Crown Isle Resort Wedding

I love this family. I loved her the very first moment she stepped into my studio in 2008 pregnant with her first babe. She looked around the studio at photos on the walls, and the first words out of her mouth were "I love. every. single. thing you do." I instantly fell in love with her. Since then, I've been able to photograph Graysen as a newborn, and Linsey pregnant with their second babe Sofia, then more family photos and engagement photos and now, I get to share their wedding photos. I'm behind in all of my posts. Being that I'm pregnant... I hope you'll forgive me. But, I have so much to share, and I best start here. With one of my favorite little families to grace the planet. I have been so lucky to photograph so many beautiful moments in their lives. Blessed. Happy. Grateful. Linsey and Chase, your family is beautiful, your kids are spirited, wild and glorious. I'm so glad our paths have crossed. May you have the most amazing Christmas just bursting with love and most importantly magic. oxxo

Photography: Erin Wallis Photography (http://www.erinwallis.com) Venue: Crown Isle Resort Decor: Krylea Creative Flowers: Purely Flower Dress: Lazaro tulle princess ball gown from Bisou Bridal in Vancouver Shoes: Vera Wang from Saks 5th Ave in LA Mens Tux: Jims Clothes Closet Comox Linens and rentals: All in One Party Shop Makeup: Ali Crowhurst of Indria Esthetics Hair: Megan from Hairpins in Courtenay

Award winning photo

I was standing upstairs about to crawl into bed. It was almost past my 7 months pregnant bed time of about 10pm. I got a notification from twitter... that went a little something like this... "‏@VIWeddingRing @erinwallis just won award at @bcweddingawards!! Yay Vancouver Island!" I had entered a few images but was unable to get myself to the awards gala hosted in Vancouver. I thought... "what?" then...."oh. my".. then... "what did I win?" I messaged last years winner of BC Wedding Awards-Best Wedding Group Photograph the talented Michael Wachniak of Vancouver (who also used to work for Princess Cruises and worked along side many of my favourite colleges although we never worked together directly) and our conversation went a little like.....

"9:51pm Erin Wallis Someone just tweeted that I won something??? at the awards??? Did I win something???

9:53pm Michael Wachniak Yes!!!! That group shot was amazing!!!!!!!!!!!"

I won. I had entered a shot that got more attention than any ever has on my facebook page and it won, I won?! WOW. So incredibly excited. Honoured. To be recognized among such talented, dedicated professionals is truly something I will be forever grateful for.

Have a peek at the other winners and finalists. Here at PROFESSIONAL BC WEDDING AWARDS I'm still kinda in shock, that my image is there. Shocked and happy. Grateful. Thank you to Laura from the Wedding Ring from picking up my award for me and brining it back to Vancouver Island. Just full of thanks. ox

Caught up in Fall

I'm a Vancouver Island based photographer. I photograph families, children, weddings... but mostly... I photograph love. I see it, I feel it, I photograph it, I love the process.... I love it all. I'm not panicked or stressed about creating the images, because I know that the energy the family creates itself will translate, if I'm open to receive it... catch it.

It's different in my own life. Or, it was different today in my own life.

Last year I caught a moment with Maisie in the fall leaves. It is one of my very favourite photos of her, and this year... I wanted to do something like the same. I got her dressed, saw the beautiful light outside and we set out with camera in hand. She was crabby. I could feel myself getting irritated that the photos I was trying to create weren't what was happening. Frank was barking and eating something strange in the field. Maisie was having a pout about no idea what, and I could feel a level of anxiety rising in my bones. I said something snappy to her and in that moment, I had a flash of insight.

I don't want to be the photo crazy mother forcing my child to be in the photos, and then getting mad at her when they weren't exactly as my painfully inspired self had in mind.... I briefly took a look at myself and realized that I may just be resembling a mother gone photo wild. I put my camera down, and played with my girl. We fished with a stick. She caught 5 salmon leaves and we ate them for lunch. We were sleeping beauty in the leaves kissing each other awake, and we chased the sunshine. Then, feeling more along the lines of a mother I was happy to be, I picked my camera back up and continued playing with my daughter, in the leaves stealing a few photo moments as we played. We were back on track.

I was happier, she was WAY happier and the photos, always tell the tale. I am so grateful, to be able to catch myself in an act that I'm not proud of... and do my best to change it. I'm a work in progress. Oprah quotes Maya Angelou often in saying "When we know better, we do better." It has turned into another unofficial mantra in my life.

So, as the leaves are swirling and fall is falling, I hope you (like me) don't get so caught up in trying to catch the beauty of fall... that you forget to see it's magic.

Tofino wedding featured

Fall behind in time change...equals a little less sleep, and I didn't even notice because I was so happy to have a wedding chosen for a feature on the ever popular "Ruffled" wedding blog. So honoured to have been Steph and Scott's chosen photographer, and so thrilled to have been a part of this truly dreamy west coast wedding. You can check out the full feature HERE. ox