upandaway

Darryl and I met Renee and Tyler for the first time at our engagement shoot back in April. I was actually up in Edmonton to do their shoot back in March when our condo burnt down. Renee was kind enough to let me go home and postpone our shoot till April. I want to thank you again Renee for being so flexible!

When we were trying to plan out the engagement shoot location we decided on a dog park in St. Albert where Tyler proposed. I think it was a fitting that they brought their awesome dog, Conan, along as he was there when the proposal took place. Renee and Tyler were easy going, and I felt that they trusted us 110% to do whatever we wanted. We slowly worked our way around the park, having fun with Conan and getting to know this wonderful couple. It was a bit on the cold side but they did great. Renee is gorgeous, and Tyler is clearly fully in love with her! They seemed to share a mature and strong love.

Love is such an amazing thing to witness. We meet so many couples that are in love, but that love looks different from couple to couple. We meet young couples, who are childhood sweethearts, or couples who have been waiting for what feels like forever for that perfect match, or some couples who had major love at first site stories. The love shared between every couple we meet is different but always beautiful. 

We had a great time shooting Renee and Tyler’s engagement photos, and an even greater time shooting their wedding this past June. Stay tuned for the photos from the wedding coming soon! 

The picture below is where Tyler actually proposed, I love how Conan is wrapped all around them, so cute!  

My dear friend Alison and I were on a walk a few weeks ago and she was telling me how much she loved the photos the recent photos I had taken of her family. She was saying such kind and perfect things, I must have been blushing. After our walk I was thinking that maybe I could get her to be a guest blogger and write about her experience working with me. She graciously agreed. Thanks Alison for writing about your experience. 

P.S. Darryl should get some props here, he really does bring so much to the Up And Away team. For this shoot however he was only there for the first 30 minutes and was not involved in all the dream sessions Alison and I had. 

She wrote:

I really shouldn’t have put off blogging for so long. I had every intention of being consistent and uploading new posts regularly. Alas, many things got in the way of that lovely goal.  Right now, lucky duck Darryl, is in South Africa visiting his family and enjoying the world cup. Since he is away, I get the chance to work late into the night, catching up on my editing.  I think I waited so long to update my blog, because I wanted to make sure when I did I would be back for real. So the plan is that this post will be the start of me regularly updating my blog again… fingers crossed. 

Many changes since my last post. New house, a baby on the way and lots and lots of new shoots to share. The pictures I choose to share in this post are from a shoot I did back in March for the talented Kelsey McIntyre. She is the designer of the clothing line Serendipity. Kelsey and I first met when she designed one of my best friends wedding dresses. That dress was a knock out and soon I was in another wedding where she was designing not only the brides dress but our bridesmaids dresses. Her talent was obvious and I always hoped we would get to work together on a project. Ever since I have moved back to Canada we have been talking about having to make a shoot happen. Finally we were able to work it out for her fall 2010 collection. Kelsey was hardcore and drove down all the way from Edmonton with an entourage to get to our shoot in Banff by 10ish! Yikes those girls were up early. Kelsey’s magic team worked some magic in a parking lot and those tired girls transformed into amazing models. I have always loved Kelsey’s work but with this collection is probably her best yet. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next! If you like what you see go to Kelsey’s website and see more of her fabulous creations. http://www.kelseymcintyre.com

So much has changed in just a few days. It is all so surreal. Darryl and I will never be the same people we were before the fire.  First off we are all so grateful to everyone for all the love and support. Although in some ways the fire has been a bit of a traumatic experience, it has also been an inspiring experience. So often our culture bombards us with negative stories of how our world is such a self-consumed, unfriendly place. This whole experience has fully renewed my faith in humanity (not that it was ever fully lost) now more than ever, I see what a wonderful world we live in.  We have been overwhelmed by all the encouraging calls, emails, prayers, and comments from friends, acquaintances and even strangers. I have always known that love was a powerful force, but I have never been so moved by it. I know I wrote it before, but I really do feel that we are riding the waves of peoples love and support. I am so humbled, and this moves me to tears more than my loss. 

