A girlfriend of mine found out I was photographing Andrea and Kenny's Vancouver Island wedding, and instantly said "you're going to love her." She was right, and more. I loved every, single lovely moment of their wedding, their personalities and the amazing light and life they brought to the very picturesque Dolphins Resort. They trusted me to sweet talk a security guard to enter a "do not enter" area in a construction zone for their portraits while it was pouring outside. They laughed at me when I was bouncing around on rocks yelling how seriously awesome it was photographing them along the river during the salmon run, as hundreds of curious islanders watched them in their wedding love bubble on the rocks. The guests, the family... every single thing... beautiful. Thank you Andrea and Kenny for believing in my madness. ox
Markie and Nate
I had this blog post carefully written yesterday morning. I was about to post, and then... something weird happened. It was just, gone. Gone. So, Elliot having woken up from his nap, I decided to try again tomorrow. I'm currently sitting here in my 'uniform' lulus and messy hair. I was just thinking as I was finishing up my last August wedding, about my career, about my life. I am constantly pushing myself, learning more, trying new things, re-inspiring myself (daily) But I am hard on myself, my own worst critic... (I'm working on it) Truth be told, I was thinking about my photographs, perhaps even comparing a bit. As a photographer, I can get into magazines, win an award, have amazing followers "like" things on facebook. But to be totally honest, when I post that first image (or first few images) and hit send or upload onto Facebook I can literally get a hundred likes and none of it means anything to me until I hear from the people in the images. I post and cross my fingers that all of my painfully inspired moments have paid off. Hope I did their moments justice, hope I captured it honestly enough. That I "got" them.
So, I curated the images for this post yesterday, lost the writing to go along with it, started to get all hard on myself and then, randomly got this beautiful gift from Markie. And somehow, my lost words and negative thoughts just really didn't seem to matter all that much. (is it weird that sometimes I want to call her "my Markie") probably.
Hi Erin, I was having a wedding day-dream day yesterday, and went through all the photos again. Yep - all of them! They make me (and Nate) SO happy. Heart warm and full to the brim, love drunk on wedding pictures (ha- so true!), it was the time to write a little testimonial for a very special photographer. If you can use any of my words for anything, please do. If not, then you can just know how I feel about you and my images. I hope we can get together for wine sometime this winter. Happy Friday XO
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I followed Erin Wallis for years - her website, blog, Facebook pages. I had never met her, never even seen her in person, yet I felt a connection to her, like I somehow knew her. The photos and the words she shared always resonated with me. I knew long before Nathon asked me to marry him that Erin Wallis was my wedding photographer. I didn't know a thing about what my wedding day would entail at that point, whether I was eloping or having a big reception, but I knew who was going to create the images.
When I woke up on the morning of my wedding day, everything turned surreal, almost dream-like. All the days leading up, all the planning, the emotions, the nerves, the love...all comes down to one beautiful, blissful, blurry day. Surrounded by all of the people we love most, we celebrated our love and our life together - and in the end, we were married. It was natural and super-natural all at the same time. For us, it was a day full of magic, and love, and absolute happiness. Erin captured it all.
Erin and I didn't talk much, if at all, about the "style" of my wedding leading up to the day. We didn't talk at all about how I wanted the images to look. We made very few plans. I never showed her any inspiration photos. I did not show her my dress, my flowers, or my decor. We spoke briefly about some various photo location options and Erin mentioned that she had "some ideas." The photos were one thing I was not worried about. I had 100% trust in her and I was confident that Erin would know exactly what to do. And she did. When she arrived at my parent's house while I was getting ready, we found her digging through family treasures and piecing our life together into perfect little vignettes like she had known us all for a lifetime. My Mom whispered, "She is an old soul, just like you." We ended up at the perfect locations, some planned, some inspired spur-of-the-moment. In the events leading up to the ceremony and the spontaneous moments that followed, Erin was in her element. She was engaged and inspired and completely taken in the special, intimate, and magic things that transpired. The result was images that were more than I could have dreamed of. For us, they are perfect.
It is hard to put into words how I feel about my wedding photos. They are much more than the hard evidence that our wedding day was not a dream and it actually did happen. Erin Wallis has an ability to connect and empathize with people that comes through in the images. When I look at the photos it brings me back to that exact, fleeting moment. They evoke the same emotions I was feeling at that very second. The magic, the happiness, the love, and the glow - it comes rushing back. I will never be able to live that day again, which is what makes it so special. Erin turned our memories of that amazing day into cherished images and art.
