I met Hardison’s mom and dad on a Westjet flight to Edmonton this fall. Nicki was about half way through her pregnancy and just days away from finding out if they were going to be welcoming a little boy or girl to their family. Nicki and I chatted non-stop all the way to Edmonton discussing our favorite local interior design haunt (bespoke!), her pregnancy, our careers, the insane travelling addictions we suffer from, our Manitoba roots, and pretty much anything else you can think of. Luckily JP took the aisle seat *wink*. We exchanged contact info and off we went to celebrate Thanksgiving with our families. I emailed her almost the next day dying to know “blue or pink?!”. My email bounced and I thought “awe shucks” as I thought I lost a contact with a rad couple. When low-and-behold while travelllling in the Philippines this winter I received an email from Nicki “the girl from the Westjet flight”. I immediately responded like she was a long lost friend-o-mine. She was just about to have her baby, well in a couple weeks anyways…we would talk when I got back. WELL. Little man Hardison entered the world a full 3 weeks early on Feb 13 2013, just two days after my return!! We finally managed to connect and little man did not disappoint. Hardison was a joy to photograph and I just loved being able to delve into JP + Nicki’s life a little further (+ meet her mom too!). Did you know they also got engaged on a Westjet flight (!!) Married at Victoria’s famous Baird and Banker? Carried a 10lb buddha head ornament all over Vietnam in their backpack??! (Note: All of Nicki + JP’s amazing art on display in their home are now Velcro-d down to shelving “child proofing” the way of the style savvy domestic goddess – amazing!). There is a teeny touch of  competition for attention with the furry friends of  family now that there is a small human in the family…but we paid no mind and let them bask in little of the photography limelight too.  Hardison will grow up in a family filled with a keen sense of adventure and a desire to travel all the corners of the world, a family that just love’s him to bits! I think we can all agree he is a lucky little fella (and mom and dad are pretty lucky too!).  See you guys again soon!

enjoy the photos.

e

Last January M + I thought it might be a time to play a little match-maker with two of the best people we know, Kim + Harley. After all great people belong with GREAT people, am I right? Match making is fun and I just love it when friends get together! This time the we hit the nail square on the head!!! After a facebook introduction and a prompt phone call from Harley their relationship took off like a prairie fire. A few Skype dates and weekend get-aways along the way and before summer hit Kim was leaving the island for the Okanagan. I never thought at the time that a year later almost to their first face-to-face meet up I would be photographing their engagement session!  (On Valentines day too!)  I truly couldn’t be more happy for these two : ) M and I are so honoured to be included as part of their wedding party for their wedding down on the ranch this September.

We also have to send a huge shout out to my best gal Tacy from Highberry Dew for the awesome styling! Your the best!!

Find element photography on facebook!

Last weekend the lemons let loose at their annual holiday party! Surrounded by so much a t h l e t i c  p r o w e s s I felt juuuust a little inadequate. (wooo first 10k achieved on boxing day!). Probably the most upbeat, stoked-on-life, goal oriented, and over achieving crowd I have had the pleasure to hang with – I loved it.  NO STRETCH PANTS to be seen, every one looked smokin’ hot in their holiday best ; ) And of course they rocked the socks off of the photobooth!

Thank you so much for everything guys!

** Check out the new element PRINT SHOP to view the complete gallery – find the tab at the top of this blog  **

Robyn my ‘home girl’ from MANITOBA!! holllllaaaa!

who love lululemon?? tell them – comment below!!

For the record, this is probably the first time Ive seen my brother in camo.  The holidays really came together for M and I when my family announced mid-way through December that they would be joining us from Manitoba on the island for New Years. I was so so happy, the holidays just are not the same with out them!! We had 5 days filled with full on family time.  Together we toured the impressive Butchart Gardens holiday displays, to a good old forest tromp, sizing up trees larger than most of us had ever seen, enjoying the thick moss and luscious ferns and even spying on some local Roosevelt Elk, a walk to the Kinsol Tressel, we walked the streets of downtown Victoria and sampled coffee on every corner, and rang in the New Year with a wild game of Dutch Blitz!

I like to hug the maintenance man at Butchart.

Why did M have to wear this coat to Butchart?!? He couldn’t stand in one spot for too long before someone would ask him “where are the bathrooms?”.

classic islander get up. we are converting him – slowly…

I’ve been waiting a long time to post these photos for Ryan, Gillian, and Colin – as they were a surprise Christmas gift for their momma (my Aunt)! Happily I introduce to you some family from M’s side – some of my favorite cousins to hang around with its always a great time when we get together! Gill and I started making plans for a morning photo date in October at a family dinner – the date was set, she picked a location special to their family and a yummy cafe for brunch! The morning we arrived at the location it was SUPER windy and threatening rain. The Carter clan rolled in, ridiculously good-looking (naturally) in their HOT new rides. Obviously *wink*. We decided to eat breakfast first and wait off the wind. Yum! Sure enough the weather broke just long enough for us to get in some gorgeous photos, we even got to watch a family of river otters playing on the rocks! It was a great excuse to tromp around the forest and spend some time together. Even M tagged along : ) The large print gifts were a big HIT with Auntie Daphne and with the rest of the family too!

