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Hornby Island RetreatSeptember 1st, 2011Last weekend, I was so very fortunate to be able to take a weekend to visit old friends. As many photographers know, a summer weekend off should be highly coveted and cherished, and this was one of the best weekends I’ve ever had! Avari is at the age where she is going to start forming [...] |
Last weekend, I was so very fortunate to be able to take a weekend to visit old friends. As many photographers know, a summer weekend off should be highly coveted and cherished, and this was one of the best weekends I’ve ever had! Avari is at the age where she is going to start forming real lifetime memories, and I truly hope that this weekend is one of her first.
A sum up of our weekend would be:
Relaxation
Artisans
Nature
Beach
and most importantly, Friends.
Can we go back?
Photographer vs. Little MomentsAugust 5th, 2011Warning: This is a post about NOT using a camera. Completely a different tune to what you’d expect a photographer to write, and a little bit cheeky, but pretty darn important It’s funny as a photographer, sometimes your career can wage little wars when it comes to photographing your own family in day to day [...] |
Warning: This is a post about NOT using a camera. Completely a different tune to what you’d expect a photographer to write, and a little bit cheeky, but pretty darn important
It’s funny as a photographer, sometimes your career can wage little wars when it comes to photographing your own family in day to day moments. There’s a little bit of performance anxiety mixed in with just wanting to leave the camera at home for once. The thought of having to process through personal files when you have hours of work editing to do sometimes doesn’t seem worth it.
It’s crazy isn’t it? I actually wage a battle in my mind about wanting to pick up a little point and shoot camera to take with me places vs. what will people think???
Anyways, the point of this post is about not missing those important moments because you’re too busy looking through the lens, especially in this digital age of being able to take 300+ images without a thought. When I think about Avari’s birthday parties over the past couple of years, and going to the lake, I’m usually experiencing the family vacation looking at lighting, setting up shots, and really too busy to actually sit down and enjoy those times with family. I didn’t even realize that I was doing it until I read this blog and all of a sudden everything clicked:
http://offbeatbride.com/2011/06/unplugged-wedding
Wow – talk about mind blowing! All of a sudden I realized that my life is completely “plugged in”. The first time I decided to experience a family event unplugged was Avari’s dance recital this year. I did not bring a camera. gasp No ipod pictures, cell phone pictures, or camera pictures. This did not come without anxiety, but I realized afterwards that I was completely fully engaged in watching her, where as I’d usually be checking my lcd, looking at my histogram, and basically not actually paying attention. And you know what? I’m OK with not having a picture because I have that memory!
Tonight we took Avari out for her first ever ride on a pedal bike. The battle started. Bring the camera? Don’t bring the camera? Should I bring the camera Kevin or not? I realized that there needs to be a balance. There are moments in life that need to be recorded, so in the end I did bring it. But I did something that I don’t often do and I handed it over so that I could be a part of teaching Avari how to ride. I think it’s an amazingly proud moment in a parent’s life when they get to teach their child how to ride a bike. (The camera also spent a good amount of time on the ground while we ‘discussed’ the best way to actually make it through this big moment).
At the end of the evening, Avari was doing laps around a proud pair of parents, and I got to come home with only 20 pictures to look at instead of 324.
and one clear favourite:
Moment recorded both in pixels and in memory
I want to challenge everyone to step back and really notice their camera use: The next time you cousin is saying their vows at the alter, are you really present? The next time your child blows out the candles on their cake, did you actually see it in person and not through a 3 inch live view screen?
Bring in February and a little downtime…February 1st, 2011February always feels like a month of reflection and a touch of hibernation. Christmas is over with, the business of the New Year has calmed down and it’s not quite time for spring. From time to time, I take the opportunity to do some fun little projects for me. Last year, I had the chance [...] |
February always feels like a month of reflection and a touch of hibernation. Christmas is over with, the business of the New Year has calmed down and it’s not quite time for spring. From time to time, I take the opportunity to do some fun little projects for me. Last year, I had the chance to do a collaboration with awesome friends/talented stylists and artists Amy Price and Leah Babcock. We had a vision for a fun session, did a test run, but the weather never cooperated for us to all 4 get together again. Luckily, the test shots were amazing! Now that I have a chance to sit back, and review last year’s personal files, I wanted to share some of them (especially so that our model Amber can check them out!)
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Sometimes things don’t always go as planned…December 4th, 2010When I woke up this morning, it was as if Jack Frost had been busy all night. Everything was painted in white, the sky was blue and the sun was shining. Hooray I thought! Today was our annual Christmas Tree adventure – perfect time to take a yearly holiday picture of Avari (our 4 year [...] |
When I woke up this morning, it was as if Jack Frost had been busy all night. Everything was painted in white, the sky was blue and the sun was shining.
