu. I love Italy.

Ever since I started wedding photography, I'd thought about going back. I'd always fantasize about doing destination weddings in Italy, perhaps while picking wine grapes during harvest season so I'd have a place to stay. I'd stay in the country and putter around in a rented car while building the portfolio of my dreams. Well, it's time that dream became a reality.

Starting in January, I'll be taking courses in Italian and building a network centred around Florence. The idea is I'd still primarily shoot in Vancouver during peak season, but escape to Italy for three to four weeks a year during my offseason to shoot destination jobs for clients from Canada. I'll use tools like Airbnb to figure out my lodging but ultimately, I'll be relying on you, the friends and fans of Benjamin Luk Photography, to help me out. If you have a contact in Italy, please let me know about him or her. All I'd need is a couch to sleep on and good wi-fi, and I'd pay very generously for that in cash, wine, good company and possibly backrubs.

Do you know someone? Help me build my dream. I won't forget it, and I'll do everything in my power to help you build yours. Help me get to Italy. I'll be forever grateful.

Benjamin Luk Photography Weddings is available for assignment at BLPwedding.com.

Our Best of 2013!

(Brad and Jill at Fort Langley's CN train station. © 2013 Benjamin Luk.)

Weddings are my life. 2013 was an unforgettable year for weddings and my only regret was not staying on top of my blog posts to keep you fine folks updated. What's crazy is 2013's wedding season isn't over yet. We have an NYE wedding so we'll be shooting right up until the end of the year. Meanwhile, here's a small handful of shots showing what we've been up to. Click to enlarge.

(Tom and Charity at Barkley Brook. © 2013 Benjamin Luk.)

There's way more where these shots came from. We had a blast and barely any rest. From Dan and Donna to Tom and Charity, from Brad and Jill to Kim and Bryan, we had our busiest summer ever. I hit Toronto for a wedding in May, but most of our bookings have been local. I travel for weddings if need be though. I'll be in Newcastle for a wedding in 2015.

(Gabriel and Gladys at Riverfront Park in Vancouver. © 2013 Benjamin Luk.)

I now work regularly with accomplished portrait photographer Greg Bricknell. His combination of evocative imagery and technical skill makes him one of the finest wedding assistants I've ever brought on. 80% of the wedding shoots I did in 2013 were with Greg. Because of that, we're now running like a well-oiled machine and if you book us for 2014 or beyond, you'll benefit from that working relationship.

(Dan and Donna at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden. © 2013 Benjamin Luk.)

Prices for 2014 start at $2,095 for the first six hours and $400 per additional hour plus applicable tax. Book a free consultation with us to see more work, especially from the weddings shown here. To do that, e-mail us at info@benjaminluk.com or text me at (604) 649-5635 with your names and wedding date. I consider my clients top priority. I'll make sure you're seen to right away.

(Kim and Bryan at New Westminster's Metro Hall. © 2013 Benjamin Luk.)

Benjamin Luk Photography Weddings is available for assignment at BLPwedding.com.

Tony & Caitlin's Wedding - September 29th, 2012

(Tony and Caitlin as the sun sets on their wedding day. © 2012 Benjamin Luk.)

Long before I'd set foot on their ceremony site, we'd all already bonded over beer at Central City Brew Pub. Tony and Caitlin were friends with my intern Lauren and she recommended me since she wouldn't be able to play photographer and bridesmaid at the same time. We hit it off great. In that meeting, we realized our respective personalities were the perfect match and moved right on to prep for the big day.

(Tony and Caitlin's wedding party. © 2012 Benjamin Luk.)

The wedding was in Gibsons, BC. I'd always remembered Gibsons fondly, having gone on numerous high school camping trips there with my best friends. My assistant Jason booked the ferry and I booked the hotel. We'd stay one night, then wake up fresh to shoot without having to worry about arriving late. We even brought props, some of which we had to wrestle into cooperation. I was striving for a top-end commercial look to Tony and Caitlin's wedding portraits. Thanks to our on-the-go Profoto AcuteB 600, our lighting was exceptional.

(Caitlin and the groomsmen. © 2012 Benjamin Luk.)

It was a four-hour shoot; getting ready, portraits, ceremony and family shots. Through our extensive prep work, we stayed on schedule and had a great time doing it. Even though this was a shorter shoot than most, it didn't feel like it. We came back with loads of material and I look forward to updating my portfolio with some of our best wedding party shots yet. I deliver the photos this Friday. In the meantime, see even more from this wedding on our WedOverHeels.

(Wandering hands lead to genuine smiles. © 2012 Benjamin Luk.)

Benjamin Luk Photography Weddings is available for assignment at BLPwedding.com.

