Family Feels

A large part of my job satisfaction is from my need to connect with others.  The majority of people I get to photograph are friends, acquatinaces or friends of friends, or families of friends.  I connected with Shanti through the sister of a fellow Emily Carr grad whom I haven't seen since graduation, but have kept in touch through social media.  I love to photograph families in their natural habitat, it's all about capturing their true relationship with one another, finding those moments of connection and bonding.  The years fly by and it is a gift to be able to look back and see our old selves and measure our growth, to recognize the familiar bond between siblings and nod at how nothing has changed or perhaps nudges us to give them a call and reconnect.

A few from my latest family session...

 

Still Life

I started painting.

I put it out into the universe in January and just like that, the universe echoed "SO SHALL IT BE!", clapped it's hands, and I've been painting.

I'm happy.  I'm really happy.
I've been wanting to paint and draw for a long time, the last time I did any amount of painting was just before Chloe was born in 2012. 

Sadly, I haven't taken my camera out much to document all the pieces I've been working on, though you can find a tonne of them on my Instagram account.  I started off with a fun mermaid + unicorn duo in shades of pink and red for Valentine's Day.  That's all it took!  Then along came orders for Family Portraits and this special Wedding Gift!

I'm really enjoying this medium.  As a Jane of all Trades, my creativity thrives when my brain is able to exercise multiple areas of itself rather than repeatedly lighting up just one spot.  I think it is also just my personality to want a little bit of everything, variety is truly the spice of life. 

I'm really excited for this year as I juggle multiple mediums and projects and I look forward to new things and hopefully collaborations!

Thank you to everyone who has hit me up for painting in the last couple of months, I am so happy to be adding art to your life!

xo
Phanie
 

Holiday 2016 Crew

Thank you for your patience!  We are into 2017 and I'm months behind on updating here.  The tail-end of 2016 was the hardest and longest stretch but it's over and I feel terrific for all the challenges I was able to take on and the experiences I opened myself to.  As is my custom, sending warm wishes of love and happiness and success to everyone who participated in our Holiday Sessions!  A few quick favourites...

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Thank you for a fabulous 2016!

Leni Saga

Welcome LENI SAGA!

There were so many babies this year, turning many only siblings into Eldest siblings!  Bram became a big brother to Baby Leni at the start of summer and seems more than happy in his new role.  It's pretty crazy and surreal to see so many friends in the place that I was in 6-7 years ago, juggling two little lives so close together.  It seemed to drag on forever, but now that it's passed, it feels like it went too fast and I barely remember any of it at all.  Although I sometimes feel jealous or bitter that I was the first to have babies, it has been a gift in so many ways.  Through blogging and sharing my experiences, it was (slightly) less of a shock of things to come for my friends once they came tumbling down the rabbit hole.  It has also allowed me to better cherish these special times and as a result, be able to capture these special moments with greater heart.  Being ahead of the curve, I know the important things that will be missed or forgotten.  I know the thoughts, feelings, the tiredness and all the internal mish-mash of these early days.  These exhausting times are precious.  Slow down an enjoy it because when it's over, man is it over!  I MISS IT!!!!