tuesday photography

Tobi & Joy || Wedding Photography : Cowichan Valley Photographer

2011-08-16T15:58:00.000-07:00

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

2011-06-24T10:54:00.000-07:00

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

2011-06-20T10:23:00.000-07:00

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

2011-06-15T07:32:00.000-07:00

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

2011-06-01T15:29:00.000-07:00

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

2011-05-24T21:58:00.000-07:00

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

2011-05-16T21:31:00.000-07:00

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 :)

Rhonda || Portrait Photography : Cowichan Valley Photographer

2011-03-28T15:47:00.000-07:00

I received a call from the Irving K. Barber BC Scholarship Society last week. The Society provides scholarships to students for post-secondary education in the Province of BC and abroad. They had a scholarship recipient in the Cowichan Valley, Rhonda, and were looking for a nice photo of her for their annual report.

I made a quick decision to plan the session for that afternoon, seeing as the forecast was calling for rain, rain, and lots of rain over the next week. I had a great time getting to know Rhonda during the session. What a sweet woman! We did a few shots, then I pulled out the "yep-that-woman-is-definitely-a-pro-photographer" foot long lens, and she almost jumped out of her skin! She was a good sport though, and we had a great time together. She's had a few hard knocks during the past year, but is excited to get back to school in September, and keep moving forward. She'll also be heading into the world of being a grandma soon, and like most new grandparents, she's feeling too young for that title yet!

Paper Doll Formals || Professional : Cowichan Valley Photographer

2011-03-03T14:49:00.000-08:00

I met Mary, the owner of Paper Doll Formals, a couple months ago. She was putting together a bridal perks package for brides who bought their wedding dress at her soon-to-be store (the only bridal store in the Cowichan Valley!). It was going to be stuffed full of discounts and extras by other local wedding related businesses. I was thrilled when she asked me to be a part of the package!

The days have been counting down, and the time finally arrived (yesterday) for the grand opening! WOW! Did Mary ever do a fantastic job on the store! Not only is it beautiful, clean and welcoming, it also has sweet little extras like wonderfully flattering lighting (what girl doesn't love that?), a "bride's corner", phrases written on the change room walls that would make any girl smile (get changed in every room, and you'll walk out of there feeling like a million bucks!), and, of course, Mary! She knows how to get things done, but is also a lot of fun to be around. And she's offering a fistful of deals and promotions. You gotta check this place out!

Unfortunately, the weather was working hard against her, so some of her stock shipments were held up, but they'll be arriving shortly, and others over the coming months...

I attended a pre-opening evening the day before opening, but was told to leave my camera at home. So I stopped by the store yesterday and snapped a few shots. There is a beautiful display of traditional East Indian wedding jewelry (she's specializing in this area as well) and my camera kept pulling me back there :)

Brad & Whitney || Engagement Portraits : Cowichan Valley Photography

2011-02-16T21:27:00.000-08:00

The sun peaked out last week, numerous times, teasing me and getting my hopes up that it just might stick around long enough...

The forecast had said marvelous, warming, sweet sunshine all week, so my engagement session with Brad and Whitney was scheduled for Friday. Then, what seemed like only moments later (okay, maybe it was a couple days), it started telling us about a huge downpour that would greet us instead! I don't remember if that downpour ever showed up, but Wednesday night I shot Whitney off an email asking if we could make a last minute adjustment and change the session to Thursday. It all worked out, and we ended up with sunshine indeed! (Take that rain storm!)

These two were so cute! I asked them to kiss for a shot early in the session, and had a hard time peeling Brad's eyes (okay, and lips) off Whitney from then on! He absolutely adores her. I love seeing a man so head-over-heels in love with his bride! Seems to me that's what it's supposed to be like...

Sweet Micah || Portrait Photography : Cowichan Valley Photographer

2011-02-08T14:44:00.000-08:00

I spent the day looking after my friend's sweet, sweet little girl a while ago. Not only did Rosa (my daughter) become Micah's greatest admirer, but we all had a blast playing with shoes, dolls, potties, Tupperware, and all those simple things that little girls love so much :)

I left my camera out, ready and armed for a good shot or two or three, and took photos here and there throughout the day. I always have to challenge myself to make sure I live in the moment at times, instead of just trying to capture the moment, and I think I did pretty good that day.

Doesn't she just melt your heart?

