Digital painting done as gallery wrap

This painting just arrived as a 24"x30" gallery wrapped canvas, ready to hang. Isn't it beautiful? It was painted for us by Paintings by Stacey, and we couldn't be more pleased. Didn't Stacey do an awesome job? Just for the moment, before it goes off to its real home, it has a happy spot on our mantel where we can get our visual fill. The only thing I might not like? It's not big enough! I'd love to see this as a 40"x60"!

We've been working like fools around these parts of late. I just wish there were enough time to keep up!

We had to be out in Langley on the weekend shooting, so we made a point of dropping by Brad Jalbert's Select Roses Open House. Brad and Joy and I go way back to our fledgling days gardening--even before I started The Adequate Gardener column, back in the early days of On Our Hands and Knees gardening group. All our best performing roses come from Brad's, it's safe to say.

Joy and I got a first peek at a rose Brad has been hybridizing for us, called Wacky Sheila in memory of our mothers. It's pink and frilly and I know if they were here, tears would course down their faces to see it. All our gardening friends and relatives will be getting one next year when it hits the market!

I wanted to announce that we've decided to have some of our Portrait Party hosts host their parties in-studio! This is a big step for us, since originally we planned to have all the parties in people's homes. But for those who lack the space, this is a great alternative!

Happy Father's Day to all our dads out there!

People ask me what I mostly photograph, and I really photograph love.

I did a family shoot last weekend out In Richmond with a great family of four--mom, dad and two of the spriteliest kiddos, an 8 year old girl, and a 6 year old boy. As I made my way through their images this week, preparatory to creating a slideshow for them, I kept smiling, and I know I grinned over and over because of their transparent love for each other. Love and happiness are infectious--it's hard for humans to see other humans having fun without smiling ourselves. And that's what happened to me. They infected me with their adoration and high spirits. Wouldn't it be cool if this virus spread?

Speaking of being infected with love, the studio hosted our second Studio Portrait Party yesterday with ten families. We had a terrific, expressive group of families, with a whole lot of infants, and while it will take me a couple of weeks to finish up with the photographs, I can already tell everyone that there are many, many great shots. Joy, Meg, Greg and I are very pleased and proud of the results.

I will attach a few here, with a special sounding out to the dads in attendance who are celebrating what is, for many of them, their very first Father's Day. Congratulations to you all. Thanks again to everyone who helped make the day such rollicking good fun, and so fulfilling, for us all.













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Amy and Mindy

These two lovely Floridians came up to Vancouver to be married this week! Congratulations, Amy and Mindy! They are the first in their circle of LGBT friends to wed, and I'm so curious to know if their lovely nuptial day (yes, the rain held off, if not during their carriage ride then during their Stanley Park Rose Garden ceremony), and their freedom in Vancouver to express their love and commitment, will influence their community at home.

To see more from Amy and Mindy's sweet small wedding, please navigate back to our wedding site and click slideshows.

Congratulations, brides! May you have many, many happy years together.

Where does the time get to?

Okay, boys and girls, the June 16 Studio Portrait Party is completely full! We are taking names for the waitlist, because inevitably a couple families will have to cancel due to illness, but we are also booking our July 21 party! We still have a few spots left, but they are going swiftly!

The photographs have come down from Pictage, my online gallery, but you can still sample them by navigating to my portrait site (link at right) and looking under the Menu for Portrait Parties. I've made a short slideshow of images from the May 12 party.

Meantime, we've been busy shooting weddings, designing wedding books, designing baby announcements, and shooting kids and families in our regular sessions. These too are getting pretty darn booked up, so if you need to get your kids in, give us a quick shout and we'lll try to accommodate you.

Wasn't the recent warm weather delightful? I had to work most of it, but Joy and I did manage to get out in our extremely insane flower garden and clean up a bit. Of course I painted the front steps something like a half hour before the deluge started on Sunday! Doesn't it figure? Hope everyone's gardening was great, and don't forget this weekend is the garden show at VanDusen gardens. Always a pleasure.

The photograph attached is one of our tree peonies last year.