Okay…wow…the last of my May families to hit the blog. Phew, I finally feel like I’m getting caught up! You might remember this family from last fall. I love it when people return to me and I get to watch their family’s grow! This little girl is the apple of her parent’s eye! OF COURSE!!! How cute is she? With her big eyes and dimples and those two little perfect teeth…this session was like visiting with old friends–bonding over Twilight and dreamy vampire love(shhh…don’t tell anyone how deep my obsession runs). And, then this is my favorite time to photograph babies. I know some people are all about the newborn love, but truth is–for me–this is the age I think of when I look back on my own babes. All chubby, drooly and smiley. When they still could be cradled in your arms while you fed them, but they could sit up on their own and reach for their toys. Can’t wait to go back and see this family again!!!

…for little girls This is a session that is dear to my heart for a few reasons. For starters, this is Bob’s cousin and his wonderful wife who we have enjoyed many suppers with, celebrated many wonderful events with, and mourned a sad passing with all the while watching our families grow. They are also one of the VERY first families I ever had the opportunity to photograph. Since the last time I got to witness them through my lens, something very important changed. After giving birth to three gorgeous boys, they made the decision to welcome a girl into their family through adoption. This session happened very shortly after she arrived at their home…and editing the images brought tears to my eyes. Not only was their overwhelming joy apparent, but their connection was so evident that it filled every cell of my being with glee. The images of this mother and her little girl are some of the most emotion filled images I think I have ever captured. This little girl seriously won the lottery when she walked into their life. Three brothers to love her, tease her and play with her. A mother and father with endless amounts of love and energy to fill her up. My heart is bursting for you guys. Truly. Welcome to our newest little cousin!!! Georgia is thrilled to have a girl to play with when she comes to visit!!!

So…why did I go to Toronto??? I’ve been asked this question a few times. Well, this family is the reason. This is my friend, Dee…she and I met back in musical theatre and bonded over juicy gossip about boys and the ‘ingenues’. We used to sit in our cars, chatting for hours after rehearsal…waaayyyy back when we were teenagers. We have seen lots in our days together. In the early days of my relationship with Bob, she began a relationship with her perfect match as well…THEN HE MOVED HER ACROSS THE FRICKIN’ COUNTRY. I’m not mad at him or anything…she is happy there. And, they’re still crazy in love which makes me tingle with glee, but I miss her. This Christmas when I saw her as we often do–for an all too rushed visit, we decided I would come to Toronto. We needed days together. To feel connected again. AND you know what? It was such a fabulous idea. Only, now, I really miss her…more. I wish she lived closer.

Here is a sample of the joy that she has created for herself. It is part of a larger, slideshow project that I’m hoping to share one day…when I finally finish it. For now…a sample of images. And to my dear friends…we must do this again soon. Sooner.

The second of my Toronto families…Mummy Fi, Mummy G and their two fabulously good looking kids. Their little girl stole my heart instantly. Their poor little guy was under the weather, but he was a trooper and hung in there until we were done. During this session, there was some singing, some dancing and a whole lot of laughter…these kids will have one heck of a sense of humor. It was wonderful to be invited into their home. Just like the wall says-’Lucky’. Lucky kids indeed Thanks guys!!!

This is the first of my Toronto sessions FINALLY!!! Lately, I’ve been trying super duper hard to find a happy balance between maintaining my business and maintaining my personal life. This is something that, as every working mother can attest, is difficult at the best of times…so…blogging has gone to the wayside. Consequently, I have many sessions to blog!!! Here is the first of them.

This is the Bruce family…I was a teenage musical theatre actor with their mom. I was then a university student with their mom. I was even once~gulp~roommates with their mom. This session filled me with joy–not just because I hadn’t seen her in WAAAAYYYY too many years, but because I got to see her full of life(literally–as she is expecting their fourth child shortly) surrounded by the joy and chaos that is her happy family. We LAUGHED a lot at this session. These kids are crazy…so crazy that I edited a good part of their session to Bishop Allen.