The Searls || Family Portraits : Cowichan Valley Photographer

2011-01-31T09:50:00.000-08:00

This Christmas... well, I guess more like last Christmas now... my mom-in-law mentioned that a really fantastic gift would be some photos of her kids and only granddaughter. A subtle hint, hint in my direction :)

The 5 of us managed to be sneaky about it, and even snag one of the family chairs, without mom getting suspicious. We were also really lucky and had the weather on our side. Winters on the Island don't offer very many sunny days, but a couple weeks before Christmas, we snagged one! I put this together in a frame of 9 photos, pretty much like you see it below. I was very happy with how it turned out... and, more importantly, so was mom :)

(Conor was the photographer for the photo of me, and his sister Erin for the family photo of us)

And here's a few more of our little Rosa girl... cause I'll take any opportunity to brag that I can get :) She is sunshine to our days.

The Brewsters || Family Portraits : Cowichan Valley Photographer

2011-01-25T20:29:00.000-08:00

George and Joy are wonderful friends of mine. They are both the kind of people everyone wants to become as they get older - full of life and joy, positive, sincere, loving, and optimistic.

This year, they were really hoping for a nice portrait of the two of them that they could mail out as Christmas cards. I thought that was a great idea as well :) So we snuck out to some green space at our church after the service one Sunday, and snapped a couple shots. They were like kids, these two...

Little Elliana || Newborn Portraits : Cowichan Valley Photographer

2011-01-22T10:05:00.000-08:00

I love watching families grow! I had the privilege of photographing Cole and Michelle's beautiful wedding a year and a half ago. Such a unique day and such amazing people. So I was thrilled when Michelle contacted me about newborn photography for their soon-to-arrive little girl!

Sweet Elliana is absolutely beautiful and delicate - a rich blessing to her mommy and daddy...

Conor Searl || Professional Portraits : Cowichan Valley Photographer

2011-01-19T14:13:00.000-08:00

Well, there certainly are some perks to this job, and one of them is getting to do free photography for myself! Well, kind of myself... technically for my husband, but that's less money out of both of our pockets :) You gotta love it when you "know a guy... eh em, girl"!

Last September, Conor launched his guitar lessons business (check out his website here). We were so excited for this day to finally come! Previously, for 9 years, Conor worked at and managed Duncan Music, a music and lesson's store in town. It was a great job, but not one he saw himself being at for the rest of his working years. Now, if you know Conor even a little, you'll know that he basically breathes music and guitars. So, when we were dreaming up what kind of work would be a perfect fit for him, there was no question it had to involve music. I won't go into everything (because Conor's always trying to teach me the art of brevity), but teaching guitar lessons is where it's at for him! And I personally think he's a fantastic teacher! (hint, hint to any of you who may be considering lessons :)

We thought a couple shots would be nice to have tucked in his back pocket for his website, business cards, and all that. So, on the last day of autumn, we dragged his guitars and amp up and down substantially steep trails. Ah, what I do for the man I love :)

Here's my favourite 2 shots, and a fun one that Conor probably would have preferred I didn't post (but I'll consider it my payment for lugging all his gear around!).

Portrait Session FAQ

2011-01-09T14:50:00.000-08:00

I'll begin this FAQ with the most important, and commonly NOT ASKED, question...

My husband (or kids, or father-in-law, or myself!) HATES having their photo taken. How painful will this be?

I consistently hear from my clients that their session wasn't anything like they thought it would be, that they actually had FUN! Imagine that :) Honestly, do! I work hard to create an atmosphere that's fun and relaxed. I love to get you laughing and interacting (yes, I'll dance around doing the funky chicken for you if that's what it takes!) because I feel that's the best way to get photos that really show your individuality. And I'll let you know right from the beginning that you are totally allowed to shrug off any awkwardness or uncertainty when that camera is up, and ham it up! Have fun adding those funky accessories to your outfit and put on a bit more makeup than usual, run through the field with your kids, throw your shoulders back and flash me (or your sweetie) that flirty smile... HAVE FUN! That's what it's all about. Because who wants to capture memories of awkward moments and stiff smiles for years to come? NOT ME!

How long will my session last?

Sessions usually take about an hour. Newborn photography may take longer, depending on the baby's needs.

How long will it take for my photos to be ready following my session?

Generally, portrait sessions take no more than a week!

What should we wear?

Check out my blog post here for how to prepare for a portrait session!

What if it rains?

Being a natural light photographer means I am at the mercy of the weather. If it's spitting lightly, we can definitely still shoot. If it's a downpour, we will most likely reschedule for another day (or wait an hour or two to see if the rain lets up). If there's no way to reschedule, I'll put on my rain coat, find the best cover for you, and happily shoot away!

What time of day do you usually do your sessions at?

There are two times, one in the morning and one in the evening, when the sun gives off it's most flattering light. These times change as the days grow longer and shorter, but basically, at noon, run as far away from the camera as possible! :)

Where will we do the session?

