Elle Photography

Portraits of late

2011-10-18T09:44:00.000-07:00

Just sharing some of my favourite portrait sessions from this fall....

THE NOBLE FAMILY - so beautiful....it's been a pleasure to watch these

girls grow up.

GORGEOUS MOM + DAUGHTER - Anita and Tiana (I know...who is the mom???)

♥ LOVE ♥ - Ryan + Jennie, hardly noticed I was there. ;)

BABY SOFIA - The smiliest baby around. Who wouldn't with lovely parents like Carrie + Akis. ;)

♥ MY HEART ♥ - the reason and purpose for my existence here on earth.

More from Spring Wedding

2011-05-14T13:37:00.000-07:00

I have to say this wedding was beautifully planned by Anna....elegant and timeless. The old car just topped it all off. I was in detail photo heaven!! And I surprised myself at how much I loved taking wedding photos....kind of standing behind the scenes of all the action, all the detail shots that from my hotel and event planning experience, has helped me gain an eye for. Looking forward to the next wedding!

Early Spring Wedding Sneaks - just the details....

2011-03-27T14:44:00.000-07:00

A few of my favourite details shots from yesterday's wedding....my VERY first wedding that I photographed. What a beautiful wedding, day and couple.

The Journey of Living Simply

2011-01-03T13:32:00.000-08:00

I took a chilly morning walk about to take photos for a photography contest in which the subject is "Simplicity". Such a fitting topic for January and I was reminded of how I have made it a habit for most of my life to clear the clutter, with the goal of simplifying life, at least twice a year....one of those times being January 1st. My goodness but life has become much more complex then back when it was just cleaning my room and my closet.

Living Simply has become increasingly challenging what in this digital world we have our home life, family life, work life, online life, Blackberry, Emails, Facebook, long working hours, family commitments etc. When they told me in high school (I was an 80's teenager that grew up with movies like Working Girl) the world was our oyster and we could have it all....a fabulously successful career, a doting husband, beautiful children, a loving and peaceful home. They failed to mention who was going to cook dinner every night, do laundry, grocery shop and clean my bathrooms every week while I was out enjoying my oyster, commuting to work, dropping kids off, lunching with friends, attending industry events and conferences, and trying make time for family and friends. Never mind time such as traveling, participating in hobbies, getting to the gym or taking a walk/run, family events, or add a home renovation or a house move just to add more pressure for time to your already busy schedule??

When do we find time for friends, our own hobbies, a long bath...a good book? Something has to give sometimes and you only hope that your friends and family will understand when you find yourself at times having to prioritize your life in order to keep it simple. Certainly it's not always going to work out perfectly and then again there are times when you yourself will have to show some flexibility towards others.

A Living Simple Manifesto that I found on the website www.zenhabits.net "smile, breath, go slowly" listed some ways in which we can simplify our lives. (http://zenhabits.net/simple-living-manifesto-72-ideas-to-simplify-your-life/). I love the first part as it talks about Living Simply being a journey, not a destination, two steps forward and one step back. There are 72 suggestions but here is an excerpt of the page with a short list of suggestions:

"A simple life has a different meaning and a different value for every person. For me, it means eliminating all but the essential, eschewing chaos for peace, and spending your time doing what’s important to you.

It means getting rid of many of the things you do so you can spend time with people you love and do the things you love. It means getting rid of the clutter so you are left with only that which gives you value.

However, getting to simplicity isn’t always a simple process. It’s a journey, not a destination, and it can often be a journey of two steps forward, and one backward.

The Short List
For the cynics who say that the list below is too long, there are really only two steps to simplifying:

Identify what’s most important to you.
Eliminate everything else."

Hope you enjoy these from my photo walk about! Happy MMXL everyone, wishing you a peaceful and prosperous and....simple....year! xox

♥ ♥ LOVE is in the AIR ♥ ♥

2010-09-26T14:53:00.000-07:00

We spent a fun fun fun Saturday afternoon taking pictures in Antique Alley in New Westminster for my sister-in-law, Anna, and her fiance, Ian, for their engagement photos. I have waited so long for the right clients for this location......everything I pictured in my mind. Thank you thank you to you guys....heart you 2!!!

This is Part I of II....stay tuned for more in the coming weeks from another location!! ;)

Copper Club food photos sneak peak

2010-09-25T14:48:00.000-07:00

The only drawback of food photography is it makes me sooooo hungry! However, my hubby enjoys the meals that I get to bring home afterward! Here is a sneak peak at my recent photo session for the Copper Club Restaurant in Coquitlam. They will use the photos for their website and promotions.

