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.

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.

Photographing weddings are like that too. You can plan, you can obsess, you can put everything into place. But they have a life of their own. Hard to control, you just have to move with them. I had never been to any of the venues, locations… or hadn’t even spoken with Tristane before the wedding. But we just let it all unfold in front of us. Letting go of control, moving with the day, letting the images take form. This past Saturday with Tristane and Rob in Vancouver everything was exactly as it was supposed to be, and I love the results.

I first met Tristane’s family in 2007 when her sister Martha was married to Tom at Strathcona Park Lodge, near Campbell River. Martha and Tom’s wedding resulted in one of my favorite images ever… see post here.
So you can imagine how happy and excited I was to be able to be a part of another amazing wedding with this amazing family.

A wedding story is best told with images. It was an honor.

This. Was. NOT. Easy.
Instead of doing a “Best of 2010″. I decided to do a “Favorites of 2010″ instead. This truly was not an easy task for me. I’ve chosen a selection from each of my 2010 wedding couples.

They are MY favorites. For a variety of reasons. My favorite characters, moments, smiles, tears, hugs, emotions and light. Going back through each and every wedding, I am quickly reminded of what I saw, who I connected with… what my 2010 was all about.

I’ve sat here speechless for the past few days looking through all of my 2010 wedding images. I remember what I was thinking when I drove up to each and every one. I remember where Maisie was. (Hotel rooms, with Bryce at the wedding, with Bryce at home, at grandparents etc) I remember it all.

Yes. There is something beautiful about being in the moment and looking to the future, but at times equally as profound can be reflecting on where you’ve come from.

Who’s touched your life, and who’s life you may have touched. What moments I’ve recorded. Witnessed. Shared.
The decision was solidified.

I give you my favorite wedding moments of 2010.

Heidi and Danen.
We laughed, and laughed, and at one point, I even told Danen that I should be paying him for his “artistic direction”. Heidi saw my new mommy face and being the seasoned professional of two babies herself, she said… “call. Go ahead, call all you like, I don’t mind. Just call and make sure she’s ok” I didn’t call… but I did text. Heidi, you are wonderful! I miss you guys!!!

Jeremy and Bridget.
Ultimate confession time!!! Their wedding wasn’t blogged. Yes, I know… amazing friends, beautiful wedding… no blog??? Urg! I HAD A NEWBORN BABY!!! Please, go easy on me! I wasn’t sleeping!!! There are so many images from their incredible day that I am so in love with. Being the amazing friends that they are, I was hoping they’d understand my trying to balance a baby and a wedding season. They did. I love them for it. But, I am thrilled to now, share a few of my favorites from their day.

Alicia and Mark.
Cape Mudge on Quadra Island was a perfect venue for these truly sweet souls. I loved being a part of your moments, and feeling all of the emotions right along with you all. Such an exquisite day.

Ana and Aaron
A wedding out of my Vancouver Island element, in Stanley Park, Vancouver… proved to be one of the most beautiful steps out of my comfort zone. Thank you both, for trusting and believing in me.

Leah and Mike
A wild crew, a fast tide, and a whole lot of fun. The highlight for me was Leah, without question leading her bridesmaids into the sea for me.

Natalie and Mike
A gorgeous Cortes Island wedding full of favorite images. But, Natalie and Mike’s twins were truly the highlight for me. Their spirits light, sweet and brilliant. I am always honored to watch children witness their parents be married.

Jeanine and Bryce
I also didn’t get a chance to blog this beautiful wedding at Dolphins Resort in Campbell River this year. The venue stunning, the wedding party perfect and the babies adorable! I loved watching Jeanine’s mom and dad (who I’ve known forever) gaze lovingly and proudly at their baby girl getting married.

Shevaun and Rod
I would never pass up an opportunity to re-visit the Bird residence on Quadra Island. A perfect setting for another love infused day. My favorite part of their day was seeing the connection between them, and seeing them smile all day long.

Crystal and Evan
A rainy Quadra morning was the perfect day for Crystal and Evan to get married. Crystals grandpa might just be the best guy you’ve ever run across. He and I engaged in a ceremony ‘shoot off’ was definitely a favorite moment of mine. Full of meaning and thought, and inspiration, this wedding… was a highlight of my entire summer.

