birds and things…

I had a client call me today and asked “Do you ever take time off?”. The studio is closed on Mondays but I am often catching up on production or paperwork. But I will occasionally answer the phone. I laughed when she asked that question and I told her that I take the weekends to relax.

Last evening I spent quite a bit of time on my screened deck – reading and enjoying a glass of wine. My cat, “Kitten” usually joins me as well.

I have two bird feeders – one attached to the roof of the deck and the other one on a nearby oak tree. This year I have had an abundance of Goldfinches and Chickadees. Aren’t they beautiful?

I find that the goldfinches and chickadees share this feeder – but the goldfinches don’t seem to like sharing with other goldfinches!

I also have a bird bath and found this chickadee checking himself out! Too funny!

… and then the goldfinch had to have a turn at the birdbath as well…

I also had a very noisy Mourning Dove wander around…

Other ‘friends’ that have visited me are chipmunks. I have an opening between the cement step and the house at the front door – and I’ve seen this chipmunk hide in there!

Quite a brave little fellow, don’t you think?

And lastly, I have some gorgeous Prickly Pear Cactus growing in several flowerbeds throughout my yard – and this year the flowers were gorgeous! They only last a day or two – but they’re gorgeous. The Prickly Pear Cactus is a perennial and hardy for Manitoba climates.

Enjoy your week!

A life lived to the fullest!

I was saddened to hear of the passing of a good client of mine, Rev. Henry G. Rempel.

I had the privilege and pleasure of photographing Henry and Amanda Rempel and their family on the occasion of their 55th, 60th, 65th and 70th wedding anniversaries! I’ve watched the family grow with the grandchildren getting married and having children of their own. Our last session was in December of 2004. I was looking forward to photographing their 75th anniversary next year.

Mr. Rempel lived well for 99 years, 7 months and 20 days and died exactly two months short of their 74th Anniversary. I had a wonderful email from one of his daughters informing me that “The beautiful picture of him will grace the front of the church together with 100 red roses to commemorate his 100 years of life.” I’m grateful to have had a chance to get to know the Rempel family in the last 20 years.

Sheldon and Stacy are having a baby!

I was so excited when Stacy called me a month ago. She excitedly announced that she was pregnant and wanted maternity portraits taken! Stacy first came into the studio for a Beautiful You portrait on February 1, 2006. Then she brought in hubby, Sheldon in November of the same year for a portrait of the two of them. Oh yes, and their dog was part of these photos as well.

Today Stacy and Sheldon came in for a maternity session – their little miracle baby will be here at the end of September. The baby has been long awaited!

This was one of my favorite images from the session.

I also loved these three images in this presentation. Gorgeous couple – I can’t wait for little baby to arrive and to photograph the three of them together! See you in September!

Just for me – my new Macro lens…

Sometimes I like to photograph just for me. On July 11th I was in Brandon visiting my good friend Inge (another photographer) and we stopped in at Don’s Photo. A 50 mm Macro lens caught my eye – and since I had never owned a Macro – I impulsively purchased it! I spent the rest of the weekend with my new ‘toy’ and I am loving it! This lens will definitely be going to Africa with me in October. Here are some of my favorite images from the first attempt at it…

I really love the next shot.

The one thing I realized is that you should really use a tripod when using a macro lens – and I didn’t – these were all hand held. But I think they all turned out better than I expected.

For those of you that know me – and realize that I’m a fan of all things Disney – here is a little Mickey shot!

The only tweaking I did on them was adjust curves and contrast – otherwise they’re all straight out of the camera (shot RAW, of course).

Till next time!

A shameless endorsement….

I’m just so excited about this unique concept in travel. Check out the website. Let me begin.

Last summer, when I was planning my 30th year in business celebrations, I approached Leanne Unger and Ilene Goschke, both from TPI (Travel Professionals International), to see if they wanted to be involved with my grand prize draw of a trip for 4 to Walt Disney World in Florida! They both agreed and I was just thrilled. Lets go back two years when I first dealt with them… I wanted to go on my first Caribbean holiday and I immediately thought of Leanne (a good client). After one of her photo sessions with Tobyn, I asked her numerous questions about a winter holiday – since I’d never been to an all-inclusive, I wanted to know all the pros and cons about it. (I NEED to know everything in advance!) Leanne answered all my questions and we set our plans in motion to book a trip to Cuba. But before we could finalize things, Leanne delivered a beautiful baby daughter, Avalon – but not before she connected me with Ilene. I must say that the trip was everything I was expecting (and more). Both ladies helped make my first hot sun destination holiday a memorable one.

Anyway, Ilene just started a new company called Sole Connections.

