Kyla - Round 2 - Calgary Wedding Photographer

I often find myself envisioning a bride in certain locations while I'm driving along the highway, gravel roads, dirt paths on my travels.  Picturing a gorgeous girl in a beautiful white dress in some random spot gets my wheels turning and wishing for a chance to shoot some photos so I was excited when Kyla mentioned that she was interested in getting into her wedding dress for a Round 2 session.  I knew that Houston would provide with some interesting out of the way spots for us.  Sadly Eli couldn't make it but we still had fun!  I was already up in Prince George for Derek and Kristin's wedding and since I was heading out to her old stomping grounds we worked out a time to shoot. 

Eli and Kyla were married December 2009 and their wedding gave me one of my favorite images of the year.  All I had to do last December was ask Kyla if she read Vogue magazine and when she said yes, I knew we were in for something special.  So that's why I was so excited for September's shoot.  I'm an avid reader of Vogue.....I love looking at the fashion spreads...not because I go out and purchase the items to wear...come have you ever seen my dress?  I'm a basic, comfy, monochromatic kinda gal,   Vogue gives me a lot of ideas/inspiration for my photography.  So I crammed in a vogue reading session before I met with Kyla and we got to work! 

It was a beautiful afternoon, the sun was shining (a little too much actually), the trees were turning color and my model looked amazing!  There was no time pressures, other people to worry about....really relaxing....okay other than the fact that we were out in the bush in the fall and the bears were out fattening up for winter...we were great!!!  All I had to do was remind Kyla about our Vogue experience last December and I really didn't have to do much of anything except for a little guidance here and there.  You'll see below what I mean...she even made some suggestions for poses and locations....she totally rocked this time together. 

Enjoy these photos...I think this is a great post to end 2010.  This year was one of HUGE transition and I've tried to make the best of the changes that come with moving a family and a new business.  Things were bumpy at times but I learned from those experiences and will try to avoid them again!  I've got big plans for 2011, lots of exciting opportunities and connections to make.  My goals for 2011 are in the works and one is almost met and it's not even January yet!  I look forward to seeing what the new year has in store for me personally and professionally.  I hope that it will be filled with meeting lots of amazing new people giving me the opportunity to catch their life with my camera.

Happy New Year!!

This is one of my faves....kinda reminiscent of a bygone era.

Love the light, love the color....love the look!

Love this one!!!

This pose was Kyla's idea....and I LOVE it!! 

It's Christmas

It's Christmas. And this year it's certainly different for my family.  There will be no 3 hour drive to Nami and Popi's house Christmas morning to spend a few days with them.  Christmas Eve looks different for us this year too, this will be the first time in years where we sit and watch instead of participate.  Not that it's bad, just different.  I'm finding myself in a sentimental place right now.  And I think that in the midst of being sentimental I'm forgetting why Christmas exists.  I'm focussed on how things are different and mourning the differences.  And that's not what I should be doing.  This advent season has flown by for me and I'm now struggling to focus on what I should be.....the birth of Jesus.  So...as I make my way through the last few days before Christmas and 2011 I will be working hard on shifting my focus from me to HIM.

Click on the link below to watch a video with the music from a great group of guys.  Loving music as much as I do you know that this song is played frequently at my house and has become a bedtime favorite.  "Mommy, can you please sing how many kings?"  And I oblige because I love the song and the lyrics hit me each and every time.  I hope hearing this song will impact you too.

Merry Christmas.

Remember When....eating snow was part of a healthy balanced snack time?

I'm sitting at my kitchen table typing this blog entry while my boys color NHL hockey logo coloring pages and yet again I'm reminded of how simple life can be if we let it.  I'm continually reminded by these two boys about how to embrace life fully.  They are teaching me everyday...and I'm so grateful for Tysen and Rylen.  The joy that comes from dressing a teddy in an Obi Wan Kenobi costume or building the coolest movie theater out of lego is exactly what I need to be finding in my everyday.

