Kim and Martie

These great people are Kim and Martie, and I am really excited about photographing their wedding. First - because they're so good looking.

Second, because they are really FUN! Here, I'm being a big-game hunter, and they're my prey. This was one of the funnest (is that a word?) shoots I've done in a while. You've gotta love people who are up for anything and full of fun ideas.Kim is so beautiful, and sort of mellow.

Martie on the other-hand . . .
How many engagement shoots do you get to do where the groom to be jumps out of trees? And asks if I want to take pictures of his future bride standing on the trellises of the bridge? (Kim turned him down on this one.)
And they are so-stinking-in-love. In a really awesome way!

I knew I was really going to like them when Kim told me about Martie's proposal. Martie surprised her with a trip to London for the weekend (she thought she was going to Vancouver, until after they got through security.) They got bumped to first class (yeah!) and then when they got to London, they went to the Royal Gardens, and Martie told Kim he was going to take a photo of the two of them - like they always do when they travel - and then proposed to her, and caught it on film . How awesome is that?!

Here, Martie shook the tree to get pink petals to fall in the picture.

I'm really looking forward to your wedding guys!!!!!!

Philippa and Jon (part Il)

And here they are! My beautiful little sister and her handsome new husband.



This was such a great day. I went out in the morning to get pictures of Philippa getting ready. She was so mellow! Playing cards with her best girls when I arrived.



Our Ma, fixing Phil's veil.

Is she not stunning!?!?

Some shots from after the ceremony.

Phil and Jon wanted fun pictures. So fun we had. Jon was very excited that they could get wedding photos and Slurpees at the same time. I was asked to stop taking photos in 7-11, but that's ok, cause we got what we wanted.


We did the family formals at the farm where my grandparent's homesteaded.



Here's the whole family (thank goodness for timers and tripods - that's me on the left. I had to run pretty fast to get lined up and get my shoes on too.)
Playing around with post-processing textures.

This is my favourite picture of the whole day.
Playing around with action shots. I love this red barn.
Is she not the sweetest flower girl?Some pictures of their best-peeps. They were all a lot of fun. The boys looked great in their kilts. And if you give me $1,000,000 I'll tell you what they had on underneath :)
Philippa and her beautiful friends.
More playing around with textures. I was really happy with how this one turned out. It reminds me of a movie poster for some insanely romantic film.
The church where Phil and Jon were married is a very special place for them - we got a few great pictures there, and luckily for me, it has really beautiful light.

And off to the reception. Here's Jon's mom and dad dancing - I think for the first time. They look like they're having fun!


Philippa dancing with my dad. There were some serious tears here. Phil is the last of his four children to leave home. That's 39 years of parenting. Thanks Daddy.

And finally, the beautiful couple.

I'm in print!

Its so exciting to see my work in print! I recently did the headshots for the Edmonton Cultural Plan and its been published.

Yeah!

Philippa and Jon (part I)

If you're looking for Philippa's wedding pictures - you have to wait.

SHE said :)

Here's just one - a major bonus of photographing a family affair: there are unlimited assistants. My cousin Laura and Steve gamely participated in my sparkler experiment.

Cool initials my dear sister! With the new name!

To everyone else - check back here on June 2 - after Philippa and Jon get back from their honeymoon.

The Fabulous Ms. Meme

Ms. Meme is a favourite person in our household. I've known her since she was a wee tiny baby - she's my best friend's girl. Gabe fell in love with her, oh, pretty much immediately. Poor Meme has been known to run to her mama crying "he won't stop hugging me." Isaac looks at her with big adoring eyes.

And I will show you why . . .




We celebrated Meme's 6th birthday last week at every one's favourite park. It was nice and sunny, but a freezing wind. Good for bubbles though.

This is the girl herself, and her most wonderful, amazing mama.

They are a good shoe family. But, Meme needs to run and play, so sometimes fashion has to take a back seat to practicality. Off go the boots.
And this is classic Meme. Pink everything and a remote control big wheel truck, courtesy of her beloved Uncle Mike.
Happy birthday, my dear girl.

Fort McMurray

I'm going to Fort McMurray on May 31 and June 1 for a photography marathon! I still have a few spots available for family/baby or couple shots.

Please contact me if you're interested, and feel free to let your friends know.

Felice and Trevor

Felice and Trevor came to see me the other day for maternity photographs. They're expecting their first baby on June 15th. Both Felice and Trevor exude peace and calm. Trevor recently won the Men of Honour award, which is how we met.

I have this feeling that their baby is going to come out with a total zen vibe, with big brown eyes that reflect the whole universe.

They both look so happy.
This is such a classic maternity picture, but I love it everytime.

Felice is stunningly beautiful.

I caught these last two pictures shooting into the sun, trying to catch some flare. The sun-flare didn't turn out like I'd planned, but check out where it landed - right over Felice's heart, and right over the baby.

Mother's Day Contest

I know its short notice, but I'm one of those people who's really flexible about the timing of about holidays.

Being a mother is a tough job. Yes, its joyful and rewarding, often in ways you can't even articulate, but its also exhausting, both mentally and physically. Its so hard not to lose yourself in the role of "mother" and to remember who else you are.

At first I thought about running a contest with the prize being family photos. But then I thought no, I want to do something for a mama that is just for her.

So here's the deal: leave me a blog comment (or email) about a defining moment for you as a person. It can be about how being a mother made you a better person, or it can be about all those things you're saving up for when your children don't need you quite so much, like a studio apartment in Paris, or going back to school. It doesn't have to be long (I know you're pressed for time), but just a little something about you.

And the prize.* No kid pictures. Just beautiful pictures of you.

I had professional photos taken of me when I was 30, realising that was about the best I was ever going to look, and I'm so glad I did. When I pass a mirror, running after a screaming child and see myself with hair sticking out wildly and yesterday's makeup giving me raccoon eyes, I also run past the photo of me on my family photo wall, which in my head is how I see myself. Mostly serene. Only a few wrinkles. No grey hairs. No spit up or pizza or mud staining my clothes, and I'm grateful I have them.

I want to make you feel pretty (and you already are pretty, but I also have Photoshop). Head shots, body shots, boudoir. Whatever you want. We'll hang out on a Sunday afternoon, talk about who we are outside of our roles as mothers, and have a good time.

So, drop me a line. And have a great Mother's day.

*Includes high res files (~20-40, maybe more) with 5 artistic edits to print to your heart's content. Make a poster. Make wallpaper. Make a book. Judging of entries will likely be me pulling a name out of a hat.

Family Hug

I met up with Jordyn, Mackenzie and Parker at the Space Science Centre last week, on one of the first nice days of spring. I had to resort to a little trickery to get these three gorgeous children to stand still long enough for portraits, but they were great.

I'm still editing the session, but these are some of my favourites so far.


Jordyn is so pretty. I promised I would take pictures of her being a cat if we could get one nice/normal smile for her mom. (Having a child of my own who alternates between being a lion, a badger and a cow, I totally get this!)
Mackenzie has eyelashes to die for. Seriously. And I'm not posting a picture of his amazing green eyes, because I don't want you to keel over in envy. Really, they're that amazing.
Parker seemed mostly unimpressed by my camera. I've gotten a lot of that lately. Maybe its the age. However, this is a classic move by a two year old and ten years from now, sometime in between the lack of sleep due to babies in the house, and lack of sleep caused by teenagers not being in the house, I think Mackenzie's mom will look back at this and say "I remember that" with a very wistful tone in her voice.
And finally, a little family love.