On friday, the day after the fire, Darryl and I were able to go into our apartment escorted by a firemen and our insurance guy. We had to wear cool canadian flag hardhats, and the fireman led the way with a flashlight. It was an interesting experience. I felt like I was in a movie, walking through an grime filled, dark underground sewer. We sloshed through ankle deep water, witnessing burnt wreckage and pieces of drywall falling apart. When we got to the second floor, and about to cross a fire wall into our wing, the firemen warned us to be prepared that it was going to look much worse on this side. We were prepared for everything to be gone in our apartment. When we got to our door, we saw our axed down door (which was typical for all the doors, as the firemen had to check ever suite before fighting the fire) we proceeded tentatively. We were quite shocked. The floors were soaked, the ceilings sagging, but my wall of books (my dearest friends) were not destroyed. While the insurance dude and fireman stood watching, we were able to fill two suitcases. In that crazy moment we struggled to figure out what should be priority for us to save. We grabbed our passports, tax information, hard drives, some clothes, a few pairs of shoes, 5 precious photographs, my 2 favorite books, and lastly, Muse tickets. It was amazing that we were able to retrieve so much. But it is hard leaving so much behind knowing that everyday we leave it more water and smoke damage occurs.  Our furniture, electronics, and small appliances are almost certainly beyond repair, but that is so easily replaceable. I apologized to our insurance man and the friendly firefighter for the condition of our place, I assured them usually I am a full neat freak. The fire fighter told me that I should be sure to grab what I need because our ceiling might collapse before we can get back in. 

Over two weeks have passed since the fire. I think we have felt every single emotion and many times two many emotions at once.  Even if the water hasn’t fully damaged my books, and other treasures, the smoke damage will likely be irreversible. Either way we are still so grateful, although as time goes by I begin to realize all the things I should have grabbed on my first trip in. Our ceiling has not caved in, however water damage actually got more serious as time went on, as water continued to seep from the top floors down. 

Last week was probably the hardest because we actually had to deal with everything. We were no longer able to stay in a hotel room and pretend that we were just on a little holiday. I was deeply saddened when I encountered others from our building who were not so fortunate. Many didn’t have insurance, and many will now have to pay a mortgage as well as pay rent while they wait for the building to be torn down and rebuilt. As thankful as I am that I didn’t lose everything and that I have an amazing support system, the reality began to catchup with us.  Frustration began to sink in as we realized we needed a new place to live and we never choose this. As fun as it is to maybe pick out new things, I never wanted to replace some of my old pieces. Plus who ever furnished a house in one day? It was also a hard week as we realized life and work go on… and I am now we are both very behind.

This week has been better, we found a place to live, we will move in April 30th. This is a huge load off! Although we have been running around like crazy people, hardly able to breathe, we are picking up the pieces.We have had people offer us their condo till April 15, and then some other people offered to let us stay in their basement suite until our new place is available. I have just recently got my computer set up again.  Our insurance people emptied our apartment this past wednesday and we are still waiting to hear back from them what can be salvaged, and what is non-restorable. Hopefully we will hear soon, it is hard being in limbo. 

One more bit of good news… Darryl received notice on Tuesday that he has been approved for permanent residence in Canada! We are so grateful that this has come through, it has been a long process. We are sleeping easier now that we know this at least is sorted out. 

Sorry for the long post, I just felt this was the best way to keep everyone informed about our situation. Thanks again for all the support, and I promise next time I will actually post a true photographic post! I have included one photo from one of my recent shoots, please check back later for the whole post! 

Happy Easter!

My heart is heavy. I am currently in Edmonton and Darryl is in Calgary. We don’t like being apart in the best of times. At around noon Darryl called me to tell me our condo was on fire. At the time it was just on the roof, but as he stood watching (and calling me every five minutes) he watched the flames spread and the top floor cave in. Darryl had been out of the house when the fire started so he was not able to rescue any of our possessions. I felt so helpless and in shock. I think I am still in shock. 

We have been waiting most of the day to find out information regarding what we do next. We have just found out the building is condemned. We will find out tomorrow if there is any chance of retrieving anything from the wreckage. Even if we are allowed in the building I doubt anything will have survived. I am so grateful that I was working in Edmonton this week because I had most of my camera gear, my computer and 3 of my most important hard drives with me ( although I do think my own wedding photos are on one of the hard drives I left at home). It would have been absolutely devastating if all my work was gone. Even as it is I am quite sad about my other hard drives full of my photographs that I have taken around the world that have not had the chance to see the light of day. 

I know it is just stuff, but there are also a lot of memories in that condo. Pieces we have picked up from our travels, unique pieces that had stories. Many of these treasures we will only truly There are letters from friends (and my love Darryl), art, photographs, clothes and *tear* books… My books are probably my most cherished possessions. Collected from used book stores around the globe. Mostly hardcover beauties. My books have been my dear friends over the years. I am sad to say goodbye to them. 

I am grateful that we are fine and that nobody in the building was hurt. I am so thankful for the amazing community of friends we have who are rallying to help us and express their support. I realize I am truly blessed to be so loved, and to live in a country where it is possible to rebuild. 

