{family&children} preparing for rain

I was pretty bummed the other day when I had to cancel a session because of the impending rain...everything was so green and the lighting was so soft, I just wanted to shoot something!! - photographically speaking, of course ;P  So I grabbed my camera and my boy and we headed down to the train tracks. We both got to burn off some pent up energy, and we made it home just before the rain came. Not a bad plan B.
I don't usually post pics of the little dude but, come on. Those eyes?! That hair against the green background?! I can't resist!
Love you Boy-o!

{family&children} growing frames

Kathy and Stephen are one of those families that I feel like I've grown up with.  Not that we've ever known each other beyond a client/photographer basis, though they are such sweet and kind people, it's just that I feel like they have been there since the beginning. They were one of the first non-immediate family, non-friends I ever photographed. Back when I practically paid them to let me take their photo, back when a large percentage of my images were black and white with just one part left in colour (that phase lasted too long for me).  It's really cool to look back and see how far they have come as a family, and how much has changed for me, too. It's been an honour to be able to capture this family's moments and milestones, and I can only hope that we'll both keep growing together!

The Verbrugge's in 2006...

The Verbrugge's today...

{family&children} one marriage + six kids + twenty-five grandkids = one big family!

When Linda called me to book a session for her husband's extended family I was pumped. I had just finished my session with the Bosvelds and was confident with how it went.  Then Linda told me there would be forty people and that, rain or shine, they wanted to make this shoot happen.  So started our search for a venue that would fit this big family in case of rain, as well as our prayers for good weather! 

Between Linda and I,  I think we visited the Canada Southern Railway Station in St. Thomas about five or six times before feeling confident to attempt the indoor space. With the main rooms already booked we had to ensure a big group would be able to photograph well in the upper rooms.  I think the results would have been great, but as it is, we'll never know! The weather was perfect, if only a little windy, and we were able to use the beautiful outdoor architecture of the building instead.  My friend and co-worker Ingrid came with me and helped me organise the groupings and the day couldn't have gone better.

Mark and Linda, your family is amazing and it was such a pleasure meeting and working with all of them.  So many cute kids and such easy-going families!  Thanks again for asking me to be part of this day!

mom to mom sale

I had a great time at this weekend's Mom to Mom Sale and Bazaar at Pinafore Park.  The rain held off and we didn't have to resort to Plan B for the booth setup so, to me, it was a success!  Big thanks to Ashley Gammon for organising the sale, to my sweet and handy hubby for all his hard work and support; including building my photo-wall, setting up and tearing down, and for putting up with me for the past two weeks (I can be a handful!), to Jenica for designing all my business cards and giveaways, making my ballot box and spending the day talking me up and helping me out, and for everyone who came out to the sale and who support me behind the scenes (you know who you are!!).

I have signed up to be at the next Mom to Mom Sale in September, so I will keep you updated with the details and will hopefully see you there again in the fall!

{specialty} alphabetized

Just wanted to share my version of Alphabet Photography with you! It was our friend's son's 2nd birthday last month and I wanted to get him something original and personalized. I had been toying with the idea of painted wooden letters, but then saw the word "HOME" done up like this and framed at one of the houses I clean during the week. I thought "I could do that!".  Well, it wasn't quite as simple as I envisioned (as you can see by my pseudo-natural "N"'s!) but I'm happy with how it turned out.  I'm thinking of offering this sort of thing through Captivating, maybe featuring a personalized option in which I could take the photos at your own property/home/farm/business.  Let me know what you think!
p.s. Happy Birthday Quinn!

crafty!

This week is all about getting ready for the Mom to Mom Show.  That means editing, printing, planning and, apparently,...crafting!  My friend Jenica (of Love is in the Air Wedding Invitations) is very creative and is always coming up with new ways to express that creativity.  She is not only designing my postcards and promotional items for the show, she also volunteered to help me with the decorations.  She came over last week and we spent what seemed like FOREVER on this flower ball.  Jenica, full of patience and grace, got the hang of it quickly and rolled right along. I did not.  I am smiling in that picture but it is all for show, I assure you. Thank God for crafty friends willing to finish what I could hardly start! 
Come and check out how it all comes together this Saturday May 14, 8:30am to 4pm at Pinafore Park in St. Thomas!