ONE MORE SLEEP

I'm sitting here in my friends apartment, iced (decaf) caramel machiatto in hand, sun setting through the window blinds, dressed in my pyjamas and ready for bed.  I can't believe I will be shooting my first ever wedding on my own in just one more sleep.  I am a jumble of nerves and would be surprised if I get any sleep tonight.

This is my first time ever in Victoria, and lemme just tell you, this place is beautiful.  Like seriously.  I was  left alone at my friend's apartment this afternoon and decided to take a jaunt around the block to  soak it all in.  The sun was shining, people were bustling and my hair was blowing with the wind.  I had the most amazing time.  I eventually came back, had a shower and started to put on my pjs when I noticed I left the clothes for the wedding IN THE DRYER BACK HOME!!!  Back to the store I went to buy a last minute outfit for tomorrow.  Phew, nothing like leaving it to the last minute, eh?

I wondered briefly if it was a bad omen, then shrugged it off as quickly as it came.  If we ran away as soon as something got scary, how would we know what could have been.  The accomplishments.  Dreams coming true.  Triumph.

I honestly can't believe how quickly things have been progressing.  Hard work really does pay off.  If someone told me a year ago that I would be shooting my first wedding tomorrow, I would have laughed in their faces.  But, alas, here we are.

When I arrived at my friend's apartment, I gave her a birthday/thank you gift (she will be accompanying me tomorrow as a second shooter).  She squealed, said thank you, then told me how excited she is and that it feels like she is a part of history right now.  My history.

  

Ashley, I hope you're right.

LIFESTYLE FAMILY SESSION : THE WHITMORES

I met Danielle through a Scentsy party.  I was emailing her my order when she noticed I was a photographer and asked if I could photograph her two little girls for her.  One thing led to another and naturally, I obliged.  

Hannah is the oldest.  She is spicy and she is sweet.  She is smiling one minute and running off doing somersaults the next.  Then there is Megan, the little sister and is one happy and curious baby.  She definitely has her work cut out for her if she wants to keep up with Hannah one day.

This is Snow.  Hannah's cat.  But guys, she knows it's not real.  I got quite the talking to when I tried to pretend it was ;)

Mama wasn't planning on being in the pictures,  In fact, she had no idea I was taking these.  They had just got back from a trip a few hours before, so she was sitting with them to calm them down when they got a bit fussy.  They turned out to be some of my favourites.

I wasn't kidding about the somersaults.

CANADA PHOTO CONVENTION : VANCOUVER

For those of you don't know, CPC, or Canada Photo Convention, is a magical time once a year where photographers from all around the world gather in one hotel for three days and cause havoc in the city of Vancouver.  Whether it be stopping in the middle of the street to get the perfect shot or sending out spontaneous wolf calls to the rest of the pack, we definitely had Vancouver on its toes.

Vancouver, you kicked my butt.  CPC, you made the trip more valuable than I'd ever hoped for.  Where do I even begin...I'm still going through my notes (half a notebook worth to be exact!) and my mind gets more and more overwhelmed each time.  The convention consisted of three consecutive twelve (yes you heard me, TWELVE) hour days, with six different speakers each day.  They each brought a little something special to the learning experience and I am so grateful to each and everyone of them who took time out of their busy schedules to help other like-minded individuals succeed in their business.

However, the most impactful aspect of the convention wasn't the speakers (although Dan O'Day's presentation left me speechless at times, laughing at others and at one time, had the whole crowd crying.  He changed my whole philosophy and way I look at my business, and in a strange way, made me want to be better not only as a business owner, but as a person.  LOVE HIM!) but the connections that happened as a result of the trip.   The events that weren’t in the plan, the conversations that couldn’t have been predicted.   I purposely went by myself, with the sole intention of creating new friendships and connections (which is so not me, and had me wanting to go home and hide under the covers by the first lunch break) and I am so glad I did.  Networking, mixing, and meeting new people for three days straight is a lot of hard work, but I love walking away with new opportunities and friends.  Like Judy, a talented photographer and lovely girl  from Prince George who I always happened to bump into and sit beside throughout the convention (Hi Judy!)

Another connection that was really fun (and actually happened after the convention was over) was with Wyn Wiley of Wyn Wiley Photography  and was one of the first speakers at CPC.  He's the one taking the the group selfie up derr ^^ I had emailed him after the convention and he is seriously one stand up dude.  He genuinely wants everyone to be good and succeed at what they do.  He also loves cats and I hear he has a killer Beyonce.  Love him to bits and can't wait to see him again next year!

Though CPC was three weeks ago, it hasn’t stopped my mind from running over with ideas and projects I want to implement in my business. Thank you to all who said hi, gave hugs, and lent insight and support. Sometimes it overwhelms me how amazing this photography community is and how lucky I am to be a part of it.

WILLOW POINT ENGAGEMENT : CIANA + TRAVIS

Ciana was a teenager living with her mother in Oregon when she decided to come back to her hometown, Campbell River, to attend a year of highschool back in Canada.  She was sitting in Spanish class when the teacher told them they had to form groups and begin a group project.  Being the shy one, she surprised even herself as she looked over at the only other student in the back of room and asked if he wanted to do the project together.  He said yes.  The two quickly became friends and before she left to go back to her Mom's in Oregon, they realized that what they had was something special and quickly made the transition from just friends to boyfriend and girlfriend.

Flash forward a few years, after many bumps and turns in the road of their cross-country relationship, they found themselves sitting in the same living room.  They were joking about getting married.  At least that's how it started.  As they continued to joke, their talk became more and more serious.  Serious to the point where they were both unsure if their nonchalant conversation had slowly turned into a proposal.  Wait...are we actually doing this?  she asked as she turned her head and looked him in the eyes.  And the answer was, they were.  Travis gave her the promise ring he'd had tucked away for the past two years, and it was Ciana's turn to say yes.

Ciana and Travis will be getting married later this month at Pine Lodge Farm...just seeing them together makes me incredibly happy, and knowing I get to document their first day as husband and wife makes me swoon!  Here are a few of my favourites from their enagement session...

I met Ciana and Travis down in willow point for their e-session on a beautiful spring day.  The sunny afternoon was brightened by their electric personalities and I have no doubt their wedding will be nothing short of amazing.

I always encourage clients to bring along props, so I was delighted to see they brought a couple books to spice up their e-sesh.  I love them.

As we made our way down to the beach I captured this moment.  True. Love.

And then the bubbles came out.

...and the dandelions.  I seriously can't even you two!

Beyond all else, I loved that Ciana and Travis set out to have fun on their engagement session...my kind of people.

I'll end the session on a happy note...this photo is perfectly them: fun, adventurous and in love.

Happy Friday!