It might seem strange to blog about this all at a time like this, but what else am I to do. I am alone in Edmonton, feeling helpless. On the bright side, I am a really big neat freak, and I was planning a major wall scrubbing, baseboard cleaning, cupboard overhauling, organizing operation and now it seems that it will not be necessary! This is like a giant purge and in a weird sort of way it is nice to think I can put everything I own in my car. We get to start fresh! 

Over Christmas I got the pleasure of shooting my good friend Helen’s family. Helen and I have quite the round the world friendship. We were roommates for a bit back in the day. Time went by, Helen married Bobby, a British gentleman and moved to London, than Brighton. I of course married Darryl the suave South African and moved to Nashville.  October 2008 Darryl was on tour for a month in the UK. When the tour brought us to Brighton we were able to stay with Helen and Bobby for a few days and reconnect. Lets skip over a million details and skip ahead to Christmas 2009. Helen and Bobby decide to spend Christmas with Helen’s family in Alberta. Since Darryl and I are back in Canada she called to see if I would be free to do a shoot for her. Bobby is really into photography and she wanted to give him the shoot as his Christmas present. I was thrilled a) because they are such a styling photogenic couple and b) because I was so excited to see them again. 

Besides being excited to see Helen and Bobby again, I have to admit I was most excited to meet little Jasper. SOOO cute! Thanks to facebook I had seen many photos, but I just needed to see him in person. He is such a little prince! We had so much fun reconnecting with this wonderful family that we ended up making other plans to have them come down to Canmore with us for a few nights. I was thrilled to spend more time with my man Jasper. We bonded. 

Helen and Bobby are quality people! Who knows why we all get a long so good, maybe it i because we are all sooo cool. Or maybe it is because Bobby and Darryl are both in love with Manchester United and share British roots (Darryl is half British). I don’t know for sure, all I know is that I love these people and miss them already. 

Helen, Bobby and Jasper we can’t wait to meet up with you again, hopefully next time on your side of the world. Or maybe we should meet up in some fully random place like Egypt? 

I often get asked what is my favorite thing to shoot. I have spent a lot of time thinking about this question. First off I am not a person who has a favorites. I am passionate about music, and there are many bands I love, but I would struggle to pick a favorite. I don’t have a favorite place, for everywhere I have travelled owns my heart in a different way. I suppose I do have a favorite person… But I always hated in school when you had to pick your favorite colour, I never had one. Sometimes I would just say purple to get the teacher off my back. Deep down I knew I couldn’t pick one colour, how could I when my true self knew that every colour had a place in my heart and spook to me different ways. Ok so back to the first question, my favorite thing to shoot.  I have realized over the last little while  that I don’t have a favorite thing to shoot. What keeps my life interesting, and keeps me inspired is getting the opportunity to switch things up. I love getting to travel and concentrate on shooting a beautiful landscape, or capturing a foreign land through fresh eyes. I love capturing the deep connections between father and daughter. I love going to 3rd world countries and hearing the stories of people whose faces continue to speak to me long after I have left them. I also love to work with professional models or work on a shoot that is fully conceptual. I basically love it all. 

Basically what I am saying is that I LOVE diversity. At the end of January I had the chance to shoot a band called The Stars Of Talk Radio based out of Malibu and Nashville. Darryl and I knew these guys from our Nashville music days (sometimes this seems like forever ago but really we have only been gone about a year).  When living in Nashville I actually shot the lead singer, Brenton Brown’s album cover for his solo project. I was thrilled that he wanted to work with me again for his side project. The guys were up in the great white north playing some shows and we were able to work it out to get these shots done for their upcoming album. The whole vibe for these shots was to make it look like they are old war photos that have been scratched faded and survived many years. So note the effects are intentional. I had so much fun working with them and hope to get the opportunity to photograph them again. However next time I insist we have the shoot in Malibu!

If you want to check out the band here is the myspace link

http://www.myspace.com/thestarsoftalkradio

It has been a busy few days tying up loose ends and brainstorming ideas to make Up and Away amazing! We are committed to improving and evaluating our business. After much searching I have discovered the most fabulous albums in the whole wide world. I kid you not, they are the kind of albums I dream of at night. I had no idea there was actually a company out there that made my dream albums. They are so unique, they are like the couture of all albums. The only downside, fabulousness does not come cheap. However if any of you have some spare cash out there and want to have the most amazing wedding album ever (or any purpose album for that matter)… we should talk. For serious I am not exaggerating how awesome these albums are. They are fine art to the max. I have nice more traditional albums but none like these. I am going to order one, so when I do I promise I will post pictures.  I am posting some photos to display the albums, but they don’t do them justice. Also note they are not my photos. 

