Foik Photography

Baby Emma

2012-03-05T22:18:00.036-08:00

I have known Meghan since we were 12. She was my best friend all through middle and high school, and is probably one of the few people who I have laughed with so hard I peed my pants.

Not embarrassing or anything.

Meghan and Mike called me at 3:30am to come to the hospital because things were moving along quickly (or so they thought).... After many, many hours of waiting, baby Emma was not interested in coming out, and a decision for a c-section was quickly made. Not the plan, but same end result.

Baby Emma is teeny tiny at 6lbs 11oz. And SO VERY BEAUTIFUL.

Congratulations to my friends. Enjoy the journey.

2 years and 2 months.

2012-03-03T21:26:00.002-08:00

O HAI Mom and Dad.

2012-03-01T19:03:00.001-08:00

Scribbles.

2012-02-28T21:37:00.006-08:00

I registered my baby for Kindergarten last week. Oh boy. Typing it even makes me weepy.

I have been thinking a lot about what it means to be a mommy. To care for someone else so completely, they are a piece of you. That's what kids are. A piece of your soul walking around outside your body.

Kuba has been sick. Nothing serious, just a little sinus infection, but a weird part of me likes when he's sick. He needs me. He wants cuddles, and attention, and I get to be the person who makes him feel better. When your baby wakes up in the middle of the night, crying because his ear hurts...there is something really satisfying about being the only one who can make it better. Maybe that's not what I should be feeling, but I do.

Kuba starting Kindergarten absolutely slays me, and I am having a REALLY hard time processing that he will be away from me all day. I want to shove earplugs in his ears and wrap him in bubble wrap so he never has to experience any sort of pain from the mean things other kids say and do.

This is all just ramblings, scribbles of the things going through my brain in the last few weeks.

It came about on February 9th when we found out our friends 2.5 year old daughter had died suddenly. Beautiful, sweet Layla passed away in her sleep, and my heart is completely broken for her mommy and daddy. Send a prayer their way if you have a moment...send one even if you don't. They are hurting.

It goes by so fast. So. So. FAST.

Like I said, just scribbles.

A Girl and her Guitar

2012-02-07T20:49:00.001-08:00

First Roll

2012-01-28T11:52:00.000-08:00

Here are some images from my first roll of 120 film with my Mamiya 645. They are nothing spectacular, but I am mostly pleased that the majority of the pictures are in focus. I forgot how hard it is to focus manually...

Baby Anna

2012-01-25T14:28:00.000-08:00

Baby Jared.

2012-01-23T22:08:00.000-08:00

I fumbled for a phone call at 2am on a very early Saturday morning...the baby was coming!

Marlies is a trooper, and after a VERY intense and fast labor, all the way to 9cm, the baby was in distress...off to the OR she went. I have never photographed a labor that ended in a c-section before, but I can tell you...NOTHING is lost with the excitement of a new baby...even if things don't go as planned.

Baby Jared is perfect.

Perfect. Perfect. Perfect.

Little things.

2012-01-19T22:36:00.000-08:00

Baby Anna's first week at home.

2012-01-10T13:24:00.000-08:00

The Waiting Game

2012-01-07T21:16:00.000-08:00

and now for something completly different...

2012-01-04T13:24:00.000-08:00

I don't pretend to know a lot about music. I know what I like, and what I don't like. I know some of the music I listen too is considered "uncool"...but I really don't care. If it moves me, makes me feel, gives me goosebumps, or makes me jump up and sing than it's passed the test. This last year, I made a point to listen to more music, and I was amazed how it inspired my photography.

Young Blood - The Naked and Famous
This song is probably the most listened too song in our house in the last year. Kuba even calls it "Kuba's song". Play it LOUD.

Life in Technicolor ii - Coldplay
Good afterbreakfast dancing song

Holocene - Bon Iver
This song gives me goosebumps. It's dreamy. This was also one of my favorite albums of the whole year.