Being a natural light photographer, the outdoors is my studio (with the exception of newborn sessions). The location is your choice, or mine, whichever you'd prefer. I have an ever growing pocket full of great locations, but if you have a preference, I'm game!

What methods of payment do you accept?

Cash, Cheque or Email Money Transfer - sorry, no credit cards at this time

The Friesens || Family Portraits : Cowichan Valley Photographer

2010-11-12T11:32:00.000-08:00

I love this family! Michelle and I have been friends for about 6 years, and kinda pretend we're sisters. She was one of those people I saw from a distance and really wanted to get to know... then she was hired at the office I was working at! I quickly learned that she brainstorms best out loud to a listening ear, and I was generally around to listen to her, so we became pretty good buddies in no time at all :)

I've also had the privilege of watching Steve and Michelle's kids grow. And what fantastic young people they have become! I admire the depth of character I can already see in Jessica and Jamie. They are such a joy to be around.

Here's some shots from the day. We had fun, can you tell?

The Kortelands || Family Portraits : Cowichan Valley Photographer

2010-11-09T14:45:00.000-08:00

In the Spring, my family had some wonderful portraits taken of us by my friends Jan & Rosanne. This Fall, I was able to go out with their little family and do the same! Their baby girl was all smiles when I pulled out the camera... which I found quite surprising seeing as her parents are both photographers! In my experience, this isn't the norm (I know another photographer who's recorded a DVD/book on tricks for photographers to use on their own kids)! It was a fun afternoon with a great little family...

Here's a handful of my favourites!

The Veenstras || Family Portraits : Cowichan Valley Photographer

2010-10-17T11:22:00.000-07:00

I had been trying to nail down a date for family photos with Tom and Sandy, and their boys, for a couple months. We had settled on a date, but a couple days before, I had some glitches with technology (it's a love/hate relationship, believe me!) and had to postpone their session until my camera stuff got all sorted out. But postponing it meant their oldest son, Boaz, would leave for university, so it would be tricky to set a time when he would be home.

He came home for Thanksgiving weekend, when I was supposed to be out of town! But my family's annual "Christmas at Thanksgiving" in the Okanagan was cancelled (until Christmas that is) so we were able to grab an hour for some shots! I was a little gun shy after my Saturday session in the pouring rain (you can read more about that in my last post), so I checked the forecast for Sunday (sunshine!) and Monday (possibly rain), and quickly called to change the session to Sunday...

The sun was shining, the wind blowing a refreshing breeze through the willow trees... it was picture perfect indeed :)

Oh, and if you happen to notice that Tom only has a beard on the left side of his face, you are seeing correctly! This is something he's known for... a signature look every time he does the West Coast Trail (which he's completed 19 and 5/7 times!). But currently he's raising money for one of the sports teams at Duncan Christian School, where he (and Sandy) are teachers at. This family has character!

50th Anniversary || Family Portraits : Cowichan Valley Photographer

2010-10-16T22:36:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday, on the Thanksgiving weekend, the rain came POURING down! But John and Jean were celebrating 50 years of marriage, and their children, grandchildren, and two oh-so-sweet great granddaughters surprised them by all arriving at their home for the weekend. Family had travelled from all around BC to be there; it was quite a treat!

We had planned for family photos on Saturday, with a backup plan of Sunday in case the forecasted rains did fall, but on Saturday morning I got a call saying it was now or never because some of the family had to leave on Sunday morning after all. I went outside, and stood on my fairly dry deck, with no rain drops in the sky and thought it was looking promising! When I drove to their home, and checked out their back yard (where we were to take the photos), it was just starting to sprinkle. I went inside to gather the gang, and while everyone was putting their shoes on, it started to downpour! They were troopers though, and cleared off the deck as best they could, and even ventured under some of the larger trees for some shots. I was huddled under an umbrella, clumsily trying to hold it and my camera, and successfully take some great shots!

Surprisingly, the rain wasn’t very noticeable in most of the shots. By the time we reached the end, everyone’s hair was looking pretty wet, as well as their shoulders. But memories were made, and John and Jean had family photos taken for the second time in 50 years!

The Telfords || Family Portraits : Cowichan Valley Photographer

2010-10-14T15:10:00.000-07:00

I love this family. A lot.

Those cutie little kidlets you see in the photos just so happen to be my sweet little nieces, and, can you believe it, my nephew! My family has had a hard time growing any boys, but my sister succeeded, and little "Gabe the babe" joined our family early this summer.

They live WAY too far away for my liking, and we both go to great extents to convince the other we should move to where we live. But, no one has won this little battle yet, and we remain apart. For now... he he he. But, we did have a fantastic time this summer when my sister and her family did a house exchange, and "lived" a block away from us for two weeks! It was AMAZING!

