Erin Wallis Photography Blog

You can say anything you’d like. You can tell me you love me, or you could travel from Marsailles France (where you were involved in a karate tournament) to Livorno Italy, on buses, trains, and in taxis not speaking any French or Italian… all to meet my cruise ship as we docked for 8 hours. All to surprise me, to show me you loved me. All to spend the day together at the leaning tower of Pisa. All to create memories that I would carry with me, and to show me I was loved. You could have sent an email, letting me know you couldn’t make it. I would have understood. But you didn’t, you came. Now, I’ll never forget the way my dad looked standing at the bottom of the gangway of the Royal Princess, red Canada jacket on, khaki pants. “Everyone wears jeans in Europe” he said. He could have just called. But instead, he came. Made the grand gesture, and now… I have that with me, always. We ate overpriced pasta, drank overpriced wine. I have the photos, videos even. It meant more than words ever would.

You can say anything you’d like. There are no rules. You can say, I love you, I’ll be there, I’ll fundraise, I love karate, you mean the world to me. But aren’t they just words, without the actions to back them. You can say you are passionate about karate. Or you can be the President of Karate BC, you can skype for hours in conferences with very important karate people, and you can lead your karate students out into the freezing cold ocean to show them the ancient Japanese tradition on how to prepare or train the spirit, in extreme conditions. Only a passionate love for a sport will lead you into the icy cold seas. He could have just said he loved karate. Instead, you are left with a handful of karate students, inspired by a teacher who truly loves his art. Actions and words are different.

My dad has been doing karate since forever. 35 years with Karate BC. 6th degree black belt. Founder and owner of Campbell Rivers, Wado Ryu Karate Club. Tournaments, officiating, Japanese exchange students. I grew up watching my dad be passionate about his art be it, twenty years ago, doing kata on a rock bluff at my grandparents cabin at Sooke, or one month after I give birth to my first child on the shores of Campbell River, BC. Seeing him live so passionately, leads me to believe that he had a hand in inspiring me to follow my dreams and be active in them.

You can say anything you’d like, or you can do something about it.

Dream something wild, and do it. Whether its inspiring others to create art, or build a garden in Nootka sound, help someone in tough times, or be an amazing friend, love your family more, or raise thousands of dollars for charity. You could show someone how much you love them, instead of writing an email with nice words. You could stand up for yourself, and change your life. Its truly your call.

Whatever it is… do it with your whole heart. Anything is possible.

In the process of you going for your dreams, who knows, you just may inspire your daughter, your students and a few others along the way. You’ll never know unless you give it a shot.

Over 20 years ago in Sooke, BC. My mom photographed my dad doing his Kata on top of a bluff.

Many years later, he leads his students into the chilly water for a “Keiko” training session.

Thanks Dad, for inspiring me to live my passions, follow my dreams.

If you do get caught doing what you love… you may even be smiling like this.

Maybe a pretty person makes a pretty photo. Maybe the outfit or the hair or the colors makes the photo appealing. At first.

In the initial glance at an image, what do you see.
Perhaps there are fun props, quirky poses, something beautiful. Maybe you don’t know why you like the photo. You just do. I’m not really one for fuss. I don’t really like using a lot of props or things in photographs. I like spirit. I thrive on emotion. I love seeing behind the image, what is really in that photo. Because really, there isn’t much chance in any single moment of seeing nothing in life. If you are seeing nothing… it is my humble opinion that you are missing a whole lot.

There is substance in everything. There is a story everywhere, in everything. In every molecule, every moment, there was something before it. Or some path that lead it to right now. You have a story, and many of them. I may not know what it is when I first set out to photograph you, but I’ll see it somewhere along the process. Or I’d like to think that its possible to catch a glimpse of your story in your eyes, in your silence, in your movements on your own and then how you move with your man/lady/child/mother/sister. We are all full of tightly woven sinews, all connecting us together inside ourselves as well as those stories fusing every single one of us all in a closely knit and intricate labyrinth.

