Good Bye Blogspot Blog!

With just the tiniest touch of nostalgia, I'd like to announce that I'll no longer be posting on this blog.

Instead, I've got a brand NEW blog! Please update your links and come on over to digitalheirlooms.ca/blog !

And thanks to everyone who's ever stopped by to say hello...I hope to see you over at my new hangout. ;) Make sure you leave a comment!

MIA

Yup, I've been missing in action and my poor blog has been neglected.

I've been chugging away at getting print orders ready. It always seems to happen that a long quiet stretch goes by and then WHAM! Everyone submits their order at once...and wants it for Christmas!

So if you haven't heard from me, don't worry. I haven't forgotten about you. I've got some print orders ready to send out soon...just burning your CDs.

And for some others, I've still got your order on my list and I promise I'm working hard to complete all before the holidays.

If you haven't put in your order already, chances are slim you'll have your prints before the New Year.

I've also been prepping for a craft show. I'll be posting about that soon, too. I'm planning on offering a new product that makes fantastic custom gifts!
Stay tuned!

Let's Go Shopping!!

Big News! I'm updating my website to include mini-gallery sites for clients that includes a shopping cart!

This should make ordering your price MUCH easier and I can't wait to try it out.

For those of you with current galleries, you may notice you can't access your images today. This is temporary due to the update, and I'll be working to repost your galleries as soon as I can.

I'll post another announcement when the upgrade is complete!

Sweet & Simple

Ladies, if you're out there planning a big wedding, I ask you to consider my most recent wedding. I have to say it was THE most relaxed wedding I've ever been to, and I think it was largely due to the bride and groom not having the typical laundry list of stressors during the day.

No big hall to vacate, no identical attendents, no pew bows, fairy lights, and metres of tulle. Just a Bride and a Groom totally besotted with one another, and immediate family. And me, of course! LOL

We literally got out of our cars, walked a few steps to this wonderful view of the lake, and witnessed D & J pledge their love. A few more steps out to the pier and we couldn't have asked for a better backdrop! Despite it being October, the weather was mild and perfect in every way.

Thanks for having me join you on your special day D & J! I can't wait to do your maternity and newborn portraits in 2009! Here's your sneak peek!

Since this was a public park, there were some distant viewers. But they all kept a respectful distance and cheered when the officient announced them husband & wife!
See, just a small gathering of the most important people with the sun shining upon them.


My favourite!

Winter 2009 is already booked!

Yup, that's right! Since I've limited how many sessions I'm taking in 2009, I've already had 3 families book me for next year. January, February, and March are no longer available!

Brotherly Love

So you might remember a wee boy I posted about awhile ago...my first session with Baby Z was super special because it happened during his birth!

Flash forward 8 weeks, and now you'll see how much he's grown in that short time! And Big Brother O looks like he's all ready to show his l'il bro everything he knows. Full of lots of kisses and hugs, I was totally enamoured with this display of brotherly love.

Their mother is a good friend of mine, and she's an accomplished blogger, too! Check out her commentary on social networking and marketing. She's very very clever, this lady!

I just love how squished up Z's face is in this shot!

Booking Sessions for 2009

As many of you already know I'm completely booked for 2008. Every small business loves being booked up, and it's always hard to turn away business, which is why I've suggested to consider booking your portrait session already for 2009.

I have a tremendously supportive husband who has been fabulous about dedicating his time to spend with our 3 year old daughter every time I leave the house to do a photo session. While I've loved meeting other families and watching them grow, it's meant a sacrifice to my own family. And so, I am making an early New Year's Resolution to spend more time with my family.

It means I've had to make the difficult decision to limit the amount of sessions I can take on each month down to just ONE. And guess what, January is already booked. And others have asked me about spring sessions, too.

So if you're looking for a cake smash session, family portraits, maternity portraits, or an engagement session, think about emailing me now! I'm a little more flexible with newborn portraits because I know they can't be scheduled with the same certainty as other events. So even if I'm already booked that month, I'll do my best to squeeze in newborns (which is easy, since they're so tiny! ;)

I do not plan to take on any weddings in 2009. But I am interested in doing high school senior portraits, so if you're graduating from high school in 2009 and would like personal portraiture to celebrate, let me know!

A subject near & dear to my heart!

Ever heard that saying about a cobbler's family having no shoes? It's the same for photographers. I get to take photos of lots of wonderful families, but it's rare that I get to be in a photo with my handsome husband and adorable daughter. As it happens, today is my birthday, and my gift to me was taking the time to capture my own family portraits.