Baby Jordyn

2010-09-12T10:47:00.000-07:00

Finally my blog posts of one of my first newborn shoots....and introducing Baby Jordyn, what a doll! She slept perfectly (with a little help from her mommy Nicole) through most of the session. Loving the last couple of photos with mommy and daddy's favourite major league ball teams.And loving the family shot...Nicole looks simply gorgeous....daddy Travis looks good too...but let's face it mommy did all the work!

ahhhh....something about being around newborns that bring fresh new life into your soul. :)

My Boy is Turning 3

2010-08-22T11:43:00.000-07:00

Maybe it's my boy turning 3 or perhaps my own milestone birthday that gets me thinking about how time passes so quickly; it's so important to me than ever to make the most of each day, live in the present and be happy with what you have and with the simple things in life. Perhaps that is why these pictures taken in this corn field seem so appropriate. Takes me back to my hometown, where life is at a slower pace, maple syrup and farmers markets, horse and buggies, and back to the smells of the farm - oh that sweet smell, I couldn't bike by it fast enough on the way to school. lol! And summer dinners that were just that...corn on the cob. We would buy 2 dozen and finish it all off that night. Husking the corn on the front porch and wrapped up into big piles of newspaper. When I was a little little kid, we used to have big corn roasts, the big black kettle pot on the fire boiling the water for that fresh-picked corn. mmmm mmmmm mmmmm. Sometimes I tire of the city, the corporate world where it's often dog-eat-dog, or everyone always "keepin' up with the Jone's", trying to "outdo" other people. I want my boy to appreciate the simple things, understand that food isn't from a can or from a take-out restaurant, that the vintage chair and table he sits at has more stories in it's wood grain than any particle board can every hope to attain, and will probably be around a lot longer. As the rest of the world turns seemingly more into particle board with each passing year, I am happy age right along with my vintage chair and table...and maybe pass it down to my grandchildren some day.

A Magnolia for Magnolia's

2010-07-19T23:17:00.000-07:00

This one is for my cousin Lisa! :)

Enjoy!

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

2010-06-30T11:19:00.000-07:00

We have done our share of flying the last couple of years...here, there and everywhere for this wedding and that event. So I was REALLY looking forward to a long weekend road trip to go camping, just our little family, but alas it was not to be...hubby had to work. : (

Instead....I took my first morning off just relaxing before catching up on some long overdue things....such as a fresh haircut and highlights and a trip to the spa. While relaxing with my morning coffee watching another episode of Handy Manny, I got these shots of Nico playing with his train set...the morning light was perfect coming through the living room window. Just with these few images I feel I made up for what would have been Nico's first real camping trip and the images I won't be caputuring.

Yesterday is History, Tomorrow a Mystery, Today is a Gift, Thats why it's called the Present

Such is life....now off to the spa! Ta ta!

Hats Off Burnaby Heights Parade

2010-06-13T09:03:00.000-07:00

A collage and a few favourites from the Hats Off Burnaby Heights Parade last week....a week late but had a busy busy week! Now to catch up on laundry...ugh!

Caught up in the Details

2010-06-04T07:35:00.000-07:00

As far back as my art classes in high school, it was suggested to me by my teacher that I was a bit of a perfectionist when it came to creativity. And once in college in Interior Design, I was accused of tracing what was supposed to be sketch of a slipper chair in perspective...on tracing paper none-the-less, which all of our mini-projects were to be done on. I can assure you that I hand-drew that sketch without a bit of assistance from that tracing paper. In the end my instructor gave me perfect marks on that project. That all being said, I have found mother-hood to challenge that need for perfection. Maybe it's that I just don't have as much time as I used to to mull over the details, or that part of me matured and found peace somewhere along the way (...part in thanks to The Artist Way!). What I love about lifestyle photography is getting caught up in the details....especially when it comes to images of our children, their rooms, and the little details that are a snapshot of their lives in that moment, whether neat or messy...it captures the essence of who they are. I remember the little trinkets that I kept in my little girls room as I was growing up, but there are no photos to reminisce over. For Nico, it's the shoes on the toy box, the tattered books (he liked to "eat" his books in his 2nd year), his toys and things all put away and hung up in it's place, and even if it's not all put away and the room looks like a bomb went off...well, even I have learned that one day when Nico is all grown up I will long for those days again.

Ashleigh & Mommy Mini-Session

2010-05-30T11:11:00.000-07:00

This is my newest niece and her mommy from an inpromtu mini-session. Enjoy!

West Coast Beauty

2010-05-29T10:46:00.000-07:00

We spent the weekend at my brother's cabins in the Sqamish Valley; the kids always have a blast running around outside from morning til night. Of course we do our due diligence in keeping them within sight and scaring the bejeebies out of them with stories of "monster bears" in the wilderness. Early on in the weekend, Nico said he wanted to watch Treehouse. It occured to me that perhaps we were not doing enough to get Nico outside and enjoying the outdoors. Since I have dove into photography, television has become a complete bore for me albeit a few shows here and there. But this means Treehouse channel is always on in the background, especially on those rainy West Coast days. Don't get me wrong, we go out walking and talk about the mountains we see from our living room window.....but I definitely don't want to raise my kids to become couch potatoes! So when we got home from the cabins, I dug out my little Pentax point and shoot, charged up the battery and gave it to Nico. Good thing that little camera is water-proof for those wet, West Coast days, when we are out walking and taking pictures together.....camping, at the cabin, or Mundy Park, just near our house.

To Brighten the Day

2010-05-20T07:50:00.000-07:00

Sunny days are on the horizon....fingers crossed.

