WHAT!!! I have exceeded my bandwith, it's FULL- that is definitely reflective of how much I have been shooting and thus blogging. So, I am kind of fearful to post photos in case the whole blog crashes and explodes and poof .... disappears. I know I can sort it out but not in the time it takes to have my morning coffee. I am out shooting today so, my blog fixing is going to have to wait.

I thought I would leave you with one of my favorite blog links to check out though, according to the gals in my Chicks who Click course you folks are interested in some of my favorite sites. I think I am going to start getting most of my gifts through here. I know it isn't photo related but I do find myself energetically inspired by the many talents posted on this site. As someone who has no patience for crafting, (not to mention pretty lame fine motor skills,) I am in awe of what these people bust out.

Hope your Friday is as fun as my FULLday, I will be running all over town creating photos for the Downtown Business Improvement Association, meeting with a wedding client, grabbing goods for dinner and doing some banking, - somewhere in there I might just buy an I-pod as well. John has convinced me that my lame sounding 1980's ghetto blaster at the studio has to go.

 tata - Karen

What a whirlwind! Sunday I spent the day with the crew from Roots the Salon capturing some new looks for their promotions. There were so many fabulous things about this shoot. The makeup was done by Crystal (Crystal email me with your last name and phone number - so I can give it out to everyone because you are fabulous) who did a flawless job under some serious time pressure. Also on board was Jenalee Nordstrom,  there to dress the crew in her custom clothing designs  - keep an eye out for Jenna's clothing line Credence,  the items I saw were so unique, gorgeous and made with beautiful fabrics. Pulling the whole shoot together was art designer and marketing whiz, the super cool under pressure Amanda Woloshyn

She amazes me with her vision! 

The stylists had a bevy of fantastic models, who patiently waited for their time in front of the camera, they did a very commendable job of putting up with being talked about in the third person.

Of course the stars of the day were the stylists. I don't know what I expected, but everyone was so easy to work, easygoing and really collaborated to make the day go smooth.  I could also really sense their passion for what they do.

The day left me feeling fulfilled and wanting a new haircut!  

It seems like Ashley and James wedding was a long time coming as I have been looking forward to it for sometime. I have had the opportunity to get to know them as they have both been attendants in weddings I photographed - so there wedding was a bit like getting together will old friends. 

It was a big wedding, one of the largest guest lists I have seen and a 16 person wedding party and ten hours of coverage. However, both my assistant Marlis and I both agreed, as we finished up around 10, that the day flew by with ease. Everyone was lovely to work with and Ashley and James were rockstars  and gorgeous ones at that!

Obviously there are tons of photos so here are just a few initial fave's of mine.
Thanks James and Ashley, it was truly an honor to be asked to document your wedding.

Thanks to Marlis for assisting me on this one!  

Garnet's mom wanted some very natural not very posey photos of her daughter. So I gave her very little direction and the following photos happened. Seriously, these are all her, she pulled out all these moves herself. 

Just in case you were wondering if sessions with McKinnon Photographer are fun: 

She felt very strongly about being photographed on the top of this rock pile:

I know Garnet because she is in the 4 Cats Arts Academy Class that Selah goes to (and that Garnet's mom teaches,) and doing her photos was just like going out and hanging with a pal. Thanks Garnet, it was tons of fun!.

 If you have little ones and haven't checked out 4 Cats you really must - every now and then they have an open house day and this will give you a taste of the creative goodness that happens there.

I'll be back to blogging later with some photos from James and Ashleys wedding.

So it isn't my most creative blog title but you have to cut me some slack  - I have been throwing all my creative energy behind the lens this last week. You might not have noticed but I think this past week had a few extra days in it, they must have, because looking at what happened around here, I am sure we couldn't have accomplished all that we did in only a week.

Right now, in my  happy-loopy mood I can't begin to itemize all that I have been working on but you can bet I will be posting it, maybe I'll even get my mom and Gerald's wedding posted. So for those of you waiting for sneak peeks be gentle with me, I was hit with a bad sneaky flu this past week and had to take some down time during my scheduled office/editing hours.

