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.

When you become someone’s mom, you instantly understand why she worried so much. Why she cared so much. Why she cried when you hurt yourself, or worse.. when you hurt someone else. Why she missed you when you flew away on airplanes to chase dreams on cruise ships. Why she was proud. Why she laughed at your lame jokes, why she bragged about your ‘sports award’ in grade 4, and why she was so upset when you died your hair, got tattoos, crashed cars, drank too much, acted wildly. You immediately understand why it hurt so much when you told her “I hate you, I wish you weren’t my mom” when you were little (or not so little).

Everything makes sense. You wish you maybe had realized what being a mom to someone really meant a whole lot sooner, and maybe could have been a bit easier on your own mom along the way. You may have hugged her more and been more patient. You might think about the years of her life she gave up, so you could be a healthy, loving, kind human being. You may think about how her body would never be the same, all because she wanted to give you life. You may even think about her sleepless nights feeding you, loving you, singing and rocking you back to sleep. You might think about what she sacrificed, now that you’ve made some of the same sacrifices. You may understand that she really doesn’t want anything in the world more, than for you to have the most magic life you could ever imagine. You may feel like mothers day is not just another day. It may be a reminder for you to take a moment and do some thinking, and remembering and honoring.

I’m not sure if its the same for everyone. But for me, this little being has rocked the very core of my being into remembering that I didn’t just magically appear here on earth.

My mom brought me here. Aches, pains, labor, delivery, growth charts, doctors visits, sleepless nights. She made me. Raised me. Taught me to see beauty, everywhere. Infused my soul with a deep appreciation for life, for love and instilled the most important trait of all in me… compassion. I didn’t just magically arrive here. In fact, I’m pretty sure without her… I would have never even existed. All of this means a whole lot more now that I look over and see my own little girl sleeping soundly, sweetly. In fact, everything means more now.

Mom, I love you. I understand what you went through to create me, I am forever grateful.

In the initial glance at an image, what do you see.
Perhaps there are fun props, quirky poses, something beautiful. Maybe you don’t know why you like the photo. You just do. I’m not really one for fuss. I don’t really like using a lot of props or things in photographs. I like spirit. I thrive on emotion. I love seeing behind the image, what is really in that photo. Because really, there isn’t much chance in any single moment of seeing nothing in life. If you are seeing nothing… it is my humble opinion that you are missing a whole lot.

There is substance in everything. There is a story everywhere, in everything. In every molecule, every moment, there was something before it. Or some path that lead it to right now. You have a story, and many of them. I may not know what it is when I first set out to photograph you, but I’ll see it somewhere along the process. Or I’d like to think that its possible to catch a glimpse of your story in your eyes, in your silence, in your movements on your own and then how you move with your man/lady/child/mother/sister. We are all full of tightly woven sinews, all connecting us together inside ourselves as well as those stories fusing every single one of us all in a closely knit and intricate labyrinth.

I am somehow connected to you. Right now, you reading my watery words… me typing them from my laptop, feet up, reclined… baby wiggling away inside my belly. Listening to nothing but the wind howl through our fireplace, I contemplate what’s behind an image. You, wherever you are, which ever screen you are perched at in whatever part of the world. Reading these words. Maybe there are ten of you. Maybe only one. But somehow, something has brought us together. Be it only in the vast world of cyberspace, for this moment. Our stories have met.

When I look back at a few of these photos from the past, I see what I saw in that moment. In whatever fleeting moment was occuring, I am right back there. What I find most interesting, is to wonder.. what you see? Is it different from what stories I see, or feel or wish to feel. Do you see behind the image? Or is it just a nice photo. Is there anything compelling about it to you? What is it? I’ll likely never know. But I will leave you with a few of the images that I truly love. Mainly because of what lies behind the photo. Maybe you see it too?

I was always snoopy… loved digging through my grandmas treasure trunks downstairs, to find old photos and ancient family relics… I love nothing more than seeing beautiful images of my grandmother in her youth, her beautiful brown hair, dark eyes, and chic clothing. I can’t help but think about Krystle’s (possible) grandchildren one day coming across these images of their grandmother! AMAZING!!!!

These shoots usually start off being about creating saucy images of yourself to give to a well deserving partner… but ladies, I’ve got to tell you… these sessions are always LIBERATING, often ending up being more about you having images of your self to look back at and feel good about, later on in life.

Everyone generally starts off shy, timid, self-conscious and by the end of it, anything is possible. Clothes flying and sauciness lingering around. It always ends up being a fun, wild, and at times hilarious session that I cherish being a part of.

I tend to believe that it is my duty as a photographer to ensure that you are captured in the most beautiful way, the light, the angles, and the non existence of a double chin. It is certainly a passion of mine, to help you look your best in your images, to bring out the beauty that I see in you. I love nothing more, than someone saying “HOLY!!! Is that me?!” Anything that can boost ones self image, and create a bit of love and laughter without hurting anyone in the process, is a good day for me.

