So the new blog will be live this week. By making a public announcment I am hoping this statement will become a reality.

I am SO much to blog, I have a bloglog (kind of like a backlog)

I know I am not that funny, but I try.

In between my Vancouver trip and camping in Whistler I came home and chilled for a few days, caught up on a little work and met up with my best photog pals Darcie and Jason from Revival Arts Photography in Abbotsford.

As the evening arrived we all headed out to do our favorite thing. What do photogs do when they get together? Photograph of course. We had such a great time, I think I could do it weekly.

I have tons to share from our evening, so way more to come. As we were winding down our shooting, we got a second wind and started playing around. I just uploaded this one to me and the handsome John to my facebook page and though I would post it here as well.

If you aren't on the McKinnon Photography facebook page, you can join here.

And here is one I took of Darcie and Jason

When I met Joe and Kiersten for the engagement session last year I knew the wedding photos would be full of beauty and laughter! They are both so at ease in front of the camera and incredibly photogenic.
Their wedding photos totally lived up to my expectations.

When these to first met the chemistry was off the charts, and they still have it. Joe was speechless a few times throughout the day when he looked over at Kiersten, he was wowed by how in love he was and how gorgeous she is. Kiersten knew the first time she met Joe that he was the one, and for her the wedding was a formality, as she has been married to Joe in her heart for years.

Kiersten was stunning and totally at ease in her wedding dress

And Joe was full or charisma

and their classic car totally jived with their style

There are a plethora of photos from the dancing that I heart - but doesn't the way they are looking at each other in this one make you melt.....

Thanks Joe and Kriesten for being so darn wonderful!

Each year I organize a day of mini-sessions for children. It is a first come first serve situation with very limited bookings. Last year these booked up right away. So call right away if you would like to be in on it. This year we are doing it a bit earlier in the year, so you will be way ahead of the game on any photos you are wanting for holiday gifts. 

The goods:

- Each session is ½ hour

- One grouping per session*

- The sessions will be created in the studio and/or  the surrounding area. I have numerous outdoor locations, both urban and natural, that are close by.

- Session date is Friday, September 18th. (I realize this is a school day, but pulling them out of school for photographs is totally worth it and way more fun than for something like a dentist appointment.)

- New clients: Session cost is $60 plus tax.

- Repeat Clients: NO session fee (because you rock and we appreciate you and all you do for McKinnon Photography.) 

Mini-sessions are off the hook fantastic! We throw all our energy into creating some images that capture your child’s personality and voila you have some great photos for yourself and for Christmas gifs. This is something we only do once a year.

*If you are interested in a session with multiple groupings of people or with the whole family, please contact me to book a full session.

I was in Vancouver last week and while there I met up with Melissa and Chris for a maternity session. We hit one of my all-time favorite places Granville Island  - the colors and shapes give you so much to work with.

I feel very fortunate to have been able to photograph these two. They had a maternity session scheduled with us and  had to cancel as they needed to be near Children's Hospital to have their baby. So when I was in Vancouver I was happy we were able to connect.  They are a loving, kind, couple who despite the stress they are facing have maintained incredible grace and a sense of humour.

Melissa and Chris, you are amazing, you are are reminder to me of how amazing my job is.

As for the photos, they are a stunning couple and were super comfortable in front of the camera. Melissa skin is just radiant (photographers notice these type of things,) and her belly bump is beautiful.

Melissa and Chris are another example of how Y.A.N.A. continues to support the people in our community.

 Next year when I am in Vancouver I am thinking of booking a few Granville Island Sessions - it is a really inspired place to shoot!

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.

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!

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.

I don't think that anyone would disagree that sessions with ice-cream seem about right this week.

As part of a series I am doing in conjunction with one of my favorite places, Benino Gelato, I am doing a series of portraits with people enjoying ice-cream.

Here the Nasarella family joined in the fun.  Showing up with ice-cream is a surefire way to win the children over right off the bat.

Thanks family, I loved the session and loved our bonding session afterwards!

Giving the Playmobile a moment in the spotlight seems like a good idea. We are big Playmobile fans, yet in an effort to de-clutter, and not step on the darn stuff everyday the kids agreed that it was time for some of it to go and this discussion led to the plan for a garage sale. 

The raspberries are glorious right now. A local raspberry tastes completely different than an imported berries - it is really a different fruit altogether. For those of you unfamiliar with Playmobile this is what a Playmobile person with a rasberrie on their head looks like.

Today we had a garage sale as a family. It is my only Saturday off this month and I was wary that this was a ridiculous idea - but of course didn't express my doubts to the family as the whole thing was my idea to being with. 

However, the day lived up to my white picked fence romantic daydream:

- My wonderful friend Corrie popped by with coffee

- The kids were all happy, Gabby and Maggie hosted the obligatory lemonade stand. There was almost a glitch when Selah thought she would set up another stand giving away free water next to the lemonade stand. A lesson in selling ensued. Rowan had a little melt down when nobody bought the three things she was selling, for some reason that used Brownie scarf just wasn't a hot ticket item. The other gals felt bad for Rowan and gave her money and by the end of it Rowan had more money than her sisters. A lesson is sharing ensued.

- My shoe collection went to amazing people who will give them a good home.Bye Campers, bye Blundstones - be well.

- The sale wrapped up at noon and we had one bag and one box left for the thrift store. Well done!

It has been a long and satisfying Saturday.