Favourite Things Friday

Gratitude is a powerful thing.  Every night before bed I lay there and think of 10 things I am grateful for.  This may range from  my health, the health of my family and friends, my amazing husband, our incredible home, being fortunate to live somewhere so beautiful, clean air and water to watching a movie that made me laugh so hard I cried (The Hangover!) or my iPhone.  Not everything has to be ‘deep’.  I am darn grateful for my iPhone 😉

One thing I am always so grateful for is the amazing clients that come into my life and the friendships I have developed along the way.  I like to think that for some reason or another I always end up with the clients I am meant to have.  I believe everything happens for a reason and I also believe that the energy you put out there is what you get back.

Not to toot my own horn, but I think people would generally describe me as a happy and positive person and so I am not surprised when my clients fit this similar description.  I love it when I meet with a bride for the first time and we end up talking and chatting like long-time friends about our love for Etsy, cute summer dresses and Dairy Queen Skor Blizzards.  The relationship ends up becoming so much more than photographer and client, and I love that.  Because really I am working with people, not wedding #13.  It is my goal to always run my business with a focus on who my clients really are and supporting their needs in the best way I can.

Ok, I think I got a bit off topic there so I am going to try to tie this all together now.

When you really get to know your clients beyond what time you start and what time you finish, I believe you open up yourself to capture their day from a perspective that compliments the things that matter most, because you have put the time and energy to really get to know them.  I think this is a huge advantage to creating images that not only are pretty pictures, but have an emotional component that not just anyone could create.  It is something to set you apart.

Just last night I had a spontaneous visit with one of my bride’s Gemma.  We chatted about our love for Vegas, HOT and colourful wedding shoes and fabulous red wine.  We talked about family, and surviving stagette parties.  And we got to know each other that much more.  When I worked with Dawn, I almost died when I saw her home for the first time.  It looked like it was straight out of a Cath Kidston catalouge and I freaked out!  I had first discovered Cath Kidston when Darren and I travelled to the UK to visit our friends Jo and Dan.  Jo had told me that she had to take me to see a Cath Kidston store as she knew I would fall in love.  She was right !!  So when I asked Dawn if by chance she knew who Cath Kidston was, she flipped because she is also such a fan.

So I want to leave you with a few images of some of the incredibly sweet gifts I have received recently from some special people.  I am one spoiled photographer!  Thank you THANK YOU guys for these lovely gifts.

After shooting Dawn’s session a package from the UK arrived on my door.  I recognized the packaging and squeeled with excitement when I saw what was inside ….

Cath Kidston

Sarah gave me the BEST raspberry jam and I have been looking forward to it every morning on my toast !

And Karen gave me an incredible necklace!  I get SO many compliments on it 🙂

I am so grateful for these beautiful gifts and the joy that I receive from doing what I love and meeting amazing people!

Vanessa WattersJuly 27, 2010 - 1:33 am

I love Cath Kidtson! My sister introduced me to it. I thought of you yesterday when we were setting up at Starling Lane and that beautiful wedding you shot there last year.

MikaelaJuly 26, 2010 - 2:25 pm

Why must we live an ocean apart?? Well ok, it’s not quite that dramatic, but still! In the bit I’ve gotten to know you, your delightful personality totally radiates. That, and you’ve got great taste in all things!

seanJuly 26, 2010 - 4:30 am

you attract wonderful clients, kim. LOVE that about you, and i love that you make lists of things to be thankful for. i do too every morning 🙂

Sarah MJuly 23, 2010 - 8:05 pm

I’m glad that you are enjoying the jam!! I will have to get a jar of Tayberry to you next time – it’s really yummy too! Hope to see you again soon!

Karen McNeilJuly 23, 2010 - 7:35 pm

Oh I love that you ove your necklace so much! Makes me smile….

Lia & Sean {Married}

I attended Sean and Lia’s gorgeous outdoor wedding at the Victoria University Club last Saturday.  As the sunshine filtered through the trees and as the pond quietly flowed in the background Lia and Sean said their vows to become husband and wife.

There were happy tears and lots of laughter and memories were made.  It was amazing to be apart of it.

Thank you both for choosing me to document your love!

Just Married !!

Just Married

Kiss

Love

Groom and Bouquet

Hannalee PhotographyJuly 27, 2010 - 3:48 am

Cute couple. Love the back lighting in the last image. Thanks for sharing, Kim.

Mommy McNeillJuly 23, 2010 - 1:25 pm

Wow, I was trying to pick a favourite but can’t. I love the red.

