Happiest Halloween Ever

We did it. It was a huge success. I photographed over 200 dressed up cuties in 3 hours. We raised $2740 for Cystic Fibrosis Canada and I had the Happiest Halloween Ever. For real. On the morning of the shoot, we were all ready the amazing Campbell River Cystic Fibrosis Volunteers were there with their witch hats, setting up coffee donated by Tim Hortons, cookies donated by Thrifty Foods and candy also. It was 10:20am on Sunday October 30th (the shoot started at 11) and there was not a soul in sight. (besides us) I was mortified. I looked worriedly at my trusted sidekick Shannon Andrews Design and said "what if no one comes". I hoped you would come. 10:30... you came. It was amazing. Beautiful. Hilarious and awesome. It was exactly as I had envisioned it to be... only better. How did we do it? With amazing support from a beautiful community.

Roy Williams from the Campbell River Common Mall and Indoor Storage Solutions... thank you for opening doors for us as we dragged large quantities of props, pumpkins and lights. For helping me haul driftwood in and for being generous to open up your Mall for our fundraiser. THANK YOU.

Amy and clan from the Willows Market... thank you for graciously allowing us to borrow all of your birdcages, crows, cool chairs, signs and every awesome article in your amazing market. We love you all and are so grateful to have joined forces with you!!!

Ryan Lim!!! For creating the worlds most perfect wainscot floor and background, and the cutest and coolest chalkboards... EVER. YOU ARE A GENIUS. Thank you!

Chris Black and all of the CF volunteers... thank you for walking up and down the long line up, handing out candy and Fright Lights and cookies. You really, truly made a world of difference and everyone has commented on how great you all were in your awesome witch hats! THANK YOU.

Ayaz, Sharilyn and Jan at Sure Copy!!! Thank you so much for GENEROUSLY donating each and every sign we hung, all of the handouts and the big signs also. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

Bryce Cockburn of Next Level Training (hockey training sessions) for hitting the beach and finding the perfect driftwood chunks for our set, and when I painted 4 of them white and hated it and wanted 4 new pieces, thank you for not complaining when you grabbed your chainsaw and headed back to the beach for more. Thank you for doing extra with our girl and in our world, so that I can create wild and awesome events like this one. You are my favorite.

Thrifty Foods for donating candy and snacks!!! THANK YOU! You made a long line of kids very happy with your treats!!!

Tim Hortons for your coffee contribution!!! Thank you!!!

Carol Chapman at A Cut Above in the mall, Thank you for always being 100% on board with our big ideas. For talking about it, to hanging posters and being extra supportive. Campbell River is so lucky to have you. Thank you!

My mom. Who was sadly at a funeral and could not make it. Thank you for all of your running around before the event, and for watching Maisie for me while I painted and perfected the set. We missed you, but knew that you made the right choice. It wasn't quite the same without you!!! (no Cystic Fibrosis fundraiser likely is!!!) Thank you for all of your love and support!!!

Cait Holmes from Dominion Lending for taking time out of your life, to come down JUST to hand deliver us nice coffee's! YOU ARE AMAZING. Thank you!!!

To all of the parents of each and every child who came out. Thank you. Yup... YOU. You took time out of your busy day to dress your child up, wait for an hour in a line up all to support an amazing cause. Your hearts and beautiful children made us all incredibly happy. You. Are. Beautiful. Thank you.

To my trusted sidekick and fabulous friend. Shannon Andrews of Shannon Andrews Design. Thank you for instantly being on board when I mentioned my idea to you initially. Thank you for designing each and every poster. For bringing your contagious energy and enthusiasm to decorating and also to the dirty work, like carrying heavy things and set up and take down. You took time out of your already busy life as a full time educator of young minds and graphic designer. You are a rare gem. Thank you for making everyone who entered our event feel welcome and awesome. Thank you.

Halloween Photos slowly making their way ONLINE... VISIT THIS LINK... http://photos.erinwallis.com/halloween find your little cutie and click on the image. You will see it get big! Scoll over the image and you will see a small "menu" up on the top left of the photo. Scroll over MENU and choose DOWNLOAD, and then.... ORIGINAL. voila... You have your photos.

Please PLEASE have patience as there over 400 more images being uploaded and it will likely take until tomorrow night to be uploaded and finished! They are not necessarily in order either and you might see more later.

Every single one of you... are awesome. Thank you for joining me on this adventure. I absolutely LOVED it. Happy Halloween! or as Maisie would say "HAPPPY AWEEE"

ps. a few of you that couldn't make it out have expressed a desire to still contribute. YOU ARE AWESOME. Contributions can be made directly here http://www.crcf.ca/donate-to-cystic-fibrosis.htm

Nicole and Steve

It was pouring rain on Friday in Sechelt, BC. The Painted Boat Resort looked amazing, even in the rain. The leaves were amazing, the scenery divine. I was prepared for rain. I woke up Saturday to blue skies and sunshine. I believe I used up every bit of 2011 luck for my weddings this year.

