Wedding Photographer Vancouver - The Wink Photography Blog

It’s amazing how quickly your concept of “normal” can change.

I can’t figure out how 6 weeks have flown by already…but at the same time it’s hard to believe a time existed when I didn’t know her.

Quinn Maelle was born at 8:29am April 30th, weighing 7lbs 13ozs. Going in to a scheduled C-Section is a very surreal experience. The idea of birth usually involves waking up in the middle of the night in labour, screaming the whole way to the hospital, etc…but that’s clearly not the way Quinn wanted to go about it. She preferred I have some time to calmly look forward to her arrival, gather my things at 4am and quietly make my way to the hospital.

If only I could’ve been calm.

With no distraction of labour pain, the drive to the hospital was the longest trip of my life….poor David trying to make conversation about mundane things so I don’t cry. At the hospital I had 3 hours to kill, sitting in a hospital bed…just waiting. We made jokes, I cried, we continued trying to narrow down the names list, I cried some more…then it was time. I was escorted by a nurse down the longest hallway imaginable (much like the drive), into what seemed like a movie set operating room. From that point on it was like I was looking at the whole experience from the outside.

From that moment on I was calm.

I can’t even write this down now without crying, but somehow at the time a sort of peaceful joy washed over me and I was able to just enjoy the experience.

The only thing I remember saying to the doctor as she came out was, “Is she little?”.  (I blame the drugs). He said, “Of course she’s little, she’s a baby”. Thanks.

I thought that as a photographer I’d rush home and start snapping pictures of her immediately, in a variety of ridiculous settings and outfits, but instead we just spent time adjusting to life and getting to know eachother. Luckily we did remember to grab a few shots along the way.

2 weeks old in daddy’s arms:

3 weeks old in her room. Clearly just humoring me.

Side note: When we were in Nashville for the wedding photographers convention in January we went to a little art gallery and ended up picking up 4 prints for her room. Jessica White is from North Carolina and does these gorgeous & perfectly odd wood block prints. http://www.heroesandcriminalspress.com/Prints/Pages/Heavens_to_Betsy.html

In my arms at 4 weeks old.

And what a change again, only a couple of short weeks later.

People have been asking if it’s tough to go back to work and be away from her,  but I think I have the perfect career for “going back to work” postpartum. Photographing love has become even more enjoyable now that my heart has reached maximum squishiness.

Spending a full day documenting someone’s wedding, surrounded by all that love and emotion, has always made me extra happy to see David’s smiling face when I walk in the door.

Now, I have two smiling faces to look forward to.

This may be the first and last time I appear on my own blog. But I wanted to avoid falling into the common trap of being the professional photographer who never has any photos to look back on of herself,  just of everyone around her. And I need to get all these thoughts down somehow, so what better place to do it.

In these last few days of my pregnancy I’m doing a lot of thinking, worrying, planning, doubting, waiting, crying, laughing, and mostly reflecting. I’m sure this is common for first time parents, but I was an emotional person before I got pregnant….so with all these extra hormones, it’s out of control.

However, I also know that I’ve never before felt so relaxed, confident, and comfortable in my own skin. (which is surprising considering the strain this skin is under these days!) It’s something you can never possibly comprehend until you go through it, I was totally caught off guard.  If pregnancy has affected me this much,  I can’t even begin to imagine what being a parent is going to do to me.

It hasn’t been an easy pregnancy, but for some reason I’m having a lot of trouble coming to terms with letting go of it. Am I really going to miss the sore hips, the heartburn, the dizzy spells, the fatigue? I think in a sick way I might. I’ve never before felt so much purpose in life. I’m accomplishing something even when I’m just sitting on the couch watching TV. To think that just underneath my skin is a little life growing and getting stronger every day. (And hopefully developing excellent taste in music, thanks to the ipod headphones in my waistband). I know the baby that will soon be breathing, eating, and crying is in there, but it’s still so hard to believe. Of course I’m thrilled to soon have a baby to hold in my arms, rather than one that’s kicking my ribs and compressing my lungs, but this a closeness and comfort that I’ve grown rather fond of.

Last week David and I took a little stroll in our new neighbourhood to get a few shots of me before it all becomes a distant memory.

This shot is by no means a work of art, but I found it very fitting that at such a pivotal time in my life, nature is mirroring my own body art. I got this tattoo of cherry blossoms with green leaves to represent appreciating the moments in life that are so fleeting. The period of time when these trees have both lush blossoms and green leaves is gone in the blink of an eye.

what i know:

• it’s a girl (so we’re told).
• she will be very stylish, thanks to my apparent addiction to buying very tiny Mary Tyler Moore clothing.
• she refuses to turn around, so will be removed from her comfortable little nest either tomorrow or on the 30th.
• she will be loved.

the unknown:

• is not so scary anymore.

Well, it’s been quite an incredible year. I’m so grateful to the amazing clients/friends and fellow photographers who’ve made it possible.

2010 is shaping up to be a very big year for Wink Photography, and for me personally.

This week, David and I are off to Nashville to attend the annual Digital Wedding Forum Convention. Last year the convention was in the hot January sun of Phoenix, but I’ve always wanted to see the southern states so this is still a big treat for me (even in the snow). It’s four solid days of learning, networking, sourcing out new products and services…and maybe a little dancing. I’m once again looking forward to coming back with some exciting new ideas and products to share with my couples for 2010.

I’m also looking forward to our last four days which will be spent as tourists, and staying at the Union Station Hotel. A converted 1900s train station with jaw-dropping architecture. Also, one of the top 20 US Haunted Hotels!

In other 2010 news….

Last summer we did some serious new home searching (it’s not easy to find space + affordability in Vancouver!), and found a fabulous condo that will be completed hopefully within the next month. Finally, we’ll have a studio and meeting space in our home. Photos to come!

And speaking of rooms, when we bought this 3 bedroom place we thought we’d have our bedroom, a studio, and a guestroom…but it turns out guests will now have to camp out on the terrace….since it’s going to be a baby room instead! We’re definitely looking forward to this new adventure, and my due date of May 5th is quickly approaching!

Luckily the timing has also worked out well…so I won’t be accepting any weddings in May/early June this year, but the rest of the wedding season won’t be affected. I’m 5 1/2 months right now, but am still continuing to take on engagement sessions and such until (hopefully) March 1st.

If you’re interested in booking this year, don’t delay because July and August are filling up fast!

I’ll leave you with one of my favourite ads from PPABC’s (Professional Photographers Assoc of BC)  2009 ad campaign. Happy 2010 everyone!