During their visit, we took a little trip to Chemainus, so Conor's parents could see the kids, and so we could take some family photos while meandering around the town... ending up at Billy's Delight for some ice cream of course! We also wanted to get a few photos of the 4 grandkids for our mom. The kiddies are 4 years old and under, and my goodness, that was a challenge! Just getting them to stay in the same spot was tricky, and to get them all looking, and possibly smiling (or at least not talking or covering their little brother's eyes...), virtually impossible! But I snapped away like a mad woman and we got a handful of "keepers" :)

The Telfords...

And the 4 cousins...

40 years || Family Portraits : Cowichan Valley Photographer

2010-10-11T21:54:00.000-07:00

I makes me smile when I hear about couples who have been married for 20, 30, 40, 50+ years! It's quite a feat these days, and it's one by the grace of God I hope to achieve one day.

Last Saturday, I met up with the Tansky family at Providence Farms for some family shots to celebrate "Grandma and Papa's" 40th anniversary. They were a sweet little family and somehow managed to have perfect smiles in almost every shot! I'd count that as another feat!

Enjoy...

"The Kelly Family" || Weddings : Parksville Photographer

2010-09-29T13:03:00.000-07:00

Well, this is the post that some of you have been waiting a couple months for...

I talked a while back about how I get so wrapped up in my client's stories. It's one of the main reason's I love my work so much! Twice now, I have actually had to choke back tears.

The first time I met Alyssa, the two of us and her maid of honour, Christine, chatted over coffee about what her wedding day would look like. All of it sounded beautiful and lovely, as most weddings do. Then she let me in on a secret that instantly brought on those tears, and I knew this wedding day was going to be rich and beautiful no matter what the flowers or dresses or decorations or head table looked like. On James and Alyssa Kelly's wedding day, they were going to become a family! Not only would they be getting married, they would also sign their son's birth certificate (he was only a couple weeks old when I first met Alyssa), and James would sign adoption papers for Alyssa's oldest son. What a beautiful moment! And all of this was a surprise for their wedding guests!

And me-oh-my-oh, Alyssa did a top notch job creating a stunning wedding! I do believe everything was PERFECT! Not only was the sun shining, and a cool breeze coming off the ocean (white caps and all), but the flowers and dresses and decorations and head table were beautiful. Some of my favourite bits were the bridesmaid's bare feet, the amazing driftwood arbor they were married (and became a family) under, and most definitely the rustic lemonade stand around the big old tree at the back of the ceremony location (where guests could write a "recipe for love" to attach to the tree). And, of course, Alyssa's stylish gumboots for the portraits at a local farm...

Oh, and another favourite for me, that deserves a paragraph all to themself, was the wonderful wedding party! What amazing people, and so much fun! I had an absolute BLAST hanging out with all of them.

I have probably said "beautiful" too many times in this post already, but it was a beautiful day in every way. I was truly honoured to be part of such a sweet moment in this little family's life.

Oh, and the best part was at the end of the ceremony... "I'd like to introduce, for the very first time, the Kelly family!", and the four of them walked back down the isle together. Beautiful.

One of their favourite engagement shots... wedding day style!

Dan & Robin || Weddings : VIctoria Photographer

2010-09-22T13:08:00.000-07:00

I try my hardest to make sure I meet the bride and groom before their wedding day. I like them to know who I am, but really, I don't like guessing who the groom is :) This just wasn't possible for Dan and Robin who organized their entire Victoria based wedding from Alberta. Robin's crazy list of things to do during the handful of days she had in Victoria before the wedding made it impossible to get together beforehand...

So I guessed who the groom was when the guys walked into the hotel, and was wrong :)

But, I was pointed in the right direction - after the groomsman decided to stop pretending he was Dan - and all was well :)

Although their day started off a bit rocky with a little administrative glitch, things started moving in time and Dan and Robin were married on a beautifully sunny August afternoon. We headed down to the Government House and Clover Point for photos, with a quick stop in at A&W between the two. It was a relaxing afternoon with a wedding party that was up for anything!

The Mac Trio & A Nugget || Maternity & Family Portraits : Cowichan Valley Photographer

2010-09-15T10:03:00.000-07:00

I thought it was just so cute, I had to steal the title of my post from Christy's blog!

Christy is the mamma you see below. Christy and Trevor McClelland, and their little girl, Denay, make up the MaC trio. They are currently waiting for the arrival of their new little nugget! Their first baby is one of the cutest little things you ever did see (as you can see); I can't wait to meet their second!