Michelle and Jeff
Seeing a new mom and dad with their little baby… heaven. I loved watching the love spiral between this gorgeous bunch.

Cathy and David.
It was just them. It was another highlight for me. Quiet. Serene and oozing with magic, I was honored to be a witness.

Mel and Larry.
So much can be said. I LOVE YOU MEL. As if you aren’t the most wild, caring, thoughtful, WILD, awesome gal ever. I showed up to photograph her wedding and she had a gift for my baby… “um… HI.. I’m about to spoil you rotten with wedding photos”. Now that’s a way to make your photographer step it up a notch! All joking aside, she has contagious enthusiasm and just makes you want to give her anything, and more!

Meg and Troy
My baby cousin and her wonderful fella. The light was perfect, the couple blindingly in love, and everyone there was GORGEOUS. An amazing Victoria wedding. Love you guys.

Heather and Andy
Their Mayan Riviera wedding couldn’t have been an ounce more perfect, or more them. It was exactly as they wanted it to be, and I am always honored to share such intimate moments with such important people in my life.

Cherie and Jamie
I always love weddings at The Black Rock Resort in Ucluelet, but this one was incredible. I instantly fell in love with Cherie, and her boundless spirit and ability to light up an entire room with her smile and laugh. It was full of awesome (and my sidekick Thelma, and our dogs came for a mini getaway to the resort, always a bonus).

Stacey and Eddie
The perfect ending to an amazing 2010 wedding season. For me, it wasn’t just a wedding season though. It was all intertwined with my memories of being a first time momma. All of it was challenging, but all of you, my cherished wedding couples and clients and friends, made it all extraordinary. A perfect end to it all, of course is in Maui, with Stacey my pregnancy buddy, and Eddie.

I can only hope that 2011 will be as amazing.
Thank you all for joining me on the ride.

My auntie Marie was always the one I wrote letters to as a child. She was also the one, who wrote letters back to me. It was always her house we all gathered at. It was the most fun at her house. You just wanted to put on your jammies and hang out there forever. She is my dads little sister, and of course a favorite Auntie! (don’t worry all my other Aunties, you are all my favorites too!!!)

Auntie Marie and Uncle Mark have three daughters. Michelle, Melanie and Megan. Not only are they all “M” names, but they are all silly gorgeous. I couldn’t imagine not being a part of our little cousin Megan’s wedding day at Olympic View Golf Course in Victoria. I knew she would be beautiful, but I had no idea she would be smoking hot too! It was a gorgeous wedding full of amazing people and glorious light. Meg and Troy, sometimes you just know that two people are supposed to be together… we all just know, that you two are forever.

Thank you so much for including me in your wonderful wedding!

Sisters (or in our family, better known as ‘seesters’ watching their baby sister get all dolled up.

Loving looks from the mothers of the groom and bride.


I love love love the way these girls love their dad! Look at the pure love here.

My beautiful cousins

Auntie Marie looking lovingly at her little girl. It struck me here, that her little baby girl, was once… just as small as my baby girl. Unreal!

I absolutely love this moment. No one around, but them. There is all sorts of unspoken in this image.

I love this one.

and this one.

I love everything about this image.

I love this peekaboo moment between father and daughter.

Thoughts about weddings that should never be written, by a photographer. Especially by a wedding photographer. Thoughts that I’ve had, and felt and known all along.

It’s no secret that I am lucky enough to be able to make my living on photography, and on wedding photography. The secret is maybe that I really don’t ultimately care a whole lot about details. I mean, I love flowers. I love the little things, I do love details… I just don’t love them, when they don’t really mean anything. Is that wrong? Maybe not, should I admit it… probably not. But, I would be a fraud if I only said what I thought people wanted to hear. Truth be told, that’s just not how I roll. What I know for sure now, more than ever. Is that the whole reason, I truly love my profession. My craft. Has very little to do with expensive shoes, and fancy rings and wildly decorated venues. (Although granted they can make the shoot fun and interesting to photograph)

The reason I stay up late, get up early, work all day and at times neglect my own personal life…has everything to do with love. Real love, and the inspiration in finding that love within my couples, my families and everything around me. Not to mention the intense gratification I feel when my images mean something to someone. Not to mention being surrounded with what I find beautiful all the time.

Expensive things, although they may be crafted beautifully and contain luxury and exude richness, are nothing more than expensive things.

