Erin Wallis Photography Blog

My idea of a vacation is this… The West Coast of Vancouver Island. I’m telling you, if you’ve never been here… you just should. There are beautiful places in the world. Seriously breathtaking places. But nothing is more humbling than being surrounded by the rough, rugged beauty of the west coast. It’s just something about the mountains, the waves, the tides, the sea otters, the bears, the islands, the streams, the waterfalls, the crisp morning air…. nothing makes me speechless like this place. Its either in your blood or it’s not. It’s in mine… Within moments of stepping onto the tin boat, and motoring out away from the dock… I could actually feel… stillness. Quiet. I was decompressing. I was not thinking. I was existing. I was alive. What a wonderful 3 days.

It doesn’t hurt that my good friends family has a float camp in Nootka Sound, one of the most magical places around. (which I feel incredibly lucky to be able to go to!) It is also equally wonderful that this good friend, has now become my fabulous graphic designer/assistant/savior/second me. We had been working hard, burning discs, tying up loose ends, organizing life… so a mini road trip (in fact annual now) was just what was needed to re-charge our batteries for a busy wedding season.

Here is my hopefully helpful list of…

“Seven things to consider when road tripping…”

#1. Carefully select co-pilot/tequila and old country tapes for cabin
#2. Bring a dog
#3. Ensure you can get to one of the most magical places on Vancouver Island
#4. Purchase $1 red hats at the first store you see, and wear them around joyfully
#5. Make fabulous meals. Eat them in incredible places (like uninhabited islands)
#6. Be prepared to laugh out loud, singing old country favorites like “don’t ask her on a straight tequila night”
#7. Recognize that you are NOT going to want to leave

Recently, I met up with these two lovebirds to capture a few images of them on their holidays. We met at Painters Lodge (where they had spent their vacation) to create their images. I can hardly wait until they come back in the summer with their kids… we will be doing another session, and I am so excited!!!

Amy just emailed me after seeing her images for the first time and said…”Oh my Erin….. I love them, love them, love them. I can’t wait to see the rest. Thank you so much. I can truly say that I think you captured that love that we both have for each other. And it was so fun!”

Now thats what I like to hear!!!!

As for me, I’m off for the annual “before weddings consume my soul” road trip. There will be news when I return! Stay tuned for images from that… plus a wedding on Saturday too!!!

Thats how I would describe Brooklyn!!! Full of life. Absolutely!!!

The first time I met Brooklyn was at the ice arena (she was watching her dad play hockey). It did not take long to realize that she was someone with a whole lot of energy! Within moments of our first meeting she was sitting on my knee, telling me all kinds of stories.

I have known both parents for a long time, (in fact in high school I seem to recall driving around with Michelle singing Pam Tillis’ “spilled perfume”) When Michelle asked me to capture her family with an energized Brooklyn and a baby on the way, I was in. Their session took less than an hour, and in all honesty I felt like I had it after the first 10 minutes… it was effortless.

I look forward to meeting the little one tucked inside Michelles belly very soon! (Brooklyn announced during our session that it was in fact a boy, although she has always just said previously “well…. girl or boy”) I’ll keep you posted to what they welcome into the world!!!

This first image, may just be my favorite.

The light was perfect, the wind was blowing… gives me goosebumps still!


A rare, still moment with Brooklyn.

Um… I’m not sure if there are words for this level of cuteness!!!
Lexi is off the charts for sure.
What a happy sunny family, lots of love, lots of smiles, and so much to be happy about. What an adorable shoot! Let me know what you think!?!

It is official.
I have that feeling.
That feeling when you just sit still and know… really know… that you are doing exactly what you are supposed to be doing.

My first wedding of 2008 thankfully contained this feeling.

Erinn and Nick were married in an old theatre in Powell River, BC. The bride, stunning. The groom, dashing. The whole thing… fabulously old hollywood. The music, the bridal party fans, the brides wild shoes, the popcorn throwing outside the theatre… The whole day… entertaining, exciting, and wonderfully inspiring.

Erinn and Nick were so amazing to work with, and I’m so grateful that they chose me to capture moments that will never come again. I wish you both, nothing but blue skies.

My answering machine says I’m booked up until the end of June… What that actually means is, I’m shooting between 1-3 shoots per day. What that actually means is… I’m busy. Very busy…but who isn’t really!!! I am really enjoying photographing so many wonderful families, and fabulous people! Here are a few more family images from Denise and Steve’s family session last week. To all of you waiting patiently for your discs, and your finished products… I am incredibly grateful, as it means that I can continue to capture these images for other families as well!!!

Our session started off with great big crocodile tears, and ended with laughter.
It was an incredibly windy day accross from the Salmon Point Pub in Oyster River, but we decided to go ahead with the session anyway… The boys were so spirited and fun, that it made my job, incredibly easy!!! Here are a few of my favorites from the day.

Perfect. Beautiful. Amazing. Babies are just soooo wonderful.

Last summer a great couple, Amanda and Curt purchased a gift for their equally amazing friends Shauna and Gene. Last week, I shot their family photographs, loved them, and loved their images too!!! I thought I’d share a few of my favorite images, from a fabulous family session last week. What a great family!!! What wonderful children… what a perfect shoot.

He’s loved dogs since… forever.
Loved our dog Brandy that accidentally bit a little girl, and wound up on a ‘farm’… has begged for more family dogs ever after… no one would get him a dog.

He moved back to the Vancouver Island from far away baseball playing shores… and that’s when it started. The obsessive dog talk. Suddenly, he had the entire family convinced that we needed to buy a dog for our mom. I was apprehensive, as my mom had clearly stated that she did NOT want a dog. He was most certain, that she was delusional and really did want one.

He called me daily with dog finds, he texted me with every new breed, new location, new idea… he finally succeeded in convincing mom she wanted a dog. “ok” she said more confused than anything. He found the perfect dog…. he was going to get it for her… the phone calls stopped… no more texts… where did he go? Everyone thought he must have given up. I knew, however, that it was never about getting mom a dog. But more about filling a childhood dream, of a boy and his dog.

A week later, I got the call. He had driven to Gold River from Nanaimo (directly past our family home in Campbell River, Vancouver Island) picked out “Digsy” and knew instantly that he would NOT be dropping him off in Campbell River, but keeping him forever.

That’s the thing about boys and dogs, sometimes, it just makes sense for them to be together.