Kamloops businesses win big at BC Wedding Awards

(via Aspect Film Works/Facebook)

The local bridal industry was well represented at the second annual BC Wedding Awards on Feb. 27. 

Three Kamloops businesses took home the top prize in their respective categories: Alex O'Daly from Aspect Film Works won Videographer of the Year; Rozalind Panasuk of Rozalind Photography was named Photographer of the Year; and Chelsea Stewart of Raine Artistry Co. got the accolade for Hair and Makeup Specialist of the Year.

Award nominations opened last fall; nominees were notified in December.

"It was extremely unexpected," O'Daly tells KamloopsMatters of her win. "I did not have a clue that I was going to be the winner. I obviously am so passionate about what I do and I'm always looking to improve and to put out the best product that I can for all of my couples, but it was a complete surprise to be nominated. To win an award like this, in the whole of British Columbia, is just absolutely amazing."

O'Daly, who regularly collaborates with Kathleen Fisher Photography, started her company in June 2016. The Aussie had just moved to Canada and wanted to get into the wedding business again. She started her career in all-things bridal 10-plus years ago but ended up taking a few years off.

"I have to say living in British Columbia, it just sort of renewed my inspiration for weddings," explains O'Daly. "I guess in Australia we have a lot of beach scenes and ocean landscapes, and that sort of thing. Coming here and being able to capture all these beautiful forest weddings... has absolutely renewed my love of weddings and I love shooting them here."

O'Daly describes her style as "very cinematic" and "emotive."

"I'm always trying to draw on a very romantic story from my couple, and that definitely filters throughout all my wedding films," says the 33-year-old film school graduate.

O'Daly adds she has always loved capturing moments around her. Her father is a commercial and wedding photographer, so she's always been around image-making from a really young age, she says.

As of now, Aspect Film Works only has a few spots open this wedding season. O'Daly says she tries to strike a work-life balance and have at least one weekend off a month (she's also shooting commercial projects during the week).

O'Daly notes Kamloops has a vibrant wedding industry, something locals should be very proud of.

"Something that was so overwhelming at these awards... I sat at a table with a bunch of other Kamloops vendors and I just noticed every time they would call out a Kamloops nominee, our table would just cheer and everybody was so supportive," she says. 

"It just goes to show how much we really value the wedding community here in Kamloops. I feel so lucky to live in a place where you have the feeling; you're competitors but they're also the people who work with you on a wedding day. It's a really great feeling, one I don't think you'd get in a bigger city."