The summer has just flown by!!! I can’t believe how busy I have found myself–trying to fit in all my work and all my fun Balance is on the way, my friends!!! It truly is…but I have been feeling bad about neglecting the blog so I thought that I’d pop up a few that have caught my eye…hot off the presses!!! Soooo many cute kids lately!!! Just a quick Monday post to make everyone smile!! Have a great day!!

http://www.vimeo.com/6314364

my wee Jack…not so wee. He loves his DS. He’s crazy for Battleship and Lego. This summer has been the ’shirtless’ summer. He has officially declared himself ‘a cool dude’. He writes his own comic books and sends me love notes and plays by the rules–gosh darnit and don’t try to change them or he just might go crazy!!! I put this together last night. The song(in case you have been hiding under a rock and don’t know) is by Arcade Fire and is called Wake Up. All the video and images have been taken by me in the last couple of weeks. Summer ends and Jack is another year older Happy birthday beautiful boy!!! I love you more than you’ll ever know

http://www.blackcabsessions.com/sessions.php?type=1&id=1210867351&sort=chronological

I had to share this as it is FREAKING AMAZING!!! My favorites are Death Cab for Cutie, Lykke Li, and Bon Iver but that’s only because I’ve just begun listening…wow! wow! wow!! check it out NOW!!!

eta: The Fleet Foxes rock, too…man…just watch them all!!!

Taken last night. 10 minutes before sunset. After sushi and swimming and summer camp. The light I most cherish and the little girl I most cherish

Just a note to say that I am in Edmonton the next couple of days meeting and photographing some wonderful families! Emails will be returned as promptly as possible. Speaking of emails…my fall is booking very quickly with both September and October nearly full. If you wish to get a session in with me in time for Christmas delivery, contact me soon to get a space. I don’t want to disappoint anyone!!

Another wedding shot with my friend, Brit on what was THE HOTTEST DAY OF THE SUMMER. But, this crew kept their cool and everyone had an awesome time! Who wouldn’t with a five year old breakdancer. Seriously…they should hire that kid out Some images from the day!

It’s time for the monthly challenge with my friend, Tara. I twittered it last week–’shoot a stranger. ask permission first.’ This is one of my favorite things to do. I have been known to stop random people and ask to take their pictures. AND…let me say that I have hesitated on more than one occassion and I have always regretted it.

This is Kathy…I met her at the Millarville County fair where she was participating in ‘knitting the world’s longest scarf’. You can read all about that here. See the sweater she is wearing. She knit that when she was pregnant with her daughter(over 20 years ago–can you believe that???). I saw her and thought she had a friendly look about her so I decided to ’shoot’ her. I kept walking by until she asked me if I wanted to sit down. It was that easy. The thing that I love about doing this is it helps you to remember that you need to actually make a connection with your subject in order to get a proper portrait. I know that–no matter what your job is–it is easy to run on autopilot, but if you don’t slow down and take the time to actually make a connection with your subject, the portrait will always be missing something. At least, that’s my experience Thanks Kathy–for letting me shoot you

I know that Tara has been sick with strep throat…so I’m not sure if she was up to participating this month. We won’t hold it against her But–everyone send her good healing vibes because I miss her tweets!! If you did participate, please post a link in my comments section! I do try to get over to everyone’s blog and leave a comment, too!! Thanks for playing!

I’m an organic girl at heart. I’ve learned this…and I need to work through the process. Organically. I have–for quite a while–had an idea as to how I wanted my slideshows to evolve. I’m still not there yet, but I’m playing more…I think that you should expect some more playing this fall…I just wanted to share this latest version. From a session I’ve already shared…yes, she is playing and singing.

Yes, I twittered a new challenge–shoot a stranger. Ask their permission first. This is one of my favorite things to do…be really aware and look for someone great. It’s amazing what you will find when you open your eyes.

I found these two things that I LOVE today…this is my new dream house. Yes, you could never build said house here in the great white north. Nor could you ever have two young children in said house…but it is a DREAM house. So, I can dream, can’t I? And, if I were dreaming it might look something like this:

Not the weirdo advertisement that comes first…wait for it. wait for it. it’s worth it.

That’s all…I just had to share cause that’s the kind of mood I’m in…later. skaters.

7 years ago today, I stood in a meadow and watched two of my best friends marry each other. And, I sang–Annie’s Song…badly…because I sang through tears. Happy tears. Two weeks later, I would give birth to my son. And, they would be far away. Time and distance seperates us, but it doesn’t. Seeing them again was just as joyful and comfortable as seeing them on that day. It brings me immeasurable joy to see people still in love…creating love in their children. And, still loving campfires, cold beer and wildflowers in mountain meadows.

It only made sense to me that we would return to that meadow…these 7 years later…and capture their love for each other. Now. They laid down on the alter of their wedding day and reflected. So did I…Reflect that is

with their children…

 …and we played until we were interrupted by two wonderfully friendly people telling us to vacate as a grizzly and her cub had been there only an hour earlier and were still believed to be in the area. Truly a mountain session

Happy Anniversary you guys!!! We can’t wait until the next time…

It has just come to my attention that the form on my contact page had not been working. If I have not returned an inquiry from you, I did not receive it.  ARGH I hate computer issues.