Just a quick note to let you know the family and I are on vacation this week – enjoying sunshine and making memories! I will be checking email very periodically… but next week I’m baaaaaaaackkkkkk……..

A couple pictures from our first day or two of sunshine. After such a cold, bitter winter with ridiculous amounts of snow… the sun is a welcome sight!

Celebrating life and love,

Krista

Last week on Valentine’s I blogged about “Where are all the Pictures?” I talked about how Mark and I have had professional family photos done – but none of the two of us. We’ve been married for 14 years and don’t have any professional photos??

People responded that they too were in the same boat. Either they haven’t been photographed together since their wedding, or they’re still dating but would love couple photos or…. there were a lot of reasons but the fact was people seem to be lacking in the photo department of themselves as a couple.

When I have photographed couples “just because” – I hear the comment “this is good for our marriage!” Or “can we do this more often?” I don’t know about you – but it is rare that we take time out as a couple. As a mom, a friend, a volunteer, a career person.. but it’s easy to forget to take time for the one closest to me. When I think about life with Mark now compared to when I was 20 years old and walking down the aisle, we have grown and changed. We have faced heartbreak and joy. We have become completely different people than who we were all those years ago. And it’s this stage I want to document.

So… all this to say… I’m going to offer two days of “just because” shoots for couples. Normally a session might take an hour and half or two hours… these will be limited to 45minutes and all will be shot at my home property. This will be for couples only – hire a babysitter, come spend some time together – and why not make a day of it. Get your hair and makeup done. Go for lunch. I can recommend great little spots in my neck of the woods to visit and explore. Spend a day with the person you’ve committed to spend your life with.

Each day is limited to 8 couples only – so book early! Drop me a line at info@edisonphotography.com with the subject line “just because”.

Celebrating life and love,

Krista

After such a fun engagement shoot, I was really looking forward to Jeff and Christina’s Big day. Jeff and Christina have known each other since kindergarten… but it took them many years to figure out that they had something more than friendship. To see them together interacting is great. It takes just the right guy to appreciate a tom boy of a girl like Christina. She’s amazing and so glad Jeff knows and appreciates this.

When Christina asked me to come photograph their wedding I was so excited! Since I was going to be up in Northwestern Ontario, I asked my good friend and fellow photographer Jodi if she would like to second shoot with me. This was such a treat to work with her again and a lot of fun! While Jodi was with the guys in the morning, I was at the house with the girls. What a relaxed group! Such a fun morning! I had time to play with some of the details to start the day….

After a note like this… I’d probably have even said “yes” to Jeff.

A wedding up North means dressing for it! Christina wore thick socks, boots and pants under her wedding dress during the outdoor photos.

Jeff and Christina did a “first look” where they saw each other before the ceremony. The family and wedding party all came along and watched as Jeff anxiously awaited his bride’s arrival.

One thing I love about first looks, is a chance for the couple to connect before the ceremony. After Jeff and Christina saw each other, I said “go for a walk!” They looked a bit confused at first – but I explained “this is one of your only chances today to be by yourself – go enjoy it!”

The whole gang who came out for the first look – brave souls in the cold!

Everyone was trying to stay warm! Running to cars in between photos or cuddling and bundling up!

A few of the happy couple….

At one point we lost the car Christina was in. She was suppose to be following us as we were stopping along the road here and there as inspiration struck. We waited but she didn’t show up… so we had to go back and find her. (there is no cell phone service there so couldn’t text). She had spotted someone on an Arctic Cat in her wedding colours… and “had” to have a photo with it. So fitting for her!

Then we got to the hall and I fell in love with this beautiful window light in the back room….

Should also mention it was SO cold that the flowers would have died if we had them outside – so that is why they are only in the indoor photos.

Now you may have seen the photo of Jeff and Christina’s outdoor footwear I posted earlier…

Christina rest assured also had indoor shoes. But she couldn’t find shoes in the colour she wanted. So she did what any resourceful girl would do. Spray painted them. On the day of her wedding. Love her.

