Merry Christmas to All!!

April and Christie (hope this is the correct spelling :o) were two excited little girls! And there is nothing better than little girls who are happy to dress up and ham it up for the camera. These lovely little sisters spent more than an hour posing, smiling , and cooperating in the studio on Sunday. Theses are only two of the many wonderful photos from the session.

I'd like to take this opportunity to wish all my friends, family, returning clients and new patrons a very merry Christmas! Hope to see you in the New Year!

Give the Gift of a Family Portrait

This was mom's Christmas present! Knowing it was a gift received in last year's Flynn family's Yankee Swap, I commented that she had waited an entire year for this special gift (implying it was a good idea to smile!). But little did I know that this was the first family session with all four! Shelly has been waiting 8 years for another family portrait. Thanks to Heidi and Dave they have this fabulous photo to keep for perhaps another eight.

Do you know a family who needs a little prodding to take the step toward capturing a professional image to be proud of? Give a gift certificate from Gallery Arseneau this Christmas. The possibilities are endless...

Merry Christmas!

Sometimes in life there are no words necessary. These portraits of the beautiful blue eyes, and fantastic smile of Mikaylie Bates are enough to put even the most dedicated Scrooge in the holiday spirit! This first time visitor to my studio is about to celebrate her first birthday.
She is certainly the best present of the season to proud parents Tanya and Mike.

Little Lady in the Red Dress

Pretty little girls... fancy Christmas dresses... carefully curled tresses... Christmas portrait sessions are so exciting. The excitement of the holiday season can be seen in the faces of the children who come to my studio this time of year. Even the most difficult of smiles come when asked "What is Santa bringing you for Christmas?"

The rush starts early in this business and ends several weeks before Christmas. Even with the advances in technology it is necessary to have photos taken before mid December to ensure Christmas delivery. Portraits such as these with little Grace make wonderful presents when enlarged, and smaller prints add sparkle to any Christmas card.

Happy holidays to the Anderson / Flynn family.

Familiar Family

She walked through the door of my studio excited to be there. She'd been there before. In fact she'd come several times, each visit with a smile and ready to pose. This time she was sporting a drastic (but fabulous) new haircut. She donated her lost locks to help those who are suffering the effects of cancer. And this time she brought dad along with her and mom. She was obviously happy to be getting family photos done in time for Christmas. As always she is cooperative from the start and is eager to please her parents and photographer... and if she wasn't all these things... you'd never tell from the beautiful pictures she produced :o)

This year has brought many new clients my way, with still more booked for the remainder of December and into next year. I appreciate all who trust me with capturing their memories, those who recommend me to family and friends, but especially to those like Nicole, Larry, and Maddie who have been loyal to me for the past several years. I hope to take pictures of your beautiful family for years to come!

A Special Meaning

It's important to have your family portrait mean something special, to tell the story of your family. This is what sets your photograph apart from the one of the family next door and the other down the street. It's what makes you smile every time you look at it hanging on your wall. And if you're the average family, it will be something you will look at for many years to come. How do you make it personal? Better yet - how do you make it a reflection of what your family stands for instead of a carbon copy of a "family picture"?

Props are not a big part of my studio. They can work in certain circumstances but not in most. I deal in basic back drops (although I also have a variety of colors on hand) and it seems sensless to me to have a photograph taken with my studio christmas tree (and I have one!) when your own will hold better memories. How can you be sure to capture your family's spirit and not just their smiles.

The Hunter family brought along the guitar that is a part of their life. And while there are numerous lovely photos from their session, those with the guitar seem magical to me. Hopefully Jonathon and Wendy will feel the same.

Big Brothers

I am the oldest child. My brother is 10 years younger and I still think of him as the baby even though he is close to 33 years old. I was spared the experience of having over protective brothers who watched over me and who tried to intimidate boyfriends!

Today I photographed a beautiful, happy little girl and her two older brothers. It was obvious she loved them both very much. She kissed one, and had to kiss the other. She likewise evened out her hugs. They smiled at her often and were clearly very fond of her. And even though I didn't have first hand knowledge of this older brothers - little sister dynamic I could certainly understand what was going on here. These handsome boys are destined to look out for her, keep her safe from boys, and maybe even from the world. I doubt she will appreciate it in her teenage years! But I can't help but think what a lucky little girl she is.

