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Doing a ‘Year in Review’ post has been on my mind for the past few weeks. I desperately wanted to do it but the thought of trying to sum up something so ‘big’ overwhelmed me. To heck with it, I’m doing it! The only way that I could wrap my head around a year that seems so full is to make a Top 7 list (Because I couldn't fit it into 5...10 is cliche…and I am sleepy)… So here I go. #7) O'ahuPhotographing one of our favourite weddings to date, enjoying some much needed quality time together in one of the most beautiful places, and celebrating(see #1).#6) Making the switch to an Electric Car We wanted to reduce our carbon footprint, and save some pennies. Commuting between Coquitlam and downtown Vancouver everyday in our Hyundai was doing just the opposite. We made the change, and haven’t looked back. We love our Nissan Leaf. It's like driving around in a cloud. It also provides great wedding day transportation in a pinch.#5) Shanghai - Colin's trip to one of the biggest cities in the worldColin and I have never spent more that 5 days apart. It was hard seeing him off at the airport, knowing that it would be two weeks until we were together again - but I was also excited for the evenings that I knew would follow, where we would share stories and photographs in our PJ’s over take-out. He was sent over to support the launch of the new Vancouver Film School campus in China, but came back inspired and with a deep appreciation of a new culture…and some great karaoke stories. What did I do while my beloved was away? See #4. #4) The Wildflowers Photography Workshop in BellinghamI first fell in love with Joy's work in 2011 - she photographed Colin + me in Disneyland and I have followed her story ever since. Imagine, if you will, a group of women from all across North America, passionate about life and photography, sitting under a willow tree wrapped in quilts, digging deep, talking about gratitude and baring their souls… then going into the farm house for pie and apple cider. Outside of the workshop, some of us rented a beautiful lake house for the weekend, and stayed up all night eating chips, talking about struggle, success and babies… and instagramming, because photographers love instagram. The relationships with those women are the most precious thing that I took away from that workshop. #3) Putting myself + my business first - choosing to leave Nitrogen StudiosCome August, I was burnt out. Spending 40+ hours a week in the animation studio, followed by hours in front of the computer editing late into the night was taking it’s toll. I was starting to resent two careers that I had worked so hard for and had once been so passionate about. I was in the first trimester of pregnancy and was sick…everyday. I wasn’t eating (a problem which I have since thwarted…and then some), and exercise was non-existent. In my 9 year animation career I have never left a project unfinished… but it was the right choice. Shortly after saying an emotional ‘so long’ I felt like a lighter, happier, healthier me. On the right is a picture from my 'last day lunch' with the awesome animation crew.#2) Iceland No words.#1 ) Finding out that we are having a baby and preparing to be parentsAs I write this, my feet are up on Colin’s lap and our baby boy is doing somersaults. My heart feels full, eager, joyful, afraid…pretty much all of the feelings. We have been cherishing these calm moments. Pregnancy has been an incredible journey… though I may use different words, depending on what day you ask. It has been filled with challenges and rewards, days of struggle and days of unimaginable joy. Balance. The love that we are feeling is immeasurable. 2015 is going to look very different. The unknown that lies ahead is very exciting and, of course, a little scary in a good way. A common question that has come up is ‘will you be taking time off?’ so I thought that this would be a good place to answer it. Yes. But come Spring I am planning to get back to photographing couples + families - often times with Colin, baby and Bruce in tow, I hope. We will be taking on only a handful of smaller weddings later this year. But other than that I would like focus on my family. That being said, as I look back on 2014 I feel proud of what we accomplished with our business. We made some brave changes, grew, travelled and met so many beautiful souls… many of which have become friends. Here is a small snippet of what we (mostly 'I') got up to with our cameras.

2014- a year in review