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A Gibson’s BC Wedding

Anyone who knows me, knows I’m up for an adventure!  So when a couple of my favourite people decided to get hitched I knew it was going to be beautiful! These 2 were high school sweethearts but after some unfortunate circumstances had to separate.  After decades apart they found each other, the love they had, reunited and started a family.  The idea of getting married had been tossed around between these two for years... but WHERE was a deciding factor, as they knew they wanted to include their kids.  They each have a daughter from previous relationships and now have a son between them, so where ever they decided to get married had to be kid friendly!  When she mentioned to me they were thinking of doing it near the ocean I knew I had to make it happen.  After some research and many phone calls the bride choose beautiful Gibson’s BC, Canada.  Ok, so I’ve driven up the sunshine coast and driven straight through Gibsons and unfortunately never stopped.  If you get the opportunity, DO IT!  This place is so beautiful... the community is small and friendly, the shopping is decent and the seafood is WOW! (Go check out Sharkey’s Fish Locker, worth the 10 min drive, I PROMISE).

After arriving in Gibsons and getting settled into my hotel I met up with the bride and groom and discussed the game plan for the next day.  We would meet on the dock infront of Molly’s Reach, take a water taxi to a small uninhabited island about 10 mins away, do the small intimate ceremony, taxi back to the mainland then take the 30 min drive to Sechelt for some family beach photos!

At around 11am the next morning I headed over to their quaint  little Air B&B where the hair and make up ladies had already arrived and were prepping the beautiful bride.  The two girls had already had their hair done and the groom was helping their son get into his adorable outfit for the day.  The bride then helped the two girls get on their seaside inspired dresses while she applied the finishing touches on her self.  They all drove down together in their truck where we met the marriage commissioner on the dock and then hopped onto the water taxi for the short boat ride to the small island.  The island was small and covered in shells and beautiful pieces of drift wood.  On the beachside of the island there was even a spot where the waves would connect at high tide and it created, what looked like, a natural ‘aisle’... we joked how the bride had a wedding aisle to walk down.  The ceremony was short, sweet and included the most important people in their lives.  After the ceremony and some quick pics the water taxi arrived to pick us up and take us back to Gibsons where we jumped back into our vehicles and drove the short distance to Sechelt.  The beach there was much more sandy and thankfully at about 5pm the tide was out, so it made for some beautiful sandy sunset pictures!  The weather was warm, toes were sandy and kisses were plenty!  

This wedding was so relaxed...I’m always up for something fun, different and this time, out of town!  <3

[c-daisyphotography]

A year in review

So I figured my first official full blog post should be a review of the year!  I saw this idea somewhere else and fell in love with it!   

2018 was a full year!  It was the year I found and fell in love with my editing style. I definitely found my own awkward way of connecting and comforting my clients and their kiddos!  I love the challenge of, “I have no nice pictures of my kids smiling” or the classic, “Good luck having us all looking and smiling at the same time!”  That’s why I feel lifestyle/documentary photography is so beautiful.  We can go out and be in your own backyard or even in your home.  We can have fun playing with toys or as simple as a tickle or a joke!  Having families realize that you don’t all have to be staring into the lens smiling to have a beautiful, natural and happy photograph is the highlight of every session! 

This year also brought me the most maternity sessions of my career so far!  Having been pregnant twice, I can so appreciate the beauty of every growing body!  The connection between belly and mama, partner, siblings, families and friends to me is so fascinating!  You’re in love with this little human you haven’t even met yet! 

I was very fortunate that most of my maternity sessions also hired me to document their birth stories too.  My breath is taken away every time I’m allowed into a birth space.  It’s such a sacred moment that the joy and honor I feel when I look through my lens at new life is absolutely tremendous! (I may end up blogging some of last year’s births this year as they’re just too amazing not to share!) Every family that trusts me with this responsibility stays with me.  The memory of their story forever woven into my heart.

2018 also brought weddings!  Now I don’t and won’t ever label myself as a wedding photographer! Now I do enjoy a good engagement session because I feel as if I can still capture it in the documentary style I love without feeling the pressure of a wedding. The wedding photography market is flooded with such incredible talent that, honestly, it’s too intimidating for me! But I had some couples that took a leap of faith and chose me to capture one of the most beautiful days of their lives last year and I was actually very proud of the way these galleries turned out! (I may also end up sharing some of those later as one of the grooms made his wedding cake with his grandmother!!!)  For a tiny, brief moment I knew what it felt like to be a Wedding Photog!

I also was able to travel last year for a couple of sessions!  I was fortunate enough to be hired for a wedding and for a separate lifestyle session with a beautiful family I had the pleasure of meeting the year before. So that turned into a fun road trip with my oldest up the sunshine coast for a couple of nights. The wedding took place out on a tiny uninhabited island where we had to take the cutest little water taxi! Then up and over to Campbell River for the family, one year birthday session where they took us out sight seeing on their fishing boat!

Fresh 48 or at home sessions with a new baby were also popular last year! I feel so in my element during these sessions!  I love when I am accepted into your home.  Sipping on tea, snacking on chips or home baked goods... yup, comfort. Being one of the first to witness the transformation of a sibling into the title of BIG or OLDER, being present for your babies first bath, or the moment you nurse them in the chair your mom nursed you, that your grandmother nursed your mom in.

Unfortunately last year also brought my first funeral and living memorial where I offered my services complimentary to the families.  To be able to witness families at their most vulnerable was so humbling.  One moment there are tears then in the next moment, happy memories are being remembered and laughter is everywhere. I am honored that my images will be passed around to all the families so they can look back and remember the happy times they had and all the people that came together under one roof, near and far, to say goodbye.

In between doing sessions for clients I also indulge in my own personal projects.  They’re usually the last thing I complete and take me FOREVER as they’re always on the bottom of my too do lists... But I did have some fun with both my kids last year in some ideas I had. For as long as I can remember people have been telling me we look alike so I had been thinking of ways to play on that idea.  I had seen a split image awhile ago and knew that was what I had to do.  I had posted it in a Looks Like Film group and received the most amount of Likes of my career! Our image received the esteemed “Choo Choo” within the group! The next image was one I took of my youngest one late afternoon while we were out on a walk.  I submitted it into Canada wide London Drugs image contest where I ended up winning 3rd place and over $1500 in prizes! 

So here it is ... a quick run down on my 2018!   

Thank you to all of these amazing families for allowing me into your lives! I still get insane anxiety every time I press the send button to every client... BUT, I wish there was another word for how I feel when I get the message of how over joyed you are to receive them!  Thank you again!  I’m so excited and looking forward to what 2019 has to bring!  I’m already booking into April, so message me to secure your spot!

-Carlee

[c-daisyphotography]

Blogging 101

Happy New Year!

So this 2019 I am going to jump on the blog train... or attempt to at least.  I’m not a writer and I’m not going to pretend to be!  But I’ve attended so many amazing, beautiful and raw births and photographed so many gorgeous families over the years that I want to be able to tell you a little story about each one.  How each one changes me, forms me and makes me a better photographer.  What I’ve learned from each couple, location and experience. Every story is beautifully unique and I’m always so honored when I’m welcomed into your lives!!

So any advice, tips or helpful criticism is always welcomed!  What types of things do you want to know about it?  What types of blogs do you follow or read? Why do you like them? What makes you keep coming back?? How often do you expect a new blog?

Help a girl out!   :)