So, I guess you are wondering what my title means. hmmm…we went for lunch first as when we met to do the session, it was raining. During lunch, the youngest boy told me of a dream that he had…where his mom was a tiger and she had the baby. AND THEN SHE ATE THE BABY. His brothers found this quite amusing and kept calling their mom a B.E.T.(a baby eating tiger) during the whole session. In her defense, she is a super mom. I’m 95% positive she has no intention of morphing and eating her baby

So, on with the onslaught of images…I had a hard time narrowing it down for the blog. The first image is one of my favorite family images of all time. So, for anyone who is looking for a traditional portrait photographer–consider this fair warning…THESE are the kinds of images I love to take

I’m not gonna lie…this was one of my favorite maternity sessions ever. Not just because the couple was so fun and she was so gorgeous, but because they were keen to do ANYTHING…in fact, they had a few ideas of their own. They had a motorcycle and wanted to work it into some images. The babies room has a ‘rock and roll’ theme with a touch of motorcycle bad ass –if you don’t think I’m excited to get back and do the newborn session then you don’t know me at all   AND, it’s been so long since I did this session that I should be going back there any day now!!!

I also want to take a moment to talk about how well behaved their dog was–getting images with pets can sometimes be challenging, but this dog was so incredibly well behaved. I guess they had the fellow from ‘At The End of My Leash’ come and help them train her. Man…I think it was worth every penny!!!

Thanks guys for trusting me with the images from this special time in your life! I can’t wait to meet your little one!!!

I know that I have been very absent from my blog this month. For that, I apologize. I have so many sessions to blog that my harddrive is seriously feeling like it just had Thanksgiving supper!!! I thought I would serve up an image smorgasbord as thanks for hanging in there with me

This little baby girl is surrounded by love…how can she ask for anything more? I think her big brother will be her protector and friend(and probably, provide a squabble or two in between)…I hope this was worth the wait! Happy Monday everyone!

I made a visit to a wee baby yesterday. Thought that this was the perfect image to share to wish everyone a Happy Mother’s Day!!!

If you don’t know Mommy Wear Daily by now, then you just don’t read my blog! This is Calgary’s own Kim Flanagan. I have to admit to being a little nervous meeting up with her on Stephen Avenue one morning as she is like me on 5 cans of Red Bull(not that I’ve ever had a Red Bull–this is me imagining drinking that swill). She has more energy than any single person I have ever met. AND, I have met a lot of people She is a closet interventionist. Meaning, she will come over to your house and go through your closet with you and show you the good–how to put it together, what looks best…It’s the best of being green–instead of buying a new outfit, hire Kim and have her help you rework the ones you already own!!! AND, I guarantee you will have a blast while you do it. This girl is Funny with a capital ‘F’. Clients are always asking me what to wear…if you are really stuck–call Kim!!! Or, if you need to shop(and sometimes we all NEED to…visit her blog for some fabulous suggestions).

This is Missy Wear Daily…she is Kim’s young protege. She might kill me for the second image, but I thought it was cool and it’s my blog so there! For the ‘before you are a mommy set’…do you know someone who is graduating from University? Need a fabulous gift idea–hire her to help your new graduate dress for success. What a fabulous graduation gift!!!

And, the two of them together…Mommy and Missy. Missy has a tattoo that says ‘Choose Lykke’. Being a big fan of Lykke Li right now, I asked her what it meant. It means ‘Choose Happiness’…yes, it is a choice, isn’t it. I’m choosing it right now Happy Thursday!!!

 

Beautiful day with our good friends…

I was feeling really blah the last little while. And, yesterday, with the sunshining and the snow melting and the wind blowing…I realized it was the never ending winter we had been experiencing. It wasn’t me. I’m still me Yay for spring! Yay for flip flops and kiddie pools and summer dresses. I love it all! Bring it on spring!!! And, while you do it–gimme a skinny cow ice cream sandwich, okay???

My girl was so kind to me yesterday and gave me a beautiful series of images…she is getting easier and easier. Thank goodness as we feared the difficult stage would never end.

And…my favorite image of her EVER…is getting put on canvas ASAP…