Christy and I had a little bit of time to ourselves, so we hiked up a mountain (because that's what every woman who's 37 weeks pregnant wants to do) for the sake of good photos (ah, now you understand!). Afterwards we met up with Trevor & Denay to swat away wasps, meander in a garden, run through a field, clap like mad to try to get bunnies to move (so Denay could see them way over on the other side of the field), and pick small flowers for Denay to stuff in her ear. What? Oh ya, that. Well, I suggested to Denay that the pretty little buttercup she just picked would look beautiful tucked behind her ear. So she proceeded to passionately stuff the poor little thing into her ear...

We had fun! Can you tell? :)

And here is that little buttercup...

...stuffed in her ear...

... ah, that's better!

Little Taylor || Newborn & Family Portraits : Victoria Photographer

2010-09-14T21:42:00.000-07:00

Wow, I'm absolutely and totally behind on my blogging! I guess that's the nature of photography in the summer months. But, by the end of this week, I should be all caught up on my editing and ready to fly at 'er some more!

I shot maternity photos for Paul & Danielle when they were still eagerly waiting for little Taylor to join their family. Their wait was over at the end of July! Here's some shots of sleepy little Taylor, only 10 days old for her first modeling job. And I must say, she did splendid! She slept all the way through :)

A Quick Note... || Weddings & Portraits : Cowichan Valley Photographer

2010-09-05T22:50:00.000-07:00

I've been working away, in little moments here and there, on updating my website and giving it a nice new fresh look. And it's done! A HUGE thank you to JoAnn Morano for my fantastic new logo!

Click here to see this crazy cool website spoken of above :)

And seeing as this is a photography blog, here's a little photo for your viewing pleasure...

(P.S. If there's no photo below, it means my sneaky husband knows my blog password and saved himself from being the subject of any more ridicule and blog inspired laughter... I love you Conor :)

Preparing For a Portrait Session || Portraits : Cowichan Valley Photographer

2010-08-15T15:27:00.000-07:00

It's amazing how something as simple as having some photos taken of your family can become stressful or daunting! I had no idea this was the case until I decided to have some photos taken of our little growing family. I was so nervous! Would Rosa (our 11 month old) cooperate? Would she not nap properly that day and be totally overtired? Would Conor (my husband) decide to enjoy the day, or be a little annoyed that I was "making" him do this? Was it really a good idea to bring our dog? What if she decided it was a perfect time to not listen and run away? How was I going to do my hair (gotta love all those unruly baby hairs growing back from the "after having a baby" hair loss!)? And trying to decide what everyone was going to wear... I think I changed my mind 4 times! And even then I didn't do very well. Notice Conor's shirt holding me hostage...

A gun on his shirt? Vintage or not, what was I thinking? Okay, I don't want to stress you out. I'll stop now.

So, I thought, what a perfect subject to write some tips about! Although I was stressing for mine, when it's portrait sessions for other people, and I'm behind the camera, I am generally able to think straight and communicate all the tips I've learned over the years. So, read on and put your mind at ease!

What to wear:

Don't be afraid of putting a little extra makeup on!
It's up to you how "matchy" you dress. Keep in mind that matching will create more uniform and polished looking photos and dressing differently will give your photos a more creative and casual feel.
Try to avoid really obvious emblems (such as the guns above). They can be distracting, or hold your loved one hostage :)
Accessories are always good - scarves, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, hats, headbands, belts, fun shoes, boots, clips or flowers in your hair...
For more variety in the photos, feel free to bring along a second outfit to change into part way through your session. It can be quite effective if one outfit is more dressy and the other more casual.
Is it going to be a tad chilly outside? Perfect! Jackets, scarves, mittens, hats, etc. look great in photos! There's no need to freeze to death trying to make it seem like a random hot spell hit in November :) But do keep in mind what's under those jackets (that was, in fact, what I failed to remember with the guns incident mentioned above...)
Lastly, if you have a plan in mind for what you want to do with your photos, dress in a way that works for it.

Other thoughts:

Make sure your kids have full bellies!
Use the loo just before you leave the house
Most importantly, mom (who's probably reading this), RELAX! Your family will sense your tension and this will most likely make them tense or annoyed. Don't worry about how your kids will do or if they'll smile right. Let whatever is going to happen, happen! (Oh, and bribing can sometimes be very effective :)
Okay, most most importantly, get ready to have fun! I promise it won't be as uncomfortable as you think :)

BUT, all this being said, if you really want to have fun and make a statement, throw all these "rules" out and do whatever you would like to do!! (Maybe just remember to use the loo...) Don't be afraid to express yourself, or maybe even be a little more bold than usual!

