Strength

Imagine the joy you feel when you find out you are pregnant for the first time. Think of all the amazing moments that come with pregnancy...hearing the heartbeat for the first time, seeing baby on an ultrasound monitor and feeling those amazing first movements. Now imagine that at 25 weeks pregnant your entire world changing with the early labour and arrival of that baby. That is what happened to Sylvia and Jeff. What felt like flu symptoms ended up being little Kendra's arrival into the world.

Sylvia and Jeff spent several months at Sick Kids with their beautiful baby girl watching her go through surgeries, tests and procedures. These parents are amazingly strong. They have had to be brave at a time when they should have been preparing to meet their baby! It is that strength that seems to have been passed on to little Kendra. She is one strong little girl....fighting every step of the way. I can definitely see mom Sylvia in her little girl. All the courage that Sylvia had to summon those months she had to watch and wait for her little girl to get better Kendra has too. She fought hard and made her way home to mom and dad's arms 3 months after her early arrival.

I had the pleasure of meeting and shooting Kendra and her parents just days after coming home from the hospital This girl was amazing....she, along with mom and dad, let me do anything with her. After spending months being poked and prodded being placed on a window sill for a photo was no big deal to Kendra. Even when Kendra did cry Sylvia was able to calm her with her soothing voice and touch. Mom and baby have such an amazing connection and a strong bond that will last a lifetime.

As I write this post Kendra is back in the hospital. She is doing well but still needs a bit of support to transition back to life outside the hospital. Sylvia and Jeff have been busy with Kendra and have only seen a few sneak peeks of their pictures, so I thought I would share a few more for them and their family and friends. This is one strong family that I know will make it over this hurdle too.

Enjoy these shots of Kendra and her mom. Their bond is captured forever in these images.

Toddler Moodswings

Trying to photograph a toddler is always a challenge. If you ask them to go left they go right, when you want them to sit pretty and smile they do anything but...having one of these wildly independent creatures living in my house has taught me to be prepared for anything. So when I got the chance to shoot Rylee and Nolan's pictures I was prepared! I spent an hour snapping pics of little Nolan and working around Rylee's interest in getting her pictures taken. Little did nearly 3 year old Rylee know, that no matter what she did I was going to get the shots...a little patience and creativity and I got some great shots of her and her brother.

One of my favourites from the day is an absolute perfect representation of toddlerhood...it's a picture that really needs no explanation!

One of the moments I captured when Rylee was up for some direction. Such sweet, beautiful children!

Thank you Rylee and Nolan for such a fun shoot! These are 2 awesome kids!

Back to School

I have had the pleasure of spending the last 13 and half months at home raising my baby boy and sweet little daughter...it's been tough, exhausting, fun, rewarding and BUSY! On top of being home with my sweet little ones I have been invited into people's homes and to their special events as a photographer. I have had a great time being creative in a way that is different than my full time job.

While although today marks my return to teaching it does NOT mark the end of my busy schedule! I am still continuing to book photo sessions and event photography. So don't hesitate to contact me for your photography needs! I look forward to finishing up the school year and the summer of weddings and photo shoots ahead!

Cheers! And may you do what you love each day!

Then & Now

How lucky am I? People pay me to do something I LOVE. I get to take pictures of the cutest little kids and most wonderful families. I get invited into peoples lives to capture moments and memories that will last a lifetime.

I first photographed Ayla when she was about 4 months old. She was a little doll with her bright blue eyes, beautiful hair and gorgeous porcelain skin. She was a dream to shoot!

Now, little Ayla is 1 year old. She is filled with personality and definitely knows what she does and doesn't like. Her plans on the day of our recent photo shoot weren't exactly what mom and dad had in mind....but true to my belief that you let the little one direct the shoot I did just that. I followed Ayla around as she explored and captured the beautiful little girl and all her personality. When I posted my sneak peeks Ayla's mom was shocked and pleased with the results. She told me she couldn't have imagined I got anything based on Ayla's interest in getting her pictures taken...but this little girl is gorgeous....it's impossible NOT to get "the" shot when she is in front of my camera!

Then

Now

I also got to shoot the "cake smash" photos....a great way to commemorate the end of the first year of life. Ayla rocked it...let me tell you, this little girl LOVES cake! ;-)

New Parents

I am always amazed by the glow of new parents. Despite some serious lack of sleep, constant visitors and getting used to the new boss in town new parents seem almost unaffected. The high of welcoming the precious new bundle that they have waited nine months for seems to negate any of the exhaustion in those first few days of a new baby's arrival.

Shawna and Ryan totally had that glow. They had smiles that went from ear to ear when talking about baby Carter. They were energetic and so enthusiastic about the new arrival (who came 5 weeks early) and the photo session. Shawna received a gift certificate for the shoot as a shower gift and she told me it was one of the best gifts she could have gotten. I was all but too happy to be part of their joy and was delighted to photograph this sweet little baby at 11 days old.

Here are a few of the pictures of the new family of three.

Sugar and spice and everything nice....

I am not sure why, but over the past couple of years it seems I have been meeting and photographing nothing but boys...pretty much every baby born around the time of my daughter's birth was a boy....and all of the wee ones coming into the world when my son was born are also boys.

So, when I was given the chance to document the end of Ella's 1st year of life I was SO excited. Finally a chance to bust out the pink backdrop and do some pretty girly shots!

Let me tell you, Ella did not disappoint. The little miss came all dressed up and so much fun to photograph. I did with Ella what I would do with any little one...I let her be a kid! I didn't "pose" Ella at all. I put her on the backdrop and gave her props...but I just followed her around while she played and explored. At one point she was munching on some snacks and I kept shooting and got some awesome shots!

Having kids of my own has really given me the patience and skills to get "the" shot when working with children. Not everyone can do it (or even wants to) but to me there is nothing better than the innocence, mischievousness and joy of a child that can be captured in a photograph.

Here are some of my favourite moments with Ella...what a doll! :-)

Look at those eyelashes!

One of the GREAT captures of Ella while snacking.

I just had to use some of my Easter props.

If all babies were like Jack....

At three months old babies are just starting to show some of their personality...maybe even giving mom or dad a smile.

When I went to shoot little three month old Jack I got more than a little personality...this kid knew how to work it for the camera. Jack was adorable and his parents were totally awesome...anything I asked for mom and dad were game for! So I started snapping, with mom and dad behind me and my camera encouraging Jack, and the results prove what a star this little guy is. Jack...you made my job easy...if only all babies were like him...

Something New

I LOVE to shoot families, couples and children in their own environment. Shooting a pregnant belly amongst some of the soon-to-be-born baby items or a wee one with a favourite toy is always a great way to infuse some personality into a photograph. Yet, for a while now I have been considering investing in some studio equipment.

I have to admit some of my favourite shots of my own children are in fact studio shots. I really appreciate the simplicity of a backdrop...and the surprising personality that a studio photo can produce. The happiness, sadness or anger that a typical toddler mood swing can generate stands out with a simple backdrop.

So, I did it. I made the investment. Some experimentation with set-up and lighting and I am ready to offer a new service to Picture Perfect Photography clients!

Check out a few of my first shots....