Dynamic Women

March 4th of this year was the last I blogged. Tsk, tsk. I failed on my promise to keep up writing and I’m full of excuses. I’ve definitely had a crazy, busy year and it’s only going to get busier as I am very close to bringing a third baby into our family. December is the month of choice so I’m hoping this baby just appears in my stocking and I don’t have to go through the whole labor thing again. Don’t roll your eyes, Santa can do miracles… that’s if I’m on the ‘Nice’ list this year but I digress.

With the busy year I had, my photographer colleagues had an equally if not a busier year than I (and some how THEY manage to blog; you can roll your eyes now because I am) so we decided that a Year End Weekend Excursion was the only way to actually get some time to bond with friends, grab a camera to snap pictures of things and each other just for the pure joy of celebrating each other as artists, photographers as well as one dynamic group of women.

These women all have so many characteristics and attributes that envelop them that it was extremely difficult to choose a single word to place in front of them, essentially defining how you see them, then snap a picture but that’s exactly what Hope thought would be a vastly fun activity. And it was, except for the noodles that I have in my head for brain matter these days. I was terribly limited in the words I choose for these women but I went with my gut, sometimes choosing the most simplistic language and other times stretching ever so slightly out on the vocabulary limb. To compensate for my Noodle Head, I want to elaborate on each of these images just a tad with a few more words that I think every one of these women share.

Amy. Loving.
Amy has such a bright spirit that you can’t help feel nothing but love and warmth when you are around her. She bubbles with joy and laughter and radiates happiness. She feels deeply and when you talk with her, you know she’s truly there with you. A very passionate, loving woman.





Hope. Authentic.
She is who she says she is, and she is true. Hope is very genuine about who she is and what she creates as a photographer, a mom, a wife and a friend. She will always speak with integrity and strength and each word is saturated with a reflection of her own heart and emotions. She wears her heart on the outside, walks with her gut and sees the world with an expressive eye. You won’t meet more of an authentic, dynamic woman than Hope.





Amber. Inspired.
Amber breathes inspiration. She sees it in every angle of the world around her. One look at her photography and you can feel the talent emanated from her images. One conversation with her and you can see the passion and zest she has all coated in pure sweetness. She makes you feel so inspired that you want to dance in the rain with her. Beautiful Amber.





Lareina. Considerate.
A kindness eludes from Lareina that is nothing but honest and gentle. She defines the word ‘kind’ but I think that she is above all the most considerate person I have ever met. She is charitable, she is generous, she is compassionate, and she is thoughtful. Not to mention that she can make you laugh and smile at any moment. Lareina is the most approachable woman that when you meet her, you know you’ve made an instant friend.





Lisa. Dedicated.
Lisa is a very dedicated to her family, her job, her photography and her friends but it’s her dedication to sincerity, loyalty, truthfulness, and her giving heart that made me think of this word for her. It’s not easy to be consistent when you go through life but you know with Lisa that no matter what she goes through or what comes her way, she will dig in deep and come out with gracefulness. She scatters confidence when she walks and brings such a positive energy to the world. Lisa is wholehearted.





Christine. Genuine.
As soon as I looked over at Christine I knew no other word that could encompass such a true person. Christine is one of the most infectious people I have ever met sprinkling her happiness, beauty, wit, and her charm on every person in the room. Her charismatic personality is unmistakable but it is also evident she lives her life with integrity, strength, and genuineness. She cares deeply for all that surrounds her and can somehow magically capture that behind the lens. Christine makes me happy.





In fact this whole weekend made me happy. I loved everything about the getaway. The people, the cameras, the photos, but mostly I loved the quiet, stillness and the crispy, cold air smelling of wood burning stoves. It was a beautiful weekend filled with an incredible peace and serenity. I can’t wait until the next one when more incredible woman can join us!

To view more photos from the weekend, feel free to click on any image in this post!

I See Moments.

I received an email tonight from a student entering a Digital Photography program and needed to write a report as part of the application process. She wrote me asking a few basic questions to get a photographer's view. These few questions prompted me to start writing again, something that I have thoroughly lacked the inspiration to do lately until I got these:

-What are your favorite things about being a photographer?
-Least favorite? 

-What made you decide to become make a career out of photography?
-
Do you have a favorite type of photo to take? Why?

-How long did it take you to establish yourself as a professional? Was it a difficult path?
-
Do you think a certain personality type/individual is needed to become successful? 

-Finally, what are your hours like? Do you have lots of free time? Or is it busy, busy all the time?

