Vancouver Island

I was born and raised in Campbell River,  eventually I left for about 6 years working on cruise ships as a photographer.  When I would tell people all over the world that I was from Vancouver Island, they would sigh.  They would say things like "oh man, it's so beautiful there", "you're so lucky"  "paradise".  I suppose at the time I was young, and wanted nothing more than to escape where I was from.  I was gypsying around taking in all of the amazing scenery from all over the world.  Fantastic landscapes in Ireland, white washed buildings in Greece, romantic canals in Venice, the Great Pyramids of Egypt, or the exotic bustling markets of Marrakech.  When I would come home from a contract at sea,  I wound up slowly realizing how beautiful this island really was.  I was able to see it through the eyes of a tourist in a way.

The amazing ocean views, the coastal living, the rocky shorelines, wild tides, the other islands in view from ours, the mountains in the distance, the lush deep dark mysterious woods.  I fell in love with home.  It gets under your skin, this place.  Forms impressions on your soul.  It's rough, rugged, majestic, dark, mysterious and full of beauty. 

I love that these beautiful friends will put up with me while I rock up to their session in the pouring rain with an umbrella taped to my head.  Am I joking?  Nope.  I'm not.  I duck taped an umbrella to my head?  Yes I did.  I'm ridiculous and they love me anyways.  The moments shared with this family are etched into my soul like the coastal shorelines I grew up on.  These are my people.  These beings stayed a constant for me while gypsying around the globe.  I always felt the most grounded when I would return home and set up camp with them.  My beautiful friends.  Love this family.  Love this island.  Love! this life.  

Hatley Castle Wedding: Bresee and Nick

Gorgeous, sweet, sincere and kind people getting married in a castle in Victoria, BC.  Yes. Please.  Bresee has a thoughtful ease about her, and Nick so charming and sweet.  Their families and friends fun, funny and fabulous.  What's not to love? Oh and Bresee's daughter??? Certainly no shortage of personality and entertainment either and I obviously fell under her spell as well.  Intense gratitude to you all.  May your lives always be full of the same effortless beauty that surrounded you on your wedding day. oxxo

The Wright Family.

Family. Get together. Be together. Celebrate.

I really didn't understand why my dad would get a weird dreamy satisfied look on his face when we would all be sitting around the dinner table together. He would end up taking a deep breath and saying how nice it is to have all his kids together again. We would all kinda roll our eyes, and "ok dad" him. I really understand now. Things just don't feel right until Maisie, Frank, Bryce and I are all together in the same house. It feels best to have all your love in one spot. I always come back to this, but her words just echo in me all the time "I am sure you will catch that in the eyes of all the parents you photograph. We all wish for a little more time."

Put aside weirdness, clear your schedule and hold onto your loved ones. It's a beautiful thing to celebrate life.

Love this family, love their love, and I love that I was able to spend a bit of time with them, when they were all finally able to be all together. Family. Get together.

In your blood

A wise woman recently told me that we carry the joys and sorrows of the 7 generations that have walked before us.

These beautiful Metis children are infused with a long lineage of inspired Metis people. I am truly honored to be able to capture a small piece of what makes them so unique, so spirited and full of wonder.

Besides having a strong family history on their mothers side (and a strong and passionate mother), their father Leander Dumont, comes from an incredibly strong Metis family. Leander's dad Bruce is the President of the Metis Nation-British Columbia. His father, Ambrose Dumont was a great, great grandson of Isidore Dumont the first Metis killed at Duck Lake, Saskatchewan at the beginning of the Riel Resistance of 1885. Ambrose was in-turn, a great, great nephew of Gabriel Dumont, brother to Isidore.

Gabriel Dumont (1837-1906) is widely known as a influential Metis leader. I found this on Gabriel Dumont – "the name conjures up a host of images: the diminutive but courageous “chef métis” who led his people in armed struggle against the Dominion of Canada; a nineteenth-century Che Guevara passionately concerned with his people’s self-governance; the quintessential l’homme de prairie who lived freely as a bison hunter and entrepreneur and a humanitarian who shared his bounty with the less fortunate. Gabriel Dumont was a man of action, whose many admirable qualities, including his selflessness, courage, sense of duty and love of his people, have inspired generations of Métis." (found HERE written by Darren R. Préfontaine, Gabriel Dumont Institute)

On theMetis BC website I found this and thought it well suited to these kids. 'Young people are the hope of our future. They must not only be nurtured to embrace and learn their languages and cultures, but also be mentored to embrace both worlds and to equip themselves with the tools needed to function in both worlds. Language and culture provide the tools to build good character - a character that emulates the values of respect, humility, kindness, empathy and good leadership."

I find family history fascinating. If you are lucky enough to know a little of where you come from, you should celebrate it. If you have no idea, you may want to start digging. It's incredible the inspiration or explanations that you might get from a little family history lesson.

Father with his children

girls. metis

ella

elijah

hannah

metis family

family photos

together

I find this family heart meltingly beautiful and I love being a part of documenting their cherished bonds. I love these three kids. I love their pride in their heritage. Love love love being able to give them gifts like photos to celebrate their family bonds. These three gorgeous children with their undying and limitless love for their father. Seriously. It is just so incredible to know you all. I am richer for each moment spent with you. Much love. xo

To be a family.

She wanted images that captured the good stuff. The real stuff. No dressing up and posing. Just her beautiful, quirky, unique, loving family making a pancake breakfast. I.WAS.THRILLED. Nothing better to me, than a family... doing what they love to do, and something as natural as curling up to sleep each night. Everyone with their usual roles. Clarke cracking the eggs. Libby cutting the bananas (and sampling the batter) Celeste making the icing, Garrett peeling apples (perfectly) and assisting me withe the artistic direction, Riley manning the griddle and mom (creative soul and master planner at Dolphins Resort) and dad (culinary genius and head chef at Dolphins Resort) offering loving hands and sweet and funny words along the way. The breakfast was delicious, the company divine and the home oozing the warmth and love. The kind of love that can only be created with a wise, passionate and vibrant family. Blessed. Thank you for choosing me. xo