Check us out on WedOverHeels!

(WedOverHeels is a new social network for engaged couples and wedding professionals. © WedOverHeels.)

As we look to find even better footing in Vancouver's booming wedding industry, we hope to connect with every vendor in the area capable of meeting our high standards. Luckily, local Bean Benson saw the need for an engaging online community specifically for us and started up WedOverHeels, a place for us wedding pros to exchange ideas and even share them with our clients in a design-savvy space. Click here to see my WOH profile and leave some feedback. Whether you're a fellow pro, newly engaged, a past client or simply a fan, you'll find yourself at home. I look forward to watching the site grow and can't wait to see what new ideas are just around the corner.

Benjamin Luk Photography Weddings is available for assignment at BLPwedding.com.

Andrea & Rob's Wedding - August 11th, 2012

(Andrea getting ready for the ceremony. © 2012 Benjamin Luk.)

Andrea and I first met to talk about her wedding at a hole-in-the-wall Chinese restaurant on the outskirts of Greater Vancouver. We'd had numerous mutual friends, but didn't know each other well on a personal level. However, she trusted my vision and knew I'd be the perfect fit for her wedding. When the day came, I couldn't have felt more at home. Her and her now-husband Rob were more traditional folk with a more traditional wedding mindset, but we were able to put a more contemporary spin on some of their images. To see more from this wedding, give us a call and book us for a personal consultation.

(Andrea and Rob relaxing as newlyweds. © 2012 Benjamin Luk.)

Benjamin Luk Photography Weddings is available for assignment at BLPwedding.com.

James & Tory's Wedding - June 9th, 2012

(James and Tory got married in Santorini on June 9th, 2012. © 2012 Benjamin Luk.)

Sometimes I get assignments that seem too good to be true. Most of these involve travel. And though I've technically shot in Hong Kong and San Francisco, this opportunity to travel to Greece and stay there for a week getting to know the couple I'd be photographing on their wedding day was far too good to pass up. So flights were booked, hotels called and bags packed. I set off on May 31st for the adventure of a lifetime.

(One of our locations was Atlantis Books, located in the small Greek town of Oia. © 2012 Benjamin Luk.)

After a short engagement session at the Acropolis and numerous days of drunken misadventures (where we learned exactly what the best man's alcohol tolerance was and why you shouldn't be standing on a national treasure during a hangover), we took a ferry over to the majestic island of Santorini. It was picture perfect. Beautiful blue skies, crystal clear water and cold craft beer awaited us. Moussaka and gyros greeted us at every turn. And my camera practically never left my side.

(One of the many beautiful doorways and alcoves in Santorini. © 2012 Benjamin Luk.)

Then the wedding day came. Since our budget couldn't accommodate an assistant, it was up to me to wrangle the 22 pounds of gear I bring to every shoot. Rushing from the hostel we were all staying at in Kamari up to the peak of Oia, I had my first encounter with every destination photographer's worst nightmare: heat stroke. With the ceremony only minutes away and fighting back waves of nausea, I hydrated as quickly as I could and carried on. This first kiss photo is proof I survived and stayed at the top of my game.

(The best 'first kiss' photo I've ever shot. © 2012 Benjamin Luk.)

I stayed for dinner and the post-wedding party at Dom (where I snapped many an inappropriate first dance photo), but took off the next day for a flight back into Athens where I stayed for two more nights. Not ready to end my adventuring yet, I found my way to Paris before heading back home to edit. These five photos you see here are only the tiniest percentage of gorgeous shots I got while in Greece. For the real deal, you'll want to book a private appointment with me to see more and talk to me about your upcoming wedding.

(Sunset on Santorini. © 2012 Benjamin Luk.)

Benjamin Luk Photography Weddings is available for assignment at BLPwedding.com.

Ashley & Andrew's Wedding - October 22nd, 2011

(Ashley and Andrew standing at the altar. © 2011 Benjamin Luk.)

I remember the exact moment I knew I'd be able to make things work with Ashley and Andrew's wedding. We were holed up in a casual sushi restaurant not far from my apartment and I'd just given them a great deal on account of their wedding being in the off-season. Their gratitude was immediate. They even bought me lunch right then and there, so I knew they wanted amazing photos and were going to do what it took to get them. Like always, I went into this with 100% and followed it through for the weeks to come.

(The only way holy matrimony is supposed to be. © 2011 Benjamin Luk.)

What came first was the client meeting. I laid out plans for what was to come and planned every facet of the shoot down to the last detail, keeping in mind that unpredictability will always be a factor. Ashley and I went on a location scout around her venue and found the unlikeliest of places to represent her wedding portraits: a parkade. It was under cover, it had great lighting and most of all, it was a place that symbolically represented where she was tying the knot. This wasn't a million-dollar glamour wedding featured in Vogue. This was urban, down-to-earth and humble.

