I Love to See My Kids Happy!

Erin at the Valley Model Meet and Greet in Abbotsford

Much of our family life has been spent enjoying and supporting our son, Stuart’s love of hockey.

Although Erin used to be very active in gymnastics and dance, she had to stop several years ago due to a physical disability. Since then, she has seemed lost, the only sure thing being her love of photography.

Lately, Erin seems to have found her calling, and it’s such a treat to see her so happy!

We’ve all known and encouraged her interest in photography. She’s amazingly talented and has had an interest in photography since she was eight years old, when she took her very first professional quality shot of her ‘daddy’ silhouetted while fishing. No one ever believes that an eight year old took it.

Erin's Dad Fishing at Night

It’s nice to see her start to realize her lifelong dream of becoming a photographer. She’ll be attending the Photography program at Langara College in Vancouver in September 2011 and plans on living in Vancouver (so scary for me and her father).

Recently she started networking with photographers from the Chilliwack Valley online and learned of the first ‘Valley Model Meet and Greet’, attending it yesterday. She returned with the biggest smile on her face – probably the biggest I’ve seen on her since her graduation two years ago at sixteen.

Erin (green dress), Jay Smith (photographer) and other models at the Valley Model Meet and Greet

As well as meeting the photographers and models, she actually modeled herself – and I’m amazed at how well she did! The few photos she has seen so far are really good and she’s received requests from individual photographers to model again. She has also been invited to bring her equipment next time and take some photographs herself.

I have no doubt she will both model and take photographs in the future. She had so much fun!

It seems that the Valley Model Meet and Greet was such a success that it will be a monthly event from here on out.

Erin, congratulations on starting your photography career. I know it’s been a struggle and a long wait for you, but I’m sure this will all pay off big for you in the long run.

Below is a slideshow of images from Erin’s first ever modelling session.

Update: Two days after this shoot Erin was asked to take part in a test shoot with photographer Peter Classen for an upcoming photography project. I’ve added my favourites of these images to the slideshow.

Click ‘Next’ to scroll through the slideshow below…

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