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.
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 
“A person who has good thoughts cannot ever be ugly. You can have a wonky nose and a crooked mouth and a double chin and stick-out teeth, but if you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.”
― Roald Dahl
It's no secret that I've been lacking in the blogging department.
As a wedding/portrait photographer my busiest months are May-September. Perhaps that is why I am only really resurfacing now, in October.
It isn't a secret, but I also haven't exactly been making any "public" announcements about the fact that I have spent the past 5 months also growing a baby. Let's be honest ladies who've done this... the first trimester is no joke, and add that to being in my busiest season, shooting weddings.. travelling all over, trying to maintain balance in my family, walk the dog, clean the house, be nice, answer emails, edit and run my business... blogging was sacrificed. And, while we're keeping it real... my house completely fell apart. Like, laundry everywhere, dust for days, piles of "I'll deal with that later" all over. But, whatever... we made it.
I've felt more private with this pregnancy for some reason. Just didn't really want to make any kind of 'announcement'. So many reasons, but mainly... I'll just blame it on the hormones.
In any case, here I am.
5 months in, and we're all looking forward to a new addition to our family in February. I'm thrilled that my absolute favourite time of year is here, and it's straight into sweaters and hot baths. A perfect way to spend the next 4 months.
Thank you to all of you who have checked in, and who have been still visiting my action-less blog.
I'm looking forward to more.
(many more weddings and shoots to catch up on sharing)
oxxo
I have been the worst blogger ever lately. I realize it. I have reasons. I swear.
I'm almost ready to announce why...
But until I have the perfect image to go with the post.... I'll hold off for a few more days. (Whats a few more days)
For those of you that have been checking in and seeing the same images, my apologies!
I'll do better.