Erin - Thank you from the bottom of my very full and happy heart. Thank you for putting yourself out there to the world so people like me can find you. Thank you for wearing your heart on your sleeve so people like me can connect with you and trust you. Thank you for the treasured images of my special day.
“Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It's splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world.” - L.M. Montgomery
Markie Miller ***************************************************************************** I had a little cry during it, and after, and now as I write it here again. Awards and magazines are nice, amazing even. But, this... this, is priceless. oxox So much love. Beyond grateful. oxoxxo One more priceless email... from Markies mom, the day after the wedding, that I still can't read without BURSTING into tears, every time... "When your Maisie one day says I do ... When that day comes and your heart is so full to the brim with emotion ... You will then know how much it means to Lance and I in all that you have captured for our Markie. I am overcome with the greatest joy in my heart ... I can't thank you enough ... They are all beautiful. Congratulations ... Hope you are smiling HUGE ... You should be so proud" Venue: Dolphin’s Resort Food: Dolphin’s Resort, Executive Chef Joe Volk Bride’s Dress: Anaiss Bridal Groom’s Suit: RW & Co Flowers: Aunty Sarah {Neill} Makeup: Allie of Indira Esthetics Décor: Personal Collections & Carmen Amberson Music: JUICE {DJ & Friend}
Our Songs: Bride’s Processional: “Tupelo Honey” – Van Morrison Ceremony Songs: “Harvest Moon” – Neil Young; “I Got You” – Jack Johnson; “Only Love” – Ben Howard Recessional: “Could you Be Loved” – Bob Marley First Dance: “Into The Mystic” – Van Morrison Father/Daughter Dance: “Having a Party” – Sam Cooke
Style Me Pretty
So thrilled to have Paula and Jordan's breathtaking wedding featured on Style Me Pretty today.
Their wedding was extraordinary, the Dolphins Resort magical and the weather divine. So happy to share, and thrilled that the Style Me Pretty girls thought it was fabulous too!!!
I think you should check it out here, on the STYLE ME PRETTY CANADA blog.
Paula and Jordan
Paula and Jordan's wedding was simply stunning.
They had a recipe that could only lead to amazing things. Campbell Rivers most amazing (in my opinion) wedding venue, Dolphins Resort. She had perfect little Vera Wang flats, a two piece wedding dress, a stunning veil, homemade sangria, fresh oyster station and sushi, dahlias everywhere, hundreds of candles in mason jars, homemade (gorgeous) wedding cake, bridesmaid skirts (handmade by the bride) , a helicopter ride to a mountain top and a whole bunch of people who love them dearly.
Dolphins Resort is my favorite for so many reasons, but the rustic charm, the stunning views, the perfect beach/dock and the incredible culinary magic of their dining room (courtesy of Chef Joe Volk) makes this resort the perfect place to host a flawless event. I love that although I've photographed many weddings there, each one is exquisitely unique and personalized to the couple.
Love this couple. Love this place. Love this wedding.
Venue/Catering/Event Planning Dolphins Resort
Bridal/Wedding party flowers Willows Market
Dahlias Auntie Terry
Helicopter Ride Grizzly Helicopters
A season opener
This past Saturday marks the beginning of my career postpartum. Life can now be defined to some extent as before Maisie and after.
Having a two month old baby, and getting back to work full time has its fair share of challenges. But, we are doing our best. The challenges aren't exactly during the sessions, or during the weddings... its the before and afters that are proving to be tricky. So, be gentle with me. If it takes me a day or two longer to respond, or call back etc... just know that it may feel like I'm ignoring you, but I promise, I'm not. I'm just doing my best to ensure that my 9 week old baby isn't neglected, and has more love than she needs from me to get her through the times when I can't be there for her. When I get to the wedding, the session, the meeting. I'm there 100%, and am loving it. However that wouldn't be possible if I felt like my little Maisie wasn't being taken care of 100%.
So, the emails and call backs may take a day or two longer, but my baby is happy and healthy and loved. To me, its the only way.
In saying that, I can't imagine starting off my wedding season with anyone else but Sean and Kate. A beautiful day at Dolphins Resort, stunning bride, gorgeous guests, loving family members... a perfect way to spend my Saturday.
Warm, inviting, and full of love. This day, was perfect. I love how Kate just radiates. Amazing. I also love how much I love photography.
It's good to be back.
