• Welcome to our website


    We are Erika & Ryan, the internationally published and award winning photographer team behind Rowell Photography. Specializing in Wedding Photography for Destination Weddings near or far, Portraiture & Family Photography. Located in Barrie Ontario, halfway between Toronto and the Muskokas.

    We really do have the best jobs in the world! But it didn’t come without the help of our amazing clients. Thank you!

    In 2005 when we started our little photography business, never did we imagine that it would take us on such an exciting journey. From traveling the world to being published in magazines like McLean’s, WedLuxe, Today’s Bride, Weddingbells, B Magazine (Ireland), Perfect Wedding, and tons of online blogs, newspapers near and far, even being interviewed on CBC Radio twice. since then we have been lucky enough to work all across Canada, France, England, Czech Republic, Mexico and Dominican Republic photographing couples in love, growing families and many amazing stories.

    What we love most about shooting weddings and engagements is watching each couples love story unfold right before our eyes, its like we are watching them fall in love for the first time. We enjoy the challenge of creating something new and fresh for each couple we meet. We truly love what we do, and hope that our images portray the passion we have for photography and storytelling! We are in the business of telling stories, love stories, family stories and life stories, and we can’t wait to tell yours. We hope to hear from you soon!

    -Erika & Ryan

  • Slideshow

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Featured in a Russian Wedding Magazine

Hey Everyone!

This is just a short little post. We were pretty excited when one of our images was featured in a Russian Wedding Magazine. We have no clue what it says, but we are in good company, from what we can tell it talks about a few wedding planning companies and has a few images from some great photographers in Russia and Eastern Europe. We think its the coolest thing ever! Canadians like us don’t get images featured in Russian wedding magazines everyday.

The image comes from Ryan and Tara’s Prague wedding.We only have a scan of the magazine, so if anyone out there can read the words off the images below and let us know the name of this Russian wedding magazine so we can order one online, that would be wonderful, we would appreciate that so much. Just leave your translations in the comments section below. Online translators are not very helpful.

First is the photo they featured from Tara & Ryan’s destination wedding in Prague, Czech Republic.

destination wedding photography Featured in a Russian Wedding Magazine

destination wedding photography Featured in a Russian Wedding Magazine

destination wedding photography Featured in a Russian Wedding Magazine

June 10, 2010 - 4:13 pm

Rowell Photography - Thanks Angel

June 9, 2010 - 9:39 pm

Angel Hill - CONGRATS!!! This is BEAUTIFUL!!! So proud of you two!

June 8, 2010 - 10:05 pm

Rowell Photography - It may be just that it is in the "Lifestyle " section of the magazine, but I will try the search

June 8, 2010 - 10:04 pm

Rowell Photography - Thank you Lisa! I will search that.

June 8, 2010 - 6:21 pm

Tanya ‘Green T’ - i know what it says;)

June 8, 2010 - 6:15 pm

Lisa McCalla Grigorian - My husband says the name of the magazine in English is either "Style of Life" or "Life Style"… if that helps : )

June 8, 2010 - 9:35 am

Erika Hanchar - Thanks Varia, if you can read it and let me know the name of the magazine if it is mentioned that would be so awesome!

June 8, 2010 - 6:02 am

Rowell Photography - thanks Ellie! I wish i knew what it said lol

June 8, 2010 - 5:47 am

Ellie Kistemaker - how cool is that??? wtg!

June 7, 2010 - 9:51 pm

Lisa Mark - Wow guys this is a gorgeous article, congrats! Sorry I don’t speak Russian ;-)

June 7, 2010 - 4:08 pm

Varia - That is awesome!!! Let me know if you need a translator :)))

Couples Session- Barrie, ON

As soon as the weather starts to warm up in Barrie, everyone starts calling for couples sessions and engagement session. This is Chris and John, we have been friends with John for a few years now, actually he and his work have been on our blog before in a post for his salon. John has just opened up a new Hair salon in downtown Barrie. Here is a link to his Facebook page.

We were so happy when they contacted us to do a fun couples session. I came up with the laundry mat idea and the no pants idea was all them haha! I love it when couples are not afraid to be funny, or sexy, or just themselves. It makes for awesome photo sessions. So we hope you enjoy these!

