Capturing the Heart of Light Up the Vines — A Night on Summerland’s Bottleneck Drive

Friday night felt like the moment I’ve been waiting for — the chance to capture Light Up the Vines in the way I’ve always envisioned. A decade of exploring these roads, attending these events, and even managing a winery during Light Up has given me a deep understanding of what makes this evening so special.

This year, Bottleneck Drive brought me on to document that magic — and although the planning timeline was short, the vision was clear:showcase the beauty, warmth, and authentic hospitality of Summerland’s wine community.

Taking the Lead — With Intention

With a short lead-up, I stepped fully into the planning role. Instead of asking wineries to select time slots, I created the schedule myself — based on my personal knowledge of the event’s rhythm:

✔ When staff are energized and excited

✔ When lighting and ambiance enhance the story

✔ When crowds feel joyful, not rushed

✔ When each winery could shine at its best

I didn’t want to show up at the end of the night when energy dips and everyone is juggling peak service. I have been there — and I know how stressful that is.

This wasn’t just scheduling…

it was respect.

Respect for their time.

Their craft.

Their guests.

And respect for the authenticity I strive to capture.

Creating Space for Real Moments

I built in enough time between each location so no one felt hurried. It allowed conversations to unfold naturally, wine to be poured with care, and those genuine smiles — the ones that make a brand unforgettable — to appear without forcing anything.

This thoughtful pacing also ensured:

— No pressure on staff already performing at their highest

— Flexibility if anything unexpected happened

— Time for proper model releases and signage setup

— Guests to feel comfortable and fully immersed

The wineries were amazing in supporting the professional standards needed for brand photography: posting clear signage that a photographer was on site and helping ensure consent from anyone in focus. If a guest wasn’t comfortable being photographed, I kept them out of focus or entirely out of frame. No exceptions.

Because brand storytelling should celebrate people, never compromise their comfort or rights.

The Route — A Story Unfolding Vineyard by Vineyard

Every stop added another chapter to a night full of warmth, firelight, and sparkling glasses:

1️⃣ Controlled Entropy Distilling

2️⃣ Summergate Winery

3️⃣ (Break / Travel)

4️⃣ ⭐ Solvero Wines

5️⃣ ⭐ Vows & Vines Vineyard

6️⃣ Sage Hills Winery

7️⃣ ⭐ Haywire Winery

(⭐ denotes premium extended coverage — these partners received a longer, more elevated branding session.)

From glowing fire pits to twinkling lights and winter air filled with celebration, each location brought its own personality and heart.

Why Friday Night Mattered

It wasn’t just about photography.

It was about honouring place, people, and the energy of a long-loved tradition.

I wanted staff to feel part of the magic — not like they were scrambling for one more task. I wanted visitors to feel fully present — not posed or interrupted. I wanted the wines to shine — not staged, but enjoyed.

And most of all…

I wanted to do justice to the experience that has meant so much to me for so long.

A Night of Pride and Connection

The feedback was instant and heartfelt:

“These are the best images we’ve ever had!”

Guests, staff, and winery owners lit up seeing themselves captured in a way that felt cinematic yet true. And honestly? I felt that too.

All the work, all the dreaming — it came together with spark and soul.

Saturday — Here We Go Again

The story isn’t over.

Tonight, we continue.

More lights.More laughter.More Okanagan magic.

I can’t wait to share every bit of it with you.

—

📸 Thank you Bottleneck Drive and every winery who welcomed me so generously. This is exactly the kind of storytelling I love — and I’m honoured to be the one holding the lens.

Cheers to another night of twinkling lights and unforgettable moments.

— Deanna Dunham