I am somehow connected to you. Right now, you reading my watery words… me typing them from my laptop, feet up, reclined… baby wiggling away inside my belly. Listening to nothing but the wind howl through our fireplace, I contemplate what’s behind an image. You, wherever you are, which ever screen you are perched at in whatever part of the world. Reading these words. Maybe there are ten of you. Maybe only one. But somehow, something has brought us together. Be it only in the vast world of cyberspace, for this moment. Our stories have met.

When I look back at a few of these photos from the past, I see what I saw in that moment. In whatever fleeting moment was occuring, I am right back there. What I find most interesting, is to wonder.. what you see? Is it different from what stories I see, or feel or wish to feel. Do you see behind the image? Or is it just a nice photo. Is there anything compelling about it to you? What is it? I’ll likely never know. But I will leave you with a few of the images that I truly love. Mainly because of what lies behind the photo. Maybe you see it too?

“Each second we live is a new and unique moment of the universe, a moment that will never be again. And what do we teach our children? We teach them that two and two make four, and that Paris is the capital of France. When will we also teach them what they are? We should say to each of them: Do you know what you are? You are a marvel. You are unique. In all the years that have passed, there has never been another child like you. Your legs, your arms, your clever fingers, the way you move. You may become a Shakespeare, a Michelangelo, a Beethoven. You have the capacity for anything. Yes, you are a marvel. And when you grow up, can you then harm another who is, like you, a marvel? You must work, we must all work, to make the world worthy of its children.”
-Pablo Picasso

Hannah is the eldest of three amazingly fascinating souls. Hannah is kind, caring, and has a purity to her that is like childlike innocence and gold all in one. You always know where things are at with Hannah, she’s an open book. Her soul seeps out of her pours, in plain view for the world. In Hannah’s eyes it’s easy to see love.

Ella Ireland is the middle child. Full of mischevious wit, boundless humor, and endless creativity. She is quirky, somewhat unpredictable and always true to herself. She is the surprising one. When you least expect it, she will throw her arms around you and say something that melts you into instantly. Like “Auntie Erin… you are sooooo special” She is also the one that will not just shed one or two small tears over something, but will BURST into a flurry of crocodile tears, suddenly, without warning. She doesn’t give up her love to just anyone. But once you have it, you are filled up entirely.

Elijah is highly spirited to say the very, very least. He has an inability to sit still. He is alive. He is full of life, energy and full of all sorts of quirks. His report card names him as one of the most popular little dudes in school. He calls it “famous”. He is charismatic, moody, charming and irresistibly sweet. He has a bad temper, and a sharp mind. My time with him as a baby was spent perfecting the art of the baby dance, as he was terribly hard to calm down. He makes you want to know him forever.

Its no secret that I’ve loved this family from the beginning of time. I’ve been through it all. Witnessed each of them as a brand new baby, been woken up by their little peepers staring at me, grinning… whispering.. “Auntie Erin, are you awake?”. They’ve irritated me, inspired me, lifted me and quite honestly served as a very happy place for me. Time spent with them feels profound. Meaningful. Well spent. I am blessed with their love and friendship. Through good times and hardship, through tragedy, happiness, strength, and many changes… one thing remains the same. I am better with these people in my life.

A mothers love for her children is magnificent.

I am so completely excited, elated and overjoyed to bring you in on another little secret endeavor that the fabulous Shannon Andrews Design and myself have come up with.

We have started a very awesome little company called Runaway Soul. It is a collaboration of two wildly creative souls, who can not stop creating! Truly our motto is ‘Anything is Possible’. This holiday season we have created 5 holiday greeting cards in a happy little package. They are $15 for five cards. Each card is blank on the inside, for you to leave your own message. My images with Shannon’s design expertise and voila… magic happy holiday cards! They can be used as a little gift for someone special, just as they are. Or, for your personal greeting cards.

