Lee & Vanessa - Engagement Session, Bermuda

Lee moved to Bermuda from Vancouver to escape the rain and enjoy island life. Little did he know he would find more than just sunshine in his life. Lee found the love of his life. And he found her before she found him. Lee saw Vanessa at a social gathering and said to himself, "I need to meet that girl." It wasn't until Canada at Warwick Long Bay last year that he finally worked up the courage to speak to her. Lee sat down next to Vanessa and told her exactly how he felt. She laughed, but before then had time to chat long, she had to leave. The next time they met was at a bonfire and the sparks between the two were far outshining the flames of the fire. The rest was history, for they fall madly in love and not long after, Lee popped the question on Vanessa's birthday.

Lee and Vanessa are getting married in Canada next summer, in the place where they had their first holiday together. It will be a lakeside ceremony with towering mountains as the backdrop. The theme will be very rustic and bohemian so the couple decided for their engagement session, they wanted the same shabby chic feel for the photos. They added the teepee as a prop because Lee's ancestry is First Nations so they liked the idea of including some heritage. The pair adore going to Spital Pond for walks with their dog and just spending time together and since the park has a similar feel to where they will marry, they thought it would be the ideal location.

Not only did Lee make the tee pee, they also made the sweet signage. How adorable to receive one of these images in the post letting you know a wedding is planned! And lucky me, they gave me the tee pee to use in future shoots!!

The night Lee proposed, the couple had gone out to dinner at Waterlot to celebrate Vanessa's birthday.. The had returned home to their apartment and Lee attached the ring onto their dog's collar. When Vanessa discovered the ring, Lee slipped down onto one knee and professed his love for her, and of course, she said yes!

The couple love the ocean, fishing, swimming, boating, paddle boarding and anything out doorsy. They also adore football, travel and taking their sweet pup in adventurous walks to places like Ariel Sands and Spital Pond.

Lee and Vanessa - I am so smitten with these images of the two of you - you are so cute together and really put in such an effort to make this shoot fabulous, from the wardrobe to the props and the glorious colour palette - these images are just divine and it is because you two are so utterly fabulous - thank you so much for such a fun afternoon! xxx

Eugene, Lorene, Aaron, Brandon & Connor

With their two elder boys getting ready to leave home, it was important to Lorene and Eugene that they captured their last summer all together. They chose Cooper's Island because they had so many fond memories of spending time together there as a family, raising their three boys. We started off the shoot by including the beloved family dog, Dakota, in the photos. He is the glue to the family and will be a great companion to everyone left behind when the two older boys leave this fall. Luckily, he behaved just long enough for me to capture everyone together before he decided that his face would look much better completely covered in sand.

While Lorene and Eugene nipped home to drop off Dakota, I went off with the three boys to continue the shoot. I have to say, I was blown away by what polite, interesting and interested young men they were. They were eager to incorporate things that were important to their lives and to capture the essence of their family. Given they are teenage boys, this was a first time for me as usually I am met with HUGE amounts of resistance. And it just goes to show it is possible - not sure what Lorene and Eugene have been doing right, but I definitely want some tips for when my littles hit their teen years.

Aaron is 18 and off to university in the UK this autumn for the first time. He plans on studying business but I know he will do a lot more than that for he had a very creative and artsy way about him.. He loves music, cooking, entertaining and his friends.

Fourteen year old Brandon is the athlete of the family and is such an accomplished footballer, he has gone off to Spain to further his studies and play his favourite sport competitively. His parents tell me he is "Mr Cool Guy" and likes to laugh a lot and not take anything too seriously, though he is a loyal friend and a great listener.

Sweet Connor is still at school in Bermuda at only twelve years old. He is the baby of the family and is going to get loads of love now that he is an only child at home for the first time. Will make up for being a third child as a baby I bet! He also loves football and has an amazing memory with statistics about anything to do with football and cars. His mum jokes that he can be forgetful at times but sounds to me like it just needs to be a subject that fascinates him. He adores hanging with his brothers and a good meal so the holidays will be extra special from him in the future.

  

Thank you Lorene for giving me the opportunity to capture your beautiful family before the two older boys disappeared off to follow their dreams overseas. It was wonderful to meet you all and a joy to photograph such a loving family. Best of luck to you all in this new and changing year. xxx