A big thank you to Marlis Funk for being my fabulous co-shooter, and a HAPPY BIRTHDAY to a very special little girl and her family on a beautiful first year of life!

I also adore that they brought some personal items to the session as it makes it much more fun and unique.  It was Judo that brought this pair together, so it seemed fitting to take some shots in their gis!  And Yuki was still able to put the moves on Curtis (well no wonder  – I learned at the end of the session that she is an Olympic silver medalist in Judo from the 2004 Olympic Games!  I felt a little star struck to be honest

Curtis & Yuki – I cannot wait to meet your little babe!  It was a pleasure meeting you and you were such a joy to work with.  See you soon!

Christine and Nadine had created a master plan to get the “Island Dalzells” (Shaun, Nadine & son Grayson) to come on over to the mainland and meet up with the “White Rock Dalzells” (Erin, Christine and daughters Elise and Daniella) for some family photos as a 40th anniversary gift for Shaun & Erin’s folks.

We had a wonderful time at Crescent Beach, and the evening couldn’t have been more perfect!  This is one photogenic family, and they were nothing short of fabulous with smiles all around!  Thanks for having me capture these beautiful moments for you, and Happy Anniversary to Colin & Mavis Dalzell!

Want to help give Colin & Mavis a print of this lovely family session as a gift for their 40th Wedding Anniversary? (40 years!!)

1. Make sure you are a fan of Lindsay Mitchell Photography on Facebook (you must be a fan for your comment to be valid toward the print)
(click here and it will open a new page for you)

2.  Leave the Dalzell Family a comment below (right here- on this blog post!)

When this post reaches 30 comments or more, Colin & Mavis will receive a complimentary 11×14 professional print of the photo of their choice!

It is no surprise that family is so important to both Nicole & Des when you saw how much family was incorporated into the wedding.  Nicole was walked down the aisle by her brother Mark and Grandfather, and her sister Caitlin was a bridesmaid.  Des had all three of his brothers amongst his groomsmen.  And both mothers contributed to the details of the day from all the flowers (done by Nicole’s mom, Fran) to the favours at the reception (Des’ mom Brenda made jars of jam for each guest, and Fran also created a candle for everyone to take home).

It was such a pleasure to be there for this wedding, and I had a blast!  Thank you to Nicole & Des (and your families) for being so wonderful.  I wish you a lifetime of happiness together!  And thank you to Stephanie Tracey of Photography West for second shooting for me – it was a treat to work with you again and be back shooting in the beautiful Okanagan!

Help give Nicole & Des a little wedding gift!
Here’s how:

1.  Make sure you are a fan of Lindsay Mitchell Photography on Facebook
(click here and it will open a new page for you)

2.  Leave Nicole & Des a comment below (right here- on this blog post!)

When this post reaches 40 comments or more, Nicole & Des will receive a complimentary 11×14 professional print of the wedding photo of their choice!

Relax in an executive suite with the ladies as you sip a glass of wine, have your hair & makeup done, and feel all over sexy and pampered!

Feel like a quick tan?  SUVA Spray Tan Studio will be on site, and for an additional fee you can get that glow before your session.

Then head over to the private suite where you will have 35 minutes with the photographer.

Session spots are limited, so make sure to book yours today!

Email lindsaymitchellphotography@gmail.com for more info or to reserve your spot.

Hair will be provided by: Under the Veil (Melissa Suominen)

Makeup will be provided by:  Alejandra Thommason

I had the pleasure of meeting Asja last year for her wedding consultation, and since then I have had the opportunity to photograph her and David and their sweet little man Taves a few times.  And after each session I got more and more excited for their wedding.  Not only are they extremely photogenic (take a look for yourself!), but they are such a down to earth couple with an honest and real love that you can truly feel when you are around them.  I love the way Asja smiles when she looks at David, and how he watches her with pure adoration.  I knew that their wedding day was going to be special, but after spending the day with them and learning even more about their family and friends, I feel so blessed to have been asked to capture their day.

I can’t even begin to share it all, but every detail was thought out and had a special meaning.  From the gold heart bracelet that Asja wore (that every Wright woman has worn on her wedding day), to the Ukrainian cloth that they stood on during their ceremony…the photo of her Pops that she had with her so that he could share in their wedding day even though he had recently passed on, and the handmade miniature rowboat that topped the cake.

Their family and friends shared heartfelt words, hilarious stories, and genuine love for this happy couple who were still dancing and singing at the top of their lungs when we finally packed up our gear for the day.

