Good-bye Summer! Hello Fall!!
Marshmallows in the Park
Since I embarked on my photo-career 13 years ago, I met some photographers who manage to not get attached to people they work with.
I have no idea how they do it.
Every time I photograph a child, a family or an event… something funny, touching or important happens during the session… You get to know people a little bit better every time they come. It makes you grow very fond of them... Emotions and memories get embedded in the images. They become a part of my life…
I’m very grateful to everyone who stopped by our improvised get together last Sunday!
I know it was rather chilly…
Your laughs and hugs, and catching up made it into such a wonderful day!!
You Are My Sunshine
Dear Friends!
We had such a busy summer this year, I didn't have time to post any new photos...
I even forgot to share a little video I created in July.
Here it is. My little tribute to Sunshine that never ceases to warm your heart. Hope you like it :)
I'm working on our new galleries at the moment, so more photos are to come soon.
Kayden, seriously! Do you have to be so cute?
Of course, you do! You, you, you... little heart-melting cutie pie!
And even though it was a 'Baby Milestones' photo shoot, I feel awfully guilty for not posting any of your sister's photos.
Even your attempt to cry looks adorable.
Just in case you missed the rest of the photos from this session, CLICK HERE
Three More Photos
These are three photos I promised to get online in my yesterday's post.
I usually don't add sepia finish to the images, but these three...
I think it suits them perfectly.
Hearts Bound Together
Meeting Art and Kelly was like stumbling onto gold.
I just couldn't believe my luck.
Imagine the most genuine, kind and interesting people....
...super-super easy and fun to be around...
...who fortunately live very close...
...and have a fabulous family, who have some serious acting talents and LO-O-OVE to improvise.
Having them for a 'Secret Admirer' session was a real treat.
Especially because it was us, who happened to be their 'admirers'.
Kelly loves black and white images. So do I...
Portraits look quite dramatic in black and white. They almost have the old film feel to them.
Speaking of film. A couple of images I absolutely love didn't make it into this post because of a different feel and different finish than the rest of the photos. Please check back soon. I'm going to post them tomorrow.
Family! Unscripted & Photo Perfect!
Here is another one of our 'Secret Admirer' sessions.
This time the 'admirer' is me :)
Angela is a part of a group of clients who are very dear to my heart. They made it impossible for me to quit photography when I was ready to pivot in a completely different direction. It was her and others' genuine appreciation of my work that tipped the scale.
I met Angela at the Hotel Saskatchewan five years ago (where we were holding Enchanted Forest sessions)... with a cup of coffee in her hand and a marvellous bright-eyed three year old in tow.
The dress she picked for the shoot was six sizes larger than her daughter wore at the time. "I like this one", she said. "We'll pin it down, it'll be fine"... I loved it!!
Below is an unplanned and unscripted portion of our latest session together. My favourite part!
"You're squishing me!"
"You're squishing me!"
"Out of the way! I'm ready for my close-up!!"
Love, love love... and more love!
It looks like they have a palm-reader in the family.
This was the last photo of the session.
Everyone was photoed-out and ready to leave... We were discussing how it all went, wondering whether we were able to get a great family shot and suddenly Angela just sneaked in next to Jordan and the very first and very last photo of this post happened...
Cathedral Village Arts Festival 2018
It always seems to take forever to get everything ready for the Arts Festival Street Fair and then it goes by... in a blink... or two. Which, of course, is a good thing. Means you are busy and having fun.
Best of all you get to see old friends and make new ones... check whether your work is still of interest to people (Which it is!!! Considering how many prints and cards we sold)... and get a few new ideas to work on!!
Our Enchanted Fairies art piece turned out to be a show stopper. It features students of Class Act Dance Studios in Regina.
Lots and lots... and lots of people came by to take a closer look. Including some of the little fairies in the image and even some of their peers. It was wonderful to hear that their friends thought they did a beautiful job on posing and they look really cute :) !!!
Frank's-Shoe-Repair-part of our Photography/Shoe Repair combo was extremely popular as well. The sewing machine drew a lot of attention from people of all ages. One little boy said, "I know what it is! It's a projector.................... for old movies!!!" It was so adorable!
Somehow Alf managed to remain serious about the matter. You have to admit the little munchkin had a point. This 100 year old Singer does look like an old projector... a little...
A brief explanation followed by a thorough demonstration... to the delight of a curious explorer and his very proud Papa.
Well... No street fair is complete without rain and wind. Fortunately our city is full of wonderful people who rushed to help us to keep our tent down as it tried to take off. It rained through the gap between our two canopies, so special measures had to be taken.
Overall it was a beautiful day for the Festival! Thank you to everyone who came by our booth!
Cathedral Village Arts Festival Street Fair - May 26th, 2018
It's that time of the year again and we are very excited!!!
