maternity leave
Jeremy & I are expecting a baby in 2.5 weeks! I can’t believe how fast time has flown. We’re super excited to meet our little one, hold him or her in our arms & find out what the crazy world of parenting is all about…
This foray into parenting does mean, however, that I’ll be taking a one-year maternity leave (June 2011 – June 2012). I will not be booking any sessions during this time. And, after much thought & consideration, I will not be returning to photography after my maternity leave, either. One of the reasons for this has to do with our family situation. My husband will be finishing his degree next summer and we’ll be moving to the East Coast next September (Lord willing) so that he can attend seminary.
I have loved working with all my photography clients & would like to thank each one of you for trusting me with your wedding, engagement, family, newborn & maternity sessions. Each one was so much fun! I’ve learned so much over the past year and a half thanks to you. 
In addition to my wonderful clients, there are many, MANY other people to thank:
* Jeremy, my wonderful husband, for putting up with me either being away from home or parked in front of the computer 24/7. You have been my number one fan from day one and I could not have gotten through the past one and a half years without you. THANK YOU MY LOVE!
* Rachel Ludwig, talented photographer, for meeting with me and my sister before our first wedding and answering a thousand nervous questions. You gave us so many great tips and the confidence we needed. THANK YOU!
* Duane & Skye, my brother and sister-in-law, for asking me to photograph their wedding. Theirs was the first wedding I shot – and still my favourite to this day! THANK YOU GUYS!
* My family, for constantly being my guinea pigs in front of the camera and for the wonderful support. THANKS SO MUCH!
* To friends near and far, for supplying me with so much love & support over the years. THANKS TO EACH ONE OF YOU!
There are many talented local photographers – I’ll direct you to one of my favourites for your future photography needs.
I’ll wrap up this post with a few photos from our own mini maternity session (with thanks to Jeremy for the photos of myself):
Cheers!
XO
Arenda
easter weekend : personal
I have been blessed w/ some of the cutest nephews + nieces around! Easter weekend was spent w/ a bunch of them…
marcus : one year photo session
Marcus just turned one, so we hung out this afternoon for some photos of this time in his life. What an adorable little man he is! He’s a laid-back and relaxed – but very speedy!! – little guy! Enjoy this little sneak peek, Andrea… I’ll get the rest of the photos to you shortly.
love : john david + tessa
John David + Tessa married each other a couple weeks ago… it was a joy to photograph their wedding (alongside my BIL Anthony). We photographed Tessa’s twin’s wedding together last year (okay, so Tessa and Brittani aren’t twins – but they sure look a lot alike!!). Here are the girls getting ready the morning of the wedding… (click on any set of photos to see them enlarged).
John David + Tessa got married in the Arnold Community Church, right across the road from where John David grew up.
We stayed around the Arnold area for photos. It was a clear, frigid day… kudos to JD + Tessa for bearing with the howling, arctic wind that afternoon!!! I think it was worth it in the end!
Congratulations you two – so very happy for the both of you!!!
little sweetheart : noah john
Here’s one frame from today – isn’t little Noah absolutely adorable??!
vanderhorst family photos
And… the lovely VanderHorst family. They very obligingly met with me on New Years Day for a brief family photo shoot.
A couple more photos of Brenda, as well as some of Russ (alas, the chin-lifting photos did not make it onto the blog!)…
And, last but not least, a few photos of Terry and Kelsey (of KV Bijou fame – if you haven’t seen Kelsey’s jewelry yet, you should totally check it out!). 
On a side noted, some people have been asking if I’m still booking photo sessions this spring – I’m actually all booked up (i.e., focusing on my job as a nurse and, of course, growing this little baby inside me!) unless you’re reeeeeeeeeeally close friends or family (coming up soon… Rifka and Mike’s newborn son, Noah!).
sneak peek : bosma family photos
The delightful Bosma family and I trekked through some snow the other week to get some family photos… here’s a little sneak peek!
More to come soon!
merry christmas! :)
We’re heading out to Mexico bright and early tomorrow morning (I know, rough life, hey?)… so I’m taking the opportunity now to wish you all a wonderful Christmas!
Many thanks to my talented brother-in-law Anthony for snapping some pics of me + my hubby this holiday season!
al + cecilia : wedding
Al + Cecilia met each other at Starbucks. Here is their “how-me-met” story in Cecilia’s words: “I worked at Starbucks, and he was my favourite customer and we used to talk all the time. Then one day I worked up the courage to give him my phone number, and we went out a couple of times. Then we found out we live just down the road from each other! We have been best friends ever since.” Isn’t that such a sweet story? I love it.
Here is Cecilia getting ready on her wedding day ~ just a few houses away from where Al was getting ready! Click on the image sets to see them blown up a bit:
Al + Cecilia had a beautiful church ceremony:
Then we drove out to the Fort to Fort trail for some photos:
Enjoy your photos Al + Cecilia. The rest will be coming in the mail shortly!
gary + theresa : wedding!
Gary + Theresa are married! Here are a few of their wedding photos… I love red roses – and red shoes!
Hello big, beautiful window! What a perfect backdrop you are to Theresa’s amazing dress!
Theresa, you are gorgeous!
Fun bridal party! Look at all those great smiles!
Gary and Theresa look great in black and white:
And a few more colour photos to round things out…
Crazy girls:
Locations: Heron Reserve, Sardis, BC; Private Residence, Sardis, BC.