Want to know the best part? We are donating all proceeds above printing costs to the Ann Elmore Transition House here in Campbell River. By buying these cards you will be donating money directly to the local women’s shelter. It truly doesn’t get more awesome than that. So, before you go out and buy a few Hallmark cards (nothing wrong with those either) but just remember that there are extra cool cards that can be purchased from Maxima Photo Lab in the Tyee Plaza as of tomorrow!! We only have 40 packs available as we had no idea how many we were able to sell. Let us know if you are interested and if there is a big number of people interested we will make MORE!! (also please bring cash as form of payment)

What is the Ann Elmore House?
A shelter for women and their children in need of safety from all forms of abuse.
The Ann Elmore Transition House is a residence where women and their children can go to be safe from abuse or violence.
Each year over 250 women and their children seek shelter in the Ann Elmore Transition House. More than 300 additional women receive support and information.

I recently became involved with the House when I contacted them with an amazing project called Help-Portrait. Which started off as a few photographers with a vision to create portraits for people that would otherwise never be able to afford or have the opportunity. Currently there are over 4000 photographers worldwide participating. It is all about making someone feel beautiful, special, loved just by taking their photo. In larger cities, whole groups of photographers are getting together and doing it for the homeless or anyone else in need.

As I am only one photographer, I decided on a smaller scale, to contact our local women’s shelter where they chose 5 mothers with children that they felt would greatly benefit from this project. On Sunday the amazing Susan gave up her day to co-ordinate and drive the women and their children to and from my studio. Also, the fabulous Amy Lowes donated her time to pamper the women and their little girls with beautiful hair doos. My super human side kick Shannon also donated her time, love and energy to help make the day flow smoothly. For obvious confidentially reasons, I will not be posting the photos. But I do want you to know, that it was a beautiful experience. The women were glowing, the children so heartbreakingly beautiful. The spirit of magic was everywhere. To be honest, there are a few photos that I am unable to look out without giant tears rolling down my cheeks. If you are a local photographer, and are interested in joining me next year in the same endeavor contact me! We’ll be able to help so many more people. The experience will be one of the most beautiful things you’ve ever come in contact with.

For the past three years in my business, all I have wanted to do is give more, do more… be more. Finally this year multiple opportunities have presented themselves and I couldn’t be more thrilled. If you are one of the awesome ones that gives whatever you can, volunteers all the time, donates etc… your compassionate heart is beautiful. It is glowing and it is radiating throughout the universe. If you haven’t heard it lately, you are spectacular. If you aren’t usually the first to jump on the donating train… don’t worry.. it’s never too late. Anything is possible. You can do anything you want. Honestly. You have the power to change your mind, change your ideas, and change your priorities. You do. Give it a try. Spread the love. You’ll be happier.

So, the moral of the story is… Holiday Gift Card Packages with all of the proceeds going directly to the Ann Elmore Transition House $15 @ Maxima Photo Lab in the Tyee Plaza. Leave me a message if you are interested in purchasing so I will know how many to leave there.. or how many more to make.

A fabulous update for all of you fabulous people. The cans for comments is going strong and so far we’ve got 70 comments so far on the blog! Which is awesome. What is even MORE awesome about all of these comments is that I will be buying a can of food for each comment. So far 70 cans! What could be even more amazing than that? Well, the fabulous Tara Lewis of Undersea Gardens in Victoria has made an incredibly generous offer to match my end count and donate to their local food bank. Aren’t people awesome.

So, here are my favorites from the studio of 2009. Keep in mind I actually have hundreds of favorites from each… no seriously, hundreds. But it was my personal challenge to myself to be able to narrow it down to twelve. Not really sure why twelve? Twelve days of Christmas? Twelve in a dozen? Not sure, in any case… here are my twelve favorites from the studio. Thanks again for all of the wonderful comments! I’ll do my best to keep posting, and keep generating comments and in turn cans.