Blackrock Resort: Jacqui and Mike

I was always the one up late.  Up late scribbling random rambles on countless notebooks.  I was a always a tad dramatic, but writing always helped ease my mind and helped me make sense of the thoughts that would frequent my head and heart.  Blogging has been a bit like that for me as well.  A way to wrap things up, tie it all together.  Share what has happened, what beautiful things I saw and felt and experienced with the beautiful people who've chosen me to capture their moments.  I really love it.  The past few years the blogging has come to a bit of a standstill for no other reason than I had things to do.  The small people who I grew, then take up a whole lot of energy and at the end of a long day... the couch and a glass of wine and an episode or 3 of Vikings became incredibly more appealing than attempting to use more energy for anything.  And, I'm ok with that.  But now, I've been feeling the need to share on something other than Facebook or Instagram.  I'm just going to do what I can, when I can and be ok with that.  Be great with that.  

So, I'm going to start at the end of 2014 for my wedding season.  It was the last glorious, amazing wedding of 2014 for me.  Jacqui and Mike made no error in choosing  Black Rock Resort for their truly remarkable west coast wedding.  My beautiful friend Mother Nature was feeling generous on November 15 2014.  Leading up to the wedding no one could have anticipated a wedding engulfed in the most magical picturesque winter sunshine.  The light and the people were right out of my creative dreams.  Vancouver Islands west coast is beautiful on any day, be it foggy, rainy, stormy.... but winter sunshine may just be my favourite.  Lucky lucky us.  

Thank you Jacqui and Mike for you faith in me and for choosing me.  As always, I am beyond grateful.  ox

Let your life be a painting

Dear Maisie, 

I feel the need to tell you, in writing... that you are magic.  On Christmas morning I read you "Have You Filled a Bucket Today.  A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids." It's a very sweet book that is so great.  In it, it explains that everyone in the world has an invisible bucket.  Throughout the day that bucket can be filled or emptied.  When your bucket is full, you are happy.  A bucket full of happiness.  If your bucket is empty... not so happy.  We talked about it, read it.  You loved it.  You whispered to me "Let's try it out on daddy."   Then looked at your dad and said "you're a good and handsome daddy."  He smiled big and said "aw, why thank you sweetheart."  
"Mom!  It worked"  You said proudly.  My heart was instantly happier.

A few hours later we were at your grandma and papas.  Great Grannie Goodheart was there too.  88 years young.  Everyone was chatting away, checking out presents and out of nowhere you whisper to me "watch this mom.  I'm going to fill up Great Grandmas bucket."  

"Great Grandma you have a sweet heart."  

Big smile from her, big smile from you.  My own heart melted.   

You can do many things with your life Maisie.  You will likely possess many qualities.  You could be strong willed, passionate, independent, smart, wise, charming, sassy, talented or wild.  But the one thing I will always feel most proud of is when you are kind.  When your soul shines with love and compassion.  Nothing makes me feel better, makes my bucket more full.  Your soul is shiny Maisie.  Sparkly.  May you carry on filling buckets wherever you go.  Making magic, spreading yours.  It is your life my darling girls.  You choose what your life will be.  You can make your life the most magnificent painting you can imagine.  Today you asked me to wear your "wedding dress" from our wedding.  We made these photos in about 10 minutes in our kitchen, with love.

So much love, 

oxox mom

“When I say be creative I don't mean that you should all go and become great painters and great poets. I simply mean let your life be a painting, let your life be a poem.” ~Osho

Boys and Pups

Two friends hanging at the beach with their wild pups.  A bag of treats and two mothers covered in sand trying to wrangle all four.  We attempted the nearly impossible, and it was hilarious and lasted all of 30 minutes or less.  Love these little friends and can't wait to see what they get up to in the years to come. xo

PWPC Spring 2014

I used to not enter contests.  I used to not wear sunglasses or my hair down either.  I didn't try yoga, or water skiing either.  I didn't wear sunglasses or my hair down because I didn't want people to think, that I thought I was cool.  I didn't try yoga because I was afraid I might not be good at it.  I didn't try, because I was unsure of the unknown.  I didn't used to enter contests I for similar reasons.  What if I'm not good enough, what if I don't win. What if I don't "place" , what if my peers, industry professionals just think I'm a joke.  A girl with a camera.  A few years ago I started entering, for different reasons... but mainly to push myself. To try.  What if I fail??? Well... what if I DON'T.  What if I'm in a yoga class with a bunch of amazing yogi's, all bendy and in perfect form and I fall on my face.... really who cares.  

What happens if I love it.  What happens if I don't fail.  What happens when I place third among talented Canadian wedding photographers for my images?  

What happens if I try and fail.  Oh well... Elliot {my one year old} falls down pretty much every 10th step.  He always gets back up.  He always tries again.  He just stands up.  He just falls, and then stands up again.  I recently came across a quote that I love so much "The worst thing is watching someone drown and not being able to convince them that they can save themselves by just standing up."  I could just stand up.  I could just pull myself up and go for it.  I tried yoga for the first time in October 2013 and have been hooked and in love with it ever since.  I am miles from some master yogi... however, I try.  I feel better.  I would just never go before, I would be frustrated with my aching body but not be actually DOING anything about it. Then I thought... If I can give birth to a 10 pound 8 oz baby without any drugs or pain medication... I CAN DO YOGA. I can enter contests, I can do whatever I want.

Lets do this people.  I believe the secret is to not focus on what you can't do... and just focus on what you CAN do.  In any case, I feel humbly proud today.  I feel honoured to share these contest results from the Professional Wedding Photographers of Canada today.  I wouldn't have ever known that I could place so highly, if I didn't try.  I'm grateful for many things, but today, I'm grateful for the ability to always pull myself up, and try.  

Be brave friends.  It is your life.  Yours.  

Have a look through the galleries as well to be blown away by our Canadian talent! **CLICK HERE******

Maternal Moments, {musings and magic}

I have endless love for outdoor maternity photos.  I realized I hadn't done a "best of 2013" so here is a best of lately.  I say that every shoot is my favourite kind, but there is something so remarkable to me about maternity sessions.  I absolutely love them.  

The beauty of the human body and spirit growing life.  Without saying "ok body, grow lungs for this baby, grow fingers"... the big beautiful natural miracle of life.  Where we all came from.  Where would we be without this one amazing act of creation.  I'm in awe.   Look at them.  Making human beings.  Looking like hope.  Making it look easy, beautiful.  When there are moments in every pregnancy that feel miles from beautiful and ages away from easy. 

Glow on beautiful girls, strong mommas.  All of you growing babies, raising them, teaching them, and loving them.  Shine on sisters.  Dig deep and shine on. xo