Erin Wallis Photography Blog

Is it possible that an entire year has breezed past us again?
Apparently so. I find it incredibly hard to believe that in just 4 months, I have been involved with thirty couples getting married in Campbell River, and all over Vancouver Island. THIRTY. To think that about three years ago I would start off with five booked weddings. Four years ago, I had two… and now, Thirty.

To all of my 2008 love infused couples, you swept me off my feet, inspired me, challenged me and trusted me, none of which, I take for granted! Each wedding, more love, more emotion, deep breaths, life choices, heartfelt speeches, juicy happy tears,and all incredibly unique moments. I am honored. Always. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU.

I am actually a bit overwhelmed at the task of choosing only a few… so there may be more than a few!

Consider these images, my personal memoirs from 2008…
I can barely contain my excitement at having a whole new year, the ol’ blank canvas… to create as much art as humanly possible. Let’s pour our whole souls out this year people! Why not!!! Here’s hoping that these images make you smile, inspire you, stir emotion, or even brighten your day.

Bring on 2009!

It is Christmas Eve, and Campbell River is beautifully covered with snow.

I can’t help but think how fortunate I am, to have a warm house, a wonderful fella, a healthy little puppy..a beautiful family and friends that melt my heart. I am so grateful to be blessed with such amazing good fortune. Not a day goes by when I don’t feel gratitude, but even more so at Christmas, when there are people still struggling.

May you appreciate the beauty of your world, your life, and if you are reading this now… I’d be tempted to say that you are one of the fortunate ones as well. Soak in all of the magic moments this holiday season, and although I’m sure you already do… give whatever you can, as often as you can. May you be warm, cozy and full of all things marvelous over the holidays. Above all, may you be showered with magic.

Here are a few images of our winter wonderland and little Frank in the snow.

O.k. The confession is…. part of me wants to blog more about puppies, and specifically ours prancing around in the snow. But I’m going to contain my puppy news and updates to fit in every now and then, so I don’t bore you to tears with puppy fever. In any case, I’ve the pleasure of introducing you to an amazing maternity session from a few weeks ago.

Not all women look like this at eight months pregnant!!
This gorgeous woman, is ALL baby!
After a wonderful session, and having a great time chatting… here is what we came up with!

P.S…My studio in Willow Point will be closing its doors, but not without something exciting and new on the horizon, more on that to come.

You may recall my original Boys and Dogs post a while back, of my brother and his dog Digsy. These images of Bryce and our little buddy Frank reminded me of that post, and I couldn’t help but share this short series of images of my amazing fellas.
Puppy update: The little one is absolutely heart melting, until he is hanging off my pant leg, chewing my feet, and leaping over every barrier we’ve made for him.
The sun is shining outside, and I believe its time to get out in it!

O.K. First of all. Puppy training has quickly become my morning noon and night.

Bryce has named the little fella Frank or Frankie, and what a character. He certainly loves to please! He’ll walk right up to you and sit. Just sit down and tilt his little head and look at you. What a little charmer!

In the 3 days he’s been with us, one thing has become clear. I have no idea how mothers of real people do it. No clue. I have never had to take care of anything other than myself (although I do run a business and often hang out with friends children). So this will be a giant learning curve, or series of.

I wish to take this opportunity to just let all of you mothers out there know, that you truly are amazing. The amount of courage, patience, love, creativity, energy and pure strength it must take, to wake up daily and know that you are raising a human being… someone you hope to be a positive influence in the world. Someone who will hopefully be kind, caring and loving. Someone who not intentionally hurt people, donate money to charity, and think beyond themselves. Every single day must have an underlying current that the good values, morals and lessons you’ve taught your children stick and translate into wonderful people.

You mothers out there, amaze me. Heather, with your 3 children, Great Dane, 2 cats and fish… honestly… HOW DO YOU MANAGE?! Maritte with your 2 year old, newborn and dog!! Suzanne, with your 2 kids… Sarah with TWINS! What kind of humans are you? Super humans. It’s decided.

In any case, I get it… in some small way, I officially get it. (I’m sure one day, I’ll get it even more) But for now, Bryce and I are trying to raise a good, happy, healthy pup. Wish me luck…
Thanks for stopping by… more people photos soon I promise.

It is a beautifully stormy day today… and while listening to the wind howl through my windows, and rain exploding out of the sky, I’ve decided that it is time to share Christina and Darcy’s wedding photos. We were in the Mexican Riviera, engulfed with lovely humid air and sticky sweaty heat. It was a beautiful sunny day, everything was perfect.

