The Story of a Wedding Photographer…

Personal

I started taking photos of babies when I was a young mom of babies myself. I suppose it was a natural progression to move into weddings. It wasn’t long before some of my families had family or friends looking for a wedding photographer. Initially, I felt like I was hired because I was doing it differently…. But here is the thing… It was not that I was doing it differently- I just really didn’t know what I was doing. All I knew was that when the camera was in my hand, I could express myself for the first time. I would get a feeling…. See something that felt beyond what I could speak about.

Wedding Photographer Anastasia Chomlack

“When I photographed couples, I could see their love, and I had a deep knowledge of just how to capture it. It was pure intuition.”

I was looking at other photographers in blogs/ featured in magazines. Perfect photos of smiling couples…. Everything in focus…. Beautifully styled backgrounds. I could see the beauty in them, and although I felt the pull to copy those images, they didn’t make me feel anything. And I… I wanted to feel. I wanted something I didn’t, at the time, have the language for. That would come later…. but for the time, it came through connectedness. 

I could see the love between couples because I knew my own love for my husband and family. And I knew that it was not just about a day. It was layered and complicated, and messy. AND it was beautiful.

When I had my camera in hand I knew just what to do to capture it – to capture that feeling. 

The camera felt like an extension to me and still does. And now… 16 years later, I know how it works. I understand all of the technical bits- the histogram and the white balance and how to adjust between shutter and f-stops, but back then, it was all just a feeling. And a lot of trial and error. AND many YouTube tutorials late at night while my baby was waking up needing to be fed. 

It’s actually so beautiful to think back to those times. To be writing this in hindsight. 

The beginnings. 

And I seriously cannot thank my couples enough. For seeing something in me. For trusting me with their most special day. It takes some pretty rad humans to trust some woman with a camera just starting out to capture all of the memories from their wedding. But they did… and I followed my feelings, and I went on to photograph over 300 weddings ALL OVER THE WORLD. 

I think about that now…. And it’s crazy. At the time, I was just in survival. I was raising two little boys…. In so many ways learning how to be an adult myself…. AND…. I had a growing fantastic wedding photography business by well…. accident- fuelled by a feeling. 

Artistic Wedding Photographer

Rome, Italy. Sayulitta, Mexico. Monta Paulo, Costa Rica. Cancun, Mexico. Maui, Hawaii. Arizona, USA. Sydney, Australia. Over a hundred weddings in the Sea to Sky. Weddings in Vancouver.

Massive 3 days weddings… simple backyard weddings. Helicopter to the top of the world weddings. 

EVERY. SINGLE. WEEKEND. 

And then…. Just as things got a little too busy, I met two amazing women passionate about photography who wanted to shadow me on weddings, and instead of accepting that offer – I launched the Whistler Wedding Collective.

For 8 years, I mentored and supported amazing up-and-coming creatives. 

Many of whom have launched their own amazing creative professions since then. WE photographed SO MANY weddings. We held retreats. We shared. We collaborated and gathered so much that we created a space called GATHER for creatives. It was MAGICAL. 

And then…. Just as the amazingness was at its absolute highest, I got sick. Out of the blue.

And then…. Just as the amazingness was at its absolute highest, I got sick. Out of the blue. In the midst of wedding season. With 11 women working with me. Cancer. Stage 3. And life…. And weddings… and all of it really. It just changed. 

All of the feelings I was able to capture for others…. I needed that energy for myself. 

I needed to pause and rest and be. Just be. Not a photographer, not a mentor. Not a creative. I just needed to be whatever was happening at that exact moment. 

And so I did. 

And the weddings kept getting photographed, and the business kept running. And I…. I healed. Slowly and painfully. But I did. 

When I picked up a camera again…. So many months later…. I felt a shift. I wanted to be a part of something beyond a day. I wanted to sit and have conversations… and coffee. I wanted to chat and learn and do something beyond myself. And so… 

Within time I started this… Anastasia Creative. Which is still evolving and unfolding. 

I sold the Whistler Wedding Collective. 

And now. I am starting to write and to share. About it all. Which is kind of how I started… Back then, about it all… about life… about the experiences I have had and the people I have photographed. 

I am going back to the roots. 

So… weddings… 

Well. I still photograph them. When it feels right. 

I photograph up to 5 weddings a year, which gives me the luxury of choosing which connection stories I want to tell. 

So you can hire me. Please…. Reach out. Tell me your story. 

But also…. You can hire the Whistler Wedding Collective. Because the magic lives on under the care of another pretty amazing woman I had the honour of mentoring. 

So darlings…

There it is… the story of weddings and Anastasia. 

And I will expand on so many of these points throughout this journal of sorts.

But for now… you can click on links.

And if you want more…. Simply….

Reach out.

FAQs You Need To Know About Working With Me As Your Wedding Photographer


Do you still book couples for wedding photography?

Yes, I do. But only a limited number of couples per year.

What if you’re not available for my wedding dates?

Don’t worry; you can reach out to the Whistler Wedding Collective, a unique collective of women photographers who will deliver stunning photography for your special day.

What is your approach to photography for a wedding?

My approach is unique and different from other wedding photographers. I want to picture all of you during one of the most important moments of your life and find ways to show more than just your wedding day. I’m here to learn about your story as a couple. The good. The bad. The messy. Once I grasp your love story, I can picture it through my lens.

Where are you available to shoot a wedding?

I’m happy to travel to your selected location for your wedding day. While I have extensive knowledge of Whistler and the Sea To Sky Corridor, I’ve photographed weddings worldwide.

What are the costs of hiring you as our wedding photographer?

Everyone has different expectations when it comes down to photographing a wedding. My role is to ensure that no matter what, you are happy and satisfied with your pictures. While my wedding photography package starts at $3500.00, I always discuss their needs, wishes, and expectations with my couples before providing a final price. For me, it’s all about the journey and the expectations.

How many photographs will we get for a full-day wedding shoot?

I provide you with a whole gallery of up to 300+ images. Please have a look at my gallery of work to see the style of pictures I bring to my clients. My style is about connection, passion, and reflecting on who you truly are.

Do you work with a second shooter for larger weddings?

Yes. I’m lucky enough to have worked with very talented wedding photographers and have an excellent team I can rely on for larger weddings.

What should we expect from a day working with you?

Laughter. Fun. Tears. Joy. Adventure. Happiness. I welcome all emotions and feelings. It’s a special day for you and your partner, and I can’t wait to share your love story through my lens.

How can we book this fantastic opportunity?

Simply reach out. We’ll chat and get to know each other. From there, we can decide if we are a fit for each other. If we’re not, that’s ok. We have an entire team of incredible woman photographers ready to capture your special day’s atmosphere, essence and emotion. Visit Whistler Wedding Collective to learn more about them.

If you’re unavailable, who else would you recommend as the best wedding photographers?

I’ve worked hard to build a wedding collective and mentored excellent photographers to offer couples a unique and complete experience. Anyone at the Whistler Wedding Collective would perfectly fit your photography needs. They will deliver the same if not better, results, and I could. Have a look at them and follow your heart.

Wedding Photographer British Columbia

I'm Anastasia Chomlack - a branding photographer, retreat leader, and mentor.

Committed to truth and driven by a deep sense of purpose, my calling is to see your calling and reflect it back to you.

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Hourly, Half and Full day shoots, available worldwide.

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