Wanders in northwestern Ontario... | Chilliwack Photographer

Friends, I left the province for the first time in 6 years a couple weeks ago and it was so needed. There’s something about dipping your feet in Lake Superior, seeing fireflies under midnight skies, and sticking buttercups under your chin that just makes you feel like coming home to yourself.

I did so much - I’d forgotten the glow of country stars, how these little copper moths line the gravel roadways of Murillo and Conmee and spring up around you with every step, how Robin’s Donuts makes chocolate and coconut Robin’s eggs and they’re delicious.

And out in the family orchard, we spread some of my dad’s ashes under a red atlas apple tree. He would have loved that so much.

I took his luggage along with me, too, with a luggage tag proudly saying he’d visited Hawaii and his name and address spelled out in block capitals. I miss his writing. I miss his words and wisdom. Grief is something you always carry - even if it gets less heavier, sometimes, over time. I felt my dad with me every step of the way - but that’s like here, too. I don’t think those we love are ever far.

It was such a healing trip, and there is so much I’m healing and have been for so long. The last 5 years have passed like a blur and they’ve carried so much heaviness, so much loss, both for my family and for Jamie’s. We’ve lost 4 family members in 2 years, cancer, the pandemic, health. I felt something heal in me when I put my feet into the lake, when I travelled the old pathways me and my best friend Melissa struck out on 20 years ago. When I lay on the rocks and the gravel and felt so supported by the earth. What a beautiful thing to experience nature in these ways. I am so grateful I was able to do this.

The rest of the summer is stretching out before me and I have so many plans - mostly on healing & new projects. Sometimes that intersects. Often it does, because photographing & sharing things in these spaces is therapeutic for me, too.

I’m still taking submissions for Sourcing Joy and Grief Houses, you are so welcome to participate and there’s no fee to do it - these will be photo essays as a heart project of mine.

The pathway I’ve walked on for 20+ years, Lowkey taking a cozy snooze, feeding chickens, a butterfly with a broken wing, “Pride Lives Here” on my cousin’s house, a field of purple clover

The spot where we laid my dad’s ashes, and my cousin Melissa wandering her garden during golden hour, and Lilia and Lowkey in the field at midnight under a full moon

The Murphy House, my old dream house, as seen from the laneway, a copper moth resting on a wild daisy, my cousin planting marigolds at our grandparents’ grave, my goddaughter holding a small bouquet of wildflowers, making prints in the sun with Frankie and yard blossoms.

Lovett's & Ryan's | Chilliwack Extended Family Photographer

The only thing better than doing an extended family session is doing a session with your cousins. Jamie’s cousins came to town for a sweet little family sesh a few weeks ago & there was lots of sunshine, some of the most adorable kids in all the land, and all the roses June has to offer.

How We Self Care: the Condition of my Heart with Brenna Vink

How We Self Care: A Series of Photo Essays Exploring Individual Rituals of Self Care by Sarah Sovereign

“Discovering our needs and the voices of our body and spirit and what they are asking for is a unique and individual journey - and I truly believe that recognizing and giving space to listen, explore and develop this is an act of self care in and of itself. ”

I’m so excited to present the third installment from an ongoing series of photo essays that explore individual rituals of self care. 

About these Photo Essays: This project began when I started recognizing marketing around the concept of self care - especially marketing geared towards women - that seemed to summarize acts of self care as treats to be purchased, and/or overwhelming missives of things we “should” be doing to cope with expectations of busyness, the hustle, ingrained capitalism, the pressure to stay plugged in, perfect, et al. While I believe that every act of care we give to ourselves - big or small - is a triumph, I also believe that self care goes deeper. It doesn’t begin and end with self-soothing - self care is not always easy, or easily accessible to all. However, as this project has grown, I feel the need to reiterate - self care can be as simple as brushing your teeth. Eating a meal. There is no wrong way to give yourself care. But self care is more than what’s sold to us.

I believe self care can also involve us nurturing ourselves through the ecosystems in which we thrive, caring for ourselves via caring for the air we breathe into our lungs, the earth that supports us, the plants that nourish us - and so much more. Discovering our needs and the voices of our body and spirit and what they are asking for is a unique and individual journey - and I truly believe that recognizing and giving space to listen, explore and develop this is an act of self care in and of itself. 

The concept of this project grew from wanting to tell stories from a unique female-identifying perspective about some of the individual ways in which we engage in self care, however, over time I began to realize that self care culture is often targeted specifically towards women. In addressing this, I opened the project up to all voices, all perspectives, all identifies. Self care is for everyone, and I invite all to share their stories.

