{family} the golden tree of life springs ever green

The Lavertus are yet another family so close and dear to our hearts.  Loyal and loving friends, supportive and dependable neighbours, and parents to one of the cutest little girls I know!  They're second baby is due in December so our October shoot was a celebration of their new addition as well as an opportunity to capture their little unit as they'll never be again; a family of three. 

Congratulations Nic, Janneke and Mayelle!  We can't wait to meet LJ2 (Lavertu Junior II)!

*title quote credited to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

{family} christmas special

Thanks to all the families who came out for Captivating's Christmas Special!  It was perfect for my first Christmas Mini experience, and I can't wait to offer them again next year!  Here's a peak at some of the shots taken that weekend.

{specialty} winter lifestyle special

Winter is fast approaching and the air outside is getting down-right chilly.  But, just because the weather outside is frightful, doesn't mean you can't still get delightful photos of your family!  Captivating Photography offers in home, lifestyle family sessions in the comfort of your own home. 

For the months of January and February 2012 I am offering in-home sessions for $35 off the regular session price.  That's $190* for a 1-2 hour shoot and 25-30 fully edited, high-resolution photos on disk (usually $225!).

+ sessions must take place in January or February of 2012 to be applicable

+ session will take place in your home or another indoor location of your choice

+ a travel fee of $25/h applies to locations outside of St. Thomas and surrounding area

Contact me at sarahwestp@yahoo.ca or 519-631-3424 to book your own Winter Lifestyle Session!

{couple} rolling in the hay

I thought I'd combine my barn photos into one post, since I did these two sessions back-to-back and in the same location. 

I was hoping to find an old barn to shoot in for a few months and actually came across this one when I stopped to ask about an orchard next door. The orchard didn't work out (don't worry though, I found another one!), but this barn made the stop more than worth it!  I am so thankful to the owners of the property who have allowed me to use it at my leisure.  People in this town are so nice!

The first couple are the ones who won the Casting Call I held back in September.  Here's their entry:

Alyssa writes: "I would love to have a session with my husband... We have been married a year.. and my husband got laid off right before our wedding. So therefore we had to cancel out photographer and have a good friend photograph our wedding.. So we don't have any really decent pictures of us together..I grew up on a farm and my husband loves farms as well.. our wedding was even country theme, and we used a tractor.. It would be great to actually have decent pictures of us together...He is still laid of.. so we haven't had any done!!"

Theirs was the first entry and I couldn't get their story out of my head, so choosing them as winners was pretty easy.  I'm so glad I got to meet them and I hope they are as happy with the pics as I am!

The second couple was one of the families who took advantage of my Fall Photo Special. There was light rain and strong wind both days, so I'm glad they chose the barn as their location.  Both couples were so great to work with, and both were easy-going and up for anything.

The photos turned out just as I had imagined when I first wanted to find an old barn.  I can't wait to shoot there again, so if anyone is up for getting a little dirty, and climbing some rickety ladders, please let me know! 

Enjoy!

{family} autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower

I am loving photographing this Autumn!  The falling leaves and scenery...our world is just so beautiful.  This is the first Fall since Captivating went "official" and I feel like I am noticing the warm colours and the soft lighting for the first time. 

On this particular gorgeous October day I got to photograph the Mulder Family.  This family is especially close to my heart because of that lovely girl right there in the middle of the first pic!  Ingrid is one of my favourite people in the world and, lucky me, her whole family is just as lovely as she is!

*title quote credited to Albert Camus