Kelowna Wedding Photographer
My photography style: Genuine, romantic & playful.
Hi, I’m Jessica!
I feel so fortunate to be a photographer; to have the privilege of showing others, through my photos, the warmth and love I see in their lives.
I’m passionate about capturing sincerity and inner happiness, and I pride myself on being able to help people relax and loosen up to achieve that. Hunting the candid moments that happen all on their own is also a passion of mine.
Featured In
The Best Wedding Venues in The Okanagan
I’ve done my best to spotlight the highlights of each venue, and let you know how many guests each venue accommodates so you have the info whether you’re planning a big or small wedding.
Why Work With Me
Knowledge
I’m a local to Kelowna and have been running my photography business full-time for 15+ years. I know all the local spots and love to share my exuberance for all things Okanagan!
Creativity
Natural light photography is my jam! I never lack inspiration because it’s always right in front of me in the clients themselves. My drive to pull out and capture peoples’ personalities lights me UP!
Experience
I have photographed well over 200 weddings in the Okanagan plus countless more portrait sessions. Through this experience, I’ve learned what works best in all areas of my business.
Next Steps
Reach out and let’s talk! I will gather and share more info on what you are envisioning so far so that I can give you some ideas and we see if we’re the right fit!
Once you book, I will help you with the details; whether it’s helping you choose a location for portraits, making a custom wedding photography timeline or giving elopement ideas based on your interests.
Let’s create some epic memories! I want to create something that transports you back to this time in your life and fills you with all the feels.
We Couldn’t Be Happier With The Results
We hired Jessica to do our wedding photographs. Included with our package were engagement photos. When we did the photo shoot we knew we made the right decision. My husband hates being photographed, but Jessica was able to put him at ease and we had the funnest time…at both engagement and wedding photo shoots. She is an absolute delight to work with and it reflected in our photographs. We feel lucky to have hired her and we couldn’t be happier with the results we got…definitely better photos than any of our friends got for their big day! No question!
-Matt + Tasso
Jess Is Your Girl!
My husband (still weird to say) and I eloped in New Orleans after being together 10 years. Neither of us are comfortable in front of a camera, but we wanted to document this special moment! After the nuptials we went with Jessica over to City Park where we lucked out on a beautiful day. She captured such stunning photos! Despite knowing how skilled and professional of a photographer she is, I’m pretty self-critical and was worried I wouldn’t feel comfortable with any photos. But when she sent me the gallery I had a hard time ruling any of them out! She has a unique way of making you feel good in front of the camera. If you’re looking for a talented photographer for your wedding, engagement, elopement, boudoir, family photos, branding photos, commercial photos, or anything else–Jess is your girl!
-Xio + Lane
Jessica Made the Whole experience so comfortable
Jessica was one of the best parts of our wedding. As a lesbian couple, it was essential for us to feel we could be our authentic selves with the photographer. Not only were we able to be ourselves, Jessica made the whole experience so comfortable she was able to capture our laughter, goofiness and cheesiness in a way that didn’t feel cheesy at all!
-Tara + Kylie
Her Photos have always exceded my expectations!
Jess is a wonderful and professional photographer! She has captured some really beautiful moments of my family over the years, and I can’t recommend her enough. She is a delightful person, and a natural at giving direction to awkward people, and to families with young children who are not so easy to photograph!! Her photos have always exceeded my expectations!
-Dylan + Liz
She lived up to all of our expectations & more!
We were so happy that Jess was able to shoot our wedding this past October. She was super easy to work with, very patient and helpful when trying to organize our multiple friends and family into different poses and shots, and our photos are so beautiful! We have had nothing but raving reviews from everyone who has seen them. We knew from the beginning that we wanted to Jess to be our photographer and she lived up to all of our expectations and more! Thanks Jess!
-Kaylan + Claire
The photos are absolutely perfect!
We had Jessica as our photographer at our wedding last month and the photos are absolutely perfect. This is the second time we have used her and even though my husband and I are not camera naturals, the shots that she captured made us look so good. The family portraits were amazing and she made everyone feel super comfortable. Her years of experience really makes a big difference as she knows how to keep the flow going and let you enjoy your day.