Travel Snaps Tuesday – Food Focused

It is no secret that I LOVE food.  I LOVE IT.  So when Darren and I were planning on where to go for our honeymoon, I was paying particular attention to the local cuisine I wanted to sample.  Greek food has always been a huge favourite of ours and so it was no surprise that we quickly settled on Greece.  Besides the food you can’t go wrong with that turquoise Mediterranean Sea, perfect cobblestone alleys, and picturesque views from every angle.  But really for me it was about the food in a big way.  I have to say that Darren and I have been fortunate enough to travel a lot.  And Greece wins HANDS DOWN for having the best food out of anywhere we have been so far.  I could have survived on the olives alone.  Or maybe just the baklava.  Ok, or the Moussaka.  No maybe just the Spanakopita.  You get the picture.  So I have decided to dedicate this post strictly to the food.  Here is just a few shots to give you an idea of some of what Greece and Turkey had to offer.

greek food, baklava

Greek Gyro

croissants and coffee

pasta

Yes that is a GIANT slab of Feta

Greek salad

crepe

Tomato bisque

Dolmades

Our favourite drink there the Freddocino

freddocino

freddocino

Greek market

Hummous

Turkish Delight YUM !

Turkish Delight

Dried Apple

Turkish Market

Turkish Delight

Rose Tea

Turkish Viagra

Turkish Spices

DawnJuly 28, 2010 - 9:32 pm

Once again you capture each moment! I can seriously smell and taste the cuisine! Have I mentioned how absolutely incredible your work is?? I’d like to say I’m your BIGGEST fan but I’m sure I’d get arguments as I know there are many who would say the same. One word.. WOW!

JULIANNAJuly 23, 2010 - 5:56 pm

Oh my goodness these are mouthwatering!

seanJuly 22, 2010 - 9:34 pm

oh my GOD, kim! I’M SO JEALOUS! and hungry. how do you photograph food so beautifully?! lessons plzkthx.

JenelleJuly 22, 2010 - 10:17 am

oh my, the food would be delicious, your photos make it look so good…..must go one day!!!

Kim SpearsJuly 21, 2010 - 10:46 pm

Thank you for all of the comments !! Thank gosh we walked a ton while we were there too or I would have come back 400lbs heavier 😉

Jonda SpurbeckJuly 21, 2010 - 5:14 pm

i’m so jealous!! i loooovvvveeee food and you just killed me with you pictures… serious drool issues now!

Mommy McNeillJuly 21, 2010 - 5:08 pm

Oh the pictures bring back so many great memories for me and I’m with you 100 percent abut the olives!

Sarah MJuly 21, 2010 - 12:26 pm

Yum!! Beautiful pics of yummy food!

s h e r r yJuly 21, 2010 - 2:09 am

Oh man. Should NOT have read this post at 11pm, when I’m craving a snack!!! 🙂 Haha. <3

michelleJuly 21, 2010 - 12:46 am

ohhh my goodness. all of it. alllll of it! i want to go so bad, but for now, just keep on posting on tuesdays!

JadineJuly 21, 2010 - 12:17 am

Oh that looks so good! I would like to have one of everything please! Great photos 🙂

laurieJuly 20, 2010 - 11:41 pm

very delicious looking food and great photos Kim!! Fun to see photos from your trip!!

Nicole PaulkJuly 20, 2010 - 11:34 pm

oh, kim, i love this post! i am also a food lover and i totally agree, greek food is to die for! (greece is my #1 place i want to visit!!! and the food part IS a factor! haha) love the photos of you & hubs! and yay for giant feta!!! 😀 awesome photos as always! xoxo

Karen McNeilJuly 20, 2010 - 11:31 pm

YUM! I could eat all of that right now. Looks amazing!

Mr. Linden is on the move !!

Things I loved about this family: they smile and laugh constantly, their happiness is contagious, they were up for anything, they trusted my vision for their photos completely, they had so many great ideas, and they were completely easy-going. Attitudes like that make my job a breeze!  This session could not have seemed less like ‘work’ if I tried.  We spent the session just trying to keep up with little Mr. Linden who is on the move now.  Between fits of giggles and running away from mom and dad we captured this family just simply being themselves.  I love these images.  They just feel so good to me.  Mel and Dave I hope you love them too!

Thank you for being so incredibly fun to work with !  I hope we get to do it again sometime 🙂

Emmylc@shaw.caJuly 20, 2010 - 1:24 pm

Oh he is a super cutie! Great looking session Kim!

PaulJuly 20, 2010 - 5:27 am

Cute little man. Nice work Kim

JohannaJuly 20, 2010 - 2:08 am

I don’t know how you do it, but the colours and the contrasts are amazing. I love how warm and sunny the pictures are.

JadineJuly 19, 2010 - 11:16 pm

What an awesome family session 🙂 You have such an eye for interesting locations!

KiraJuly 19, 2010 - 10:29 pm

Linden is so sweet Mel & Dave! I love love love the b&w one where you two are swinging him in the air by the hands 🙂 Good stuff Kim!!

Lara EichhornJuly 19, 2010 - 9:47 pm

Fun session! That kid is too cute, and I love Red Barn. I really love the one of the kid on dad’s shoulders. Super cute.