The Cave - Mumford & Sons
Foot stompin' is mandatory with with song.

Go Do - Jónsi
I LOVE the lyrics to this song.
"Go sing, too loud
Make your voice break - Sing it out
Go scream, do shout
Make an earthquake..."

Soft Shock -Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Pretty Pretty.

nní mér syngur vitleysingur - Sigur Rós
I think I need to move to Iceland.

Hoppípolla - Sigur Rós
Jasper calls this the "polla song"

There's more, but these are the ones I really love.

Happy Ears.

On a cold day.

2011-12-23T20:58:00.000-08:00

The hard stuff and the good stuff.

2011-12-20T20:38:00.000-08:00

My sweet baby boy is almost two. He's not a baby anymore...per say....he's still my baby, but he's really a toddler. A busy, busy little boy. I can't believe he's almost two. TWO. I know people say it, and it starts to sound like a broken record, but seriously, where does the time go?

Where the heck does it go?

I remember those first few moments with both my boys. I remember how they smelled, how Kuba had soft fuzzy hair, and Jasper's curled up legs from being breach. I remember having them lay on my chest in the hospital bed that first night, how I couldn't stop looking at their beautiful faces, and tiny perfect hands. Don't get me wrong, I remember the hard stuff too. The exhaustion, Kuba's crying, frustration with feeding...it's all still fresh. But it's easy to forget, and the hard stuff makes the good stuff that much sweeter.

This is baby Addyson, one week old. She smelled new, and fresh, and had that soft fuzzy hair. She's perfect.

Mmmm...newborn baby smell...

2011-12-03T13:10:00.001-08:00

More of sweet Addyson later this week...

Baby Bro.

2011-11-26T22:43:00.000-08:00

This is my little brother Cameron. There is a 7 year age difference between us, so growing up we didn't fight much. Actually, pretty sure this kid spent most of his time in doll clothes because what else is a 7 year old girl supposed to do with her baby brother?

Either way, he's still adorable.

Jasper - 23 months.

2011-11-24T21:59:00.000-08:00

I can't believe my baby is almost two. Where does the time go?

Ramblings...

2011-11-23T22:28:00.000-08:00

I used to have a blog that I wrote on. Way. Back. When. I don't write anymore. Maybe because writing requires time. Time is limited as of late. Maybe because I am lazy. Or my attention has shifted to photography.

I don't know.

I used to like to write. I used to like to sit here, without a plan in my head of what to say, but let my fingers figure my brain out.

The internet. Facebook. Twitter. Pintrest. It's not real. I need to tell myself this more and more lately. I read status updates, tweets, and see things that people are pinning, and need to remind myself that no one posts about the hard things. No one says on Facebook, "my son just peed his pants, and then shoved his brother over" or "the dog took a shit in my sons room, and then ate it" NO. NEVER. We don't want people to know the hard things. We want people to think everything is perfect. Everything is fine, and pooping rainbows is normal.

It's not.

I don't really know where I am going with this.

I think I am just tired of the BS. I am tired of everyone subconsciously trying to one up each other. I read somewhere, "the grass is greener wherever you decide to water it"...I think I am just learning to be happy with this point in my life. I am trying to stop looking a head, and wishing I was there. I want to be present for now.

I am learning not to compromise. I KNOW the kind of photography I love. I KNOW the look I am trying to achieve. I. WILL. NOT. COMPROMISE. I will not shoot a cheesy hand heart over the pregnant belly. I will not use selective colour. I wont do the camera tilt for every picture unless it is necessary to the photograph. I'm not saying that you shouldn't do these things. Do them. If you like it. DO IT. That's the point. Do what you like, and stick too it.

I guess that's the message that's been batting around in my head. Just be who YOU are.

These two. They are who they are.

Nicole, Kevin and baby Wyatt

2011-11-17T14:21:00.000-08:00

Look at this little guys eyes. THESE are the kind of eyes a momma can get lost in.

