Erin Wallis Photography Blog

I never had a plan. I didn’t.
I didn’t see myself in the future. Didn’t have an idea of what I wanted my life to be.
I just lived it. I just went moment to moment.

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.

I couldn’t help it.
I’m out in my studio, working away and I come across these three images from 2010. Un-shared. Not blogged. In fact I came across a whole world of images not shared. I am trying to not be crazy and spend every waking second blogging everything I haven’t. I’m not going to, but I have vowed that whenever possible, I’ll go back a bit and share even just a few. There is not one session that I don’t want to share, always. It’s just… time. You know. Time.
Here is fabulously gorgeous Pamela and her handsome husband Mike.

If I were to sum up how I feel right now. It might be the above image.

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.

There is something so beautiful about the fall.
The crisp air, the fog… the changing colors, landscapes and clothing.
Fall is here… and soon… it will all change again.
For now, here are a few images from a few fall sessions.
My tribute to Autumn.

What a beautiful Saturday. What a wonderful couple. What a place we live.
Campbell River, in all of its glory.
An amazing couple together with their adorable children, celebrate. Relaxed and happily.
That folks, is how you do it!!!