PRINTS FOR SALE!!!

This will be the second year I have had a space at Wendy's fabulous fall sale. If you are interested in finding wonderful handcrafted items for everyone on your Christmas list in a warm, welcoming, artsy environment; this is the place to go!

I have included several samples of prints that will be available at the bottom of the post. This year you can purchase prints directly from the sale. Or perhaps a gift certificate is what you had in mind. Also available, Baby Bundles, for new or expecting mother gifts.

I will be show casing wedding options and offering something special for

bride-to-be's!

For the info on dates and times you can visit Wendy's blog ... oh no ... wait ... she doesn't post to her blog :o) In that case here is all you need to know:

FALL CRAFT SALE

19 Giants Glen Road, Stanley

Thursday, October 30th ... noon til 8pm

Friday, October 31st ... 10am - 6pm
Saturday, November 1st ... 10am - 6pm
Sunday, November 2nd ... noon til 5pm

Discover unique, handcrafted treasures for you or someone on your gift list!

Treasures include: pottery, quilts, fudge, home decor items, woodworking, cards, soap, photography, pewter, jewellery, knitting, baking, and more!

Call Wendy at 367-2210 for more information.

Small sample of prints only! I'll add more before the sale begins so check back.

Which Pictures to Post?

A recent portrait session with the F.U.N. preschool program left me with over 50 wonderful pictures "burning a hole in my pocket" so to speak. Initial reaction - post them all!! However, even though many of us (those of us who are hip and modern anyway ;o) post our digital images on facebook, flickr, and my space, or email them to family and friends; not everyone appreciates the web as a place to display our children. Even I am very careful when it comes to sharing images of my beautiful children. This is a parental choice and one that I greatly respect!

Any images of children posted on my website, facebook group, portrait blog (X - You are Here!), or wedding blog are done so after either asking parent permission or knowing my friends don't mind. And although I am tempted to include many of the photos I create, I refrain from violating my own policy. However, these sites have safety measures in place and are a professional means of not only marketing my business but of providing clients with quick previews of proofs to come as well as an easy way to invite family and friends to instantly view pictures of our family.

Please do not be disappointed if your child's preschool picture is not included in those I have chosen to post today... simply contact me to let me know it's OK and I will be happy to share a sneek peek!

Babies... mmmmm! ... and Beanbags!

Newborn babies are beautiful. Soft and cuddly, especially in velour sleepers! They smell wonderful. They bring feelings of joy to a portrait session. And better yet, from this photographer's point of view, they don't run around ... or move much for that matter! And they aren't expected to smile which eliminates the whole pressure cooker situation of parents demanding / begging to see those beautiful smiles that are hard to come by in the unfamiliar and sometimes scary studio.



Every upside has a downside - newborn babies do not sit up! They can slip and slide and look awkward. It is often necessary to shoot from uncommon angles to get a good look at facial features and this can lead to harshness in what should be soft, fresh faces. But I LOVE a challenge. The solution is simpler than one would think... a beanbag chair (thanks Lori) and a mother's assistance.

Welcome to the world Jordan Dirk Kranendonk. It was a pleasure to spend the morning with you and your mother.

A Picture Says...

Or rather, a series of pictures can say a thousand words. It is hardly necessary to give a description of my third shoot of the weekend. Basic photography teaches the concept of theme. A viewer should be able to determine the theme of a photograph and it is clear that "family" is the story behind the small sample of photographs shown here. How challenging is it to take a good picture of 26 people aging in range from 3 weeks to 80+!! Very. But how fun!

Thank you to the Porter family for being so creative. The many color coordinated clothing changes made each series of photos unique. And what session in the park would be complete without a camping trailer, brought along to serve as a change room?

Your Best or a Tease??

First of all, it was a pleasure to meet Danyel, Aaron and family! Dani put much effort into creating wonderful family portraits. Much thought was put into the choice clothes, color, and the style of photograph. It pays to bounce ideas off your photographer!!

While unloading the photographs I began to decide which of the shots I would blog. (I'm thinking I'm addicted to blogging!) As always I wondered... pick the 3 favorites to preview for a client... or 3 good but not best. After all, it is important to showcase your talent in an arena that is accessible to the world. BUT, shouldn't the client be left with some pleasant surprises? Here are my choices. What did I decide?

These are not my favorites...

It Seems Like Only Yesterday.

It truly seems like just yesterday that I photographed the wedding of Andrea and Nelson but it has been over two years now! It was a beautiful wedding and has produced some of my favorite images on the walking bridge and in the weeping willow trees on the green in Fredericton. That was the day I found myself on the metal bridge, with a metal ladder, carrying my gear, as a tremendous lightening storm moved in over the Saint John River! Who would ever forget?

It was a great pleasure to be asked by Andrea to take some 4 generation pictures in the beautiful gardens of her grandmother's house this past week. It was a reminder that a professional photographer's relationship with a client does not need to end after one life event or portrait session. It was rewarding to reconnect with Andrea, her mother, and grandmother. It was exciting to see her beautiful toddler I had never met and to know that life moves on and great things happen to those who come in and out of my professional life.

I wonder what the next two years will bring?

Got Any Snacks??

As every parent, and in this case grandparent knows, the best way to keep a toddler amused is to feed them! It is a very foolish mistake to go anywhere without a purse or pocketful of nutritious (or not so much) treats for those times when all else fails. My studio floor, backdrops, props and furniture have seen their fair share of spills and crumbs. And I don't mind. I once made the eight hour trip to Cape Breton with a little one knawing at a large bag of pretzel twists until every letter of the alphabet was formed - several times over. I bet I could still find a cereal bar or two in the pocket of old coats!

While food may work to keep little feet from running, it is not the best prop for beautiful portrait work... or is it? Take a look at this little Stanley Fair baby contest winner! You be the judge. I think the addition of an apple and a mouthful of trail mix adds greatly to the personality of the these pictures of this little cutie. And in between snack breaks, there are several truly beautiful shots.