I often question what I do as a photographer. Do I just take pictures, or is it art? Do I capture moments, tell stories, do I make photographs, or take them… or is the camera just an extension of me, a vehicle for me to express the beauty I see in nearly every single moment. I believe the answer lies somewhere amongst all of the above. I just see beauty. Everywhere, and at times its so overwhelming, I just want to stop it, freeze it, package it all up and keep it forever… and before I know it, I’m releasing the shutter of my camera, trying to do just that.

I want you to see it too, feel it, and the closest way I’ve found to connecting with people I barely know, is to show them how beautiful, honest, brave, soulful, joyous, loving, creative, magical and amazing I see them as being, through my images. I’m so grateful that you take the time to swing by for a look at how I view the world. I’ve heard it said, that a photographer puts themselves in every image they take, each photo a reflection of how they see the world. I feel there may be some truth to that.

This is how I saw Christina and Darcy’s wedding last weekend. A few images that I feel reflect the beautiful simplicity of their day. What an honor it was to be flown to Mexico, forced to drink margaritas, spend a week with, and photograph Christina and Darcy’s wedding.

May you see beauty everywhere.

A week of sunshine, beautiful beaches, free drinks…. I believe I turned many Canadians onto a popular mexican beverage… the CHELADA (basically salt, lime and beer… MMM) In any case, for the most part… I was sprawled out on my beach lounger, book in hand, with a gorgeous man by my side (who was suspiciously always handing me a few chelada’s). All in all, a very relaxing, and necessary week.

But really, who was I kidding… ONE WEEK… I needed five. Five weeks would have done it. Now one, and I’m back to the gloomy fog, rain and damp chilling air of our own little Vancouver Island Paradise.

The sunshine and the R&R were a welcome and wonderful break from it all… and much to my delight, I was there to photograph Darcy and Christina’s beautiful Mayan Riviera wedding. Those photos will follow… but for now a few of the small pleasures life can bring us in the form of tropical weather, constant blue skies and good company.

What I love about palm trees the most, is their shadows…

I love me some flat out doing nothing time..

In fact NOT behind the camera for a moment.

And finally my fella and I with a little help from the ol’ self timer setting…

Yes, I’m leaving in the morning for Mexico. Woe is me.
In skipping town for a while, I’m also saying goodbye to October.
Vancouver Island Photography is certainly beautiful in the fall, however I noticed this morning that the stunning fall leaves have officially “fallen” and are actually all over my lawn. With October over, I realize that I have been hording all of my October family sessions… and thought I would leave you all with a massive update from my October shoots.

I’m really looking forward to a bit of r and r, and also a few margaritas.
In any case, here is more or less what October looked like.

In the studio…..
we are quickly and humbly reminded, that there is great beauty in growing babies…

And that those beautiful bellies, produce the most amazing little packages.

To very grateful parents,

I was swept off my feet by small people…

Makenzie with her amazing smile

Taylor with her giant heart and amazing laughter

Colbie with her adorable face

and her toe eating talents…

Outside, I was witness a lot of family magic, the kind only created with love

and More love…

and a splash of joy….

What beautiful children!!

And last but not least…I was smitten with Nolan….

This will hopefully be along the lines of how I’ll be for the next week basking in the sun in Mexico!

Have a fabulous weekend, and week, and another weekend! I look forward to sharing images with you, upon my return!

There are rare occasions when the universe offers you moments like these, LIGHT like this.

When sunlight is offered to you bursting through an incredible storm, amidst a downpour of rain, you take it. Quietly. Humbly. (not that I was either) You take it, and then you take your bride and groom out from under their umbrellas and tell them excitedly to “LOOK AT THE LIGHT”. I was totally overwhelmed by this remarkable gift. It wasn’t for long, I believe it was 10 minutes of no rain, and pure magic, but it was enough. Enough to remind me that, we are certainly surrounded by something sublime, surreal and powerful.

Appreciative, Grateful, and Awestruck. That’s me.

When Jeremy and Tabitha originally contacted me to photograph their wild west coast wedding, I was instantly inspired, but had already booked a birthday party for the same day… Luckily I had some wonderful clients who even moved their daughters first birthday party to the day before, to enable me to capture these wedding images for Tabitha and Jeremy. I am so honored, moved and grateful to have been at the Wickaninnish Inn with you all, (all eleven of you) It truly restored my faith in believing that small, intimate weddings are possible on Vancouver Island!

These images… this light… Tofino, British Columbia, are all, very special to me.

I hope your week is full of amazing light.

Just a quick Saturday Post, to wish you all… a Happy Halloween! I hope you all had a great weekend, full of festivities and adorable small people dressed up in costumes!!!!!
Off to a stormy Tofino wedding tomorrow…. looking forward to some wild west coast wedding images!
More soon…..