In any favorite photograph it might be a quiet about it, a sweetness, maybe the light, the colors, the feeling. The people always draw me in as well, their stories, their connections and passions. Or it could be the wind, the movement, the joy, swollen anticipation or emotions… but it’s always about some breathtakingly beautiful… stolen moment. Frozen in time.
I have favorites from 2011.
Here are some.

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.

3 years ago you changed our life and made my anxiety levels rise through the roof, bit my sleeves as I walked around, whined at the door, barked at everything and ran circles around our home and our life.

Our life was forever more wild, complicated and simply beautiful all at the same time.
Your sad eyes have forced me away from the computer on more than one occasion and I’m grateful for every moment watching you fearlessly bound through the trails trying to get every dog in your path to chase you. You are more entertainment than I ever knew possible. You’ve been scared by vacuums, lawn mowers and swiffers. You’ve chased rescue eagles (in crates) and continue to bark when the slightest noise is made around home. You can run faster than most dogs we meet, and can fetch a chuck-it like it’s going out of style. You’ve eaten Bryce’s favorite slippers, chewed our molding, and eat popcorn like it’s raw meat. You have the worst gas I’ve ever smelled and give the best hugs. The crazier you are, the harder Maisie laughs. Every day of my pregnancy you walked closer to me and snuggled up as if you knew our time with just “us” was drawing to an end. You’ve been my most cherished silent friend.

Since Maisie entered our life, it has undoubtedly been more challenging to get you out into the world regularly. We are so thankful for Uncle Scotty and his incredible services at DOGS BEST FRIEND. We honestly couldn’t have done it without you Scott!!

The bottom line is, we’ve made it three years pup, and as crazy as it makes us when you bark uncontrollably at us and at our poor sweet neighbors (SORRY ANGELA AND MELVIN) we can’t imagine our lives without you.

HAPPY THIRD BIRTHDAY OLD BOY. We love you.
oxoxo

She looked impossibly stunning when I arrived and not to mention calm. Her bridesmaids buzzing around the house, her dad looking on lovingly. Doug was smiling and ready, surrounded by his handsome fellas and gorgeous flower girls. It was a beautiful day in Campbell River and they were ready to finally “tie the knot”.

They had a vision of big trees for her wedding images. So, where else should we venture, but Elk Falls just moments outside of Campbell River. Although I’ve shot there many times before, I’d never shot a wedding there. I LOVE that it was so well suited for Karla and Doug, and I love the results.
Wishing you both, nothing but love.

The flowers were all by the infamous “Amy” at the Willows Market in Campbell River. She’s the best!
The decor rentals were by The All in One Party Shop.
And decorating services by Krylea Creative Solutions.

Living on cruise ships for 6 years will turn anyone into a bit of a gypsy. Sailing different seas, wandering the shorelines of many different countries, breathing in the air from foreign cultures, smelling Moroccan spices, Egyptian pyramids, Italian trattorias, and Thai food cooking on the streets. Craving the next big adventure. I wasn’t sure I would ever stay still long enough to own a home, a car or have my clothes in drawers. It took a while, it took countless experiences. But, when I was done with ships… I was done. Putting the pieces together for a photography career on land. A few weddings each summer while traveling turned into more.
I was home. Loving the air here. The salty, damp, west coast air. I started. I jumped. I trusted. I didn’t have a plan. Just had my gypsy heart and all sorts of inspiration.

Dancing around the kitchen this morning with Maisie Lu, I realized that I may not be able to enjoy her as much if she was part of a plan. You can’t plan miracles. She is the result of two lives. Bryce’s and mine, coming together at exactly the right time. As we spun around to Kenny Chesney, with barefeet on the cool tile floor, laughing and hugging. His words filled the kitchen.

“And I’m sure happy
With what I’ve got.
I live to love and laugh a lot,
And thats all I need.

Never wanted nothin’ more.
And I never wanted nothin’ more.”

If I could go back I would tell myself “It will be better than you can imagine. Just trust me.” Potentially saving me a few tears, heartaches and stresses about decisions. I wish I could tell myself. “You are making the right choices. Even the wrong ones, are right.”

If you don’t have a big plan… sometimes life unfolds the most beautiful mysteries, right before your eyes.

On Saturday I finished my last photo shoot of 2010.
I can scarcely believe I made it at times. I have mixed emotions about the whole year. It was quite the journey. Quite the adventure. Quite the ride.
There was no way I could have predicted any of it. However in 2009 I was faced with booking weddings on the assumption that I would be ok. That I could shoot weddings 2 months after giving birth to our first baby. I had no way of knowing that I actually could juggle breast feeding, and pumping, and emails and working, and not sleeping and whacked hormones and being creative, and being in the moment, in your moments… that I could be inspired. I made it.

I would have never made it, even one step without Bryce. At times, we were barely making it. At times, we were flourishing, but in the end we made it. Together.
Our own journey. Together.

I also wouldn’t have made it without Shannon (aka Thelma). You really are a spectacular being. Your energy, your light, your joy. Beautiful. Thank you for lighting your hair on fire with me and being ready for anything. For doing the impossible along side me, and for always, being normal, awesome, alive, creative, inspired, careful, thoughtful and ridiculously selfless. You are a rare bird my friend. Incredibly rare. Thank you for an amazing 2010.

I also need to thank all of you, anyone reading now, YES YOU! for your support, encouragement… blog comments and emails. I am seriously grateful.

The reason for all of this, with these images is because I loved their session so much. I also, loved what Shannon said about her upcoming session while we were corresponding about it initially “This photo shoot is very special to me because it not only celebrates Cypress turning one but also the fact that we all got through the crazy, unpredictable, emotional, and truly amazing first year together… as a family.” You may remember the stunning Shannon from our maternity session HERE.
I know what you mean Shannon. I truly do.

I’m officially on Holidays. Christmas Holidays. Starting NOW. Yes, I’ll blog and update a bit. But, most of all… I might not. I will be doing a Best of 2010, so stay tuned for that!

In 2011 I’ll be back, full of all sorts of wild ideas, inspiration and images. A girls gotta charge her batteries and fuel her fire somehow.