Theses are wonderful questions to ask, but there are definitely no short answers. You have caught me at the right time to ask me these, as I am right in the middle of ‘establishing’ myself with a photographer’s career.

Believe it or not but the hardest question for me to answer is what are my favorite things about being a photographer. I think because it hits on a much deeper level than something like my career path or the hours I run in a day.

Every answer I want to give you seems so cliché yet it can’t be any truer. I like taking pictures. I see moments in my life, in my children’s lives, my families, and in people around me that I just want to put a frame around. To frame it and say “I like that. That is true. That needs to be kept.”

I never had a rich history in photography. I was never one of the lucky ones to spend hours learning about film development and darkrooms. I was one that was lucky enough to have a disposable before I could even buy a wind-up, point and click, film camera. And my photos weren’t fantastic, not award winning, but they were my pictures and that was good enough.

I never even thought I’d ever get the chance to pursue photography; it was a passing thought but nothing that was eminent in my future. Not until I was more established in my life, with a supportive family at my side, I watched my children learning new and wonderful things that I reached for a camera again and couldn’t stop clicking. I fell in love with it again and this time wanted to learn the method behind the madness.

I met a wonderful photographer who soon became a great friend and pedagogue that soon put me on my feet. I took her courses and soaked up her knowledge, the knowledge of Google, the knowledge of books, magazines, and the best place, behind the lens.

The career in photography came because I have two small children and a hard-working, loving husband that all give so much to me, I wanted to give back what I could to them. I didn’t just want to have a glorified hobby. Not only does it allow me to continue to do what I love, I get to meet fantastic people and get to play a small part in their lives too. I thrive on people and their energy they bring. Whatever the photo session, be it a wedding, a newborn or toddler session, families, couples, or boudoir, people bring their energy and put it on display. The energy of their love and their desire to capture a memory that they will keep for the rest of their life is huge and it’s amazing to be able to share in that.

Even when people aren’t at their best and difficult times are at hand, they turn to pictures to either keep memories near by or see how far they’ve come or still have to go.

Pictures are forever in our life and I love being able to help frame it.

Favorite pictures to take are pictures that speak a story to me. I don’t have a favorite scene that I want to photograph over and over rather the people in that scene. If I am connected to them or I can live in their shoes for a day, those are the pictures I want to take.

There are so many different types of personalities of photographers it’s impossible to say this one will be successful and the other not. People relate differently to one another and although one photographer may not match their personality taste it doesn’t make them less successful. There are incredibly smart, business and marketing people that have taken their small business of photography to a high level and there are others that still work from their home, one client at a time, and they are deemed successful as well. It all comes down to the passion they have behind the lens and whether or not they stay true to who they are and what they love.

As a photograph in a business sense, it can be very long and tedious startup or it can be quick and painless depending on so many factors. The biggest factor is the statistics are against small business owners at the get-go knowing that the majority will fail within 3 years. It can be argued that photography is a novelty, a luxury, more of a have than a have-not. It can also be argued that the market is over saturated or on the other side of the spectrum that there’s not enough good photographers out there for as many babies and weddings that occur. It all depends on what your own outlook is and where you feel you fit in. If you think you can make a niche for yourself and truly believe in who you are and what you do, then, well, you can do anything.

The hours I keep are another story all in itself. It could relate to being a genetic disposition that I seem to frequently be up during late hours, or it could be that I can’t properly rest knowing that I have a gazillion things to do and if I want to spend any valuable time with my kids the next day, it’s best I catch up when I am the least likely to be interrupted. Growing a business, and trying to grow it with smarts, means many hours researching and reading, trying to improve, and trying to learn everything from bookkeeping, website structures, marketing, and gain an efficient workflow. Processing photos is certainly one step of photography that is not to be overlooked as that can eat up a huge chunk of time if you aren’t careful. The digital age brought a lot to the table but the fact that it’s ridiculously easy to snap 1000 photos it is no small feat to sort, pick and choose, process, edit, and render your vision of the photo. If only the digital era can bring with it a digital camera sensor that can see what you see. The human eye should never be taken for granted. It is powerful.

Striking a balance is something that I don’t think any photographer can say is easy. It is a constant battle of your management skills to give yourself 100% to your craft and your business, and a 100% more to your family. And if you can squeeze in the extra 100% you need for your friends. It’s a struggle you’ll see posted on many blogs and forums. There’s a reason that I turned the “Time Posted” off of my blog. There’s also a reason the clock is now sitting at 4:38 a.m.

