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This is the first day this summer I have worked 9 to 5, and I am pumped - nerdy right? I have been putting in the hours this summer, but mostly on the weekends and evenings.

Today I am heading out the door, lunchbox in hand, with a spring in my step.

But first..  the Bolton's!

The Bolton's booked their session to coincide with their oldest heading off to university. We do many sessions marking this time in the life of a family and it is an ideal time to have images created.

The Bolton's are totally hooked up. Mom and Dad are stunning, laid back and lovely people. I am pretty sure their kids never fight with them, always do what they say , and prefer to be with their ultra-hip and wise parents their friends. Right?

Thank you Bolton's for coming out in what was questionable weather and for reminding me of why I love my job.  

Stefanie and David are some of the most down to earth, honest to goodness nice people a gal could ever photograph. It was such a treat to be at their wedding.  People came from all over the world to celebrate with them. It was an intimate affair, in that you felt  that you were at a secret, very special party and that everyone there was close enough with the bride or groom to have an "inside joke" with them. Everyone definitely felt comfortable to let loose. The tears were flowing during the ceremony and people were unconsciously letting loose on the dance floor later in the evening.

Every bit of the planning had a person touch, which Stef and David's family and friends all worked hard to create.

It was a beautiful wedding, for a couple  who already have a strong history and are blessed to have future surrounded by people who love and adore them.

Stefanie and David, thank you for your humour, your gorgeous personalities. David you are incredibly handsome and Stefanie, you have no idea what an incredible beauty you are (Kate Winslet is lucky to look like you.)

Enjoy your preview and to see it larger with music click HERE



 

I sat down at 9 a.m., ready to roll. Eeekkk..
The internet was down. I realized two things. One I am an internet adict. THe whole thought of my office being off-line threw my work game face off. Two, that once again, as per my previous post, I had to roll with it..

So my day did not include the mass amount of blogging that I had hoped for, but before the dinner bell sounds (who am I kidding? No magic dinner bell that signals a healthy meal being placed on the table is going to happen, but a girl can dream,) I had to share some of the fabulous Churchill family.

The little man Westin has been in front of the camera with me before, and once again he brought the cute, as his big sister. Well, actually, they are all really darn cute! Love this family - thank you for choosing me as your family photographer.

Typically, this blog is all rosy and sunny. Generally, that's who I am. I have actually been told it can be a weakness of mine, seeing the world through rainbow colored glasses.

So, someone asked me the other day to blog about a bad day.

My bad days tend to go like this - I eat, I call my friend Lisa and have a cry and I tell John all the things we need to do to make it all better( this is done irrationally and by blowing things way out of proportion) - John listens.

Then, I either go to the gym, or if I don't, I eat more. Then, I move on.

When something challenging happens, particularly in my personal life, I start trying to control things by making backup plan after backup plan in my head. Plan A, B and C are ready for action and I prep my super-hero cape.

I am however, getting better, at letting it go and realizing that if I roll with the tide, most likely I won't crash into a rock.

A few weeks ago, I hurt my ankle. John was away at work and the kids were all at their other parents. After an emotional call to my pal Corrie for medical advice, and an incoherent call to Lisa, I sat and stewed then went to emergency for some help. They told me I needed three weeks to heal. You can imagine my anxiety as I tried to figure out what I would do. I sat in bed stressing and stewing - people were counting on me. I got up and ate out of the tub of ice cream - so cliche.
I have covered for other photographers who have had emergencies, but never need to call in backup myself.
I made a plan. I rested, rested, and rested. When the next wedding came I didn't think once about the ankle. I think it actually made me a better photographer that day, because there was no flippin way my stubborn self was going to let it impact my work. Then I came home and rested, until the next wedding came.

All good right?

Not so much. In the meantime, my office work fell behind, just a bit, and mainly just the blogging and other goals I had set for August. Yet it seemed huge in my mind. 

Seems like no big deal right?

But.... but... but.. I am never behind. Truth be told, I am usually way ahead of the game. With a family the size of ours, and the nature of our busy life, it is the only way for me to work. If I fall behind I fall apart. 

On top of it  I haven't been able to go to exercise (which is like therapy for me,) I have eaten way too much ice cream and I have a pair of tight pants to prove it.

The blessings have been the amazing sessions I have. Putting my camera up to my eye and having fabulous people in front of it, is just like putting on rainbow colored glasses. For me, while shooting, everything else drops away and the moment overtakes me.
I also realize I have gotten better at letting things go, and reminding myself, my best is all I can do.

I am behind in blog posts, and album creation and thank those of you that are waiting patiently. 

This week feels like things are getting back on track and I am hopeful that I can kick the ice-cream to the curb and head to the gym instead.

This rainbow greeted me as I drove home from a wedding on Saturday.


 
Thank you.
 
 

When Amy called me to book her wedding she knew two things - she would be marrying the man of her dreams, and the ocean would be nearby. She accomplished both perfectly. Surrounded by an intimate group of family and friends, with the sun pouring golden warmth, she said I do on the beach in the always breathtaking Tofino.

Amy is a budding photographer, which always gets me excited and a bit more nervous for the wedding. Her and Brad wanted some drama for their photos, and we have the weather gods to thank for the gift of the combination of mist and sun, which gave the beach such a warm glow.

We met Amy and Brad for a first look and some photos before their ceremony. This year many of my couples are choosing this route and I can't recommend it strongly enough - it gives a chance to take the other person in, to love them, and admire them.

Thank you Amy and Brad, for bringing your fabulousness, for planning a wedding that was true to you and for letting us be part of it. It was an incredibly memorable day filled with so much beauty, you are both gorgeous!

I can't wait to see where the next few years take you, and based on how you kicked off life I know the future is going to play by your rules and be filled with a strong Joie de Vie.

A huge thank you to my assistant and second shooter Jennifer Dodd from Powell River, for sharing the joy this wedding brought.

To see this show larger and with music click HERE - it's worth it, the music and combination of beach images at the end of the show is a perfect match!