Now, when getting married in the big metropolitan of Emo, Ontario- venue choices are slim picking. Jeff and Christina though took an empty community centre… and transformed it in to a gorgeous, winter wedding venue! An excellent example of imagination and creativity! Jeff and his dad own a logging company so having trees was a natural choice. He brought in birch trees and they lit them up with individual lights. Then Christina had a mixture of white candles on each table, along with cedar she had spray painted silver. It was beautiful. White lights and candles – gorgeous.

Their guest book pages were on the tables with questions to fill out. Then when you went to the photo booth you took your pages with you, and your photos were attached to the page. The photo booth was such a big hit – the line up was massive! And they had the photos being taken showing up on the big screen in the reception for everyone to enjoy. Such a fun idea!

When I had taken the ring shots earlier in the day Christina told me that she wasn’t going to have a wedding band. But… what she didn’t know was that Jeff had bought her a beautiful diamond band as a surprise. So she had taken off her engagement ring for the ceremony, but when Jeff put it on her finger – there was a gorgeous band also. Christina reacted with a big surprise – then grabbed Jeff and kissed him!

I loved the excitement of these two! When they were announced man and wife the ran… cheering… all over the hall!

Not only was the venue gorgeous – the food was scrumptious including a smoked pig and a potato bar….

The favours were s’mores (as shown earlier in the post here) and they had bonfires going outside to enjoy making them over. Jeff had carved a bunch of sticks for roasting marshmallows. Such a great idea!

Jeff and Christina – congratulations! I am so excited for you both and this new adventure of marriage!

Celebrating life and love,

Krista

It’s been such a great day today celebrating with Jeff and Christina! I can’t wait to blog all about it – for now I leave you with this… remember I’m in the cold North…

Celebrating life and love,

Krista

Christina is my younger cousin… I spent some great summers living with her family babysitting her and her siblings when I was younger. Christina’s dad sells Arctic Cats at his shop – and as long as I can remember, Christina and her siblings have been capable of running any sort of vehicle. I remember Christina at a young, young age riding snowmobile herself – while I crashed mine. It was no surprise to see her bedroom plastered with pictures of snowmobiles growing up and for her to get in to racing them.

So, when it came time to do Jeff and Christina’s engagement portraits – I knew exactly what we had to do. I like to photograph images that tell a bit about the client’s story… and this is very “them”. It has been years since I have been on a snowmobile, but Christina lent me some skipants and a helmet… and I climbed on the back of hers and off we went! Emo – the big town they live in (about 4 hours from Winnipeg in NorthWestern Ontario) has lots of great trails – but as soon as we would step off the trails we’d be knee to waist deep in snow!

Meet Jeff…

And Christina…

They say it’s healthy for a couple to have hobbies and interests they can enjoy together… I think these two will be very healthy.

Jeff being such a gentleman helping Christina when she got stuck….

I love this one as he pushes her out….

Don’t worry – they didn’t wear their helmets the whole time.

These two met in kindergarten and have been good friends for so long – we are all so thrilled they fell in love. They’re so smitten and adorable together.

Could Christina look any more happy? She’s so thrilled this boy she grew up with chose her…. I think the feeling is mutual.

After snowmobiling we went down to the river at Christina’s parents and built a bonfire for s’mores. Mmmmmm……

I am so excited for their wedding this weekend!

Celebrating life and love,

Krista

When I received an email from Laura about her upcoming wedding I was intrigued.

Brent and Laura met four years ago to the day of their wedding at Tiffany Falls while ice climbing – only fitting to get married there too! They had 12 guests total, about a ten minute ceremony, no dresses, no suits… just them. She wanted just candid photos documenting their celebration. I loved how unique their wedding was – focusing on the marriage instead of the wedding. Instead of a big budget wedding, they had this small ceremony, a brunch and then they are going to the Adirondacks where they rented a house over the family day weekend and invited friends for a ski/ice climbing weekend to celebrate.

Laura said when she went to visit the Falls recently to check the location, the ice had melted and it was water where she wanted to stand for the ceremony. Fortunately the temperature dropped and there was ice enough to support us all!