And back to the rowboat…

When Asja & David told me they wanted a rowboat for their engagement photos because it had a special meaning for them (check the photos out here if you missed them) I knew there had to be a good story.  I heard a few versions of the tale of how A&D met, but they all seemed to go something like this:

Boy & girl meet.
Boy & girl steal a rowboat for a midnight row.
Boy tries to get a kiss…
Girl dares boy to jump in…

And I think it ended with Asja dragging David to shore and saving his life, but his wallet, keys and phone didn’t survive.  Oh…those summer nights!

Asja & David – thank you SO much for having me capture your wedding day!  It was truly a pleasure and I wish you all the happiness in the world!
Shayna Kerrie – thank you for being an incredible co-shooter, and nurse – you never know when you might have a medical emergency on the job and require your second shooter to bandage you up 

Girls Getting Ready:  Hotel Vancouver
Ceremony: Christ Church Cathedral
Hair:  Christina & Caitlin (the.dye.lot)
Makeup:  Katie
Reception:  Scottish Cultural Centre

Don’t forget to head on over to Lindsay Mitchell Photography on Facebook and ‘like’ the page to see more updates of Asja & David’s Wedding!

Help give Asja & David a little wedding gift!
Here’s how:

1.  Make sure you are a fan of Lindsay Mitchell Photography on Facebook
(click here and it will open a new page for you)

2.  Leave Asja & David a comment below (right here- on this blog post!)

When this post reaches 40 comments or more, Asja & David will receive a complimentary 11×14 professional print of the wedding photo of their choice!

Their annual client appreciation Jazz Night was held once again on the rooftop pavilion of the Vancouver Art Gallery, and I was thrilled to be back again to capture the evening.  The sun was out and the view from the roof was spectacular as wine was sipped and hor’dourves were savoured.   The Scott Robertson Trio provided the live soundtrack for the mingling crowd.  CKR Global is also an active part of the community, and this year the event was a fundraiser in support of Hope International Development Agency.  The silent auction featured various handcrafted items from around the world in efforts to raise money to promote sustainable living, and bring hope to some of the world’s poorest families.

Once again it was a pleasure to work with the CKR Global team and their clients, and I look forward to the next event!  Also a big thank you to my second shooter, Sarb Glaze.

From the candy-table goodie bags, to the cupcakes, and even the banner with Lincoln’s monthly photo with the monkey, the house was full of blue and red and monkeys – oh my!  And the birthday-monkey himself had a blast digging into his cake as we watched him smash it on the back lawn.  There were too many photos to choose from – so I focused on the details of the theme as it was carried out so well!

Thank you to the Wilsons for having me out for this big day!

Maternity sessions are some of my favourite.  Whether it is the first baby or the third, there is nothing more special than seeing the excitement and joy of parents who are waiting to meet their little bundle, and being able to capture it for them to look back on (because let’s face it – once that race starts, you never slow down!)  But the rise in popularity of maternity photo sessions in the past few years is alarming to some.  When my husband and I got our maternity photos done a couple years ago and I shared them with my mom, she was beyond herself.

“Why is everyone taking photos of themselves with giant bellies?  When I was pregnant you did everything you could to  make it LESS noticeable.”

And when I look at the very few photos of my mother when she was pregnant, she is wearing overly baggy clothing or a tent-like mu-mu!  These days we see women walking around flaunting their baby bumps wearing tight tops and skinny jeans.  Of course fashion changes, but it is more than that.  I believe our society’s perception of pregnancy has shifted.  Rather than viewing pregnancy as a medical condition, the focus now seems to be more on the natural process of pregnancy and childbirth.  Along with this shift comes the re-appearance of midwifery care in a big way (it’s no surprise that my mother was also shocked when we first told her we were using a midwife as opposed to a family doctor, because it was a skeptical practice during her childbearing years.)

We LOVED the midwifery experience.  I was made to feel that what was going on in my body was normal, and beautiful, and not something that I need to be treated for.  With every ache and pain, strange sensation or symptom that I described, our midwife’s response was always, “Everything is normal.  You are growing a person!”   We chose Mama Love Midwifery in New Westminster (now called New West Community Midwives – check them out!).  We got personalized care, and were made to feel like we were a part of a community.  I never once felt like I was a patient or that she didn’t have time for my questions because there was a waiting room full of people outside the door.  Even when our little guy, Owen,  came just over 5 weeks early, our midwife Tracy was at the hospital with us and assisted me through every step of the natural childbirth that I had wished for.  And the postpartum care was amazing – Tracy came to the house and guided us through everything, and helped me make the transition to exclusively breastfeeding after Owen had been tube and bottle fed at the hospital.