Because no post would be complete without one of my photos here is a teaser from a shoot I did for the oh so brilliant Aria on her 4th birthday. How fitting for our new name! More from this shoot to come!

Oh and thanks again for reading our blog, it means the world to us!

We first met Justin January 2009. We had just moved back to Canada from Nashville because Darryl was asked to do a 5 month canadian tour with a new up and coming local artist. Justin was the bass player for that tour (oh and by the way, he is AMAZING). We got to know each other very well over the next few months as we were together every single day. There is no personal space when you are on a tour like this, there is no room to yourself, no day to yourself… you basically do everything together. On that tour we probably laughed harder than ever before  as over tiredness and life on the road makes people a little loopy. We discovered that Justin was not only a great bass player, not only funny but also a truly great person. Justin and Melodie were not engaged at the time and I was unsure what to think of this Mel girl. I knew I liked her and that she was good enough for Justin when she sent him a care package while we were in Ontario. This care package was not just any care package, it was jam packed with so much loot, and so much stuff that I had never even heard off! After that I was excited to meet her, and knew that she adored Justin. Melodie and Justin got engaged shortly after our tour ended, Darryl and I couldn’t be more thrilled for the two of them! We really believe in them as a couple, they are a dynamic duo that are fully in love.

Calgary has had such a mild winter, it has been the best Canadian winter I can recall. Sadly Justin and Melodie did not get married on one of the pleasant warm winter days. Nope, on their wedding day it was -27C (not including the windchill). Justin and Melodie were determined to get some outdoor shots. So we worked some quick magic and shot for about 15 minutes outside. 15 minutes doesn’t sound like a lot but when it is that cold, 15 minutes is a VERY long time!! We then proceeded to our indoor location to complete the remaining shots. Once we could all feel our hands again things went great. Basically Justin’s whole wedding party were musicians so the guy shots kind of look like band  shots, which I like! I was very tempted to post about a billion shots of the guys being… well guys, and making us all laugh, but I decided to narrow my vision. Just trust me, it was a fun time. The girls, were all wonderful, they were practically as sweet as Melodie (I say practically because, really you can’t get sweeter than her). 

The reception was perfect. The speeches were heartfelt, but always laced with some superb wit. There were tears, there was so much laughter my stomach hurt. The food, delish. The room looked like a winter wonderland.  One of the truly special moments at the reception was the father daughter dance. Mel’s father had brought in Bob Carlisle, the artist who wrote and recorded the legendary song, ” Butterfly Kisses”. He sang his famous song while they danced lost in the moment. Mel’s dad was probably the most emotional person at the wedding, it was very cute. My other highlight was simply watching how Justin looked at Mel, with such pure love and adoration. Something so beautiful. Thanks Melodie and Justin for trusting us to capture your day! 

First off we are back from Hawaii!!! We feel refreshed and relaxed. I plan to blog about it at a later day so I won’t tell any stories about that now. Darryl and I have travelled so much throughout our relationship (well technically Darryl was traveling way before I came into the picture) that home has really become a sacred place. We had a fabulous trip but truly there is no place like home.

Now to Tabitha, Ryan and Livie. What can I say??? When I look at these photos I still get goosebumps! When Darryl and I drive to meet up with our clients for the first time you never know how things will go. It is always a bit scary, like going on a blind date. I usually worry about if they will like me, and if we will gel. Will they feel relaxed around me, will I feel relaxed around them… Darryl probably has none of these thoughts, he doesn’t stress like I do (supposedly I am exactly like his mother). 

This shoot was kind of like a perfect date, Darryl and I felt that we connected with them right away! They must have felt relaxed around us too because we caught some intimate moments. These photos are so beautiful to me, not just because the people were beautiful, but because of the love behind the photos. I don’t think you can fake photos like that.  Livie was adorable, and I couldn’t believe how brave she was. It was a pretty warm day for November, but we do live in Canada. She was a bundle of smiles and even when she started to get cold, she didn’t cry (well not till the very last photo). She just cuddled in, which made for some of my favorite pictures ever. There were a few moments where her lip quivered, sooo cute. Oh and lets be honest, is there anything sweeter than a father cuddling with his daughter? I think not. 

Tabitha and Ryan it was a pleasure to meet you! I honestly walked away from that shooting high on life. As soon as we got in the car I was basically screaming at Darryl that I love my job.  

Oh and one more thing… major props to Darryl! I really think this was his best work yet! He probably captured some of the bests shots of the day. He is a quick learner and definitely a natural.  

 Above shot, is taken by Darryl, one of his most proud moments!

The photograph below is taken by Darryl, my most proud photographic moment of my protoge!!