(Ashley and the girls getting their giggle on. © 2011 Benjamin Luk.)

By keeping the location local and accessible, we were able to spend more time focusing on our clients' personalities. One extremely portable Profoto AcuteB 600 and a reflector piloted by assistant Cynthia was all we needed for lighting. We also scheduled plenty of time for creative exploration of each scene. It's easy to get amazing portraits when you're right in front of your subject, but how about environmental portraiture that employs different angles, unconventional perspective and architecture as design?

(Ashley and Andrew, lost in each other and urban New Westminster. © 2011 Benjamin Luk.)

With each wedding, we're only getting better. Between me and my main wedding assistant Jonathan Evans, we bring over a decade of photography experience to your wedding. If you want wedding photography that evokes the true spirit of your location, come to us. Destination wedding photography is upcoming as well. For the first time, I'll be shooting in Greece for Summer 2012. Booking for 2012 and 2013 now.

(Ashley and Andrew's first dance as husband and wife. © 2011 Benjamin Luk.)

Benjamin Luk Photography Weddings is available for assignment at BLPwedding.com.

Kashka & Kathleen's Wedding - August 19th, 2011

(Kashka and Kathleen, photographed moments before wreaking havoc with pump-action water guns. © 2011 Benjamin Luk.)

Saying I've known Kathleen a long time is an understatement. What I recall most is spending Math class with her in Grade 9. We were both approximately 4' 11" and had our whole lives ahead of us. To guess that I'd be photographing her wedding over a decade later would've been insanity. That having been said, I consider having done so a great privilege. On a side note, Kathleen is now a tattoo artist and I happily gave her a price cut on the condition she give me a tattoo. I'll be remembering this wedding for the rest of my life.

(The humble gazebo where the ceremony took place, plus guests. © 2011 Jonathan Evans, Benjamin Luk Photography.)

The ceremony took place in an unassuming rose garden in New Westminster's Queen's Park. Words were exchanged about past generations' challenges with same-sex unions and the guests applauded that they were able to witness one today. Bridesmaids teared up during the exchange of vows. Kashka held Kathleen tightly during their first kiss as life partners. We were able to capture it all.

(A moment captured on the bus ride to our portrait location. © 2011 Jonathan Evans, Benjamin Luk Photography.)

The bus we took to our portrait location may or may not have been outfitted with stripper poles. Kathleen's brother may or may not have performed a full-blown striptease complete with standard acrobatics. Jonathan's expertise with event photography ensured that not a moment was missed and I can safely say this may have been one of the wildest weddings of our entire career. To see the full slideshow, book an appointment with us and see the whole thing. We're currently booking for 2012 and 2013.

(Smooching tends to happen at weddings. © 2011 Benjamin Luk.)

Benjamin Luk Photography Weddings is available for assignment at BLPwedding.com.

Janell & Aniket's Wedding - July 16th, 2011

(Janell and Aniket, photographed at Eagles Estate in Burnaby, BC. © 2011 Benjamin Luk.)

One of the many reasons I love what I do is that I get to meet interesting and lovable people all the time. Janell and Aniket are prime examples of that. As animators based in France, I knew their artistic eye would be tough to please, but I was ready to rise to the challenge. I first met the couple over breakfast with Janell's family and it was immediately obvious that there were real connections between them. Their family was so tight-knit and so caring that sitting elbow-to-elbow with them and asking them to pass the potatoes felt natural. I struggle to recall another time when I felt so welcomed.

(Janell cozying up to Aniket at Burnaby Art Gallery. © 2011 Benjamin Luk.)

Because Janell and Aniket were in France leading up to the wedding, most of the planning I did was with Janell's mom, Amandah. In an extensive preproduction phase, we worked out schedules, shot lists, locations, etc. Armed with all the information I needed, this turned into one of the few weddings I've shot that actually ran on time. It's for exactly this reason we now request an information package from our wedding clients to keep as on schedule as possible.

(The wedding party channelling their inner rocker. © 2011 Benjamin Luk.)

Janell and Aniket were one of my favourite couples to shoot in 2011. Affectionate, playful and goofy, we were able to capture something really special of both their personalities. And unlike most relationships where one person clearly wears the pants, Janell and Aniket came across as real equals, friends before lovers. There is no doubt in my mind they'll be happy together for a very long time. I wish them the best for a bright and hopeful future. Besides, I may need a couch to crash on if I ever wind up in France again.