Saturday October 22 made me believe that everybody should have fall weddings. Everything is better in the fall. The colors, the air... the climate. Everything. Nicole and Steve were precisely who I needed to wrap up an amazing 2011 wedding season with. Nicole has always been "real". She's awesome. I try and come up with another word for her, but "real" it is. A bit nervous, anxious to get on with the good times, and all the while radiating total beauty. We graduated high school together, almost burned down her parents back yard together, and played sports and always laughed together. So, when I met Steve at Melanie's beautiful wedding this March, I knew that they were a great pair. I am not sure (at Mels wedding) that me trying to force him to drink tequila was all that professional, but Nicole assured me that, that is why they love me and hired me. YIKES. In any case, their wedding was perfect. A beautiful, sunny Sunshine Coast Wedding. Full of gorgeous autumn colors and beauty. It couldn't have been more amazing. I am grateful for such an beautiful ending, to such a fabulous season. Nicole and Steve! May you always have sunshine... even when there is none for miles around. Much love ox.

Fall is my favorite.

Dear Maisie, All seasons are beautiful. Of course. But, there is something special about the fall. A time for family hibernation and soup. Cool crisp air, warm and cozy homes, leaves changing colors... and falling. Your great grandpa's apples ready. Sweaters, scarves, woodstoves and most importantly... boots. Fall is my favorite, and I've never quite enjoyed it as much as this year... with you. You make everything more fun. Rolling around in the leaves. Seeing a bug and then yelling, at the top of your lungs... "BUUUUUG. BUUUUUGGGGGG. BUG. BUUUUG."

These moments might not seem like a lot now... but I know in a few years, I'll be thinking back on the time we rolled around in the leaves, you burning around, laughing, kicking and yelling. Us, playing with you... but mostly just marveling at your free spirited wildness. You bring us, pure joy. I love you sweet girl. ox

Young Entrepreneur or the Year

A few weeks ago I was honored with receiving the Young Entrepreneur of the Year award for Campbell River by the Campbell River Chamber of Commerce. The Young Entrepreneur of the Year award: "Honors a business owner or founder under the age of 35 who has excelled in business; exemplified leadership and entrepreneurial skills; and demonstrated exceptional vision that has contributed to business success."

I was absolutely floored to receive this award as I was nominated along with many other talented and inspired business owners! Other nominees include Scott Kilby, Campbell River Hyundai Heather Larkam, Urban Dance Connections Jonathan Kervin, Web Sense Aum Song Troughton, Embody Wellness

In any case, I was completely unprepared for the receiving of the award. The tidemark theatre was full of people. I was sitting in the furthest darkest corner of the room (furthest from the stage) so internally there was only one thing happening on my very long walk to the stage... a mantra repeating itself... "Do not fall Erin". Upon arriving at the stage, I awkwardly accept my award, break out my best double chin for the photo of me receiving my award (no, I will not be showing you that particular photo) and then realize that someone is telling me to "say a few words".

The whole world stops turning at this point. My instincts tell me to elbow anyone in my path, grab my award and head for the nearest exit. I am terrified. With a camera in my hand, I am fearless. Honestly. Nearly fearless. I will yell at a group of 200 or more people, cracking jokes, orchestrating an entire field of people into the right spot for the right photo. I can make cranky kids laugh, or smile, I can become best friends with the most ornery old fella, or the craziest auntie around. Without my camera, I am just another person terrified of public speaking.

I know the moment it all changed, yet I can't seem to overcome it. I was 21 and asked to give a speech about my personal involvement with Cystic Fibrosis, and specifically about my Uncle Michael (moms brother) who had passed away from it at the age of 21. Even writing those words brings my heart rate to a panic and the lump in my throat is painful. I had a beautiful speech written, there were funny parts, sad parts a great ending and beginning but the delivering of the speech was something I wasn't prepared for. Prior to this particular speech I was always the one to be the speaker. Grad fashion shows, MC's no problem. NO problem! So I thought, I would be just fine at the Rod Brind'Amour Cystic Fibrosis Golf Tournament. I was far from fine. I'm pretty sure I cried through the entire speech. I don't know if anyone even heard one word of what I said, but I just remember the whole time looking at my moms face (who was squatting in the front taking photos of me). Her face said "you're doing great, you're ok". But I knew, I was bombing. I was crying and spitting out words and trying to race through my speech. I've never been able to speak at a microphone since then. (without a camera).

So, forgive me for my one second "thank you everyone" speech at the Chamber Business Awards of Distinction event. While everyone else had amazing speeches prepared, saying eloquent things... I was fumbling and awkward and if we're being honest here... that is just totally me.

What I might have said, and should have would have been more like this...

Thank you for seeing me. Thank you to this amazing community for opening your arms to my art, to my dreams to my visions. Thank you for humoring all of my wild ideas and for supporting us through my imagery. I am so grateful for my clients. Every single one of you. I am grateful that you believed in me 5 years ago, and still do today. I'm grateful you've grown with me, and brought my images into your homes time and time again. I am grateful to the Chamber for recognizing me, for picking me out of the crowd and acknowledging me for all of my hard work and efforts. My business hasn't grown by itself. I've worked so hard to get to where I am today, and with the continued support of my beautiful family and friends and clients, we are able to stay in a city we love, have grown up in and want to raise our children in. I am so grateful.

Thanks to Lee from Island Life Photographics for the image above.