Archive for July, 2010

welcome home!

Tuesday, July 27th, 2010

Welcome to my brand photography site!

I have been shooting professionally for almost two years now. When I started up back in the summer of 2008, I had no idea just how much creativity or joy from doing something just for me was missing from my life. My life, with six kids underfoot. Along came the opportunity to pick up my camera again. The chance to do something just for me. Photography has taken me on the most wonderful journey I could ever imagine. I am thankful for the all of the photo friends that have come into my life to stay, and for the encouragement from many different people along the way. When I feel like giving up, they are right there encouraging me to keep going. I am so happy to be a part of this giving community!

My new sites (both my boudoir site, and my photography site) wouldn’t be possible, or near as wonderful without the help and assistance from many people. The idea of creating two very separate and unique sites was a concept that was being developed back in January 2010. By February 18th, I had my very first meet up with my amazing designer Tanya Zboya of Zboya Design. She came up with so many beautiful concepts that I had a tough time choosing!  I cannot say enough wonderful things about her, her work and her understanding of my very specific wants and needs. So thank you Tanya, from the bottom of my heart. I also want to thank Shane for doing all of the web stuff for me. I am so happy with how well it all turned out. We are talking MONTHS and months later to get everything as perfect as possible! I felt my past sites did not represent me, or speak to my clients and potential clients in the way I wished to represent myself on the web. Thus, the big change moving away from my template sites. They did serve their purpose for the time that I needed them. Although, the whole time I was wishing for a big change!  I would look at both of my sites and not feel proud of them. I just felt I had what a lot of other photographers had out there. I realized I didn’t want to be like everybody else, because I am NOT like everybody else. I am me, Cathy Empey. This is my point of view, and I want my sites to reflect who I am. Who I am as a photographer. This whole process has been a wonderful learning process as well! A wise Californian photographer by the name of  [ b ] had shared in his knowledge and suggested spending money on a custom website.  So, finally I took the leap. A bit scary at first to make yet more changes, but excited to create something that was totally me. Now, when I look at my two new sites, I finally feel like I have what I have wanted this whole time!

Onto some more thank yous.

I also would like to say thank you to some wonderful wordsmiths in my life: Emma, and Kelly for writing some of the info on my sites for me. I couldn’t express (truly…)  how much they both have helped me on both of my sites. I also would love to say thank you to my husband, Cliff and my six kids. They allowed me the time away from them all to get what I need to get done. And they continue to do so whenever I need it. They have been my biggest supporters. I am thankful to them all.

I would also like to thank my past clients for placing all of their trust in my vision to create for them their images. Trusting me to create images that are whimsical (true fact: I grew up with my Mom calling my whimsy and I love it!) lovely, delightful and fresh. I am always striving to create images that are unique to the client. Images that will be passed down from generation to generation. T

Two more important thank yous to give:  Jennifer Rodriguez-Cruz for the photographs of me on my site and of course Scarlett for beautifying me for my close ups! So much appreciated!

I hope all will enjoy my brand new photography new site! Please bookmark it you wish, and subscribe to the reader!  If you ‘like’ me please join my photography page on Facebook. And if you want read my tweets, I am also on twitter.

Also, I had posted several new posts before this official welcome. Be sure to click on the blog, and search the archives.

delightfully,

cathy

featured | brenda’s wedding blog

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010

The Garden Party Collection from Breathe Couture was featured on Brenda’s Wedding Blog. Congratulations to Jenn on her fabulous line of one-of-a-kind pieces. Thank you Brenda, for your kind words.

to view the blog post, click here.

sweet 16

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010

C’s Grandma asked me to shoot some headshots for her, and to also capture some images of her granddaughter C.

Sweet 16.

So, plans were made. C and her Grandma got all beautified at a local spa together, and then, off we headed to my very favourite spot in Langley. As a fun bonus, C’s friend R came along for some photo fun! The evening was awesome, and a lot of laughter  (and straightfaced, focused looks and coaching) ensued. All in the name of fun! It was a beautiful evening!