So if you are a midwifery client, or a mama to be thinking about using a midwife, remember that May 5th is International Midwives Day!  We are so thankful for all that they do, and for the growing community of support that they provide.

HAPPY International MIDWIVES DAY!

Tracy with our son, Owen

New West Community Midwives
(from left to right:  Lindsay, Tracy & Cora)

 New West Community Midwives
(from left to right:  Lindsay,  Cora & Tracy)

THE GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

and the winner is….
(scroll to the bottom!)

As a child I used to think long and hard about what I would give my Mom for Mother’s Day.  I remember breakfasts in bed (ok, it was more like apples rolling around on a tray and coffee grinds floating in a mug of cold water to which she would always take a sip and smile, replying “Oh, this is delicious!”).  And there were of course poems, and flowers, and the occasional macaroni mug I’m sure.  Regardless of the gift, I knew that my mom was special and that I wanted to show her how much I loved her.

I had NO idea just how special my mom was, until I became one myself.  Now as a member of the club (and still a fairly new one at that) I have an appreciation for my mom and the moms of the world that grows with each sleepless night, boo-boo kissed, story read and giggle fest.

So Mommies – here’s to you!  You are…

INSPIRATIONAL,  SENSATIONAL, and just all around SUPER.

I am thrilled to share with you an amazing Mother’s Day Giveaway that is going to pamper one lucky mom!  This is just a small thanks for all that you do for your wee ones, big ones, and all the ones in between!  Not to mention being fabulous clients and allowing me to capture your family memories for you to cherish.

Please read all details and giveaway rules below, and GOOD LUCK!

Thank you to all of our AMAZING CONTRIBUTORS!  The lucky winner will get ALL of this:

- Hair by Under the Veil onsite hair services, and Makeup by Alejandra Thomasson: mobile makeup artist
- one hour session (session availability may be limited to specific dates)
-secure online proof gallery of images & your choice of 5 professionally edited jpegs on disc
(* additional images, prints and albums not included but available for purchase).

Muse is an independent women’s clothing boutique located in The Shops at Morgan Crossing in South Surrey.  They  specialize in unique hand picked pieces from La, New York, Australia, Denmark and Montreal, but without the typical “boutique” prices.  The selection constantly changes – they typically bring in new stock every week so there is always new merchandise in store, and they only bring in a few pieces of each item – if you miss it, chances are you won’t see it again!  But this is what makes the items so exclusive and why clients love this unique shopping experience.

On Twitter @musefashion

A gorgeous two bottle wine basket with a bottle each of our award winning Siegerrebe and Canoe Cove Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot, napkins and other goodies from our Wine Shop. – Retail Value: $50
Domaine de Chaberton cordially invites you to come and experience a tranquil atmosphere at their 55-acre property situated off of 216th and 16th in Langley, BC.

Filomena Salon Spa is committed to bringing you friendly, qualified skin therapists and hair stylists who will strive to deliver professional innovative service. Our location has been designed to incorporate a relaxing atmosphere, with style and finesse, most notable for the outstanding education, client care and quality of service we provide.

  One lucky mom will get her own handmade Social Experiment Cocktail ring!  Each Social Experiment piece is inspired by the natural beauty of the West Coast.  The sun, sand, rain, surf, ancient forests and high mountains of the Pacific Northwest.

On Twitter @soc_experiment

Independent Consultant:  Carla Neufeld.  Improving the quality of life by radically reducing the chemicals in personal care & cleaning, The Norwex Prize pack includes Window Polish Cloth, Antibacterial Body Cloth, Skin Care Sample, and a sample of the Ultra Power Plus Laundry Detergent.

Who doesn’t love an assortment of goodies covered in chocolate??
Chocolate. Covered. Confections. is focused on providing high-quality products and customer satisfaction – we will do everything we can to meet your expectations.

Relax with a cup of delicious loose leaf tea!  Includes 25g sample bags of Classic Sencha green tea, and Creme Carmelo Rooibos tea,  a tea ball infuser, and a perfect cup measuring spoon.

Local artist Lorraine Moen transforms photographs into stunning pencil sketches.
One 8 x 10 Pencil Portrait from Journey of Joy Portraits, matting & frame not included.  Photo reference to be one of the photos taken by Lindsay Mitchell Photography during your winning session, or previous clients may use a photo from a prior session.  Max. of 3 subjects in portrait.

