Element Photography

Huge thank you to everyone who supported RAD GRAD in its rookie year. Thanks for following us on facebook, for letting us put up ads in your school, coffee shop, tattoo parlor and skate shop, and for listening to us as we raved about it…over and over and over again!!

Folks we have a winner….CHRIS SCHROETER, Osoyoos local!!  Thanks to a sweet nomination we received from his lovely girlfriend Cassidy Holmeswho will join him in the photo shoot sponsored by Unity.  These two will be glammed up with hair and makeup by Raycne Farinha and outfitted in stylish summer gear from Unity Osoyoos. Wicked eh? We think so.

Come back and check out the final photos from the shoot!  Watch for them on facebook and here on the blog mid-June.

“The trampoline was right over there” Tyler shared with us a little history about the gorgeous location we choose for their engagement session. The former property of one of his childhood friends. Tyler grew up in the Osoyoos area and moved away to Louisiana to play hockey a few years back. While home on a break he came home for a visit, and while he was home a mutual friend set him up on a blind date with a girl he knew little, if anything about. “I knew she was a teacher, and thats about it”. “He sent me a dozen yellow roses to school before our first date, I hadn’t even met him yet” Amanda shared with me how it all got started. They just clicked.  And it wasn’t long after Amanda’s first visit down to see Tyler in the southern states during hockey season that Tyler decided to hang up his skates and head home to be with Amanda, just around Christmas time.  So sweet. The two of them were inseparable and nearly two years after that blind date, they are planning to tie the knot.  We were blessed with warm spring sunshine, apricot blossoms and a stunning couple to photograph. The pair emits an infectious energy and yet, maintains such a chilled out presence infront of the camera. And just to top it off when you think it couldn’t get any better, half way through the session Amanda pulls out her acoustic guitar and starts strumming away singing “foolish games” by Jewel. Just for fun. Because she loves Tyler and because she can. gah. Amazing. goosebumps. Ready for the good stuff?? ….. on to the photos!!

Like them? love them?? Tell them sooo, leave a comment!

Yes wild asparagus hunt. Almost sounds dangerous. Right? but its not. Asparagus grows wild in certain areas surrounding Osoyoos, its something we heard through the local chatter. What an odd novelty to have in our own backyard. M being the avid hiker, hunter that he is found it. No sweat. I remember the first time he came home with it a few years back he had totally hit the vegetable jackpot. His laughter was infectious as he brought out one bag, two bags, three bags…He picked so much asparagus you needed both ARMS to carry it all. No way, you could not fit it in the sink. No way. This weekend we set out to check up on the top-secret patch and see how things were coming along. Picked a little bit to have with our Easter salmon fillet, fresh and so so tasty. It was smokin hot outside breaking tempertures above 20 degrees, we skipped Spring here in Osoyoos and cut straight to the good stuff. Bring on the tourists. Right?

Anyways we tromped through the bush. Dodging cactus. I got a grass sliver and Malcolm pulled it out for me…with his teeth. Awe thats love baby, love baby. Thanks. I found a pheasant feather, or is that peasant? M “pheasant babe, ffffffeasant”. Right got it. Pretty feather thoughI think I’ll keep it. Note to self: barefeet and gumboots dont mix Note to reader: I realize it was +20 I wore the gumboots to ward off my tick phobia, they are gross. M lead the way for the most part until I thought I had found my own patch, “no sweets thats not Asparagus…careful, um that might be posion ivy”. I drop the dead plant and burst into hysterics. eeeeps. Next time i’ll leave the leading to M I guess and good thing too he can nav those trails like nobody’s business.  He’s my ace in my back pocket ; )

PS.  I ended up with a tick anyways, I found it at home 3 hrs post-departure from bush.  I screamed so loud I got in trouble from M.  Seems as though he thought “something was really wrong”. umm something was REALLY WRONG!!  That pretty much wraps the start and finish to my hiking season folks, hanging up the hikers till October.

Cherry blossoms and sunny days are a give away I suppose, but Spring is here and Im really excited about it. Not to mention all the bright new dresses I have been eyeing up lately to fill up my closets with! Just a reminder to everyone that my May and June sessions are booked solid, I am now booking into July, August and September with limited availability. Please contact me sooner rather than later to avoid disappointment! Thank you everyone for your interest, it means so much.

Below is a snap of my gal pal Liza, and second shooter extraordinaire. Want to know more about Liza? Who doesn’t? Check out my top 34 things you didnt know HERE!  HAPPY EASTER!!

more details on this lovely couple and photos to follow at the end of the week!

I had the BEST morning with this family. I really did. Probably the happiest, giggly-est, family I have ever photographed. It was clear between the inside jokes and teasing that there is never a dull moment when this bunch gets together!  Lonna contacted me via email just a few short weeks ago, she needed a family photo shoot! I replied with the details and within minutes…she replied “sounds great, LETS DO THIS!”.  Awesome, decisive…I liked her already! After we spoke on the phone I felt a genuine connection. We must have chatted about this and that for 10 minutes, we had so much common ground it was so exciting!  The whole family originally hails from Manitoba (my old stomping grounds), and get this – Gerry’s uncle used to be mayor in my hometown of Winkler, MB. Small world?? Whacky!  The family was gathering to celebrate an impressive milestone. Mena and Sam (aka. Grandma and Grandpa) were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary!  The remarkable couple recalled their wedding day, a wintery day in Swan Lake, MB with much fondness. It was such an encouragement to see their on-going love, laughs and faith shine through in each other.  Thanks all of you for the great day!