Erin Wallis Photography Blog

It’s like in daily life I forget to study you.
I am doing stuff, you are doing stuff (you are always busy… putting diapers on Elmo, laughing at Frank, playing with the kitties, bunnies, reading books, running from room to room… just throwing stuff on the floor and singing) I forget there are other rooms in the house to explore. We venture into our bedroom, and our bed becomes Disneyland. The plain white sheets become a blanket of fun, a new adventure. The window, our door to making up stories and singing songs to the passing cars. Safe and warm… watching the people stream by. Where are they going? “home” you say… or “wuuurk”. I say, maybe they are going to get “pizza” and you sing “piiiiiiiza. piiiiizzzzza.” maybe they are taking their dog for a walk. “FRAAAANKIE” you yell. It seems so simple. But, it’s us. Our days. Our cherished, sweet moments that I study you as you flail all over the bed. Then you have moments where you stop also, you seem to study me as well. Or, just plotting your next big move. Whatever it is, whatever we do, I love studying you. Who will you be, who are you now. How you bring our house to life in the most beautiful way. I hope we always have these simple moments, infused with sweetness.

It’s Christmas time Maisie Lu, and I just can’t stop studying your funny little spirit and your great big soul. May our Christmases always be safe and warm.
So much love,
mom.

When it comes to my business, my craft, my imagery… I am self proclaimed to be painfully inspired.
There is no other way to describe it. I obsess over details, ideas and how to bring them to life. Not in a planned out sort of way, but more of a late night bath thoughts sort of way. I’ve imagined the header of my blog changed to be more grey for a long time now. Which led me to need the perfect west coast fall grey day. Grey days generally equal a bit of rain, which isn’t the greatest for photographing artwork. I knew it couldn’t be forced but I wanted it to happen so badly! There were so many elements that needed to fall into place for this shoot to happen. I have wanted it to happen for about six months now. Bryce looked at me like I was crazy today when I said we were going for it today… “maybe you should schedule a day and do it then” he said staring out the window at the rain coming down sideways. “You’re really going to do this in the rain?” I wasn’t sure it would actually happen, but I had make up on and my hair was done and all you mommy’s out there know as well as I do, that if you’ve taken the time to do both of those things… and also put on a cute outfit… You’re certainly not going to just sit around the house. “I’m trying anyways” I said.

Shannon said to me today, “there is patience in creativity”. Patience up to a point. It was 11.11.11. It doesn’t happen often, in fact, only once every one hundred years. Today was that day. The weather way grey. There was a scheduled shoot that needed to have the time changed, there was our window. Of course, Shannon was up to it and off we went, armed with canvases and driftwood easels and a laundry basket full of clothes and cameras. It was pouring. We sat in the truck for an hour. Both somewhat resigned to the idea that the shoot wasn’t going to happen. I was discouraged, but it was ok.

She got out of the truck to take her dog out for a minute and the next thing I knew, my door was flung open and she was yelling at me “this is our window! Louise! Get out of the truck.” She was pulling canvases out of the truck and within minutes we were on the beach in the first dry 10 minutes out of hours of rain. These images were created in 15 minutes, and then… it started to pour again, and us… as always dragging sandy canvases and gear off the beach laughing trying to keep everything dry. I will treasure them always, for the memories and for the painfully inspired manor in which it always comes together.

A few days ago I was feeling disheartened. Uninspired. Just a tiny bit.. blahhh about photography. I shot two amazing sessions yesterday and two again today. My advice to anyone who feels this way, is to keep working. Keep creating. Push through the uninspired and reach through and be inspired again. Don’t sit around and wait for it. Just listen to your muse, and carry on. Keep shooting. Keep creating. Keep going. I choose painfully inspired any day.
Thank you Thelma for always being ready for anything.
Friends, I promise…. Anything is possible.

Dear Maisie,
Every night when you are tucked into your crib we clean up your toys.
All of the books go back into the teepee. The stray toys go into the cedar hope chest that my grandparents gave me when I graduated. I fold up your little blankie and put it on your little couch and then I put Ruby back onto your little chair beside Franks bed. She stays there every night until at some point the next day you decide its time for her to get out. Usually you grab her ever so delicately by the hair and toss her to the floor. “Tea Party” you say and throw a little plastic tea cup at her. You take a big swig of your imaginary tea and say “eeeeelisshious”. I let you know that I think Ruby needs a refill and you pretend pour her some more. “mmmmmm”.

During the day I’ll find Ruby on Franks bed, face down on the floor or in some other random location. You also think it’s funny to sit on her and yell “yeeeehawwww”. Auntie Heather bought you Ruby before you were even born. I’ve never been more excited about a toy in my life. She is handmade and awesome and Auntie Heather told me that I have to let you PLAY with her. She said, she wanted you to be able to drag Ruby anywhere with you and get her dirty and well worn in. So, we play hide and seek with Ruby. The other day, it was in our front yard. I hide her, and we yell “RUBBBBY! RUBY!!!” Until we find her. Even when you find her, you still insist on yelling for her. Daddy said that the other day he took you outside (without Ruby) and you were yelling for her and looking for her anyways.

