[family: Shawn, Erica & Kiddies.]

I won't lie.

When a collegue emails me, asking for a session - I get a wee bit nervous.  Why?  Simply because us photographers like things done a certain way *grin*.  What we take, how we take it, how we process and edit ... we know what we like and what we don't.  But I guess the mere fact that she contacted me meant that she liked how I did things ...

So, yes.  I was nervous.  But excited.

Meet Erica of Erica Miller Photography.

She's pregnant with boy #3 ... and is absolutely stunning.  I love what she chose to wear - her tights were killer ... and pearls and leather.  Perfect.

Now, this was the first time I actually met her - but her hubby and I go way back to the days of church-youth-group.  Oh how I love reunions *grin*.

Especially ones where I can take pics *bigger grin* ...

Their two boys, Zion and Vannden (how great are those names??), were super cute - and kept me running for sure.  Family shoots always have an unexpected element to them ... you never know what you're going to get with young ones.  But these two knew exactly what to do *grin* - Erica has them well trained ... 

I mean, SERIOUSLY ... how cute are they??

Erica wanted a Maternity/Family shoot ... like most moms, she just wanted a few pics with her in them.  And as a photographer, I'm pretty sure it means just a little bit more to her than most.  See, when you capture other people's memories for a living - sometimes it stares you in the face how much you miss of your own journey.

So I just kept snapping ... and captured some special memories for this lovely family.

This photoshoot was pretty much a miracle ... we had already cancelled once due to poor weather - and the forecast for that afternoon was more rain.  But it held off for us, and as I drove away when it was finished - it literally started to pour.

So there you have it ... the stunning Miller family.  Wow ... so much fun that I pretty much would like another opportunity to snap them up again.  Hmm ... she's now only 2-days from her due date ... a newborn session perhaps??  

*GRIN*

Thanks so much, Shawn and Erica, for choosing me.  So incredibly honoured and privileged to have been asked  ... 

For all inquiries, please head to my RedHanded Photography site HERE and click "get.in.touch".   And stay tuned - the BIG relaunch of my new site is happening April 1st!!  Can't wait to have it up ...

Have a great one!

[portraits: Melody Davis ... Photography.]

Ok ... I've been on a bit of a hiatus - but I assure you it was all for very good reasons.  One, of which, has been me filling up my 2012 season with wedding bookings.  Meeting with new brides is one of my favourite parts of my job - so I'm pretty crazy-excited about being booked now from March through October already ... thank you!!

The other, has been sorting and processing a bazillion pics of my friend, Melody of Melody Davis Photography.  Her and I were in Vegas just over a week and a bit ago.  And on day three of our time away, we went out with our cameras and took advantage of the amazing sun ...

The session was FULL of laughing, a bit of random singing ... and most importantly - time. 

It was amazing to continue to fine-tune my "directional" skills ... and let me tell you, it's always more nerve-wracking directing a professional than a client.  Being able to articulate my vision to a client is imperative to capturing the shot.  And my shoot with Mel was no different.  I had a few ideas for what I wanted to get for her - and Mel completely submitted to whatever I wanted ... it made the whole experience smooth and for me, full of creativity.

I had a few ideas about movement ... images that show movement tend to make me stop, to take a moment to breathe it in ... 

I rarely do "one on one" portraits ... usually there's an entire bridal party behind me, or a parent running after a wayward toddler.  So this was a bit special - having nothing but the pace we wanted and the incredible afternoon light ...

... and some more movement.

Mel had modeled while she was overseas, back before she married Eric (have you heard of The Left?  NO?  Click HERE to hear her man kill it on the drums ... ).  Yes, she's a rockstar's wife, a mother, a sister, a friend ... and she couldn't take a bad photo if she tried.

So ... yeah.  Now during all of this, we were swapping roles, back and forth - she was busy snapping pics of me too.  And it was NERVE-wracking.  I actually feel a bit sorry for her ... because I am NOT comfortable in front of the camera, as she clearly is.  It's hard to make "body shapes" as I don't have long limbs (quite the opposite) and ... yeah.  I really just don't like my photo being taken *grin*.  So the images that were taken of me will not be as "easy" as mine were of her ... sorry Mel *grin*!!

Anyway, I'm still super excited to see what sort of genius she came up with *smile*.  She's an image-artist and I've never seen an image she's taken that hasn't inspired and drawn me in ... 

Ok ... that's it for now *grin*.  Back to working on my NEW site - coming April 1, 2012!

For all inquiries, please head to my RedHanded Photography site HERE and click "get.in.touch."

[talk: The Best of 2011.]

So ... I've been noticing that a lot of photographer's blogs have been dedicated to their "top 10 of 2011" or something like that.

I'm too afraid to do that *squinted eyes*.   I mean, I don't want to offend any clients by not choosing from their photoshoot.  And the truth is, I have a favourite from EVERY shoot.

So ... I decided to post my one fave in each category ... here 'goes ...

ENGAGEMENT:  Zane & Tanya.

This couple is getting married in 2012 ... and we had a BLAST during their engagement shoot.  Full of laughs and hot moments *grin*.  My fave kind of shoot ... 

WEDDING:  Joel & Avin.

There were SO many great weddings this year, but this portion of the wedding shoot stood out to me.  Bride, groom, and a car.  Avin's legs went on forever, and Joel couldn't stop bursting into random songs ... a total highlight.  And I like the pic too *grin*.

COUPLES:  Brian & Oksana.

This Yaletown shoot made me LAUGH.  We had so much fun ... wandering the streets of Vancouver, pretending we owned it.  And I loved the chemistry between these two ... one of my faves, for sure.

FAMILY:  The Pue Gang.

So ... this may not be the most creative pic, or candid to boot.  There were some fantastic moments captured this year during the family shoots ... but this one stood out to me for one reason:  I was told it would be impossible to have all three little guys look at the camera.  But - I got it ... a sheer miracle *grin*.

MATERNITY:  Sawyer Family.

Angie was willing to do anything ... and I was able to capture this shot of her with her two kids while her hubby looked on ... I love this concept and her children really made it work!

NEWBORN: Cindy with Jayce .... and Vanessa with Caleb.

Sorry.  I had to choose two ... I just had to.  A mom with her newborn does something to my heartstrings.  

KIDDIES:  Natalia.

I took so many pics of this little one this year ... and her most recent shoot proved to have my favourite kiddie image this year ...

And my fave image of 2011?  Well ... after looking through every photo and feeling like I'm trying to choose which child I like best (as IF) ... I decided on this one.  Why?  Because there was nothing else like it ... and it was an honour to be chosen for this shoot ... 

Fave Image of 2011:  Hannah & Adrienne.

Yes ... so those were some of my favourite images from 2011.  But I will tell you that I've just gone through my site here and been, like, "OH!  I forgot that one ... and THAT one.  Awe man, and thaaaaaat one.  Shoot."

The Daveyduck shoot, the Bralovich shoot, the Melissa's Family shoot ... Ruthanne and her girls ... then there's the weddings, the newborn shoots ... list goes onnnn and on.  Really, I'm feeling yucky that I can't choose them all.

So, thank YOU so much, so-so-much, for letting me be the one who you chose to capture these shots.  I still can hardly believe that I get to do this ... to be creative, to meet fantastic people, to do something I love.  I am so blessed ...

And I cannot WAIT for 2012.  It's gonna be goooooood *grin* ...

For all enquiries, please head to my RedHanded Photography site HERE and click "get.in.touch."  Thanks!