Brian Wiebe, Owner and Photographer at Brian Wiebe Photography, takes a casual, no pressure approach to working with and photographing his clients. That's why he loves working with laid back and relaxed couples who are ready to enjoy their wedding day. Trained by another Ring favourite, Stan Switalski, Brian has mastered the art of what he describes as subjective portraiture - a style that allows him to focus more on the people, their expressions and the natural lighting that surrounds them rather than posed shots.

All of Brian's wedding packages include an engagement shoot so he can build a relationship with each couple and rehearse for the big day and a variety of awesome extra options like flush mount coffee table books, traditional albums and photo guest books. Local brides already seem to love Brian for his focus on the couple, his ability to make people comfortable during their shoot and his friendly, casual attitude. We met with Brian to find out more about why brides love and recommend Brian Wiebe Photography. Here's what we discovered...

Personally speaking...

Brian describes himself as "a nice guy to hang out with on your wedding day" and says he thinks that he is best known for his casual, no pressure attitude.

While he graduated from Fanshawe College with a Diploma in Photography, Brian says that his real training came from assisting Stan of Stan Switalski Photography for several years. Under Stan's wing Brian assisted with photographing a countless number of weddings. Then he ventured out on his own and opened Brian Wiebe Photography in 1998, which is when he shot his first wedding on his own.

For eight years Brian's main focus was Portrait Photography while he shot a few weddings on the side. He noticed that many of his portrait clients were asking him to shoot their weddings, too; that's why, in 2007 he took the plunge and decided to promote himself as a wedding and portrait photographer.

Now, Brian shoots twenty to twenty-five weddings per year (and counting, as weddings have become his main focus). Having recently been married himself, Brian says, "I have a pretty good idea of what couples are looking for." He told The Ring that his favourite part about shooting weddings is "getting to know and photograph new people. The rush you get during and after a great shoot is addictive... It just keeps you wanting to create more and better work."

When we met up with Brian in a recent interview, his portfolio was overflowing with tons of variety as he's doing a lot of portraits in addition to weddings for babies, families, bellies, and even pets. But Brian still seems to be focused and busy with weddings as he only had a few dates left for 2010 when we met with him early in March.

Subjective portraiture...

A casual and approachable photo style is something that Brian thinks is one of his biggest selling points. "I take a subjective approach to photography," Brian told us. "My photos are all about people, rather than trendy techniques and elaborate backgrounds. Lighting and expression are the most important things to me."

Because Brian is an expert at portrait photography, he says that he is very comfortable with people and lighting just comes naturally to him - a fact that is evident by his vibrant photos that seem to truly capture the people and surroundings in them, whether they're taken inside or out.

Tommy and Wendy DeSantis were so comfortable working with Brian for their March 2010 wedding photos that they ended up becoming great friends with him. “He really cares about getting the best shot,” they told us. “He captures you in the moment, from tears to laughter.” Wendy adds that she would 100% recommend Brian to other couples and would tell them that “you want this day to last a life time… and Brian captures all of those moments for you on film."

Brian told us that his subjective portraiture style is all about the couple. "My photos are controlled without being overly posed," he explains. "The bride and groom should always look like they are truly enjoying themselves."

Karen Owen and Peter Whitred liked that Brian took interesting and different shots for their November 2009 wedding photos, and it wasn't just about the traditional poses. “He really captured our personalities,” says Karen. “Brian was just so comfortable to work with; he was very easy going and calm… He was amazing with our young nieces and nephews and was really patient with our friends and family snapping their own photographs over his shoulder while he worked.” Karen half expected Brian to just take official wedding photos, but was excited to see that he took candids throughout the reception. “It's amazing that I didn't even really notice him taking pictures at the time - he was very unobtrusive - and yet he got some wonderful shots of all of us throughout the night,” she adds.

A fun-loving photographer...

Brides who typically choose Brian Wiebe for their wedding day photos, according to Brian, are laid back and casual, much like himself. "They're not looking for shocking, or overly-dramatic photos. They're looking for a photographer they can have fun with and end up with great photos that show it," says Brian.