Thank you so much to D, C and R for spending the evening with me. I have posted a few of my faves below.

with delight,

cathy

Grandchildren are the dots that connect the lines from generation to generation. ~Lois Wyse

adam & lesley | 1st anniversary shoot

Sunday, July 18th, 2010

When my photo BFF Lesley and I met for coffee at the local Starbucks one night, she had a question for me. “Would you photograph Adam and I for our one year anniversary that was coming up in June?” Ummmm…and  the only thing that ran through my mind was, ..this friend wanted Jasmine Star to shoot her wedding. That didn’t work out, because of the travel, so who then shoots their wedding? The Jamie Delaine. Ummm, you want ME to do WHAT? LOL. I felt kind of nervous all of a sudden! Oh, and Lesley also happens to be an amazing photographer herself!  Ahhhh! Shooting for other photographers always makes me a bit nervous. Not that I cannot do it, but because I want them to LOVE their images, and of course the experience of working with me. It was truly an honour to be asked. So, thank you Lesley and Adam!

The shoot date we had planned…rained out. More like soaked us out. Not a chance, bad-west coast rainy day. Totally June-uary weather for sure. Bummer indeed. So, we rescheduled to the following week, which was following Saturday, July 3rd. Thankfully this date was a beautiful day! Whew. I had scouted two really great locations and off we went! First to a really cool abandoned gas station, and then to a hazelnut grove. For some wine, cheese and bread. Except this wasn’t any old bottle of wine. It was one bottle of a few bottles of wine that their wedding guests had signed the day they got married. So, it was a very special bottle, uncorked in the hazelnut field. Delightful.

Thank you both for inviting me to your special anniversary party for two. Thank you for inviting me to share in your goodies, and for the lovely conversation in that beautiful grove. I day I will not likely forget.

Happy Anniversary to two wonderful people I am proud to call friends.

Cathy xo

Here are some of my favourites from their day!

breathe couture shoot

Sunday, July 18th, 2010

I had the pleasure of working with what we call TEAM AWESOME on Monday, June 28th. I was asked to do a shoot featuring some amazing accessory pieces that Jennifer Koning had created. She wanted a vintage-look theme for the shoot, and OH, how it all came together. Honoured to be asked to work with such a wonderful team of professionals, and thankful for the referral. Together, with Jenn, our team including two beautiful models, make up and hair peeps, and a stylist. The shoot took place at one of my favourite little places EVER, the  Little White House in Fort Langley, BC.

To check out Breathe Couture, the Etsy shop here, or on twitter. The pieces are such statement pieces, and just gorgeous. A lot of blood, sweat and tears went into those pieces. Thank you also to Maryanne of Stimuli Magazine for taking some sweet behind-the-scenes look at the shoot which you can see below.

Thanks again TEAM AWESOME.


Here is a gallery of my faves from the day!

langley grad 2010 | J

Friday, July 16th, 2010

I always like to expand my knowledge, and shoot other photo sessions that get me out there, trying new things. And so when I saw that a friend’s daughter was graduating, I jumped at the chance to photograph a graduating grade 12! The evening was wonderful, and we had the chance to shoot in the most beautiful golden light. Congratulations on your grad J! All the best as you work towards all of your hopes and dreams! Cathy xo

Thank you to Scarlett Ballantyne for doing J’s beautiful make up and hair. To see all the images large, be sure to click on the gallery photos below.

derek & elizabeth: married | vancouver second shooter

Friday, July 16th, 2010

The lovely Danielle of Soltura Photography asked me to be a second shooter for the wedding of Derek & Eliazabeth. Danielle and I have become friends through photography. The photo community out here is amazing for that. I feel so blessed to know her.  She has an amazing eye, and she was a total blast to work with. You can see her images from the day here. Derek and Liz got married on Sunday, 23rd on a rainy summer afternoon at the Brock House in Vancouver. The wedding was to take place outdoors, but was moved inside. Equally as lovely. The day itself was beautiful, and the rain let up enough for some amazing photos! Congratulations to you both, and thank you again Danielle for having me along. Cheers to you all.

Here are some images I captured of their day.

anna & max’s wedding – the beach footage

Friday, July 16th, 2010

Oh what fun I had shooting anna & max’s wedding photos @ dundarave park back in May!  Here is a sweet little video of there photos! See if you can spot Laura and myself.

It was filmed and cut by Adam Zanotto. I hope you both are enjoying the summer, and of course married life! Cheers!