Rebecca and Simon graduated from high school last week. Rebecca is a local highland dancer and her father, Jim Maxwell, is the organizer of the Victoria Highland Games (and we both play together in the Greater Victoria Police Pipe Band). With his only child graduating from school and heading to prom, Jim wanted me to take photos of Rebecca and her boyfriend Simon before their big evening began. We met downtown and then made a quick change of plans to head to Esquimalt since the Canada Day early bird crowds were filling up the streets and making it tricky to get around. It was extremely windy in Esquimalt, but Rebecca’s hair didn’t blow a bit out of place thanks to the great styling of Rhonda Lang! They’re both heading off to University of Victoria in the fall – congratulations and lots of luck!

When you look back and reflect, each year seems like a whirlwind. Many thanks to my clients who have been wonderful and trusting folks…humouring my whims during sessions. To my family and friends, thanks for your patience when I was behind my computer editing for weeks at a time. Most of all, to my Jamie…even with his busy schedule, he’d still make a point to invite me on afternoon coffee dates during the busiest part of the year so that my eyeballs wouldn’t fall out from the editing. I am the luckiest.

I’ve put together a slideshow of some of my favourite images from the year as a recap of the places and faces I’ve seen (the soundtrack is provided by my dear and talented fiddling friend, Ivonne Hernandez). Enjoy, thanks again for your ongoing support and encouragement, and all the best for 2011!

Taking the album and new promotional photos for Qristina and Quinn Bachand has been in the works for a good while. They’ve recently finished their latest album, and while it’s getting the final tweaks, I’ve been editing their photos. They’re a dynamic brother and sister duo, and both are talented and accomplished musicians. Check out their website for audio and video clips and keep your eyes peeled for their album release.

I met Sara and Ryan in the spring. Their names make up my first and second names, so it felt like it was meant to be. When we found out the long range rainy weather forecast for their wedding day, we were trying to sort out some back up plans as far as the locations we had decided upon. Instead, we decided umbrellas would do the trick, and to stick with our original plans. It was an October wedding on the West Coast after all…rain was to be expected! The ceremony was at the Malahat Mountain Inn, and we started out shooting at their condo, and around Victoria before making the trip up the Malahat. Now, there’s rain, and then there’s rain on Sara and Ryan’s wedding day! Wow! We could have almost rowed our way up the Malahat. Everything carried on as planned, and they just had to say their vows a little louder than expected to be heard over the rain pelting down on the patio roof!

My good friend Jo had a little visit over the weekend from her son Aaron, his wife Pamela, and their 3 month old daughter Andie. Aaron is an Alberta farmer and was taking a mini West Coast vacation with the family before seeding for the season, so we decided to squeeze in a portrait session during their visit. Andie decided to nap for most of the session…growing is hard work!