There is a ticket with my name on it, for a plane bound to the sunny Mayan Riviera! And what’s more exciting? I’m going to photograph the wedding of the fun and lovely couple, Alanna and Todd. A week of celebration, of relaxation, of much needed vitamin D (as opposed to these rainy, grey Pacific Northwest skies) sounds wonderful to me and I’m privileged to be a part of it. Last summer, I listed “photograph a destination wedding” on my 101 in 1001 list. Next week, I get to check it off. Today, the dreaded packing. Tomorrow morning, the airport. Here is a look at a few things that will be in my suitcase: 1. L’Oreal Colour Radiance Protecting Spray 2. Vitamin C Daily Moisture Lotion SPF 30 3. Sailboat pajama shorts 4. New swimsuits are a must for destination weddings…right?! 5. Starbucks VIA Ready Brew – obviously better than any hotel instant coffee :) 6. Plane + beach reads! Vanity Fair, Women’s Health, Vogue. 7. My Shootsac! (but my Kelly Moore bag may also make an appearance…) 8. Sandals and my beloved Toms 9. Plenty of cute, breezy sundresses 10. Perfect size for travel, Bohemian fragrance rollerball So! For the next week and a couple days, I will be out of the office. I plan to say hello from Mexico a couple times here on the blog, but I may be slow to respond to emails. Thanks for your understanding :) Happy Friday everyone!
Read MoreWhat I’m Listening To
Lots is going on these days! So many fun projects and shoots on the brain and in the works. And I’m happy to say that my passport is going to be in plenty of use as well (a little more on that tomorrow!). To keep me going and keep things fresh, I had been searching for some new music…tunes to work to, to work out to, for travel and for, well, whatever. I put it out on my business Facebook page and got some fun suggestions. If you have some too, comment below! Here are a few that have caught my ear recently: I know we’ve heard this one…a lot…but I’m not sick of it yet… Pretty much any song by Florence + The Machine could make it on a playlist of mine… Not so much of a new song, but a rediscovered favorite! Okay, now if you haven’t yet, tell me what’s on your playlist?
Read MoreSlow Down + Document
In all my thinking ahead and desire to plan, plan, plan, I also want to just slow down. I worry about the future and how it will look, when it wasn’t long ago that I longed for the things that I’m living right now. And so when I think about this, my concern about the future slowly dissipates, and is replaced with the need to document. Recently, Shane and I had such a fun opportunity to do that! We had photos taken of us. Not only that, but they were taken by a Seattle photographer whose work I’ve been admiring for awhile now, Tonhya Kae. Tonhya was looking for models for a project she had in mind. A series of emails followed and soon Shane and I found ourselves in Seattle on a sunny day in the city, at Tonhya’s creative disposal. As a photographer, getting on the other side of the camera was a valuable thing. It opened my mind to how my clients might feel during a session, and gave me ideas as to how I can improve their experience, and their images. But not only was the experience valuable as a photographer, but as a couple. I mean, its FUN to get your photo taken! To just relax and let someone else – someone with the talent that Tonhya has – take over and take the picture. But really, these days of falling in love and new possibilities and fun deserve to be photographed. They’re not always easy but there is a richness in that and they are days worth documenting. So, thank you Tonhya for helping us do that! And have so much fun with you in the process :) Here are a couple of my shots, behind the scenes. But what you really want to see is Tonhya’s work, HERE!
