Evan McMaster Photography

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Halifax, NS
Evan McMaster Photography

Specializing in documentary style wedding photography and portraiture. Based in Halifax, Nova Scotia Loved it. I never planned on documenting weddings. Wind. Click.

Serial No: 3844422

The Pentax Spotmatic from the 1960s that started it all. It was an unexpected gift from my father and something that I didn't fully appreciate at the time. Several rolls of film were ruined in an effort to understand the craft of photography and I was unable to wrap my head around text book definitions or the advice of fellow photographers. From time to time I turned my back on

that camera, but from time to time I would pick it up again and delve a bit deeper. Most of what I learned in the early stages was the fruition of self-exploration. Because of that I'd make a terrible teacher, but I was hooked. The sound of the shutter, the feeling of the film advance, the smell of undeveloped negatives, the visual appeal of developed positives. From the start I was drawn to architecture and landscape work, mostly due to comfort levels as I was always able to return to a static object or location in an effort to take advantage of perfect lighting conditions or compostion. When asked to document a friend's wedding I foolishly agreed, failing to let them know that I'd never attended a wedding or photographed a large group of people. I had no idea what a set of wedding photos should look like or what the expectations would be. Despite the uncertainty I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it, buoyed by the never-ending flurry of activity and incredible mix of emotion. I was hooked. I could no longer return to a particular location in search of perfect lighting conditions or favourable composition. I had to live in the moment and be part of a narrative. Photography is a powerful medium. A single photograph can capture an immediate moment which in turn can lead to a chain of memories and respective emotions - some of which might not even be related to the moment captured. A wedding day is full of these moments, both large and small. It can start with introductions and end with reminiscence and the creation of a story. I take great joy in not stepping back, but stepping forward and capturing as much of that as I can. Since my early forays in wedding photography I've branched out into other areas - family portraiture, newborn photography, commerical photography, etc. My only goal at this point is to continue exploring, guided by the enjoyment that the results provide. SP 3844422 has a lot of life left in it. There is much to capture. Smile. Repeat.

03/02/2021

2020.

What a wild ride that was.

But i’m still here.

I’m not ready to get into the meaty posts just yet, but I did want to share a brief update and let you know what lies ahead. Because of COVID I didn’t start until the 8th of August. Even then there were only a handful of weddings that I was able to document … but I made the most of it and had fun. What a rush. I’ll work on posting some of those shortly.

I spent most of 2020 with my family. Kids grow up fast and I’m grateful for the extra time I’ve had with them. I got my hands on an angle grinder and started cutting apart my wife’s 1965 Vauxhall Viva HA. Then I taught myself how to shape metal. How to weld. How to body fill and paint. It’s still a work in progress but it kept me going. I started wood working. Found a full time job that paid the bills.

What will 2021 bring? I’ve got to finish that car. There is still some furniture to make. Time to spend with the kids. But I do believe that I’ll be busier with photos. 2019 busy? Not quite, but I’m sure it’ll work out just fine.

Hang tight. Hold on.

Stay safe. Stay healthy.

We’ve got this.

A brief look back at the 2020 wedding season and what lies ahead for 2021 and beyond.

06/03/2020

Another one from the archives, and one I’ve been meaning to share for some time now. A lovely day spent in the Windsor and Falmouth area of Nova Scotia, following country roads along the Avon River to Sainte-Famille Wines. This would mark my first visit to the property and I hope it won’t be my last - work your way through the vineyard to the top of the property and you’re rewarded with a view of the Avon River itself and the patchwork of fields that hug it’s banks. It’s a fantastic wedding venue for an outdoor ceremony and a pavilion reception.

Many thanks to the owners of The Clockmaker’s Inn in Windsor, Nova Scotia. A last minute change in the weather meant that we were in desperate need of some sheltered spots for formal photos. They were more than happy to accommodate the group and the covered porch was a lifesaver.

A mid-summer wedding at Sainte-Famille Wines Ltd, located just outside of Windsor, Nova Scotia. Complete with an outdoor ceremony and a covered reception at the winery's pavilion. Formal photos captured at the historic Clockmaker's Inn. Photographs by Halifax Wedding Photographer Evan McMaster.

04/23/2020

When I moved to Halifax the space was home to a clothing boutique. 9 years later it would be transformed into Obladee, a Wine Bar. Step through the door and you’re transported from the familiarity of Barrington Street to the charm of an Old World bar. Warm lighting, warm woodwork, live jazz, rich spreads, a fantastic selection of wine and last . . . but certainly not least . . . staff who make you feel at home.

Follow the link below for the full set of photos & write up!

An intimate wedding ceremony and reception at Obladee, a Wine Bar. Located in the heart of downtown Halifax, this is a space that presents you with the charm of an Old World bar. Photographed by Evan McMaster, a Halifax based Wedding Photographer.

