Here is the ARTY Awards slideshow. To view more photos and to order prints please go here. (Event ID: arty)

The ARTY awards are handed out each year by the Abbotsford Arts Council to individuals and businesses that have contributed to artistic life in Abbotsford. This year there were 50 nominees and 10 awards were handed out. Here is more information on the event, as well as short bios on the winners. We will be posting a slide show of the event later this week. In the meantime, here are a few photographs …

Helen from the band Deception

Bhangra dancers

Kristal Barrett

Karen Lee Batten

Representatives from the Yevshan Ukrainian Dancers accepting their award.

Abbotsford Children’s Theatre

Another award winner

Master of Ceremonies

All of the 50 nominees

We are still behind on blogging but are hoping to catch up this week. We will be posting pictures from the Rotary Club’s April in Paris even at the Ramada Inn and Conference Centre in a few days, as well as recent portrait sessions.

In his previous career, Jason was a designer at Site Lines Architecture. It was a treat for him to go back and photograph one of the buildings that the firm designed and that he worked on while he was still there. Here are a few favorites …

We’ll be doing the 3rd annual shoot for Mally Bibs in a few weeks and Nicole of Mally Bibs is looking for models. Check out the MallyBibs Blog for more information.

Jason went down to sunny, Kits Beach in Vancouver, BC for some lifestyle photography of myMonkeymoo Designs Ltd. They have the coziest stroller pads and blankets for hip babies …

Clare and Morgan got married this weekend on the sunny, yet very chilly, Saturday, April 19th. Here are a few of our many, many favorites …

Morgan getting ready. It was quite entertaining watching 9 guys creating a production of putting on their tuxes. They definitely win the award for most preening.

Maureen, Clare’s mom, helping her into her dress.

Their wedding ceremony was at St. Dunstan’s Anglican Church in Aldergrove, BC.

We went to Clare’s family’s horse farm in Aldergrove for pictures. It was sunny but that didn’t mean it was warm!

The bridesmaids received cute boots from Clare.

Special for Dustin – the Reservoir Dogs.

Bella.

Clare’s parents own and operate Milsean in Aldergrove where they make amazing sweets and have trendy products. This is the third wedding we have photographed where Maureen has made the cake. Of all the cakes we photograph they always look the tastiest. As Darcie’s editing the pictures, her friends are hearing her rave about Maureen’s butter cream icing all over again.

Darcie – Xander digging in the mud of the Fraser River.

There are some amazing events coming up in Abbotsford that benefit two local causes that are near and dear to our hearts – the children’s wing of the new hospital and local artists.

The Abbotsford Arts Council is presenting their annual ARTY Awards to 10 deserving artists, teachers, volunteers or sponsors on April 22, 2008 at the Matsqui Centennial Auditorium. We will be there to provide photography coverage of the event and have also made a donation of a Revival Arts Studio portrait session with a 24×30 inch canvas to the silent auction. If you’ve been looking for a creative way to get one of our gallery wrap canvas prints on your wall, this is a great opportunity for you. More info here.

The Abbotsford Rotary Club is presenting April in Paris at the Ramada Inn and Conference Centre on April 26th to benefit the children’s wing of the new Abbotsford Regional Hospital and Cancer Centre. Again, we will be providing photo journalistic coverage of the event and a Revival Arts Studio portrait session and 24×30 inch canvas worth $877 will be part of the silent auction. We are looking forward to sampling food prepared by the Canadian Olympic Culinary team. More info here.

We have several large projects and a wedding that we will be shooting this week so we apologize in advance for a lull in blog posts. Jason is also working on a new website and preparing prints for the Professional Photographers of British Columbia competition so be sure to check back.

Jason – one of the potential entries for the PPOC competition.

Melissa + Ken celebrated their birthdays with a princess party. Melissa is very up on who’s who among the Disney Princesses and showed off her knowledge by naming all the princesses on our plates. She was bursting with excitement over her purple castle cake and had fun ripping the paper off her presents. And the best part is she gets to repeat it all again for two more birthday parties!

Ken’s birthday excitement and attention was overshadowed if not eclipsed by Melissa’s. He was a good sport and wore his princess crown with the pride of a Daddy of a three year old cutie.

Here are some of our favorite pics …

Madflower rocked the house on Saturday at Ethical Addictions in the second performance of the Envision Coffee House Concert Series in Abbotsford, BC. Madflower is known for their unique blend of throught provoking lyrics, bluesy groove and their love of performing for audiences and did not disappoint this weekend. Madflower is made up of Willis Taylor, Steve Walsh, Kevin Phillips and Eric VanSteenis.

Every Saturday night until the end of June and then again September – November there will be live music in coffee houses throughout Abbotsford. Here are the next few weeks:
April 19 – Two Twelve Degrees at Chapleo’s Coffee Bistro (rock to jazz standards)
April 26 – The Carissa Neufeld Trio at Clayburn Gourmet Gallery (jazz standards and original music)
May 3 – JD Miner at Legal Grounds Coffeehouse (hillbilly jazz)
May 10 – The Brent Ellis Group at Mt. Lehman City Blends (smooth jazz covers and originals)

The weather today was beautiful and it finally feels like spring. We spent a lot of time outside and even went to one of our favorite parks which has a forest area right next to it. Of course, Jason managed to snap some pics of the kids in between pushing on the swings, running in the trees and listening to tales of ouchies.

Xander is 5 years and Lexi is 1 3/4 years. Xander is into spaceships and Lego in a very big way. His desk next to mine has been dubbed “Lego Land” and features about 10 of his latest creations. In lieu of Lego, he was flying sticks around the forest. Lexi is literally into everything she can get her little hands on. Right now it’s ambidextrous scribbling while sitting on my lap and a moment ago it was tapping the server keyboard in the storage room. She is very busy.

Each age and stage has its beauty and quirks which make it unique. If it’s time for your child to get photographed in whatever stage he is in, you will want to sign up for one of our kid sessions. The sessions are $100 and we will create fun and natural portraits of your child being herself. We are offering urban, nature, playground and studio settings during April and May. Call 604-864-6339 or email for more information or to reserve your time.