lara shea photography

insta-discoveries.

emma has this perfect small feature on her blog, called 'insta-discoveries'. i believe her intent was in shaking things up with new images, and feeling inspired with fresh and new online images. i am in need of constant change. so i'm always using the internet to move things around - new people to find, and new things to see.
so, to share my faves this week. insta-discoveries.


1. ariel alasko from brooklyn to west. she makes the most unbelievably stunning wooden pieces. i wish i could describe them, but you need to see them to understand. as if 'wooden creations' wasn't enough, she has the cutest studio assistant (who also happens to be a dog), and an eye for the most natural of studio settings. i love seeing her shots in my feed multiple times daily.
2. shayna stevenson from sojourn. i admit, a part of my love for her feed is that she's in toronto, and she lives in my old hood. it means that i get a little taste of toronto a few times a day. but, in addition to that, she takes stunning photos, makes beautiful pottery (including clay beaded necklaces that are incredible), great style, and seems to have a pretty kick ass life. jealous.
3. lara shea from lara shea photography. call me biased, because we're related, but lara is a photographer who specializes in outdoor photography, and her cute daughter. perfect combo? yup. she knows lighting like crazy, and makes instagram into her own personal studio. it's incredible.
4. erin leydon, from leydon photography. erin is a photographer based out of toronto (i know, again. i'm homesick). professionally, she photographs everything from weddings to food features for magazines. but my favourite thing about erin? her life is filled with colourful, magical and wonderful people... and she captures them all. i only wish she sent more shots to instagram. her life is fascinating.
who are your favourites lately?

mountain passes

on our travels, i was lucky enough to be invited to stay with my amazing and lovely cousin lara for the night. we enjoyed amazing food (the first time since my aunt's in the sault and my cousin's in thunder bar, that i didn't have carbs galore - and yes, my stomach hated me for it), playtime with her daughter, and a bonus visit with my uncle al, who was visiting - and gave us a pleasant surprise when he opened the door.
lara, in addition to being one of my amazingly wonderful cousins (maybe i'm biased, but my cousins are the best in the world), lara is an incredibly talented photographer. so, in addition to having time to spend with her, we were also able to get out into the mountains the next morning, and take some photos. lara is spectacular. i can't say that enough - i've worked with a TON of photographers throughout my life, and lara's direction is fabulous. what she looks for is subtle and strong.

and. i have to say. i'm perhaps one of the most awkward people alive. anyone who knows me will attest to that. there's something to be said for a photographer who embraces, and loves human expression, and movement. and listen - when you're in the mountains, and snow is blowing into your eyes, and it's freezing cold, and you can't help but squint in the sun (MAN. life is tough. photoshoots in the mountains. sigh). she digs it. she embraces it. she makes it something wonderful. 


lara does everything. she shoots families and weddings. she shoots mountains and camping. she is also a fantastic artist, who paints like a crazy woman. i'm lucky enough to have one that was painted just for me (which did indeed make the trip across the country in the truck). i insist you check out more of lara's work here. and, her facebook page, where she regularly updates photos from recent shoots.
i have access to some of the best photographers i've ever seen. friends and family. how does a girl get SO lucky??

photos from a roadtrip

after arriving in Vancouver, i'm working on my resume (i know, i know, procrastination at it's extreme), and taking care of some other details that i finally have time for. imagine that - time for things that matter, like income tax, business particularities, and friend correspondence.
in the meantime, here are some photos from my roadtrip. very few, but some to share the experience nonetheless.
an unanticipated night in winnipeg, thanks to a cracked transmission  //  daily essentials on a road trip  //  the prairies are a beautiful wasteland  //  when you don't wash your hair for a long time, you end up with a mohawk meets cowlick 

perhaps the most beautiful (in design) hotel room i've ever stayed in  //  a stop for a photoshoot with lara in the mountains  //  the view in kamloops upon waking - or maybe mid dream  //  kamloops bike ranch - municipalities take people's health more seriously out west apparently (photo from jeff)

just a smattering. stay tuned for plenty of posts inspired by my roadtrip.