Matt and Meghan

2011-11-05T23:19:00.000-07:00

THIS. WEDDING.

I can say with all honesty, this was one of the most LOVE FILLED weddings I have ever been too.

Matt and Meghan, it was an honour.

I love this kid.

2011-11-02T21:55:00.000-07:00

Peek-a-boo

2011-10-27T21:34:00.000-07:00

Yellow

2011-10-26T16:11:00.000-07:00

BLEH. It's so cold today, but these warmed me up.

A Study In Breakfast

2011-10-25T20:45:00.000-07:00

Shot on Film...

Laugh.

2011-10-23T21:57:00.000-07:00

Nothing beats a real laugh in a photo. NOTHING.

be who YOU are

2011-10-17T13:10:00.001-07:00

I have been trying to come up with a small phrase, or saying that really shows what I am all about when it comes to photography...I think I found it...I was looking on Etsy.com for some prints, and I saw this.

This is what I believe. In 4 simple words. It's perfect.

This is how you throw a 50th birthday party.

2011-10-16T08:18:00.000-07:00

Him.

2011-10-14T22:54:00.000-07:00

This man. THIS MAN. He is MY man. We in a way that was not expected. He was divorced, 10 years older than me, and an immigrant. Dear Poland, I love you.

I was thinking how to write this post. To the man that I call my husband, and my partner. I am good at lists...so here is a list:

-I don't even know what getting gas for the car is like. He will ALWAYS make sure my car is filled.
-If were talking about cars, he ALWAYS makes sure my car is clean. I never have to lift a finger.
-He makes me laugh. Deep belly laughs. Silent laughs. The kind of laughs that make your face hurt.
-He expects the best from me, but doesn't make me feel bad when I screw up.
-He makes me try harder. Not just for him, but for myself.
-He is a HUGE nerd. I mean, I can talk Doctor Who, Star Wars, computers, and iphones with him, and he knows more than me.
-He likes music like THIS BUT also like THIS
-He never judges my CRAZY ideas..instead tells me to follow my dreams.
-Our boys idolize him. HELLO, HE WORKS ON AIRPLANES.
-He is crazy smart.
-He believes in everyone he meets. He believes everyone has potential, they just need time to figure it out.
-He is patient. He married me, didn't he?
-He is tough, but oh so soft.
-He makes a mean pancake.
-Did I mention how smart he is?
-He is brave. He moved to Canada when he was 20. Didn't know ANY English. AT. ALL.
-He is faithful. To me. To his family.
-He knows as much about photography as I do, if not more, and inspires me to be a better photographer.
-He knows how to make me a cup of tea.
-CRAZY. SMART.
-He is incredibly open minded.
-Won't judge a book by it's cover.
-His ringtone when I call him is the theme song from Doctor Who.
-He loves me back.

A Sweet Little Family...

2011-10-13T22:29:00.000-07:00

K & J adopted Sofie from Bulgaria about two months ago...Now they are a family of 4! You can read about their journey through adoption HERE.

30 Day Photography Challenge - Day 6 -My Feet

2011-10-13T00:26:00.001-07:00

I love my Chaco tan lines. Sad to see them fade with summer.

Rebecca and Jared

2011-10-11T15:54:00.000-07:00

This is my little sister, Rebecca and her husband Jared. They're pretty cute, I guess.

Meghan and Matt

2011-10-10T21:23:00.000-07:00

I have never cried so much at a wedding before! 10 years. You guys are amazing. A-MAZ-ING.

More to come!!

30 Day Photography Challenge - Day 5 - Clouds

2011-10-08T21:41:00.000-07:00

Grainy, dark clouds. Feels like fall.

30 Day Photography Challenge - Day 4 - Animal

2011-10-06T13:54:00.001-07:00

This is our sweet new puppy Agatha...as in Agatha Christie. She is a Dachshund, aka a wiener dog. She is also really ridiculously cute.