In documenting these self care rituals, I engage with a self care ritual of my own: visual storytelling. I am often compelled to make & create projects, and being able to document processes has always brought me peace. The interesting thing to me about this project is that it engages my own desire for self care as well, but doesn’t involve purchasing a product, or a list of things I should be doing to keep up. Instead, it mingles with the parts of myself that will always be fascinated by rituals of soothing, nurturing, connection and creation - while documenting the very real and incredibly individual stories of how we define care.

This is an ongoing series, and will slowly be developing over the next year or two.

“My heart in sharing these stories is to also protect the process - to make sessions that are soothing, comforting, engaging, sacred, and to present stories that are authentic to the person living them.”

One thing that’s been very important to me in developing this project is being able to hear the stories from the subjects - and so the words to follow were written by Brenna Vink, a local doula and mom of 2. We shot the session inside her beautiful home, hanging out with her daughter and newborn son, and her and her husband’s small pack of dogs (and one slightly ornery turtle!) When the images were done, Brenna reached out to me and said, “I really feel like we’re missing the breadbaking aspect, it is such an essential part of my self care”, so I went out and we shot again (the images with the bread).

It struck me, in going back, how much I truly enjoy documenting these stories, and how much I want them to be reflective of the people and perspectives writing them. My heart in sharing these stories is to also protect the process - to make sessions that are soothing, comforting, engaging, sacred, and to present stories that are authentic to the person living them. Going back and shooting another part of the story resulted in more images I love, and doing so felt right - it didn’t feel like work, it felt like connection.

This session is probably one of the most structured ones I’ve done thus far, but still, Brenna would take the time for pause and for herself through out the shooting process - and I’ve presented the story this way as well, juxtaposing time spent parenting, and time spent in care & solitude.

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The Condition of my Heart

By: Brenna Vink

TW: Traumatic Birth, Ectopic Pregnancy

Baking bread, garden flowers, + a tattoo that reads “Beloved”

As I reflect on the last two years, I am continually brought back to the condition of my heart. I have this deep desire to always be growing, I find it pointless for my life to stay in a season for too long without growth. 

In June 2017, my husband and I welcomed our daughter into this world. I remember my pregnancy being hard and not enjoyable. Now that I look back on it, I realize it was the condition of my heart that was in the wrong place. I wasn’t prepared for motherhood, or to welcome a new life into this world that was fully my responsibility. The day she was born my greatest fears were realized and she was born lifeless and not breathing, followed by many days in the NICU. This was extremely traumatic for my husband and now that I look back on it, me as well. We spent the next year trying to mentally recover from her birth and trying to find a connection with our new family member. PTSD and PPD are no joke; I’ll never forget the feeling of not understanding why I didn’t love my baby, why this wasn’t the blissful experience everyone spoke about.

The following year, while celebrating our daughter’s first birthday, I began to feel ill and not myself. My first thought was that I was pregnant or miscarrying. The fear and excitement I had at seeing that positive pregnancy test filled my still healing heart with a determination I hadn’t felt before. When we found out the pregnancy wasn’t “valid” , but called an ectopic pregnancy, and that the doctors needed to terminate it immediately or else I’d lose my fallopian tube, it was a huge blow to that newly determined heart of mine. I once again was in a state of confusion and misunderstanding of just “why”? I was so heartbroken for the baby I “couldn’t have”, and in that I took that determined heart and decided I needed to heal. I said to myself, if I can’t have this baby, I’ll have another, and I’ll do the work to grow from my past in order to enjoy pregnancy and motherhood.

“It’s all a process, and I’m constantly falling and picking myself back up, but it’s a reminder that getting back up is where the growth is and where the joy begins. ”

“Making the time to do these simple activities became an integral part of caring for myself, and by extension, my family. Ultimately, a huge part of my self care started in the time I made for myself to engage with it. ”

September, I got another positive pregnancy test and this time it was real. I welcomed the uncomfortable stages of pregnancy and knew I had a timeline for growth and didn’t want to waste a moment. I spent time with my daughter; loving her and exploring with her. I took time to renew my relationship with God which I felt was the stem for lifelong growth for myself and my family. I took time for myself. Now, many people have that one thing that brings them joy or provides the self care they need to get through the week. I didn’t feel this way; I saw self care as a variety things. I saw it as my heart healing and growing; and there are so many things that bring me joy. Anything from baking dessert for my friends on Thursday nights, to learning how to make sourdough, to planting flowers in my garden with my daughter, to sitting out on my porch and watching the cars on the highway drive by, to taking a bath and reading my bible in the silence of the night. Having just one thing seemed like a chore or an obligation, but I’ve found it so healing to just have self care be a part of my day in whatever I’m doing,  allowing it to bring joy and care to my heart.

Brenna and her daughter, getting ready to go into the garden.

Making the time to do these simple activities became an integral part of caring for myself, and by extension, my family. Ultimately, a huge part of my self care started in the time I made for myself to engage with it. 

