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

Deanna Dunham
Dec 12, 2025
3 min read

Saturday night felt like stepping into part two of a story I’ve held close for years. After the intensity of Friday — including an unexpected moment at Solvero Winery where my light stand snapped and I had to race home to grab another — I still managed to stay on schedule and deliver the images exactly as I envisioned.

That experience grounded me.It showed me that I could adapt under pressure, stay intentional, and lead the flow of the night with calm professionalism.

So when Saturday arrived, I stepped into the evening with a deeper sense of confidence — not because it was easy, but because I knew I could navigate whatever the night brought.

Flowing Through the Night With Intention

One of the most unexpected gifts of Saturday was learning that Dominion Cider had decided to open for the evening. I happened to have a natural pocket of time in my route, and because everything was running smoothly, I was able to include them seamlessly right after Pamplemousse Jus.

Keeping this campaign complete mattered to me.If a Bottleneck Drive location opened their doors to welcome guests, I wanted to honour that by documenting it.

My goal was never just to capture photographs — it was to capture the spirit of the evening with respect:

Respect for staff working at peak capacity
Respect for guests who deserve to feel comfortable
Respect for each brand’s unique identity
Respect for the authenticity behind every moment

That intention shaped the entire night.

The Route: A Story Told Across Wineries, Cideries & Breweries

Saturday unfolded with a beautiful rhythm, each stop adding its own personality and warmth:

1️⃣ Pamplemouse Jus

2️⃣ Dominion Cider

3️⃣ Summerland Heritage Cider

4️⃣ Sleeping Giant Fruit Winery

5️⃣ Lunessence Winery ⭐

6️⃣ Heaven’s Gate Estate Winery

7️⃣ Lightning Rock Winery ⭐

8️⃣ Nomad Cider

9️⃣ Detonate Brewing ⭐

(⭐ indicates extended coverage locations.)

From glowing patios and twinkling lights to cozy rooms filled with music, conversation, and clinking glasses, each location offered something distinct—and together, they formed a complete narrative of the night.

A Message That Meant Everything

The morning after the event, I received a message from Ron Kubek, owner of Lightning Rock Winery, that genuinely stopped me.

He shared that he didn’t know what he loved more: the story I wrote or the photos themselves.

He told me he had already forwarded everything to his marketing team because the imagery and words were “absolutely awesome,” and added that even during their busiest, most chaotic moments on Saturday, he saw calm professionalism in how I worked.

Messages like that stay with you.

They affirm the care, intention, and heart you bring into every space.

The Moment That Broke Me Open (In the Best Way)

After wrapping up my final stop at Detonate Brewing, I finally had a moment to breathe. Jonah generously brought me a beer and some food — such a kind gesture after two long nights.

Then two women seated nearby turned to me and asked:

“Are you the photographer who took the photos Bottleneck Drive shared today?”

When I said yes, they lit up and told me that the images were the reason they rearranged their entire Saturday night just to be part of Light Up the Vines.

And I cried.

Not from exhaustion — though there was plenty of that — but from the emotional release of realizing:

I did it.

I captured the event exactly as I intended.

The story translated.

The feeling translated.

The magic translated.

It was one of those rare moments where everything you’ve been working toward clicks into place.

45 Hours. 500+ Images. Delivered in Less Than a Week.

After photographing the entire event Friday and Saturday, I dedicated just over 45 hours to editing more than 500 images, delivering the full galleries by Thursday at 3:30 PM.

Every image was polished with intention — cinematic tones, clean highlights, rich colour, and storytelling at its core.

This was more than event coverage.

It was a complete visual campaign — one I poured my heart into from start to finish.