Early in the wedding booking season I received a call from a bride bubbling over with enthusiasm - she needed to find out what dates I had available so she could pin down her wedding date. Jenna was that kind of bride - one that loves photography and was excited to work with me after I she was a bridesmaid in a wedding I photographed last year.

Obviously, I love it when that happens. It is amazing to work with someone that is so passionate about photography and chooses you! It is a great place to start, a real honor.

I quickly found out through our phone calls and meetings that Jenna is my passion sister. I get (lovingly) mocked for being a bit overly passionate, sentimental and romantic about life, and Jenna is right along there with me. So you can imagine that working together was a wonderful thing.

What else I learned about her is that she is smart and totally in love with the right guy.  Andrew is the quiet one in the relationship, but he is rock solid, romantic and crazy about Jenna and her family. Jenna calls him the "guy that makes other husband look bad."  He definitely charmed me.

Jenna and Andrew planned a beautiful wedding, and despite all the hoopla that surrounds a wedding they never lost sight of the reason for the day.

We started the day with them having a "first look" - they met in the park and saw each other before the ceremony. Andrew was nervously waiting and Jenna snuck up behind him with a tap on the shoulder.

I am seeing more clients take this approach on their day. It allows the bride and groom to have a bit of time together and is quite romantic. It also allows the ceremony to flow quickly into the reception which is lovely for the guests.

 The first-look photos (kudos to my uber amazing assistant Jen for taking some of these) :

The wedding party was stellar, emotional and SO supportive of the bride and groom.

The couple after their I- do's (another one of Jen's great shots):

The very pleased (and fun)  father of the bride

and of course some portraits ..

rings and burgers - yum!

UPDATE: Kudos from the bride

Email 2:

Karen,

I cannot tell you how much I love the pictures. I cried when I saw my sweet husband's face at the first look. I am proud to be your "passion sister" and think your words are so kind and sweet. I not only feel I have a found a fabulous photographer to work with, but also a friend. Thanks again for everything, you make photo-dreams come true!!

Love, your biggest fan Jenna

Email 1:

Karen,

The heart and soul you put into our wedding will never be forgotten. I would not have made it down the isle without your calming effects and guidence. I can't wait to see the pics, I know they will be great! You are so amazing at what you do, my dad is still talking about the "class act" photographer. What an unbelievable woman you are, I feel honored you were at my wedding.

Today is my last day of big city awesomeness, and awesome it was. I savoured the independence and simplicity. As it was just Selah and I here I didn't have to consult, organize or plan much - all three factors are a big part of my home life. It was a nice break. However, I am feeling excited to go home to another kind of awesomeness named John, Mikhayla, Rowan, Gabby and Maggie.

The city was like visual candy to me, I see phenomenal photography locations everywhere. This big city summer week will definitely be an annual trip and next year I will probably open up some city portrait sessions.

While I was here I was doing some work for the gloriously important Y.A.N.A  and I can't STRESS enough how meaningful the organization is. I just came from the hospital where I was a fly on the wall as a couple met with parts of the medical team that will be involved in the birth of their child. This Comox Valley couple have to be close to Children's Hospital as the medical community has anticipated possible heart and neurological complications.

Wow.

Can you put yourself in their shoes? A first baby, being taken away from your friends and family, and having your hopes derailed. The fear and stress could be really overwhelming. Then you add in the stress of being away from work for an unknown period of time and just the general feeling of being displaced.

Now imagine having nowhere to live while you are here. Staying hotels or at one of the two temporary facilities for families in this situation.

But - no

That's not the case for them. After their appointment today they get to go back to a place that is their private space, that is clean, private and as much like a home as one could want in a situation like this. A place where many of their expenses are covered.

Thanks to Y.A.N.A. - that is thier story.

So I know many of you readers are big supporters of Y.A.N.A. and you like movies right? Well be sure to check out the Movie Under the Stars on August 19th. This event, sponsored by First Credit Union and Insurance benefits Y.A.N.A.

In September the Century Bike Ride fundraiser will be taking place - this year there is also the addition of the children's ride. You can find out more on the Y.A.N.A. website. 

I'll cut the sentiment now, but I just have to remind you, making a difference no matter where and how you do it is actually really easy, and although it isn't always visible, the difference is there and it matters.

I am a reflective person, and very sentimental, not to mention nostalgic.

So a week in the city leaves me with so many thoughts that putting words on the page is a bit of a push.

However, I thought a blog update was in order so here are my undedited random thoughts.

I am spending the week in Vancouver, Selah is in a daycamp at the Jewish Community Centre (Comox isn't really a hotbed of Jewish culture, it is many wonderful things, but multi-cultural it is not.) The Jewish Community Centre was a big part of my community while growing up and of course, dropping my daughter there brought up some typical Karen happy-emotional-oh my kid is getting so big cries.  While she is there I am doing some work for Y.A.N.A - a sincere passion of mine.

However, a big emphasis of this visit is wandering around my old haunts, even those that for some reason I have avoided in past visits. I can't be in them without reflecting on who I have become, which seems like a bit of an intense task

To summarize all the feelings I have had -

Stepping back in time, and consciously recounting the dreams I had in my early twenties makes me realize that I have it all.

I don't mean that in arrogant terms, but if it sounds that way, so be it. I have worked very hard, professionally and personally for the life I have built and continue to create, and it hasn't been without many challenges. Yet, here I am in my 30s and really, I couldn't ask for anything more.

I am in love with a wonderful man, have a houseful of happy children, am living my dream professionally,  and live in what I am sure is the kindest community in Canada. 