Such was the case for Kristi & Bret who thought Brian was amazing. “He’s one of the most fun, sweet, down to earth people I have ever met,” says Kristie. “He loves getting candid shots, he's able to sneak up on people at the best times and capture them laughing or smiling just perfectly that doesn't look posed.”

Karen and Peter had similar sentiments about Brian’s personality, telling us that he “the nicest person you could ever hope to meet, and yet completely professional at the same time. Working with him was a pleasure from start to finish.”

What you want is what you get...

All wedding packages at Brian Wiebe Photography include an engagement photo session (with edited proofs), edited high resolution files on disc, web gallery for online viewing and a leather bound 8x10 wedding album (of varying pages depending on the package you book). Brian told The Ring, "It is a great way for me to build a relationship with my couples, and an excellent rehearsal for the big day."

Brian offers three packages: a 6 hour package for $2900, a 9 hour package for $3900 and a 12 hour package for $4900.

Brian says that all packages are flexible and other options can be added to them, like a Parent Album for $400, a set of 100 Thank You Cards with wallet sized prints for $200, a twenty page Engagement Photo Guest Book for $200, and various other sizes of prints.

You can also book photography coverage without an engagement shoot and album, and just the hours of coverage and a disc of hi-res edited images. Brian offers 6, 9 and 12 hours of coverage for $2400, $3400 and $4400, respectively. Recently, Brian added ultra cool flush mount coffee table books on top of his traditional albums to the his list of product offerings.

Walking you through it...

Booking an appointment with Brian is required to meet with him at his home studio. He, and often his wife, Jamie, meet with brides and grooms to discuss their wedding day photography needs. Brian recommends booking him approximately four to twelve months ahead of your wedding date.

"I meet and talk with couples as often as they like before and after the wedding day," he explains. Tommy and Wendy told us that Brian’s personal touch was something that they couldn’t find with other photographers they looked at. “He goes over everything with you.”

Brian is the main photographer at his studio. "I also do just about everything else that is needed." But he does often use an assistant on the wedding day, "Depending on what the day calls for, sometimes the assistant is a secondary shooter, sometimes they only assist me," Brian told us.

On the actual wedding day, Brian says it usually starts out with him capturing the bride getting ready and then goes from there. "If I cover the reception, I am usually there until ten or eleven at night," says Brian. After the wedding day, Brian edits your photos for the best expressions and you receive a disc of high resolution, printable files.

Recently married couple, Karen and Peter, know that on your wedding day you want to surround yourself with positive, happy people, and they told us that Brian absolutely fits that bill. “With Brian, you get an incredibly talented photographer and a great guy to hang out with for the day… He'll make you feel comfortable and relaxed throughout the shoot, and at the end of the day you'll have some beautiful and unique pictures of your wedding. On top of all that, he works very hard, right to the end, so you'll really feel that you got your money's worth.” Just like his all-inclusive packages, Brian seems to be the full package deal, too.

Details, details, details

• Brian's packages range in price from $2900 to $4900, and he also offer a la carte items.
• All packages include an engagement shoot, a hi-resolution disc, and a leather bound album.
• An appointment is required to meet with Brian.
• Brian recommends booking with him 4 to 12 months ahead of your wedding date.
• Your disc of images is ready to be picked up about 2 weeks after the wedding.
• Once you've decided which photos you'd like to include in your album, they take approximately 8 weeks to be ready.
• A deposit of $1000 is due when booking Brian Wiebe Photography for your wedding day.
• Your remaining balance is due when you pick-up your disc.

More from Brian

Book an appointment to meet with Brian Wiebe at his home studio in Cambridge. He can be reached by phone at 519-241-2610 or email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to set up an appointment. More great photos by Brian Wiebe Photography can be viewed on Brian's stylish new website at www.brianwiebe.com. Check out recent photo shoots on his blog while you're there, too. Warning: you might lose a few hours getting caught up in his photos.