30 Day Photography Challenge - Day 3 - What I Wore Today

2011-10-05T14:33:00.001-07:00

I am not a fashion blogger, or very good at fashion in general...so I can't really tell you where my clothing is from. My shoes are TOMS, and my scarf is from Old Navy (I know, contain your excitement)

This blog post is boooring!

30 Day Photography Challenge - Day 1 - Self Portrait

2011-09-30T13:01:00.000-07:00

I got new glasses today, so it's the perfect day for a self portrait. It's funny, I took, like, 50 billion pictures of myself, but this was the first one I took, and it's the one that I ended up liking the best.

Sweet Sisters

2011-09-27T20:34:00.000-07:00

There is nothing...NOTHING quite like a deep belly laugh.

More to come from these sweet sisters and their mom and dad later this week.

From the phone...

2011-09-23T13:54:00.001-07:00

Les Family

2011-09-21T13:23:00.000-07:00

This is a love story people, a real bonafide love story. They were elementary school sweethearts...and they have built a beautiful family since then!

Les Family Sneak

2011-09-10T09:43:00.000-07:00

Hope your weekend is wild like these two!

Van Laer Family

2011-09-06T22:26:00.000-07:00

This is the Van Laer family. They are wonderful friends of mine, and I have so much fun photographing them. Love you guys!

'Squeaky swings and tall grass...'

2011-09-02T21:31:00.000-07:00

I am grasping on to the last bit of summer. I usually have no problem moving on to fall, but this year, I don't know, I don't want summer to end. I love the bright evenings, the tall grass, and long shadows. I love how the sun makes everything beautiful at this time of the day, right after dinner, when the boys have full bellies, and running around in bare feet is mandatory.

Le sigh.

This song = Summer.

Holidays 2011

2011-09-01T21:17:00.000-07:00

We decided to go camping this year with the boys. My parents have a tent trailer... it's awesome. We went camping in the Okanagan, and then drove to my friends (She is awesome, and you can find her HERE) cabin at Shuswap Lake..it was a lot of work with Jasper, who is only 20 months. He wanted to run off in EVERY direction, and it was REALLY hard to keep that almost two year old from hurting himself..but we had some really great moments with him. Kuba on the other hand, LOVED camping. Loved everything about it. Getting dirty. Campfires. The lake. ALL. OF. IT.

It makes me look forward to the future, and I know it will only get easier. Plus, they're pretty cute...

Us.

2011-08-30T22:15:00.000-07:00

San Francisco pt. 3

2011-08-29T21:48:00.000-07:00

Here is the last of my road trip pictures. Here is some of the film pictures I took, and all of my Instax pics (LOVE THAT CAMERA!)

San Francisco pt.2

2011-08-27T15:26:00.000-07:00

San Francisco! You were thinking I would never update this huh? WELL. I proved you wrong.

I have never felt confident in my pictures when I am not photographing people. One of the things I really tried to do on this trip was to push myself to photograph anything but people. Gah. It was HARD, but I am glad I did it. It forced me to see beauty in things I usually wouldn't see beauty in.

Enjoy.

Alya and the Sun

2011-08-26T21:53:00.001-07:00

Diana's Sweet Belly

2011-08-26T14:02:00.000-07:00

Great Expectations

2011-08-14T21:20:00.000-07:00

Laura and Matt Teaser

2011-08-14T09:37:00.000-07:00

2011-08-13T08:52:00.000-07:00

Dear Summer,

You're going by too fast.

Sincerely, Me

Lindsey and Marc - rainy and RAD

2011-08-10T21:41:00.000-07:00

Lindsey and Marc live in Whistler, and had planned on a wedding outside in a beautiful park. The wedding day came: It rained. I mean, it came down in BUCKETS. BUT! BUT! BUT! These two, what an awesome attitude they both had, they made the absolute best of it, and it was sincerely one of the raddest weddings I've ever been too!

Lindsey and Marc, You guys rock!

Lindsey and Marc Preview!

2011-07-17T18:27:00.000-07:00

One word: AWESOME.