Ilene has a team of people working with her to organize the best vacation ever. Why is it the best? Well, it’s for single people. There are three different options. For people ages 25-40; another group for ages 40-55 and the last group for people over 55. And she’s hoping to have couples group travel available in the future. Have you ever wanted to travel somewhere and meet people in your own age group to hang out with? To share an excursion trip, to dine with, etc? I recall my Cuba trip. It took a couple of days to meet other people, but once that connection was made the vacation became a lot more fun. Of course, there was the alone time – but having dinner together with new-found friends and even the trip to Havana made it better! Just imagine meeting these people on the plane going to the same destination. Travelling from the airport to the resort on the same bus and then having group events for you to partake of! As a single traveller – this is ideal! Perhaps you’ll make good friendships that on your next vacation – you will plan it with your new friends! I am so excited about this concept, because being a divorced person for 12 years, I’ve wanted to go on a vacation, but never could. This is perfect. And the best part of it is, because it is a Group that is going – the price is really great (compared to Sell-off-vacations – this trip was up to $400 less than Sell-off!).

Okay, you can probably tell, that I’m excited about this – but there is another reason. If you’re interested to know what it is – just contact me!

Enough about that – hope you have a great weekend – I will!

I love photographing grads!

More grads…. I must say that one of the most favorite of all things to photograph are grads!

Marla called me from Winnipeg wanting some grad photos done. Her grad was over before we got a chance to photograph her – but what girl doesn’t like to great dressed up again?!

Marla is ‘drop-dead’ gorgeous – a vibrant redhead (okay – I’m partial to redheads) with a personality to match. She wore a unique dress and she wore it with flair. I had such fun with her and I want to share some of my favorite images from her session.

Tall and elegant (she’s really not tall – it’s just the angle)

Look at these fabulous shoes!

I LOVE this image!

I tried a new lighting technique…isn’t this fabulous?

same lighting – different application to the image…

Then we headed into my window light room…

I love the mood in this image…

Her dress was so flowy and I had her swirl and dance.

Probably my second favorite image…

And of course – what every grad feels – FREEDOM!

Marla heard about me from her friend Alyssa. I photographed Alyssa’s grad a year ago. Another beautiful girl. Here are 4 of my favorite images from her session.

Here is a photo of her on my new set in my back yard. I call it my Western Set – but really it is just strips of wood from an old abandoned building. I really like the fabulous dress on the rustic walls.

Have a great summer!

in the end – a great session!

When you photograph a two year old, you have to realize that the result might not be what you envisioned. Kyra came into the studio today. She strikes me as a very shy girl and she didn’t respond to me as most children do. I took the first photograph and she really reacted to the pop of the studio lights and started fretting and crying. We tried everything! I decided to take her into my window-light room (it was 6:40 pm – but since it has a west facing window – the light coming in was just gorgeous. We had to coax Kyra to go stand by the window and eventually she did. You can see her timid – or should I say, terrified – expression!

After this shot (without flash – just natural light) she ran back to mom and cried some more. Then mom decided to bring out a treat for Kyra – something that she just loves at this age – a helium filled balloon!

Now Kyra decided to stand where I wanted her to, but still no smiles.

But I just LOVE this series of images.

I LOVE this image!

Isn’t this a great image – looking out the window, with such curiousity – as all 2 years are – curious, that is!

And then, success – we got a great smile! Okay, Kyra decided to play with the string on the balloon and we see a bit of her diaper, but is that a problem – I don’t think so – it’s all about the expression, right? Look at the joy in her face. Gorgeous. But then, I have a thing for red-haired children and Kyra is really special. In my opinion, it’s all about the story of the image – looking at all of these images – you can just see her personality, can’t you? Imagine looking at these photographs 10 years from now – they will be priceless!

Thanks little Kyra – even through your tears – you are one of my favorite little girls that I’ve photographed – see you in a few weeks!

more grads

I’d like to post a few more of my favorite grad photos. I think that one of my favorite subjects to photograph is high school grads. Every single one of my grad clients was awesome to work with and I got some awesome images.

Here are a few of Brittany – isn’t she gorgeous?

Jeremy came to the studio for a few formal shots and then we took a few with his car.

Then I had Matthew. Matthew has been in the studio quite a few times over the past dozen years or so. He was very easy to photograph and he came in with his guitar. Don’t some of these remind you of country singers of the 50’s – like Hank Williams? I couldn’t choose which was my favorite – I loved them all!

And Vanessa. She was in earlier today to look at her images. She loved them all! Just as an aside, I photographed Vanessa’s parents’ wedding 23 years ago, isn’t that cool? Vanessa is a dark haired, dark eyed girl and is gorgeous. I got some fabulous expressions from her. Here are some of my favorites.

Isn’t this a great image? Joyful – freedom from school – I love it!

And probably one of my favorite images from all the grads I photographed this year.

Victoria Beach and good friends…does it get any better than this?

On Friday I received a call from a colleague and good friend (and Vice-President of the Professional Photographers of Canada-Manitoba), Ingrid Misner. She asked me to join her and her husband, Grant and 8 year old daughter, Joone for the Canada Day weekend. Since I was helping Patty Boge at her wedding on Saturday, I told Ingrid I would love to come out on Sunday!