Singin' a Song or Two

2010-08-07T21:33:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, Conor and I had the privilege of getting a half hour of stage time at Alive Inside, a local music festival, for a little acoustic set. It was honestly the most fun I have ever had performing! Conor and I pushed ourselves out of our comfort zone and included some tambourine accents and some clapping bits... like frantic clapping, like really fast, with no other instruments, just singing... to the beat of course :) Anyway, it's kinda hard to describe because it was pretty cool even though it possibly doesn't really sound like it :) But basically, it was definitely different from how we were used to playing! Now, we realized, in order to pull this off, we had to decide when we stepped onto that stage to just have fun, and not take ourselves too seriously.

This is us stepping on the stage and, if you look closely, you'll see our brains making just that decision :)

Alive Inside is actually a bit sentimental for us... it was where Conor and I went for our first official date 6 years before. We had been going on casual dates for a few weeks before, and finally decided we were in fact 'boyfriend and girlfriend' the day before the festival :) Conor's band was playing, which actually almost scared me away from him. You know the type of music that has screaming in it? Okay, maybe more like yelling? Well I had never heard anything like that before, and that was Conor's band. I was a bit stunned. But nonetheless, we made it through that shocker, and a few more in the coming months, and got married the following June... which, I'll say it again, was definitely one of the best decisions of my life :)

And now we play acoustic music together. Oh ya, that's more my style!

So, we had the chance to play together at the festival this year, just the two of us, and had an ABSOLUTE blast! I'm starting to really realize that not taking myself too seriously is in fact a fantastic way to approach life altogether.

Two minutes before we went backstage to get ready, I handed my camera (with my crazy big - like pretty darn huge - lens on it) to my good friend Becca (who you can read a bit about in my last post), and said "zoom like this" and "focus like this" and "don't worry, everyone will move for you cause they'll think you're a pro". Then I darted to the back and was stoked at some of the shots she got! So, all photography credits go to the up and coming Miss Becca!

Honestly! Look at us clapping away! We look like we do this all the time or something!

And our baby girl watching momma & daddy sing their hearts out. Oh ya, she's with the band :)

Note: Below you'll see me smiling and looking quite comfortable. Usually once we leave the stage, I get that oh-so-wonderful "I want to crawl into a cave and hide forever because I was sooooo bad" silly artist thing... which usually spikes when someone comes up to me to tell me how great we did (to which I immediately think "you have to say that to me because you bumped into me! Where's my cave?????"). Not this time! YAY!

Some Hang Out Time || Portraits : Cowichan Valley Photographer

2010-08-06T14:34:00.000-07:00

My sweet friend, Miss Becca (as I'm teaching Rosa to call her), come over to the Island for a wonderful week of relaxing, hanging out, and good conversation. Conor says when I'm around Becca, I'm a happier person. Not that I'm generally unhappy, but there's just certain people that bring extra sunshine to each day. Well, Becca is definitely one of them!

On one of our meanders around the neighbourhood, Miss Becca brought her hat, and I brought my camera...

Celebrating 25 Years || Portraits : Cowichan Valley Photographer

2010-08-05T22:46:00.000-07:00

Rob is a friend of mine, and one of the pastors at my church. I used to work with him when I was the office administrator at the church. It seems almost everyone gets Conor and my names mixed up (Connie & Lonner... sorry if you never thought of it before; I guarantee you will now :) So, to combat this, Rob always just calls me Connie :) I received a call last week that he and his wife Andrea were celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary, which now-a-days, is quite a feat! (I only have 20 more years to go :) To celebrate, he planned a day away, beginning with some photos of the two of them. Andrea's constantly talking with me about family photos, but with 4 kids in their early 20's/late teens, it's been impossible to pull off so far. So, as a little treat, she got some photos with just her sweetie pie :)

These two are such a cute couple. I remember the first time Conor and I were apart over night after we got married. I didn't know what to do with myself and seemed to physically feel a void. Conor was actually with Rob, and I was chatting with Andrea about how hard it was for me. She said that even after all their years of marriage (20 at that point), she still felt like that. I love to hear things like this. I love to hear of couples who are madly in love, but also just each other's best friend.

It was a quick session, but I was really happy with how much their personalities came through in the photos!

Andrea warned me I shouldn't get Rob started... I almost had to give them a moment :)

A Mom and Her Boys || Family Portraits : Cowichan Valley Photographer

2010-07-23T21:14:00.000-07:00

Okay, a mom - and her husband - and boys. But really, are there any men out there that aren't boys at heart?

