What I love about maternity sessions is that through the photos, you are transported outside of your own discomfort and fear, and are somewhere on the outside, looking in at the most glorious parts. The way you grew that baby. The way your body grew the eyes you are yet to know, the feet that will touch the earth, the hands that will draw all over your bathtub with crayons, the mouth that will say the whole alphabet at 21 months. The way you didn’t know how to grow vital organs, but you did it anyways. The way you did your very best, even when you were convinced that you weren’t.

The thing I love about a maternity session is that it is true love, struggle, devotion and unconditional love… celebrated.
All you ladies growing people… You go girls. You grow those babies, you eat that chocolate, you cry, you laugh, you pee 25 times a night, you online shop, you cut your hair, you get a pedicure, and you celebrate you. Because you are awesome. Growing people is no small matter, and YOU should be celebrated.

Can’t wait to share Bridget and Jeremy’s beautiful baby photos {check back on Monday}.
Their New Years baby Ben, has already arrived. {and he is INCREDIBLE}
for now… here is their maternity session with their gorgeous Newfoundland pup Maggie.
xo

I always say that I love my people. Saying “my clients”, just seems weird. The intimacy, connection and shared moments of their wedding days often brings me to tears, and reduces me to a puddle of smiley faced nostalgia as I sit and edit their images, post them online, blog about them, print them… deliver them. After the dust has settled from their wedding, I go through their images. Searching for the ones that tug on my heart strings and bring back their day with the most clarity. I am working, however I am also spending moments of my life with them and with that, I choose to do so as passionately, lovingly, creatively and honestly as possible. I may fumble around, pop buttons, trip on myself and occasionally say awkward things (ok more than occasionally) but, I am fully aware that I am creating a cherished heirloom. I am a wedding photographer, their chosen wedding photographer.

They could have chosen anyone, but they chose me. That is divine intervention, in my opinion. That, is beautiful.

My brides this year have been stunning, caring, kind wild and also daring. They’ve laid down in wet leaves, stood on the edges of very scary cliffs, and have climbed through barbed wire for me. Seeing their trust in me, their belief that we are doing something wonderful… is truly more than I could ever ask for. If you trust me, we have far better chances of making magic together.

I said, “well, it’s locked… we’d have to climb through the barbed wire.” Selena looked at me as if thinking “that’s it? No problem.” and she hiked up her dress and without doubt or hesitation, climbed right through as did the entire wedding party. The fellas were willing to set aside their beers (somewhat reluctantly at first) and the gals were willing to do just about anything. I am lucky. The day before the winds ripped the tent down, breaking things, causing panic. However, for us, and our photos the weather couldn’t have been more perfect. Being the second to last wedding of my 2011 season, I can’t help but think about all of the weddings that have come before this one. All of the couples, all of the images. All of the love.

I am so… totally appreciative of all of the shared moments.
These are my impressions of a beautiful wedding.

Thank you Selena and Trevor. ox

Wedding Venue: Shelter Point Distillery (Just fyi…. this is an AMAZING VENUE! If you are searching for a wedding venue in Campbell River, I’d be checking on their availability! Beautiful!)
Getting Ready Venue: Timberlane Beach Resort, Saratoga Beach.
Hair: Sharne’s Hairstream (mobile hairdressing studio! GENIUS)
Make up: Lisa @ Elements Esthetic Lounge
Flowers: Amy @ The Willows Market

PS… Coley! You’re next!!! xoxo

They live a few blocks away from us. Campbell River is a small town and that is a lot of money. Everyone is talking about it. At the grocery store, on the sea walk, walking dogs. Everywhere, and most everyone.

I’ve heard people say crazy things. It seems everyone knows how this family should spend their money, and are even dividing it up for them. I can’t even imagine what that kind of money does. I mean, let’s be honest here. If I knew my brother had won 35 million dollars, I’d be hoping our mortgage would be paid off. But isn’t that weird? It’s not my money, I have no claim on it. But, I bet you’d be bitter if your sibling or friend won that kind of money, and didn’t share. Isn’t that weird!?! I heard someone say “I hope they spread it around”, “I hope they remember the community center, the food bank.”. I thought that was interesting or crazy. We all presume to think we know what to do, or what not to do, or what we’d do. But we don’t.

In fact, I’m pretty sure I’d be the worst person to win the lotto. For real.

