Fostering solid and positive relationships are a large part of life; whether on a personal or professional level. I’ve previously photographed Jenn, Tim and the boys as a family and I’ve photographed Jenn on her own. It means a lot to me when I get to ‘shoot’ returning clients because that means I’ve done my job; I’ve given them what they wanted and I’ve done it more than once.

The twinkle in the boys’ eyes and their ability to have fun with mom and dad is a testament of their family bond. Seeing the connection between Jenn and Tim is special too because it goes to show that no matter how many years have passed, no matter how busy your schedule may be, there is always time for your partner. Thanks guys for once again allowing me a little bit of time in your life.

Did you know that Jenn is a firm believer in holistic wellness and currently has her own reflexology business? She’s a good person to know and I’m thankful I do! Want to know more? Click here :)

Sara and Rachel aren’t just best friends, they are two wonderful young ladies destined to go far. I was able to revel in a small portion of their teen life on the weekend and boy oh boy did it bring back memories. Sure, the girls were somewhat quiet, and possibly a tad unsure of what was going to take part, but once we got going you could tell they were in their element. Give a girl a friend, some clothes and some toys from their youth and they are good to go!

My dear Sara and Rachel… both of you are equally beautiful on the inside and outside and don’t let anyone (including yourself!) tell you differently. Thanks for letting me sneak into your world, if only for a bit. Thanks for helping me show others that female friendships are very worthy of documentation and that it’s never too early, or too late, to start the process. Our time together reminded me to be extra thankful for my BFFs … some of whom I’ve had from even before your age right up until now. Be appreciative of each other, no matter what. And most of all? Enjoy the age you are right now because it will be gone before you know it. Enjoy your peek girls… it was so hard to choose!! 

When they started dating, Morgan was 14 and Eric was 16; high school sweethearts. Morgan was somewhat concerned about her parents discouraging her from dating “an older boy” at such a young age, but they could tell she was smitten. Morgan and Eric no longer walk the halls of their high school, but they do walk hand-in-hand in marriage and 12 years later, they are still very much smitten.

Our relationship has seen many changes through the years; growing together from young teenagers to adults, experiencing spiritual and religious growth and entering and embracing married life.  We love being married and can say that, for us, it is different from being just boyfriend/girlfriend or even fiances. There’s a certain appreciation that develops, different from before. Humour is a huge part of our life together and our faith transformed our relationship; showing us what it really means to love each other and how to treat each other.

Thank you Morgan and Eric for sharing your Love Story. It doesn’t matter that you’re younger than what most people would expect for “infinite love”… what matters is that you understand, respect and appreciate what you have with each other, and that you are determined and dedicated to see it through, to the end.

Last spring, a tweet was sent my way mentioning that I should submit a photo to a particular website; a photographic project of sorts. Taylor, the tweet initiator, is the son of one of my former employers and I thought to myself “oh, what is Taylor up to now?”. Of course it was said in a kind way because Taylor’s mind is processing and creating 24/7, and that is something I can relate to, 150% !

Before I go further, I should probably give a little background on Dear Photograph.

The idea behind Dear Photograph is simple: hold up a photo from the past in front of the place where it was originally shot, then take a picture of the picture, adding a dedication about what the photograph means to you. The results, however, are astounding. By turns nostalgic, charming, and poignant, Dear Photograph is a stunning visual compilation that evokes childhood memories, laments difficult losses, and above all, celebrates the universal nature of love. (source: HarperCollins)

I had every intention of submitting an image right away, but weeks and months kept flying by. You know, life kind of got in the way. Imagine that? Fast forward a few months and summer weekends at the cottage and I had my Dear Photograph image.

Dear Photograph
It doesn’t matter how old you’ll get – you’ll always be my little helper.
Holly (Mom)

I thought it would be fun to have my Dear Photograph submission make it to the website because it’s a shot of my son (hello! cute!) but also because Dear Photograph helps to reiterate how important photos and memories are to your life. My passion! The image above never made it to the website (they gets TONS!), but that’s because it ended up being chosen for the book. Nice!

The other night I sat on the couch with my kids and I said let’s look at a new book I bought. They love to look at photos so it didn’t take much convincing to have them sit next to me… the struggle was more who got to hold the book! When we flipped to page 16, my son said “Hey, that’s the cottage. That’s ME!”. Yes, yes it is.

My children know that their mom is following her dream of photography and that no matter what anyone says, I will make it. They also know I’ll be behind each of them as they choose their path in life. You know, it’s easier to have that type of conversation with my son because he’s older, but it doesn’t stop me from planting the seeds of determination in my daughter’s mind, too, that she and her brother can be anything in life and that no one should ever make them doubt their dreams and passions.

A little bonus part of this story is that an image I took of Taylor during his family photo session in September of last year, became part of the final list of images in line for the “Author Image”.  I’d be lying if I said that my pic of Taylor being chosen didn’t make me grin. It truly is because of all your support (family, friends, clients) that my work and love of photography and creating memories, continues to grow. Thank you!

Walk down a worldwide memory lane by visiting Dear Photograph.
Congrats Taylor and thanks to everyone who shared their personal memories and images.