Read MoreGood Morning
I love mornings. Love, love my mornings. My alarm goes off at 7 am, I crawl out of bed and walk upstairs to start the coffee, if my mom hasn’t already. If she has, it makes the morning even better because then I get to wake up to the smell of it. As the coffee brews (or warms my mug), I often reach for the oatmeal. Sometimes with brown sugar and banana, sometimes with peanut butter and honey, and if I’m feeling fancy, I cook a blueberry sauce to pour overtop. Steaming coffee in one hand, steaming oatmeal in the other, Bible tucked under my arm, I walk to the living room. It has become my favorite room in the house – white walls, white hardwood floor with a white, cozy rug, and tall windows – and I’ve sort of claimed it as my office (though, it does need a desk…hint, hint mom). Curled up on the sofa, I open my Bible and open my heart. This has been a learned practise to do every morning, before opening my laptop or heading to the gym. When I wake up, most often I’m excited to go to work and knock off as many things from my to do list as possible. But I’m learning and growing to be excited to get into the Word first, putting ‘God time’ above and before the rest. And then I get to dive into the emails and editing and planning and all that fun stuff, or like this morning, hit my gym’s cycling class first…ick. Yay for Monday mornings :)
Read MoreSpring Wedding Inspiration
In the world of weddings, is there ever an abundance of prettiness and loveliness and possibility! And so many places online to scour and find such things: Style Me Pretty, Ruffled, 100 Layer Cake, the list goes on. If I was getting married this Spring…this is what might appear on my inspiration board…the prettiness found on Grey Likes Weddings. Happy Friday! And Happy Weekend! See you next week :)
Read MoreNew Friends + Good Food
We were greeted with hugs and a delicious aroma of leek and celery soup simmering on the stove. At long last our schedules had aligned and Shane and I drove into Vancouver for an evening with the lovely Robyn and her husband Andrew. Robyn and I have become friends over our love of photography – both as an art and as a business. Sweet, stylish and creative in all sorts of ways, I always find that time with her brings about some new bit of inspiration or fresh idea. This time, we included our men and enjoyed one another’s company over the yummiest of food: ciabatta with honey, ricotta cheese and prosciutto, the aforementioned leek and celery soup with a dill and oil drizzle, salad topped with pine nuts and dried cranberries, followed by a pear and cheese plate. These people know how to eat well. Fresh, delicious. It has inspired me to think beyond our usual stir fry and spend more time in the kitchen! We talked of world travel, their upcoming move to Paris (a tad jealous), balancing work and personal life (I really must work on that), weddings, wine, flying, and swing dancing. And laughed and talked some more. And! Then! Dessert…I attempted to help but full credit of course goes to Robyn, for making the most delectable mini chocolate cakes, topped with whipped cream. For those, I would spend more time in the kitchen for sure! Paired with a velvety latte made by Andrew – which I told him was better than Starbucks – and I was in my happy place. Stimulating conversation and good food with some great new friends…thank you Robyn and Andrew!
Read MoreHome From Japan
Arriving a few minutes early, I grabbed the comfy chairs in the corner of our Starbucks. Anxiously I sat there, staring out this window and then staring at that window, watching for her. Checking my phone, watching the minutes tick by. I ordered my toffee nut cappuccino. Took the first few sips of foam. Glanced out the window…and then I saw her, a flash of unfamiliar blonde hair but the unmistakable face and purple tights. Janelle, one of my dearest girlfriends, home safe and sound from Japan! I ran up to her as she walked through the door and we gave each other the biggest hug. “I’m sorry I’m late!” I reminded her that she is, in fact, several months early. Last September, Janelle excitedly moved to Tokyo on a student exchange program. She had been dreaming and talking and planning this move for what seemed like forever. The plan was to come home later this summer. As we emailed and skyped while she was there, she repeatedly told me how much she loved the country and how she already didn’t want to say goodbye. But within a short few days, before she could grasp a hold of the situation, everything changed. Her future was suddenly shifted in a Tokyo subway train station. We sat there for over two hours as Janelle told me her story. How she and her friend clung to one another as the earthquake rocked Japan, yet how so many others remained calm…this was, after all, Japan, where the cities are built so structurally sound, and where the people of the country keep their emotions and reactions in check. Once above the underground, they watched a giant screen on the side of a building show the tsunami sweeping over the land. Janelle scanned the crowd, and not being able to make sense of the conversation around her, wondered if they should be running? Or…WHAT exactly was going on?? She told me how sleep those next few days was unattainable since every few minutes, after shocks shook you awake. And then the news of the radiation scare. And then a flurry of phone calls and strong advice to come home and furious packing and angry tears. The director of Janelle’s school in Tokyo tried to convince her to stay…that the media was making it a bigger deal than it really was…but in the same breath, he also…