So...because I've got these two in my life I decided to start a new entry for my blog....Remember When?  A chance for me to share what Tysen and Rylen are teaching me.  My favorite teacher was quoted as saying, "Unless you become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." (Mt. 18:3) and I agree!   I need to be teachable and grasp some of those things that I have forgotten.  To have childlike humility and innocence, to believe in the impossible and to laugh and just enjoy.

 So....this remember when involves taking time to enjoy the small things.  You really can't get much smaller than a snowflake and still be able to enjoy it like Tys, Ry and their buddy A did the other day on the sledding hill.  Enough time had been spent catapulting themselves down a hill on their sleds trying to see who could hit the jump the highest...it was time for a rest and have some snow......to eat.  I totally remember sitting in snowdrifts eating my share of snow off my frosty mittens. And when I saw the boys stopping to do it too, I was taken back to the farm and my adventures in the snow.

The randomness that is Friday

Do you ever have those moments where you stand or sit and don't really do anything?  No? Well I do....and I had a major moment this morning!  After I dropped the boys at school I came home totally inspired to go inside throw on some snow gear, grab my camera and a peppermint mocha and shoot some stuff down in Fish Creek.  But......I got in the door where it was warm and I wandered around my house in my boots and jacket (please don't tell my boys I was wearing my boots....big no no in my house!!).  Took the jacket and boots off and just stood or sat or wandered.....for an HOUR!!!! Yup a whole hour of my life where I look back and say "exactly what did I do for this last period of time?"  Not even a tidy up or a dust or a quick read of something....just nothing!

This is really setting me up for the rest of the day I think.  I'm hoping having Tys and Ry around for the afternoon will bump me back to some sort of action.  Maybe today is the day to make some cookies....or not. I guess we'll see what happens when I reflect on my day later tonight....I sure hope it's got something of substance in it!!

Thankfully I spent a little time last night going over edits.  Here's a sneak peek at something I'm working on right now.  And boy am I ever glad I started this, I'm loving this little shoot we put together.

Playing around in my backyard (okay almost my backyard)

So I find myself very fortunate to have a whole new palette of wonderful locations to shoot.  I had big plans of scouting locations all summer long and failed to get around to it due to having two little boys around that weren't big on slowly wandering around places while I took photos.  So my list of places to check out is largely unchecked and I'm slowly making my way around Calgary finding treasures to use for photoshoots.

And...how amazing that I have this in my backyard? Okay not really my backyard, but it's like a 5 minute drive from my house.  When I shot a family here a few weeks ago I was struck by how beautiful this spot is.  I had shot the Williams family here earlier in the summer but never walked far enough to find this spot.  I snapped a few shots before the McCollister family arrived and was squealing as I was envisioning a bride and groom in this location.  A quiet squeal really, nothing to draw attention to myself.  So...if you know of a couple that needs a wedding photographer or are a bride looking for a photographer, give me a call!  I'd love to use this spot!!!

Anyways, I know I've been terrible in my posting lately and thought I'd drop this for today.  I'm finally getting around to a Round 2 wedding shoot and will hopefully have something to show you soon!

Give me a ringy ding.

I am indecisive. There...I said it....super indecisive.  Just ask Garth...or anyone who has ever made the poor decision to go out for a meal with me. It can take me a good 20 minutes to figure out what to order off a menu, so imagine how difficult it is for me to make bigger decisions?  I'm starting to figure out who I am as a photographer and what my style is (thanks to a few brave and opinionated friends).  I am still a LOONNGG way from ever getting my house to reflect that style nevermind my closet, but I'm slowly getting there!

So imagine my surprise when it wasn't too painful to order a business card. Finally after a few years of having my own business I finally did it!  It only took a promise to a new friend and fellow wedding vendor that I'd get them done before Christmas, and here they are!

I was super excited when I picked up the parcel from my mailbox.  Just ask Tys and Ry, I was dancing the whole way home anticipating opening the box.  And I wasn't disappointed!  I handed a few out right away, so if you're hanging out with Tys and Ry and photography comes up they will be sure to hand one to you!