As my upcoming birth crept up, I gave myself space to feel the fears and anxieties of my past experiences, I didn’t let them control me, but I invited them and learnt from them. Then the day came, and the birth of my son was the most healing and powerful journey I’ve had yet. I am still in awe of the female body and what it can do if we release the fear and allow it to do what it’s been created to do. I am now in postpartum land but this time with a very free spirited, wild toddler that doesn’t give me much time for burnout. I am continually reminding myself to be kind to myself and remember to do the things that bring allow my best self to shine, for myself, and my family. 

It’s all a process, and I’m constantly falling and picking myself back up, but it’s a reminder that getting back up is where the growth is and where the joy begins. 

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“1. mornings often start here, with a slice of toast and a strong coffee. you'll often hear Moana or Wiggles music playing in the background”

“2. i try to keep mornings quiet. i find i do better with the rest of my day if my mornings are slow. we read lots of "bookies" (as Lydia calls them), cuddles, tv & playing outside.”

“3.”

“4”.

“5. raising little humans is tough work. but the toughest part is not laughing at them when they throw themselves on the ground lol”

“6. snacks, laundry, & other household chores are just a regular part of the day”

“7.”

“8.”

“9.”

“10. baking & making sourdough is one of my biggest self care acts. it's so rewarding to feel like i've done something for myself but also nourishes my family & friends”

“11.”

“12”.

“13. my bedroom is my "quiet space" it's where i read, cuddle with my kids/dog, reflect on my day, & drink coffee”"

“14.”

“15”. Brenna and Juno!

“16”.

“17. backyard adventures with my girl look like: gardening, picking berries/flowers, going down the slide, putting shoes on, & sitting on the porch”

“18.”

“19.”

“20. hugs & kisses for when we fall”

“21”.

“22.”

“23.”

“24”.

“25”.

“26.”

“27.”

“28.”

“29.” Brenna and her family on the front porch.

“30.”

“31. at the end of my day you'll often find me on my front porch. watering flowers, sitting out with a glass of wine admiring the mountains & reflecting on my day.”

“32”.

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How We Self Care is a small batch project happening over the next two years, sharing self care stories told from all perspectives. Each story is developed into a visual process through conversation, documented in photographs chosen by each participant, and explained in their own words. If you have a self care story to share, please consider sharing it with me - while I can’t shoot every story submitted (part of my own self care), I would so love to hear your perspective of the world. Comments, Questions, and Inquiries regarding the project are welcome!

Rainbow Crosswalk Photo Shoot for Chilliwack!

A beautiful rainbow sunset I took over 10 years ago now on Haida Gwaii. Seemed fitting.

I am SO EXCITED to say that on Tuesday July 9th at 8 p.m. I’ll be photographing a gigantic group of amazing people - all are welcome - in order to show support for a Rainbow Crosswalk downtown. Here’s a link to the group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chilliwackrainbowcrosswalk

Here are the details from the group, organized by Amber Price from the Book Man - and there will be a petition available to sign as well to show your support. A lot of people have come together to make this event work, and you know it’s my favourite thing when people create & collaborate together and make magic. This feels pretty dang magical.

This rainbow crosswalk means so much to me - I’ve talked a lot about the power of visual language - and I think it’s so important to create a symbol of support, inclusion, love & pride in our community. There’s always more work to be done in action - but gathering in the streets and raising our voices with love seems like a pretty amazing, powerful place to start. Art HEALS - and I’ve only had to spend a minute reading some of the comments below the Chilliwack Progress article (on Facebook) to know that our community really and truly needs this. A heads up that the comments could be very triggering. I was also so heartened to see so many comments of support.

I have never been someone, even through my business, that shies away from showing support to what I’m passionate about - and I am passionate about inclusion, passionate about love, passionate about making space for people to share their stories, and spaces where they feel safe doing so. This idea spoke to my heart - and while I originally envisioned something much, much smaller, I am amazed and ecstatic to see how big of a crowd is planning to come out on Tuesday. I hope you can join us and lend your voice!

Here are the details for Tuesday:

CASTING CALL!
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WHAT: A concept photography session showing what a rainbow crosswalk would look like, surrounded by people who support the idea! Sarah Sovereign Photography will be shooting photos to capture the magic!
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WHERE/WHEN: Tuesday, July 9th at 8pm at the crosswalk at Mill Street & Wellington Avenue
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HOW: Choose a solid colour to wear from the list below. Wear as MUCH of that colour as you can! (On the event page there is a poll so you can see which colours are lagging!)
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WHO: EVERYONE! Invite anyone who is supportive of the idea! Dress up your baby, bring your grandmother, your friends, your colleagues, anyone and everyone is invited!
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MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Frequent one of the local restaurants/pubs for a meal or a drink before/after and support local business! Or, just come for the shoot!

(Check out the Facebook group to see the event, join in discussion, and find out more!)