Hooray I thought! Today was our annual Christmas Tree adventure – perfect time to take a yearly holiday picture of Avari (our 4 year old). So we got up and ready, only Avari had different plans than the beautiful scene I was imagining in my mind. Now that she is 4, she picks out her outfits, and had the perfect idea of what she wanted for her Christmas picture.
Oh. And did I mention, that she also decided that she wanted to be a cat.
Yes. A cat. Being the fact that I’m a professional, I had an initial panic and almost sent her upstairs to wipe it off. But I looked at how proud she was of her cat face, and the thought of what faces I’d get for pictures if I told her to wipe it off was enough to just let it go
C’est la vie!
Seeing her smiling face breaking through ice puddles, I definitely knew that we made the right decision!
Speaking of Christmas Trees! We’re relatively new to Powell River (hopefully one day we can become official residents!) and we’ve created our yearly tradition of going in to the forest (with a license and in the designated areas of course) and finding our own little tree to cut down. Being a city girl, this was a very fascinating idea for me and it’s stuck! Last year, it was a bit hairy trying to off road over “rivers” of ice, but this year we found the most perfect little tree.
So there was our little adventure. We got the perfect tree, spent the morning exploring frost that we rarely get to see, AND in my opinion (now) have the most perfect holiday picture. Because it tells a story and really that’s what photography is all about…
(Perhaps black and white works better for the grandparents fridges… sorry! 
)
Don’t have a case of the Mundays!November 15th, 2010As winter approaches, sometimes a dreary, dark Monday morning can really kick off the week with a bit of the grumps. Hope this helps lighten the spirits! The kids wanted a turn to get their picture taken, after were were done with the super secret project from the afternoon. Thanks Jacob for cracking me up [...] |
As winter approaches, sometimes a dreary, dark Monday morning can really kick off the week with a bit of the grumps. Hope this helps lighten the spirits!
The kids wanted a turn to get their picture taken, after were were done with the super secret project from the afternoon. Thanks Jacob for cracking me up this morning!
Halloween is Arriving…. Personal PostOctober 14th, 2010We had the opportunity to visit Shamrock Farms right around the corner from the ferry terminal in Comox on our way home from spending time with family on the Island. (The best thing about blog stalking is finding out about awesome places like this!! Thanks Karen!). I have such great memories as a child of [...] |
We had the opportunity to visit Shamrock Farms right around the corner from the ferry terminal in Comox on our way home from spending time with family on the Island. (The best thing about blog stalking is finding out about awesome places like this!! Thanks Karen!). I have such great memories as a child of visiting a pumpkin patch, picking out the perfect pumpkin, and then getting to come home and carve it.
(Well not only did we have a great time, but I came home with visions of owning my own perfect little pumpkin farm complete with a covered porch, a lofty barn, lavender fields, beehives, as well as a full yard of chickens, geese, ducks, and goats. But that’s another story!)
The requested sad pumpkin face…
Thanks for looking!
Starting to wind down now…September 29th, 2010I’ve had the opportunity to work with so many amazing families over the past few weeks, I officially love Fall Mini Sessions! We have another week to go, and then we’ll be winding down in to Autumn! The Russell Family The kids were full of giggles for the session! The Southcotts I love the ones [...] |
I’ve had the opportunity to work with so many amazing families over the past few weeks, I officially love Fall Mini Sessions! We have another week to go, and then we’ll be winding down in to Autumn!
The Russell Family
The kids were full of giggles for the session!
The Southcotts
I love the ones of the boys. There’s just something so special and soft about fog…
Welcome to the Brand New Blog!September 13th, 2009Congrats if you have found your way here! I finally finished creating my new blog and I’m excited to share it with you. Larger image options, an easier and more creative user space. Thanks for tuning in! Please leave lots of comments, and enjoy! |
Congrats if you have found your way here! I finally finished creating my new blog and I’m excited to share it with you. Larger image options, an easier and more creative user space.
Thanks for tuning in! Please leave lots of comments, and enjoy!
She might be ready…September 9th, 2009but I’m not! Sending my baby off to preschool today was much more emotional than I imagined it would be. There could be a tad bit of jealousy that I didn’t in fact get to go as well (I LOVE and miss school whole heartedly). I felt my heart swell a little as she ran [...] |
but I’m not! Sending my baby off to preschool today was much more emotional than I imagined it would be. There could be a tad bit of jealousy that I didn’t in fact get to go as well (I LOVE and miss school whole heartedly). I felt my heart swell a little as she ran off, new backpack in tote- and even more as she strutted out of the classroom at the end of the afternoon. I’m going to learn to embrace a quiet 2.5 hours without my buddy holding my hand a few times a week…
Her new bratsacks backpack (look for one on etsy.com!)
off through the door, without a look back…