Of course you can pick and choose what you do, when you do it, who you meet with and who you don’t but it’s all how it translates to your own life, your own values and your own photographic journey that will deem you a success or not. A success in business, a success at balance, a success with your images, or success with your family. In any right, I wish you much success in your choice of career and camera. If I have a vote, it’s for a Nikon, but from the words of my Pedagogue and many, many other photog’s, “It’s NOT about the camera!”

I wish you much luck with your application process and apologize for being a tad verbose with your questions but that, I also believe is a genetic disposition that my husband can only roll his eyes at. If I haven’t scared you off with such a lengthy dialogue, please feel free to ask anything else and I will try to help if I can.

Cheers!

Get Crackin'

I just finished saying how I was sick of eating Egg Salad sandwiches, and I am. But now I am just as tired of eating Macaroni and Potato salad too. If I only had to eat it in the summer time, while sipping lemonade, fine. But for some reason, these foods are staples at a Funeral. Mention “Funeral” and I see Eggs.


We have just come home from yet another funeral. We are up to 5. I don’t know if I can handle anymore. This Memorial we came from today was a friend of my Husbands. They grew up together, him and his brothers. They went to school together. They played together. They farmed together. They hunted together. He was a young man with nothing but the gentlest heart and spirit. He worked hard and loved his family. He loved his friends. And everybody knew it.

Close to 600 people were in attendance today. To honor Clinton and celebrate the kind of man he was. They wanted to show support to his Mom and Dad and his two Brothers and Sister-in-Law. His Uncle spoke with such pride about his nephew, speaking nothing that wasn’t already known but every bit worth mentioning.

I am sad by the sudden tragedy of his death and sad that the world had to lose such a person. I am sad knowing that his Mom and Dad have lost a piece of their heart but pray steadily that they will fill it up with the comfort and support from those 600 people.

Today as we travelled home I was really struck with the finality of it all. I know what death means. I know that it happens to us all eventually or we will be affected by it or have already been. I know it is something that is possibly one of my greatest fears. It’s not like I’ve had some sort of sudden brainwave or iconic theory sculpting in my grey matter. It’s been said before. I don’t know by whom. For all I know, it could have been You. And it’s not that I haven’t thought it either but it was always a passing “Ya I know that” kinda’ thing.

This time, as we were leaving yet another Funeral, leaving behind loved ones to cope through their grief, I was really hit with the fact that in a matter of a split second, a matter of 5 minutes, a matter of one hour, your life can suddenly change.

Then we drove by a car on its side in the ditch.

~Sigh~

I kept thinking about this as I sat next to my Husband who was still reeling with his grief, as I kept turning around trying to soothe my poor baby who was extremely tired of her carseat, and as I kept tending to a very overtired two-year-old boy who just couldn’t decide what he wanted.

Then we were diverted off of the Highway for a “Police Emergency Up Ahead” sign.

~Bigger Sigh~

This is what I got in life. I’ve got a minivan filled with 2 tiny people, 1 loving man, a mess only the dump would love, my camera, a couple of books beside me, a wallet that reminds me of bills to pay, debt to hold off some more, and things I still want, my phone that makes my Facebook friends appear and a busy calendar that reminds me of days ahead.

I’ve got my fingers and toes, all the joints and muscles to move them with, my eyes and ears, my nose to smell those roses buried under the snow, and all my God-given abilities to do what I want and am capable of.

All inside my minivan.

When I looked around that Church today and I saw 600 people sitting and standing, hands folded, tears on cheeks, and tissues up sleeves, for one man. One man that made a difference to them no matter how slight. I wonder if he knew that he touched that many hearts? I have no doubt that as Clinton’s soul saw them all, he was honored.

I saw Greatness today. The true Greatness of another human being. For Clinton, his life has ended suddenly but as I took yet another bite of Potato salad I realized that I still have mine. It was stuffed inside my minivan and as we went by each accident and I saw that at any moment, my life could end too whenever my ticker tape rolls up, all I could do was take those things that I have been blessed with and decide that in some way, shape or form, I want to be what Clinton was to so many.

I want not to be selfish or arrogant, but to aspire to the knowing that 600 people in my life can say that I too, was a good person and I was worth being here on Earth. As cliché as it sounds, and I know it does, but I want to be my best and I want to love my best.

If I can love my children and my Husband anymore than I do now, or love my parents anymore, or my friends and other family, then I do.

There were many things inside my minivan today, but it is outside of it that I place my footprint and it is within it all of that where I want to Live before I die.

