About Me

Hello and welcome to my photo blog. I am Karen McKinnon, a Vancouver Island based photographer - a gal fortunate to be living my passion. The blog is where you can see recent sessions, keep in touch with what is new around here (and I promise you it is never dull) and get a better sense of who I am, what I love and how I show it. 

Thanks for visiting. Please leave a comment and let me know you were here - it really does make me smile! 

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July 25, 2010 // wedding

The day was perfection for Angela and Allen. They were drawn to a Vancouver Island Wedding and the weather couldn't have been more "Island Style." There were blue skies, then some puffy clouds and of course some West Coast wind, which was a beautiful backdrop for their "I Do's" at Miner Gardens.

Milner Garders must be one of Vancouver Island's best kept secrets for wedding locations. There are beautiful gardens and the most charming little tea house, and of course an ocean view.

Angela and Allen brought their closest friends to join them for a very touching and intimate ceremony followed by a dinner at Tigh-Na-Mara .

From the moment I first spoke with Angela and Allen, I could sense their adoration for each other, you could tell Allen thought of Angela first and Angela did the same. On the day, they only seemed to have eyes for each other. Allen was a perfect gentelman and Angela who looked absolutely stunning lit up when she looked at him.

Thank you Allen and Angela, I adored photographing your wedding. You are kind, genuine people with so much style! I feel blessed to have been at your wedding.

Enjoy your sneak peek.

Click HERE If you want to see it larger with music.



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Tracy Ferguson:

The photos look great, can't wait to see the rest. They couldn't of had a bad photo if they tried as they both looked amazing and the location was perfect.

(07.27.10 @ 10:09 PM)
Tracy Ferguson:

The photos look great, can't wait to see the rest. They couldn't of had a bad photo if they tried as they both looked amazing and the location was perfect.

(07.27.10 @ 10:09 PM)
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: Angela & Allen Say I do . TrackBack URL for this entry: http://www.mckinnonblog.com/darkroom/mt/mt-tb.cgi/184

I was just downloading from today's wedding and this image jumped out.

trish.jpg


What a fabulous day! Congratulations Trish and Ryan!

(I have tons of weddings to blog.. come back soon!)



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John:

Amazing

(07.25.10 @ 06:33 AM)
gina k:

ohhhh gorgeous Karen!

(07.25.10 @ 08:53 AM)
christine:

What a beauty! Ryan, again, you are a lucky dude. Lots of love and wishes for many years of wedded bliss.

(07.25.10 @ 01:48 PM)
Kaylia:

So Beautiful Trish!! I knew all your pics would be, especially after seeing the shots Karen was taking...awesome work too Karen! I'm so excited to see more!

(07.26.10 @ 06:04 PM)
Trish:

We had such a great time Karen! So looking forward to seeing the rest of the photos!

(07.26.10 @ 08:23 PM)
Crystal-lee:

Trish is a beautiful woman and it was such a pleasure doing her makeup! She has a natural radiance that just shines through :) Congratulations to the newlyweds!

(07.28.10 @ 02:58 PM)
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: Impatience - today's bride . TrackBack URL for this entry: http://www.mckinnonblog.com/darkroom/mt/mt-tb.cgi/182
Girl tribes, being a household of gals and growing up very close to my sisters and mom, I was pretty pumped for this session.
In they came, laughing, talking, telling me stories. The laughter started right away and stayed with us the whole time.
Lily, Autumn and Elizabeth - three beautiful names, for three stunning girls. What fascinates me about families is the different personalities, and this crew is a prime example. They all let their true selves show, while mom just emitted this peaceful, calm vibe.

I was in my element and could have played all day.

Enjoy.



Gaudette112tw.jpg

gaudette1.jpg

And Renae the matriarch, an amazing woman who has absolutely no idea how drop dead beautiful she is. Are you kidding me lady! That smile is a stunner!

Gaudette117tw.jpg

Thank you Lily, Autumn, Elizabeth and Renee, for the great day in the park and the awesome joke sharing!
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Phebe May:

Renae. Where are your wings? You look like America's next Angel top model. and NO SURPRISE your girls are the best picture posers ever. You've captured this crew Karen. I am going to call you Crew Catcher Karen from now on.

(07.24.10 @ 10:47 PM)
Lisa:

You captured what we see in all of the girls. How fun, sweet, and beautiful they really are. You are fantastic Karen!

(07.25.10 @ 07:58 AM)
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: Girls Tribe - Lily, Autumn, Elizabeth and Renae . TrackBack URL for this entry: http://www.mckinnonblog.com/darkroom/mt/mt-tb.cgi/180
Christine and I just spent what seemed like as long time reviewing scheduling, checking in to see where we can accommodate a few more sessions and looking at the (gasp) fall schedule. It was kind of gruelling, it felt parallel to "a painfully long bank line up when you are in a hurry and your child has to go to the washroom time"

It kind of stresses me out. Fall - NO! I need this summer to be extended. Let's not get back to regular scheduled routines until the end of September. PLEASE.

So, to balance out the anxiety I feel at summer ever ending, I went to editing the Rideout Family.

I have tons of favorites, but this one of them laughing is what I needed this morning.


rideout077.jpg

These three had me in stiches with their witt and humour from the minute I arrived.
Sessions like these make me glow.

rideoouttrio.jpg 



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Christine Rideout:

oh those are both nice cant wait to see them all!

(07.28.10 @ 07:58 PM)
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: Going to my happy place - Rideout Family . TrackBack URL for this entry: http://www.mckinnonblog.com/darkroom/mt/mt-tb.cgi/179
The light, really was glowing, it truly was this warm. Fitting. I first met Bailey almost two years ago when I travelled out to Franny Bay to photograph her and the fam. Bailey told me it was a little place on the water. I pictures a small cabin. I was wrong. Their family has a beautiful sprawling property, full of photo locations - bridges, beach, barn's, brick - you name it.  When I pulled up they were all sitting out front, chilling with a beverage welcoming me. It was a great start to an extended session that left me pretty fulfilled. Add to this how much fun they were and the gift they sent me packing with and I was feeling like the luckiest girl. So when Bailey called me to shoot  her engagement session to Reed I couldn't say yes fast enough. I should mention that Bailey wow's me - gorgeous, funny, and whip smart - so I was really intriguing to meet the lucky guy.
Together they are twice as funny, witty and gorgeous. Thank you Bailey and Reed for the wonderful evening, that felt like hanging out with friends.

And once again, thanks for the lovely gift - as you know it brought much laughter as well as lovely meals. You two really are fantastic.

To see the below images larger click HERE


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April B:

Wow! Beautiful photos Karen. You are one talented lady!

(07.19.10 @ 06:02 PM)
gina k:

these are beautiful!

(07.19.10 @ 07:42 PM)
Bailey:

Karen they look awesome... you definitely picked the perfect time of day. Thanks so much for coming and spending a couple of hours with us - I think we enjoyed it more than you did!

(07.19.10 @ 09:36 PM)
Justine:

These are gorgeous photos Karen!

(07.20.10 @ 03:40 PM)
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: Bailey and Reed - Engaged and Glowing . TrackBack URL for this entry: http://www.mckinnonblog.com/darkroom/mt/mt-tb.cgi/175