There are many moments in each day when I have no idea what I’m doing. I wonder if I am doing anything right with you, or if I am making endless mistakes. But, we are happy. We are free. We hide dolls in our yard and laugh when we find them. We might be doing a few things backwards or just flat out wrong, but it’s the very best kind of days I can think of. I love you sweet girl. Every day is a journey, a road to discovering new things about each other, about life and about you. How can this possibly be wrong. I love our days together Maisie Lucinda. Love them. Every. Single. One.
xoxoxo
Love mom.

Dear Maisie,
All seasons are beautiful. Of course.
But, there is something special about the fall. A time for family hibernation and soup. Cool crisp air, warm and cozy homes, leaves changing colors… and falling. Your great grandpa’s apples ready. Sweaters, scarves, woodstoves and most importantly… boots. Fall is my favorite, and I’ve never quite enjoyed it as much as this year… with you. You make everything more fun. Rolling around in the leaves. Seeing a bug and then yelling, at the top of your lungs… “BUUUUUG. BUUUUUGGGGGG. BUG. BUUUUG.”

These moments might not seem like a lot now… but I know in a few years, I’ll be thinking back on the time we rolled around in the leaves, you burning around, laughing, kicking and yelling. Us, playing with you… but mostly just marveling at your free spirited wildness.
You bring us, pure joy.
I love you sweet girl.
ox

A few weeks ago I was honored with receiving the Young Entrepreneur of the Year award for Campbell River by the Campbell River Chamber of Commerce.
The Young Entrepreneur of the Year award:
“Honors a business owner or founder under the age of 35 who has excelled in business; exemplified leadership and entrepreneurial skills; and demonstrated exceptional vision that has contributed to business success.”

I was absolutely floored to receive this award as I was nominated along with many other talented and inspired business owners! Other nominees include
Scott Kilby, Campbell River Hyundai
Heather Larkam, Urban Dance Connections
Jonathan Kervin, Web Sense
Aum Song Troughton, Embody Wellness

In any case, I was completely unprepared for the receiving of the award. The tidemark theatre was full of people. I was sitting in the furthest darkest corner of the room (furthest from the stage) so internally there was only one thing happening on my very long walk to the stage… a mantra repeating itself… “Do not fall Erin”.
Upon arriving at the stage, I awkwardly accept my award, break out my best double chin for the photo of me receiving my award (no, I will not be showing you that particular photo) and then realize that someone is telling me to “say a few words”.

The whole world stops turning at this point. My instincts tell me to elbow anyone in my path, grab my award and head for the nearest exit. I am terrified.
With a camera in my hand, I am fearless. Honestly. Nearly fearless. I will yell at a group of 200 or more people, cracking jokes, orchestrating an entire field of people into the right spot for the right photo. I can make cranky kids laugh, or smile, I can become best friends with the most ornery old fella, or the craziest auntie around. Without my camera, I am just another person terrified of public speaking.

I know the moment it all changed, yet I can’t seem to overcome it. I was 21 and asked to give a speech about my personal involvement with Cystic Fibrosis, and specifically about my Uncle Michael (moms brother) who had passed away from it at the age of 21. Even writing those words brings my heart rate to a panic and the lump in my throat is painful. I had a beautiful speech written, there were funny parts, sad parts a great ending and beginning but the delivering of the speech was something I wasn’t prepared for. Prior to this particular speech I was always the one to be the speaker. Grad fashion shows, MC’s no problem. NO problem! So I thought, I would be just fine at the Rod Brind’Amour Cystic Fibrosis Golf Tournament. I was far from fine. I’m pretty sure I cried through the entire speech. I don’t know if anyone even heard one word of what I said, but I just remember the whole time looking at my moms face (who was squatting in the front taking photos of me). Her face said “you’re doing great, you’re ok”. But I knew, I was bombing. I was crying and spitting out words and trying to race through my speech. I’ve never been able to speak at a microphone since then. (without a camera).

So, forgive me for my one second “thank you everyone” speech at the Chamber Business Awards of Distinction event. While everyone else had amazing speeches prepared, saying eloquent things… I was fumbling and awkward and if we’re being honest here… that is just totally me.

What I might have said, and should have would have been more like this…

Thank you for seeing me. Thank you to this amazing community for opening your arms to my art, to my dreams to my visions. Thank you for humoring all of my wild ideas and for supporting us through my imagery. I am so grateful for my clients. Every single one of you. I am grateful that you believed in me 5 years ago, and still do today. I’m grateful you’ve grown with me, and brought my images into your homes time and time again. I am grateful to the Chamber for recognizing me, for picking me out of the crowd and acknowledging me for all of my hard work and efforts. My business hasn’t grown by itself. I’ve worked so hard to get to where I am today, and with the continued support of my beautiful family and friends and clients, we are able to stay in a city we love, have grown up in and want to raise our children in. I am so grateful.

Thanks to Lee from Island Life Photographics for the image above.