Element Photography

Hey guys! Here we go BIG announcement. Via video. For the first time!!

Please excuse the hiccups, twitches, rapid eye movements, umm’s and gahhhs. Its realllllly hard to talk to a camera. Honestly, how many times can i say “awesome” in 53 seconds?? Awkward much? hehehhe

Quick re-cap…

How to play

1. Find your favorite bride + groom on the element photography facebook page in their “CONTEST” album

2. Click the LIKE BUTTON to cast your vote. No need to do anything else. easy peasy! No comment votes required. But feel free to leave love!!

Thanks for playing : ) Happy Hollllla-days!!

An email popped up in my inbox last January with the subject line ‘love food’. who me? Why yesss I do! So I opened it up and was greeted by a warm email from Todd the owner/manager of Shores Lakeside Restaurant + the Sol Grill here in Osoyoos.  Sol is one of my favorite restaurants to hit up for nice night out with Malcolm and my friends. I love the quiet atmosphere, delish appy  menu, the vaulted ceilings and the stunning views of lake Osoyoos. Shores is the best for breakfast, hands down! Todd was looking for some food photography highlighting some of the tastiest dishes from both Shores + Sol. I stepped out of my comfort zone (food photography was a first for me) and  jumped at the opportunity to help out a friend! Below is a peek at the droolworthy menu and the 3 small plates that always appear on my table.

My top 3 favorite things from the Sol menu are (drum roll please…)

#1 spinach artichoke dip

#2 white french onion soup au gratin with poire williams, roasted garlic + gruyere cheese

#3 edamame with blue crab stuffed wontons

Osoyoos can turn into a bit of a sleepy town this time of year so Sol is giving you a reason to have a night out on the town…

WEDNESDAY  + THURSDAY nights starting at 430pm Sol is featuring a tasting plate + a 6 oz pour of an Okanagan Valley Wine for $12

(the tasting plate has 6 items including the prosciutto wrapped aspargus pictured below and my fav the french onion soup!)

***AND FOR element photography readers….FRIDAY + SATURDAY nights mention “element photoshoot” and receive 10% off!!! Valid until Jan 15 2012, and excluding New Years Eve***  THANK YOU TODD!!

i feel a little date night coming on….hey Malcolm??

Jumbo prawn cocktail!

Chef Nelson with my #1 favorite – spinach artichoke dip!

new york steak + lobster tail!

butter-garlic wings!

prosciutto wrapped asparagus!

mecca burger!

veggie pizza!

Don’t forget!!

WEDNESDAY  + THURSDAY nights starting at 430pm Sol is featuring a tasting plate + a 6 oz pour of an Okanagan Valley Wine for $12

FRIDAY + SATURDAY nights mention “element photoshoot” and receive 10% off!!! Valid until Jan 15 2012, and excluding New Years Eve

Carrie, Lloyd, Austin + Gerica are shiny, happy people! They are a blast to be around and their door is always wide open to friends. I’ve been blessed to get to know Carrie + Lloyd through friends at Living Way Church in Oliver. Now we attend the same bible study on Wednesday nights and M and I have learned so much more about them and about our faith as we dive into the Word together. Carrie and I had been trying to set up a date for photos casually for a long, long, looong time. Finally one day she caught me after church and there was no more beating around the bush. “Sunday, next week. 3pm. Oliver back 40.” be there or be square! It was a date. Sunday rolled around and we scampered off into the fields to dodge poison ivy, roll around in the grass, laugh alot and maybe take a photo or two. The Cooper’s braved the elements as the sun dropped over the mountain things started to get a little ummm hypothermic. But we survived!! Great conversation flowed and dinner of butter chicken and samosa’s filled up our bellies. (Lloyd is one heck of a cook!). Mmmm mmm good!