 ALL of you mommies are amazing, but this contest is open to moms with access to the Vancouver/Lower Mainland  area.  Prizes must be picked up locally and will not be shipped.

You have TWO ways to enter:

ENTRY #1 (you must do this one):

Make sure you are a fan of Lindsay Mitchell Photography and ALL of the contributing vendors by visiting the pages from your personal account and hitting the ‘like’ button or joining the group.  All of the links are below, so it is very easy!

When you have done this, comment on THIS BLOG POST.  Please write :  “ENTRY #1 – LIKED ALL THE PAGES!”

*This step will be verified.  In order to be eligible for the prize you must like all of the contributing pages below.  If the winner has failed to complete this step at the time of the prize draw, another winner will be selected.
Winner will be selected from the comments on THIS BLOG POST.  Please provide a valid email.  Addresses provided are not shared and are not seen by the public.

ENTRY #2 (bonus entry):

Share the contest on your personal Facebook page (use the SHARE button at the bottom of the blog to make it easy )

When you have done this, comment on THIS BLOG POST.  Please write :  “ENTRY #2 -SHARED ON FACEBOOK!” and include the link to your shared post on Facebook.

GOOD LUCK!!

AND THE WINNER IS…

COMMENT #9 – Carissa Ingwersen!
Please email me at lindsaymitchellphotography@gmail.com

You have 24 hours to claim your prize!

*The tiny print Contest Rules:

This giveaway runs from April 30, 2012 until 11:00AM PST May 13-2012.
This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.
Lindsay Mitchell Photography Session has no cash value and will only be valid for the person whose name is entered and may not be transferred.
Session expires on September 30, 2012.
Sessions valid for the Lower Mainland/Vancouver area.  Some limited session dates may be available for the Kelowna area.
Winner will be chosen by random.org using the comments posted on this blog.
Winner will be announced on this blog and they will not be notified through social media.  Winner will have 48 hours to claim the prize before another winner will be selected.

So here they are (finally!).  Such a sweet little babe, and Tristan is the cutest big brother!  Not to mention Angela being stunning (as usual) and Maurizio having that proud new dad glow as he holds another son.

Maxim Carmine Cimaglia
March 10, 2012
8 lbs,  1 oz

The adorable grey and white striped hat was made by Eternally Hooked – check them out, her stuff is amazing!

The ceremony at the Ramada Inn in Abbotsford was glorious and filled with light, laughter and love, followed by an amazing (and surprisingly dry!!) outdoor portrait session.  Murphy’s Law – of course I spent the night before searching for the perfect umbrellas in fear it would pour – but we managed to escape the rain for all but the last few minutes (so we used the cute red umbrella that I had found and was hoping to incorporate anyways!)  The wind however decided to stay around and made for even more laughter and memories as we fought to keep Elliott’s boutonniere right side up.

Thank you for being such an easy-going and considerate couple to work with.  Your families and friends are so loving and it was a pleasure to meet and work with them all.  And thank you to my co-shooter and partner-in-crime, Shayna Kerrie, for once again being absolutely irreplaceable!

There are really so many wonderful images to share, but I promised just a FEW while the newlyweds are off on their honeymoon.  Then I am off on a family vacation, so this teeeeeeeny tiny sneak peek will have to be just enough for now…but stay tuned for their official post coming soon!

Joanne’s hair & makeup by Alejandra Thomasson  – www.alejandrathomasson.com

Be sure to ‘like’ Lindsay Mitchell Photography on Facebook so that you will see all the updates as I share more of this beautiful couple in the future!

Good things come to those who wait.

Well I have been waiting……and waiting…(and getting impatient)

…and waiting some more…

…and the new branding is FINALLY ready!!  I LOVE my new logo, and am thrilled to share!

Stay tuned for some updates and changes to the site as I slowly refine the galleries and update the logos!  As always, check Lindsay Mitchell Photography on Facebook for more updates and Sneak Peeks of recent work.

Thank you so much for all of your continued support and encouragement!

The LOVE IS contest is now closed!

The store shelves are stocked with candy hearts wrapped in pink and red foil, and buying your love a dozen roses might just break the bank – ahhhhhh Valentines Day!  I LOVE love….but have never been a huge believer of the Hallmark occasion.  There is nothing wrong with celebrating love, but why only on one day of the year when it has to cost me three times as much?  So I decided a while back that February would be the “Month of Love”…and now I’m ready to share some of it with you!