You can set the scene perfectly, have all of the best things around you, the most expensive venue, the best food, the most exquisite music. However, if the love is missing. The whole thing is dangerously, just wrong. The kind of thing that should be the most important about a wedding should be the love. Hands down. Without question.

Every single one of these images are unscripted. There is nothing fake about these two. It took them a long time to find each other in this life, but when they did… magic. To me, although there is intense beauty in struggle and the courage to overcome barriers. There is also, something to be said about effortless beauty, and love.

I am so honored to have photographed another wedding from one of my favorite families on the planet. The Black Family oozes love and meaning like no other. From the necklace handed down from generations with the little card from Grandma Win stating “May love and happiness go with whomsoever wears this pendant”, to having photographs on the exact spot Tara’s parents were married 37 years prior, to driving the car that her parents drove on that day, to the heirloom pinned on the inside of the dress…

Real stories, create real moments. Real moments, create the most inspiration, and to me… the most amazing photographs.

Tara and Glenn, inspiring.

Obviously having a miserable time.

The following image, during Tara’s Vows…
“I will be by your side, looking with you towards our future; the future that we create together.”

Melts me.

A proud father of the bride, warmly welcomes his second son in law to the family.
After the ceremony, while everyone else was scurrying around for family photos… Tara and Glenn, oblivious to it all. Perfect.

Of course I snuck in with the fabulous Black sisters

I am only able to post this because it is equally hilarious and unflattering of all four of us!

Taras parents were married @ The Lighthouse Park in West Vancouver, so naturally we ventured there for photos.

Reception held at Grouse Mountain. What a view.

Tara looking so peaceful on the gondola to the top of Grouse Mountain.

We snuck off for some more images on top of the world.

Heartfelt emotional and hysterical speeches.

May we all be so lucky.

Melissa and Dave were married in Campbell River on Saturday. They were a blog favorite according to all of you, and your wonderful comments on their amazing engagement session found HERE.

They are just, so…. timeless. They look like they stepped out of a movie, minus the acting. This is all real. They are real, their images are just so… pure, romantic and sweet.

For sure, weddings are more meaningful, when all of the details… are infused with meaning. When an old car used for the wedding, isn’t just any old car. But an inheritance from a cherished loved one, passed on.

Perfect. The day, was just perfect.
Melissa and Dave, you truly have something special between you two. I am humbled, honored and deeply moved to have been such an important part of your wedding.

Melissa’s grandfather was a pharmacist and her parents home is covered with the amazing containers. Stories. Everything has a story.


This next image is another fabulous shot by Shannon, my fabulous second set of eyes.

This image makes me think of Paul Simon’s “Diamonds on the Souls of her shoes”

I just love the movement in this image, and the sky.

A few of these images, but this one in particular makes me think of the Joni Mitchell song, A Case of You.
“Oh you are in my blood like holy wine
And you taste so bitter but you taste so sweet
I could drink a case of you darling
Still I’d be on my feet,
I would still be on my feet.”

I believe Melissa has one of the most beautiful faces I’ve ever photographed. Truly stunning.
Who knew Campbellton could be so beautiful

They truly are effortless together, a beautiful thing.

I’ll leave you with this image of the newlyweds driving away… and really, it may be top ten in my favorite book. This image, just screams COOL!

Thank you all for joining me along my journeys. ox

Katie and Kyle.

The girls getting ready consisted of champagne and chocolate covered strawberries. The guys getting ready? KFC and Lucky. Hilarious and very entertaining!

Katie looked at me, and said when I arrived “You can fix this right” (the pouring rain) My response, “Absolutely I love it. It doesn’t even phase me”.
In fact, these days rain + wedding= inspiration overload. If you can deal with a bit of dirt on the dress, a bit of water… well, I’m in. I’m your gal.

It was sprinkling with rain, then it was pouring, then it was really pouring. Then it was silver light and dramatic clouds and a bit of blue sky. None of it could have been more perfect. In my mind, if I can feel the rain, it means I am alive. If I am alive, I have the opportunity to create. If I can create, anything is possible.

And besides, if there is no rain, there is no dramatic clouds or light. If there is no dramatic clouds or light… life is no fun. Here are a few of my favorite images from Saturday.

Katie has a radiant smile. Truly.

Kyle

and Katie.