Sweet baby girl Charlie surprised everyone with an arrival on 11.11.11 at about 8:15pm!! What a lucky day to be born!! And get this, Charlie’s momma celebrates her birthday on Feb 29 making her a leap year baby and only 7 years old : ) Lucky bunch they are!! Krista, John and Emma couldn’t be happier to finally cuddle the new addition they had been waiting to meet for so long. Charlie had so many awesome little onesies it was so hard to choose which ones to use in the shoot, she’s going to be one stylin’ little girl! Emma is rocking the role of ‘big sister’ helping her mom, watching out for Charlie and super eager to hold her whenever possible!!

As promised, here we go! Hayley’s Yoga check her classes and availablity HERE in Oliver and HERE at Reflections Yoga Studio in Penticton. Such an inspiration she is, rockin these moves on her 32nd birthday. For such a petite lady loo she packs alot of strength, power and determination.  Cheers to you!!

The Cooper family are a tough bunch! I had them rolling around in the leaves as the sun went down in the middle of a chilly November afternoon! They we so awesome and persevered through the elements! And their big smiles make my heart smile too…awe. truth. It was sooo worth it as went got broadsided with a snowstorm the next morning. hello winter!

more photos to follow shortly…leave this friendly family some love!

 we’re on facebook too! join us!

Brittny + Dave =  Jasper + Jazmyn

Britt + Dave make really beautiful babies. I photographed this family almost every year since they first became pregnant with Jasper. With so many beautiful babies, the more they get infront of my lense the better! I photographed them during their first pregnancy, newborn shots of Jasper, last fall in the leaves, and now again with the arrival of their pink little bundle. Repeat clients rock my socks and LOVED seeing how much Jasper has grown up in a year!

We spent the morning together capturing life as is rolled out in their home. Taking the perfect with the imperfect and keeping it oh-so-real. The more spontaneity and authenticity families bring to their session the more their photos show real life connection. Britt + Dave and their little family did just that. The look of their photos are real, they are alive. These guys are so far beyond the traditional white shirt and jeans. And I loooove it!

We played with moustaches on sticks, we changed diapers, had snacks, we had monkeys jumping on the bed and even got Jasper taking photos with me. cutest second shooter ever. he’s so hired!

Jasper, you start Monday!

Meet the Stopa family!! What a fun afternoon we had together tromping around in the forest! Jackson and Rowan we so cute to work with. They both brought along their favorite toys to play with for the afternoon. For Jackson his bears, and Rowan her blankey. Rowan has toted that blanket around since she was born and even has a favorite corner that she loves to pieces!! We talked about Halloween costumes and played make-believe in the forest. Not every day I get to play make-believe! Afterwards a little picnic snack and then a few more smiles for the camera and we were all done! Thanks Hayley + Trent for being so well organized and up for anything!! Families who bring the goofiness to photo session are my favorite. This family dances’ together. So naturally when photo’s wrapped a dance-off ensued. Watch for Jackson’s sweet moves…!

LOVED IT!

Stay tuned for more photos from a mini yoga photo session I had with Hayley. If your looking for yoga in the Oliver area look no further Hayley is sweet and very talented.

Don’t delay book element’s photobooth for your Christmas event today!!

Cass + Ken sweet couple from Vernon who I met a few years back on the streets of Osoyoos. A fun loving couple always up for an adventure, were always looking for an opportunity to bring Malcolm + I to famous Douglas Lake Ranch where the two of them grew up! Douglas Lake Ranch is Canada’s Largest Working Cattle Ranch. With a current cattle herd of approximately 20,000 head. It was established way back in 1884 and is a sprawling half a million acres. Loads of history in all the buildings and landmarks. Ken used to cowboy on the ranch and was eager to show us the sites! We jumped at the opportunity a few weekends ago and toured the home ranch, visited with Ken’s family and made our way into the back 40 – errr – 400 000 to send the night huddled up in a historic cowboy bunker. We got the fireplace roaring, broke out the table games, lit the propane lamps and had such a great time!

I’ll also mention that  Cassandra + Ken celebrated their 5th wedding anniversary the summer!! So naturally some photos to mark the occasion : ) these two – just beautiful, in and out.