But please, no more Eggs. Not now.

It's Here!!!

So I escaped for a while. Okay, make that a long while. 2, almost 3 months has past since my last post and now it’s time I get back into the groove of things. To give a brief explanation as to where I have been hiding. In short, I’ve been with my family. November was a tough month for all of us as shortly after my last post we began attending funerals. Between Glen’s family and mine, 7 Uncles have either been diagnosed with a horrible disease or have passed away from one. Needless to say, after seven loved ones, I’ve had enough egg salad sandwiches.





Christmas came and went and I enjoyed every minute of it. We stayed put, refused to load the kids up in the van, and after 3 years, finally had a Christmas at home. It was wonderful. My husband had to work throughout but it worked out well. We had a huge family supper at my mother’s house and not short of 44 guests enjoyed a huge potluck. On comes the New Year and I’ve been in my basement, working like a dog trying to get every inch of my business venture up and running. Meeting with an accountant, setting up prices and packages, paperwork, advertising, and the biggest thing of all:

My Website!!

I’m so exciting about it. I’ve worked really hard trying to design something that would allow me to do exactly what I want: make it easier for me and easier for you. There are online galleries that will allow you to share a link to family and friends so they can see your photos too, download them if they like and purchase prints online! I’ve teamed up with Smugmug who provide an excellent service and fantastic quality products for a great price. These prints can be delivered right to your door, so you don’t have to do a thing. I’ve learned so much HTML code, CSS code, and every other type of code that I think I’ve turned into a slight geek, lol. (btw, I love geek’s). I’ve crashed-coursed it with the help of Google (I love Google too) and a VERY patient husband as well as some direct phone calls to a SmugMug customizer David Wolf, who listened to my ignorance with code with the flair only a Yankee can muster… lol.

Speaking of the US of A, I have to say that I’m really kinda beaming with some pride about the recent inauguration of their 44th President, Barack Obama. If you didn’t get a chance to see it (where were you??) it was astounding to see the number of people come together to show their support for one another and this new administration. It was amazing that with an estimated 1.8 million people in attendance that there wasn't a single incident or arrest made. I can't imagine the number of photos that were taken of that day. Speaking of which, if you weren't watching CNN that day, you probably missed this really cool technology, called Photosynth. CNN coloaborated with it's audience and took every photo uploaded of President Obama's Oath ceremony and put them all together to form The Moment. If you haven't seen it yet, check it out.

Don't forget the Exclusive Tab for current deals and promotions!! Please explore around, checking out links, viewing photos, etc. I would really appreciate any feedback that you may have or if you notice any errors that I may need to address. I am slow at Code but I will do my best to get it corrected.

In the meantime, I'm going to emerge from my basement and start snapping photos again. I've had enough of the behind the scenes business stuff and I'm hoping I've go enough done to at least present myself with some style. I'm looking forward to this year and meeting new faces, and most of all, taking photos of those new faces.

See you around!

Strength of 3 Men

I’m not sure what to post right now, other than I’m sad. Two awful diseases reared their ugly heads and staked a claim in the strong and determined bodies of three Uncles. 2 of mine, one of my husbands.

Scleroderma, more appropriately, Diffuse Scleroderma was the first. It’s a hardening or thickening of the skin and other organs caused by an over production of collagen. Normally something that the rest of society craves more of, this increase in collagen affects the amount of blood and oxygen that gets carried to the rest of the body. My Uncle S. was diagnosed years ago and has had a huge battle against this persistent stalker. In and out of the hospital with his wife, kids, and grandkids by his side encouraging him and giving him the determination to fight for the right to live.

His lungs got it. His oxygen tank became his new best friend and took claim by his side even when he continued on with his joys of life; strapping the tank next to him on the quad and heading out into the backcountry, a smile plastered on his face.

We recently received the news that he was finally going to get his lung transplant. The biggest obstacle was transferring him from the small hospital where he was residing for a short time, to a much larger, more equipped facility. Up in the air he went, only to come back a short 40 mins later, landing in ICU. He’s been there ever since while family members from one end of Canada to the other all wondered, questioned, hoped and prayed that someway, somehow, it would all pan out. A Facebook group was started where 366 members posted their anticipations and desires.

I received a call today from one of my Aunts where the news wasn’t what we; I had hoped. The most difficult decision was made that one of the strongest people I know, wasn’t strong enough to make the trip. Not strong enough to have surgery. Not strong enough to stay in ICU. And barely strong enough to make the trip down the hall to a private room.