-Alicia + Jeff
I treasure all of the photos she has taken
I met Jessica Zais when looking to have some engagement photos taken in 2009. I had been following her blog for a few months and loved how she brought out genuine smiles from her clients. Her style is timeless, and I love how she used light and colour in her shots. After speaking with her over the phone, I knew that she was perfect. Since then, not only has Jessica captured our engagement, but also our wedding and 5 years of family shoots as our family has grown. I’m so happy to have met her through her incredible talent. Her smiley bubbly personality makes everyone who gets in front of her camera feel immediately at ease. I treasure all of the photos she has taken, and look forward to booking her for years to come
– Carley + Graham
I’d also gained a new friend!
We knew when we saw Jess’s previous work that she was absolutely the photographer for us. Then, when we conversed back and forth and finally got to meet her for our engagement shoot, it was even more clear. Being in front of a camera for things like engagement photos and wedding portraits is intimidating, but Jess has this bubbly, easy going personality that makes you feel instantly comfortable. By the end of our wedding, I felt like I’d not only worked with an incredible photographer, but that I’d also gained a new friend! I wish I could get married again just to have this incredibly talented lady capture the memories!
– Lanette + Brody
I Am Jumping At The Chance To Hire Her Again
I started my marketing consulting business this year and hired Jessica to take photos for my website. I think I speak for most when I say being in front of a camera isn’t my comfort zone.
Not only did Jessica put me at ease throughout the shoot, she delivered stunning results! I had an idea in my mind of what I was looking for and without even articulating it, it was as though she entered my mind and captured my vision. I am jumping at the chance to hire her again. Thanks, Jessica!
-Miriam
Your ability to capture true emotion on film is astonishing
Mike and I are in love with the shots from the wedding day and the day after shoot!!! Your ability to capture true emotion on film is astonishing, and I feel like I am re-living the day every time I go through the film! You are so wonderful to work with and I really look forward to many many more shoots to come. Thank you so much for your hard work and dedication to your art.
– Christine + Mike
We absolutely loved working with Jessica
We absolutely loved working with Jessica for our engagement and wedding photos!! She is such a talented photographer and was professional in all of our interactions. Jessica put us at ease and made us laugh throughout our wedding day – all while providing helpful instruction – which resulted in an amazing collection of pictures that completely captured the happiness and excitement of our day. We cannot recommend Jessica enough – she’s an amazing photographer and a lovely person!
– Pamela + Neil
Having Jess as our photographer was a truly wonderful experience.
Having Jess as our photographer was a truly wonderful experience. We don’t live in Kelowna so we had to interview her by Skype, but right away we could tell she was very personable and friendly, and would provide us with the experience we wanted for our big day. We bonded right away after our engagement photo session with Jess and she made it a lot more fun than we thought it would be. On the actual wedding day, it felt like we had another friend at our wedding instead of just a stranger we hired to take our photos. We received our wedding photos in a very timely manner after the wedding and were very happy with the quality and artistic touch that went into her photography. We would definitely recommend her for any couple looking for a wedding photographer (or any other types of photo shoots). She’s excellent at balancing the professional side of photography while also providing a very personal experience.
– Jaclyn + Joel
Jessica’s work is exceptional!
Jessica’s work is exceptional! Not only is she professional but she’s also down to earth and really fun to work with. We will cherish our wedding photos forever. I’d highly recommend her!
– Kristen + Devin
She was an absolute dream to work with.
I cannot tell you how excited we were to get to work with Jessica. She was an absolute dream to work with. She is personable, creative, enthusiastic. We loved working with her and will definitely be going back to her for any family photos that we will want in the coming years!
– Tanis + Ryan
You are a perfect peach and a gem to work with.
Jessica, it was an honour and super fun to be photographed by you. You are a perfect peach and a gem to work with. It is impossible not to fall in love with you. You’re The BOMB!! Thanks again for the amazing photos.
– Melissa + Rhys
She was so easy to work with.
We got married May 2016 in Kelowna and are very happy that we chose Jessica to be our photographer. Her bubbly yet laid back demeanour immediately put us at ease and the photos from both our engagement shoot and wedding turned out beautifully. She was also very accommodating of our schedule and our desire to spend as much time with our guests as possible, all without compromising the number or quality of photos. She was so easy to work with, incredibly responsive to our emails and got the finished photos to us almost before we were back from our honeymoon!