I realize that financial freedom comes with great rewards. Immense rewards. We all think, that would be the best gift. But would it?
You may just find that, that amount of money would cause incredible grief and sleepless nights as well. You may want to pay off everyone’s mortgages family, friends… but which friends. How many friends. Which family members? All of them? Some of them? Your favorites? I’d be willing to bet that a whole lot of trouble would come with a great big pile of money. Of course you could pay off all debts, buy some fancy things, charter planes, buy stuff, be rich, give to charity but… who knows what that really costs.

Would I pass up millions of dollars? Likely not. But, sitting here in my own little life I already know that my fortune is our health. Our baby. Our life. I’ve said it before, and I truly believe it. I’ve got no doubt that this lucky family will enjoy and LOVE their lucky little ticket. But, if you are envious, or jealous… I’d bet you could count your blessings RIGHT NOW and know that you already have your own fortune. Right where you are. Right now. Without lotteries.

I found this via Pinterest yesterday, and knew I had to share.
“If you have food in your fridge, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep you are richer than 75% of the world.”
{Full Post HERE}

Just something to think about.
Here is my fortune. Smelling flowers and laughing at the wind.

This time it started with a treasure hunt in a backyard garage. Old reels, old telephones, keys, an heirloom teacup, a first box for oil paints… a first camera. Treasures.
Possibly junk to some. Definitely treasures to a Runaway Soul.

At times it may seem that everywhere else in the world is the most beautiful place on earth. The different cultures, the amazing traditions of people from anywhere but here. Looking at photos from Venice, you see gondolas, beautiful stonework, a city built on water. You see old people walking along the street arm in arm. You see laundry hanging about the city, you see light pouring in from corners of archways. You see lovers passing over bridges. You see beautifully dressed women seemingly floating around the city. Barcelona, cafes, taxis, fashion, street performers, people reading on benches, or just enjoying a coffee watching people pass by. Marrakech … different again. Fragrant markets, smells of exotic spices, pastel buildings, blankets hanging from windows, old men sat in their window seat watching the taxis whirl by. Everywhere, distinctly different. However, I wonder… how many of the people of Italy, Spain or Morocco see their home as something that is so hauntingly beautiful and exotic, as it might be to a Canadian. Do they look at their surroundings and truly know that they are living in someone’s fantasy. They are in our dreams.

We are living in someone’s fantasy also. You are.
Do you see that we have culture, and traditions, and are covered in history. Do you see it?
It is hard to see it all around us, where we are. But, it is here. We are in it.

Campbell River is a city built on the sea. We grew up fishing, outdoors, we have fishing rods and hockey skates, and wear fashionable gumboots and hand knit touques. We don’t use umbrellas but it rains all of the time. We have the Tyee Club right here in our home town, dating as far back as 1896. Some of us grew up hunting for Elk and deer with fathers and uncles, know how to filet a salmon with no bones, and know our way around the woods by logging roads. Our highway is named the “Old Island Highway”, we are surrounded by lakes, and rivers and mountains and from most places in Campbell River the sea is only 5 minutes away. We have streets named after fish and a beach named “Miracle Beach”. Travelers from all over the world come here, to experience what is every day life for us. We are in a dream. Someone’s dream. We may not see ourselves as anything special at times, but I can assure you, having been all over the world. We are different. Unique. We wear rain jackets, and know about tides and storms and the sea. We have beach fires as often as possible, take our dogs for walks in beautifully constructed hiking trails. Wake up at 4:30 in the morning to take kids to hockey, and park at the beach to ‘storm watch’. We will pack up our world in a heartbeat to go camping, sometimes only 10 minutes from our homes. We also have an amazing first nation population in Campbell River. With stories, traditions and culture so heartbreakingly beautiful I never tire of hearing about the different masks, dances and songs. Some of us are lucky enough to have been a part of First Nations Potlatches and Feasts. Being witness to ancient stories and songs being sung by the cherished carriers of the traditions.

We are lucky.
While treasure hunting we see beauty in the things that may not feel special to some.
But to us, they are our stories. Our history.
We are so excited to share our Impressions of Home, with you.

I’m only going to share a very sneak peek few right now, as it will eventually be another series of “Runaway Soul” greeting cards and other wild creations.
But for now, here is what we feel, see and know to be home.
We have more to share. Always.


Runaway Soul in action.