Love in Port Hardy...

Mandy... what a sweatheart. Shawn... told me he had been ready for this day for a long time. The two of them together... seamless. The sun was shining... even though we thought it may rain (somewhat of a theme for this summer)... New venues, places, and faces always bring waves of inspiration over me. A very good thing!!! Everything was perfect!! (another theme for this summer)

On another note...I am so pleased to announce that my little blog world, has roughly about 100 hits daily... WOW!!! Thank you for stopping by!!! Some of you have let me know that you want to leave comments, but get scared or that you don't know how... DON'T BE AFRAID... comments don't bite! Plus if you hate what you say, you can delete it later!! At the bottom of each post it will say "no comments" or "2 comments" etc... just click on that, enter your name, email address and comment, tell me what you think, what image you like... etc... click submit comment, and voila.... you've made my day!!! Now.. onto Mandy and Shawns images...

Introducing Joanne and Tom

Well, I'm running behind this morning for what should be a SUPER fun shoot, out on the water (more details to come later) then photos of twins, then a newborn, and then another family tonight... and I've just moved into a new home... (which is awesome). And I'm so very behind on editing, and getting out wedding packages, and family discs... (what I need is my fabulous assistant Shannon to quit school and come back to help me) But for now, I will avoid what needs to be done, and do what I feel inspired to do, and that is.... share some of Tom and Joanne with you.

What an amazing couple.

We first met in Courtenay, along 5th street for their engagement session a few months ago...(see image above) and I fell in love with them.  They were (are) highschool sweethearts and just work so well together...

Their wedding party was certainly wild and energized, and riding in the 'party' bus with them proved to be rather entertaining.... All in all, an amazing day.

Here are a few of my favorites from their beautiful wedding in Victoria.

Sheri and Rick....

What do you get when you have....

A perfect wedding at Painters Lodge, in Campbell River...together with a fabulous down town newly wed session, and a picture perfect reception in Granny Painters Room @ Painters Lodge... a happy photographer, and these images!!!

I hope you enjoy them!!! Big thanks to my fabulous assistant Shannon for catching this moment between Sheri and her father, as he walked her down the isle.

Missing something....

I feel like I am missing something if I don't post recent shoots. I have been so busy, flat out really, that I just haven't had time... and I feel guilty!!!

I am so honored that you chose to spend a piece of your morning/afternoon/evening visiting my blog, and joining me in some of or all of the photographic moments in my world. I feel responsible to give you current images each time you check in... In saying that, my life now (maybe sadly) feels like it is missing something, if I haven't blogged... haven't shared what beautiful moments I have been privileged to witness, to create or to be a part of. It's strange but I need to share the photos just as much as I need to take them. It makes me happy.

To be honest, my images mean so much more to me than being just a 'photo'. They are moments in my life, just as much as they are the people who I am photographing. I am choosing to spend what precious moments my life has to offer, with people... photographing people... with you. I am choosing to share these images with you. If you are reading this, we are connecting in some small or big way, hopefully in a positive way... hopefully you enjoy the images.

So with that said, I bring you to the most recent of my last 5 weddings... Cinda and Landon. I will catch up with the other ones asap! I just had to post these ones as they are fresh out of photoshop tonight.... Meet Cinda and Landon, their wonderful families and friends, atop the beautiful Mt.Washington, at Raven Lodge, British Columbia. May today bring you something fabulous. After the ceremony Landon changed into his suit, for some different images... I was talked into taking the chair lift to the top of the mountain.... And wasn't I glad we did!!! Then back down the chair lift to finish off with some magic light, beautiful surroundings, and of course a dash of newly wed love. And polishing off the newly wed shoot with a little red stair/blue sky action....

A very special day...

Forever ago I met an incredible little girl.That little girl turned into an astoundingly beautiful, warm, determined, unique, radiant, compassionate and AMAZING woman. She got married on August 23, and I was honored to be a part of it all. Kim and her entire family are some of my favorite people on the planet. They all ooze wonderful things. Happiness, joy, deep strong bonds, and connections, they are honest, kind and so totally giving and loving.

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.