My tastes are forever changing and what I like is constantly evolving so dont' expect to see these cards in a year's time.  But for right now they are c koop photography.

And as I practiced with the boys I'll say it to you...."need a photographer? Here's my card, give me a ringy ding." 

The McCollister Family - Calgary Family Photography

I was anticipating this afternoon because I was shooting in a new location, with some new friends and it consisted of a family of 4 boys and their families.  I know what it's like when Garth and his 4 brothers get together.....sometimes chaos ensues!  How is it possible to not have some jokes and laughter when 5 boys are all together for that rare occasion?  So I assumed something similar would be happening that afternoon with this family.  I was slightly surprised as how not chaotic things turned out to be!  Sure...we had little ones present who always enjoy looking around everywhere except the camera...but they're little, that's expected! 

Within minutes of meeting all of them I knew that this was a group that enjoyed their time together and shared lots of laughs.  That twinkle in the eye has been passed down and it was fun to see those eyes in multiples wondering what would happen.  But....we were on a mission to get the photos done before the sun fell and the cool air started moving in,so no funny business was taking place as we had a few different shots to get.  This location provided what we needed and I love the stairs here...expect to see these again sometime!

I failed to mention that this is one gorgeous group of people and although I do take credit for the final product I had nothing to do with how put together this whole family was.  Bright smiles, twinkling eyes, what more could I ask for?   I could have shot a lot longer, but they were off to dinner and I couldn't talk them out of not eating! I had fun and I hope they did too!  Enjoy.

 



Following the party

I very clearly remember her 50th birthday....I wasn't there to celebrate with her, but made sure she knew we were thinking of her.  We were living in Prince George and the drive to Caronport was just a little too far even for a big event like a 50th birthday.  So...I had a few things taken care of for me by some good friends.  They filled her office with about 300 balloons and posted signs and posters up all over the campus stating that it was her 50th birthday and that she needed to hear how old she was. In no way was I going to let such an auspicious moment pass without recognition of it!

Another year has come and I'm not able to share any chocolate cake with her, but I will partake in something chocolately tonight to celebrate.  But I certainly do wish I could fill her office with balloons again! And some lovely pink flamingos on the front lawn would definitely compliment the Christmas motif that is most definitely present in her house and yard already.

I really don't know what to post here.  As corny as it sounds, words really can't express how thankful I am for my mom.  Her thoughtfulness, encouragement and sacrifices have been a part of my whole life.  She is a laugher, meaning you won't be around her long without hearing her or possibly feeling the thunder of it.  A party follows Mom and I've been fortunate to take that ride.  She's loved me,challenged me, supported me and championed me - a true mother and friend.

Mom, I pray that this year is your best yet, although it will be hard to cap the year I was born. ;-)  I pray that you make the most of every opportunity and that you take time to do nothing, that you continue to fall more in love with the Lord and with Dad. I pray that even though we are far apart that you will continue to send "sugar" our way, and that you keep laughing in spite of what life throws your way. And... I also pray that you get to sink your toes in a warm sandy beach!  So someday I will share a cake with you Mom and no matter where you are I'll be following the party to hang out with you!

This photo was taken earlier this fall and I think it is Mom.

=

A quick shoot in the park

Sue and I had been trying to get together for family photos for a little while now and FINALLY! an evening worked.  We had approximately 35 minutes of light to work with and so we moved fast that evening. She introduced me to a new location that I think will be fun to try out again when we've got some more time.

I am fortunate enough to see this family just about every day as we walk the same path to school.  Sue is one of my bus stop friends and I'm so glad that I got the chance to meet her.  I know that she will be a part of many memories that will take place here in Calgary.  How fun to have a friend just down the street with three little boys that love to run around, wrestle, bike ride and play outside!

Enjoy the photos of Sue and her boys.  It was a fun-filled photo shoot as I got to see lots of silly faces in the midst of some handsome little boy faces too.