More pics coming soon:)

Road Trip pt.1 (In which I post a ridiculous amount of sunset pics)

2011-07-05T22:41:00.000-07:00

SAN FRANCISCO! We got 6 (yes, 6!!) whole days away from the boys. It was heaven, HEAVEN.

We had always wanted to drive the 101 down the Oregon coast, so we did! We did it at our own pace, had no plans, and just enjoyed being spontaneous.

I was going to post all my pictures from the trip in one post, but there are soooo many, so I think I'll split it up in to a few.

The official soundtrack to this road trip was Bon Iver's new album. My favorite song is Holocene (click here)...put it on, look at the pictures, and pretend your on the beach, with your toes in the sand, a blanket wrapped around you, and the sun setting.

Goosebumps.

"I could see for Miles, miles, miles..." - Bon Iver

2011-07-01T21:16:00.000-07:00

We are back from our road trip to San Francisco. It was lovely to spend 6 uninterrupted days with my husband. Until I get an actual post together...here is an image that makes me happy.

I could live on the beach. Just sayin'

To a 13 year old me.

2011-06-24T21:57:00.000-07:00

This beautiful girl is 13. She was absolutely wonderful to shoot...happy, and silly. Just the way a 13 year old should be.

Things I would LOVE to tell a 13 year old me:

-It's okay to wear something other than your green Adidas shorts and green Boca sweatshirt.
-You WILL learn to shave your legs without cutting them.
-Other people love Han Solo as much as you.
-Math is NOT AN IMPORTANT SUBJECT.
-It's SO VERY MUCH okay to be different.
-Your hair gets damaged when you always wear it in pony tails.
-You are smart. Maybe not at Math, but YOU ARE SMART.
-You WILL fall in love, not with Han Solo, but someone better.
-Friends will come and go, in and out of your life, and that's okay.
-You are beautiful.
-You have SO MUCH ahead of you.
-High school is such a small, wonderful time of your life, ENJOY IT.

Lianna and Blake

2011-06-01T14:43:00.000-07:00

A few weekends ago, I had the privilege to shoot Blake and Lianna's wedding. It was raining the whole day, but you would NEVER have guessed with how happy they were.

Something I noticed with these two: they made each other laugh. Not just giggles, but full belly laughs...the kind that make your sides hurt.

Blake and Lianna, it was lovely.

Bolt Wedding Preview

2011-05-23T23:01:00.000-07:00

Here is beautiful Lianna...doesn't she look amazing?!

More to come from this lovely wedding later this week.

Home.

2011-05-13T21:22:00.000-07:00

I love this picture. This is Kuba watching TV on a rainy saturday morning. It perfectly captures the quiet part of my life. Toys on the floor, boys in their jammies, and cartoons on the TV.

Kuba has never really been interested in television or movies, which I really have NO PROBLEM with..but this week we rented 'Finding Nemo' and we watched it about 3 times since then. He is totally enchanted by it. Although throughout the movie he keeps saying, "Emo's (What he calls Nemo) Daddy is sad mommy, Emo's Daddy is SO SAD". It breaks my heart.

Baby Declan

2011-05-10T20:38:00.000-07:00

One of the goals on my life list was to photograph a labour/ birth. It's a kind of shoot where it is COMPLETELY photo-journalistic. There is no staging. No set-ups, and nothing is planned.

I mentioned a while ago I was wanting to do this, and lucky for me, my awesome neighbor's, Mike and Michelle volunteered. They were going to have baby boy #2, and were totally open to the idea of me taking pictures during this VERY special time.

What I didn't realize, was how completely amazing this was to witness. It was truly one of the MOST BEAUTIFUL things I've ever seen, and I feel so honored the Brown family let me be a part of it.

Also, Michelle is amazing, and did this completely natural. Um, superwoman!

