No matter where you go in Vancouver during the Spring, there’s beauty everywhere you look. Maybe it’s a random patch of tulips along the side of the road, or the look of lush cherry blossom trees in full bloom. Within a week, the first wave of blossoms are blown away by the wind and brought down by rain, but by mid-to-late April there’s a second wave of even pinker blossoms that will burst onto the scene. The days are longer and the sun shines warmer. After 3 months of dark winter weather, the change couldn’t be more appreciated.

Each year with the arrival of the cherry blossoms, I always think about where the “best place” is to capture them. As a photographer it’s tempting to think that if I just found the perfect location (which is always “elsewhere” or “not here”), my photos will turn out “better”. But the truth is there’s nothing really inherent in any place that guarantees such photos will be more loved than any other photo taken elsewhere. Take the location in the above photos as an example: a random street in Burnaby I happened to drive by. I noticed the windstorm going on while I was there, and I made the effort to try to capture it, resulting in a scene that makes most people remark, “Wow.”

What making good art really comes down to, is, I think, intention and presence. Capturing life, evoking feeling, and telling a story is just as (if not more) valid and impactful as capturing a sweeping landscape or a “perfect scene.” That’s not to say that images of the Grand Canyon or Banff National Park, for instance, aren’t majestic or awe-inspiring. But it is to say that you don’t necessarily need to be *there* to make magic. Beauty is everywhere. As an artist, it’s up to me to see it, and make others see it too.

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It’s not too late to book an outdoor portrait session for you and the family! (Dogs very welcome.)

Earlier this month on my Instagram page, I announced my “Babies & Blossoms” outdoor mini sessions starting at $285 plus tax. From now until April 27th, take advantage of this promotional pricing and get 5 fully edited digital images included with your 20-minute session. Offer valid in Vancouver, Burnaby, and Richmond. Travel outside of these areas may incur additional costs. Please email me at <jennlinphotography[at]gmail[.]com> for a free estimate.