(Janell and Aniket taking their first steps together as husband and wife. © 2011 Jonathan Evans, Benjamin Luk Photography.)

Benjamin Luk Photography Weddings is available for assignment at BLPwedding.com.

Kris & Ellen's Wedding - January 8th, 2011

(Ellen and Kris, photographed at Swan-e-set Bay Resort and Country Club, Pitt Meadows. © 2011 Benjamin Luk.)

I first met Ellen and Kris in a coffee shop in New Westminster some months ago. Though they were very casual in demeanour, it became immediately apparent they knew exactly what they wanted and would settle for nothing less. I took that as a challenge. I knew my team and I would be ready to rise to the task.

(Ellen admiring her dress while her sister looks on in the background. © 2011 Benjamin Luk.)

On a brisk weekend morning in January, my teammates Patrick Leung and Winona Lee piled up our cars with the gear we needed for our shoot. We had five camera bodies, an extensive selection of zooms and primes, a number of Speedlites and a Profoto AcuteB 600 on site. Even though we had three locations to cover, two of them during the same time, our preparation beforehand ensured perfect photojournalistic coverage.

(Our signature Reservoir Dogs homage with Kris and his groomsmen. © 2011 Winona Lee, Benjamin Luk Photography.)

We captured the ceremony from a variety of angles, delivering the standard close-ups and wide shots, but we also got great coverage of the moments a less trained photographer may have missed: reaction shots of the parents, the tears and laughter that only happen once, etc. Over the many weddings we've shot over the past three years, we've managed to hone our craft to become some of the best in the business.

(Ellen and Kris' first kiss as husband and wife. © 2011 Benjamin Luk.)

From 2,300+ captures, post-production assistant Tyler Branston brought it down to 528 selected images for delivery. However, because we feel we can stand behind our work, we're also sending them all their other shots at no additional charge. We've also included a small video portion in our delivery for the very first time. The disc is currently en route to Ellen and Kris in Denwood, AB.

(We had a lot of fun the moment we found the bar at Swan-e-set. © 2011 Benjamin Luk.)

Benjamin Luk Photography Weddings is available for assignment at BLPwedding.com.

Maria & Nathan's Wedding - July 24th, 2010

(Maria and Nathan Lusignan, photographed at 1000 Parker Street, Vancouver. © 2010 Benjamin Luk.)

Maria and I go way back, which is why it was such a pleasure to photograph her wedding. If you can believe it, I've known her since I was in Grade 9 and she was my Math teacher. Now, years later, she's a student again and I'm a professional photographer. How time flies.

(Maria and her bridesmaids. © 2010 Winona Lee, Benjamin Luk Photography.)

We were hired to cover the ceremony and reception with a portrait session in between, but we arrived early to capture Maria and her bridesmaids getting ready. The ceremony was an intimate backyard gathering and though we had to contend with harsh sunlight, the photos turned out great thanks to my second shooters, Jason Kazuta and Winona Lee. Covered from three angles, we didn't miss a moment.

(Nathan and his groomsmen, going for Reservoir Dogs style. © 2010 Benjamin Luk.)

From there, we went to 1000 Parker Street, a favourite shooting location of ours. Maria made it clear that she wanted her wedding photos to reflect East Van culture, and this particular building, with its graffiti and characteristic grunginess, was the perfect fit. Lucky for us, Maria and Nathan were a playful couple open to ideas, so we came back with some of our best wedding shots yet.

(Maria fleeing on a passing train, with Nathan trying to catch up. © 2010 Benjamin Luk.)

With over 2,200 images from the day, we pared it down to 515 high-quality images for delivery, our highest number ever. We meet again with the couple next week to drop off our CD of images, along with a couple of bonus surprises as a wedding gift from me to them. Maria and Nathan, you were a delight. We wish you the very best for a happy and hopeful future.

(Maria stealing a drink. © 2010 Benjamin Luk.)

Benjamin Luk Photography Weddings is available for assignment at BLPwedding.com.

Welcome to BLP Weddings!

(Andrea and Daniel O'Connell, cutting the cake. © 2009 Benjamin Luk.)

Thank you for taking the time to check out Benjamin Luk Photography Weddings and the services we offer. We're committed to outstanding service, exceptional attention to detail and consistent creativity, all of which will make your wedding day run as smoothly as possible. Choosing the right photographer can be difficult, but we're so confident in our work that we offer private consultations for free so you can get to know us better and see more of our photography. Simply book an appointment via e-mail at info@benjaminluk.com or call (604) 649-5635 to get in touch directly. Thanks again for your interest and we look forward to shooting with you soon.

Benjamin Luk Photography Weddings is available for assignment at BLPwedding.com.