Tanya and Brian are Getting Married and I won't force feed her anything

I received an email a few weeks ago and was so pleased to read it.  It had been forwarded from my parents and it said that my cousin Tanya was getting married.  I was so excited for her and anticipating meeting Brian.  Tanya's family and mine spent a great deal of time together in our early years and many memories invovle her and her brothers.  In fact the stories that Tysen and Rylen request at bedtime sometime contain escapades including Tanya.  So I was super pleased to have Tanya and Brian ask if I'd shoot their engagement and wedding photos for them.  I agreed without hesitation!  Now I'm going to assume that Tanya has either forgotten or forgiven me for some of the escapades I put her through.  I should say we put her through.  You see she has two older brothers and I have two younger sisters and we often teamed up into two equal and fair groups for all our times together.  Tanya, Nikki and Jenni were on one team and Trevor, Ryan and myself were on another.....totally fair!  I think it was totally fair that when playing at the farm that the older team would dig holes in the garden, cover them with branches and the force the enemy to eat leaves in order to be rescued from said pit.  It was also totally fair when we'd play eat the mystery food and instead of just using one ingredient (which was the rules) we'd mix several foods which would stump them.  I could go on and on with fair play rules in the family game time but don't want to refresh Tanya's memory anymore!  Tanya was also present for one of the HUGEST hair mistakes of my life!  Yup, we decided to drive into Regina together one Saturday afternoon when we were both at the same school and I thought that a perm would be a good decision.  Tanya didn't say a thing.....hhmm....maybe that was the payback for the whole leaf eating thing! Wow. That kinda hurts!  I had to suffer through some Annie look a like comments for the next few weeks while I waited for the curls to loosen. Anyways....

I had a great time in Cochrane with Tanya and Brian last Saturday and even though we didn't make it to McKay's ice cream we still had fun!  They were totally relaxed in front of the camera and were comfortable with each other and with me!  There was lots of laughter and I was so happy to see how much Brian loves Tanya.  It was evident the whole evening and I loved watching Tanya laugh and enjoy herself with Brian!  They are a perfect fit for eachother.

One of the first things I asked them during the shoot was if they were comfortable with public displays of affection. Tanya said, " I'm okay." And Brian? well he said, "Sounds good!".  I don't think he was disappointed!  Brian is going to be great fit for the family, immediate and extended, and will be a great addition to those few and far between family reunions that we manage to plan.  I was very excited to go through the images after this evening and am soooo looking forward to their October wedding in Canmore.       

 Awwww!

 Gorgeous, seriously...gorgeous!

 This may be one of my favorites from the evening.

 Do you see what I mean about laughing with him?  Love the smile!

 Love it. That's all.

Another image to add to the sister file

Some things never change.  Like the sun rising in the east, cookies always taste better dunked in milk, Coke is waaaaay better than Pepsi and the Ballantyne girls always have a photo session when they're together.  Yup...some things never change.

Garth, Tysen, Rylen and I were blessed to be able to spend 5 days with my family at Ol MacDonald's Farm .  No...there wasn't a campground sing a long where we all sang a moo moo here or a moo moo there, although there was a petting farm!

My two sisters and I have grown up with cameras around us and I'd like to think we're rather comfortable around them and infront of them.  There is always time found for another image to add to the ever growing pile of sister shots.  Usually we pull out our standard Charlie's Angels pose, but decided to go with something new, something fresh, something.......different.  And different is a great word to describe my one sister who decided that all her nephews and nieces needed a new accessory.  Thing is?  It was us three girls who took a shine to them more than the kids!

It's always great knowing that there is a time every year when you can totally let loose, completely be yourself and enjoy those who mean so much to you.  My family has seen it all, the good, the bad, the not so pretty and we've stuck it through!  This last week was great and was sooooo needed!  We're already planning for next year and I'm wondering what accessory will be added to our latest. 

PS - there will be more accessory photos to follow, you can't think we just left it at this can you? ;-)

The Barwich Family - Calgary Family Photography

I had to pull over one time as I was driving out the Barwich acreage a few weeks ago because I couldn't see it was raining so hard.  The pessimist in me was saying that this wasn't a good start to a family photo shoot, but the optimist that is present because I live with Pollyanna's uncle (Garth) decided to look on the bright side of things.  (that was not a slam to Garth in anyway...I often find myself a little covetous of his optimism but I'm certain it isn't reciprocated!!) I told myself that the light would be even prettier as the sun was going down because the light would reflect so nicely off the the rain drops, puddles and mud.  And it did.

I got to the Barwich home and decided that it would be a good idea to wander around their yard while it was lightly raining with my umbrella overhead.  Did I mention that it was lightning outside?  Yup.....what a way to go huh?  At least I would have been almost doing something I loved when I passed. Thankfully the storm passed, the sun came out and I had a great time with the Barwich family.  I could have shot them all day long! Aren't they a gorgeous family?  So much so that I could use my new word here.....gorgeosity!