This was the first family photos the Neudorfs have had since a quick shot in the hospital after their youngest, Zack, was born (and he's certainly not a baby anymore)! Me-oh-my-oh, let me snap some photos for you!! We had lots of fun tackling dad, smothering mom with kisses, posing in prickly grass, making faces, and picking all the burrs off Zack. Sounds like a great shoot to me!

Jamie & Elicia || Weddings : Cowichan Valley Photographer

2010-07-16T17:02:00.000-07:00

I had the privilege of shooting Jamie & Elicia's wedding last weekend... a beautiful outdoor wedding at the Quamichan Inn. I love outdoor weddings, they're definitely my favourite :) And after weeks of rain and cool weather, we were sweating our guts out on Saturday in all those warm sunbeams! Actually, it was difficult at times to hold my camera properly, seeing as with my gigantic "hey, that lady must be a professional photographer" lens on, my camera weighs at least 6 lbs... which doesn't partner very well with hands getting pretty sweaty from all that sunshine and holding a large camera up running around snapping photos. But, we certainly had a good time. And I say "we" because I got to shoot with www.jamesnelsonphotography.ca once more! James and I worked together in 2008/2009 doing weddings and engagements, but decided to go solo this year. We had booked Jamie and Elicia last year, so it was great to be able to work together again!

Elicia is a natural beauty, and a stunning bride. Her eyes really were sparkling just as much on Saturday as they are in these photos... no editing needed!

Enjoy this little glimpse into their day...

A Weekend of Photography || Maternity, Family & Graduation Portraits : Cowichan Valley Photographer

2010-06-29T01:21:00.000-07:00

it seems I have a couple 'good' problems. I can't fall asleep because I'm too excited about my last couple shoots (and I just received an email in very large font saying 'WOW!! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THEM!!!' which definitely adds to my excitement level!), and I can't decide on just a couple photos to put with this post! Or maybe those two things are related... quite possibly :)

I had a fantastic weekend! Conor and I celebrated 5 years being hitched (insert really happy smiley face here! I would if I knew how :), I shot a maternity session with a great couple at a beautiful location (picture fields of tall grass, scads of flowers, white sandy beach, and sunshine. Oh wait, you will picture it below!), and I got to celebrate with a 2010 grad and his family! And now I'm too pumped to sleep! It seems crazy to me that I've been blessed with a baby girl that sleeps 11 to 12 hours a night, and here I am, wasting precious sleep time, just 'cause. Oh well, if that's the downfall of being a photographer with happy clients, I'm game ;)

oh, and that reminds me, I wanted to post some photos of rosa's 1st birthday. Ahhhhhh, my little baby is growing up! Well, I'm going to have far too many photos for one post, so I guess the b-day ones will have to wait for another day.

oh ya, and I'm even extra pumped because after 4 nieces and a daughter, my first little nephew (Gabe 'the babe') was born this weekend... AND I get to go see him and my sista, and her sweet little family tomorrow! Unfortunately, they live too far away for my liking. Penticton. Hmph.

okay, here's a ton of photos...

And onto a great family, and their 2010 grad! Yay Brock!

Wrapped Up in a Love Story || Engagement Portraits : Nanaimo Photographer

2010-06-18T23:55:00.000-07:00

I've found that when I'm photographing a family, a couple, or a new itsy bitsy baby, I get all wrapped up in their love, character, excitement, nervousness... I love that this happens! On a practical note, I think it allows me to capture what is uniquely them. But it's also just so much fun! I get to experience the thrill of new love over and over again, and the awe of a new little life, and the individual character and makeup of different families. It's almost like I get to travel to a new country every time I shoot. New people, new stories, new adventures. I've blamed it on 'new mom' emotions, but twice now, I've had a very hard time choking back tears when I've met with clients and heard a bit of their stories. Once it's been because of love and joy and once because of sorrow.

james and alyssa were the couple that inspired the former. I can't say why yet, but after their wedding this summer, I'll post some photos that will explain.

we had a fantastic time downtown nanaimo shooting their engagement photos. The town was quiet, and the weather warm with a cool breeze. Perfect.

The Leggetts || Family Portraits : Victoria Photographer

2010-05-28T08:31:00.000-07:00

well, there hasn't been very much photography action these last couple weeks, so I've been wading through endless admin work... which usually I enjoy (organization and administration are generally my specialty), but this stuff was all in areas I have not ventured into before, so was a tad overwhelming. Needless to say, it was GREAT to get out and snap some photos!

I met up with this beautiful little family, which happens to be my step sister's family :), at beacon hill park on saturday. The girls dipped in and out of being in the mood for photos, but we had a blast, and caught some sweet moments on film... eh um... memory card :)

I'm extra thrilled because I also get to shoot asia's 2nd birthday party this weekend. A bunch of little hawaiian looking kidlets running around a hawaiian backyard (in canada though)... I like the sound of that. Let's hope for sunshine!