Laura is British and it was so nice to have her parents, brother and uncle all came from the UK to join them. Brent’s sister, parents, Grandma and aunt all joined them as well.

Everyone made the trek out to the Falls – slowly and carefully – and it was time for the ceremony! The minister was a past teacher of Brent’s and father of one of his friends.

Laura’s mom was so cute how she threw the rose petals…

The newly married couple!

Brent made their rings himself!

The whole gang…..

As soon as the ceremony was over Laura’s mom was so excited to announce to Brent “I’m your mother-in-law!”

Lots of hugs and congratulations!

Laura’s uncle who is very special to Laura – they climbed to Mount Everest’s base camp together when she was 18!

And starting the trek back… congratulations!

Celebrating life and love,

Krista

Being Valentine’s Facebook is flooded with profile pictures of people with their loved ones today. So… I went hunting for a photo of Mark and myself. Which brings me to teh question…

Where are all the pictures?

We have family photos done each year… but where are the photos of Mark and myself alone? I can’t function without this man – yet somehow I have managed to not have my photo taken with just him. We have snapshots here and there… but no professional photos that capture “us”. What I feel when I see him. How he makes my heart race. How we like to laugh and tease each other. How much I adore him.

So… this year I’m doing it. This coming December is our 15th wedding anniversary. After 15 years of marriage it’s about time I hire a professional to document this crazy boy I adventure through life with. You can all hold me accountable. I’m thinking in the warmer months… so let’s say by September if I haven’t posted images of a photo shoot of us two you can all call me out on it. Deal?

Likewise… I got thinking I can’t be alone. There has to be others asking “Where are all the pictures?” Maybe you’re dating, married for a year, married for 50 years, or newly in love…. I want to encourage you all to take time to document your love. How you feel. Not only is it great to have the images to cherish – but the experience alone…. Well, when I have photographed couples “just because: they often say “this is so good for our marriage!”. Because we all fall into that routine where the mundane of life eats away at the magic of love… so I’m encouraging you to join in the challenge and find the pictures of you and your loved one this year! If you let me know – I’ll hold you accountable also. Deal?

*Note – there are no photos with this post because there are none. Boo *

Celebrating life and love,

Krista

I love Valentine’s – and not just because of unicorns, rainbows and babies shooting heart shaped arrows… it is a day for me to stop and consciously celebrate love. I hope I take time each day to celebrate love in my life – but sometimes I need a reminder. And I think it is so much more than the romantic side of Valentine’s – it’s the love of good friends, of family, of Faith…. of Love.

Today may you celebrate those you love and feel loved yourself!

Celebrating life and love,

Krista

When Kris and Sarah emailed me to ask if I would do their maternity photos I may have squealed with delight. I just love these two, and it has been so exciting to celebrate their pregnancy as they have waited a long time to get here with bumps along the way. I don’t think two people could be more excited to be parents. These two are so sweet, and completely smitten with each other. They seriously just beam at each other all the time. I love when I get to sit behind them in church and see them cuddle in.

When we started to talk about where to do the photos I knew exactly where I wanted to go. To their house. I love photos with a bit of a story to them… so you can look back in 20 years and remember how the house looked then, or where you use to live, your dog, the baby’s room…. Memories.

First of all, I have to introduce you to one of their current babies… Buckley. Who for some reason I kept calling “Barkley”. Don’t you just want to pick him up and take him home? So cute!

People always think their homes aren’t “photo shoot material”. SO wrong. This great shot was taken on the floor of their washroom… I loved the low diamond shaped window!

Kris and Sarah painted and started to prepare the room in faith that a little one would join their family even when it didn’t seem likely. 4 more weeks to go now until the baby arrives!!!

Kris is very musical – in their house Sarah has her scrapbooking room and Kris has his music room. We had to incorporate Kris’ love of music!

Then it was outside – such a gorgeous day! Loads of snow and mild enough to be outside without a coat!

I just love how these two connect!

Celebrating life and love,

Krista