We have been shooting like crazy lately, families, engagements, couples, cookies and cakes and cupcakes and teaching One on One sessions, plus the wedding season starts this month. Its going to be a very busy summer, we have so many photo shoots to share with you all, so stay tuned to the blog, I plan to blog more photo shoots this week.

Thanks to John & Chris for an awesome couples session.

Erika & Ryan

P.S- To the photographers out there: Ryan and I are taking the summer off from teaching One on One sessions to concentrate on weddings, families and engagement sessions. We plan to start book sessions again in Early September. Feel free to contact us with any questions in the meantime or to be put on our mailing list.

engagement photography Couples Session  Barrie, ON

engagement photography Couples Session  Barrie, ON

engagement photography Couples Session  Barrie, ON

engagement photography Couples Session  Barrie, ON

engagement photography Couples Session  Barrie, ON

engagement photography Couples Session  Barrie, ON

engagement photography Couples Session  Barrie, ON

engagement photography Couples Session  Barrie, ON

engagement photography Couples Session  Barrie, ON

engagement photography Couples Session  Barrie, ON

engagement photography Couples Session  Barrie, ON

engagement photography Couples Session  Barrie, ON

June 6, 2010 - 2:28 pm

Erika Hanchar - Thanks for the comments everyone!!!
This shoot is definitely one of our faves.

June 6, 2010 - 2:26 pm

Rowell Photography - thanks for the comments everyone!

June 6, 2010 - 9:33 am

Crystal Adair-Benning - The first and last are by far my faves! So super cute!!! I adore the way their classic but fun as well. Rock on Erika & Ryan :)

June 6, 2010 - 9:00 am

Karissa Lachance - these are cute as a bunny……. or a lizard whatever you think is cute.

June 6, 2010 - 8:17 am

Jennifer Cavagna - That 1st one is so cute! I love it! Great session guys.

June 6, 2010 - 2:53 am

John Heil - what an awesome set! LOVE the laundry mat shots :)

June 6, 2010 - 3:06 am

John Heil - LOVE this!! great work guys

June 5, 2010 - 8:38 pm

Natalie - Love love love these images! Great job as always! Congrats to them :)

Muslim Wedding (Nikah) Ceremony – Toronto

A few weeks back I had the privilege of shooting a wedding with Kevin Lam Photography. He needed a female photographer to cover a muslim wedding in Toronto. Islamic wedding traditions are very unique and the entire experience was one I will never forget. Islamic brides and bridegrooms are almost never together during their wedding ceremony, also called a Nikah. It is a solemn and sacred social contract between bride and groom, presided over by the imam, or priest. The marriage-gift or Mahr is a divine injunction. The giving of mahr to the bride by the groom is an essential part of the contract. Mahr is a token commitment of the husband’s responsibility and may be paid in cash, property or movable objects to the bride herself. (http://www.soundvision.com/info/Islam/marriage.nikah.asp)

This was my first ever traditional Muslim wedding, I photographed almost solely from the females point of view and Kevin shot from the male perspectives. The end result was some truly unique images, I am so curious now to see what Kevin came up with.

Below are photographs from Jasenko and Camille’s muslim wedding ceremony which took place at the Islamic Society of North America in Mississauga Ontario.

wedding photography Muslim Wedding (Nikah) Ceremony   Toronto

Jasenko and the guys on the left waiting for the the Imam to arrive. Camille’s best friend pins her Hijab before we enter the Mosque.

wedding photography Muslim Wedding (Nikah) Ceremony   Toronto

The women patiently waiting in the womens area of the Mosque before the ceremony starts.

wedding photography Muslim Wedding (Nikah) Ceremony   Toronto

wedding photography Muslim Wedding (Nikah) Ceremony   Toronto

Camille, her mother and mother-in-law watch as the men prepare for the ceremony. The men and women are separated for the entire ceremony.

wedding photography Muslim Wedding (Nikah) Ceremony   Toronto

wedding photography Muslim Wedding (Nikah) Ceremony   Toronto

wedding photography Muslim Wedding (Nikah) Ceremony   Toronto

Jasenko & Camille see one another for the first time before the ceremony.