Desi and Lucy were excited as well! Many of you may not know this, but another good friend, Daphne Carlyle, from Edmonton, Alberta is one of the best child photographers in Canada and she has a lot of ‘animal friends’ and last August when I went to visit her – she gifted me with some special friends. She suggested I name them and have them become part of my studio family. So, on the drive home I decided they would be called Lucy and Desi. Okay – long story – but Lucy and Desi go with me whenever I go on vacation – they came to Disney with me last December and of course, they were really excited about going to Victoria Beach!

And, I must add that a very special person that I met in August 2005 inspired me to take my camera with me wherever I go (which, because of the nature of my business, I had stopped doing a long time ago) – and so Lucy, Desi and my camera hopped in the car at 11:15 am and we headed to Victoria Beach. An hour and a half later we arrived at the parking lot and we searched for a parking spot. You cannot drive into Victoria Beach after June 20th. Ingrid and Grant said I could take a cab or walk to their cabin – about a 20 minute walk they said. Well, I hadn’t counted on it being +30 degrees and pulling my suitcase and bag with swimwear and my camera slung over my shoulder made it end up being 30 minutes before I got to their cottage.

It didn’t take long and we were on the beach.

This is a photo of Lucy and Desi enjoying the beach. (Desi and Lucy are stuffed little mice.)

Joone and her friend decided to cover Grant with sand. I don’t think he minded as it was, apparently, quite cool.

The view from the beach was breathtaking – the sailboat on a lake sparkling like diamonds and the seagulls and the wonderful clouds in the sky made the day and a half I spent there magical.

Joone is obviously a photographer’s child because she loves to ham it up for the camera!

But, she is a young chef it seems, as she made the dessert for Sunday night’s dinner (and it was delicious!).

There were countless things to photograph in and around the cottage. The iris flowers were gorgeous!

I was drawn to a wall hanging outside the front door (I love grill work ornaments!)…

The cottage inside had a fabulous piece of art on the wall – I just loved it and did quite a few different photographs of it.

This my favorite image of the wall art…I really enjoyed the shadows from the setting sun.

And two ‘just washed’ apricots drying on the counter drew my eye as well…

On Monday morning I helped Ingrid and Grant at two photo sessions. Because there is no vehicular traffic – we needed to bicycle to the cottages for the sessions. Oh my, what an experience! I haven’t been on a bicycle in years and my poor back side can still feel it!!!

Ingrid is a fabulous photographer (she has been Manitoba’s Photographer of the Year recently) and I loved watching her with the families. There was one extended family that had some very busy little children that Grant had to help her with – aren’t these great?

I love this shot – it looks as if Ingrid is ‘conducting’ the waves.

The first family we photographed was from California. It was a wonderful family who laughed a lot and you could see how much they cared for each other.

The husband went to pick a yellow flower and presented it to his wife and this is another one of my favorite images – who needs to see someone’s face when this tells a wonderful story!

By the way, the first person we met was “Jake” and we immediately realized he really didn’t want to be there. He said he would rather be anywhere else than there and having to put on a white shirt on a vacation wasn’t what he wanted to be doing!

At the end of the session, Ingrid took a photo of grandma and the two grandchildren – okay, I’ll say it again – I love THIS image – probably my favorite one!

Does the look on Jake’s face say he doesn’t want to be there? I don’t think so. When we were done and walking back through the cottage to leave, Jake was sitting in the family room (he’d already changed and was relaxing). He looked up at us and said “Thank you – you made my Mom very happy today.” Wow – wow – coming from the same young man that wasn’t happy to be there at the beginning of the session – it really touched me!

The next session was a larger group and this little girl was a wonderful subject. I love both of these images.

This was the first time I saw this type of color on a tree – I’m wondering if this is called a Silver Birch. The sheen of the bark and the color were outstanding!

And, of course, two images of the unbelievable sunset which we could see from the cottage. Pure bliss.

Too soon my short stay came to and end and I headed home. The time I was there was filled with sitting on the beach, taking a dip in the lake, eating lasagna and a bbq’d roast pork loin prepared by Grant and some banana pancakes prepared by Ingrid, playing Poker till 1:00 am, the two portrait sessions, playing a foursome of a game that I’d not played before – a cross between horseshoes and lawn darts. The two red-heads played against Grant and Joone – and, well – we lost both games – but it was tons of fun! Oh yes, and we talked a lot.

After another long walk back to the car I headed home. But, of course, my camera was on the seat beside me and driving through a little area called Ladywood, I saw this beautiful old yellow building with the old truck…

I know it’s too early to think about Back to School Photos!

Yes – I know – the kids are finally out of school and enjoying this gorgeous summer – but here at our studio we’re gearing up for the Back to School Photos. We still have some dates and times available – please contact the studio at 326-1813 to book your appointment now.

We have some exciting new options available this year! One option is the 2008-2009 Calendar.

Another item is the “Design your Own” Magazine Cover.

The “Design your Own” allows you to write your own headlines – three different headlines plus the name of the student and what he/she is “voted mostly like to…..”