documentographer » life photographer

Too much has happened, and sleep is beckoning, so I can’t even really begin to blog at this point, but I also couldn’t resist blogging.  So, I’m going to give you both.  To find out what’s really been going on, and to see some of my photos from the last two days, check out the Girl Impact Blog. www.girlimpact.org/blog For my non-blog entry, have a look at a few pics I took on the side today, here.  

They are from the UNICEF school we visited in Kibera, one of Africa’s largest slums just outside Nairobi.  

Ah ha ha!  How could I resist this last one?

I told you, I’m delirious!  Over and out.  Tomorrow we leave our sweet visit here in Nairobi, and head to Tanzania to begin our much anticipated Kilimanjaro climb.  You probably won’t be hearing from me here for another week, but do follow us on the Girl Impact blog.  We will be posting the blood, sweat and tears…

ps — If you are new to my blog, and have no idea what’s going on, check out this post for an explanation: http://www.documentographer.com/blog/?p=907

I met Tara when I was eleven at summer camp.   Photographing her wedding at the Lake of Bays on Tuesday was a beautiful full-circle.  She and Peter held their wedding at Port Cunningham Lodge, and all the guests stayed in cabins, just like at camp.  In fact, all of the old camp friends were there, too.

It actually was a perfect wedding that embodied all things Tara — the canoe, the sun breaking through the clouds for the ceremony, fabulous friends and family, hilarious jokes (they met doing improv. see photo below.), and totally laid back.  So laid back, in fact, it didn’t matter that their wedding was on a Tuesday.  Why not?

In my opinion, it was the perfect send off — to summer, and to these two wonderful people in their lives together. Thank you so much for including me in this very special occasion.

Meredith and Troy had a black and white wedding on Saturday.  It only seemed fitting that our photos were at Sunnyside Pavilion.

I loved this theme.  The dresses, the look, the decor, all of it.  Noire et Blanche.

Dear readers,

I’m going to be super clear here, so you understand what’s going on.  Because if you are coming here for wedding pics in the next couple of weeks, you might get confused.  Yes, I am still photographing weddings. But from Sept 27-Oct 11, I am photographing a life event of a different sort…

As I mentioned in a post last week, I am heading to Kenya to document the trip of 12 sixteen-year-olds from Scarborough, as they make a voyage of a lifetime.  Through Girl Impact, they have raised almost $50,000 for the UNICEF Kenya Scholarship Fund.  This means that they have raised enough money to send 12 Kenyan girls all the way through high school.  Isn’t that amazing?

If you think this is cool, and you want to donate to the scholarship, click here: https://secure.unicef.ca/portal/SmartDefault.aspx?at=1312

After living in the dorm in Nairobi and going to school for a few days, they are heading to complete the fitness component of their program. One that they have been training for months for.  Over 8 days, they will climb Mt. Kilimanjaro.

It is hard to say exactly how this will impact their lives.  I went on a 36 day canoe trip when I was 16.  At the time, I knew it was a big deal.  But I never could have guessed the extent that it influenced my life thereafter. That one trip taught me about my strengths and weaknesses, about true friendship and deeply cemented my relationship with nature and my care for the environment.

For these girls to be going on this trip at that age, means they will never be the same.  It could influence their own belief in their abilities and relationship with challenges, their ideas about the global village, their understanding of how they can make a difference for other peoples’ lives, and will affect their daily lives back home.  If that’s not an impact, I don’t know what is.

If you think this is cool, and you want to donate to the trip funds, click here: http://www.bruzer.com/girlimpact/index.php?option=com_shop&sf=2&task=viewItem&id=129

So. I am very fortunate to be heading on the trip as well, to document it for Girl Impact.  There are an amazing team of us going with the girls, including founders Leanne Nicolle and Jane Shaw (I don’t even understand how they brought this miracle together!), two awesome staff from the Toronto District School Board, former olympian Marnie McBean,  Roz Allen the videographer extraordinaire (Citizen Janes), and Laura Wills (www.Mssngr.com) who magnificently created the websites, the logo and will be blogging and working as our media/communications team director.  I’m ridiculously excited!!

To help raise funds on my end, I am donating photos that I take on the trip, to anyone who donates $100.  This is a cool project because you can buy the photo in advance, and it’s like a surprise.  You are supporting now, and choosing your photo later.

If you think this is cool, and you want to buy a photograph taken by me on the trip, click here: http://www.girlimpact.org/gi_promise_photo_project

Last but not least, if you don’t want to donate, but you want to follow our journey, please read our blog!

There will be posts here when I can, but main blogging will be from the Girl Impact site, here: http://www.girlimpact.org/blog We will be going to great lengths to blog from the mountain where we can.  Your views would be greatly appreciated!!!

Whew!  More writing than usual. You with me?  Say HABARI!

Anna and Darrell got married last weekend in their hometown of Merville, on Vancouver Island.

Their celebration was so simple, yet so thoughtful, creative  and special.  I’ve noted the details for you that were unique to their wedding, and to them.  Just follow these 10 simple steps!

1. a small army of mothers who “chop and chat”, prepping dinner for 170 people.

2. mason jars as candles in the trees.

3. flowers from local gardens.

4. beach wedding with the mountains in the background. (*Bonus: clouds clearing for duration of ceremony and portraits only*)

5. the groom’s family of fishermen who catch the halibut and crabs for dinner.

6. imagination for bridal party outfits, including hats for the boys, and different dresses for the girls.

7. rockin’ family members not afraid to pick up a bass at any given moment.

8. many children who love to play, dance and run around.

9. a small town of 2,000 people in the West coast that has the ingredients of #1-8.

10. a perfect match with a perfect baby.

If you want to see it all put together, here is their slideshow.  Enjoy!

Darrell + Anna.  Where to begin?

The day before yesterday, I walked around Stanley Park for five hours, and then climbed Grouse Mountain in Vancouver.  Why would I do such a thing, you may ask.  (Trust me, that night I was asking the same question!)

The reason is, I am training.  Or trying to, at least.  In in 3 weeks I am climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. And I have to get ready!!

I am incredibly fortunate and excited to be documenting a trip at the end of September being taken by a Girl Impact team of 12 16-year-old girls from 5 Scarborough High Schools.  Through this mentorship program, they have raised almost $50,000 to send 10 Kenyan girls through highschool.  As the fitness component of their program, they will be climbing Mt. Kili.  Isn’t that cool?  Have a look at the lil trailer:

They are *almost* at the $50,000 mark.  So, until we leave, we are fundraising like crazy.  On Sunday Sept 13, we are having a Spin-a-thon.  I have promised to bring a Documentographer Team.  Will you be on it with me?

Don’t worry if you are fit or not.  I have only done Spinning once, and fell off my bike. However, we will have fun!!!  

It’s $40 each or $100 for a team of 4, and you sign up here: http://www.girlimpact.org/gi_spin It’s from 2-6pm at the Goodlife at Davisville.   Just sign up, and shoot me an e-mail to let me know how awesome you are.

If you are inspired by this story or this mission at all, your time on Sunday would help us get another $4,000!!   

Please come and be on the Documentographer team!  

ps — Here are a couple pics from my journey in the park.