Interested in having your labor/ birth documented? Please contact me!

foikphotography@gmail.com

Granny

2011-05-05T11:02:00.000-07:00

My Great Grandma was born in Scotland. I know what you're thinking...No, I am not related to Ewan McGregor. (That's what you were thinking, right?)
I was at my Grandma's house, a couple of weeks ago, and she showed me her mom's (my Granny) autograph book. Apparently, people use to have them. Someone would visit, and instead of exchanging email address, they would sign an autograph book. They would write something, or in the case of these photo's, draw a picture. I love it. I didn't have my camera with me, but I had the next best thing...my iphone. Here are some of the pages from my Granny's book.

JC and Felicia

2011-04-21T22:52:00.000-07:00

What a wonderful day this was! I have known Felicia for a few years, and, here is a little bit of info for you: Felicia is the ex roommate of my best friend from high school's little sister. HA! Get it?

Felicia has a beautiful creative heart, and I am so happy that my friend found this wonderful man. They are so wonderful together, and I really can't express how happy I am for them!

Brown Family

2011-04-10T22:39:00.000-07:00

These are my neighbors. I love them. Michelle is due with baby boy #2 in may, and it's so exciting to see their family grow.

JC and Felica - So much love.

2011-04-09T23:13:00.001-07:00

Findley

2011-04-08T15:04:00.000-07:00

More to come from this sweet little family...

Spring!

2011-04-07T22:40:00.001-07:00

I usually don't do these type of posts, but I was in my parents backyard today, and everything was blooming! It made me feel happy.

Happy is good.

You don't need a fancy camera to take a meaningful picture.

2011-04-01T21:48:00.001-07:00

Breakfast.

2011-03-25T22:14:00.000-07:00

Teapot Hill

2011-03-05T20:18:00.000-08:00

This is one of my favorite places in the entire world. Amen.
It a easy little hiking trail about 10 minutes from my house. It runs through a traditional BC coastal rain forest. It's BEAUTIFUL. The moss alone is a work of art.

14 Months old

2011-03-05T16:06:00.000-08:00

Jasper is Linus. He ALWAYS has this blue fleece blanket with him. I love him. He's growing up too fast.

Inspiration

2011-02-26T23:05:00.000-08:00

Every once in a while I like to post about photographers that inspire me...

This is Jacinta, from Melbourne, Australia.

Her photographs give me goosebumps. She shoots film. More and more I am gravitating towards photographers who use film over digital. There is something (don't punch me for using this word) ORGANIC about film. It feels like this living, breathing thing...you THINK before you press the shutter release.

A teeny tiny piece of summer...

2011-02-25T13:24:00.001-08:00

This is Krystian and Kuba's little winter project. These are tomato plants. The seeds were smuggled from Poland (shhhh...don't tell the tomato police)...I smelled them the other day, and they smell JUST LIKE SUMMER. Can't wait until these are growing big, juicy red tomatoes!

Krystian said one of his favorite things when he was a kid was going to his grandma's house, picking some fresh tomatoes from the garden, slicing it up, and putting it on buttered fresh bread with a bit of ground black pepper. Doesn't that sound fantastic!?

Under Construction

2011-02-18T13:13:00.000-08:00

We live on an old, retired army base, that is slowly being turned into a new community called Garrison Crossing. We love it here. Everyday I feel blessed that we live in this city.

I was walking around with the boys the other day in the area that is still under construction.

Hey! When you have boys, a construction site beats a playground ANY DAY!

Why I do it.

2011-02-11T23:26:00.001-08:00

Happy Valentines Day Indeed!

2011-02-09T13:14:00.001-08:00

Things I like...

2011-01-24T13:43:00.000-08:00

Honey. Yum. I put honey in my tea, on my oatmeal, and in my baking. It's a great substitute for sugar, and it tastes SO MUCH BETTER.

This Christmas, my mom bought me some gourmet honey from Merritt, BC.

They come in these super adorable hand thrown pots, which are sealed with beeswax. You run them under hot water to break the seal...and then BAM! Yummy honey!

Morning.