So, as I go back in time, and look at my life, it gets a double thumbs up and I get a pat on the back for my hard work and being true to myself.

My mom, sisters they get the high fives, because they are responsible for encouraging me to follow my passion and teaching me to not let fear ever hold me back.

It's a good day folks, no, it's a good life.

I think we don't stop often enough and count our blessings, mentally list the things that make us happy and take a moment to say "wow" - life is good. Hopefully you can take a moment to do that today.

Meanwhile I will be out celebrating, hopefully by finding a cute outfit!

This family has been clients of mine since their oldest was little, and in that time they have become friends (who I never get to spend enough time with,) and been wonderful supporter of what I do.

Although they now reside in Calgary I am thrilled they have made the island a second home, (and continued to have their portraits here,)  they are so well loved by many here I don't think it could be other way.

As it turns out my location suggestion is an old favorite spot of theirs, so everyone felt right at home while we played and photographed. It was so lovely to see them, and see how happy they are, this is one together, loving and in love family.

The boys are stunning, absolutely so!  This is definitely a new favorite.

A little note: We shot early in the morning, which I LOVE to do - beautiful light and fresh rested children.

Chelsea and Ryan, had the energy of an old married couple - I mean that in a good way of course, an old married couple who still make each other blush, and give each other sideways glances - yet they have a comfort with each other that only usually comes with time.

Their wedding was off the hook - in so many ways. Chelsea and Ryan are off the hook - in so many ways - warm, laid-back, gorgeous, caring and funny and they even laughed at my jokes.

Ryan popped the question in Tofino and it was their obvious choice for their wedding. So they loaded up the car, with their dog and 150 of their favorite cupcakes and made the drive from Alberta - to say I do surrounded by friend and family all who came from out of town.
Their ceremony was held on a calm day on McKenzie Beach - truly the perfect wedding beach and  a favorite of mine since I first moved to BC when I was 8. The reception was at the Tin Wis, which did a phenominal job.

Chelsea would look beautiful in grungy pj's, so in her dress, she was stunning!

Mackenzie Beach

A little west-coast architecture

and some natural beauty

And the cupcakes that made the road trip

Thank you Chelsea and Ryan, Jen and I had SO much fun with you two.

I have been photographing this family since their first was in mum's belly, so I always set high expectations for what we create. I feel really honored that Linden's family gives me the privilege of documenting their family.  Not only do I have great material to work with but they have become friends, which is like the icing on the cake.

Meet Linden, she is simply put, stunning!

Oh my,  yesterday was off to a rough start, computer glitches of course. However, I hopped in the car and zoomed to the studio and left the stress at the office. No one was in the office, so I figure with nobody to stick to the stress went some where else - sorry if it went to your house.
After my studio time, Selah and I was off to puppy school and then hit a "really too late if you are a good parent Benino Gelato session" - it was just what the day ordered. I wrapped things up with some evening chip fueled night editing, including this session of the stunning and much loved Kara.

It seems like forever since I blogged! While it has only been four days, I have been to Tofino and Hornby and feel like I had a two week holiday - a little west coast scenery can do that to a girl.

This little man gave me so much - spunk, smiles, attitude and energy. I have many different looks from this session (including one involving ice cream spilling,) but these two taken almost back to back make me happy.

For 30 days (mostly) I have photographed local food items. We had lots of laughs creating the photos and loved the emails and comments, but what I really received out of it is so much more.

When Our Big Earth started the 30 days of Eating Local Challenge I was excited, I thought it was such a fantastic way to highlight some of our hard working, very notable food producers. I didn't realize though, that as a family, it would be so meaningful to us.

John and I decided that we would do our best for the month to eat local, something we do pretty often anyhow. As a local business myself, it is a given that we welcomed the support from Our Big Earth in increasing the amount of money we spend locally as compared to on imported products.

What struck us however, quickly after we jumped on the challege, was how it feels to eat local.

We eat well in our house, I am the cook (mostly, unless it is eggs, see previous posts for the goods on eggs and our family) and feeding my family well is in my genes. The feeling of serving them freshly prepared food gives me great satisfaction and like many, is one of the ways I show my love (and it gets me out of doing the dreaded dishes.)

Having food to work with, such as chicken, bison, sausages, local veggies and more, all that was prepared locally with love, just adds to it. More love people.

We do talk to the children about appreciating their food and what we have found is if they connect to their food source, they FEEL the appreciation.

A chicken from TeeDeeKay versus a can of soup. They feel different.

Meanwhile John and I are both reading the Omnivors Dilemma, which is a facinating look at large food production and as a result of some interesting dinner table converations the kids are becoming more aware of the health benefits of eating local.

Thank you Our Big Earth, what a meaninful project you have taken on .

No photo today as I am sitting in a lovely hotel room in Ucluelet. Guess what? We had to turn the heat on - crazy isn't it!  Comox folks, can you believe I am wearing a sweater and I am only 3 hours away.

When I first moved to the valley I fell in love with so many things about it, but it took me a few years to tap into all the local yummy goodness that is produced here and then I found out about Natural Pastures Cheese and I was seduced. 

One of Selah's first food loves was the Natural Pastures Cheese Curds. Every Saturday we would truck of to the market to get them and they would barely last through the day.  

We have recently developed a new crush on them.

The 30 day eating local food challenge wraps up tomorrow, which means the 30 day of photographing local food does as well.

If you have been getting the stamps for the challenge be sure to drop your booklet off at Brambles so you can be entered to win the $1000 dinner (and just so you know, I make a great dinner date.)