A property located on the Peninsula of Maple Bay that is very special to all of us at element photography is at risk of being compromised due to development of a road that will make the area accessible bringing in hydro, developers, off roaders, etc into this piece of forest reserve.  There has been very minimal public consultation and the municipal government is in a hurry to have the road laid.  To stop this from happening 2150 voters in the North Cowichan Area must sign the documents below. The cut off time is DECEMEBER 14 2012 2pm. Read on for more information + share with as many people as possible. Thank you.

(blog post below from  http://roadlesspeninsula.wordpress.com/)

Only when the last tree has died and the last river been poisoned and the last fish been caught will we realize we cannot eat money.  ~Cree Indian Proverb  

The Peninsula of Maple Bay is considered to be some of the most extraordinary land anywhere, so sacred and rare that last year private donations and funding from The Land Conservancy and CVRD made possible the creation of Sansum Point Park. Suddenly this largely public-owned land is at risk. A road has been approved that will bring hydro and developers into this wildnerness.

The voters of North Cowichan have less than 2 weeks to decide the outcome of a complicated issue. Put simply, there is a choice between two types of roads, one that will allow development, or a smaller road to serve as public access to what we believe should be mostly park land.

There are approximately 75 privately owned properties on the Peninsula. Of these, less than 15 are full-time residents. The residents use the forestry road as transportation. They believe, and we believe, that whatever happens to the road it must provide safe passage.

It will take time for the electorate to inform itself of all the details. It took a few billion years to create The Peninsula, we are asking for a few months to debate its’ demise. The Municipal Government is trying to race this “developer’s” road through with no public consultation. The voters need time. On November 27th Councilor Hartman proposed a motion that the deadline of December 14th be extended a month to allow the voters to be informed of all the issues. The motion was defeated. We want to know why the government is trying to race this road through with no public process?

If the voters of North Cowichan demand more time, it will then be possible to demand a public task force be created to conceive a long-term community plan for The Peninsula, including public access and thoughtful consideration for the preservation of this extraordinay land.

Presently the existing road is on forestry land. To build this “developer’s” road, North Cowichan will have to remove a significant portion from the forest reserve. To stop this from happening, 10% of North Cowichan electors, 2,150 voters, must sign an Elector Response Form. It must be submitted to the Municipality by 2 p.m. on December 14th, 2012. Forms can be downloaded off the Municipal websitewww.northcowichan.ca  and in this blog under Petition. Also they are available at the Municipal Hall north of town, (7030 TransCanada Highway) and The Community Farm Store in the yellow Garage in Duncan where they can be signed and dropped off.

The Electoral Response  Form process is cumbersome and flawed. It’s difficult for people to pick up forms. At this point there is no way around it, forms must be signed but a petition should also be valid.

IF ENOUGH NORTH COWICHAN VOTERS SIGN THE PETITION BELOW, WE HOPE THAT COUNCILOR HARTMANN WILL BE ABLE TO USE THIS PUBLIC SUPPORT  TO PROPOSE AN AMENDED MOTION THAT THE DEADLINE  for Electoral Forms be EXTENDED 2 MONTHS OR LONGER. 

PLEASE SIGN THE FORM AND THE PETITION BELOW. The petition will take a few minutes and is sent directly to the Mayor and Council.

FOR ELECTORAL RESPONSE FORMS, CLICK HERE (electoral response form)  -  Open and print the petition form. Please read carefully. Must be signed and handed in to the Municipal Hall or to the Community Farm Store across from the train station in Duncan.

FOR PETITION: CLICK HERE (https://www.change.org/en-CA/petitions/north-cowichan-mayor-and-council-save-the-maple-bay-peninsula-from-development)

PETITION DOES NOT TAKE THE PLACE OF ELECTORAL RESPONSE FORM

phew what a week! I was so happy to have an element photography styled wedding shoot chosen as a feature on the ever popular wedding chicks wedding blog! So thankful to have such an terrific group of talented artists to work with to turn the vision into a reality. So happy to call them all friends too  : )

You can check out the full feature HERE.

xo

It’s that time of year again!

I’m really excited to kick off our annual Wedding Print contest for our happy newly weds! Below you will see my favorite portrait from each of our 5 weddings this summer.

All you need to do is:

1. Scroll down, take a good look at the beautiful photos, pick your favorite and then cast your vote at the very bottom.

2. Head back to the element photography facebook page and let me know that you voted!

The couples who achieve 150 votes or more will win a 11 x 14′ wedding standout portrait of their choice. Contest closes Nov 30 2012!

caitlin + sean

 corrine + edwin

sarah + jonathan

breeann + josh

 sarah + nigel

over Thanksgiving weekend THIS happened! FUN : )

My family is so happy to welcome Jeremy to the clan and can’t wait to celebrate their wedding next September!

 CONTEST ANNOUNCEMENT COMING very very soon! be the first to know…

I have some major, major love for the newest member of my family! My cousin Julie’s sweet baby girl Emily – 5 months old and first time playing in the leaves! Play time captured on my parents back 40 over Thanksgiving weekend. As an honorary Aunt E (hehe ‘auntie’) I sooo enjoy my time with her, and although I can’t be there all the time we do our best to make the most of the time that we do have. For this wee one I am so thankful!