04/07/2020

I have another link for you to share, and this one is important! Book a portrait session between now and the 31st of May and you’ll have the chance to gift a session to an essential-service worker. More below . . .

Are you an essential-service worker? You deserve the biggest hug when this is all over. The best high five. You’re helping to keep us safe. Helping to keep us healthy. Helping to keep us sane. Helping to keep things moving.

In typical Maritime fashion it started out cold, then it briefly snowed, then it briefly rained and then the sun came out and it was a balmy 13C. And that brought everyone outside for some backyard, self-isolation Vitamin D. After catching up on news with a neighbour I was asked if I’d heard about photo sessions being gifted to essential-service workers. I hadn’t, but after a few minutes online I’d found dozens of examples from across North America. It’s a fantastic gesture and the idea is simple;

Book a portrait session between now and the 31st of May and you’ll have the chance to gift a session to an essential-service worker. Simply mention their name & profession when you complete the booking request and I’ll email a custom certificate that you can pass along to them. A portrait session can be used for families and it can be used for couples! What does a portrait session provide?

Two hours of shoot time and an unlimited number of edited images that are free of copyright / printing restrictions.

Each image is saved in both colour and black & white formats so that you’ll always have a choice between the two.

Images are delivered online, but can be saved to physical media if provided by the clients.

The cost of a session? $400 + tax. Anything else to keep in mind? Yes!

Claimed sessions do not expire - they can be redeemed at any point. That holds true for both the initial booking and the gifted booking.

Initial bookings are subject to a 15% non-refundable retainer.

Sessions can commence once we’ve worked past periods of social distancing.

Travel within most of the Halifax Regional Municipality is covered. A fuel fee may be required for the initial booking and the gifted booking if the distances are greater. I’ll do my best to combine sessions or coordinate a booking when I’m already in the area!

How do you book? Visit the link below and navigate to the ‘Contact’ section of the website.

Stay safe, stay healthy!

Are you an essential-service worker? You deserve the biggest hug when this is all over. The best high five. You’re helping to keep us safe. Helping to keep us healthy. Helping to keep us sane. Helping to keep things moving. Do you know one? Book a portrait session between now and the 31st of May a...

04/06/2020

An early morning start at Spirit Spa in the heart of Halifax, followed by a first look along the Trans Canada Trail in the Woodside Area Regional Park (a great set of trails overlooking the Halifax Harbour!), followed by a beautiful wedding ceremony in a gazebo at Sullivan’s Pond, followed by a stroll along the edge of the Dartmouth Commons (a big thank-you to the kind individual who left a chair out on the sidewalk - it was perfect), followed by a visit to Yeah Yeahs Pizza (no excuses if you haven’t tried it - they’re still up and running and offering pickup in the midst of all this quarantine craziness!), followed by a nearby backyard wedding reception. This was the perfect October day - sunshine, little wind, warm temperatures, fall foliage and a crisp, cool evening. Focus on the moments. Focus on the small things. Celebrate and have fun.

Thank you, friends.

A small gazebo wedding held on the shore of Sullivan's Pond in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Formal photos throughout downtown Dartmouth and the waterfront, followed by pizza at Yeah Yeahs Pizza and a cozy backyard reception. Photographs by Evan McMaster, A Halifax based wedding photographer.

04/01/2020

Exploring Sir Sandford Fleming Park and the shoreline along Herring Cove Provincial Park during the winter months. Proof that January can be colourful! Proof that it can be rich! Click the link below for the full set of photos. Stay safe everyone!

Winter wedding photos captured at the Herring Cove Provincial Park Reserve in Herring Cove, Nova Scotia. Located close to Halifax, and photographed by Evan McMaster, A Halifax based wedding photographer.

03/30/2020

First of all - I'd be thrilled if you read this post. Share this post. Share it far and wide. But only after you've followed the link and read the story within. Viewed the photos. It won't take long.

Let me explain why.

For the past week I've been going through the backend of my website. Sweeping of the dust. Organizing things. Removing some posts while expanding on others. And then I came to this entry. At a time like this it was nice to be reminded of what still exists around us. What strengthens us. What we need to hold on to.

Community.

The kids and I still make the effort to get the dog out for his daily walk around the block. We'll cross the street and keep our distance if we meet someone else but we still wave. We still say "hello!". For the most part we'll get a response - a smile, a wave, a greeting of their own. But increasingly, I've noticed that some people turn and walk away. Don't wave. Don't say hello. And that's depressing. Social distancing is hard, but it doesn't mean cutting ourselves off completely. Stay safe, stay healthy, but keep that community spirit alive. And if you are out for a walk? Take some chalk with you and leave a motivational message along the way - it may make someone's day.

