blog love

Yes folks, that would be blog love for MY blog. I'm just getting home from a long night of work (the gross kind that you have to do to pay bills, not the fun kind like taking pictures) and am decompressing. I really enjoy the trend of matching a solid colour to your photos and using that space to advertise your business, blog, name, what have you - so I decided to give it a whirl with some of my pictures. Hey, no one else is gonna do it for me, right? :)

This lovely lady's pictures are coming soon. She is very pregnant, a very good mom to a very cute two year old, and very beautiful - pretty much a photographer's dream. I love how you can see her fun personality shine in this series of images.

[As a side note, you can definitely see more detail if you click on the image to make it big... I realize it's itty bitty here but such is life at a blogspot blog!].

natalie grace {and family}

The fun thing about taking pictures is how unexpected a session can be. You show up expecting to take pictures of one thing (an adorable three month old baby for example) and then you end up getting great pictures of the entire family! I'm really pleased with how these shots turned out, especially of Natalie's older sister - absolutely stunning! xo.

natalie grace {a mother's love}

For the longest time I thought the lack of quality exhibited in my photos was entirely my camera's fault. I use an old(er) Nikon and, as I assume most beginning photographers do, I blamed my equipment when things didn't turn out as I had hoped.

But then, a few months ago, something magical happened. I like to compare it to when you're learning a language: you painstakingly learn the alphabet, individual words, phrases and how to conjugate verbs. And then, suddenly - boom! One day it coalesces and you're speaking fluently. I can now take pictures without laboring over details such as aperture or shutter speed - they just happen; my camera has become an extension of me.

So now I sheepishly think about how foolish it was to blame my lack of skill on my poor innocent camera. But to this day, camera angst still follows me. Mainly into low light situations. My Nikon is notorious for 'noise' when the ISO is pumped up even a little bit. Noise is essentially how 'grainy' an image looks.

I'm trying to learn however, how to go with the flow. Yes, the images below are grainy. But I like to think it adds to their timelessness. To me, these photos embody a mother's love so pure and beautiful it makes my heart explode.

natalie grace {three months}

I had the pleasure of being invited back to photograph sweet Natalie Grace at three months. I think it's official, that I will be her lifetime documentarian (if that's a word?). I fully intend to follow this beauty straight through to her wedding day. >:)

I'm only half finished editing the images from this session and so far I think we got some really adorable pictures. I used to (hah - still do!) stress over getting tack sharp focus, but sometimes with children, you just need to go with the flow and fall in love with the emotion of the image. Like this first one for example, I could never discard it for a technicality!

There will be more sneak peeks from this beautiful family over the next few days, so stay tuned! xo.

ninety and lookin' fine

My beautiful grandmother has lots of spunk for 90! She kept saying her 'ugly mug' was going to break my camera. Not a chance! xo.

chicken pox blues

My cousin Michael had the chicken pox while I was home visiting. I know the poor little guy was so uncomfortable but I can't help but grin when I see these pictures - what a sin! What a trooper!

cousin sean

While I was in Newfoundland I had the pleasure of meeting my sweet little cousin Sean. He is full of smiles and never stops! I think his Mom (and grandparents!) will be really happy that I've finally. finished. the. editing...! >:)

think magical thoughts

I love the slanting light of a setting sun. This was supposed to be a love note but I like the little dudes on their own. I wonder what trouble they're plotting...?

i wish i may i wish i might

A perfect day with old friends. A night of folding paper cranes. Discovering a video so pure and beautiful it will bring tears to your eyes.

life is a bowl of cherries

Earlier today I was baking a cake in eager anticipation of my best friend's arrival from Scotland. While I was waiting for the [deliciously awesome chocolate] cake to come out of the oven, I happened to notice the reflection of the window on the cherries... I loved seeing all those little fruit winking back at me! To my surprise, I'm quite enamored with this shot - for some reason it seems really romantic, don't you think?

what's for dinner?

Apparently food photography is not my forte. But now I know what I'm having for dinner tonight at work. >:)

love birds {in the park}

Emily & Bryce's session had two distinct feels - the cityscape by the Hydrostone and then the whimsy of a morning in the park. Here are my favourite shots from the park. Thanks for being so in love and so much fun to photograph! xo.

love birds {cityscape}

Today I met up with Emily & Bryce for a photo shoot here in the North End of town. These two are so in love, it's wonderful. When I saw them peering into the Lady Luck boutique I couldn't help but think yes, lady luck was on their side indeed, for them to have found such love and happiness in each other. Thanks for a fun morning you two! xo.

family photos

Monday evening I headed down to the waterfront to meet up with Jessica, her boyfriend Ben and their adorable pug Billie. It was a beautiful evening with rich sunlight and dramatic clouds - we couldn't have asked for a better setting to photograph this little family. Thank you Jessica, for allowing me the opportunity to capture this happy time in your life. xo.