– Janel + Donovan
I cannot say enough positive things about working with Jessica.
I cannot say enough positive things about working with Jessica. She is super friendly, and honestly a bit of a dork which I LOVE (she’s totally relatable). She was very professional and helpful leading up to, during, and after the wedding. She always got back to us promptly with any questions we had, and even had our pictures online before we’d come back from our honeymoon. Having great photographs was really important to us, and we could not be happier. All the pictures she sent us were beautiful; what you see on her blog is what you get. Jess, if you’re reading this – THANK YOU!
– Janine + Dave
Simply put, Jessica completed the best day of our lives!
After Garrett and I got engaged, and the planning began, my first thought wasn’t the dress or the venue, it was the photos. Perhaps I’m not the typical bride, but the most important part of the wedding to me, is the captured memories. Even though our wedding package we booked in Costa Rica included a photographer, I talked my (now) husband into bringing Jessica with us instead. Who knows what kind of photos you’d get from someone in a foreign country! She was definitely the best money we spent on our entire wedding! Jessica just seems to have an innate quality about her. She knows how to bring out the best in people -no matter how grouchy, irritated, hot or un-photogenic they may be. When she’s around, you can’t help but smile. Her upbeat and giggly demeanour made everyone feel at ease, not an easy task since it was 38 C the afternoon of our wedding! The response we have got from our photos has been overwhelming!
I can’t tell you how many of our guests commented on how wonderful and professional she was. Many of them have said they plan on using her for their next events. My husband, (like a lot of guys) wasn’t nearly as enthusiastic as I was, about getting our pictures taken. I think he thought of it as a necessary evil… but I can honestly say, that even he had a good time while we were being photographed! I think that if you have a destination wedding, you owe it to yourself to have a great photographer. You will not often go back to the same location, and every time you look at your photos, you will re-live the feeling of your wedding day. I would absolutely recommend Jessica for any wedding, whether at an exotic location, or in your own back yard. Simply put, Jessica completed the best day of our lives!
– Amanda + Garrett
Wedding Investment
Included in Wedding Packages:
- Pre-wedding consult (zoom, phone or in-person)
- Personalized location suggestions if you decide to do portraits off-site (I will help you decide).
- Customized photography timeline for your day.
- Engagement session for top 3 packages.
- Local vendor recommendations to take the pain out of searching!
- Edited High-Resolution images, with copies of many in Black & White.
- Personal Online Gallery to download, print (optional) and share with your family and friends.
- Complimentary photo-book design.
- Travel included within the Okanagan.
Weddings Begin At: $3800
Frequently Asked Questions
Get In Touch
If you’re looking for a photographer and you connect with my work, I would love to hear from you!
Why I Became A Photographer in Kelowna
Although I love to travel, I always come back to the Okanagan to live. Kelowna is my hometown and I love it dearly. The access to Okanagan Lake and all the mountains and beautiful nature so close to where I live is priceless to me. Having the added perk of so many fantastic restaurants, wineries and amenities close-by pairs it with the perks of a bigger city!
Doing day trips up and down the Okanagan Valley and to all corners of Kelowna has been a favourite activity in my family since I was a kid. After getting my first camera when I was 11, taking photos of these trips and around Kelowna gave me infinite inspiration and still does. I had no idea that the knowledge that came with this pastime of exploring the Okanagan would one day become such an asset in my job! Now day trips have a fun added layer of location-scouting and imagining all the backdrops that would be great for photos.
I have worked at the Okanagan’s best venues including Hotel Eldorado, Summerhill Pyramid Winery, Cedar Creek Winery, OAK Estate Winery, Poplar Grove Winery, Sanctuary Gardens, Harvest Golf Resort, and the Laurel Packinghouse.
Top 25 Kelowna Wedding Venues
A list of my favorite wedding venues in the Okanagan
The Okanagan Elopement Guide
Everything you need to know before eloping in the Okanagan
Kelowna Portrait Locations
The top spots for portrait sessions in Kelowna.
Wedding Info & Pricing
Check out my complete pricing guide.