Read MoreMarried: Brian + Stephanie
From the time she was young, her parents had encouraged Stephanie to pray for her future husband. When she grew older, Steph’s mom felt a prompting to pray for a guy named Brian. Her mom told her this, and so Steph went along with it…”okay Mom…I’ll keep an eye out for a guy named Brian”…sure, she thought. A few months later, who do you suppose enters Stephanie’s life, but her future husband, a guy named Brian. The morning of the wedding, the rain fell with not much promise of letting up. But when we walked into Stephanie’s parents’ home where the girls were getting ready, we were met by a bride without a care about the weather – it was her wedding day and nothing was going to interfere with her happiness! Steph was cheerful and refreshingly laid back – as she had been since the first time we met to chat wedding and photography. Her parents welcomed us into their home with much warmth, and celebration and love filled every room, as hair and make up was done, dresses were slipped on, and the bride’s own mother served up a delicious spread. And I was so thankful to have my good friend Alanna second shoot with me! We had such fun working together and she was an awesome assistant, right down to holding my umbrella for me :) I knew how much Stephanie had been anticipating this day, counting down to this day. So it was so neat to be a part of the culmination of not only the planning and time spent waiting, but the love her and Brian have for one another. And the love their two families surround them with, both love and support. Just like during the father of the bride’s speech…after a playful warning to Brian involving the shooting range…it was followed up with loving encouragement, how the men of the family were there to hold each other up. Thank you Brian and Stephanie for inviting me to share in your day in this way, and for your friendship. By now you’re most likely basking in the sun on some beach in Jamaica – have so much fun and bring a little sun home with you, okay?! :) xo! such beauty and joy… this wedding party was great, in spite of the near freezing temperatures! these girls were so fun to photograph – they…
Read MoreSharing + Growing
I love this industry and I love meeting up with other photographers. I love sharing ideas and advice and comparing what works and what doesn’t. How to grow and find inspiration. I had such an opportunity yesterday morning to connect with nine other girls, photographers, in the area, and do so over tea and lunch. Thanks goes to Miss Jamie Delaine for instigating the morning…we met up at her lovely little studio in Ft Langley and then proceeded to take over Wendel’s coffee shop. So many familiar faces, seen only online, and so many great conversations that came out of our time together. Real, face to face conversations are the best. When so often you work alone behind the computer screen, meeting up with others who live the same kind of work keeps you from going crazy! A few of us wrapped up the morning down the road at my latest favourite lunch spot, The Little White House. As we took our seats, we all imagined how lovely it would be to shoot a wedding there! The character of an old home, decorated with elegance and charm…see for yourself! Thanks to the wonderful girls I got to meet and chat with. Already looking forward to next time…now I need to continue my scribbled list of ideas and dreams and put them into action!
Read MoreWhat About Happy Ever After?
As I was driving into Vancouver yesterday, some upsetting news came over the radio….Brad and Emily broke up. For those of you, like me, who have been following along with this past season’s Bachelor, know exactly who I’m talking about. And may be as disappointed as I. Seriously…only a day after we watched the most perfect, Bachelor proposal, and only a day after we watched Brad and Emily’s reunion, where Brad slipped that insanely sparkly ring back on her finger? What about those ‘forever’s Brad promised Emily? What about their picnics and private island and hometown date with her daughter? You mean a relationship that evolves over the course of six weeks, with incredible trips around the world and amazing dates involving helicopters and elephants doesn’t equate to lasting power?! I’m hoping this is a rumour. It could be that by the time I post this, they will be back on. Who knows. But it was funny how the radio announcer made a good point; what about all of us who invested three months of our lives into the show, following along and living vicariously through their experiences?! What about how we feel about the situation?! But the truth is…regardless of the outcome…us fans won’t stop watching it. Will we? If anyone has an update, let me know ;)
Read More