Barrett Family Photoshoot

This family has been in my life for a very long time.  Bill was my youth pastor at one point overseeing many night time toilet paper raids, Polaroid treasure hunts, trips to the Tijuana dump, and helping me fund raise to work at an orphanage in Ecuador for the summer. Ojai, California was a sleepy town to grow up in and Bill kept us out of trouble as best he could.   In 1996 Bill officiated my wedding while his beautiful wife Janet sang with her songbird voice that always gave me goose bumps. Janet has always been a woman Ive admired for her kind heart and many domestic talents.  It was an absolute pleasure to take their family pictures while I was home for a brief visit last week.

Urban Garden - Kitsilano

There is a lovely urban garden in Kitsilano around 6th and Maple.  Perhaps you know it.  At least once a year I take my camera down to the garden that runs along the rails and attempt some flower photography.  Flower photography is actually harder than it seems it would be.  In my mind, a good picture of a flower must tell a story.  The composition has to speak.  It amazes my  how the symmetry of nature can actually make you feel something about human nature.  Maybe the protective feeling of a parent to a child, the overwhelming arrogance of the strong, the loneliness of old age.  This is my favorite capture this week. Maybe you can leave me a comment and let me know what this flower is saying to you.

Nicole and Faust - Engaged! North Vancouver

Nicole & I met on the sea bus probably close to 10 years ago.  I have this rule that if I see someone three times then I have to say hello.  Its even better if I see them in three different places, more points.  I try to be judicious in not referring to my sightings when I first make my move to meet someone new.  Ive discovered that an opener like "I saw you at the coffee shop on Tuesday, at the crosswalk on Friday and today at the gym" doesn't bode well for making friends. It  usually just freaks people out.  So instead, as in Nicole's case, I error on the side of a dumb grin and an odd comment.   I believe my first words to her were "I like your haircut", which sure, could really scare someone away, or, as in Nicole's case, she responded with "thanks! I'm Nicole and you are?"  After that we spent many sea bus trips laughing at other public oddities and becoming fast friends.

Ive had a chance to meet Nicole's mom and sister over the years.  I understand they are all engaged at the same time, how great is that? I did pilates with her mom and her sister Michelle gave me rides back to North Vancouver during the transit strike of 2004.  While I was extremely pregnant with my second child and had no reasonable way to get home, Michelle would pull over at a downtown intersection and let me squeeze in.  Well, I would roll,  suck and twist myself into the backseat of her two door, light blue, Camero with the broken front seat lever and no seat belts.  It was comical but I'll always appreciate her willingness to give me a lift.  I wonder if she ever got a new car?

As most lovely, strong, capable, single women in Vancouver, Nicole was looking for a man.  After many no goes,  Nicole met Faust in her apartment building which I think is a great story.  The man of her dreams was only two stories up the whole time!  Love it.

To say the least I'm very excited that I will be shooting my friend's wedding this September in Deep Cove with my Little Bird Weddings partner, Lara McAllister of Red Wagon Photography.

Im so thrilled for my friend Nicole who found her Faust.  Congratulations to you both.  May your life together be filled with unexpected pleasures.

Click here to see a Slideshow of their images.