Happy Monday everyone, may it involve a bit of coffee and a lot of sunshine.

I grew up beside them in Campbell River, and was so deeply moved when Kim based her entire wedding day around my availability!!! There were so many moments when I could barely see through the lens, as tears welled up in my eyes… The most moving? Maybe when Kim held up her heirloom necklace worn by generations of women in her family on each of their wedding day, maybe when Kims mom burst into tears, while telling Kim of a charm she was about to sew into her dress, that was given by Kims grandfather to her late grandmother Win on their 50th wedding anniversary (not a dry eye in the house).

Perhaps my favorite was when Kims dad took a deep breath and walked his daughter down the isle, you could almost see him become incredibly present, as he looked over at her, and put his hand on top of hers…. maybe the vows, the song, the fixed up family volvo that Kims parents drove on their wedding day, the weather that was 90 percent chance of RAIN… with nothing more than a few drops as the ceremony ended. Maybe James face when he saw Kim walking down the isle… maybe it was James’ simple and moving vows. It could have been the amazing bagpipes courtesy of Cameron Stewart…Or possibly how when Kim spoke during the reception, she thanked people… not like it was a list to get through… but with every ounce of her heart. What a gorgeous day.

I spent many of my childhood days laughing with all of the fabulous Black family and was just so deeply honored to have been a part of Kim and James’ wedding day. Just look at how radiant Kim is in every single photo. Look how calm James appears, and then check out what the magic created when we were left alone for their intimate images after the ceremony. Goosebumps, romance, laughter, tears, and a whole vast array of emotions made this day something incredibly special.

I wish you both many many years of love and continued joy.
May you two continue to make music together. Always.

My wonderful assistant Shannon caught this moment during the ceremony!!!

An overwhelmed flower girl…

Our local celebrity and amazing hockey legend Rod Brind’Amour gives Kim a hug after the ceremony.

Love this image of Kim delivering her soulful speech.

I would end up at the pool, irritated to be getting into my bathing suit, dreading the cold unfriendly water. Pick up my clipboard, scramble together a lesson plan and head down the deck begrudgingly. In every instance, no matter how bad my day had been, regardless of what kind of foul mood I was in at the time… as soon as those little people saw me, and started chirping in “hi teacher” with their ears poking out of their swim caps, goggles too big and crooked… it would have been inhuman not to brighten up. It was impossible to be cranky with 5 year olds eager to learn, eyes wide with excitement and anticipation. I would crack, smile and even laugh.

They got me. Every time.

My swim instructing days are long since over, and I often missed the innocence and pure beauty that kids bring to the world. How fitting then, that I photograph children now on a regular basis.

Yesterday I was having a bad day, one of those days. I was trying to pull myself around, pull my boots up… when along came Meigan and it all melted away. What a gorgeous little creation. What a joy to photograph. I hope you enjoy a few of my favorite images of a spirited, wonderful child, who in a blink of the eye, melted away any negativity and made me forget all about myself.
What a fabulous job I have, and no, I don’t miss the pool.

Its been a busy winter. Full of change, inspiration and all kinds of magic.
Its been my pleasure and honor to be photographing beautiful bellies and the incredible miracles that they produce. Here are a few of my recent maternity/newborn shoots.

With an updated website, a new blog, rejuvenated creative energy and a sunny disposition, I am ready for another exciting wedding season!

I’ve been doing a lot of thinking, a lot of breathing, and not to mention a lot of living, and I’ve come up with one thing that I know for sure.

I am grateful, for everything, always.

I feel so lucky to love what I do and have others reciprocate the feeling. I am overwhelmed and in disbelief at the emotional response people have been displaying for my photographs, but it makes me believe, that I’m doing something right…that I’m on the right track. Looking through past client emails, I was shocked by one underlying, and humbling fact…I’M MAKING PEOPLE CRY!

“I feel like crying!”
“Almost got a little teary eyed…ok i lied, there were tears!!”
“I just wanted to cry!”
“You brought tears to my eyes (of course, good tears)”
“they almost made me cry just looking at them.”
“and you actually made me cry!!!”

I’m making people cry?!

Now granted, normally that’s not a good thing to do. Nobody wants to be the person to make others cry, we learned that early in life! But good tears, happy tears, I think are much different. Happy tears are ok. I am grateful. Always.

So to open up my shiny new blog (courtesy of the incredible Jeremy Latham, without whom, I’d be unsuccessful – without a website, blog, or even business cards). I’d like to thank you all for visiting, for joining me on my photographic journey, for supporting me, for believing in me and share some of my favourite wedding images from 2007. I look forward to sharing many more from 2008.