We've got this.

A true, small town wedding celebration held in Bridgetown, Nova Scotia. Photographs by Evan McMaster, a Halifax based Wedding Photographer.

03/24/2020

It’s day feelssomuchlongerthanitactuallyhasbeen something or other of the current COVID-19 health crisis. It’s alternating between rain and snow outside and callers on the radio are complaining about confusing government advisories / restrictions.

But I have some fresh pressed coffee. Fresh bacon. Fluffy scrambled eggs. And the kids haven’t destroyed the house . . . . yet. It’s time to dive into the archives and start posting some of the albums I’ve been hanging on to.

Click the link below for the full article & set of photos!

Stay safe, stay healthy!

03/19/2020

Hello everyone. First and foremost - I hope that you and your loved ones are well. Your neighbours too. And pets! It seems that even our dog has succumbed to the overwhelming amount of news.

What a surreal moment in time.

But we’re here. We’ve got this. We can get through it.

Advisories and restrictions are changing on a daily basis - there remains a lot of uncertainty regarding the season ahead but I want you to know I’m still here. I’m a solely-owned / solely-operated wedding photography business and my plan is to continue moving forward and weather the storm to the best of my abilities.

Ultimately I’ll take my cues from the government. I’ll take my cues from health officials. And I’ll take my cues from you.

What does that mean?

Don’t be afraid to reach out if you’ve booked a wedding and are considering a change of plans. Are you sticking with your booked date but moving to a scaled down wedding? An elopement? I can work with that. I’d love to work with that!

Are you thinking about postponing your wedding? I can work with that as well! Simply touch base and ask about alternatives. I don’t mind providing you with recommendations in the event that an open spot on the calendar can’t be found - I’d want to make sure that you’re left in capable hands.

Are you thinking about cancelling altogether? Please don’t. Don’t give up yet! Remember - we’re here. We’ve got this. We can get through it.

How would postponement work?

If we’re able to find a date, then the initial deposit would transfer to the new booking. There would be no need for a second deposit. Unfortunately I can’t refund deposits or instalments made. If we’re unable to find a date that works then we can terminate the contract and I’ll do my best to help you find an alternative!

And last, but not least - what happens if I become sick? I can follow all the precautions in the world, but it is impossible to fully isolate myself from a virus that none of us have been exposed to before. I will contact you right away and do my best to find an alternative if your date falls within the treatment / quarantine period. During that period of time it would be my duty to ensure I’m not passing the virus on to others. Halifax is home to an amazing community of photographers and we are constantly looking out for each other.

As always I can be reached via email at [email protected]. You can also text / call at 902.401.0564. Leave a message if I don’t pick up - I may be trying to get the dog off the couch. Or I’m at the Wi******er. Having a pint. Waiting for this to blow over.

How the coronavirus may impact your wedding, and how we can work together to find a solution to plans that change.

03/03/2020

What should you do about engagement photos when the cold weather sets in? When the leaves have fallen and the local liquor store stops selling summer themed beer? Embrace the cold. Follow the sun as it sets and make use of every beam of light. And when it does set? Start a fire. Cuddle up. Enjoy a glass of something heavier and look ahead.

It was an absolute pleasure to have spent an early evening with these two along the shores of the Northumberland Strait. A beautiful evening. A beautiful view. Beautiful colours. And a handsome pup. Let's not forget about the pup.

02/20/2020

Follow the 332 to Riverport, Nova Scotia and you’ll eventually pass the Old Confidence Lodge. Built by the Oddfellows in 1929, it sits on the shores of Ritcey Cove with a fairly nondescript, albeit bright exterior. Apart from its overall height, there isn’t much that differentiates it from other buildings along the South Shore. Step inside however and you’re met with something special. What was once a fraternity lodge is now a music hall / recording studio - described (quite perfectly, I think by Hillary Windsor writing for Halifax’s The Coast) as a fisherman’s version of the Grand Ole Opry. There is a warmth that spills inwards through the large windows, and there is a warmth that radiates outwards from the wood surfaces within. It’s the perfect spot for a concert, the perfect spot for recording and the perfect spot to celebrate a wedding.

02/10/2020

Are you looking to have engagement photos done?

Not sure what you should do for the session?

Terrified of feeling awkward in front of the camera?

Be yourself! Do what you like to do and let the session be a reflection of that.

It can be easy. I promise.

Click the link below for the full set of photos and write up!

Are you looking to have engagement photos done? Not sure what you should do for the session? Terrified of feeling awkward in front of the camera? Be yourself! Do what you like to do and let the session be a reflection of that. It can be easy. I promise.

Address

Halifax, NS

Website

http://www.evanmcmaster.com/

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