What to expect.

What can you expect when you're expecting another member of an already wonderful family? You can expect your family to be more than it was before. You can expect your ability to love to somehow expand. To stretch. You can expect a sore body but a quiet excitement bubbling within your already beautiful family. You can expect the connections shared within your family to branch out and become more beautiful than they already were. You will anticipate someone special, but not know them yet... which makes the eventual meeting that much sweeter. I love this family, growing another beautiful soul... Looking forward to meeting the new addition, when he arrives. xo This beautiful bunch look familiar?? They come all the way from Port Alberni to see me every time, and I couldn't be more thrilled to be such a big part of preserving their family history, and memories. Here they are expecting Blake... and when he arrived.

Studio? or the great outdoors?

I've long had arguments with myself over studio or outdoors for maternity sessions.

I will always say "studio is my favorite" after a fabulous studio session... but then say "outdoors is my favorite" after an outdoor session. It's painful really. The truth is, I love them both. What I love about outdoor images is combining the beauty of our world, with the incredible strength, power and grace of a woman growing and carrying human life. Outdoor maternity images are natural, authentic, loving and can have gorgeous natural light, they are full of endless possibilities.

Pregnancy is a very personal time. We all go through a pregnancy on our own. Yes, with help, support etc from friends and partners etc, but really it all ends up with you and that baby growing inside you. Personal, special, surreal. I love that studio images can capture and celebrate the best part about a pregnancy without seeing any of the not so pretty parts. Studio maternity images can be extremely intimate, personal, beautiful and are full of endless possibilities. What it comes down to? Your personal preference really.

Here is gorgeous Glynnis from our session yesterday. We were booked for a studio shoot only, but the light outside had me crazy, and I made her sneak outside for a few. Then back to the studio for more. I love the outdoor light, the glow, her glow... inside, I love the accentuation of her amazing belly and shape. I can't decide what I like more. I love it all.

So, which do you prefer? Glynnis is a fabulous yoga momma and wanted to celebrate her yoga momma journey as well.

Seriously Shannon!!!

Beautiful bellySeriously? I love these images. How gorgeous is Shannon? This session has been booked for ages, and it wasn't until recently that we realized we were in the same prenatal yoga class. I had such an amazing time creating these images... I feel so fortunate to meet such amazing people. To photograph such milestones in peoples lives, and to get to convey the beauty I see in everything. I know for sure, being pregnant... you don't exactly feel glamorous and pretty all the time (or most of the time), and I can't tell you how much I love being able to show expectant mothers how gorgeous they really are. Shannon, you my dear... are radiant! In the fieldbeautifully pregnantpretty on the fencein the grasspretttty Perfect. perfect

Beauty in Bellies

Well here we have one of my favorite families. Ever. I have known Maritte since before I was able to walk. We have gone through many firsts together... first steps, first grade, first peeing of pants due to hysterical laughter, first loves, first BAD breakups, first traveling experiences.... She in fact isn't even a friend... she is family. She has been on more Wallis family roadtrips than anyone aught to, she gets all the really bad inside jokes, we know the same silly songs, I think she even held my baby sister before me (urg)... and according to my brother, she was way more fun to play with than me.

So, to my delight, on her wedding day (where I was not only her Maid of Honor, but also her photographer)... she married another very good friend of mine... (in fact, I introduced them when I told her 'husband to be' Eduardo, that Maritte would be walking down with us for our high school graduation) Eduardo has always been a wonderful friend to me, and in fact, we treat each other more like siblings than friends... Maritte has given up on trying to get us not to fight... we tend to be at each other frequently... But I love him like a brother none the less.

Fast forward to the birth of their first child. I was working away with Princess Cruises, bobbing around the seas, attempting to quiet my restless pirate heart... Maritte was due soon.... I knew that... I was having pain.... cramping... couldn't stop thinking about Maritte.. I looked at a friend on board the ship... 'My friend Marittey is having her baby', and she was... right at that very time. I felt so far away, yet still so purely connected to her and her family.

I couldn't be happier to be able to be here, and capture these maternity memories with them, and really look forward to meeting the newest addition to this love fueled wild bunch. I love you all so very much. ox Eduardo took this photo of Leola and I (which I love) I do not believe you can NOT love this face! and then we headed out for some outdoorsy fun images... I love this image. Just giving mom some snuggles And who can resist the run away shot... look at her little legs!!!