This week also marked my last official Chicks who Click session for this year. I am overwhelmed with gratitude to my current and past chicks who make it so much fun. They have also been very instrumental in spreading the word which has resulted in a crazy amount of interest - it is great to know we hit on something good!

I will be running another Chicks who Click in the new year, I struggled and hummed and hawed about doing another one this year and my schedule just can't afford it - so those of you that are interested be patient and we will roll something out for you most likely starting February. If you are interested please email us as you will receive advance notification and registration opportunity. Again, big hugs to all of you who have done the Chicks who Click, your support has been so meaningful - hugs to you all, Karen

These two are totally crazy about each other and I was so excited that they decided to have some photographs to capture this time. We packed tons into this session (Jolie and Dennis, you were awesome!) we created some outside images and some more intimate, steamy portraits in the studio. I think I'll just show you the outside ones.

When Sophie's parents brought her into the studio it was like connecting with old friends. Sophie was happy to see me and we got right into shooting. She is absolutely a stunning baby.

I love the expression on this first one as she looks like she just wants to ask a question.

Pure beauty:

Thanks folks for the awesome session.

....  and by that time I mean Tune Time. This is some new (to me) music I am listening to these days, maybe next week I will post some old favorites:

 Royal Wood -  found via wedding clients Krista and Bruce who will be using a Royal Wood song for their first dance

Vandaveer - I read about these folks on someone's blog and can't remember whose - I wish I could so I could say thanks

 Sheree Plett - a Vancouverite singer songwriter

Said the Whale - more canadian goodness 

Elliot Brood - kudos to James (whose wedding I photographed two weeks ago) for sending Elliot Brood my way, how did it happen that I have never heard them until today?

Vampire Weekend - try to listen to Oxford Comma without bopping your head back and forth 

Foxboro Hot Tubs - This is a side project of Green Day. In my early twenties I worked in an indie music bar where Green Day use to play regularly, to a crowd of about 30 die-hard fans. This gives me big cred with my oldest daughter - so I have always had a soft spot for them.

Back to work today, that doesn't really make sense, because I kind of worked yesterday and am just kind of working today. I am going to spend the next two hours being an email speedster and getting my in-box down to a somewhat manageable state. I am telling you, everyone who ever thought about emailing me did it yesterday - this is all good, but I am going to need a double dose of caffeine to ideally get them all returned in my allotted time frame.

I have to fly the office coup in two hours because Selah is finishing Kindergarten and we have to go celebrate. Honestly, I know you are suppose to encourage their growth and so on, blah, blah, blah ... but if there was a way I would freeze her at this age at least for a couple more years  I would be all over it. Thankfully I have a bit of a head cold so it is dulling my emotions and I won't loose it when I pick her up today.

Speaking of growth (sorry, I couldn't help it,) let's move on to some maternity beauty!  I had an amazing session with Kendra and her family down at the beach. Kenra you are gorgeous and a serious pleasure to photograph - thank you!

 Kendra is going to be the new gardening expert over at CVK and she runs Cinderella Diaper Service, as well as providing a diaper service they also rent out cloth diapers- as a semi-cloth diaper using mom myself I sure wish her service was around when I needed it! She runs a great business so spread the word.

I just got home from a big walk, sat down at the computer and was excited to see Sherry and Kristina featured on Comox Valley Kids today - these two recently took over Little Me from the lovely Dana. Dana will be greatly missed and I know sure Sherry and Kristina are going to continue to build on the friendly community feel of the store. Look for lots of new exciting things happening there! (kudos Sherry and Kristina for sending some love my way!)

Robin at Comox Valley Kids has done a phenomenal job featuring local mom-preneurs - I love reading about how other mom's in business do it and am always looking to pick up some tips and inspiration. 

Go live your Sunday! Karen