Professional looking group shots can be a scary proposition to new photographers as there are so many things to be taken into consideration, like posing so it looks approachable, flattering and believable. Lighting is another consideration as everyone needs to look their best without unflattering shadows and misplaced lighting.

Time is a huge concern too as there is often someone in a group shot who arrives late or needs to leave early. Money is well spent on professional photography, especially for busy people who value not only their time but their image.

I enjoy the challenge of putting together groups quickly so that no one has time to fidget or get bored. Lighting is set up in advance with anticipation of how it will look and the speed and accuracy to which it is carried out always surprises everyone I photograph.

These short days make me long for the glory days of summer. Here’s a small collection of images that capture those sentiments with the quiet of fall in the air.

Coming to you April 20-22, 2012 Victoria’s best Earth Week Festival ever. Be prepared for FUN as we prepare to celebrate All That Is Good while creatively supporting those charities doing the hero work on our behalf. Stay tuned for the details for this all ages, family event.

Visit the website at www.creativelyunitedfortheplanet.com and follow us on Facebook.com/CreativelyUnited and on Twitter@CreativelyUnite

This couple lives Halloween 365 days a year! What fun it was to photograph this haunted heritage house complete with spider webs and an eclentic variety of art and collectibles.

It’s always a wait and see process when entering adjudicated art shows. I recently submitted the following three pieces to the Sidney Fine Art Show for review to see if I was accepted into their prestigious Oct. 14-16 show. The first piece is a photograph I took from my car window this past summer.  I loved the old world feel of the scene but wanted to make it even more atmospheric so I got out my acrylic paints and started painting.  This was the only one of the three that was accepted into the show but considering they had well over a thousand submissions I’m thrilled.  I’ll have these and other works on display for the month of October at the Mocha House in the Cook Street village where I was invited to hang my work.

FALL PICKUP

BEAUTY IN ALL THINGS

This shot was to be of a beautiful lush green cabbage I spotted at the grocery store but accidentally forgot in my crisper until I smelled something (let’s not go there)…anyways, I pulled it out and still found it so beautiful, especially after I peeled back a few of the most rotten cabbage leaves and saw something of a heart before my eyes in an amongst all the beautiful texture of the peeling leaves.

PASSION AFTER THE BLOOM

Sometimes flowers maintain a beauty after they wither and die and that’s exactly what I saw in this collection of the remaining old blooms from a bouquet that had given me so much pleasure that I didn’t want to see it go. However, I couldn’t bring back the sentiment of the bouquet until I added paint to it and worked it into a lush frothiness of warm sensuality, hence the title.

What a great way to spend an October day, exploring the gift of creativity that lays in wait for time and space in all of us. This workshop will be a chance for everyone to try their hand at all kinds of artsy things and use art supplies they may never have tried before. New life will be brought to average photographs without using a computer forming the basis of new and exciting ways of viewing life and making art from even the mundane. This workshop is perfect for anyone who is interested in making time and space for themselves to explore new ideas and possibilities.

What a pleasure to photograph the home of artist Jim Kirk for the House Beautiful feature section in Saturday’s Times-Colonist. I had met Jim several years ago when I was doing some volunteer work for the TLC (Land Conservancy) and they asked me if I would photograph Jim for a campaign they were running. What a surprise to see the larger than life Jim Kirk himself arrive at my studio covered head to toe in tattoos, with piercings and in a small PINK vintage car! When I found out I was going to see him again and photograph his home I was thrilled! Here are some of the photographs the T-C never used, plus those from Saturday’s section.

Please click on thumbnail to enlarge:

This is one of many features to come for the Times-Colonist. I was invited to be their new Homes Section feature photographer. Watch for more incredible places each Saturday. I am freelancing with the fabulous writer Grania Litwin.

One of the joys of having a studio is being able to create the look of summer at the beach even if the weather is cold and blustery. This little cutie was oblivious to the rain that came down on the day of her session.

What a privilege to work with the ever so talented Elizabeth Mincey of the Luna Aveda Salon who created these magnificent hairstyles for these local beauties who carried them off with such finesse. I love collaborating with like-minded individuals!

Here’s what will be not only a FUN but truly picture perfect trip!!! If you haven’t been to Croatia here’s a chance to see one of the most luscious countries in Europe where ancient architecture and the natural beauty of pristine parks meet in a unique blend that’s a delight for the senses. As an added bonus everyone will have the opportunity to learn more about their cameras and elevate their photography to a new level as I will be offering group and one-on-one instruction.

What a great birthday gift this lovely woman received when she came in for a session that celebrated her at this time in her life. It was wonderful to capture and create images that spoke to her personality and gave me an opportunity to get to know someone who, until our session, had been a complete stranger. I feel so incredibly privileged to meet so many wonderful people this way. More images are featured under my Divinely Feminine portfolio if you feel inclined to have a look.

I had just finished photographing this lovely woman’s gorgeous family, when she sweetly asked if I could take a few quick shots of her. We had all of 10 minutes before her two young children would loose their remaining patience and here are the results. Oh to be such a natural beauty!

Photographing these brothers was such as joy. I often wonder if decades from now my clients will pull out the photographs I captured and created for them and feel the passage of time melt away as they re-experience their carefree youth and appreciate the deep love that siblings can share.

Thank goodness the rain held off for this incredible event! For any one who hasn’t been to the annual Moss Street Paint-In be sure to put it on your calendar for next year as it’s not to be missed! Moss street is closed off to car traffic and hundreds of local artists line the street for it’s entire length displaying their artistry. The incredible variety of talent from both visual artists and musicians was simply outstanding.

It’s extremely difficult to focus on just one artist so instead here are a few snaps from my iPhone that captured a few of the sights along the sidelines..

I love the zen that comes from creating. Just walking into a camera or art store can be like a trip overseas for me as my mind escapes to a place of new possibilities. I love sharing in that experience with others and know how intimidating, yet rewarding it can be to explore one’s creativity. In doing so, we can learn how to let go and experience freedom. I’m delighted to offer both photography and creativity workshops to share in this zen.

This July, I was invited to teach one of my favourite courses at the Metchosin International Summer School of the Arts (MISSA) held at the beautiful Pearson College of the Pacific (please see blurb below).

Here some of the participants gather in front of a few of the many pieces they created that weekend. Most people left with five finished works of arts and tons of new ideas for taking their own creativity to new levels. It was FUN for sure and an experience I feel so honoured to have been a part of. I highly recommend checking MISSA out if you haven’t already.

As a photographer and artist, I’m deeply inspired by beauty. It exists in everyone and everything and it’s my job as a portrait photographer to bring it out and capture it in my subjects. The same holds true for the environment around us. I’m truly awe-inspired by nature and support the The Land Conservancy (TLC) in protecting and preserving the fragile beauty that we often take for granted.. so, when I was asked to be a part of the BetheChange.bc.ca campaign I was only to happy to say ‘Yes!’ even though I find it odd to be on the other side of the camera.
I stand in good company with such people as Nelly Furtado, Arthur Vickers, Guy Dauncey and many others. Please join me in lending your support to the Land Conservancy at BetheChange.bc.ca