beginnings…

Where did you come from baby dear?  Out of the everywhere into the here…

Katie & Tyler…

Despite wickedly cold temps & some serious windchill…I totally loved shooting Katie & Tyler’s engagement photos over Christmas break.  Their gorgeous chocolate lab with her red bow was just the perfect prop!  Super excited for their wedding this summer…

another Polar Bear Swim!

omg - it was SOOOOO cold!  This was the 4th year for Parker, and the 1st year for Keaton…seriously - I think if you start your year jumping in a hole in a frozen lake, the rest of the year can only get better!

2012 will be a year with some big changes for me - I’m excited, and looking forward to seeing where it all leads.  Happy New Year to you all!

and the winner is…

I had so many amazing entries for my Do They Know It’s Christmas contest…every single entry was deserving of the win, but I had to narrow it down.  When doing so, I found it impossible to choose just one winner…so, I will be having one grand prize winner, and the 2nd family will receive a mini photo shoot and all of their photos on a disc…

The winning entry came from Braden Kika…

Hi Laureen, I thought that I would send in an email entering my brother and his new family into your contest.

My brother Wes and his girlfriend Kyla welcomed their first child this sept 5 in Kamloops BC. Austin McCall Graham. All was going well with Austin until at 10 days old they were contacted by there Dr and told that Austin was PKU positive. Its a very rare genetic disorder that in short does not allow him to break down protien, a very dangerous disorder that can lead to severe brain damage. When caught early like Austin, they are able to control the levels in his blood with special diet and medicaiton.

My brother works for the Kamloops food bank gathering corporate donations and organizing drives and what ever else they need. Before kyla had Austin she also worked there. These 2 give so much to people in need.

They love family photos but will never be able to afford a luxury like a session with a professional. Kyla is always snapping photos and sharing them with everyone.

I nominate them for this wonderful gift you are offering. Thank you for your consideration, Braden Kika.

The second entry was also very moving, as I just can’t imagine losing all of my photos…

Hi Laureen.

I am putting a name into your contest please. The mom’s name is Meagan Hillier MacDonald. She is  a friend of mine and I met her when I lived in Williams Lake. Her family has been through soooo much. About 2 years ago, they lost their home in a house fire in Horsefly and everything they had was lost including their baby photos and family photos. It just broke my heart when she told me because family photos are so important to me.

While I was in WL, her luck didn’t get an better. She got sick and had to go in for some surgeries and was unable to work. One of  her daughters got sick shortly after that as well and was air lifted to the Children’s Hospital in Van where her kidneys shut down. She is fine now and her kidneys are healing as well. I think her family could really use this gift and I really hope she wins. Thanks Laureen. Have a Merry Christmas. All the best to you and your family in the New Year!

Love,

Melinda Marsh

If the two people who nominated the winners would let them know before Christmas…I would be very happy!

so many babies!

I have never been so behind in my blogging.  This fall was so busy…that I almost gave up on blogging completely!  I am finally feeling like I can breathe again, so am going to just start catching up when I’m able to find the time.

Rob & Robin invited me to join them for the birth of their baby girl.  The only thing better than photographing a birth…is photographing another birth for the same family!  I was so honoured to be part of this most special moment…thank you both.  So excited to see you add some pink into your family!

i heart faces…furry faces

Every year at least once, we foster a momma cat and her kittens for the local SPCA.  This is such a fun time for my kids…but it sure is tough to give them back!  I’m not a huge cat person…but I fell very much in love with this little face.  His name was Potato (ummm…yeah - no idea where the kids got that from!), and he was a sweetheart!  This is my photo entry for the I Heart Faces Furry Faces contest!

do they know it’s Christmas?

and in our world of plenty

we can spread a smile of joy

throw your arms around the world

at Christmas time

I love to give…I try hard year round to keep the spirit of giving, and to teach it to my boys.  At Christmas though…it’s so easy to see just how fortunate we are.

This year I’d like to give my gift of photography to a deserving family.  Professional photography is a luxury that many cannot afford…I feel so grateful that my children will have photos of themselves that forever capture special times of our life - pictures are so priceless!

Please send me an email to laureencarruthers@hotmail.com and tell me about a family who you think would enjoy this gift.  I will be offering a session, all photos on a CD, and a 16×20 canvas.  For every email I get, I will also be making a donation to the food bank.  I’ll share the family that I chose on my blog sometime in the near future.

We all have something of ourselves we can give…what is your gift this holiday season?

11.11.11

The Rusty Bucket…

I am so excited to share photos from the opening of The Rusty Bucket.  Getting here has not been easy for my dear friend Rena.  There have been many tears, laughs, bottles of wine consumed…a whole range of emotions to get her to where she is today.  I am SO proud of her though…she has endured much, and come out absolutely shining!  So…welcome to the Rusty Bucket…it is absolutely AMAZING!

As I was taking photos of all of the amazing products…this little sign just jumped out at me…it truly describes the last couple of years of Rena’s life…and seemed so fitting to be on display tonight.

Congratulations my friend…I hope your new path will bring you much happiness.

Hanging out with the C+ Crew!

Roy Call of C+ Rodeos made the mistake of mentioning to Griffin earlier this year, that if we were to come out to the ranch, Griff could sit on a bull!  Lol…Roy didn’t know just quite what a huge deal that would be to Griffin - or that Griff would bug me about it pretty much every week for the whole summer - which in turn meant I would have to bug Kelly (Roy’s wife…)!  FINALLY…we found a day when Roy wasn’t off at a rodeo…and we took everyone but Parker & headed out for an afternoon!  Griff was raring to go - he wasn’t even a bit hesitant to climb up on this 2000 pound animal!  For me…well - I just wanted a cool shot for Facebook - so…it had to be done right?!  (much thanks to Brooke who had a giggle at the fact that I picked out my fave boots and NON cowboy jacket to wear for the day!).  We had  a fabulous time - the Calls definitely live Griffin’s dream life.  What lucky kids Cody & Brooke are to be growing up in such a great place!  Thanks again for the awesome and very educational afternoon Roy.  Sure hope we can make it an annual visit!

The very regal looking horses and the bull in the field have been chosen to be part of the stock lineup for the National Finals Rodeo that is in Edmonton next month!