Erin Wallis Photography Blog

They met outside a bar. The connection was effortless.
6 months later they moved in together.
3 months after that they bought their first home.
1 year and a half after, they were engaged.
2 years and three months… married.
Beautiful really.
Sometimes, you just know.

They wanted a simple and beautiful backyard wedding in Victoria, BC. That is exactly what they had.
Surrounded by people who love them.
It was, in a word… perfect. (well, aside from the new driver that backed into our parked limo)
But… who doesn’t like a little excitement.

So honored you chose me.
(p.s. If you are getting married in Victoria BC, you really should be booking the AMAZING Melanie Baird for your makeup. She is just beyond awesome.)

I used to lay in bed composing poetry. Always thinking, I should write this down, I’ll write it down in the morning. Sometimes I did.
The lights off. The world seemingly still and me laying in bed putting words together in my mind.

Maybe it was a way for me to try make sense of life, love… everything. It was a way I could connect the little things, that were always big things to me.
The slow motion way I saw the world. The way the light moved across the room as the sun rose and set. The way dust settled on things untouched, unused.
The way my imagination sparkled as the rain danced off the rooftop, spilling down from the gutter outside my bedroom window.
It might explain why I was the girl who dramatically hid up in the branches of my grandparents plum tree, and why I might sit on the window edge in my room daydreaming about love and heartache at the age of 10. I was always full of of thoughts and words.

It may have started with words and somehow ended up in photographs.
Holding life still. Being able to savor little delicate pieces of life that might otherwise be missed.
Like, the beauty in a pair of butterflies dancing around her, while she is unaware.
The look in someone’s eye when they think no one is watching, a gaze across a crowded room, a glance at something beautiful, someone beautiful.
The way life is either a whirlwind or a slow motion segment in a movie.
The way a photograph can hold you captive. Draw you in. Make you feel something.

A photograph can be full of a silent stories.
Like all of those stories I compiled in my head for so many years. Silently, within the walls of my imagination.
I feel like I am pouring out the stories, the thoughts, those feelings into images.
One story, one image at a time.
Or at least, that’s how I sometimes see it.

It’s best to slow down.
Just a little, just enough to notice the lace on her teenie knees,
that will never be that small again.
Life is sweet.

My fella is talented (and likely squirming already as he reads this). Bryce and I are polar opposites in one big way. I am a bit of an open book, putting it all out there… my business, our life, our daughter, dog… the works. Bryce is WAY more private. But, it’s my blog… so… I win. Don’t get mad Bryce, just go with it.

He has been running hockey training camps for Campbell River youth now for a few years and I couldn’t be more proud of how he runs his camps and how much effort and heart goes into them. He works so hard behind the scenes to make sure his kids in the power skating and elite hockey camps are getting the very best of his knowledge and experience. His hockey camps are geared towards North Vancouver Island hockey players from Novice to Adults.

When he started his camps and training sessions a few years ago he had just two amazing little guys on the ice with him. Last year, the ice was full of the most amazing Campbell River hockey players. I know how hard it is to put yourself out there. It isn’t easy, but it’s worth it. If anyone knows what it takes to make a career out of playing a sport you are passionate it is Bryce. He would never want to brag about himself or his hockey resume, but come on… it’s impressive!!!!
He grew up in Campbell River (we dated in grade 9, that’s a big deal right? ha!) and then he went on to play Junior hockey in Nanaimo, BC where he received a 4 year NCAA scholarship to Northern Michigan University. After 4 years of University Bryce spent the next 4 seasons playing professionally in New Jersey, Germany and Illinois, where he won an ECHL Championship in 2005 and a UHL Championship in 2007. He knows good hockey and has a passion for passing on the skills he has.
Why not learn from a pro, someone who has been coached by some of the best coaches in the world. (His coach in Trenton, New Jersey Mike Haviland is now the assistant coach for the Chicago Blackhawks, his time in New Jersey resulted in the ECHL Kelly Cup)

If you or anyone you know is hoping to amp up your hockey skills this summer there is still space in his 2012 summer camps, at Strathcona Gardens in Campbell River, BC. If your kids are looking for a way to get them ready for rep try outs, the upcoming hockey season or just looking to get some amazing power skating skills from an amazing line up of local talent… then you may want to follow these links for more information.
Next Level Training on Facebook
Next Level Training in the NEWS
There will also be a registered dietician Tiffany McFadden (who is super excellent) and an amazing lineup of coaches to help him such as former professional players Peter Trumbley and Mike Stutzel. He also has Ken Bueckert who has experience as a head evaluator. You just don’t want to miss out!

Everyone who participates in the camps will come away with a seriously great Next Level Training practice jersey as well as all kinds of new hockey skills. (Our awesome logo designed by Shannon Andrews Design) We decided to suit up our best model for a few photos in the jerseys.
I think she looks a little on the absolutely adorable side!!

If you are in Campbell River or the North Vancouver Island and are looking for Power Skating and Elite hockey preparation camps… I think you’ve found the right spot.
The camps run end of July 2012 to August 2012.

Email Bryce for a Next Level Training brochure here nextlevelbc@gmail.com

I’m doing a project right now and the fella I’m doing it with, (details to come later) asked me to think about “why I do what I do”. Oh ya, I thought, no biggie… I spit out about a million ideas, and sentences and stumbled around them for a while. I wrote some things down, and everything pretty much says the same thing.

My girl Shannon took the above photo of me yesterday morning during a really special family photo shoot. A seriously wonderful family. The mom, (hugging me here) has just gone through some major health issues over the past few months. Her three sons and their beautiful families live from Campbell River to Fort McMurray. Everyone got together. To just ‘be’ together. The gratitude poured out from everyone, but mostly from Bev. Their beautiful mom. It makes me an emotional wreck when I see her burst into tears when I suggested doing a photo of her with the grand babies. So, when the shoot is over and she comes in for the biggest hug ever, you know… that what you are doing, means something. The photo above, pretty much sums up my “why” I do what I do.

I’ll share more from this beautiful session soon.
But this morning, I’ve just got to play with my wild two year old who is currently playing (or something like playing) her toy piano with fishing plugs. This girl’s got personality. Me on the computer this morning is just NOT going to fly with her.

But, just before I go, I am also INCREDIBLY excited to share that
Stacey and Eddie’s breathtaking wedding is being featured on Style Me Pretty today. As if that isn’t a great way to start a week.

So grateful, so blessed. So honored.
Have an amazing week.
I’ll be back.
oxxo