That first year flies by...

This shoot marked the end of an important time for this family. This was the last day of this mama's maternity leave. Although I've never been on mat leave myself (ahhh the joys of self employment), I can well imagine it has got to be tough switching gears. Bittersweet I'm sure but I think everyone will do just fine. Look at these boys... little men and can you believe their gorgeous brown eyes?

Boys and brown bears...

The days are getting colder - crisp fall mornings are here. I must admit, I'm not much of a winter person. I like the sun and miss it in the mornings and evenings already so I'm savouring these last few moments of fall sunshine. This shoot was on a day with wild wind warnings but looking back now, it all looks quite warm and serene. I wish I could bottle up just a bit of this and keep it close over the next few months.

 

Another familiar family...

My previous post spoke to what a huge compliment it is when clients ask me to return months or years later to photograph them again. That's one way to make me a happy photographer. Another is to bring treats to the session (now if that's not a blatant hint) - this family did both! The mother of these lucky boys owns a bakery in Kingston (and if you live in or around Kingston, do yourself a favour and stop by Card's Bakery... the carrot squares are amazing!)

This was my third session with these guys so they are no stranger to my camera. I've loved watching them grow, they always keep me on my toes and as always, we had a fun afternoon! 

The third time is a charm...

As photographers (I think I can say this on behalf of a lot of my photographer friends) we thrive on feedback. Blog comments, facebook comments, emails, you name it. Because photography is such a subjective thing, I'm never sure when I put something out there, how it will be received. That's why comments mean so much. It helps me not only see what is liked but what people notice. I think it's HUGE when someone actually takes time out of their day to leave a comment. And when clients respond warmly about their photos, that's even bigger but what's even more amazing is when clients ask you to return.

This weekend I headed to Toronto to photograph two pretty special families - both of which I've photographed now three times. Here's the first family - a beautiful late afternoon on U of T campus (where both parents happen to work).

When it rains, it pours.

With the first shoot interrupted by a sudden downpour and a rush to the car for cover, we finished the shoot off just a few days later. A family I've know for a while now... great friends, adorable kids and grandparents who bring huge smiles to the faces of their grandchildren.

In the last week or so I've photographed 3 golden retrievers, a lab, a pug and an english bulldog. No, I'm not a pet photographer, these guys just happen to be important family members and who am I to discriminate? And I have to admit I kind of fell in love with this pup. How could you not adore this face?

They're plates, not spikes (I should have know that)

Spiders and dinosaurs were heavy topics at my shoot the other day - I felt right at home. Although I love little girls, give me a circle of dirt full of dinosaurs and I'm happy. I don't adore spiders but watching one feast on a bee is a bit intriguing. Yes, maybe it's a good thing I had boys.

After a couple attempts at a shoot, I finally got out to visit this family and so happy I did. Another amazing fall day - another great family (I'm starting to sound a bit redundant here). Seriously though, these guys were a pleasure to visit. I even got a lesson on dinosaurs (this kid knows his stuff)!

Happy turkey day

Just one of the many things I'm thankful for...
The chance to meet some wonderful families, spend a couple of hours with them and call it a job.

Air, land and sea...

Back in March I ran a little contest for a free shoot and digital package. I was amazed with the number of entries and thrilled when I drew the winner - an old friend from Toronto who I met right after I had my first son. We'd meet at a coffee shop or park with some other moms, let our babies play and chat about everything under the sun (what I wouldn't do to have just a couple of mornings like that again - no schedule, just a wee baby tote to around and some friends to visit). Well, her baby is now almost six and she's since added another. 

We've made a few attempts at fitting this shoot in but her hubby is on the road a lot and when home and the weather is nice, these two fill their days jumping out of planes. So, this past weekend we made it happen... toured around their hometown of Port Colborne and of course, ended the shoot at the drop zone. 

And I PROMISE to come back in the spring - not to shoot but to jump!

50 years in the making...

This past weekend I got a glimpse into what it would be like to be a part of a large family and no, this isn't an 'only child' or, as I used to call it, 'lonely child' rant but just sharing what a happy place this family took me to. Lots of smiles and laughs and two amazing parents behind it all. Not sure exactly what the recipe is for over 50 years of marriage but I'd love to get just a taste of what these two share. Thank you for letting me be a part of your family, even if just for one day.

Here are a some of my favourites from the afternoon...

Looking for family photos? Be sure to check my new site and drop me a line!