NEW CHAPTERS

These past couple of months have been crazy.  Amidst planning/executing/editing my long awaited styled shoot, photoshoots with clients, weddings, trips to and from the ferry to see my bae (I so went there ;) and working full time at my day job - I have also been packing for a big move.  

As of next month I will no longer be an island girl.  The tolls of a long (ish) distance relationship has done it's number on the both of us.  There's only so much FaceTiming a girl can do before it's just not enough.  I decided to move back home until we can find an apartment to move into together.  We will still be long distance, but without the hassle of BC Ferries we will be able to see each other more often and without the rushing of goodbyes as to not miss the designated sailing.

So any of you brides in the Shuswap/Okanagan/Lower Mainland I am coming your way and am now booking for the 2017 wedding season!  And to all you lovlies still on the island, don't fret.  Even though I am leaving, both my sisters as well as my nieces and nephew will not be.  I will still be making multiple trips to the island throughout the year and I would be beyond excited to capture your wedding day on the island.

Although a tad bit nervous - and the thought of packing is a kin to a root canal - I am incredibly excited for this new chapter in my life.  In our lives. Cheers to a new beginning.

WHEN LIFE GETS IN THE WAY

I had planned on blogging something else today.  But today, other things are on my mind...

I wish...

- I could've slept in longer today.

- These grey clouds would beat it so the sun can show its bright, shiny face.

- My boyfriend lived closer.

- I could read all the books on my shelf by simply touching the pages.

- I could shoot weddings every weekend for as long as I can.

- I could learn to live in the present instead of being sorrow of the past and anxious for the future.

- Harry Potter was a real person.

- The bookkeeping could do itself.

- I was on a white sandy beach, fruity drink in hand and a great book by my side.

BLACK ROCK RESORT WEDDING : LAURA + CHRIS

It was the last wedding of 2015 and I couldn't have spent it with a cooler person.  I second shot Laura and Chris's wedding day along side Adina from Wren and Rook Photography so I already knew it would be the most fun day!

I met both Laura and Chris for the first time on their wedding day and once I walked in the room and noticed Laura was wearing kitty print pjs, I knew we would get along just fiiiine.  It was a small wedding and the amount of love felt in such a small room was incredible.  Laura and Chris, thank you so much for welcoming me into your most special day.  Truly, from the bottom of my heart, I wish the both of you nothing but happiness as you both start this crazy, love-filled journey together...Much love and appreciation, JJ.

Happy Monday!

LIFETHREADS ALBUMS

One thing I've been meaning to tackle off my list this year is creating a sample album.  Earlier this month at CPC, I was talking with a fellow photographer friend from Saskatoon - hollla Maki! - about albums and she pointed me in the direction of LifeThreads Albums.  I immediately went to their website and ordered a sample, and I must tell you, I'm in love.  From the feel of the smooth, heavy pages to the sharp colour rich photos, these albums are the perfect start to your first family heirloom - your wedding album.  So here is a sampling of what I am now proud to offer clients - a gorgeous, tangible way to show off your wedding and engagement photos.

Would you just look at those deliciously thick pages -swoon-

Happy Friday!

START EACH DAY WITH A GRATEFUL HEART

We should go, I said as we sat on a log watching the sun set on the beach...I don't want to miss the ferry.  Okay he said reluctantly; he took my hand and we made our way back to the car.  As I made my way through a short cut, I felt Omar tug on my hand as he kept me on the trail, I want to buy you ice cream he said.  Knowing we were running late, I agreed - I can't help it, those puppy eyes got me hooked!  THIRTY MINUTES LATER we were back in the car.  We're not going to make it to the ferry I said - holding back the tears.  I had a wedding the next day and suddenly that peanut butter ice cream didn't seem worth it.

After driving at unforgiving speeds, we made it to the ferry terminal 4 minutes after the cut-off and that was it.  I burst into tears in the middle of the parking lot.  I'm so sorry, he said as he held me in his arms...I'll get us a hotel for the night and you can leave first thing in the morning.  I immediately felt bad about making it into such a big deal.  He wiped away my tears and I could feel a smile forming on my lips.  I may have unexpectedly missed the ferry, but I got to spend another night with my favourite person - who could complain about that?!

I boarded the ferry the next morning, coffee in hand, as I waved goodbye to my loving boyfriend and another great week at the Canada Photo Convention.  Once docking in Nanaimo, I drove straight to a wedding to second shoot with Adina, which we later realized was the one year anniversary of shooting weddings together #cheers.

Life might get in the way sometimes and make us lose track  of what's really important.  The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts.  Train your mind to see the good in every situation and start each day with a grateful heart.

HARD WORK AND A LOT OF HEART

I kissed him goodbye and quickly gulped down my last bit of coffee.  I was on my way to the first wedding of 2016 which I was second shooting with Adina.  Love you I yelled as shut the door and made my way to the car.  It's crazy how so much can change in a year.

This time last year I hadn't even shot a wedding.  Heck, I hadn't even photographed a paid session.  Now?  I have almost 20 weddings under my belt with even more coming my way throughout 2016.  Next week I'll be making my way back to Vancouver for my second time at Canada Photo Convention.  The first time I attended CPC was just short of a year ago and I remember crying in the bathroom during lunch - embarrassing but true - because I felt like I was way over my head thinking that I could pass off as a professional.  But the funny thing is, by the time I left, I finally realized I had found a place where I belonged.  Where I felt safe.

And the best part of all of this?  I've finally found someone to share all these new, exciting moments of my life with besides my cat.  I can't help but feel grateful for all that's happened throughout this past year and to those who have helped me along the way.  

I hope I can look back at this post 10 years from now and just remember how far I have come.  At what can be achieved with hard work and a lot of heart.

KISSES + DISSES : TIME + FRIENDAVERSARIES

Hiiiiiiiiiiii!  How is it that March is already half over?!  Yesterday I was so confused as to why people were posting things about St. Patrick's Day until I realized that it was in fact March 17th.  I think I need to hire an assistant if I can't even keep track of my days any more!

Earlier this week, I made my daily visit to my friend's blog (creepy, I know - considering her last post was in November!) and I realized she had posted one of the weddings she let me join her on last summer.  I get a kick out of seeing my images spread amongst hers...she can give the images a completely different vibe, which is one of the many reasons I love her so much.  You can view Adina's post from Laura and Trevor's wedding day here.  

Next weekend Adina invited me to join her yet again for another wedding.  It will be our first wedding of the year together and I am so super pumped for it!  Bring on the boxing gloves and high heels cause I am so READY FOR THIS!  I reminded her the other day that somehow amidst our busy schedules, we managed to forget our friendaversary.  So in a way, this will be our celebration.

This leads me to the first instalment of Kisses and Disses...

This week's disses go to:
*Time.  Like why is this year going by sooo fast...slow down pls.
*BC Ferries.  Living on Vancouver Island, I've had my fair share of ferry rides and they are nothing short of the bane of my existence.  'Nuff said.
*Hang nails.  I banged my finger on a piece of metal the other day and a hang nail has seemed to tag along for the ride just to add to the pain.

This week's kisses go to:
*Friendaversaries.  Friends make life great, and keeping them a friend makes life even better.
*Daylight Savings.  Yeah, yeah...I get time jumped ahead an hour and that kind of sucks, but the days are so much longer now - I can already see big hats and fruity drinks on the beach in the distance.
*Dry shampoo.  I just don't know where I'd be without it besides a greasy-haired crazy women sitting in front of the computer in my pyjamas clutching onto my cat.  And let's be real, no one wants that.