Here are some quick proofs from today. I can't choose my favourite. I'd LOVE it if you'd take the time to leave a comment with your vote!

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A Match Made in Heaven

How great is it that I get to photograph such beautiful moments? Lucky me!

This wedding was spectacular. K & L only had eyes for each other ALL day. The priests gave one of the nicest, most romantic sermons I've ever heard at a wedding (and I've been to a lot of weddings). The groomsmen were johnny-on-the-spot to help corral the guests for photos, and the bridesmaids were so much fun! With guests from all corners of the continent, this happy couple celebrated in style.

What a gorgeous place to say your vows!

This priest baptised L 29 years ago and happily welcomes K.

I don't know what they're each looking at but this shot cracks me up!

A couple who laughs together, stays together.

Best of luck, you guys!

Thank you!

I have to give a big BIG thank you to all my clients, both new and repeat.

It's because of you that I'm happy to announce that I'm fully booked for 2008! I'm happy about this because it tells me that whatever it is I'm doing is something others appreciate. That is SO deeply gratifying!

Having this photography business has had me exploring my life in ways I'd never thought of before. I've found a creative outlet, as well as the added bonus of meeting such great people and capturing their smiling faces. It's also meant a great investment of time, which at times, is a little too stressful for my family and me. I'm commited to giving each of my clients the best service I can provide them. That has mean limiting some bookings as we head into the Christmas season (yes, I said Christmas!).

While it pains me to turn away any requests for new clients this year, I simply must in order to give my attention to those who have already trusted me with their child and family portraits.

I'm looking forward to the New Year, and will be happy to plan sessions with anyone looking for personal photography in 2009. Thanks again to all who have emailed me. I look forward to being your future family photographer.

The Return of Family Z

I love watching families grow. What a privilage it is to be invited back to photograph portraits with a family I've already worked with...in this case, Family Z. I had a great time with this family...Little Y always bedecks me with flowers, and the first time I met Little E, I got to take the very first pictures of him learning to walk! Flash forward a year later, kids are just as sweet and running circles around me! Mom & Dad are obviously doing some thing right!

Considering they just arrived home from vacation at 4 am the same day, they all looked pretty fresh later that afternoon! I think the kids did really well considering the jetlag and return to reality. Plus we got to explore a new part of their new neighbourhood, which is always a neat thing to do.

Nabad! Peace!

After being taught to count to 3 in Somali by a recent client, I promptly forgot. So I looked up some words in Somali online and found "Nabad" which I believe means Peace! (hopefully!)

Here's just a quick look at a session with a family with a super sweet little girl. I just adored her ringlets. By simply observing the interaction within this family I could see the great big love shared between them. A & A not only adored their little S, but each other as well. My own heart swells when I see other married couples in love. It's such a pleasure to be around families like that!

In the wee hours of the morning

It doesn't get any more NEWborn than this. I had the extreme honour of attending a birth as a photographer recently. Aside from the birth of my own daughter and my wedding, this experience was one of the most amazing of my life. I was SO delighted when M & A invited me to do this...and was as giddy as a school girl in the weeks leading up to M's due date.

Funny thing...I ran into M on her due date, August 10th, while picking blueberries at a local farm! So ladies, if you're pregnant and wondering what you can do to get things moving, perhaps it's time to pick your own berries! LOL Sure enough, at 2 am Monday morning, I got the call.

Amazingly, I was back home by 5:30 am. 2 hour labour...no drugs. Big, Fat Kudos to you M!! You're a strong woman! Congratulations to you both and big brother O.

Stay tuned...I may post more when their ready!

So that's what I did on my week off from work...I retiled a kitchen backsplash, picked blueberries, and photographed a birth. Everyone does that, right? ;)

Now Playing at a Theatre Near You

I'm so far behind in updating this blog, but that's a good thing. It means I've been busy with photo sessions and prepping images for print. If you're waiting for prints, don't worry...I haven't forgotten about you. I had 5 large print orders come within the same week and so I'm trying to wade through all the different requests.

I'll try to post some from my most recent sessions over the next few days...starting with this one! Cindy and I both used to work for the same place, and she asked me to take engagement portraits before she and her fiancee moved to BC. We found a great drive-in theatre with a 50's vibe! Plus there was a handy field of wild flowers next door! These lovebirds were great models. I wish them all the best in their big move across country and for their upcoming wedding. :)