Travel

So long sunshine

So long sunshine

been in Spain for the past 8 days. First was 4 days in Barcelona and then 4 days in Alicante. Barcelona was the "do things" part and Alicante was the "do nothing" part and they both fulfilled their tasks dutifully. Now I have to leave 80 degree sunsoaked weather tomorrow to head back to 60 and rainy weather in Seattle. 

The stark beauty of Winter

I don't often post landscapes here (because I'm advertising my services as a wedding and portrait photographer) but I actually love to go out and shoot landscapes. There's nothing more peaceful than finding a spot, seeing it's beauty and then capturing it to preserve it forever. 

Recently I went up to Vancouver, B.C. for a family photoshoot and we decided to make a weekend of it so on the Saturday we went to Lynn Valley Suspension Bridge. It's a place I heard about when I was living in Vancouver but I never managed to make it out there so now seemed as good a time as any to explore!

It started snowing just as we were about to cross the border into Canada and it had clearly been doing so for a few days in Vancouver so the bridge itself was very slippery and I opted to just go halfway across and take some shots before heading back, it was a long way down if I slipped! 

But I managed to get some good shots and it's definitely a place I want to go back and visit again when the weather is a bit more hospitable. 

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! - Seattle Portrait Photography

For the first time in a good few years, it snowed in Seattle this past week. Enough for it to actually lie on the ground I mean. But of course by the next day it was gone, gone, gone. Which made going up to Vancouver to shoot a family portrait session for Jasmine and her family all the better because they had a TON of snow!

The best part was watching her pups Zephyr and Woody run around in it, poor Woody was barely bigger than the snow was deep so it was a lot of effort for him to charge around and keep up with Zephyr. In between their mad dashes we were able to get some cute images and once everyone confirmed that they couldn't feel their fingers any longer we headed back inside for some hot cocoa.

An afternoon with the Sander Family - Seattle Portrait Photography

I first met Michelle just over five years ago when I moved to Vancouver. I was moving in to share a house with her best friend Jasmine just as Michelle was moving out. I think there was about a two week crossover and that’s all the time it took for me to fall in love with her infectious laugh, quick wit and devilish sense of humour. 

I left Vancouver a year later but I stayed in touch with Michelle and I was delighted a couple years later when she announced she was pregnant. When I moved to Seattle I knew I had to get up to meet the beautiful baby Elliott as soon as possible but between one thing or another I never managed to. So when Michelle asked if I could do some family photos for her I of course said yes, yes, yes!

My husband and I drove up on the Saturday and spent the day exploring my old haunts in Vancouver before on Sunday meeting up with Michelle and her family. Michelle chose the Campbell Valley State Park for our shoot and I’m glad I let her choose because she definitely has an eye for a good location! There were fields, forests, bridges, ponds, it was a photographers dream!

After being introduced to the adorable Elliott as well as Michelle’s Mom, Sister and her boyfriend, and her Brother we headed into the park to explore. The next two hours were great fun full of a happy, laughing family that clearly has a close bond. We did some posed photos in a couple locations but honestly my favourite thing was just walking around the park with them listening to the banter flowing between them and the laughter ringing out. 

One of the funniest parts happened when we rounded a corner in the forest and came across….llamas. Five llamas were out for a walk with their handlers, in the middle of a state park. Not every day you see that!

All in all it was a great couple hours spent with this family, such warm and genuine people. Check out the images below and if you’d like to book in your own family for some time in front of the camera, be sure to head over to the Contact page.