I couldn't resist adding a heap of photos...

Switching Things Up!

2010-05-08T21:39:00.000-07:00

this last week, I jumped to the other side of the lens (and yes, actually did some jumping!)... my little family had a great, and very, very windy evening with jan and rosanne of orange passion photography - some wonderful friends of mine. What fun! And a fantastic reminder of what it's like to not be shooting.

because I'm taking the photos almost all of the time, I'm not very comfortable or natural in front of the camera. I was so nervous! I had such a hard time deciding what to wear, and of course, what conor and rosa would wear :) But, I did have a wonderful time. And it sure is nice to have some groovy photos that capture my family in this moment!

check out orange passion photography!

A Birthday Request || Landscapes : Cowichan Valley Photographer

2010-04-29T20:06:00.000-07:00

my sister-in-law, meghan, has a birthday coming up, 2 days after mine actually. Our family likes to do birthdays in batches it seems. We have a handful of birthday's 2 days apart, and one 1 day apart. So far, we have not doubled up, although we've come as close as you can without!

so meghan had suggested a black and white landscape photo for her aqua blue/teal bedroom as a possible birthday present this year. I liked the thought of that! But as it turns out, shooting landscapes is amazingly different than photographing people. Imagine that :) Over the last week, every time conor and I head out to take rosa and ruby (our furry 1st 'baby') for a stroll (we must NEVER mention the 'w' word around ruby unless we are absolutely certain that in the next 30 seconds we'll be out the door), we try to head to a location great for dogs, babies, and photography!

here are a handful of shots I'm kinda fond of. I think I really just need to put them here so I can see them somewhere other than in my editing software. I just don't know what I think about them. Let me know your thoughts! We'll see if one makes it up on meghan's wall...

p.s. I'm almost positive meghan doesn't read blogs, but mom, I know you do! So no flashing around the photos below for everyone to see :)

Little Spencer || Newborn Portraits : Cowichan Valley Photographer

2010-04-22T14:42:00.000-07:00

well, I had been hesitant about starting a blog because I really didn't think I'd enjoy it, but found myself quite excited at the thought of writing another post this week. It seems I've officially entered the world of blogging! That almost sounds like a sport...

I had a great newborn session with little 3 week old spencer. Oh I love babies! My little girl is getting close to 11 months old now, which really isn't that far away from 3 weeks old, but goodness those little ones grow and change SO quickly! And yes, I did resist the urge to say 'I can't believe rosa was ever that small!' although I was thinking it, I admit.

Here's a handful of my favourites!

A Family With Character || Family Portraits : Nanaimo Photographer

2010-04-15T15:13:00.000-07:00

I recently had the privilege of taking family photos for the bowdens. What fun! Photographing larger groups can be challenging - placing so many without taking an eternity, is anyone blinking, are everyone's smiles natural - but add to this the three bowden boys, and their never ending silly faces and subtle funny gestures, and they had me hopping!

we had a blast and I was even able to snag a few photos where everyone was smiling, just like mom had been begging the boys for :) I had a 'perma smile' on my face the entire time I was editing... what a great afternoon!

here are some of my faves...

Welcome || Weddings & Portraits : Cowichan Valley Photographer

2010-04-15T13:27:00.000-07:00

hello to you who have stumbled upon my blog! It's so nice of you to stop by...

tuesday photography is photography by loni searl (check out my website here!). I love calling photography my work, although to me, it is also still just something I love to do.

In the past, you could pretty much guarantee that a camera was somewhere close by me at all times (I was thrilled when the teeny tiny digital compact cameras first came out, a perfect fit for my little purse). However, since my husband has entered my life (almost 6 years now - it's been better than I imagined!), he's taught me the art of living in the moment, which sometimes means I simply take a picture in my mind's eye. And this is exactly why I love photography. Life is full of moments, little and big, that are just too good to let slip away unnoticed. I love to capture those moments, in my own life, and in others'.

so, that's a little bit about me. Another thing you should know, however, is that conor (that's my wise husband I mentioned above) and myself are very proud parents of our first little girl, rosa. So, yes, I am a photographer (the second best job in the world). But really, I also have the best job in the world, being a mom. And I love it.

I hope you enjoy my photos. I hope you see a little moment, or a family's love, or the excitement of a journey beginning, or a sparkle of personality caught, so it didn't just pass by unnoticed...

(okay, and since I have your attention, I'll have a little brag moment and show off my rosa girl)