We are displaying some of our work at the CVAF Street Fair tomorrow.
Almost, almost, almost ready...
Our new tent business cards are here. Printed... upside down inside... but looking fabulous otherwise :)
If you are out and about tomorrow and are in the area, please stop by our booth!
We are in our usual spot in front of the Dessart Sweets (3036 13th Ave)
10:00 am to 5:00 pm
These are some of antique bookplates restored and re-coloured by me.
We'll be happy to see you there!!!
Class Act Studios - Enchanted Fairies
This post is sooo overdue...
I started working on this project last fall and if someone would have told me it would take me months and months to finish it, I would have never believed...
I tried seven different backgrounds and changed the photos of little fairies at least four times. When I finally finished it (about a month ago), my husband (whom I expected to be super impressed) told me that background needed some work...
So... back to the drawing table I went... Very reluctantly, I should say.
I can not be happier with the result!
We couldn't have asked for a better group of little fairies for this project!!
Working with them was a real treat for us!
Huge-huge thank you to all the wonderful parents of these beautiful fairies! You've been unbelievably patient with me! I hope so much you like the photos. I hope so much I have a chance to work with you and your children again!
Special thanks to Tracy (who helped me to pose everyone), Kathy from Dancer's Den (who looked after all the costumes for the shoot) and to my husband (who delayed this post by a month)! I couldn't have done it without you!
Mother's Day Special
There is nothing greater than a Mother's love.
It's at the heart of every family and every human being.
It is capable of creating miracles.
Our Mother's Day Special is for those who believe it deserves to be captured in the most beautiful way possible... in photos.
Way Too Adorable!!!!
This was one of our 'Secret Admirer' sessions.
I have to admit, after reading "She is the strongest woman I know", written by Lindsay Z., Catherine's secret admirer, I didn't expect a person with the gentlest eyes and the softest smile to walk through our door.
Once again, I was reminded:
Some of the strongest people in the world are also some of the kindest ones!!!
Anyway... Here are some photos from the session.
Just look at these two! Can they be any more adorable?!!!
Absolutely fabulous family!!!
A Heart Full of Love
New life...
Hearts overflowing with tenderness...
...and an amazing story of love proving impossible things to be possible when you follow your heart!!!!
It was such a wonderful session. Meeting this family felt very much like getting together with old friends. Old friends you never met before... :)
Little Ridgley didn't mind being a start of the show and let us change his outfits and props a hundred times... or so!
Getting a perfect 'scale' shot is always a bit tricky, but it's soooo worth an effort... Especially when it comes out looking like the one below.
Sun on Snow
These two are magic! They make my heart melt just like the sun melts the snow.
They make a cold day feel like spring!
I look at them and think how lucky they are to have each other in their lives.
They'll always be there for each other no matter what!
World Down Syndrome Day
Here is a few of my favourite munchkins in the world.
Loving, gentle and talented, they make our world kinder and brighter.
They know how to dream BIG!
They genuinely care!
Today is Their Day!
I hope we can make them feel absolutely special...
Happy Family Day
Here is our first Secret Admirer Session Winner! She and her family came to our studio this past Saturday, just in time to have this little preview of their photos right on Family Day!
Zoey - 299 792 458 m/s (or so it feels)
"If you can photograph Zoey, you can photograph anyone," - Zoey's mom Pam tells me while I'm trying not to look too eager as I'm nodding.
All I can do is anticipate, anticipate, anticipate... Zoey is the fastest child I know. She is a hundred miles ahead of me. The sweetest little girl you can imagine. I want so much to capture the sincerity and preciousness of her expressions...
The photo with the frog is my favourite. Unfortunately half of Zoey's thumb was covered with a leaf in the original, so I spent quite a bit of time obsessing with fixing it. Now it looks perfect. Doesn't look like a scene from a movie?!!!
Winter Wonderland
Lily is a charming little dreamer. She looks like she stepped right out a fairy tale.
I've known her for a few years now and always look forward to 'Lily's chronicles' her mom posts once in while on Facebook.
True Happiness
Is it too early to start talking about next Christmas? Of Course it is! But it's not too late to say one last word about this past Christmas.
As I was putting together collages for this post my husband and I were reminiscing about this shoot. Being swamped with work for months before Christmas, it was 'the Christmas experience' of the past season for us.
This is one of the most wonderful families we've ever met. Being around them warmed our hearts and put us in a festive mood. They radiate love and kindness and obviously know the secret to true happiness. Very-very inspiring!
Look at these photos and you will see a perfect mix of genuine togetherness, mischievousness and affection.
Birthday Girl
Now, this is what you call a Birthday Party!!!
Family, friends and Saskatchewan weather!
This group of girls were not going to let a little bit of cold weather and strong wind get in the way of a good party. They had so much energy and enthusiasm we were afraid the lake would melt.
A good time was had by all.