2011-01-18T22:14:00.001-08:00

Getting ready for the snow.

2011-01-12T14:00:00.000-08:00

A Kick in the PANTS!

2011-01-09T14:35:00.000-08:00

I have started this post so many times in the last few weeks...I. MUST. GET. IT. DONE.

2010 was a year of change for me. Not even a week into 2010, I became a mother of two boys. Jasper was (and still is) a easy, sweet, happy little guy....which is something I needed.

Kuba became a handful. The stress of having a new baby at home adding to his delayed speech, made things pretty bleak for me. He was so delayed with his speech, it was affecting his social development, and his frustration level was through the roof. He would lose his temper at the slightest thing, and going out, almost ANYWHERE became almost impossible. It was a frustrating time for our family...

BUT...

BUT...

Things got better. Things got brighter. Things started happening. He would spill his juice on his lap, and instead of flying into a rage, and throwing his cup across the room, would, yell, "help!!". Doesn't seem like much, but OH,...let me tell you" "help" is an incredibly important word for a 2 year old to have. With his speech improving, and me being home more, he became more interested in other kids. He started playing with the other kids at Church, the kids in my Parents of Toddlers group, and was generally just interested in other little people. We decided to put him in daycare for 3 hours a week, even though I was on maternity leave.

WOW.

I cannot express how much those three hours a week changed EVERYTHING. I saw a positive change in him within a month. I know he's having a good time, when I go to pick him up, and he doesn't want to come home. I am so grateful to the staff at his daycare...they have been patient with him, and understanding of his speech problems, and SO SO SO helpful to me. Mostly because I trust them so much...TRUST=NO STRESS.

I can confidently say that the stress of his speech/ frustration levels are almost gone. He can (in his own 3 year old way) express to me what he's feeling, what he's thinking, and it is SO wonderful to finally feel like I am connecting to my sweet boy. I see his sense of humor developing, and his WONDERFUL personality shines through now...where before it was behind this silent wall.

Jasper turned one last week. He is through and through a Momma's boy. He is usually clinging to my hip as a make dinner, while I am cleaning and just generally as I run through my day. He is a sweet boy, ready to give a smile to anyone willing to give him one. He is almost walking, and BOY OH BOY that kid is a tank. Nothing will stop him from his target, and I see such determination in his little body. I can't wait to see him grow into his personality in 2011, and become a little boy.

Things changed for me as well. In the first two weeks of January, I started calling myself a photographer. This was HUGE for me. When people asked what I did for a living, I could now say I am a photographer, and I also, work part time at another job...but PHOTOGRAPHER was always first. It was really hard for me to put myself out there like that.

To be vulnerable.

Right after I had Jasper, I started reading Natalie Norton's blog. She had JUST lost her two month old baby boy to Pertussis. I felt like I connected with her...even though I had never met her. She has three other boys, and the fact that she was a mom of boys, AND an amazing photographer...I felt like I knew her. When I heard she would be offering a workshop in Calgary in July...I KNEW I had to go.

I did.

I can honestly say that the ENVISION workshop changed EVERYTHING I think about photography. It woke something up in my soul, and made me want to be passionate about something. I hadn't felt passion, for myself, for art, in a LONG time. I realized in order to be a better wife, and better mother, I NEEDED to take care of myself more. I needed something to WAKE ME UP and make my heart flutter.

Photography makes my heart flutter.

That workshop woke me up.

Since then I feel like I am inspired by SO SO SO much, I almost can't handle it. There is so much creativity and SO MUCH BEAUTY out there, and I just want to be a part of it, and to capture it with my camera...for others, but mostly FOR ME. (I know that is a run on sentence, but I don't care)

I am trying to find my place in all this creativity. In december, I felt like I was heading back into my old self...I noticed it, and I am determined to make 2011 a creative year. I have so many ideas. I feel like I am bursting at the seams with possibility, and I want to make it happen. I don't even really know what I mean by that, but I am determined to take care of myself more this year.