wedding photography Muslim Wedding (Nikah) Ceremony   Toronto

wedding photography Muslim Wedding (Nikah) Ceremony   Toronto

wedding photography Muslim Wedding (Nikah) Ceremony   Toronto

The Imam presents Camille with the contract, asks her if she is here on her own free accord and if she agrees to the mahr. Which she does :)

wedding photography Muslim Wedding (Nikah) Ceremony   Toronto

The contract is officially signed.

wedding photography Muslim Wedding (Nikah) Ceremony   Toronto

wedding photography Muslim Wedding (Nikah) Ceremony   Toronto

All the women waiting for the official word that Jasenko & Camille are officially married.

wedding photography Muslim Wedding (Nikah) Ceremony   Toronto

wedding photography Muslim Wedding (Nikah) Ceremony   Toronto

Jasenko & Camille’s mothers hug and get all teary eyed once their children are announced as husband and wife.

wedding photography Muslim Wedding (Nikah) Ceremony   Toronto

The men say their final prayers and a great shot of Kevin.

wedding photography Muslim Wedding (Nikah) Ceremony   Toronto

wedding photography Muslim Wedding (Nikah) Ceremony   Toronto

wedding photography Muslim Wedding (Nikah) Ceremony   Toronto

by Ryan Rowell

1 lonely comment

June 3, 2010 - 5:16 pm

Mick Roberts - Really interesting! Beautiful work!

Trash the Dress Wasaga Beach

Trash the dress sessions usually only come about a few times a year, and most of the time they are in destinations such at Mexico, or Dominican Republic and usually follow a wedding. But when Jeff & Rebecka emailed us asking if we would do a fun post-wedding session with them, we immediately suggested the beach. The weather has been getting really warm and we are dying to hit the beach, although the water was still a bit cool during Jeff & Rebecka’s shoot. Our first ever trash the dress session was at Wasaga Beach, ON so it was nice to revisit these locations. Our goal with these adventurous photo shoots is not to destroy a wedding dress by any means, but to just photograph brides looking hot, in some unique locations doing things they might never imagined doing on their wedding day for fear they may dirty or ruin their dresses.

Jeff and Rebecka are super fun, and we had an awesome time getting to know them. They were married last year not too far from us at Nottawaga Resort in Alliston, ON.

We can’t wait to see their albums from this trash the dress session printed!!

We hope you enjoy these images.

Erika & Ryan

P.S- Trash the dress sessions can happen at anytime of the year, we have photographed brides in the fall leaves and in the snow. You don’t even have to “Trash” your dress, most brides just want awesome images taken in beautiful locations. Check out the latest article on Trash the dress blog featuring another one of our trash the dress sessions, then contact us to book yours :)

trash dress weddings Trash the Dress Wasaga Beach

trash dress weddings Trash the Dress Wasaga Beach

trash dress weddings Trash the Dress Wasaga Beach

trash dress weddings Trash the Dress Wasaga Beach

trash dress weddings Trash the Dress Wasaga Beach

trash dress weddings Trash the Dress Wasaga Beach

trash dress weddings Trash the Dress Wasaga Beach

trash dress weddings Trash the Dress Wasaga Beach

trash dress weddings Trash the Dress Wasaga Beach

May 31, 2010 - 12:45 am

Erika Hanchar - Thanks Megan!Jeff & Rebecka are one awesome couple.

May 25, 2010 - 4:57 pm

Meagan Slater - Beautiful work as always!

Actor & modeling headshots Barrie & Toronto

Professional actor & modeling headshots have been keeping us very busy this year. We are so thankful to our very loyal fan base, who keep coming back each year, sometimes even 2 and 3 times a year to update their portfolios and who always refer us to their friends and family. Amber-Lynn and her family are probably one of our most supportive clients and friends. These images below are Amber-Lynn’s first photo shoot since her daughter Harlee was born, and she looks smokin’ hot! We are so happy to have you back Amber-Lynn and we cannot wait to see what this year has in store for you and the whole family.

Thank you for being our client!

Erika & Ryan

P.S- Headshots and modeling photo shoots are in full swing right now, this is the time to update your modeling portfolio and get back in front of the camera again, so give us a call to update your modeling portfolio.

model life Actor & modeling headshots Barrie & Toronto

Amber-Lynn & Harlee downtown Barrie.

model life Actor & modeling headshots Barrie & Toronto

by Erika Hanchar

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