Erin Wallis Photography Blog

There are many variables that will make up your family photographs. The season, time of day, weather, clothing and of course the uniqueness of the family. Every session takes on its own life, how? YOU. Your outfits, your family, YOUR personalities.

Need some help choosing your outfit(s) for family photos… look no further. I’m finally ready to post about this.

1. Think about where you’d like these images displayed in your home. Look at your living room’s color palette. If your family session is in the fall with glorious colors and rich reds and browns and oranges, but those colors don’t necessarily match the decor or look you are going for in a specific area of your home… maybe re-think the choices. Maybe something more airy and light suits that space better. Or, change the room and paint entirely, just to suit the photos. Just be aware that you will eventually be displaying your images in your home. Hopefully forever.

2. Choose a favorite piece of clothing. I often base our outfits off of one article of clothing, and lately it’s all based off of Maisie’s outfits. I’ll choose an outfit I adore and build our clothes around hers.

3. Avoid obsessing about it. Day dream, yes… stress NO. It’s easy to google “clothing choices for family photos” and instantly become overwhelmed with the super cool outfits the matchy match things and the crazy hype of it all. However, some of my favorite family images are just timeless in their simplicity as well.

4. Bring something else. Even if it’s just a bag with a few “maybe’s” Sometimes what you don’t think will look great in a photo, will end up being amazing in a photo. Bring it and we’ll work on it together! I always bring a bag of my favorite tops/pants etc. To be honest my whole house looks like a disaster after a family shoot because I have ripped out every piece of clothing I have and tried it all on, then thrown the rest onto my bed. Done the same with Maisie’s etc.

5. Think about your location. If you’ve chosen a beach setting.. heels might not be your first choice or whatever, they might be!!! We’re west coast girls around these parts and heels are generally low on the list… but think about location and what you might normally be wearing there. OR, break the rules and dress right up.

6. Get inspired. Look online. In magazines. See what colors you love and maybe you have something in your wardrobe that is perfect. I have a board {CLICK HERE} on Pinterest dedicated to family photo clothing choices. They aren’t all necessarily my choices, but you just might find something that inspires you in there.

7. Whenever possible. Avoid perfect matching. As temping as it may be to all dress the same (and easy) it really takes away each individual’s uniqueness and personality to dress exactly the same. Same color tones are great, but not necessarily the exact same color. But again, if that is totally your thing. You go for it.

8. Seek help… There are a ton of posts online aimed at helping you make good choices… Ever watch TLC’s What Not to Wear??? Here is also a great post about clothing choices by a Dallas photographer. Get your pal to come over (offering wine helps) and get her to give it to you straight. Bear in mind that it is also MY job to choose the most flattering angles and lighting to help out as much as possible.

9. Quit being so hard on yourself. 100% stop being so critical of yourself. You look in the mirror and see only flaws. I look at you and see your beauty. Promise.

10. Be comfortable, YOU and have fun. Stress looks like STRESS in photos. Love looks a whole lot like love. Once you arrive at your session and we get going… try as much as possible to let everything else go, and just “be” with your family. With your people. Your images will glow. Promise.

A truly magnificent Quadra Island family session.
Beautiful scenery on their amazing property on Quadra Island, beautiful people, incredible family. Great fur friends and a dog named Nootka.
What an incredible group of spirited, unique and fabulous people.
I am so lucky.

We did it. It was a huge success.
I photographed over 200 dressed up cuties in 3 hours. We raised $2740 for Cystic Fibrosis Canada and I had the Happiest Halloween Ever. For real.
On the morning of the shoot, we were all ready the amazing Campbell River Cystic Fibrosis Volunteers were there with their witch hats, setting up coffee donated by Tim Hortons, cookies donated by Thrifty Foods and candy also. It was 10:20am on Sunday October 30th (the shoot started at 11) and there was not a soul in sight. (besides us) I was mortified. I looked worriedly at my trusted sidekick Shannon Andrews Design and said “what if no one comes”. I hoped you would come. 10:30… you came. It was amazing. Beautiful. Hilarious and awesome. It was exactly as I had envisioned it to be… only better.
How did we do it? With amazing support from a beautiful community.

Roy Williams from the Campbell River Common Mall and Indoor Storage Solutions… thank you for opening doors for us as we dragged large quantities of props, pumpkins and lights. For helping me haul driftwood in and for being generous to open up your Mall for our fundraiser. THANK YOU.

Amy and clan from the Willows Market… thank you for graciously allowing us to borrow all of your birdcages, crows, cool chairs, signs and every awesome article in your amazing market. We love you all and are so grateful to have joined forces with you!!!

Ryan Lim!!! For creating the worlds most perfect wainscot floor and background, and the cutest and coolest chalkboards… EVER. YOU ARE A GENIUS. Thank you!

Chris Black and all of the CF volunteers… thank you for walking up and down the long line up, handing out candy and Fright Lights and cookies. You really, truly made a world of difference and everyone has commented on how great you all were in your awesome witch hats! THANK YOU.

Ayaz, Sharilyn and Jan at Sure Copy!!! Thank you so much for GENEROUSLY donating each and every sign we hung, all of the handouts and the big signs also. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

Bryce Cockburn of Next Level Training (hockey training sessions) for hitting the beach and finding the perfect driftwood chunks for our set, and when I painted 4 of them white and hated it and wanted 4 new pieces, thank you for not complaining when you grabbed your chainsaw and headed back to the beach for more. Thank you for doing extra with our girl and in our world, so that I can create wild and awesome events like this one. You are my favorite.

