Life is made up of milestones. We are born, we have our first birthday, we turn five and begin school, we start junior high, high school, we graduate, we go on to college, get our first job, MEET THE ONE!!!, marry "the one", buy our first house.... not always in that order. Then there's life in between the milestones. Real day to day life. The stuff that happens while we're planning everything else. When we finally do meet "the one", we know if they are right for us based on the every day, boring, routine type things. Great if my husband can bring me flowers on valentine's day, but will he fill the gas tank when it's nearly empty? Fabulous if with those flowers he brings chocolate, but even better if when he fills the gas tank he washes the windshield... maybe even the entire car.
Life in between the milestones is 95% of the journey.
At the end of November I photographed Terri and Walter's wedding. It was a gorgeous day... for November. They toughed out the chilly weather like the troopers they are, and we got some beautiful images to show for it.
Terri and Walter may be young, but they've been together long enough to truly, truly know one another. I believe 100% that they are going to make it, from one milestone to the next and through everything in between.
For a HUGE slideshow of their day (I just couldn't narrow it down, I love so many of these images!) click here! A few images in the slideshow are taken by Marcy Penner, who assisted me for the day.
Marcy found this great location for us to take photos of Terri's dress. Love it!
Terri and Walter chose to do photos before the ceremony, which I love! When couples choose to do this, we make sure to have a special moment, just the two of them (and my camera) when they see each other for the first time. It's usually pretty emotional, and I love it! These images speak to how in love Terri and Walter are...
the girls came dressed for the weather, in leg warmers and tights! So cute!
The following image is in my top 10 for sure...
If I had to pick a favorite, this one below might be it. Or the one above. Or the one below the one below. Well... who says I have to pick?!!!
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Before the holidays I traveled (yet again!) to Saskatoon for a short little visit. Yes, I had just been there for Thanksgiving to attend my niece Kenley's dedication at church, but I had a REALLY good reason for going again so soon. My friend Pam was home from Israel for Christmas, and if she was coming all that way, surely I could drive the 8 hours to Saskatoon to see her. It had been roughly 15 months since I had seen her last, and even then we had but an hour to catch up at Starbucks! I'm so glad I was able to make it out there to visit her, as well as all of my other favorite Saskatchewanites! I'm so grateful that some of my best friendships can withstand the hundreds to thousands of miles.
Speaking of friendships, while in Saskatoon, I had the opportunity to do an engagement session with Mandy and Dean. Mandy is a good friend of my sister Krista, and has been for as long as I can remember. I remember back in the days of jean jackets, side ponytails, neon, and ripped acid wash jeans, how badly I wanted to be just like them! Mandy is just as gorgeous now as she was then, minus the feathered bangs!
Dean and Mandy are getting married in Saskatoon in June. Oh how I wish I could capture their day! Turns out I've been nearly booked up for 2010 weddings since last July, so I had to settle for doing their engagement session instead.
Here's the gorgeous couple, and a few more in a short slideshow. Thanks guys for braving the cold and coming out with me on this gorgeous winter morning!
Mandy:
I LOVE LOVE LOVE them Kara! Thanks so much!!
(01.10.10 @ 05:33 PM)
Krista:
Great Job Kara! I've been excited to see these and you did not disappoint! I think Mandy will have a hard time picking her favorites!
(01.10.10 @ 05:56 PM)
Kim:
oooh! I love them Kara! You did an awesome job! I love the one of Mandi laying on Dean's legs in front of some door. They are a cute couple. I don't remember the last time I saw Mandi, but she looks the same as she did when she was 15!! Beautiful!
(01.10.10 @ 06:31 PM)
Trish:
I love these Kara! Absolutely Beautiful!
(01.10.10 @ 09:01 PM)
tara:
Oh so super cute :) love them all... especially the 4th from the bottom! Excellent work Kara!
(01.10.10 @ 09:19 PM)
Pam:
Perfection!!! As always:) Love them!
(01.10.10 @ 09:50 PM)
Tina:
Great pics Kara!! Especially love the one where they're crouching in the wooded area... so romantic!
(01.11.10 @ 08:32 AM)
Becky:
Kara these are awesome! Love all the locations! And your B&W processing is stellar!!
(01.11.10 @ 03:07 PM)
Jenn :
Great pictures Kara! I love all of them! :)
(01.12.10 @ 09:10 AM)
Paula:
such a small wonderful world. I am a big fan of Sarah Rhoads and found you through her blog (you do amazing work by the way!!), then to find out you are a fellow Canadian (I live in Sask.) then to find Mandy on your blog. She is a great friend of one of my friends, Gina. Mandy actually got me going to my awesome dentist where she was a dental hygienist. Mandy is such a sweetheart and she looks so happy. You captured them beautifully!
(01.26.10 @ 10:34 PM)
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Some day I hope to experience pregnancy. Until then, I get to photograph it. This amazing thing that women are able to do, it blows my mind. It fascinates me and scares me like nothing else. For nine months we get to eat what ever we want and grow big and round, AND there's a reward at the end?!?! Though pregnancy is not without it's challenges, every woman I've talked to says it's worth it!
