As I write this my friend Ginny is in the hospital having her 3rd baby-a boy. Carson and I are sitting by the phone waiting to hear the good the new that baby boy has arrived in to the world. I thought to help time go by I would blog this very, very long over due post of Ginny’s maternity session I did a couple months ago.  Emotional entry starts now:

I met Ginny and her husband,Trevor, through Carson a few years back. Trevor, Ginny and Carson all went to school together. By the time I rolled up on the scene Ginny and Trevor had graduated already and I met Ginny and Trevor at their wedding during my second year at school. A few years back  when Carson was youth pastoring we would see Ginny and Trevor at various youth conferences and we would talk  but I didn’t really know them, know them. They were after all Carson’s friends and they had history. Last year when Trevor and Ginny, and their two gorgeous kids, moved to the Okanagan (Vernon) from the island that I got to know them a lot more and let me tell you I’m so glad I can call me them my friends too. Ginny and Trevor are real people. I love real people. Their is nothing fake about them. They are down to earth, genuine, amazing parents and they love to laugh. They have huge hearts and are willing to share it with anybody. Oh yeah, Trevor is a HUGE sport guys. I don’t think I’ve met anybody who know sports as much as he does. You want to talk sports Trevor’s your man.

Last night while I was editing pictures I heard Carson on the phone noticing he was on longer than the “Hello? Hi. Yup, let me get her for you” I asked who he was talking to. It was Trevor. It’s nice that Carson has a male friend that he can chat on the phone with, text message randoms things  and share his heart with.  I can’t wait to meet baby Tyson and look forward to many more dinners and family get togethers with this beautiful family.
Now on to the pictures. Enjoy!

Ginny’s beautiful smile!

I was a little obsessed with Ginny’s shoes that day. I think they’re so cute!

This is Amythest and I had the honor of pohtographing her grad pictures. I have more to say about this beautiful girl but will save that for later. Here is just a sneak peek of the beautiful Amythest with more images to come later. I just have to say that I love this one with the apple because just before this she schooled me on the symbalism of the apple in Greek Mythology (?) and of course it”s fitting for the Okanagan. 

Enjoy!

Melissa and Rob got married in Penticton in May and I had such a good time photographing them. Here’s a little sneaker peeker with more to follow shortly. 

*Oh, I’m also putting out another sneak peek any minute now. Come back to check it out!

There is so much I can say right now about this amazing family but I’m afraid it might turn into a novel. If you already know the Koch’s then you know just how amazing and wonderful this family is.  They’re an inspiration to many and definitely know how to have a good time! Laughter is always present when we’re with the Koch gang.  For those of you who don’t know them the Koch family is made up of Derek, Iris-lee and their kids Ellie, Isaac, Hannah and Olivia. Yup, that’s right they have 4 kids and every one of them are kind-hearted, generous and crazy and fun! They have 3 girls and one boy just like us, albeit, in a different order but I’m sure Isaac and Levi will be able to share similar stories. Our kids just adore the Koch kids. 

Recently I had the opportunity to photograph one of my favorite families for a brochure they needed for a new journey they are taking. Later this year the Koch family will be embarking on a new adventure. They have decided to move to Thailand for a year to do missions.  Here is a little blurb that was written about them in our local paper this past weekend:

The Koch family is hoping to bring some water and some hope to an undeveloped country. 

The West Kelowna family is planning a year-long trip to Thailand with the intent of doing some good. 

The family, dad Derek, mom Irislee, daughters Ellie, 13, Hannah, 9, Olivia, 7 and son Isaac, 12, will all be taking a year off from school and work to live in Mae Sot, Thailand, a town about six hours north of Bangkok, starting this summer. 

They will be working with a group called Imagine Thailand. 

Derek, who works as a community pastor at Emmanuel Church, says as a family they have worked with children across the world for nearly 15 years. 

“We’ve always had a deep concern for children in crisis around the world and because of the stage of life we are in now, we are able to take a year off and go to explore and learn and help as much as we can,” says Derek. 

Irislee says they will be focusing on three major projects during their year. 

“We are hoping to install water purification systems in migrant communities. The systems cost about $2,000 to install, but they can make such a huge difference. We are also working creating an “educational kits” loaner library for migrant schools,” says Irislee. 

She says their third major project is called Life Book researching, which is a way to help children displaced by conflict keep a connection to their roots. 

“It is gathering personal identification information on individual children to address the issue of statelessness. Lack of identification makes children vulnerable to exploitation and human trafficking.” 

A fundraising banquet will be held on May 31 at Emmanuel Church, West Kelowna and is open to the public. 

I had so much doing their family photos. They are such amazing people who down to earth, real and have an amazing heart for God and His people. It’s a blessing to be called their friends. 

If you live in the Okanagan area please come out to their fundraiser and support this great family. I know they are going to do amazing things in Thailand and leave seeds that will impact the people there right and those to come in the future.

To find more about the Koch family check out their blog

Okay, now on to the pictures

These are long overdue but here they are. The pictures of Alexis and Toby’s wedding that I sneaked peeked last month.  My first winter wonderland wedding and my first time shooting in heavy snowfall, definitely unexpected for the day but I managed to work it. Seriously though all props go to Alexis for standing outside in the snow in a strapless dress for the ceremony and pictures after.  But like I said back in the sneak peek it made for some beautiful photos.

I have another wedding that I’m working on now so stay tuned for that one.

Enjoy!