Thrifty Foods for donating candy and snacks!!! THANK YOU! You made a long line of kids very happy with your treats!!!

Tim Hortons for your coffee contribution!!! Thank you!!!

Carol Chapman at A Cut Above in the mall, Thank you for always being 100% on board with our big ideas. For talking about it, to hanging posters and being extra supportive. Campbell River is so lucky to have you. Thank you!

My mom. Who was sadly at a funeral and could not make it. Thank you for all of your running around before the event, and for watching Maisie for me while I painted and perfected the set. We missed you, but knew that you made the right choice. It wasn’t quite the same without you!!! (no Cystic Fibrosis fundraiser likely is!!!) Thank you for all of your love and support!!!

Cait Holmes from Dominion Lending for taking time out of your life, to come down JUST to hand deliver us nice coffee’s! YOU ARE AMAZING. Thank you!!!

To all of the parents of each and every child who came out. Thank you. Yup… YOU. You took time out of your busy day to dress your child up, wait for an hour in a line up all to support an amazing cause. Your hearts and beautiful children made us all incredibly happy. You. Are. Beautiful. Thank you.

To my trusted sidekick and fabulous friend. Shannon Andrews of Shannon Andrews Design. Thank you for instantly being on board when I mentioned my idea to you initially. Thank you for designing each and every poster. For bringing your contagious energy and enthusiasm to decorating and also to the dirty work, like carrying heavy things and set up and take down. You took time out of your already busy life as a full time educator of young minds and graphic designer. You are a rare gem. Thank you for making everyone who entered our event feel welcome and awesome. Thank you.

Halloween Photos slowly making their way ONLINE…
VISIT THIS LINK…
http://photos.erinwallis.com/halloween
find your little cutie and click on the image. You will see it get big! Scoll over the image and you will see a small “menu” up on the top left of the photo. Scroll over MENU and choose DOWNLOAD, and then…. ORIGINAL. voila… You have your photos.

Please PLEASE have patience as there over 400 more images being uploaded and it will likely take until tomorrow night to be uploaded and finished! They are not necessarily in order either and you might see more later.

Every single one of you… are awesome.
Thank you for joining me on this adventure. I absolutely LOVED it.
Happy Halloween! or as Maisie would say “HAPPPY AWEEE”

ps. a few of you that couldn’t make it out have expressed a desire to still contribute. YOU ARE AWESOME. Contributions can be made directly here http://www.crcf.ca/donate-to-cystic-fibrosis.htm

Why not get married on Vancouver Island!?! Vancouver Island is amazing place with countless wedding venues. I’ve been a part of many weddings all over Vancouver Island and have fallen in love with a few locations for various different reasons. I think it’s about time I shared. Here are my favorite Vancouver Island Wedding Venues. (Click on the resort/venue name to take you directly to their website)

Of Course, Dolphins Resort in Campbell River (images below). I’ve posted about it countless times, but it is truly warm, rustic and charming. Cozy little cabins, breathtaking views and delicious food… not to mention a staff that are excited to make your wedding dreams come true.
Shelter Point Whiskey Distillery has recently started catering to weddings and it is an amazing and unique venue for a Vancouver Island wedding.

How about a backyard of a historic Heritage house along the Campbell River? Haig Brown House might be more your style.

You may like another heritage site in the beautiful Comox Valley, The Filberg Heritage Lodge and Park where deer roam freely, and the quiet beauty of the park will immediately make you feel at home.

You may be looking for something more raw. More wild. More remote. Another favorite is The Black Rock Resort in Ucluelet. It’s beautiful setting overlooking the wild west coast waters makes this venue somewhere I always look forward to visiting and shooting. It’s cliff side hiking trails, beach access and beautiful rooms make me happy!

Maybe you want to go to Hornby Island? The Seabreeze Lodge might just steal your heart. Private and picturesque bring all of your favorite people here and celebrate all weekend long. Maybe you want your wedding photos at one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been?? Helliwell Park.

Another gem is Strathcona Park Lodge, just outside of Campbell River. I love the rustic setting, the countless outdoor adventures the beautiful light and the incredibly sweet old Barn that can be seen here set up for a reception.

Love the mountains? Get married at Mt.Washington. Getting married on what a mountain top has never been better.

I had never been here until this year, but then had the great fortune of photographing two weddings here. Hatley Castle is simply divine. Get married in a castle??? on in Victoria, Vancouver Island??? OK.

Today, and everyday I am grateful for many things.
I thought I’d celebrate this thanksgiving weekend with a session from a few weeks ago, that I loved even before I shot.
I love this family. (ps. how adorable is Lucia! Melt my heart!!!)
Thank you Salvador’s for venturing all the way from your cozy life in Vancouver to share some moments, and create a whole collection of favorites with me.

May you all have countless blessings, that come in many forms and disguises and may you be open to accepting them all. May this weekend be full of fall hibernation, with wood stoves and treasures and sweaters and stories. May you see fall colors everywhere and smell incredible food cooking in your home. May you be full, filled right up to the top. May you appreciate, soak it in, and enjoy it all.

Happy Thanksgiving Friends.
xo