So here’s the details:

The LOVE IS winner is…

comment #13 – KERRI BUSCHEL 

TO CLAIM YOUR PRIZE:
1.  Make sure you are a fan of all of the vendors on Facebook as a way of thanking them for their donations!
2. You have until midnight PST on Wednesday February 15th to contact me at lindsaymitchellphotography@gmail.com to claim your prize!  Please use the email address that you registered your comment with.

The PRIZES:

• a $100 Gift Certificate to Lindsay Mitchell Photography
• $20 Gift Certificate to Eternally Hooked (Crocheted Hats, Photo Props, and More!)
• a beautiful handmade silver heart necklace from Lovely By Margaret
• a $25 gift certificate to MUSE Social Fashion House
  

AND THERE’S MORE! 

We received over 25 new fans on Facebook, so there was another $10 added to the Lindsay Mitchell Photography Gift Certificate!

(*see full details below)

A very large THANK YOU to all of the amazing donations!

*FULL Contest Rules:

This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.
Gift Certificate will reach a maximum of $200 and will have no cash value and is only valid towards a standard session fee only and may not be used towards products or prints.
Gift Certificate will only be valid for the person whose name is entered and may not be transferred.
Gift Certificate expires on August 1, 2012.
Sessions valid for the Lower Mainland/Vancouver area.  Some limited session dates may be available for the Kelowna area.
Winner will be announced here and they will not be notified through social media.

At just over 32 weeks Angela is glowing and has the cutest little bump.  I spent the morning with her and her two boys (husband Maurizio, and first son/soon-to-be big brother, Tristan).  If she wasn’t already feeling outnumbered, she will be in the next few months when their second boy arrives on the scene!  But no one does it more gracefully than Ang – she always has a smile on her face and amazing advice to give, and mommy-hood suits her so well.  Not to mention she ALWAYS looks fabulous.

Looks like Tristan is already wanting to play with his little brother…and also looks like you guys might have a few days out on the soccer field in your future!

Can’t wait to meet your newest little man!

The rain kept us inside for most of the shoot, but we did manage to get outside for a few shots because their new house had these fabulous red doors that just happened to be under cover!  Daddy-to-be is a fireman and they wanted to incorporate that somehow, so there were also some red suspenders that Marissa rocked…  Although we can’t share those ones here, I have a few more tricks up my sleeve for the newborn session that will tie it all together

I had a wonderful time with you both, and I am looking forward to seeing you again, plus one!

When I first met Elliot and Joanne, I asked them a few questions to help get to know them.

“How did you meet?” and they giggled…

“How would you describe yourselves as a couple?” and they giggled…

“What style do you want your wedding day to have?” and some more giggling….

After spending a crisp freezing cold day with them out at UBC, full of smiles and giggles, it was clear that this couple is absolutely smitten with one another!  They are silly and fun, and completely and utterly in love.

Joanne & Elliot – I had a wonderful engagement session with you getting to know you better, and I can’t wait to spend the BIG day in March with you both!

Lisa and Dustin have two beautiful boys, and they were so well behaved.  I loved all of the leaves (and so did they, of course!) and it made for such a stunning colour palette.  Check out a few of my favourites from this session!

I had the chance to chat with owner Christine Visnjak before the event while we took some head-shots, and it is evident that she loves what she does.  Christine says, “We have been now open for a year and it’s been quite the journey and we’ve enjoyed every step of the way! We have so many amazing clients (which was evident from the turnout of the 1 year anniversary party we hosted – we were pleasantly stunned with the turnout!) and we’re constantly gaining new clients everyday. We are hoping to continue hosting more events at the store in our year #2 and we hope that Lindsay Mitchell Photography will be a part of those events!”

Christine – of course I will!  It was such a wonderful event, and the store is amazing.  I look forward to returning many times, although some of those visits might have to strictly be for shopping

Check out MUSE on Facebook, as well as the website here, and be sure to visit the urban village of The Shops at Morgan Crossing before the holidays for a vibrant day of shopping!

Carolyn is momma of two beautiful boys, and her husband Kevin is an amazing dad and partner in crime.  She spends her days balancing being a mom and business owner (she makes beautiful custom jewelry – check it out here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/mylovelyshop) and she also spends time behind the lens.  She and I chuckle about when you are always the one behind the camera, you never seem to have any family photos..of the WHOLE family!

So that’s where I came in!  I was thrilled when she asked me to photograph her family (always a compliment when a fellow photog recruits your services!).  I couldn’t have asked for a better day – the setting at Stanley Park was perfect; although a bit chilly, it was truly a Fall family session!

Thank you for having me out to capture these for you…I had a wonderful day!