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Barry and Paula Got Married! - Kananaskis Wedding Photography

"Do you have THE itinerary" Barry asked me as we visited in his hotel room a few hours before his wedding.  "Itinerary?" I asked with baited breath and heart pounding, "there's an itinerary?".  LOVED IT!  Being anal retentive involves planning, over planning and uber planning and I am that!  Paula had worked out an intinerary to a T....everything and I mean everything was on that thing!  It put my little wedding day photography schedule to shame.  I did still refer to my own schedule because I had memorized it!  (lame....I know)

So with such a great way to start the day with the itinerary I knew KNEW it was going to be an amazing day....which it was.  From the very first time I met Barry and Paula I have been in awe of them.  These two put everyone at ease immediately.  If you are not their friend when you meet them, you are by the time coffee is done. So I was looking forward to spending the day with them and those close to them.

Paula is gorgeous to begin with and got even gorgeouser (I know not a word, but I don't care!) with the help of the staff at Rapunzel's in Canmore.  I know that Barry found himself stunned at her gorgeousness as she walked down the aisle because I was tearing up watching him as he was tearing up watching her make her way towards him!  I don't usually cry at weddings, but this was an exception, and I know that I wasn't the only one needing tissues on Sunday!! I told Paula more than once (okay it was probably a dozen times) that I loved her look for the day.  The gown, the hair, the shoes, the flowers (thanks to Elements Floral in Canmore) just a perfect compliment to Paula.

It was a great day made even more so by the stunning beauty of the Rocky Mountains and the Delta Lodge at Kananaskis. Photo locations abounded and I struggled to choose which places to head!  Garth and I had a great time with Barry, Paula and their wedding party.  We immediately felt like we'd known them for years and they welcomed us into their fold right away.  It's too bad we had to head home to pick up our boys otherwise spending some more time with them during the dance would have been a lot of fun.  Images from their party at the Delta Lodge to soon follow.

Congratulations Barry and Paula!  Thank you for including us in your day, we are very honored and are pleased to call you our friends.  Enjoy the images!

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 Just beautiful Paula....beautiful.

It took great restraint for me not to sing "the hills are alive

with the sound of music....aaaaahhhhh." at the top of my lungs. 

(Common sense and the knowledge that I didn't need to

add to my reputation kept me from doing it....barely!)

 But the views! Seriously!

Love this shot...."pretend you're on a picnic and

you've got on a large white dress that you don't want

to get too dirty and you're carrying flowers

and oh...you forgot the food"

Matthew and Stephanie Got Married - Unity Wedding Photography

Heading home can sometimes not be what you expect.  People move, things change, hills appear smaller than they once were, favorite climbing trees get cut down, you know the usual stuff.  Heading home this last week meant that I had an opportunity to spend the day with my cousin Stephanie and her husband Matthew as they exchanged vows and started their married life together.  I actually knew Matthew, he lived down the street from me and I remember a little boy on a tricycle riding up and down the block.  Stephanie?  Well she was this little cutie with the squishiest cheeks ever and a smile that could melt the coldest of hearts.  Somehow these two met up and even though Matthew can now ride on two wheels and Stephanie no longer has squishy cheeks these were good changes. 

I thoroughly enjoyed spending the day with these two.  I think we all relaxed a little bit more once we were done with family and wedding party photos.  Not that they aren't fun, but as I've said before my favorite part of the day is getting away with my bride and groom and documenting their day just the two of them.  It's that time that I can capture that photo that is going to grace their walls forever, something that will be viewed in the years to come for generations to enjoy.  

I was excited to shoot in the place where I grew up....I had loads of ideas in my head before I even got there, but totally surprised myself with what I found.  I'm so in love with these images and I can't wait to edit the rest of them!!

Matthew and Stephanie it was a great pleasure to spend your wedding day with you.  I can attest to how much these two are in love and am so excited for Stephanie as I believe she's got a great guy in Matthew.  And Matthew?  You are a lucky lucky man and I like you even more because you know it!  Welcome to the family....yes we are a little crazy...okay some more than others, but I'm thinking you'll fit right in!!  I'm very honored that you asked me to document this day, I hope you enjoy the images as much as I do! 

Big shout out to Sarah Fielding (sister of the groom) of Pure Bliss Hair Design in Swift Current for styling a whole pile of hair! She did a super job and got a lot of hair styled in a short time and then managed to look gorge at the ceremony!  She used a LOT of hairspray....I should know I could smell the suite down the hall!! And thanks to Lesley Heather of Spa City Esthetics in Unity for giving Stephanie a beautiful glow.  These two ladies are definitely on my recommended list!

I love reading comments, so please feel free to speak up!

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Isn't she gorgeous?  I mean really! No squishy cheeks with this girl....just stunning beauty!

 Love Love LOVE these next set of images and am already making plans for

another shoot there!  Any Unity brides needing a photographer? ;-)

 We wrapped things up at this new fave location just as a wicked rain storm blew in. 

We had the most amazing sky! 



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