I know Chris from grade 12 at MCI, many years ago! We stayed in touch for a few years after high school, and then lost track of each other. I ran into him at the mall last spring, just out of the blue. He was shopping for a gift for his wife, Katrina, who had gone somewhere warm and fabulous for a wedding shower or something. Yes, you heard right, she was away in Palm Springs or somewhere equally fantastic (I can't remember) and he was shopping for a gift for her return. Um... I wish! We got to talking and ended up arranging maternity photos, as they were expecting their first child.
I had so much fun getting to know Katrina and reconnecting with Chris. Their little one Asher has since been born early in December, and I hope to get to meet him some day!
p.s Chris tells me this cute blue fence has been replaced since our shoot. I'm so glad I got to photograph here, i think it's just lovely!
Trish:
these are absolutely gorgeous!
(01.06.10 @ 06:10 PM)
Kim:
love them!!! I love that blue fence too, too bad it is gone!
(01.07.10 @ 12:22 PM)
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Christmas kind of snuck up on me this year. The weather in November was amazing, and felt more like September until December hit. I talked about getting gifts early this year, but of course that never happened. There I was Wednesday night, dragging Dwayne through Superstore getting stuck behind slow moving grocery carts in every isle, not feeling too festive.
The days since, however, have been much more Merry! My family has started a tradition of donating to a charity each year rather than exchanging gifts amongst the adults. This year was my turn to choose the charity, and with the help of my brother in law we were able to arrange a gift drop for a local family. Dwayne and I dropped the gifts off Christmas Eve before heading to our Christmas Eve gathering. We quickly dropped off the gifts, not wanting to overstay our welcome or stand there expecting an overabundance of gratitude. They were grateful and we were happy to help. We had forgotten the turkey, however, and had to run home and return with it. I quickly jumped out of the car and rang the bell. The mother of the family came to the door, and I handed her the turkey. Before I could run off, she looked me hard in the eye, and I could have crumbled right there on her doorstep. She thanked me again, and I told her your welcome and ran off before I broke down.
I'm not sure what I initially expected to feel, but I suppose I thought I would feel happy to help. Instead, I was sad I couldn't do more. However, when she looked at me like that, and thanked me with her eyes, I knew we had helped, and that was enough.
I am so thankful for every blessing I have had this year. I have been very busy with my business, and when I have needed a break I have been welcomed back to my previous part time job with open arms. Dwayne has also been busier than ever. We have our health, and are in the midst of building a new home. We are also looking forward to a 3 week vacation in February. We are so fortunate, and I'm just glad we could share that with someone.
On to todays photos!!! Newborn photo shoots are always so amazing. Twila and Kris welcomed Ryder into this world in November. He is nothing short of perfect! They will make such wonderful parents, I can tell by the way they love him so much already!
Jen D.:
Super cute family, and probably the cutest baby ever! Love these shots!
(12.27.09 @ 11:58 PM)
sonya:
he is absolutely adorable kara! great pictures of the whole family!
(12.28.09 @ 11:28 AM)
Kim:
awww! what a sweet little newborn! I love newborns! They are so fresh and mom and dad are so excited about this new little person. Great pictures Kara!!
Joelle:
Your right Kara - they love little Ryder so much - and you captured this so well. Adorable shots.
(01.02.10 @ 12:24 PM)
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Happy Holidays!
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Coming soon...
sonya:
oh gosh, how cute is this?? looking forward to seeing more!
(12.23.09 @ 04:45 PM)
Kim:
can't wait!
(12.23.09 @ 06:51 PM)
Mandy:
Wow! My boy looks sooo cute!!! Thanks Kara!!
(12.23.09 @ 08:52 PM)
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Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...
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I think you have mastered perfection! These are beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(01.21.10 @ 08:48 PM)Loooove the shots Kara!! My fave is the one right above the B&W one you say is your fav.
(01.21.10 @ 09:11 PM)what a GREAT November we had this year!!
Love LOVE LOVE them, Kara!! Your favorites are also my own...but I really love the bridge location as well.
(01.21.10 @ 11:21 PM)i see why you had a hard time narrowing it down!!! these pics are stunning!! and great locations kara! i really like the jumping haybale pics, very fun :)
(01.21.10 @ 11:47 PM)kara! i think this is your best work yet! terri makes an absolutely gorgeous bride. you caught so many great moments. Love the bridge and #25. So much good stuff here!
(01.22.10 @ 07:40 AM)Amazing job!!! The couple is so photogenic! Love all of the locations!
(01.22.10 @ 09:20 AM)Oh my gosh..the lighting makes me knees jelly! Kara, these are so fab..of course!
(01.22.10 @ 09:51 AM)Gorgeous photos!!! They're such a cute couple!! I love your favorite ones, too!!!
(01.22.10 @ 06:16 PM)Could these pictures BE any better!!!??? this makes me so excited :)
(01.22.10 @ 10:59 PM)Wow! Their photos are incredible! Great work, Kara!
(01.23.10 @ 10:57 AM)I cant pick a favorite. So many great shots Kara. The couple is so cute together, great idea with the leg warmers!! he hee.
(01.28.10 @ 10:56 AM)