I AM WORTH IT.

My husband. He is a good man. He puts up with SO MUCH from me. I have realized in order to be a better wife to him, taking care of myself more is a top priority. I know doing this will help me to take care of him too. He needs me present, mentally present 100%, and I am determined to give him my best me this year...he deserves nothing less. I love him...through and through.

What does 2011 look like? I have no idea. But I can't wait to see what's in store...I hope you'll be with me on the journey.

xoxo
Jenn

Curious?

2010-12-22T12:36:00.000-08:00

You guys, boudoir shoots are so much fun! If you're interested, contact me!

Walk Before You Run

2010-12-02T14:44:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to share a post by the one and only Natalie Norton. It's funny she posted this, cause I have been trying to kick myself in the butt lately, and this was EXACTLY what I needed!

Click Here : Walk Before You Run

Brothers...

2010-11-10T13:15:00.000-08:00

These are my neighbors kids, Zach and Jaden. They are the best neighbours EVER...love this family to the moon and back!

The Golden Hour

2010-11-02T18:01:00.000-07:00

Ask ANY photographer, and there is this magical time of the late afternoon where the sun is low in the sky, and it gives you beautiful goosebumpy light.

This was during today's golden hour. I know it's out of focus, but I like it. So there.

The happiest baby in the history of EVER.

2010-10-27T12:59:00.001-07:00

My Backyard.

2010-10-13T20:57:00.000-07:00

I love this time of year. It's cooler out, the air is crisp, and the COLOURS...OH, THE COLOURS.

Felica and JC (and Newby)

2010-10-07T09:33:00.000-07:00

Felica is crazy creative...and totally the type of person I LOVE being around. Check out her work here and here.

JC is hilarious and equally nuts! I see A LOT of laughter in their future.

Shawn & Michelle

2010-10-04T19:58:00.000-07:00

What a FAN. TAS. TIC. day! Michelle was the most relaxed bride I have EVER been around, which made taking pictures so much fun!

Thanks so much for letting me be a part of your special day!

Felica and JC

2010-10-04T10:03:00.000-07:00

YOGURT COVERED BLUEBERRIES!

Ps-More to come!

Appleton LOVE Teaser...

2010-10-02T22:25:00.000-07:00

Magic. Pure Magic.

Kuba Foik - Photographer

2010-09-30T09:30:00.000-07:00

Since my last post featured photo's taken by my Father in Law, I thought I would continue that trend...
We have a small Sony Cyber-Shot camera...I let Kuba play with it from time to time...I finally loaded all the pictures on my computer this morning (all 166 photo's!)

I love seeing his little point of view and what he likes to take pictures of:

This is what happens when you let your Father in Law take a picture...

2010-09-25T23:34:00.001-07:00

Inspiration

2010-09-15T14:34:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while, I find a photographer that I fall in love with. A photographer that I feel like I have this weird connection with.

This is Tara Whitney.

I love her.

I don't know her...but I'm pretty sure we could be friends. What I connect with (other than her breathtaking photography) is her Philosophy. She calls it "perfectly imperfect"...read it here.
It is something I have been striving for in my photography: authenticity.
I don't want posed, white shirt, blue jeans photo's...I want something REAL.

I would totally show you a bunch of her pictures, but you really need to just go and check her out.

She's the bee's knees.

My almost 3 year old.

2010-09-14T14:23:00.000-07:00

Every. Day. this kid gets bigger, smarter, and more hilarious.

Online Conversation with my Sister

2010-09-12T08:56:00.000-07:00

HER: it's raining

ME: IT'S POURING

HER: And, the old man is snoring. this is lame

ME: yup. very

Luke and Breanne

2010-09-07T21:48:00.000-07:00

Luke and Breanne's itsy bitsy preview

2010-09-05T12:22:00.000-07:00

summer

2010-08-24T22:17:00.001-07:00

A lot of this has been happening around here. Summer's almost done. Boo.