Erin Wallis Photography Blog

She was composed, calm and serene. “Ready and excited to marry Chris” she said.
He was ready and nervous, being harassed by his groomsmen who were all wishing they had printed their speeches earlier (when they had a printer around).
“I’m going to cry” he said.

I was inspired before I even got to them, and was so excited to create images with them. “We get to make art today” I told Sara. It’s a beautiful thing.
He watched her walk down the isle with tears in his eyes and they exchanged heartfelt, emotional vows in front of all of the people who love them the most.
Vertical blinds leaking light, a rose garden, beautiful home, amazing old cars and big full dark rain clouds that waited to release the rain until my last portrait was taken (last one in series here).

In one word. Magic.
It was the perfect day for Sara and Chris to be married.
It just was..
May you two be surrounded by blessings, always.

Kaleena and Matt were married under blue skies and sunshine. More than 300 people watched them say their vows on beautifully manicured family property.
She was calm, composed and stunning. He was happy, eager and a tad warm in his suit. The faces of everyone involved say it all and I was honored to join them around the beautiful Cowichan Valley creating images with them. Railroads, farms, dirt roads and sunset fields? Amazing.
Thank you, for choosing me.

“When you realize how perfect everything is you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky”~Buddha

I’ve seen it debated whether Buddha really said this or not, and to be honest… I don’t care who said it. It is perfect.
I came across this image again as I was editing Sarah and Keith’s amazing Hornby Island wedding, and just needed to share the quote, with the image.

On Saturday Shannon walked the Great Walk, (all 63.5km on the gravel road) not in pain and misery… but with her head tilted back, laughing at the sky. Sarah was so excited, so joyous on their wedding day that she kept smiling, laughing, and yelling to the wind how perfect life was.

Attitude really is everything. Get a good one and cherish it.

The best part about Sarah and Keiths wedding on Hornby Island wasn’t their stunning location/venue. It wasn’t her amazing dress, beautiful flowers or her perfectly adorable shoes. Nor was it Keiths handsome tux, uniform or his immaculate and inspection passing shoes… it was them. Sarah and Keith. Although you could see the gratitude for everyone around them. It was just the two of them.

There are so many images I love, for so many reasons… but the main reason, in all of them, is that it was all real. I didn’t ask for Sarah to throw her arms in the air {photo above} and shout into the wind “THIS IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE”. She just did it all on her own. I didn’t ask them to be so totally in love, so happy, and therefore have that ooze all over their images… they did that.

Sarah and Keith were married at the gorgeous Sea Breeze Lodge on Hornby Island. Have you been to Hornby lately? If your answer is no… why not?

Your love is inspiring and contagious.
Thank you for inviting me into your world, for sharing your moments… for allowing me, to capture a little bit of you.
I loved every minute of it.

Often times in my life, a word, phrase, saying or theme will be swimming around in my head. Sometimes for a few days, other times for weeks. This one has been dancing with me for a few weeks now. Authenticity. Or being Authentic.

As a photographer it is my job to be professionally prepared. The gear checked, contracts signed, insurance in place, the planning the timing all organized, and then… on the day, being open enough to let the inspiration and magic of a wedding day seep into the images.

Chantelle and Ryan’s wedding was at the Maritime Heritage Center in Campbell River and we didn’t have a lot of time for images. As it usually happens during a wedding, things were running a bit behind, and I wasn’t sure if we’d have enough time for Elk Falls, like we’d talked about. The amazing pale yellow Buick Skylark that they had to drive them around, stopped running. We were staying put. I was secretly excited as I had found an amazing tree on the property just before the wedding. We ventured down to the pier, and then the beach. To my delight, an unplanned and perfect low tide had left us the most stunning tidal pool with an amazing reflection. Unplanned, and awesome.

While I was shooting Chantelle and Ryan, I said “I can’t believe we almost left here. This is amazing. I have the most perfect reflection of you guys in the pool. Perfect!” I was freaking out and jumping around and getting all caught up in everything and Chantelle said “That is so weird. My parents have a photo of them with their reflection in a puddle from their wedding day.” Unplanned perfection equalling truly authentic images. We proceeded to let the magic of their wedding day, and our planned but unplanned perfection sweep us away.

I have photographed many weddings at the Maritime Heritage Center. I will hopefully photograph many more, but the most amazing part to me, is that still… the photos can be different. Unique. Theirs. As with any location, I’ll likely not be the first photographer to find it. Or to create images there… but those images, those settings in those moments. Were ours. I didn’t find the location anywhere, but from my own inspired moments. I promise, images are always best this way.

Their energy, their love. Their family, friends, locations. All an amazing opportunity to create art, that is authentic. I am so blessed.
Thank you both for sharing your moments with me, and allowing me to create images that I truly love.