Tobi & Joy || Wedding Photography : Cowichan Valley Photographer

Everything about this day was perfect... even though everything didn't go perfectly smooth (me running across the road to the flower shop by the salon to see if we could pull together some flowers in a hurry, and a quick stop at Sears to buy a longer slip just before the ceremony!).  Tobi and Joy were planning a more traditional wedding for the end of September, but after years of schooling, Joy graduated in the Spring with a teaching degree and quickly found a job a couple provinces over which meant they needed to move in August.  So the September wedding was cancelled, and there was a mad rush to pull together a very intimate and casual ceremony and dinner for the end of July.  


Locations and plans seemed to change weekly, but their day was beautiful, and love and joy (which is quite appropriate!) was evident in every moment.  You'll see it in the photos.  This couple is meant for each other, and I'm so excited to watch their love grow and deepen, holding hands and still walking through life together with gray hair and wrinkles in 40 years.


Joy's wedding was especially exciting for me.  I first met Joy in 2004 when she was a summer intern at the church where I worked.  It was also the summer I first connected with Conor (who married me a year later - yay!).  She had known Conor growing up, and we both remember the day after our first date when I pulled Joy into the photocopy room and almost exploded with excitement and all the details!  There were many more photocopy room talks that summer!  Last year, when Tobi and Joy began dating, Joy was again the summer intern at the same church.  I don't work there any longer, but we had a handful of those conversations again... with Joy doing most of the squealing this time!


There were less than 20 people at the wedding (including the bride, groom and wedding party), so I was very grateful I could take part in the day through photography... which is actually the best way.  I got to be with Joy all day!

Laurel & the Girls || Family Portraits : Cowichan Valley Photographer

Laurel planned a different kind of birthday and Father's Day present for her fiance, Marshall, this year.  From what she told me, he's hard to buy for, so this year, she had family photos done of herself, her daughter and Marshall's daughter.  What a great surprise!  And he loved it...

Sarah || Graduation Portraits : Cowichan Valley Photographer

Oh, I love this girl!  I've known Sarah for just about 10 years.  Needless to say, she's a different girl now than when I met her at 8 years old!  She is beautiful inside and out, and has been waiting a long time for the day she could grab a hold of life and begin to explore the world.  Now, the journey begins...


I got to tag along and be Sarah's paparazzi as she got ready in the morning, met up with your friends, and walked the red carpet at Frances Kelsey Secondary School.  The clouds were threatening at times, but the day ended up sunny and warm and just all round perfect!

Rohan || Little People Portraits : Cowichan Valley Photographer

This sweet little boy will be turning 3 in a couple months.  His mom was hoping to have me take some 2 year old photos soon after his second birthday... yep, we've been trying to connect for well over a half a year!

Rohan was an absolute natural in front of the camera.  Pretending to be shy, but then flashing me smiles and cute expressions, he was so much fun to photograph!

The McClellands || Family Portraits : Cowichan Valley Photographer

It is always a blast to hang out with these guys, and their two super adorable little girls!  


Near the end of the session, I was hoping to snag a couple shots of just Trevor and Christy, so I pulled out a vintage camera for their 2 year old, Denay, to play with.  I had in mind that it would just keep her occupied, but Denay had other ideas!  She saw this as a great opportunity to be my little assistant and get some shots of mommy and daddy as well.  And me-oh-my-oh, the cute things she would say!  "Oh, you look good"  "Okay, I got it"  "Oh, that's nice, I like it"... and the best one was when I asked Trevor and Christy to kiss... Denay pulled the camera down from her eye and with total sincerity exclaimed "Awwwwww"!  It was priceless!

Baby Ella || Newborn Portraits : Cowichan Valley Photographer

This little girl is one of the most content little babies I have ever met!  She was oh so easy to work with, and patient with us... until she had had enough at the very end  :)  Tis the way it goes I suppose, always trying to get just one more photo!


And the best part is, I'm lucky enough to be her Auntie!

The Lewis Family || Family Portraits : Cowichan Valley Photographer

I love this family!


This is one of those sessions that my husband, toddler, and even dog, tagged along for... because none of them could resist a chance to see this fantastic family!  My little girl gets so excited every time we tell her we'll be seeing "Petey and Andree" (aka Peter and Andrea) and she absolutely adores their sweet children, Rebekah and Micah.


So we all packed up and headed to Osborne Bay Park for some looooooooong overdue family photos.  Everyone was game, even Micah, as long as he was able to do a kung fu move for the camera every now and then  :)