It’s strange not being there and only hearing snippets from family members passing around the snippets of information they hear. Trying to weed out the what’s, the when’s and why’s. The last I heard, he’s holding on for his sons. The one by his side, the other on his way. The last I heard, he said he’s “okay”; “not afraid”; “ready”.

The Uncle that I have always loved and looked up to, the man that was so broad and rugged, the one that can hardly speak without losing breath, is much stronger than his physical body is letting us believe. A man that is “okay” has incredible courage and power, faith and vigor. He has come to peace.

Even though I am saddened by the news I received today, I know that if he says he’s “okay” then I believe him. I, however, am not.

~~~
It is not only Uncle S. that is engaged in a war against his own body, but another strong man, another man that I love and have always admired, Uncle E. His battle? Cancer.

His cancer is determined to get the best of him. It was diagnosed only a short while ago with aggressive treatments of chemo, radiation and surgery following. New stem cells were added and the outlook was good but his comfort level wasn’t. Pain and discomfort emerged amongst the day to day living with this toxin plaguing his system. A birthday gift in the form of a CT scan showed two more masses. Two masses that toy with the surgeons; RISK is their game and the doctors are losing.

A timeline was given with options of pain relief. They can reduce the speed of the cancer but not it’s monstrous effects. More radiation and more frustration. Family that is torn between provinces, between battles, between the need for comfort, empathy, love, and prayers. Two sisters both dealing with devastating news about the men in their lives, their husbands. Children, nieces, nephews, cousins, siblings, parents all trying to come together and reach out to one another.

~~~
It wasn’t but two weeks ago when we received yet another call. This time is was Glen’s Uncle. Cancer struck again. It put its filthy claws into another good man. At the end of this week, he will have surgery with aggressive chemo and radiation treatments to follow. A hard working farmer than never let a day go by without being in the field, or a fellow go by without a need being met, now stuck in the city’s cancer unit imagining the smell of the golden harvest and the big blue skies.

~~~
It’s my Parents’ anniversary today. A day that is filled with memories of a commitment to love clouded over with sour news. In a bittersweet way, an oxymoron at best, a day that reminds me of marriages has me thinking of funerals where it is these two gatherings that demonstrate the importance of love and family.

Even though I am saddened by the news of today and the past few weeks, it is encouraging to see the outpouring of so much support towards these 3 men and their wives that stand beside them, holding them up and gently guiding their fall from what they lived to what they live now.

“Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.” – Mahatma Gandhi

I still hope for a miracle of sorts, an end to suffering, a chance at life, a cure. I hope like millions of others that have had bad news today. Just know that I’m there with you. I’m here doing what I can, telling my story and encouraging those that can, to do what you can. Pray. Hope. Educate. Donate.

Take care of yourselves,

Goodnight.

Scleroderma Society of Canada

Canadian Cancer Society

Trains, Games and Spider-Man???

Trains, trains, and more trains. What would make a 3 year old boy any happier? Well, how about a midway with games and a Ferris Wheel, pony rides, presents, cake, and of course, spiderman.

With a birthday held at Fort Edmonton Park, this little 3 year old had all his spidey senses tingling with so many exciting things to see and do. Kids spread from one end of the park to the other coming together to share the fantastic, made-by-mom, cake and the delicious Hobo's Lunch aboard the Railway Dining Car. A trip (okay, maybe 2) around the park on the train with a stop by for a gallop with the ponies made the day complete.

I had a really tough time narrowing down this batch as I loved so many shots. There were so many amazing things to capture. We all had a blast and Ethan is STILL reminding me of the need to have another train ride.

Please check out the whole slideshow as I really LOVE this session. I couldn't possibly choose just a few to blog!

Breaking a Sweat

I don’t know if it’s because I’m new at photography, or if it’s because this particular family are friends of mine, but the nerves struck again as I attempted my first family session. I’m really glad that they were okay with a newbie like me taking their pics to help commemorate the 70th birthday and the 1st birthday of two of its members.

I tried having the shoot in the early evening in hopes that the high sun would start to dip, giving relief of the 30+ degree weather smoldering the earth that day. With the absence of clouds, and bedtime beckoning the little gaphers, I worked up a sweat trying to avoid squinting eyes and harsh contrast.

My two kiddo’s tagged along and I think my lil’ guy was too distracted by a certain someone’s beauty and cuteness that he wound up in some of the pics but hey, I’m a little biased with my viewfinder.