2010-05-18T19:50:00.000-07:00

I received an individual flower in a cute vase for Mother's Day from my husband's sister (thank you Anna!)...it's beautiful and last over a week now and I have been eyeing it up for a photograph ever since I got it. Today was a dreary day and I thought a perfect day to practice using my flash indoors. I needed some brightness in my day, we've had some gorgeous weather here on the West Coast the last couple of days but today went pfffff.....long weekend is coming up and I am hoping that that big ball of fire in the sky is going to return and warm up the Squamish Valley for us! Here's to the start of long hot lazy summer days!

Maple Syrup Breakfasts

2010-05-15T11:57:00.000-07:00

I always get maple syrup made by the Mennonites back in my home town of Waterloo brought to me by whichever family member is coming to visit. I love to get up early on Saturday mornings and make pancakes for Nico, but today was the first time to make French Toast. It's always fun to watch kids dig into French Toast and get all sticky face and fingers. And Nico might be half-Italian but he definitely has maple syrup in his blood, just like me! mmmmmmmmmm......on pancakes, French Toast, in baking, even by the spoonful!

Sigrid & Family

2010-05-14T15:49:00.000-07:00

Such great fun taking pictures for this lovely family celebrating Mother's Day. Not only are they perfectly photogenic (cannot believe how many simply fabulous shots I got!!!) but you can feel the love in this family. Hope you enjoy the photos....here are some of my favourites!

Tribute to Mommy's-to-be with Bellies....

2010-05-06T15:38:00.000-07:00

BIG BIG Thanks to my friend, who shall remain anonymous at her request, for volunteering to help me get some experience with the belly shots. At the time, she was 29 weeks with twins, hence the size of her belly. I had so much fun getting creative and the mommy-to-be was such a willing and easy-going model it made it so easy to get these great shots!

Mommy, Mom, Mother, Ma, Mamma, Oba-san, мать ....sometimes Hey You...

2010-05-06T13:53:00.000-07:00

So many ways to say Mother around the world.

I was speaking with a client today that I have been working with the past few months, and we discovered we both have 2 year old boys. We had some good laughs about what our boys do and how energetic they are at this age, and she said "You know I really think that God makes them so unbelievably adorable at this age so that we can overlook all the challenges that come with it".......and she is so right! Just when your patience is wearing thin and it seems your kid is going to stay up an hour past when you can even keep your eyes open....they say or do something so funny, cute, memorable that you just laugh and forget about whatever it was that was causing you such impatience.

In celebration of mommy-hood....my favourite pictures I have taken of the kids around me....

President's Ball River Rock Show Theatre

2010-05-04T07:41:00.000-07:00

Bridal Shower

2010-04-25T21:02:00.000-07:00

The Italian Bridal Shower is a right-of-passage, always lots of food (5-course lunch) cookies, and of course showering the bride with plenty of gifts. Linda is all about attention to detail but her personality leaves lots of opportunity for natural, in-the-moment photos, which are my favourite pictures to take....I think that makes for a great combination. Hope you enjoy these images.

Rainy day photo fun!

2010-04-18T09:49:00.000-07:00

11th Annual Healthy Chef Competition

2010-04-18T09:43:00.000-07:00

Every year the BC Chef Association and the BC Produce Marketing Association hold the

Healthy Chef Competition at the Hyatt Vancouver. This year, the Associations asked me to be

their official photographer. I was honoured....and not only did I get to take pictures of fabulous food,

I also got try it all!! Can't wait until next year's event!

Best Table Showcase - Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts

Winner of Healthy Plate Award - Sheraton Wall Centre for this Trio of Stuffed Vegetables.

People's Choice Award went to The International Culinary School at the Arts Institute of Vancouver

for their Honey Sablefish with Barley Risotto

Best Dessert - Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts

for this Blueberry, Lemon and Basil Mousse Cake

The Judges doing their thing.

Best Entree went to Vancouver Community College

Sunday Lunch Italian Style

2010-03-29T15:59:00.000-07:00

Just a quick image of the dinner table post lunch on a Sunday Italian style with the whole family over for the first time to see our new house. The platter of home-made prosciutto, gallon of home-made wine, Pellagrino, anti-pasto and lots of pasta. Gotta love it.

Sexy Oysters & Other Yummy Treats

2010-02-13T10:13:00.000-08:00

I had the great opportunity to take these images of the hors d'oeurves out of the kitchen of The Executive Hotel Coquitlam. Thanks to Chef Jameet for inviting me to your kitchen.

Elle Photography Spring Promotion!!

2010-02-04T00:12:00.001-08:00

My Other Favourite Photography Subject - oh my little man

2010-01-09T10:09:00.000-08:00

Wine: one of my favourite subjects

2009-12-31T09:13:00.000-08:00

Winter Wonderland

2009-12-27T20:57:00.000-08:00

It's a beautiful day to be alive to be able to take a walk in the brisk West Coast air on a sunny but crispy December morning!

Elle Photography Open for Business

2009-11-13T22:30:00.000-08:00

A sampler of some of my favourite images to date...