I first met Michelle when I was attending the UBC in 2008. I was uncertain, overwhelmed and intimidated. I acted like it didn’t bother me that I was in a massive city, surrounded by no one I knew, but it did. Michelle was the effortless woman, sitting on the other side of the table, smiling and surrounded by laughter and stories already.
Michelle always felt like the ultimate West Coast woman to me. Boho chic, if you will, with an appreciation for vintage and the story that clothes could carry, as well as a basic love for clean skin and flowing hair. So when we made friends, it was a surprise to me. Then as we carried on and our friendship lasted the distance of land and time, I settled into our friendship much like she has. It is effortless, and it is calm. When I see her, it’s a cup of tea, sitting down, and sharing space. I adore this woman, and her energy, and her family.
Matt and Michelle were my first ever couples photoshoot, at the very beginning of their relationship. Then I shot Michelle in a white gown in the ocean. Then I photographed her growing family in the comfort of her home. And now, I meet the tiniest one, and see their family complete, snapping their family portraits in Deep Cove, where they both grew up.
It’s good to capture their family as it grows. It’s good to laugh and share with them as we walk the damp fields and see the ocean calm. It’s just good, being with them and their family.