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

The excitement of the holiday season has arrived! A light dusting of snow tops off the arrival of pretty little girls in red dresses, handsome boys dressed in their holiday clothes, and the sound of laughter from friends doing everything but standing on their heads to make each other's children smile for family Christmas portraits. At least I don't think they were standing on their heads. But they were behind me and I was busy trying to capture smiles on little faces!

Thanks to Anita and Chelsea for working so hard to make their friend's pictures the best they could be and meeting with much success. The smiles would not have been as great without you! I hope you enjoy the photos and the happy memories of the evening for years to come.

Why Choose Me?

Let's be honest. There are many photographers to choose from. A simple click of the mouse and you will find literally hundreds of professional photographers... or want to be professionals. Some are better than others. Some are more expensive. It is up to the consumer to choose a photographer with a style they like and a product they can afford. It can be a difficult decision. So what makes me different? Why would you choose me? How do I attempt to stand out from the crowd?

1. I am in no rush. I believe your session should be enjoyable and you should not feel rushed. Children feel pressure and parents deal with the fallout. Visit my studio or meet me on location and enjoy the experience. It makes for happy families!

2. I understand! Getting to the studio is stressful, especially with young children. Trying to get everyone cleaned, dressed, out the door and on time makes you wonder why you agreed to do this. And children don't behave as you would want them to, there is no reward in a beautifully framed portrait for them. And grandma loves them anyway! I know what to expect. And I know how to calm them down or at least get something good in between.

3. I love children. I especially like children with "spunk". They are more fun. And I LOVE a challenge. I look for their true personality and it usually doesn't me long to find it!

4. I'm not afraid to offer an option that's outside the box. I'm excited about the art of digital photography and just in case you are... maybe you will enjoy this vintage version of the standard photograph.

My Best Friend's Children

One of the perks of having a best friend with children of varying ages and stages is the unlimited opportunity for practice. If you look through other posts on this portrait blog, my website, or new facebook page (currently under construction), you will see numerous photos of them. But will you really see THEM? For example, looking at this photo one would say "what beautiful children". And they are. Are they close knit little angels as they appear? Some would argue not.

And while they may appear to be picture perfect...

There is certainly much more to this picture... like Dylan's devilish grin. And the looks to the side he does just to tease me when I want him to face the camera.

And Brooke's excited face as she shows the 2 missing teeth she has been waiting a long time to lose. Right before she celebrates her birthday tomorrow (or today depending on the speed of my dial-up tonight)! Can you guess from this picture that this child often times has me almost doing cartwheels just to get a smile?

Finally, there is this beautiful pre-teen that I have a difficult time remembering not knowing. She has been part of my family since she and my son Luc met as toddlers at a Church function. Bethany has always had a wonderful smile... but would you know that today's smile has been thousands of dollars in the making?

Taking pictures of children I don't know is fun, but taking pictures of children whose expressions and mannerisms are totally familiar to me is very rewarding. Especially when I manage to capture their spirit.

Don't Smile

A warm November late afternoon doesn't come along too often. It was the perfect setting for a grad session with a dark and moody theme. Brooke wanted to celebrate 13 hard earned school years by being represented with photographs that allowed her to show her true personality. We went in search of unique natural backdrops. By we I mean Brooke, myself, my friend and her family Wendy, and my recently turned nine "precious" child. We shall call him chatterbox!

Our chosen locations required climbing, driving, and vision. We managed to find several locations (an under road culvert, a dumping ground for old cars, and a graveyard) that were "moody" enough to allow Brooke to express her dark side. Only 2 problems! In Brooke's words: "He's making it difficult for me not to smile". (Again referring to the chatterbox). And Brooke doesn't appear to me to be as dark as she thinks! The result in my opinion were fabulous senior portraits with enough true personality to please Brooke, but with smiles a grandmother will love!

Several more samples from this session that distinguishes art from mere photography can be found here. Thanks Brooke for an inspiring day!

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?