An Evening of Light and Laughter with Lynae - Portrait Photography

Surrond yourself with people who make you hungry for life, touch your heart, and nourish your soul.

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Lynae and my mom worked together at the Neerlandia Co-op, so I'd heard a lot about this quiet girl from BC before I even met her. Part of me felt like I needed to know her, and part of me felt like I already did. I met Lynae in person for the first time when I was getting groceries one day. Some of my initial thoughts were "she's really nice" and "she seems kind of shy", but more than that, I knew instantly that I needed to photograph her. Finally after a few days I went back into the store and asked Lynae if she would do a shoot with me. She said yes. I was ecstatic. It was all I could think about the entire day. and the next. I don't think I've ever needed to photograph someone as much as I did with Lynae. When I say photograph I mean more than just take pictures, I'm implying an entire session. To me a session is a chance to connect with someone on a personal level and capture who they share with me in that time. This consisted of deciding what to wear, driving to multiple locations, walking through forests and fields, and talking all the while. It was the most refreshing evening. We laughed, talked, and shot for 2 - 3 hours. However much I thought I needed this session didn't even compare to how I felt while it was happening. I get such a creative high from a good shoot. The feeling I experience towards the end of a session when I truly connect with the person in front of my camera in indescribable. That is when the magic happens. That is when everything other that the exact moment I'm in becomes a blur. That is when I know I'm where I need to be. An evening of beautiful light and honest conversation was exactly what I needed before I left for Toronto. It grounded me to one of my greatest passions while I set off to pursue another. It satisfied my creative hunger. It's driven me everyday since. It's made me finally admit to myself that I need to make portraits. I need portraiture to fill up this part of me that nothing else can touch.      So that's what I'm going to do.

Thank you, Lynae. 

Barrhead Wedding Photography - Dellainie & Cody

Oh this day. What a beautiful day.

Dellainie asked me to photograph her and Cody's wedding day 10 months ago. She was so pumped about it and could hardly contain her excitement. We chatted every few months, and I met up with them for coffee to talk about their vision for the day. A few weeks before the wedding we took a drive out to the ceremony venue and did some location scouting. Then the day finally came, and oh how amazing it was. Everything from getting ready at Dellainie's parents house, to the gorgeous ceremony at Cody's grandma's lake lot in Busby, to portraits in the forest and rain, to a quick drive to Thunder Lake, to a reception full of laughter and dancing. Dellainie LOVES taking pictures, so she was up for anything and everything all day. The rain did not dampen her mood, but but rather lightened it. In fact, it really added nicely to the story of the day : )

So here's to Dellainie and Cody and their adorable true love.

<3 

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Boudoir Photography - A New Love of Mine

Boudoir photography is not something I ever saw myself doing. It crept up on me and became a newfound and unexpected passion. It completely took me by surprise. 

I'd like to first try and explain my view on boudoir..

Boudoir is generally thought of as being sexual or sexy. Women getting all dolled up and wearing fancy lingerie. I'm not knocking on that kind of boudoir at all. There are many great boudoir photographers who's style I look up to and draw inspiration from daily. But I want my style to be my own. I want to create my own look and feel that people are drawn to. It doesn't even have to be thought of as boudoir. You can wear whatever you want. It can be indoor or outdoor. It's just moments of vulnerability and beauty. Something that's different and evokes emotion. It might even push you out of your comfort zone. I'd rather it just be referred to as a personal session or something. I'll let you know if I come up with a new term. But for now feel free to define it however you'd like. : )

Now a little bit about how I got to where I am..

I chose to make up half of my portfolio with boudoir portraits. I didn't fully know why I wanted to, but something inside me knew it was right. After my first couple sessions it dawned on me, I had finally found something that I loved to photograph. I thought back to the mindset I had while I was shooting. I began to realize it wasn't the standard boudoir style I was drawn to, it was what made each person and situation unique. I started completely immersing myself in each session. I focused 100% on my surroundings and who I was photographing. I tried to use the light in the best way possible. I tried to shoot what I was feeling. I tried to connect on more than a personal level. I had decided to photograph one of my best friends for this assignment. Weeks after I blogged her session she told me that if she was having a bad day she would go read the post and look at the photos and she would feel better. That's when I knew it was about more than me finally finding something I love to do. I knew it was about more than great images. I want my work to be true and honest and real. It's about celebrating who God made you. It's about making someone feel awesome about who they are. It's about capturing the kind of vulnerable strength it takes to truly love yourself. I've looked into who I am and realized that I want to give what I also want most. More than anything else I want people to love who they were made to be. I believe that everyone was created for a reason and is their own kind of beautiful. I believe that's worth being shown. That is my desire.

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Photographing these lovely ladies is when I fell in love with boudoir.

They are the beginning of this journey.