Akane and Justin are my kind of humans. Their story is colourful, full of chance meetings and different countries. They traveled from their home in Romania to Tofino for their destination elopement. Their elopement, my kind of elopement. Her visions and priorities were her beautiful kids, family, Tofino beaches, dress, flowers, hair, and me. Laid back, love fuelled, beautiful event. If you think you need a million hours of coverage, just for the record... I was with them for a total of 2 hours of photography. I definitely can not do a big wedding in that amount of time, but an elopement with a few of your faves... I can do. I love Tofino elopements, Tofino anything really and it appears judging by the amount of time I spend on the west coast, it is a favourite of my amazing couples as well. The moment I set foot on the property I knew I was going to fall in love with their celebration. Akane was calm, sweet, caring and I absolutely fell in love with her energy and infectious laughter. I loved how she just carried on mothering her boys although it was for sure going to mess up her hair/makeup and dress... she laughed it all off. Thats when you know, you are onto something good at a wedding. When the little things are just that, the little things. Another thing I love at weddings is live music, like when your incredible sister in law has the voice of an angel and sings the bride down the isle. Makes everything more momentous and memorable. How beautiful. How grateful I am Akane and Justin to have shared it with you. ox
Steph and Steve-Tofino wedding
A winter wedding in Tofino. I realize that it is necessary for me to keep this journal more present. The images that should be appearing here, should reflect the work that I am doing currently. Steph and Steve were married with an intimate, relaxed beach wedding in Tofino, BC. Exactly my kind of soulful, joyous, laid back, beautiful day and people. Laughing when the ocean attempts to swallow up your dress, freezing on the beach during your January ceremony? No worries, there is a Hudson Bay blanket to warm you up. Rinsing your sand filled dress in the shower and popping in the dryer to get it back to wear worthy shape, before your reception. MY. KIND. OF. PEOPLE. Thank you Steph and Steve for trusting and choosing me. ox
Tofino, I love you. ox
Kelsey and Cody~ memories mountain side.
Vancouver Island is filled with amazing little pockets of greatness. Being born and raised in Campbell River, I've been privy to extra special locations such as this one. Menzies lookout. The dirt logging road straight up a mountain didn't seem like much to me as a footloose and fancy free teen, however travelling up the road now requires some pretty intense anxiety self talk and yoga breathing techniques. Luckily I was safe with Kelsey and Cody, (Kelsey a yoga instructor and Cody a total mountain man) These two are just my kinda people. Can't wait for their Dolphins Resort wedding later on this summer. Bring on all the beautiful moments and memories. xo
Hummingbird Whisperer
Hummingbird Zen.
A mind at peace, a mind centred and not focused on harming others, is stronger than any physical force in the universe. ~Wayne Dyer
Our sweet neighbour let us know that she had been feeding the hummingbirds in the area, and that we should come over and get Maisie to try it (Elliot lasted about 2 seconds of "trying to be still") But Maisie was focused, calm and determined. We would talk about calming her energy, opening her heart, softening her energy. Letting the sweet little creatures know she would never harm them. The first night she waited about 40 minutes before one landed near her. (BW below). The next night we tried at our house, we kept Elliot inside (way too bouncy and unpredictable) and she went ahead with her calming and softening practise. They were all around her and all over her in a matter of moments. It was truly mesmerizing. (Second night colour photo below) We will be making this a regular practice. She absolutely loves it, it is so peaceful and filled with magic. Deep gratitude to our sweet neighbour Sue for enlightening us to her special practice. ox
2019: UPDATE New videos and photos added here from this year. 3 years of hummingbird magic. Every year has gotten more intense. I love reflecting on the journey of how this all come to be part of our lives. This year things really got exciting and even more amazing. What joy this brings to our lives. ox
The hummingbird whispering is getting out of hand. Actual hummingbird zen this gal. So! Crazy!!!
I am so lucky that my previous neighbor Sue was feeding them for years before we moved here in 2016. She showed me her feeders (she had 5 hanging off her deck) and I was instantly hooked and blown away. We started with one feeder and now I have 8 of them. I feed them a mix of sugar and water. When the feeders are the most crazy I am refilling 6-8 feeders twice a day. So Wild! These are migrating rufous hummingbirds that travel from Mexico to Alaska annually and have been coming here for years. I’ve read that they have remarkable memories so they remember feeders/flowers along the way and they are said to also recognize faces as well. Judging by their reaction to Maisie and I, I know they remember her and trust her. Look at them!! We have been feeding them for 3 years here and I have always been amazed by them but tonight... on the eve of this gals 9th birthday they totally blew our minds!!!!
*** update many of you ask what we feed them, and we feed sugar and water. Dissolve 1 cup of sugar to 4 cups of water. NO RED DYE. And clean feeders every few days. As mould grows quickly on the feeders.
The future is female.
If you're anything like me, you crave light. Crave it streaming in through your windows, the sky, the darkness. We all need to see something or someone spreading light even when all signs point to gloom. A rainbow glowing through the clouds after a never ending storm, the sun rising after a long night, a beautiful sunset after a hard conversation or finding a flash light in a power outage. All tend to feel like candles burning brightly for hope. These girls, they do that for me. Shine on soul sisters and love warriors. We can always use more light.
The future is female. xo